THE FURTHER NORTH one goes in the Beta Plane, the significantly colder it becomes.

We set out around dawn, and even the suns were not enough to warm us that early in the day.

My body was struggling to maintain a warm temperature as we went from the forest in Spring to Pine Woods in Winter. The change was rather abrupt —we could even still see the wildflowers and sunlight on the other side of the river separating the two sides of the woods. A haphazard crossing was made of round flat stones which we had needed to hop onto one at a time.

Around them, the water was testy and freezing.

But we managed to get across, onto the powdery snow. We did not have the time to warm up in order to ward off the chilly winds. The best we could do was layer on our jackets and coats. We needed to move as fast as we could to make it to the edge of Winfrost by nightfall.

Camping in the Pine Woods was not an option.

"What do we do if we run into those Icen things the Elves warned us about?" Georgia asked nervously.

"Stay close and leave it to me," I breathed, hoping that my charm and lack of nutritional substance would still work on the beasts this time around.

"I've still got my gun," Adam added.

"I would refrain from shooting," I warned. "It will attract unwanted attention. Worse than that of Icen. The aim is to get through as silently and quickly as possible. We do not need to be stopped by Faeries."

The ground and trees themselves seemed to shudder along with us at the mention of Fae.

We crunched through snow and brushed past the pine needles, breathing shallowly. It was easy to get a rhythm going. It was as equally easy to become distracted: the blue and green swipes of magic still interwove overhead, and snow glistened like diamonds.

Though I felt that we had covered a great distance when the biggest sun was more than halfway across the sky. I still held my breath, worried that we would be discovered. It would not be safe until we got out of the forest and reached the outskirts of a town.

We ( meaning me ) could consult an apothecary there.

Our pace had slowed a little when the sound of a branch being snapped in half jolted us alert.

I whipped around. There was nothing behind us. Then the pine trees close to us quivered, shaking off snow. I dared to draw a breath before hissing, "Run."

We tore through the woods, and the rustling followed.

I wondered if it was fear that I was feeling mixed with the adrenaline. I knew that Georgia was afraid. I could not be too sure about Adam. As I pushed myself, all I thought was that we had to live. And whatever was following us, most likely did not concur.

Suddenly the rustling overtook us —my feet halted as the sound came from right in front of me. Whatever it was, was now blocking us from going in the direction which we needed to go.

I listened for snarls, and breathing.

There were no snarls —nothing lupine. No thudding paws. Instead, I heard the breath of a Faerie.

A chill set in my bones.

I reached beside me slowly for Adam's arm, and lightly tapped it, before pointing to the side where he had the semiautomatic pistol. He understood immediately, and drew it out.

The sound of it must have been enough, because a few seconds later, the towering Faerie emerged with a bow raised and an arrow aimed.

Georgia gasped.

"Humans," it seethed, bearing its pointed teeth.

Adam prepared to shoot, as did the Winter Faerie.

"Wait!" I cried, jumping between them. I studied the Faerie, who looked eerily familiar.

Tall, dark blue and white-haired, with four delicate icy dragonfly wings. Its milky eyes met mine —one of the only recognisable traits I had in the female form —and I saw its hesitation. I held my breath, praying that it might remember me.

"...You," it said, its grip on the bow loosening.

I breathed a sigh of relief. "So it is you, as well," I returned. "You remember."

"There was magic involved, Dreamcatcher," the Faerie chuckled. "Of course I remember. Though you have changed your appearance." Its smile widened and its wings flittered. "...Hips and breasts suit you."

A soft growl rumbled in Adam's throat.

"Language," I quipped, glancing at Georgia, who still had not moved. She seemed frozen with terror.

"My apologies, Dreamcatcher," purred the Faerie, without a shred of remorse.

"...Wait. I'm lost," Adam frowned, looking back and forth between me and the Winter Faerie.

"I know this Faerie. We met in a dream," I explained. "Georgia might remember too."

At the mention of her name, the girl gasped and refocused. Then she nodded quickly. She could not open her mouth —she was biting her lip to keep from screaming.

"So, why have you brought humans here, Dreamcatcher?" asked the Faerie. "Are they to be a sacrifice for the Icen? I am sure they would appreciate it."

"No," I clipped. "They are under my protection."

The Winter Faerie sucked on its teeth.

"They will cause you no trouble," I assured. "We are simply in search for a cure."

"I care little about your quest," admitted the Faerie, "but I can escort you through the forest. It becomes more dangerous here after noon."

"Thank you so much," I breathed.

"And when we are safer," it continued, eyeing Adam and Georgia, "we must devise a way of disguising your friends. There are many more Faeries out there. Ones who would never be as kind."

"We are aware," I sighed wearily.

The Faerie then jerked its head to the right. "This way."

And so we followed.

It was a brisk and cautious journey —after all, nothing prevented other Faeries from frequenting this route. The Faerie kept me the closest, and I convinced myself that the only reason was because we were kin.

Adam would not stop glowering at the back of the tall creature of magic. He breathed harshly through his nose and could not stand it when the Faerie's elongated bony fingers wrapped around mine as it called for haste.

I offered the soldier a helpless shrug.

I was certain that this was envy, but it baffled me. I did not understand why Adam would feel this way when I was with someone else, and he barely tolerated my presence when we were alone.

I decided to let the Faerie lead completely.

Even though it had recognised me, and was willing to help, it was nothing short of a miracle that it was agreeing to keep my human companions safe. I had an obligation not to complain about every little detail. There was nothing profoundly wrong about its hand holding mine to make me walk faster.

If the Faerie dared to try anything further, then I might knee it in the groin.

Georgia stuck close behind me and in front of Adam, her limbs semi-frozen and her teeth chattering. The falling snow from the shaking pine needles did not help. The Winter Faerie was obviously right at home though, having likely lived here for all of its life. It seamlessly fitted with the ethereality of the woods —the sunlight glinting off of its rough skin and frosted wings so they resembled gemstones.

After about twenty minutes we happened upon a clearing. Nestled between the trees and powdered in snow, was a stone and wooden homestead.

"This is my family home," it informed us. "It is protected against Icen by Wyzard magic."

Out of curiosity I raised my hand and waved it along in one fluid motion. Giant golden cogs of light whirred together, locking and meshing in the shape of a domed shield. We Gamma-Dwellers marvelled at its intricacy, while the Faerie gawked at me.

"In all my years," it breathed, "I have not seen the spell until now. No one has since my father's father. How did you do that, Dreamcatcher?"

"I am an Eve," I answered. "My magic is still new, and therefore temperamental."

"Impressive," said the Faerie, grinning.

Georgia then groaned. "Can we go inside now?"

The creature cast her an expressionless sidelong glance, indicating that it did not care for her nor for her request. "Of course," it said tightly, before ushering us inside.

The ground floor consisted of a rusting kitchenette, wooden dining area and a small parlour complete with rickety mismatched cushioned chairs.

It seemed quite dead, the decor. The only hint of life was painted landscapes of the Pine Woods and the Spring forest on the walls and on the dining table.

"Did you paint those?" I asked.

"No," said the Faerie. "It was my sister."

"She is very talented," I commented.

The Faerie stiffened, its wings missing a beat as they flapped. "...Yes," it said quietly. "Yes she was."

I swallowed, realising what that insinuated.

I wondered if it had been an Icen or the war.

"I hope that you will forgive me," the Faerie then said, forcing a friendly smile on its face, "but I have not had the chance to clean up as of yet."

"That is okay," I brushed it off, grimacing. It sensed my discomfort, but did not call attention to it.

"Do have a seat," the creature then offered. "I will bring some hot drinks to warm you up."

Adam, Georgia and I sunk down on the chairs, and for the first time, breathed. This was the first time since stepping foot in the Beta Plane and leaving the fairies, that we had been shown kindness.

It was almost surreal.

The teenager closed her eyes and sighed, before throwing her head back and smiling slightly. "It's...kind of warm in here," she murmured.

So it was —it was a regulated average temperature.

"Purple," Adam then hissed from the chair beside me. "How well do you know the Faerie?"

"Not very," I admitted. "We have met once before, and in these very woods."

"In a dream, you said?" he questioned.

"It did not feel like the others," I said carefully. "My other dreams were abstract. The one where we met was a little too realistic. It felt as though I was there."

"Then maybe it was a vision," Georgia spoke up.

"Maybe," I murmured. "It would appear then, that Fate has done it again," I said dryly.

Adam grunted and shifted in his chair. He did not like that answer in the slightest.

The Faerie then returned with a sizeable tray of three wooden mugs. Its wings folded slightly as it came in through the doorway made for winged Fae.

"It is warm ale," it informed the humans, before setting the tray down on the low table in middle of all of the chairs. "I hope that you do not mind."

Adam frowned, glancing at the suddenly alert Georgia. "Actually, she's a minor —"

"Ignore him," she clipped, grabbing a mug and bringing it to her lips. She hummed after a long sip, and settled into her chair. "...Wonderful," she murmured.

The soldier rolled his eyes and folded his arms, not touching either of the remaining two mugs.

"Not thirsty?" asked the Faerie, taking one itself.

Adam glared in response. "Not particularly."

I knew that he was just being spiteful.

I turned my attention to the Winter Faerie. "Thank you again, for your hospitality."

"The pleasure is all mine, Dreamcatcher," it purred.

"Call me Purple, please," I scoffed.

"How beautiful," said the Faerie, studying my eyes. "You were aptly named."

Adam's breathing harshened. "So what is your name?" he asked. "Since you're interested in ours."

Georgia sank down further in her chair.

"I was never asked for my name," I reasoned.

"Then why did you give it?" snapped the soldier.

My brows furrowed. I looked into his eyes, but there was no warmth in them now —or within me. Only darkness and bitter envy glinted in that brown. I glanced aside. I did not want to think about what it meant.

About why he was behaving the way that he was.

"Do I make you that uneasy?" the Faerie then asked Adam. "I am sure that you have heard stories. I have heard stories of you, as well. In fact," it sighed, flexing its wings, "I would have killed you if it were not for Purple, and her kindness."

Adam scoffed.

The Faerie then gasped and turned to me. "I am sorry, I forgot to inquire about your pronouns."

It took me a second to bring myself back to the present and register the statement. "...Oh —any is fine," I breathed, waving a hand dismissively.

"Very well," it said, then leaning back in its chair and dominating the small piece of furniture. The Faerie displayed every single one of its sharp teeth as it then smiled. "...And this is in no way for any benefit of you humans, but, my name is Edva. I am male."

The name almost demanded some sort of veneration. The Faerie sat in his chair as if it were a throne. And I would not be at all surprised if he thought himself the ruler of the Pine Woods.

"I'm Georgia," the teenager quipped in response, before hiccuping horrendously.

"I think you've had enough of that," Adam sighed, grabbing the mug from her hands. The girl whined, insisting that it was only to keep her warm.

"Edva," I said firmly, focusing my attention on the Faerie. "I need to ask something of you."

"Go ahead."

"We are trying to deal with magic induced insomnia, but a Wytch has told us that there is no spell remedy," I explained. "We are hoping that we can find something here, in the Beta Plane."

Edva frowned, tilted his head. His white hair slid along his shoulder with the movement. Then he spoke, "You are fortunate to have found me. Assuming that the Wytch is correct, then I know what can help."

Adam sat at attention in light of those words.

"What?" I asked. "What is it?"

"It will not be too easy to find," Edva admitted. "But it is doable. I might need your help, Purple."

"Anything," I breathed, leaning forward —and I wondered if I really would do anything for this cure.

For Adam.

The Faerie stiffened. "We need the blood of an Icen."