Hello everyone, here is my first story on apricot pie. I hope you enjoy it. I have another story to post but it is much longer. So enjoy!

The Bet

My concerns about my position being 'too idyllic' dissipated to more appropriate proportions once I had been introduced to the students who would be under my tutelage. There were nine of them, all eleven-year-old girls, and most of them proved to be perfect darlings.

I was far too tired to stay awake, but the tipping and jolting of the carriage combined with my fear prevented me getting any sleep. So, as the brougham made its way through the darkness, I curled up against the bulky pack of my belongings and closed my eyes, pretending to rest.

I tried to think about Havenwing. It was safe there. There I would be beyond the reach of the wild country and the creatures that inhabited it.

The stag pricks his ears, the birds flutter.
The coon crawls from his burrow
And the bear awakes.
A soft call from a bird alerts others, they pick up in a great chorus of voices.
The stag peeks out from under brush and begins to look for food.
The bear shuffles from his cave and the raccoon follows.
At first they are timid; sniffing, sensing, and searching for danger.
Slowly they come out.
The stag munches silently on fresh grass, far better than brittle winter bark.
The birds return to the places they recognize and sing joyfully.