"AAAAAAAAAAH!"

Aerie screamed as she fell along with her broom. They were losing altitude fast. She pulled the broomstick upwards as witch always does if her broom takes an unexpected dive. The broom swooped upwards, and performed a loop-Dee-loop.

A drop of water hung on the roof, threatening to fall any second. Calcifer crackled and whined as he watched this in dread. His log was already drenched from the leak in the roof. The drop finally detached itself from the roof and descended upon the fire demon as he whimpered and braced for it. Sophie held out her hand and caught it before it could distinguish what little was left of Calcifer's flame.

"Poor little Calcifer…" Sophie murmured sympathetically as she placed a dry log onto the fire place.

The spirit flamed up at once and consumed the brand new log.

"Thanks Sophie," Calcifer sighed in relief, "if it wasn't for you, I would've been put out." He added with a murmur, "Howl's too lazy to go on and fix the roof…"

"Oh come now Calcifer," Howl replied from the kitchen, "it's just a little rain…" A drop of water landed on Howl's head causing him to look up at the ceiling.

"Well Howl," Sophie said slightly with scorn, "Calcifer's got a point. That roof's been leaky for a quite while now." The faint sound of Markl's sneezing drifted downstairs. "And Markl's caught a dreadful cold." Sophie added.

"Ah!" Howl exclaimed as another drop fell and hit him squarely in the eye. "But Sophie," Howl said rubbing his eye, "We haven't the money to fix it with. For some reason the town's folk don't like to buy flowers that much anymore. Who knows why? It's a wonderful spring."

"Why don't you use magic?" Calcifer hissed as more rain dampened his log.

Howl pondered that for a moment.

"Aw, magic?" He finally replied, "Where's the fun in that?"

"What a lame excuse!" Calcifer retorted, but was muffled under a pan.

Sophie shook her head back and forth as she washed the dishes.

"WH-what's HA-happening?" Aerie exclaimed dizzily. The broom jolted uncontrollably in every direction; making its already distraught traveler even more confused (and woozy). Aerie pulled desperately at the broomstick, causing it to swerve away from the building it almost crashed into.

"Whew… That was a close one!"

But, to her dismay, she had veered in the direction of a flower shop.

As Howl and Sophie set the table for lunch, Calcifer hissed and simmered as loudly as he could.

Grandma, as everyone now called the old Witch of the Waste, edged over to Calcifer saying, "What's the matter Cal? You sound like a dragon choking on a fat knight!" Grandma could say the most ridiculous things.

"Just ignore him Granny," Howl sighed, "Calcifer's just being a sissy."

"Is he now?" Granny replied eyeing Calcifer creepily, making him shrink down.

"I- I am NOT!" Calcifer cried. "In fact, I'm hardly anything but a wet log now!"

Howl sighed, "I already agreed to go to market right after lunch. Besides, the roof isn't getting any worse-"

Their roof crashed inward, breaking the table, leaving a pile of rubble and broken wood at the center of the room.