Yesterday night.

[Natasha]

One of my favourite places to go in Moscow is a hilltop park. It's near the University. During the warmer months there are loads students, speed bikes, beer, and food on any given evening. Sometimes there is a live band, too. This night there was just one couple walking hand in hand. One of the kiosks was operating and I bought a pancake with condensed milk and some tea. I stood on the outlook. Down below the Moscow river makes a smooth curve; beyond the river the northern section of the city is laid out before you. As the sun sets the lights of the city fill the view, which goes for miles - or seems to anyway.

With my imagination I traveled upstream to the Kremlin where I visited Red Square and the WWII eternal flame. Sometimes my thoughts take me there. I don't know why; I think it's uncommon for my generation, but that is my favourite place in Moscow without a doubt. I floated back downstream to the park and up the path to the outlook. I finished my pancake and tea before making the walk back to the bus stop. But when I arrived at my bus stop I decided to go left instead of right. I took a backstreet along the side of an old monestary. I have visited it before; one of the guys inside was giving away kittens one day on my way home. Sometimes we chat.

My detect evil alarm went off suddenly. I stopped and looked around, but I did not see anything. I heard a car approaching. I turned and it drove along the street; the driver barely looked at me. It could have been the driver, or it could have been something else. I reached into my satchel and fished out my flashlight. I shined it around the other side of the street where there were some trees. But I did not see anything at all, except some shadows. I started to walk across the street to get better look when my detect magic alarm was triggered. I activated a burning pain ward and I heard a shriek and then saw something dark fly out of the shadows straight up in the air. It was too fast for me and I only saw some piece of it with my flashlight but I have no idea what I actually saw. I just know it was dark and flying. I may as well spooked a bird, but that's highly unlikely. What was likely was that something was stalking me in the shadows.

I decided to return home. Given the number of attacks on me personally this year, I was spooked. I admit it. I turned around and started to walk home. As I approached my apartment building, despite no alarm wards being triggered, I stopped for a moment. "Stop staring at your shoes and breathe!" I told myself. I reached into my pocket for my mobile to call Katja. I scrolled to her name in the phonebook but then hissed a bit and flipped the mobile shut. I sighed, frustrated with myself. "Just go up there," I told myself. I opened my mobile one more time to call, peered at the screen, and flipped it shut again. I inhaled deeply. I looked around. What was following me? "Just go inside!" I shouted in my head.

I walked through the archway into the yard of my building. I jogged up the stairs to my apartment and sat on my sofa, peering into the darkness. I couldn't sleep. I didn't sleep; not until the sun came up.

Someone, rather something was following me. And it kind of freaked me out.

[Eilonwy Solstice]

One of my favourite places to go in Moscow is a hilltop park. It's near the University. During the warmer months there are loads students, speed bikes, beer, and food on any given evening. Sometimes there is a live band, too. This night there was just one couple walking hand in hand. One of the kiosks was operating and I bought a pancake with condensed milk and some tea. I stood on the outlook. Down below the Moscow river makes a smooth curve; beyond the river the northern section of the city is laid out before you. As the sun sets the lights of the city fill the view, which goes for miles - or seems to anyway. . . .

That sounds lovely, Natasha . . . thank you for that mental imagery.

But . . . you’re being followed? Why? To what purpose? Is it . . . something you’ve felt before, Natasha?

[GhostSpider]

Unless you've dealt with him, it could be dym acting up again.

[Kolya]

A flying evil creature of magic hiding in shadows?
I have a theory.

[Kolya]

One of my favourite places to go in Moscow is a hilltop park. It's near the University. During the warmer months there are loads students, speed bikes, beer, and food on any given evening. Sometimes there is a live band, too. This night there was just one couple walking hand in hand. One of the kiosks was operating and I bought a pancake with condensed milk and some tea. I stood on the outlook. Down below the Moscow river makes a smooth curve; beyond the river the northern section of the city is laid out before you. As the sun sets the lights of the city fill the view, which goes for miles - or seems to anyway. . . .

That sounds lovely, Natasha . . . thank you for that mental imagery.

But . . . you’re being followed? Why? To what purpose? Is it . . . something you’ve felt before, Natasha?

Here's a more detailed answer to your questions Eilonwy.

Natasha is a researcher. There's a lot of knowledge packed in her brain. This isn't the first time or even the second or third time someone or something has tried to mine something or another out of her head. The nature of her encounter leads me to believe that this is actually one of my enemies trying to find me. Or learn something about me to use against me.

I hate loose ends.

[Natasha]

One of my favourite places to go in Moscow is a hilltop park. It's near the University. During the warmer months there are loads students, speed bikes, beer, and food on any given evening. Sometimes there is a live band, too. This night there was just one couple walking hand in hand. One of the kiosks was operating and I bought a pancake with condensed milk and some tea. I stood on the outlook. Down below the Moscow river makes a smooth curve; beyond the river the northern section of the city is laid out before you. As the sun sets the lights of the city fill the view, which goes for miles - or seems to anyway. . . .

That sounds lovely, Natasha . . . thank you for that mental imagery.

But . . . you’re being followed? Why? To what purpose? Is it . . . something you’ve felt before, Natasha?

Well to be honest I had you in mind when I wrote that description. I thought you would like it.

As about being following, I really don't know. I suspect Kolya has the best explanation. As about feeling it before, no, other than just the creepy feeling of knowing that you are not a lone, that you are being watched, and not knowing if you are going to get hurt. But nothing specific.

[Eilonwy Solstice]

Well to be honest I had you in mind when I wrote that description. I thought you would like it.

As about being following, I really don't know. I suspect Kolya has the best explanation. As about feeling it before, no, other than just the creepy feeling of knowing that you are not a lone, that you are being watched, and not knowing if you are going to get hurt. But nothing specific.

Thank you, Natasha. I appreciate your consideration.

I’m sorry. I know how that feels, being stalked by something and having no idea what their intention is . . . it is frustrating. I hate to dwell on this, Natasha.

But I don’t want to hear you get hurt.

[Ron Caliburn]

Do you think it's our friend from Roger's?

[Kolya]

Well to be honest I had you in mind when I wrote that description. I thought you would like it.

As about being following, I really don't know. I suspect Kolya has the best explanation. As about feeling it before, no, other than just the creepy feeling of knowing that you are not a lone, that you are being watched, and not knowing if you are going to get hurt. But nothing specific.

Thank you, Natasha. I appreciate your consideration.

I’m sorry. I know how that feels, being stalked by something and having no idea what their intention is . . . it is frustrating. I hate to dwell on this, Natasha.

But I don’t want to hear you get hurt.

You're not dwelling.

[Kolya]

Do you think it's our friend from Roger's?

I do think so.

Part of me even hopes so.

[Ron Caliburn]

It mentioned an acquaintance over there . . . watch your back and your sides at the same time.

[Kolya]

Thanks. I remember. Looks like it's just starting to get active; unless it's that good to have gone this long unnoticed. If it has, well, I hope it hasn't.

[Ron Caliburn]

It flew the coop as it were in September . . . aparently it operated in and around DC pretty much since we busted up Roger without me detecting it.

[Kolya]

Not exactly what I wanted to hear.

[Ron Caliburn]

I think his Russian contact has been active and looking for you for a similar length of time.

[Kolya]

So be it. Hopefully I don't have a lot of catching up to do and get to jump right into tearing its head off.

That's my plan.

And we all know what good a plan is.

[Ron Caliburn]

I just had a thought . . . one I immediately regreted - what if his Russian contact already had a go at you?

[Kolya]

That's a distinct possibility. And I agree not a very pleasant thing to think about.

How would I know anyway? I wouldn't.

You'd think I'd be used to more questions than answers by now. But I'm not.

[Ron Caliburn]

I ususally don't have answers or questions . . . I just have problems and solutions.

[Natasha]

Well to be honest I had you in mind when I wrote that description. I thought you would like it.

As about being following, I really don't know. I suspect Kolya has the best explanation. As about feeling it before, no, other than just the creepy feeling of knowing that you are not a lone, that you are being watched, and not knowing if you are going to get hurt. But nothing specific.

Thank you, Natasha. I appreciate your consideration.

I’m sorry. I know how that feels, being stalked by something and having no idea what their intention is . . . it is frustrating. I hate to dwell on this, Natasha.

But I don’t want to hear you get hurt.

You're so sweet Eilonwy.

Don't worry about me.

[Kolya]

I worry.

[Eilonwy Solstice]

Well to be honest I had you in mind when I wrote that description. I thought you would like it.

As about being following, I really don't know. I suspect Kolya has the best explanation. As about feeling it before, no, other than just the creepy feeling of knowing that you are not a lone, that you are being watched, and not knowing if you are going to get hurt. But nothing specific.

Thank you, Natasha. I appreciate your consideration.

I’m sorry. I know how that feels, being stalked by something and having no idea what their intention is . . . it is frustrating. I hate to dwell on this, Natasha.

But I don’t want to hear you get hurt.

You're so sweet Eilonwy.

Don't worry about me.

But I still do, Natasha.

[kalle]

Oi Krilova you must sleep in the cemetary. They the most quiet and the most calm and the most safe all the places I know. to sleep Though sometimes you have to kill the ghouls to make it so. I can help you with that!

[Ron Caliburn]

Killing ghouls certainly relaxes me.

[kalle]

I know totally. My favourite is two at once!

[Ron Caliburn]

You just made many a man here think the wrong thing, congratulations.

[Kolya]

Oh those Russians.

[Ron Caliburn]

Precisely.

[Kolya]

I wonder how much she actually does cap out in the cemetery.
I know she has a fetish for necropolis but...

[Ron Caliburn]

Everyone needs to relax.