Back at the house, Miss Peregrine changed back into her human form and dressed herself. She then ordered all of us to take a bath. We were quite a filthy bunch from galumphing about the woods. I went first, for I had not gotten that dirty and I knew it wouldn't take me long. The bath felt heavenly on my skin. After thoroughly scrubbing, I lay in the water up to my chin, just enjoying the warmth. As I soaked, I thought about what had happened today. It started off as a simple game of "Raid the Village" and it had ended with us rescuing Miss Peregrine from a Wight. Also, I thought that I had discovered my Peculiar power. While Miss Peregrine was in her falcon form, I was able to communicate with her. Emma had said that I was just cawing at her and that it was all in my head.

But it wasn't.

When I realized that I was done, and that I had taken enough time, I hopped out and slid into my dress.

I made my way to my bedroom so I could have a relaxing evening.

Forget that.

Surprisingly, Emma stuck her head inside my door without knocking.

"Miss Peregrine summons you to the study," she said quickly. She left then.

I paused, my camera in my hands. I had finished off a roll of film photographing Miss Peregrine's world and I was in the middle of cleaning the camera mirrors with a swab. Obediently I set my camera down on the bed in pieces. I was wearing a dress with no sleeves or straps, so I reached into my suitcase and pulled out my back shawl and draped it over me. We had already finished supper and the children were spread about the house getting clean. I normally stayed in my bedroom after supper, so I felt odd leaving my room with my hair down, no makeup, and no proper clothing. I would have taken the time to change, but now meant now with Miss Peregrine.

I found her relaxing on the settee in the study, her pipe in her hand. It smoked lightly. There was no light source but that of the fire that burned in the hearth.

When I entered, she tilted her head back and exhaled a heap of smoke. Must be the abduction had taken a heavy toll on her, for she never usually smoked this much.

"Ah, Miss Stonington, please, sit," she instructed.

I did so. I crossed my legs and pulled my shawl close.

Miss Peregrine put out her pipe and set it aside. "Now, we have much to discuss. I shall begin by offering you a very grateful thank you." She slid her legs over the side of the settee so she was sitting. "What you performed today was both courageous and deserving of my highest respect."

I couldn't help but blush. "It was nothing," I began.

"Nothing?!" She pursed her lips. "Miss Stonington, you saved the children's lives, not to mention saved me from having my abilities taken."

"The children did most of the labor," I pointed to her.

She nodded. "Yes, but you were brave enough to lead them." She rolled her eyes. "Do you know what would have happened had you not rescued me?" she asked.

I shook my head slightly. "I do not."

"Catastrophe." She threw her hands up. "Utter catastrophe. There would be no one present to mind the loop. The children would go awry and would undoubtedly end up in your world." She said the word "world" with compete disgust. "Do you know what happens to Peculiars if they spend too much time on the other side?"

Again, I shook my head. "No, Headmistress."

"They'll age and die," she said gravely. She calmed her posture and smoothed her hands on her legs. "And I cannot have that. I've lost too many children that way." I couldn't believe myself when I saw a single tear travel down her cheek. Something inside me wanted to know more about her past.

I remained silent and I looked Miss Peregrine in her face. She was half illuminated by the firelight. "Next I would like to touch on the fact that you could understand my ramblings in my alternate form," she continued in a more serious tone. She set her head in her palms for a few brief moments. She scoffed. "It takes a special type of Peculiar to do such a thing." Her head suddenly shot up. "Who was the one who was calling to me?"

"That was me as well," I replied.

She shook her head. "You're much more talented than I expected," she said under her breath.

"Excuse me?" I asked softly.

She sighed regretfully. She patted the settee next to her. "Come, sit by me," she cooed. I did. It seemed that I was spending half of my life speaking with Miss Peregrine in private. It was becoming a routine event.

"Certainly you remember when I mentioned that ymbrynes are born and not made," she remarked. I nodded.

Miss Peregrine sat idle, smiling at me. She made no attempt to speak again. Instead, she puckered her lips slightly, and began to coo like a pigeon. Something tinged inside my head. I twitched. I could sense what Miss Peregrine was doing- she was trying to see if I could understand her. I could not. I hung my head. She continued to coo.

Focus, I told myself.

Keeping my head down I closed my eyes hard and began to focus on the pattern of her cooing.

Finally she halted. She laid a sympathetic hand on my shoulder. "Do not try so hard, my dear, I wouldn't want you to become overwhelmed. Learning the ymbryne language is rather a difficult feat."

My head snapped up. Wait.

Ymbryne?

My hands began to tremble uncontrollably. "Miss Peregrine. Are…. Are you trying to say that I'm….I'm-," I couldn't help but stutter.

She closed her eyes and raised her nose. She nodded slightly. "An ymbryne?"

I exhaled. Here it goes. Every muscle in my body tightened.

"Yes, Miss Stonington, that is what I am trying to inform you of."

My whole world and everything around me seemed to explode. Me? An ymbryne? I covered my mouth and choked back tears. I felt as if I could vomit from excitement, yet from fear, as well. How could something like this happen? Neither one of my parents were Peculiar. I tensed in my seat and gazed into the hearth fire. The flames brought to me the same burning passion I had had when I had laid eyes on my first black dress; the burning passion that had led me to now, the same one that made me who I was today. Beside me, Miss Peregrine folded her hands in her lap and remained silent.

Finally she spoke. "I know how puzzled you must be."

I swayed my head and closed my eyes once more. "But how? Neither one of my parents are Peculiar in the slightest bit."

"Not all Peculiars have Peculiar parents," she responded. "I did not."

I smirked like one did when they heard a bad joke. "A home filled with my own Peculiar wards." How ridiculous that sounded.

"Aye, but not for years to come."

From stories I had heard from Miss Peregrine over the last few weeks, I knew that if this were true- it really was, I believed Miss Peregrine above any other- I would have to attend an academy. I thought of Miss Peregrine and how she had used her talons on the Wight earlier that day. How impressive she was.

I licked my lips. "Well, if I am indeed an ymbryne," I spoke slowly. "Then, what type of bird am I?

"It is difficult to tell at your stage or growth. You will discover soon enough. Miss Stonington, I must ask you to keep this sworn in secrecy between the two of us. You are not yet ready to be thwarting about and exposing yourself to the children. Your opportunity to advance will come in good time."

Miss Peregrine placed her hand on my knee. I pushed it away as I arose, and walked to the front window. I stared aimlessly out into the night. For some odd reason I felt a tad homesick, although back home I wasn't truly living. In the spot where the bomb that "killed" us all during the changeover appeared from, the full moon glistened against the black sky. Although I was in Miss Peregrine's company, I felt as lonely as the moon. It was up there all alone, surrounded by millions of stars. I, an ymbryne, was like the moon, cast in a world of stars- the Peculiars.

"That's why I could understand you, isn't it?" I asked plainly, not leaving the window.

"I'm afraid it is," her voice answered.

"Are you going to ship me off to the academy?" I asked. I quirked a brow.

She sighed like I had asked the world of her. "As my duties as one of your fellow ymbrynes, I should send you to Miss Avocet. However, at this moment in time, what with the Wights snooping about, you're the safest here with me." I turned to face her. She began to fiddle with her cuffs. "I'm not entirely sure that I'm ready to part with you yet," she admitted.

"What shall we do then, Headmistress?"

She placed a finger to her chin in thought. "Perhaps, for now, I can instruct you in the ymbryne way myself."

I could tell that after moments of utter seriousness, she'd be glad to see a change in my mood. I smiled. "I'd like that."