From: John Chivian (7/27/96)

To: Kathy Harrison

Encounter at Angstroms

The group is returning to the upper floors of Angstroms keep after deciding not to attempt the large steel doors in the lower level until rested and healed. Rio and Glow have taken up their customary position at the end of the marching order and walk hand-in-hand behind the others. Although he doesn't show it outwardly, Rio is weary and wounded, Glow probably even more so after the day we've just had.

The two split off from the rest of the group and find a private bath chamber. Rio is careful not to close the cat-creatures tail in the door and then places a 'Glyph of Warding' to keep from being surprised or interrupted. Only then does he allow the weight of the day to show on his shoulders as he sits wearily on the bench and begins removing his slime covered boots.

"I am glad you are here with me." he says while struggling with a tight boot. "I promised your grandmother I'd look after you and keep you safe but it is not for her that I'm glad." He smiles looking up at her. "It is for me."

Rio sighs, slips off his backpack and sets it in the corner of the room. He helps Glow with hers and then sits by the side of the tub allowing his feet to soak. He is glad when she comes to sit next to him and he puts his arm comfortably around her waist holding her close.

"There were times in my life when I always thought that I would be alone. Times that Nara's rhythm and the songs of the birds and the trees were more than enough to fill me. Yet now, here with you, it feels that there has always been something missing." Rio turns to her, gently takes her face in his hands and touches his forehead to hers. He is about to kiss her when the combination of realizing exactly how dirty they both are and seeing the cat-creature in one of those impossible cat positions breaks his concentration.

Standing, Rio carefully removes his clothes to avoid aggravating his wounds, steps gingerly into the tub and submerses himself in the warm water. He can not help but watch as Glow undresses and joins him. He revels in her soft healing touch and allows her to tend his wounds without protest. Then with equal gentleness he washes and tends to her wounds, massages her shoulders, neck and breasts, and then melts into her arms for an embrace that both lasts forever and is over in an instant.

As the two explore and clean each other Rio brightens, the layers of dirt and grime washing away. Slowly at first, and then faster and faster as the memories come pouring out, he tells her of his home world, the forest and wilderness area he cared for, the bobcat family that were his neighbors, the golden green sea, his first love (a dainty hummingbird), and the glory of Nara in her house in the mountains.

He talks almost continuously while washing out his clothing and pack scarcely allowing Glow to get a work in edgewise. Then he stops abruptly as he comes across Angstroms dagger in the bottom of his pack. "We must keep the existence of this hidden until we can find a method for destroying it." he says seriously. "I will talk to the others to emphasize this point."

Rio returns the dagger to the bottom of his cleaned pack and then carefully re-packs his belongings. When Glow is ready he removes the 'Glyph' and they rejoin the others for dinner.