Saturday Post

70 Degrees all week, and now it looks like it is going to rain and it is cold and windy. Just my luck.

Anyway I am ready for bumper sticker rant. I just need to go out with my camera and find some good bumper stickers.

Also that second post from yesterday seems successful. Those are my two birds for those of you who haven't visited my home page. A very good picture of them too. Usually if they are together the little one is attacking the big one.

Anyway, enough of the birds.

Torn
34

You were shaking by the time that you finished telling me about the dreams, and Jack. You had no proof that any of what you were telling me was true.

I wondered why later, but I always believed you. There was never a doubt in my mind that what I was hearing was the truth.

You seemed to have a weight lifted that day.

You asked me to start meeting you at then end of your practices after that day. I waited would usually show up near the end of practice, and catch a little of the end. It was amazing how good you were.

I had been watching for only a few days when your twice-great grandfather pulled me aside while you changed. He told me that he wished to train me as well.

I told him that the decision would be yours, but I also asked why.

He told me that he believed the dreams, and if they were true I might be in as much danger as you. He had taken a liking to me, and told me that since I was to become family he would hate to find me unprepared if something were to happen.

Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to jump on the offer, but I wasn’t sure if you wanted a training partner. My worries were eased, however, as soon as you returned.

“Well?” you asked of both your grandfather and me.

I knew right then that it had already been discussed. I couldn’t help but hug you, you had known me well enough to know that I wished to train with you.

I started with you the next session. I had a lot of catching up to do, but you were both patient with me. I learned quickly, at least according to the two of you. Soon we were sparring with practice bouts and at least I was somewhat able to defend myself.

Your great-great grandfather was an incredible trainer. I believe that one of the main reasons that I have survived this long was the training that I received through him, and you.

Many of the things that were taught to us back then is the same as what I am teaching you now. He made sure to teach us skills that were timeless, skills that could be used under any circumstances. We would sometimes even ask about new things that others were being taught. He always replied the same way. New skills are only effective if they have a solid base to rest on, he always wanted us to know the base. The new skills would only be more effective with it.

He also cared about the interactions between the species. He never let us see the tensions even though we all knew that they were there. He never showed any indication that he felt some of the same feelings as other elves. He was just always happy to know you, and me through you.

***

With everything finally in the open between us we were happier than ever before. We spent our time planning our future together, and training to protect that future.

But for everything, you still seemed worried.

For the longest time you said that it was just nerves. You wanted to believe that, I know that you did. But I think we both knew that something was up.

It started with problems in the forest. Members of the community would often go into the forest at night. But then strange things started to happen. Some would return and not remember ever leaving, others came back with strange injuries that they couldn’t explain. The worst was the ones who never came back at all. They would be seen entering the forest, but never made it back out.

Worried, the elders cautioned all of us against going into the forest. And for a time it worked.

We all thought that the problem had been isolated to the forest. Then the same things started to happen on the plains. We had no explanation for it. Guards had been posted at all of the entrances to the caverns, but they never saw anything. Whatever it was, it was smart enough to hide itself.

Even more cautions were issued, but still whatever was happening continued.

Even still we continued the way that we had been. We trained, and enjoyed each other’s company. We lived life as if each day was the last, and it was a good thing that we did.

We never realized how little time we would have together.

***

Julius paused.

Maureen could see that he had been crying. She handed him a tissue, and he accepted it in silence.

She was able to look into his eyes for a brief moment before he turned away. In them she saw the most profound sadness that she had ever seen.

She reached toward him, and took his hand in hers.

He looked at it for a moment. He pulled his hand away.

“I’m sorry, Kyra. If I take comfort now I will not finish, and I do not think that I will have the strength to tell this again.”