At the base of Manzanita's tree, Regina stopped. She placed a hand on the trunk and sent a greeting to the elemental. Then she reached up into the lower boughs to find an apple near to ripeness, and blew a gentle breath, soft green with magic, toward it.

In seconds, it was perfect, and Regina picked it. She offered it to Liz, hand out, and met her gaze, beginning, "When I was your age, my only friends were my horse, the stableboy, and the apple tree we used to meet under..."