Red showed up on the farm rather late. It was Cinder's fault; he never informed her that he had gone to the countryside to rest. He looked at the letter he had written her and smiled.

She bucked the snow from her boots and looked around the countryside. When she was younger she shared many times here with Cinder and Kristae. Already autumn gave into the will of winter. A light patch of snow dotted the land.

"Is He in there, cat"?

Delliah just passing by her from the door, she looked at her and nodded.

"Oh, he is in there, you?re late. I wouldn't upset him like you normally do". Delliah breathed heavily a smile on her face, her element had come full circle once more, the cold air and signs of a light snow was all it took for her to feel complete.

"How is he"? Rewa sat on the steps of the porch beside the large white cat. She tucked her hands into her coat setting the bottle of wine beside her.

Delliah nodded. "Fine, he's much better..Finally gave into my requests and paid visit to a doctor. The elven flu is hard on older elves, if he was less careless we could have lost him".

Rewa patted her affectionately. "Have any deer meat in stores in the house"?

Delliah nodded. "Help yourself".

Rewa smiled and headed on inside with the bottle of Red.

She returned to the couch and handed him a plate, their hands touched as the exchanged ceramic, she smiled at him but it wasn?t returned. She took her seat on the other end.

"Why did I return? I could tell you why but it's complicated. There's more to it than taking up business here and meeting with old friends".


She sipped her wine avoiding his face. He wasn't eating the food, which bothered her, but she remained calm.

"I thought you wanted me. I mean I thought you sent me this letter; do you still plan to go on with this game? Does anyone have a clue as to what you are planning to do"?

Cinder sighed some taking the utensil in his hand he took a bite of the venison. It was good, moist full of flavor still raw in patches with left flavor to soak into. He didn?t say much a slight smile on his face, the sunlight through the window shined on him. She wanted to kiss him be held herself, she turned away.

"Rewa, do you remember when we were all young"? He turned to her holding her hand, as she was about to stand.
"You're golden, just like then".

Red took another sip of the wine biting her lip through the glass, which made her smile, a bloodlet drip from her lips.

"You are golden too Cinder". She patted him on the leg under the covers. "Get some rest, were leaving this place. You don't need to worry about the schedule". She stood and kissed him on the lips, her blood on his lips. She knew...

He stood outside the porch the next day unchanged from his sickness but still determined as ever to go on this quest. Sipping his coffee, one foot on the first step he watched the cold day progress. Cinder in his age had grown to become a very troubled soul, he never wanted fortune or misery he just wanted to slip by unnoticed.

?Cinder?? From an earshot away, poking her head out from the door. Delliah nuzzled up to him.

? I was just coming inside?.

He returned to the living room with a soiled gait as if his heart was stricken with the unfortunate gift of being broken. ?I?m going to take a bath?. He calming stood halfway just as he was about to seat himself, Delliah and Rewa looked to him worried as if something in his mind changed overnight.


He climbed the second floor, and headed into the bathroom. On the cold white and green vine tiles he parted with his clothes. The elf stood naked turning the bath on then moving to the sink he looked at himself into the mirror, he tried a smile but it made him feel worse.
He light a few candles and soaked up their yellow gold glow, he placed them in stained red glass holders Kristae had made years and years before. Taking a seat on the toilet he closed both lids so the cold porcelain wouldn?t startled his buttocks. Until the stream of hot water was perfected he continued to think about life and his journey.

A knock on the door took him away from his thoughts.
?Cinder? Are you alright??

It was Rewa and last thing he wanted was to talk with anyone, he needed to be alone with his thoughts.

?I?m fine, just taking a hot bath, my throat hurts a little is all?. Which in truth was bothering him but he felt at ease being alone. Perhaps it was all he needed anymore. He wished for some fine Syrah red with some Dutch chocolates, and perhaps a good smoke, how he thought he sounded like a woman obsessing over the indulgence of a delight. He didn?t want anything at the moment only to continue his quest.

He climbed into his bed of warm water and dropped a few infusion beads to help calm him down. It had been almost two months since he had left the Salvage yards, he missed his work and wished he never intended on going to Lemuira. It was too late, once the wheels started rolling there was little he could do to stop his desire.
He rubbed some gel from a tube onto his chest and throat. Submerging himself under the hot water for a while should help him out, where some elves couldn?t go near water or hold their breath he could at least remain there for hours even some had no trouble wherever they chose to domain.

Rewa remained outside the bathroom for a few moments then saddened she returned downstairs to Delliah and the warm sunset from the hearth. ?He is getting better, right??

Delliah smiled some from her napping where Cinder normally was resting prior to getting up. ?This is the first time he had gotten up other than to go do you know what?.

She smiled after being re assured from the large white cat. Gazing over to the fine blue spruce, which was sparse in decoration, she turned to Delliah once more. ?You two celebrate Kommen still??

?Well I do, he just plays along, and I doubt he?d bother if I was around?. Delliah closed her eyes again.

Red smiled once again and looked to the tree, she figured why not, if she was here and had to wait for him why not? ?It?s settled I'm spending the holidays with you two?.

The time spent here was winding down, and although she couldn't bring herself to ask what had happened that one night she knew.


"Thank you for lunch". She set aside the plate and finished up her coffee. She stared at him for several moments but he remained still on the couch staring at the birdfeed and beyond to the woods.

"I will be going back to the city to fetch a few things, would you care for anything"?

Cinder reached for the cord and pulled it, the blinds fell to the window base and he turned on the ornate lamp beside the nightstand. He smiled at her for a moment picking up his tea.

"Check on the Salvage Yard for me. Tell Bessie to prepare the seasong for deaprture. If you see something in the market I'd be interested in pick it up for me". He charmed, folding his robes over himself. He was getting better but something was hidden beneath that exterior.

"Sure". She canted her head after putting on her coat and scarf. "I don't suppose I can get you anything, Delliah"?

The white cat had remain quite silent for days ever since the elf had returned that one night from the cold. She sighed and looked to Cinder wh owas already going over maps and diagrams of the lost city. "No, I'm fine. Just wish the snow remained...".

Rewa stepped outside and shook her head. "Washed away, thats what you're trying to do to yourself Cinder".

Rewa had just returned from the steady and jubilant pace of the city, this time of year she was more than glad to set foot into the rural back lands of Rhy'Din. The Mirue province was only gladly to oblige, from what she had grown accustom to with Kristae and of Cinder in the years ago this place was a central hub for all things organic and pure. From it's produce which traveled to the city to duel with barters in the markets and to the wines and independent beers which stocked the shelves of taverns and such.

She watched for several hours at her old friend, Kristae. Her grave was well looked after by somebody, she knew who. She picked on of them up. The heads of sunflowers which were placed at the base of the stone and the scent of incense that had been spent but still present in the earth.

"I hope he knows what he is doing Kristae".

Plucking a few seeds from the pod, she wondered about him, wondered if she could have him. Opening a few of the seeds she paused then ate them. Despite the cold weather she felt warm, even if she was a vampire she felt a warmth when around the elf.

She turned and gazed up at the bellowing farm which stood in the distance and saw him sitting on the gazebo perched above the pond.

"Him and those ducks".

She smiled some to herself then turned back into town, deciding on a drink at the local pub.