The shadows floated over the water's surface.

At the top of them, an albatross stood.

The albatross held a shepherd's crook in her wing, curling her slim wing around it tightly.

Tundling... Tundling. Do you still live? Or was when you called me our last meeting? It has been so long.

She looked down at her pet. At the shadows.

"Come on. We must get to the shore, quickly." She murmured.

The shadows reached down into the water and she jabbed it with her crook.

"I'm sorry, my dear. I know you're hungry. But Tundling said only to scorch the land." She whispered.

The albatross glanced at the small, nearby island. Not that one.

She looked ahead. The larger island was there. Her target.

The shadows sped up as she directed them with her crook.

Oh Tundling, dearest, be you alive or not, I will fulfill your wish.

"Stop." She ordered the shadows.

She made a movement with her crook, and the shadows formed an eyeglass, reaching it up to her.

A blue flame. So her advisor is still here, and still retains his magic.

Orange. That volatile little goose- her advisor's apprentice.

But those three. Green. Orange. Pink. Who... Who are they? Do they pose a threat?

And... Tundling. Gone. My dearest love.

"I will do this for you, Tundling." She vowed, sifting away the eyeglass with her crook. "Go on, my pet."

And the shadows continued to glide over the water.

Art by drargon