InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "You make my chest tweak"

Crystal Shaddeau (earthlyvet) wrote in light_of_may,
@ 2015-02-01 23:30:00

Entry tags:

#group scene, 2009-10-14, crystal, desi, sarah

Now I need a break
Who: Crystal, Desi and Sarah
Where: Many Paths --> Crystal's house
When: Around four p.m.

Crystal absolutely loved those days she left the vet clinic in charge of her more-than-able assistant so that she could go and get her witch on with her niece. Once she'd been leaving that very same clinic to go and do witchy things with her father when she was Sarah's age, and now it was sort of reversed. Almost like she had a daughter. And that, right there, that was when she'd normally smile sadly and feel a twitch in her ankle, but today there was nothing. Just that feeling of excitement that she got to go and share one of her other passions with someone who enjoyed it every bit as much. She didn't even have the slightest of ideas that they had a third member to their party, so when she walked into Many Paths she just nodded pleasantly to the other redhead in the shop -- the one that wasn't Sarah -- before beginning to peruse the shelves for things she might need. Or just want because her office and home didn't look witchy enough. They definitely looked like they belonged to an elemental thanks to all of the plants and animals, but she liked representing both sides of her supernatural talents.

"Do you have any fresh fern seed?" she asked the blonde behind the counter. Willow, she thought her name was, another one of her brother's many female friends. Crystal was in here so often that she might as well get a discount for all she bought, but it didn't bother her. She liked supporting local businesses and it wasn't like there was a Wal-mart for Witches. Yet. "Wait, nevermind, I have some at home! Sorry, it slipped my mind that I harvested mine. But don't worry, I'm sure I'll find something else that I need."

The sound of the chime going off at the door caught her attention and Crystal turned, a smile blossoming on her face at the sight of her niece. She was just about to catch her attention when she saw her heading straight for that other woman she'd seen when she came in. Crystal tilted her head a little, shocked that someone else had caught her niece's attention first. Had that ever happened before? Tucking her hands into her pockets, Crystal moved up the aisle and cleared her throat. "It's good to see you too, Sarah," she declared when the teenager turned, taking her hands out for the obligatory hug. Her eyes went back up to the older redhead, a smile playing back on her face. She couldn't ever keep one gone for long around her nieces. "Whose this that you went to first?"

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forgetaboutme
2015-02-02 08:55 am UTC (link)

School was always way, way more boring on days when she got to go and hang out with her aunt afterwards. Well, not right after. First she had to go home and prove to her dad that she'd done all of her homework and then she could go to Many Paths to meet up with Aunt Crystal. Oh, not just her, but Desi too! Her dad had told her that morning before she went off to school that he'd invited the other witch and Sarah thought that was just perfect. Aunt Crystal was her favorite family member and Desi was her favorite of her dad's friends so it only made sense that she'd love getting to spend time with both of them doing fun, magically-inclined things. Once she finished her homework, which took nearly an hour, and by the time she was done she knew she'd be running late even if she pushed herself as hard as she could on her bike.

She was panting when she locked her bike to a light post, not a tree because Aunt Crystal would've killed her if she wrapped a chain around a tree, and darted inside. The first person she saw wasn't even her aunt, but Desi because she was nearer to the door. "Hi Desi!" Sarah chirped, bouncing up on her toes before she hugged the older woman. She was about to ask how she'd been when she realized that her aunt was right behind her. Oops. Sarah winced a little as she turned, going into the open arms willingly and squeezing her tight. "Hi, Aunt Crystal, sorry but I totally didn't see you. Desi was standing right here." Oohhhh, her aunt didn't know Desi? That was fine, Sarah was great with introductions. "Alright! Aunt Crystal, this is Desi Kavanagh. She's got a full name, but I can't remember it, sorry. And Desi, this is my aunt, Crystal Shaddeau. There! Now everyone knows each other and we can get started with whatever we're doing." Her eyes went up to her aunt. "What're we doing?"

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wickedandlovely
2015-02-03 01:18 am UTC (link)

The morning had been chock full of eventfulness on account of Aunt Gia and her guinea pig, and that Desi had managed to get any work done afterwards was a miracle in and of itself. At around 3pm she had left volunteers in charge, after all the boring important paperwork was taken care of, and gone home for the day. She had a fox to contend with, after all. And then, she was going to spend some quality time with her favorite little witch Sarah Shaddeau - and, according to Reggie, Crystal, too. Desi hadn't seen Crystal in years so of course she did not recognize the other witch when she walked into Many Paths. Here one could always find what they were looking for - or at least Desi could. She was holding a bundle of herbs made up of several other bundles of herbs once her name was called, and Desi turned around already smiling widely at the young girl. "Sarah, hi!" Managing to hug the girl without scrunching up the herbs, when Desi pulled away there was a woman behind Sarah who, judging by the familiarity - and the whole Snow White thing she had going on which now appeared to be a family thing - had to be Crystal.

Sarah's greeting confirmed her suspicions and Desi smiled up at the woman who naturally did not remember her either. When Sarah introduced them she waved, and chuckled when Sarah couldn't remember her full name. Desi waved a hand in dismissal. "It's Desdemona but nobody calls me that." Desi nodded at Sarah, and then turned up a curious face in Crystal's direction. "Yes, what are we doing?"

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earthlyvet
2015-02-03 05:31 am UTC (link)

"Someone clearly raised you right," Crystal laughed when Sarah introduced her to the other woman. Who she was assuming was a witch, or else someone at least interested in magic or else why was she in Many Paths? Either way, she knew Sarah and she was probably around Reggie's age... "Desdemona... I like that! It's unique." Why was the name 'Kavanagh' tickling at the back of her mind? Like something she'd heard or read about in the paper, but it wasn't solidifying so she let it go. Instead she had something else to focus on. "You must be a friend of Reggie's. I know this because?" She made an all-encompassing motion with her hand to Desi's body, lingering slightly when she was at face-level. "My brother only seems to have beautiful ladies for friends. He's always been that way. I think it's because you all trust him." Which Crystal didn't blame them for, she trusted him too. "I bet it makes their boyfriends really jealous." Not that she thought for a second Reggie was going around hitting on women. It wasn't in his character and he had a wife, didn't he? Yeah, the blonde, Sarah's mom... what was her name? Crystal was completely blanking on her name. Not that it mattered. Right then witchy things were what mattered.

Two pairs of eyes were looking at her in expectation and Crystal couldn't help but be reminded of when she had a cageful of puppies ready to go play ball. "I was thinking that we test out Sarah's wards. She's third level now, and should be able to set permanent ones. I want to see just how good they are. I have an apple tree sapling at home that needs protecting from my animals and I want to see if you can protect it for me." That should show that she trusted her and her magic. Crystal had always striven to prove herself when she was that age so she wanted to give Sarah a chance too, and with something important to her. She'd know exactly how much it meant to Crystal to trust her with that. "And for the lady..." Crystal smiled at Desi. "I remember you, by the way. You were much shorter the last time I saw you. What level are you now? And what kind? I'm sure I can find something we can do other than oversee Sarah's work."

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forgetaboutme
2015-02-03 07:00 am UTC (link)

"Yeah that's too long to remember." Sarah didn't do long names, she did nicknames and 'Desi' was a lot easier than 'Desde'... whatever Desi had just said. "But I did get raised right!" And she was extra polite when she was around her aunt because her aunt was the one who usually taught her magic. If she wasn't polite to her then she might stop the lessons and then she'd have to rely on grandpa. Or maybe Desi. Desi might be willing to teach her if her aunt wouldn't, but that didn't matter because Sarah wasn't going to irritate her aunt. She was listening to the rest of the conversation and couldn't keep from grinning. "Desi doesn't have a boyfriend to make jealous." Uh-oh. Sarah's eyes went wide and she looked at Desi. "I wasn't saying it in a bad way! I don't have a boyfriend either! It doesn't mean anything bad, I swear."

But all thoughts of having possibly offended Desi flew out the window when she heard what her aunt wanted her to do. Her jaw actually dropped opened. "You want me to ward one of your trees?" In addition to being an accomplished witch, her aunt was an earth elemental and trusting someone else with one of her plants would've been like hearing her dad say that he was cool with Bess taking over watering his little bonsai tree or trim its branches when it was time. It wouldn't happen and she didn't think that something like this would ever happen either. "Are you sure? I've never made anything permanent before and I don't want... but I mean, if you think I can..." She bit her lip, suddenly hopeful. Her aunt wouldn't let her try unless she thought she was ready, right? "You'll show me how?"

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wickedandlovely
2015-02-04 02:49 am UTC (link)

"It is, I know. I was Desi pretty much straight out of the womb because nobody was going to go to the trouble." She told Sarah, grinning. Crystal was complimenting her on her name, so Desi figured they were off to a good start. She smiled, hand in her chest as she looked appropriately sheepish. "Aww, thanks! My mom's a literature freak, named all of us after book characters." And the compliments kept coming, judging by the woman's gesture encompassing the expanse of Desi's body accompanied by the very correct elation that Reggie did only have eautiful women as friends. Desi chuckled. "Yeah, he does, doesn't he? I mean not to toot my own horn or anything but all his other friends I know are women and they're pretty gorgeous."

She was about to clarify that she was sans-boyfriend when Sarah beat her to the punch in a way that made Desi laugh again. "It's okay honey, men are trouble anyway." She shrugged. "And you've got all the time in the world, believe me."

Crystal's plan seemed like a good one, not to mention Desi was curious as well, so it sounded ideal. Nodding in earnest, Desi looked back at Sarah. "Shh you'll be fine." She reassured the girl, a hand on her shoulder. Her eyes widened when Crystal finally said she remembered her, and Desi laughed at the quip about her height. "Yeah, growth spurt came a little later than usual. In height anyway, the rest...waaaay too early." Desi shook her head, an amused smirk on her face. "I seem to have mastered White, actually. Been working on Grey, but it's so much more fickle I've gone way slower there."

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earthlyvet
2015-02-04 09:09 am UTC (link)

"Ohhhh, right, you have sisters!" Crystal knew that, somewhere in the back of her mind, but she couldn't remember any of them anymore than she could remember why it was that the name Kavanagh seemed so familiar. Like little pieces of her memory were just missing. But it wasn't going to bother her because she was spending the evening with her niece and on top of that she was meeting a new witch. She laughed at the idea of it being tooting her own horn to accept the compliment. "No, it's just true. We should line all of you up and see how true it is. Show his wife. She should have words with him about that." Crystal knew that if her husband... why was she feeling a little sharp jab? Like something had happened that made her not trust men with women? Surely that hadn't. She wasn't married! Just like Desi didn't have a boyfriend. That was vital information that Crystal tucked away for later. "What she said, don't even start looking. Girls can be too, though." She knew that from experience. Didn't she? There it was again! The blank piece in her memory that should've been filled but just wasn't.

Crystal couldn't help her grin when Sarah reacted to the news that she was going to let her ward her tree. Reaching out, she tucked a red curl behind her ear, hand lingering on her cheek as the grin turned into more of a proud smile. "I think you can handle it, Sarah, and I'll be right there to make sure you do everything right. So will Desi, so see, you've got two master's!" Crystal's attention flicked back to Desi when she started talking and she nodded. "I'm White too, never really tried any of the others. But I guess between magic and earth I've had more than enough on my plate to figure out." And earth could be a tad bit greedy when it came to her attention. She never regretted that, she loved spending time with her plants every bit as much as she did her animals and spells. She tried to keep a good balance going. "So; you can try a spell with me? I've got one that I've been working on writing at home that I'd like to try, but not by myself and my brother's absolutely hopeless when it comes to high-level stuff." She rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "It's a very specified ward and I don't know if it'll work, but if it does then it'll shield my plants to keep out bigger animals like rabbits and deer that'll eat them, but not things like butterflies or bees. Want to try it with me?"

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forgetaboutme
2015-02-04 12:23 pm UTC (link)

Hmmmm... Sarah had seen people getting hit on before, she was in high school hello, but she didn't think that she'd ever seen her aunt doing it before. But right now? Right now she thought that she was seeing that happen. Either that or her aunt was just being really friendly and giving with her compliments. Except that wasn't like her even with other witches. And she was saying something about girls. Hmmmm, this could be terribly interesting and Sarah was glad that she was around to see what happened. She'd have to share it with her dad -- but not her mom. Sarah felt a little twist in her stomach when she thought about her mom. "Mom won't care," she said quietly. "Mom trusts dad." Mom had just been acting really weird at school, but Sarah didn't want to talk about that. They were having a good afternoon full of magic. "I don't think I want a boyfriend, so it's okay. Or a girlfriend." But it was good to know her aunt would be cool with it if she got one.

Smiling, Sarah accepted the encouragements and touches from both women. Two master witches were telling her that she could do something so yeah, she could do it! "I'll just get what I think I need and you can tell me if I'm right?" Nodding to herself, Sarah slipped away to browse through the shop. She wasn't quite sure that she did all of her magic the same way as the others since she really needed certain physical focuses... but her aunt and grandpa always said to go with whatever worked for her and she did! Which meant that maybe she was just a little bit more Harry Potter than the older witches, but whatever. She liked the wand that she carried around in her backpack and it made her feel better to use it with her spells. Which was why she stopped up at the counter, greeted the woman behind it politely, and asked for several things. While they were retrieved she turned, elbows resting against the glass while she watched her aunt and Desi, wondering what it was they were going to do while she was off warding a tree. She thought she'd heard something said about a specialized ward. She'd have to pay close attention when they did it, see if she could figure it out.

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wickedandlovely
2015-02-06 12:37 am UTC (link)

Gaze widening, Desi found herself nodding. She did, indeed, have sisters. "Yep, t-two..." She blinked. Something felt wrong in that count, but Desi couldn't quite put her finger on what. But it was right, she only had the two. "Yeah two. Emilia and Arwen." Desi smiled again, tilting her head as Crystal reiterated the compliment. Or at least Desi liked to think she had. It was nice being complimented. "Oh I'm sure Keelin doesn't mind, she's got to know he's only got eyes for her." With Sarah confirming it, Desi shot Crystal a look that said 'see?'.

Just like Crystal had tucked away the information on her being single, Desi noticed the extension of 'trouble' to girls and tucked it away for later. She shrugged, not having real experience there, but nodded because, well, probably. "Well, whether you do or you don't, as long as you feel good it's all fine." She told Sarah, grinning.

Desi looked after Sarah as she skipped away to find her supplies, then turned back to Crystal. "Oh, yeah, my mom's an Earth Elemental. Demanding stuff!" But cool, with the plants and the animals and all. Truth be told, Desi knew a little less than she should about it, having just been so focused on honing her own skills. The prospect of trying an enirely new spell with someone and help them figure it out was extremely enticing to Desi, who grinned widely at the idea. "Absolutely! I assume you've tried the focus on walking animals? Or mammals? I'm not sure which is best. Maybe go on reverse and instead of blocking, only allowing certain things in. We'll figure it out!" Geek. Desi Kavanagh may be hot, but she was also a total geek.

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earthlyvet
2015-02-06 12:01 pm UTC (link)

"Emilia and Arwen... I can remember that." People liked it when you remembered their family, but that wasn't why Crystal wanted to remember. She wanted to remember because it was the nice thing to do and she'd like to be friends with Desi. She rolled her eyes good-naturedly and held her hands in surrender. "Alright, Keelin doesn't mind Reggie having smoking hot friends. Have you met Keelin, Desi? She's lovely." What? Crystal could look! She had never once touched and wouldn't; Keelin was a good friend and like the sister she'd never had.

She did like Desi's opinion on dating and nodded thoughtfully. "That's what I've always said." Had to love randomly getting tossed friends of her brother's who had things in common with her. Even if she didn't think it had ever happened before.

Crystal hoped that Sarah had enough money for whatever she thought she needed. "Demanding and worth it. Wait until you see my house. If you grew up with an earth elemental then you'll be able to tell." She couldn't have said how many places she had, but it'd be easier to guess that than to put a number to how many animals would be running around. Anyhow! The spell. The spell and the pretty redhead who'd be helping her with it. "I've tried against just mammals, but it doesn't work because of the birds." She gave a little shrug. "I was thinking of that, only allowing certain things." She picked up a packet of what looked to be insect wings. Those might be a good focus. "I'm sure between us we can make it work." Her smile was back and she glanced over towards Sarah. "Saaaaarah. Are you ready to go yet? Desi and I are! Unless there was something you wanted or thought we needed? My spell, my treat."

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forgetaboutme
2015-02-07 03:26 am UTC (link)

"I totally have that," Sarah said cheerfully when Willow told her how much what she wanted would be. That much and then she'd have leftover from her allowance in case she wanted a drink or something. Good. "Here you go." She accepted the small bag and her change, checking to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything that she actually needed. Nope, she was good, and just in time too since her aunt was asking if she was ready yet. "Yep, Aunt Crystal, I'm all good to go!" She thanked Willow one more time before going back over to join them.

Shifting her purse so that she could hold the bag more easily, Sarah smiled up at the other witches. "Which one of you has room in her car for me and my bike?" She held up her hand before Crystal could say anything. "Don't worry, I locked it to a post, not a tree. I don't need to hear that lecture twice." She glanced at Desi. "She's practically a tree-hugger, fyi."

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wickedandlovely
2015-02-10 01:01 am UTC (link)

Nodding promptly, Desi grinned. "I've met her, she is amazing. Inside and out, she's pretty great all around." Desi had no problem gushing about other women - in fact, she did so more than she did the same about men. Reggie was perhaps the exception because he was Reggie. One had to gush about Snow White. Only, right about now, he was about to get slapped with a Male before the title, because Desi was quite certain she had only just met the real deal.

Desi chuckled lightly, no doubt in her mind that she would be able to spot every tell-tale sign of an Earth Elemental. She knew them all by heart now, even going as far as having to admit that living in such a small apartment without plants actually made her sad when she thought about it. Maybe a tiny plant?

The birds problem was such an obvious one Desi actually felt stupid for having forgotten, slapping her forehead with her palm when Crystal pointed it out. "Oh of course!" She looked away, biting her lip in thought even after Crystal said they would figure it out later. She was in problem solving mode, and that was hard to snap out of even as she watched Sarah come up to them again. "I mean I guess you could narrow it to insects...but then there are bugs that are detrimental to plants too. Hmmm. Could we narrow it down further?"

Only snapping out of it when Sarah asked about her bike, and then denounced her aunt as a tree hugger, Desi chuckled. She looked from Crystal to Sarah, amused, and leaned in conspiratorially. "I know, your dad told me." Gazing back outside, Desi shrugged. "My car has one foot in the grave but I'm sure we can shove your bike in the backseat...maybe..."

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earthlyvet
2015-02-10 11:39 pm UTC (link)

"Everyone loves Keelin," Crystal chuckled, though she still paused to note that Desi had admitted she was amazing inside and out. These little things were good to know about the women of Scarlet Oak. And come to think of it, why wasn't she dating someone? There was that vague notion that something had happened, but she couldn't remember for the life of her what it had been. "But Desi, if you grew up with an earth elemental you should love plants too. You won't mind a bit!" The animals might be a different story, but Crystal took very good care of them and no one could say her house so much as smelled. Unless someone was being difficult, but she didn't want to talk about the last time she'd let a mink into her house.

"We probably can. I don't see why we wouldn't be able to. If we can at least keep the worst off then I'll be happy. There is nothing worse than picking through beetles, but I can't use pesticide." No, the harm was far too great and she always felt a little sting of guilt when she had to kill a bug because otherwise she'd just be giving it permission to come right back and do it again.

Crystal pushed Sarah's shoulder lightly when she said she was practically a tree-hugger. "I am a tree-hugger, get it right. And completely unashamed." But it was good that Reggie was warning people before they met her. Crystal didn't want to put off a potential friend because they showed up wearing leather or something. "It can fit in mine, Sarah, no worries at all. Go and shove it in while I pick up a few things okay." Reaching into her purse, Crystal dug out the keys and handed them over. "Drive off in it and I will find a way to curse you." Not really, but you couldn't give teenagers too big a free reign or else they'd run off with it. She smiled brightly at Desi. "I'll be right back." And she was true to her word, just darting off to the counter to get Willow to toss together a few things for her.

"Alright... just follow me. That's my car with the bouncing redhead." She pointed needlessly to where Sarah was waiting. "It's not really that far, but I'll still take it slow so I don't lose you."

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forgetaboutme
2015-02-12 07:58 am UTC (link)

"Whatever, I was close. I'm getting you one of those shirts for your birthday. With the catchy little logos written out in leaves or whatever." Actually that wasn't a half-bad idea and she really needed to remember it for when her aunt's birthday did roll around. When was that again? Oh well, she could just ask her dad. "Cool, I'll ride with aunt Crystal." She gave Desi a little wave before going out the door, purchase clutched tightly in hand. She was almost single-mindedly focused on the task she was going to perform when she got to her aunt's house, and if she was bouncing a little then she wasn't going to deny it because: excited.

The relatively short trip to her aunt's was spent babbling on about school and how yeah, there were a few cute guys but no, she didn't want to date them. Why should she? There was so much else she could do with her time; like magic!

"Yes!" Sarah almost threw herself out of the car when it was put into park and ran up to the door. Where she encountered the problem of not having the key. "Come on, Aunt Crystal! I have an idea for what I have to do so I'd like to get it done, like, now before I forget."

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wickedandlovely
2015-02-14 12:07 am UTC (link)

"I do, actually! I've even been thinking of getting a tiny one of my own, I kind of miss flora around sometimes." Desi admitted. "Not to mention I'd kill for my own herbal garden, wouldn't need to come over here so often that way." Or she could stop using and creating spells that involved certain herbs. That helped too. The exchange between Sarah and Crystal only made Desi laugh, though really she didn't mind befriending a tree-hugger at all - there were worst things to want to hug. Waving at Sarah, Desi stayed behind to wait for Crystal, mind swimming with ideas on how to solve Crystal's ward problem.

When Crystal was done Desi followed her outside, car keys in hand. "Okay, see you in a bit!" She said, before entering and driving off after the other two. Crystal's house was pleasant looking, and Desi smiled as she got out of the car and watched Sarah run up to the front door. "I like your enthusiasm. But you know what, keep a notebook for these occasions. Writing an idea down is better than losing it outright - believe me." Not that Desi followed her own advice too well most of the time. She waked into Crystal's house after her and Sarah, looking around a bit. It was lovely, but not unlike Sarah, Desi was itching to get to work. She couldn't remember the last time she had practiced magic with someone else, let alone two people.

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earthlyvet
2015-02-14 11:33 pm UTC (link)

Hearing Desi say that she wanted a plant for her apartment immediately got Crystal thinking of what small plants she had around her place. As an earth elemental it was pretty much her responsibility to make sure people had all the green life they needed in their lives. She'd have to give her something as thanks for helping her with this ward.

"If you opened that door you'd get floored by the animals," Crystal said as she approached, keys jingling. She nodded in agreement to what Desi was saying about writing things down, but was immediately distracted by the other side of the door. "Hello gorgeous," she cooed, scooping up the large black and white cat who'd been the first of her current three to reach her. "Okay, none of the animals are vicious, but don't pet Leonardo." She grinned as she led the way to the sliding glass door that opened into her backyard. She pointed with her foot to where Leonardo was currently taking up residence while he healed. "Unless he shows you his belly. Porcupines love having their belly rubbed. And off you go, Terry, I'll feed you soon." The cat was placed on the porch rail where he immediately began eyeing the bluebird that was cheaping up a storm. "You should have migrated by now," Crystal murmured to the bird, tapping its little head, momentarily distracted before she remembered that she'd other things to do.

"Sarah? This tree right here." She pressed her fingers against the bark of an apple tree that was just about her height, only just avoiding the branches. "I grew it this week so winter is easier for it. Show me what you can do to protect it." Her smile was encouraging as she moved near Desi, nudging the other witch with her shoulder. "Then I'll show you where our project is."

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