"Trust me," I whisper. My hands encircle hers, and she looks down at them with her eyes glimmering in the moonlight. Her head dips ever so slightly and I lift my hand to her cheek.

The cave seems so full, so much more crowded than the tower. That's why, tonight, when I wanted to try something, I persuaded Charlotte to come outside and sit under the stars. We just stayed silent, me in a moment of understanding and her in a time of disability.

It's quick. Eye contact, whispers, and hope. I reach out with my powers and gently, swiftly, enter her mind.

Inside, it's warm, like the summertime. It's comparative to a cave, with a wind ruffling the air. I see Charlotte, gray eyes sparkling no longer, and I run to her.

There's no ends, just open space. Translucent memories line fake walls, easily seen through. The ground is a never ending meadow of white. The sky, a cream colored void, stretches on endlessly. And in the center I meet her.

"You can speak here," I murmur. "We both know."

"Yes," she whispers, not daring to speak loudly. "My own mind. It's like a prison, really. I'm trapped here, with too many words and too many minutes to pass."

"I know. Which is why I'm here. I miss your voice."

"Me too," she whimpers. "Me too."

"I think you'll recover," I tell her. She glances upward, to the snowy sky, and says, with a little puff of a laugh, "Maybe. You know, on that mission I was so scared of hurting my wings. That was what I tried to protect. But instead I lost my voice. Starting to rethink what's precious to me."

An hour passes, maybe two. We talk in her mind, of how badly it hurts and of current events, things she'd usually just chatter about to anyone who would listen. Eventually, we decide that we do need to go to bed at some point. Right before I let go, and have to leave her, I turn around.

"You're not alone, Charlotte. You'll always, now and forever, have me." And I disappear from her head.

As I lay down to sleep that night, in the room Destiny and I share, I realize that Charlotte's going to be so much better. One problem down. But with Destiny and Austin's latest squabble, I still have plenty I can-or need to-work on.

She's crying in her sleep. I can't take it and I get up to shake her. She awakens and collapses into me, and I can't help but remember the fight today.

"I can't believe you, Destiny. I mean, earlier this might've been about you needing space. And some part of me's still saying that you had two years without me, how much more do you need? But you're always with these two. Maybe you're in love with them, hmm?"

"Austin, be quiet. I'm not in the mood for a squabble."

"Not in the mood? Oh my gosh, Destiny, you sound so whiny."

She'd been sitting on the couch, trying to pick a movie with Mar'i and I. For once we'd gotten a little time where the three of us were all free. And Austin had just strolled in, as casual as ever, and burst in anger.

Destiny whipped around, turning on him with the olive eyes of a wolf. "Austin, just shut up! I can't even… I can't even remember how this fight started anymore. I'm done yelling. And I've always still liked you. But you didn't see that."

"Aw, look at the baby, gonna cry." Austin's voice was so harsh that I winced, but Destiny took the blow. "No more, Aus. This ends today. I wanted to be with you, until you started insulting my friends, my family. The things I've been so grateful to come home to? Well, enough. Either you stop, or I'm going to get one of the adults around here to make you."

"Oh, yeah, run for help. Not my fault you're a whiny baby. Just cry to your brother, to your friend, to anybody who'll listen. All you are is pitiful, Destiny. None of this is my fault."

With tears falling from her eyes, she's curled against my chest in an embrace, sobbing for everything. "I did… didn't… mean f- for it… to hurt… the team… and my friends…. Too young… to fight… And be taken away… I want… Mom and Dad… and I want to… go home."

"Me too, Destiny. But it'll be okay, promise." I hold her close and she hugs me. Swallowing most of her sobs, she says, "Life's hard, Prem… We shouldn't have to fight… over needing space and… things like dating and… we shouldn't have to see… friends running away… and getting hurt like Char did."

"I know, Destiny. Believe me, I know."