Welcome to Gaia! ::

A car pulled up to the driveway of the house, and put the car in park while Zanna hurried out of the car and placed a letter on the doorstop, and before she left, she set a clean rock down on the parchment so it wouldn't blow away. Inside the envelope is a purple piece of stationary with black cursive writing on it.



Zanna hurried back to the car, they had many more places to go still!

((Hope it was okay to post this.))

I loved being back home, for a number of reasons. Father was a big one. Raven and Torrin came next... though... it was hard seeing them again. I was so happy that we could arrange to visit while Raven was visiting Trile in the Seelie capitol. But my heart nearly broke upon seeing him. I still don't understand how or why we are linked... but we are. Across worlds, across dimensions... I can still feel him.

I'm ashamed to say, I cried when I saw him. It hurt, in that way that pleasure is so intense it's painful... but it also hurt in that bittersweet way that meeting with an old lover does. Luckily, father was still busy making friends with little Ray that both of them missed my shameful display. Raven was so astonished by my reaction, he hugged me as if I could break...

I could have stayed. I should have stayed... but he wouldn't.


That's probably the only reason I'm back here at Gaia. I can't stay in Dragon's Breath... not with his memory haunting every corner of the land. We treked across nearly every inch of that world together. Yet, in the end, he returned home, to his mother, to his family, to his HOME. And I left my home, to Gaia, to seek peace in a world his memorys did not haunt.


But now... it seems that stray memories have found their way to Gaia as well...


Torrin fell in love with Ray almost instantly. The more I watched them playing together, the more I realize how much the look a like. It's somewhat unsettling. Torrin is like an uncle to me, or an older cousin. I love the man dearly, but seeing him in Ray... It just felt odd. He could be Ray's father...

Raven noticed it too. I know he first realized their bond when he had trouble playing with Ray. He couldn't quite get past Ray's silent nature, though he tried. Raven was empathic, but often blind to his empathy... I think Ray's silence disturbed Raven...

One afternoon, Raven and I sat on the balcony, while watching Torrin and Ray hiding and playing in the bushes below. Raven leaned foward over the table, watching me. I could feel his eyes upon me, but I was far to engrossed in watching Ray sneak up quietly on "uncle Torrin", a seasoned hunter. Torrin never faked when we played while growing up. I doubt he'd start any time soon.

"Em." Raven finially spoke, and i met his gaze over the lip of my teacup. The steam warmed my nose, and I was far too content to deal with his growing tension.

"Hmmm...?" I responded, wishing I could go somewhere in time when we would all be happy.

"I... I can't help but notice... especially now... " He started, motioning towards Torrin and Ray below, wrestling in the bushes. "how much Ray looks like Torrin, even acts like him."

I gazed blankly at him, at those blue violet eyes that wouldn't quite meet mine. Was he implying... ? I was astounded at the thought. He wouldn't assume such things, I was sure. We were past times when we kept secrets... I thought he knew that....

I sighed deeply and sat down my glass, looking back over the balcony. "I still know so little about him myself, Raven... I don't know what to tell you." I paused, hoping i wasn't making more of it than I should. "I see it too, though."

He was silent, then. Brooding over my answer, he slumped down in his chair, his legs stretched out in front of him. He still looked nineteen, though purhaps his face wasn't as soft as it had been... his chin lined with more afternoon stubble than it once was... but he still looked as she remembered him. But as much as he was the same man, he was also a different man... and teh differences were the parts that made up the stranger he had become.

"I just wonder how...." Raven murmured, after a long silence. "If these Simulacra children pick up on the people around them, in order to manifest... how did he pick up Torrin's essence as well? I mean, it's obvious how much he looks like you... your nose, your hair... it's gotten darker, you know..." He gave her a sidewise glance. "Your skin, your smile.... but he has Torrin's eyes."

He said it with such finality, I couldn't deny it any longer. "You're right." I whispered, first blushing, then feeling my face drain of all color, "What..." I stopped myself, and tried again. "Do you think it means something?" I asked, wishing he could give me answer, something to calm my suddenly thundering heart.

"Did you have a painting or photo of Torrin in your studio? Maybe something he gave you? Who knows how these simu work..." Raven answered calmly, as if unaware of my discomfort.

"Oh, of course. My new staff, torrin gave me... and there's the necklace that hangs by my vanity... a couple of photos." I sighed. "It's still strange... even ironic..." I said, pausing. "Torrin has always wanted children."

Now it was Raven's turn to look uncomfortable. I think he realized, even more than ever, that if he didn't make the decision to change, our paths would turn different directions. I loved him. And I would still love him in the future.... but it wouldnt be the same love. And he knew it.


In the end... he simply asked for more time.

I doubt he'll visit Gaia.

Torrin will visit, though. Soon, I'm sure.... but he's here already. In Ray... and I become more aware of it each passing day.

Ray and Kami's Play Date

Ray really enjoyed the time he spent with Kami. He liked her right away, she was nice, and didn't get impatient with him. She was quiet and polite, much like Ray.

I've been so busy since getting back... I've been so busy with the shop and the Simulacra children. It's nice though. Ray's been really enjoying it. He had a wonderful time with Kami. They have a lot in common, manners and patience I think being the main things. They were so cute playing together.

It's amazing, though... Kami has already grown! So did Aurora, and Sarria, whom I don't think we got the chance to meet, but I know I must have met her Guardian.

We met up with quite a few of the others from the shop at the 2nd Annual Gaian Ball. Aurora colored with Ray for a while, though he was a bit suprized by her change, they got along like good old friends. Sarria stopped by the next morning and Ray suprized me by determinedly refusing to let me translate. When Sarria was unable to understand his signs, he wrote out the sentence himself...

He's become so independent so quickly. He's still sweet, but now he's more distracted, more interested in his quiet play with his figures. He also spends a lot of time outside in the garden, and is working on reading more and more. He doesn't ask for my help anymore, and I often catch him sounding out the words with his mouth... I just keep waiting for speach to cross those lips.

I assume it won't be long until he changes like the others his age. I'll miss having someone to mother... someone who looks up to me and doesn't judge or upset me. Teenagers scare me.

Sarria and Kami are sweet enough, but Aurora mentioning drinking, and some of the rumors going around, I know kids get into trouble.

I got into trouble, but it wasn't the same kind... I just hope that Ray retains the same respect for authority I did as a teen...

It had been a strange sort of evening. Not much had happened all day, but there was a funny feel in the air. A sense of expectance. Emme had hoped to catch up on work after the time spent at the ball. Unfortuntely, her workload seemed never ending.

There was that party coming up at the shop, the preparations for the Simulacrum college, Emme's own art auction, not to mention keeping up with her usual work and taking care of her home and family.

She also had that upcoming artcontest to prepare for. Only this time she wasn't drawing, she was hosting! She hoped to have enough funds to run a large portrait contest to celebrate all the beautiful children that had come to them from the shop.

She sighed, laying her head down on her work table, ignoring the wet paint and erasershavings. Ray was outside, as usual, and she could see him through the open studio doors. Content that she knew where he was, Emme began to drift, listening to the soothing music.

Memories of her former home fluttered through her mind. Flickers of past events. Suddenly it felt as if she was in a vortex, and she gasped, almost waking herself. Soon her mind settled and she felt as if she was surrounded by a sound muffling fog. A blue and white clad woman kneeled before her, white wings outstretched. She kneeled over a dark young man. Emme tried to focus on the young man, he seemed somehow familiar, but the fog swirreld over him, obscuring any clear features.

The woman, Emme recognized from her own drawing, DreamingThought... she called her. She looked up at Emme with pleading blue eyes. "Take care of them..." She whispered.

Emme gasped again, but this time, she awoke fully. Startled, she glanced outside, noticing that it was now dark, and Ray was no where to be seen. She sat up with a start at the sound of a knock on the studio door. She spun around in her chair, almost instantly on her feet.

She was surprized to see Ray standing at the door, pulling it open to greet the visitor. Emme rubbed her eyes and struggled to straighten her clothes and wipe as much of the paint off her as possible. It was no use, though.. she was a wreak. She pulled off her smock, revealing slightly cleaner, though rumpled clothes beneath.

Ray had the door open, revealing the visitor outlined by the glowing street lamps. Emme gasped yet agian, recognizing the figure. Before she could reach the door or say a thing...

A slightly hoarse, but strong young voice was heard.

"What are you doing here, Raven?"

Emme was stunned by the sound of her child's voice... uttered for the first time. But she was even more alarmed by the firm and defensive tone which range so clearly through the room.

"Ray!" She exclaimed, running to him and turning him around by his shoulders to face her. She looked into his eyes, trying to read his expression. "You talked!"

He nodded.

"How?"

He shrugged his shoulders.

Raven stood over them both in the door way, frozen by the child's strange welcome and the scene taking place before him. Emme glanced up at Raven, suddenly registering the second significant part of Ray's first sentence. She looked down at her child again.

"Why did you talk to Raven like that?" She asked softly.

Ray signed quickly, "I wanted to see Torrin." He then turned away from her and ran to the stairway, and could be heard making his way to his room. Emme stood slowly, and turned back to Raven, not quite knowing what to say.

Raven broke the silence, "That was strange..."

Emme nodded, "The first thing he's ever said... not exactly what I'd imagined..."

"Should I go?" He asked, picking up his bag from the step. Emme blinked for a minute, trying to register too many things at once.

"No! No... of course not! Come in!" She said, taking his bag from him and dragging it into the sitting area of the studio. As soon as he'd loosed his gear, she flung her arms around him. "What are you doing here?" She asked quitely.

"I didn't want it to end..."

While Raven and Emme catch up downstairs, Ray writes in his journal, trying to get his thoughts out. He becomes frustrated and puts his pencil down and goes to the window of his room. He looks down, noticing that there is a large branch of the backyard tree reaching towards the window... in an instant, he has climbed out the window and down the tree. With a subtle thud, he lands on the winter grass of the backyard, and sits down with his back against the tree. He falls asleep... and awakes to find himself grown!

Well, it happened. I grew like the others. I don't like it. I feel different inside and out. I can speak now, and though it's new, I feel like I always have been able to. My throat and voice are still raspy and raw. I don't know if I should talk much.

I feel kind of angry now... or maybe tense. I wonder if everyone feels this way when they grow.

I met Sarria today at the shop... It was strange to have to talk. I don't reallly know how. I want to, though. I don't know very many people. I think it would be good to have some more friends.