15

Ianto had decided to go back to the side of the creek, wanting some sketches of the dappled water and finally feeling calm enough to go back to the place he had lost his happy feeling. Like reclaiming the field, he wanted this back too. The Springs.

He settled to draw and was soon lost in the world of make-believe as he found himself adding nymphs to the rocks and sprites dancing in the wild flower bed. He added some glitter to the white paint, making it a bright pearl that he simply dotted here and there like fairy dust. The entire thing starting to become a child's dream.

Tuck stood watching from a distance, another old one beside him with his hand on Tuck's arm as they watched Ianto. Then Ianto stated to sing and the world seemed to stop. His haunting voice rising and falling like the wind in the boughs, both men looking up with wonder as the trees seemed to dance in time to the haunting melody being sung in a strange language. His Mama's lullaby.

Finally Ianto's voice faded away and he stood, stretching as he breathed deeply and then turned to look at the two men, then he looked down and froze, his eyes widening as something moved in the grass.

The two men followed his gaze and Tuck went to step towards Ianto with horror, the older man seizing him to hold him back as the long dark snake moved along the ground towards the water. Ianto's eyes rose to meet Tuck's.

"Don't move" Tuck said softly "It's a Cotton Mouth. Deadly … don't draw attention."

Ianto made a small noise as he stood with his hands out like he might catch it if it tried to fly at him, alien style. The all watched it as it slowed and stopped, turning as if to look at Ianto. Tuck tried to push the other man off, struggling to pull his knife at the same time. He cursed himself for not having his rifle that he had left back a the top of the falls as not to upset Ianto who had made it clear that he hated guns.

Then there was an explosion of noise from Ianto's left and he slowly turned his head as Sprit cantered into the clearing, his head high and his front hooves striking the soil as he pounded the snake into the ground with open malice.

It seemed to go on for a long time but was probably less than a minute, then the stag stepped back panting and snorting as he checked the remains of the snake, Ianto finally shaking himself from his shock.

"Spirit" he whispered "Thank you. Christ. Thank you handsome."

The Stag tuned to him and bowed his head than turned and took off back into the foliage, disappearing like he had never been there.

Ianto crouched and produced his knife to poke at the mush "Well … shit. He sure didn't like that snake did he?"

"Are you ok boy?" Tuck called softly.

"Fine. I'm fine Tuck" Ianto rose and wiped his knife on the bottom of his jeans, then put the knife away.

"This is Ice. One of the senior elders" Tuck finally remembered why he was there "We are having a celebration of the Harvest Moon and I know you will not come up but … we do bring it down the mountain to the springs where we bathe in the moonlight and give thanks. Will you come?"

Ianto looked at the old man.

"You and your man." The old man finally grunted "It is a time of peace, cleansing and renewal."

"Well … given the past year I could do with a fresh stat." Ianto agreed "I will not go up the mountain but … I will talk to Jack and if he is willing, we will meet you at the top of the falls, at the springs."

"Good. Good" Tuck grinned, the old man nodding as he showed satisfaction.

"Oh, and Tuck?"

Tuck raised his eyebrows.

"The one that has been spotlighting around the top of the falls at night … please tell him to stop. No hunting there. Not that close to Spirit. Him and his mate like to rest around there and I do not want blood my side of the water."

"Of course. We did not allow any hinting. We will talk to our people and if anyone is trespassing we will find out who" Tuck frowned "We want peace between us."

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"So … they didn't sanction the spotlights?" Jack asked as he took a forkful of spaghetti from his plate and lifted it to his mouth.

"No. He looked genuinely pissed. I believe him"" Ianto agreed as he sat to check the baby in the bassinette by the table, the tiny tot sleeping with his arms thrown above his head.

"You eating?"

"Ate something earlier"

"Tiger … humour me?"

Ianto sighed and accepted a mouthful from Jack's fork, sitting back to hum around it. Jack did season it right. Jack ate mouthful to mouthful in the hopes that he could get Ianto to … five forks in and Ianto cleared his throat, rising to move the bassinette with the comment that those dishes will not do themselves.

Jack sighed as he ate the rest of his meal watching Ianto's back.

He had a feeling that ws the only thing he had eaten since the energy bar at breakfast while the children were watching him.

What was worrying him?