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anna - barista - after earthquake visited a nursery(the plants became more

vigorous) started to collect baby trees. Need to find the "right" tree. I walked
all around town to find the seedlings.
Drawn to a quiet old neighborhood I start to plant the trees around the
entire block- 11 different kinds leaving one space for the one I couldn�t find. A
man in a silver-grey fedora and trench asks me what I'm doing...
"A ring of protection" comes out of my mouth tho I'm not sure here the answer
came from "I have all save one." pointing to the empty spot Rowan should sit there
"though I�m still looking."
"Why would you do that" queries the man.
I just shrug "dunno, just gotta"
Across the block the trees are offset by one place.
Weeks go by and ppl go in and out while I put plants in with the trees.
"What goes there? A soft voice asks. I look up in to brilliant green eyes. "Rowan,
when i can find it"
"And when do you think that will be?" asks a deep voice just beyond the woman.
"I'm going to check the hills and over by the lake this week end. I'm hoping I�ll
find it there."
The man turns to his companions and speaks with them. I look from them to the
woman.
She smiles at me. "Rhys told me what you have been doing. the ring of trees," she
nods towards them, �I know why you do it."
I nod back.
The man steps back to her and look at me. "We agree that when Anna is finished you
can stay here."
I work my way around the block w/ [(lavender?)Need to find the protective plant].
"Anna, come inside, it�s getting dark and we have supper."
Dusting off my hands, I get up and turn towards the voice. Fedora is half in half
out of the light from the door. "All right"
Walking in is a lovely foyer, "reminds me of a hotel in an old movie" the man
chuckles "me too." "Feels like coming home" I follow him into a room with lots of
ppl in it. Everyone gets introduced and explanations follow.

Weeks go by; I drive my jeep up to the lakes. After hours of looking around
"Goddess, this is the last one i hope its here." getting out I survey the nearby
woods and a few trees near a hill. i feel the need to walk to the hill on the other
side of the lake. It�s hot and I�m thirsty. It�s been weeks since i started this i
need to get this finished.
I walk around the side of the hill by the shoreline, odd shaped hill, i muse.
Coming around the other side i see a tree in a hollow of the hill.
O m g!
There it is! A rowan! And it�s old!
I walk carefully up to it and put my hand on it like i did with all the rest.
Quietly hear it slumbering. I gently poke @ it. I speak to it gently, formally like
Rhys and Doyle taught me. It greets me back with an old, old language. I know it
and yet i don't. I let it know what i need .Could it help me? Or may i have seeds
to help with what i need? The ground rumbles gently under my feet. I wait patiently
for an answer. The rowan says it guards another and cannot help me but grants me
seedlings.
As i put seedlings in my bag, curiosity gets the best of me. I have to ask
how, when, where and who. I get as far as when it came here and where it�s from
when the ground under me shifts violently. i fall on my butt as the ground rises
above me. The tree never moved from its spot. But the hill all around it raises
dirt falling down revealing something huge underneath & from out of it peer glowing
red eyes.... huge eyes.
What the hell did i bother? Oh crap somehow i found my feet and start running
towards the woods. A screeching roar bellows thru the air oh shit oh shit! Dirt
clods fly everywhere. Blinding light reflecting off ....silver? ...i trip and look
over my shoulder at wats back there....i see teeth, big teeth.
A loud rush of wind blows me up and when im on my feet i start running again
heart pounding i know its right behind me. All i can think s how do i get home?
Then I�m near the pines "home home home" i chant sprinting thru the pines then
nausea overwhelms me i stumble and somehow I�m running down the street. i see the
house, i scream for help. I hear a roaring of wind and deep bellows following me.
The door opens, i see Galen, and I run up the stairs & into the house falling on
him. Someone slams the door behind me the sound of something big hits the door.
"What is going on?� Merry calls running in with frost and doyle at her side.
"Something was chasing Anna down the street."
"How? Isn�t the neighborhood warded?!�
The sound of something big hits the door again hushing us all. Nausea passes
over me again & all i can do is try to catch my breath .Howling fills the air. We
stare at the door howling gives way to growling which slowly fades away.
"Anna, what happened?�
Someone brings me water. i slowly sip it as i sit on the floor. Galen next to me
picks something out of my hair and hands it to merry.
"Pine cone? we don�t have pines near us..."
"I went to the little lakes," i told her, "the ones high in the mountains
.Found a rowan in a nook. I talked to it and then the ground shook thought it was
an earthquake then the hill stood up and roared at me. There were teeth..crap i
left my jeep there. ."
"How did u get back?" asked rhys.
"I don�t know i was running towards the trees and thought of home..."
I looked around their faces held confusion. [Then frost spoke. "dryad." doyle
nodded "that would explain it. She walked thru the tree..used it as a door. The
last dryad we know of was 200 years ago...." they all looked at me. i looked at
first one then the other and scoffed "there�s no such thing."] Merry laughs.
"Stranger things have happened."
She gives me her hand helping me up and Galen hands me my bag. "I got my trees
though .... i can finish the ring this weekend."
On Friday after work I started at the outside of the ring 9 seedlings gently
planted by the time i reach the inside circle I�m hoping the outside ring trees are
full grown if i did it correct. Late in the afternoon i noticed someone watching as
i pat some dirt around the last of my seedlings. From under my lashes i could see
he was as tall as doyle and as broad as rhys. Tension fills me & my hands shook as
i lay out the next seedling. Deep calming breaths, deep calming breaths; i feel a
little better. I work on the last one in that group. Scooping dirt, planting,
watering, imagining it growing tall and strong. I feel the circle close with the
last one like a door being firmly shut. A shimmer hangs in the air slowly
disappearing. With a satisfied nod I gather my stuff and walk up the block to next
spot.
A footstep behind me makes me nervous but i can see the house from across the
street. i stopped and planted a seedling kitty-corner from the house. i feel the
magic come thru. I move on to the empty spot in front of our house. As I drop to my
knees facing the street i see him again out of the corner of my eye. Tall and
muscular, with long dark hair, a beard, Arms crossed, and scowling leaning on the
building across from me in the shadows.
I hear the door behind me open. I breathe easier knowing someone is watching out
for me. gently i plant my last sapling water talk to it coax it to grow to remember
its parent's knowledge and what it�s supposed to do show it how to join w the last
ring of trees. I feel it grow under my hand. Brushing the dirt off my hands i
gather my stuff and turn away from the tree and the stranger towards the lite
doorway. Ah my Ard-Ri waits our merry must have sent him or her Galen did. i walk
past him and into the sithen.

A couple days later i see the man again at my tea shop, just as I'm leaving. He's
outside waiting for me....i know it.... makes me nervous, but home is not far and
he can�t do anything with all this fey watching right?
i hurriedly walk past ignoring him. He walks behind me slower for a few blocks but
swiftly catches up. I take a deep breath, stop and turn "what?" holy crap are his
eyes blue.... like a glowing bright blue.
"I saw you" deep lyrical voice sent shivers down my spine
"And?" I sound breathless....weird. I wonder if he is sidhe...
"You were planting little trees...why?"
Mmmmm Irish accent goes straight to my.....I blink at him. "Cause we need more
trees?" damn he smells good like sun warmed leather and fresh turned earth I shake
my head frowning.
'You had 1 of each month.....yet you are not druid.� stopping in front of me
turning his body to slightly block my way.
"ah no I�m not"
"I ask again why?" taking my arm firmly he stares at me.
I can see my home from the corner of my eye. He leans in making his hair almost
frame us both. Intimating yes very but i know more dangerous men. Leaning away i
use my other hand to pry his fingers off me.(when did he grab my arm?) "I don�t
know what ur meaning but i don�t like u touching me."
"You touched me first� he rumbles low. I duck away and trot to the door. I looked
back at him while opening the door. Standing there solemn, staring I slip inside.
[Can someone pick me up after work? my stalker is still hanging around.
Has he done anything?
Other than follow me home? Isn�t that enough? i need to check out a nursery for a
white oak and he knows my jeep, can i get a ride?
Almost everyone who can drive is on a job Anna can it wait?
No she's really pressing me...I'm dreaming about it now.
I get a lift and a bodyguard to the nursery and back, no sapling, no stalker to be
seen. Crappy day.
no sign of stalker man so] weeks later, went out with some of my old friends for a
bachelorette party. We are having a good time going from one bar to another. At the
last one i return from the restroom finding my stalker sitting with my friends.
Anger, distrust yeah a bit scared. He got up and let me have my seat back.
Irritated i pointedly ignored him. The women gush over him. After a while we leave
they tease me on the way to the parking lot such manners so charming (yes i rolled
my eyes) what an accent. How handsome (bah I�ve seen better).
After saying goodbye to the last i turn and find him standing a few feet behind me.
Laughter behind me i turned towards it.
"Allow me to walk you home" he breaths softly in my ear. I look at him with his arm
held out. I hesitantly take it. He tucks me firmly to his side. [(what do you say?
truthfully i dint want to speak. so i studied him from the corner of my eye as we
walk) he was tall about 6'6' or more, powerfully built, easy grace. Long brown hair
the colour of fresh turned earth and his eyes...bright blue like water on a summer
day they almost glow with the colour�..breathtaking]
He ran his fingers up my face then pushed a lock of hair behind my ear and i
watched a slow smile cross his mouth. I jerked away from him; he just stood there
looking at me.
'Anna" a voice called. I turned and ran past my ard-ri into the sithen.
[He�s a dragon? he fled came here to escape something but there was nothing here so
he slumbered until i talked to the tree he was wrapped around bothering him.]
The next morning there was a white oak sapling on our front steps. Yeah i was a bit
weirded out.

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