Recovery

[Michelle Montoya]

It had been days that Michelle had spent in the forest. When she was taken home from the ceremony by Max it had been 3 days for her physical healing. Unfortunatley the mental healing was taking much longer.

She dipped her feet into the small creek and was thinking quietly to herself when a butterfly landed on her fingers. She brought down the pencil to her sketch-pad and began drawing the butterfly. All she had been doing latley was reading a book, sketching, eating and sleeping.

"Beautiful picture dear" her mother commented.

"Thank you"

"I've brought you some more food in the picnic basket and some more pencils."

Michelle nodded and looked at the creeks flowing water as it ran over her bare feet.

"Are you feeling better?"

"In a physical sense yest, but mentally it will be much longer till I'm 'better'," she replied.

"Won't you go see someone? Talk to Kevin perhaps, or go see that Dr. Remus Finn. I hear he's good at this sort of stuff."

"I can't talk to Kevin...I can't talk to anyone I know. I will go see this Dr. Finn though."

"Oh good, shall I walk back with you?"

"No, I'm going to travel through the valley and then take one of the portals to RhyDin. I want it to be a long trip."

"Okay darling, would you like more food or a tarp?"

"No, I will start right away." Her mother stood for a minute and then walked back to the manor.

Michelle got up and gathered her things. She started walking down to the valley. When she got there she felt as if she was being followed by some sort of shadow but thought nothing of it and continued on. Perhaps she would stop by Twilight Isle for a visit first. It seemed to make her feel whole...

[Michelle Montoya]

Michelle had been journeying for about a week now, nearly two weeks since the ceremony. She felt much better and was beginning to be more calm and relaxed. She had taken many detours through the valley, her food supplies were beginning to fade and she found that she was foraging much more often. She also probably looked like a mess but preferred this trip then the short one to RhyDin. To the nearest portal from where she was happened to be about another three days. After that she decided to go back to the manor and freshen up then head to Twilight Isle. It would be quite a pointless trip in many ways, but for it was relaxing and calmed her soul.

On the way she gathered many flowers and pressed them into a book that she would later refer to. It would be a reminder of the peace found in nature. She was not without her rapier though, and would practice some moves now and then. The week without contact with other life gave her time to think, which wasn't always good. Restless dreams of that night would appear regularly reminding her that it (the healing) was not yet over.

During her travels and ponderings an arrow shot right by her face startling her. "Oh sorry m'lady! I didn't mean to do that, I thought you were a deer" a young man named Kevin came up apologizing profusley. He wore some light clothing and had nice dark brown hair with brown eyes. He wasn't much younger then Michelle, about 18 while she was getting to be 20. He had always been a friend of Michelles but latley she had been ignoring him.

"It's alright Kevin, an honest mistake. Not many travelers here abouts." Michelle responded casually. "And stop with the m'lady thing, I'm not royalty or anything like that. I'm Michelle, your friend." She said, slightly annoyed.

Kevin looked down at his feet "Sorry...it's just that latley I feel more like your stables-boy again and not a friend."

"Well for one you don't work in the stables anymore you just help us out now and then. And another is that I haven't been talking to anyone of late."

He looked up at her not quite all believing. "Well, I probably should head home..." he said walking towards the portal."

"Since we're going the same way we might as well walk together," she remarked.

"Really?"

"Yes, I could use the company."

With that they went on their three day journey towards the portal.

~Later that Evening~

"The sun's going down, we should set up a camp." Kevin said. They had travelled silently most of the way just enjoying the presence of the other. Kevin had wanted to bombard her with questions, but figured now was not the time. Michelle on the other hand just wanted to relax and found that very simple with Kevin. She merley nodded in return, glad that he had brought something to sleep under. It was just a simple tarp really that you put a pole underneath which attatched at the middle and then pinned down the edges. Michelle had brought a sleeping bag but foolishley had not brought a tarp. Her sleep usually was under the trees but thankfully it hadn't rained on her.

Kevin quickly set up the tarp and looked at Michelle unfolding her sleeping bag. "You can sleep under the tarp Michelle, I'll sleep outside," he offered.

"Then you can use the sleeping bag, I wouldn't want you to be cold."

He smiled at her response, knowing very well that the tarp didn't offer any protection but from the rain. "No, that's alright, I brought a thick cloak"

"I'll use the cloak and you can use the sleeping bag" he smiled and knew that he couldn't argue with her. He took the sleeping bag then they both got settled in to a comfortable position for talking.

"I must admit something, I was instructed by your mother to follow you from a safe distance. I took the bow and arrow for hunting during the trip."

"So that's what that shadow was which kept lurking after me," Michelle suddenly realized something. "Did you hear me...talking?" she inquired.

"No, I was told to stay out of hearing distance, but know where you were approximatley. Just for precautions." That was a relief, so he didn't hear he talking to herself.

"Well, thanks for the consideration. "

"They're worried sick about you. Your mother especially, and my mom as well." No surprise there, Mrs. White always worried about Michelle, but her mother being worried...she'd have to be careful. "I'm worried too" he added softly.

"Don't be, I'm fine...really."

"You go off to RhyDin, you go dueling and...and well, you're just so distant."

She looked at him carefully and cocked her head to one side smiling. She raised her eyebrows and leaned closer to where he was. "You're more then worried aren't you."

"It's late, we ought to go to bed," he avoided her question and statment answer. Turning around he could hear her mumble something and move on her side to sleep.

[Michelle Montoya]

"Hey you, rise and shine" Michelle nudged Kevin as she packed up the tarp. He grumbled and sat up and looked at her with her hair messed up, clothes all wrinkled but happy. "Morning" she grinned.

"Good Morning" he smiled at her. She promptly looked away and pulled out some sandwhiches. It was there last day hiking, the other two days they had just gone on chatting mildly and switching sleeping arrangments.

"Let's eat some good food and then start off."

He nodded. "I agree". He took a sandwhich and started eating it.

"Where are you going to go after you get home. You aren't planning to stay there that's for sure." She smiled at him.

"I'm headed to Twilight Isle, then I'm going to go see a Dr. Remus Finn." Wrong thing to say she said to herself. Shouldn't have mentioned Dr. Finn. His eyes shifted down to his food.

"That bad huh?"

"I wouldn't say that. Mother said that I should so I will."

"Oh...well I hope he helps." They finished eating silently and packed up and started walking to the hill with the portal on top.

"Michelle," he spoke breaking the awkward silence.

"Yeah?"

"You can always talk to me, I'm your friend remember. Or atleast I hope I am."

She looked at him, confident and compassionate. "I'm afraid I can't talk to anyone I know, it just hurts me when I do."

The kept walking and got to a very dark and spooky place clustered with trees and vines hanging down. It made Michelle nervous, why? She had no idea. A branch crackled behind them making Michelle jump and reach for Kevins hand instinctivley, it felt like he had reached for hers too. He swivled his head around to look.

"Just an animal," he breathed. She didn't let go of his hand, a soft reassurance that kept her feeling calm.

They treaded up the hill together but he stopped her from entering the portal by staying in one place and putting a slight pressure on her hand. She turned around and he pulled her closer so he could see her better.

"Promise I won't go out of your life, I want to be your friend Michelle."

She smiled "Promise." They did their long and old friendship handshake they made up when they were only ten years old.

He grinned. "It's been ages since we did that." He pulled her in for a long embrace, his strong arms wrapping around her in a comfort she had forgotten. He felt like that protective brother she had wanted, that dad she had lost a long time ago. She burried her head into his shoulder and just stood there in his comfort.

[Michelle Montoya]

Michelle was getting ready in front of her full-length mirror when a knock was at the door.

"Come in" she called.

Kevin came in and stood at the doorway. "Hey" he said non-chalantly.

She turned around and looked at him awkwardly standing there. "Well just don't stand there come in."

He walked further in but didn't sit down. "Leaving already? You only got back two days ago..." he looked upset.

"Yes, why do you ask?"

"Well, I was thinking of taking you out on a horse-ride..." he looked up at her somewhat hopeful.

She quietly walked up to him and pulled him by the hand to her bed to sit down. "I really need to get out of here, I need to fix things." She wished she could tell him everything, but didn't know how to put it into words. With a quick peck on the cheek she was gone.

~On Twilight Isle~

She felt bad for leaving Kevin, but knew that she had to reassure him they were only friends. She walked down towards the beach and sat down, lazily watching the water come up and down the shore. It was beautiful and calm. A healing came over her with her presence on the Isle and she knew she would not be leaving soon.

[Michelle Montoya]

Michelle sat on the beach looking out at the water, pondering what to spend her evening doing. She glanced up as she heard soft footsteps on the beach. Gork came down and looked over at her "Well hello there."

"Hey" she replied.

"How have you been doing?"

"Well enough I suppose"

"Well enough? Is something bothering you?

"Still dealing with a few things, but I'll manage. I need something to keep my mind of things is what."

"Yeah, I have things going on too. Bad things . . . "

"Like what? If it's not prying."

"There's these goons running around, and I don't know what they want from me.. but they are hostile. Plus I keep learning things about myself. I don't know who my parents are..all I know is that they're dead."

Michelle just nodded. "Must be quite tough."

"Yes, I guess you kinda know what it's like."

She chuckled at that "Somewhat." She thought for a moment "You know what we need, a new activity, like a new sport we can watch to keep our minds off things."

They both watched as goblins gathered at a small ledge above the lagoon. Then a goblin ran off and did a belly-flop causing a great applause from the rest of his friends. The both of them laughed at the sight.

"Heh, I could watch that over and over for hours and it would never get boring"

Michelle glanced up a tree and had one of those inexplicable ideas. "I wonder . . . can goblins' climb trees? Think about it, could you imagine one of them climbing a tree?"

"I dunno. Hey you!" Gork called over to a goblin. "If you climb that tree, I'll give you a dollar!" He motioned to a tree as he spake.

She watched as the goblin tried to scramble up the tree. "It would be quite funny to see them race climbing a tree, or who could do the best belly-flop."

"Yeah, it would.."

"Or think about them doing something like running races." She laughed at that idea. "We could make a whole competition out of it."

"Yeah, we could." Gork sat down on the beach thinking about the idea. "The race of the coffee. Who can bring Topaz coffee the fastest, and spilling the least?"

"That would be hilarious! It could be called the Goblin Olympics!"

"Yeah!" Gork agreed.

"We could have the Belly Flop, Tree Climbing, Coffee Race, Long Jump, Canoeing and stuff like that."

"Canoeing. And give them no paddle." Gork suggested.

"How would you do that?" Michelle asked.

"You'd use your hands to move along. It would be funny." He answered simply.

"We have to have something saneish. Like a bike ride with tricycles!"

"Yeah, down that hill." He pointed to a nearby hill.

Michelle chuckled, "That'll be great." Gork pondered for a moment thinking about the possibilities.

"Do tricycles have brakes?"

Michelle shook her head. "However, that's why we have them go towards the water, I think they'd love it."

"Me too!" he exclaimed. "It would cause an uproar of laughter!"

"We could get them to sign up for events, make posters for it and everything. A full fledged Olympics!"

"That’s a great idea."

"Hey, I"m meeting Topaz tonight, would you like me to talk to her about it? I’m sure she could help us out."

"Sure, I’m positive that Topaz will love the idea."

"She sure would, any other ideas?"

"Hmm.. Last canoe floating.." he said absent mindedly.

"That would be an awesome competition." Michelle nodded. "Oh! SKYDIVING. A skydiving competition into the lake! That would be hilarious!"

"Oh my goodness.. That would be funny. We can't be too cruel, though. We'd have to give them parachutes so they don't sue us."

"Of course! And whoever could get to the beach first after landing in the water wins."

"We better have a way to get the parachutes outta the water.." Michelle nodded in agreement. "And helmets for the tricycle race.. As well"

"Yep, and don't forget life jackets for the canoeing." She reminded.

"And the way they climb, the tree climbing races.."

"We could use helmets for the tree climbing with a harness." She thought it out carefully. Michelle glanced up at the sky. "This is a good start off, need to think about some more activities. Ten at least and no more then fifteen." "Well, I think I'm going to go for a few duels then go swimming."

"Y'know, that swimming bit sounds good right about now.."

Michelle got up and brushed the sand off of her pants as Gork stood up. "Shall we meet back here in a couple of hours?"

Gork nodded and then added "You need anything at all, just let me know, all right?"

"Okay" she shrugged and then headed off towards the arena.

"All right then, and I won't wear a Speedo, promise, " he snickered at the thought while Michelle just rolled her eyes. "Just playin' with ya."

"I know . . . " she said sort of sarcastically.

------

Little did the two of them know that the Goblins had been listening to the whole conversation.
______________________

Note: This post was a combined effort between Gork and Michelle's players.

[Michelle Montoya]

Michelle decided that it was time to make her appointment to go see Dr. Finn. She scheduled it for tomorrow afternoon and then headed back to Twilight Isle for some sleep. The next morning she gathered some fruits for a small breakfast then decided to go for a stroll. When the time came for the appointment she was nervous and not so sure about going, but it was a promise she made and had to keep.

---To See the Appointment please go to: http://www.ringsofhonor.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=915---

Michelle headed back to the manor after her appoinment, it was near dinner-time and she had skipped out on lunch. However, she wasn't all that hungry, food had been one of her least concerns latley. When she went in her sister Tatyana spotted her first.

"So, my dear sister decided to come back and live here for a night? What a shocker!" Michelle just rolled her eyes, her sister gaining an edge of sarcasm every day.

Sierra saw her next and ran up to give her a hug "Stay Mickey, please, pretty please?" Michelle thought that even though she was ten that Sierra would remain a four-year old forever. "For a while" she replied. Her mom entered the foyer and smiled at her giving her a welcoming hug.

"Kevin wanted you to see him when you got here. He's in the kitchen." Michelle nodded at her mother and headed towards the kitchen where Mrs. White and Kevin were preparing dinner. She leaned on the door frame smiling with crossed arms. Kevin had this uncanny thing of knowing when Michelle was in the room and almost right after she had entered he turned around.

"So, the voyager comes from her travels to roost." He remarked. His mother looked back and gave Michelle one of her looks.

"Why! So she has! In my day we didn't leave the house except to go to the barn for eggs. None of this galavanting and dueling and..."

"Yes mother, that's enough" Kevin cut Mrs. White off. Michelle smiled at Mrs. White and looked at Kevin for a moment. She nodded towards the door and headed out. Kevin washed his hands quickly and followed her.

"So Mickey Mouse where'd you scamper off to?" Michelle grinned at the old joke.

"I went to visit goofey" she replied. Kevin chuckled then looked at her hard as they left the manor towards the arena.

"Really though,"

Michelle shrugged "doesn't matter." Kevin rested his elbow on her shoulder and sighed.

"Okay, as my adopted little sister I have a right to know where you go and what you do. Spew it."

She laughed and moved his arm roughly as they entered the arena. "Okay, to Twilight Isle if you must know. And I'm headed back tomorrow morning. I like it there, it's great to relax."

"You're running from something, and your hiding whatever it is from me. "

"Your point being? You aren't entitled to know everything I do and everywhere I go. I can run if I like."

He looked her in the eye. "Where's Michelle, where's the girl who never backed down from a challenge, who wouldn't run until she was dragged away, who told her older brother if she was in trouble?"

She scanned his brown eyes and replied softly with a bit of annoyance and anger "First off, your aren't older then me, second you aren't bilogically my brother, and third, I've changed."

He walked towards one of the spectator seats and sat down looking at her from a distance. "You expect me to believe your excuses? I know what you are, you....are.....afraid." He emphasized the last three words clearly and slowly. "I have no clue what you're afraid of but you need to fix some things. Spend more time with your family, find a job, do something other then endless "resting days" on Twilight Isle."

She knew he was right but that little red monster on her left shoulder wouldn't let her back down. "Maybe it's not me, maybe it's you."

"Whatever" he said, letting her have her way which she didn't expect. He just looked the other way and said nothing else. He looked completley and totally emotionless.

The little white angel on her right shoulder decided to kick in just then and Michelle realized that she had to get her act together. "I'm sorry" she said softly.

He got up and walked over to her grasping her upper arms. "Trust me" he said giving his crooked grin. "I care about you like a brother, and I want you to be happy but you've got to listen to me." She nodded and looked down.

"I'll listen to what you've said," she finally agreed.

Looking up she noticed the small friendly smile he gave her as he pulled her in for a warm hug like a big powerful bear.