Daja sat up in her bed, leaning over to check on her ankle. At first she had wondered where the storm had come from, but then she realized that it wasn't a normal storm, she had felt the magic behind it. She then knew immediatley that it was Tris's creation, but she didn't know what would drive her friend to that extreme. She knew that Tris had been working on controlling her magic, and now that Niko was gone, she'd be sure to try harder. But Tris had just let her power slip. Big time. And she had gotten hurt for it. She wondered if this was an accident, or.... no. Tris would never do that. She was one of her very best friends. Daja sat back, sighing. 'Whatever it is,' she thought, 'it's got Tris worked up real bad, and I feel sorry for anyone involved.'

Sandry knocked on Tris's door, and when no sound was heard, she pushed it lightly open. Tris's room was as it always had. The bed was neatly made, the floor clean, everything in order. The only thing missing, was, well, Tris. Sandry, figuring she had gone for an early breakfast, walked down the stairs and almost ran into Daja, who was also coming down to the breakfast. "Oh, sorry," she said as she helped the girl regain her balance. "How's the ankle? I hope it's not serious." Daja smiled a bit. "Nah, it's just a small twist. I'm sure it'll be back to normal soon enough. I think I can tough it out." She winked, and Sandry laughed. "Have you seen Tris I need to talk to her." Sandy asked. Daja shook her head. "No, but I got the feeling that that wasn't a normal storm yesterday." Sandry sighed. "No, it wasn't. That's partly the reason I need to talk to Tris. I know she didn't mean for you to get hurt. It was an accidnet," she assured Daja as she sat down for breakfast.Daja sighed, and said, "I guess you're right," and then settled in to eat. Sandry walked around Discipline, looking for Tris, but she couldn't find her. Then she smacked her forehead with her palm. "Of couarse!" she said as she trotted to the tower. When she got there she climbed the stairs, and, sure enough, found Tris sitting in one of the open spaces. She looked like she was meditating, so Sandry took a seat next to her and waited patiently.

After a while Tris opened one eye and grunted. "What do you want?" Sandry looked up from her dress, where she'd been studying the stitches intently. "Oh. I just wanted to talk. You know...see if you're okay," Tris opened both eyes and got up to stretch. "Why does everyone assume that there's something wrong with me?" she snapped. "I'm okay, for the last time!"Sandry looked surprised. Seeing this, Tris sighed. "I'm sorry," she said to her friend," it's just that, all of this, happening right after Niko leaves! Great timing," she added, mumbling. She glanced at Snadry. "Is Daja okay?" she asked. "Yes, she's doing fine, and I told her that it was just an accident, what happened yesterday." Sandry answered in her quiet yet strong voice. Tris just nodded, and looked away. Had she really done it on purpose? 'No!' she thought, 'No, I did not do that on purpose! Daja's my FRIEND,' but even while she was thinking it another part of her mind countered, 'But if it was an accident why didn't it happen to Snadry? Or Briar? And if it was just an accident, why was the storm there in the first place?' Tris sighed out loud, not knowing which part of her mind to listen too. SHe felt as if she was being torn in two. SHe looked up to the sky and thought, 'Please let it have been an accident'

Briar ate his supper in silence. Only Tris and Sandry were at the table; he hadn't seen Daja all day. She had kept to her room, and only Sandry went in or out. Now he sat, spooning his soup carefully into his mouth, not aware until leter that Rosethorn and Sandry were watching him; ri's eyes remained on her food. 'SHe's probably just sorry about what happened yesterday,' he thought, distracted. "I should-' but his thoughts were cut short as he saw two pairs of eyes on him. "What is it now?" he asked, sounding annoyed. "Oh, nothing," remarked Rosethorn airliy, "We were just warvelling at your new found table manners. See look, you still have some food left." Briar looked down, then realized too late that he should have acted normal,what with what had been going on lately. But he had been so out of it, thinking about T- trees that he was going to plant the next day. Briar glared at Sandry and ROsethorn, then finally said," Well, I was enjoying it, thank you very much. Now I think I will go." He pretended to fold his napkin on his lap and brush crumbs off of his mouth, then rose and bowed. "Glad could be of some use tonight," he said dryly. He walked away, and decided, without knowing why, to go sit on the roof. He thought it was probably because it was very relaxing up there, so he climbed the ladder and leaned against the chimmeny, shutting his eyes. He must have nodded off, because he found himself falling off the roof before he knew what was happening. 'Help!' he thought desperatley, but he knew it was too let. Nothing would help him now. Except.....suddenly a strong wind broke out, cradling Briar back to the Earth. Then, as if the wind had realized wha it was doing, it dropped him a few feet out of the air and dissapeared. His plants broke his fall and greeted him. He struggled to get up; struggled because the plants had wanted to keep him there, to make sure he was okay; and he walked inside the house, feeling embarassed. Sandry was working on her stitching with Lark in front of the fireplace, and Rosethorn was reading a book about winter plants and how their roots helped them survive the cold. Tris, as usual, was up to her elbows in sud, washing the dishes. Briar moved over to help her, but she shouldered him away. Something about her guesture reminded Briar of something. He couldn't quite figure out waht.... Tris wiped her hands on a dishtowel and edged round Briar to get out of the kitchen. But Briar had remembered byt ehn, he whispered in Tris's ear as she moved past him, speaking softly so only they could hear, 'Thank You.'