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"Some honey as well, if you please!" The thin voice echoed from across the small cottage, almost lost in the crackling of the hearth fire. "The ants have gotten ahold of the last!"

"It's a simple charm to rid yourself of them, Frae! Why don't you?" Pushing down the latch of the heavy cellar door, Aki shouldered it open...waiting for an answer before braving the narrow stairs.

Frae's throaty chuckle turned to a cough. Knuckling an ivory cloth against her thin lips, the old woman bent forward...staving off the attack before it became too harsh. Taking a ragged breath, eyes bright with a smile, the elder shook her head. "They've as much right as I. Just wish they could wait till I've had my share!"

Snorting in amusement, Aki kicked the stop under the door...trotting down the steps carefully. The railing was smooth, anchored firmly to the brick. The wood twisted in a polished spiral under her fingers as she descended. Twisting the knob on the outdated glass lantern, Aki took a breath as golden light spilled across the cellar.

Ah, but she loved that smell. Warm wood smoke and a hint of lavender, mixed with the aroma of the mornings baking. Exhaling slowly, Aki peered slowly around the cluttered room. There was the toasted lemongrass! That was easy. Now...honey honey honey...

"Which shelves, sweetie? In the back?" Frae didn't answer, but Aki hadn't expected her too...the floor was almost as thick as the walls. Even the steady creak of the old rocker was muffled.

Moving aside a bundle of drying herbs, sage hanging from the shelves ledge, Aki peered at the space it had hidden. Broken tea cups, a web strewn bell...but no honey. "Hmm. You did say shelves, right?" The other levels offered little more. A row of old books, dust layered ink pots...bent quills and dully jeweled boxes.

"Are you sure you have more honey?"

Weaving her way between an iron bound trunk and a stack of sealed barrels, Aki slipped into the eastern corner of the cellar where the golden lantern light didn't quite reach. Parted curtains hinted at the window beyond...without thinking, Aki pushed them aside and gazed at the eye level greenery. She'd always loved cellar windows...it was such an odd sensation to look out at the same height as the ground.

Fiddleheads, nestled within the embrace of ferns, nodded to her in an unfelt breeze...silent supporters of the moss that edged under the sill. Outside, the first leaves were beginning to turn. Golden, umber, crimson and green, they huddled against the glass as though hungry for the warmth of the cozy little cellar. Letting the curtain fall, Aki pushed a bit farther into the darkness.

"Ah, here!" Brightening as she spotted the polished wall mounted shelves, Aki waved the cobwebs away. "Jams, jellies...what in the world is okra?...and honey!!" A curtain of dried roses guarded the shelf stiffly...wincing at the crackle of the leaves, Aki tilted them aside. Not just honey! Clover, jasmine, cherry blossom and orange!!

"Which...?" Her question faded quietly. The lamplight jumped across the room, brightening as fresh oil reached flame. In that moment, a faint glitter caught her attention. The gleam of raw glass, calling silently from the top of the case. Pushing up onto her toes, fingers questing across the dusty surface, Aki reached for it curiously. She'd never understand why Frae kept around so many broken old things!!

It slid heavily from the shelf, settling comfortably into her hands. For just a moment, Aki caught a glimpse of the shard's face through the dusty film she'd disturbed...the cellar behind her amazingly clear and bright. The bolts of cloth, the creeping moss, metal bound chests and cluttered books!

Aki turned slowly, taking a look for herself. The lamp was dim...the air filled with a sweet and gentle haze. It had seemed so clear...

Without thinking on it any further, Aki slid the shard into her sling bag. She'd get rid of it safely, Frae would surely thank her if she remembered to mention it. Patting the flap shut, Aki grabbed a jar of orange blossom honey...turning on heel and sauntering towards the stairs. Hopefully the tea was still warm!

Pausing at the lantern, Aki twisted the dial slowly...watching the golden light dim over one shoulder. Once again, the shelves were shrouded in darkness. The barrels hunkered silently in a solemn silhouette.

"I found it!" Trotting back up the stairs, Aki took a breath of fresh air and held out the jar for Frae's inspection.

Spotted hand trembling, the elder reached forward...gripping not the dusty jar, but Aki's free hand. Giving it a firm and shaky squeeze, Frae's face wrinkled with a smile. "Yes, dear. You did."

Against the cellar window, fiddleheads nodded wisely. In the darkness, a single dried petal dropped from the bundle of roses and tumbled to a stop against a barrel plump with claret. The rocker squeaked steadily, unexcited even by the rising warmth of the aromatic tea.

"That you did."

Aki rocked slowly in the old chair, poking another stick of kindling into the hearth. Frae snoozed in the adjoining room, a pan of warm coals tucked carefully into the foot of her bed.

She loved it here, though her visits were rare...the little stone cottage was a comfortable as home. Unfortunately, finding a babysitter for four kids was damn near impossible...Levi made sure of that. The boy still insisted that he was old enough to watch the house himself. Finding Nisha covered in yogurt and Morgan in the cupboard had been sufficient to convince her otherwise.

The fire had finally picked up, flames jumping as they worked their way along the dry wood. Pushing to her feet, already missing the smooth comfort of the chair, Aki took one last look around. She'd let herself out, like she always did. As her gaze crossed the crumb covered muffin wrappers, however, Aki changed her mind with a smile. Frae was sound asleep. She'd tidy up a bit before she left.

As she dropped the wadded papers into the fire, her brow suddenly creased. Tidying up...that was why she'd taken that shard not a few days earlier! Patting her bag, Aki's brows knitted a bit deeper.

It wasn't there.

Swinging open the flap, Aki rummaged through her sack...sighing as she came up empty. Hadn't she taken it? Taking one last look at the door to Frae's bedchamber, Aki sighed. She'd probably dropped it...it would be just her luck if Frae managed to step on it some night with no one around.

The latch to the cellar gave gently below her fingers as Aki grasped the handle. Sighing softly, gazing down the dark stairs, Aki shook her head. How had she been so careless!!

"Where did you gooo~?!" Crossing her fingers, Aki hoped desperately she hadn't dropped it upon the stairs, and took the first step.

Eyes reflecting the glow of the distant lantern in perfect golden pinpoints, Aki gazed uncertainly down the stairs as the warm illumination crept steadily upward. At the bottom, a silhouette waited...a silhouette that was slowly colored in a wash of moss and cream in the rising light.

Aki's hand tightened upon the railing as the woman before her gripped her decorated staff. She had been alone with Frae in the cottage, of this Aki was certain...her heart pounded as possibilities raced through her mind. "You..."

Stepping forward into the corona of the lantern, the blur of green solidified slowly into a ripple of cloth...raw spun silk that clung to a young woman's hips. Her bare feet made no noise on the cool stones of the cellar, chestnut hair flaring behind her shoulders like cobwebs puffed by a breeze.

All thoughts of an intruder left Aki's mind. This woman belonged...it was the elf who was out of place.

Those locks rippled like lazy water as the girl stepped forward...holding her staff lightly as her bare toes found the bottom stair. "You aren't afraid."

"No." Finding her voice, Aki tilted her head. It was true, her fear had left her. A faint metallic chime filled the space between them...the ring of antiquated keys at the young woman's hip jangled softly.

"You...were looking for me?" The light caressed the woman's thigh as her skirt parted...falling like soft curtains against either side of her hips. She took another step, a bigger step. A tiny smile of disbelief tugged at Aki's lips...she had skipped the second stair. It always made such a racket when it had to bear weight.

"Yes." Though she hadn't know it to be true until she'd seen the silhouette. It all came smoothly into focus for Aki. She had thought the shattered mirrors of the Blessed Isle to be the only such shards. She had been mistaken.

Whether it was the acceptance or the answer, a smile blossomed upon the young woman's sweet face. The leaves tucked into her hair rustled quietly as she tilted her head...those amber eyes taking the elf in.

Slowly, Aki took a step down. The warm smell of the cellar greeted her, a mix of herbs and roses...the lingering scent of fresh baked bread and sweet mead. Another step, and one more...she and the girl were separated by a mere arms length. Bridging that gap, the woman brought her hand up slowly...golden charms on her bracelets chiming delicately.

"Then you have found what you are looking for." Humor crinkled the edges of her gaze, hinted in the slight rise of a brow. Aki's own smile grew in response...every aspect of the young woman before her was filled with quiet expression. It was a trait Aki respected. How cold elves seemed, with their blank and flawless beauty!

Nodding slowly, Aki reached forward as well....her fingers twining with those of the girl as their hands met. "Who are you?"

"Ah! Hmm. You'd think I'd have a simple answer to such a simple question. Who are you?"

Aki blinked. She hadn't expected the question to be turned about so abruptly. "I'm Aki! I..." How did one define 'Aki'? Was she a mother? A priestess? Delegate to the Kofula? Trailing off with an uncertain smile, Aki rephrased her question. "Yes. Aki. What...do I call you?"

The girl pondered for a moment, her hand slipping from Aki's as she gripped her staff. Leaning her weight upon it, hips swayed to the side, she closed her eyes in thought. "I will be Elle."

"Will be?"

Elle nodded, eyes opening once more. She could recall the tale of the little girl, the story seemed almost as fresh as Aki's face. It wasn't her name, but...

"A new name for a new time? It seems fitting, and such a simple word. Elle."

"Elle." Turning to glance over one shoulder, Aki peered at the quiet cottage beyond. "Elle, would you like to walk with me? I was just on my way home..."

The crown of leaves rustled as Elle nodded...the stairs silent below her bare feet as she left the cellar behind.

Asrafel didn't expect to see another of his kind for a good, long time. He took mental count of his day so far. Halexei forcing him to leave Lillian and his home to take care of Shauna.. stumbling upon the newest little arrival in Bird's house.. and finally finding a new home for Shauna.. (at least, he hoped - there was still a little niggling doubt in the back of his mind that perhaps he should have stuck around to make sure the woman didn't dump Shauna in the dumpster, Lexi would have his head!)

And now, left alone to try and find his way home, using his own sense of direction (which was none) and the smell of smoke (Gambino never did lose that smell) to try and find his way.. he could, for all intents and purposes, admit that he was lost.

His body ached in every place it possibly could, and some that really shouldn't but did anyway. He just wanted to lie down and sleep. Sleep, sleep, sleep.. that's all he wanted.

Maybe a peppermint candy too.

His wings looked oddly refreshed, seeing as they hadn't been used for quite some time, and the tendons he had pulled in his flight were now the only part of his body that didn't hurt anymore. They were a bit stiff, but he was sure if he had any strength left in him he could take to the air and fly home. The skies offered a lucrative temptation - he knew he could find his way home with an aerial view.

But ah, that left him once more with his first complaint.

"Soooooo.. tiiiiiiiiiireeeeed.." He whined childishly, trudging along the streets and looking around for something familiar. His eyes fell on a waving hand, and continued past it, only to double take.

There was a woman.. no. There was a vision waving at him. He blinked and blinked, wondering if perhaps he was hallucinating, until he felt a tug at his soul, and realization fell upon him like a warm and heavy blanket.

Another one? Impossible.

In fact, he could hardly believe what he felt. He was so sure that Lillian was the oldest.. but there was this very obviously mature girl calling to him knowingly, as if she felt the same pull of acknowledgement that he did.

He straightened up, as he suddenly realized he was slouching, and his ribbons rippled as if trying to reaccomodate themselves to look better as well. After all, this was no toddler, who didn't care if you looked like a pile of mocha poop, as long as you fed it.

He gave a fleeting look at the girl's guardian, before walking towards them, giving them both a bright smile. It hid the exhaustion, though it didn't last long.

"Hi!" He chirped out brightly, before his eyes rolled back behind his head and he fainted.

Just a little nap, that was all. He just needed a little nap.

He heard a soft voice calling him back, and winced his eyes, as if refusing. He felt the softness of a pillow behind his head, and turned to snuggle his cheek into it, murmuring softly. He couldn't possibly know that he wasn't snuggling into a pillow, but rather a lap.

"Nuuuu, five more minutes daddy, Miss Stae won't mind if I'm laaaate.." He mumbled into the lap he mixed up for a pillow, reaching up to fluff it.

It was then, when his hand rested on a slim stomach instead of his pillow, that he realized he was not in bed.

He was not at home.

And the voice that had woken him was certainly not his fathers. As he turned his head up to look at the first thing to catch his eye, he was certain those were not his fathers, either.

"Uh.. uh.. eeeee.. I'm sorry!" He sleepily cried out, snapping his hand back as if he had just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He blinked up at the girl, wondering if maybe he hadn't woken up at all. She was as pretty as a dream, it seemed.

As much as Asrafel wanted to be nervous about the situation he had woken up to, he couldn't keep it up for long. He giggled sleepily up at the girl, his shoulders shrugging upward in a girlish manner. "My name's not Skydancer, it's Asrafel~!" He chimed out in a bubbly manner, before yawning and stretching his arms and legs out. The ribbons made haste to compensate for this movement, shielding both women from what could be an embarrassing sight.

Her touch put him at ease, and he snuggled his head back into her lap just a little bit more, looking up at her as if she was intoxicating him. "Nu.. you don't have ta give me a ride. I'll be able to fly soon.. just let me rest a minute more. What's your name?" He knew he'd have to leave soon, but he also knew that once he took to the air, he would be able to pinpoint exactly how far this place was from his home - and while he was sure the girl did not live on this exact spot on the street, he hoped they lived close, so that he could come back and visit.

Often.

At the sound of Aki's voice, Asrafel finally decided it was time to at least sit up, despite every voice inside of him telling him it was much nicer to stay snuggled here in the pretty girl's lap and sleep. He stretched his arms out above his head, letting the kinks sort themselves out before looking up at Aki with a charming smile.

"Hello Miss Aki! It's nice to meet you." He spoke, his voice as always carrying it's musical tone.

He looked back at Elle, briefly pouting at the fact that he had no reason to give her the address to the Day Care Center. She wasn't a child! He settled for the only other alternative he could think of.

"Don't worry. If you wish, I will come visit you again! Where do you live? Is it near here? I would very much like to see it one day."

Asrafel bit his lip as he suddenly realized he may have been a bit presumptuous. He watched Aki pull Elle away, and as the two spoke to one another in hushed voices, he made use of the time by standing up and testing out his wings.

They felt a little stiff, but they didn't hurt at all. They were so resilient, made of the same magic as his ribbons, and just as easily mended. He was so thankful to Bird for setting them right! Now he could take to the skies, and hopefully find his way home..

The two returned to him, and he smiled brilliantly at the outcome. "Oh, that should be easy to find! You can count on seeing me again." He grinned up at Elle, perhaps a bit too giddily, and his wings began to beat behind him, fluttering so quickly they were soon nothing but a pink blur, and letting out that familiar hum much like a hummingbird would. His body lifted up into the air as if it weighed nothing, and he waved excited at the two, before second guessing his own modesty and zooming forward to envelope Elle in a big hug. He was still hovering as he did so, and once he was done snuggling the girl goodbye, he gave a similar (but perhaps a few seconds shorter) hug to her guardian, before turning and zipping upward into the air.

What a lovely day this was turning out to be, he thought! His simple mind had already forgotten about all his troubles, as he looked down at Gambino from a distance and saw his way home.

((For those still following.. THE BATTLE CONTINUES ON...!! In Karma's Journal. XD))