"We're walking in the air

We're floating in the moonlit sky

The people far below are sleeping as we fly"

9:15 Dragon

It was in the dark of the night when Nicolai woke up his cousin. Nennet grumbled, her curly blonde hair stuck against her pale sweaty face. She grumbled, trying to push Nicolai away.

"Nennet," Nicolai whispered, "It happened again."

Nennet sat up, seeing Nicolai's gingery hair in the soft candlelight.

"What happened?" She asked groggily.

"The blue lights from my fingers." He said, "I kept thinking how warm it is, and then my fingers started glowing blue, and snow started to fly up."

Nennet climbed down from her bunk, she saw that Soris was already in Nicolai's bed, watching with large eyes as Nicolai created snow before their very eyes.

"You could really mess up a shem now." Soris remarked.

"I can't." Nicolai answered, "If anyone else sees this I'm off to the Circle."

"Can you hide it?" Nennet asked.

"I can try…"

"You have to," Nennet said, "If my father sees this he's going to try and do the right thing and send you to the Circle."

"Right…" Nicolai said quietly, "Then all you'd have is one less mouth to feed."

"Don't." Nennet said firmly, "No one can know," She looked to Soris,"Understand."

"Yeah." He nodded.

The lock to the door turned, and in came Cyrion Tabris. Alongside him was a small child with wild red hair, she looked extremely upset, a large pout across her face.

"What are you three doing up?" Cyrion asked.

Nennet was the first to answer, "Watching the house while you were away, father." She crossed her arms.

Cyrion let out a sigh, kissing his daughters rosy cheek, "Alright then, I'm back...and with your cousin. Kids, this is Shianni…" He looked down to the redheaded girl.

"Hi." Soris waved, receiving only a scowl from Shianni.

"You can sleep in my bed." Nennet piped up.

"You'll have to share, just like Soria and Nicolai I'm afraid." Cyrion frowned, "Cozy but comfortable I say."

Shianni didn't say anything, instead she awkwardly climbed up the ladder to the top bunk and huddled against the wall.

"Now you three get to bed, please." Cyrion said to the others, "Work starts at sunrise, you know that."

"Yes, father." Nennet said, clambering back up to her bed.

Nennet saw Shianni with her back turned, huddled up in her blue travel cloak. Her body was shaking, like she was crying. Nennet frowned.

"I'm sorry about your mama…" She said quietly.

Shianni just shrugged.

Nennet thought for a moment, "Soris and Nicolai bet me I couldn't climb to the top of the Venadhal and spit on someone in the morning, wanna come?"

Shianni sniffled for a moment, then turned around, her brown eyes red and puffy, "Why would you do that?"

"Because boys are stupid and I aim to prove them wrong." Nennet giggled.

Shianni wiped her eyes, "I guess I could…"

"Of course. Now that I'm not the only girl, we have to work together to show those idiots what's for."

"Okay." Shianni smiled and nodded.

"We're gonna be best friends, I can tell." Nennet grinned, giving Shianni a quick hug, "We'll go out at first light, when my mom starts lighting the fires for breakfast, and we'll practice. Nicolai said he would shave his head if I could get one of the shopkeepers."

"He better get his scissors ready." Shianni raised her brow.

"That's what I said."

"Nennet." Cyrion called.

"Sorry." Nennet sucked air through some of her missing teeth.

Shianni giggled. She and Nennet huddled together, despite the heat. They fell asleep holding each others hand, both dreaming of the coming days adventures.