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Dear Journal,

Though I know Rawiya is very smart, sometimes I like to read her "toddler" for the experience. Perhaps it is because these books played a large role in my childhood and my own love for stories. Many of these stories are silly and simple, but I always loved them as a child and this love carried over into my adulthood.

One of my favorites was The Hungry Caterpillar. Perhaps it sounds silly, but I loved the vibrant colors that were in all the beautiful pictures. And I also found the story amazing itself. It told me that a worm like creature could turn into a beautiful butterfly! In my very young years, this seemed like magic.

I decided to read it to Wiya last night to get her reaction. It seems all my entries now begin with some book I read to her...she must really take them to heart if they affect what she wishes to do the next day.

Anyway, she ran around looking for flowers and leaves. She even tried to eat leaves. I don't think she liked them very much, because she threw quite the tantrume afterwards, demanding in her own way for me to help make the bad taste go away. I find this odd, because I know Zebra's eat grass. Maybe leaves taste a whole lot different from that. I wouldn't know, to be truthful.

When she came in for the night, since she hadn't gotten rid of all her energy, she raced around the lower level, pulling out all our blankets! We don't have much use for blankets in the warm weather, but I have them lying around out of habbit. She put them on the ground the best she could and began to roll around in them, trying to...well I'm asuming she was trying to make a cacoon. It was so adorable, but she did knock over quite a few things in the process.

Every day is a new adventure with her. It's something I can always look forward to each day and be greatful for near the end. It's times like this where I realize how much I truly love her.

-Arianna Keeylis

Dear Journal,

Oh, never have I been more frightened in my entire stay at this island! I'm surprised I did not pass out or something strange like that I was in such a state! And all this started when I read Wiya a passage from "The Jungle Book".

She left! That's right, she ran right off! I didn't even know, it was horrid! I thought she had gone out to play in the yard, but when I went to give her lunch, consisting of mixed nuts and fruits, she was gone! No where to be seen! Oh, how I felt as if my heart would drop right out of my body!

I checked all around the hut, to make sure she wasn't hiding, though I don't see how she could have in the first place. Then I went to check on some of the neighboring homes, and still there was no sign of her. I even went to the Lodge, but she wasn't there either.

I didn't know what to do! I could feel myself crying and choaking up with panick, struggling to stay calm so I could find her. By then I knew there was only once place she could have gone. The jungle.

Such terrible thoughts entered my mind at that moment! What if she got lost? What if she got hurt? What if she was hunted by something, being the product of two herbavoirs? What if she fell into the water somewhere and couldn't swim? What if...on the list went on and on and did nothing to sooth my nerves!

So I did the only logical thing I could-went out to search for her. And I did something I hadn't done in a long, long time, ever since I came here, really. I shape shifted. I took on my Hawk form first off, wanting to cover ground quickly and perhaps spot her if she had yet to go under the cover of the trees. Finding no sign of her, I landed at the edge of the trees and shifted into a hound and gave "chase".

I had never really...well bothered to "sniff" Wiya before, so it posed quite the challenge. I didn't really know what she smelled like, but I chose to follow the scent that had lingering traces of myself and our home upon them. It was the only t hing I could really do. It was exausting work. Though I am a shifter, it does not mean it doesn't take energy to with hold another form. True, it takes less energy and requires no magic like a mage, but it is still very hard.

Tired and sore, I finally found her, prancing around among some plants and grew along the forest floor with little light. I was careful to change back before coming to her, knowing she might freak out or something, dramatic as she was. I was very angry with her then, scolding her fiercely. She sulked all the way home, but I do believe it surved her right, for the most part.

When we were home I was quick to set rules about the Jungle, the most important mainly being that she could never go there alone. I think she got the message, even though she pouted for a rather long time.

I do realize now so much more vibrently that I care deeply for Rawiya. I love her greatly and this is why I worried so. I'll be sure to take better care of her, for if I were to ever loose her, I do believe my heart would break.

-Arianna

Dear Journal,

Thinks are going much better then they had been going the other day. I've got most of the house cleaned up, except I have to fix alot of tables and shelves, which will take a while. I actually had to throw out quite a bit of stuff. It kinda made me sad a times...because most of my things tend to have sentamental value, but there was nothing I could do.

Our Christmas was well...not exactly what I had had in mind. We still did our best to hang out stockings, as tradition said, but I lost the hangers, so I had to use tape to put them up. It worked, but it looked so silly. And we never planned on having a tree, so I guess that wasn't really changed because of the recent events. Some of the presents I had for Wiya were broken, but luckily I still had some of them. And we still had that holiday mix of nuts and turkey and rolls, even if we couldn't make much else.

I think the thing that's changed the most is...well, how Wiya acts. She's must more well behaved and I think...we really are a great deal closer. When I finish reading to her at night I now sit with her until she falls asleep, for she's much more comfortable with me there.

It kind of reminds me of when I was younger. When I was 13 I went to a camp out in the mountains. My cabin and some others went on a hike up the mountain, in the middle of nowhere. We got lost and we had to...well...climb down cliffs in the dark, with nothing but a glowing fan to light our way. It really brought us together. I suppose hard times do that to people.

Oh, I dropped off presents at Tahja and Wyv's houses. I hope their ok, but I really didn't have time to stick around. I still have so much to do around here. I do hope they are having a good holiday, though.

-Arianna Keeylis

Dear Journal,

Ugg, I feel awful. Well, better then I have been for the last few days, but still absolutely terrible. I just feel like sleeping forever. I don't have the energy for almost anything...I barely have enough for this journal. Kind of pathetic hu?

The last week has be tough. I ran out of my sinus medication and my sinuses can get really awful...so bad that I get OTHER sicknesses when I don't treat them. Since the boat doesn't come to the island very often and mail orders take forever I haven't been able to get any more. And it just went downhill from there.

It started on...thursday? Friday? I don't remember...I woke up with a headache and a clogged up nose. So, of course, I went for my meds only to find them gone. I struggled through the day and I must say I wasn't very fair toward Wiya. I was snippish and ill-tempered due to feeling so crappy. Luckily she seemed to sense it was because I wasn't well and not because I was irratated with her or tired of her.

Two days afterwards I was just so tired all I could do was lay down, except when I had to relieve myself or eat something. I didn't want to eat very much, actually, but I still had to feed Wiya. I adore her for being so good about it...she didn't throw a fit at all while I was resting. She really is such a dear when she wants to be.

So I spent a long time sleeping. And though I love to sleep, it's hardly something I normally want to do all day. I started feeling better about a day ago, but the pain in my sinuses hadn't gone. Luckily I got a package today with my medication. Now I'll have some relief.

I must tell you about how funny Wiya was while I slept though. She raided my book case. Yes, that's right, she raided it even with her hooves and beak and everything! I'm not sure how, but whenever I would awake I'd see books scattered on the floor and she'd look up at me curiously. I know she can't read, but she must be trying to figure out the stories through the pictures. Knowing her, she created completely different stories in her head form the images then what was actually in the writing. And I bet they were far better too.

-Arianna Keeylis

Dear Journal,

I think Rawiya is getting lonely. While I know she hasn't met very many people or Aerandir, I can tell she knows there is more out there then just me and Shasta. We don't see any of the others we've met before that often. Its just the same two faces over and over.

Lately, it's has become more noticable. She seeks my attention constantly and, while I hate to admit it, I can't always give it to her. I feel bad, but there isn't much I can do. I have to live as well-which includes eating, sleeping, and taking a little break from stress once and a while. And Shasta isn't usually willing to play with Wiya. She's moody and prefers to sleep-that's just the way she is.

But this doesn't stop Rawiya. In her despiration I've noticed she's been trying harder and harder to win Shasta over-or at least find suitable ways to get her attention. Sometimes I see her just watching Shasta...I think it's a little odd, because the cat doesn't do anything. But it made more sense today, I think.

When I took out a can of tuna to feed Shasta, Wiya came in as well. I thought she wanted something...maybe an early story or a small helping of roasted nuts as a snack. So, of course, I left her be. But then, right when I was about to put Shasta's dish down, she snatched it from me! From what I could tell she raced off into the living room, following closely by a surprised and angry brown cat.

And, of course, they had to make a huge mess. They knocked over furnature, spilled books out of the shelves, and broke one of my pots. And there was tuna splattered everywhere. I had to scrub the floors afterwards and boy did they smell! Not that I minded too much, since I like tuna myself, but still!

But the funny thing is...Wiya had gotten tuna all over herself when she finally stopped running to rest. Shasta actually jumped ONTO Wiya and licked the stuff off her. And she was purring to boot. Somehow, it was one of the cutest things I had seen, for both of them seemed to be glowing with pleasure in the end.

Maybe next time they will refrain from trashing one of the rooms, though.

-Arianna Keeylis

Dear Ary,

I'm not sure how much you know about how Aerandir grow but currently Rawiya is at the phase where she should be almost ready to move onto her next level of growth. Usually with Aerandir this would involve them becoming a strange form called a wisp and then items would be brought to them which would help solidify their form.

Recently, however, it was discovered that this might be a dangerous way for things to be and so we are sending this list of items for you to gether beforehand. Once you've found all the things listed please bring them to me at the Lodge.

2 feathers
1 bracelet
3 Ribbons
1 gemstone
Some wool, twine or thin rope
((At least two of the above items must be given in an RP.))

Yours,

Anthony Blakewell.