Then Isabella slowly pulled her arm back out.
Holding a full bag of nuts.
The wind spirit's pupils expanded like a starving wolf spotting prey.
"MY BABIES—"
Isabella yanked the bag back before it could eat her fingers. "Next time," she said with a long, suffering sigh, "don't disappear when I need you."
"I wasn't disappearing," the wind spirit argued. "I was resting."
"You sleep more than a hibernating bear."
"I am delicate!"
"You are a menace."
Isabella tossed the bag gently upward.
The wind spirit snatched it midair with the grace of a professional thief, then screamed, "FREEDOM!" before shooting into the sky like a comet—
And vanishing back into Isabella's fan with a crack of wind.
Silence fell across the peak.
A quiet, peaceful silence.
Except for one tiny voice:
"…pip."
Glimora hugged Isabella's leg, pressing her cheek into it affectionately. Her tail wagged gently, little eyes full of comfort and relief that the chaos had settled for now.
