Page 23 of Howls & Harvest

Grizelda snaps her fingers with a flourish. A soft shimmer passes over the assembled crowd, and the food splatters adorning my clothes and hair vanish without a trace. Around me, others pat themselves down in disbelief, finding themselves suddenly clean and presentable.

The tables and chairs right themselves, tablecloths smoothing out as if by invisible hands. Centerpieces reappear, perfectly arranged. Even the grass beneath our feet, trampled during the food fight, springs back to life, looking freshly manicured.

As the last remnants of the chaos settle, a collective sigh of relief ripples through the crowd. Then, as if on cue, cheersand applause erupt. Grizelda takes a small, proud bow, her wild purple hair bouncing with the movement.

“That was incredible,” I whisper, still in awe of what I’ve just witnessed.

Ronan grins beside me. “Grizelda may cause her fair share of magical mishaps, but when it counts, she always comes through.”

Mayor Ambrosius steps forward, his long white beard still slightly stained with cranberry sauce. “Thank you, Grizelda. Your quick thinking has saved our celebration.”

She waves a hand dismissively. “Oh, it was nothing. Just a little magical tidying up. Now, shall we eat? I don’t know about you all, but that food fight has left me famished.”

Laughter ripples through the crowd as people begin to make their way back to the tables. I hang back, still processing everything that’s happened. Ronan touches my arm.

“You okay?” he asks. “I know this is a lot to take in.”

I nod slowly. “It’s just... I’ve never seen anything like that before. In my world, magic is just tricks and illusions, but this was real.”

Ronan smiles softly. “Welcome to Evershift Haven, where the impossible is just another Tuesday...or Friday,” he adds with a wink, alluding to the postponement of the feast due to yesterday’s weather.

Making our way to a table, Grizelda approaches us. Up close, I can see the faint sheen of sweat on her pale-green ski,n and the slight tremor in her hands—signs of the effort her spell required.

“Candice, dear,” she says warmly. “I hope our little magical mishap didn’t scare you off. How are you finding Evershift Haven so far?”

I laugh, a bit nervously. “It’s certainly never dull. That was amazing, what you did. Thank you for saving the feast.” I don’t bother pointing out she was the one who derailed it to start with.

Grizelda beams. “Oh, it’s all in a day’s work for the town witch. Now, tell me, have you tried the pumpkin pie yet? I infused it with a little happiness spell—guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.”

As she chatters on about her magical dessert, I’m amazed at how quickly the extraordinary has become ordinary here. Just days ago, I would have dismissed talk of happiness spells and magical mishaps as fantasy or insanity. Now, I’m eagerly anticipating a slice of enchanted pumpkin pie.

“You simply must try the cranberry sauce,” she insists. “Caelan infused it with a touch of joy. One bite, and you’ll be grinning from ear to ear.”

I nod, still processing the idea of emotion-infused food. “That sounds... interesting. Is it safe?”

“Oh, perfectly safe, dear. Just a smidge of magic to enhance the flavors and lift the spirits. Nothing too potent.”

Ronan chuckles beside me. “Don’t worry, Candice. Caelan’s food magic is harmless, though I’d steer clear of his giggle-inducing gravy if I were you. Last year, half the town couldn’t stop laughing for hours.”

The witch chuckles. “That was one time. Caelan assured me he’s perfected the recipe since then.”

As we make our way to the tables, I’m struck by the vibrant array of dishes spread before us. Turkeys with golden, crackling skin sit alongside colorful vegetable platters that seem to shimmer in the light. Pies of every variety line the dessert table, their aromas mingling in the crisp autumn air. It’s truly like the food fight never happened.

Ronan guides me to a seat. We settle in next to Suzette and Throk, who are already engaged in animated conversation.

“Did you see Grizelda’s save earlier?” asks Throk, his deep voice rumbling with amusement. “I thought for sure we’d bechasing that gelatinous menace all the way to the Whispering Woods.”

Suzette laughs, sounding carefree. It’s a total contrast to the stressed-out sister I remember from before she discovered Evershift Haven. “I’m just glad she managed to stop it before it reached ‘Mystical Motors.’ Can you imagine trying to get gelatin monster out of an engine?”

I giggle at the mental image. “Is this normal for Evershift Haven? Magical food fights and dancing decorations?”

Throk grins, his tusks glinting in the sunlight. “Normal? Not exactly, but it’s not exactly out of the ordinary either. Life here is always an adventure.”

As we begin to fill our plates, I’m amazed by the variety of dishes. Alongside traditional Thanksgiving fare, there are foods I’ve never seen before—a shimmering blue gelatin that seems to change flavors with each bite, bread rolls that float just above the basket, and a gravy boat that refills itself.

“This is incredible,” I say, taking a bite of mashed potatoes that taste like they were made from clouds. “I’ve never experienced anything like this.”

Ronan beams, clearly pleased by my enthusiasm. “Wait until you try the stuffing. It’s my mother’s recipe, passed down through generations of lycans. She taught it to Caelan when she was his sous chef years ago.”

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