Prolouge

"The water hears and understands. The ice does not forgive."

They met age five, tiny, stumbling to pull the weight of tiny hockey bags stuffed full with pads and an extra pair of laces, because their parents could never be too careful. Their parents held their carefully taped sticks and met eyes as they climbed the steps leading to the rink. It wasn't a place for magic, this hockey rink; yet Bella would swear, in years to come, that she felt some sign from the ice that they were meant to be best friends. Her parents laughed as she said this; she was cute with her front teeth missing. Not a place for magic, but Winnie certainly thought so, skipping home.

But somewhere along the way, that changed.