The walls go far above what she can see, blocking the breeze from outside the city. The fresh, cooling air that would normally stave off the approaching Summer heat as Spring nears its end. The air within the walls is heavy, blazing, and stagnant.

From her yellow backpack, emerges a small white fox with tiny black antlers.

"Twig stay in the bag you know what happens if they see you," Hilda requests patting her pet's head lovingly, "It's to dangerous to show your face."

Twig whimpers, but complies.

"It's OK Twig," Hilda assures the fox, "I've only got one more day of school before Summer starts. We can play all you want after OK?"

With that she begins down the street towards the school, along the walls of the city.

She has always hated the walls, she feels trapped when she looks at them, towering up beyond the clouds that always seem to linger along the perimeter. She hasn't felt free since she arrived here, and of course every day she has to say that accursed mantra at school, an anthem to all she despises.

She arrives in class, sitting next to a girl with her black hair tied into a bun she's grown to know.

"Hey Frida," she greets as she gently sets her bag down.

"Hey Hilda," Frida responds high fiving Hilda. "Any plans for the Summer?"

"I dunno," Hilda replies half jokingly, "Maybe tunnel out of this place."

Frida chuckles but corrects, "The wall goes underground fifty feet. There's no going under or over."

"I know," Hilda sighs.

The teacher demands, "Alright class, today we were merely being saying our pledge and you'll be free to enjoy your Summer. All thanks to the wall. Why did we build the wall?"

Hilda clenches her fist and grits her teeth as her and the rest of the class speak the mantra, "The wall protects us from the enemy."

The teacher continues, "Who is the enemy?"

"Those not bound by reality with wonder and magics most unholy."

"And why does the wall make us free."

"The wall leaves us free to work upon what we want."

"And what is it that we want?"

"A world without the enemy. The enemy is slow and weak. We are smart and our walls strong. We will wipe out the enemy."

The teacher smiles, "Very good. Remember to report any supernatural creatures to the guard, have a good Summer."

Hilda sighs as she lifts her backpack, scowling bitterly. How can that anthem speak for her when no one's seen the outside in...

"Hey Frida when was the last time someone went beyond the wall?" Hilda inquires.

"Over a century," Frida replies, "Some folks come in from time to time, but no one ever leaves. I wonder what it's like out there."

"It's wonderful," Hilda replies, reminiscing about the fresh air, open spaces, the sense of wonder and freedom her life once had.

"You've seen the outside?" Frida exclaims eagerly, grabbing Hilda in her excitement.

"Yes?" Hilda replies with an uneasy smile. "You don't worship the walls?"

"The walls keep me from learning," Frida explains, "Imagine if they weren't there. The things we could learn. The medicines we could make, that could save lives. All sorts of stuff that can help people, just beyond the border cause no one will even give it a chance. I would love to meet just one supernatural creature."

Hilda opens her bag, looking at Twig, who from within, nods.

"Can I trust you?" Hilda inquires.

"I won't snitch," Frida assures.

Hilda nods in understanding and requests, "OK. Come with me."

Hilda leads Frida to her apartment in an apartment complex. Hilda's mother sits at her desk, drawing blueprints for some sort of device. Unaware that Hilda has just entered, she leans back in her chair and sighs, "Ugh. This isn't right. This device isn't going to make things better but if I don't take the job..."

"Hey mom," Hilda greets, pretending not to have heard what her mom said but making a mental note to take a glance at the blueprints later. She doesn't trust this town any further than she can throw Twig.

And she would never throw Twig that would hurt him.

"Hey Hilda," she replies, "Oh! I see you brought home a friend!"

"Yeah this is-" Hilda begins.

"Frida," Frida greets, "And you are?"

"Johanna," Hilda's mom replies, "Hilda did you take your 'favorite toy' to school again? You don't wanna get it confiscated."

Hilda assures, knowing her mom is speaking in code about Twig, "I've got it right here."

Frida however is wise enough to realize that there's more to this and decides, "You guys are clearly pro monster so imma just put all my cards on the table..."

Frida takes out a glass jar with airholes poked in the lid. Soft mewing can be faintly heard from within.

"Are those nittens?" Hilda inquires looking into the jar to see kittens the size of small insects sleeping in a pile of cloth at the bottom of the jar with a water bottle lile that used for rabbits and hamsters and a food dispenser.

Johanna walks over, looking at the jar and inquiring, "I thought they were extinct."

"So did I," Frida explains, "Found them starving in the hair of a dead dog. It... was a gross but I managed to get em and keep them safe. I don't want an entire species that we can study to die out but I can't keep them for much longer my parents are starting to wonder why my room smells like cat food."

"Well if we're being open," Hilda explains opening her bag to reveal Twig, who lets out a small yip and jumps onto the floor.

"Awwww!" Frida exclaims, "He's adorable! I thought deer fox were a myth."

"You thought wrong," Hilda explains, "Mom? Can we keep the nittens?"

"I dunno Hilda harboring magic animals is illegal and-" Johanna sighs.

"Twig is already illegal!" Hilda exclaims holding up her pet, "And look at this little guy! We smuggled him in didn't we?"

Johanna sighs, "Fine, but in exchange you can't take Twig outside anymore. Now we've got a whole species on our hand and if they catch Twig they'll search our house and find the nittens. Safer this way anyways."

"Thank you so much," Frida smiles, "Well, wanna go grab milkshakes? I got some time to kill."

"Sounds fun!" Hilda exclaims, "I'll be back mom!"

Hilda rushes towards the door only to feel Twig tugging on her boot.

She pets Twig's head and assures the small fox, "I'm sorry boy but we aren't in the wilds anymore. Besides I need someone to stay here and guard the nittens."

Twig whimpers but lets go as Hilda leaves. Twig turns to look at the jar, and plants himself in front of it, following his orders diligently.

Johanna sighs as she looks at the nittens, "Been here a month and she's already gotten into trouble. Although what did I expect Twig?"

Johanna looks out the window at the city, "This city is a bad place Twig, and I won't deny it. However, it's at least safer than the outside. I just hope Hilda doesn't get into to much trouble...