Standing upon the mountain, almost knee high in snow. Standing before a gnarled old tree, the wind curling around my body, tugging at my cape like the hands of a child. Through the wind and the cold, tears still ran down my face. Reaching out a gloved hand, running fingers across the contours of the bark, so old, and lacking in the life that was once there, that was once so alive and that is no longer. A sigh escaped blue lips, sorrow for times lost, and then a gasp from behind a rock.

“Come out child. Tell me why you are here.”

A youthful set of eyes watching from behind a rock emerged, followed by a nose a mouth a face a body no more than ten.

“Why are you here child, what do you seek.”

A tilted head turned to see the fear in her young eyes.

“They said you would come to visit him on the thinnest of crescent moons.”

I watched without speaking and the wind seemed to calm.

“There is a madness in village; I came to ask if you would... if you would.”

“How do you know of him child?”

She shifted awkwardly as I turned to face here and removed my hood.

“He was there the day I was born. He would visit sometimes and tell me stories of other worlds, of great moments...  of you...”

I wiped the tears from my face and walked towards her offering my hand. She took it and I smiled.

“I am pleased to meet you. May I ask your name?”

“My name is Morrigan. A pleasure to meet you too.” With that, she smiled.

“Well Morrigan, let us see if we can work something out.”

~*~

One hand against the tree.

“Do you remember the day we met?”

“Of course! I was hiding behind this rock. Though it seemed bigger then.”

“He’d be amazed at how much you’ve grown.”

I turned and she smiled.

“C’mon’ old man I’ll race you back.”

With that, she was off. I turned back.

“See you soon old friend.” I wiped the tear from my cheek, “who you calling old damn it.”