Oh, she isn't at home! When Seileah arrived, the log Iris used to say she wasn't there--or sometimes could not receive any guests--was in its usual place across the path leading to Iris's burrow. Iris lived in a hole in the ground, or so it seemed.

Seileah stopped. She isn't moving inside.

She could see the upright hole entrance, covered by flexible stick and grass mats and hoped she could sense activity, but the healer just wasn't inside. Just when I need her, she isn't here!

Seileah remembered Iris assisting her to weave smaller mats, the moment she had discovered Seileah was making her own version of Iris's home a short distance away. She'd known the girl would sleep overnight in the open--not go along to the bowl in the earth where the girl's people all lived."You'd better have cover, dear child."

Right now Seileah felt lost. Oh, what I'd do to hear Iris's voice, —now more than ever!

Why would Iris be off on one of her whereabouts, today of all days? Seileah sat on a log for a while and determinedly poked a stick into the earth, trying to think what to do. Today, is a very bad day, Iris. I believed you'd be home!

She smiled recalling in her much smaller times—Iris gently explaining that worms might not always like to gratefully move 'straight away' into the holes she was poking all over the forest, after the rains. Seileah smiled again and now made a few extra holes, just for fun.

What should I do? It was not typical of Seileah to sigh, but she sighed, and couldn't sit still. I'll leave her a sign. She traced a large heart on the path and drew a stick-figure hand waving.

I'll wander a while as I wait. She headed for where the hillside strawberries would later warm in the sunlight, sending her images of heady delights.

She had not gone far down the path when she drew back in shock and watched.

The presence she intuited tugged at her memories, eliciting curious pictures she felt she already knew. In the yellows and coppers of underbrush, there was a glow of enchantment skirting the fog of a blue silhouette.

Ahead of her, the figure was walking now out of newly formed mists. Then the whisps cleared and she saw who it was.

Seileah rushed down to greet her, arms flung tight in and under a cloak, fast disappearing, just as she did. The woman spoke first.

"Seileah! Dear child! Have you come to see where I was?"

Seileah's voice cracked as the news of the day spilled out of her now—throwing words about in half sentences, frantic to share whatever was first to spew out.

"Slow down, slow down. Slow down, dear girl! We'll get you all settled. Don't worry. Try to be calm. We'll hear what you want to say in a minute, but don't tell me so fast." She leaned forward and smoothed a stray tear from Seileah's cold cheek.

"You'll have to wait just a minute—once we get inside—but you'll have plenty of time to tell me." And without another word, Iris put an arm round her shoulders and grasped Seileah's cool hand, walking her back up towards her hollow, embedded into the crest of the hill.

Iris carries herself in a most unusual way. Seileah noticed the subtlety now. She trembles in the wind like a dragonfly's wings. Had I not been holding her hand to notice, would I say she's always moved in such fashion? Or is something wrong now? Seileah mused, but was much too distracted to give the whole sudden appearance very much thought.

≈≈≈

I'd love to dedicate this scene to @Index_Writer for your wonderful enthusiasm and support and sharing so much fun inside your story! 

This was a short scene and if you were waiting for Rubles tonight, I'm SO sorry! I forgot I split the chapters here into scenes. I hope you'll remember these are all drafts and I'm mucking about a lot as I go. Forgive me. Next time--four or five days.

I always get to the end and wish I was in YOUR head. I have zero idea what this story or chapter might seem like to you. It's with your help though, I'll polish last drafts, so let me know how anything 'feels' and your instincts about where you sense tweaking should happen. 

Please don't be shy where you notice hiccups and dull spots! I so want to hear.

Thank you so much for making this fun! :)