10

You weren't sure what you were expecting, exactly—but for some reason, finding the tree house exactly as it was when you left wasn't on your mind. Ahead of you is a small bench covered in soft pillows sitting underneath a large, circular window, and all around it are hanging plants and shelves of books mounted on the walls. Even the crescent-shaped rug your grandma made is still at your feet, almost waiting for you to sink your toes into it.

Still, you can't stop and take it in. Instead you turn left to head up yet more stairs, and at the top, you find the door to your bedroom already standing open.

There, on the end of your bed, is Arctus. You sigh with relief, and you step forwards to meet her—but as you do, you realize that she's not looking at you. Instead, her head is turned towards the window—and as you come a little closer, you realize that the glass pane has also been nudged slightly open. And once you've moved even further inside the room, you see that there's something perched on the window frame.

A small, sleek, sharp-eyed crow.

As you spot it, the crow cocks its head—and as one of its black, glittering eyes meets yours, you realize that this isn't just any crow. This is a crow you know very well. This is—

"Carys?"

Your grandmother's Familiar doesn't move—but at the sound of your voice, Arctus spins around and starts frantically mewing, trotting towards you as if beyond excited to see you. Remembering that she's the reason you're here in the first place, you return her excitement at once, opening your arms so that she can nuzzle in close as you hug her.

"You really scared me, Arctus," you say, kissing her head. A moment later, however, she squirms away from you and rushes back towards the window where Carys is still sitting. Arctus looks from her to you with that same excitement, as if to say: "Look who's here too!"

When you meet Carys's steady gaze, what you feel is: