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MIDWINTER MAGIC: FIVE
A few days later, Arista again visited the firehall, clad in tunic and leggings, her knee high boots encasing her colt-like legs. Immediately as she entered she saw Kimpo and caught him yawning softly behind the back of his hand before he nodded his greeting to her. In Arista's cheerful and bright way, she hailed him in return, "Hallo Kimpo! Good to see ye. Is my mama about?" Kimpo blinked and covered his ears while watching Arista. "Your mama? No, I'm afraid I haven't seen her for some time now." The Lady Skye's eldest daughter lowered her voice. "Was I that loud?" "No, not really. You just caught me by surprise. How are you?" "I'm good, now that the harvest is in and all, there's time to explore some. And I umm... left something in Mama's workroom." "Is that so?" Kimpo raised an eyebrow. "Well, as I said, haven't seen her around lately. Perhaps there is someone else around with a key?" "Oh I've no need of a key..." Arista began to explain but then she stopped, flushing a bit with a guilty light to her eyes. "Donnae fuss me about this please. I'll not hurt anything, but I cannae let him go all day in there without checking on him." Kimpo chuckled softly and shook his head. "Of course, I won't." He did proceed to inquire but not chidingly. "So, who is it you're going to check up on then? And does your mother know you're letting someone stay there?" Arista walked on toward the workroom door. Pulling a pin from her hair, she smiled at Kimpo. "You can come meet him if you want, and even if she did know, hopefully she wouldn't mind.... too much." With almost too much expertise, Arista inserted the hairpin and the lock popped open. Pushing open the door, she smiled to Kimpo. "Coming?" He blinked at her apparently skill at lock picking and shook his head with a wry smile as he rose to join her. "I wouldn't mind doing that, no." Grinning as Kimpo followed, Arista then shut the door and quickly padded to the back where the little attached greenhouse juts into the courtyard. The room was bright, being made of glass to let the day in. Skye's herbs and flowers perpetually grow there even when the weather outside turned chilly and grey. With narrowed eyes, Ari scoured the curling leaves until she exclaimed very softly. "There you are!" She then motioned to Kimpo with a smile and pointed to a small green caterpillar. "Kimpo... meet Wallace. Wallace...this is Kimpo." His attention was drawn to her then to the caterpillar. Smiling slightly, he offered, "Pleasure to meet you, Wallace. So...what ails him that he needs to be in here?" "He didnae turn. He should have his wings by now... and well, it didn't seem fair to leave him out there, in the cold. The Lady Jera brought him here, and maybe... he'll catch up." Her hopeful smile lit up her face. "Each living thing should have time enough to discover his or her own magic. D'ye nae think so?" Nodding slowly and with his own smile, Kimpo agreed. "Yes, they should. Unfortunately far too few get that chance. I just hope his descendants will not have the same problem as he has had." Arista's eyes questioned his comment. "Problem?" "Why, his belated shapeshifting, of course. I doubt there'd be someone to rescue them if that is the case." "Oh! Yes, of course. The Lady Jera thinks perhaps he just got a late start is all, and should catch up soon enough to join his brethren." Speaking more softly then, almost to herself, Arista added, "Would that we all have enough time to catch up, and be full of magic when time comes to join our others." Kimpo crouched slightly in front of Arista while gazing into her eyes. "Something bothering you, child?" She shrugged, "Sometimes... being thirteen is not so easy." He smiled and shook his head, "You'll come to realize that any age isn't easy at times." "I suppose you're right. Perhaps I'm like Wallace, and just... waiting on my own magic." She paused to think a moment then continued, "Is it any easier when you're fully grown, Kimpo? Right now, I'm not old enough for many things and too old for many others." Frowning slightly he considered her seeming dilemma then offered his thoughts. "It seems you are focusing far too much on magic. There are other talents... and is what easier when you're fully grown? Living with being at the age you are? I suppose people come to terms with their age as they grow older. The younger one is the more one seems to spend energy bothering about it." Arista studies Wallace as she listens, watching him crawl around even as she speaks to Kimpo. "Oh, I don't mean real magic. I'm only human after all. I guess I was just using Lady Jera's term for it. I just don't want to feel this... awkward... my entire life." She then bestowed a smile on Kimpo. "I'm sure you've more important things to do than listen to me, Kimpo. I'm sorry if I imposed." "Well, not really, only if you have things you'd rather do than spend time with me. And... I think you won't have to live your life like that." She shook her head. She'd certainly not meant any hint of wanting to send him off. "I like spending time with you, Kimpo." To which Kimpo stood again and smiled. "That's kind of you to say." Arista then whispered to the caterpillar, "Be a good fellow Wallace... and don't eat so much that Mama notices." Arista tilted her head toward the door. " Shall we leave Wallace to his lunch?" She had done what she'd set out to do, checked on the wee fellow in her charge. As she and Kimpo proceed from the greenhouse, she thought it wise to ask, "You'll keep his secret please, Kimpo?" He smiled and held the door open, then paused with her as she locked it back. "Of course, you have my word." Impulsively, Arista hugged Kimpo. "Thank you...for me... and for Wallace." Gently, Kimpo returned the hug, softly stroking Arista's hair. "You're welcome. I hope your worries shall ease. If you ever feel the need to talk, just ask." "Thank you, Kimpo. Having you as a friend, and my partner in secrecy, is a blessing indeed." She smiled warmly. He smiled back and ruffled her hair teasingly. "I'm happy to hear that." END FIVE © 2002 DP & SO along with all other participants ~ This and other stories may be found at Willow's End |