Remembering

when I first saw him always makes me smile. We were sitting at the fire last night. The Ubar, Mezoo, Cana, a few others came and left. We were talking about memories, and I mentioned that even today I could still remember the very first time I saw Sahli. Mezoo wanted to hear the story, so I told it.

It really was not this dramatic moment. It was a quiet one, but one that I remember now. When my eyes first fell on the very tall, quiet Drummer I had no idea I was looking at my future mate. Not then, at least. In fact, we did not even talk to one another that time. There were so many at the fires, and so much going on, that he and I exchanged a Tal - but that was all.

I remember being struck by how tall he was. Sahli is a great deal taller than me. I also remember being struck by his smile. His smile is a wonderful thing. It shows this side of him that is warm and good. He is no less fierce than any Tuchuk man. He shows it differently, but anyone who made the mistake of thinking that ferocity was not there would son regret that mistake. His smile is warm though. It lights his whole being. I remember being struck by that smile.

I was much more shy then. I was less comfortable with people. Sahli is much the same way. He and I are both content to be quiet watchers of the world around us. That means it took us quite a while to talk to one another, but it was comfortable when we did. I don't think either of us realized that we had seen our future that night. I do think we both realized that there was something special about the other.

Now, the first day we spoke - that, is aother story.