The midday forest was quiet, so still that any sudden noise would startle any onlookers. Something stirred the grass and broke through the barrier that silence always puts up.
It was a deer of some kind, with russet fur and slender, graceful legs. There was something off about it, though.
Its eyes, to begin with, were like a cat's- a bright, piercing yellow with slitted pupils. Its horns were bulky, too, more like a ram's than a deer's. The animal in question was running, dashing through the woods at an otherworldly speed, frightening any birds or squirrels that dared to be close to where its cloven hooves touched upon the ground. It soon slowed, coming to a river that lapped calmly against its banks. There was a shift in the creature-a movement that turned its body inwards.
Then the deer was no more. In its place stood a young woman with wild, wavy hair and a tanned complexion. She had the same golden eyes as the deer, and the same horns. They curled up at the sides of her head, close to her ears. The girl knelt down beside the stream, looking down into the water with her strange eyes. Her turquoise dress billowed around her legs as the breeze coming off of the trees met with it. The river became elevated, swirling and rising to lift someone from its depths up to face the waiting girl. It was a man, a man with dark azure hair and even darker eyes. He wore a blue suit, and his small wings lay flat against his back. "Hello, Jett," the horned girl said slowly. "What kept you? The message I bring needed to be heard as soon as possible."
Jett gave her a surprised look. "That's not what I was told originally. Oh, never mind. I had no idea that Hurricane sent female demise beasts to do his dirty work."
The girl glared at him, making a low growling noise deep in her throat. "You will not address me in that way."
"In what way?"
"You know what I mean," she snarled. "My kind is powerful, and is not meant to be treated so ignorantly. You will address me with respect, or will not address me at all."
Jett nodded, rising out of the river fully to take his place upon solid ground. "As you wish, my lady. What is your name?"
The beast nodded, pleased with this and ready to reply. "Topaz.  My message is from Hurricane himself. He wishes to meet with you in private."
"What for?"
"He was injured in a fight against some Guardians. The skirmish was won, but he lost his host and some of his magic in the process."
Jett nodded, contemplating this. "I see. He's going to need a new one now, right?"
Topaz smiled. It was a toothy one, as it displayed her rows of razor sharp teeth.
"A new host? Yes. You know how that process works, I assume."
"Of course. I am in place and prepared if the situation calls for it."
"There is more, Jett. The fairies have vanquished our magic induced monsters."
Jett looked interested, but remained as calm as ever. "Oh, alright. Who have they saved?"
"The griffin and the dragon."
Jett was not taken aback by this. In fact, he seemed almost pleased. "Fine. We have others, much stronger ones that can help. I'm not worried."
"I am not, either. The fairy's magic in his blood cancelled out the controlling spells, but the charms on the Flightless are still in place. If those fail, then the beast assigned to him will keep things running smoothly. If all goes well, he will still carry out our master's plan and bring the Hybrid child to us."
Jett smirked, straightening his black tie. "Good. When Lymeria has fallen and the Flightless world is ours to take, Hurricane will do nothing but thank us."
"I wouldn't get your hopes up." The girl seemed distant. "There is one more thing. I was close to the home of Felicia, Tobias and Kyle Corey. Kyle mentioned us briefly. Is he a new recruit?"

Kara could hardly sit still. She and Foster had been given a room to stay in due to their most recent agreement. Sylvan had since spoken with Peony about creating a Gateway, and she had agreed to do it. Kara had given them the spell book so that they could send them back more easily, but now she wished she hadn't. If she had it with her now, she could've looked for more notes from her mom in it, but for now, she'd just have to wait. She turned to see her boyfriend looking out of a window down into the courtyard below. Kara walked up beside him and hugged him from behind, trying to ease the tension that she could still sense from him. Foster turned to see her, his eyes wide. "Jeez, Kara, don't sneak up on me like that! You almost gave me a heart attack!"
"That's an exaggeration, and you know it."
She laughed. "Sorry. I just wanted to talk to kill some time. What are you looking at over here?"
"Just Sylvan and that purple haired fairy. They're making that Gateway thing for us now. It's pretty cool to watch. Wanna see?" Kara nodded and stepped up to the window. Sylvan and Peony were wearing identical white dresses, and their eyes were closed. They were holding their arms out in similar positions, blue and lavender magic coming from their hands. No Gateway had appeared yet, but Kara could tell that there would be one soon. She silently willed them to hurry up and moved away from the window. She knew she'd miss this place, but she belonged in the human world with her father. Grief flooded through her at the thought of him. She hoped he wasn't too worried. "Let's talk," she suggested. "Just to pass time, like I said before."
"Okay." Foster was thoughtful. "What about?"
"Anything, I guess. We haven't really talked much lately. Um...what was it like, being a griffin?"
Foster froze. Kara winced at what she'd done. She'd clearly hit a nerve, but he still answered anyhow, though his golden and blue mottled eyes looked haunted. "There's not much to tell."
Kara looked at him with sudden remorse. "Was it really that bad?"
"Yeah." Foster tugged at his shirt collar. "It was like being really sick and knowing that there are people around you, but not being able to interact with them. My wings and talons had replaced my arms and legs, and I couldn't speak, only able to screech like some freakish parrot." Foster crossed his arms, looking down at the floor. "Witches did it to me. Well, I think they were witches. They were ugly and old, and I had barely gotten out of that portal we used before they tied me down and forced me to eat this disgusting slop and, and, well-" He trembled, his voice failing him. When he found it again, he was shaking more intensely. "Kara, I...I think I killed someone."
Kara's eyes widened. "You what?"
Foster had turned much paler. "I'm sorry! It wasn't me, it was the spell! I wasn't myself, I was the thing they had turned me into! I was just so hungry, and bloodthirsty..." He chuckled nervously. "The only good thing about this is that I can see and hear better. I hope that stays with me, at least." 
Kara's heart ached with pity, and a smidgen of revulsion. "Foster, why didn't you tell me about this sooner?"
"I...I just thought it would bother you."
"Well, it does, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't tell me about it." Kara smiled. "I deserve to know if something weird is going on with you. I am your girlfriend, after all."
Foster scowled at those words. "I'm not so sure of that anymore."
Kara felt dread rise up inside of her. Why would he ask me that? "What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean," he snapped. "You've been with Shade an awful lot lately. What am I supposed to think? Is he your new boyfriend that you forgot to mention?"
Kara was flustered and angry. Where was this coming from? Sure, she hadn't been with him as much, but she still loved him, didn't she? "Of course not!" she protested. "He's just a friend."
"A friend wouldn't look at you the way he does."
His voice was strangely soft. "Do you love him?"
Kara blanched, her freckles standing out on her face. "No."
Foster's eyes narrowed. "Tell me the truth, Kara."
The pain in her chest worsened, and finally she threw up her hands, furious at his actions. "Fine! Fine, I...I love him." She hadn't realized the truth of those words until she'd spoken them out loud, but..she hadn't slept with him or anything! It was only a crush! Angrier than she'd ever been, she faced him, trying not to cry. "There, I said it! Is that what you wanted to hear, Foster? That I really am a traitor just like you thought I was? Well, congratulations. You've figured me out." Foster was angry, too.
"Why do you love him, then? Is it because he's a fairy and your sworn protector? Is a normal human being just not good enough for you?"
"No! No, it has nothing to do with that! He was just nice to me!"
"He saved your life." Foster looked lost and resentful, as if he never thought something like this would happen. "While I left to help Lily, he saved you from Danny."
Kara put a hand to her head out of annoyance. "That doesn't matter. You're jumping to conclusions. It was just a stupid crush! I only love you!"
"But it doesn't work like that. You can't love two people at once, because your heart only has room for one person." Foster was shaking even more now, and he grabbed her shirt. This time it wasn't out of passion, though. He looked like he was ready to hit her. "You don't get it. You really don't get it. You either date one person, or you leave that person in favor of the other. It's not that hard to understand! Just make your choice."
"You're wrong." Kara bit her lip to keep from screaming. "You're so, so wrong. I do understand, Foster, but I didn't want to hurt you by bringing it up. That doesn't matter now." She slapped his hand as hard as she could, and he let go of her, causing her to fall. When she got back up, her breathing was labored because of her tears. "You were right about one thing, though. I can choose who I want to be with, and you know what? I will, and the person I want certainly isn't you."
Foster was in a state of shock. He looked like he wanted to take back what he said, but it was too late, far too late for that. "What? Kara, you-you don't mean that."
"I do. You're a jealous, obnoxious creep, and I'm surprised I didn't notice it before. How dare you tell me what I can and cannot do!
From now on, I make my own choices, and your opinion won't change that choice in any way." She was crying now, but her words still rang out loud and clear. "You aren't worthy of calling me your girlfriend if you're suspicious of every guy that walks by me. A real boyfriend would know that I am loyal, and wouldn't dream of hurting me in such a way. We're done, Foster. We need a permanent break, and it's long overdue." She left the room, grabbing her rose lined jacket from the opposing chair and turned to leave the room. She stood in front of the corridor, hatred making her cross her arms. "By the way, there wasn't anything going on with me and Shade, but now, maybe there will be." She stormed off, leaving Foster all alone.

Her former boyfriend and her childhood friend collapsed down onto the floor. Kara's words circled through his head. They were true, each and every one of them. He buried his head in his hands and just stayed there, not even bothering to go after her. She deserves someone better, not someone like me. I'm so sorry, Kara.