Stark Diary 4:  Wind's of Change

Dear Aedan,

It has been over a decade now since we parted and you walked out of that cave into the dark wet night. You had warned me that this time would come and that the powers that be would swirl around me and sweep me away. I laughed at this dark pronouncement as I did your hints that the world was not as all that it could be.

However, lately it seems that your predictions were correct. Today I was swept away by the winds of change. Shen, had a name for them, but I can’t remember what they were called. We were driving back from Grayson’s spartan apartment when a huge wind came up from nowhere and first blew Cecily’s car off the road and then slammed into us. I struggled with the car for a moment, but only kept us from slamming into the trees. The coniferous trees that had not been there a moment ago. Unfortunately, neither was Cecily’s car or its occupants. We drove aimlessly for a while and decided to go to the mountains. Grayson sat besides me not saying much. His usual expression of grimness on his face. Poor Shen sat quietly, hunkered over trying to fit comfortably in a vehicle not ever meant for the likes of him. I found this all very curious and looked forward to seeing what was up ahead. I didn’t worry about what would happen if nothing were ahead because something had to be. Taking some pity on Shen, I fabricated an excuse to stop. Cami really did need to get out. She had started nibbling on my ear and her nips were quite painful. Shen took this opportunity to climb the nearest tree. He does have pads on his hands and his claws did extend out. He looked more graceful going up, then coming down. I briefly wondered how closely he is related to the wildcats. He came back down and reported that there was smoke up ahead.

After some time passed, we finally arrived at a well appointed little house at the edge of the mountain. The air was clear and daylight was just starting to sneak away. The woman inside, through all of us for a loop. She invited us in and knew our names. She offered to answer our questions, but after not too long of a time, she turned away in pain. I suspect Lachesis knew Grayson. There seemed to be some sort of recognition between the two. The pain was so strong that I backed up a step and stopped. You know me, give me an injured alligator and I have no fear. I’ll wade in and take care of it. Give me an emotionally wounded human being and I’m useless. Lachesis and Grayson talked for some time. Shen and I filled the silence with talk and got to know each other better. He is very gentle, respectful and quite. His inner strength is amazing.

Grayson came out and talked to us. He could take us back home. Lachesis had given him directions. He answered any questions with a curt "Later". We ran into our other companions, who told us of a tail much more odd than ours. The oddity continued when we arrived back at Cecily and Harrison’s. We sat around the breakfast table and looked at some odd cards that Fletcher had "found". The people in these cards looked as if they were in some sort of renaissance festival. All of the pictures looked very carefully painted, so carefully painted they almost looked like photographs. As we looked through the cards, one stood out. It was obviously Grayson. His hair was longer and his dress archaic, but it was him.

Grayson would only admit that he didn’t know what was going on. That his memory only started five years ago. The others frustrated stalked him as he walked away into the night. I sat stunned, overwhelmed by the mix of emotions that swirled over us.

I thought he needs me, and I got up to join him.