Disclaimer: The characters in this story are owned by Rumiko Takahashi.
The Pace We Take
My journeys, my conquest, all at my pace. My leisure.
Measured strides throughout the paths.
One day, my path meets an unexpected companion. A young human child.
One that was not anticipated, not sought. Yet I bring her along to travel with me at my pace.
Soon my pace becomes our pace.
At first once she joins, our pace slows. She is not tall enough to keep up.
She is small, but strong. Young and happy.
We walk with consideration, and when we are moving too slow,
She is offered a ride by one of our members.
We continue on, walking through the days.
As she grows, we can once again pick up speed with each growing year.
Time passes.
When she becomes an adult, she keeps up perfectly.
Her youthful energy, she is in her prime.
My pace has returned, my measured strides are sure.
She keeps herself with us, walking with confidence.
Soon she ages, and we find that once again we are slowing down.
She climbs the hill slow, crinkles around her eyes.
Just as our pace sped up with each growing year, it begins to slow with each passing season.
One day, our pace is back to the considerate and slow steps that we took when she was young.
We stop. No pace to move, no need to move.
Our companion is gone.
While in the past our pace has changed to allow her to follow.
She dictates our pace again.
What pace is there to take.
How fast are we to move.
When moving now, means leaving her behind.