Farewell

I awoke again but I wasn't sure if it was the same day. This time, the only differences were, the nurse was gone, it was colder in the tent, and Snowbird was in the chair instead of Crynn. My eyes go to her and I try to get her attention,

"Snowie?"

She stands up so fast I'm surprised she didn't hurt her neck.

"Ray-Ray! Oh so much has happened!" I don't want to hear the whole speech again,

"Crynn…" She deflates a little but doesn't let it show too much,

"Oh you want your brother? I'll go get him, be right back!" I moan because I'm too tired to shake my head, she turns back,

"No," I whisper, trailing off at the end,

"You." Snowbird looks surprised but sits back down.

"Oh, Ray-Ray guess what!" She bounces in her seat, "I found out that I don't really kill people! I only suck up and take away their power and turn their hair black! The people at Illwood think I kill them but they're really in a short coma while their bodies are adjusting to not having magic." Snowbird gestures around the tent with her hands, "All of the people here are either the people whose power I took or their children. Isn't it fantastic! Though, I still do remember some of their faces. Apparently, I'm also not the first Snowbird, I'm the fourth generation."

I manage a tired smile for her, I'm glad she's not the monster she thought she was. I'm so tired.

"Oh and Raylee? I-I'm going to turn myself back into Illwood."

"What?!" The word tears from my throat all raspy, Snowbird smiles sadly.

"I'm going to work on freeing more people for the Blackbird's, and I'm also going to do a kind of damage control there too and say that I killed you." Her voice cracks on the word "killed", "Crynn said that you guys are going to stay here until you get better," She sighs heavily and I notice tears in her eyes, "So I guess this is farewell."

She leans over me and gives me a gentle hug,

"Promise me I'll see you again?" She whispers into my ear, I attempt another smile, so tired, then whisper my reply,

"Yes." She smiles against my shoulder then stands up sniffing,

"Do you want Crynn now? I can go get him,"

"Brave," Snowbird turns and smiles at me,

"Crynn," And she's gone.

Snowbird doesn't return but Crynn comes in hastily,

"Raylee! Please tell me you're getting better!"

"I'm just….tired… so freak…en tired." Crynn is crying now and grasping my hand like his life depends on it.

"Don't you dare leave me! Not now!"

A tear glides down my dirty cheek,

"I'm… dying. There's… nothing… you can do."

Crynn is shaking his head, his wild and thick purple hair flying,

"I knew this… day would… come. Sooner… or… later,"

Crynn lets out a sob.

"It's not… your fault… okay?" I pause for a long moment to catch my breath, "There is… no happy… ending to… this." More tears fall but not as much as my little brother has falling,

"I came too late…"

"Staying…?" Crynn nodded his head,

"I will stay until your last breath!" I try to roll my eyes but become dizzy,

"No, you staying… with… birds?"

"The Blackbirds? I guess so, I mean I'll stay with you until you get better because you will get better. Then we'll tour around Prenford and you can meet Mom and Dad and Chrissy," My mood sours at the mention of my sister but I decide not to dwell on it. I smile sadly at Crynn feeling my eyelids grow heavy.

"I love you Crynn… farewell." My eyelids close but I can still hear his anguished cry,

"No!"