Strange Company. -Open.-

[loves.blessing.]

The cold nipped at the Earth, its harsh kisses leaving small clues that winter would be upon the land soon. The lush green leaves slowly changing their shades of hue. A symphony of colors peppered the forest, deep reds, pale yellows, crisp orange tones and earthy browns scattered the limbs of the trees.

Winter’s wind swept across the ground picking up with fallen leaves and tossing them into a cascading motion, they swirled, dipped low and soared back towards the heaven before slowly swaying back to the ground. A small cottage laid nestled in the forest, surrounded by large trees that hid the small building from view of the path that led to the city.

The soft sound of singing that was accompanied by the sweet sultry sound of a violin was easily carried across the way of the wind. “Are you, are you coming to the tree. Where they hung a man they said he murdered three.” The open windows allowed the velvety sound of a woman’s voice slip from the brick cottage. The shrill of the violin peeked high and dipped low harmonizing with her faint voice. The song rolled to an end as McKinley laid her beloved violin in the safety of its case. The sound of a small dog whimper echoed off the stone walls, “oh Nymeria hush now I have to go get the clothes off the line before that storm rolls in.” Her hand laid against the large calico dire wolf’s head.

Gripping her deep purple cloak she quickly wrapped it around her small curvy frame. Her fiery mane came to life against the dark color. “Now stay here because last time you tried to help I had to rewash the clothes because you thought it a good idea to roll in mud and shake next to the line.” She tisked at the large beast.

She scooped up the wicker basket to place the clothes in and headed for the back door. As soon as the door opened the wind nipped at her cheeks. A small shiver crawled down her spine, her pink pouty lips parted in a small gasp, the cold had taken her by surprise. “My, winter is coming faster than I thought.” Quickly she scurried to her clothes line, her garments billowed in the harsh winds. Quickly she plucked each piece off, shoved them into her basket, chill licked at her hands as she pulled her clothing from the line. She got down to the last piece of clothing, Breaker’s shirt. She hadn’t seen him in months and it was the only thing that kept him close to her.

Her fingers felt almost numb as she fumbled with the pins to free the shirt. “Damn it,” McKinley cursed softly as the basket fell to the ground. She bent to collect the basket but the wind took the shirt with it and carried it towards the tree like. “Damn it all to hell,” the curse words almost sounded foreign from her plush lips as she set the basket down and chased after the shirt. “Come back,” she called after the shirt as if it would halt. She reached for the shirt that was now tangled in the limbs of a tree. She worked carefully and delicately to not tare the fabric. Once the shirt was untangled she clutched it to her chest and inhaled the faint scent of Breaker that still lingered. A dark figure engulfed her small frame, a sharp gasp parted her lips as she drew back away from the shadows.

"Who is there," she called out to the shadows that danced in the background of the sun that quickly fell.