http://fairiefabels.com faeries through the ivy hedge Sun, 13 Feb 2011 00:50:07 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 faeries through the ivy hedge The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no faeries through the ivy hedge http://fairiefabels.com/wp-content/plugins/powerpress/rss_default.jpg http://fairiefabels.com http://fairiefabels.com/2010/06/i-dont-remember-lightening/ http://fairiefabels.com/2010/06/i-dont-remember-lightening/#comments Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:32:21 +0000 admin http://fairiefabels.com/?p=2233 http://fairiefabels.com/2010/06/i-dont-remember-lightening/feed/ 0 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/05/queen-alinas-promise/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/05/queen-alinas-promise/#comments Mon, 01 Jun 2009 01:53:34 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=1212 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/05/queen-alinas-promise/feed/ 0 Arial,backyard,bright light,butterflies,crystal doors,fire faeries,frost faeries,Gaia,Imagination,magic,Midsummer,neighbor I always get the most peaceful feeling when I come home, it doesn't matter where I go or for how long, I guess it's all the wonderful positive magic that flows through my garden. Today, I felt that serenity stronger than I can remember in the recent mo... I always get the most peaceful feeling when I come home, it doesn't matter where I go or for how long, I guess it's all the wonderful positive magic that flows through my garden. Today, I felt that serenity stronger than I can remember in the recent months. I took the leash off of Lucy and let her in the house then turned back to face Arial and Cythia. The two faeries were sitting on the gate to the back yard, watching with intense concern as the emerald guard checked the silver protection orbs in the garden that marks the boundary between our house and the Shunners. I walked quietly up behind them and peeked between the ornamental iron leaves that cover the gate. "So, are you two going to tell me what in Gaia's name that little stunt was all about? Shooting in and disrupting a  perfectly charming conversation I was having with my neighbor down the street, I almost fell out of my chair! I'm just sure that she thinks I"m a little whacked now." I was hoping to return the favor of startling them by sneaking up behind them but I forget that it is almost impossible to surprise a faerie. Without turning to look at me Cythia said, "We have received some disturbing information from our colleagues in the realm, information that could directly impact you." She turned to face me now, her eyes dark with worry. "The queen has requested your presence, I have been sent to escort you to the palace." Arial took her usual place on my shoulder. "The Emerald Guard and I will not leave your side." She gave Cythia a defiant look which told me that they had already talked about this. Cythia shrugged her tiny shoulders. "As you wish, but we must leave immediately." She pulled out her wand and touched the tip to my forehead. A flash of bright white light surrounded us, and as the world dissolved beneath my feet I asked, "Does this have anything to do with Lilly!?" This isn't the first time I have traveled into the realm of the fae. Every time I land on solid ground again, I always feel dizzy and disoriented. It would be nice if some of that faerie blood I have in me would help when it came to moving about the universe. Arial smiled at me as if she knew exactly what I was thinking. © Tami Ruesch, The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry, 2009. The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/what-a-way-to-make-an-entrance/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/what-a-way-to-make-an-entrance/#comments Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:25:53 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=974 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/what-a-way-to-make-an-entrance/feed/ 0 Arial Hollyberry,backyard,Black Cats,charms,chihuahuas,Daily Life,Dogs,eyes,Fairie Stories,Fairies,garden,Gnomes I didn't know if Bill wanted to laugh or cry. One thing was perfectly clear, he wasn't at all happy about having his wife turned into a cat. He sat down on the porch step and stared at me. Arial and Cythia had each taken a protective position, I didn't know if Bill wanted to laugh or cry. One thing was perfectly clear, he wasn't at all happy about having his wife turned into a cat. He sat down on the porch step and stared at me. Arial and Cythia had each taken a protective position, hovering a few inches off the ground on either side of me. I have noticed that when situations get tense, the faeries will hum softly. It has a calming effect, like the time my little Chihuahua, Edie, got plopped on the head with cold wet snow.  She will always let us know when she is not happy, and by the sounds of her wild screaming that day, she wasn't happy! The faeries paralleled her every move, humming a gentle lullaby, until she stopped. Then of course she looked at us like nothing out of the ordinary had just happened. Arial and Cythia were humming like that now, but this time it was for Bill. When the shock began to wear off, and the two faeries were satisfied that he was calmer, they left my side. Arial went to perch on Bill's shoulder and Cythia proceeded to braid the strands of hair that she had pulled out of my head prior to my feline transformation. Arial repositioned herself on Bill's shoulder, leaning forward to observe Cythia's work. She scratched her head, "Potions are tricky things." Since Bill hadn't been home to witness my metamorphosis, Arial had to do a little explaining. "Unless you know the exact magical strength of the creature you are going to change into, it is hard to gauge the length of time before the potion wears off. Obviously Mrs. Shunners cat wasn't just a cat, or, the shape shifter had placed charms on it." "She won't stay like that will she? We have dogs, and gnomes!" Bill edged a little closer and held out his hand to me. "Please forgive me sweetheart, I had no idea you were a, he gulped, cat." I knew that I would have to make him dinner tonight, but right now I decided to play the cat role to the hilt. I turned my back and proceeded to lick my paws, glancing around to give him a detached look of disdain. "Tonight, you get tuna!" Meooow. Cythia finished the braid and wove it into the fur on the top of my head. She moved back  waving her wand over me and chanted. Pink sparkles fell from the tip and disappeared into the thick black fur. "That should do it! Her natural DNA will recognize the strands of hair and the transition back to her former human self will begin." We waited. When nothing happened, I started to get nervous and began pacing around in circles. "I can't stay this way, I can't stay this way!" Meeeeoow, meeeeoow! Bill stifled a shudder and gently rubbed my fur. "Ah honey! Thanks for that show of support, I forgive you, you don't have to eat tuna tonight!" Meow, Meoow. All of a sudden I felt a tingling, it started at the tip of my tail and worked it's way up my spine and out the tips of my ears. My eyes opened wide and I stood very still, waiting. Everyone else must have known that something was about to happen because they all took several steps away from me. For a split second, I felt as if the whole world was collapsing in on me. Everything compressed, then in a sudden explosion of sparkling pink light I materialized, and from the relieved smiles on their faces, looking quite myself. At first no one spoke, then, everyone was speaking at the same time. "Well done!"  "Welcome back." "I thought you would stay that way forever!" "What did it feel like?" "What's for dinner?" (that's my hubby, it's all about the food!). Faeries were buzzing around my head, Bill was hugging me. I think Warren and Odette even got in on the welcoming committee, of course, the dogs were barking madly. I let their relief wash over me, happy to be myself again, aside from a slight buzz in my head, I felt rather good. When the celebration had subsided, and Bill couldn't hug me any tighter, I extricated myself from his arms and stood back to look him in the eyes. With hands on hips, and with a mock tone of indignation in my voice, The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no 6:45 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/shoo-cat-shoo/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/shoo-cat-shoo/#comments Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:48:41 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=955 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/shoo-cat-shoo/feed/ 1 brooms, cats, fairies, chase There was no time to waste, Arial flipped her wings once and rocketed  into the air carrying Krystal in her arms, accompanied by four of the emerald guard. The remaining faeries stayed behind to make sure the invisibility and protection charms around t... There was no time to waste, Arial flipped her wings once and rocketed  into the air carrying Krystal in her arms, accompanied by four of the emerald guard. The remaining faeries stayed behind to make sure the invisibility and protection charms around the perimeter of the yard remained impenetrable. I looked around the yard, it was empty, not a single faerie was in sight. "Hey, guys? I haven't changed back, hello?" In my head I was making perfect sense, but what I heard coming out of my furry little mouth was...meeeooooww! Meow, meow, meeeeeooow! I started pacing nervously back and forth in front of the door. Of course this had to happen, I had envisioned the morphing thing a little differently, something like: I drink the goo, I change into a kitty cat, I grab the faerie, I change back to myself in a beautiful shower of sparkles. Wrong! Didn't Cythia say something about "just in case of an emergency?" Now that I think about it, I never did get a clear explanation of "emergency". It seemed like I had been pacing in front of the door forever when I heard someone coming in from the garage. Head held high, ears pivoted forward, I padded down the walk toward the gate. Bill and I met at the corner of the house. He had stopped at the store to pick up a few groceries and both of his arms were loaded with bags so I thought it would be best not to try to get him to pick me up and carry me into the house. I wanted him to know that it was me under all this fur. "Hi honey! you will never believe how my day went!" Meeoow, meow, meow, meow. Well, that didn't go over so good, darn my kitty mouth anyway. I knew how Bill felt about cats, but I had to take a chance, I started rubbing up against his leg in an attempt to gain his favor, maybe he would sense that it was me. I purred so sweetly, walking around his legs  like I had seen my evil twin do with Mrs. Shunner not all that long ago. "Pick me up please!" Meow, meeooow!! If cats could laugh, I'd be splitting my sides right now, Bill looked like he had just been dive bombed by a seagull with intestinal distress, and it was running down his forehead by the looks of it. Bill walked to the patio table with me happily padding along behind. He put the bags down and turn around, "Oh good! He's going to pick me up" Meeoooow (shoot! I can't wait until I can communicate on a human level again).  I was preparing to purr contentedly and do another pass around his legs when I saw him pick up the broom I keep by the back door. We stood there looking a each other for a moment, then with one quick sweep, he waved the broom at me. "Shoo! Pisst! Shoo cat! Shoo! I jumped quickly to one side. "Hey! Stop that, don't you recognise me?  I swear, if you don't stop that you won't get any dinner tonight! Meeeeoooow! Meeooow, meow! He kept swishing the broom at me in an attempt to drive me out of the yard. Didn't he wonder why I was not going? I was about to take refuge in the Hawthorne tree when Cythia and Arial came to my aid (wow, it would be easier to climb this tree as a cat, unlike the time I saved Pip from the Blue jay).They flew wildly around and around Bill's head twittering and scolding and tweaking his ears. "Stop it! You're trying to harm the Kind One!" Arial perched on his nose and with her hands on her hips, gave him a stern scowl. "That", and she turned around pointing and smiling at me, "is the Kind One." Bill's mouth hung open and the broom dropped from his hands. © Tami Ruesch, The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry, The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/krystal-in-a-bell-jar/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/krystal-in-a-bell-jar/#comments Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:15:16 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=935 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/krystal-in-a-bell-jar/feed/ 0 rescue, fairies, bottles, cats,arial hollyberry Entering Mrs. Shunner house was the last thing the Kind One ever thought she would be doing. Now here she was, about to go where no faeire ever would. Will her mission to rescue the kidnapped faerie, Krystal, be successful? Entering Mrs. Shunner house was the last thing the Kind One ever thought she would be doing. Now here she was, about to go where no faeire ever would. Will her mission to rescue the kidnapped faerie, Krystal, be successful? There are sinister forces waiting inside, waiting to stop anyone, or anything that threatens to ruin Mrs. Shunners plans. I turned my attention to the bottles sitting high on the counter. Pulling myself up on my hind legs and stretching my head forward, I craned my neck, trying to see the bottles at the back. No good, the light was bad and there were far to many bottles and jars. Some of them were so dusty I couldn't see what was in them. The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/easter-means-digging-in-the-garden/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/easter-means-digging-in-the-garden/#comments Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:22:58 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=926 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/easter-means-digging-in-the-garden/feed/ 0 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/transformation/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/transformation/#comments Fri, 10 Apr 2009 03:38:22 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=875 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/transformation/feed/ 1 Arial Hollyberry,backyard,Black Cats,Daily Life,energy,ethereal,Fairie Stories,Fairies,Fantasy,garden,green bottle Jello,Midnight Cythia and Arial were pushing me toward the back door, you can't tell by looking at them, but for only being three inches tall, they are strong for their size. " Hey, guy's, don't you think we should wait for Bill to get home? I mean, Cythia and Arial were pushing me toward the back door, you can't tell by looking at them, but for only being three inches tall, they are strong for their size. " Hey, guy's, don't you think we should wait for Bill to get home? I mean, maybe he should be here to help. There's not going to be side effects or anything is there? You didn't tell me how long the potion will work or what to expect...guy's, wait!" They pushed and I protested right up until we reached the door. What are they going to do now, they can't push me and open the door at the same time. My frenzied train of thought evaporated when  Cythia waved her wand at the door causing it to swing open, allowing us to walk through without any hesitation. When the black cat saw us it ceased its useless struggle.  Hanging suspended in mid air by the energy field that surrounded it, the creature stared at us with wild, flashing  green eyes. As we got closer, it pinned its ears back and produced a low throaty growl. Its razor sharp claws pulsed in and out, it was just waiting for a chance to strike. Arial landed on my shoulder, her usual perch and whispered in my ear. "Do not worry, Kind One, you will have plenty of time to complete your mission. Go to the rear, there is a door through which you can pass. Krystal's energy is emanating from somewhere in the back of the house. Do you understand?" Keeping a wary eye on Mrs. Shunners cat, I nodded. "I still don't like this." Cythia darted over and flew circles around my head, "You'll be just fine." She pulled three strands of my hair out. "This is just in case of an emergency." My mouth dropped open, "Emergency? What emergency!?"Arial snapped her fingers and the green goo appeared. She handed me the bottle and indicated that I should drink up. I sniffed it. It smelled like green jello with a hint of licorice, and something else that I couldn't identify but was slightly acrid. Arial helped tip the bottle to my mouth. She winked at me, "I think you will find this surprisingly different!" I pinched my nose shut and I swallowed the brew. At first, nothing happened, then everything went blurry. The yard started rocking back and forth. I sat down to steady myself. This ethereal feeling left me slightly light-headed. From somewhere far away I heard Cythia telling the other faeries to float the cat closer. A beautiful rainbow of light shot out of  her wand and the cat went limp. I was suddenly overcome with the urge to pet the thick, glossy black fur. The world dimmed out. When the fog lifted, I was aware that my hearing and eyesight had sharpened, I felt extremely agile and felt a driving need to hunt sweep over me. With my human awareness remaining intact, I had taken on a feline form. I no longer walked, I sauntered. I felt Cythia and Arial coming up behind me, in one fluid movement I reacted, jumping and turning at the same time coming down on all four paws, back arched and ears pinned, ready to strike at the eminent threat. When I saw that it was just my faerie friends, I tried to apologize, but all that came out was a mewling moan so I just flicked my tail upward and began swishing it quietly back and forth. Arial grabbed me by the whiskers to focus my attention. I tried to shake her off, but she held fast. "Remember, you are Mrs. Shunners Cat, act like you belong there. Go to the back of the dwelling and find the entrance, your new vision will help you in the dim interior. Be quick." I rubbed my chin up against Arial to show that I understood, then padded softly down the sidewalk and turned the corner, heading for the Shunners property, trying hard not to get distracted by the bird jumping from branch to branch in the big bush at the corner of the yard. When I got to the garden wall, I sprung effortlessly up and proceeded to follow it to the fence that divided the front of their yard from the back. It was no effort at all for me to balance myself as I edged along the top with my new found feline grace. The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/the-icky-green-goo/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/the-icky-green-goo/#comments Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:14:18 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=842 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/the-icky-green-goo/feed/ 0 Arial Hollyberry,backyard,cats,Daily Life,Entertainment,Fairie Stories,Fairies,Fantasy,garden,Green Goo,Imagination,magical Cythia pointed her wand at the little bottle. It floated up into the air, hung there for a moment, then slowly made its way toward me. I held out my hand to receive the green liquid filled glass. The vial settled in my hand and began to vibrate. Cythia pointed her wand at the little bottle. It floated up into the air, hung there for a moment, then slowly made its way toward me. I held out my hand to receive the green liquid filled glass. The vial settled in my hand and began to vibrate. I wasn't expecting the bottle to move, it startled me,  and I jerked my hand nearly dropping it. Before I knew what was happening, two faeries swooped in from either side and caught it before it could tip and spill its precious contents. "This potion takes weeks to brew, we do not have the time to start all over again."     Frowning at me, Cythia held onto the top of the bottle with one hand and shook her finger at me with the other. Arial clapped her hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle, her eyes wide with surprise at Cythia's impertinence. I was a little surprised at the Cythia's pluck as well. "I'm so sorry, it's just that I didn't expect the bottle to move on its own!" I wrapped my fingers around the container and Cythia moved back, obviously annoyed at my clumsiness. Arial continued to giggle softly. Turning my attention to the liquid in the bottle, I noticed that it was slowly swirling and twisting in on itself. The viscus solution was shot through with veins of black and silver. It might have been my over active imagination but I thought that it looked like it was listening to us, the way that it would start to twirl faster when I spoke (I have way to many "Harry Potter" moments lately). "Okay, what is this stuff anyway?" I held the bottle close to my mouth when I said "stuff" and watched the green goo twitch excitedly. "It doesn't look to appetizing." The two faeries exchanged a nervous glance. "What?" It slowly dawned on me what I was supposed to do with it. "You don't want me to drink this icky stuff do you!?" The two faeries chimed in together, "It's the only way!" I carefully placed the container on the counter and rubbed my face. I knew I wasn't going to like what I was about to hear. "You might as well tell me what you want me to do. Come on, get it over with." I pulled out a stool and sat down. I thought that it would be better if I were in a sitting position to hear the plan. Arial spoke first. "Every faerie has their own energy signature, rather like your finger prints. We have been able to pinpoint exactly where Krystal is being held and our initial suspicions were correct, she is being held in your neighbors dwelling. Her energy is growing weaker so we have very little time to waste." I was right, sitting down was better than standing up. Cythia continued. "Since the shape shifter is magical by nature, we can not enter her sphere of influence, she would know immediately. You, on the other hand could walk in right under her nose and go undetected." I jumped up, almost tipping the stool I was sitting on over backward. "Hello! Big person here!" To make the point, I turned around, sweeping my hands from the top of my head down to my toes, then back again. I struck a, what do you think about that? pose with my hands resting firmly on my hips. "How am I supposed to walk in over there?" Just the thought of entering that persons (or what ever she is) house made me want to hurl. "That is where the potion comes in. It is a shape shifting potion that will allow you to take the form of the first thing that you touch immediately after drinking it." I pictured the funny scene of Bill walking in and finding me looking like a potted mum. I would shake my petals at him and ask, "what would you like for dinner tonight hon?" He'd probably faint on the spot. "I don't think Bill is going to like this plan, besides, what am I going to touch that will get me in there unnoticed? I can't go as a plant." The potted mum image sprung to mind. Cythia had a smug look of satisfaction on her face. "We have a better idea, look out your window." I leaned over the sink and looked out. Down on the patio, I saw fourteen faeries, the emerald guard and two flower faeries, The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/the-cycle-of-life/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/the-cycle-of-life/#comments Tue, 07 Apr 2009 05:54:45 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=826 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/04/the-cycle-of-life/feed/ 0 Arial Hollyberry,backyard,Daily Life,Entertainment,faerie realm,Fairie Stories,Fairies,Flowers,garden,Green Bottles,growth,Imagination Mother Nature has four seasons, Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn. We all know this, but what I have come to find out is that each season is ruled by a distinct group of faeries and the faeries have certain responsibilities that pertain to their parti... Mother Nature has four seasons, Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn. We all know this, but what I have come to find out is that each season is ruled by a distinct group of faeries and the faeries have certain responsibilities that pertain to their particular season. Winter is ruled by the frost faeries, it is their responsibility to see that the earth rests. They cover the world in a blanket of ice and snow and the plants go dormant, preparing to renew with the coming of warmer months. Spring is ruled by the flower faeries. They have the difficult assignment of convincing the frost faeries that it is time for the earth to thaw and bring forth new life. With the burden  of displacing the winter behind them, they turn their attention to the rebirth of nature, the flower faeries have the responsibility of encouraging new growth. Not long ago, I saw a tiny faerie pulling a crocus  out of the ground and spreading the bright yellow flower petals open. Every flower and plant has a faerie to help it grow and flourish. When the flower faeries have persuaded the trees to leaf out, the grass to  grow, and the flowers to bloom, when they have whispered to every bulb and seed, they yield to the Fire Faeries of Summer. These spicy little faeries have the responsibility of bringing light and energy to the world. In the far distant past, fire was regarded as the giver of life, because if the clan's fire went out, the clan perished. In order to produce the fruits of the field, the earth needs it's heat. These fiery sprites of summer are just as strong willed as the frost faeries and can remain far into autumn. When they stay that long we call it an Indian summer. The fall faeries have the responsibility of preparing nature for the coming of winter, they must convince these denizens of summer to move south so that the earth can rest again. The circle of life continues. The flower faeries began appearing for the Spring Solstice. I remember Arial saying that their sisters had arrived, but with all the commotion of the celebration, and having to deal with the freezing anger of Queen Orlith, I hadn't been able to give them my full attention. Today, while I was doing my usual spring inspection, I noticed two little faeries tiptoeing around on the periwinkle. Every few steps, they would point their wands at the ground cover and a blue-purple flower would appear. It was still terribly cold, but flowers were starting to bloom and the trees were beginning to leaf out. Spring, it seems, can not be contained. Orlaith must solve the problem of the missing faerie, and she must do it quickly. No sooner had the thought had crossed my mind, when Arial materialized in front of me. "I was just thinking of you! What are we going to do about this awful frigid weather? Queen Orlaith has to stop before she freezes all the fruit." "I have been to see the queen. Our sister faeries of the spring have sent a  mediator to consult with Orlaith and bring  an end to winter. Orlaith remains firm on the subject of the missing faerie, and promises that the fruit blossoms will not survive her cold anger if the faerie that is being held by the shape shifter is not released." I stared out the kitchen window at the flower faeries, who had moved on to the Laurel bushes and were busy coxing  the flower spikes out of the leaves. "You said you had a plan, I guess I'll have to hear it, or risk having all the flowers shrivel away." I turned to face Arial and found that another faerie had joined her and was currently sitting on the edge of the counter swinging her tiny feet back and forth and fluttering her shiny wings in the sunlight. Arial beamed,"This is Cythia, flower faerie liaison to Queen Orlaith" Cythia sprung to her feet, flipped her wings and whizzed over to hang three inches from my nose. I couldn't help noticing that the wings of a spring faerie were shiny instead of sparkly like the wings of the  frost faeries. "I have heard wonderful things about your garden! The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no http://fairiefabels.com/2009/03/storms-chihuahuas-glowing-green-houses/ http://fairiefabels.com/2009/03/storms-chihuahuas-glowing-green-houses/#comments Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:53:22 +0000 Arialhollyberry http://www.fairiefabels.com/?p=785 http://fairiefabels.com/2009/03/storms-chihuahuas-glowing-green-houses/feed/ 1 Arial Hollyberry,backyard,Creatures,Entertainment,Fairie Stories,Fairies,Fantasy,Imagination,iron gate,signs,snowstorms,weird things "There is another way." Arial's words keep echoing in my mind. I remember the look in her eyes,  it was a look of cold determination. This was a side of Arial I hadn't seen before and I just knew that the "other way" wasn't going to  be easy. "There is another way." Arial's words keep echoing in my mind. I remember the look in her eyes,  it was a look of cold determination. This was a side of Arial I hadn't seen before and I just knew that the "other way" wasn't going to  be easy. I decided to wait a while before I asked the inevitable question. The storm had subsided a little, the wind had died down to  a relatively calm, steady, 35 miles an hour and it was a  balmy (Ha!) teeth-rattling, 10 degrees above zero, maybe Orlaith was getting over her anger. I ventured out at one point, to give the dogs a potty break. Chihuahuas do not like rain, or snow, or cold, or wind. They scurried back into the house, giving me an are you joking kind of glare. I can't blame them, I wouldn't want to go potty out here either! I let them back inside and then thought about my faerie sign. Glancing toward the back gate I made my way down the walk, pushing against the wind, searching for the sign. Like I suspected, it wasn't on the wall. I found it around the corner, against the border of the garden that runs between our property and Mrs. Shunner's, it was sticking out of a two foot high drift of snow. Looking from the sign, to the Shunner's house, then back to the sign again, I inched my way across the drive to retrieve it. Being this close to the neighbors house, a house that I knew harbored a dark creature from the faerie realm, filled me with shuddering dread. It was bitterly cold outside, and despite the warmth of the parka that I had on, I felt a chill run down my spine. Using my foot to move the snow away so that I could keep watch on the house, I began excavating the sign. As usual, the Shunner's yard was quiet as a tomb. The drapes were closed against the outside world, nothing moved. Nothing Moved! I suddenly noticed that even in this constant wind, the bushes on the Shunners property were standing completely still. Trees and shrubs all up and down the street were tossing madly back and forth, but not theirs. Oh, all right, you can't tell me I'm the only one seeing this! The comparison is glaring. Time suddenly stood still, the driving storm retreated, I thought back to when I first started seeing my faerie friends. It seems like a lifetime ago, so much has happened, but it has only been three months. I have been reading about and studying faeries for much of my life, I know that there bad faeries as well as good faeries, I just didn't count on being plunged into the middle of a world where faeries battled over control of their realm. I naively thought that if I ever saw faeries, they would just be these sparkly little beings flitting about my flowers (duh!). A blast of freezing wind shattered my concentration. I felt snow pelting my face and I realized that I had been standing there, for who knows how long, just staring at the Shunner's house. Even if people can't see the weird things going on over there, they can see me doing weird things, like standing outside in a bone-chilling snow storm. Who does that? I shook off my thoughts and bent to retrieve the placard. Standing up, I used my glove to brush away the snow and inspected the edges for damage.The sign was intact. I skimmed over the words with my finger, Truer words were never spoken, I wonder if the people who made the sign knew what they were writing. Something made me look up, glancing casually over at Mrs. Shunner's front window I saw her standing in full view, something she never does, she was standing motionless, watching me. She looked like the Mrs. Shunner we have come to know, but now her eyes were glowing dark red, and she wore an evil smirk. Startled, I jerked quickly around and started to make my way to the gate, the journey made easier by the wind  shoving me urgently away. As I started to round the corner of the house, I risked looking back. The drapes were drawn, and the little blue house with the black roof where our neighbors, the Shunners live, was radiating a sickly green-yellow light. The Misty World of Arial Hollyberry no