Inthegloaming,thecrowsflewintogatherforthenightinastandofbareoaks.Birdbybird,theysoaredtotherookery,blackshadowsagainstthefadinglight.Mykidnapping,stillfreshinmymimetimidandbattered,nottrustingasoulinthewoods.Imissedmyfamily,yetdaysandweekspassed,markedbytheroutineappearahebirds.Theirarrivalaureprovidedreas-suringtinuity.Bythetimethetreeslosttheirleavesandtheirnakedlimbsstretchedtothesky,thecrowsnolhtenedme.Icametolookfor-wardtotheirgracefularrival,silhouettedagainstthewintrysky,anaturalpartofmynewlife.

    Thefaeriesweleastheirownandtaughtmethewaysofthewoods,andIgrewfondofthemall.InadditiontoSpeck,Igel,BékaandOn-ions,thereweresevehethreegirlswereinseparable—KiviandBlomma,blondeandfreckled,quietandassured,aagalong,Chavisory,achatterboxwholookednomorethanfiveyearsold.Whenshegrinned,herbabyteethshonelikeastringofpearls,andwhenshelaughed,herthinshouldersshookandtwitched.Ifshefoundsomethingtrulyfuning,shetookofflikeaskitteringbat,dangincirclesandfigureeightsacrosstheclearing.

    ApartfromtheleaderIgelandthelonerBéka,theboysformedtwopairs.RagnoandZanzara,asIrememberthem,remindedmeofthetwosonsoftheItaliangrocersintown.Thinandolive-skinnedboys,eachhadathatchofdarkcurlsonhisheadandwasquicktoangerandquickertive.Theotherset,SmaoladLuchóg,behavedasbrothers,thoughtheycouldnotbemoredissimilar.TovereveryoBéka,Smaolatratedoaskathand,asobliviousandearasarobintuggingupah-worm.HisgoodfriendLuchóg,smallestofusall,wasforeverpushingbauntamableloight-blackhairthatcurledacrosshisforehead