Remembering only too well how hard it had been to navigate stairs after a night of drinking and inhaling the fumes of other peoples mind altering substances, Bree was grateful she had thought to get a place at ground level instead of getting one of the apartments she'd looked at when she had decided on finding permanent residence in the city. Even now when she was only worn and tired from having run on full speed for too long, the choice were paying off yet again.

Wearing nothing but plain socks and uninteresting underwear, she finally made it to the bedroom where she fell into bed, barely managing to pull the covers up before crashing into sleep like a kid coming down from a Halloween induced sugar high.

On the floor in front of one of the bookcases, standing on each side of the bed, several books had been scattered around when Balin had made a quick retreat for safety as she fell into bed. Mourning the comfortable spot on the bed he had had to vacate, Balin gave Bree a disdainful look and turned to stare into the darkness of night outside before beginning the lengthy and quite involved process of cleaning his paws.

When her breathing had finally settled into the familiar patterns of sleep, Bree's mind was thrust into a whirlwind of darkness. It quickly became thicker and heavier as it settled itself over her like a solid cover, giving no hints about nuances. With her eyes pushing against the solid wall surrounding her, the mind strained to make sense of what her eyes could not see.

This was unlike any dream environment she could remember having been pulled into. In recent weeks there had been others, but they had bordered on what could best be described as almost insane or just highly entertaining.

One such dream which fell into the latter category, were the one where she had found herself at an otherworldly pro wrestling tournament. The main attraction for the night, had been an all female faerie team which seemed beyond silly considering that most of their opponents had been trolls, ogres and even a few demon like creatures. But the Fae had fought, and they had won. What had really driven it home, was the skimpy pink leather outfits they had been wearing.

The feather light touch of a finger brushing against her cheek, running down her throat and trailing along her collar bone, sent her body spinning as she tried to locate whoever had managed to get that close to her. The touch had felt intimate, more so than it normally would do, had her other senses not been pushed into overdrive while trying to compensate for the lack of vision.

Bree nearly jumped out of her skin, when she felt someone place their hands lightly on her shoulders. Not heavy enough to make it painful or push her down, but with enough restraint to keep her from turning around in the attempt to find out who was with her in the darkness. Closing her eyes, she began to breathe deeply, harnessing the wild and erratic beating of her heart as the prickling sensation began to travel from the top of her spine to the very bottom.

"Ma chérie, you have finally come."

The voice spread like tendrils, languidly exploring and caressing the shivering mind, slowly and carefully nudging it over the edge, going from a raging storm towards the calm sea of peacefulness.

Bree's eyes flew open as a strong shiver rushed through her body. Pulling herself up on an elbow, Bree surveyed  the surroundings, while trying to remember where she was. The land. She had driven out to investigate the findings  she had made from the air. As she sometimes did, Bree had rolled backwards on to her back, to watch the sky and the  clouds traveling across. Shortly before his death, Henry had reminded her to watch the stars at night, and she had  found the best way to watch anything up there was flat on the back while looking up.

She missed Henry, and sometimes wondered what he would think of everything that had happened since the day they had  said their goodbyes, but Bree knew he was in a better place. He was where he needed to be, and she'd had to seek  comfort in the knowledge that for reasons she did not understand, she had helped him on his way even if it meant  losing his physical presence forever.

Rolling back up to a sitting position, so the legs were swinging freely beneath the gate on the truck, Bree reached  over and grabbed the thermos to pour herself a mug of tea. Moving her hand in a circular motion over the mug, to  draw out some of the energy making the tea hot, the tea cooled enough for Bree to drink it without burning herself.

She had parked the truck in front of the old barn, which had been discovered from the air. While sitting at the  back, with her legs swinging and drinking the perfectly cooled tea, Bree let her gaze wander and roam over the  surrounding landscape. At the back of her mind, the voice which had spoken to her during her nap, continued to make  sounds which gave her a distinct feeling of having found home.

Bree knew she needed to get Sheridan out there, to hear what he felt or heard, since the land was meant for both of  them, though she was going to be the primary holder. Was the voice someone from their long ago past or perhaps the  land itself speaking. The voice had a very slight accent, though for New Orleans it was not unusual to hear a  multitude of accents while walking down the street, so trying to pin the identity on the accent alone would be near  impossible.

Pushing herself off the back of the truck, Bree stretched for a few moments, making her back snap and pop in a  couple of places, something which was badly needed, having dozed off for who knows how long, in the back of the  truck. Sending a few grateful thoughts towards the previous owners for having installed the big jetted soaking tub  at the place she was currently living at, Bree made her way inside the barn.

The place appeared to be in a surprisingly good condition and nearly empty, though in time she'd have to have the  builders go over it with a fine tooth comb to determine whether or not it was safe to use for anything but scrap  lumber. While toeing a barely covered pile in the darkest corner of the barn, something fell from the rafters and  landed in the dirt behind her. Turning around slowly, Bree wearily eyed the piece of wood before she bent down to pick it up. Rubbing off as much dust and dirt as she could, words began to emerge.

Come to the dance we do for the Old Ones
Dance into space and time apart
Send up the call to those who will hear it
Arise all you of the Pagan heart

Away we'll go to the rhythm of the pounding night
So we flow from darkness into light
We may dream from awakening into trance
So it seems as we all come to the dance

words and music by Arthur Hinds

There's no reason you should feel like this
I know that I am the only one to blame
I feel your agony
its hidden in your kiss
Ooh

whatever you say
whatever you do
there will be good times waiting for you
whatever you hear
I won't disappear
I promise you that
I promise you that

I never said that I could change the world
But if you give me the chance that I deserve
I know that in you heart
You can forgive me, oh

Whatever you say
Whatever you do
There will be good times waiting for you
whatever you hear
I won't disappear
I promise you that
I promise you that

We had times only a fool could miss
Still there is time to turn it around
Im not saying it's an easy thing
Let me show you
I promise you that
Oh, yeah

Whatever, wherever
There will be good times waiting for you
whatever you hear, (whatever you hear)
I won't disappear

Whatever you say
Whatever you do
There will be good times (ther will be good times)
waiting for you
Whatever you hear, I won't disappear (Oh)
Whatever you say
Whatever you do
There will be good times (ther will be good times)
waiting for you
Whatever you hear, I won't disappear
I promise you that
I promise you that.

whatever you hear
I won't disappear
I promise you that
I promise you that

ASH
A Druid sacred tree. Druid wands were often made of ash because of its straight grain. Ash wands are good for healing, general and solar magic. Put fresh ash leaves under your pillow to stimulate psychic dreams.

BIRCH
Known as Lady of the Woods, Paper Birch and White Birch. Carefully gather strips of the bark at the New Moon. With red ink, write on a birch strip: "Bring me true love." Burn this along with a love incense, saying "Goddess of love, God of desire, Bring to me sweet passion's fire." The specific name of a god/goddess may be added. Or cast the bark into a stream or other flowing water, saying: "Message of love, I set you free, to capture a love and return to me." ***Remember*** It is unwise to use this incantation and ritual directed toward a specific person as that would violate the rule. If a love is to come to you, it must be of that persons free will to do so.

BLACKTHORN
Blackthorn is a winter tree. Its white flowers are seen even before the leaves in the spring. It is black barked with vicious thorns and grows in dense thickets. The wood is used in the cudgel shillelagh and Blasting Stick. Its thorns are used to pierce waxen images. Blackthorn indicates strong action of fate or outside influences that must be obeyed.

BROOM
Also known as Scotch Broom or Irish Broom. It can be substituted for furze (gorse) at the Spring Equinox. The Irish called it the "Physician's power" because of its diuretic shoots. Sweep your outside ritual areas with it to purify and protect. Burning the blooms and shoots calms the wind. Be cautious if you plant Broom however, it will quickly multiply....

CEDAR
Also known as the Tree of Life, Arbor Vitae, Yellow Cedar. Ancient Celts on the mainland used cedar oil to preserve the heads of enemies taken in battle. To draw Earth energy and ground yourself, place the palms of your hands against the ends of the leaves.

ELDER
Also known as Ellhorn, Elderberry, Lady Elder. Sacred to the White Lady and Midsummer Solstice. The Druids used it to both bless and curse. Standing under an elder tree at Midsummer, like standing in a Fairy Ring of mushrooms, will help you see the "little people." Elder wands can be used to drive out evil spirits or thought forms. Music on panpipes or flutes of elder have the same power as the wand. Remember the words of the Rede. Elder is the Lady's Tree, burn it not or cursed ye be!

ELM
A slightly fibrous, tan-coloured wood with a slight sheen. Elm is often associated with Mother and Earth Goddesses, and was said to be the abode of faeries, explaining Kipling's injunction; "Ailim be the lady's tree; burn it not or cursed ye'll be". Elm wood is valued for it's resistance to splitting, and the inner bark was used for cordage and chair caning. Elm adds stability and grounding to a spell.

FIR
Fir is a very tall slender tree that grows in mountainous regions on the upper slopes. Fir cones respond to rain by closing and the sun by opening. Fir can see over great distance to the far horizon beyond and below. Fir indicates high views and long sights with clear vision of what is beyond and yet to come.

FIR (SILVER)
Also known as the Birth Tree. The needles are burned at childbirth to bless and protect the mother and baby.

FURZE
Also known as Gorse, Whin. Its golden flowers are associated with the Spring Equinox. Wood and blooms are burned for protection and preparation for conflict of any sort.

HAWTHORN
Also known as May Tree and White Thorn. Wands made of this wood are of great power. The blossoms are highly erotic to men. Hawthorn can be used for protection, love and marriage spells.

HAZEL
Wands made of this wood symbolize white magick and healing. Forked sticks are used to find water or buried treasure. If outside and in need of maigckal protection quickly draw a circle around yourself with a hazel branch. To enlist the aid of plant fairies, string hazelnuts on a cord and hang up in your house or ritual room. Magically, hazel wood is used to gain knowledge, wisdom and poetic inspiration.

HOLLY
A beautiful white wood with an almost invisible grain; looks very much like ivory. Holly is associated with the death and rebirth symbolism of winter in both Pagan and Christian lore and is important to the Winter Solstice. In Arthurian legend, Gawain (representing the Oak King of summer) fought the Green Knight, who was armed with a holly club to represent winter. It is one of the three timbers used in the construction of chariot wheel shafts. It was used in spear shafts also. The qualities of a spear shaft are balance and directness, as the spear must be hefted to be thrown the holly indicates directed balance and vigour to fight if the cause is just. Holly may be used in spells having to do with sleep or rest, and to ease the passage of death. A bag of leaves and berries carried by a man is said to increase his ability to attract women.

JUNIPER
Its berries were used with thyme in Druid and Grove incenses for visions. Juniper grown by the door discourages thieves. The mature berries can be strung and hung in the house to attract love.

MISTLETOE
Also known as Birdlime, All Heal and Golden Bough. It was the most sacred tree of the Druids, and ruled the Winter Solstice. The berries are poisonous! Bunches of mistletoe can be hung as an all-purpose protective herb. The berries are used in love incenses.

OAK
Oak has been considered sacred by just about every culture that has encountered the tree, but it was held in particular esteem by the Celts because of its size, longevity, and nutritious acorns. The oak was the "King of Trees" in a grove. Magick wands were made of its wood. Oak galls, known as Serpent Eggs, were used in magickal charms. Acorns gathered at night held the greatest fertility powers. The Druids and Priestesses listened to the rustling oak leaves and the wrens in the trees for divinatory messages. Burning oak leaves purifies the atmosphere. It can be used in spells for protection, strength, success and stability; the different varieties will lend their own special 'flavour' to the magic.

PINE
The Pine tree is an evergreen, its old title was "the sweetest of woods." It was known to the Druids as one of the seven chieftain trees of the Irish. Mix the dried needles with equal parts of juniper and cedar and burn to purify the home and ritual area. The cones and nuts can be carried as a fertility charm. A good magickal cleansing and stimulating bath is made by placing pine needles in a loose-woven bag and running bath water over it. To purify and sanctify an outdoor ritual area, brush the ground with a pine branch.

ROWAN
Also known as Mountain Ash, Witchwood and Sorb Apple has long known as an aid and protection against enchantment. Sticks of the Rowan were used to carve Runes on. Rowan spays and crosses were placed over cattle in pens and over homes for protection. Its lovely red berries feed the birds in winter. The berries have a tiny pentagram on them and are especially poisonous. The pentagram is the ancient symbol of protection. The Rowan tree indicates protection and control of the senses from enchantment and beguiling. The Rowan was sacred to the Druids and the Goddess Brigit. It is a very magical tree used for wands, rods, amulets and spells. A forked Rowan branch can help find water. Wands are for knowledge, locating metal and general divination.

WILLOW
Also known as White Willow, Tree of Enchantment and Witches' Asprin. Once of the seven sacred trees of the Irish, a Druid sacred Tree. The willow is a Moon tree sacred to the White Lady, Its groves were considered so magickal that priests, priestesses and all types of artisans sat among these trees to gain eloquence, inspiration, skills and prophecies. For a wish to be granted, ask permission of the willow, explaining your desire. Select a pliable shoot and tie a loose knot in it while expressing what you want. When the wish is fulfilled. return and untie the knot. Remember to thank the willow and leave a gift.

YEW
Also known as English Yew and European Yew. Another important tree to the Winter Solstice and the deities of death and rebirth. It is a beautifully smooth, gold-coloured wood with a wavy grain. The Irish used it to make dagger handles, bows and wine barrels. The wood or leaves were laid on graves as a reminder to the departed spirit that death was only a pause in life before rebirth. All parts of the tree are poisonous except the fleshy covering of the berry, and its medicinal uses include a recently discovered treatment for cancer. The yew may be the oldest-lived tree in the world. Ancient yews can be found in churchyards all over Britain, where they often pre-date even the oldest churches. There are some convincing arguments for it being the original 'World-tree' of Scandinavian mythology. The Yew may be used to enhance magical and psychic abilities, and to induce visions.

AMETHYST
Amethyst helps to calm fears, reduces stress, dispels doubts and negativity, and can relieve depression and promote good judgment. Amethyst induces vivid dreams, increases mental powers, and is useful in psychism. Used for drawing love.

AMETRINE
Ametrine is a combination of amethyst and citrine, and has the magickal qualities associated with these two stones. Ametrine is useful for working with spirit and animal guides, meditation, and astral travel.

ANGELITE
Angelite is a calming stone which may be used to help stabilize the emotions and ease anxiety and stress. Angelite is also used for creative work, psychic ability, public speaking, and helping oneself to become more assertive. Angelite can be used in spells and rituals designed to reduce anger, aid in self-forgiveness, and gain spiritual protection.

APACHE TEARS
(An opaque form of OBSIDIAN). Good for grounding and centering, and promoting peace. Apache tears are good as good luck stones, and contain extremely potent protective energies.

AQUAMARINE
Enhances the utilization of psychic powers and makes the mind more alert. Excellent for cleansing and purifying. Aquamarine can be used in rituals to ensure good health.

AZURITE
A dark blue stone which can heal emotional trauma, confusion, blocks, and negativity. This stone is also useful in working with spirit guides, animal guides, and the Goddess.

BLOODSTONE
Increases physical strength and promotes courage. It is helpful in business and legal matters. Bloodstone has been found to increase the effectiveness of spells. When worn, this stone is said to increase one's life span. Great for healing matters concerning the bloodstream.

BLACK ONYX
Great for defense against negativity. Can be used to reduce sexual desires. Onyx is an extremely potent protective stone, and is widely known for its ability to protect against psychic attacks and hexes.

BLUE AVENTURINE
Good for reducing or eliminating negative emotions. Lends itself well to healing. A great stone for purification and peace. Holding this stone can reduce or completely cleanse the body of pain.

CARNELIAN
This stone is excellent for increasing courage. Helps to promote self-confidence while inducing peace. Offsets doubt and negativity. Carnelian is excellent for increasing sexual desires and is very useful in spells relating to lust.

CITRINE
Keeping this stone on your body at night to help prevent nightmares and to have a good night's sleep. Helps to access user's power to give energy to magick. Used as a good luck stone. Helps to increase self-esteem. An excellent stone to use for promoting creativity.

CRYSTAL QUARTZ (CLEAR)
This stone has the ability to be programmed with the powers of any other stone, and then substituted for that stone in any ritual. Great for psychism and as a general magickal power amplifier.

FLOURITE
This stone comes in beautiful transparent shades of blue, green, and lavender. It is used to strengthen the power of all other stones. It helps to clear and organize thoughts, and has the ability to reduce the level of emotions in any situation. Heightens analytical abilities, and effectively lowers anger, depression, and desperation.

GARNET
Garnet is a highly protective stone, as it provides a barrier of charged vibrations which repels negative energies on contact. It can be used to strengthen the aura, and is great for lending extra energy to rituals. It is also useful in enhancing bodily strength and endurance.

GREEN AVENTURINE
A good luck stone. It is useful in spells involving money, gambling, and business success. This stone increases perception and intelligence while it stimulates creativity.

GREEN MOSS AGATE
Draw new friends. This stone is said to be able to lead you to hidden treasures. It can be used to relieve exhaustion and to heal problems with the neck and back. Also useful in money and happiness spells.

HEMATITE
Used for grounding and centering. Useful in healing, especially when worn in the form of a necklace. It is believed to be able to draw illness out of the body.

JADE (GREEN)
Grants wisdom when placed against the third eye chakra (on the forehead). Attracts love, and is useful for protection. This gem can actually help the body to heal itself. It is used to help treat heart, kidney, and stomach disorders.

LABRADORITE
This stone comes from the sun/moonstone family. The stone is a opaque smoky quartz color, but when rotated in sunlight, has flashes of vivid green, blue, red, yellow, orange, and gold. This stone carries some of the properties from both the moon and the sun. Helps in opening the heart chakara in order to more readily receive love. Increases inner strength and convictions, as well as promoting courage. Draws success to the owner's life. Greatly enhances dreaming, and the ability to remember the content of the dreams during the waking hours. Also helps to enhance all forms of perception during the day. The stone may be more powerful in one area than another, dependant upon what color the "flash" is. (see color magick for more). This is a fantastic stone to acquire, and then to continue to carry or use throughout one's life - as the results of the stone's energies continue to build and each result enhances the next result.

LAPIS LAZULI
One of my favorite stones. This stone is useful in improving emotional, physical, spiritual and psychic conditions. It relieves depression while promoting peace. Lapis is excellent for use in divination. Place this stone on your altar while scrying, gazing, or reading the Tarot or runes. Lapis is very protective and also promotes courage. Can be used to draw spiritual love to oneself, and is a powerful fidelity charm.

MALACHITE
Place one on your altar to lend extra energy to magickal spells. Guards against negativity and depression, calms and soothes. Enhances the ability to give and receive love. Increases business success. Promotes sleep. Very protective against physical dangers.

MOONSTONE
Great for divination and psychism-many people keep a moonstone with their tarot cards for increased psychic ability. Helpful in dieting and maintaining a youthful appearance. The moonstone is love drawing and helpful for reconciliation. Moonstone is a gently protective stone, and is extremely useful in protection while traveling by water.

MOTHER-OF-PEARL
This has been used consistantly for many generations in ritual jewelry. It is sometimes placed on newborn babies for protection. It is also great for use in spells for wealth and prosperity.

PERIDOT
Guards against illusions, enchantments, and nightmares. If anger is a problem for you, try using this gemstone as it is known to calm even the most raging anger. Peridot also calms nervousness and banishes negative emotions. Good for general healing, promoting sleep, and attracting money.

RED JASPER
Known to promote beauty and grace. Protective and especially useful in defensive magick -- use this stone to send negativity directed at you back to the original sender. Increases mental processes and forms a barrier against dangerous desires and whims. Also a great all-around good luck stone.

RHODOCHROSITE
This beautiful pink stone is a powerful love drawing amulet. It is wonderful for soothing the mind, body, and emotions. Can give the body extra strength during strenuous activity. It has also been used to increase beauty, especially the skin and complexion.

ROSE QUARTZ
The definitive stone for love rituals. This stone can be used to open to heart chakra. It is extremely love attracting. It also promotes peace, happiness, and fidelity in established relationships.

RUBY
With its beautiful red colour, the ruby is quite useful in love magick, especially for spells involving sexual love (increasing one's desire, etc.) and lust. Rubies are also useful in promoting courage and increasing energy.

SMOKEY QUARTZ
A wonderful stone to use for grounding and centering. This stone can also be used to help overcome depression and other negative emotions. It is also an excellent mood elevator.

SODALITE
A wonderful stone to draw wisdom. It can be held in the hand to help still the mind and relax the body. A wonderful meditation stone, and superb at healing emotionally related disorders (those caused by stress, anger, fear, or nervousness). Useful in dispelling guilt and fear.

SUNSTONE
Stimulates sexual arousal and increases sexual energy. Very protective. Sunstone is also used to increase physical energy when ill. If you want to strengthen the energy of any healing herb, place a sunstone in with the herb.

TIGEREYE
A beautiful, flashy stone which is wonderful for protection against all forms of danger. Useful in divination and as a tool to delve into past lives. Promotes wealth and prosperity. Increases energy flow through the body, and is therefore useful during illness. Tiger Eye can strengthen your convictions and create courage and confidence.

TOPAZ (BLUE)
Use this gem in purification rituals. Great at promoting peace, while calming emotions. Useful in removing pain from the body. Placed by the bed at night, this stone is useful in preventing or halting nightmares and ensuring a good night's sleep.

TURQUOISE
A wonderful all-around stone, useful in drawing love, money, health and beauty. A very protective stone. Use in rituals to attract new friends or lovers. Promotes joy. A wonderful gift, as it is said to grant the receiver wealth and happiness.

YELLOW CARNELIAN
Heightens visualization and communication abilities. Great for use in writing or public speaking. Travel related spells are enhanced by the presence of yellow carnelian. A protective stone, and good for healing, especially disorders of the stomach, nervous system, and skin

Heading downstairs, and out into the courtyard behind the house, Bree pulled the jacket a little tighter around her body. Usually the evenings and nights sometimes were almost as warm as the daytime hours, but tonight something had changed. Or perhaps it was simply because, Bree was tired and had been too busy to get much sleep. A recent conversation with Det Ravencroft, had finally convinced her to slow down, and enjoy that which was visible around her, instead of always go looking for what she couldn't see. At the dinner they had shared a couple of days before Ravencroft had had to leave town, for an out of state meeting, they had talked about looking at the stars. It had been a bit embarressing for her to admit, that she couldn't even remember when the last time was, that she had been spending a night under the wide open sky, looking at the stars.

Standing in the doorway, she cautiously opened her mind a little wider than she normally would, listening for signs of anything happening. But everything was quiet. She felt nothing but the usual ebb and flow of energies.

Moving out to the middle of the small courtyard, Bree tilted her head back and looked up at the sky, where the light of day had finally given way to the darkness of night. The stars were spread out, like someone had taken a handful of diamonds and randomly thrown them on a piece of midnight blue velvet. Bree had heard a few stories about the stars. One of her favorite, and the most comforting, was the one about how those who had passed on, became stars in the sky so they could watch over those who still had time to go.

With the night still being young, Bree eventually found her way to one of the outdoor lounge chairs, while keeping her eyes fixed in the sky. For a few moments the world didn't seem to be so lonely, though her heart were aching a bit, as images of Henry flashed through her mind. With a small sigh, she made herself more comfortable. While he couldn't be there with her physically, the memories would always be very much alive. Returning her gaze to the stars, Bree whispered.

"I will always remember. Thank you."

Bree woke with a smile on her face. It was obvious that she had managed to fall asleep while stargazing, and had spent the night under the stars, in the small court yard behind the house where she was renting a room. Staying curled up for a few moments, she let her mind wonder back to what had happened the previous night. She had managed to find some kind of closure, though it was still quite fickle, and would take some work before it truly felt like it was a part of her. This morning she had woken up, with the oddest sensation; something which she had only felt a couple of times before. It had felt like someone had been there with her, and had their arms wrapped around her, to give her a measure of comfort. No telling who or what or why, just the feeling of comfort and Bree wasn't too sure if it was something she should investigate further or just accept as is.

The gravel crunched under her boots, as Bree kept moving forward along the river. Every now and then, she had to move away from the water's edge; weaving in and out between homes and crossing quiet streets, before she again could follow where her feet insisted on taking her. This was the first full day alone Bree had had, since her arrival in New Orleans. The majority of her time, had been spent helping out on the case, which initially had called her here; the rest of it she had simply been too spent, to venture out on her own.

There was also the matter of mourning. Even though she had been a bit annoyed by the call in the middle of the night, it had turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Being called away to New Orleans, had given her a chance to keep her mind occupied, instead of dwelling on the loss of Henry. Though she wished there had been more time, Bree felt eternally grateful for what they had gotten. Perhaps the only regret was, that she had not shown him enough of herself and who she was. That was the one thing people kept telling her; that they knew her but didn't know who she was.

As her walk advanced along the river, the wind began to pick up. Though still immersed in the memories, images swirling through her mind, rivaling the force of the wind, the chill finally began to pull Bree out of the daze, enabling her to notice how the murmur had begun to change.

Stopping at an mostly isolated area with no houses but a few desolated garages, Bree sat down on her haunches, letting her hands sweep over the ground in a random pattern. Curling her hands tightly, she raised them to her face; inhaling deeply, as she let her eyes wander to the gulls hoovering over the lake, while they sent out their cries.

***

Sitting in the doorway to the balcony outside her room, Bree watched the comings and goings of people in the street below; a glass of sweet tea between her hands, just cold enough to make things a bit more bearable. Somewhere off in the distance, she could hear people laughing and music playing. Despite its size, the room behind her were quite cozy, and even without a lot of decorating done, it still had a strong sense of home.

Reaching back behind her, Bree grabbed the laptop, opening it up to do a bit of minor research. She knew, that nothing could beat getting down on the street and talk to people, but even for that, she wanted to be just a bit prepared. Looking at the search results, Bree groaned a bit. It seemed like a lot of people thought of themselves as experts, after just one or two visits. Thankfully Bree had local people she could talk to and ask questions. Aidan, in the capacity of being a witch and local cop as well as the little old lady, from whom she was renting a room. She really was something else. To most people, she came off as the frail old grandma, but Bree could feel the energy around her, and knew there were nothing frail about her.

Closing the laptop, Bree rested her forearms on it, leaning forward a bit, to get a better look at the street below. The people trapessing through, had begun to change, as it got later in the day and it wasn't too hot to dress up a bit for a fun night out.

Adala stared blankly at the screen, trying to keep herself from allowing those feelings and thoughts from gaining their wings and go where she would not be able to control them. She had already been dangerously close more than once, and only by being the cause of her own heartbreak, had she been able to keep everything somewhat in check.

This was not what was supposed to happen. The prophecies had never mentioned anything about this, and it had happened in the old world she knew the elders would have imposed severe punishment, even if the feelings and thoughts hadn't been acted upon. The simple act of allowing them to exist within oneself was enough to call down their ire. Maybe.. Covering her face with her hands, Adala let out a tired sigh. Maybe when she had been able to learn more, she would be able to control it better. With a subtle grin which, had anyone been around to see it, briefly rolled over her face, Adala recalled one of the many speeches which had been given before the night of their departure. It had been a serious reminder, that even if they did manage to cross the threshold, they would still be of the old world and would have to obey the laws of old.

Letting her hands fall to the table in front of her, Adala looked out the window; her eyes following the darkening clouds as they rolled by, wondering of the elders in their infinite wisdom had even had an inkling what crossing the threshold and going through the transformation actually meant. The new world was so different. Many of the core principles and laws could not be adapted immediately. They simply were not compatible with the laws which had been enacted by the governing body in her current location.

While her eyes kept following the clouds as they rolled by, her mind went forward to the day when she had crossed the threshold and the basic transformation had taken place. Compared to what the prophecy had spoken about, it had been rather anticlimactic. Like walking through at door from one room to another, or perhaps better compared to walking from a nice air conditioned house to the outside in the middle of a heatwave. No big moments of spiritual clarity, or burning and searing pain. It had just been. Even her physical features had mostly remained the same. The color of her eyes had maybe darkened a bit, and her hair had straightened into not so tight curls, making it easier for her to handle now she was on her own.

The only major transformation which had taken place, was her clothing. Usually she would have been wearing a dress appropriate for the task at hand, whether it had been working in the fields, partake in a gathering or learning about the sacred work from the elders. After the change, Adala had found herself dressed in men's clothing, though it did appear to be a female version with a different choice of materials.

She had stared at him, with an incredulous look on her face, not quite sure or believing she heard what he had just said to her. They had spent many nights, under the faint light of the moon, talking about life and death and a lot of in betweens. Her mother had died a horrible slow death months earlier, and she was just now barely able to talk about it, when he had uttered the sentence which now swirled around her head at top speeds, making her slightly dizzy in the process. He knew how her mother had died without being allowed to make her final choice, and he  knew how they had been fighting for her right to make a final independent decision, but society in general had decided to deny her that chance.

He had sought shelter in the entrance way across the street, and for once, the young woman was happy about the rain falling against the windows, obscuring the tears rolling down her cheeks. She had first noticed his presence weeks ago. Always there, quietly observing, watching and never speaking a single word. He simply was, and she had felt it like a hand of calmness, resting on her shoulder. At least that is how she felt it, until tonight. Throughout the day something had changed, and when the rain finally had started to fall, it had been a welcome barrier between the two.

From the way he had raised his head and looked out from under the hood of his jacket, she knew that he knew, but the rain was obscuring it just enough that the risk of potentially being wrong, had to be considered. She had tried to speak to him once, but he had been nowhere to be found. Yet she had still been able to feel the hand on her shoulder.