Dear Diary

Prologue

„You should try it sometime, El. I'm serious."

I look up, shielding my eyes with a hand against the bright sunlight and smile. Annika looks down on me from her vantage point, perched on a broad branch of the tree I'm sitting under. She takes another bite from her apple and waves the fruit in my direction like she's about to throw it at me.

"Really. You're by yourself most of the time –" Echeya, lazily resting in the shade next to me, raises his head and shakes his silvery mane, a reproachful expression on his furry face, but Annika goes on without mercy.

" - except this overgrown bedside carpet, and…" Now Echeya's expression is definitely hurt and he growls angrily. It almost sounds like he's hungry, but I fed him only half an hour ago, so that can't be the reason. Annika rolls her eyes.

"Anyway. You don't have anyone to talk to when you're out there, El." I open my mouth to object, but she raises her hands. "I'm talking about someone who can understand your thoughts. And don't give me that 'Echeya is the best friend I could wish for and he understands every word I say' crap. You know what I mean."

I lean back against the tree and place a soothing hand on Echeya's head. The growls slowly turn to a soft purr while I'm tenderly stroking his mighty head, and his bright blue eyes are resting on me with a calm expression. My big kitty.

I pick up the piece of fine leather next to me and unfold the cloak with a critical look. It's almost done, but some more reinforcing stitches here and there couldn't hurt. After all, Annika is going to wear it down pretty quickly. She always does.

The thread is stubborn and refuses to go through the eye of the needle. For a few seconds I fiddle around with my tools, cursing under my breath, before I finally succeed. Annika jumps off the branch and lands right next to me in a graceful crouch. Her brilliant green eyes are twinkling, and once again I'm getting lost in the beauty of her face, her delicate features, the elegant, slanting eyebrows, the full, ruby lips… the stray strands of silvery hair falling across her face…

"El!?"

"What?"

"Stop looking at me like that and give me an answer!"

I blink, jerked back roughly into the here and now, and lower my head over my work. I sew a few stitches before I look up again.

"Well… yes. Okay. I guess I could try…"

Annika shakes her head and laughs at me.

"You really sound excited, El. Just do it for a while. I'm sure it will be good for you to sort out your thoughts every once in a while."

I scratch my head and look at her doubtfully.

"Who would be interested in reading my thoughts, Anni? I mean – why write it down if nobody will ever read it?"

Annika leans over and rests her head against my shoulders.

"Write for yourself, El, not for anyone else. These are your thoughts. And if you don't mind, I'd like to read about what you're doing when I'm not around." And with a mischievous grin she adds: "Just think about it – you might even show it to your grand-children some day."

There it is again, that twinkle in her beautiful green eyes. I sigh and hate myself for the flush of red I feel rising up in my face. After all those years that I've known her I should really be able to control my feelings a little better.

Annika is taking my sigh as an affirmative answer, and after some rummaging around in her large backpack she produces a leather-bound book and a quill. Ceremoniously she places both items on the cloak I'm working on. I put down the needle and flip through the empty pages of the book. I look up when I feel Annika watching me intently.

"Your diary. May it be filled with many pleasant events and very few sad ones," she says, and the expression in her eyes has changed. She's serious now. I lean over and wrap my arms around her in a tight hug.

"Thank you, Anni. I really appreciate it."

She laughs, plants a noisy kiss on my forehead and jumps up. I look up at her regretfully, but she doesn't seem to notice. She's busy picking some leaves off her tunic and looks at me expectantly.

"So – do you think you'll get this marvellous cloak done by tonight?" She tilts her head with a very convincing pout.

"I don't want to return to Silvermoon City without another one of Eladyon's masterpieces. My pretty cloaks are the envy of the whole squad." I look up and glare at her.

"Stop distracting me then, woman!" I bend over my work to hide the broad grin on my face. Of course the cloak will be ready.

After all, a promise is a promise.