"Ada, grab the keys. We need to hurry," Aerwyna urged, worried that the commotion would attract people to come and investigate. It was already approaching dawn as the night sky had begun to lighten. It would make getting away harder if the villagers had begun to stir. "Ada!"

Ada stared at the ground where only ashes remain, lying next to it were the keys. An emptiness had settled in her as she snatched the keys off the floor. Detached from the world around her, she somehow managed to unlock the door to Aerwyna's cell.

"Come, follow me," Aerwyna spoke softly as she hugged the shadows while making her escape.

Wordlessly, Ada followed in her footsteps. It seemed like Aerwyna knew what she was doing and where she was going, so she didn't argue. She never would've guessed how easy it was to get away, as it appeared that the Sisters were asleep. There were only two awake when they reached the main rooms upstairs, but with Aerwyna's help, they were able to avoid them.

As she stood outside of the church, she looked towards the sky, wondering if she was truly free now. The cool air brushed against her skin, but instead of the musky stench she normally smelled carried on the winds in the cellar, it was clean, fresh; it was disorienting and confusing.

"Ada!" Aerwyna hissed as she snatched Ada's hand, tugging her along after noticing she had fallen behind.

Trying to avoid being in the open, they stayed close to the back of the houses as they headed towards the woods. Aerwyna's pace became more agitated as a purplish-pink hue started to brighten the sky and the farm animals began making noise. Still, Ada followed her blindly and came up short when Aerwyna stopped suddenly.

"Mary?"

The little girl carried a basket in one arm as she neared the gate to some chickens.

"Eh, what are you doing here?" Mary asked, looking puzzled. "Mother said you was to get the fires today, with a witch! You are supposed to be in the church. It's for your own good ya know? Mother said it was the only way you was to be saved! I'm sad I won't get to see you ever again, but mom said it was the best way, ya know?"

Ada looked down at the girl, not knowing what to say. It was Aerwyna who, out of the corner of her eye she watched, as she strode up to the girl and placed her hand on the child.

"Sleep now, young one," she spoke as wind rushed around her and Mary. The girl dropped to the ground. "Let's go!" She commanded as she glanced back at Ada, before dashing towards the woods, no longer caring to be cautious.

Ada glanced at the limp girl on the ground, the young child had shown her some mercy. She had not shown fear or disgust in her eyes when she talked to her. It was neither of their faults for what the world had cast their roles in it. Knowing that Mary wouldn't cry over her death, Ada knelt down beside her.

"I'm sorry," she whispered into her ear, closing the girl's eyes. She stood and raced after Aerwyna, lengthening her strides to catch up. Her body wanted to give up on her as her legs shook without her command while she gasped for breath. Rocks and root tore into her feet as shrubs and branches snag at her flimsy shift, fraying the thin, rough fabric even more while slicing her skin open. It seemed that with which each cut that was healed, a new one was there to take its place. But pain was nothing new to her, so she gritted her teeth and pushed her body to continue on.

They were racing deep into the woods, every now and then she would stumble or fall, losing sight of Aerwyna. Somehow, though, Aerwyna seemed to notice each time she had fallen behind and would call out to her, guiding her further. Ada doubted by now that she would be able to find her way back, and wondered if Aerwyna knew where she was going as everything looked the same. Sunlight tried to make its way to them, but many places seemed to resist, leaving behind uncertain shadows.

She desperately wished for a moment to rest, but Aerwyna showed no signs of slowing her pace. Her body ached, her limbs felt as if they were no longer part of her body, and though she knew her life was on the line, her body gave out as she fell. Blackness threatened to swarm her vision as her heart pounded in her chest.

"Aerwyna!" Ada tried to call out, but it only came out as a wheeze as she tried to take in air.

A few minutes passed as she laid there helplessly, wondering if Aerwyna perhaps had left her to ensure her own safety. It was then, however, she felt a hand brush against her face.

"Ada, come on, you have to get up. Just a little bit longer, child, then we can rest." Aerwyna spoke calmly but in command, as if she were not to be refuted.

Ada opened her eyes, and stared into cold, icy eyes of determination. She got up with the help of Aerwyna. Together, leaning on Aerwyna, they slowly made their way to whatever destination Aerwyna had in mind. Despite the coolness, sweat broke out on their bodies as they struggled to carry on. Neither one spoke as their teeth rattled, and they tried to retain what warmth they could manage between them before it escaped.

"How much longer?" Ada sputtered out, despite leaning heavily on Aerwyna, she didn't think she could go much further.

"We are almost there," Aerwyna heaved, as she shifted Ada's weight again, before the girl could fall as her foot caught a root. They pushed through branches that wanted to refuse their entry. "I have some friends up ahead, they will help us to get away."

As she spoke, Ada saw a clearing in front of her, before her vision clouded over in rage and fury. She pushed her body ahead of Aerwyna, her only intent to kill, she let instinct take over as she urged herself beyond her limitations. She flung herself at the stunned man, who had his back to them. Her legs and tail wrapped around his torso and leg like a vice as one arm went across his chest.

"Dergard!" she hissed between her teeth, while with her free hand, she pulled at a wing, trying to rip it off.

"Ada, No!" Aerwyna screamed as she tried to catch up. "He's here to help us."

However, Ada could hardly hear over the anger and hatred. Dergards were evil. They hurt her mother and took her away, selling her for money. The man tried to loosen her hold on him, but that caused her nails to cut into his flesh and her teeth to clamp down on his shoulder. She tasted the blood in her mouth, but she wasn't going to let go. She heard his scream as she pulled hard on his wing. But before she could pull the wing off, darkness took over.