The Witch
""Where do you think you're going?"  the voice came once more.
"Shut up you.  Last time I nearly got myself killed.  Just because they're stupid, doesn't mean I have to be," Sarai said to her watch, without stopping once.  Another scream rang in the air.
"You did promise her father you'd take care of her," the watch pointed out.  Sarai stopped.
"Dang it,  Bloody, stupid promises," she muttered, turning around.  "Well let's get this over with..."

"What are you doing?" Emma asked.  Riding high atop the spider, the girl with the huge wings glared down at Emma.
"What does it look like I'm doing?  I'm going to kill this thing once and for all, so stay out of my way!"  Emma backed up obediently, yet she seemed to be focusing on something.  Perhaps her so-called "gifts."  Or perhaps she was just trying not to cry like a little baby.
"You my rather large fiend are about to perish.  My name is Avana Sinuet, and I will be the last thing you see," she called, thrusting her axe up and then throwing it down into the spider.  The blade sunk fairly deep but it was the pulsating electricity that came from it that made it the most effective.  The spider tautered back and forth gently before regaining it's balance and deciding it did not like the pain the food on its back was causing.  The spider reached one long leg up and grabbed Avana by the wings.  With a slight flick, she was sent flying through the air.
"Oof!" Avana gasped as she hit the obvious.  A spider web.  Her wings moved a few inches but that was all they could manage.   "Crap."  She watched as the spider turned on Emma once more.  The poor girl screamed and curled into a ball.  Not exactly a great plan.   One hairy leg came down at her.
"Look out!" Avana called, knowing the stupid girl would be too scared to move.
Now it was fortunate at that time that Sarai had returned or else this would no longer be a clean story and it would not get to move on the next few parts where you actually find out the history of the watch, the nightmares, Sarai, what everyone's specific powers are and well, more information in general.  So it was good at that moment that Sarai happened to return and use her dark magic to remove the spider's leg, use it to propel herself onto the spider's back, remove the axe and use it to decapitate the spider.

"Wow...that was...that was..."
"Bloody?" Avana supplied.
"I was going to say amazing, but it was kind of gruesome," Emma said, as Sarai wiped Avana's blade off in the grass.
"It worked though," Sarai said, handing the axe back.  Avana took it angrily.
"How did you touch my axe without being electrocuted?"
"Magic," Sarai offered, seriously.  Strangely Avana didn't question it.  "You're going to join us now aren't you?"
"I have too.  You saved my life, and now I must repay.  But don't expect me to stick around once it's over," Avana said.
"Fine, whatever."  Sarai headed off once more, wondering if there would be food in the next town and how they would get some.
"Oh good, another friend.  I'm Emma and this is Sarai, and you're Avana right?"
"Right,"  Avana strode off after Sarai.
"How old are you?"
"Fifteen."
"Won't your parents be worried?" Emma said, jogging to catch up.
"No."
"Oh.  Why not?"
"Because they kicked me out of the house."
"Oh.  I'm sorry.  Umm.  Why?"
"Will you shut up already?  You're getting on my nerves."  Emma recoiled back into her shell and the three walked silently for quite some time. That is until they reached the next town.
"I bet I know what you want to do," came the familiar voice.  Avana didn't even ask, but she did look curious at the bit of technology strapped to Sarai's wrist.  Her love of all things mechanical was made obvious by her wings, her axe, even the body armor she had added to her school girl uniform.
"I wonder why?  Maybe because I always look for food when I first enter a town?" Sarai said heading for a family restaurant and inn.  "You guys can come if you want.  If not I'll catch you in the morning.  I don't travel at night and it's getting late."
The restaurant was crowded yet strangely cheerful.  A blonde-haired girl sat behind the counter smiling brightly.  She didn't look more than twelve, if that.
"May I help you?"
"I really need some food and a place to stay.  I...I don't have any money.  Do you have any chores I could do?  Dishes perhaps?"
"Can you play?"
"What?"
"The piano I mean.  Can you play?" the girl said, smiling so cheerfully it looked unreal.
"Yeees," Sarai said carefully.
"Good.  If can keep the people entertained until I say you're done, then you can have dinner, a warm bed, and breakfast in the morning.  Deal?"
"Fine, I've done worse," Sarai said, moving to the piano.  Her black worn gloves were adjusted carefully and then her fingers began to fly.  The music drifted up into the air and danced with the patrons' ears.  Cheerfully it played, matching the decor and the spirits of the blonde child.  Emma sat in the corner and ordered food.  She foolishly had decided to just pay instead of bartering.  Avana was nowhere to be found.
"You play so beautifully!" the child said coming up to the piano.  Her large blue eyes sparkled with light as she watched and then suddenly gasped in amazement.
"Your hands!  They sparkle when you play!  How lovely!" she cried with glee.  Sarai looked down and sure enough the white sparks were back in their full grandeur.
"You...you know magic too, don't you!  How marvelous!  Come with me!" the girl said, grabbing Sarai and dragging her off as if she had agreed already.  Sarai began to wonder to herself just how many magic users there were.  And if she would have to take this one with her like the others.  She had gone from being pleasantly alone, to a little parade of girls.  This was going to be more trouble than it was worth...