Myri Sibil hummed nervously as she surveyed the trees ahead of her.  She was certain there had been a grove of apple trees in this very spot yesterday, as she had already announced to herself twice.  "I'm certain there was a grove of apple trees here yesterday," she said for the third time in ten minutes.  In the distance, she heard the sound of voices filtering in through the leaves.  More as a reflex than anything else, she altered her "skin" to be like the bark of an apple tree.<br/><br/>"You don't have to hide, Myri."<br/><br/>Despite its masculinity, it took Myri several seconds to realize that the calm, gentle voice had not been her own.  The fact that it had come from behind her helped.  She quickly turned her body to face the sound, and stared in fascination at the small glowing creature hovering on wings of gossamer.  What nearly moved her to tears, however, was the fact that it was smiling.  At her.  "I'm Alabaster," it said.  "Why don't you drop that disguise?"<br/><br/>Myri changed her bark back into the translucent blue "skin" that covered her natural form.  "You're not throwing things at me," she said, her voice unbelieving.<br/><br/>"No, I'm not," Alabaster replied.<br/><br/>"You're not shouting at me."<br/><br/>"Yes, that's true too."<br/><br/>"You're not running from me."<br/><br/>Alabaster sighed.<span style="font-style: italic">The poor girl,</span>he thought.<span style="font-style: italic">Mentally and physically she's a young woman, but socially, she's still a child.</span>"Yes, Myri," he said slowly.  "Now that we've established the obvious, can-<br/><br/>"Does that mean you're my friend?" she asked, her heart in her voice.<br/><br/>Alabaster thought about that one.  It would be best to start healing her psychological wounds before an inevitable crisis popped up.  "Certainly, Myri," he replied.  "I am your friend.  Now, I think-"<br/><br/>"M-May I hug you?" she asked, choking back tears of joy.<br/><br/>Alabaster sighed once more.  "Yes, Myri," he surrendered.  "You may."<br/><br/>Hesitantly, Myri reached out a trembling hand and enfolded Alabaster in it, drawing him into her chest in a careful, though snug, embrace.  To say it was not altogether umpleasant from Alabaster's point of view would be a flagrant understatement.<br/><br/>Alabaster coughed nervously.  "Umm, so," he floundered, "I think we need to address why you and I are here."<br/><br/>"Oh, of course!" Myri exclaimed, releasing her small friend.<br/><br/>Alabaster rose to hover in front of her face.  "Ah, well then," he said, still slightly red in the face, "you are here because - well, to be honest, because a Diety got bored and sent you here for the laughs.  I am here to be your guide and help you to survive the next ten years - that's how long you have to stay here before you will be allowed to go home."<br/><br/>"What's his name?" Myri asked intently.<br/><br/>"I... I don't follow," Alabaster admitted.<br/><br/>"The Diety.  What's his name?"<br/><br/>"I don't know," Alabaster said slowly.  "Why does it matter?"<br/><br/>"Well, I can't very well thank him without his name, can I?"<br/><br/>"<span style="font-style: italic">Thank</span>him?" Alabaster demanded.  "Why ever would you wan to do<span style="font-style: italic">that</span>?<br/><br/>She smiled.  "He sent you to me, didn't he?"<br/><br/>Alabaster was very nearly knocked out of the air by that one.  "Myri, you've got to stop this," he said plaintively.  "I know how bright you are, so please stop acting like a child!"<br/><br/>Myri looked down at her feet.  "Are we having a fight, Alabaster?" she asked sadly.<br/><br/>Alabaster sighed for the third time in as many minutes.  "No, Myri," he replied.  "We're not having a fight."<br/><br/>She immediately looked up, a radiant smile painted across her face.  "Great!" she enthused.  "So, what do you want to do, new friend?"<br/><br/>"For starters, we should make our way over to those voices," Alabaster replied.  "There are people there that we need to meet."<br/><br/>"Okay," she assented.  Lead the way, Alabaster."<br/><br/>((Wow... that took way too long...<img alt="&gt;.&gt;" src="./images/smilies/shifty.gif" title="Shifty eyes"/>))<br/>((BTW... No, she's not stupid.  She's really quite smart, just... incredibly socially deprived.))<br/>((EDIT: Sorry, but this is it for tonight.))