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Timaeus didn't even have to think about that. "He looks like Rose, black hair and such, but he's got Adanedhel's personality," he grinned. "He's so ... I don't know. Hyper, I guess. Eager to learn. And a quick learner, at that."

He chuckled. "But here's a twist - like Adanedhel, he can talk to nature ... but instead of animals, he talks to plants. It's crazy, I know, because plants don't have a consciousness ... but ... " He shrugged. "He just does it."

Timaeus chuckled again. "It's cute to watch," he confided in her. "It was a little disturbing at first ... it was as if he were talking to himself. But once you're used to it ..."

He paused, then added, "And there's a good chance that it will be quite strong as he grows older. He was very young when it manifested. He hasn't manifested a second gift yet ... we're all watching for it though. Who knows? Maybe he'll end up able to talk to animals and plants both."

"Just don't make it too long," Timaeus teased her with a grin. "It's always such a long time between your visits."

It was only a short while later that they arrived at the valley, emerging from the trees just outside Shael and Adonijah's house.

"This way," Timaeus smiled, leading Lin past that house and further up the river.

"Just there," Timaeus nodded at the house that was just ahead - but it looked as though they would not have to go up to the house to find Ecthelion, it seemed he was playing outside ... and not alone.

He blinked. "Who's that with him?"

Ecthelion was having fun playing in the shallow part of the river with Ruque, Aras and Kanis once more. He had tried playing with Ruran a few times, but that hadn't gone over very well. To put it plainly, he didn't like the bigger boy. On the other hand, he loved playing with the other three, and when Naida was thrown into the mix - well.

Timaeus nodded. "I think everyone knows Naida," he murmured, "and the blond boy was at the ranch yesterday ..."

He had no idea who they were either ... and then he spotted one more, a little brown-haired boy, just a little further up the river, sitting on the bank of the river all alone, just ... staring into space. He pointed the boy out to Lin. "There's another one."

Timaeus looked down at Lin blankly. "Celebor?" he asked, tilting his head slightly. He looked over his shoulder for a moment, then forward at the children once more. "So ... should we go meet them? Since ... they seem to be someone you know's children ..."

He on the other hand was just plain lost.

Timaeus chuckled and allowed Lin to lead him forward. "Elnara, I know," he grinned. "She and Lore spent a year here, remember? But no, I don't remember this Celebor fellow. Well we'll just have to find out why he missed the hunt, that's all there is to it."

Of course his thought was that they were visiting, just like Feng and Ryu and Naida.

The children looked up, hearing Lin's call, and while Ruque and Kanis looked confused, Aras smiled brightly, and Ecthelion squealed, "HUMAN! LET'S TICKLE HER!" and started running at her, hollering at the top of his lungs, fingers outstretched.

Ruran didn't seem to hear, because he didn't even blink, but simply continued to stare out into the distance from his place further up the river.