“Watch the sky just over those trees.” Ivy pointed off to where there was a clearing amongst the trees. “That’s where the Lycanthropy camp will send up the winning flare. It’s going to bepurple,” she proclaimed with a resounding cheer. “Because we are winning this year!”
We reached the firepit, where every other SCUW cabin and counselor waited for the final flare. My heart was in my throat as everyone focused on the spot Ivy had pointed to, but it wasn’t the anticipation driving my pulse. I looked through the crowd, searching for the mop of red hair and bright smile that I’d been missing so much, but Sabine was nowhere to be seen. Dagmar had left Iris in charge while she waited across the lake with the other camp directors at the finish line. Iris was busying herself by passing out the friendship bracelets that would commemorate the year’s games.
Celeste and Faith found us in the crowd, both still dripping wet from the lake.
“I got too excited and fell out of the boat as soon as we made it back to the boathouse.” Celeste laughed. “Has the flare gone up yet?”
“Not yet—” The sound of a firing flare gun in the distance cut me off.
Before I even had a chance to crane my neck skyward, the entire camp erupted into cheers around me. Then, I saw it: a thick streak of purple smoke split the sky.
We did it! We won!
Astrid had made it across the finish line first, and if she were standing on this side of the lake, I would’ve wrapped her up in the biggest hug. I forgot how horrid she was for a brief moment because we’d won. The witches danced and screamed and cheered under the purple-streaked sky, while some sent up flashes of colorful magic to look like fireworks. The pops of red, green, and white lit the way for the losers to walk back to their camps in shame.
The crowd cheered loud and parted to welcome the final victors in as they returned from across the lake. All competitorswere summoned to the inner circle, and when Astrid sneered at me when I joined, I was reminded why I didn’t like her and how even the witchy camaraderie I felt wasn’t enough to bring the two of us together. But I refused to let Astrid dampen the joy filling my soul in that moment and beamed at her as she curled her lip. “Everyone to the rec hall,” Dagmar’s amplified voice announced when the sparks died out. “Even champions have a schedule to maintain.” Her gruff demeanor softened with a triumphant smile. “We’ll continue the winning festivities inside.”
We all filed into the rec hall and took our seats for the talent show. Tomorrow morning, everyone would wake up bright and early to pack before heading home. For me, that meant the start of my new life in the coven. The butterflies in my stomach fluttered faster at the thought. I’d never lived with anyone besides my parents, but rooming with Faith in Maple Hollow felt like stepping into a new world. I’d tumbled through the looking glass, and I didn’t want to return to a world without magic again.
Faith, Ivy, Celeste, and I all sat in a row in the middle of the room. None of us had planned a talent to share, but they’d all told me it was an excuse to show off the skills we’d learned during our time at camp. In my opinion, though, the best part of the closing events was the air-conditioning and snacks.
Dagmar stood in front of the crowd and started off the show with a quick and oddly heartfelt speech. “In all my years as camp director, I have never seen as much growth, determination, and ferocity as I have in this year’s group of witches. Each of you has shown great improvement in your skill, maturity, and magic, which you should all be proud of. For many of you, this is your last night on these grounds.” She paused and looked over to the line of counselors standing against the wall. “And there are a few that I will truly miss.”
I glanced at Iris, who was wiping a tear from under her eye. She leaned her head on her sister’s shoulder, and my stomach clenched at the way Sabine wrapped her arm around her sister and squeezed. I knew so acutely what it felt like to be held in her arms.
“At the start of the summer,” Dagmar continued, “you were all given shirts to separate you into your cabins. But tonight, you’ll all wear a new color.”
She nodded to one of the other camp counselors, who held a dozen canvas bags overflowing with white fabric. Dagmar reached out an arm, and one of the shirts floated into her outstretched fingers.
On the front was the SCUW camp logo, and emblazoned across the back in bright yellow letters was “Champion.” My throat tightened. I had played a part in that. And just like that, as if someone had snapped their fingers, I suddenly understood team sports. Maybe there had been a time and place when I’d preferred running my own race, but right then, I liked being a small part of something bigger.
“Wear them with pride,” were Dagmar’s final words before she helped distribute the bags down the rows of chairs.
Everyone reached for a shirt, magically manifesting the right size the moment they reached inside one of the bags. After everyone had put theirs on, another counselor stepped up to the front of the room.
“We have three great acts for you tonight. As bittersweet as the evening is, we’ll try to make it fun with final goodbyes, treats, and time to spend as our own little coven. First up, a fire dance from the Apple Blossom cabin!”
Everyone cheered as a group of witches stepped into the spotlight. With ease, they manipulated their magic to juggle balls of fire and create flaming animals that bound across the air.I’d never seen anything like it. They would make a killing if they ever decided to join the circus.
The second group showcased their water skills, a perfect contrast to the act before them. The theme of balance and harmony was highly emphasized, and yet, I only found it slightly cheesy. Maybe sometimes, in small doses and under the right circumstances, cheesy was fun. I thought about the first time I’d walked into this hall and how unsure I’d been that I’d fit in, but aside from the few interactions with Astrid, I felt like I’d found the balance of who I was and who I’d been waiting to become.
For the water works finale, the three witches created a fine mist over the room as one of the fire-wielding witches from the previous act came out. She clasped her hands together, strobes of light escaping from the spaces between her fingers until she felt it had concentrated enough to release. The light collided with the droplets in the air to project hundreds of rainbows into every corner of the room.
The crowd gasped and cheered. Yep, someone call Cirque du Soleil. That was the best show I’d ever seen.
The last group was from the Midnight Moon cabin, who filed in after the others had taken their seats. I was expecting something earthy, but instead two witches tied silk scarves into the rafters overhead.
Then, in death-defying feats, their cabinmates wrapped themselves in the silks until they were high in the air, then let go. Their bodies spun and twisted before halting inches from the floor. I lost count of the number of times I gasped and covered my eyes.
“Don’t worry,” Faith leaned over to whisper. “There’s an invisible safety net that will catch them if they fall.”
“Is that the magic they’re showing off?”
“Nope. This is more of a way of paying tribute to the practice of ordinary magics.” She pointed up to the place where the silkswere tied. “See the knot? That’s for protection. And the way they trust the fibers to hold them? That’s like paying tribute to the strength and durability of the universe.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“A lot of witches end up working at ren faires and carnivals.”
