|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 8:32 pm
New Stuff From Here On! Wow!
Entry 51
I finally, after putting it off some, explained to Seline my deal with the Gorrimao.
She was, in a word, horrified.
So, with my new daughter Bronwen in my arms--she, uh, hatched, and I'm very glad she didn't hatch while we were in the woods--I went through atlases and encyclopedias.
Hecate touched me on the shoulder one afternoon as I sat with a fussing baby in my arms and my nose in a thick, dusty book. "Sunny, you really should give it a rest."
"I don't know what I'm going to do, Cate. He's asked me something I can't do. For the rest of my life, I'm going to be in debt to a demon I know nothing about. I mean, I don't have anything against demons," I smirked at Bronwen, who whimpered mournfully up at me, "but like most people, it's usually best to to get to know them before you do things like this."
"I think that he hasn't asked for anything more than this is in his favour."
"Yeah."
"Come on outside. I made lemonade, and there's ginger cookies. Bronnie would probably appreciate the change of scenery as much as you would."
I rested Bronwen on my shoulder, and I followed Hecate out onto the porch. It was early evening, the sun low over the horizon. Seline trotted over and nuzzled me, asking me what was wrong.
"I'll figure something out," I told her. "I know I will. I just haven't yet."
Seline blinked at me solemnly, ignoring Bronwen's fist caught in her mane. She told me, calmly, that if the stupid bat-thing couldn't fly away, perhaps he should swim.
I blinked.
I disentangled Bronnie's claws from Seline, and shifted my daughter in my arms. "Well, perhaps over water in some way," I mused.
Seline nudged me, encouraging me to go on, but I shook my head. "No, not until I've thought this through some more."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 10:06 pm
Entry 52
I waited. Seline waited.
It was very late. Bronwen had fussed on and on, and at last she was asleep. I curled up against Seline with a copy of Jane Yolen's White Jenna and tried to read. I was distracted, though.
It had been a week. The Gorrimao was due to come.
It was after midnight when he came, at last. I don't recall him coming inside, simply becoming aware of him when he spoke in his soft voice, "The changeling does not need to be here."
Seline snorted. "She stays," I translated.
The Gorrimao's round eyes gleamed at me. He perched on a chair across the room, hunched and dark. "Very well. Have you made progress?"
"Somewhat. Erm. We did have an idea."
"Oh?"
"If you cannot fly over the water, then maybe you could cross by boat."
He twitched an ear. "I see. It is an idea. I cannot steer a boat myself. Are you volunteering to take me across to the mainland?"
I hadn't been actually, but Seline snorted and whinnied an affirmative.
"Good girl," the demon purred.
"It will take a while to get everything arranged," I pointed out. "I don't exactly own a boat now, and I could use a few pointers on, um, how to run one and everything."
"I understand. But I am a very patient creature. I have been on Mystic Island a long time; a few weeks, or even a few more months will be bearable. I can defend myself from Alighieri if I must."
"Are you in danger from him?" I asked.
"Not I. He is in more danger from me than I him." The Gorrimao rustled his wings in a sort of shrug. "However, he does not know that, and I do not wish to kill a former business partner."
I didn't know how to respond to this. The Gorrimao rose and approached Bronwen's crib. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end, and Seline scrambled to her feet with an angry whinny.
"Calm yourself," he laughed. "I come to pay my respects to the babe, distant kin that she is. She is a fine, strong child. What do you call her?"
"Bronwen."
"It is a good name," he sighed, and moved away. Bronwen had not woken, and I was glad.
"Well, I shall return in a week, to check upon your progress. I bid you goodbye until then." He crouched in a sort of quadrepedal bow, and let himself out by the window.
I turned to Seline. "What on earth posessed you to say yes, Selly? Oi."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kawaii_Hime_Ceres Captain
|
Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2004 6:09 am
((this is an option, you don't have to take if you already have a plot.)) ::ceres had gotten wind of sunnies promise, and ceres sighed... she new it was time. a time for things always came. she new herself like so many other things on this island could not leave. why, because it was not to be because of the promise that was made so many years ago. she new how to get that creature off the island and fast... however, she paused wondering if she should let sunny figure it out for herself. she then shook her head, and new that she had to at least give the option. it would be cruel not to share the secrete... so she stood, and grabed a box. and was off to sunny's. she slipped the box into her mail box with a note:: note i am sorry i didn't think of this sooner. if water doesn't work... try this. it is how i got here. i fell through it, my other end is shattered, so i cannot return. so i promised the island... i am here to stay and guard this place... however, if he got here acidently and never broke one, then he may return... use it well. ::you are overlooking her nonsense and thinking what the heck... and upon opening the box is a mirror. another note was attached to the mirror. it gave more detail about her nonsence:: note A little girl running down the street after visiting her parent’s graves, an old man shoves a mirror into her hand. With out looking back, a smile is exchange on both ends. Once instead the house: One, Two, Three chimes of a distant clock; a little girl looks into a mirror and what she sees is a fantastic island. Touching the glass, and holding her breath… She looks to a picture of her parents, and a tear falls. Then a wish is made, and she is whisked from the modern world, and into an island of magic, mischief, and adventure. This little girl would never return, nor would she wish to… The house is still standing after 22 years, enchanted by the shattered mirrors magic. For those brave enough to enter, they may catch a glimpse of this now happy adult in the remains of the shattered mirror. How did she survive you ask? With a strong will, she create an entire island. What she beckons is summoned almost as if the island is caring for her as she cares for it. She worked hard to make a farm, why, she herself could not understand. Until one day a glimpse of blue caught her eyes. Curious she followed, and from a distance was a Pegasus wild and free roaming in what would be the farms pasture, and in the nearby field. She would not approach such a creature for fear of scaring it, or it harming her. Until one day… Somehow this would be Perfect Island played a cruel trick on such a pretty creature. It got ensnared into some of the trees. She rescued it, and he granted her the gift to speak to him. From that forward they ran the Island together. Although, when any humans would come near he would not come near. She never asked him for anything more, and they enjoyed each other’s company. Later, after many years of his company she would start a business know as Mystic Farms. Selling a variety of horses and horse like creatures such as: Pegasus and Unicorns. Finding them good homes. However after 22 years of Farm, Field, and Pasture she grew tired, and decided to explore. Sky always had known what was beyond, but never said a word. Ceres hoped on Sky’s back he took her into the unknown. Her first encountered spot was Mystic Groove. She saw many gray/white foals who appeared to have special traits about them, and would later lead a few lucky humans into this area to hopefully capture and tame a few; although, there is not much that can be said for the groove because it changes to the persons wants and desires. Beyond the Groove was a vast and wild forest. It was deep, and very much of a maze. Sky wouldn’t enter it so he often flew over it. On the other side were the mountains. ((a little incomplete.... i really do need to finish this. since it is after all the base of the story))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2004 5:05 pm
Entry 53
Bronwen howled and I had been cuddling, rocking, soothing, singing--everything I could think of--for an hour. My nerves were frazzled. Seline had nuzzled. Hecate had made faces before it all got to be too much for her and fled.
"Oh, Bronnie," I mumbled. "Just go to sleep. Please."
"Have I perhaps come at a bad time?"
I froze. I turned and saw the Gorrimao standing nearby in the darkened corner of the room. Bronwen wailed. "You're early."
"Perhaps."
Seline scrambled to her feet and stood between me and the demon, but I put a hand on her side and stepped forward. "As you can see, we're all up late anyway and not getting any sleep so I don't suppose it matters."
The Gorrimao peered into my arms, and Bronwen was startled into silence by his strange, alien face; she pawed at his flat nose.
"I did come to inquire about your progress."
"Oh. Well. Um. That." I shifted Bronwen to one arm; her gaze followed the Gorrimao unfailingly. "Something was... brought to my attention." I pointed at the mirror, which I had laid on the table when I was last investigating it.
The Gorrimao tilted his head curiously, and loped over to the table. I saw, for a moment, his eyes reflecting back at him, and he turned to me. "A portal?"
"Yes. To be quite honest, I don't know which way mainland might lie from here. And that is a much more reliable way of moving."
"The other thing," the Gorrimao mused, "is that if care is taken, it may be possible to use it again. I should not care about Alighieri anymore, nor you, nor your child, nor this blasted island I have spent so long on, but I do. It is a peculiar place. Pleasant to visit, though I am tired of living here."
"You'd come back?"
"If you would be willing to care for the mirror for me, yes."
Bronwen hiccupped in my arms. Seline looked curiously at me and stated to me that she wasn't sure she wanted the creepy bat-thing coming back.
The Gorrimao was looking at me.
"All right," I sighed.
"Thank you, child. Do you know how to work the portal?"
"Not a blessed clue," I said, cheerily. I laid a finger on the frame, and the Gorrimao peered into the mirror again while Seline trotted up behind us.
"I shall return in a night or two," the Gorrimao said with a yawn that opened his small mouth farther than I was aware it could. "Tonight, I feed."
He left. I didn't want to ask what he fed on.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 10:14 pm
Entry 54
I had spoken with Ceres about the mirror, and I related this to the Gorrimao, when he returned.
"She said to 'fall into' it. But to be careful." I chewed on a fingernail; I had to admit the critter was growing on me.
"'Careful' is for fools and children. I have lived this long. Still, the concern is appreciated." He shifted in the kitchen chair opposite me; he looked very odd in a chair. "Shall I assume my presence, in the future, would not be unwelcome?"
"You'll be welcome. Seline and I owe you."
"Our bargain is completed."
"I didn't mean like that. I meant... meant... like karma."
"Karma..." The demon paused to consider this. "A concept I've heard of before. It is... intriguing, I suppose."
"I've always believed in doing things for people without expecting things in return." I laughed quietly. "My bank account will attest to that. I shouldn't, but I do."
"That is not the way I am," the Gorrimao said, his wings rustling in a gesture not unlike a shrug.
"Ah, diversity," I grinned.
We stared at each for a moment. "You realise we have been talking nearly all night?" the Gorrimao said at last.
"Yes." Seline had given up on us and gone to sleep long ago.
"Dawn will come within an hour. I can't be here then."
"Time to go?"
"Indeed. Hang the mirror in some back room, if you meant your invitation honestly. I will have to come back and check on your daughter, at the very least."
I smirked.
I shook his hand, or paw, or whatever. He kissed me on the cheek, a strange gesture with his small, flat mouth, and brushed my other cheek with his wing.
He leaned towards the mirror.
And nothing.
I was alone. I stared at the mirror for a while, then picked it up to go place it somewhere safe. The guest room would be ideal...
Afterwards, I went to sleep as the eastern sky began to lighten.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2004 11:57 pm
" Alright alright already... I'll deliver this..." Said the Seal Girl Unmei as Morgan nagged her from her perch on Unmei's shoulder." I can't believe you didn't delivery these before. Shiro asked you to do this like weeks ago, before he went to the camping trip." Unmei signed as she lugged the bag with the gifts inside. " Well.. I'm doing ti now.. so you can quite badgering." Morgan shook her finger at the impatient Seal girl. " Tisk tisk... you still have more houses to go..." Unmei sighed, placing the gift at the right house. Then she hicked the bag up and headed off to the next house.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 4:08 pm
((Oh noes! Sudden perspective change!))
Seline crept into the stable after everyone else had gone to sleep. She lay down on the soft straw, restless despite her fatigue. The trip was over. No more. Not for a while.
The stable did not feel right. The flowers had faded without her; everything was unbearably dry. Seline decided to attempt to call up a rainstorm tomorrow; she hadn't done that in a long time. Come to think of it, she didn't think she'd ever done it completely on purpose. It would be an experiment.
Matar and Spica, water and earth personified, crept from their hiding places and lay down on eithe side of the changeling. They had been with her since she was a foal, but she was hardly a foal anymore. She was bigger than Spica, for one. Seline nuzzled them both, and sighed. It was comforting.
Sunny and Bronwen, and a new avaling on the way--Seline had found she did like little children, but she sort of missed the long past days when she and Sunny had lived in the little house alone, with Hecate only visiting instead of in more-or-less permanent residence. Sunny had said the house was getting too small; this seemed to be the case.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2004 10:28 am
Early in the morning, Seline came out of the corral. She cantered easily across the snow, came to an abrupt stop next to the pond, and dove in.
She broke through the thin layer of ice over the water, and paddled around in icy alarm for a few moments before she managed to pull herself out again, with an alarmed whinny.
Sunny, hearing this, stuck out her head. She came running across the yard in slippers, her breath fogging in the air. "Seline! Seline, you idiot. The water's cold. Come inside before you freeze solid."
Seline muttered and did not answer. She followed her guardian grudgingly into the house, and was promptly attacked with a towel.
"You don't swim in this weather. It'll kill you." Sunny fussed.
I wanted to swim. I haven't swum in a really long time.
"I can appreciate this. Really. But damn, Seline. C'mon. I got a really big bathtub and we'll put you in that. Warm water. Warm you up so you don't get hypothermia. I've had hypothermia and it isn't fun at all."
Still dripping on the carpet, Sunny drew Seline through the house to the bathroom. The tub was large, large enough to count as a jacuzzi. Sunny turned on the taps and helped the changeling gingerly into the tub.
This feels sort of stupid.
"Well, I'll be honest. It looks sort of stupid, too."
I'm not going to get to swim at all, until spring?
"Doesn't look like it." Sunny looked thoughtful.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 5:30 pm
Journal squishing: Samantha's journal added here. Sundragyn Entry 1I set the figurine on the table. Bronwen cooed and reached for it; Seline just gave me a funny look. "I don't know. It's a thing. I got it from Ceres. I'm supposed to take care of it." Seline shook her head and whinnied softly. "No, I don't think it's just a statue. I got the idea it's something special. Something about avalings, but I don't really know much about them. I don't know." I sighed. "I'm supposed to keep it with me at all times. I suppose it's sort of pretty." Bronwen squealed again and tried to reach for it. I picked it up, and looked at it. It seemed thoroughly uninteresting. "Well. I suppose I'll figure something out." Sundragyn Entry 2Seline peered over my shoulder and asked me what I was doing. "Making a scrapbook. Ceres suggested it. I have no idea why." Snipsnipcut. "Look!"  "Pallid bat. It eats... I don't know what it eats. Probably bugs. But it's cool." Seline shivered. They looked too much like the Gorrimao for her comfort level, thank you very much. "Well, no one asked you. Hey, straw wing fruit bat." Snip snip paste.  Seline gave me a look. "I like bats," I shrugged, and pasted down another picture.  "No, I am not making fun of you, Seline. I just like that picture." Seline insisted that I pick a non-bat picture. I shrugged and flipped through the magazines for a bit.  "Oh, there is no joy in Mudville," I quoted, "for mighty Casey has struck out." Seline blinked. "Casey at the Bat. Famous poem," I explained. She pointed out it was yet another bat. I grinned toothily. "Well, here. I'll try to stay away from the nature magazines.... and you can have this."  She snorted. "I like Pepe Le Pew. He's funny. I enjoy his fake French." I peered. "Ooh, Seline, look at that. 17th century clockwork globe... thing. I think it spins or something."  "And an oboe. Don't look at me like that, Selly, I like oboes."  Seline stomped a hoof. I sighed and got another magazine. It was a fashion magazine. I usually hate fashion magazines. "Ooooh, Seline. Look at this. Some sort of Gothic mesh poncho thing. Pretty. Mind you, I'd never ever wear it. But that's just me."  Bronwen started to wail. I set down the scissors and went to get her. Enough scrapbooking for now. Sundragyn Entry 3One moment. I turned my back on that figurine for one moment. I didn't have much of a choice. I had no pockets in my nightgown, and needed my hands free. But I looked back, and Bronwen was mouthing happily away on the edge of it. Honestly. I freaked out and took it away, she howled; everything was a mess. "Bronwen, you have plenty of things to suck and chew on. I have no idea why you want this one so much. It's a sibling, not a chew toy. Apparently." Sundragyn Entry 4Sunny sighed. She'd found a charming little toy for Bronwen, but the wyrmling had been thoroughly uninterested in it, much prefering her favourite, green-haired plushie. So, Sunny sat at her desk with the avaling figurine in front of her. "Well, I got it to help her get used to you, you know," she sighed. "But I guess you can have it." Sunny deposited the plushie next to the figurine.  "There." Kawaii_Hime_Ceres ::Something apears on your door step... *Wonder how it got there?*::
Note Sunny: Shiro and Ceres thought you might like this... Wear it proudly! P.S: If you decide you want a custom shirt please visit Shiro's Souvenir Shoppe! Shiro Ookami " Alright alright already... I'll deliver this..." Said the Seal Girl Unmei as Morgan nagged her from her perch on Unmei's shoulder." I can't believe you didn't delivery these before. Shiro asked you to do this like weeks ago, before he went to the camping trip." Unmei signed as she lugged the bag with the gifts inside. " Well.. I'm doing ti now.. so you can quite badgering." Morgan shook her finger at the impatient Seal girl. " Tisk tisk... you still have more houses to go..." Unmei sighed, placing the gift at the right house. Then she hicked the bag up and headed off to the next house.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 5:31 pm
Journal Squishing: Samantha's diary added here. Again. Sundragyn Entry 5I sat amidst stacks of work at my desk. Bronnie played on the floor with a plastic dragon toy, quite content. Earlier she had flipped through the twobooks I had picked up earlier, and had liked the pictures, but remained mostly unmoved. "I don't know..." I went down the short list I had made, tapping the names with my pen. Colleen, Samantha, Sioban, Ishbel, Meghan, Rachel... "Bronnie? Do you like the name Samantha?" "Samanenen...ta?" Bronwen stumbled over the name for a moment. "Sam. An. Tha. Samantha? Is that right?" "Yup." "It's a pretty name," Bronnie stated, before turning back to her toys. "I like Samantha, too. Well." Sundragyn I really am sick of painting. I've been doing a lot of renovation in real life. Geh.Entry 6"Yiiiick. Bronnie, you and I need a bath, now." "Green!" Bronwen crowed happily. She had a streak of olive green paint down her nose. She waved the paint brush happily. She hadn't, I have to admit, been extremely helpful, but she'd been enthusiastic, at the very least. I sighed. "You know what, kiddo? You can have a bath. I'm going to clean up in here." Bronwen had no problem with this; she likes baths. After I set her up in the tub, I came back to the room set aside for Samantha. The walls are soft, pastel olive-green, with a dark grey carpet and yellow trim. We moved Bronwen's old crib, which she doesn't use anymore, into the room, and some of the baby furniture, and some of the newer stuff. Second coat, done. Drop cloths off the floor, brushes cleaned up, rollers away, paint trays away, furniture into place. Just let it dry. I am so, so sick of painting. Sundragyn Entry 7We crept back home late at night. Bronwen was dead asleep; I carried her into her room and tucked her into bed. Seline followed behind me. "How did it go?" Hecate asked me. The centaur put her hand on my shoulder as I came out from Bronwen's room. "I'm not sure. I know two things. One, this house is too small, now. You've more or less moved in, and Bronnie's growing, and Seline's pretty much grown up, and then I'm going to have another kid to look after." I shrugged. It's not my fault I'm grown, Seline said shortly. "True. But you're big, and this house is not. I also wouldn't mind the hoofmarks so much if I had hardwood instead of carpet." I pulled the avaling statue from my coat pocket and set it on the kitchen counter; I leaned on the counter to look at it. "Pavel said he's coming for me." "Who's Pavel?" Hecate asked. "An avaling. You'd like him. He's a centaur too." Hecate snorted and looked annoyed. Seline whinnied in amusement. "Well. Samantha," I said to the statue, fondly. "I guess I'm waiting, you funny bat thing. I wonder what you'll look like."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 5:32 pm
We crept back home late at night. Bronwen was dead asleep; I carried her into her room and tucked her into bed. Seline followed behind me.
"How did it go?" Hecate asked me. The centaur put her hand on my shoulder as I came out from Bronwen's room.
"I'm not sure. I know two things. One, this house is too small, now. You've more or less moved in, and Bronnie's growing, and Seline's pretty much grown up, and then I'm going to have another kid to look after." I shrugged.
It's not my fault I'm grown, Seline said shortly.
"True. But you're big, and this house is not. I also wouldn't mind the hoofmarks so much if I had hardwood instead of carpet." I pulled the avaling statue from my coat pocket and set it on the kitchen counter; I leaned on the counter to look at it.
"Pavel said he's coming for me."
"Who's Pavel?" Hecate asked.
"An avaling. You'd like him. He's a centaur too."
Hecate snorted and looked annoyed. Seline whinnied in amusement.
"Well. Samantha," I said to the statue, fondly. "I guess I'm waiting, you funny bat thing. I wonder what you'll look like."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 5:39 pm
The house is too small. It was with this in mind that I took Seline and Hecate and Bronwen and Samantha's figurine out house-hunting. It wasn't particularly fruitful. However, the last house we visited, at the end of the day, was absolutely perfect.  It was along the northern coast of the Island, close to the mountains. This is probably the biggest factor against it, as... well... Seline and I have been a bit nervous about the mountains for a while. It's a large plot of a land, though, with a fair number of trees, of various types. Some of them will bloom in spring. Now, it's sort of snowy and miserable. As you can see by the layout, it's close to the ocean. At one end of the property's beach is a dock; perhaps I'll have to invest in a boat. At the other end is a series of rocks that jut out into the water; it's full of crannies and tidepools; pretty icy right now, though. There's already a stable. It's far too big for just Seline and Chou, but Hecate took a liking to its cosiness; we can probably knock down a few stalls and set up a proper room just for our dear centaur. The house is more than big enough for all of us. The main entrance comes out onto a fine low deck, and there is a plot of ground which will make a lovely garden come spring. The house has hardwood floors, and surprisingly, a small, heated indoor pool. Now, a house near the ocean is a sketchy thing, but this house appears to be properly insulated against the cold winds off the sea, and the beach is in a protected cove. This house is more than I can afford. I'll make it work. My little cottage was fine when it was me and Seline, but with me, and Seline, and Bronwen, and Hecate, and Samantha on the way... we need more space. Hecate's offered her savings. I think we can make it work. Hopefully, by the time Samantha shows herself, we'll be happily settled in here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 5:48 pm
The downpayment made, the family settled down in the new house... Sunny flopped against the wall.
"Well. I don't know. That was an exhausting move."
We're not unpacked yet.
"I don't care, Seline, it's good enough for now." She made a face.
Why are we living near the mountains, Sunny? After... after everything...
"Because this is the Perfect House." Sunny waved a hand. "Look, if it'll make you feel any better, tomorrow, just you and me'll head up there to investigate stuff. Mmmkay?"
Well, okay.
"Good. I mean, I still sort of like mountains, considering. Anyway, we'll poke around, and have fun. Bronnie can stay with Hecate for the day. Er. I get Sam has to come. There are rules for this sort of thing.
Seline tossed her head. I suppose so.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2004 4:18 pm
"But... but..."
"Hecate, please listen." Sunny wagged her finger at the centaur. "I know. We have all sorts of things that need to be done. We have to work on fixing up the stable some, and fixing up a proper room for you, and cleaning up the pool, and unpacking, and all sorts of things, but me and Seline need some us-time. Just... please. Keep an eye on Bronnie--she adores you, really--and we'll be back in a few hours. Okay?"
Hecate sighed. "Fine. Fine, okay, just this once."
Sunny grinned.
Ten minutes later, Seline and Sunny were following a little path north of the rock up into the mountains, bundled up against the snow, though it wasn't particularly cold that day. Seline had grown a nice winter coat, and was looking shaggy and rather funny (as far as Sunny was concerned) but she was warm.
"This isn't so bad."
Are you sure we won't run into Alighieri?
"No, of course I'm not sure. But I'm not worried. Enjoy yourself. It's a nice day."
Look, a stream.
Sunny came to look. Despite the chill, it was not frozen; Sunny dipped her fingers into the water. "S'warm," she annouced. She sniffed her fingers. "Hmmm."
What is it?
"Smells like sulpher. C'mon, Seline. If I'm right, this'll be quite the find."
They left the path and wound up through the bushes, becoming gradually wetter with the snow. A strong, sulpherous smell was becoming obvious, and eventually, the trees opened up for them to display a rocky pool of cloudy pale blue-green water, steaming in the cool air, trickling into a passing stream, warming it.
What is it? Seline wondered.
"Hot mineral spring. Mountains are full of them. C'mon." Without another word, Sunny did not hesitate to strip down to her underwear and drop into the hot water. Seline drew back a moment, and leapt in with a splash.
Sunny paddled around the pool. "There, in the corner. That's where it's coming from. Don't get too close. This is a really hot one."
This is so nice, Seline whinnied. She dipped her head under the water briefly. Does smell funny.
"The water's full of minerals. It's come up through the earth and it's picked up all sorts of stuff. Better not drink it."
I wouldn't. Can this be our secret?
"Sure, why not? I mean, we have the pool at the house for most people, and during the summer we'll have the sea. This'll be ours, Seline. Just for us."
Some hours later, when they finally returned, Hecate met them at the door and wrinkled her nose. "You two smell awful."
Seline whinnied, amused, and Sunny just laughed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2004 10:41 am
"But... Mum, she didn't come from an egg or your tummy or anything."
"No," Sunny admitted. She was trying to get Samantha to eat; while the little bat-girl loved fruit, and this was easy to get, but she'd already had a small amount of trouble stemming from a few of Bronnie's small plastic bug toys. Bronnie had had a little talk with her mother about cleaning up, and how babies weren't smart enough to not eat anything in front of them, and Bronnie had sulked. "Come on, Sammy. Just a little bit of strained peaches?"
Samantha ate most of the spoonful, and spat out a little.
"She's a very messy eater," Bronnie said, wrinkling her nose.
"You weren't much better," Sunny laughed.
She looks sort of like the Gorrimmao, Seline noted, a little fearfully.
"She does. But they're both bat types. And if he comes back, he'll probably be quite pleased."
"Why do her wings go like that?" Bronnie asked. She flexed her own wings.
"Because they do. Everyone's a little different."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
