She like when her mother let her spend a day at the park in Azarath. She didn't understand why Her mother worried about letting her outside. She wasn't here to worry about that, but enjoy the breeze across her skin and the sound of silence.

However this silence was broken by medley being played. It started out sweet and smoothing then a badly played note would wreck the whole medley. Yet it should start up again only to be wrecked by the same badly played note.

Her curiosity led away from the protective graze of her mother to a wall. Laying on top of the wall was the flute player leaning against a pillar. He held the flute to his right. His fingers went on the holes. They had a simply dance and rhythm to them until that one note would screw him up.

He stopped. Turning the shaft towards his eyes, he stared at it trying to figure out what was producing that bad note.

"Maybe it isn't the flute, but the flute player," she said.

This got his attention. Turning, he sat allowing his legs to dangle from the edge of the wall. Placing the flute on his lap, his blue eyes stared at her.

"So you're a flute expert," he remarked.

"I know when one's being misplayed."

"So flute expert what to call you?"

"Can't give a stranger my name."

"Oh, quid pro quo."

"What's that?"

"It means for me to know your name I must tell mine."

"What if I don't need to know your name?"

"Then you're unknown to me just my imagination playing a joke on me."

"Why would it play on joke you?"

Lifting the flute up, "Sorry you don't exist to me," placing his lips to the end piece.

Before he blow into the flute, "It's Raven."

"You're not unknown," placing the flute back on his lap, "Rath for the exchange for knowing your name."

Their blue eyes stared at each other trying to figure the other out.

"How old are you?" she asked.

"Why?"

"Trying to figure how you should be acting?"

"What do my age and my actions have to do with each other?"

"Well, one should act their age."

"Not their shoe size."

Puzzlement was in her face and he could read it.

"Advice from a song."

"What song?"

"Only remember Tommy Jones."

"If I tell my age would you tell me yours, quick pro…"

"Quid pro quo, tell me your age."

She held up her fingers and he counted them.

"Add five to your age and you shall have mine."

"You're ten."

"Quick counter."

Why did he hold her curiosity? Maybe he didn't talk down to her even if he was staring down at her.

Starting to get up, "Nice knowing you, flute expert," pulling the flute part and placing it in a backpack, "Time to move."

"Why?"

"For better scenery."

"You don't like me."

"Didn't say that just looking for better scenery."

"Can I go?"

"Don't you have to be somewhere else?"

"Not right away."

"Why not?"

Studying the wall, she realized to it was to high her to climb.

"How did you get there?"

"Levitated."

Tilting her headto the right, "Nobody can levitate."

"Because you can't, doesn't mean I can't."

"Bad grammar."

"Now we're speech expert."

"Can you help?"

"Yes," turning his back to her.

Bending backwards, "Reach for my hands."

Barely able to reach, "Can't reach."

"Try harder."

Standing on her tipping toes, allowed his hands to grab her wrists just barely. Lifting her up, she had to use him like ladder to climb the rest the way up. His hands, in fact, pushed her feet to allow her to get on the wall. He pulled himself up.

Standing, he started walking. Then he stopped and looked over his shoulder. There was Raven on her hands and knees staring at the ground.

"Is there a problem?" he asked the terrified Raven.

"I'm scared."

"Of what?"

"That I'll fall."

"Falling won't kill you the landing will."

Terror was in those blue eyes. Sighing, he turned around and walked towards her.

Holding his hand out, "Here, I won't let you fall."

"If you do, I'm taking you with me," taking his hand.

Taking her hand, he pulled her up. Still holding it, he turned and walked forward.

How long they walked? She didn't know. Finally they did stop.

"Look," he said pointing.

She did. What a sight? She couldn't find the words to descript it.

"The center of Azarath can be here," he remarked, "Do you like it?"

"Yes, I do."

Sitting down, "Are you hungry?" he asked removing the backpack from his shoulders.

Sitting beside him, "Yes."

Untying the cord and flipping the cover the up, he dug inside the pack. Pulling out a bundle of leaves, he untied the top and unfolded the leaves. Inside the leaves was a flat round bread. Pulling it in half revealed cheese and a red sauce.

Receiving one half, "Pita beard?" she asked.

"Yes," eating his half.

Tasting hers, the red sauce tasted good.

"What is this red sauce?"

"Pizza sauce."

"Pizza sauce?"

"Yes, it's conceded a delicacy to some."

Finishing the pita bread, their ears detected, "Rath!"

"Someone's calling for you," she commented.

"Raven!"

"A call for you," he remarked, "Time to find our guardians."

Lowering her down, he dropped beside her. Together they walked towards the source of their names being called.

They came across a woman wearing a white robe. Her hood was off allowing them to see her black hair like Raven's hair.

"Mommy!" said Raven.

"Raven," she said bending to her knees to stare at Raven, "Didn't I tell you not to leave my sight."

"Yes, but I wasn't alone," Raven said, "I was with him," pointing towards Rath.

Turning her attention towards Rath, "And you are?"

"Rath!" came from a white hair and bearded man who was old enough to be Raven's grandfather, maybe great grandfather.

"Mabon," said Raven's mother.

"Arella seems you found my ward."

"They found me."

"This must be Raven. Yes, I remember your birth."

"Then why wasn't I invented," said Rath.

"You were to young, Rath," stated Mabon, "Time we get home."

"To more dusting books and scrolls," remarked Rath.

"How else are you to learn?"

"By living," answered Rath, "Lets our path cross again, Raven," kissing the back of her hand.

Blushing, she just waved good-bye and went with her mother.

Watching them walk away, "Mabon."

"Yes, Rath."

"One day, I'll marry Raven."

Had Rath look up, he would've seen concern in Mabon's ancient face.