Chapter 1

In the rainy depths of Vancouver island stood a girl with her mind in the clouds, and her feet splashing in the puddles as she walked along her usual route to work. Even though today was just like any other day, there was one subtle difference...in the corner of her eye she saw a tiny robin following her wherever she went. She got to work at a little Chinese herbal shop which suited her down to a "tea", as she loved to practice witch craft in her spare time, though she wasn't any good. Peering in through the window she noticed that little robin still watching her every move.... 

The day went smoothly enough, it was just past six when she made her way home; exhausted from her day, she decided to sit outside, since the night air felt so good, she sat on her porch and watched the world go by. It wasn't till the sun had completely set when she noticed the little robin sitting beside her. Anya leaned in with a smile, "well hello there," she cheerfully said. The robin answered with a blank expression, and they stared at each other for a minute. "Are you sure shes the one?" the robin asked and at this Anya jumped back and fell out of her chair. But where there was once empty space no more then two seconds ago stood a girl of a similar age dressed in a trench coat as black as the night that surrounded them. "I'm sure," the girl reassured the bird as she held out her had to help the startled girl to her feet. Anya only stared at the girls hand, then looked at her face. She was so beautiful, with long flowing black hair, blood red eyes, and skin that was so pale it was almost transparent. "Who are you?" she asked in a shaky voice. 

"I'm Winter, and this is my companion Aiden" she jerked her thumb at the bird. 

"Did your 'companion' just... speak?" she asked, quickly looking over at the bird who still sat there staring. 

"Yes Anya, he did". 

At this Anya turned her attention to Winter, but before she could utter a word "its not safe to talk here" Winter said as she scanned the area. 

"Oh...uh...." Anya wasn't sure what to do. 

“May we come in?” Winter asked. 

“Oh, sure...that sounds like a good idea...” Anya laughed worriedly as she opened the door not knowing what to expect. Winter smoothly walked in fallowed by the tiny bird who flew towards the window and peered out, scanning every inch. Winter sat down in the chair and told Anya she would answer everything she could. Anya seemed to take that has her cue to start asking questions such as: "who are you?” “what are you doing here?” “how do you know my name?" The questions came out strong and fast without her taking a moment to breathe in between them. "Some of those questions are simple to answer... others maybe harder for you to take" Winter spoke a little out of breathe, making her small friend take his eyes off of the window for the first time since he had entered. 

"Are you OK?" he asked. 

"I'll be fine" Winter muttered. 

Anya asked if she would like something to eat, but Winter shook her head. Anya looked over to the bird, "how about you Aiden? would you like some seeds or something?" 

"WHAT?!" the bird screamed, "just because I'm..." he began but Winter threw him a look that stopped him dead in his tracks. "The thing is Anya, Aiden isn't really a bird, he is many things..." Anya was now looking rather confused but she had a feeling from the beginning that these two were not exactly 'normal'. "He is a shape shifter" Winter explained, at this Anya glanced over at the bird that now turned back towards the window "...I see" Anya said not being too shocked, since a talking robin did seem a bit strange. She looked back at Winter "and you? are you a shape shifter too?" Winter averted her gaze "no... I am something much worse" Anya felt she had hit a touchy subject and decided to change it. "So what brings a shape shifter and a mysterious stranger to my door?"
"Anya you have a great power deep within you, and some really bad people would love to get their hands on it". 

Anya listened intently as Winter explained how she was part of an ancient legend and needed to fulfil it for the world's sake. Winter was a little hazy on the details or maybe didn't want to give too much away just yet but she did make one thing clear... "We are the only ones who can protect you. If you stay I see no possible outcome of you living. Where as if you came with us, the odds are much better...” 

“I get the feeling that I don't have much of a choice here...” Anya thought to herself, “I guess I'll just have to play along and see what happens.”
Anya looked to her room and said, “just let me go pack some some clothes" 

Once Anya had left Aiden flew to Winter's side, "you sure about this? If we leave now... she'll never be able to find us..."
"We cannot leave her." 

Aiden understood and sat on his friend's shoulder as she stood up and headed for the door "Anya come on we need to go" Anya came bouncing out of the room, bags in hand and followed her new companions. 

"You won't need all that" Winter stated as she noticed Anya struggling with the bags. 

Anya sighed, “but I won't know how long we'll be gone for...” Winter looked at her seriously “If you need to bring anything just put it in a backpack, and do it quickly.” Anya did as she was told; they were almost out the door when Anya realized that she should leave some sort of letter behind for her friends. “Just a second!” Anya ran to the kitchen and grabbed a pen and paper, “what is it?” Winter asked, “I'm just going to leave a letter behind so anyone looking for me will know I'm alright,” she said cheerfully. Anya placed the pen down and put the note in an obvious enough place. “Finished?” Winter asked. 

“Yep!” 

“Alright, lets go.” With that they left Anya's happy home, from which she had grown so familiar with.

The walk was short till they reached the outer limits of the island, "it should be safe to shift now Aiden" Winter told the bird who was itching to turn back into his natural form. Anya looked over as the bird leaped from Winter's shoulder and began to grow and change in front of her. She was intrigued to see what kind of man this tiny bird would look like but when he had finished it wasn't a man she saw stood before her, but a 145lb panther. Before anything could be said Winter stopped and looked back "Aiden watch Anya" she rushed off in the opposite direction "where is..." Anya began to ask, "don't ask" Aiden snapped back. "We'll camp here for now" Anya didn't speak much after that, she tried to ask how the two had met but Aiden seemed too be deep in thought she then tried to tease the big cat "you like her don't you?" she smiled, he shot her a look but kept his cool. 

"I will protect her with my life but that doesn't mean I want any kind of relationship with her..." 

She knew she had over stepped the mark so she left him alone and started to make a small fire. 

"If your such a powerful witch, why not use your power?" Aiden asked, but Anya did not want to let on she wasn't as good as he had thought. 

"I like to do things myself sometimes it keeps you sharp." 

Aiden grunted as he stared up at the stars. Shortly after Winter returned which made Aiden leap to his feet. 

"Are you alright?" 

"I'm fine" she replied as she sat down next to the warmth of the fire. Aiden sat down beside Winter as they all stared in silence at the fire.