So just as the trio were trudging through the clearing, Aise let go her mother’s hand and darted forward, ignoring her parents’ alarmed shouts. She leapt the log and ran full speed to the little cabin, caroling out “Uncle J, uncle J!” Just as she reached the door it swung open, the sira within grining as he sat back and opened his arms for a hug. Aise snuggled into his soft fur, grinning happily.

     “So,” he said “You finally brought your parents to see me?”

     Aise didn’t wonder how he knew; uncle J often knew things she didn’t tell him, and sometimes he knew beforehand if something was going to happen. So she just nodded “Yeah, but they’re acting really weird. Dad said we should dress our best, and mom actually wore her pretty shoes.” She wrinkled her nose thinking of how dirty those shoes would get out here “They’re not like this all the time, I promise.” Aise finished just as her parents rounded the corner. She waved at them, then turned back to uncle J as he whispered in her ear.

     “That’s alright, parents act strange sometimes. Must be a grownup thing.” He said, and then nodded sagely. Aislin hid her giggles behind cupped hands.

     When father and mother finally arrived, uncle J stood solemnly, one wing sheltering the little Aislin at his side, and uttered a phrase in his native tongue. Aise thought she understood some of it, since she’d had uncle J teach her the basics, but it seemed as though father understood even more, because he answered in kind, though somewhat jerkily. Uncle J smiled and Aise thought he was trying to hide some amusement. She decided it was probably because she’d told him about father’s temper and he didn’t want to make him angry.

     Instead, the sira shifted forms until he stood as a human before her parents. When he spoke, Aislin was surprised at his tone of voice. She’d never heard him speak like this before.. it almost sounded like he was suddenly much, much older, and wiser even than grandpa had been.

     “I wondered what it would take for you to believe in your daughter’s ‘imaginary friend’,” he said softly. “Four years, I’ve waited. And five before that.” The sira’s tone turned almost scolding “You know the prophecy. And yet all these years, you've done nothing.”

     Aislin was confused. What on earth was he talking about? She looked back and forth between uncle J and her parents, the one relaxed, though disappointed, the others stood stock still, defensive, as though he were threatening them. But he wasn’t! She hugged herself, unsure of what to do, and cold from the morning breeze that had suddenly come up.

     Uncle J turned his head a bit, as though listening to something, then knelt down and wrapped his arm about Aislin’s shoulders. “Do you want to go inside? It’s pretty cold out here,” he suggested softly, and Aise was relieved to hear his voice back to the way he normally spoke to her. At least that meant he wasn’t mad at her. She nodded and darted inside, closing the door behind her.

     It was much warmer inside, and somehow, more comfortable even than her room at home. She knew she was safe in here. Outside she could hear her parents speaking angrily with uncle J, who replied in that same, soft, wise voice, no matter how they raised theirs. She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but she knew, somehow, that it was about her. Why? The question haunted her until she distracted herself with the interesting objects on the various shelves in uncle J’s cabin. There was her special place, where she put the flower crowns and special stones and shells that she found on their expeditions in the Ssouna'Ouna, including the little dragon fly crystals they’d found on the island.

     Aislin’s eyes widened suddenly.

     “They’re usually bound to land because they’re not very strong fliers, and would die if they ventured out over the lake too far. One must’ve gotten blown out here during the last storm…”

     That was a storm brewing outside! She knew it the same way she knew the sun would rise tomorrow. All the newly hatched ‘flies would be blown out to sea and die! She hurried to the door to tell uncle J and her parents, but stopped. They were busy. Uncle J would want to help, but her parents certainly wouldn’t understand, and her appearance might cause them to suddenly leave and take her with them. No, she’d have to do it herself. She knew how to sail the skiff, after all. Uncle J had taught her well.

     Aise turned and tiptoed to the back of the cabin, where the window opened over the little garden. She pushed it open quietly, then stopped to listen. Mother and father and uncle J were still talking. Good. With a good heave, she was up on the sill, then out the window. She paused again, as stealthy as could be, and then closed the window tight.

     With one last peek around the corner to be sure none of the adults could see her escape, Aise darted off into the woods and rising winds.

     When she reached the lean to sheltering the skiff the wind had picked up. For a moment she was worried that she wouldn’t be able to make it, but a quick check told her that she’d have no trouble. The wind was blowing right towards the island. She hurriedly untied the mooring and cast off, careful to remember every trick uncle J had taught her about riding a heavy wind. She only hefted one sail, and turned it so that it didn’t catch all the wind. The rudder was a problem though, because the wind wanted to blow her off course. She figured that out, though, and tied it to the bough with a length of rope to steady her course.

     She couldn’t hear her parents calling her name behind her on shore. Nor could she see uncle J, standing silently behind them, nod to himself and leave.

     The wind was really howling now, and waves crashed on either side of her, soaking her through to the bone. Big, black, heavy clouds had blown in, making it as dark as night, so that the only way she knew which way to go was that same sense that told her how to get home yesterday. But she adamantly staid her course, and in no time at all, the peak of the little island was in sight.

     As she neared, she saw that the trees on the peak were being buffeted by the strong winds. She couldn’t see any of the pretty little dragon flies at all.