So quickly were Tamsin's wings there and gone that Hazel was unsure if she really saw them. She continues to stare into the forest as she rides Bruce to safety.

Bruce reinforces what Jeanette said about never crossing the stream. But now Hazel has fleeting evidence that at least one fairy lives in a cave in that forest. She gets the book on fairies and studies it intently sitting in a good place to also observe the forest. Bruce is surprised at her dedication and relieved she's not rummaging through the house. Grace arrives with gifts, but Hazel pays little attention even as Grace holds up clothes against her to see if they will fit.

Bruce fills Grace in on the events from early that morning. "I am so grateful that there is so little Tanglefoot in this area and that she didn't run into Wolf. But as scared as she was, she's fixated on it. I'm afraid she'll go back. She's been told, but she doesn't listen." Grace smiles "Well that's a young human. But I have a feeling she listens more than you think. Sometimes they listen to the wrong things but I don't think she'd get anything bad from you."

Hazel spends the entire day reading and watching the forest as Bruce finishes the knife. When it is done, he goes over to Hazel and asks what she thinks. She looks at the knife carefully. "Wow… You made this? From just some metal?" Bruce takes it back. "Yes. I think a woman named Wolf is going to give it to Cador. I'll leave it on the anvil and she will take it during the night." Hazel thinks carefully and asks. "She lives in the forest?" Bruce nods. "She lives in the cave?" Bruce nods again. "Is she…old?" Bruce nods "Why do you ask?" Hazel looks down and answers without looking at him. "When I was in the woods I saw an old woman watching me…several times…just for a second…far away through the trees. She was kind of scary. When I hid, I saw her again and she smiled and hid herself." Bruce is concerned. "She never approached you?" Hazel shakes her head. "No… I was frightened at first. But then I thought she was watching out for me…in case the big white dog came close…" Bruce is confused. "You saw a big white dog…or a wolf?' Hazel shrugs "It might have been a wolf. But wolves are usually in packs." Bruce nods. "Most of the time, but some travel alone. Did the woman have grey hair?" Hazel nods and whispers "And she had no clothes on…" Bruce nods. "She does that sometimes." Hazel cocks her head "Who does that sometimes?" Bruce lowers his voice "A woman who could track a butterfly flying over solid rock. A woman who could protect you or add your body to her supplies of food for the winter. The woman I most feared you'd meet. Hazel, I was scared to death to death I'd never see you again." Hazel is shocked "You were scared?" Bruce nods "Very scared…" Hazel is surprised. "But you are so big." Bruce responds "That doesn't mean I don't get scared…but it does help hide it."

After dinner Bruce puts the knife and a sheath on the anvil and he and Hazel observe the stars, Bruce sitting in an Adirondack chair and Hazel is sitting on Bruce. They sit in silence for a long time. Bruce is surprised how she has begun to be still and take everything in. Looking at the Milky Way, Hazel says in a whisper "Tamsin is a fairy." Bruce is shocked. "What makes you say that?" After a long pause Hazel says "She showed me her wings. I think she meant it to be a secret." Bruce ponders and says "Then it would be best to keep it to yourself. The trust of a fairy would be a very precious thing for they must be secretive…or else everyone would believe in them." Hazel nods. "I will."

Hazel pretends to sleep on the couch until Bruce has fallen into a deep sleep. Then she creeps to the front door and silently opens it. Making sure it isn't locked; she crosses the work area in front of the barn and hunkers in behind a tree in the shadows from the moonlight. She struggles to remain awake and warm in the cold night air.

After several hours she sees something light colored move on the far side of the stream. A lone white wolf crosses the stream and sniffs the area where Hazel had sat to read the book. The wolf then sniffs the air suspiciously and looks directly at Hazel hidden in the darkness from sight but not from smell. The white wolf homes in on the scent of the young terrified girl who is now wishing she were asleep on the couch. Hazel tries to be as still as possible, but she begins to shake. The wolf comes with her arm's reach and sniffs. Hazel strikes with all of her strength across its snout. The wolf yelps and backs off.

The wolf moves to the anvil and transforms to an old woman. She takes the knife and sheath and examines it; testing its weight and balance. She looks back to where Hazel is hiding. "I meant you no harm child. Tamsin should not have revealed herself. She intended for you to keep her secret. Did you?" From her hiding place a tiny voice confesses "I told Bruce. I'm sorry." Wolf comes closer. "It is alright that you told him. But it would have been better had you kept her secret though. Tell nobody else." Hazel responds "I'll keep yours." Wolf nods, and starts toward the brook.

Hazel sees the door to the house move and believes she feels the ground vibrate. Wolf puts up her hand. "The wee one is unharmed. She's very brave…too brave. Teach her well…grandson." Wolf moves to the stream and gracefully crosses the icy waters without causing a single splash.

Bruce walks to the anvil and watches her go. He extends an open hand as he watches Wolf disappear into the forest waiting for Hazel to clasp it. She slowly creeps from her hiding place and takes it. They both watch the deep blackness of the forest. Bruce asks "Are you hurt?" Hazel shakes her head "I'm fine, just scared." Bruce asks "Questions?" Hazel responds "I promised." Bruce nods. "It is good that you honor your promises. Let's go inside…where you should have stayed."

Bruce takes her in and tucks her in. "Now, tomorrow morning, you stay here." Hazel nods. "I thought I felt the ground shake…?" she asks. Bruce nods. "That happens sometimes when I'm very angry or frightened which I was until I knew you were alright."

In the morning Bruce feels small hands on his tattooed forehead and his eyelids are pushed up by tiny thumbs and he finds himself looking into Hazel's large eyes only inches from his own. "I'll keep it secret that you are a fairy." The hands let go of his sleep addled head. He glances toward the door and sees Hazel wearing one of his shirts as a nightgown headed back to her couch her feet barely clearing the bottom of the shirt. Bruce runs a hand down over his face groggily and tries to grasp what just happened or determine if he'd been dreaming.

At midday Kenzi arrives, bringing additional supplies for Hazel. "Oh my God she's cute! She's like a mini me!" Kenzi says crouching down to get a good look. Bruce puts his hand on Hazel's shoulder "But she doesn't like alcohol." He explains. Kenzi nods "Well, give her time. I have some stuff for her…there is a bathrobe, more underwear, a coat…I also have her stuff from…where she used to live."

With Hazel's new and old possessions stored, Kenzi stands with Bruce watching Hazel reading by the tree. "I can't believe they were going to kill her." Kenzi says. Bruce nods "She's full of life." Kenzi nods. "They put them on a special diet…to make them…more nutritious…she's fortified…chock full of fae vitamins…new and improved human chi." Hazel senses them watching and looks at them. She comes over and asks Kenzi "Do you believe in fairies? Are you a fairy?" Kenzi laughs nervously. "I'm not a fairy. I like to believe in them though."

Hazel hugs Kenzi and feels her sword. Quickly she reaches inside Kenzi's coat to explore what she felt. Kenzi steps back and withdraws the sword and shows it to her. "Careful, you'll cut yourself. Your friend Bruce made this for me." Hazel looks at the sword. "Why do you carry it?" Hazel asks. "I carry it to protect myself." Kenzi responds, experiencing first hand the innocent questioning that can be so hard to answer. She recalls some of her early questions of Bo. "Protection from what?" Hazel asks. "Anyone who may want to hurt me." Kenzi explains. Hazel nods knowingly. "Fairies" Kenzi's jaw drops and she turns to Bruce. "Fairies? What have you been telling her?" Bruce shrugs. "She is inquisitive…and too adventurous for her own good." Kenzi feels a tug on her sleeve, she turns to see Hazel. "If you are a fairy, I'll keep your secret." Kenzi turns back to Bruce and says "Far too inquisitive…" Turning back to Hazel, Kenzi says "I really am human…not a fairy. Have you met any fairies?" It is Hazel's turn to be stuck for an answer, but she solves it kid-fashion and runs back to her reading place. Kenzi is pensive "Well…I'll take that as a great big yes" she says to herself.

"Have you told her she's one of the four food groups on the fae menu?" Kenzi asks. Bruce nods "I've hinted that she's two of the four…but I don't know if it registered." Kenzi glances to Hazel reading and occasionally scanning to forest. "There are a lot of things that would like her on a bun with a little ketchup. It isn't just the Light she's got to be protected from. She could be the next star of the 'Fae Cookbook Quarterly' if the Morrigan gets her hands on her. Picture that poor little thing trussed up on a table surrounded by hungry fae with an apple in her mouth and slices of pineapple all over her, then after the photo shoot they celebrate by draining her chi and slow roasting over an open fire." Bruce stiffens but calmly says. "The Fae which consume human flesh usually do it raw… Anybody that wants to get to her will have to get through me." Kenzi snorts "Like you have a perfect record against Bo and me." Bruce glances at Kenzi "I didn't want to hurt either of you, especially you." Kenzi's eyes open wide and Bruce nods "Yeah…I even let you punch me in the nuts. Watching out for you can be painful."

Bo and Grace arrive at Lauren's apartment and are challenged by the guard. He examines the contents of Grace's bag and finds no food. He is leery of patting Bo down knowing she could use her powers to control him, but he has no hesitancy about running his hands over Grace. He uses the opportunity to probe places which would have revealed that Bo was smuggling food. Grace grimaces but does not allow herself to resist. As the guard is distracted Grace nods toward the door and Bo goes through quietly closing the door.

If Adam saw what he was doing, the guard would have found a new respect for just how dangerous a human can be. If Bruce saw, the guard would not have had long to contemplate his error. But it is Hale who rounds the corner. "Let her go." He says and the guard releases Grace. Hale hurries to Grace's side and smoothes her dress. "My apologies, this guard has taken liberties he should not. We are not savages." Grace nods but says "You feed on humans to the point of death. You 'honor their sacrifice' as if it were voluntary. But you take offense at one who takes unwanted 'liberties' which will have no lasting physical harm. It is odd, don't you think?"

Hale changes the subject. "Are you visiting Lauren?" Grace nods. "I'm checking on her. I fear you are starving her to death." Hale opens the door and guides Grace through following behind until they are out of earshot of the guard outside of the closed door. "It was the least objectionable choice of a set of terrible set of options. I thought she would relent with time. I thought she'd just go along knowing she didn't make the selection." Grace shakes her head. "She cannot. Simply concurring with your choice is still choosing. She has taken an oath to do no harm and she will not break it. I've known her only a few months and I could have predicted she would not. You should have known better. Perhaps because their lives are so short, they feel more deeply, cherish life more, even the lives of others, and are more willing to take risks. The wood that burns fastest burns brightest. It is easy to stand on principles when the odds are in your favor…you try it when the entire deck is stacked against you. You try it when there is only one possible outcome and next to nobody will ever know what you did. On what you are asking, she shall not compromise."

Hale nods. "I understand... What you also have to understand is that I am trapped by our laws, by our Elders who already think I'm coddling her, and those that want to replace me with someone who would take a harsher stand with humans. If I'm replaced, her fate, and the fate of all humans in this town, will be much worse. I cannot compromise either. I'd love to just forget that she released a human, but I can't." Grace responds "The two fae he was supposed to feed were both fed. He's gone as he was expected to be." Hale says "But I really can't tell anyone how, can I?" Grace shakes her head.

Hale says "Change is in the wind. We need to keep her alive until it happens." Grace is puzzled. "What change?" Hale merely smiles, reaches under his coat and gives Grace a package of food before leaving.