Maxine and Ildri each carried a lantern and a basket as they walked into the dark forest. Ildri suppressed a shiver, being in the woods when it was so late brought all of her anxiety rushing out.

"Couldn't we do this in the morning?" Ildri pleaded, her voice still sounding oddly deep.

"Sorry, but starflowers need to be harvested on a clear night like tonight. They close during the day."

"And why do we need starflowers?"

"They're one of the main ingredients for the tester potion. You need to know this, because every witch eventually experiments on her own. Especially once they have a familiar, since every familiar's magic has a different effect. Since we're awake anyway, it might as well be tonight."

They continued walking for a while through the woods following the trail. Maxine broke the silence. "Are you going to look for a familiar?"

"I don't know. I hadn't thought about it. How do you find one?"

"You don't. It's usually the animal who finds you. When one does, if you want to, you simply tie its magic to yours. Simpler than Dredil's solution, I assure you. And if the animal doesn't want you to, you won't be able to, so don't worry about that."

"I'll think about it." It seemed nice, the way that Maxine had her rabbits and Ty had Farrel. Maybe she would find one somewhere.

Maxine nodded. "The animal benefits, too. They live longer. Oh, here we are."

"I've never seen these before," Ildri commented as she examined the large white flowers growing everywhere on the ground.

Maxine reached down and plucked one. "They wrap themselves up during the day. Remind me to show you what they look like when it is light out."

Ildri and Maxine plucked the plants until their baskets were full and then they headed back to Maxine's cottage. The plants were left for use in the morning and Ildri dragged her weary body up to bed.

* * * * *

Ildri slept in. She groaned to herself and pulled on her clothing which were too tight. She had forgotten about her unexpected disguise.

Maxine had a mirror in her room, so Ildri made her way there. She looked into the glass and saw that Maxine had told the truth. She looked like a young man. She peered at her face. If she shaved off the patchy stubble on her face she would probably be the sort of young man Hanna might find attractive.

She was not going to attempt to shave her face. She did not care if she looked like a scruffy bear until she returned to normal. She was not doing it.

She figured that Allan would be off doing whatever it was that Allan did and that Maxine would be in the shed. She quickly ate the breakfast that Maxine had left for her and then pushed open the door.

The sun hit her eyes and the sound of talking was apparent.

"It won't last for that long. Please, Allan. It's in the interest of knowledge. I just want to see if it works," Maxine pleaded in an engaging voice.

"I'm sorry, but I absolutely will not, Maxine."

Then the talking stopped. "Good morning, Ildri," Maxine chirped.

"You really were telling it like it was. She's—" Allan's face had dropped into a look of wide eyed shock. "That can't be—"

"I'm going to work now," Ildri said with real irritation. She was not an experiment to be observed. She walked away from them. She could hear Maxine making her case as she neared the shed.

"It's amazing. It was supposed to be impossible. But Ildri managed it, accidentally."

"Is that why she screamed last night?"

"No, that was after. But Allan, you're the only man here. We need to test it. Please! Do it for me—"

The door banged shut behind Ildri, cutting off Maxine's voice.

* * * * *

A few minutes later Maxine entered the workshop.

"Did you manage to get him to try it?"

Maxine simply looked at Ildri with a wide eyed look of complete and fraudulent innocence. "Shall we begin?" she suggested, leaving Ildri to wonder about the answer to her question.

Ildri learned to make the potion surprisingly easy over the course of a few hours. Maxine smiled with pride. "You've done very well, Ildri."

"Thank you," Ildri said.

"I suppose that you've nearly reached the end of what I can teach you. My expertise now lies with my rabbits and that will not help you unless you have a familiar, too."

"I don't think I'll be getting one yet," Ildri said.

"No rush. But you'll do fine when and if you do get one. Lord Wildwood gave you a way to contact him?" she asked.

"He did."

"You should let him know that you're done learning from me now. It'll take at least a few days before they arrive.

Ildri's throat closed so she nodded, unable to say anything.

In her room, Ildri found the small, smooth stick that Lord Wildwood had given her. She looked at it for a moment, and then snapped it in two pieces. She felt a rush of tingles as the magic left the object.

She was going home.

* * * * *

The days while Allan and Ildri waited for their escort to arrive were oddly solemn. Maxine laughed much with them both but Ildri thought she could sense an underlying sadness. Even seeing Allan look like a very irritated tall and surprisingly comely woman before the charm wore off did not make Ildri's spirits any lighter.

"Why don't you come and visit Wildwood one day? I'm sure you would be welcome," Ildri asked Maxine as they sat on the edge of the step together.

"I don't go far from my land now days. I've had my time." Maxine shook her head. "But it is not the time for that right now! Another thing I should caution you on is attempting to transform animals into humans or humans into animals."

"Why not. If we can make Allan into a woman, then what can't we do?"

Maxine laughed a bit. "It is not the same thing. Even though Allan looked and sounded like a woman, he was still himself, as were you. It was just an intricate illusion covering the truth of your form, he was and remained as he was born. But changing to another creature is much harder and much more dangerous."

Ildri raised an eyebrow. "Didn't they think that what I accidentally did was impossible? Maybe it is the same with animal transformations. Lady Theresa was turned into a cat by her aunt."

"Did she have a cat familiar?"

"I think she was actually a wizard."

"That may work differently. And I did not say that it was impossible. A few warlocks have managed to temporarily change humans into animals. But the transformation was always into the same type of creature as their familiar. I believe there have been crow and frog transformations in the past. And perhaps a bear."

"A bear?"

"If my memory serves me... All devilishly difficult and easy to get wrong. Mistakes are disastrous."

Ildri shrugged. "I was just curious, anyway.

Maxine continued. "You'll also want to remember with many potions the effect and duration depends on the amount given and the size of the subject. You'll just have to learn that as you go, though. Always use the smallest amount as you learn to gauge the right amounts, and then move up."

Ildri nodded. "Thanks for everything, Maxine."

"You're welcome."

"I didn't feel like I'd be happy again, but maybe I will."

"You will," Maxine agreed.

Ildri smiled. Her leather satchel was sitting beside her. She opened it up. "Here, Maxine. I want to pay you back for all you've taught me." She fumbled around with her bag, trying to fish the coins she had carried from Wildwood out.

"Oh no, Ildri. You don't need to do that."

"I think I do."

"Ildri, you've helped me make so many potions to sell you've easily paid for your room and board. Not to mention all the supplies Lord Wildwood sent along with you. It was nice to have company. I won't take your money."

Ildri sighed. Maxine was obviously determined.

"Now, have you packed your bags?"

Ildri smiled. "Yes, of course." Maxine could switch from friend to instructor to mother mode faster than anyone she knew.

Maxine stood up. "Wait here. I actually have something for you." She went into the house and returned quickly with a carefully wrapped package.

Ildri took it in her hands. It was fairly heavy. "Should I open it?"

Maxine shook her head. "It's wrapped for the journey. I'll just tell you what it is. There's a book with the potions you've brewed and some that you have not. There are also a few of my own creation, rabbit potions, not something that you can just find anywhere, or make. The pale yellow ones I call my potion of adorableness. It just will make you look extra sweet and helpless and adorable, people will be more inclined to protect you and do what you wish, if they are not aggressive. It's especially effective when combined with a beauty potion. The second potions are cloudy white. I call them, rabbit supersensory and it makes your senses sharper until it wears off. Especially your hearing. It can be handy in a lot of situations, but don't misuse it!"

"I won't. Thanks, Maxine."

"You're welcome. Let's go make supper."

* * * * *

The end of Ildri's time with Maxine arrived with startling swiftness. Ildri and Maxine were cleaning up after lunch the following day when Allan entered the cottage.

"They're here."

Ildri dropped the towel she was holding. "I'll go get my things," she said, leaving Maxine and Allan alone.

Ildri had already packed most of what she was taking home with her and it took her only a few minutes to gather the last couple of items. When she carried them downstairs the cottage was already empty and all the potions that she was bringing back to Wildwood were already gone. She supposed that Allan or the soldiers had already added them to the luggage. Ildri took a deep breath and one last look around the cottage and stepped out the door.

* * * * *

Even though Ildri had known that the soldiers had arrived it was almost surprising to come out into the lawn that had become so familiarly empty and find a group of people waiting. Some of her escorts were eating, others were moving about on various tasks. They all looked to be doing whatever it was with utmost efficiency. Allan was talking to one of the soldiers with his old typically dour expression.

It was a shame. She had almost been coming to like Allan. The amiability must have been Maxine rubbing off on him. Ildri walked towards the waiting group.

"We're ready to leave in ten minutes," said a vaguely familiar soldier. He was very normal looking, she wondered if she had seen him before but did not remember because he was so plain. If he was more handsome she would remember. Hanna would have gushed over him if he was or it would help if he had some sort identifying trait, like striking eyes or a scar or a limp, or a distinguishable personality.

Ildri shook her head a bit to clear it. "I'm ready to go," she said, although she felt nothing of the sort. Ildri wondered if she would feel better once she got back to Wildwood or if the empty feeling would still be there. It was better when she was with Maxine. She wondered if it was because Maxine had known Ty, too.

Not that it mattered because Ildri was going home.

It did feel good.

The soldier led Ildri over to a horse. Maxine came forward.

"I'm going to miss you, honey," she said with a wide smile.

"I'll miss you too, Maxine," Ildri agreed, feeling as if she might become tearful.

"You will become a talented witch," Maxine smiled. "With time. Just like Ty. Keep practicing. My girls will miss you."

"You have to come to Wildwood to visit me," Ildri said firmly. Maxine needed to come to visit Ildri. And visit Allan, too.

Maxine's smile faded a bit. "We'll see," she said blandly. "Have a safe trip," she said and enveloped Ildri in a hug. Ildri hugged her back, and then the soldier helped Ildri up on her horse.

The group began to move and Ildri watched Maxine wave until they were out of sight. Maxine looked very small and very lonely. Allan's face was impassive as he spoke with one of the soldiers.

Ildri realized that Maxine was a lot like Ildri had been before Ty had swept into her life.

Ildri missed Ty.