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 Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:13 pm
Ah well.. that makes sense.
Really Daemon had never seen a map nor did he know the layout, but still buried was buried.
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:27 pm
As Gion neared the smoke, he could see the outline of a roof surrounded by a huge ditch, and as he got even closer he could see the house. The snow had been dug out ... or something ... all around it. He slid down the bank (now nearly eighteen feet high) and knocked on the door eagerly.
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:36 pm
Ulani and Ulrich looked up from their dinner, startled to hear the knock at the door. They exchanged a glance, each asking the other the same question with only a look:
Who could that be?
No one else in the valley ever knocked ... and who would be visiting from outside the valley?
It was Ulani who went to answer the door, clearing her throat as she went.
She opened it to see a small boy standing there, his cheeks flush with the cold. She blinked. A child ... but the sword on his back confused her ...
"Can I help you?" she asked in the Southland tongue, taking in the boy's appearance. She looked over his shoulder, then to each side of the door. "Where are your parents? Are you lost?"
The kitten on the boy's shoulder hopped down to the floor and changed ... into Serenity. She smiled at the look on Ulani's face. "Mind if we come in?" she asked brightly.
Speechless, Ulani opened the door wider and stepped to the side.
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:37 pm
Gion grinned and stepped inside, waving to Ulani as he did so. He looked around. It looked like a comfortable home ...
He 'showed' it to Daemon. Nice place, huh?
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:44 pm
It is....
Daemon took it all in, it was very nice and cozy.
It's cozy.... perfect for a place that gets snow.
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:54 pm
Ulani closed the door behind them and looked at Serenity questioningly. "What's going on?" she demanded softly. "Not that it isn't good to see you again ... but ... who is this?" She nodded at Gion.
Serenity laughed. "My son, Gion," she replied happily. "My fifth born ... he was out traveling and I ran into him."
Ulani raised one eyebrow. "And you deemed it safe to travel with him?"
Serenity nodded. "It was the middle of a snow storm - which by the way hasn't really let up since then - and no one was anywhere nearby. Besides, I was careful. I think he's safe."
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:55 pm
Gion was only half listening to their conversation. He smelled food ... he followed the aroma into the kitchen and stopped in the doorway. Ulrich was sitting at the table with his back to the door, and Gion didn't want to intrude ...
It smells good in here, he told Daemon with a smile. Like the plantation when I was young ...
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:57 pm
Is that so? What does it smell like?
Daemon was kind of curious, not to mention he wondered where Serenity went to.
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:58 pm
Ulani smiled at Serenity and beckoned for her to follow her to the kitchen. "I would have thought he would stay in Tor Karad and get to know Elnara again," she mused.
Serenity's face fell.
Ulani looked at her curiously. "What happened?" she asked softly.
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 11:04 pm
Like ... home, Gion replied, shrugging inwardly. I don't know how to describe it ... I guess ... like a good home cooked dinner, surrounded by family and love and wilderness, after a good long day of adventures and learning, with the prospect of being told a story after dinner ...
He smiled faintly. I miss those days.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:23 pm
Hmm.... but it should be fun where too, be kind of like those days while we're here, and I gather we'll be here for quiet a long while.
Daemon ventured.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:27 pm
Serenity smiled painfully and took Ulani's arm. "Let's eat first, shall we?" she suggested. "It was a long trip, and we're both tired ..."
Ulani nodded. "Yes ... of course. I take it you're planning on staying a while?"
"If you don't mind," Serenity agreed. "The winter at least."
"Hey, is that Serenity I hear?" Ulrich called from the kitchen. He turned around in his chair and spotted Gion in the doorway. "Hey ... who're you?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:28 pm
Gion grinned and waved awkwardly, then invited himself to sit by the table.
I think Mother wants us to stay for a month, at least, he replied to Daemon. Or until the snow is gone, maybe. I don't know. But I really don't think she likes the idea of me traveling alone in the winter - or even not alone ... maybe just the idea of traveling in the winter itself.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:34 pm
Well seeing as you've never seen this kind of winter before I'm not surprised, she probably has seen many winters.
Daemon was thinking until he realized that a month was short for a winter... then again what was a month to them?
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