The rain wasn't about to let up and the thunder was deafening at times. There went another one. It made Frank nervous. He got up from his place in front of the fire, whining at the noise. He'd pace for awhile, then lay down again - until the next big one. Yaz noticed that Noel had descretely left Ms. Violet to keep him company. It made him smile. For him, it was just another lonely night. His days were busy enough with everything he had to do. The years had passed quickly but on nights like this, it seemed they'd dragged their feet. At least there was some sanity in his life. Nick, Ash, Cass and Ezza were the only ones who'd stood by him through the years of horrible depression. He'd taken the 'blame' thing too much to heart. Finally, Martyn understood...finally. Maybe that was the turning point, because Martyn had carped and hammered at him for decades and decades to 'get happy'. As if it were that easy! Another sort of niggling dark presentment haunted him now though. It haunted all of them. They were running out of time. The environment was going to hell in a hand-basket. Added to that there was the fact that Gaia herself was going through some changes, and the ever present spectre of The Corporatocracy, which cared nothing for Nature or in truth, humanity at large...as if *they* were something above human. Life was going to change real soon, and when it did they and all their consorts needed to be there for what was left of humanity - to teach them how to hunt and cook their food; grow things and bake breads; raise and domesticate animals; find water and land that wasn't polluted. It wasn't going to be easy. Yaz had his own 'Seed Bank' he'd been collecting for years. Absolutely no GM seeds allowed. Lex and Saranta, Arman and Litza, and their new friends Hope and Nico were now 'stockpiling' the hardiest breeds of farm animals on their three combined farms: horses - both working and saddle-bred, cattle, pigs, goats, chickens, rabbits and sheep. Eric and his crew were madly trying to tap out the mines they had left and smelt down the ores. They'd need metals, eventually. Star and Raq were ever vigilant, always looking for signs, omens and at real-world goings on that portended what was to come and when. The Weathermen were just trying to divert Mother Nature's temper-tantrums, but it was becoming more difficult with each day and each season that passed. They had everything planned as well as they could...but would it be enough? The ice was melting, the ocean-conveyers were slowing down due to the influx of fresh water. The air was getting thicker and nastier. They had their work cut out for them. ***** The house is a bit of Runtime madness with parts and pieces mostly from DM's Medieval Promenade (RMP-walls & floor), DAZ's Dream Home (DAZ-furniture, rugs & drapes), Merlin's Armory (DAZ-tapestry & fire), and Tavern (DAZ-wine bottle & glass). Yaz's clothing is from Smay's 'Bad Guy' (DAZ), and Elven Hair (DAZ). Entire scene lit with only two point lights (fireplace and floor lamp). Rain and grapes are from Traveler (RDNA - freebies). Thanks for stopping by, your comments and faves, dear friends. I hope you have a fantastic weekend! Ray