"I'll get it!" called Pru, rushing down the stairs and to the front door. Her Aunt Paige followed, wanting seconds ago to stop her from preparing their family lunch. Now she bounded closely behind her to see who was at the door.
With Paige by her side, Pru opened the front door. Before them was a petite woman, one who looked almost like a girl, if not for the mature yet soft look on her face and the aura of wisdom and that she exuded. Her eyes seemed as if they could see into souls, beyond outward appearances. They were a smoky dark gray color; her long, thick mane of jet-black hair containing streaks of the same hue. She wore a long, red cloth, a bit like a poncho, which hung on her shoulders, covering her whole body.
"Hello," she greeted in a clear, strong voice, tinged with only a slight broken accent. She studied Pru for a few seconds before she announced, "I'm looking for the Charmed Ones."
Pru studied her back, rolling her last words in her head before their meaning finally came clear. "Excuse me, what-"
Interrupting her in mid-sentence was a slight breeze from outside, which slightly opened the visitor's cloak to reveal her badly dressed, injured right hand.
"You're hurt!" said Paige, taking the woman by the shoulder and into the home. Pru, alarmed at her aunt's open welcome, quickly shut the door and followed them to the parlor.
"Um, Aunt Paige…" Pru began, letting her words trail off as Paige settled their guest down on a sofa to look at her injury. A pattering of feet made her turn to see her brothers and sister descend the staircase, curious to see who had come to the manor. They crowded around her, with Julia popping the question. "Who's she?"
Her sight not wavering from the stranger, Pru shrugged as Drew, Xan and Julia stared with her. At that moment Paige was gently unwrapping the fabric which only partly covered the deep gash running along the woman's arm.
"It's nothing, really," the stranger said without a trace of pain in her voice, giving way to the idea that she experienced things like these often. "It'll heal on its own soon enough."
Paige ignored her guest's dismissal of her wound, placing her hands over the abrasion. A soft glow began to radiate from her hands, with her cut gradually closing up. Pretty soon, not even a scratch could be seen on her skin.
Xan spoke for his siblings when after his expression of utter awe had fleeted he said, "You never told us you could do that."
"You never asked," responded Paige simply, her concern for their guest still apparent. "You 'kay?"
The now fully healed woman looked at her arm, and then at her healer in wonder. "You're a whitelighter." Then she stood and turned to the foursome staring at her from the hall. "You must be the Charmed Ones."
"Right! You know us… but we don't know you."
The stranger chuckled softly, embarrassed at her rudeness. "I'm sorry. My name is Tainn, of the Old Ones. I need your help – warlocks are after me."
"Um. Hey," said Paige, waving her hand before her guest's face, "I'm Paige. These are my nephews and nieces: Drew, Pru, Julia and Xan."
The four Madisons greeted their guest with their aunt's introduction, with Julia cutting to the chase. "Hi. Uh- an Old One? What's that? And why are warlocks after you?"