The fire flares slightly as she feeds it another piece of wood. The flames are reflected in her eyes, dancing their erratic dance. "You come here for enlightenment, and for help. I will do my best to give help, but it is up to you to accept what I tell you. I know you grow weary and tired of the rapid pace of life, and the troubles you have encountered thus far are making you disillusioned and depressed. I sense that you are on the verge of giving up, but you must not. There are lessons to be learnt from these troubles, and you will become a better person because of it ... You do not believe me, I can see that from your eyes. But you will."

Her quiet confidence is almost overwhelming, but you find that it intrigues you. "Tell me," you hear yourself say to her. "How can all this be worth it?"

"Because such trials are merely a stepping stones towards harmony. When I was still a young child, my mother taught me about nature and magic."

"But what has all this got to do with me?" you ask. "I am neither a magical being nor extraordinary man ..." Her raised hand stops your protest, and she continues as though you had never spoken.

"She taught me the secrets of life, about love, friendship, the importance of humour and other lessons on living. She was my inspiration and she gave me all the support I needed. Her stories taught me a lot about myself, and helped me cope with the two halves of my heritage. I have experienced much of what you have, but it was perhaps more devastating because I was ostracised by my own kin. Particularly after my mother's death, her anecdotes stayed with me and helped me weather the worst my dryad relatives could throw at me."

She walks to the shelves and removes a leather-bound volume. "Here," she says to you, putting the thick old book in your hands. You turn it over and notice that the leather binding had been torn in several places, but had been loving sewn back together with tiny, delicate stitches. "I compiled my mother's stories into this book, and I give it to you as a gift." You begin to protest but she waves your words away dismissively. "Take it, please. You need it more than I do ... Now, you have had a long and tiring day ... I don't suppose you'd like something to eat?" she asks.

You feel your stomach growl at her mention of food and you nod sheepishly in response to her question. The two of you enjoy a simple but delicious supper of stew and greens, after which you settle down in her living room for the night, comfortably tucked into a pile of rugs and cushions she had brought out from the inner rooms. With the lights dimmed and a full stomach, you feel warm and drowsy, and for the first time in a long while, happy. Maybe Grayewolfe wouldn't be able to solve your problems -- you still had unspoken doubts about her abilities despite her confidence -- but you would forever be grateful for the joy which she had brought to your life this one night.

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Fallen Leaves
Remembrance
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Thank Yous
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A Full Circle

1997, 1998, 1999 Grayewolfe

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