Shadow, Raven and Shaeman's leaving party.

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The trio stood in the shadows just inside the forbidden forest, waiting for the friends that they had called. Everyone had been called so that they could say a last farewell before they had to leave them, their home, Hogwarts, everything, and return once more to their home dimension. Shadow held her head low, trying not to cry. Raven was picking at the hem of her cloak, and Shaeman was emotionless, even though he screamed out to the sky in his heart. They had told no one that they were leaving, and now was the time to tell them, before anyone tried to find a way to let them stay.

Shadow had read the stars so often, that she knew that there was no hope of being allowed to stay. The High Priestess' orders were clear. All Synari were being called back to their home dimension, no exceptions. She blinked back her tears desperately, trying to put a brave face on their leaving, but to no avail.

Raven wasn't crying, but her heart was filled with anger. Anger at the orders they had received. Just as they found their place and a close circle of friends, somewhere that didn't care who your parents were or how dangerous you were, they had to be ripped cruelly from everything that they wanted.

Shaeman stood a little way off, standing with two pegusi, one a rich brown, the other pure black. He was rubbing the black one's shoulder, trying to sort out his head. One part of him wanted to break down and cry, the other begged him to scream aloud in anger, but he did neither. It was not his place. He had found company on Earth, even though he was more dangerous than his half sisters, he had found a girl he loved more than anything, but no. It was not meant for him. Not for someone like him.

"Well...last time she was depressed...she threw herself off a cliff...remember...at the north pole...you weren't their Violet....but it was horrible," said Natalie.

"Oh god." Violet said. "I've been there where she was...I think. It was horrible, if she is talking about her father's place. Everyone was....just wrong." She siad.

"Yes, I remember that." Raven said, rubbing her temples. "That and the other..." Raven counted them off on her fingers. "... fifteen times."

"Fifteen times?" She asked, eye widen. "Shadow....how could you? What happen there?" She asked, tears in her eyes.

"Oh dear," said Natalie, glacing worriedly at Shadow, "well...now that we are confessing things...I should tell you....while you were gone...I sort of....have been hexing myself," she pulled back her sleaves to she burn marks all over her arms.

Violet bit her lip, not sure if she should say anything.

"You haven't seen her like that before." Raven said. "She didn't want to serve Kar." She took one glance at Natalie's arms. "And why in the history of Synairn did you do that?!"

Holly screamed loudly. She had only just realised Shadow was back.
"Sorry," she said, "But like.....y'know. Hi?"

Shadow flinched, but said nothing. Raven smiled warmly.
"Hey Holly!"

"Hey!" Holly said grinning, but it faded at the sight of Shadow, "Sup...?"

"Kar is dead." Violet said slowly. "I thought we killed him." She said, twisting her neck. Violet bit her lip again, and stood up. "I'm going to see if he woke up yet."

NAtalie pulled her sleaves back down.

"So....here's the dealio...Shadow won't tell us what wrong," said NAtalie, concerned for her friend.

"Who know's what's wrong with Shadow, she won't even talk to me!" Raven said.

"So theres no point in me trying," Holly said, looking Shadow up and down, "She looks the same....its good to see you again.......oh! MAYBE ITS JAMIE!"

Violet walked back in the school and up to her room. "Up yet?" She asked, keep her eys closed incase he took a shower or anything.

"Good thinkin' Hols," said Natalie, "is it Jamie?"

"Well she aint gonna talk then," Holly said, rethinking.

"No, it's not." Shadow said quietly from the darkness of her cloak.

"Didnt think so," Holly said, then realised she had heard Shadow speak for the first time in a long time, "Nice to hear that irksome voice again....."

Shadow shut up again, and Raven resumed chewing her lip.

Holly cocked her head to the side and said, "Um....you dont wanna tell us what's bothering you huh?"

There was no reply to the question apart from a shake of the head. Raven fidgeted, trying not to think about her sister.

Holly bit her lip and tried to think of something sensible to say. When nothing came, she looked at Raven.
"How come you came back?"

"War's finally over, and Shaeman and I were just settling into life on Synairn again when we saw Merlas shooting across the skies towards this dimension like lightning. We saddled up and followed her here." Raven explained.

"First time you've seen her since you left?" Holly asked interested.

Raven nodded sadly.
"It's only bee a month since we left here, but in Synairn, time moves faster. It's been two years."

Holly's eyes widened.
"Two years?" she asked, "You've been gone two years?"

"In Synarin time, yes, here, at hogwarts, only a month has passed." Raven corrected.

Holly stared at them, taking in the slight changes she could now notice.
"I missed ya," she said, "It FELT like two years over here,"

Raven smiled slightly.
"It felt like is there too. I missed the Hogwarts insanity."

Violet, opening her eyes, walked back in the room and sat on the egde of her bed, messing with the neckalce she kept around her neck, as always.

Natalie looked at Shadow.

"Look...if you don't want to say it aloud....you can tell me later in a mind connection and I'll try to help you...if you want," she said, so only Shadow could hear her.

((WOOOOO HOOOO I'M GOING TO MALTA TOMORROW AT 1 AM IN THE MORNING!))

Shadow shook her head again.
"It's nothing, I'll heal it when I get my magic back." She said dully again.

"Ok," said Natalie, unsure that was all that she could get out of her friend, but let the matter slide, "I'm sure you'll be fine."

Shadow didn't reply, staying silent. Raven started to worry.

NAtalie looked at Raven.

"I need to know...did she go demonic while she was in that dimension?" Natalie asked worriedly.

Raven shrugged.
"I don't know, we haven't been in touch for two years."

"What?" said Natalie, dumbfounded, "you split up....to different dimensions for two years?"

Raven nodded.
"We weren't destined for different dimensions, and we couldn't see each other. Also, the barriers were too thick for a mind connection."

"So....either of you could have died and the other would not have know?" asked Natalie.

Raven nodded.
"Exactly."

NAtalie looked at the ground.

"Do you know anyone who would know what is wrong with Shadow?" NAtalie whispered to Raven, "this is very worrying behaviour...this is definately not the Shadow I remember."

Raven nodded.
"Yes, but getting her out of her dimension is like trying to get Shaeman to dump Violet. Impossible."

"I understand...do you think there is anyone here she could trust enough to tell if they were alone with her?" Natalie asked.

"I'm afraid I don't know. She's shut out all mental communications, and she just won't speak." Raven replied. "I'd say you try, but I don't want to see you get hurt if she gets angry."

"Ok...I'll try...and if she gets mad...don't worry...I'd die to help Shadow," said Natalie, and she walked over to Shadow.

"Shall we go for a walk Shad?" Natalie asked her friend.

Shadow shrugged, and wrapped her hand in Merlas' mane again, the horse helping her to stand.

"You can get on your horse and trot along beside me if you wish," said Natalie.

Shadow nodded and, with her steed's help, mounted sidesaddle.

Natalie looked up at Shadow.

"Shadow...I can tell you're way beyond injured physically...something happened there, I can see it in your eyes....you can tell me, and I swear I'll keep it to myself," said Natalie quietly to Shadow as she walked along side the horse.