Hide in Plain Sight. It’s a 6.

Outside the earth and stone cobbled cottage, winds howled and screamed through winter bone trees, aged sentries silent in their solemnity stood witness to the bareness laid waste by the season. 

Inside, the venerable Alchemist, struggling to find focus long since abandoned in disillusionment, stood patiently in staid determination. As the hour, poised at midnight’s doorstep, exhaled 1 minute past 12, she walked to the carved wooden table with its time worn glyphs and began situating various jars and bottles, potions, liquids… and metal.

Hours drifted dreamlike; while the Alchemist’s work intensified, shadows joined each other to dance by the light of the hearth’s fire, passion reigniting as Devil’s Hour drew near. Punctilious, dawn was announced by the rambunctious warbles, chirping and cheeping of woodland birds, unusual only in volume and intensity; opening the front door to the cottage, the Alchemist stepped out and into a new day. 

Snow Moon, celestial ornament hanging low in the western sky, Sun ascending the horizon, golden light reflected off trees new with greenery, leaves dripping light dew as reddened rose buds opened shyly, daffodils and daisies dancing effusively in yellow along the garden path… “yes” whispers the Alchemist, “magic reigns once more”.