March 4, Spring, Year 20

Jeeze! My back is killing me! And this is even after I went to bed early last night! And took time to relax in the tub, and the hot springs. Boy I feel pathetic.

On the plus side I rescued five more Sprites yesterday, so that brings my total of rescued Sprites up to 21. I'm mostly happy to have Jupiter back, since I can listen to my headphones while I work now. I've bought all the CDs he's currently sold, so I… kinda decimated my money. But it's alright, I'll get more!

And it's nice to listen to my own music instead of silence, the river, and birdsong.

Selling things to Van works out pretty well, especially since I can just dig up more from Uncle Carter's excavation site! And I haven't broken anything yet when I find the holes in the floor of the mines. Flora's training really is helping!

…Oh, and I saw that thief again! Puppy decided he wanted m to chase after him last night before bed…

"Puppy! Get your butt back here!" Claire yelled, giving chase to the playful dog. "It's time for bed, you little rat!"

She was more hobbling than running, her body protesting every movement as she tried to catch up with the gleeful little escapee. After a minute she flung her hands up in disgust and stopped, leaning against a tree next to the river, facing the path to the Harvest Goddess Pond and the Sprite Company HQ.

"Fine," she muttered in annoyance, "stay out all night you idiot, see if I care! Owowowowow…."

She rubbed and rolled her shoulders as she slid into a sitting position, wincing as she did so. She almost missed seeing a head of silver hair pass by her resting place, but Puppy's playful bark made her look up in time to see Skye go up the path, the dog bouncing gleefully at his heels. Her frown and annoyance became even more pronounced.

"Ohhhh!"

Frustration pushed Claire back to her feet, but she proceeded a bit more carefully up the path. Dog or no dog, the man had admitted himself to being a thief, and Claire wasn't exactly in the best of shape to defend herself. Not to mention she was carrying about nine-thousand g worth of jewelry in her rucksack.

She hid behind the hot spring near the Sprite Company tree and watched. Skye stopped at the pond and made to sit when Puppy brought him a stick. He seemed amused, wrestling with the dog for the stick, and despite her misgivings Claire found herself smiling a touch fondly as the dog played with the thief.

But, like all adorable moments, it ended when Puppy bounded over to her with a happy bark and presented her with the badly mauled stick.

And Skye saw her, even as she tried to duck out of sight. He laughed warmly, but made no move to find out why the farm girl was watching him. Claire blushed at the sound, scowled at herself for acting like a love-sick teenager, and uncertainly peered around the corner. Puppy bounced around her, occasionally bumping a leg and making her stagger.

Skye had turned back to contemplate the Goddess Pond. He seemed to be waiting for… something. Maybe for Claire to walkup and introduce herself?

She thought about it, but in the end she just scooped up Puppy and hurried back down the path towards her farm. The dog whined and wriggled in her arms.

"I'm here most nights," Skye called softly, just loud enough for her to hear. "Bring the bundle of energy and come see me again beautiful."

She paused for half a second, hardly noticeable, but it made the silver-haired thief smile as he watched her hurry down the path, dog clutched to her chest.

I really don't know what to think now. One part of me says I should look him up tomorrow night but the other is telling me it's a Bad Idea, and keeps wondering what the family would think if it came out that I was hanging out with him.

Especially Jack. Brr, there's a thought to make the blood run cold, Jack wouldn't like it at all!

Nng… I'm not going to. Not yet. I still have too much to do. The Sowing Festival is in a couple of days, maybe I can talk to Pony about it then. She, at least, won't flip out. Much….