The Waypoint

[argentus]

I felt drawn to her, as I'd never been to a human;  often they are frightened and frightening creatures, and best left alone.   This one exuded something I can't define.   It was more than warmth, it was a magnetism that told me I was safe and she would protect me.   I crossed the threshold with trepidation, walking stiff-legged on high alert.   Almost immediately the warmth of the fire made me drowsy.   I have never understood until this moment the humans' love of fire.   I understand it when you are freezing to death.   Now I see that the heatlight bends over to touch the glow of the woman.
   
I hear my sister behind me.   She is shaking with fear.   I tell her we will be okay.   We cross the threshhold together and almost immediately the human bends down to kneel at our level and give us food and water.   It is so delicious.   My instinct is to leave some for later, but I am so hungry.   Too soon it is over and my sister is still eating, looking up ever few moments to see that everything is still fine and not a trap.   

I am suprised to feel that I am so comfortable that I can take time to groom myself.   It has been a long time for both of us.

[argentus]

[outside of the story, upon a distant, misty moutaintop]  Sorry I broke the flow.   I thought from the kittah viewpoint might be interesting.   Carry on.  

[Quantum12]

I decided I too wanted to experience this fire. The glows of this afterworld I felt and saw staring at the fire were amazing. The fire had me thinking about the nomadic people that roamed here many years ago. My thoughts were ‘did they have this fire of life?’

As I soaked in this fire with my mind, racing thoughts of time were in my head. This beautiful fire brought back the past I cried for. I was thinking about her soul and the wonderful items she left behind, she was an angel walking through this world with no fear. I never had a chance to blow her a warm light to show her how important her being was…

[Martin75]

Marty awoke to golden light spilling through the windows, like honey pouring in. The fire had dwindled, its warmth retreating into memory. Charlotte and Montgomery had slipped from her lap, now nestled beside Q near the glowing embers—three souls wrapped in the hush of sleep.
She drew a soft throw from the couch and gently laid it over them, as if tucking in a dream. Something in the stillness whispered that they were mending more than weary limbs—wandering through realms where healing blooms in silence.

With careful steps, Marty tiptoed to the front door and slipped outside. The porch greeted her with breathless quiet. The forest stirred, kissed awake by sunlight. It was as though a fairy brushed each leaf with light, coaxing the world to rise and shimmer.
What wondrous beings must dwell in such a place!

[argentus]

Marty stepped off the porch, smelling the remnats of Night-blooming Jasmine, and softly padded down to the pond.   She sat with her arms around her knees, and watched the water skeeters and waterbugs dance on the surface.   The pond was fed on northeast by Fescue Creek with a small outflow  to the south.   Marty tilted her head back and let the sun kiss her eyelids as she rested with her arms behind her.    She started when she felt a furry body bump and glide against her back, and smiled when she heard the delicate chirrup of what she thought was Montgomery.   

The world felt huge and at peace and Marty felt her place in nature; no more nor less than the smallest creature.   

A sharp CRACK! startled her out of her reverie as Marty jerked to alert.   A very unusual and dark, circular cloud was forming above the treeline, which looked very, very far away, and at the same time huge and too close.   She looked around for the feline charmer, but Mongomery had fled for safer harbor.

[Martin75]

Marty turned, her steps quiet as dusk, retreating toward the cabin while Montgomery vanished into safety’s arms. But the clearing stretched wide—too exposed, too bare. Shadows grew like whispers on the wind, and she knew she needed shelter should darkness bear teeth.
To her left, an ancient tree stood like a sentinel of time, its hollow heart just wide enough to cradle her. Without pause, she slipped inside, backing into the bark’s embrace, swallowed by the wood’s silence.
Outside, the world stirred. Leaves rustled like secrets, but the tree’s strange acoustics played tricks on her ears. Marty could not tell where the stranger was or if its movements were bringing it closer.  She dared not lean too close, afraid the shadow might see her.
Slowly, breath held like a prayer, Marty crept toward the opening. The bark scraped gently against her skin, a reminder of the world she left behind. Just beyond, she could see the pond shimmered faintly—but then, the shadow fell, cloaking the ground outside her refuge in a veil of dread.  Was this a friend or foe?