Movie Night With Hana

Hana: ... well, it's certainly quieter without Salem around. I miss her.

April: How long is she away for?

Hana: Until she pays off the car, I guess. I tried to tell Syri that she's just a kid and she just screwed up, you know. I think if she'd wrecked any car BUT the Ferrari... ah well.

April: Where'd she get sent off to? Reform school or something?

Hana: No, nothing like that. Syri sent her off to this horse ranch, where she's going to work to pay off the car. It sounded pretty nice.

April: Wow, that doesn't sound so bad. Country living and all that.

Hana: Yeah.

Opal: Hey you guys, sorry I'm late.

Hana: Woah, good evening your Highness!

April: Little formal for movie night, arencha?

Opal: I came straight from work. I figured I'd change here. Work STUNK. Oh... I hate human kids.

April: Aww, you still doing that "tooth fairy" act at the dentist office?

Opal: I was, but I quit. One of the kids broke my wings, and another one... while his mom wasn't looking, smacked his baby sister in the back of the head to see if he could get a tooth out of her! I finally had enough.

Hana: Well, that decides our movie for tonight, then.

Opal and April: Yeah?

Hana: Yeah. "The Professional". You'll like it.

Opal: Okay, I'll go change and then I'll be right back.

April: That is one grumpy "tooth fairy".

Hana: Well, she'll be okay. No one can resist the sweetness that IS Leo, the cutest hitman of all time.

April: So are we doing anything next week?

Hana: Um... nothing special, why?

April: Well, it's Labor Day weekend so I was wondering...

Opal: Oh yeah! I almost forgot! Labor Day!

Hana: Uh, okay.

Opal: Jackson said he's stuck going camping with his crazy sister and her kids and he wanted to know if we'd like to come along.

Hana: Wow "stuck with his crazy sister and her kids" sounds like so much fun.

Opal: Nah, he said they're not that bad. You just have to get used to them.

Hana: I dunno, Opal. It's Labor Day weekend. Last camping weekend of the year pretty much. The parks are going to be packed.

Opal: Jackson said his family's got some private land somewhere, so it'll just be us on a huge piece of property. Just us and nature!

Hana: And Jackson's "crazy sister and her kids".

Opal: Well, yeah.

April: I think it sounds fun.

Hana: Well... okay. I haven't been camping in ages. It'll be fun. Ready for the movie?

Opal and April: Ready!

Opal: So why "The Professional", Hana?

Hana: Hot hitman. Need I say more?

Opal: Nope. (smile)

Wandering...

Lenore: I still think you should've woken me up. And I am so cross at that Spot for not letting me know you'd arrived....

Marius: I didn't wake you, Wren, because you were sleeping so peacefully. And you really shouldn't be mad at Spot.

Marius: Spot actually did a really GOOD thing. We came in from the North, and Spot must've heard us, because he came and got us, and showed us that you were sleeping at the SOUTH entrance.

Lenore: Why did you come from the North?

Marius: You could say we were taking a shortcut.

Lenore: You were LOST! (laughing)

Marius: (laugh) Or you could say that.

Lenore: Well, here's the entrance to the stone circle.

Marius: Thanks, Lenore. It's important to me to see it. Uh... but really? This is it, hu?

Lenore: Oh, I know it doesn't look like much. Mr. Thorne said that the pixies try to keep it that way, so that those who aren't supposed to find it, won't.

Marius: Well, then they've done a wonderful job. Would you mind leading the way for me?

Lenore: Not at all.

Lenore: There are all kinds of animals and insects that live around the circle. Including the centaurs! You'll have to see them, Hawk. They're really beautiful.

Marius: I'm sure they are. I can't say that I've ever seen a centaur. It is an interesting place you live in, Lenore.

Lenore: From here, you can see the "Key" stone of Snuffleshenge. It is the largest, and the wizards say, the most important of all the stones.

Marius: It's really beautiful, Lenore. It all looked very different the last time I saw it, in the snow.

Lenore: I'll bet. For me too. I think if I hadn't been following Spot, I never would've found the circle OR you.

Lenore: Come on in and I'll show you where I found you.

Marius: Wow... the wizards are right about this place. You can feel it... in the stones.

Marius: Lenore, did I ever thank you and Spot for finding me?

Lenore: Um... I'm sure you did. You're welcome. (smile)

Marius: (deep breath) It is with a heart full of gratitude and humility that I enter this sacred place, bringing my thanks to the Gods of this place.

Lenore:Uh... Hawk? What are you doing?

Marius: Circe told me that there are specific ways of doing this kind of thing. You see, I asked for help from the spirits of these stones that night, freezing in the snow. And they brought someone who could save me. YOU! They answered, and they helped me by sending you and Spot!

Marius: So I brought them a gift to say "thank you".

Lenore: It's beautiful.

Marius: It's one of my favorite scrying crystals. And (clearing throat) I leave this gift as a token of my gratitude and honor for the Guardians of this place, who once heard a small voice, pleading for help, in the snow, and brought not only rescue, but a new life, a new path, and a way to shake off the shackles of the life of the Carin.

Lenore: Wow, Hawk. That sounded great.

Marius: (laugh) Well good. I hope they think so too.

Lenore: Do you think they'll come get it and take it away?

Marius: (shrug) Dunno... I imagine they'll let whoever needs to find it, find it. I don't really know how this kind of stuff works. We could ask Circe, she knows all about this stuff. Have you met her yet? And... I have a question for you too... while we're walking back.

Lenore: Oh yeah?

Marius: Yeah... how would you feel about me asking your Aunt Persephone to marry me?

Lenore: (squeal)!!!

(wind blows through the stones.... rustling of grasses in the breeze... and then the rustling of slow, careful footsteps through the grass...)

Wondering...

Lenore: (stirring)

Lenore: What the? I'm... in bed. But I was waiting on the porch and... Spot, what happened?

Maggie: Um... I know you were asking Spot, but I can tell you what happened. You musta fell asleep, because I was in here all asleep and then this guy carried you in and tucked you in and went away.

Lenore: MARIUS!

Maggie: Musta been, I guess. I pretended to be asleep, but I peeked at him and he was really cute and said "Sleep well, Little Wren." Is Marius cute?

Lenore: Very.

Maggie: Musta been him, then. They must be here somewhere.

Lenore: We'll find them, but you should get dressed first... and I should change. Oh! They're here and I missed it! You are a very, very BAD Spot, Spot!

Spot: (snort)

*****

Waiting...

10:00 a.m.

Wendy: Hey... awww. Hello?

Maggie: Hi Miss Wendy.

Wendy: Hey Maggie! What are you guys doing out here?

Lenore: Waiting.

Wendy: But, didn't Marius say they probably wouldn't arrive until like five or so, this evening?

Lenore: They could be early. So just in case, we're here to welcome them.

Wendy: (smile) Well, okay. Have fun.

*****

12:00 p.m.

*****

1:00 p.m.

*****

2:00 p.m.

*****

3:00 p.m.

*****

3:45 p.m.

*****

4:00 p.m.

*****

5:35 p.m.

Nessa: Hi, Little Wren. May I join you?

Lenore: Sure, Ama.

Nessa: I came out to tell you, the Wizards said that with these storms, the kind of magic they're doing to get here could be delayed. By hours, Wren. And it's getting cold...

Lenore: I'm not cold. And I don't mind staying out here and waiting. Someone should greet them when they get here. Marius might not remember which house it is, either.

Nessa: (smile) Okay, I thought you might say that. If it starts to rain, come wait for them inside, okay?

Lenore: It's not going to rain anymore, Ama. Don't worry.

*****

6:00 p.m.

(rain falling)

Lenore: (sigh)

*****

7:40 p.m.

Quinn: This rain just won't let up, will it?

Lenore: Nope, apparently not. I finally had to drag my chair up here on the porch.

Quinn: By yourself?

Lenore: Spot helped.

Quinn: Ah... well I brought you a blanket. It's kind of cold out.

Lenore: Thanks, Quinn. They really should be here any minute, though.

Quinn: Okay, well, just in case then. See ya.

(Quinn leaves)

Lenore: Oooh, it's a very soft blanket, Spot. I'll bet it is quite warm. Oh! Drat! I forgot to ask him when they're leaving. His sister is that Fae BI agent, and she'll probably be leaving when Detective St. Cloud does. Darn it, Spot. I completely forgot to ask. Ah well.

*****

8:30 p.m.

Lenore: (quietly) It finally stopped raining, so where could they BE, Spot? I hope they're okay. I heard something... something about another group of people coming here and... something bad happened. Oh, I hope they're okay, Spot. Please... please let them be okay.

*****

9:45 p.m.

Lenore: Oh, Spot. This WIND! At least the rain stopped, but the wind is so cold... I'm glad you're all dressed in cozy fur, Spot.

Lenore: So I'm going to snuggle up in this blanket and get warm, Spot. And I might... well it might look like I'm asleep, but I'm really just resting my eyes. But if my eyes are resting, I might not see Marius and Auntie Seph and everyone.

Lenore: So it's up to you, Spot. Bark if you see them, okay? I'll probably see them too, but just in case. Good boy, Spot.

Lenore: (deep breath)

Lenore: Zzzzzzz....

Lenore: Zzzzzz....

Spot: Zzzzzz....