its roots are still growing (but it died long ago)

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Beata is... lucky, overall. Lucky not to have to live a peasant's life, lucky to have the potential for magic, lucky to be apprenticed to a witch. Lucky to be apprenticed to White Jaga instead of Red Jaga or Black Jaga, and not caught up in that rivalry. Morning dances between Midnight and Midday, playing its own game.

For most of Beata's time with her, White Jaga has been aligned more with Red Jaga, leaving Black Jaga alone, shrouded in the far depths of the forest. Beata doesn't mind. She likes Marynka, her Midday counterpart. Marynka is passionate, full of life. She enjoys things, relishes in the experience of living.

She's never actually met Black Jaga's apprentice, only seen the signs of their passing. She thinks that one must be a cold sort to have done the things they did. And Marynka obsesses over the unseen Midnight, focused on a rivalry that Beata half-suspects is entirely one-sided.

Now, though Morning and Midday are being sent out together, to hunt the same prince cooperatively. White Jaga and Red Jaga made an agreement to share the heart's power, which means Beata and Marynka won't have anything between them on this trip. She's looking forward to it.