12

"You didn't tell them" Jack said without accusation as he watched Ianto pulling on his PJ bottoms for bed "about the Albinism. You didn't tell them."

"Not their business."

"But why did you put that cap in him and cover him like that. You didn't want them to see ... are you ashamed of it?"

Ianto froze and felt that irrational anger then knew he was being touchy and sighed as he sat and reached for Jack's hand.

"They revere the white things out there. That Albino stag I love so much … they worship it as some god. Anything that is born on that mountain with the Albino gene is some sort of …. Talisman. If they knew he was an Albino … born of a dead man … that would be it. I thought he was Blue's. But it was not the dead man they were talking about. I get the feeling he was high up in the tribe if they were accepting of the claims made against him by the young women. They will learn in good time that the child they rejected was one they were probably waiting fro … some prophecy or some shit. Maybe it's wrong to get a perverse pleasure knowing they will go ape-shit. I don't know. I just don't want them to change their minds before things are settled and the ink is dry on those papers."

"Shit. That stag is something they worship? Hope it stays in the trees then, hunting season is starting soon and apparently they come from all over the place to hunt" Jack lay back and groaned with delight in the fresh bedding "I guess he doesn't' get that old without knowing that though."

"Agreed" Ianto smiled "Besides. There is no hunting here, I forbid it. I own the base of the mountain and all along the creek. They would have to trespass at night to get to him anyway, come past us. Apparently the neighbours are the same, we all placed the signs saying this is a No Hunting Zone."

"Good. Those on the mountain need the food themselves, especially as some of those hunting do it for sport, not even for the meat."

"Well .. I do not want to EVER hear a gunshot again" Ianto said as he faced Jack, his shoulder badly scared while not fully healed. Jack rose and walked to him then kissed him more gently, rubbing his back as he held him tight.

He didn't ever want to feel the after effects of a gunshot echoing around the mountain again either.

.

.

.

.

Ianto was standing on the top of the small step-ladder in the rotunda, humming as he painted some woodland scene on the ceiling, the roof becoming a canopy of trees above them. He might not go to the clearing anymore, not since that day he was grabbed, but he wanted Rye to see ... to know where he came from.

"Rhaeadr. Look" Ianto crooned as he worked, looking down with a soft smile that faded as he saw a young boy sitting on the top step of the entrance looking at the baby with open awe. Eleven? Twelve at the most?

"Hello there" Ianto said calmly "And what is your name?"

"Sparrow"

"A good name. A sparrow is small, fast and clever" Ianto smiled as he settled next to the youth "His name is Rhaeadr. It means waterfall."

"Me maw asked me to bring you this" he poked at a box "Me sister was his maw. She died, right?"

"Yes. She is buried over there" Ianto pointed to the far end of the filed "I wanted her close to the mountain. Close to Rye too."

The boy stood and looked over, then walked to the small cross that sat there. Ianto held his breath as he hoped now for what he really wanted to know. The boy returning as Ianto opened the box and looked in at some booties made of rabbit fur, a fox tail and a jar of liquid.

"Rye Whiskey Moonshine. Pa put that in for you too."

"What was her name? Your sister?"

"Rain."

"Rain. He came from water, fell through water and is named for water. How apt" Ianto smiled softly "You know … that's pretty cool."

"His hair is white"

"Yes" Ianto knew it would come out sooner or later and the conversations about things with Jack had helped him see that he had to be ready, no point hiding it when a little toddler with shock white hair would stick out like a sore thump soon enough. Better they get some warning so there was not a sudden argument or any anger. Jack had been right about that "He is blessed. His hair will always be very white, so will his skin. He is what they call Albino. Special."

"Like the guardians?" the boy was fast.

"Yes. Like the Stag … he is also white like that. Touched by the gods I guess. Why he survived the fall. Angels fall from heaven you know … fall to earth." Ianto smiled "Maybe he fell from a cloud?"

The boy laughed softly "Yeah. Like the Frost Man!"

Ianto decided he liked Sparrow "Hungry? I have some food if you like."

"Please"

Ianto opened the cooler that also had some cans of coke in them, handing one to the child who clearly knew what is was by the way his face lit up before opening it. Ianto placed sandwiches and cookies on a plate handing it to the boy and then he sat back to chew his own, checking the little one who was still sleeping. Ianto saw the packet of photos in the bottom of the bag he had not gone through yet and he pulled it out, flicking through them and then handing one to Sparrow "Here. You can have this one, I have more."

Sparrow looked at the picture of his little nephew, the serious eyes and deep pout. He grinned at it with delight. He looked like his old Grandfather.

"Sparrow… you are welcome anytime toy want to come visit your nephew here. He is mine now but … also … yours. Always. Blood is blood." Ianto smiled, then looked up to find Honour there looking a them "Hey. Want a sandwich too?"

"Sparrow. I have been looking for you. Sorry Ianto, he knows we are to leave you alone"

"That's OK. He is blood. Welcome here as are you" Ianto said softly, patting the boy' knee "And now … he is about to wake hungry. Gotta go now, his milk is inside the house"

Ianto scooped up the baby and headed inside, Honour left standing with the boy and a feeling of shame knowing Ianto was walking away from him. He had broken the conversation between the man and boy.

He sighed softly as he looked at the photo of an awake child and also knew things were going to get worse.

The further they fall.