"Is NOT!" came the answering shriek.
"Oh dear." Renee straightened her apron. "If you'll excuse me, I need to go referee before they destroy my kitchen. Again."
"Again?"
"Last week they got into an argument over who had rights to polish the copper pots." Renee shook her head as she headed toward the kitchen. "Took me three hours to get all the polish off the ceiling."
Renee started for the kitchen door but paused, glancing over her shoulder with an expression of amused anticipation. Harperbraced herself, recognizing that look from her earlier revelations about the brownies.
"By the way, there are pixies in the woods."
Harper stared at her, mouth falling open. "You are shi—" She caught herself. "Kidding me."
Grinning widely, Renee slowly shook her head back and forth. "Not at all. There's a small brook running through our property, and they gather near there, right where the path crosses the brook." Her eyes sparkled with amusement at Harper's stunned expression. "But it's rare for them to be seen. Becca still wanders into the woods regularly, when she's taking a break from her gardening, in hopes of seeing them. So far, she hasn't."
Harper leaned forward, her earlier concerns about Nathan momentarily forgotten. The possibility of actual pixies... Her inner fox perked up with interest too. "Okay, I am so going to check it out this weekend!"
"The path's easy to find," Renee said, gesturing toward the back of the inn. "Turn left when you go out the back door. You'll see where it starts at the tree line. Follow it until you reach the brook - you can't miss it."
Harper's pulse quickened at the prospect of seeing real pixies. "What should I look for?"
"They're drawn to anything sweet or sparkly." Renee's eyes crinkled. "Sometimes we find little gatherings of shiny pebbles near the brook. That's how we know they've been there."
A tremendous crash from the kitchen made them both jump.
"Oh! Before I forget-" Renee raised her voice over the racket. "Did Becca warn you about not leaving clothing for the brownies?"
Harper nodded, remembering Becca's earnest warning about the little household spirits. "She mentioned they get offended and leave if you try to give them clothes." The thought ofaccidentally insulting the helpful creatures sent a small shiver down her spine - the last thing she wanted was to chase away any magical allies.
"Exactly. But pixies are different - they love offerings of any kind. Feel free to leave whatever catches your fancy."
Harper tapped her fingers on the table, a thought occurring to her. "What do the pixies do in winter? When there's snow everywhere?"
"You know..." Renee paused, her hand on the kitchen door. "I have no idea. I've never ventured to the brook when it's snowing. Wading through deep snow isn't my favorite activity anymore." She chuckled. "Plus, the brook would be frozen over."
"Maybe they hibernate?" Harper suggested, picturing tiny magical creatures curled up in cozy nests. "Like bears and chipmunks?"
"Now you've got me curious too." Renee's eyes lit up. "I'll have to trek out there this winter and see for myself."
"I'll come with you." Harper straightened in her chair, warming to the idea. "We could leave little blankets for them. Or those tiny coats they make for dolls?"
Another crash from the kitchen interrupted them, followed by what sounded suspiciously like a wooden spoon being used as a sword.
Harper grinned, raising her voice over the commotion. "I can go in my fox form - I'll be plenty warm that way. And maybe the pixies will like seeing Reyna."
"That's actually brilliant," Renee said. "Magical creatures tend to be more comfortable around other magical beings. Though I've never heard of pixies interacting with shifters before..."
The kitchen erupted in a cacophony of what sounded like every pot and pan being dropped at once.
"Oh, for heaven's sake-" Renee
"Oh! Speaking of foxes, that reminds me," Renee turned back to Harper. "Becca mentioned seeing a vixen and two kits near the brook last month when she was waiting to spot the pixies."
Harper's excitement deflated. "Maybe I'd better not go as Reyna then." She drummed her fingers on the table. "Vixens are extremely territorial, especially during mating and birthing seasons."
"When are those?"
"Mating season starts in December, and they give birth in March or April." Harper wrinkled her nose. "Which pretty much covers most of the winter months we were just talking about."
