Welcome to my world (Kiri)

[Kiri Honeywater]

Words didn't filter into her mind his voice didn't pierce the sudden darkness enveloping in her mind. She didn't even feel the hands on her skin or shoulder she just stood there trying to not completely loose it, even though they probably thought she had. Not only had Locke and Mrs. Herald come but Mikail her trusted raven flew to her. He landed by her feet not wanting to get in the way of the woman. Fluttering his wings to touch her legs he wanted her to know he was there for her. He hated it when she remembered when she flashed back to those nightmares made life.

After a minute or two she realized that someone was talking to her and her eyes fluttered open and up to stare blankly at a face. "M-mom?" Was she home? When had she gone back home? Had she blanked out and Mikail flown her home? Wait, no she was big, Mikail couldn't fly her home this time. She lifted a hand to try and focus on what was in front of her. Reaching out to went to touch Mrs. Herald's cheek. As soon as skin met skin her eyes seemed to click on the image. Her eyes moved jerkily over to find Locke staring at her and he looked so pale.

"Locke...white." She pointed at him worry filling her eyes before she pulled her hand back clutching now at her locket. The images had faded enough that she was drifting back into reality and realize what she'd just done. Bowing her head she closed her eyes wishing she could turn back time.

"I'm so sorry. I'm okay. I...I just need to sit down." Her voice shook and her hands trembled as she stayed very still. In her head a voice told her that she'd never escape the past and now he was bound to find out. She was ruined, she had ruined everything. Kiri held her arms close to her body afraid she was going to fall to pieces any minute. She really wanted something to hold or to be held. Her wings fluttered dispersing dark blue dust to the ground and onto Mikail. She felt so stupid.

Slowly opening her eyes she stared at the ground telling her bare feet to move. She told her body to act normal to loosen her tight muscles, to slow her rapidly beating heart, and to smile. She had to smile to let them know she was fine. Finally her lips spread into a dim smile as she lifted her head. "See, I'm okay. No need to worry." Even as she said this she could feel moist droplets trails down her cheeks unbidden.

[Locke F. Herald]

If Locke was relieved by her resurgence, he didn't show it at all, he ran to her side and held her free hand in his, observing her tear stained face. What had caused that? It wasn't just the remark, that was too simple...something else...

But was it really important right now? No, no it wasn't. Locke was prepared to help her to the table to sit down, but before he could his mother got in the way again, changing their course towards the house.

[blue]"Yes, you do need to rest, both of you. The trip has been very stressful and I think you two need to go to bed and get some rest." She said quite calmly, but it was plain from the slight inflection of tone that she was not going to yield on this issue. "Locke, please help Kiri find her room and anything else she needs. Now off you go children."[/blue]

Locke took Kiri's hand, and gave her a look that seemed to say 'It can't be helped'. However, his face still lacked color, and he seemed visibly shaken by the whole event. He moved to take her inside, to do as his mother had requested. Where once the air was peaceful and calm, now an aura of depression hung over the house. What on earth had happened?

[Kiri Honeywater]

A part of her really did not like being treated like she was four years old. She felt his hand on hers but her eyes were focused on his mother. Expression dark she stared thoughts flying through her head but in the end she decided to keep her mouth shut and move on. In silence she followed Locke through the house not wanting to say anything stupid. Or to say anything that would make things even worse.

Her eyes roamed over the room that was designated for her, and she walked over to the bed and sat down. For a moment she simply stared at the floor then lifted her gaze to Locke. He looked so shaken, and so very pale. It had been wrong of her to come here. Wrong of her to probably even come back to him. She should have just let him move on with his life. But no, she just had to go and find him again and ruin his perfect family setting. And because of her they were being sent to bed without supper like they'd done something wrong.

Still staring at him she stood hands clasped before her. "I'm sorry I ruined dinner. I promise to never do it again." Because she wasn't going to be there when the sun rose. She clearly didn't belong there, and all she was going to end up doing was drag him down. Smiling broadly she went to his side a hand reaching to grab the door handle. "Guess it's bedtime. Good-night Locke."

Those words were said in the tone of good-bye, or at least that's what they were in her head. She couldn't keep doing this to him, and she certainly wouldn't do it to his family. Dreams were never meant to last forever anyway.

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke wanted to respond, he was about to, but the way Kiri gripped the door handle made it clear to him that he wasn't desired in that room right now. Why? What had he done wrong, what was the problem he had caused? Why couldn't she tell him?

He had no answers, and all he could do was walk as a zombie to his own room, where he lay attempting to sleep.

----------Several hours later-------------

Sleep had not come to take him, for now his mind was working into overdrive, and he couldn't shut it down. His mind computed, formulated, tried to understand, and that in itself was the problem.

In a world of logic and science. A world of reason and law, all things seem to fall into place. However, such a world is rigid and unyielding, and anything that does not fall into a neat place can cause great strain on the system.

Locke lay awake, banished to his room for the evening, thinking about earlier. What had happened? What was wrong with her? And why wouldn't she tell him? Why did she insist everything was fine when it obviously wasn't?

Why didn't she trust him?

Feeling restless, he got up from his bed and walked to the window. Opening it he climbed out onto the wet, evening grass and looked about the star filled sky. What time was it anyway? Probably into the AM hours by now, but he didn't think to check his clock before he left his room.

Why was it getting to him so? Why was it bothering him so much? People kept secrets, it was natural. So why did her secrets just twist at his insides?

Locke felt something he'd never felt before when thinking about her. He was angry, no not strong enough, he was enraged. Turning about he spied a stone pillar covered in moss, his father placed them around the yard to add a nice 'look' to it.

And with a crack it splintered into shrapnel as Locke blew off a rather large chunk of it. Not feeling any better, he shot another bolt, and then another, and again. Blasting away bits of rock and plant until nothing remained but a stump of the once regal pillar.

[green]"Needed to blow off a little steam? Good thing I had a new design in mind, needed to replace that anyways." Came from the house as Francis stepped out into the yard. "What's bugging ya? You don't often sneak out of the house to vandalize so this is a little weird, eh?" He remarked, waiting for an answer.[/green]

"She doesn't trust me..." Was all Locke responded with. "She can't trust me." He stood there not even facing his father as he made this realization. For all her love and caring, she just could not bring herself to trust in him. Was this all a mistake, was it simply doomed to fail?

[green]"Locke, you really are just a kid, you don't get it at all do you?" He remarked, half amused. "She does trust you, hell the girl loves you, even I can see that, but she's afraid." Locke's father nodded, staring out at the sky.[/green]

Locke, however, wasn't satisfied just yet. "If she trusts me then why is she afraid of telling me?! She'd have to know that I wouldn't reject her no matter what! God that's....that's so irrational! Why do women have to be like that, why can't they all think clearly and straight like we're supposed to?!"

[green]At this his father laughed loudly. "Oh really? Is that what you think Professor? Girls behave irrationally while you are this pinnacle of reason and order? Hmm, I see." He walked forward a few steps and looked sideways to Locke.

"Say, do you still flip out when someone touches your ears?"[/green]

"Eh...W-well..."

[green]"Hmmm, ya know I think they are doing a blood drive this weekend, maybe we should go down to the clinic and help out?"[/green]

All the color drained from Locke's face. "T-That's different!" Locke started, but his father interrupted him with a raised voice.

[green]"It's the same!" He rounded on Locke now, staring him down. "You're smart enough to know a needle isn't going to hurt you, that it won't leave a permanent injury. You know that most people aren't going to pull on your ears. That's kind of irrational wouldn't you agree?"

He backed off, his expression softening. "This is her needle, just give her some time and understanding. I'd consider it a compliment anyway."[/green]

Locke just stared confused. "A compliment? How?"

[green]"Well...it's not every day that a girl tells you that losing you would be one of her worst fears."[/green]

And with that, Locke was left standing under the star filled sky...alone.

[Kiri Honeywater]

As soon as it was dark and quiet within the house she climbed out of the window onto the damp grass the sky clear above her. With a heavy heart she spread her wings and flew over to the edge of the small forest behind the house. Her eyes scanned the trees until she found the black form she was looking for. Mikail stared down at her with two orbs hematite meet her blue ones and onyx feathers ruffle as he prepares to take flight. Kiri lifted her wrist into the air for him to land on then lowered it to be face to face with him.

“Mistress, it is not safe to leave. I beg you once more please do not go out on your own. I’d be too pleased to leave this place but it is not safe for you to be alone.” His deep voice soothed her but knew she could not wait to leave as he wanted. She stroked his long feathers knowing a lecture was heading her way. “I can send word to your mother and she could send someone to come escort you home. She’d be thrilled to hear that you are finally returning to where you belong.”

That hit a cord she jerked her arm out from under him which was very uncharacteristic of her but not when dealing with Mikail. “Who are you to tell me where I belong? And she has to right to tell me where I belong either! She dumped me off at some school and told me that we no longer belong with the Fae. Now she’s telling me we do?”

“She’s your mother she knows what is best, and you know you don’t feel at home here either.” The raven perched on a low hanging branch his voice smooth, gentle, yet harsh all at the same time. The young fae girl looked like she’d just gotten slapped, and bowed her head hating the fact that he could read her so well. But that came from spending so much time together and her feeling as though she owed him everything. He’d come for her when she’d begged the animals for help, he was the one who flew her tiny Fae form home, he was the one that stood by her side as she lay broken night after night. But all that didn’t keep them from fighting.

“This could be my home. He can mean home to me.” She pointed toward the house her face twisted in anger and tears burned once again in her eyes.

“Him? The cursed one? I saw how he reacted to your small lapse, Mistress. He is nothing but a weak mortal.” He fluffed his feathers his gaze pious as he held his head high gazing out over the yard.

“Don’t call him that. He isn’t…and he was just worried.” Wringing her hands she glanced over at the house remembering his pale face and those eyes. With that one moment imprinted on her brain she knew she could never tell him, never open up that piece of her life to him.

“Right, worried. If you opened up to him I bet he would fall unconscious at your feet.” She glared up at him despising the fact that Mikail, her closest friend, hated Locke so much.

“He would not! He’s not as weak as you think he is, and, and you just want me to keep it a secret so I only have you to turn to. If I have him to lean on I won’t need you anymore!” Hissing up at him she dared not yell in fear of waking someone. But she knew she wouldn’t be able to lean on Locke like she leaned on Mikail. The paleness of Locke’s face and his shaky demeanor had worried her and let her know that he wouldn’t be able to handle her breaking. Mikail had stood beside her as she lay in pieces, but Locke only knew her as a bubbly whole being. It was her duty to not let him find out otherwise.

“Mistress?”

“I am leaving tonight. I can take care of myself…what happened that night is not going to happen again. I will not get attacked because I won’t let anyone get close enough to touch me.” Gripping her forearms she stared off into the darkness knowing she had to leave soon if she were to do it tonight. “No, no one will touch me. I do not need to have someone come fetch me like a lost dog.”

“Mistress, you are not a dog. Far from it. You are a lovely, strong, beautiful, majestic Fae and your mother merely wishes to make sure you stay that way.” She hated it when he lavished her with compliments it felt so weird coming from a bird.

“No, she just doesn’t want me anywhere near him. When are you all going to realize that he makes me happy? It might be selfish to want to be happy, to hope that his love and smiles brighten up my life. But I want to be happy!” Dark glamor flowed around her whipping about them like snakes with large fangs striking out at her legs. “And I’ll go home when I’m ready to go home. Just because mother bids it doesn’t me I have to. I am going home because…”

“You do not belong in a place where you are treated like a mere child. You do not belong with these people. They cannot serve you like I can. He cannot serve you, or meet your needs.” Puffing out his chest he snapped his beak in her direction wishing he could show her his true form.

“Meet my needs? Serve me? I never asked you to serve me! And I most certainly don’t want Locke to serve me! I want him to love me, but he’s not going to be happy with me.” Her voice faded as her sentence ended the glamor fading as well. Mikail seemed to deflate and flew to her side landing at her feet he nuzzled her leg. “Time to go home.”

Spreading her wings once more she fluttered them then took to the air soon joined by the raven. She flew over to the stone table that had once been set for dinner and laid down a chain with a yellow heart pendant. He’d given her his heart but now she had to give it back because she didn’t deserve such a precious gift. Not when she had nothing to give in return. The one gift she could have possibly given him had been ripped from her and the light from that night had died in her arms. It was time to let him go. Hands over her abdomen she hovered and stared at the heart for a moment before taking flight once more.

(Waaay longer than I thought it would be…but I warned you that it would be long….>.<)

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke was outside in the yard, still contemplating what his father had said when he heard something off to the side. A metallic sound, soft and ringing, like something sliding. He moved over in it's direction and then found it there, shimmering in the moonlight. The locket...that meant...with a start he looked up into the sky. There was Kiri, in the air, with her wings out and moving away.

She was leaving...leaving him alone again. Why should he chase her? If she wanted to leave, why would he stop her? It was her choice, after all.

Because she isn't choosing right now... came the reply in his head. She wasn't choosing, she wasn't making a choice...yes, that was correct.

Locke looked at her retreating form, sailing into the moon it seemed, and he closed his eyes. He could feel it, the pull of the earth grounding him. Not only the gravitic force that was omni present, but another force, always there, often not acting on him at all. The electromagnetic field of the Earth...and his own electromagnetic field. Both distinct, and weak compared to the power of gravity. To change the Earth's field would be a monumental task, and would have disastrous repercussions, but to change his own....

He'd promised Kiri he wouldn't do something this dangerous again, but that was a promise he'd have to break. So he altered the field around himself, changing bits and pieces here and there, and soon he felt the force on himself. First it pulled him to the left slightly, shifting the energies he managed to balance it out again. But he needed more force of rejection. With a little work he pressed it up, and shot through the sky like a bullet. By the time he could stop himself stable, in mid air, he was already past Kiri. Though not by enough to be outside of speaking range.

He was, however, finding it difficult to turn around like this. The subtle rotations of the fields were proving very difficult. When he finally did turn to face her, he wasn't wearing an expression of triumph, indeed his expression was very hard to read right now.

"No." He said firmly. "No more running. You said you grew stronger in the year away, that you grew up a lot. I believed you, now you have to prove it. A child runs away from what scares them, an adult faces it and makes a choice."

Locke floated a bit closer to her, the moon behind him illuminating his form. "If you want to leave, I won't stop you. But you will make a choice, here and now." Locke floated to the side, allowing her to leave if she so willed it.

"I love you Kiri, I really do. I don't know what I can do to convince you of this, but that is the truth. If you feel that whatever is troubling you is stronger then my love, then I guess there is only one choice to be made. But Kiri, this is an adult decision."

He locked gazes with her, there was a seriousness in them he wished he felt in his heart. "One way or another, you make your choice here."

And in his heart he wanted her to stay, to embrace him, to taste her lips on his own once again. He wanted to hold her, to lay among the flowers and fauna speaking to her late into the night, to make her part of his family. But he wasn't able to sit here and endure heartache and loneliness while she kept running from problems. It could be easily a hundred years before she was able to deal with these problems, and he would be dead by then. If she wanted to love a human, then she needed to become as a human.

[Kiri Honeywater]

Flying rather slowly she stared off into the night sky not looking forward to the long flight home. Mikail flew silently beside her not wanting to push any buttons that might make her turn around. But he didn’t need to do anything because suddenly a form blasted by them jerking them both to a stop from surprise. Kiri let out a loud gasp as the figure stopped to reveal that it was Locke. Her eyes wide she covered her mouth with her hands eyes instantly tearing up.

“Locke! W-what are you doing? How?” His words smacked her but she’d been pushed far too much that night already and her face flooded with anger. The dust falling from her wings turned deep red and her hands lowered into fists at her side. She was really sick of people talking to her like this, especially when they had no clue what was going on in her head. Besides in the fairy realm she was still a child she wouldn’t be recognized as an adult for decades.

She hovered in place watching him, listening to his words her anger and frustration only building to a peak. Even her wings seemed to be tinting red as she stared at him glad for once that Mikail was keeping his big mouth shut. The raven was probably eating this entire thing up like it was a yummy rodent dinner. Kiri flew in close to Locke a part of her wanting to smack him, but instead she reached up her hand and gripped the front of his shirt.

“How dare you think I’m not trying to act like an adult. I’m leaving to let you have a real life, to have a happy one! It would be selfish of me to stay, and unlike a child I’m willing to give up my happiness just so you’ll be happy.” She pointed at him with her free hand her other hand twisting his shirt tightly. “I’m not who you think I am. Not anymore. Can you love the girl from earlier? Can you stand and watch me fall apart? I don’t think you can. I saw your reaction. I’m not blind, and I’m not that incredibly stupid either!”

Letting him go she shot backwards her eyes stinging with the tears still threatening to fall. “I honestly don’t know whether what’s ‘troubling me’ is stronger than our love but I’m terrified to find out that it is. Even if our love is stronger what will it do to you? After it all what will you think of me? What will your perfect little family think?” She bit out the words in a rage that rarely ever surfaced and never had it ever been aimed at him. “Locke, I obviously don’t belong in this picture perfect world of yours. The way your mother…I feel like she…She’s so beautiful and loves you so much, but she is strong and would never let me hurt you. And that’s what will happen if I stay.”

Kiri took a deep breath shooting her gaze to the heavens trying her best not to cry. Her body trembled and her chest felt as though it was being sit upon by a dragon. Mikail glided up next to her giving Locke the nastiest glare he could muster in his raven body. He nuzzled her arm as he spoke to her. “Just fly away, Mistress. There is no way he could keep up with us, and he in only tearing you apart.”

“Silence, Mikail. This is my decision to make, and I’m going to make it without running away.” She lowered her gaze to glare at Locke. “Now that you’ve heard me do you think you can love this?” Pointing at herself she felt the beasts in the forest staring at them. “Do you think you can love a girl who isn’t all rainbows, and butterflies? Who’s broken and tainted? Can you?” Hovering in place she felt her glamor whip about her in the form of black snakes once more and she lifted an arm for Mikail to rest upon as they waited for Locke’s answer.

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke was only half seeing Kiri's anger, so angry was he himself. But when she gripped the front of his shirt as that bully did so long ago, he had to restrain himself from shocking her by habit. She shouted at him, about how he couldn't understand her, about how all he loved was a nice and stable girl...about how she didn't trust him to love anything but a perfect being.

And he was? He was this perfect being she though? A perfect family, a perfect life? How could she even begin to think that? When she chastised the raven, Locke looked confused. Could the raven understand them? Maybe it just understood her, that was possible. But then she continued, and he was on the defensive again. Broken and tainted...not all rainbows and butterflies?

When at last she stopped, Locke found it difficult to look directly at her. She seemed to have dark snakes coiled about her, that would strike at him if he got too close.

"Perfection..." He said at first. "Perfect beauty, perfect life, perfect ability....how I loathe it." He said, a bit of contempt in his voice. "Nothing is perfect, no life is. So you are angry, so you are scared, so you are unsure of yourself. Who cares?!" Locke said, relaxing himself against her grip. "You say you leave so I can be happy...but that is flawed logic. How could I ever be happy without you in my world? And before you say my life is perfect without you, try to remember what it was before I met you. Scorned, rejected, abused, locked away to keep anyone from getting close. Because that life was so perfect. And I don't want perfection, why would I want someone with standards I cannot possibly meet? I'm an arrogant little know-it-all with something to prove, so what if you aren't perfect. After all..."

Locke slowly moved closer.

"You're only human, a flawed being to begin with." He moved one of his hands to brush a stray hair from her face. "I don't want you to be perfect, I never wanted you to wear a mask for me. Don't you remember our first date, at the little Cafe? I told you there, I would rather see you frown when you are sad then to see you fake being happy."

He leaned in even closer, now gripping her shoulders. "You know how difficult it is for me to say that I love. You know what that word means to me. It doesn't mean that I like you for who you are when you are happy, it means I like you for who you are, period. Your happiness, your anger, your sadness, they are all just pieces of you. Without all of them, you aren't my Kiri."

Locke sighed, holding her there. "Whatever has been eating at you so deeply, I don't know what it may bring. I could say I love you again, but I think I will translate it a bit clearer."

"Kiri, I want to be with you and only you, forever."

[Kiri Honeywater]

Sometimes people tend to focus on certain words or phrases more than they should. The words can be surrounded in good, decent, logical things and yet they’d still be centered on that one phrase or that one word. He let out a stream of words of all the things that she felt then shouted at her ‘who cares?!’ The words shot into her heart like a poisonous dart the tears that had threatened to fall suddenly pouring from her face. Flawed logic, what did that mean? What he calling her stupid?

She pulled away from him as he edged closer. This hurt far greater than she expected which was why she had hoped to leave before anyone had woken up. Then he said the wrong thing, he called her human. Mikail let out an animalistic scream and moved forward to strike at Locke’s hand as it moved forward to brush at her hair. “How dare he! How dare that wretched boy say that of my Mistress! Human? Human?!? How dare you call my majestic Mistress a human! Such filth! Such insults!”

Kiri whimpered shoving away from them both even if Lock kept talking such pretty words. He leaned in and Mikail took to the sky letting out scream after scream calling other birds to his side. The fairy girl retreated into herself his hands on her felt like bars of heated iron. Such pretty, pretty words, and she was so sure that he meant them. After a moment she realized that she was sinking the ground steadily rose up to meet them which made her quite dizzy. Closing her eyes she shoved at Locke suddenly feeling as though she couldn’t breathe.

“Please, stop. Everyone…just stop.” She peered open her eyes the calls of birds filling her ears. Clapping her hands over her ears she let out a scream of a hawk and the sky went silent. “I said stop it.” Her skin seemed to glow as she glared at the sky and one by own the birds returned to their nests and perches until the only one left flying was her raven. Mikail soared above continually bad mouthing Locke and she hated it. As soon as she landed she fell to her knees her hands still covering her ears. “Stop it…stop it…stop it….all I wanted was to be happy…just for a few days. I don’t want to leave…but I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

The raven finally landed beside her his heart twisted in pain to see his Mistress like this once again, and all because of this stupid boy!

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke lowered himself with Kiri, he'd expected that she would react like this, though he'd hoped differently. At the birds reaction, Locke's theory was gaining more weight. It wasn't reacting like this earlier, so why now? He had little time to think, however, as many birds joined the air at the raven's wing. They looked ready to attack, but hesitated when a separate sound ripped through the night.

"You will not harm Master's young!" Came the caw that Locke could not understand, as a familiar falcon joined the air between Locke and Mikail, chasing the other bird back with it's claws and beak. The other birds that had joined the fray seemed confused. They felt the kindred spirit in Kiri, she was one of their own, but the master had been family to all of them. In the end the bird's designed to fly about, observing the situation but not interfering. When told to stop, they returned to their perches, leaving Mikail alone with one very annoyed falcon.

"You will not harm the Master's young!" Star repeated, moving to chase Mikail, but a sharp whistle stopped him.

Locke could not communicate with animals, but his father had invented a series of whistles for basic commands to Star at least. From Locke's understanding, the one he had just used was akin to 'Heel'. And true enough, Star pulled back.

"That's quite enough, the both of you. And I know you can understand me." He said, glaring to the raven. "So stay out of this."

He approached Kiri and knelt by her side, not saying anything as she wept into the ground.

"You are welcome here as long as you desire." He stated firmly. "All I ask is that before the summer ends you tell me what this big problem is. Whenever you are ready."

He knell there next to her, trying to offer her the most support he could. What could he even say to her?

"A perfect life is hollow and empty. It's because of sorrow that we can truly appreciate happiness." He said, moving to touch her arm gently. Just a bit on contact to remind her that he was there.

[Kiri Honeywater]

Mikail felt foolish for forgetting about the stupid falcon and swooped to avoid those deadly talons. If only he'd been changed into an eagle or something that could eat that rotten bird for lunch. It didn't help that falcons were such smooth, fast fliers. The other birds were a tad confused as to what to do. The falcon had influence among them and they trusted Locke's father, but Kiri's pain was calling so strongly to them. Finally at her scream their confusion could end and they returned to their places.

As he was avoiding the talons Kiri was down on the ground trying to find her happy place. If only she could find it then she could smile for Locke and be happy for him. Sometimes when things got this bad she felt like she was really losing it but she refused to admit that. The tears continued to flow steadily but now she clamped her mouth shut. If she spoke she knew she'd let the truth spill and she wasn't ready to tell him. Sadly, a part of her still didn't trust him.

The cursed one was speaking to him and he let out a loud caw in response. So what if he knew that he could understand him? Kiri could understand him, and her mother could understand him why shouldn't he understand them? Once he landed near her not liking his petty words. A perfect life was hollow? What kind of world was he living in? He'd once had a perfect life and he'd enjoyed it quite a lot. When the cursed on reached out to touch his beloved Mistress once more he jumped forward beak flashing forward. "Do not touch my Mistress, you vile thing! You do not deserve her loveliness!"

Kiri glanced over at the raven and thumped him lightly on his head. "He is not vile, Mikail. You jealous birdie, go sit on a branch until I call for you."

"But Mistress, he only wants to hurt you, and I only wish to serve you." He nuzzled her hand before turning to Locke and puffing up his chest at him. "He is not worth of your love."

Sighing she gave Locke a sad look before snarling at Mikail in the tongue of a lioness. The bird hated it when she spoke in feline and he shot to the air afraid she might actually somehow summer a lion to her. "There now we can talk without him interfering." She turned her attention back to Locke the tears drying on her cheeks. He was just too kind to her, too forgiving. Deciding it was her turn to reach out she bit her bottom lip as the tears flowed anew.

"Locke, I was so scared." Tentatively she reached out her hands to him wanting nothing more than to be in his arms.

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke fought back a smile when Kiri admonished the bird, calling him Mikail...so that was his name? That bird wasn't really a bird, but the time wasn't right for him to reveal that. Perhaps later...when he needed some ammo against that thing. When she snarled at him and he flew off, he could have flown himself. That stupid bird. He noticed Star still hovering around, and waved him off. The bird was obedient, and returned towards the house, instead of the woods. Likely to inform Locke's father about what had just transpired...though with the screams and commotions they likely already knew. He'd cross that bridge when he came to it anyway.

However, now Locke reached out with his hands, grasping Kiri in his arms. "I was scared." He admitted to her. "I thought I'd lose you." He pulled her closer, holding her tightly under the moonlight. "When you're scared, I'll hold you in my arms and keep you safe. But..." He looked down towards her. "I can't do this alone. I need you to help me. I'll be strong for you, if you will be strong for me." He brushed one of her stray hairs out of her face, looking over her lovingly.

"Never leave me again, I need you." He said, more of a request then a demand. As he said this, he leaned in slowly, but instead of kissing her as he wanted, he held her softly against his chest. Just content to have here there in his arms, he was fine with that.

"We should get some sleep, it's late."

[Kiri Honeywater]

Once in his arms she buried her face into his shoulder hating that any of this had happened, and all because of her. "I'm so sorry Locke. I wish I was happy again. All bubbly and perky and giggly like I was in the sunlight." She whispered finding that feeling like this was very icky and not at all pleasant. His words started sinking in this time and she nodded knowing she had to be strong, but it wasn't like she wasn't trying.

"If you think this is bad you should've seen me four months ago." Kiri push some laughter out trying to make it a light statement and failing. Feeling his hand she lifted her gaze meeting his gorgeous eyes with her teary ones. His arms pulled her forward and she sighed contentedly leaning into his embrace. Why had she ever thought that it would be best to leave him? Was she that big of an idiot?

"Locke, I don't understand why you'd need me, but I'm glad. I just hope...that when I finally tell you...that you feel the same." Hiccups interrupted her speech as the tears finally faded away. The words sleep made her pull in her arms and pull away a bit from his. Eyes lowered she nodded knowing that it was best for him to sleep. She hardly ever slept now she pushed it off until she collapsed, or randomly feel asleep in people's backyards. If she didn't the nightmares always came.

"I'll see you in the morning." When his family would most likely lecture her about all the noise or causing such a rucus or trying to abandon their son. Oh yeah his parents must adore her. Getting to her feet she dusted off her old yellow dress still not meeting his gaze. Also not looking at Mikail she turned toward the house wondering if it would be better if she slept in a tree. Sometimes being outside with the animals kept the nightmares away.

Her hands lifted to where the locket usually was as she usually did when she was nervous. But alas the heart wasn't there and she remembered she had given it back. Not about to ask for it back she bowed her head this night was just full of her being ridiculous.

[Locke F. Herald]

Locke nodded at her as she made to go back towards the house, but then she did something odd and he knew why. She'd reached for the locket, which she no longer held. With a half smile, Locke stretched his hand out to the side. It crackled once, and the sound of metal gliding on stone would meet their ears until the item in question flew right into his outstretched hand. Locke looked over the piece of jewelry.

"I remember this. It reminds me of something I was told once, that the value of a gift isn't what is important, only what is put into it. I remember I worked so hard for this Kennedy thought I was doing something illegal to get the money for it. I remember thinking that any work would be worth it to see your smile. But, it's more then that."

He held up the heart so she could see it. "This is my heart I give to you, I only hope that now you feel like you deserve it." He leaned in and placed the necklace around her neck, re clasping it for her This time he got it on the first try, instead of the third. He placed a small kiss on her cheek before looking at her.

"It looks good on you, now let's go to sleep." Locke yawned a bit in spite of himself. "Heh, I guess it's been a bit too busy of a day. I could use a day or two of just relaxing, that sound good to you?"

The question was half rhetorical, as he had already started guiding her towards the house.

[Kiri Honeywater]

The necklace was suddenly in his hand and she turned to him not at all feeling as though she deserved it. Silent she touched the necklace around her neck his words doing their best to make her happy. The kiss made the edges of her lips turn up and she gave him gentle, warm eyes. He was just too good for her. After he yawned and spoke of sleep she nodded not about to tell him she'd most likely not be sleeping.

She stepped forward and gave him a quick kiss on his nose then ran toward the house. Turning back she gave him a quick grin then leaped into the air zipping around the house back to her window. It took her awhile to calm down enough to get to sleep but eventually sleep did come.

But after three hours of sleeping she woke in a start almost screaming as those faces filled her vision. Shaking violently she crawled out of her bed and actually fell to the floor. She opened the window and called for Mikail with her magic instead of her voice. He came to her nearly instantly and she wrapped her arms around the raven. Once the tears had been swayed once more she climbed out of the window and headed to the backyard. From the positioning of the sky the sun hadn't been up very long. Sitting in the middle of the yard she held a fawn in her lap with Mikail settled beside her. She stared into the trees her mind carefully blank as she called out to any animal that could come to her magic's silent call. She needed them close she needed to feel safe.

In a soft voice she sang an old song her mother used to sing to her as a child:
My love is like a red, red rose
That's newly sprung in June
My love is like the melody
That's sweetly played in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in love am I
And I will love thee still, my dear,
Till all the seas gang dry.

Till all the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt with the sun
And I will love thee still, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run.

But she stopped before the last stanza finding it far to sad to sing about leaving anyone she loved. Not now at least.

*My Love Is Like a Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns