After about twenty minutes of fretting over the instructions for my hair dye, I finally set to work removing the dreaded silver streak. I felt bad, wasting all of this dye for just one piece of hair but the box said you couldn't save it once it was mixed. I was humming to myself, glancing down at my phone while I waited out the clock on my dye. Zola, Sunita, and I were in a group chat, texting about the birthday party and other things.

Zola: Are you hyped yet? Get hyped girl.

Me: I am H Y P E D!

Zola: lol

Sunita: :)

Zola: Are you sure we don't need to bring anything besides the weird sodas?

Me: Nope, just let me know when you are at the station so we can grab you in the truck.

Zola: OK.

Sunita: Are you excited about school tomorrow?

Me: Haha, not really. Are people still talking about it?

Zola: . . .

Sunita: Most don't believe it happened.

Zola: Yeah, it's like, denial city up in here. But don't worry about them, just worry about all that homework you have to make up! Lol.

Me: Ugh, don't remind me. I just want to graduate with you all this year.

Sunita: You will.

Me: Timer is going off, gotta get this dye off. Ttyl.

Sunita: Goodbye.

Zola: Chao.

I put down my phone, shedding my towel quickly as I hopped into the shower to rinse out the dye. Before getting wet I wrapped my arm carefully in plastic wrap, holding it outside of the spray of water whenever I could. As I showered I decided to take this moment to shave, something I had been neglecting for the past two weeks. I was just enjoying the smell of my favorite body wash and the feel of the warm water on my skin as my thoughts drifted away to another time and place.

I had just thrown a bucket of warm water on my skin, washing away the soap covering my body. I could feel my long hair sticking to my back and the cold tickle of the breeze as the water trickled off my body. I was bathing outdoors, next to the natural hot spring near our home. The trees around me were a dazzling array of colors, ranging from deep blood red to vibrant purple. From their branches hung delicate layers of moss that dripped downwards onto the forest floor. I was sitting atop a wooden platform on a stool, my soap and towels all around me. I gathered another bucket of water from my larger pan, letting it run more slowly down my body this time. A voice called to me from the hot springs and I felt my heart beat faster. I stood up, walking quickly across the small stepping stones leading to the water. Down below was my beloved husband. A hulking giant of a man with bright fiery red hair and large horns sticking out atop his head. He was resting, his back against the edge of the pool and his large arms outstretched across the banks. He turned to look up at me, and I could see a familiar hunger in his dark red eyes. I was too embarrassed to look back so I focused my gaze on the ground as I approached the water's edge. The passion that he held for me was overwhelming at times and I felt feverish even without stepping a single foot into the hot water. I bent down near the edge of the springs, as to carefully ease myself into the water when my husband pulled me down into his arms. The water splashed all around us as our bodies pressed together.

A loud knocking roused me from my daydream and I gasped, wrapping my arms around myself. I could still feel the heat and pressure from his body, the feel of his skin against mine. A shiver ran up my spine as I adjusted to my current surroundings.

What the heck was that? Was that another memory from my past life?

"Diana, are you okay?"

I turned off the shower in haste, sliding open the glass door while I yelled towards the door.

"I'm fine, Grandpa!"

"Okay, you've just been in there a while," my grandfather responded.

I didn't think it had been that long but once I had dried off a bit and checked my phone I found I had been in the shower for almost an hour. I was amazed I hadn't used up all of the hot water.

Did that daydream make me lose track of time?

I was so focused on the memory and figuring out who the husband in the hot spring was, that I didn't notice the state of my hair. I glanced up in the mirror, fogged from the steam of my shower, and I paused.

It can't be, I wondered. My hand reached up towards the mirror, wiping away the condensation. But it was still there, the silver streak.

"What the heck!" I yelled, slamming my hands on the counter.

My shout caused Grandpa to return the door, concern in his voice. "Diana?"

"It-It's nothing, don't mind me," I yelled, still staring at my reflection in the mirror. The streak sat there, mocking me silently. Maybe the dye was bad? I thought, grabbing at the box on the counter. I checked the expiration date and it was still good, at least for another two years. I huffed angrily, finishing my after-shower routine of lotions and hair-taming products. After rubbing my hair one last time with the towel, I found black streaks of dye marking the fabric, so I knew some had stayed in my hair. Just not in the one place I wanted it, I groaned. I changed back into my outfit from earlier, carrying my wet towel toward the laundry room so I could add it to my dirty clothes.

The group was sitting in the living room, talking amongst themselves but they quieted quickly when I approached, taking in my grumpy demeanor.

"You didn't dye your hair?" Azar asked, staring at my damp head.

"Oh no, I dyed it," I replied bitterly, showing off my towel. "It just didn't take."

Maayan jumped up from their seat on the floor to get a closer look at my hair, pulling the streak away from the rest of my locks. "Hmm, I thought as much."

"What? What did you think?" I asked, glancing at them.

Maayan's wide blue eyes blinked back at me, somber for a moment. "The streak is a sign of your lunar magic."

"Say what now?"

"Most people who are in tune with an element have a hair color or streak that coordinates with that, but it's not always true," Maayan explained, running my hair delicately over their fingers.

I heard my grandfather grumble from over in his armchair, shuffling slightly. I looked over at him and could tell he had thought this could be true, but just didn't want to tell me.

"You knew!" I accused, pointing my finger at him.

"I may have had a theory," he said, dismissing my accusation with a wave.

"Well, how do I get rid of it?" I asked, glancing around the room. Azar shrugged, Casimir avoided my look, along with Grandfather. Maayan was the only one who had an answer.

"You can't?" they said with a weak smile.

My jaw dropped slightly. "Are you serious?"

"Well, we could try a magic spell but that might backfire," Casimir responded from his spot on the couch.

"Backfire?"

"You know, burn off all your hair, or it could turn purple or something," Azar teased, smirking slightly.

"No thanks," I said glumly.

"You could wear a talisman to alter your appearance but I wouldn't recommend that," Grandpa added. "Your current talisman might be affected and you need that one more."

I looked down at the silver locket hanging upon my neck. For most of my life, I was told it had belonged to my mother and I wore it in her memory. It wasn't until recently that I discovered the necklace was actually a powerful talisman. Not one that altered my appearance but one that covered up my lunar essence, which wraiths apparently found irresistible. Since I very much wanted to avoid wraiths devouring my flesh and drinking my blood I wore it everywhere.

"Yeah, the wraith protection is a bit more important than my hair," I relented, touching my necklace gently. "Although it seems like the wraiths can still smell me, so I don't know."

"Not as much as they once could, that is for certain," my grandfather said gravely. His tone caused me to shiver. I didn't want to imagine what life would be like without my talisman. I walked over to my grandfather's chair, sitting on the edge of its arm with a sigh. He patted me on the back and I smiled down at him.

"Welp, guess I can just claim the shock of my attack caused my hair to turn white," I joked and everyone in the room laughed lamely. "You don't think I can get a doctor's note to show the school, could I?"

"I don't think anyone will press the issue dear," Grandpa assured me.

"You say that..." I mumbled, trailing off.

Maayan clapped loudly, smiling as they jumped into view. "Let's go outside and build a bonfire! We can show Diana some magic like she wanted."

"Really?" I asked, glancing over at my guardian.

Grandpa nodded slightly. "I don't see why not, as long as we are careful."

"Yeah, no summoning the sun sword or anything," Azar laughed. The aforementioned sword was a weapon Casimir used to slay wraiths. I had seen it a few times before and it was very bright, which might cause someone down in the town to take notice, especially at night.

Casimir glared over towards the fier elemental, pushing at his glasses sharply as he lectured. "That sword is only for dangerous situations. Using it requires an immense amount of magic."

"Lighten up Caz," Azar said, slapping him on the shoulder as he rolled his eyes. Maayan and I chuckled at his pun, since Casimir used Solar magic, lights were his specialty.

I jumped up, ready for the show. "Let me finish getting ready and I'll be right outside!"

I ran down the hall to blow dry my hair, styling my bangs and throwing the remaining hair into low pigtails. I grabbed my knit gloves and a scarf from my bedroom before appearing back in the living room. Casimir was heating cider in the kitchen and I stopped to take in the familiar aroma which caused me to smile. Nothing says 'Fall' like the smell of cider. I waited until he was done so I could help Casimir carry the drinks outside. Grandpa and the others were setting up near the pond. I was impressed by the small bonfire they had built in such a short period of time. The Terrarins had chosen an excellent location for the magic show because the house would hide anybody from seeing us if they were coming up the road. Not that anyone really ever drove up our dirt lane, not unless they were really lost. Maayan was setting up some lawn chairs they had borrowed from the deck, complete with a small tv tray for our drinks.

"Wow, looking good," I commented, glancing around at the setup.

"Blankets!" Maya shouted out, rushing off towards the house, skipping as they went.

I laughed and arranged the drinks on the table with Casimir, who walked off to help stack the wood. Eventually, we settled in, my grandfather choosing to sit on the ground next to our chairs.