Owl House: The Wind of the Wolf

Chapter One

Nearly eight years had passed since the woman named Nora Ross had walked upon to find a baby girl in the edge of the forest and taken the baby to the orphanage, but Gravesfield had changed quite a bit.
The sun had rose on the same beautiful front gardens and lit up the door; it crept into the living room, which was almost exactly the same as it had been on the night when Ms. Ross had seen that fateful news report about the arrested men and a killed couple. Only the photographs on the mantelpiece really showed how much time had passed. Ten years ago, there had been lots of pictures of children who had either graduated or had been adopted from the house. Some of those children had come and ago as they pleased. But the room held hardly any sign of one of the most quietest child that lived in the house, too.
The girl's name was Sierra, but her last name remains in mystery. Sierra was waking up in a room that was smaller than the others, she had always felt very shy towards others and Sierra tried to keep her distance from the other children. Sierra was usually found reading or quietly playing by herself in the forest by herself. But unfortunately, she had lost the wooden wolf when she was a baby and had became very possessive of her necklace.
"Children, breakfast!" called out Nora's eighteen year old daughter named Mia.
Sierra had gotten dressed in a blue tie-dye shirt and blue pants, but she kept the necklace that her late mother had left behind. After she was done, Sierra had went downstairs and silently watched as the other children excitedly had started eating their breakfast. There was plates of sausages, toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, and pancakes. There was boxes of cereal and oatmeal. There were bottles of milk and juice. Along with smaller plates that had butter.
Sierra collected some scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausages on her plate before she went outside onto the porch to watch her dawning sky happen before her eyes. She sat down on the chair by the table and breathed into the fresh morning air. When she was done eating breakfast and Sierra decided to walk towards the park. Nora and Mia allowed Sierra to wander around the neighborhood by herself, since the neighbors and some secretive friends can keep an eye on her.
"Hoot." Sierra jumped at the sound and spun around to see a small brown owl with golden eyes and orange talons pulling on a trash bag filled with all sorts of trinkets.
"What the heck?" Sierra stood up and started following the owl, feeling curious.
She lost sight of the odd little owl a few times, but she managed to find the little owl in a small clearing. Its trash bag seemed to have gotten stuck on a tree root. Feeling sorry for the owl, Sierra had went over to the frantic owl and lifted the bag over the root to the other side of the root. The owl looked up at her, his eyes gleaming in the light and nodded, as if he was thanking her.
Sierra smiled and nodded to the owl as the owl continued dragging his prizes(?) away with him. Sierra decided to follow him, feeling curious as ever.
The little owl had led Sierra deeper into the forest, which increased her curiosity even more. The owl had led her to a broken down cottage that seemed to have been left behind many years ago. It must of stood proudly when the years of neglect had took it into its hold after the original owners have left the cottage: the dark brown wood was cracked and dirty. The roof looked ready to collapse into the cottage with the weight of the moss and rain on its roof. The windows were broken and covered in mist or dust. The porch and beams almost seemed ready to collapse, while the door had already fell off its hinges somehow.
Sierra swallowed as she continued looking at the cottage warily. Many teenagers had told her stories of a haunted cottage filled with restless spirits unknown, but the adults had denied such stories and simply told her that an old married couple had once lived there before they had moved out once their children had their own wives and children to take care of. But something magical was being drawn towards her and Sierra felt the need to check it out.
Gathering her courage, Sierra calmed down with a deep breath and walked into the broken down cottage with caution. With every creak or sound that was made within the cottage, Sierra flinched and looked around to make sure nothing will fall on top of her as she walked through the shadowy cottage. She saw a lot of broken down furniture, dust and cobwebs hung about, the chimney was covered in mud, and the white curtains were either ripped or soaked.
But something had started to appear before Sierra's eyes. A golden glow had started to shine through the shrubbery of the intruding bushes and shrubs in front of Sierra. It seemed almost magical to her, it had sent her trembling from the sudden touch of warmth that had spread through her that was a contrast to the coldness of the earlier downpour.
Sierra stepped into the golden light and into a place she wasn't expecting. Sierra noticed that she was standing in a extremely cluttered tent with human nick knacks that was in some earlier trash bags and seemed to be collected by the owl. She stepped carefully around the clutter and outside of the tent, was where she was even more stunned than she was before.
The grass was orange as if it was on fire, while the trees are in the colors of autumn: red, orange, yellow, and a couple were purple. The sun was shining like a fading ember and a silver circle of the moon had started to appear in the night sky, while the appearing night sky seemed to be a deep sapphire blue and the stars glittered like scattered balls of lights. Sierra heard strange sounds from all over the place, in which she barely recognizes.
"Dang it!" Sierra jumped in shock at the sound of an angry woman not too far away from her. "Get back ya rascal!" She heard a playful "Weh!" just as well. Sierra stiffened as she heard running paw steps and footsteps coming in her direction.
Sierra ran away from the tent and deeper into the woods, so she won't get captured or who knows what. She swallowed as she continued running as fast as she could. As she went through the woods, Sierra splashed through a creek that gently stung her skin somehow and Sierra had started running through the grass, she leaped over some stones. To her left, a dense forest stretched out unbroken and was surrounded in some mist. Sierra sped up on the grassy trails for about twelve or thirteen paces. She soon slowed down and smiled when she saw a slender trail, winding like an endless and waterless stream along the forest floor, Sierra raced along the path until she was in the depths of the forest again.
She heard a person walking nearby, startling Sierra even more and dove into an abandoned den underneath a tree's roots to hide from the newcomer.
Sierra watched as a slender figure in a dress and a silvery cloak stepped into the forest grove, looking around curiously. Sierra's eyes widened at the sight of the person. The person seemed to be around her early twenties with fair skin and light blonde hair streaked in silver. Her face is filled with gentle compassion and boldness. Her eyes are blue as sapphires and shone with warm kindness. A single hoop earring is pierced in her right ear, her ears are surprisingly pointy. She was wearing a dark blue dress, a silvery cloak, and black, knee-high boots.
Where am I? Sierra wondered as she looked at the woman. What is this place? Who is that? Why does she have pointy ears?
The person pulled out a flute, she played a single and beautiful note. But to Sierra's surprise, a sparkling golden and amber wave had washed past her with the gentle force of an ocean wave that washes up to the beach. That wasn't the only surprise to Sierra. She had suddenly felt a sudden wave of warmth and comfort washed over her.
Is he a wizard? thought Sierra in a shock.
"Hey kid," called out the witch as she looked around the grove. "Where are you? I'm not going to hurt you."
Fat chance of that, Sierra thought stubbornly. But she calmed down as looked at the witch's gentle eyes and kind expression. But maybe she could help me. I hope.
Sierra's hands gently brushed against the ground, causing a small stone to roll down from her hiding place and in front of the friendly witch. The witch looked where the stone had rolled down from and saw Sierra trying to hide herself in the shadows of the small cave.
"By the Titan," whispered the witch as she put her instrument away and crouched down in front of the cave, surprising Sierra. "It's okay. It's safe." The witch gestured for Sierra to come out of the cave, but the girl backed up with a wary growl.
The witch hummed to herself thoughtfully as she looked at the wary six year old girl. Sierra's deep blue eyes flickered towards the witch's flute and back at the witch, half hoping that the witch would start playing the flute again since she likes the music.
"Oh." The witch understood the message as she took out her flute before she looked back at Sierra. "You want to hear a song?"
Sierra just blinked and tilted her head at the witch, making the witch smiled at Sierra. The witch started playing a beautiful song that calm her down, the song was so beautiful and familiar. The song was like the first song of spring that have broken through winter. The song seemed to be beating at the same rhythm of Sierra's heart.
Sierra felt herself calming down as well as her trust towards the witch has begun to grow and started getting out of the cave, she laid down on the witch's lap. Sierra closed her eyes to the sound of the soothing, relaxing music and felt herself relaxing as she leaned closer to the witch.
The witch smiled and made her instrument disappeared after she had used a magical golden circle that was traced in the air by her finger. Sierra opened her eyes and crawled off of the witch's lap, looking embarrassed.
"Lets start over, okay?" Sierra nodded to the witch, feeling curious and calmer. "My name is Calliope Silvermist. What's your name little one?"
"M-My name is Sierra," Sierra said softly as she shrank away from Calliope's hand before she looked up at Calliope with wary curiosity. "Where am I? Are you a witch? Can I learn how to do magic too?"
"You're in the Boiling Isles," said Calliope with an amused smile. "And, yes, I'm a witch." Calliope looked at Sierra intensely when Sierra felt a warm, comforting tingle go down her back and felt a piece of herself react to it excitedly, which made Calliope smiled and her eyes showed relief. "I can also teach you magic too."
"What was that warmth that I felt on my back?" asked Sierra curiously.
"It was my magic," Calliope responded. "I was checking if you have any magic. You are different. Your magic is fierce and powerful, like a river that thunders through a forest. There is strength inside of you."
Sierra looked down at her hands as she felt something warm and welcoming running through her veins.
"What do I do?" asked Sierra nervously.
"You can come with me," replied Calliope gently. "I will help you with your magic."
Sierra hugged Calliope and whispered, "Thank you Calliope."
Calliope wrapped his arms around Sierra and said, "You're welcome Sierra."
Sierra started relishing the positive, warm contact she was receiving. Was this what if felt like to be hugged? To be loved? Because she liked it. She liked it very much.