The sun hadn't risen when Selene left the warmth of her hammock and dropped to the ground. She was so exhausted, she could barely open her eyes. Yet she knew that if she didn't do the exercise Cyan told her to do, the elf would work her until she dropped and then some.

The air was almost freezing, making Selene's breath turn white. She no longer had a cloak to warm herself, just her long-sleeved dirty shirt. She hoped it would be enough. She rubbed her arms and walked through the sleeping village, the homes still dark and quiet.

She walked until she arrived at the bramble gate, watching in awe as the branches and thorns opened for her. Despite herself, she stopped before the woods. Just weeks ago, she had been nothing but the unwanted daughter of the Clarke family, harvesting wheat and taking care of the horses. She remembered the beatings she had to suffer through, the hatred she felt daily. Now she was on the border of the frozen wastes, learning how to control her magic. She could barely believe so much had happened in such a short time.

Though her heart ached for her lost brother, Lily, and Jack, she felt herself healing in these woods. She had changed. She was no longer the girl that cowered beneath Arthur's boots. She had slain the demon and killed the Ursidae.

She turned to look at the peaceful village behind her. She felt she would like it here and would love to stay forever. But something inside of her pulled her out of those gates and into the trees. It felt the same as the pull at the edge of the forest outside her home. Would she still have fled into it if she knew what awaited her there?

Yes, she would have.

As she stood there in the silence of the night, white began to fall. Snow. She looked up at the flurries that drifted around her; it looked beautiful. Despite the pain she had felt and still felt now, despite the hardship she had endured, she felt something like happiness.

Selene smiled.

***

"You're improving."

It was almost mid-day and the sun warmed the sandy clearing, chasing out the chill and melting the snowflakes as they landed.

Selene smiled at the sight of the dagger in the wood. Though it was barely on the target, she had hit the tree and it had stuck.

"Now try with your magic," Cyan said.

"But I still can't willingly summon it."

Cyan grinned, "It's already summoned. Like I told you, it's a part of you just as much as your heart or your lungs. You just need to want to use it."

Selene chewed her cheek. She knew she hadn't completely accepted the power yet. How could she when she had been taught her whole life to fear magic and the powerful? Yet she thought she would at least be able to summon at least a flame.

"Don't worry. Humans have been sheltered from the real world for centuries. This is to be expected."

"What do I do, then?" Selene asked.

"It seems that your powers are evoked through defense. So we'll spar," she said.

Fear overcame Selene as she thought back to their first sparring match, how she was almost killed by the woman in front of her. She swallowed hard.

The elf chuckled, "Our first time was a little extreme. From now on, I'll guide you through it."

Though Selene did want to keep improving her training, the thought of fighting Cyan again made her shrink away. It didn't seem she had a choice however because Cyan had already tossed a sword to her. It landed in the sand at her feet with a heavy thud. Selene still could barely lift it.

"You're holding it wrong," said Cyan. She walked over to Selene and fixed her fingers on the sword's plain hilt. She then held out her own sword and showed Selene how to stand and which foot to move for simple moves such as stabbing and slashing.

Selene could barely keep up with all the new information. She tried to copy Cyan but found that her movements were sluggish and sloppy. It didn't help that her arms shook from holding the sword up. Cyan told Selene to try the moves on her; she didn't make it a step before Cyan was at her throat or behind her. Selene knew she wasn't even trying.

The only thing keeping Selene from completely giving up was the memory of Lily's face as the demon killed her. Selene was training for a reason, she wanted to kill that demon.

Do not forget the king.

During their travels, Aiden had mentioned the king that could control demons. He was the one behind all the death and destruction that he had endured. If it weren't for him Jack, Lucius, and Lily would still be alive.

That thought was what kept her on her feet to block every strike Cyan sent her way and gave her the strength to attack back.

Suddenly the attacks stopped. Selene let the sword's tip hit the sand, her arms unable to hold it any longer. Her legs shook too. She wondered why Cyan had stopped and when she looked up at her, she looked concerned. It was then that Selene realized she was crying. She touched her cheek and looked at the tears that wet her fingers.

"I'm sorry," Selene said, her throat tight, "I seem to have gotten distracted."

Cyan's face did not change from concern. In fact, she took a step towards Selene and reached up her hand to wipe away the tears from her cheeks. Her touch was so gentle and soft compared to the hard blows she was giving Selene earlier that she was too stunned to move.

Cyan was so close to Selene's face that she could feel the elf's breath curling against her skin. Being so close, Selene noticed that her tattoo looked much more vicious than she imagined. Not only did it make her look fierce, but it looked as if it were carved into her face. She could see the scars beneath the ink and couldn't imagine the pain that came with it. Being this close, she also saw that the ink seemed to be constantly moving, like smoke.

"I forget how fragile humans can be," she said, her voice soft.

She was so entranced by her tattoo, that she forgot for a moment how close they were to each other. It wasn't until Cyan pulled away from her that Selene blinked out of it.

Cyan raised her sword again, a smile on her lips. She looked down at Selene's own weapon and said, "Shall we continue?"

Yanking up her sword, Selene nodded.

This woman became more and more of a mystery to her with every passing moment. Cyan flashed a grin, her pointed teeth reminding Selene that she was not human.

Someday I will be better than even you, Cyan, she vowed to herself.

Then she launched herself forward.

***

After a few more hours of intense training, Cyan lowered her sword and said, "Enough."

Selene collapsed on the sand, barely able to breathe. Her muscles shrieked and ached. Cyan hadn't given her a moment's rest and right then, Selene would kill for even a drop of water.

"We're ending early today. The festival is tonight."

Selene opened one eye and looked at her, "The what?"

"The festival. The whole village has been preparing all day."

Selene raised an eyebrow, still confused.

"Have you seen that giant bonfire burning in the center of the village? They've kept it burning day in and day out because of today's festival. Tonight, no one will sleep much, if at all. It's to celebrate the first snowfall. There will be dancing and drinks and foods that you've never even tried. It's quite the spectacle, though it's nothing compared to the celebrations from where I'm from."

Selene pushed herself up into a sitting position and said, "When does it start?"

She let out a laugh, "I believe it's already begun." She held out her hand, "Let's go."

They made their way back to the village slowly, Selene still exhausted from training. As they drew closer, though, Selene began to hear the pounding of drums and shouts of people. Her excitement grew.

"I've only ever been to one festival," she said, "and I didn't stay long."

"Really? Not even to dance?"

"Never."

Selene's home town did celebrate many times throughout the year, for a number of different things. But Arthur rarely allowed her to go. She always left her home with a list of chores to complete before they got back.

But now, she was to attend one. She was about to boil over in excitement. Cyan watched her from the corner of her eye and smiled. She must be so amusing to her, like a child.

She found herself quickening her steps, despite her aching legs, and soon they reached the brambles.

They opened to show hundreds of people hurrying about. Some danced, some held strange foods, others just milled about talking and laughing. Cyan grabbed Selene's hand and pulled her through the gates and down the dirt paths. The feeling of her grip sent shivers down her back. Cyan led her towards the fire, that had seemed to grow even larger since that morning.

There was a crowd gathered around it, lining the square. They seemed to be watching something. Cyan pushed through the crowd and dragged Selene up the front.

Around the giant fire were about ten girls and a few boys. They sat with their legs crossed and their eyes closed extremely close to the flames.

"What are they doing?" asked Selene.

Cyan leaned closer to her and said, "They are going to be fighting tonight."

"Fighting?"

Cyan nodded, "They train for a year to participate in this festival. They sit in a vigil for the entire day and once the sun sets, they begin to duel. The winner of each duel will go on to the next battle and the next and so on until only one victor remains. Then they jump through the fire and become part of the elite guard."

"I thought the test was to go and get a special form?"

"That is a right of passage more so than a test. If you have no fighting form, you are seen as weaker, yet you still are able to fight with your human form. There are other ways to join the elite guard; this is just a one-way ticket straight into the ranks."

So they were to fight at sundown. Selene could barely imagine fighting so many opponents and then having to jump through the enormous fire they all sat around. The thought of being so close to the flames made her uneasy.

"Let's go find Aiden and get something to eat, yeah?" Cyan said as she led her away. They searched the crowds of people but saw no sign of their friend. Eventually, they decided to check the treehouse. They found him asleep in his hammock, arms thrown open and snoring away.

Cyan gave a devilish grin and stalked up to the hammock before grabbing it and flipping it over. Aiden fell to the floor with a thud, his hair and eyes wild as he woke up.

"That's what you get for sleeping all day. The festival is going on and you're missing it."

Aiden rubbed his face, "The festival?"

"Yes and if you don't get out there to enjoy it with us I will throw you into the fire myself."

They both knew that she was serious. Aiden jumped up and stretched, not wanting to anger Cyan anymore than he already had. He threw on a thicker shirt and splashed his face with some water, before glancing back at his hammock with a look of longing.

"Oh, come on," Cyan said and grabbed his arm. Together they all headed back into the festival.

The sun had already gone down by the time Aiden, Cyan, and Selene made their way to the bonfire for the duels. They had eaten and drank their fill, trying all sorts of different foods. Every time Cyan placed something new into her hand and Selene took a bite, she would say, "This is the best thing I've ever tasted."

Aiden would always reply, "You've said that about everything so far."

It didn't take long for Selene to feel drunk. When she ask ed the elf what she had given her, she simply giggled and put something else in her hands.

She was so entranced by the colors and the people dancing among the slowly piling snow. She had never seen anything like this and for a moment, she forgot all about training and what she had lost. All she could think about was how happy everyone looked, how good the food tasted, and where she could find more to drink.

When the time came for the duels to begin, everyone began to migrate towards the bonfire, the three of them following. Cyan motioned for them to follow her and she led them to a house with a stone roof, sturdier than the others. She climbed the wall quickly and held down a hand to hoist Aiden and Selene up onto the roof with her. From there they could see the entire clearing easily. Selene saw that other people had also climbed up onto the roofs all around the clearing, watching the fights from above.

"We are not native to this village so it is best to remain quiet," whispered Cyan into Selene's ear. Aiden nodded and Selene remembered that he had been here before, he's probably witnessed this festival before. She looked back into the clearing to watch.

The competitors still sat by the fire, completely motionless and quiet. They had been like that all day, and Selene couldn't imagine how uncomfortable that would be. The crowd around the clearing was deadly silent, not one person even whispering. They were all waiting, but for what?

Suddenly the crowd parted and out walked the Priestess of the village, the woman that sat under the willow. Out in the open, she looked vicious in the firelight, her scars seemed deeper and more violent. She wore armor, made of what looked to be wood bark, yet harder. It covered her chest and shoulder blades, wrapping around in strange designs and curling down to wrap around her legs. Selene wondered what material it was made out of to be able to be so flexible and yet still offer her protection. She walked around the fire once, behind all the competitors, holding her hand out and running it over their heads. The second time she went around them, she began to speak in their native language.

After she passed each person they stood, their legs obviously unsteady after sitting for so long. After completing her second circle around the fire, she unsheathed a dagger on her hip and held it up towards the sky then down and into the fallen snow.

Selene could tell that every move the woman made had a purpose, each breath sacred. Watching the ceremony made Selene grateful of the shifters' kindness. She was fortunate they allowed outsiders to watch.

The woman began to walk once more, between the fire and the people. The drums began to pound again, but softer than before. As she walked in time with the drums beats she held the dagger to her side, dragging it across their outheld hands. Selene cringed at the thought of getting sliced, but they didn't even flinch. When she finished her walk she stepped out of the circle and gave a command. Each person threw their blood into the fire.

Selene could hear it sizzling from her spot on the roof. Cyan beside her was leaning out in anticipation, ready for the fighting. Aiden watched as if he were relaxing in a patch of sun. They looked so different it almost made Selene chuckle.

She looked back to the clearing to see that only two people remained. A young girl who looked to be fifteen and a boy who looked to be seventeen. They carried no weapons, at least from what Selene could see. The air grew thick with suspense as the drum began to beat louder and louder until it was almost deafening. Then the Priestess clapped and the beating of the drums changed.

The two charged each other, in a full sprint. Selene almost covered her eyes, if she were able to. She found that she could not tear her gaze away from them. The girl was so much smaller than the boy, and Selene didn't know how she could possibly win. Yet she charged without fear.

Before they collided, the girl dove between the boy's legs, her form shifting as she did it. Selene had never seen someone shift before and it was so strange and foreign she gasped.

The girl's limbs shrank and morphed and her bones shifted beneath her skin; it made Selene's skin crawl. Yet she couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have a power such as that.

In less than a second, the girl has changed into a sparrow. She flew in and out of his legs, pecking at the soft spots behind his knees and his ankles. She had only gotten a few blows in when the boy morphed as well. His body took the form of a hawk. They dove at each other, scratching with their talons and pecking at each other's eyes. It was a brutal fight, and Selene couldn't help but fear for their lives.

"Some people die in these competitions. It is vicious and bloody, but the victory is worth the sacrifice," Cyan said as if reading her mind.

Selene didn't respond, too caught up in the battle.

Despite his larger size, the boy was losing. His brown feathers were glistening with blood and it was weighing him down. As the girl dove once more, he morphed again. This time he took the form of a fox. With his lighter coat, the crowd could see the damage the girl had done.

He was bleeding all over from small wounds, each deeper and dirtier than the next. He looked as if he had been stabbed numerous times. It had taken a toll on him. His breathing was raspy as if he were choking on blood and as he barked at her, it sounded wet.

The girl wasted no time before she dove back down and shifted into the form of a dog. It was smaller than a normal dog, but around the same size as the boy's form. Her brown fur didn't look nearly as bad as the boy's had. She was obviously winning.

The two bristled and growled at each other, neither wanting to charge first. The leader clapped again and the drums rhythm changed once again. It was harsher and louder than before. Selene could feel it vibrating through the ground and to the roof she sat on. She didn't know what it meant, but the crowd began to whisper and grow restless. Selene tapped Cyan to ask.

"Watch," was all she said.

They launched themselves at each other, teeth and claws ripping into each other. Selene thought they had been vicious before, but now they seemed as if they wanted the other dead. To Selene's surprise, the younger girl still had the advantage over the boy. She had more control over her forms and knew her own strengths and weaknesses. And especially knew how to find the weaknesses of her opponents.

She recognized the calculating eyes and quick thinking from Cyan while they sparred. They analyzed the same way. The moment Selene realized that she knew the girl would win. The boy was trying to attack with his physical advantage, yet the girl was quicker and dodged and the boy went flying past. As he passed she would lash out with her teeth and sick them into his flank. His cries turned savage as he tried to dislodge her. She dragged him over the edge of the fire, a trail of blood left behind.

Is she really going to throw him into the fire? she thought.

He began to struggle even harder, hurting himself more than helping him. He was beginning to panic.

Selene was gripping the edge of the roof so hard her hands turned white. She couldn't watch it if he was going to be thrown in. She wouldn't be able to bear it. It was too much like Lily. She would go insane if she heard those screams again.

She needed to get out of there.

Cyan noticed her rising panic and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Selene?"

Selene turned to look at Cyan. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think straight. Her mind screamed at her to get out of there. She had to get out now.

"Aiden," Cyan said, shaking his leg to get his attention.