Welcome to Gaia! ::

It was snowing, she knew that much. Visibility was nill and all she could see was white. White ahead and behind, left and right, above and below. There was no way out. Her logic told her she was doomed, but her heart was on instinct. She knew exactly where she was and was not concerned, and watched the invisible paths in the snow for signs of danger. There were none, of course not! Not in this blizzard. Only the insane or completely cocky ones like her were out in these conditions. She would prevail, she would survive, and she would flourish in this weather.

Echo awoke, feeling renewed and refreshed. The small woman stretched and then turned in bed to get up. The dream was still on her, and the corners of her eyes were blurred to white...though that was quiet possibly the just the sleepiness trying to overcome her once more. A figure was there, standing at the edge; but when she looked straight-on it was gone.

Oh well, probably just a figment of her imagination. But the dream was still with her, and Echo was sure she's had it before. Yawning, she looked to the leaf on her nightstand. After the first night, the leaf was found on the night stand, and no matter where she left it before going to bed... it always found its way next to her.

It would have unnerved her if there wasn't so many fans blowing air around the house. Her papers did that sometimes, never with so much consistency, but it did happen.

"Good morning, Mr. Leaf," Echo smiled towards it as she got out of bed - finally. Her back was already turned, but it appeared the leaf shook where it was (if someone was looking).

As the woman went to deal with the morning routine, the leaf had shook itself right off the nightstand. If it was thinking already, it had to be thinking about all the work it put in every night to ensure it's place by Echo's side...and she didn't seem to notice. But every morning she woke to see if by her side, she always bade it "Good Morning". And didn't even seem to notice that it found a way to be with her during the day.... usually in the form of a pocket or briefcase.

Echo returned, awake and clean and ready to face the day. She didn't even look back at the nightstand, just reached down and grabbed her briefcase to start another day of work.

It was a typical morning for Echo and her leaf. She woke up, bade good morning, and then went off her normal day. Never had the woman anticipated that the leaf was with her all day; never before did she notice that it seemed to show up in the most peculiar places. Today, of course, was no different.

The oblivious woman opened her front door and stepped out to leave. As she pulled the door with her, Echo's heel hit something. It teetered and rebalanced audibly. Everything happened so fast, and by the time she turned around, the clay-colored pot had settled again.

"Hmmm, what's this?" Echo knelt, her briefcase to the side. She picked it up with both hands, and looked all around. Her eyes caught the note, and the woman went straight for it.

"Dear Echo,

A little birdie told me you found one of our leaves recently. We're an organization called The Eden Project, and your leaf is a very special one. If you take good care of it, it will develop into a child. I've attached a flowerpot and special soil that will help it along its way. If you have any questions, give us a call or stop by our headquarters in Barton.

Good luck!"

"Good luck?" Echo looked at the pot in confusion. Who ever said she wanted a child? And the leaf? What leaf? As she stood in the cold, the woman pondered the letter.

With a start, she put two and two together. The LEAF! Of course, how could she have been so dense? Echo squeaked and threw the door open once more, pot in hand. Her first investigation was the night stand where the leaf gave its own morning calls. Then she tore through the living room where it made many visits while she watched a movie or read a book. The kitchen was next, but there was still no success there. By the time Echo was about to give up, she noticed a chill permeating the house.

Curious, she went back to the door, which was still open from when she came back in. Cursing to herself, Echo walked over to close it, and there, waiting ever so patiently was her leaf - the one that was the cause of so much chaos. "There you are!" she chuckled disgruntledly and went to it.

After picking up the warm leaf, Echo went back in and planted it as best she could think of. There were no roots and she was unsure what kind of sun and water requirements it had. With an end flourish after the leaf was half-in, half-out, the woman sprinkled some last-minute soil. "All done!" Echo smiled and then turned back. She'd be late to work, but that was okay.... the knowledge and sense of closure was worth it.

What Echo didn't see was that the leaf seemed to wave a little as she left.

As the growing life inside the leaf struggled at a chance to truly live the protective shell of foliage began to turn brown and grow.. fur betraying in a small way what lay inside.

Under Echo's watchful eye the leaf started to wriggle and with each convulsion the fur bearing leaf grew larger; as it attempted to get expel the life that had been growing within.

The counter top was perhaps not the best place for the furry, Jello like leaf. Unable to free itself from the potting soil, the leaf expanded beyond the clay pots holding capacity causing orange dust and dirt to erupt outwards in an explosion. In the center of the mess and balancing precariously on the counter top was a very confused looking young boy.

Echo opened the door to her house and toss the keys onto the counter. In her arms were bags of food. She had gone to the store to buy the edibles and placements for tonights BBQ-picnic in her backyard. Chuchip had been more than welcome to join...if he helped out. She needed the truck and it was degrading to have to stay in the bed of it for travelling. He would never admit it, but she knew, especially when he was crouched low and sad in the corner. And it was just a quick trip, so the young child had opted to stay at home.

Of course, Chuchip had his own reasons. It was 90 degrees outside, and very hot. The reindeer eden did not like the heat.

The woman set the bags down and went to putting everything away. The fruit and vegetables went in the refrigerator. There were a lot, mostly because Chuchip didn't care for meat. He could choke down fish or poultry on occasion (he wouldn't even touch and red meat or pork), but make him miserable. She had become an expert at finding new ways to cook non-meats. Tonight she would be putting those skills to the test with a fully non-meat grilling.