Story entry 13 - Trouble for Alti

This time every year a balance would occur. As Winter diminishes and Ēostre comes forth to herald in Spring, both light and dark are equals. This year Alti felt a special need for balance. It was a brooding feeling he had, that was compounded by bitter cold and darkness of winter, a feeling that something bad was coming and perhaps winter would not end this year. That the daylight hours would never surpass or even match that of the night. This felt especially true upon waking to dropping temperatures and sleet. He sat in bed looking out of the window, happy for this day of balance, but disappointed the winter was holding on. Alti decided he would not let the weather effect his mood and would still go for a long walk around the neighborhood to usher in the first official day of Spring and celebrate Ēostre and all she brings.

“Come on Gyoza. Wake up. We’re going for walkies.” Alti shook the spiny pumpkin-sized lump that was snoring beneath the covers. “Wakie wakie.”

Gyoza stretched and yawned while still under the covers and then crawled off the bed dragging the sheet and comforter with him as Alti changed out of his pajamas and into jeans and a sweater. Podgolins are notorious for their small bladders and their need to pee within minutes of waking, so Alti left the sheets on the floor and hurried down to his shoes and jacket by the front door and grabbed the leash off the hook. Alti jingled the leash, which prompted Gyoza to quicken his gait and wag his tail in excitement.

It was a blessing that podgolins love the rain and snow. Alti had other pets in the past that would hate to be out in such weather and would relieve themselves indoors even after having come in from a long walk with no success. Gyoza slipped and slid down the side walk, sniffing every tree and step along the way to Howard’s Dog Park. Few people were out in this weather and even fewer sense some schools had been canceled due to slippery conditions. The only person Alti saw was a tall man at the light rail stop at the base of the dog park. Time passed as Gyoza frolicked and explored and the light rail came and went, but the man never boarded.

No dogs ever came to play so Alti gathered Gyoza and continued their walk around the neighborhood. They had made it a block when Gyoza stopped and turned around. His back arched in a defensive posture and made a low and guttural sound. Alti turned just as two tall and shadowy forms took flight and disappeared from sight.

“Come on buddy.” Alti told Gyoza as he urged them to continue. “Good boy.” He said and Gyoza wagged his tail knowing he had done well.

As they made their way around Mount Vernon Place, Alti felt like he was being watched. Shadows seem to move, just as he would look away and if he looked back there would be nothing. It did not feel like it was the first day of Spring and definitely did not feel like there was a balance between light and dark on this day. He closed his eyes and thought of Ēostre waking through a field as the ice beneath her feet melted and crocuses would push through the soil and bloom. Gyoza snarled and Alti opened his eyes to see the tall figure from the light rail stop standing in front of him and staring at him with cold and murderous eyes. Sleet bounded from his shoulders and hat as two shadowy forms hung in the air high above him. Their eyes were cold and empty and seemed to feed on the fear that Alti felt.

“Here boy.” Alti pulled Gyoza closer to keep him as far from the man as possible. “Good day sir. Happy Spring.” He said as a little joke and moved to walk around the motionless man staring at him. The man spoke which startled Alti and glued him to the spot. His voice was not human and at first sounded as if it was feedback from a poor radio signal.

“Tell the counsel they have been warned. If you see me again, and you have not set them on the right path, we will have trouble.”

“Okay.” Alti stuttered, and the man floated off with the other forms into dreary sky, leaving Alti and Gyoza in the drizzle which was somewhere between sleet and freezing rain. “Lets go home boy.” He muttered. “It’s too cold for me.”

---