2

Ianto was walking along the edge of the stream, heading up towards the waterfall he could hear in the distance when he came upon a small camp. He stopped, surprised to see something he hadn't seen there the day before and as he stood stock still with surprise a man walked from the bushes towards a stick poking up in some rocks.

Fishing rod.

Ianto watched the man check the it then settle with a soft sigh, looking intently at the water.

"Have you caught anything yet?" Ianto asked softly, the man yodelling as he raced into the water and swung to face Ianto in a fighter's stance. Ianto smiled softly "Steady on there. I didn't come for a fight. Was just walking to the waterfall to look at the flowers. That's all."

The man blinked and straightened up, booking at Ianto and he then stepped out of the water in his bare feet "Sorry. I didn't know it was you. I never heard your voice before."

"Ah. Sorry, not much of a talker. I prefer to enjoy the sounds of the world around me" Ianto smiled "You are fishing … I didn't know there were fish in there."

The man looked back at the fishing hole and then looked nervous "I … we always have. This is your place now, if you want me to…"

"No!" Ianto six quickly "Gods no. If you always have, please don't stop because of me. This is your place too, I only purchased a spot here. I come from a place where we believe that we do not own the dirt we live on … we belong to it. We must protect it and be thankful for its gifts. I do not fish, maybe Jack would with David some time. I do not fish, please … do not stop because of me."

"You do not mind us here on your patch?"

"Not at all. Please. I insist you continue to live as you always did. Not like you are in my way, I never see any of you. I just like to sit and paint. Enjoy the silence and the soft sighing of the trees. Please, you and yours are welcome." Ianto smiled, "If you see my wandering about, please don't think I am annoyed or peeking at you. I simply like to walk while I think. Thinking is something I do a lot and I even talk to myself sometimes. Don't be alarmed … I just get lonely and like the sound of a familiar voice."

"Lots in your place."

"Lots of people? Yeah, with their own lives and own things to do. Sometimes I get left behind or I don't want the loud and the frantic noise of their plans. I like it here. Quiet. Soft. Easy."

"Thanks."

"Not at all … oh and that is my dog" Ianto pointed as Myfanwy careened past "She's a bit mad. Just ignore her, she will not bother you, chasing imaginary rabbits all the time the mad thing."

The man nodded and Ianto continued to walk, waving over his shoulder as he kept heading to the waterfall where he walked up the steps carved in the rock to find the wild flowers at the top, settling to up hook the backpack and pull out his sketch pad.

In no time he had some different images down on paper and some notes for how he wanted the canvas to speak. He was deep in thought as he stared at a clump of wild flowers when he became aware of someone watching him and without looking he said "You will not catch fish there ya know."

"Fish?"

Ianto looked up and smiled "Honour. Sorry, thought you were the one fishing down at the bottom of the falls."

"someone is fishing on your patch?" Honour looked annoyed as he stared at the pathway down and Ianto laughed softly as he let his pad flop onto the grass.

"It's OK. I said he could. I don't mind. It's only fish. I don't need them, clearly he wants the fish or the experience of it. I told him to go for it" Ianto flopped back to look up through the canopy of leaves at the sky overhead and Honour looked down at the pad then crouched to pick it up.

He flicked through it for a while then said softly "You have such a lovely vision."

"Thank you" Ianto sighed rolling his head to look at Honour and smile "I o love it here. The colours are so grand."

"Well … I will leave you to it" Honour said, his eyes going back to the pad and one of the pictures that seemed to take his fancy. Ianto rise and looked at the page he was stuck on and smiled.

"Ah. That is a nice one. I liked the colours. Reminded me of home, that spot" Ianto smiled as he reached out and took the pad, rearing off the page "Here. I did a couple more from different angles. You have that one."

"Oh" Honour said with delight "thanks to you friend."

"anytime" Ianto replied as he packed up and started to leave "Bus coming … I can hear it form way up here."

"Yes, we hear a lot of things up here" Honour agreed, watching the man wander down the stair as he clutched the piece of paper tightly.

Then he turned and raced through the undergrowth.

This picture was meant for great things.