'The Picnic'

It had been some months since the birth of their daughter, Tolya had just dropped her off with Hinaea in hopes she and Zephyr could have the day together. Kissing her daughter goodbye she left and made her way to the conclave chamber where she knew Zephyr would be working on something. Swinging in her arms was a picnic basket she had prepared before dropping Myisha off with Hinaea. She knocked softly on the door before entering, greeting Zephyr with a wide smile she stood still as he closed the distance between them and pressed a gently kiss to her lips.

“So what’s this all about?” he asked, curious to know just exactly what it was she wanted. Since Myisha’s birth they had not had much time for each other and nearly all of it was taken up by taking care of their precious bundle.

“I was thinking you and I could go to Ehren’s Plains and have a little picnic together. It’s been so long since we just did something on our own together. Hinaea’s already got Myisha and is happy to watch her for the night.” It was almost as if she was teasing him with this idea and it didn’t take much for him to begin rolling up the plans he had been working on and return them to the locked box they had in the room for storing those important documents.

Pulling her close he took the basket from her with a smile, “well then we best get going if we want to get there safely.” He encouraged pulling her towards the courtyard where in anticipation Demyran and Escaia waited for them.

It took the better part of the day to get out there, an unexpected Kh’raal raiding party had detoured them slightly to avoid them but finally they arrived. Right near Ehren’s shack there was this little hill that Tolya had loved, even as a child. In fact on the lone tree that rested on this hill had a swing made of an old tyre looking thing hung from it. Something Ehren himself had done for the girls when they were younger.

Now that Zephyr had the basket Tolya was free to race ahead laughing loudly with joy looking over her shoulder at intervals to smile at him and encourage him on. Her black hair swirled about her face as she did and shone bright in the sunlight. The dress she wore, something in the past she would never have been caught dead in swirled about her and the light spring air about her made her feel so alive.

If it weren’t for the Kh’raal this very moment would be perfect, Rukbat would be perfect. However it was not to be, instead they sat down on the blanket they had rolled out and feasted upon the items within the basket. For the small moment and joy they had together it was as if everything was okay and as if the Kh’raal didn’t even exist. Together they were in their own happy little world, completely oblivious to everything about them. If only for that one day they were out there, for that one night they had spent together in the Shack, to the next morning and an early breakfast before finally making the trip home.