WINTER IS COMING

[Raven]

"I'm pretty sure we're never going to unpack again in our lives, Monique," Kailen said.

[Doom]

"Y-you don't really mean that," urged Monique weakly. "C'mon. They seem nice. We're going to be okay."

[Raven]

"We can't stay here forever," Kailen said. "We'll have to keep moving or we'll be found and then we'll get your uncle killed along with us. We can't risk unpacking everything and being without anything at all if we have to move quickly."

[Gifted]

Before she left town, Stephanie ducked into a bar to examine the TV and get and idea of what was going on. She walked away with a grim picture and quickly got back into the car to return to her friends.

[Crymzun]

Gwenyver Hayes
Age: 16
Power: To imbue a dying animals spirit to an object with the ability to summon them later
example v
orig08.deviantart.net/54b0/f/2015/047/f/a/phantasmal_bear_by_artofryanyee-d8i9npg.jpg

Gwenyver wiped tears from her face, she had been doing volunteer work for this wildlife rescue for years now. Her father always being busy with work as a Sergeant of the Vancouver police department gave her ample time after school to devote to the sanctuary. Her best friend for the last 3 years of her volunteer work was Morganna, a cheesy name perhaps but he had a wonderful personality that always brought a smile to Gwens face. He had cancer in his lymphatic system and it finally came to a climax in the last few months and caused him extreme pain. She felt what he was going through and knew that it was time to say goodbye.. It was the most polite thing she could do and DR. Campbell was letting her do the Euthanization. A plus she got over time and gaining trust and at this point one of the longest "staff" members she picked up some veterinarian knowledge letting her set him off.

Dr. Campbell placed his hand on her shoulder "ill be outside.. i'll handle him afterwards" turning away, his hand gingerly sliding off as he left the room.
Her face increasing in temperature and began to start burning she gripped the needle and readied her self. "Thank you Morgy..... you are my best friend.. itll be so lonely with out you.." she gripped him a little tighter trying to steady herself. She inserted the needle, the quivering moving to her lips increasing with intensity as her body temperature rises. Morgannas breathing began to slow and he was panting, calmly snuggled to her chest and finally he stopped... he was gone; and her heart sank. She froze her friend took flight without her, it was so... silent. She closed her eyes an wept into his feathers.
After a few minutes she could feel sudden heat and then cold with a light flashing on her eye lids she opened her eyes at the emanating light taking shape into a raven in flight, An ethereal specter of his former self a raven perched on her arm. It cawed, sounding almost like a liquid filter was placed on his vocal chords. The shriek woke her from her awed trance "No! NO! quiet go away, SHOO!" the raven simply dissipated and the sterling carved necklace adorned with rainbow and black moonstone seemed to shine with new luster.

Dr. Campbell returned seeing her shocked face assuming it was pain, and walked over to retrieve her bestfriend from her arms. "You did good Gwen... take the day off go home.." his voice trailed off as he left the room
She got her stuff rapidly wiping tears away from her eyes. She ran passed the avian care unit and sprinted out trying to run away from the confusion... and the loss toward the bus home.

[Doom]

Monique sighed. "You're right. I just wanted to..." She took a deep breath to calm her voice. "I think we should relax. Just for a little while. We don't have to unpack everything, but we can at least take a few minutes to catch our breath."
Cam glanced over at them coyly, though he said nothing.

---

Blake quickly surveyed the surrounding area then commenced the drive back to the cabin.
"Despite what Monique said," Blake began casually, "I suspect that 'Stephanie Clark' isn't your real name. I wouldn't really care one way or another under ordinary circumstances. These are hardly ordinary circumstances, however. You mentioned that you and your parents weren't on the best terms and that they played some part in this whole mess." Blake drummed on the steering wheel, searching for what to say next. "This isn't the first gifted crisis I've lived through. Your parents might have been there, too. I'd like to know who I'm dealing with. Please, tell me your real name."

[Raven]

Kailen glanced at her. "I know. Think you could sleep? A nap might be good for us."

[Doom]

Monique nodded. "Yeah. Just for a little while. I'll need to set–" She touched her pocket, only then remembering that she'd left her phone behind. "–an alarm." She sighed. "Should we sleep in shifts? One of us wake the other after a while?"
"I'll keep watch," offered Cam. "You can both sleep. There are two beds in there, so don't be shy."
Monique tensed up, whispering to Kailen. "Okay, so, I know this goes against what I just said, but I'm not sure if I trust this guy to watch us while we sleep."

[Gifted]

Stephanie sighed. "Does it really matter?" She asked. "Yes, my family i partially responsible for this and yes, my father was involved rather prominently on the wrong side last time, but does that really make me any different?" She pointed out. "I don't want to be involved with them or associated with them again. I'd really rather just move on."

[Raven]

Kailen glanced at her. "Come on, I can't sleep right now anyway. Get some rest, I'll sleep later."

[Doom]

Blake gave her a sympathetic grin. "Okay. I believe you. I won't breathe a word of your parents or your real identity." He seemed more relaxed now, though still lost in thought as they returned to the forest.
"What's your gift, kiddo?" he asked. "Mine's sensitive hearing. Helps me catch subtle sounds: voice quavering, heartbeats, and the like." He scoffed. "It's also a pain in the neck. Couldn't stand living in the city, even if there wasn't an ongoing witch hunt."

---

"Thanks, Kailen," whispered Monique. She turned to Cam, offering back a polite but forced, "I appreciate the offer, but that won't be necessary."
Cam shrugged. "As you wish." He returned to his book.
Monique shuffled off to the guest room. Though she was still anxious, her tiredness overcame her nerves. She fell asleep in seconds.

[Raven]

Kailen was bored and miserable, and with nothing better to do, his mind kept wandering horribly to his parents and the day. He was probably never going to see either of them again. Sure, Stephanie wouldn't see hers either, but it was different. His mother had been the sweetest woman he'd ever heard of, she'd deserved better.

[Gifted]

Stephanie sighed, clearly uncomfortable. "Wind. Fat lot of good that does me." She responded.

[Doom]

Monique began to snore quietly, drooling slightly on the pillow. A faint hissing could be heard as her drool slowly ate through the case.

---

Blake could sense the discomfort in her voice.
"Wind, eh?" he asked hesitantly. "Not bad as far as gifts go."
They had now entered the forest.

[Gifted]

"If that's not bad, I would hate to see what you consider bad." Stephanie scoffed.