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Aero sat out in the forest in the clearing where she had first met Lucidia. The branches of the Cassia tree were coated with ice. The snow that covered everything glistened in the warm sun. The air was still and the world was silent. Despite the calm and peaceful world Aero’s mind was plagued with thoughts. They contradicted each other and seemed to scream within her head causing it to throb painfully. She lay in the snow letting the cold ease her headache. She hadn’t slept well after her dream.

What do I do? I have to stay where Tornado can find me, but still . . . No! I will never go back to the Light Realm, not after all the pain they caused Tornado! But . . . my parents . . . I just want to know what happened to them.

She groaned rolling over to stare up at the sky. The clouds moved quickly across the sky as cold crept through her cloak. “I don’t know what to do.”

Feeling restless she started wandering through the woods. With her feet moving her mind seemed to clear weighing her choices before her. If her people found out she was their princess it would be impossible to meet Tornado again. She couldn’t loose him again even if it meant not knowing about her family. She couldn’t go back.

There was the sound of sobbing in the still air. Aero saw the small boy from the accident huddled in a small boy. She walked over and knelt beside him.

He looked up at her sad eyes. “Why am I still here?” he asked, why did you let me live?”

She started crying as he looked at her angrily.

“Why aren’t you mad at me?” he questioned. “I’m blaming you for this. Why don’t you yell at me like the others?”

“I think I can understand you a little bit,” she told him, “I saved you because I didn’t want you to die. I wasn’t there in time to save your parents, I’m sorry.” She looked at him kindly. “You’re not alone, you know. All of the people here want to look after you and protect you.”

“I know that!” he yelled. “They don’t understand me, they’re not my parents. They don’t know what I’m feeling; they can’t help me. They’re all words-” Aero hugged him. “What are you doing?” he asked trying keep the anger in his voice as sobs broke through.

“I know someone who will understand you. She was in your position. She even raised me when I had no one.”

He hugged her tightly as he cried. They sat there in the snow as they cried together. The boy for the parents he’d lost and Aero for the parents she would never see again. It wasn’t long before the sun was setting. The cold wind returned bringing in dark grey clouds. Aero looked up, wiping her face.
“Let’s go home,” she told the boy as he wiped his face.

The house wasn’t far from the woods. As they opened the door they heard a fearful voice.

“Aero, have you seen Blake? The Carpenter’s family sat he’s run away. It’s going to be night soon. He’ll freeze out there if we don’t find him.” She had a cloak on and was holding a thick, warm blanket.

“It’s alright,” Aero told her, “he’s going to stay with us.” Blake stepped out from behind Aero’s legs, looking down.

“Is that alright with you?” Lucidia asked him.

He nodded looking up at her quickly.

“Okay.” She smiled kindly. “Let me show you around.”

Blake clung to Aero and Lucidia constantly. Whenever they left to check on the neighbors he would follow like a duckling. He hardly let them out of his sight.
That night they all bundled under their blankets as they drank warm tea. It was all they could do to fight the cold wind that battered against their small house.

“Aero,” Blake began as he set down his mug, “do you really have to go back to the Capitol? I mean, I know you have friends there, but it’ll be lonely without you.”

“Sorry Blake.” Aero hugged him. “I have to go back.”

“Why?” he pleaded with her. “Why can’t you stay here with us?”

“It’s a long story,” she explained, “but I’m waiting for someone there. They need to be able to find me when they get back.”

“Will you come back to visit?” he asked hopefully. “You won’t disappear forever, right?”

“I’ll come back again. Don’t worry.” She ruffled his hair to make his sad face go away.

“We could even go visit her in the spring, if you’d like.” Lucidia offered. “That way she won’t have to worry about the person she’s waiting for.”

“We could visit the Capitol?” Blake asked in awe.

“You’d like it there,” Aero agreed. Blake had become so accustomed to the two of them that Aero was worried to leave. Blake always seemed to get lost in his thoughts and was careless when doing tasks. He was still so small but carried such a huge tragedy on his tiny shoulders. Aero didn’t want to add more wear and see him break under the pressure.

In the small back room Aero and Lucidia’s beds were pushed together forming one large bed for the three of them to sleep on. Blake had already fallen into a deep sleep as Aero pet his soft blonde hair.

“He’ll be okay, right?” Aero whispered, “He’s so young. I don’t know if he can take going though all this.”

“He’s not that much younger than you were.”

“But I didn’t have memories. I couldn’t remember the pain or the joy I’d faced before it was taken away. He does.”

“That may be true but he’ll be okay. Even you needed some time to adjust. He hasn’t healed from the loss but give him time. He’ll become happier.”




Aero harnessed the horses to the small carriage and packed her bags onto the seat. The sun was still warming the chill air. She could see her breath in the morning air. Blake stood beside her sulking. He held the hem of her skirt as he followed her from place to place preparing. Aero could hear him sniffling as he trudged through the snow. She stopped, kneeling down in front of him. “Come here.” She held out her arms hugging him closely.

“Don’t leave,” he sobbed into her shoulder, “I don’t like this. Why does everyone I love have to leave? Will Lucidia leave next?”

“Don’t worry.” She smoothed his hair. “You will learn how to heal like we can and you’ll be able to keep Lucidia safe even if something happens.”

“What if I can’t? What if something happens like before and she dies before I can save her?” He clung to her terrified.

“I was told before that you have to trust in your light.” Aero told him, “there is so much power inside of you that you haven’t awakened. You just have to trust in it, trust in yourself.”

“I’m too weak.”

“I know you can be strong.” She pulled him away so that she could look him in the eyes. “You’ve faced so much. Hardships make you grow. They can make you a better person if you know how to react to them.”

Lucidia came out of the house with a basket of food for the trip. She put the basket in the carriage before kneeling down beside Aero and Blake. She pulled them both close to her.

“Everything will be fine. Even though we’ll be separated we will always be thinking of one another.” She whispered.

“I’ll write as often as I can.” Aero added hugging them closer. She let them go and climbed into the carriage. The horses trotted forward as she waved one last time before latching the door closed. They spread their large wings and launched themselves into the air.

Blake wiped his face off with the sleeves of his jacket fighting away new tears. He took a deep breath to ease his shaking sobs.

“Blake,” Lucidia reached out worriedly.

He turned to her with determination burning in his eyes. “Teach me to heal.” He grabbed her hand. “I want to be strong, please, teach me to heal!”