n

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n~ SASHA ~

nAfter the fight at lunchtime Zev had disappeared into the forest and no amount of Sasha's peering between trees or aching longing brought him back. Yhet was empathetic, but firm. They needed to find her a space she could claim as her own and keep the males out when she needed to.

nAfter the meal, they'd found Kyelle again, who seemed relieved to tell them that she had found a nest home for Sasha. There was little furniture, but they would find some more. And the bed was high and full.

n

"You will have to climb to the door, but you should be able to do that… shouldn't you?

" Kyelle had asked hesitantly.

nSasha had to work not to scowl at her.

"I'm sure I'll make it,

" she said sweetly.

nKyelle had led them out, through the trees, further and further from the village, which made Sasha nervous, but Yhet seemed pleased.

"Very good, Kyelle,

" he'd said when she finally walked to the trunk of a huge tree with another of those rounded homes—even larger than Kyelle's from what Sasha could see.

nAlso, positioned much further up the tree.

nKyelle caught her eyeing the climb and smiled.

"There is a rope ladder, I'll get it down for you,

" she said.

nThen before Sasha could respond, she burst into feathers. White, snowy feathers marked with dark spots on her wings, along with the huge golden eyes and tufted ears of an owl.

nThe largest owl Sasha had ever seen. Even in bird form, Kyelle was taller than Sasha, though she was a lot wider, too. She took one swooping leap, her long wings scooping at the air and with two or three flaps her talons closed on the edge of the… porch? Sasha wasn't sure what to call the narrow, wooden platform directly outside the door. It was open on the front—to allow the access of those wings, Sasha realized. But there were waist-height railings on either side.

nKyelle returned to her human form as soon as she landed on the platform, then walked to the railing at the side and uncoiled a mass of ropes to drop a ladder that reached almost to the ground and reminded Sasha of the ladders she'd seen in cartoons or on television shows—where kids didn't live in apartments or city streets, but had trees and grass behind their houses and built treehouses with fathers who were home on the weekends instead of in the office.

nShe walked to the foot of it—dangling a foot or so off the ground—and tugged on it. The steps were single wooden planks with a hole at either end, and knots tied underneath to stop the step sliding down the rope. Sasha pulled all her weight against one of the steps and was heartened to find that it didn't seem creaky or likely to break soon.

"Looks good,

" she said brightly.

nYhet stared at her strangely, but he gave Kyelle an uneasy glance as well. So Sasha ignored it.

"If I climb up, can you pass me my bag, Yhet?

"

n

"Of course,

" he rumbled.

nWith a grim smile, Sasha took hold of the ladder above her head in both hands, then stepped onto the lowest rung with both feet—and promptly had to wrap her arms around the rungs as her weight forced the untethered ladder to swing so she would fall off backwards if she didn't cling with her hands.

nIt was an embarrassing few minutes where Yhet—who was far too big to climb the ladder, and Kyelle, who didn't need to climb it because she could fly—attempted to explain to her how to move on the ladder to keep herself upright. But eventually she made it to the top—then faced the challenge of hoisting her body up and onto the platform when the ladder pulled underneath it because of her weight.

nAnother lesson—quick this time because Sasha's arms were beginning to shake from holding her bodyweight—about gripping the railing on the side and letting go with the other hand to give herself some space to step up with her legs was all that was needed.

nSasha finally, awkwardly, rolled herself onto the platform, puffing hard, but pleased with herself for making it unaided.

n

"See?!

" she said.

nKyelle's lips pressed together like she was trying not to laugh, while Yhet looked very uneasy.

n

"Are you certain about this, Sasha? I can look for another—

"

n

"This is great!

" Sasha said, brushing herself up as she got to her feet.

"It'll be fun. And I'll get better at it.

"

nKyelle nodded, still swallowing that smile, but Sasha ignored it as she approached the woman near the door.

"Can you pass me the bag, Yhet?

"

nThe man lifted the duffel bag up and onto the platform for her without even stretching. Then she and Kyelle went inside.

nThe house was cold and dark. But Kyelle helped her, hurrying around the room lighting lanterns and laying a fire in a cozy little fireplace on the corner.

n

"We can have fires in tree houses?

" Sasha asked, concerned. Everything in the house was made of wood—and the trunk of this tree was thicker than the one in Kyelle's home. It made a massive, bark-covered round wall in the center of the room.

"What if it pops and something catches fire? Won't the tree go up as well?

"

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"It is very difficult to burn a living tree down, especially in winter… with all the snow,

" Kyelle said, in a tone that suggested Sasha should already know that.

n

"Oh… okay. I guess I'll just be careful then,

" Sasha said, then shook her head at herself. Kyelle hurried around, showing her where the dishes and other useful items were, the bathing room—the only room with walls closing it off from the rest of the house—and how to make use of the snow for water for bathing.

nThey'd left the door open so Yhet could see in and offer his input and advice. But the house wasn't large, so they were very quickly back at the tree trunk in the middle of the room.

n

"I think that's everything,

" Kyelle said, clasping her hands together.

"Do you have enough clothing? I can bring more for you—some furs if you're cold. There are some books here, but I could bring more if you'd like to read to pass the time.

"

n

"No, no, I'm fine. I'm just… I'm just tired,

" Sasha said.

"I think I'll take a nap.

"

nKyelle nodded.

"In that case, I need to get back to my clan. Yhet, will you bring Sasha to the meal this evening?

"

n

"Yes, of course,

" he said through the open door—that was also letting the cold, winter air inside to make it even more frigid.

n

"Thank you, both of you,

" Sasha said.

"I'm very grateful. I didn't imagine losing touch with Zev so quickly after we got here.

"

n

"Don't worry, Sasha. He'll work through the wolves quickly. It will be easier after that, when the others have to acknowledge him, as well. Then you'll be able to show your favor,

" Yhet said, smiling.

"It won't be long.

"

nKyelle didn't look as confident, but she nodded and smiled.

"Rest is likely a good idea. I hear crossing from the human world can be very tiring.

"

nSasha started to nod.

"I mean, I was asleep when… wait…

" she paused, her heart thumping.

"What did you call it? The human… world?

"

nKyelle frowned.

"Yes. Do you have another name for it?

"

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"Yes! Pennsylvania!

"

nKyelle and Yhet looked at each other, then Kyelle shook her head.

"Sasha… this isn't pencil-vanya—

"

nSasha looked around, then at both of them.

"Aren't we in America? Isn't this… aren't we up in the mountains somewhere?

"

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"You're in the mountains of Thana,

" Kyelle said carefully.

"Didn't Zev explain?

"

n

"Sasha,

" Yhet said, his voice heavy with concern,

"Thana isn't in your world. This isn't what you call earth. You have crossed the Gate and come to our world.. I'm sorry, I thought you knew that.

"

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