Welcome to Gaia! ::

Adonai nodded and motioned for Lin to go ahead, then stood with Shael and Rhea once more to wait for her.

The snow was falling harder now, giving everyone there an almost unearthly appearance.

As Lin turned away from the grave, Timaeus lifted his eyes to watch her. He appreciated the fact that she had spoken, despite never having even seen her.

He looked around to see if anyone else was going to speak, and he was a little surprised when Adonijah stepped forward. The white-haired boy's eyes were troubled, and for the first time he didn't seem to feel shy ... he walked without any hesitation in his step and knelt at the graveside, speaking quietly to the girl.

Watching the funeral had had a profound effect on Adonijah. For the first time in his life, he was seeing death in all its stark reality, and he was just now realizing what it meant, and what it was all about. The girl's parents would never see her again ... she would be alone ... her soul left to wander the Four Lands as a Shade until she someday was reborn, if that ever happened.

What would his funeral be like, he couldn't help but wonder, if he died, and if his life continued as it was? Would he have many people to bid him farewell? Or would he be alone, friendless, as his life so far had been?

These were the questions that he was posing to the child's dead body, rather than saying goodbye. He had not come for closure ... he had come for answers.

Long after Adonijah had finished speaking, he knelt at the edge of the grave, almost as if he were waiting for an answer from the dead child's body. His eyes were tormented, almost as badly as Timaeus's had been earlier that week when they had first returned, and every muscle of his body was taut, as if he were ready to flee at a moment's notice.

Finally, he scattered a handful of dirt into the grave and rose to his feet. He brushed his hands off on his pants, then turned and looked at the others - or, more specifically, at Rose and Adanedhel, who were standing close together. He headed over to them as if he was going to join them, but instead he just took each of their hands and put them together.

"I have to find my own place," he murmured, his eyes downcast. "I can't look for one with the two of you."

Rose and Adanedhel looked at each other in surprise, but before either of them could say anything, Adonijah was gone, disappeared into the trees.

Aliya and Amdir exchanged a worried glance, and Amdir slipped out into the woods after his youngest son to try to find him and see what was wrong.

Aliya moved to stand with Feng and Ryu and Naida.

"We can head back now," she murmured softly. "Timaeus and the others will bury her now ... it is finished."

Adanedhel was still looking perplexed, and he had to clear his throat before he spoke. "I'm going to stay here with Rose for a while," he told his mother quietly. "I'll be home for dinner."

And with that, he and Rose headed off in the opposite direction.

Aliya looked troubled at Naida's words, and she pulled her cloak more tightly around herself as if trying to warm herself up.

"Good luck finding him," she murmured softly. Then she turned in the direction of the valley. "Come on, Ryu ... Adwin ... Alyse ... let's go home."

Adonijah was currently heading towards his comfort place: an underground cavern he had discovered years ago, when he had been but a young boy, trying to hide from the world around him. It was there that he went when he wanted to be alone, because he was certain that none but himself knew of it. He was walking slowly, however, his hands holding his cloak wrapped tightly around him to keep warm. He was too thoughtful to walk fast.

He heard his father coming up behind him, but he paid him no mind. After all, it was his father ... not someone else, someone who made him uncomfortable.

When Amdir caught up with his son, neither of them spoke, but Adonijah continued to lead the way into the forest silently. For Amdir's part, he was content to remain silent ... as long as he knew his son was all right.

Amdir heard footsteps approaching and looked over his shoulder to see Feng and Naida coming towards them through the trees. Feng looked worried, he thought, and he smiled to show her that things were all right - at least for the moment. Adonijah on the other hand remained as silent and as thoughtful as he had been, not paying any attention to the fact that they now had two more people in their group, or that he was leading them further and further from the ranch.