4: Circles of Time: New Beginnings and maybe endings

Circles of Time: I look to Sable.. "let's travel a bit then camp. I am not ready to go back to halls and People. " it's a gorgeous moon lit night silvery light weaving between the trees.

It's light conversation between us.. I am back in my head.. when did I kill those who branded me.. What path do I walk now. While I enjoy the hunt.. I feel the torment of those dispatched. If I can not remember events and I do happily indulge in the sanguine nature of the bounty..how close am I to being like the monsters and ghouls we chase.

It is also nice while in the quiet if each others company to break some of the norms. It's why I picked the west..untamed.. but also islands of etiquette and civilization. This brought me freedom and balance. Structure and rebellion. So to get a bit of the same dynamic here in the heart of the empire was freeing.

Sable perks up..and burst with. "I KNOW WHERE TO Camp on a night like this.." I see the mischievous look.. I swear she is part fairy..

A Little further we come to a clearing.. with a stone monoliths in a circle. The moon hung above us.. "We are safe within the circle.. " Sable quietly states and I trust her on this.

I find flint in my bag ..gather wood and dried grass start a fire. I keep it low enough to hopefully not draw attention but fueled enough for heat. Reigns recycling of prairie grass helps w heat. So does the shallow with rocks around the fire.

Reign goes to graze but seems t know not to leave the circumference. I look to Sable who is shoulder down into her bag.. mumbling "I am sure there is one in here.. ahh there..perfect" and with a drop of the bag, flip of wrist. With some sound of mechanics A tent is procured. "ample space for all three of us.." Sable simply stated as if we have been a trio all along.. "Sable..did ye get hit in the head?" and with that I hear Maria. Maybe I was the head case...this is a dream..the fairy folk got me..." I slowly turn to see a distraught and disoriented Maria..

Maria: One minute I was collecting the seed pods into my bag and the next I am looking over a moor with a strange array of stars in the night sky!?!! I look down at myself and notice a seed pod still remains in my hand and quickly bag it. I am scared and curious at the same time, but then I see them. Sable and Laine, the same beings that were so open to me on our last adventure. I'm in awe of their powers, knowledge of the world and it's various states in time throughout the years. And, yet I feel naturally drawn to them as if destiny has been planning all along for me to find friends who can appreciate my gifts and who will never shun me.

I say nothing, but stride towards them to embrace each one in turn. They react a bit awkwardly to my affection as if it not what they expected. I am surprised myself at how happy I am to see them. Being back among my Romani caravan in my invisibility cloak had been a comfort at first, but turned bittersweet as I came to realize I can never really go back openly. This feels like my future with my new friends. It's like we're our own chosen tribe.

Sable smiles invitingly, “come sit by the fire Maria  warm up and get your bearings about you. This is a place of great magicks. You are safe. “ Fia flies down off the top of a stone. She was quietly observing the trio. She lands on Sables shoulder and starts preening herself . Sable is humming as she pulls out a proper camp table and 3 chairs. There is coffee tea and food. Thee bag hasn’t ceased to amaze her yet. Laine sits down and says “ we should get word to the Doctor and the rest of the crew, let em know what we are up too. .”Sable and Maria both agree and set about making different suggestions. Sable pulls some goodies from her bag. “Shall we send Hugo some lovey doughnuts and candy balls. And cashews“ everyone laughs. They all know Mr. Hyde love his nuts and balls. Sable chants and a mechanical automaton walks out of her bag he is no more than 3 feet tall. He has a nice satchel on his back. Sable carefully wraps the goodies and tucks them and a message into the satchel. She then sends the little tin man on to the consortium and says “ find the lovely MR Hyde and give him what’s inside. Do not delay be swift and safe, then once you deliver your message please return to the Manor to clean. “ the little man bows and walks through a portal but when he comes out he is outside an opera house. He hears a loud thump as if someone drops something. The automaton looks about and quietly enters the opera. The message must be delivered. Mistress would say the game is afoot. Tin is a complicated machine imbued with magic . Mistress had tinkered and toiled lovingly putting him together. A friend of sorts. Thee magic allowed him to live and have feelings. Tin was his name that Mistress had given him and Tin was loyal to her. He didn’t see the Mr. Hyde but he knew they were there. Tin wondered if they might need assistance. He would see. Deliver the satchel and go back to the Mistress and let her know. Otherwise he would go home to the Manor and keep it clean and ready for the Mistress and her new friends. Tin met Mr. Hyde in his Manor. He gave him the gifts and shook the mans hand. Tin returned to the manor to keep things in order for the Mistress. 

After the Messenger has left . We take in our peaceful night .. and as the sunrises .. I call out to open the portal to home.. Not the hall but my farm. I believe my friends are joining me.. I look to them and as if we never camped just some doused embers and my new tribe is ready to go.. "Shall we " taunts Sable.. oh this one is trouble .. the good kind but life will be exciting. and Maria smiles and even her gliding walk is a dance.. We enter the portal Sunshine hitting our face and eyes and leave the Empire.. not sure when or if we shall return. We know we have a place in STEAM. and may be called upon, however today we journey back to the states the wild west and only creation knows what waits for us.