An over due visit.....

Carpal tunnel... check
High school meetings....check
Work schedule....check
Friends popping out babies everywhere....[check
Dogs to the vets...check
7th load of laundry done... check
Bum knee popped back in...check
Check on website/post stuff... check
Mow the grass.... check


Being repetitious on a daily basis, even when the tasks are different day by day, tend to leave the mind mundane, or stuck within some zombie syndrome that leave most even unaware of it. Especially after a long period of time of say.... years.

Now... elves have patience. After all, the majority are immortal. Those who aren't, still have what we humans consider limitless years of time. But there comes a time for those of us who have a personal, or unique connection to them where certain elves feel they have no choice but to intervene in our hectic and rushed daily lives to get so much done, and live as much as we possibly can with what little amount of years us humans have.

The way these elves go about "intervening" is a different matter all together.

For some, a particular elf may appear for a casual conversation. Some elves may not show themselves at all, and merely leave small tokens, or trinkets, ((Thank the High Ones it's not Picky's daughter...)) behind to show they're still around. Others, like we've seen in random frames in the past of the Pini's lives, tend to be a bit more..... blunt.

Not so the case here. You see, some people become so absorbed in their hectic routines, it takes a blow to the head, so to speak. Or, a solid blow to conscious that nails you straight in the heart. That's how one particular elf knows just how to nail me.... He didn't steal the thawed out steak on the counter... he wasn't snuggling with the dog behind the recliner. He chose to hop right onto the dining room table as I was in a flurry of a rush to finish up my friend's baby shower invitations, plopping his rear down and sitting Indian style right beside me with his chin propped up upon his fist.

He didn't have to say a word to get a reaction. His own was enough for me to scream and practically fall out of my chair while clutching at my chest and frantically gasping for breath. Yet even through my startled fright, I was still staring in disbelief at seeing the chieftain sitting upon my table and looking at me as if he were utterly bored. "So.... Kindred. Been apart from the Way for some time, haven't you?"

My pride was the first to reveal it's stubborn face. I dove right back into my work as if his words had no effect all and replied with a mundane tone. "Life does that, Cutter. You know that's the "Way" of humans." Naturally, my flat coat retriever leaped over the gate dividing the rooms to investigate the new quest with her curious nose reaching over the table and sniffing wildly at the Wolfrider. His blue eyes widened and his face lit up with interest as the chieftain reached down to greet her with a scratch behind her ears. "A new face I have yet to meet, yet I can already tell she has a rather humorous way about her."

I nodded to his observation over Moose while filling out more addresses, yet remained silent, so I didn't notice his gaze slide back to my chore. "It's been how long now?"

I simply shrugged and kept writing through the silence that followed.

"Since your Timmain died it seems..."

Finally, I slammed the pen down. He nailed me in the gut about my precious dog that passed away and he knew it. Now I turned my head and locked my gaze with his while trying to hide the guilt I felt. I didn't wish to sound harsh with him. Especially when he and all the others had been a major part of my life since I was a child. He helped me hide from the nightmares, showed me promise through trifling times, kept my spirit running free when others were out to squander it. How could I possibly be harsh with him? "I've just been... busy."

He didn't miss a beat. "You've been running."

I blinked at his remark, feeling somewhat stupefied at first until I managed to shake it off and sigh. "Of course I'm running. I have a lot to do all the time..."

"Not in what you do, Kindred. It's what you're running from. It's why you're living such a "Way". "

I was quiet and staring at all the envelopes sprawled across the table as the weight of his words sank in, even though my pride kept my lips sealed. His aim with truth was always just as deadly as Strongbow's arrows. And when I finally found the courage to look into those luminous eyes again, I was taken back by the softness and understanding I found there. Usually, Cutter would add a bit more bluntness, or maybe a slight scorn as a reminder. But this time, I was given a subtle smile before he casually slid off of the table and began walking away. "I believe that's all you need to hear."

And with that, he disappeared into the shadows of the foyer leaving me to chew over the truth I already knew all along, but just refused to admit.

Heyyyyyyy!



Kindredsoul's back!

I wondered where all that beautiful light was coming from!

Yes she is and what about you Shaman?

Moonshade has taught me the ways of dah wolf-ninja!

**trips over a tree-wee and falls in mud**