I wake up tucked in my bed and get out right away. I fall to my knees as my legs collapse out from under me. I remember doing some mind manipulation magic practicing and It must have tired me out.
"Good morning." Treetop shrugs. I stare at him as he relaxes in a wicker chair. I was still shaking as I get up.
"Hi." I mumbles.
"You ok Red?" He asks.
"Yeah," I smile, "Let's get training."
Treetop looks at me, concern covering his face. "Ok."
"Shall we go to the spot?" I laugh as I grab an apple from the basket by the door.
"No!" He says hastily, "We will be training inside today."
"Oh." I sit down on the couch, "Let's get going." He sits down next to me as I bite into my apple. It was tart and cold but I didn't mind. He stares at the painting of a river in front of us and I follow his gaze. I could tell he was looking at the one scene I found cool too. There was a refection of a house with trees surrounding it but above in the mountains, there was no house. Just a bunch of trees and a few patches of grass could be seen in between it.
I cross my legs and close my eyes and try to see into his mind. It's very confusing, apparently his mind is racing. I purse my lips and open my eyes.
"You're very concerned." I state, "What about?"
"Thats none of your concern." He mutters. "You worry about you."
"Ok." I sigh and pull my wings over my shoulders.
"Shouldn't those learn to support themselves?" He asks.
I glare at him and drop the useless patches of skin behind me. "I was supposed to go the Shadow dimension when I turned five to get the necessary nutrient from the atmosphere to get them to work." I pull them over my head, "but I was in a mine."
"Oh wow." He mutters. "Why not go back now?"
I get up and feel almost dragged down by my wings, "I don't want to. They'll fill in." I go to the door and open it. "You need anything? I'm going to town."
"Carrots?" He smiles. I nod and leaves.
"He's a great person." I think, "Letting a five and a half year old of mass destruction go to a village by herself. Oh yeah, great idea." I walk through the eery forest and flinch at every sound. It looked almost pith black (if I could see pitch black, which I can't) and it had to be almost noon. I skip down the path.
"Hey Red." Jinx barks as he bounds in front of me."
"Hi Jinxy!" I hug him.
"Where are you going?" he asks.
"To the village. I'm ging to visist my brothers and sisters." I smile, "and some carrots."
"You're finally gonna visit them?" Jinx states almost a question.
"Well I mean," I rub my arms, "I'm just going to observe them. Through a window or perhaps from a shadow." I shrug. "I don't want to explain them about mom or Treetop yet."
"Oh." Jinx looks at me as sadness crosses my face. I realize that I never buried my mom. I was supposed to and I didn't. How could I forget? I trudge on, a single tear falling from my eye. It hit Jinx's paw and he yelps.
"Oh I'm sorry!" I grab him into a hug.
"It's ok!" Jinx smiles, "I'm all good."
"Oh what am I doing Jinx?" I sigh as I see the towering castle through the trees, "I'm a demon. Even my tears bring suffering."
"Red..." He says sympathetically.
"Jinx," I hug him, "I'm never coming back."
"What!?" He gasps. I walk off and reach the sign. I turn around and wave good bye to the stunned wolf-thing.
"But Red..." He runs after me, "But you have so much to learn. Treetop he-"
"It's been a great run. But I have to be alone to finish my studies. I want to practice actual spells. Maybe I'll come back. Hopefully I'll live long enough to do just that." I walk away and Jinx whimpers than runs back through the forest. I walk through town and pick up my wings.

When I finally reach my house, I pause. With my hand hovering right above the door. My stomach hangs in my throat and my heart is beating so hard my feet are beating too.
Then will all my power I knock.
"Hello?" Says a woman with brown frizzy hair.
I sigh, "Do you live here?"
"Yes." She responds with an accent that showed that she was from the Light Dimension.
"Oh." I turn around and leave.
"Can I help you?" She calls after me.
"Yes." I yell back and continue walking down the street. The truth was she could help me, but i didn't want her too. I follow the street until it turns into hard pavement. I think for a second, then turn and walk back. No way that academy would take me back. With my family missing, I might as well leave this planet. I'll sneak back into Treetop and steal his dimensional knife if he has one.
I couldn't stop thinking about where my brothers and sisters went. Mage probably went to live at her school, End is back in the Shadow dimension, Fang and Marvel are who know where though.
I pus down a lump in my throat as I picture them in the mines and I be gin to run back to the forest.
"Red." Says a voice s soon as I enter. "I have something to tell you."
"Treetop?" I say. I watch as Treetop comes out from the shadows. I slump against a tree and cross my arms.
"Red," He mutters, "I have a new spell I want you to try."
"Well I'm sure it's fantastic." I growl, "But I'm my own teacher now bud."
"It's called Shadow Gear." He just never stops talking. "It allows you to create anything connected to life. Like giants, made entirely out of shadows."
"Wow." I mumble. "That would be useful."
"Red why did you run away?" He asks.
"Because..." I mutter, "I'm a monster and-"
"Red stop calling yourself that. You are a good person."
"But-"
"Red, your whole perpose of become stronger is to save people." He stands up, "What's so monstrous about that?" He nuges me and I stand up.
"Hey Treetop?" I mutter. He looks at me and I smile.
"I'm a handful huh?" I laugh. He picks me up and Jinx runs around his feet and I laugh.
"Since my family is gone," I hang my arms around his neck, "Can you be mine?"
"You want me to be like you're family?"
"Mmhmm!" I grin, "But wait?"
"What?"
"My daddy, he's still on this planet, right?"
"Huh?" He looks at me.
"Do you know him?" I ask.
"No" He sighs. "I do not."