Chapter 5

Zara woke up feeling that she was once again alive, an empty part of her heart ached for DeClan but she had to believe the he would return one day. Zara brushed out her hair, got dressed then went downstairs, she smiled at Lynn thanking her for having kept her lunch warm. "It pleases me to see you eating Mistress, always believed I have, that food helps the soul stay together" Zara smiled as she sat down "did DeClan ever mention what he wanted done with the gardens?" Her eyes lighting up Lynn beamed "oh yes Mistress, he had all sorts of papers that he had drawn his ideas on, I took them from the back courtyard and put them in the study on the desk." Zara ate a small bowl of soup, some fruit and a slice of bread and cheese, with a frown she asked Lynn what day it was, Zara blinked in surprise, had it really been that long since DeClan had left her? she was shocked that she had lost over a month of time. With a sigh she realized that the gathering had started, she had never missed a gathering, she wondered what joke Trink and Mar had played on Falk this year, shaking her head and blinking back the tears she smiled at Lynn "I have several places to go, I will be back either late tonight or in the morning" Lynn smiled to see the little Mistress once again smiling.

Zara went to Virlane's lair, she was shocked to see Virlane his tail curled tightly around himself looking tired and old, his golden dragoness Kat, lay by his side her eyes filled with worry. "Virlane?" both Kat and Virlane's head snapped up to stare at the tiny dragoness "Zara" whispered Kat, Zara flew over to Virlane and put her tiny arms around his neck "I'm so sorry for what I did to you, please forgive me, I didn't mean to hurt you, I love you Virlane" Kat wiped the tears from her eyes as she watched Virlane and Zara hugging each other as they cried. Virlane held tiny Zara close "I was so wrong Zara and there is no way I can repair the damage I've done" Zara nuzzled Virlane's cheek "he will be back one day, then you can make it all better, please don't be sad Virlane, DeClan wouldn't want you to be sad, he never meant to cause anyone pain or heartache." Zara looked at Kat "do you know where mama and papa are? they aren't at Zinmer" Kat gave Virlane a worried look, Virlane sighed "Mar drug your mama and papa off to the gathering hoping it would make your papa feel better for a little while" Zara looked down at her paws and swallowed the lump in her throat "I'll go to the gathering and see them" she said quietly, Virlane hugged Zara "we'll go with you" with a sudden wicked grin Virlane raised an eyeridge "Falk will be there" Zara giggled with the same wicked grin. Virlane and Kat joined the group sitting in their regular clearing, it was a somber, maudlin very sotted group that sat muttering into their tankards, "where are Alex and Laurel?" asked Kat, Rav sighed "their off with Natalie and Bitsy talking to Renlock and Bartolow" Kat nodded, Rav looked at his father and gave him a hug "glad you could make it" then blinked to see the twinkle back in his father's eyes, Rav smiled and gave him another hug, Virlane grinned and said silently "watch Falk" Rav grinned back handing his father a tankard "I gather I'm going to need a good healthy drink for this one" Virlane winked "oh definitely." Falk sat wiping his eyes with his tail "can't believe me little Zara ain't comin, I saw a monkey once, do you think it would help if I got her a little monkey to play with?" Trink blinked at Falk "a monkey? now what would she want with a monkey, yea big overgrown furball?" Falk sniffled "I don't know, she could play with it, Hellhound is getting old, ohhhhhh we can get her a puppy" Falk roared with pleasure at the idea. Mar muttered in his tankard, Trink chortled, Virlane elbowed Rav "here she comes" Falk blinked, for a moment he thought he saw his tiny Zara, then an angel was standing there, dressed in dark lavender chiffon, an unseen breeze swirled the long flowing dress around her, her long silver lavender streaked hair floated around her body, the dimple at the corner of her mouth peeked out, her dark wide blue eyes smiled as she whispered Falk's name her arms held out to him. Falk's jaw dropped open and he blinked to see the tiny Zara again, with a roar he jumped up only to blink again as the shimmering angel called his name again the dimple at the corner of her mouth showing even more as she smiled. "Arrrrrggggggg it's finally happened, ohhhhhhhh lordy, aye it's finally gotten to me, the ale has sunk into me brain, I'm seein angels, ohhhhhhh help me it must be me time to go, I'm not ready to go, I don't want to go yet" hiding his eyes between his paws Falk started to cry. Trink chortled "yea ain't gunna be seein angels when yea go yea overgrown cat, yea better get a shearin for where your goin" Trink's mouth suddenly dropped open then he started to grin widely. The angel bent down and took ahold of Falk's paws pulling them away from his eyes she smiled "it's Zara's human, Falk, I don't need a monkey or a puppy, but I do need a great big hug from one of my very best friends" Falk jumped up with a loud earth shattering roar and wrapped his huge paws around Zara "your sure yea don't want a puppy?" he asked with a hopeful look, Zara giggled then whispered in Falk's ear saying the same thing, silently to Virlane, Kat, Trink and Rav "I think the tankard is stuck on Mar's snout" five pairs of eyes blinked then looked in Mar's direction. Trink almost rolling on the ground grinned widely "welllll now what do yea think Mar, should Falk get Zara a puppy, one that's gunna be a horse like Hellhound?" Mar his paws laying on the tankard muttered, Virlane grinned "what did you say? Mar I couldn't hear you" Mar glowered at Virlane muttering, Falk giggled and sauntered over to Mar "I'm fillin everyone's cup why we'll celebrate our Zara bein here, give it over Mar" Mar squinted his eyes at Falk, Zara giggled and went over to Mar "is it stuck Mar?" Mar shook his head the tankard on his snout then sighed and laid his head back down with a mutter, Zara trying not to laugh offered to help get it off, Falk picked Zara up and set her aside "this is a job for muscle, lass" Trink standing next to Mar shook his head "I think yea need to be pourin some ale in there and it should slip right off" Rav blinked "don't you think he might drown?" Trink chortled "nahhhhhh if he starts to drown all he has to do is tip his head back and take a big drink." Kat giggled "you could go borrow Marti'en's cane and pry it off" Falk reached down and grabbed a hold the tankard and jerked, almost pulling Mar's head off, Zara tried not to laugh "don't puff Mar, you don't want to heat up that metal" Mar's eyes went wide and he quickly shook his snout, his paws trying to get the tankard off. Alex, Natalie, Brax and Chad walked into the clearing to see tiny Zara sitting on Mar's head, telling Mar to suck in his cheeks, Falk his huge paws around the tankard as Trink chortled "on three pull" Natalie sauntered over and touched the tankard just a Trink yelled three, Falk went flying backwards, tumbling and rolling with a roar of triumph the tankard in his paws, Trink laughed uproariously at Mar who had a big red ring around his snout and an astonished look on his face as he felt his snout to make sure it was all still there. Zara looked up, her eyes meeting her papa's, a tear slipped down her cheek to see how tired and worn he looked, how thin his cheeks were, the dark circles under his eyes, Alex held out his arms "Puffball?" Zara flew into her papa's arms, Alex wrapped his arms around Zara and slowly sat down, everyone looked away as Zara and her papa cried. "I'm sorry papa, I didn't mean to hurt you and mama, I've missed you so much" Alex pressed his face against Zara little neck "oh god Zara, you don't know how much I regret what happened, I thought I'd lost my little Puffball for good." Zara nuzzled her papa's tear covered cheek "that won't ever happen papa, who else will let me hang from chandeliers?" Alex pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her tiny face, Zara looked at the handkerchief and smiled, "I have a never ending supply" Alex said with a soft gentle smile as he hugged Zara tightly against his chest. Falk sniffled and wiped his eyes "your sure you don't want a puppy, Zara? ohhhh how about a kitty, I know that's what yea need is a nice little kitty." Everyone thought of Nedra at the same time and started to laugh, Zara smiled softly at Falk "a kitten would be very nice Falk" his eyes going wide, Falk roared with a great big grin "a kitty it is then!" and started to rush off, Trink grabbed his tail "not so fast where are yea gunna find a kitten? and what kind are yea gunna get her?" Falk blinked "what kind? why a kitten yea overgrown tadpole" Zara snuggled against her papa with a little shiver as she listened to Falk and Trink arguing about the different kinds of kittens. Alex glanced down at her "cold Puffball?" Zara nodded "just a little" Alex tucked Zara inside his jacket and almost started crying again as he felt her snuggle against him with a soft purring croon. Laurel and Bitsy walked into the clearing, Bitsy blinked at Mar "what happened to your snout? Mar" Mar glowered and muttered, Bitsy tilted her head "what? you're muttering worse then Trink these days, what about a tankard?" Laurel sat down next to Alex, looking just as tired and worn, Alex put his arm around her and kissed the tip of her nose "I have something for you urchin" Laurel looked up at his red tear filled eyes and wanted to press her head against his chest and sob, Alex carefully pulled open his jacket, Laurel looked down to see her tiny daughter snuggled up against her papa sound asleep, Laurel's eyes flew to Alex face, Alex smiled "we have our Puffball back, awww don't cry love" he whispered even as he felt the tears slip down his cheeks. ' Zara woke up with a start "I'm sorry papa I didn't mean to fall asleep" Alex smiled down at her "sleep all you want Puffball" then chuckled hearing her small tummy rumbling, Zara looked up to see her mama smiling softly at her and held out her tiny arms "mama" Laurel snuggled Zara against her chest gently stroking her neck, Alex took a deep breath and smiled standing up "how about we all go get something to eat" Laurel smiled "do I get to give human Zara a hug too? I've missed her" Laurel gave Zara a hug and kissed her cheek, then blinked at the chiffon dress, Zara giggled "it was to surprise Falk," a moment later she was dressed in a dark blue riding skirt, blouse and vest, knee high black boots, her long hair pulled back from her face tied with two green ribbons, she winked at Trink "Connor always said they were magical bows" Trink sniffled "ohhhhh that's for sure me purty Zara, that's for sure they do be that." Bitsy whispered to Kat "what's different about Zara" Kat sighed "if you notice even when she smiles the sadness doesn't leave her eyes, it's almost like an aura that's cloaked around her" Bitsy nodded with a sigh. Both Alex and Laurel as they walked with Zara noticed she didn't dance or skip along any longer but seemed to glide softly on the balls of her feet as if she were barely touching the ground, her long thick wavy hair swaying from side to side with each step she took. Zara smiled at the meat pie vendor "ohh they smell delicious" the poor vendor stood staring at Zara his head bobbing up and down in agreement, with a chuckle Alex bought three meat pies and three mugs of lemonade, as they walked away he glanced back to see the man leaning over the front of his stall watching Zara. When they passed the music instrument vendor the man smiled fondly at Laurel remembering the harp and flute she had won in a singing contest with his wife, he smiled at Zara his eyes gleaming "do you play the harp too?" Zara shook her head "no only mama can play the harp that makes the angels sing and cry with envy" the man surprised, chuckled "do you have a lute also?" Zara shook her head again "the lute is something special for my mama" the man's eyes lit up "then I have something that might be just for you, it's called a guitar and comes from Spain." The man reached under his counter and took out a long case and opened taking out the guitar and setting it on the top of the counter, smiling at Zara. Alex frowned seeing Zara start to nibble on the tip of her finger "come on Puffball, there are some other stalls I thought you might enjoy seeing" Laurel touched his arm, shaking her head, they watched Zara slowly reach out for the guitar and pick it up. Laurel whispered silently to Zara "let the magic flow sweetie, let it move you, I know you have it, don't hide from it, love it, reach for the magic." Zara closed her eyes and took a deep breath, her fingers on the strings of the guitar, she felt the magic flow through her fingers and her heart and the music sang from the guitar as her fingers danced over the strings. "Now sing from your heart my daughter Zara, the light of your papa's eyes" Laurel whispered softly. With a voice that sounded like hot honey dripping off the comb on a warm sunny afternoon, Zara started to sing, she sang of a lady in a gabled tower staring out into the night sky, her sad eyes searching for a love gone but never lost, she sang of empty rooms to be filled with love, she sang of echoing halls that needed to hear laughter, she sang of the rich soil in a garden barren waiting for the colors of love, her voice flowed over the crowd that had gathered weaving a web with her song, she sang of a fortress the walls white and gleaming in the sunlight, welcoming and warm offering salvation to those that stepped through the wide open doors. Alex looked down at Laurel "she isn't coming home is she?" his voice filled with tears, Laurel touched his cheek with a soft loving caress "she is home, my love, her own home, now we have to let her know that the home she grew up in is always there for her and love her all the more for doing what she feels she has to do even if it means standing in her tower waiting the rest of her life for DeClan." When Zara stopped singing the music vendor smiled "a mother's daughter to once again fill our hearts with her song, you do your mother proud my child." Zara gave her parents a smile filled with love, then whispered "thank you, mama" Laurel kissed Zara's cheek "your welcome sweetie." They left the music vendors the guitar in its case over Zara's shoulder. "Zara!" roared Falk, laughing Zara called out "Falk!" heads turned to watch the huge gryphon bounding over to the beautiful young woman, a large basket in his paws "got yea a kitten I did, welllll I was having a time of it, guess who helped me" his eyes bright with eagerness Falk smiled at Zara. Zara smiled as they walked into the clearing "I don't know Falk, who helped you?" Falk grinned with a great big grin "Nedra," Trink almost choked on his ale "what do yea mean Nedra? Nedra helped yea find a kitten?" Falk giggled "aye that she did" Rav winked at his father "I wonder what else she helped him with" Virlane laughed "ohhh I have some idea with that grin that stretches from ear to ear across his face" Rav grinned. Falk thrust the basket in Zara's hands, then tipped up the lid at one end, peering in he suddenly let out a roar "awwwwwwwww it bite me again" rubbing his snout, hearing the hissing and snarling coming from inside the basket, Mar raised an eyeridge "ummmmmm Falk, what kind of a kitten is it?" Falk with a look of confusion shrugged "Nedra said it would be perfect for Zara, she could teach it to stalk you" Mar blinked. Giggling Zara sat down with the basket on her lap, looking inside she saw a kitten it's fur all puffed out, it's claws dug into the basket, it's long tail a spike of fur as it's golden eyes stared at her, softly Zara purred to the kitten reaching in she took out the kitten and snuggled it "hello Fuzz" the kitten purred and started to play with her hair. Alex mouth dropped open, with wide eyes he looked at Mar and Virlane "is that what I think it is?" Mar slowly backed up nodding, not taking his eyes off the kitten, Rav started to laugh "if I don't miss my guess that's a baby panther." Alex said very quietly to Zara "before you get too attached to the little thing, you might want to see how it will react to your dragoness" Zara nodded and untangled the kitten from her hair and set it on the ground, the kitten stared at the tiny dragoness Zara who purred softly, the kitten let out a little squeaky raaaar and started to lick Zara's face, then pounced on Zara, Laurel gasped and started to stand up until she realized Zara was laughing, they all watched the kitten stretch out as Zara with her tiny talon's started to scratch the kitten's back, the kitten purring with a little deep rumble. Laurel said silently to Nedra "a panther cub? what were you thinking of Nedra?" Nedra purred with a rich chuckle "Nedra did not want to see the ohhhh sooo delectable little one with something as mundane as an ordinary house kitten, now she has an exotic pet to match her beauty and the little raaaring one will be easier to train then a beast of a puppy, yes this Nedra knows for this is one of Nedra's own, no no my scrumptious morsel it is ONLY a pet." Zara put a jacket on and snuggled the kitten in her lap as she sat with her parents "I wonder what it eats?" Trink chortled "just toss it a cow carcass every few days, that should keep it happy" Zara frowned "it's just a baby, Trink" laughing Trink nodded "for a few days any ways, then it's a full grown hunting cat then what are yea gunna do?" Zara thought for a moment then smiled "teach it to hunt elves" Trink glowered at Zara "now that's a fine how de do, Mar would make more of a mouthful" Mar hissed at Trink, the kitten's ears twitched and it looked over at Mar hissing back, Mar squinted his eyes and hissed again, the kitten's tail started swishing, it's golden eyes closed to little slits as it slowly crept off of Zara's lap and started to slink towards Mar. Resting his head between his paws Mar watched the kitten his own tail slowly swishing, the kitten started to watch Mar's tail, with a wild squeaky raaaaaarrr it pounced on Mar's tail, Mar rolled his eyes as the kitten started gnawing on his tail, Alex started to laugh "don't panthers climb tree's, you can teach it DROP, Mar." Mar grinned widely looking at Falk. After a third yawn Zara hugged her mama and papa and told them she needed to go home to bed, she tucked a sleeping Fuzz into his basket and closed the lid, Alex kissed her cheek "don't be a stranger" Zara smiled "I'll be over tomorrow, I need to talk to Dinty and show him some garden plans" with a wave she went home to Salvation, setting the basket near the bed she opened one side, laid the guitar in it's case on a table then slipped into her nightie and climbed into bed, with a sigh she softly whispered as she did every night "stay safe DeClan, I love you."