Chao lightly pushed open the door to the stationary store, a burst of frigid air following her until it was abruptly cut off as she closed the door with a snap. Giving her head a small shake she strode into the shop. For once intent on buying some stationary as well as visiting her friend and godson.
Huni yawned and stretched out the kinks in her back. Egads she was exhausted and stressed, "Linny, I'm going to the kitchen to get a snack. I'll be right back, okie?"
Linneas nodded obediently, his understanding of the English language was improving. That and Huni not infantalizing him had some effect.
As the red head exited the Study, she noticed Chao had arrived. "Oh! Great timing, could you watch Linny in the Study for me while I go get a snack?"
Chao smiled to her friend, "sure," she replied, moving towards the study. The variety of stationary could wait a few minutes anyway.
Sliding through the door Chao waved cheerfully to her godson, "Linny!" she chirped, scooping him up into a hug.
Linneas gurgled happily at the sight of his Aunt Chao. "Chlaaaa~" he giggled as she scooped him into her arms.
Ah, another unsuspecting Author, and this time with an extra audience. The Tome would have been grinning from ear to ear if it just had a face. The Study's door slammed shut, and the force caused Huni's notes and practice sheets to fall off the table, revealing the leather Tome.
Chao started slightly as the door snapped shut, gripping Linneas a bit closer to herself. Looking towards the door she noticed it had only slammed shut, "gods," she grumbled as her heartbeat began to slow back to its normal pace.
About to cast it off as just the wind from a new customer coming into the shop she noticed the fallen papers and tome out of the corner of her eye.
Glancing to Linneas she shifted him to one arm and trotted over to the tome curiously, running a hand over its cover with a light c**k to her head before pulling back the cover. Usually she had enough sense and respect of others things not to peak but something about the tome had piqued her curiosity which demanded that she see what lay beneath the cover.
Somehow, this did not scare Linneas, it all seemed familiar, really, a sense of deja vu if you will. Quietly he gripped his broom plushie tighter to himself and snuggled against Chao a bit more.
The Tome opened, not bothering with theatrics involving its pages. Instead it quickly asked the question:
<center>
What lies behind the darkness?
Chao blinked at the question a few times before shrugging, impulsively deciding to answer, though she wasn't sure how. Quickly finding the pen Huni had been using before she lent over the paper slightly.
All that has been lost.
The answer was written as soon as it had formed itself in her mind.
The lights began to dim, slowly, gradually. The shadows within the room seemed to rise up, engulfing everything and everyone in their path. Like quicksand, the shadows pulled in the writing table and the Tome into a fathomless abyss. And they would reach for Chao and Linneas. But before the intangible darkness reached the woman's hips, they receded.
The shadows seemingly fled back to lurk within their corners. Nothing seemed out of the place, the practice sheets and notes were still scattered all over the floor, the faded paintings looked as faded as always. But there was something else, or rather
someone else in the room.
Sitting on the writing table, hugging another Tome was a little girl with what appeared to be a halo atop her head.
<center>
</center>
Linneas had been silent the whole time, unafraid but worried at the same time. The shadows didn't appear menacing, if any they appeared lost and lonely to him. When the shadows went away, he was curious at the new Tale before him
Chao had frozen as the shadows had reared up, gripping onto Linny fiercely, holding him up a bit higher, only barely noting how calm the toddler had appeared. It was probably the only thing that had kept her from screaming.
As the shadows quickly receded she released the breath she'd been holding.
"What was that?" she murmured shakily, looking at the shadows which had fled back to their original places before noticing the little girl on the table and starting again, staring wide eyed at her.
The little girl looked up, two toned eyes curiously taking in the sight of the woman with the large eyes and the other tale. She cocked her head at the two, "kyu?" she murmured.
After a moment Chao moved and picked the little girl up with one arm, "um...hello there, where'd you come from?" she asked.
</center>
</center> 
</center>
</center>
</center>
</center>
</center>
~The Plushie Chao recieved during Halloween Trick or Treating 2004. Given to Aido who seems to like it, she's begun to carry it around with her.
~Two Valentines day plushies, given out by Merganue for all. Chao plucked these two up and they have been quickly handed over to Aido as Loth is now too big to be a suitable (living) plushie.
~A gift from Syrie and Khia. The bracelet was handmade by Khia and Aido loves it. She's taken to carrying it around on her wrist. As it's made of real silver neither she nor Chao worry about it being broken on one of Aido's explorations. Chao made a new clasp that dangles about the open side, when Aido get's older it will be able to expand, it helps to keep the bracelet safely on her wrist.
</center>
</center>