"We do have charming company. You and Allison seem close."

"I like Allison. She's teaching me archery, it's great."

"I didn't know she was into archery. I didn't now you were, either. How many skills are you planning to pick up?"

"Why limit myself?"

He sips.

"Why indeed. As if increase of appetite had grown by what it fed on."

Soon, there is neither coffee nor tea left to sip.

And they have quoted tremendous amounts of literature at each other and Solvei is smiling at him. Solvei has the gift of smiling in a way that makes you feel very personally smiled at.

She does at that.

Matt still must go eventually, and so must Solvei. 

The sun hides in fear and shame, and the moon waits in anticipation.

Alas, alas.

Isaac is not having a great day. 

He knows his dad won't be happy about the grade, he knows he's going to have to go in the freezer again, he knows he can't ever be ready for it-

They argue, and he's bleeding, and then he's not. Derek promised he would heal fast. His dad saw, and what does that mean, what now? He looks curious. Isaac doesn't like it. 

He runs, and of course the car catches up to him. He's not that fast, even if he's running faster than any human can run.

His dad shouts his name, but Isaac is safely around the corner. Isaac doesn't see the whole thing, but he does glance around the corner when the screams start. A flash of scales, dropping from the sky, and-

He runs until he finds Derek.

(skip to avoid bugs and other creepy crawly things)

Lydia runs. 

She hates the woods. Who needs dirt? Intellectually, she knows that soil is important, but she does not need to have any of it on her. She needs humanity to overcome their shackles and do away with farms and trees and dirt and just move on already! 

There is something burrowing into her skin. Probably a worm. She can't recall noticing it until it enters her. She watches as her skin turns raw and red around the bite. She can feel it, squirming underneath the surface. 

Lydia knows this isn't real, but that's hardly a comfort. It itches. It itches all over her arm until she feels it just underneath her chest, and then she feels a pounding, throbbing, piercing sensation. 

She screams, though it comes out more like a howl. 

"Charming girl. Too bad about that voice, she could have been a singer if she turned it to something other than wailing." 

"But the wailing is so lovely," says a barely-visible woman made of scattered motes of dust carried on swirling breezes. "I'll have to remember this nightmare, it's choice."

"Are you thinking of using it? I wouldn't mind seeing your take on it, I did put some work into the scenario." 

She laughs. "Oh, you tempt me, you do."

"Speaking of how much I can offer...remember that project you wanted my help on? I think I know how to get Lydia to help us on our way." 

"I'm all ears," she says.

"Banshees can bring anyone to life if given the right circumstances. One of these is having access to the original personality. I assume if you had a body the job would be done by now? And I expect you don't have a set of alpha claws, either. The other circumstance is some kind of healing magic. I think I have an angle on the former."

"You assume correctly. What is your angle?"

"There are places where magical power concentrates. You know that, you've done your research. If a banshee finds one of these places, she becomes stronger. Lydia has. She grew up on the remains of a nemeton. Most banshees only ever predict death, but Lydia can go further. She can take the memories of a person," he points to himself, "and recover their entire personality. Proof of concept. What I need from you is a place where this person made memories. I'll handle the rest."

"That can certainly be arranged." The breeze-lady wafts closer and ruffles his hair with insubstantial fingers.

"So you pick the place, I'll provide the power. It should be easy enough to arrange, but it might be better to get her the memories before it's time."

"The place is in Thule; how helpful will you be in getting her there?"

"Getting her there won't be easy, all I can do is make her suggestible. Should be fine for the resurrection, but the memory- hunting trip will take parental approval. Teenagers!" 

"I'm sure we will be able to manage something."