Finally stuffed, Gar rested against a tree while Natalie scratched behind his ears. “Why am I always happy around you, Gar? Why wasn’t I born a bear?”

Gar snorted. “You? A bear?”

“I’m serious.” Natalie thumped her fist against Gar’s head, yelped and stuck her fist in her mouth. “Ow,” she mumbled.

Gar dipped his claw into the honeycomb beside him and licked thoughtfully. “What happened today?”

“The Master came by. With Jarin.”

Gar growled, a rumble that emanated from his chest more than his mouth. “That was cruel of him,” he said, and then raised a piece of the honeycomb to his forehead.

Natalie took the sticky mess and nibbled at it, the oozing honey dripping onto her dress and sticking in her wild hair. “I hate seeing him. I can’t believe I burned him.” Her voice caught in her throat and she swallowed heavily.

Gar’s brows traveled closer to his eyes and Natalie slid forward with them.

"Well, Jarin came to get you, that's got to mean something.”

Natalie sighed, “I know it does. He forgives me; I know that, but that’s not what’s important.” She stopped. Her eyes watered, but she clenched her body and shook her head.

“Well, what is it then?” Gar closed his eyes and dropped his nose to his chest.

“I can’t heal.”

“Of course you can.”

“No. I can’t.”

Gar opened one eye. “Don’t be silly. You’ve healed me.”

Natalie stood up. “That’s not magic. I just pulled out an infected thorn and gave you some medicine. Your body did the rest.”

“It wasn’t magic?” Gar opened the other eye.

“No,” Natalie whispered. “I can’t heal.”

“But you’re a fairy. All fairies can heal.”

“I can’t”

“Have you tried?”

Natalie stomped on Gar’s head, “What kind of stupid question is that? Of course I have. Every time I try, I can feel something, something vying for release, something angry. Always before I contained it, but last time, it got out. ”

Gar scratched his neck. “But you told me you messed up a fire spell.”

Natalie sighed. “No I didn’t. I said I messed up a spell. You assumed it was a fire spell.”

“Oh.”

“Why wasn’t I born a bear?” Natalie tore a piece of bark from the tree and flung it into the underbrush.

Gar sat in silence. “Maybe you were?”

“What are you talking about?” Natalie tore another piece of bark from the tree and hurled it farther.

“I don’t think you were born a bear, but maybe you’re not actually a fairy.”

Natalie paused in mid-throw her arm reeled back. After a moment she sighed and threw the bark. “That doesn’t make any sense. I know my parents.”

“Ow!”

Gar rolled to his feet and Natalie leapt into the air, hovering just above his shoulders. “Who’s there?” Gar growled.

The bushes rustled, and Jarin flew from the undergrowth rubbing his head. “Me.”

Natalie huffed. “You were spying!”

“No.”

Gar stomped.

“Yes,” Jarin amended, “but I didn’t mean to.”

Gar snorted.

Jarin threw up his hands. “I swear. I came back to your nest, and you weren’t there but I saw your trail and it wasn’t heading towards the school so I figured you weren’t coming and I followed you to try and change your mind but then you were crying on Gar and then you were sleeping and I fell asleep and then when I found you again you were talking.” Jarin’s words tumbled out fast as he stared at Gar’s claws.

“How dare you!” Natalie crossed her arms over her chest. Suddenly she remembered her appearance, torn clothes, tangled hair and honey everywhere. Her wings flared red and violet which only made her embarrassment worse.

“I’m sorry.” Jarin managed to keep his face solemn for a few moments but then a grin crawled across his face.

“What are you laughing at?”

“Nothing, at least, well, your hair’s sticking straight up, like you’re upside down or something, and you’ve got an ant on your foot, and there’s a bit of bear fur on your dress, and.” He stopped his smile fading.

Natalie’s wings had changed from violet to crimson.

“You follow me.” She buzzed closer. “You spy on me and then you insult me! Who do you think you are?” She landed in front of him, her right hand raised.

Jarin stumbled back. A faint red glow limned her hand.

“Get out of here!” Natalie screamed.

Jarin lifted from the ground.

“Wait.” Gar said.

Jarin hovered. Natalie spun around. “Wait for what?”

“We could use his help.”

“What?” Natalie said, but the anger had seeped out of her. She let her hand fall to her side. Jarin settled back to the ground..

“We could use his help where we are going.”

Natalie frowned. “Where are we going?”