The plant lady yawned, putting her hand against her mouth. Afterward, she rubbed her eyes. She was exhausted.

-Oh… When did it get so late? I think maybe it’s for the best if we call it a day… But I do have some homework for you!-

Some students looked at each other and breathed a sigh of relief. The class was finally over. Leaf on the other hand excitedly looked at her sisters.

-I think I love this.-

Berry on the other hand was chewing the end of her pencil.

-I kinda hate the word “homework”. I don’t know why…-

Lula tapped on the chalkboard, to catch back the student’s attention.

-For next class I want you guys to go out and explore the island! Gather some plants. Bring me one of each type we have studied today. And remember… Always handle venomous ones with scissors and gloves. Hurt them! As much as you can! They are jerks. Even to us other plantfolk And take your time! You don’t have to go deep into the fog, you have a whole week to do this!.-

She laughed and looked at the other teachers, searching for approval. They gave her a thumbs up. Even Torke did, despite his initial reluctance.

Leaf started storing her things in her bag. Thorn got up and stretched a little bit.

-It was an interesting class… I think Dad’s gonna enjoy hearing about it.-

Leaf responded with a glow in her eyes.

-Yes! I loved today! It’s everything I hoped it would be! And more! Finally, I’m learning stuff!-

Berry yawned.

-I enjoyed it… Although Miss Plant Lady spoke too much! Although it was really fun when she was chasing us!-

Leaf shook her head.

-Well! We liked it for different reasons but…! I’m glad we agreed on something for once.-

Thorn smiled, very satisfied. Despite the day being hectic, she was really happy that their sisters had fun and enjoyed the class. They finished packing up and got up to leave. Before exiting the room, Leaf looked at Aerin, waving her goodbye.

-See you tomorrow?-

Aerin smiled.

-Of course! I enjoyed being partners. Now I must run back home. Blood won’t harvest itself.-

Leaf squinted her eyes, looking at her with a little bit of disgust. It was so tragic that vampires needed to consume blood to survive. She found it yucky. Thorn smiled at Aerin, very cutely.

-See you tomorrow. It was nice meeting you.-

Berry was the last and loudest to say goodbye.

-Goodbye friend! We’ll have even more fun tomorrow!-

The girls started exiting the room, walking through the lively halls.

-Are you sure you guys have everything? Okay then. Let’s head home.-

Thorn said with a smile on her face.

Berry started hopping towards the exit.

-Yippie! Going home!-

Leaf followed along by walking behind her, smiling.

-We should pick up some flowers for the assignment on our way home.-

Thorn nodded.

-I was thinking we could ask Dad for help. But yeah, that’s a good idea.-

They continued their walking, getting out of the school and entering the deep forest.

The forest wasn’t scary by day. Sunlight illuminated every corner. But by night it was terrifying. The Fog combined with the lack of light made everywhere almost pitch black. Not one soul roamed the forest other than the three sisters and the beasts afflicted by the Fog, who watched them while hiding behind big rocks, trees or bushes. The beasts may look and relish in what could possibly be the sisters’ flavor, but they were not fond of coming out of their sacred Fog. The sisters were safe as long as they didn’t enter their territory. They walked in silence, processing everything that had happened that day. Thorn was behind them, making sure they were safe and didn’t take a single step into the Fog. Leaf was roaming to the sides, gathering some flowers and materials for the assignment. Berry tried to spot the wild animals, looking at their hiding spots, and smiling every time she saw a frog or any small creature. After some moments of walking, Leaf broke the silence.

-Phew! I think that’s it! I only need a venomous one and I know where to find those! But I’ll do that tomorrow.-

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Berry looked at her, shocked.

-How are you so good at this? I haven’t even started and you’re almost done!-

Leaf proudly adjusted her glasses.

-Maybe you would be done if you took some time for it instead of looking at the frogs and the animals. Come on, Berry. We’re learning how to be witches now. You have to take things more seriously.-

Berry frowned. She got a little bit angry. She fastened her pace, starting to get further away from her sisters. Thorn tried to mediate.

-Girls… Relax. It’s too late for this. We have to get back home.-

-No no no! She has a point! So I will do my homework! If I don’t do it now I’ll probably forget. You know how I don’t take things seriously and all. Be right back!-

Berry disregarded Thorn and continued walking away. Thorn looked at Leaf with a withering look.

-Okay, okay, my bad! We’re definitely following her, aren’t we?-

Thorn sighed at Leaf’s response and then start walking faster to keep up with Berry’s pace.

-Yup. Berry! Not so fast! You’re gonna get lost!-

Berry fastened her pace even more.

-I can do my own homework, thank youuuu!-

Leaf shook her head.

-Berry, come on, I’m sorry! I wasn’t trying to be rude… Frogs are cute, I get it okay?-

Thorn took the scolding route.

-Berry we’re not doing the same thing twice! Stop being so immature and come here! We’ll do our homework together with Dad!-

Berry now ran, completely mad at their sisters.

-I’m fine by myself, okay?! I don’t need you guys pampering me like I’m a baby.-

She clashed against someone in the middle of the way, falling and landing on her butt. She immediately looked up, trying to distinguish what she bumped into.

The figure was tall and of broad shoulders. It had muscles that stuck out even deep into the shadows despite being covered by its black cape. It blended in with the Fog. The only thing that didn’t camouflage through it were its bright red pupils. They were almost glowing through the darkness, staring right at Berry’s eyes, dilated and excited. The figure spoke. It was a hoarse and deep woman’s voice, and it resonated through the woods. It was so terrifying even the beasts ran away after hearing it.

-Well, well, well... Who… Or what… do we have here?-

Berry tried to move back with her knees, feeling cornered.

-I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to bump into you!-

A big grin appeared on the figure’s face. Her teeth were white and bright. They shined despite the darkness, being the only thing that could be distinguished other than her red pupils.

-It’s fine, little one. Are you lost…?-

Berry quickly shook her head.

-N-No! I-I’m with my sisters! S-See…?! They’re…-

She looked back, searching for support, but turned pale at the sight of her sisters tied up with vines. They were upside down, and their mouths were gagged. Their eyes looked right at her with terror.

Behind them, there was another feminine figure. Not as tall as the one in front of Berry. But just as menacing. It quickly lit up a torch, revealing its appearance. It was a muscular girl. Wearing very light clothing, despite the cold of the night. She wore only a loincloth wrapped around her waist and covered her legs, it left her arms and lower legs visible. What stuck out was the enormous wooden mask that she wore, bigger than her head. It had big and deep eyes that swirled up and were multicolored. Behind the little opening in the eyes, red pupils also shined through the mask. She was holding a spear, in complete silence. Thorn was trying to get out of the vines, but no matter how much effort she put into it, she couldn’t even scream.

The bigger figure looked back at Berry.

-Oh… So these are your sisters… Well… This way is no fun.-

She snapped her fingers. The smaller figure swung the spear, slicing the vines and freeing both Leaf and Thorn in one swift movement. They both fell to the ground. Leaf was hyperventilating, completely terrified.

Thorn quickly went forward and put herself between Berry and the tall figure, splitting the vines gagging her.

-Let us go.-

The figure laughed. It was a harmonious laugh, but heavy at the same time.

-We weren’t going to hurt you. We were just making sure you weren’t going to hurt us.-

Thorn frowned.

-Who are you?-

The figure took off her cape, revealing her long and silky white hair. It was full of leaves and branches. Her lips were colored red, as she was smiling ear-to-ear. She was an adult woman and looked as if she were in her mid-forties. She also wore light clothing, a loincloth that covered her chest and another one that covered her waist and upper legs. Her skin was incredibly pale; one could almost see her veins through it. She looked very primal. Her arms were muscular and they were full of tattoos that glowed in the dark, and even more scars around them. She had a bad burn on her cheek that extended deep into her chin.

-I am Cytrus.-

Leaf tried to reason with her, shaking a lot.

-P-P-P-P-Pluh- Please don’t kill us Cytrus…-

Berry looked at her with seriousness in her eyes. She wasn’t as scared as before.

Cytrus shook her head, looking at them, examining and analyzing each one of their traits.

-I won’t. But you girls should be more careful… You could’ve bumped into someone far more dangerous than me.-

She smiled at them.

-Please make sure you get home before it’s too late.-

The masked figure stood next to Cytrus, tilting her head to the side. Berry was the first to talk.

-Are you a witch…?-

Her question was firm, direct, and calm. It even sounded brave. Cytrus even laughed at Berry’s curiosity.

-If we meet again, I shall answer your question. For now, I must go.-

She put her cape back on, and started walking towards the deep Fog and entered it. The smaller figure followed.

Thorn deep breathed, calmed down, and got up, cleaning her dress with her knuckles.

-Al…right… A-Are we all… Okay?-

Leaf slowly got up as well.

-Yeah… I think so.-

Berry got up and approached the Fog as much as she could without entering it. She took her hands to her mouth, trying to create an echo, and she screamed to the top of her mouth.

-IF WE MEET AGAIN… COULD YOU TEACH US?!-

Leaf gasped at Berry’s idea.

-Berry! Are you insane?! We were tied up, we could’ve!-

But the same hoarse, heavy, and harmonious laugh resonated through the woods.

Thorn shook her head, trying to keep calm.

-We have to go.-

Berry on the other hand displayed a proud smile.

-She’ll teach us.-

Leaf looked at her younger sister, genuinely concerned for her mental state. She couldn’t comprehend why Berry wanted to interact with someone who could’ve easily harmed them. However, she wouldn’t say anything. She didn’t want to anger her sister further. Nothing else was said, and the sisters resumed their walk back home.