Matias

I can't wrap my head around it. Why would Eve use a flying spell? It's not like flying is that great or takes much talent. It can't if that idiot crow can do it. But even if Eve did try the spell, where did she go after? 

"Crow, you seem to know a lot about Eve's disappearance." I look over my claws at the bird. 

He hops to face me, his perch wobbling at the movement. "Flying?"

"Yes, flying. But what kind of flying?"

He gets a far away look in his eyes. It almost reminds me of Eve. I look away, my tail swishing behind me. 

"Flying with stars."

I roll my eyes. "That just means she was flying at night then. Which doesn't help us."

The bird tilts his head to the side. "Are you sure?" He hops off his perch, throwing his wings out before he can fall and glides out through the open window. 

I hiss. Some help he is. 

"I want to be helpful, Matias." Eve sprints around her spell room. She grabs books from the shelves and throws them on the table before running out of the room. I don't bother following her as she comes back three seconds after. 

"They won't accept your help." I watch as she dumps jars onto the table.

"I don't care. I can't just sit back and watch as they struggle to find that man. And maybe my magic can lead us to him."

"Is that the only reason you're wanting to help?" I make my way over to the table and hop onto it as a guilty look passes on Eve's face. 

"It's the main reason. Does it really matter if there's another reason?"

"Yes , it does."

"Why, Matias? Why?" Her face is red. "Does it really matter that I want them to include me? That I don't want to be seen as an outsider, and that maybe if I can find him, then they'll see me as a good witch? Is that so bad?" Tears have rolled down her face, and her nose is a bright red. 

"It's selfish," I say, in a quiet voice. I'm no longer sure if I'm the right one here.

"So what if it is? I'm still helping them try to find him." She takes a deep breath. "Nothing to say about that?"

I shake my head.

She nods and runs a hand through her hair. "Good." She wipes her face with the end of her sleeve. "Now, are you going to help me cast this spell?" She points at her spell book in front of her.

With a sigh, I nod. But I need to ask one last question. "What will you do if the townsfolk aren't happy you tried to help?"

Eve doesn't reply.

All night we work on the spell. When it is done, Eve wears a triumphant smile. "This will lead us right to him," she says.

"If he's still alive."

"He has to be." Her expression grows grim. Closing her eyes, Eve takes a deep breath. "Find the lost," she whispers. The room seems to warm as a small light floats up from the caldron. It stops and hovers right in front of Eve's face, casting it in a silvery glow. Before either of us can move, the ball turns into a sharp line that runs out of the room.

Eve hops up, running to follow it. I jump up onto the windowsill and out the window as Eve reaches the fence. The light trail leads out into the forest. Eve pauses at the edge of it, by the time I've caught up to her, I can tell she's already set her mind on going in there.

The sky is dark, barely any light from the moon and stars to guide our way. The forest is even darker, only the light trail illuminating a path for us. With a shake of my head, I start the trek. Eve follows behind me, her footsteps the loudest noise out here.

***

Eve always wanted to help others, even when the town made it clear they didn't want her help. But she still tried, even when it ended badly for her. Why can't they do the same for her?

I turn my head to look out the window, the moon appears to shine dimly, almost as if it's sad. The crow's snores join the sounds of the crickets and the hooting from the owls.

About two years ago, a man in the village went missing. Eve had been determined to help find him, even as the town denied her help. I sigh, I think if Eve had been successful in her search, the town would have finally welcomed her. Just like she wanted.

We searched all night for him. But the light had delivered us to bad news. At the middle of the forest is a cliff with a raging river at the bottom.

My paws are covered in mud, Eve's clothes are smeared as well, and ripped in some places. Her eyes dim of hope as her gaze follows the light to river.

"Maybe he's down the river, a bit?" She tried to sound brave, but her voice broke, betraying her.

I rub up against her legs, trying to comfort her as my words break her more. "We both know he isn't."

Tears left clean streaks on her face. "But I can't go back with bad news. They'll either not believe me, or they'll blame me."

"But you at least tried to help them and you gave the family closure."

She takes a deep breath, before wiping her eyes clean. "You're right. I at least tried to do something."

I nuzzle her leg with my face, continuing to try to help her. A purr elicits deep from within me.

"I guess we should probably head back to town, huh?"

"Yes, we should. And you should figure out how to break the news to his family."

Eve takes a deep breath as we turn back to town. "I should, shouldn't I?"

The whole way back, she practiced what she was going to say. She fumbled over her words, and her voice cracked, but she managed to figure out how to tell the family the news.

The town was quiet, houses were dark. It was peaceful. The only house that looks remotely awake is the one we are standing before. Eve rings her hands together, fear and worry crinkling her forehead.

"It's now or never," I say, keeping my voice down. For some reason the townspeople always give me weird looks when I talk.

"Right. Right." She nods, taking a deep breath and makes her way up to the door. The knock echoes throughout the quiet street.

After a moment the door creaks open. A lady with greying brown hair, green eyes with dark lines under them, opens it. "Yes?"

Eve wears her cape, the hood up so it hides her face. "I have some news. Regarding your husband."

The door opens further. "Please come in then." She tries to hide her hope, but it is clear in her voice.

"I'd rather not," Eve whispers.

The lady frowns, but doesn't say anything.

Eve takes a deep breath. "I was helping to find your husband and-"

"In the search party?" The lady seems to think. "I don't remember seeing you there."

"Oh, well that's because I couldn't go out earlier and so I looked by myself." I rub up against her leg, trying to comfort her. "Um... but I did... sort of find him?"

"What... what do you mean?" The lady stands rigid, no longer burdened by her sadness. "What did you mean you sort of found him?" She seems to sag at the implications of the sentence. 

"Well, I cast a finding spell and it took me to the river in the forest, and then it... it  lead to the bottom of the river." As Eve speaks, I watch the wife before us. Her eyes widen and fill with anger as she listens to Eve's slip up. 

"You're the witch," she says. Her eyes narrow, as her body straightens. "Why should I believe you?"

Eve's eyes widen. "No- No I'm..." Her face loses all of its color. "I... But I'm telling the truth! Oh, I wish I wasn't but..."

The lady takes a step out of her house, her eyes shooting daggers at Eve. "And how do I know you didn't do-"

"Mama? Who's there?" asks a voice from inside the house.

Her eyes widen, before she turns back she glares once more at Eve. "No one sweetie. Just go back to sleep."

"I had another nightmare..." the voice says.

My tail flicks back and forth. "Now's our time to go," I whisper.

Eve shakes her head. When the lady is facing us again, Eve spews out her next words. "I promise I'm only trying to help. I really did want to find him."

The lady's face softens. "I'll believe you." She pauses as she goes to close the door. "Thank you." Then the light from the house disappears, leaving only shadows.

I nuzzle Eve's leg. "That went better than expected."

Her sigh fills the emptiness. She bends down and scoops me up in her arms. "She still's scared of me. I could see it in her eyes."

"But what you did for her might soften that hatred until it trickles out of her."

"I hope you're right," Eve says as she turns and takes us back home.

Chapter word count: 1,532

Total word count: 10,497