Apondra took a breath to steady herself at the sight of the cabin where she spent her childhood. The waters of Siren’s Lake were calm under the glow of the moonlight, barely a ripple to cut through the silence that wrapped around this place. She felt an urge to run from this place, as if reentering would cause her to disappear from the world. Apondra clenched her fists at her sides and strode carefully through the overgrown grass and weeds, carefully trying to avoid any gopher holes, though it was too dark to see them even if she wanted to. She cracked open the door and took a cautious step inside.

It was as if the small cabin had been caught in time. The strong smell of a fire was in the air, but the fire was down to embers, barely a wisp of smoke in the small fireplace against the wall to 

her left, the curtains draped over the few windows billowed, though Apondra had not felt the whisper of wind when she walked in. But her eyes were not on the room itself, but the figure who sat with their back to her, on her mother’s bed.

Apondra forced her hands to unclench, hating the hope in her voice as she said aloud to the figure, “Mother? Is that you?”

Silence. Not so much as a movement to acknowledge her presence.

Apondra took a step further into the room towards the bed, seeing her mother’s long hair billowing in the wind that should not be here. The scent of violets and pine needles mingled in the air, it was her mother. Why had she started crying? Apondra brushed the tears from her 

cheeks and stood behind her mother’s silhouette, “Mother, where have you been all this time?” she choked out, “Why did you not come to find me?”

The figure still said nothing, but had turned her head, in a way that Apondra knew she was listening.

She knelt by the bed, resisting the urge to grasp the back of her mother’s dress as she used to do as a child, “Please... say something. Anything... I miss you so much Mother, please!” she begged through tears. The room that was cold seemed to be blanketed in sudden warmth, but Apondra no longer thought of the feel of the cabin, only of her mother who sat silent and  motionless.

Apondra sighed and walked around to be face to face with her. Apondra’s mouth fell open at the sight of her in the silvery moonlight; her dress was in tatters, and the skin that showed was no different, covered in unsightly blackened burns, patches of red-pink skin where her skin had blistered and fallen away. Her gentle face was marred with these burns and her lips were a mess of pustules and exploded blisters.

Apondra covered her mouth to keep from vomiting at the sight, “By the Father...” she gasped at her mother, “What happened to you?”

Her mother finally seemed to realize that she was there, looking up at her from her place on the bed. She seemed to smile her gentle smile and a raspy voice croaked out through her broken lips, “Come home...”

Before Apondra could back away, her mother had wrapped her in a tight hug that exploded more blisters, crushing Apondra's wings to her back and covering her front and arms in a mess of stinking puss, the room changed, the bed exploding into a plume of flames that choked the 

room in thick smoke, Apondra could not feel the flames, but her mother repeated those same words until she was practically screaming in Apondra’s ear, “Come home!” A sickening crack sounded from above them, and Apondra looked up to see the beams of the roof collapsing on them both. She screamed.

Apondra gasped as she came out of the nightmare, covered in a sheen of sweat. Her hands shook as she sat up in her bed, still hearing her mother’s voice screaming in her ears. She covered her ears and sat upright in her bed, sobbing from the fear of it. This one has been so real, she could feel her mother’s embrace still around her.

“Oh brother...” she heard a familiar male voice call from the other room, “Can Barri not get one night of peace?”

She hugged herself and watched the flicker of a candle light appear down the hall from her room. Barri shuffled towards her, rubbing one eye with his free hand, at least he had taken to tying his robes this time. Apondra looked down as Barri entered and sat at the end of her bed, the bed creaking in protest to his weight. This was the third time this week that she had woken him with her nightmares, they had been getting more frequent, and she had started losing sleep because of them. She would hate to do the same to Barri, he had to tend the shop in the morning.

His muted green eyes surveyed her in the flickering candlelight, and he sighed, “Nightmare again?”

She nodded, still hugging herself to try to stop her hands from shaking, though it did not matter, her entire body was shaking violently as she tried to shake off the image of her mother’s face that resurfaced every time she closed her eyes.

Barri extended his hand, “Come, let’s you and Barri make some tea eh?” his smile reassured her that he was not angry with her, only startled from being woken so abruptly.

Apondra took his hand, and he led her out into the kitchen.

Barri sat with her next to the fireplace, handing her a sweet smelling tea, “Here, drink this. It helps calm you down,”

She nodded, shaking even in front of the fire, trying to keep her eyes off the flames. Her mother’s scarred face was still looking back at her from the fire. Apondra took a small sip of the tea, a tea of honey, mint and a touch of blood meal. He always added a touch of blood meal to give her mind something to focus on when she had a hard night.

He sat patiently, opting to take a chair from around the small dining table so he would not have to worry about struggling to his feet from the floor where she sat. He had his own tea, minus the blood meal, Barri’s stomach turned at the smallest taste of it.

Apondra breathed into her cup and forced her back to relax, her wings relaxing around her shoulders, “It was about my mother again...” she muttered into her cup, taking another sip, her hands clenching the glass, “The fire...”

Barri nodded, sipping his tea, “This time was different, you are shaking like leaf, you never shake so bad,”

She nodded back at him, turning to face him, ignoring the way the flickering light accentuated the warped folds in his ears, “She said to... ‘come home’... that was all she said,”

Barri leaned forward and looked at her intently, she hated when he did that, like she was a child… she was practically to her Ascension year, only a few birthdays away, “Maybe Barri should do the deliveries tomorrow, give you a break from work?”

She glared at him for a moment and raised her voice in defiance, “I can handle the deliveries Barri. It was just a nightmare, I am fine, really,” she stood with her half full cup of tea and started for her room.

Barri sighed and walked after her, calling after her, “You are stubborn as elf teenager! Perhaps you are Barri’s daughter!”

Apondra closed her bedroom door, but could not help a smile at his joking. 

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The next morning was quieter than normal, as it normally was after she fought with Barri. But as she walked cautiously into the kitchen she found her breakfast waiting on the dining table with a fresh steaming cup of tea waiting. The silence was nothing short of infuriating as she sat down to her small breakfast of eggs and bread.

She tried to take a sip of her tea to calm her still stewing anger, biting a curse as the tea burned her tongue. She set her cup down with a frustrated growl and forced down the last few bites of egg.

Barri was out in the garden, tending the few crops that had lasted through the fall chill. He hadn't said a word to her all morning.

She stood from the small table, barely big enough for both of them, and set to washing up. The shop would open soon and she needed to be presentable before customers started trickling in. She shook her hands free of the water she used and headed for her room.

Barri had amassed a collection of dresses and outfits for her over these nine years, most colored a dark green to blend her into the crowds. Her dark brown boots were never an issue, so he had simply bought her a few pairs of them in different shades so she had a variety to choose from.

She blindly took a green long sleeved dress from her closet and threw it on her bed as she passed. Apondra had never cared for the hairstyle Barri had taught her to wear in public, but to keep neighbours from questions, especially their nosy neighbour Katherine, she quietly wove her hair in two long plaits down her back, making sure her ears were hidden beneath her hair. She sighed and looked at the binding band he had made her to suit her wings. More to suffocate them.. she thought as she relaxed her wings to her back, and brought the binding around and around herself, effectively pinning her wings flat to her back and flattening her chest with them. She fastened the binding with a few pins and stretched to make sure it was secure before pulling on her dress.

He would comment it was not vibrant enough but she did not care. She hated how elf women dressed, so flashy and bright. Thankfully when the weather became cold and snow stuck to the 

ground he gave in to her choice of clothes more easily, always with a remark that she was being smart with him.

She heard a door open as she slipped her tooth coverings over her canines, "How do I look?" she asked without turning to face the door.

"Like stubborn elf teenager," came Barri's witty reply.

She knew he was joking with her, trying to lighten the mood between them, but it only made her stiffen with old anger.

He chuckled and touched her shoulder for her to turn to face him. She did as she was bid and found that Barri looked more tired than usual. Had he not slept? Guilt rolled in her gut as she started to apologize, "Barri… last night… I am sor-"

"No. Barri is sorry," he interrupted, the look in his eyes softened, "Barri should know better. When leaves fall the nightmares come stronger,"

Apondra looked at him, confused for a moment that he was apologizing to her, and thought back to some of the many times her nightmares had woken her over these nine years. He was right… It was always at the turn of seasons, when the leaves started to fall. She nodded, and tried to laugh it off, "You know… I never noticed that before,"

Barri's tone stayed serious, "You know Barri only means to help," the creak of the shop door sounded and Barri smiled down at her, "Right daughter?" He emphasized so whoever it was knew that he was listening to them.

She returned his smile and hugged his round belly, feeling his hands hold her there for a moment.

Barri released her and she felt something delicate drop around her neck, "You can handle deliveries?"

She looked down to see Barri had slipped a silver necklace adorned with a single lavender pearl around her neck. Apondra caressed the pearl with her fingers and smiled brighter, "I will be alright Father,"

He nodded and turned to make his way to the shop.

She listened quietly to the older woman's voice, it seemed the woman came with no idea what she was after. Apondra sighed as Barri started asking questions, trying to help the woman. Most people know what they want at the butcher's… she grumbled internally as she pulled on her best pair of boots and tied them tight. Perhaps they would bring her more tips from her deliveries today.

Apondra smiled genuinely as she passed Barri and the grey haired woman, who seemed to be fussing over the cost of the venison chops. She glanced at her unfinished tea, still on the table. She would have to drink it cold later, but she didn't mind. She took her light cloak from the rack by the door and waved to Barri on her way out.

The horse drawn cart was already waiting for her outside, loaded with cloth bags and boxes for the day's deliveries.

"That is everything Isar?" Apondra called to the driver as she pulled herself into the seat next to him.

"Thaz it…" he said, sounding bored with the work already. Isar pulled out a small book of parchment and turned through it, muttering routes and names to himself. He never allowed her to see the list, even in the year she had been helping him.

She sat back and sighed, "I was hoping we could go somewhere exciting. Carting around town is no fun,"

He clucked his tongue at her, "S'not about fun. S'about the job," always so serious.

"I know I know, I just wish I could see more than just Dryn… maybe Brina or Tyrenia… can you believe Barri has never brought me to Tyrenia? We could practically walk there!" she went on, trying to imagine what the Tyrenian palace would even look like, or the gentle queen who ruled over the lands Apondra had grown up in.

Isar said nothing and put his book away, taking up the reins.

She sat in silence as they travelled the streets, listening to the rhythmic drumming of hooves in the dirt. Another day of work.

Apondra smiled at the woman in the garden as she and Isar unloaded the last boxes on the cart.

"How is Barri doing these days? He keeps to himself so much, I hardly see him making these trips anymore!" the kind woman asked when Apondra came around the side of the small home to collect payment.

She smiled politely, "Barri is Barri, I never know what he is doing," she joked with a shrug, "He wants me to get out of the house more. If I did not know any better I would think he was trying to help me find a suitor with these jobs!" Apondra and the woman laughed together, as the woman reminisced about her own betrothal, and how she met her husband.

Isar waved to Apondra from the cart, gesturing that it was time to go. She smiled and waved him off, calling over her shoulder to tell Barri that she would be home by supper.

Apondra turned her attention back to the woman as Isar rode the cart off. She had begun talking of her children.

Apondra could never see the joy in marriage. The cooking, the endless cleaning, nevermind the childrearing. Where did she find time to do anything else?

"Did you hear of the new prince born to the King and Queen of Cealian?" The woman had changed the topic… again. How long had Apondra been distracted? Long enough for the normally joyous topic of newborns to turn the woman's mood to one of sadness.

"Yes, I remember Barri telling me that King Oden and Queen Safrie welcomed a little boy," she fought to remember, "when was it…? Midsummer I thought,"

The woman nodded her confirmation, seeming distracted for a moment, "Oh by the Mother!" She suddenly gasped, her eyes to the sky, "I should get the children in before their father comes home!" the kind woman pushed a bag of coins into Apondra's hands hurriedly and called for her children to come in. Four children came running up, the oldest girl carrying the youngest, and brushed past them both.

"Do not worry about the extra darling! Treat yourself on your way home!" The woman called, ushering the children inside and shutting the door quickly behind her.

Apondra smiled and tucked the bag into her boot for safe keeping until she returned home. With her deliveries done for the day, she could do what she wanted for a while before sundown. She started down the road towards the main street, intent on making it to the pub before it filled with the usual drunken fools. She could have a moment with a drink and the small pianoforte the pub owner kept to keep things cheery in the old pub.

It did not take long into her walk for Apondra to realize the streets were more quiet than usual. Dryn was not a large town by any means, but she could almost always hear the rumble of a cart or the rowdy townsfolk in the evenings when the pub (and subsequently the night maidens house) opened for the night. But tonight she could hear her own footfalls in the dirt and the slight jingle of the coin pouch stuffed in her boot. She quickened her pace, all thoughts of being in the pub left alone with her music faded and Apondra's focus turned on getting herself home. Thieves were not uncommon roaming town to town as the evening fell, and Apondra was suddenly aware that she was vulnerable. She stiffened as a faint rush of wind deepened her fears. "Mother of us… why did I not go with Isar?" she growled, trying her best to make her rushed steps look casual.

A rush of black, and a dull thud in the dirt. She stared in horror, her heart leapt into her throat, her body frozen at the sight of the black-winged man who now stood in front of her on the path home.