Hunter and Tracker - Chapter 2

The sunlight streamed in through the slatted blinds casting shadows and random patterns of light on the dark blue comforter. The body nestled underneath began to stir and the lump shifted shape. The calico balled up at one end of the lump yawned and then kneaded through the covering some in protest as the movements became more pronounced and threatened to upset the cat.

An arm snaked out and languidly moved to rest in an empty space. It then patted the bed as if in confusion and began patting a pathway up until it hit a pillow where it stopped. "Sherri?" A muffled voice tried to get through from beneath the comforter.

A tussled tawny colored head peeked up and repeated the word, "Sherri?"

"Oh yeah." Was the follow up saddened reply after a moment as the owner of the voice became more aware of her surroundings. Pulling deep back under the covers, the form balled up into a tighter, smaller lump and stopped all movement save for a tiny shaking in one area which corresponded roughly to where the woman's shoulders were curled up.

Mr. FancyPants had quietly watched the slight movement tracking to see if it was worth investigating. Finally deciding he was hungry, the cat stretched and moved up near the shaking part of the lump and started sniffing around trying to locate a familiar scent to prod into feeding him. After a movement he found the top of the comforter and began snaking his nose and head underneath.

"Hey, your nose is all wet and cold, get out of there." The muffled exclamation came as the lump shifted and stretched, a head coming out to glare at the animal as it made itself at home on the unused pillow. "Sherri was right, I don’t need an alarm clock between you and her.

She'd not set the clock as she knew she was not expected at work and in fact a late night message on her answering machine had confirmed she had been given the week off. That had raised her eyebrows as she had been sitting drinking some wine after dinner and reading through a novel when the phone call came in.

"A whole week…" she had pondered listening to the machine click off. She had let the machine do the greeting and answering for the night not feeling too social after talking to Sherri. Well she never really was social anyway, Sherri was the mixer and mover. Shaker and stirrer.

She just provided the details, the support, the dreams, the quiet follow-up and missed points that everyone else missed as they were busy moving and shaking. But that was Jaden, the over looked who looked out for those things that were left out.

After a long, hot shower and trying to decide what to wear, Jaden made her way downstairs. She stopped in the living room to turn on the CD player. She put in one of her mix CDs and headed toward the kitchen. Starting to delve through the cupboards, she found herself humming to the current song.

She brought over the bag of cereal and set it on the counter thinking over the lyrics that drifted through place. She'd always found this tune by Ari Scott to be a natural sing along. Add to the uplifting rhythm the memory it always pulled from Jaden and she found Fill of Love to be one of her favorites. She let her thoughts drift along with the song as she was pulled back to the first time she'd heard this song.