As We Look Back
By an Unknown Author
As we look back over time
We find ourselves wondering …..
Did we remember to thank you enough
For all you have done for us?
For all the times you were by our sides
To help and support us …..
To celebrate our successes
To understand our problems
And accept our defeats?
Or for teaching us by your example,
The value of hard work, good judgment,
Courage and integrity?
We wonder if we ever thanked you
For the sacrifices you made.
To let us have the very best?
And for the simple things
Like laughter, smiles and times we shared?
If we have forgotten to show our
Gratitude enough for all the things you did,
We’re thanking you now.
And we are hoping you knew all along,
How much you meant to us.
By an Unknown Author
As we look back over time
We find ourselves wondering …..
Did we remember to thank you enough
For all you have done for us?
For all the times you were by our sides
To help and support us …..
To celebrate our successes
To understand our problems
And accept our defeats?
Or for teaching us by your example,
The value of hard work, good judgment,
Courage and integrity?
We wonder if we ever thanked you
For the sacrifices you made.
To let us have the very best?
And for the simple things
Like laughter, smiles and times we shared?
If we have forgotten to show our
Gratitude enough for all the things you did,
We’re thanking you now.
And we are hoping you knew all along,
How much you meant to us.
The wide yard space had been carved into the hilltop, in the lee of the wind, and behind that, the rest of the hill provided the cave. In the time Mist had been away doing a ‘mission,’ Amaris had tended the fields. Thankfully, it was winter tending to make it ready for next year and not too laborious. She had fed the animals a while ago, and as she made her way into the cave, geese, chickens, wolves and cats followed her in to settle in for the night. She cooked herself some dinner, always preparing an extra meal for if and when Mist would return home again.
Amaris sat at the window seat after dinner, books spread around her as she did her homework. Occasionally, she looked out to watch the pretty crystal snowflakes float through the sky like a shaken snow globe. One of the best parts of the cave was the magic she always felt, the safety she always felt. It was her home.
Today, snow had come to their little valley. Soon Yule/Christmas would be there. Amaris had been shopping her heart out. Whether that was shopping therapy or the habit she’d learned from Pharlen, to just always have gifts for people, she’d had a busy day… not to mention, Yule/Christmas was almost there. So, she’d been preparing the cave for it: decorations hung all over, the tree put up, lights and garlands strung around the tree. A box had been set aside, holding all the many bulbs and trinkets that they’d collected over the years, each a memory ready to be hung together. The lull of the crackling fire, the thoughts dancing in her head, and the book's words blurring had Amaris in a little stupor of self-reflection and relaxation. Beside her and around her, the animals that had followed her inside were staying warm by the fire and sleeping.
The sound of her father’s ringtone had her upsetting the peace of the room as the song, True Colors by Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick, filled the room. https://youtu.be/la0-5QFLr14
*”Dad!?... Yes... oh yeah, sure, I can meet you out there”*
She tossed a few books aside and pushed the blankets off before gathering herself up and heading outside. Mist’s cart came up with a large bag in the back. Hand on her hips, Amaris raised an eyebrow as he settled the cart. Greg and Steven looked happy to be home and nickered at Mist before he stepped off and rushed down to encase her in hugs, and to her horror, kisses, though she gave them back fondly.
*”DAD!”*
He’d been gone for a few months, and the relief washed over her. She fought to keep herself sounding cool, but you could hear the anxiety dissipating in her voice.
*”Missed you dad, where have you been? Do you have stories for me? What mischief have you and sissy been up to?”*
Mist’s gentle chuckle at her excitement showed in his twinkling but tired eyes. Amaris stepped back to give him breathing room and a chance to tell her his news. He gave the normal response of nothing much, that they did what they always did when Roni and he went on their missions, and kept it vague. Not whether they were successful or not, just that they did what they always did. Mist and Roni always seemed to keep Amaris at arms length about just what exactly their missions were, but she was a teen and she imagined many possible situations.
Amaris instead told him about how school was going, her matches with IFL, about what she had decided to attempt to focus on as a possible future position in fashion design. All this was said as he worked on unhitching the horses and settling them for the night. He started to move towards the back, gathering the bag and heading toward the house once they were settled. Amaris fell in line beside him as they headed towards the house, offering to take the bag both because it was heavy and because she was a little bit nosey, peppering him with questions about it being Santa's bag. He laughed, giving her an affirmative nod and a small finger wag not to go peeking till then.
A strange stillness started to settle around the yard as they moved closer to the house. It was the beginning of what would become a strange stop motion disco light show of memories, memories of a moment that seemed to go in slow motion…
Mist sucked in his breath before collapsing, as a large piece of glass sliced into his middle. The blue lights around his body instantly glowed bright before dimming almost instantly. The pristine snow started to change from a blue white color to a red pink taint.
Amaris screamed as she dropped the bag, her were-form ripping forward as she lunged at the shadowed figure behind Mist. No matter how good her senses were, there was no smell there but void, there was no definite outline of the figure. Every time she tried to focus it blurred.
She fought with the being, a strange black blade flashing now and then, as blood sprayed up and out of her arm, her midsection and the other places where the being could get a hit. Amaris growled loudly, her howls almost unearthly, more animalistic than usual and so loud the sound reached the village and other areas around Rhydin.
The bears came first, then the other horses and the animals of the cave, all coming out to witness and help in any way they could. Villagers from nearby started arriving next. The fight became balanced, then started to edge closer to Amaris’ advantage, the more people came.
The being slowly started to back out of the fight. Shadows consumed parts of it, so that when Amaris lunged, nothing would be there. Laughter shook as the last of the being vanished.
Taking no time or notice of anyone else, she rushed back to her father, avoiding the hands and claws trying to hold her back. A circle formed around her as she knelt, and using her normal wolven strength, carefully gathered Mist in her arms. She ripped some of the fabric from her clothes to start a tourniquet.
Betsy protested and tried to take control, moving forward as Amaris called out for her. Mist's lights were dimming, and Betsy actually knew how to activate his runes. Amaris had never been good at healing and her attention for it was weak at best. She wanted to run to the house to get the healing potions she kept stashed, but she didn’t want to leave Mist’s side. Shock, as Mist’s hand shot out, catching her off guard as he grabbed at Amaris’ left arm. He started to dig into her fur and the skin underneath with a small knife of some kind, muttering spells in the language Amaris had never been able to master… some words were even unknown to her. Light poured forth from her arm as two runes started to glow the pretty blue of her fathers runes. She felt the warm light of healing energy pouring through her body and she blinked, pushing his arm away from her.
*”NO! Dad, no, don’t …save your energy to heal. Here… let me help. Lay forwards, I’ll hold you.”*
She braced him and reached back. Betsy wasn’t fast enough to stop her before she pulled the clear glass shard free from his body. Blood gushed, and she tossed it aside with not much care given… but as she did that, a strange suction sound filled the area.
Mist dissolved into blue sparkling light and was sucked into the shard. Amaris rushed quickly to the shard, trying to snatch him back, but it was too late. It became dark and quiet again, the shard in her hands as she knelt in the blood soaked snow.
Shock … Yes, that was what she was feeling. Fury rose inside her, and an earth shattering ear splitting howl of anguish left her. Distracted, she missed the movement from inside the shard, but held it sobbing.
Now, what the hell had just happened? Her life had changed in a matter of a few minutes… her father was gone.
Things blurred as the snow picked up around them, and the folk gathered around her, trying to console the girl. She shrunk from the big bad wolf to her human frame, no less taller then she was before but feeling small, tiny even.
Amaris was covered in blood… hers, Mist’s and… was there some blood from the shadow? She didn’t know.
Honestly, there was a lack of any connection as the nurse led her inside. The townsfolk worked to settle back the animals as some cried, some seemed confused about what had happened, and still others proposed they needed to do something. Betsy huffed at all the commotion from the villagers, and once they shooed them off, she and the few healers that worked with Mist and knew him best went about getting Amaris cleaned up and settled into bed. Every time they tried to take the bloody piece of glass, she resisted and held it to herself.
Amaris sat at the window seat after dinner, books spread around her as she did her homework. Occasionally, she looked out to watch the pretty crystal snowflakes float through the sky like a shaken snow globe. One of the best parts of the cave was the magic she always felt, the safety she always felt. It was her home.
Today, snow had come to their little valley. Soon Yule/Christmas would be there. Amaris had been shopping her heart out. Whether that was shopping therapy or the habit she’d learned from Pharlen, to just always have gifts for people, she’d had a busy day… not to mention, Yule/Christmas was almost there. So, she’d been preparing the cave for it: decorations hung all over, the tree put up, lights and garlands strung around the tree. A box had been set aside, holding all the many bulbs and trinkets that they’d collected over the years, each a memory ready to be hung together. The lull of the crackling fire, the thoughts dancing in her head, and the book's words blurring had Amaris in a little stupor of self-reflection and relaxation. Beside her and around her, the animals that had followed her inside were staying warm by the fire and sleeping.
The sound of her father’s ringtone had her upsetting the peace of the room as the song, True Colors by Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick, filled the room. https://youtu.be/la0-5QFLr14
*”Dad!?... Yes... oh yeah, sure, I can meet you out there”*
She tossed a few books aside and pushed the blankets off before gathering herself up and heading outside. Mist’s cart came up with a large bag in the back. Hand on her hips, Amaris raised an eyebrow as he settled the cart. Greg and Steven looked happy to be home and nickered at Mist before he stepped off and rushed down to encase her in hugs, and to her horror, kisses, though she gave them back fondly.
*”DAD!”*
He’d been gone for a few months, and the relief washed over her. She fought to keep herself sounding cool, but you could hear the anxiety dissipating in her voice.
*”Missed you dad, where have you been? Do you have stories for me? What mischief have you and sissy been up to?”*
Mist’s gentle chuckle at her excitement showed in his twinkling but tired eyes. Amaris stepped back to give him breathing room and a chance to tell her his news. He gave the normal response of nothing much, that they did what they always did when Roni and he went on their missions, and kept it vague. Not whether they were successful or not, just that they did what they always did. Mist and Roni always seemed to keep Amaris at arms length about just what exactly their missions were, but she was a teen and she imagined many possible situations.
Amaris instead told him about how school was going, her matches with IFL, about what she had decided to attempt to focus on as a possible future position in fashion design. All this was said as he worked on unhitching the horses and settling them for the night. He started to move towards the back, gathering the bag and heading toward the house once they were settled. Amaris fell in line beside him as they headed towards the house, offering to take the bag both because it was heavy and because she was a little bit nosey, peppering him with questions about it being Santa's bag. He laughed, giving her an affirmative nod and a small finger wag not to go peeking till then.
A strange stillness started to settle around the yard as they moved closer to the house. It was the beginning of what would become a strange stop motion disco light show of memories, memories of a moment that seemed to go in slow motion…
Mist sucked in his breath before collapsing, as a large piece of glass sliced into his middle. The blue lights around his body instantly glowed bright before dimming almost instantly. The pristine snow started to change from a blue white color to a red pink taint.
Amaris screamed as she dropped the bag, her were-form ripping forward as she lunged at the shadowed figure behind Mist. No matter how good her senses were, there was no smell there but void, there was no definite outline of the figure. Every time she tried to focus it blurred.
She fought with the being, a strange black blade flashing now and then, as blood sprayed up and out of her arm, her midsection and the other places where the being could get a hit. Amaris growled loudly, her howls almost unearthly, more animalistic than usual and so loud the sound reached the village and other areas around Rhydin.
The bears came first, then the other horses and the animals of the cave, all coming out to witness and help in any way they could. Villagers from nearby started arriving next. The fight became balanced, then started to edge closer to Amaris’ advantage, the more people came.
The being slowly started to back out of the fight. Shadows consumed parts of it, so that when Amaris lunged, nothing would be there. Laughter shook as the last of the being vanished.
Taking no time or notice of anyone else, she rushed back to her father, avoiding the hands and claws trying to hold her back. A circle formed around her as she knelt, and using her normal wolven strength, carefully gathered Mist in her arms. She ripped some of the fabric from her clothes to start a tourniquet.
Betsy protested and tried to take control, moving forward as Amaris called out for her. Mist's lights were dimming, and Betsy actually knew how to activate his runes. Amaris had never been good at healing and her attention for it was weak at best. She wanted to run to the house to get the healing potions she kept stashed, but she didn’t want to leave Mist’s side. Shock, as Mist’s hand shot out, catching her off guard as he grabbed at Amaris’ left arm. He started to dig into her fur and the skin underneath with a small knife of some kind, muttering spells in the language Amaris had never been able to master… some words were even unknown to her. Light poured forth from her arm as two runes started to glow the pretty blue of her fathers runes. She felt the warm light of healing energy pouring through her body and she blinked, pushing his arm away from her.
*”NO! Dad, no, don’t …save your energy to heal. Here… let me help. Lay forwards, I’ll hold you.”*
She braced him and reached back. Betsy wasn’t fast enough to stop her before she pulled the clear glass shard free from his body. Blood gushed, and she tossed it aside with not much care given… but as she did that, a strange suction sound filled the area.
Mist dissolved into blue sparkling light and was sucked into the shard. Amaris rushed quickly to the shard, trying to snatch him back, but it was too late. It became dark and quiet again, the shard in her hands as she knelt in the blood soaked snow.
Shock … Yes, that was what she was feeling. Fury rose inside her, and an earth shattering ear splitting howl of anguish left her. Distracted, she missed the movement from inside the shard, but held it sobbing.
Now, what the hell had just happened? Her life had changed in a matter of a few minutes… her father was gone.
Things blurred as the snow picked up around them, and the folk gathered around her, trying to console the girl. She shrunk from the big bad wolf to her human frame, no less taller then she was before but feeling small, tiny even.
Amaris was covered in blood… hers, Mist’s and… was there some blood from the shadow? She didn’t know.
Honestly, there was a lack of any connection as the nurse led her inside. The townsfolk worked to settle back the animals as some cried, some seemed confused about what had happened, and still others proposed they needed to do something. Betsy huffed at all the commotion from the villagers, and once they shooed them off, she and the few healers that worked with Mist and knew him best went about getting Amaris cleaned up and settled into bed. Every time they tried to take the bloody piece of glass, she resisted and held it to herself.
“She Is Gone"
by David Harkins
You can shed tears that she is gone
Or you can smile because she has lived
You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left
Your heart can be empty because you can't see her
Or you can be full of the love that you shared
by David Harkins
You can shed tears that she is gone
Or you can smile because she has lived
You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left
Your heart can be empty because you can't see her
Or you can be full of the love that you shared