It was snowing again, the flurries covering everything in a thick coat of fluff like goose down. Shapes became warped as it piled swiftly, the outlines becoming blurred making it hard to tell what each shape once was. Even the trees were losing their shape to become tall frozen pillars. The cold seeped into everything making everyone tired and patience short. Already several fights had broken out.

A crow cawed from far off drawing Nettie’s attention briefly. She did not see the smack coming, but the cold intensified the pain as she held her cheek. At least the pain raised heat in her cold body she thought as she stared emotionlessly at the tiger before her. “Stupid witch child. Ignore me again and you’ll lose a finger,” he snarled at her.

Nettie lowered her eyes. “Yes m’lord,” she said in a soft whisper.

The tiger adding more herbs to the pot before him with little earthenware bowls. He spoke the name of each ingredient and its amount while Nettie marked it down on the scroll before her using the little knowledge she had of writing. “This will be boiled down and then dried into a powder. Afterwards it will be placed in those linen kerchiefs. Only a small amount is needed to poison a witch. It’s best to stick it in their food rather than a drink and they will lose control of their magic and thus be weakened.”

More snow began to fall as the wind began to pick up outside the castle’s walls. The cold did not seem to bother the tiger though it made Nettie shiver uncontrollably. When she sneezed the tiger growled at her. “Go to the kitchen and warm yourself. I don’t need you dying.” Nettie quickly stowed her notes then darted for the open door of the observatory.

A gust of wind nearly knocked her off her feet as she opened the door leading to the covered stone bridge spanning between the tower and the main part of the castle. Ice had formed on the aged stones making it difficult for her to shut the door.

Completing the short task she stuck her stiffening fingers into her armpits for warmth and shuffled quickly across. Keeping her head down she managed to make it into the warmth of the kitchen without drawing attention from the tigers.

Kit found her in the corner next to the bread ovens. He brushed her forehead with his fingers then stuck a ragged doll made of discarded rags into her pleading hands. Nettie crushed the makeshift doll to her chest. “Ami, were you playing with Kit?”

“Yes she was,” Kit said excitedly. His small round face broke into a smile. “We threw snowballs at the crows after Naya Birch gave us a break. We’re learning motion spells.” The ten year old gave Nettie a half burnt roll poached from the cook’s discard bin. She quickly ate around the blackest bits. Memories of her father’s bakery floated forward in her mind. With a whimper she tossed the half eaten roll at Kit’s head as she felt her chest constrict with emotion. Without a word Kit retrieved the roll from the floor where it had landed and proceeded to finish it off.

The boy had grown used to Nettie’s weird fits around pastries. He slipped some cinnamon bark from his pockets and waved it at the girl until she took it and began to gnaw on the end. “What are you learning today?” He asked as Nettie seemed to calm.

“Poison,” she said flatly. “Ami, I don’t want you to get into anything that I make; do you understand?” Nettie said to the doll cradled in the crook of her arm. She smiled at the expressionless face. “Kit will take you out for another snowball fight if you’re good with your lessons.”

“Do you know when you’ll be done?” Kit asked. Nettie shrugged her shoulders then stood up and gently handed the doll back to Kit. Despite their three year difference in age Kit was already as tall as her. For a moment she stared into his dark brown eyes and Kit felt his heart flop in his chest. “Tomorrow is a holy day, did you want to hang out with me and my boys? You could bring Ami.”

Nettie shook her head. “No.” She shuffled quickly from the kitchen with her head bowed to prevent herself from making eye contact with the tigers. Kit sighed and stuffed the doll into the front of his shirt.

The crossing back into the observatory seemed colder going back. Nettie’s teeth chattered immediately as the cold wind pushed her back and forth along the icy stones. Her teacher was sitting down sipping a steaming cup of a dark bitter brew as she came through the door. “Close that thing quick!” He snapped as the papers on their working table flew off and scattered along the straw covered floor. “Don’t stand there like a buffoon, pick them up!”

Nettie quickly scooped up the paper nearest her foot and stopped as a familiar grouping of letters caught her eye. Her hands balled into a fist nearly tearing the paper. Quickly she grabbed more papers from the floor. When she was sure her teacher was not looking she slipped the paper into the bosom of her blouse. Straightening up she set the papers down on the edge of the table away from the powders and liquids that had spilled during their potion making. “Hmph, good; now let us continue with the lesson.”

“Yes, m’lord.”

After the sun set, taking the last vestigial warmth with it, Nettie was released to return to her chambers. Her stomach growled in protest, but she ignored it. The cooks had already banked the dinner fires and would not start the kitchen up until the morning. Nettie slipped into the small chamber that she shared with two other witches. They had not yet returned to the room so she quickly lit a small candle stub and held her snatched paper in front of the poor light.

Her heart gave a leap as she read. It was a report stating that she was to be trained to track down her cousin who had last been seen in Northshire heading east. “You’ll pay,” she whispered before stuffing the paper under her straw mattress.

***

Bird yawned for the third time in a row then resettled her chin on the palm of her hand. “I’m sorry, is my lesson boring you?” Nana snapped. Bird straightened and hid her scowl. “If you find me that tiring you can go back to bed and I won’t bother teaching you a thing.”

“No, Nana!” Bird said as she felt a tug of fear in her heart. If she did not learn more spells how could she expect to rescue her cousin? She picked up her stylus and dipped it in her ink before poising it over her paper.

When Bird started Nana’s lessons she did not realize how much writing and note taking would be involved. The lessons were long with few breaks in-between. Nana often spoke with a soothing voice that at once relaxed Bird causing her to doze off, much to Nana’s annoyance.

“Well,” continued Nana, “Who can tell me the most important rule when battling with magic?”

A man raised his hand and Nana nodded toward him. “The most important rule is adaptation,” the man said.

“Yes, you are correct. Anyone who fails to adapt is doomed to die. Do not use the spells I teach you only as I taught you. Experiment, combine, create and adapt. Some spells will fail, and some will work in ways that you never imagined…”

Bird felt her eyes drooping once more. For a few moments she fought the wave of sleep before finally succumbing to it. She found herself on the roof of a tower covered in snow. The winter sun cast little heat as she stood shivering in the white fall.

***

“So you’ve come,” a voice said behind her. Bird whirled around to find her cousin standing behind her. A thick fur cloak encased the girl, only her small round face peeked through the hood. Her breath steamed around her lips as she gave a smile devoid of any joy. “I knew that if I waited long enough that you would come back.”

“Nettie, what is this place? Tell me where you are so I can rescue you,” Bird said quickly.

“Rescue me? When you left me to die? If it wasn’t for you the Hunter would never have found us,” Nettie hissed. Bird flinched and took a step back. Nettie sneered. “I will become more powerful than you, and when I do I will kill you.”

“We are all that we have left. I’m sorry for what happened to our family, I did not mean to attract the tiger.”

“My family, my mother, my father, my sister not yours; they were my family.” Nettie began to cry and Bird felt the hot trail of tears on her own cheeks. Her cousin tossed a rolled piece of paper at Bird’s feet. “A year from now a map will appear on that paper. Come find me then.” Bird picked it up and stuck it into her sleeve. Nettie stepped closer then shoved Bird off the roof.

***

Bird awoke screaming on the floor of Nana’s classroom. Nana was kneeling beside her, her only hand pressed to Bird’s forehead. Bird gasped and choked back tears as she abruptly sat up. Her classmates had left the classroom leaving only her and Nana. “What were you doing spirit walking during class?” Nana demanded.

“I didn’t mean to, Nana,” whispered a frightened Bird.

“How am I supposed to teach you when your mind wanders?”

“I can’t control it, Nana.” Nana sighed and sat back on her heels. “Lore tried to place a ward on me to keep me from walking, but it failed. Fel and I almost died,” Bird said looking down at her fingers. She still felt the chill of winter on her skin and shivered.

“I’m surprised Yena did not help you,” Nana said rising to her feet.

“Yena?”

“Yes, she is trained in spirit walking. She must have thought the ward would work on you.” Nana sighed and touched her brow. “Go to the atrium on the third floor of this building while I find her. I will have her meet you there.” Bird rose from the floor then fled from the classroom.

The third floor atrium was deserted when Bird finally reached it. She spread out on the floor in spot of sunlight to warm her body. She felt something sticking to her left arm and reached into her sleeve to find the paper that Nettie had given her. She carefully undid the string and unrolled the paper to find it blank.

Bird side and retied the string before sticking the paper back into her sleeve. A year, she thought as tears flowed into her eyes. Would she ever save Nettie?

The sound of quick footsteps tore Bird from her thoughts. She lifted her head to see the open doorway as the steps drew closer. Soon Apple filled the doorway and she quickly sat up. “Bird?” Apple said softly. “Are you alright?”

“Yes,” Bird said looking down. Apple entered the atrium and knelt beside her. He kissed her forehead and wrapped her in his arms.

“Nana told me that you went spirit walking during your class. Did Nettie hurt you again?”

Bird’s breath caught in her throat as she remembered what happened on the snow covered rooftop. “She pushed me off a roof,” Bird said softly. Tears came swiftly to her eyes and she wiped them away. “It’s all my fault, it’s all my fault that she hates me. It’s my fault she’s alone with the tigers.”

“Shh… Not everything was your fault,” Apple said stroking her hair. “I will help you save her. Give us time to find her.”

Bird considered telling Apple of the paper in her sleeve, but her words stuck in her throat.

“I have to go now, Bird. I’ll come by your quarters later,” Apple said. He kissed the top of her head again then stood up. “I know I can’t change my role in what happened to your family, but I will help you save your cousin.” Bird nodded absently. Apple made a motion as if he was going to speak again then he stopped and walked away.

Yena arrived a few minutes later and sat beside Bird. “I have not seen you in a while young one,” she said softly. “How are you feeling now?”

Bird was silent a moment then looked at the dragon woman. “I’m feeling much better than before.”

“That’s good, Bird. If I had known that you were still spirit walking I would have come to you sooner,” Yena said softly. “Is it okay if I hug you?” Bird nodded. Yena hugged Bird tightly and hummed for a few moments. “Part of what triggers spirit walking is a yearning for what is far away from you. The reason why you keep encountering your cousin is because she is the one you want to see the most. Have you visited any other people?”

Bird thought for a moment. “Once,” she said. “After I met Apple I found myself in a dark room with a tiger and man with glowing green eyes. The man scared me because he could see me.”

“Can you describe him?”

“His face was covered in scars and some of his skin seemed to sag. I couldn’t tell how old he was.”

“Do you know him?”

“No,” Bird said shaking her head. “I had never seen him before. When I saw him he was talking with Oliver Redfield before trying to grab me.”

“Bird, I am going to induce an out of body session, the difference is that you will be traveling with me. Close your eyes.” Bird did as Yena asked. The dragon woman began to hum once more. Bird felt herself relaxing into Yena’s warmth and soon fell asleep.

***

Bird opened her eyes to find herself in a barren wasteland. Dust stirred up at her feet and was carried over to a mound of rocks. Everywhere she turned nothing but red earth and rocks met her eye. She turned again and found Yena beside her.

“What is this place?” Bird asked.

“This is where I was born,” Yena said. “Centuries ago this was lush forest. My village used to be there,” Yena said pointing to a mound of rocks. “Where we are standing now was where my house once stood. It is also the place where I married Adwin.”

Bird looked down at the cracked earth and felt a sense of sadness wash over her. She knelt and picked up a handful of the loose earth and let it run through her fingers. “What happened here?”

“Tigers came for us one night. We were a small community, barely over 70 of us. They scorched the earth, surrounded us with fire. We flew, the only option left to us. That was what they had planned. The tigers had brought Seekers with them and used them to give them flight. Of the 70 of us, only five of us escaped.”

“Yena!” Bird gasped and hugged her as she saw tears running down the dragon woman’s cheeks. “I didn’t know that you had gone through this.”

“Many of us have gone through this grief young one. This has gone on for a millennia.” Yena patted Bird’s head. “We all have found a way to survive so that one day we can restore the Creator to his rightful throne. Adwin and I made a promise to each other that we would not have any children until that time, but I find that I cannot keep that promise.” Yena took Bird’s hand.

“Bird, I want you to imagine the happiest place you can.”

Bird wiped her eyes with her free hand. “I don’t know what to think of, I can’t think of anything but here,” she warbled. “How can I think of something happy when I’m so sad?” Yena squeezed her hand.

“In times of war, it always helps to think of something good. Something to take you away from the sadness so that it doesn’t overwhelm you, for me, though it is destroyed, it is my home. I hoped to one day return it to the forest it once was and raise a family here.”

Bird let go of Yena’s hand and knelt placing both hands on the ground. She closed her eyes and slowed her breathing. Slowly she sent out her consciousness into the ground around her searching. Below she found an underground stream. Gritting her teeth she concentrated on a spell and stood up. As she stood the earth began to tremble before her. Suddenly a geyser of water broke the surface and soaked the earth.

As the earth turned to mud Bird closed her eyes once more and began to search once more finding it in small seeds buried around them. She sent out small tendrils of energy coaxing the seeds awake. Bird opened her eyes again and found Yena on her knees crying. “Young one, you did not need to do all this,” Yena said. Yena reached out and touched the small green leaves of the saplings before her. “You don’t know how much this means to me and Adwin.” She stood up and took Bird’s hand again. “We still need to continue your training.”

***

Apple sighed as he sat on his couch. Lore looked up from his book and set it aside. “What happened to you?” he asked.

“I don’t know what to do anymore, my heart feels torn in two,” Apple responded as he rubbed his temples. Lore raised an eyebrow in response. “I… I’ve started to fall in love in Bird… No, I have fallen in love with her, but I still love Sera. I can’t leave Sera.” Lore sighed and patted Apple on the shoulder.

“Avalon, I know this must be killing you, but I think you already made your choice. You said it yourself, you can’t leave Serafina. You love her too much to leave her. I think you may be confusing the love you have for Bird with romantic love,” Lore said.

“I’m surprised that you aren’t making jokes about this, normally you’re not this serious,” Apple replied. “What’s going on?”

“I know you expect me to back you in every situation, but I don’t want to see Bird hurt more than she has been,” Lore sneered. Surprised Apple sat back into the cushions. “Bird loves you, which is not uncommon between protector and protected, but if you open that door to her she is going to be hurt. I understand that you kept your distance from her, but you don’t realize how much it hurt her to find out that you have a fiancée. I’m not going to be happy if I have to dry her tears once more.”

Apple winced. “That was my fault, I’m sorry you had to do that.”

“If you’re sorry don’t do it again,” Lore snapped.

“You’ve fallen in love with her too.”

Lore looked away before standing up. He began to pace Apple’s room. Flipping his braid over his shoulder he turned back to Apple. “I didn’t mean to.” He began to pace again, his fingers beginning to fray the end of his braid. “She’s so unexpected. She has so much power, but doesn’t abuse it. She grew up alone for years, but she’s kind, sarcastic and may be latently abusive. Wait…”

“Are you sure those are qualities you like? I've never known you to show interest in, well, anyone.”

Lore collapsed on the couch beside Apple and threw his arm over his eyes. “She’s beautiful, like a flower that has thrived unattended in a place no one thought it could grow.” Apple hugged his cousin. "Get off me lecher!” Lore yelled and pushed Apple away. The two began to wrestle on the couch until Apple pinned Lore down, pressing the younger dragon’s face into the cushions.

“Be kind to Bird, Lore, I don’t want to have to burn your face off if you hurt her.”

“Don’t worry, this is me you’re talking about, Papa,” Lore said, his words muffled by the cushions. Apple let him up. “Do you know when Bird will be done with Yena?”

“Yena said she would only spend two hours initially with her today.” Apple looked at the clock by his table. “We still have 43 minutes. I hope that Bird learns quickly for her sake.”

“Bird’s smart, I’m sure she will.”