Sup minions! been awhile (kinda?) :P Sorry about last chapter's screw up, something went wacky on my computer (its cursed) and it copied the chapter before it, but im pretty sure i got it fixed :3 Hopefully! Ok, so only review matters :P Strange Demise: Indeed, death did get served XD dont worry i wont kill you... yet... MWAHAHAHAHAHA *cough* The Young Volcano O.o: dunno what youre laughing about but glad i could make you laugh anyway :D Decepticon Queen: :D Dandyman: yes, please do get the book, its one of my favorite novels :) its really amazing. And same XD its getting even colder here in Virginia and no snow Darkis Shadow: I loved that review, it was really beautiful :D I might even use that, if you dont mind. Twonormalgirlsandaiportal: Indeed, it makes me laugh too thinking about it XD i might even do a comic strip of it :P Mythicalenchant: Youre in Virginia too *gasp* ohmahgawd twinsies XD And yes, i have a reason for that whole thing, and it will be made clear in the next chapter :P

Anyway, read on! I typed this up really fast, so my bad for any mistakes, my hands are numb and covered in hummus :I (dont ask) and my butts numb so...

"I'm surprised to see you back, hun," Macy mumbled. "Did the storm deplete all your food?" She was leaning against the counter, spinning a pencil in her hand boredly.

I set the items I'd selected on the counter in front of her, consisting of canned veggies, more dry milk, a few sets of AA batteries, and some candy bars for comfort foods. Not to be awkwardly personal, but it was that certain bitchy time of the month and I'd indulge myself on dark chocolate if I wanted to or not. Foalen was happily sitting next to me, watching what he could from his spot below the counter.

I shrugged, "Yeah, somewhat. These past couple days have been pretty stressful."

She started checking out the items one by one, putting them in a box, "Stressful, huh? Did an animal die?"

Shaking my head, I reached down absentmindedly and ruffled Foalen's fur, "No, I just had some unexpected company is all."

Macy looked at me in alarm, "What do you mean? Did somebody break into your house?!"

I nervously laughed and waved my hand dismissively, "No, no! Nothing like that! I found a lost... tourist and took them in during the storm is all." Hopefully she'd buy my lie. Well, it wasn't a total lie. I'm pretty sure Death wasn't a tourist, but I did find him lost.

Macy still eyed me warily, "You need to be very careful, Iris. Some of the locals who live in the forests to the East keep spotting a strange person around the edges of their property. They're calling it the Grim Reaper."

I fought the urge to groan. Leave it to Death to scare people shitless with his presence. I just hope he doesn't get arrested.

I picked up the box now full of groceries and smiled warmly at the German cashier, "Thanks for the concern, but I think I'll be perfectly fine. I have my animals to protect me." Foalen barked and his tail wagged even harder and I rolled my eyes. The mutt doesn't even know what we're talking about and he's overjoyed to be talked about. I walked towards the door but stopped when I remembered the main reason I even came down to the town in the first place. "Hey, Macy, what was the name of that game you sent your brother?"

She looked up in thought for a while, placing the eraser of the pencil to her lower lip, Darksiders 2. Why?"

"Just curious is all," With another goodbye, I walked out and put the box on the sled. Ruthad snorted and shifted his weight, shaking the little snow flakes out of his mane from the little snow flurries occurring around us. I pat his muscular neck, "Don't worry boy, we just need to stop off at the cleaners and then we're done." I hauled myself onto his saddle and waited for Foalen to get comfortable back on the sled and we made our way down the street, farther into town.

We paused to let some cars drive by before stopping again in front of the cleaners. About once a month I had to come down here and wash all my clothes since I didn't have a washer or dryer back home. I wasn't complaining. I saw no harm in having to come down here for actual important reasons. (Meaning that I'd rather not have dead stiff clothes all the time) I tied Ruthad's reins to a light post before picking up my clothes basket and walking in. It was quiet and smelled like cotton scented laundry detergent.

I silently walked over to an empty washer and put my quarters in before sorting out the dark clothes from the lights. I only knew how to do laundry from watching my mother back when I was a teen. When I first came her I was so nervous that I'd mess up that I had to get help from some random lady.

I shut the door and watched the clothes swirl around, Foalen curling up around my feet to doze until they were done. My life was boring, but I guess I prefered it that way. Not long ago I had actually wished for some excitement, but soon got over it. This was the life I ran away for, no turning back. Besides, I didn't NEED any extra excitement. It gives you wrinkles. My wish also proved that wishing didn't work anyway, even if you *cue disney music* wish upon a shooting star.

A thought suddenly invaded my mind. Maybe Death's sudden visit was my excitement? That would explain a lot. But still, only about a weeks worth of excitement? Not much fun if you ask me. And if it was my wish that brought Death here, then that would make me feel sort of guilty. He was on some sort of mission right?

I drew in a sharp breath when a had suddenly squeezed my shoulder, disrupting me from my thoughts, but I calmed down when I saw it was just Ms. Greene, an old lady who owned the small jewelry shop down the street. She smiled at me and I returned the favor.

"Hello, Ms. Greene. How are you today?"

"Oh, I'm perfectly fine today. And how be you?"

The smile I kept up was beginning to hurt my face, "Just the same. I came down to wash my clothes today, and I reckon they'll be done some time soon."

She nodded, "Then I won't keep you long. Here, before you go." She handed me a picnic basket before I knew what was going on. It was pretty heavy, making me wonder what the hell was in it. Ms. Greene pat my arm, "For your troubles."

I raised an eyebrow at her, "M-my troubles? Heh, Ms. Greene, nothing's wrong, I can't take this."

"Nonsense. Surely you've heard about the stranger roaming around the woods. The sheriff can't seem to track him. You should be extra careful."

I sighed, having heard that enough today, but thanked her anyway. The washer beeped and, after a goodbye to the old woman, put the bucket of clothes back on the sled as well as the basket and untied Ruthad. I was just about to mount him until I gasped at a sudden sting on my hand. I pulled the appendage away from his saddle and rubbed it, glaring at the random crow perched on the horn of the horse's saddle.

"You pecked me!" I barked at the bird, and surprisingly the feathered nuisance cawed back in a way that said, 'so what?'. I growled and shoved it away before jumping up and onto Ruthad. The crow cawed above us before coming back to land behind the saddle. I glared and shooed it off again, "No free rides since you pecked me for no reason." The black bird squawked before landing on Foalen's back, the mutt lazily lying next to the warm bucket of recently dried clothes.

Rolling my eyes, I steered Ruthad back towards the house and we were on our way.

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I sat on my bed while I folded the clothes, Coda lying on the recently folded pile, fast asleep, Foalen asleep at my feet, and the crow comfortably perched on the untouched picnic basket on my bedside table.

Much to my annoyance, the little demon had followed me inside and kept pecking at my hands whenever I tried to throw him out. It wouldn't have mattered anyway. I'd probably feel bad after throwing him out and let him come right back in. He was a beautiful crow, come to think of it. His eyes were a beautiful greenish yellow collow and his ruffled feathers were silky soft. It'd be a shame if a bird as pretty as him would freeze out there.

I sighed and finished the clothes, setting a still sleeping Coda to the side before putting the garments away. It was now dark outside, probably around 10 o'clock, and even with the warmth from the fire filtering through the house, it was still cold. Tonight was gonna be harsh, and I was glad I'd put the animals back in their barns.

I picked up the basket, trying not to disturb the crow in fear that it might peck my eyes out, and walked into the living room. Sitting on the cough, I opened the wicker flaps and my eyebrows shot up. Ok, I think Ms. Greene went a little overboard.

Carefully, I took out all that was in there; A bottle of red wine (Pinot Noir to be specific for you fellow wine lovers), about six differently flavored dark chocolate bars, a fancy looking sapphire necklace that looked extremely familiar, a few bags of assorted teas and hot chocolate bags, a few biscuits for Coda and Foalen, a book full of Edgar Allen Poe's greatest works (which, mind you, I spent a good hour fangirling over), and... an old picture taken back when I first got here of me with most of the town locals. There was a note with it too, and it took me a while to read through Ms. Greene's fancy old person writing. It read:

'Dear Iris.

You've been here now for about seven or eight years now. Though you don't show yourself much, you're still part of this town's family now. I don't exactly know what came over me, but I felt that I just needed to give you a little something for your troubles. I know you can take care of yourself and give that 'ole stranger roaming around a good whoopin' he'll never forget, but still be careful. This picture here I've been saving for something special. I believe you'll know what to do with it. A young lad came by the shop early this morning and gave me a necklace to give you. He didn't give his name and left quickly. He did give me his address though. My hopes are up that you'll pop up some time today, but if not, oh well.

With care,

Linda Greene'

My hands were shaking slightly as I drug my eyes down to the address at the bottom of the note and I froze. I knew that address. It was my brother's.

Suddenly there was the loudest knock on the door I've ever heard, and the crow went absolutely berserk.

I feel like this chapter is... Meh... I dunno, its just really here for informational shtuff... Sorry if it was boring, its about to get spicy :3 *coughs* MY BUTTS STILL NUMB! *dies*

*rises back up as a ghost* i feel like i should make things more... i dunno... by making stuff go on down here too :P (thats what she said) So from now on, I'll have a 'question of the week'

This week's question: Favorite food, and why?

Anyway, gotta go and walk around before my butt falls off :P later! Review, Follow, and Fav! Bye~