I was walking through the trees again. The forest was as usual lifeless, but it was oddly bright, as if the sunlight were less encumbered than it should have been. The Silver Heron sat ahead of me, perched calmly on a log. As I took another step forward, it mimicked me, its foot moving down from the log. I continued to walk. It continued as well.

I stopped when I was just a foot away from it. It was so small, barely four feet tall when its neck was stretched up fully to meet my eyes.

I was so small. I was insignificant, really. It seemed to loom over me, so much more important to the world as a whole. I didn't matter, except perhaps to keep it alive.

When my hand reached out, its gaze hardened just slightly, but its message was clear. Not now. You're not ready.

I nodded once. It glanced upward, and I followed its gaze toward the brilliant sun suddenly shining overhead and the fluttering leaves of the trees. This place used to be like that, it seemed to tell me.

"Fia!" Ms. Silver practically screamed at me. "Are you going to take your turn or not?"

I jerked my eyes down from the cold mist hovering as usual above us. "Sorry! I was just thinking about something."

"That's an improvement on most of your generation, since none of you ever seem capable of thinking even the most mundane of thoughts. However, you have chosen the wrong time to do this strenuous activity of actual mental work, as right now your measly brainpower is needed for engaging in the activity I am trying to lead. Please pay attention in the future."

I blushed as her words slapped me. "I'm sorry," I said again.

"Don't be sorry, do the activity! Or do you not remember how?"

I shook my head. "I remember." With an internal sigh, I picked up the journal that was being passed around our circle and studied the picture, then smiled and wrote a description beneath it. I folded the paper back and handed it to the next person, who would read my description and draw a picture of it. This would continue until it made it back to the first person, who would read their original description and see if it matched the final one. It was a neat game, but my mind was still absorbed in other matters.

At last, it was time for free time. I rushed over to Tennielle, who had been in Mr. Goldlake's group for "Teambuilding Activities".

"Tennielle!" I said excitedly.

She regarded me. "You seem awfully cheerful. Have you forgiven me?"

"Yeah. Sorry I got so mad over your opinion. I was wondering-" I paused, then continued- "if you wanted to try to find the Silver Heron. Not because it might be magic or anything like that, just because I think it would be a fun game."

She grinned. "Fine. I'm gonna go get my journal, though. My brother wants to study plants... plants, of all the interesting things to study... and I told him I'd draw some of the ones here for him."

I looked around at the leafless trees and dead brush. "What plants?"

She laughed. "It's only like this because it's winter."

"What, you think in warmer seasons this sunless hole gets lush and green?

"No, but the trees have leaves at least, even if they never really get super green. You should know this! We studied the ecosystem of the valley for two weeks before we came here!"

"You think I actually payed attention?" I joked. "Come on. Let's go find a bird."