The moment Ines drank the potion she felt a strange sensation spreading all over her body. At first a sudden dizziness overcame her and made her lose her footing. She closed her eyes and reached out for Matthew's support. He immediately grabbed her arm and held her against his chest, stroking her hair in worry.

As the seconds ticked by, Ines sensed a change inside her; she felt like she had become smaller and lighter. It wasn't painful or off putting, just different. She held onto Matthew until the odd sensation subsided and then she opened her eyes, only to be greeted by the most peculiar sight.

Everything around her had become bigger; the houses, the trees, even Matthew himself had grown huge compared to her. Was that a hallucination potion?, she wondered and looked around her in bewilderment.

Everything was towering over her, as if the world wanted to engulf her. She glanced up at Matthew and saw him staring at her with wide eyes and parted lips. She opened her mouth to speak, to ask him what was so surprising, but when she tried to voice her question, the words never came. Only a loud series of harsh chirps were heard in the silent alley.

She tried again to speak but she failed once more, the chirping sounds growing even stronger. Wait, is that coming out of me?, she thought and stared seriously freaking out.

'A falcon?' Matthew suddenly said. 'Is that what it does? Turn you into a falcon?'

What?, she wanted to say but only managed to kack repeatedly. She looked at herself and all she saw were dappled feathers and brown wings sticking out of her back. No matter how long she stared down at herself she couldn't believe her eyes. Before she could fully process the absurdity of the situation, she felt a strong pair of arms wrap around her tiny body and lift her off the ground.

'I know it's too weird to grasp, but right now we don't have time,' Matthew said. 'You have to go. Go!' At those last words he lightly tossed her up in the air, urging her to fly away and towards the elves' city. 

For a second Ines found herself hovering midair, the wind ruffling her feathers. She was about to complain about the unfair treatment she was undergoing but then gravity suddenly took hold of her, and she felt herself slowly falling down to meet the gravel road.

Ines immediately panicked and began frantically flapping her wings. She had never been prepared for becoming a bird, so she had no clue how to control those flexible but strange limbs. She struggled to synchronise her movements, trying to gain height, but it was just too complicated.

When she had almost lost all hope and was ready to give up, she gradually became better at using her long wings. She fought and fought the unforgiving gravity until she was able to defy her. She didn't waste time. She gave Matthew one last glance and took off.

With each beat of her wings, she soared higher into the darkening sky. Those wings were the answer to her prayers, a chance to find a solution to their predicament. She moved ever onward in the hallowed space between heavens and Earth, that graceful bird of umber-wing.

A breathtaking world stretched below her. What the winter landscape lacked in wondrous greens, it made up with perfect whites and blues, an infinity of homely hues to melt any icy heart. The mountains had turned into snowy dunes and the sky a palette of warm colours.

The aerial view lent her a sense of perspective that often only distance may provide. She pondered the dangers ahead of them and the hard choices they would have to make. No doubt there were a hundred ways for them to fail but, if there was at least one that led them to her people's salvation, she would take the first step towards that path. Beneath the silky layer of white, the most-welcome crops of summer would spring through as a symbol of prosperity. She hoped that exactly like that peace would flourish again after those warlike times.

She flew towards the elf realm as fast as she could manage. Soon, she would cross the dense forests and the magic wall that separated the two kingdoms. From up there, there were no frontiers dividing the people, only land water and sky.

While the first stars began casting their first light in the night sky, Ines was already flying over the elves' realm. Gradually, she could make out the outskirts of the city that had welcomed them just days ago. She put all her strength in reaching it fast, beating her wings rapidly, and once she did, she flew over the almost empty streets and quiet homes, trying to find the only elf she knew, the old man.

She didn't want to see him, let alone speak to him. He had completely broken her trust and had caused her family's demise. She had sworn to never again lay eyes on him and that the next time he would stand before her would be his last. However, things were much more serious to let her personal feelings stand in the way. She had to make an exception, just for this once.

She knew where to find him. She headed straight to the small temple where he always spent the night, and she was right. A slim figure was sitting on the snow outside the temple, cross-legged and eyes closed. It was him.

Ines landed on the ground before him. She hopped over the cold snow as if she had springs in those delicate feet. She jumped and chirped at him, trying to attract his attention, and eventually he opened his eyes and glared at her.

'Shoo! Go find food elsewhere!' the elf waved his hand dismissively.

Ines didn't listen, though. She continued to call him and try to make him understand who she was.

'Enough with your disturbance,' he said, his voice laced with annoyance. He shooed her with his hand again, only for her to return with much more persistence and determination. The old elf looked at her in puzzlement, his brows knitting in thought. 'Strange,' he whispered. He leaned forward and observed her closely, and Ines hoped he would finally see through the feathers and beak. The old man kept staring at her and reached out to her. With his right hand he touched her head. Ines felt a tingling sensation in her mind and instantly knew he was trying to read her mind. It didn't take long before he discovered who she really was. 'Did you transform into a falcon?' he exclaimed.

She kacked in answer.

'Were they real? The things you showed me?'

She kacked again.

'Then, we have to come to the city. I will inform the others here. And you must go back immediately. The transforming potions leave you vulnerable afterwards. That is why we have to use them only for emergencies. Go!' he said with firm persistence and gently pushed her towards the mountains.

Ines didn't need to be told twice. She spread her wings and took off.

. . . . .

Ines flew over the city, searching for any sign of Matthew. She could feel the magic of the potion start to wear off, so she needed to be quick. She scanned the streets that were then empty and dark. No one had cared to light the streetlamps; they had bigger problems to care for.

She continued her careful search but to no avail. She couldn't find him anywhere. It was like he had disappeared from the face of the earth. Her wings, though, were getting smaller and smaller. She had to land somewhere. Just as she was about to give up, she suddenly saw a familiar figure walking in the shadows.

Before she could see who it was, she felt her body suddenly transform, gaining back its original form. Her wings turned into arms, and her skin was no longer covered by feathers. She gasped in fear when she realised she was losing height but she couldn't stop her fall.

Her butt was the first to touch the hard snow, and she winced in pain once the impact shook her bones. Her whole body was already sore from the transformation and now she had to endure the bruises she would get from her ungracious landing.

'Oh, thank God. Are you alright?' Ines felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders when she heard Matthew's voice close by. He rushed to her and knelt down beside her, checking her face and body. His eyes were full of worry and relief at the same time.

'I'm fine, Matthew, just tired. The magic has worn me out,' she flashed him a reassuring smile.

'Everything good? Did you find the old man? Did you tell him?'

'Yeah, yeah. I did.'

'Okay. Enough for today. I'm taking you to rest,' he declared and lifted her off the snow.

Ines didn't have the strength to object. She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head in the crook of his neck. At least she was content with the fact that they had overcome yet another obstacle. Matthew held her tired body in his arms and began walking back to her home.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A/N: Happy new year everyone! Thank you for reading my story. Wanna know what's my biggest wish for 2022? To get as many stars as possible! :D

Phrase of chapter:  fortuna vitrea est: tum cum splendet frangitur / fortune is like glass—the brighter the glitter, the more easily broken  - Publilius