Welcome to Gaia! ::

Josh quickly swiveled behind a tree and readjusted his ample backpack. The boy panted in small, labored puffs as he tried to recall why he was in this smoldering field during the most blistering part of the day. He could already feel his skin scorching and tightening under the harsh rays that the sun pelted at him. The boy squinted up at the sky and the bright orange-yellow disk within it, which blazed downwards at him like an ever watchful sentry. Maybe today was not the best day to find the elusive soul that he desired. Josh smacked himself in the face with a grumble. What was he thinking!!! This would be the best time to find the Br’er rabbit, even is the weather was rather brutal.

Josh’s auburn gaze drifted over the blossom speckled horizon as he tried to find the best place to set up his “trap” for the rabbit. The boy couldn’t help but adore the majestic meadow and become lost in its colorful wildflowers and lush vegetation. He was somewhat glad that this was the only plantation nearby, it would be a shame to go through life without witnessing this kind of beauty at least once. It was a true pleasure for the eyes. Unfortunately, he had never gotten the chance to meet the owner, whoever they were, of this particular estate. Josh moved stealthily through the bushes and flora paying special attention to leave no traces that he had come this way. He had no intention of running into the owner. If anything, the boy feared that he would be caught by a stereotypical hick; one who would release the hounds and come after him donning a shotgun in one hand and a beer in the other.

“Crunch, crunch, crunch” The parched ground let out a mild protest as Josh made his way to an open field. By now, his face was already streaming with slim slick trails of sweat. The boy slipped off him back pack and judiciously dumped its contents on the dusty ground below. His slim fingers first came in contact with a tacky and crudely constructed doll which held his soul bottle firmly in its clutch. “Hmm, not a tar baby, but good enough I suppose…” If anything the craft appeared more like a sticky potato than a child. Josh had read the popular myth about the rabbit and had even done some research on what he would be hunting today. However, his sculpting skills were not up to par with his investigation prowess. He set the doll in the center of the clearing and prayed that it would be enough to lure the rabbit. Josh stood behind a tree in wait…

One minute passed…. Five minutes elapsed…. Ten minutes drug on…. Thirty minutes slipped away…. and the doll still sat firmly rooted to the ground with a blasé look in its button eyes. Finally, Josh had enough of this waiting game and stomped over to the sculpture in rage. He took it up in his hand and examined it as if he would find some imperfection that he could fix and make everything work out. Nevertheless, everything seemed to be an imperfection…. “ARGH!!!” His cry echoed out of the clearing and passed the thin line of trees. The boy had already forgotten that he was an unwelcome guest in this field.

He had been caught! The only thought crossing Josh’s mind was the likelihood that he was about to be shot, stuffed, and hung on some hick’s mantel. The contorted, exaggerated scene played in his head over and over like an archaic black-and-white film. Josh’s blood froze solid in his veins as his heart was grasped by fear. The banshee-esque scream seemed to clench around the boy’s heart and dig piercing claws into the terrified muscle until it dampened each pounding thump into a soft murmur. Josh spun on his heels and his Nikes made a arid crunch as they dug painfully into the dehydrated soil. The boy gasped airily and when his frantic brown orbs fluttered down to face the person who executed such a grotesque and cacophonous noise only to find that the culprit was a familiar raevan. It was the same minty hued frei that he had met at a Valentine’s event what seemed to be ages ago. The boy was at a loss for words and his mouth opened and closed like a grounded fish. How could such a innocent looking creature be so scary?! The boy finally gained enough resolve to choke out a comment, “Heh, nice scream there…”

It was not long before Josh noticed a striking percussion of movement on the grassy horizon merely a few yards away and the flicker of a gun in the afternoon sunlight. The boy nearly lunged for his soul bottle and hid among the undulating waves of scratchy reeds. The boy prayed that the frei would keep quiet about his location.

Isi’s confused expression was nearly mimicked on Josh’s stunned face. The boy’s mouth was frozen in an awe struck gawk. He gasped dryly, “ISI?! Umm, pleasure seeing you here!” Josh rose from the ground and dusted the fine orange-brown grains of dirt from his shorts, an embarrassed flush spreading across his narrow cheeks and a wiry smile plastered on his lips. “I didn’t know that you lived here.” The statement was said with such astonishment it was as if Josh still didn’t believe that another raevan owner was standing before him…. Or that he had done anything wrong by invading said owner's personal property. Josh shuffled a bit and seemed grounded to his spot in the brush. The boy held out his soul bottle dejectedly as if it would explain the situation entirely, “Well, I’m just trying to… you know… catchasoulformyraevan.” Josh said the last part in a inelegant hurry. Maybe talking faster would numb down the blunt of his mortification.

Josh looked from Eiry to the small , heavily armed boy before him. His face forming into the pitiful facade of a kicked puppy. “Maybe you could help me?”

Josh’s taut smile only faltered a small amount when Isis’s serious tone washed over him in agitated waves. The severe tenor would have doused any other individual’s vigor. However, Josh was too worked up about capturing his soul to be put off by a few warnings or setbacks. The smaller boy’s advice seemed to fly straight in one ear and out of the other; it didn’t even stand a chance of rooting its good morals in Josh’s mind. It was as if Isi was taking the time to toss seeds into an abyss. “Yes, yes! I’ll be sure to ask next time I come over.” He easily dismissed Isis’s counsel and instead focused on the bubbling raevan next to him. Eiry seemed to have just as much unfettered energy as Josh, if not more.

When Isi gave his approval, Josh could have given the boy a rowdy pat on the back, if he wasn’t afraid that it would knock the wind out of his crippled body. Instead, Josh chose to partake in a more civil approach of gratitude. He gingerly took the other’s petite hand in his own and gave it a sturdy shake, “Thank you so much.” Josh grinned and huddled next to the frei. He voice was soaked with enthusiasm and eagerness. “I’m going after something special!” His slim palms came to rest on his head and swayed like a pair of large, rather malformed, bunny ears, “I’m going to capture the soul of a Br’er rabbit!”

Josh caught Eiry’s pallid hands in his own and gave a small harrumph. A faux frown played on his face. “Oh, so you haven’t heard of them? Well, they come from old folk myths. They frolic in the forest and cause mischief for those around them,” Josh paused in thought releasing the frei’s hands, “They also speak in human tongue I believe.”

Josh could feel the anxiety and rage dripping off of Isi. The discourteous feelings seemed to pool around the giddy duo who were absorbed in chattering about the soul. Josh couldn’t help but feel sorry for the boy though. At this rate, he would be the youngest kid around to keel over from stress. You could already see the slow but sure side affects of his mental exhaustion. The frustration-wrinkled brow, rigid frown, and graying hair; all testaments to his worrisome attitude. Josh looked over Eiry’s shoulder and his eyes locked with Isi’s turbulent and stormy gray orbs. Perhaps, he should give a more thorough apology before Isi decided he would rather blow off Josh’s overzealous head than continue with their exploration of the backyard. Josh stood up stiffly popping a few kinks in his back. He kept his own auburn gaze firmly affixed to Isi; as if his life depended on burning two identical holes through the boy’s small frame. “I’m truly sorry if this is a burden on you. I really didn’t mean to intrude so horrendously on your privacy. I’ll make this up to you some way! Maybe… I could help you work on the fences and make sure no unwanted visitors get in again?” Josh puffed up proudly. He could be tactful, when it was needed that is…

Josh waited tensely for Isi’s response lingering on each breath of air as if it would be his last. Each measured puff of oxygen seemed to get caught in his drying throat. It may have been due to the heat… or his nervousness. When Isi voiced his approval of Josh returning to help, it felt like a weight had been pushed off of his shoulders. It was much easier to breath now and Josh found himself taking in the mouthfuls of air that his body was painfully lacking. He was pleased to see the frown on Isi diminish in intensity and a more calm façade grace the boy’s features. It was a start…

Josh snapped his head around to Eiry and felt his spirited mood return tenfold. If he wasn’t more careful in his actions one would have thought he had just twisted his neck or received a agonizing case of whiplash. They had a lead now! “So you have met them?” Josh nearly squeak in excitement and astonishment. He wasn’t largely concerned about Eiry’s need to further explore the Delaran’s yard. He recalled that when he was younger his parents couldn’t manage to keep him in one place either. Well, that still may be a fact. Josh already felt himself getting antsy after standing around in the brush and reeds for too long. He supposed that every young child had the thirst to discover and expand their borders away from their parents. However, he didn’t know about the bloodthirsty ghouls or spiteful ghosts in the area. Josh cooed, “Boys will be boys, Isi.”

And all the calmness that had soften Isi’s childish features seemed to melt and twist into anger instantly. Josh mentally kicked himself. How could he make the boy so infuriated with just one sentence! He didn’t mean it as some sort of threat, it was just an expression that he had picked up over the years. Alas, somehow he had shoved his foot rather deeply into his mouth and chose to just remain quiet next to Isi rather than excite the boy even more. He knew the value of silence. However, Josh had no way of knowing the pain that the Delarans had been through or the suffering that they had endured at this household. Isi was right, he had no right to simply brush off their troubles as if it was just a sprained ankle or bruised arm that they were dealing with. He had to grow up…at least for the time being. They weren’t on some sort of nature hike; they were on a search for the most valuable thing in the world: the soul that would create Josh’s raevan, his child.

Josh’s smile seemed to fade into a thin line which cracked across his face and his eyes grew more intense as he followed after Eiry. He wasn’t here to play; he was here to get a job done. Josh tested his luck and whispered out a faint string of words that seemed to dangle on the dry summer wind around them, “I can see you love Eiry a lot. He’s lucky to have a guardian like you…”