40. Picnic.

Annie’s head rested on Maria’s lap as Maria stroked her hair.

They sat in the shade of the largest tree they had both ever seen. It was not on their Lord’s lands but somewhere farther south. They had finally been able to get a little time off together and Annie had suggested this outing.

"Let’s go on a picnic." she had said to Maria.

"All right." Maria had agreed.

Theodore, who had been routing around in the bed sheets, had popped his head out and said.

"Can I come too? I like picnics. And cook’s food is the best."

Maria had tried to get him to stay behind, but Annie had not minded his coming along, so she had given in.

Then things had gotten a little more complicated because Annie then asked.

"Can we invite your family as well?"

"Why?" was the first thing out of Maria’s mouth.

Annie had looked a little sheepish and finally answered.

"I don’t get to see them very often. And my family is still not happy that I am here and not with them on the farm. At least your family accepts me for who I am. Besides, I am part of your life, as you are mine, and they should have more chances to get to know me."

The thought of going on a picnic with all her family was both wonderful and scary at the same time. She had remembered the times they had gone on outings when she was younger and how wonderful they were. But Annie would be there, and picnics were also romantic for couples. But how can you get romantic if your family is there watching you.

Looking in Annie’s eyes, Maria knew that this meant a lot to her. Maybe after their outings things could get a little more romantic when they were alone together. Maria had smiled at the thought and finally agreed.

So here they were under a tree miles from where they lived thanks to Maria’s mother who had transported them all here.

Maria continued to stroke Annie’s hair as she looked over at her mother who was leaning on the trunk of the tree as was Maria. Death was reading a book upon which a butterfly was perched.

Maria smiled at the thought that the bravest of men feared her yet the smallest and most delicate of creatures would come right up to her. As she watched, Maria saw her mother reach up her other hand and delicately coax the butterfly onto her outstretched finger.

She brought the creature up to her face and touched it with her nose. The Butterfly flapped its wings and flew away.

"You are very good with creatures." Said Annie. She was turned over in Maria’s lap and was looking at the retreating butterfly.

"That is because they see me as part of the cycle of life and do not fear me knowing I am not only an end." Death answered.

"Don’t you sometimes wish others could see you this way?" asked Annie.

Death seemed to ponder this question for a bit and finally answered.

"No. I don’t think I would. I like to keep this part of me separate from my job. I don’t take their fear personally. I have a family who I love, and who love me back. If others can only see the one side of me I will not cry over it. Those who count in my life, know me for who I am not what I do."

"I am glad I know you better now." said Annie.

"So am I." said Death.

Annie smiled up at Maria as if to say.

‘I think that this was one of my better ideas.’

Maria smiled back.

She was glad they had all gotten together. It had been a few years since her whole family had spent a quiet time together, like this. It took her back to an earlier time before her moving out and becoming the Hunter she was now.

It was nice to be just plain old Maria again. If only for a short while.

A movement caught her eye.

There was a streak of white within the nearby trees. Maria looked closer to see if it came again.

Out of the trees a white ferret emerged holding a chicken leg in its mouth.

He was running at top speed and it was soon easy to see why.

Following closely on his heels was an enormous black wolf, who looked extremely angry.

Death looked up at the commotion.

"Ah." she said. "It looks like Eva finally found Theodore."

Earlier on in the picnic, Theodore had wanted some more food but Eva, Maria’s aunt, had told him he would have to wait.

Theodore had decided he did not want to wait and much to Eva surprise, when she went to open the basket to get something she saw that some of the chicken had been stolen. And Theodore was nowhere to be found.

Eva became angry and decided to hunt down the little thief and give him a sound thrashing.

Apparently she succeeded in finding him but he did not look severely thrashed.

The race was close, but Theodore managed to reach them and scamper up the tree to hide in the lower branches of the tree the others were sitting under.

Eva stood on her hind legs and barked up at the Ferret, who seemed to be able to understand her.

"I was hungry and I knew you wouldn’t finish it all anyway. Cook always packs more than needed."

"That’s not the point." said Eva now standing in her human form and still looking up at him with her hands on her hips.

"You give into your temptations to easily. You have to remember there are consequences to your actions." she said.

"Put on some pants dear." said her sister without looking up from her book.

Annie giggled.

Eva began to dress.

"The only consequences my taking the extra food did was get you mad." said Theodore. "And you were the only one who did."

"I was mad because you haven’t learned anything." said Eva as she finished buttoning up her shirt.

"The last time you let your wants outweigh your brains, you nearly got yourself killed, and me along with you."

"Really?" asked Annie.

"Yes." answered Eva.

"It wasn’t that bad." grumbled Theodore through a mouth full of chicken.

Annie rolled off of Maria’s lap and onto her stomach. With her elbows planted into the ground and her chin resting in her hands, she looked up at Eva.

"Tel me the story?" she asked. "It sound s exciting."

Eva looked down at the young girl looking up at her.

A smile touched her face and she said.

"All right."

She mirrored Annie’s position on the ground, facing the girl.

"It happened a long time ago, before Maria came into our lives."