He was looking into the mirror at his office at the Salvage Yard, a few new hairs of grey. He sighed some sliding his newly accuired swivle deluxe model around to him. Sitting down he spun around a few times a grin on his face as he stopped it directing his attention to his coffee mug. "O'er fortune shines on sunlit days, I'd been quick with word and drink so gay. Scattered to the eastern seas from way up north I'd come to thee". He stared at the type writer for a few moments. Typing in what he had just said.

"Cinder errum Einvant, you have a package". Nails the muscular man had a name in fact all his crew had nice orange black and green uniforms and matching pants with black work boots. Nice name tages embossed in lamenate. "oh thank you, I cant think of anyone who would deliver me a package here, tis odd". Nails returned to his duties. "So he is Nails... I'm glad I made nametags for them to wear". He chuckled.

He read the letter in the envelope carefully.

~My dear Elf,
Has it been three years since we last saw eachother? I recently had heard you have been back on Rhy'Din. I do hope that we can meet again someday. The land has changed and so are the many faces that inhabit it. Yours is the one I long to gaze upon. I shall find you.

Skerie Kollingstrom. ~


He saw the name Skerie and he shook his head. He sighed putting the letter aside and opened the Package up. Inside was a bottle of fine Cloudberry wine. Written in Norse runes which he could make out. He grined. "Aged perfectly for my perfectly aged man". Setting it aside, he remebers the last time she tried to kidnap him when he was at the Maritime, nearly killed him. Cloudberry wine was his favorite and he couldnt pass up a gift such as this even if he had no intention of seeing her. In fact if there was one person whom he feared it was her, she was crazy.

"Now what am I supposed to do, put this place on lockdown"? He let out some air as he stood already he felt exhausted and took the bottle outside with him, he sat on the bulkheads and gazed at the imperfect ending of the day.

The red evening washed all the traces of blue from the sky. It was cool for Summer despite Autums approach was near.

On the sea the sparkle of diamonds and gulls making circles agaisnt the waters making their last catch for the night. Cinder was on the beach holding his spear looking at the woman making her way towards him.

"I have come for you, you must return with me and cast aside this foolihness". She drew her sword pointed toward him. She apporached him closer then halted as the elf pointed his spear.

"I told you before, we are nothing. Your ideas are false and only hurt yourself in the end. No intentions do I have of becoming locked up and used by you. We were friends in war, fighting the gods nothing more. Go back to your world, yo uare the lucky one. Just go".

Cinder set aside the letter Skerie had written and the gift of Cloudberry wine, he refused them both. He turned and walked away.

"How dare you!" Skerie charged at him with her sword, her wings outstretched and her body became a glorius light as she stabbed right through his back.

Skerie stood before Cinder, her hand outstreched as he lay down on the ground proped up on one arm holding his spear. He was coughing up blood as he looked at himself and showed her what she had done. He limped falling down as he attempted to stand. Skerie stood there and smiled as she picked him up over her shoulder.

"You are mine, why can't you realize that? Even Kristae feared me! Her Minstrum feared me"! She cackled and patted him gently. "Even you fear me...my love".

The wind picked up casuing quite a stir, a large Nordic ship appeared out of the sky and Skerie Spred her wings ready to fly away.

"Wrooarh, my master never feared you"! Delliah came charging down the dune her saber like fang widen as she leaped up taking her down in mid air, She rolled with the Valkyrie. Cinder wiped out onto the sand and struggled to se waht happened next.

"Oh ho kitty, I know waht you need". Skerie whislted and a wolf appeared larger than life his fur was black and eyes of deep red. He lunged to Delliah, the polar cat was flip around like a rag doll. The wolf violently ripped the cats back wide open.

It was like slow motion all of a sudden, the sky opened up and fragments of light glittered around much like the oceans stars from the setting sun. Appearing before Skerie a Raven the size of a mountain, it turned to Cinder, he nodded. The raven took hold of Skerie and the wolf and flew up into the air. Picking her up to his razor like beak he pecked at her head tearing it from her body and swallowed it. Dropping her body and the wolf into the ship in the sky, it sailed off into a warp hole.

"Delliah"! Cinder crept slowly over to her on his knees as he held himself, he cried. "Delliah"! He leaned over the large cat, pounding on her. "You can't... no I..". He was knocked over as she turned .

"Cinder...I'm sorry". The large cat had her eyes closed but her mouth grined and licked his and he looked down. "Wer'e both glad you have found your heart once more...keep it safe...I love you too". Cinder held himself tightly and sat beside the cat tears running down his face. " I don't want to make mistakes like I have before...I want to be here, I don't want to run."

"I know Cinder". The cat nudged him geblty with her head. "You should rest, that wound isn't so bad.... but you should clean up if you plan to tell her how you really feel. I wouldnt say yes to an elf covered in sand and blood, plus your face is all red from crying".

Cinded nodded and layed back onto the cat and smiled.

"She may come back for me, I know she can't die that easily... but I really want to make this work with me and Sarah. I don't know if things are going to be easy living with me, what do you think"?

"Your tastes in furniture...not so good".

They both laughed and winced from the pain at the same time. After a few hours they both headed back to the cottage. The day was over and yet another rises, as it has for him for many many years. Soon summer would be over and thus far it had been the most memorable ones he had. The good and bad, across time.