Deety woke up before Daddy did. Slowly, she shifted from the stone form that she slept in to her living form. It took a while. She was very young. Only about a week, or so, old. It was difficult to go from stone to flesh. She wandered around the empty room, feeling bored. She knew wasn't allowed to go into the other room. That was where Daddy stored all the 'lectric stuff. He said that Bran wouldn't want it hurt. She didn't know metal could be hurt.

She tried to wake up Daddy, but he was, well, stone. And he wasn't waking up. She looked out the tiny window of the basement apartment and saw that it was twilight. She was ready to go, to play, to explore! She tried waking up Daddy again. No luck. Well, that just left the Door to the Outside. She had learned that the World was a big place. Exciting! And she wanted to see it, right now!

"I'm gonna go play, Daddy!" She called out to the huge stone gargoyle figure in the middle of the room. "I'll be back soon. Then we can both play!" she smiled as she reassured the unresponsive figure of this. She knew Daddy knew everything. He was just tired and wanted to sleep. After all, if he wanted to play too, he would've woken up by now. And she knew it was ok to go outside cause of the bracelet that Topaz gave her. It hid what she was, made her look like a Normal.

Deety skipped up the stairs and to the lobby area of the Lighthouse Shelter for kids. She slipped outside before the receptionist even looked up at her. She was so happy, excited! She wandered down the sidewalk, past the Versaw Recreation Center, crooning. She continued on as she reached the corner of Pedler Ave and Noel street. She remembered a park. That would be a great place to play!

Deety skipped and laughed, singing to herself. She was enjoying this big wide open World. There were flowers that tickled her nose and bugs to play with. She stopped in the Arbors. It felt really good! And she could See the pretty sparkles of it. It was a Special Place. She'd have to remember it. She picked a flower and stuck it in her wild mane of black hair. She mantled her wings. Oh, how she wanted to fly!! Just like Daddy, but she wasn't ready. She knew it. But soon. Then, it would be Time.

She ran into the park, laughing and shrieking at the pigeons, causing them to take to the air, squawking loudly in annoyance. Then, she danced along the benchs, occassionally tumbling off. But, since there was no one to see, she didn't cry. She climbed the great statue in the middle of the park, panting softly. She rested a moment and then realized just how chilly it was. And she was lonely. She wanted to play with someone.

While she was sitting on the statue, she noticed a large building with lots of people going in and out of it. It seemed to be a traveling area. A hub. It looked warm and maybe she'd find someone to play with. Then a man walked up the pathway to the park. Deety's hackles rose. It wasn't really a man. It was a dead thing. One of the life suckers. It seemed distracted. She wrinkled her nose as he (it!) approached.

"Hello." he said.

Deety just looked at him

"How are you?"

Deety scowled. "You're not right."

"Excuse me?" The undead thing frowned.

"You're not right! And I'm not gonna talk to you." Deety scrambled off of the statue and ran towards the Traveling Place, leaving the undead thing to stare after her.

Deety ran through the doors and then stopped in awe. It was *huge* and there were so many people!! A couple of people in the lobby area noticed her and she smiled shyly at them. She looked around. Wow, some of these people were Other people. Not like the Normals that Daddy protected.

"Hello little one. Are you lost?" A very pretty woman approached her slowly.

"No. I'm right here." Deety Looked at her and was stunned. So bright! She was a Special Lady.

The Special Lady laughed softly. "I'm Carmen. And who are you?"

"Deety." She answered shyly, fidgeting. "You're pretty!" Then Deety saw the Others, too. A woman. She wrinkled her nose. Another undead thing. And a girl. She was a Normal. And a man. He was the strangest of them all. He was undead, too. But he had Life in him. She didn't know what to think of it all.

"Do your parents know where you are?" Carmen smiled affectionately to the little girl.

Deety approached Carmen. "Yep. Lazarus is my Daddy. He knows everything." She announced proudly. "Do you want to play with me?" She was very hopeful.

Carmen smiled and couldn't resist the invitation. Life was pretty dull right now. "Certainly. And what kinds of games to do you want to play, Deety?"

Deety like the way the Special, pretty Lady said her name. Made her feel good. "Well, um. I know tag."

Carmen nodded. "I see." Then she touched Deety on the nose. "Tag. You're it." And dashed off. Deety laughed and gave chase with the abandon of a child, dodging and weaving through all the people in the lobby area. Deety was fast, but Carmen was grownup and faster. then Deety saw her near the man with red cart. Whatever was in the red cart smelled really good. Deety dashed over there. Carmen whirled and tripped just as Deety reached her and both of them went down in a tumble of arms and legs and the swirl of Carmen's bright skirts.

"Help! I'm too old and big for this!" Carmen was laughing. She had Deety in her lap. "You ok?"

Deety nodded, then bounced up out of her lap, touched Carmen on the nose and said "Tag!" Then dashed away shrieking in laughter. Carmen jumped up to give chase, following more slowly. Deety headed towards the one Normal girl that had been watching. She looked like she wanted to play. Even the undead-Live man was smiling. Deety ignored the other undead lady.

Deety hid near the Normal girl, loudly whispering, "Shhhhhhh!" to her and giggling madly. The Normal girl smiled and nodded, making a zipping motion across her lips. Deety tried to stiffle her laughter. But this was so much fun!! Carmen approached.

"Excuse me Jeri.... have you seen a little girl?" Carmen was smiling broadly.

"Erm? Sure. Lots of them." Jeri's face was smooth. Deety giggled louder.

"Well, this one is about so tall." Carmen put her hand about waist level. "With long dark hair."

Jeri shook her head. "Lots of little girls like that around here. Can you be more specific?"

"Well, she --" Carmen began as Deety suddenly bolted out of her hiding place towards the man and red cart again. "That one! There she is!" Carmen laughed and took off after Deety

Jeri smiled, watching Deety bound away. "Nope. Haven't seen her."

Carmen ran and caught up with Deety, catching her in a big hug. "I got you!" Carmen was laughing hard.

"No, I got you!" Deety shrieked in laughter, hugging Carmen.

"Really? Then who's It?"

"She is." Deety pointed to Jeri, smiling hopefully. "If she wants to play?"

Carmen picked up Deety, hoisting her to her hip. They looked to Jeri who stood slowly, leaving her backpack next to the wall. "I'm It, huh?"

Deety wriggled, "Lemme down." Carmen put her down, watching both her and Jeri. Jeri grinned. "Ok...." That was Deety's cue. She ran over where the Other guy was... so strange, Life but no Life, and hid.

Jeri, of average height and a lot of experience on the streets, disappeared, melting into the crowd. Deety was impressed. Couldn't see her at all. She asked the Other guy. "Where is she?" He smiled and shrugged. "You wanna play?" she whispered to him.

The Other guy smiled. "Sure, in a little bit. Watch."

Jeri had reappeared next to Carmen, startling her. Carmen yipped and jumped back, right into a mundane looking businessman. "Oh! I'm sorry."

Jeri smiled. "Yes, please forgive her. She doesn't get out much and hasn't had her medicine today." The businessman gave both of the women the 'hairy-eyeball', sending them into peals of laughter as he hurried away. Carmen took the opportunity to escape from Jeri.

Carmen ran over to the man and the red cart. "Pretzel cart is home base!!"

The startled Pretzel vendor jumped in surprise. "I am? It is?" Carmen smiled at the old man and patted his hand.

Jeri laughed and whirled into the crowd again. Deety was amazed that Jeri's ability to blend in and decided that someday, she'd be able to do that. Owen stood up then. Deety realized that Jeri had rematerialized near them.

"Are you playing, Owen?" Jeri called out, her body posture was completely neutral.

Owen muttered, "You run for home base as I distract her, Deety." Deety nodded, giggling. "Yes, I am. Come and get me!" He called out to Jeri.

Jeri approached slowly, arms down at her sides. Owen stood there, not moving. It was like watching a bull and a bull fighter squaring off. Deety took off running towards the pretzel cart. Neither Jeri nor Owen even looked at her. They were too intent on each other. A serious playfulness.

"Hihi Carmen!" Deety was breathless as she reached the cart. Carmen smiled and ruffled her hair. "Hihi, Mr. Pretzel Guy!" She gave him her most charming, beguiling smile. He couldn't resist it. He smiled back and offered Deety a pretzel, mumbling something about `cute kids'. Deety happily took the pretzel, thanking the man, then turned to watch the `bull and bullfigther' as they continued their slow challenge. Deety took a bite of the pretzel and MMmmMMMmmmMMMmd!! loudly. Wow. Good!!

Jeri continued to advance on Owen, grinning broadly. Owen stood loosely, a smile playing about his lips. Then, as Jeri sprang at him, he took two *fast* steps forward and slid between her legs! Jeri was so surprised (as was Deety who clapped for Owen and Carmen who whistled low) that it took her a moment to spin about. Owen had disappeared into the early evening crowd. Shrugging, Jeri blended into the crowd with a smile.

"Did you see that?!" Deety exclaimed! "He slid! Wow!!"

Both the Pretzel Vendor and Carmen nodded, smiling at the happy child. "Yes Deety, that he did." Carmen murmured quietly.

Owen appeared out of the crowd, unhurriedly moving towards 'base' about the same time Jeri reappeared again - between Owen and the pretzel cart. Both grinned and started moving quickly towards each other. It looked like a game of chicken as both shifted to tackle positions. Deety hide her eyes, peeking between her fingers and Carmen whispered, "Oh dear."

Just when it looked like they would smash into each other, Owen stopped on a dime, caught Jeri about the waist, letting her momentum spin them around, dissapating it and hugged her. Jeri erked in surprise and then laughed. "Tag. You're it." She smiled, poking him in the chest. Owen laughed and nodded. Jeri blushed a little and extricated herself from Owen's arms. Then the two of walked to the pretzel cart.

"OK. I'm It. Now scram." Owen growled to everyone with a playful tone of voice. Jeri and Carmen immediately split up and melted into the crowd. Deety paused a moment and offered Owen a piece of her pretzel. She kinda liked this strange undead-Live guy. "Thanks Shorty." He ruffled her hair. Deety smiled shyly and then took off running. She dashed into the latest crowd of travelers. Owen smiled, watching Deety for a moment and then turned to search the crowd for Jeri and Carmen. This was strange and a lot of fun! He'd have to remember to buy the kid ice cream or something. He spotted Carmen and mentally set up his plan to stalk and tag her.

Deety dodged among the legs of the people, hidden by her size and found by her constant laughter. She startled several of the business people on their way home. One or two of them scowled but most smiled at the lively child in their midst. Deety looked over her shoulder to see where Owen was, dodging when she should have been weaving and ran smack into a rather large, intimidating woman in fatigues. Deety sat on the ground where she landed, looking up at the big woman, holding her cheek. She was trying not to cry, but it hurt a lot. The woman in fatigues never even noticed her as she walked away. Suddenly, Jeri was there, sheltering her from the masses of unseeing and uncaring people who might accidently kick the small child. "Shh... it'll be ok, Deety." She said.

"Whoa! Time out!!" Deety heard Owen's voice as he made a definite path through the crowd to Jeri and Deety, with Carmen following behind him. Owen crouched down in front of Deety and Jeri gave him room. Tears were silently streaming down Deety's face now. It hurt, a lot. Owen looked at Deety and smiled encouragingly. "Let's see this. I'm sure it'll be fine." As Owen touched her cheek, she Saw a brief glow and the pain was gone. "See, not much more than a bump. But I'll bet it stung, didn't it?" Deety nodded. "C'mon, let's get out of the way." Owen scooped Deety up and then all of them walked to the side, out of the way.

Owen sat her down on a bench and sat next to her, drying her tears. Just then, Marin, the foxtail guy walked in. He waved at Deety, then frowned, seeing her tears. He moved quickly to the small group. "Owen, Jeri, Carmen. Heya Shortstuff! What happened here?" His light voice did not match his concerned eyes.

"Deety zigged when she shoulda zagged." Jeri said quietly.

"Are you ok, little one?" Marin smiled at Deety.

She sniffed a little and nodded. "Owen helped me." Marin was one of her favorites so far. He was always playing with her, tickling her with his fox tails that no one could see.

Marin sat on the other side of Deety. "Good." He tickled her cheek with his tail. She laughed, pushing it away. Deety cuddled between Owen and Marin, feeling happy. She touched her hand to her cheek again, looking at Owen.

Owen whewed once the minor crisis was over. "That was fun." Then he muttered to Carmen, "Remind me to tell Fox that I like kids now." Carmen laughed at him.

Jeri opened her backpack and pulled out two apples. "You hungry, Squirt?" She handed Deety the apple when she nodded.

"I'm always hungry. I'm a growing kid!" She said brightly and munched on the apple with gusto. It was gone, core and all, much too soon.

Jeri smiled and looked at her watch. "I have to get home." She smiled. "It was lots of fun, Deety. Thanks!" She hugged the little girl and waved to everyone else. Then she walked out of the Traveling Place.

Owen, sighed and looked at his watch. "Fox is late." He slumped back against the wall. Deety made a grab for Marin's tail, catching it finally. To all those who couldn't See, it looked a bit she had caught a bug or was playing. The tip of Marin's tail wriggled about wildly and Deety giggled. Just then, a Normal woman walked up. Owen jumped to his feet and gave her a hug and a kiss. "Hey babe. I was just thinking of you."

"What? Complaining that I was late?" She smiled at him and kissed him. Then Owen introduced her to Marin and Deety. Deety was wrestling with Marin's tail. Wow! It was strong for a tail. She kind of waved at Fox, intent on keeping a hold of the tail. Fox cocked her head and asked, "Whatcha got there, Deety?"

"A tail." Deety grinned at Marin.

"Indeed you do." Marin grinned back and Deety let go of the tail.

Fox looked a little confused. "Okaaay?" She looked to Owen who just shrugged.

"Just pretendin'" Deety smiled a charming smile to Fox. "I like to pretend a lot." Deety had figured out that you aren't supposed to show the Normals that youwere Special. Fox smiled and nodded. She turned to talk to Owen quietly.

"Hey kiddo! Let's go get some ice cream!" Marin hugged Deety.

"Yeah!!" She didn't know what ice cream was but, if Marin liked it, it had to be good.

"Anyone else want to come?" Marin asked as he stood and helped Deety up. Owen and Fox shooked their head.

"We have -things- to discuss." Owen smiled broadly and Fox blushed and nodded.

"No, I need to be going. I have a date tonight. But thanks. Oh Deety?" Deety looked to Carmen. "Thanks a lot. I had a lot of fun playing with you."

"Ok. It was great!!" Deety was quite pleased with herself. She had made lots of people happy today. And she had had lots of fun, too! Wait until she told Daddy!

Marin and Deety waved as everyone went their respective ways, smiling at the brief interruption in thier normal daily lives. Then the two of them headed off for "ice-cream", Deety's hand wrapped about one of Marin's finger with his tails occassionally tickling the little girl and Deety squealing with laughter and grabbing at them.

Once everyone left the Central Transit area, a small figure detached itsself from the wall and ran out to its Master to report what it had seen.

To be continued...