Khaeris Dawndancer

Four of Six

The night sky was still  overcast, but even so, a few stars pushed through the haze as the rain waned. Khaeris looked up, catching the last few drops on her cheeks. She couldn't help smiling, feeling them slide down and drop onto her damp dress. Coming out of the barn and back into the open air was refreshing. The barn had been cozy and warm with all the folks inside, sweet with the scent of hay, that musty smell of lofts and stalls. Outside though... Outside, the fresh scent of rain swept away the cobwebs from her spirit. The breeze was chilly and she got gooseflesh on her arms where her dress didn't cover. The susurrus of the voices still in the barn and the shuffling of feet and jackets being pulled on was comforting.

They had all been right. It felt good to be somewhere else. She was going to need to look for other stars and nightskies than Silvermoon. She needed t o travel, her soul called for it. And she was ready to answer.

She found a hill where she could look over the waning party and review her memories of the night to share. The smile in her voice was clear as she left the message for Pollux, though Meryn's comment about the war being over and wasn't Pollux home now had sent a single prickle of irritation though her. He wasn't home. So it was messages and photos, still.

"Hi, hon. Tonight I went to a party in Silverpine, of all places. A 'hootenanny'. Apparently I should have worn plaid and suspenders. It was in a field and, just as Meryn said, I have hay in all sorts of places. t was a good time. I saw Meryn, Dicenne, Valarin--LOTS of folks! There were people from all over the world there. Junarra rode in on a donkey. I entered a shooting contest--got four out of my six targets with a revolver. I don't know if you'd be proud or disappointed in that number. Ha! Miss you."