#earthrunes

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In the library "Marco?" He looks about for Zara

The library is dark and quiet.

He turns on the lights, and starts to look about.

"I love you very much, but I worry you're upset."

"more, I worry I've contributed to it. I never want you to be distressed because of me"

He glances about for Bronte too.

Nope.

"I love you" He says to the air, "And I'd like to talk."

"I'm going to your domain, the more recently aquired one to see if you are there. Please, answer my texts or the like?"

Silence.

A sigh, and he hturns to head towards her new stream

Soon enough, he is at the cold stream, the wooded place she sees as a haven. He picks up some rocks on the shore, and places them in a pattern... stooping near the bank so that if this were a horror movie, someone, or some-thing- might lunge up, grab him, and pull him to a watery death!

The stream is also quiet. Though it seems she has hung a hammock in the trees, decorated with dead flowers. A wooden box protects a stash of books from the elements.

Read the stones

Sentimental silliness some would say

He looks about, and opens the box, to see what she was reading last by it being on the top. If it's Chaucer, well, he might worry, she always gets worked up over Chaucer.

Anne of the Island is on top, showing a willowy redhead with a dreamy expression on the cover.

He sees if htere are more clues to when this was last looked at, then gently closes it as it was and says "Zara, please talk to me. I worry you're thinking the worst when it's not."

The burble of the stream, the whisper of leaves, the chatter of birds...

"You are so very strong in so many ways, sometimes I forget how delicate your heart is. That is my fault I suppose, for I do treasure your heart." Earl says aloud.

"I'll go. If you are here you dont' want to see me, but please do see me soon? " And he leaves.

Mind you, he leaves slowly so she might , if she is there, show herself and stop him.

He is not stopped.

And he is gone along silver paths.

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"'s just... I LOVE Her and she... I don't unnerstannn" Earl slurs.

Jack looks down at the drunk troll, "Just a guess, you're not used to booze?"

"FEH... I've had some sshtuff..." He waves

"But never tried to smash yourself level like your'e doing now?" Jack says

"Nooope... aren't most guys like this?" The blue fellow blinks

"Most make a few more appletinis" The elder satyr says

"is that what I'm drinking?" He eyes "ANudder"

"Sure sure... you know what, you enjoy... " Jack motions to someone "See if you can find August."

"Aughush? No no.. don't bother him.. he.. i shoulda left this to him. I fucked it up... she thinks I 'm out to get her... to betray her or..like it's a conspirashy..." Earl says "Besht she only hates one of us."

"Pretty sure she doesn't hate you," Jack says

"Nooo she thinks I''m patre..patronizing her.. . I can't even ask her to be pashunt... it's seen as an inshult. Everything I do is wrong..." He says.

"So you feel sorry for yourself" Jack says

"Yesshhh... liddle bit yeah.. but I know, I know, I'm the bad guy" Earl drinks "Her psycho stalker is dead so she needs a new one... Earldavillain"

Jack rolls his eyes. _That's right kids, no one ever has had miscommunications in love before you two came along. Gah. _ then gentle in his voice despite his thoughts, "Nah. You two are having a spat. It'll clear up with patience and love and talk."

"She won't talk... she..she bahnished me.. Go away she sshaid..." He says "I'm in EGSHILE" The troll slurs

"A little bit later, you're going to be embarrassed about all this," Jack says, "First of all, because any man should be embarrassed to confess to an appletini hang over...but second because you're making such a fuss.... have a little faith okay? In her, in yourself, in how you two feel."

"I love her..." Earl says wondering why he's looking at the table. Oh yeah, his face is down

"Good. That'll help the hang over" Jack says

August peers in, avoiding his customary tap at the doorframe.

"Jack, someone said you wanted to see me?"

Jack nods and gestures to the troll surrounded by appletini glasses, most of them empty

"Ah?" He comes over. "Earl?"

"There is no Earl" He moans "There is only lozer"