The sky had turned blood red and Anika was still perched on the top most branch of the tree, hugging her knees and rocking back and forth due to distress and boredom. She squinted at the setting sun, burning orange. A few bird silhouettes were painted against the sun. Anika wiped away a sweaty strand of hair from her eyes and peered down below. Still no movement. Not a leave twitched out of place. It was if the whole bush were holding its breath, waiting for Anika to come down. Anika shakily stood up and hugged the tree trunk. A bird flew past her and landed on the branch beside her. It cocked its head cheekily and chirped at the strange girl in his tree. Anika suppressed a giggle. The bird looked to the sky, stuck out it's chest and sung.

Anika closed her eyes, the birds song penetrating the stillness of evening. The notes flowed through her body like a river and cheered her up. As soon as it had started, it stopped. The bird turned back to Anika and stared at her. Anika felt the urge to laugh again. "He wants me to sing!" She thought. Anika looked the other way. A slight breeze had picked up and the leaves on the branches of trees swayed gently. The breeze blew Anika's hair out of her face and cooled her down. Anika turned her head around to find the bird still staring at her. Anika laughed, forgetting to suppress it. The bird was stubborn! "Alright, alright!" Anika laughed, and cleared her throught.

Anika closed her eyes and opened her mouth wide. The words from a song from home filled her mind and brought back memories. Without a second thought, she sung.

Though the journey's rough, though the path is dark,
Though the night is cold,
Even though evil lives and shadows lurk,
Your lonely hand I'll hold.

When we are in danger, when we are lost,
When there's no hope to be shown,
Through fire and rain, through ice and frost,
We'll find a way back home.

Anika opened her eyes to see that the sun had set and a pale moon was rising up behind her. The bird still sat, watching her every move. Anika smiled. The bird looked right at her. His eyes were smiling. Then he spread his wings and took to the sky. Anika sighed. Kyra had taught her that song last summer. The summer that she got lost. Anika grasped the branch she was standing on and swung down below. Carefully placing her arms and legs so as not to fall Anika reached the bottom branch. With one deep breath, Anika jumped onto the dusty bush floor. Her legs touched the ground and a puff of dust arose from the ground.

It was time to make a move.