Before the Storms Fell

Long before kingdoms and borders, the world was a place of abundance, where children played in meadows and fruit hung heavy from trees. But then came the storms—cataclysms that flung stars from the sky, choked the air, and left only a remnant of humanity to survive. In this fractured world, stories of Before are all that remain to comfort the young, passed down by elders like Ama, who remembers a time of peace and plenty. These tales are both a balm and a warning, shaping the hopes and fears of those who must now live by their wits in a land haunted by loss and the ever-present threat of violence.

A Girl and a Scavenger

Morrighan, a child of the Remnant tribe, first meets Jafir, a young scavenger, in a moment of terror. Trapped and defenseless, Morrighan expects death, but Jafir, though hungry and wild, shows her mercy and leaves her unharmed. This brief, silent exchange plants a seed of curiosity and gratitude in Morrighan, and a sense of shame and wonder in Jafir. Their worlds are divided by suspicion and violence, yet this encounter hints at the possibility of something different—a fragile connection that will shape both their destinies.

Lessons of Survival

Morrighan's life is defined by fear and the need to remain hidden. Her tribe, led by Ama, survives by moving often, trusting in the "knowing"—an intuitive sense passed down through generations. The tribe's elders teach that there are two kinds of survivors: those who persevere and those who prey. Morrighan's curiosity about the scavengers is met with stern warnings, but she cannot help questioning the boundaries between "us" and "them." The tribe's losses—loved ones stolen or killed—are reminders that safety is always temporary, and that survival demands both caution and adaptability.

The Pond Pact

Years later, Morrighan and Jafir meet again at a pond. Hunger and necessity force them into a wary cooperation as Morrighan teaches Jafir how to gather food. Their exchange is tense but respectful, each recognizing the other's humanity beneath the surface of fear and prejudice. Jafir warns Morrighan to stay away, knowing his people will soon claim the pond. Their parting is bittersweet, marked by the unspoken understanding that kindness and danger are never far apart in their world.

Hidden Valleys, Hidden Hearts

Morrighan's tribe finds a hidden vale, a place that offers rare peace and the hope of permanence. They build shelters and plant seeds, daring to dream of a life without constant flight. Yet, even in this sanctuary, Morrighan feels a restless hunger for something more. The memory of Jafir lingers, a reminder of the world beyond the tribe's boundaries. The vale becomes a crucible for growth, grief, and the slow awakening of new desires and possibilities.

Books Among Ruins

Exploring the hidden valley, Morrighan discovers a ruined building filled with books—remnants of the world Before. She finds solace and wonder in their pages, imagining lives and places she has never seen. When Jafir appears, drawn by curiosity and perhaps by fate, the two begin to share stories and knowledge. Their secret meetings in the ruins become a sanctuary from the harshness of their realities, and the act of reading together forges a bond that transcends their inherited enmity.

Trust and Betrayal

As Morrighan and Jafir's friendship deepens, so does the risk. They teach each other words, skills, and ways of seeing the world. Yet, the threat of discovery looms, and the differences between their peoples cannot be ignored. When Jafir is forced to participate in a raid, Morrighan's trust is shattered. The pain of betrayal is matched only by the ache of love, and both must confront the reality that their connection may be doomed by the violence and loyalties of their birth.

The Language of Knowing

Ama's teachings about the "knowing"—a deep, intuitive wisdom—become central to Morrighan's survival and identity. This gift, passed down through the women of the Remnant, is both a source of strength and a burden. Morrighan tries to teach Jafir this way of seeing, hoping it can bridge the gap between them. The knowing is not just a tool for survival, but a way of understanding the world's pain and beauty, and of finding hope even in the darkest times.

Love in the Shadows

Morrighan and Jafir's relationship blossoms into love, hidden from both their peoples. Their moments together are filled with tenderness, laughter, and longing, but also with the constant fear of discovery. They dream of a future where they can be together openly, but both know that such a future is nearly impossible. Their love is a rebellion against the world's cruelty, a fragile hope that must be fiercely protected.

The Scavenger's Dilemma

Jafir is torn between his loyalty to his clan and his love for Morrighan. Forced to participate in raids and violence, he becomes increasingly disillusioned with the ways of his people. The arrival of northern kin and the growing brutality of his father, Fergus, push Jafir to the breaking point. He vows never to ride with the clan again, but the cost of defiance is high. Jafir's struggle is a microcosm of the larger conflict between survival and compassion, tradition and change.

Raids and Revelations

The fragile peace of Morrighan's tribe is shattered when the scavengers, led by Harik and Fergus, discover their hidden vale. The raid is swift and merciless, stripping the tribe of their meager stores and hope. Morrighan is confronted by the truth of her parentage—Harik is her father, a revelation that fills her with shame and anger. Jafir, caught between worlds, is forced to act against his own heart, deepening the rift between him and Morrighan.

The Price of Mercy

After the raid, Harik claims Morrighan as his daughter and property, intending to take her to his fortress. Jafir, desperate to save her, offers all he has—a sack of grain—in exchange for her freedom. Harik, amused and perhaps moved, accepts the trade. Jafir and Morrighan are briefly reunited, but the cost of their love is clear. Jafir must leave with his clan, seeking a better life beyond the mountains, while Morrighan returns to her tribe, both changed and wounded by what they have endured.

Blood Ties and Broken Promises

Jafir's return to his clan is met with violence and suspicion. His father, Fergus, sees his compassion as weakness and punishes him brutally. Morrighan, too, faces suspicion and loss within her tribe. Both are forced to confront the limits of loyalty and the pain of broken promises. The bonds of blood and love are tested to their breaking point, and both must decide what they are willing to sacrifice for a chance at a different future.

The Clan's Descent

As the clan prepares to journey beyond the mountains, internal strife erupts. Fergus kills his own brother to maintain control, and the clan's unity is shattered by fear and hunger. Morrighan and Jafir's hopes for peace are further threatened by the relentless brutality of those around them. The journey ahead is fraught with danger, and the cost of survival grows ever higher.

The Night of Fire

The scavengers' final raid on Morrighan's tribe is a night of chaos and devastation. The tribe is left with nothing, and Morrighan is taken by Harik. In the aftermath, Morrighan vows never to forgive Jafir, believing he has betrayed her. The night marks the end of innocence and the beginning of a new, harsher chapter for both Morrighan and Jafir, as they are forced to reckon with the consequences of their choices.

The Bargain and the Escape

Jafir's act of trading grain for Morrighan's freedom is both a rescue and a farewell. Their reunion is bittersweet, marked by anger, gratitude, and the knowledge that their paths must now diverge. Jafir's clan, desperate for survival, claims Morrighan as a guide, promising her to Steffan or Jafir depending on her success. Morrighan agrees, seeing a slim chance to buy time and perhaps save Jafir from his father's wrath.

The Journey Beyond

The clan's journey across the mountains is a test of endurance, faith, and will. Morrighan uses her knowing to guide them, but the journey is marked by suffering and loss. Fergus, true to his nature, betrays his promise, and Morrighan and Jafir are forced to fight for their lives. In a final act of defiance, they kill Fergus and Steffan, seizing control of their fate and the future of the clan.

Hope's New Name

At last, Morrighan, Jafir, and the survivors reach a land of abundance—a place where hope can take root. Morrighan, now carrying Jafir's child, weeps for all that has been lost and all that might yet be gained. Together, they vow to build a new life, free from the cruelties of the past. The story ends with the promise that from Morrighan's line, hope will be born—a hope that will one day have a name, and a future shaped by the lessons of love, loss, and survival.

Characters

Morrighan

Morrighan is the heart of the story—a young woman shaped by loss, fear, and the relentless demands of survival. Raised by her grandmother Ama in the Remnant tribe, she is taught to trust her intuition, the "knowing," and to value compassion even in a world that rewards violence. Morrighan's journey is one of awakening: from a frightened child to a woman who dares to love across enemy lines, to a leader who guides her people through unimaginable hardship. Her relationship with Jafir is both a source of strength and pain, forcing her to confront the boundaries of loyalty, forgiveness, and self-determination. Ultimately, Morrighan embodies the hope that something new and better can be built from the ashes of the old world.

Jafir

Jafir is a scavenger by birth but a rebel at heart. Marked by early acts of mercy and a growing sense of right and wrong, he is never fully at home among his violent kin. His love for Morrighan awakens a longing for a different life, one not defined by predation and brutality. Jafir's internal conflict—between loyalty to his clan and his own moral awakening—drives much of the story's tension. He is both protector and outcast, willing to risk everything for Morrighan, even as he is punished for his compassion. Jafir's journey is one of painful growth, culminating in the ultimate act of defiance against his father and the old ways.

Ama

Ama is Morrighan's grandmother and the spiritual anchor of the Remnant tribe. She carries the stories of Before and the wisdom of survival, teaching Morrighan the importance of the knowing and the power of hope. Ama's strength is quiet but unyielding; she leads her people through hardship with a blend of pragmatism and faith. Her influence shapes Morrighan's character and choices, and her stories provide a moral compass in a world where right and wrong are often blurred by necessity.

Fergus

Fergus is Jafir's father and the leader of the scavenger clan. He rules through fear, violence, and a rigid code of loyalty. Fergus's worldview is shaped by scarcity and the belief that only the strong survive. He is both a source of pain and a symbol of the world's brutality, ultimately destroyed by his own inability to change. Fergus's relationship with Jafir is fraught with conflict, and his downfall marks the end of an era and the possibility of something new.

Steffan

Steffan, Jafir's brother, is a product of the clan's violence—cruel, entitled, and quick to assert dominance. He is both a rival to Jafir and a threat to Morrighan, embodying the dangers of unchecked power and toxic masculinity. Steffan's actions force Jafir and Morrighan into desperate choices, and his eventual death is both a liberation and a grim necessity.

Harik

Harik is a powerful scavenger leader and Morrighan's biological father, a fact that complicates her identity and sense of belonging. He is driven by ambition and a sense of entitlement, seeing people as property and power as his birthright. Harik's claim on Morrighan is both a personal and political act, and his willingness to trade her for grain reveals the transactional nature of his affections. He represents the old world's failures and the dangers of unchecked authority.

Laurida

Laurida is a woman of the clan who claims Jafir as her son, though their bond is more practical than affectionate. She is tough, resourceful, and shaped by hardship, providing a counterpoint to the more nurturing figures in the story. Laurida's pragmatism is both a strength and a limitation, reflecting the compromises required to survive in a world of scarcity.

Ama's Tribe (Pata, Oni, Carys, Nedra, etc.)

The members of Morrighan's tribe are a tapestry of personalities and relationships, each contributing to the collective strength and vulnerability of the group. Their losses—through violence, sickness, and betrayal—underscore the fragility of community in a hostile world. The tribe's traditions, stories, and acts of kindness are a bulwark against despair, and their fate is a constant reminder of what is at stake.

The Clan (Piers, Reeve, Liam, etc.)

Jafir's clan is a microcosm of the world's brutality and the possibility of change. Characters like Piers and Reeve offer moments of humor, wisdom, or cruelty, while Liam's death at Fergus's hands signals the dangers of dissent. The clan's journey and internal conflicts mirror the larger themes of survival, power, and the search for a new way of living.

The Children

The children of both the tribe and the clan are symbols of innocence and the possibility of renewal. Their suffering and resilience are a constant motivation for Morrighan and Jafir, and their survival becomes the ultimate measure of success or failure. The story's ending, with Morrighan carrying Jafir's child, is a testament to the enduring hope that the next generation might inherit a better world.

Plot Devices

Dual Perspectives and Alternating Narration

The novel alternates between Morrighan's and Jafir's points of view, allowing readers to experience the world through both the hunted and the hunter. This structure deepens empathy and complicates the moral landscape, showing how fear, love, and survival shape each character's choices. The dual narration also highlights the limitations and possibilities of understanding across cultural divides, making the eventual union of Morrighan and Jafir both a personal and symbolic victory.

The "Knowing"

The knowing is a quasi-mystical intuition passed down through the women of the Remnant, serving as both a survival tool and a metaphor for hope, resilience, and the power of memory. It is invoked in moments of crisis and decision, guiding Morrighan and, eventually, Jafir. The knowing connects the past to the present, linking the stories of Before to the struggles of now, and suggesting that survival depends as much on inner strength as on physical prowess.

Cycles of Violence and Mercy

The story is structured around cycles of violence—raids, betrayals, and reprisals—that threaten to consume both the tribe and the clan. Acts of mercy, however small, disrupt these cycles and open the possibility of change. The relationship between Morrighan and Jafir is the most significant of these ruptures, challenging the logic of "us versus them" and offering a model for reconciliation and renewal.

Foreshadowing and Prophecy

From the opening epigraph to Ama's stories and the recurring motif of hope "having a name," the novel is suffused with foreshadowing. These elements create a sense of inevitability and purpose, suggesting that the struggles of Morrighan and Jafir are part of a larger story of survival and rebirth. The ending, with the promise of a child and a new beginning, fulfills these prophecies and ties the personal to the mythic.

Analysis

Morrighan is a powerful reimagining of the origins of a fractured world, exploring how love, compassion, and the willingness to see the humanity in others can break cycles of violence and create the possibility of renewal. Through the intertwined journeys of Morrighan and Jafir, the novel interrogates the boundaries between "us" and "them," the costs of survival, and the meaning of legacy. The "knowing" serves as both a literal and symbolic inheritance, connecting the wisdom of the past to the challenges of the present. The story's emotional arc—from fear and suspicion to trust, betrayal, and ultimately forgiveness—mirrors the journey of any society struggling to move beyond its wounds. In the end, Morrighan offers a vision of hope born from suffering, a hope that is not naive but hard-won, and a reminder that the future is shaped by the stories we choose to tell and the courage to imagine something better.

Last updated: January 7, 2026