A Birth day

Edward went to Ruby when she seemed to find something, and he took the little pebble from her and looked at it.

"It certainly is," Edward said. "This is a tumbled piece of jet. Not monetarily worth much, but this one has been cleansed and charged with some powerful psychic energies. Jet has been used for centuries by seers and by dark arts practitioners alike because of its ability to hold and amplify psychic energies. This one...it's strange. It isn't charged with dark energies. It's heavily tied to seers' energies. If I didn't know better, I'd wager this stone belongs to Anise, and it has purpose strongly tied to it recently. She purposely tried to attach a sense of purpose to it. She left it here as a marker very recently. I think she did it so we would know where she first started to encounter trouble, very much like the muggle fairytale about the children who left a trail of...what was it..cookie crumbs or something? Anyway, she left this for us. She intended we would find it. And I bet she'll be doing her best to leave more somehow."

Michael looked over the two way radios and nodded. "Those will work just fine. Angus, we'll leave one of these with you, and we'll take the other."

After Jack had briefed Sergio and Ana, Sergio got a piece of scratch paper from the desk, and he wrote down the name and address of a hotel and handed it to Angus.

"This hotel is what you want," Sergio said. "Ana and I have stayed here maybe half a dozen times. They have a suite up on the second floor, and it has a kitchenette, a living room, two large dorm style bedrooms and two baths. i suggest you go there. We can use it as a command post. Their concierge will shop the local markets for some basic groceries so you can make sandwiches and brew coffee, that sort of thing. It's run by a squib couple, but they bear no ill will towards magic users."

"Thank you," Angus said.

"Chin up. We'll find her," Ana told him. "And, if we need you for backup, we'll page you with our medallions. Fair enough?"

"Yeah. That's fine," Angus said quietly, feeling stressed.

"Can you port us there, Sergio?"

"Actually, I think, yes, we can," Sergio replied. "Are we ready to go?"

"Yes. I think so," Michael said.

"Then let's not waste time," Ana said. "Let's go."

Ruby looked at Edward as he picked up a smooth stone and told her about them. This was something she didn't know about and nodded " is it one of hers ?" she asked " and its was bread crumbs, it was Hansel and Gretel" she said with a chuckle " it was my favourite story" she looked at the stone and nodded at how they could use it to follow the trail to Anise.

Jack looked at Michael and nodded then looked to Angus and Jess " look after him" Jack said to Jess who then nodded and smiled at hi.

"always do, its my job" she said as he stood waiting for Michael as he talked to Sergio about the hotel. " good choice I hear they do a very good fish and chips too" he added with a smirk.

"Oh. Yes. Bread crumbs. It's been a long time since I've read that story. Angus's youngest sister, Tracy, loved that story too. I think this stone is unquestionably belongs to Anise. I could be wrong, but I don't think there's anything else here. If we're smart, we'll head back to Tuscany and try to reach Angus or Robert and see if they have any information for us," Edward said. "I don't think we'll find anything else here that's helpful. Shall we?" He reached out for her hand.

"At least we won't starve, then," Marcus teased, taking his own cigarettes from his pocket and handing one to Angus. " Here. Have a smoke for a moment while we organize. I'll be right back. One of us needs to pack a change of clothes and a warm jacket for Anise. She could be chilled when they get to her. Just give me one moment, and then we'll go."

Angus nodded, lighting up the cigarette, grateful for it.

Jess chuckled as Marcus said they would not starve at least " so true" she watched him give Angus a cigarette and said nothing about it knowing he needed something to take the edge of his stress. " I'm saying nothing about smoking , you need it right now" she said standing close to him.

Ruby heard Edward and nodded " agreed if your sure there's nothing else around here" she said looking around not seeing anything and if he said there wasn't anything else they would head back to the duplex hoping Angus hand some word about Anise " I do hope she's home before it gets dark ." she said worried as she looked at Edward " I know she's a grown woman but I can't help worrying about her."

"Thank you," Angus said, grateful that Jess wasn't going to harp on him. He got up, unable to sit, and he started just walking and thinking. He knew Anise. He knew her as if she'd been born to him. She was depending on him, depending on him to come. And this time, he wasn't coming. He could feel her fear, could feel her much she was trying to send him some sort of information that he wasn't picking up well on. And he was staying behind. He remembered how many times he had promised her he would always, always come if she needed him. And this time, he wasn't coming. Yes, there were people coming, but it wasn't him. He was letting her down, breaking the one promise she was certain he would always keep. And it made him feel like the worst parent on the planet.

"I understand," Edward said, knowing Ruby did worry. He took her hand and ported them back to the estate in Tuscany. The very instant they landed there, Edward was positive Angus was here. "he's here," Edward told Ruby. "His thoughts are so focused that it's almost like he's shouting in my head." He pointed to the main house. "There." Edward walked to the main house and walked in. He found them all in the living room, and Angus was smoking and pacing.

"Did you find anything helpful?" Marcus asked.

"Very little," Edward said. "She left us a pebble that she channeled some of her energies into. Maybe we can use it to help find her."

"We think we have a direction," Michael said. "We've pieced some bits and pieces together from seers' information, and we think she's telling us they're in the mountains in southern France, at Cirque de Gavarnie."

"I know the area well," Edward said. "I've done a lot of hunts there over my lifetime. I might be able to mark some of the most likely spots for you to check on that map you've got there. It might save you a little time."

"By all means," Michael said. "Marcus is packing a change of clothes for her and a jacket in case she's wet or cold when we find her."

"Good thought. Do you need to take climbing rations?"

"No thank you. Ana has packed enough to feed about a dozen climbers. She always overpacks food and water," Sergio laughed. Marcus came back downstairs, and he had a go back packed, and a small plastic sandwich bag that he had put some shrunken clothes in for Anise. Michael took the sandwich bag and tucked it in his pocket.

"Thank you. Now, so you and Ruby are updated, Jack brought a pair of two way radios. We'll take one and leave the other with you lot. Sergio has recommended a hotel there, and we think you lot should go there and wait for us. We'll keep in touch."

"And in case you're wondering," Marcus said. "I packed one go bag with some things for Angus, Ruby, Edward, and myself. I figured one bag we could share was certainly sufficient. Ruby, I packed a couple extra women's outfits in case Jess needs some fresh clothes along the way. We can resize some of yours to fit her. And, yes, I packed more cigarettes and a couple bottles of firewhiskey. Am I forgetting anything? If not, we should all get on the road."

"We'll head out," Michael said. "Climbers, with me, then." Sergio and Ana joined with Michael, and when Jack was ready, they ported out.

"I know the way. I can port us there," Edward said, "the rest of you, let's get going." Angus crushed his cigarette in a crystal ashtray and joined with Edward, as did Marcus

Ruby heard Edward and smiled trying not to become over worried " I do try not to worry about them but.. guess its a mothers thing" she said as she saw Marcus enter and she stood up to listened to what he said about what they had learned. When he said he had packed more clothing for Jess she nodded " that's fine" she said looking to Edward " I know you'll bring her home" she said as she took Edwards hand to port to where Angus and the others were.

Jess felt Ruby and Edward appear as they ported in and she walked over giving Ruby a long hug " she'll be okay" she said softly before stepping back and looking at the others "Angus is right, lets get to that hotel." she said watching Jack walk over to her and kissed her .

"I'll be back with Anise" he said and she nodded to him as he then walked over to Michael and the others " lets get her and bring her home" he said taking Ana by the hand as they ported to the coordinates marked on the map. Once they appeared Jack let go of Anna and looked around his surroundings , taking in where they had landed. " okay what direction?" he asked sniffing the air but finding nothing " they must be using a cloaking charm I can't smell her."

Edward ported them all to the Cirque de Garvanie, and he led them to the hotel. When they got there, Edward rented the suite for two nights, and once the suite was secured, Edward sent the concierge out for some basic supplies and then he took everyone up to the suite.

"Make yourselves at home for now. When the concierge gets back, we can make some coffee and some tea," he told them. "Looks like each bedroom sleeps six people, and it looks like these two sofas are sleeper sofas, so if we had to, we could sleep four more in the living room. I presume, though, that if we needed to stay overnight, no one would be horribly put out if we did gents in one room and ladies in the other?"

"It's fine," Angus told Edward quietly. "It isn't a holiday. At least we have a roof, and a nice one at that." Marcus noticed that each bedroom had two sets of bunk beds and two single beds.

"If we need to stay, I suggest we give the lower bunks to Edward, Michael, and Angus. And that would leave Jack, Sergio, and me to vie for the two upper bunks."

"I can take an upper," Angus said.

"Not with that shoulder," Marcus said. "I would prefer you not. You take a lower bunk. We have more of those than the uppers anyway. As for Jess and Ruby, and Ana and Anise, I think they can figure out how they'll divide four lower and two upper bunks."

When they landed in the mountain region, Jack immediately asked what direction. Edward was still getting his memory refreshed, and Michael was looking to try to take in what possible climbing obstacles they would have.

"Calm, Jack," Michael laughed. "Give Edward a minute. You, above all people, should know that seers' energies don't respond on command. We're about two miles, on foot, from the hotel, just so you know. It's straight north from here. If you used a compass and went straight north for two miles, you'd end up in Gavarnie, and within eyesight of the hotel.

Angus was pacing, but his head was starting to sear. He wasn't sure what it was from, but it was intense. He sat down, leaned backwards and closed his eyes. He started to hear water, a deafening sound of roaring water. And then he started to see a circular mountain formation ahead of him. The water was off to his left. Northeast. Northeast. Northeast, he kept hearing.

"I'm hearing water. And it's really loud," Angus said.

"Anything else?" Marcus asked.

"I see the mountains, and I think the water is northeast of that," Angus said. Marcus picked up the radio and radio'd to Jack and the others.

"Angus is hearing water and seeing mountains. He thinks the water is northeast," Marcus said. Michael frowned. That made no sense. The mountains were straight south of them, and there was a waterfall to the southwest, not the northeast. He turned around.

"I've got it," Michael said. "She's got her directions buggared. She was seeing the mountains as north. They're not north, they're south. Turn around, you lot. If you look at it the way she's seeing it, there is a waterfall to your left. If you saw it the way she's seeing it, the waterfall would seem to be northeast. I think he's got it right. She's just buggared up her north and her south. Which way from there?"

"North," Marcus said. "Well, south to you all."

"Got it," Michael said. "Thanks." He pointed them to the mountains dead ahead of them. "That way."

Ruby went with the others to the hotel and into the suite she looked around and sat down on a couch " I'll probably not sleep till she get back to us" she said and looked to Angus " Marcus packed more cigarettes if needed and fire whisky too" she also added with a small smile .Hearing the sleeping arrangements she nodded " that's fine I probably won't sleep till she's back anyway." she added and took the bag Marcus had made to their room.

Jack looked at Marcus and took a slow breath " sorry were wolf me wants to bring our pack member back" he said with a chuckle as he listened to Marcus on the walkie talkie as they stood getting their bearings. Hearing the mention of water he lifted his head to the north and sniffed catching only water to the south of them." your right she's confused north and south" he said then waited for the others to get their bearings so the could make their way " why loud running water, sounds like a water fall?" he queried as they began moving in the right direction.

Angus nodded, not challenging Ruby's decision to stay awake. It wasn't going to help her to do that. Nor was it a logical decision on her part, but he didn't have it in him to debate it with her. Instead, Angus got up, went into the women's bedroom where Ruby apparently had taken the go bag. he went in, opened the bag, tucked a pack of cigarettes from the bag and put them in his shirt pocket. Then he got out a bottle of firewhiskey and took it to the kitchen. He looked for some whiskey glasses, but there were none. He got a coffee mug instead, opened the bottle and poured a couple fingers of whiskey in his glass, leaving the bottle on the counter.

"Are you getting any information on her at all?" Marcus asked him quietly.

"Only that she's resisting whoever took her," Angus said.

"Well, of course she's resisting. That's just who she is."

"Yeah, but it's also incredibly dangerous to do too," Angus said.

"Angus, that girl is going to fight with all she has and all she knows to get home. Who knows? It might just pay off for her."

"Yes, it could, but you and I both know how those things go from personal experience. Those heroics never work until you bide your time and wait for just the right moment."

"Well, yes. You're right. Maybe she'll remember being told those things in her training. She has always tried to take her training seriously, so perhaps she'll remember. Or, if you can manage it, you might try to focus on her and try to send her a bit of guidance."

"I'm not trained for anything like that," Angus said. "I'm not sure I'd know how."

"I'm certainly no authority on how seers' gifts work, but you seem to see things visually, more so than hearing things, don't you?"

"Sometimes, yes," Angus said.

"Maybe Jess is better to advise you here, but what if you could visualize her waiting til the right moment and then focus on her? Maybe you'd send her the visual enough that she'd get your message. Or, maybe Jess could try to communicate the message to her."

"Well, she's far more experienced than I am, that's for sure," Angus said

"Jack," Michael laughed, starting to walk towards the southeast. "open your eyes, Mate. Look to your ten o'clock. There's a massive waterfall right in plain sight. In fact, it's so big, that it's marked the Grande Cascade de Gavarnie, and according to the map I have, it says the falls goes almost 1500 feet. Come along, you lot. Sounds like we're going towards the falls."

Aria looked at Angus as he went to fetch some things from the room that was his and Rubys " Ruby you should go sleep , she'll want you to be frsh when she gets here" she said Ruby sighed and nodded standing she smiled passing Angus

!"I'll try nod get some sleep" she said kissing his cheek as he passed her as she headed to the bedroom and lay down on the bed.

Aria looked at Angus " I talked her into getting some sleep" she said " one of us needs to be fresh and I felt she needed it to stop herself from worrying." She looked to Marcus and chuckled . Moving to the bar are she returned with three glasses placing them down on there coffee table she then checked on Ruby " she's full asleep now" she said closing the door. hearing Angus and Marcus she chuckled as Jess walked back in from the room the were sharing.

"I helped Ruby sleep" she said softly then looked to Angus then to Marcus " I could but I don't really have a connection to her as strong as Angus does, I can say just relax and let it flow" she said with a smile " your tying to hard to get threw , relax its like flowing water , hard it flows it can move anything but softer goes around the obstacle and still get to where it needs to be" she closed hr eyes and relaxed her shoulders. " just like this" she said opening her eyes again and smiling having not spoken aloud but to his mind, " practice with me" she suggested. .