Mint led Seren through the trees and across a river. They stopped at a clearing that was covered in wildflowers.

  “This place feels familiar.” Seren said, they hunted through the underbrush. “Ah-ha!” They triumphantly held up their missing boots. Now soaking wet and ruined.

  “This is where I met the waterbearer.” Seren said, dropping their boots and wiping their hands off on their pants. “You think the entrance is near here?”

  “Possibly,” Mint said looking around.

  “It’s going to be in water…” Seren mused. “Let’s try following the river. Hopefully it isn’t a part of the river. That might make it more difficult.” Mint flew alongside Seren as they found the river and started walking alongside it upriver.

  “How will we know when we find it?” Mint asked.

  “Wha? I thought you would know!” Seren stopped walking to look at the sprite.

  “I thought you would know. You’re fae.” Mint said. Seren paused and sat with that thought. They took a deep breath and closed their eyes. Not sure what to flex or what to think. But after a few minutes of silence, they began to feel a tug.

  “It’s this way.” Seren said and kept walking upriver. “I don’t know how I know, but I guess that’s part of being fae. Right?” Mint just stared at Seren blankly. Seren nodded awkwardly and just focused on finding the entrance.

  They followed the river against the current to a small rapids where the pull turned them in a different direction. Stepping through the underbrush they found a glade. A large willow tree shielded the large pool of silvery opaque waters. A little stream fed fresh river water to the pool and several beautiful white flowers grew around the shores.

  “This is it.” Seren said. They put down their pack and pulled out their package.

  “What is that?” Mint asked.

  “Salt.” Seren said, opening up the restaurant sized package of salt. “The books at the library said that if you salt the waters, the fae can’t come through.”

  “So, we salt the waters and the fae can’t come in?” Mint asked.

  “Yup, that’s about the size of it.” Seren said. They stood up and brushed off their pants. “So, when the kids come back through. Start salting.”

  “What?!” Mint screamed. “What’s that mean?”

  “I did say multiple times that I was going to try and rescue everyone.” Seren said stubbornly. “So when the kids come back through the portal, salt the pool.”

  “What about you?” Mint asked. “If I close the portal, you’ll be stuck there too.”

  “I’m fae, it’s where I belong anyway.” Seren shrugged. Though even saying it hurt. “Thank you for helping. And when the kids come through, try to get them back to the city okay?”

  “Okay. But.” Mint played with her nailless fingers. “But I will wait for you to come through before I salt it. I will wait until the morning’s first light. So please try to come back.”

  “I can try.” Seren said. They took a deep breath and jumped into the waters. It was ice cold, and it robbed them of not only their breath but also their sight. Seren instinctively swam for the surface just to get out of the cold. Seren breached the surface and scrambled up onto the shore. Their hands met not mud but snow.

  Seren held the magically dry cloak around their shoulders and shivered as they took in their first sight of the fae wilds. Though trees were plentiful they were a dark silver and covered in snow. In the sky there was a full milky white moon but not a single star. Seren got to their feet, seeing their breath as they shivered against the cold. The cloak was keeping in what little heat they still had and helped warm them up. Seren fished through their pocket and pulled out their father’s sunstone ring. Slipping it on and feeling it’s warmth instantly chasing the cold out of their body.

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  Seren took in the wonder around them, approaching the nearest tree as the realization that the trees weren’t covered in snow, but the leaves were made of fae silver. They took one of the leaves off the trees and looked at it in awe. A large cheer made them jump and look down the path to where a large ornate stage was constructed with a crowd gathering around it. Seren shoved the leaf into their pocket and pulled up their hood. Going into the tree line and creeping closer toward the crowd.

  The stage was decorated with a plethora of jewels and precious stones. Gold chains were hung on every surface in such a gaudy fashion it made Seren cringe. However behind the stage was a giant iron cage where all the missing children were shoved shoulder to shoulder.

  Seren noticed a few yards to their right were mesh silver nets that housed a few constructed sprite nests. They slid along the trees, creeping to the nests. Seren took a hold of the mesh and the sprites began to buzz in alarm.

  “Shh! Shh! I’m going to let you out!” Seren whispered, watching the crowd in hopes no one noticed what they were doing. “There’s a sprite on the other side of the pool. Her name is Mint, she’ll help you and tell you what to do next.” Seren inspected the mesh as the sprites watched in interest. Finally they pulled out a little pocket knife and cut through the mesh. Making a hole for the sprites to escape.

  Instantly, a trail of the sprites flooded out into the trees. Two waterbearers came from the nest and paused before Seren.

  “You have a sprite helping you?” One asked.

  “It’s a long story, she can fill you in.” Seren said. “Right now I need to get to the cage and get those kids out.”

  “You wish to take their riches for yourself?” The second waterbearer accused.

  “No, I’m taking them home to their families.” Seren snapped. They lifted their hood enough for the two suspicious sprites to see their hair and eyes.

  “I’m not your typical fae. I know it’s hard but trust me and hurry!” Seren implored them. The two queens looked at each other in surprise but nodded and ripped off into the forest. Seren then redirected their attention to the cage. They crept around the treeline to where it ended and became a road. Looking down it, Seren saw a village though it was empty as the citizens were all in the crowd before the stage.

  With no focal point yet on the stage, the fae citizens were preoccupied with speaking to each other. A few guards were lined up on and beside the stage but clearly were watching the crowd. Seren crouched low and began crawling toward the cage. Hoping the cloak would keep them hidden from any wandering eyes.

  Seren’s heart pounded and they could only beg that they would somehow become invisible. The energy in the air was so thick and palpable that Seren could taste it. It pooled in their muscles and made them tense and achy. They placed their hand among the snow and froze.

  Seren saw not their hand but only the impression of a print. Slowly, Seren stood up and looked over themself. Finding they had willed themself invisible. A revelation that stole their breath, Seren became truly aware of the force of power that the entire fae world was made of. And how they were equally connected to it. It left them dazed and hysterical as they ran for the cage.

  They slid back into visibility as soon as they stopped wishing to be and appeared at the cage door. The human children sucked in a breath to scream and shrank away from them.

  “Shh! I’m going to get you out of here!” Seren said. Inspecting the lock.

  “Serenity? How did you?” Wilbur appeared at the front of the pack. Grabbing the bars and pressing his face against them.

  “I knew you’d come through.” Kyi appeared right beside him.

  “Doesn’t matter. I’m getting you home.” Seren said. Trying to figure out how the lock worked. “I’m getting you all home.” The sound of trumpets made Seren hit the ground.

  “Stand in awe and reverence of your Queen!” Shouted a voice from the stage and then the fanfare truly took off. It was deafening and overbearing. Seren slowly got back to their feet, seeing the glimpses of gold approaching the stage. They turned back to the lock.

  “We’ll keep watch,” Wilbur said.

  “I’ve been working the lock but it’s some kind of magic.” Kyi said, he held out a small pick to them.

  “Okay, you work the lock. I’ll work the magic.” Seren said. They had no idea how to do such a thing but they were learning a lot pretty quickly tonight.

  The fanfare stopped.

  “My people! We have a new harvest!” Commanded a voice. Its power hit Seren so hard they nearly jumped to their feet and cheered. Seren gripped the bars with white knuckles.

  “What is it?” Kyi asked.

  “That power is strong. Give it a second.” Seren grit their teeth together and fought against the urge and turned their attention back to lock.