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[Xandria]

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The night was cold and damp. Sitting close to the fireplace, the couple tried to keep their baby warm. Looking down at the little girl in her arms, the mother smiled, rocking her arms, huddling closer to her husband. The baby's wails could be heard audibly throughout the house. Outside, the muffled sounds made the birds screech in fear. A woman stood in the woods, listening intently.

Sauntering up to the doorway of the pristine cabin, Xandria smiled to herself, playing with a clear bottle in her hand. She checked to verify her hat was in place and her skirt was long enough. Nodding to herself, she went towards the home. The sounds of the child's cries became louder as she sauntered to the door. Setting her face in a look of sympathy, she knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" she heard a man yell.

"I am but a woman sir. I came as I heard a cry, and thought I might be able to help."

The door flung open, and the man smiled, seeing her there.

"I am so glad you are here. Maybe you can help. Our child has been crying non-stop and we have been unable to help her. Can you look at her to see what is wrong?"

Smiling, Xandria nodded, and walked inside. "Of course I will," she stated, then looked to the baby being rocked by its mother. Reaching her hands out, she smiled to the mother. "If I may hold her?"

The mother nodded, and handed the child to Xandria. Looking at the child, Xandria gave her first true smile, and took out the clear bottle. Slowly, just under the child, she began to play with it, watching the child's face get paler. Looking up, she frowned at the parents watching her.

"I am afraid there is little I can do," she said. "The child will die if it is not taken to a warmer spot." She began to hand the baby back to the mother, then stopped. She looked at the two standing in front of her, and tilted her head.

"Hmmm, there may be something I can do. I do not know if it will work, but let me try. I will need to be alone with the child, but... it might work."

The parents looked at each other, and the mother began crying. The father placed his arms around her, and looked up at Xandria.

"Please, my lady, we would do anything for our child."

"Anything?" Xandria gave a low chuckle. "Well, that may be required of you, but please, let me check. Please, leave briefly, and I will try my hardest."

Nodding, the couple left, the mother still sobbing uncontrollably. Hearing the door closed, Xandria laughed softly to herself. Fools, she thought. You child is just hungry. And you left it alone to have his hunger "fixed".

Placing the baby in the crib, she held the bottle above it, watching the child get paler. The bottle began to become a vibrant pink, almost glowing in its brilliance. Looking at the bottle, Xandria placed it in her pack, and pulled out an identical one, and began to swirl it around the child. Slowly the child began to gain color again, but the light of intelligence faded from her eyes.

Laughing, Xandria picked up the child. "There you go,"she said to the baby. "You are as healthy as an ox." She stopped, contemplating the baby. "Actually, bear. But no matter. Now to call your parents to tell them you have been cured." Cradling the baby, she opened the door, and called the parents.

They rushed in, thrilled to find their baby coloring had returned to normal, and the crying had ceased. Xandria placed the baby in her mother's arm, and smiled at the mother. "She now only needs to be fed, and she will be fine," she told the mother, patting her arm. Then, smiling, she waved to the couple, and left.

On the way back, she played with the bottle, feeling herself become stronger. It's best if I save this for later, she thought. Putting the bottle away, she wandered home, pleased with the days work. It was not every day a girl could trade the soul of a lowly bear for that of a newborn child. Laughing to herself, she spun around in glee, and threw her hat off. She threw back her head, her horns glowing in the night. Looking at the moon, she smirked. I love peasants, she thought. They are so trusting and they are dumber than dirt. Chuckling to herself, she ran home, anxious to place the bottle with the rest of her collection.