Taking a walk in the woods

[Riff~Raff]

Riker had woken up that morning in a decent mood. The events from the night before were still very fresh. He really just needed to get away for a bit. Some place quiet and secluded. So he walked out to the woods, planning on making a reconnection with nature.

He let his feet guide him as he stared up at the trees that let sunlight dance through them to the ground, giving light to the little creatures of the forest. He took in a deep breath, sucking in the fresh air that came with a new day and the beauty of nature.

He sighed thinking of all the times he'd spent running through woods, darting through trees, chasing after animals, and playing in creeks. It was something that, though he wished he'd had a family at the time, he wouldn't trade for the world. He walked over to a large tree and grabbed at the lowest stable branch, pulling upwards so that he could get his feet on it. After he'd managed the first one he continued climbing and climbing until he was far enough up that he could just see the ground. Laying back against the trunk he closed his eyes, relaxing his body, he thought to himself, attempting to bring himself peace of mind. Slowly he drifted off into sleep.

[Riff~Raff]

A few hours later his eyes shuddered as he heard a noise near his ear. He heard the flapping of wings drift off into the distance. He stretched out his arms and let out a large yawn, looking down at the ground realizing then where he was. The shock knocking him off balance, he quickly grabbed onto the tree balancing himself once more.

"I best get back" he said to himself and began the decent towards the earth. Once he finally reached the ground a thought ran through his head contemplating whether or not he should find his sister and talk for a bit. "I guess its best. I haven't talked to her in a while" he spoke walking back towards the school.

[HeartString]

Smiling still, the feeling of euphoria just fading HeartString shook her head and wondered why she would become so overwhelmed with happiness in the kitchen with all the little girls of the Alpha Squadron. 'That was just strange, wonder why that happened? I haven't become so overcome with emotion in such a long time. It was as if that wasn't truly what I was feeling, or anyone was feeling in the room, but how could that be. I was happy so were the girls maybe it just was too much?' she wondered about it for a few more minutes as she headed out to the lake and to find Ember.

"Damn Ember, If you're not out here..." she said softly in a half joking voice as she trudged along through the snow. The sky was darkening fast as she went. Then she caught sight of someone walking in toward the school.

"Hey! Who's that there?" she called out. She could see the form clearly enough, but the detail was a wash because coming out from inside her eyes hadn't adjusted to the dark. It was then she realized how cold she was and looking down at herself saw that she had forgotten to grab a jacket. She was wearing her sweater, but it wouldn't be enough for long. "Aideen? Is that you?"

Feeling happy as she did in the kitchen had totally affected her, making her lose all sense of self. 'How could I forget a coat?' she thought. 'Something must be up in that kitchen, more than just a glowing sun-bright wall. There is someone altering emotions in there.'

[Riff~Raff]

Riker looked up as his breath showed in front of him. "Sorry, wrong gender and wrong mutant" he said simply running up the path quickly and gazing upon the woman from the hanger. "I'm Riker" he said simply a small smile on his face. "I was coming back from the woods, seemed I fell asleep, you looking for someone?" he asked smiling at the woman who helped his sister. "And shouldn't you be wearing a coat, it's like negative five out here" he said exaggerating the temperature but getting his point across as the woman was only wearing a sweater and that would barely keep her warm.

[HeartString]

"Um, well yeah It is real cold out, don't know where my head was at forgetting my coat, but I'm looking for Ember." She said as she walked up to him. "Oh Riker, right from the hangar, I just saw your sister and she said I could find Aideen at the lake. Her sense of smell is remarkable you know." Tracy said as she rubbed her arms and tried to keep some warmth in her sweater.

"It's just to talk anyway I guess I could wait for her inside. They're making hot chocolate in the kitchen, if you want some." Tracy looked at the long walk out to the lake. It wasn't all that terribly long mind you, but in the dark without a coat in the middle of winter it would feel like many miles.

[Riff~Raff]

Riker smiled. "Well he's a proposition for you. You go inside and make all three of us hot chocolate and I'll go and get Aideen from the lake" he said suggesting a good alternative for her. She probably would be blue by the time she'd get back. "I'm part wolf, I think Arctic, because this weather doesn't bother me at all, it's like regular weather to me" he said with a smile. "I'd love to help" he added smiling a genuine smile to her. After all she did help his sister, he was ridiculously in debt to her, but that wasn't the reason he was going to do it, he'd do it anyway because he just loved to help people.

[HeartString]

"I like how you think kiddo! That's a deal." Tracy grinned and rubbed her arms some more to keep warm. She turned to go back in to the school and stopped. With a toss of her hair she looked back over her shoulder and asked "Hey Riker, how many marshmallows do you like?"

[Riff~Raff]

He smiled as she inquired about his marshmallow needs. "How about three, there is nothing quite like a marshmallow" he said smiling lifting his hand up and giving a slight wave before putting them back in his pockets and walking over to the lake.

[HeartString]

'Nice guy. Those two wolf kids seem so genuine. Their emotions so clear, like innocent children, uncorrupted.' Tracy waved back and headed in to get plenty of mugs of hot chocolate prepared.