I woke feeling groggy and disoriented, I slowly opened my eyes and looked around, I was back in my bedroom, I leaned back against the pillows with a sigh of relief, I was home at last. Suddenly I remembered that I was late, I leapt from the bed and showered hurriedly, before scrambling into a pair of black leather pants and a green tank top, a pair of socks followed and my favorite grey boots, I snatched my bag and was out of my apartment in record time.
I walked to the store that was located a couple of blocks from my apartment, Snagging a basket I hurried to the bakery section and and picked a cake from the selection they had there, before going in search of candles. they weren't hard to find, after purchasing the items I rushed from the store pausing only to add a newspaper to my purchases.
I glanced at the date, Not only was I late but I was exceptionally late, two weeks had passed since Knuckles' birthday. "Damn." I muttered as I practically ran down the street.
I arrived at his door out of breath, ringing the doorbell I waited, his mother answered the door and greeted me with a smile, "Good morning Mischief," she said letting me in as she noted the bag I carried, "Knuckles should be down in a bit." she added leading the way into the kitchen.
"Is he very upset?" I asked setting the bag on the table.
"A little, but he is waiting to hear an explanation from you." she replied as she watched me took the cake from the bag and remove the plastic cover.
I sighed as I putting seventeen candles on the cake, "its a long story." I said putting the last candle on the cake.
"Then I had better go get him so you start telling it." she said walking out of the kitchen.
I leaned against the counter and waited, My stomach began to growl reminding me that my last meal had been breakfast the day before.
Before I realized what I was doing I has a fingerful of icing halfway to my lips.
"You know that's not very sanitary." Knuckles said standing in the doorway glaring at me, the air popped and the wicks of the candles burst into flame.
I glanced at the icing on my finger and smiled at him. "That can be my piece." I said pushing away from the counter and walking over to him licking the icing from my finger as I did so. "Happy Birthday Knuckles." I said hugging him.
"Its a little late don't you think." he growled but he did hug me back.
"Yeah I'm sorry about that, but I do have an explanation." I replied turning back to the counter. "But first blow out these candles and cut this cake I'm starved."
Within moments we were all seated at the kitchen table, each with a piece of cake. Taking a bite of my cake I savored it a moment before swallowing. a swig of coffee followed it and then I began my story.
It happened the morning of Knuckles' birthday, I had gotten something on my hand and was washing it when the water seemed to take hold of me traveling up my arms, it had not been a pleasant sensation and it had only gotten worse as I fought it. I lost consciousness when it reached my face. When I woke I was cold, wet, and livid.
As I expected Keris was there, he was in his horse form standing over me. I stood up slowly my movements me controlled and exact.
"Why did you bring me here Keris I have things I need to do in my world." my tone was as cold and controlled as my movements. Keris Shimmered and resumed the shape I was most used to seeing, he was tall lithe his thick black hair fell passed his shoulders in thick waves he had dark blue eyes under well shaped brows.
He didn't move closer to me after he changed carefully keeping his distance from me.
"It was necessary Mischief you have been gone for to long." His voice was deep and Melodic.
"I've been gone for two freaking days!" I growled back advancing on him purposefully. Keris held his ground.
Suddenly an arrow thunked into a tree just to the right of Keris the shaft quivering. Before I had any real time register what had just happened Keris Shimmered and was once again in horse form. I was on his back within seconds of the change Clinging to his back as he plunged back into the icy waters of the river, I barely had time to take a breath before the water closed over my head. Water rushed over my head for what seemed like an eternity, actually only a moment of two, before we resurfaced. The forest that surrounded us not the same as that which we had just left. The trees were immense blocking out almost all sunlight. Glancing around I saw that we were no longer in the river but in a deep pool of water that was fed by a small stream. Keris walked over to the edge of the pool and I slipped off of his back onto the mossy ground.
I huddled there shivering as I regained my breath.
"What are you trying to do, I gasped, "give me hypothermia!" Keris didn't bother to answer me as he shimmered once more and climbed out of the water to sit beside me.