Willow trudged along, masking herself and her brother with her sky blue horn. Weiss’ magic was still developing, as he never used it much. So, Willow had to protect the both of them.
Her eyes roved around. Her magic was patchy, and so she always needed to be on guard. Estelle had always told her she was flighty.
They are walking in the Ashen Woodlands. “Willow!” snaps her sister. “Don’t walk so fast! God, you’re a timesuck.” Willow bristles. That is Estelle’s favorite insult for her. ‘Timesuck.’ And Estelle likes to call Weiss a ‘stupid dingbat.’
“Keep up!” She whirls around. “If you don’t like it, walk faster.” Estelle’s wings are folded in regally. She glares at Willow. Willow shoots a harsh stare.
“Willow?” Weiss’ voice is tiny. “This place scares me.”
Estelle laughs. “Stupid dingbat. It’s just a forest, you baby.”
“Enough!” Willow has had it. “Estelle, don’t you ever keep your maw shut?” Estelle just grins at Willow. She is pleased to have gotten a rise out of her. Willow ignores it. “Weiss,” she says, “this is the Ashen Woodlands. We’ll be close to a pack territory soon.” She has heard word of a looming war. She hopes they can land on a neutral ground.
Estelle has been pushing for Nightingale. She pays attention to word of Irina, their queen. She thinks they will be safe there. Willow has told her, irritably, many times, that Nightingale is a Tarben ally. They cannot be trusted. They sparked this conflict.
It scares Willow. That her sister would dare to think that they can find ground with a pack of murderers’ allies.
The next morning when they wake up, Estelle is gone.
Willow shook herself out of her memory. She had this niggling feeling that Estelle had gone off to join Nightingale. She hoped she was wrong.
“Dawnshire!” Weiss’ voice broke with excitement. “We’re here!”
Willow’s heart sank. Dawnshire? They were an ally of Hawthorne. This war was between Hawthorne and Tarben. “Weiss, how about Sabertooth?” she tried. Her brother adamantly shook her head. Willow’s throat constricted, but she called out for the alphas anyway.