The lush dark forest has a heavy atmosphere and it felt like the forest was watching. The village was covered in a dense mist that normal humans would get lost in, but witches followed the trail of magic.

Strong magic flowed through the forest like a heartbeat. Eden was in a greater spirits territory. It greeted Eden silently, it let a warm breeze flow through the village. It smelt like an old pine tree, but its presence was strong. It watched silently like an owl.

 It seemed that Eden was welcomed here by the greater spirit but that might not apply to the two minor spirits.

The Raven’s village was better than the rumors. It was built before the war and blossomed hidden away by the mist. The large pine trees held many buildings that were inwoven with each other. They were painted a range of blue and green and were covered in fawner.  The forest canopy blocks off most of the light from the sun, so the village is illuminated by glowing plants and candles.

“Welcome to Pina,” Bri said next to her as she herded Eden to her house. “You’ll be staying with me until we can find you a new coven. It should be Stella Oak, it’s just like your old clan but like a real coven with a couple of minor spirits that shelter witches like you.”

Eden nodded as she was forced through a door and onto a couch. Bri lived in one of the few houses on the forest ground. She commented on how her old bones don’t like being high up.

Bri was nice company, she was like Ian, who filled the silence with random thoughts. Eden didn’t like the silence. The forest was always making noise if its silence meant something was wrong. And Eden wasn’t a talker. So, to have someone to ramble with was a nice thing for Eden.

From Bri, she learned that she probably wouldn’t be here for long just until some member of Stella Oak arrived at the border and picked her up. Eden let out a breath at the news that she wouldn’t have to be here for long.

A knock at the door stopped Bri’s ramble.

“It’s Nova,” Bri sat up and opened the door.

“Hello, are you checking up on our guest?” She nodded as she made eye contact with Eden. “She is doing fine but are you all right your cheek is swollen.” Eden eyes the side of her face that was raw red that stood out against her pale skin. It was a fresh wound.

“Good evening, Eden,” Eden snapped her attention away from the wound. “I hope you're settling down well. I recommended you don’t leave the house.” Eden didn’t know if that was a threat or a warning.

Nova left just as quickly as she arrived leaving them alone.

Eden looks through the windows of the house. Bri had a spare room that faced a large garden. People wander passed every so often, collecting some plants or watering as they go. Eden's internal clock said it was around two in the morning.

Eden heard a clinking at the window. She looked down as the raven from earlier titled its head at her. Carefully she opened the window and held out her hand for the raven to jump on.

“Hello little one,” the raven snuggled into her hand.

“Please, I need your help,” the raven cried as it started to tug at her sleeve. “Nova is hurt.” Eden sat up and eyed the minor spirit.

“Your Nova’s spirit,” she got a nod as a reply. The little raven kept on trying to lead Eden, so she allowed it to guide her. Silently, she walked across the floorboards and opened the door. Peaking around, she searches to see anyone else.

After making sure the coast was clear she hurried through the forest. Eden couldn’t even tell it was night except for the temperature drop and the fact no one was outside.

The raven kept on flying deeper into the woods as the forest got denser.

In the distance, Eden could see an opening to the forest and a large pond. When Eden stumbled through the tree line, she noticed that the pond had swirls of red in it. And in the middle lay Nova who was steading bleeding out.

Splashing through the pond, Eden struggled to drag Nova out of the pond. Nova was sickly pale and had shallow breaths. She was cold to the touch and her heartbeat was unsteady.  Carefully, Eden checked for wounds finding a massive slash covering on her lower stomach. If Eden left, her any longer she’d die of blood loss.

The little spirit nudges Nova making small cooing noises trying to wake Nova up. The raven’s magic was storm so it could do little when it came to injuries. Eden debated on the outcomes of helping Nova.  

If she didn’t then the rest of the coven might try and attack her. On the other hand, she can leave and disappear for a while, so she doesn’t have to be involved with the coven any longer. Or she helps the witch and deals with the aftermath.

The little raven looked back up at her with sad pleading eyes. She sighed and resigned to her fate.

Gently, Eden placed Nova on the grass looking up to the haunting glow of the moon. It lit up the opening of the forest. Eden let herself feel the roots underneath the ground, it was difficult at first. She had never used magic away from her tree. But the little spirit seemed to understand what Eden was trying to do and help Eden connect to the roots.

With the raven’s help, Eden let the magic flow into her and channel it through Nova. It’s been quite a while since Eden used healing magic, but the familiar coldness guided her.

Healing magic came naturally to Eden. When she first emerged from the jacaranda tree, she was constantly healing injured animals. However, she realised that they would never learn what’s dangerous if someone always came to save them. They needed to understand the consequences and how to adapt to different situations.

But she supposes how can learn if you are dead.

Colour started to return to Nova’s face as her breathing evened out.

“Can I ask what happened here?”

The little raven tilted its head before speaking, “You happened. Noir wasn’t happy about your existence in the village.”

Noir the head of the Orchid Ravens.  Was half Eden’s age, but his influence was strong along these lands. The previous head lived for four hundred years, so who knows how long Noir will live?

From context clues, Eden assumed that Noir was Nova’s father. But by what spirits do you severely injure you’re on kin? For what purposes is there?

Eden put Nova’s head on her lap to bring some comfort. The little raven snuggled next to Nova trying to give Nova warmth.

If you didn’t mind the trail of blood and the murky water, this place was peaceful and breathtaking. The pond reflected the clear night sky, and the flowers were closed waiting for the sunlight once more. Some that Eden hasn’t seen before.

With the scent of blood drifting in the wind, it was not a surprise when wolves showed up. They stood on the far end of the opening. The pack open stared at Eden before drinking at the pond. She saw one of the younger wolves grow closer as they crawled closer. It had its nose to the ground and showed it didn’t mean any harm.

Eden let it come up to her and let it smell her. They were just curious, and she saw no harm in that.

It nudges her giving her puppy eyes and wagging its tail.

“Sorry, I got no food for you, and this witch isn’t food.”

It huffed and started to press its weight on Eden as it lay down.

Truthfully when they snuggled next to her, their thick fur gave Nova more warmth. Eden had little warmth to give to Nova so the raven and wolf should give Nova some heat. It wasn’t a cold night, but she was drenched, and getting a fever after being injured is never a good thing.

“It’s a beautiful night.”