...In the chills of icy mountainside, the final embers of burnt magma glowing slightly as they fought the cold that froze them, Will Vandom felt the raw nip penetrating her insides. Frost grew in fragments over her skin as blistering snow sliced past her; she had long stopped wincing, frozen in her place by the doubt. 'What if no-one is coming?'

"C-Cal-leb is-s c-c-com-m-ming.." Tears lay frigid in the tips of her eyelids, snow building on her eyelids in hasty attempt to persuade her that her eyes felt too heavy.. That she could simply sleep on forever.. This wasn't where she'd been and there was no time she'd awoken. This was a dream. "H-he'll-ll w-wak-ke me up-p-"

The final word turned into a cold seethe before she'd finished, and Will gasped for biting air the cut within her. She was so cold. So cold. 'You could just die.'

"I-" Will could neither speak for the pain and effort, nor her lack of any argument. A fear within graced her with the thought that perhaps she'd truly cease to be, the disturbing nature of her own voice of conscience, rather than Nerissa. And in that realisation, Will felt sick. 'You're alone. You're alone and no one is coming for you.'

There was no way that Will could believe or concieve these words as her own, and she resolved that the witch had stolen her voice: Will could no longer use it. But then..she was alone. On the edge of a vast chaos of mountain, which theoretically did not reside on Metamoor. It was on Earth.. And Will had no idea how close it might be. "C-Cale-b iss-s com-m-m-in-ng f-for m-me!"

It might have seemed much more boundless than it was; a bare croak in the screams of the elements. And her inner monologue just had to be much louder.. 'Is he?'

..Will searched the springtime lightness with wide eyes and uncertainty, to find the empty shadows. It did not take a moment, and Will didn't feel the cold as she flew out of her bed. Out of her room with inner screamings.. What had she done? What had she done? "CALEEEEEEEEB!"

...

Taranee awoke to the noise. The- The silence screamed loudly to her as she rolled away from her facing the wall. The flashes of nights and dreams through her mind and she learned more than she could ever want to know. The secrets that tumbled within her mind that were never hers to find; not her peace; not her place; not her mind.

The dark girl stretched in the humble Sunday light, the sun's bright shadow creeping in to greet her as her muscles slowly woke. She might never have seen things as ghastly, but Taranee resolved to focus on the beauty of the morning; the swift horizon which came directly from the darkest hour and something far far deeper than teenagedom. Will Vandom saw everything, and yet she still saw everything in Caleb. And though she'd yet found the skill to read just anyone, Taranee could hope he felt the same..

Before the musings could develop, a simple knock filled her bedroom. Dark, almost black brown eyes darted and Taranee's lips played a peaceful smile at the sight of her brother. The tall, masculine boy grinned cooly in the tresses of his surfer-boy hair and she'd forgotten how she'd missed him. A small college, but it was far enough away; the ideas of constant weekend visits slowly fading as time took it's own stand on the idea. "Hey, Birthday girl! Surprise!"

"Bir-' Taranee's eyes almost widened at the thought, lost within days and conflicts.. A box laced in his fingers and some nostalgia to the awful pink giftwrap he'd used last year, though unsurprising as he'd promised he'd save it when she'd been so enthused. "I heard you get in last night. Awful surprise.."

He grinned and shrugged at her own smile and she felt herself relax when he tossed the box in her direction; the noted clinky sound as she caught it in her hands. "Sorry. But I got you something nice, so you'll forgive me."

"How humble of you to say.." Taranee neatly tore the paper anyway, with an eyebrow raised as she broke down several layers too many of paper, "How long until I find the empty cardboard box?"

"Funny.." She'd reached the box though, a teal-blue that she fondly brushed her fingers over, before pushing the lid off the box. "It's nice, right? I found it in a shore shop.."

"Cool.." Taranee gazed with a liking for the thin, surfy-cream beads that separated beads; blues and greens, yellowy-oranges and reds, a swirling lilac that she was keen on. She instantly pulled the item out and slipped it over her chocolate-toned skin, admiring the contrast and the daintiness it seemed to have before she smiled thankfully. "Thanks! It's really nice!"

"I just said that.." She grinned at the sulky egotism he feigned, before a more serious smile replaced it. "It's meant to be this spiritual thing too.. The different stones are for peace and harmony, life, protection, and of course beauty, little sis'.."

But her gaze had dropped to the bracelet at peace...protection... Taranee found herself absorbed in the pretty beads for moments, before she graced him one final smile. "It's really beautiful Peter.. Thanks."