 
### Amanda Ackers

and

### The Thirteen Shards of Legend

Book 3 of the Series

By Glenn and Sasha Gabriel

**ISBN:** **9781310193996**

Copyright © 2014 Glenn and Sasha Gabriel

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes:

Thank you for downloading this eBook. Be advised, it remains the copyrighted property of the authors, Glenn and Sasha Gabriel, and may not be reproduced, copied or distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy at Smashwords.com, where they can also discover other works by these authors. Thank you for your support.

Cover and interior art by Glenn C. Gabriel

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations are entirely coincidental (our attorneys made us say that). Should a company, locale, event, person, animal or creature, idea or product (real or fictitious) be mentioned in this work which _is_ on the earth realm, then all trademarks belong to those respective individuals / companies.

One's path is not always chosen by the adventurer,

but by the adventure one finds oneself traveling.

Once you take the first step upon the path, the journey has begun,

and there is no telling where that path may truly lead,

for you will find many twists and turns along the way.

Our journey continues,

along yet unknown pathways, into unseen dangers,

in search for the Thirteen Shards of Legend.

### Table Of Contents

Prologue

The Dark Forest

Trapdoor Nightmare

Spiders Den

Camping at The Lake

Curses

Grass People

Lake of Qumong

Sesai

The Plants

No Reflection

The Hydra

Qumong

The Creatures

Sesai Returns

Aftermath

The Watchers

Back to The Grass People

Return to Arcoma Village

Little Old Woman

To The Hospital

The Second Shard

Arrival at the Burning Swamp Of The Dead

Burning Swamp

They Come In The Night

Fire and Water

Pyramids

The Cave

Surprise!

The Contraption

Forest of Nar

Tunnels and the Labyrinth

Into The Ruins

The Witching Well

The Wand and Seeing Spheres

The Floating Witch

The Jungle

Lost

Portallis Dimenscione

The Mirror

Morana

The Black Castle

Escape

The White Knight

Special Note

#  Prologue

We continue the adventures of Amanda Ackers and her friends. They have just used the Specteroscope for the first time to escape being attacked by evil men trying to kill and capture Amanda, as well as fleeing the area from massive spiders which were trying to kill them all.

Amanda has just pressed the button on the Specteroscope and she and her friends have all vanished.

Amanda and her friends need to search for, find, and keep safe, ten of the missing thirteen Shards of Legend.

We continue with the transcript of the greatest adventures in modern elf history - one which would shape the destiny of all living creatures, in all the realms, of all the universes.

As you may recall, the recount of the story is being told by Elorack, an ancient Elf, who compiled the events from each of the individual survivors - human, non-human and creature, using memory extraction and recording techniques created by the High Elves.

Elorack extracted the memories from each of the survivors using advanced Wizitch techniques. These memories were compiled into the time line of the events as they took place.

Here are the adventures as recorded by the Master Scribe and presented in this published form. You will note that normally accepted earth-bound spellings and written formats are not utilized here. What you will experience is the random and often broken speech commonly used and not the correct, proper sentence structure forced upon the earth scribes.

~~~~~~

The time is now. You have once again been transported to the realm of the High Elves, and you are one of many people, adults and children, who have once again gathered around a huge campfire in an ancient forest just outside the Grand Palace, enjoying the last of a magnificent feast, anxiously awaiting the continuation of Amanda's adventures.

The events will now unfold as Elorack beckons all to leave their place around the campfire and make their way to a massive clearing with rising stands encircling it. You climb onto the stands with the others, everyone speaking excitedly once again, knowing what is coming, speaking about how unbelievable their experience was the last time they witnessed MRT.

The **M** emorymatic **R** eal **T** ime, 3D holographic-like projection, is so real, you become part of the story. This will be the third time you have experienced this advanced Wizitch, and you excitedly chat about previous experiences with those around you, wondering what had happened after the fight with the wizards and giant spiders.

Elorack walks onto the field as he has done now twice before, and with a wave of his wand, the field is no longer there. You gasp as you did before and still can't believe your eyes as you look at the most realistic 3-D hologram imaginable.

Elorack, using his wand to magnify his voice so that all can hear, repeats what he had said last evening. "For those who wish to join in the experience of the adventures and dangers as they happened, say the word, 'Begin,' when I instruct you to do so and your spiritual form will lift you from the stands and take you into the action. You will be part of the memory as surely as if you were there when it took place, however, no one who was actually there will be aware of you. Your mind will experience all the effects while your physical body will remain quite safe, sitting where you are.

"Everyone will hear all that is said, in the adventurer's own voices or those of the many creatures they encounter as well as see all that was seen. You will experience every footfall, rustling of a leaf, the babbling of water over rocks in a stream, the song of birds and such. Those who choose to participate will have all their senses involved, as well... they will feel heat and cold, rain, snow and the scorching of the sun. For all practical accounts, you will walk among those within the story.

"For those who wish to only observe... say nothing. You will remain as observers only and witness the actions and speech as they happen.

"Each of the adventures will be experienced each night, one adventure per night, but through MRT, memories will be displayed at advanced speeds so that you will live through many months or even years, in what will actually be just a few hours. Only through the use of the **M** emorymatic **R** eal **T** ime technique, could such a long tale be experienced within a single evening in the forest.

Tonight, we continue with

" **The Thirteen Shards of Legend**."

~~~~~~

#  The Dark Forest

Amanda feels as though she is flying along some type of time tunnel. Swirling colored lights surround her as she floats inside what appears to be some kind of clear tube. It is truly frightening. She cannot see anything at all but the swirling colored lights streaming past her \- her sight focused and locked in front of her.

She tries to look to the sides for her friends, but cannot move at all. Amanda finds that she cannot even blink. The only thing she can do is watch the ever twisting and turning tunnel before her.

Within seconds she sees the solid end of the tunnel screaming toward her. About to strike the wall, reflexively she screams... no sound escapes her.

There is a brilliant flash as she strikes the end of the tunnel. The bright light rapidly fading, Amanda is startled to find herself standing, looking down at the Specteroscope in her hand, just as she had been when she pushed the buttons only moments ago. Taking a deep steadying breath, she becomes aware of her friends still holding onto her as someone screams.

Everyone jumps away from Amanda as she feels Thian's grip on her ankle _ripped_ away, forcing her legs further apart, almost sending her tumbling to the ground as she momentarily loses her balance.

Turning, Amanda sees Thian being dragged away, scratching frantically at the ground trying to stop. It is no use, he is no match for the towering spider that has somehow made the journey with them. For a moment, everyone stands frozen in place, filled with terror. Amanda tilts her head back, looking up twelve to fourteen feet into the huge angry black eyes of the massive spider. It is hissing while frothing at the mouth, fangs flipped forward, beginning to form droplets of glistening yellow venom.

Amanda staggers back as it looks directly at her. Legs feeling like leaden pillars, Amanda's eyes are wide, her body shaking. She instinctively slides the Specteroscope back into its pouch, then slips the pouch into her deep pants pocket. Coming out of shock, Amanda begins firing spells at the hideous spider as she and the others continue to retreat.

The monster turns quickly, spraying them all with a stream of webbing, the force knocking them to the ground, unable to move within the sticky silk-like strands of the net.

Tianna screams as Amanda and the others watch helplessly as Thian is lifted high into the air, his legs and arms flailing wildly, his body held firmly between the two forearms of the spider. The spider sprays Amanda and the others again, covering them completely as all goes dark. Amanda hears the spider turn then charge away into the shadows of the Dark Forest, Thian's screams for help ringing in her ears as he is carried away.

After a few minutes of struggling to no avail, Amanda's wand unable to move in her hand, there is a flash of yellow light, followed by another, then another. In a moment, Amanda feels the sticky strings binding her to the ground loosen. Struggling, she manages to move the sticky strands away, slowly wriggling her way out of them. Staggering to her feet, breathing heavily, she frantically looks around to see if any other spiders have followed them. There are none to be seen. Her friends are getting to their feet as well, pulling off, then flinging, some of the broken, clinging, sticky strands away from them.

Breathing in shuttering breaths, trying to pull a sticky mass of webbing from her knotted and tangled hair, Tia says, "Nice _job_ , cutting this stuff off us Amanda!"

"What? I, _I_ didn't do anything," Amanda says, surprised Tia thinks it was her.

"It wasn't Amanda. It was _Sadie_ ," Tianna says pulling a long strand from around Sadie's waist.

"What?" Tia asks as she and Amanda turn to look at Sadie. "But... _how_ did you..."

"There's no _time_!" Tianna shrieks retrieving her broom. Turning, she runs past everyone headed to where they had last heard the gigantic spider disappearing into the shadows of the forest.

"Tianna! Wait!" Sadie yells bending low, pulling her broom from a glob of webbing. Straightening, she too turns then runs off after Tianna.

Amanda and Tia lock eyes for the briefest moment, retrieve their brooms and Thian's, then shoot off after them, their travelers packs feeling heavy on their backs.

It is dark and hard to see. They all halt at the tree line of the little clearing they are standing in, squinting into the thickening darkness beyond. They hear faint cries from Thian for a moment, but his cries dissolve into the deafening night sounds of the forest.

"Thian!" Tianna yells as loudly as she can.

Everyone listens for a reply, but none comes. Tianna cries his name again and again, but still there is nothing in return.

"We've _got_ to go after him!" Tianna cries with a look of terror and pleading on her face.

"We _are_!" Amanda says igniting her wand, the others following in kind. "Did _any_ of you see which way that thing went, once it entered the trees here?"

None had, the thick webbing had blocked their view.

Tianna says softly in a frightened tone, "Thian _hates_ spiders. Actually, he's _terrified_ of them. Always has been, even when he was really little. He got bit by a _poisonous_ spider when he and his mom had gone camping. He almost _died_. It was... our _mom_ who saved him. She never left his side at the hospital, remember Tia? She even slept in the same room with him and his mom. He _hates_ spiders... so do I."

"Well, so do _I_ ," Amanda says with a shaky voice. "And that was just the _little_ ones back home. I've never seen _anything_ like these."

"Neither have we." Tia moves into the forest, peering around the first tree into the dark beyond. "I don't know what _kind_ of spiders those other ones were, or _this_ one is, but I _really_ don't like them. What are we gonna do now? Which way do we go? _How_ are we going to find it and _Thian_ in the dark?"

"Sadie," Amanda asks looking nervously into the darkness. "Can you... uh, tell which way they went?"

Everyone turns quickly to look at Sadie with hope in their eyes.

"What? No. How would _I_ know where they went?"

"I just thought that, well, since you can see through _rocks_ and stuff, that maybe you could... I don't know... maybe see a _trail_ or something we can't."

"No... I can't," Sadie says lowering her head, feeling she has let everyone down.

"It's okay Sadie," Tianna says resting a hand on Sadie's shoulder. "Good idea though Amanda. So, I guess we'll just need to do our best at tracking it. But I'd _really_ rather not do it at night. Especially in _this_ forest. It's been said that the people who go in here are _never_ seen again... ever. But we really don't have any choice. We _have_ to save Thian!"

"Well, let's get to it then sis. The longer we stand here, the more time that _spider_ has to get away and do... _whatever_ it intends to do with Thian. And the more my courage will fail. Let's spread out a little, like Thian had us do when we went looking for Amanda's travelers pack. But maybe only ten feet apart, since it's really dark in there. When Thian would take Tianna and me on hunts into the woods, just to find and _look_ at animals, not kill them, he taught us to look for disturbances in the undergrowth. Like broken branches on bushes and trees, fur and stuff like that, and of course, _footprints_. Or, well, in this case, _spider_ prints I guess."

"Yeah, but also like he said," Tianna adds looking at Amanda, "don't keep entirely focused on the ground in front of you, because that's when something may come up _behind_ or from the side and get you."

Sadie grabs Tianna's legs. Tianna rests a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Oh, and he said that _whatever_ you do," Tia says looking up into the trees around her, "don't forget to look _up_! Thian says that a lot of predatory animals can climb, and will drop _down_ on you from the trees or leap from boulders, knocking you to the ground so they can _tear_ you apart. And since this is a _spider_..." her voice trails off as a bone chilling cry comes from somewhere within the darkness.

"What was _that_?" Amanda asks, heart pounding hard.

"No idea," Tianna says pointing her wand first in one direction, then another. "I've got the feeling that there are a _lot_ of things in this forest that may very much like _us_ for their supper!"

"Uh, let's make sure that doesn't _happen_ , okay?" Amanda says moving into the trees. "Like you said, _ten_ feet apart. Keep sharp and let's be sure to keep each other in sight at all times."

Nervously, all hearts pounding, wands emitting a soft blue light from their tips, they spread out as they move forward, soon to be swallowed by the darkness.

Tianna, who is the better tracker between Tia and herself, walks to where the pointy indentations from the spiders many legs have left deep impressions. The tracks lead from the clearing to where they have just entered the forest. The forest floor however, is thick with a carpet of old fallen and decaying pine needles, scattered here and there among the many dense and low growing bushes and brush.

"This is _really_ gonna be tough," Tianna says looking around, then up and across the trees, watching her wand light vanish into the darkness of the overhanging branches. "Even though that spider has a lot of legs, and _should_ leave tons of prints, this carpet of needles and stuff just kind of _fills_ in where it stepped."

From time to time over the next hour, one of them will spot something, like where the spider had dragged one of its legs over the ground and left a short gouge. Or, they will find one or more freshly broken branches. Sadie had even called out when she had looked far above her, and saw a blue hair from the spiders leg resting some eleven feet above her on a branch.

The sounds from the night creatures make everyone nervous. Time and time again, a cry like someone being tortured screams so loudly, everyone stops, dropping low to the ground. The thing is, that sound is now coming from all around them, and there appears to be a lot of them.

"What _is_ that?" Amanda asks, the terrifying cry chilling her to the bone.

"I don't know," Tianna says clearly shaken herself. "But _whatever_ they are, they're all around us, and they're getting closer. I'm gettin' really _scared_ here you know." Tianna turns to Sadie, who is on her right, with Amanda on the right of Sadie. "You okay, Sadie?"

"Noooo... I'm _really_ scared, and it's cold too... what was _that_?"

No one moves. "What was _what_ , Sadie?" Tianna asks crouching low, as does everyone.

"I, I thought I _saw_ something up in those trees ahead and to the right a little. I thought I saw something... _jump_ from one tree to the other."

" _Great_. We've got things closing in all around us on the ground, and _now_ up in the trees," Tianna says looking around for any movement. "Can't _anything_ just go easily for a change? Okay everyone, gather round for a minute and let's form a circle, everyone facing out."

They move together forming a loose circle with about four feet between each of them. They can hear rustling in the brush around them, and soon see the brush shaking.

"Well, whatever's there," Tia says with a shaky voice, "they're just about..."

Once again, a cry like someone being tortured comes just to the right of Amanda. She _screams_ and while staggering back, trips over a fallen branch, landing flat on her back in the middle of their circle, everyone turning to face her.

In her wand light, Amanda sees something jump high from the surrounding brush, arc through the air then land on her chest, as it screams a horrible bone chilling cry right in her face. Its shriek makes Amanda and the others scream just as loudly. Amanda thrashes scooting back, watching the creature jump from her chest, leap several times away from her and the others, back into the brush, making that horrible scream as it went.

Everyone had watched in frozen terror as Amanda had fallen, thinking she had been attacked, watching something the size of a fist, leap from the brush, land on her chest, screaming such a horrible cry, all the hairs on their arms stood up as their bodies rippled with goose bumps.

Amanda, heart pounding so hard it hurts, is quickly helped to her feet by Tianna and Tia. Having a hard time catching her breath, Amanda manages, "What on _Earth_ was that?"

Laughing nervously, Tia says, "It looked like some kind of _blue_ and orange frog. _Scared_ me half to death."

"You?" Amanda says dusting herself off. "Try being the one that thing _landed_ on, having it _scream_ right in your face. I almost _wet_ myself and passed out for god's sake."

The others laugh nervously, trying to look braver than any of them feel.

Tia says, "Actually Amanda, I'm not sure _who_ was more scared. You or the _frog_. It looked to me like the _frog's_ eyes were larger than _yours_!"

They all laugh, breaking the tension, looking around nervously as they hear something moving high in the trees.

"You hear that?" Tia asks in a near whisper, raising her wand.

"Yeah. But that came from in front and to the _left_ of us," Tianna says turning in a slow circle, looking at the branches above. "Sadie said she saw something in front of us and to our _right_."

"I don't like this," Sadie says moving to Tianna. "Something's up there... _watching... waiting_."

#  Trapdoor Nightmare

"Well, I for one, say we _keep_ moving," Amanda says as she pulls pine needles from her long and very dirty web strewn hair. "I'd rather give whatever's up there a _moving_ target, and not one just _standing_ here waiting to get pounced on. Gosh, those frog things sure are loud!"

"Yeah, _I'm_ with you!" Tianna says studying the ground in front of her. "I _think_ these marks are from the spider, but I'm not sure. I don't think we should spread out again like before though. Safety in staying _together_ and all that."

As they walk forward, constantly looking around them, the sounds of frogs gets louder.

In a few moments, as they round some tall brush, they encounter a large dark pond.

"Well, now we know why there are so many of those screaming _frogs_ around. We were walking _right_ at their home," Tia says with a laugh. They skirt their way around the pond and continue maneuvering around the dense trees.

Sadie keeps saying she thinks she hears something sneaking up behind them, making everyone even more nervous... if that were possible. As they slowly, carefully, make their way over the very uneven ground, they continue hearing movement in the branches above them. The crack of a branch or rustling of leaves unnerving them with every step.

It's as though they're the ones being tracked.

"Keep alert," Amanda says in a whisper looking up. " _That_ one was right over our heads."

Nervously, they move on for about an hour, then, " _There's_ another blue hair!" Tia says excitedly. "We're going the right way after _all_!"

Excited, their spirits rise, knowing that they are at least on the right trail. They come to a halt and look at the thick blue hair stuck to the side of a tree.

A few moments later, "Snarkins!" Tianna says, studying the ground around the center of a small clearing they have just entered.

"What's wrong sis?"

"I can't find any _tracks_ here!" Tianna fumes in frustration. "There's a _few_ tracks moving away from that tree into this clearing, leading to here, then... _nothing_!" Bending, pointing her glowing wand at the forest floor, Tianna says, "But look at the ground around here. It's clearly been disturbed - a lot. The needles and brush around here have been tossed about. _See_?" She points her wand at the ground where there is a wide pile of needles.

"That _is_ weird," Tia says bending and picking up a handful of needles. She studies them closely for a moment, her wand held close. "The _decaying_ needles are mixed in with the fresh ones. You're _right_ sis, something's really tossed this area around, but _why_ would the spider do..."

The ground beneath Tia thrusts upward, catapulting her high into the air. Screaming, she is thrown back fifteen feet, where she strikes a tree and is knocked out. Her limp body falls into tall brush at the base of the tree.

Amanda, who has been facing away from the others, having heard something rustling in the brush at the edge of the clearing, turns quickly and sees Tia strike the tree then drop into the bushes. When Amanda snaps her head around, she sees Tianna being grabbed by the huge forearms of the spider that had carried Thian off, which sprung forward slightly from a hole in the ground, right where Tia had been standing. It's body is half in and half out of the huge hole. Its giant hairy legs are cramped together as it continues to squeeze out through the gaping hole.

Amanda is so shocked, she is frozen with terror. Tianna is dragged screaming into the hole then out of sight. Sadie runs toward the hole screaming Tianna's name, when in a blink, the spider springs back out of the hole. Sadie is snatched right off the ground only yards away. She is dragged kicking and screaming in terror, down into the hole as well... and is gone.

Amanda turns, running from the open hole toward the safety of the trees, but does not get far. The spider once again springs fully from its trap, running quickly after her. Screaming, Amanda is snatched from the ground while in a full sprint. The spider lifts her violently, forcing her to drop her broom. Watching her broom fall to the ground, Amanda grips her wand for all she is worth.

Kicking, screaming while pounding the spiders huge thick arms with her fists, Amanda feels the sharp ends of the spiders forelegs press tighter against her. The spider turns quickly, facing the open hole. Amanda clearly sees that a huge flap had been covering the giant hole in the pine covered ground.

"This is no _ordinary_ spider," Amanda thinks with terror. "This... is a giant _trapdoor_ spider of some kind. It made a _perfectly_ camouflaged trapdoor and Tia was standing right on it!"

Amanda tries desperately to find an angle to use her wand behind her, since the spider is holding her facing away from it, but it is no use. She is being thrashed around so much she simply cannot make the proper wand motions.

The spider reaches the hole, turns fully around, quickly backing in. Amanda grabs at the edge of the hole, but is dragged roughly a short distance down, as the spider reaches up around her and to the sides. Looking up, Amanda sees the trapdoor being flipped up from the ground, arcing over the hole, where it crashes down, sealing the entrance.

Everything... goes _dark_.

Amanda is roughly dragged backward down into what feels like a vertical hole lined with fine webbing. She is being tossed about and strikes her head against the side of the rough rocky hole and knocked unconscious.

#  Spiders Den

Amanda awakens in total darkness. She can hardly move. Her arms are pressed tightly against her body, legs pressed firmly together. She cannot even move her head. It is hard to breathe and as panic grips her, she instinctively begins to struggle, using the little movement she has in her waist and knees as she cries out in all consuming terror.

"Amanda? Is that _you_?" Tianna's muffled voice sounds to Amanda's left. Amanda tenses, eyes wide, filled with tears.

"Tianna?"

"Yeah, it's me. Thian and _Sadie_ are here too. We're okay... for _now_ anyway. We were calling for you but you didn't answer. We didn't know if you got away, or..."

"I _tried_ to get away, but it _caught_ me and dragged me into the hole. I hit my head and, I _guess_ I passed out. The side of my head is _killing_ me. Thian? Was this hole here or did the _spider_ dig it?"

"A little of both I think," Thian's voice sounds muffled, frightened. "I still had my wand lit when it carried me into the forest, so I could see a little. That thing can _really_ run, let me tell you. It _scurried_ through the forest like it _knew_ where it was going or something. After, like, _forever_ , we reached the little clearing here. It stopped and began _skittering_ , back and forth, just around the center of the clearing, like it was _looking_ for something, and it kept _hissing_. It walked all around the center, and like, _thumped_ its legs hard against the ground. There were some changes in pitch in some places where it thumped. It then reached down with one of its legs and _flipped_ some kind of hidden cover up, and there was a _big_ hole, but not as huge as the _spider_.

"The spider just stood there looking into the hole with me _dangling_ right over it. I couldn't see the bottom, because it was _completely_ dark inside. Well, other than for some, fine, white, _dirty_ webbing which led from the opening on down. After a few more seconds, it _dropped_ me to the ground and immediately _sprayed_ me with webbing. It rolled me _over_ and over into this... _cocoon_ thing. I can _barely_ move. My wand's gone too.

"I heard it go into the hole for a couple minutes. I was _starting_ to think it had actually gone away, but I heard what sounded like _scraping_ and digging. I _think_ it was clearing stuff out of the hole, or maybe digging some more, I couldn't tell. I heard something like, well, _spraying_ , then tamping. I think it was either _repairing_ or making a new trapdoor. It came back and I was _grabbed_ and dragged down the hole, and hung up here. I think we're bound in cocoons of webbing, suspended from the ceiling by thick strands. Do you have your wand?"

Amanda is suddenly aware she has nothing in her hands at all. "No! I must have _dropped_ it. My broom's gone too."

"Yeah, so are all of _ours_ ," Tianna says struggling to free herself.

"Tia?" Amanda calls.

"She's... not here," Sadie says in a small frightened voice. "We were _hoping_ she was with you, and that the two of you had gotten away."

"No," Amanda says sadly. "The last thing I saw of her, was when she was _tossed_ into the air away from the trapdoor. I saw just a _flash_ of her in her wand light, striking a tree then _disappearing_ into the dark bushes at its base. Her wand went out. I didn't hear her either when the spider grabbed me. I hope she's not..." Amanda falls silent.

No one says anything for some time, then Tianna says, "We have _got_ to get out of these things before that _spider_ comes back!"

"How?" Thian asks. As he again struggles violently against the webbing, he thumps into Tianna, startling her and making her cry out.

"Ouch! Thian, stop _thrashing_!"

"Sorry, but I'm not too fond of the idea of just _hanging_ around here, waiting to be _eaten_ by that, that _thing!_ _You_ got any ideas Tianna?"

After a short pause, Tianna says, "No... not really. Maybe we can..."

"Shhh! Listen!" Sadie says quietly. "What's... what's that sound?"

Everyone falls silent, still swaying in their suspended cocoons. Amanda's heart pounds as she hears something repeatedly thudding against the inside of the huge hole, somewhere away and in front of her. She is so scared, she cannot swallow. Staying as still as she can, eyes wide as they shift from side-to-side, she strains to hear what the spider is doing.

Amanda clearly hears the hissing sound the spider makes, along with the distinct thumping of its many legs against what must be the cavern floor around them. The sound of the thumping and hissing draws closer, soon coming to a stop right in front of Amanda. Amanda is terrified, hearing the labored breathing of the spider. The force from its breath makes her cocoon sway, as she holds her own breath.

The sound of movement startles Amanda, as she hears the spider turn aside and move away. In the smothering darkness within her cocoon, Amanda lets her breath out as quietly as she can, doing her best to stop shaking, not wanting to attract the spiders attention.

It falls deathly quiet. All Amanda can hear is her breathing and the blood rushing in her ears.

Thian suddenly screams, making the others scream as well. There is a scuffing noise followed by a long low hiss. Amanda hears the spider move quickly off and away behind her, Thian's terrified cries going with it. The sound of the huge legs shuffling over the dirt, and the cries from Thian, grow fainter over the next several moments, then all goes silent.

No one dares move for several minutes. The only thing they can hear is the crying and sniffling from one another, along with their own labored breathing.

Amanda can hold back no longer, "Thian!" she cries, her voice trembling.

No answer.

"It's got _Thian_!" Amanda cries again.

Soon, the others are crying Thian's name, hoping for an answer, but receive none.

"We've _got_ to get out of here!" Tianna yells thrashing around in her cocoon. "Everybody, try to get _out_ of these things. Hurry!"

Everyone begins thrashing violently, trying to break free of the sticky strands binding them. Even though they are all banging into one another, they no longer care. They just want out.

After several minutes. "Oh! This is _useless_!" Tianna shouts. "I think the only thing I've _done_ is get myself bound even _tighter_ in these sticky _strands_!"

The others stop thrashing as well, having experienced the same thing as they continue to swing.

"Shush!" Amanda says going still. "Did you hear something?"

Everyone strains their ears, trying to hear anything. A faint sound is heard some distance away.

"I heard _that_ ," Sadie says in a whisper, beginning to shake and making her cocoon quiver. "But, it doesn't sound like a _spider_... does it?"

"No, it doesn't," Tianna says in a whisper also. "But whatever it is, I think it's coming this way."

"Oh god... what if it sees us and it's..."

" _Hungry_?" Sadie asks, her cocoon quaking.

"Stay as _still_ as you can," Tianna whispers quickly. "Maybe it'll think we're dead and go down the tunnel where the spider and..."

They hear the sound of movement within the cavern they are hanging in. All hearts pounding, eyes wide with fright, they try not to move at all, holding their breath.

"Tianna? Amanda?" Comes a low muffled voice.

"Tia!" Tianna says much louder than she intended.

"Shhh! Yeah, it's me. Are _you_ okay? Who else is here?"

"I'm okay, Amanda and Sadie are here too..."

"The spider took _Thian_ a little while ago," Amanda says in a rush, trying to catch her breath. "It went away somewhere behind us."

"Tia, can you get us _down_ from here?" Sadie asks frantically.

"Hang on, I've got my wand. But if I use a _slashing_ spell on the webbing, I might cut into _you_ too. I'm not sure how I should do this. But, well..."

Amanda hears mumbling, followed by a gasp as something heavy strikes the cavern floor, followed by a moan. She hears Tianna say, "You could have at least _warned_ me sis."

"Well, you're _down_ aren't you?"

"Tia? Try slashing at the area around where the strand is that Tianna was hanging from, where it connects to the cocoon," Amanda says quickly. "I think the webbing is really _stretched_ there. You've got a better chance of not cutting into her."

"Yeah, okay, here goes..."

In a few seconds, "Ahhhh, I can _breathe_. Thanks sis. I think you can pull the webbing away from me a little, and cut it using the _training_ slashes we learned, okay? They don't cut as _deep_ and aren't as _powerful_ , but I think it will be enough to do the job on these webs."

There is another long pause, then, "Thanks, I can get myself out okay from here. Get Sadie and Amanda down, okay?"

Amanda hears Sadie give a short cry as she hits the ground, then, "Hey! Sis, shine your wand over her real _quick_ would ya?" Tianna asks in a whisper.

Both Tianna and Tia let out a small cry.

"What's _wrong_?" Amanda asks, sweat running into her eyes making her blink them shut.

"It's a _huge_ pile of bones," Tianna says in surprise, her voice trembling. "And there's _more_ scattered around the cavern floor. But our brooms and _wands_ are here too! Sis, go finish getting Sadie out. I'll get Amanda down.

There is a shuffling sound as Tianna moves closer. She says quietly, "Amanda, get ready, on three. One, two, three!"

Amanda grits her teeth and closes her eyes as she feels herself fall. She strikes the ground hard but is unhurt as she tumbles and rolls some distance across the cavern floor. In no time, she can see a blue light waving near her forehead, followed by a yellow light, where the webbing there is pulled back and away. Amanda finds herself looking into Tianna's sweat covered face, as Tianna continues to slash away at the webbing.

" _Thanks_ ," Amanda says pulling webbing away once her arms are free. Scooting out of the pod-like cocoon, she stands. "Now I know how a _caterpillar_ must feel before it turns into a _butterfly_."

"Your wand's over there against the side of the cavern, Amanda, near that huge pile of _bones_. Your broom too. It seems the spider knows there's something _special_ about wands and brooms because it put all of them in a pile. There are a _lot_ of 'em. Ours are at the base on the outside. I've got mine, Tia and Sadie have theirs too. Can you grab _Thian's_ wand and broom too?"

Running to get the wands and brooms, Amanda hears Tianna asking Sadie if she is alright.

"Yeah, I _guess_ so. Just _really_ scared." Turning she says, "Is _that_ the tunnel the spider took Thian into?"

Her wand lit, Amanda joins the others, looking into the long dark tunnel.

"Yeah, has to be," Tia says nervously trying to see anything further in. "When I came to, I looked around and _all_ of you were gone. I walked around the clearing, and after a while, found the edge of the trapdoor. It was _really_ camouflaged. I came in from there, and it's back the other way, so this _has_ to be where the spider and Thian went. So... _what_ now?"

"Well, we all have our _wands_ now," Tianna says, her anger rising. "And _this_ time, it's not _us_ that's going to be surprised. Come on, let's sneak down that tunnel and see if we can find Thian."

"But, won't it see our _wand_ light?" Sadie asks in a shaky voice.

"Yeah, most likely. But what other _choice_ do we have?" Tia asks as they slowly walk into the long dark tunnel.

No one has a better idea, so they continue in silence, constantly checking behind them.

After several minutes, Amanda whispers. "I hadn't expected this tunnel to be so _long_ , or to lead _down_ so far. It's _really_ making me nervous."

"Yeah, me too," Tia says in a low whisper looking at the curve up ahead.

Continuing to the edge of the curve, they see that it leads off to the left. Tianna, who is in front, holds her arm up making a fist. Everyone comes to an instant stop. Tianna motions to Amanda and Tia, having them move to the far right side of the tunnel, so should something come charging around the corner at them, they will be away from it and have a good shot at it. Once there, Tianna motions for Sadie to stay put. Sadie quickly nods her understanding, pointing her wand at the curve as she narrows her brows.

Tianna, very cautiously steps away from the tunnel wall, taking a few hesitant steps to the right, then, one small sidestep at a time, moves forward around the curve of the tunnel. Holding her wand up and in front of her, she strains to see anything ahead. Taking a few more steps, she lets out a small cry as she drops her broom, quickly placing her free hand over her mouth, eyes wide. Amanda and Tia drop into a low attack position, waiting for the huge spider to come charging around the corner.

Bending, placing both hands on her legs, Tianna breathes hard for a moment. Retrieving her broom, she straightens, turns and motions for Tia and Amanda to join her. She turns, motioning for Sadie as well.

As Amanda moves so her wand light rounds the curve, she is met by a horrifying sight. Her light shines on a partly shredded cocoon, with the skeletal remains of what looks like may have been a person, hanging from the tunnel ceiling. They all look at one another, clearly frightened out of their minds and trembling.

"Looks like _this_ tunnel is a shorter one," Tianna says is a whisper. "I think it ends into a larger cavern from the sound of that dripping water."

Cautiously, they walk forward, wands at the ready. With slow, deliberate steps, they inch forward, each ready to fire spells, or mount their brooms and fly as quickly as they can, back to and out the trapdoor.

Quietly as they can, they enter the large chamber. Amanda immediately sees dozens of cocoons, not only hanging from the ceiling, but scattered across the cavern floor. Many are empty, but others hold the skeletal remains of victims long past.

Amanda spots a fairly clean cocoon hanging from the ceiling, over what appears to be another huge pile of bones of some kind. Quickly looking around, she sees two other tunnels leading away on the other side of the chamber. No spider in sight.

Tianna motions for Amanda to go to the tunnel on the far right. Tia to the one on the left. Turning, Tianna motions for Sadie to watch the one they have just entered through.

They all nod then go to their stations, while Tianna walks up to the cleaner of the hanging cocoons.

"Thian?" She whispers.

There is a small cry as the cocoon swings with a start.

"Tianna? Is that _you_?" Thian asks in a very frightened, muffled voice.

"Shhh! Yeah, we're _all_ here. Everybody's okay. _Tia's_ here too. We've got our wands and brooms. Yours too. Hang on, I'm gonna cut you down."

In a moment, Thian crashes loudly into the large pile of bones, tumbles to the chamber floor, rolls a few feet, then comes to a halt. Tianna immediately begins cutting near Thian's head, and soon pulls webbing away from his face.

"Am I ever glad to see _you_!" Thian says, breathing the cleaner air deeply. "That _spider_ went away just after hanging me up. I'm not sure where it went, but I'd bet it won't be gone long. I heard you guys coming, but didn't know what the sound was."

Tianna helps Thian wriggle out of the pod-like cocoon. Retrieving his wand and broom, Thian walks to Amanda, looking into the tunnel along with her.

"So, which way do we go _now_?" Sadie asks from the far tunnel.

"No idea," Thian says in a whisper as he looks around. "We may meet that spider if we go down either of these two tunnels for sure, since we don't _know_ if there's any way out of them. One of these is about the same size as the other tunnels. But look how big _that_ one is. What do you think Tianna?"

"I don't know either, but we sure aren't staying _here_! Have no idea why that tunnel's so much _bigger_ than the others either. We don't know what's down either of these, but we do know there's a way out back that way, to the trapdoor. So I say we go back the way we..."

"What was _that_?" Amanda asks spinning around looking to where Sadie is dropping into a crouch.

In a panic, Sadie says, "Something's... _coming_!"

"Quick! Down this tunnel!" Thian says loudly. With wand lit, broom clutched tightly in his other hand, he runs into the darkness of the tunnel.

For a moment, everyone stands watching Thian sprinting into the darkness. Tianna, shaking her head says, "Ohhhh _Thian_!" as she shoots into the tunnel after him, the others close behind.

After running for several minutes, they round another curve. Tianna, continuing to run into a massive cavern, runs up to Thian, who is standing a good way in.

Tianna asks, "For Seeda's _sake_ Thian! What the _jiggers_ are you..." As the others skid to a halt by Tianna and Thian, Amanda sees the terror on Thian's face.

About to ask what is wrong, Amanda, seeing the stunned terror on Tianna's face as well, turns to see what they are looking at.

Amanda instantly catches movement around the inside of the massive cavern, by their dim wand light. Something moves into view, out from a large crack within the cavern wall. Amanda's mouth falls fully open as she begins shaking.

" _Spiders_... dozens and _dozens_ of them are pouring out from that _crack_!" Thian says feeling faint.

Slowly, Amanda turns her head, catching movement all around them.

"By the moons, _more_ spiders are pouring out from other cracks in the cavern walls and from the _ceiling_ too!"

"Lumino _Adaucto_!" Tianna yells. The light from her wand more than triples in brightness.

Gasping, they see hundreds of smaller spiders crawling on the high ceiling of the massive cavern. Hundreds more quickly scurry across the walls. Dozens upon dozens drop from the ceiling on long silken strands, their shadows dancing menacingly across the walls within the wand light.

"Oh _god_..." Amanda says moving closer to Thian. "These must be babies... they're the size of a _car_. We must be in some kind of spiders _den_... like a _nest_ of some kind!"

Several spiders from the ceiling land a short distance away, making clicking sounds as they snap their fangs forward, then back.

"Run!" Tianna yells shoving Sadie back toward the tunnel entrance.

Turning to run as they fire spells at several of these car-sized spiders, Sadie screams skidding to a full stop, Tianna crashes into her sending Sadie sprawling to the ground.

Amanda stops just long enough to see the giant spider coming around the curve of the only way out they know of. She trembles at the sight.

Tianna snatches Sadie from the floor, everyone now backing into the cavern. The huge spider slowly squeezes through the opening, its long hairy legs moving as only a tarantula can. All the smaller spiders immediately back away to the walls and cracks. The ones that have dropped to the floor, quickly scurry up their strands to hang a short distance from the ceiling.

"What's going on?" Tia yells, scared out of her mind as they watch the huge spider enter fully into the cavern, then stop.

"Don't know," Tianna pants. "All the _little_ ones have backed off. Maybe _they're_ afraid of this big one too. But... why isn't it _charging_ us?"

"Maybe because we're all together, and we've got our _wands_ ," Thian says nervously, watching a rather large spider maneuver its way across the ceiling until it is directly overhead.

"I _really_ don't like this!" Amanda says as they back away from the huge orange and blue spider that is approaching them very slowly, flicking its massive fangs forward then back as droplets of yellow venom form on their tips.

"Thian?" Tianna cries looking at venom drip to the floor in a bright yellow splash around them.

"Yeah, I _see_ it. This doesn't look good at _all_."

The huge spider slowly continues into the cavern. Suddenly, it stops as if startled, spinning fully around, looking back out the tunnel.

"What's it doing?" Sadie asks, tears streaming down her cheeks, her wand shaking so hard she can hardly hold onto it.

"Wait... listen," Tia says softly. "You _hear_ that?"

Amanda, tilting her head slightly, strains for a moment then clearly hears something as she feels vibrations beneath her feet. "Oh god... what the _heck_ is that?"

The sound soon resembles pile drivers, the ground quaking with each impact. All are wide eyed, hearts pounding painfully.

Frantically, Amanda looks around, noticing that all the smaller spiders have vanished. About to say something, Sadie screams. Amanda is grabbed roughly by Thian, scaring her senseless, as he drags her back, making her stumble.

As Amanda turns, she sees the huge spider quickly backing further into this massive chamber, hissing loudly, fangs snapping back and forth. It passes right beside them, paying no attention to them whatsoever. From the corner of her eye, Amanda catches movement. Spinning to face the tunnel, she almost faints.

Trying desperately to squeeze its way into the chamber, is a gigantic spider, the size of which makes the huge one seem like a child in comparison. The huge blue spider continues backing into the cavern, spinning from side-to-side, as though looking for a way to escape.

The kids move further away, pressing their backs against the cold cavern wall, as the gigantic spider manages to force its way through the much smaller opening. For a moment, it turns looking directly at the kids, its many black eyes flashing in their wand light. Turning away, it faces the huge spider while giving a dreadful hiss.

This gigantic spider is completely black except for the ends of its legs, which are blood red.

In a flash, the gigantic black spider charges the blue one. The blue spider instantly goes into a defensive stance, tilted up at a thirty degree angle, legs waving in the air, fangs flipped out, as it hisses loudly.

The black spider quickly scurries first to the left, then the right, then, without warning, springs forward slamming into the blue spider with a sickening thud. Instantly, there is a high pitched squeal so piercing, all begin thrashing their heads from the pain in their ears.

Everyone is frozen in stunned terror, the two spiders locked in a fierce battle, rolling over and over on the floor, hissing and screaming in those high pitched bone chilling cries, legs waving and bodies thrashing violently. At one point, the clutched spiders tumble right at the kids. Thian ducks as the sharp end of one of the blue spider's feet stabs into the cavern wall where his chest had just been, gouging a deep groove into the solid stone as it pushes itself away.

Tia has fainted and Tianna tries desperately to drag her to a safer spot, as Thian moves to stand in front of the two of them. Sadie is clinging so tightly to Amanda's legs, Amanda cannot move.

There is a horrifying screech. Everyone turns their attention back to the spiders.

Gasping, Amanda sees the large blue spider laying on its back as the gigantic black one withdraws two enormous fangs from the dead spider. The black spider staggers back, clearly injured with several legs broken. One leg is torn from its body and lays nearby, still twitching.

Tia regains consciousness as the gigantic spider hisses loudly, turning to face them. It stands, towering above them on its huge hairy legs, standing between them, and the only way out.

At almost the same instant, everyone begins firing spells as the spider rapidly advances. The giant spider is being struck over and over. It twitches and hisses loudly, but ever so slowly, moves forward, stumbling on its injured legs.

Sadie, Tia and Tianna had dropped their brooms during the fighting in a panic to get to safety.

"Amanda! _Do_ something!" Tianna cries. "Our spells aren't _strong_ enough! _Use_ the necklace!"

Amanda is frozen in stunned terror as the gigantic spider stands only twenty feet away. Its huge black eyes gleam in their wand light, its massive fangs slowly move forward, dripping with yellow venom.

The spider rears up high on its hind legs to strike, shooting forward in a blur as Amanda throws her arms up and screams, looking through the arch in her arms. All she can see is the shining sharp tip of a fang about to strike her, when suddenly, the spider is snatched in midair and quickly yanked from her stunned face.

Not able to stand any longer, Amanda's legs give way as she slides against the cavern wall to the floor, shaking uncontrollably.

In front of them, Amanda sees the black spider skidding round and round across the cavern floor. The head of a massive snake, as large as the gigantic ones Amanda had seen when crossing the burning bridge back on Earth, slithers further into the cavern. The snake had grabbed the giant spider and immediately been bitten. The snake flings the spider further into the cavern. Amanda sees deep puncture wounds near the nose of the giant snake.

With a long, flicking, forked tongue, the snake continues slithering into the cavern. On and on it moves, its undulating body powered by iron hard muscles. Soon it enters fully into the cavern, through the only exit.

The spider hisses. The snake returns a louder and longer hiss of its own. The two circle one another, then stop. The spider rises up, waving its hairy feet while flicking its dripping fangs forward. The snake coils, rising high into the air. Its massive head slowly swaying from side-to-side. The spider turns, its legs raised, following every sway the snake makes.

Without warning, the snake strikes. The spider jumps to the side just in time, quickly springing onto the back of the snake's head. The snake lets out a bone chilling cry and hiss, as it thrashes, tail whipping just over the kids heads. The snake and spider are locked in a thrashing, tumbling, fang stabbing battle across the cavern floor.

"Now!" Thian yells sprinting for the dropped brooms.

Coming quickly out of shock, each snatches their broom from the floor then runs for the exit tunnel, just as the tail of the snake swings over their heads, slamming against the tunnel opening, then dropping to the ground where it goes still.

Everyone slides to a stop, Sadie sliding right into the massive tail with a cry, knocking her to the ground. Tianna quickly snatches her to her feet.

Amanda spins around to see the gigantic spider stumbling back from the snake's head, then drops to the cavern floor.

Thian yells, "Help! Help me move the _tail_ out of the way. Hurry!"

They begin pulling on the end of the snake's massive tail, when Sadie yells, "Look!"

Amanda spins around as Tia lets out a scream _._ They see the hundreds of car-sized spiders flowing out from the cracks in the walls and ceiling.

"Oh god! Oh god... _hurry_!" Amanda yells as everyone turns, frantically yanking on the end of the massive tail.

Glancing over her shoulder, Amanda gasps, watching three very large spiders dropping on silk strands to the floor. They look right at her for a moment, then at the two fallen spiders and the head of the massive snake. To her surprise, the spiders, joined by dozens and dozens of others nearby, attack the two giant fallen spiders ripping them apart. The dead bodies become completely covered with the smaller spiders, their lifeless bodies bouncing on the cavern floor. Strips of the spiders flesh are ripped away before devoured by the hungry children. Several large spiders have reached the massive head and upper body of the snake, now ripping it to pieces.

" _Got_ it!" Thian yells. Reaching down, he grabs his broom, "Let's get the jitters _out_ of here!"

Thian squeezes between the snake's tail and the side of the tunnel opening, popping into the outer tunnel. "Hurry!"

Tianna pushes Sadie through the opening, quickly followed by Tia. There is a brilliant flash. Tianna snaps her head around to see a large spider drop to the cavern floor. Amanda fires several more spells at the charging spiders. Both Tianna and Amanda now fire as quickly as they can at the advancing spiders... dozens of them, while others quickly drop from the ceiling, more continually pouring from the many cracks within the cavern.

"Go!" Amanda yells. "You're closest... _Go_!"

Tianna spins, squeezing through the opening, Amanda quickly backs toward it, still firing killing curses. Firing another round of spells, Amanda squeezes halfway through the gap, the flash of her bolts lighting up both the cavern and the dark tunnel she is entering.

They quickly mount their brooms then shoot off along the tunnel, wands lit, held out in front of them.

Amanda turns, looking over her shoulder as she approaches the curve in the tunnel. The tail of the snake has been dragged away, and dozens of spiders are pouring into the tunnel chasing after them.

Whipping around the curve, Amanda cranks the throttle, wand glowing brightly, shining on the backs of her friends just ahead of her.

In a few moments, they shoot up out of the already open trapdoor, continuing to rise high above the trees of the surrounding forest. Flying quickly away, Amanda turns one last time, looking down behind her to the clearing. Swallowing hard, she watches as hundreds of the car-sized spiders, many even larger, flood out of the hole, like ants from a disturbed ant hill. The spiders quickly spread out away from the opening, scurrying into the darkness of the surrounding forest, while more continue flooding from the hole.

#  Camping At The Lake

After flying for several minutes in no particular direction, Thian and Tianna, who are in the lead, begin to slow and come to a hover as the others slow and form a loose circle around them.

"Is everybody okay?" Amanda asks joining the group, her heart racing.

Everyone says they are.

Sadie, laughing nervously asks, "Is it _always_ like this with you guys? I mean, do you _always_ have adventures like _this_ and stuff?"

The tension broken, they all laugh nervously, Tianna answering, "Only since we met _Amanda_. I thought our lives had been _pretty_ interesting, but knowing _Amanda_ has put a whole new _spin_ on things.

"Thian... are you _sure_ you're okay? That spider didn't _hurt_ you, did it?" Tianna's tone filled with concern.

"Nah. I'm okay. But I'll have some _doosies_ of bruises for a while. Got some good _scrapes_ when it dragged me away from you all when we first _got_ here... wherever _here_ is. When it _squeezed_ me with its sharp _pointy_ legs... _that_ hurt a lot, and will leave some marks for a while too. But other than being _terrified_ every second since we left Bellinora's cave... I'm just _dandy_!"

They all laugh.

"I couldn't believe that huge _spider_ came with us!" Tia says shaking her head, still breathing hard. "How did it _do_ that?"

"When Amanda was pushing the button on the Specteroscope," Thian says thinking back. "That _stupid_ spider put one of its legs on my back, _pinning_ me to the ground. The next thing I knew, I was... like _floating_ inside some kind of tube, with _millions_ of changing colors all around. I couldn't turn my head, _blink_ , or do anything but look in front of me. But I didn't really _see_ any of you - just glowing _spheres_. But I _knew_ those had to be you guys. It was _really_ weird. I thought I was gonna _die_ when the end of the tunnel came at me, thinking I was gonna _crash_. _Next_ thing I know, I'm _lying_ on the ground back at that first clearing... with that spider's _leg_ still on my back. You all pretty much _know_ the rest."

"It really _was_ weird," Tianna adds. "When that spider picked you up and started running, it was like it _knew_ where it was going. But of course, it _couldn't_ have... I guess."

"And that _gigantic_ spider in the big cavern, that _attacked_ the one that came with us," Sadie says with a shiver. "And all those _babies_... if that's what you could call something _that_ size."

"Yeah. And I almost _died_ when big _momma_ was about to kill Amanda," Tia shutters. "And just as it was _pouncing_ , that giant snake _snatched_ it right out of the air! What a battle _that_ was!"

"Amanda?" Thian asks with a puzzled expression. "Why didn't the _necklace_ save us? Or _you_ anyway? Did you, well, feel it... do... _whatever_ it has before when we were in trouble?"

"No. I didn't feel _anything_ from it at all in the big cavern, only _before_ we got here. I've been thinking about that while we were flying. I've got _no_ idea why it didn't do anything. I was _really_ scared... like before. And I _did_ think that spider was going to kill you... and me, but... _nothing_. I don't know why."

After a moment's pause, Tia says, "Well... I hope Bellinora and Jasmine got away okay. And that Anastasia got home alright. I really _liked_ her."

"Yeah, me too," Amanda says with a concerned and saddened expression. "I'm pretty sure Bellinora and _Jasmine_ would have gotten away okay though. I'm sure they must have made plans should something like this ever happen. And since Bellinora is the one who sent Anastasia back home... I'm sure _she_ got there okay too.

"Oh, and I don't know if you saw him or not," Amanda says nervously. "But I saw _Wind_ Rider fighting some spiders inside the puzzle room, when we were fighting outside. He was _just_ about to come through the panels when a huge spider _crashed_ into them, and they shattered. That's when the mountain went solid and he couldn't get out, and _we_ couldn't get back in."

"Are you _kidding_?" Thian asks, eyes wide. "Do you think he's... I mean, do you think the _spiders_ got him?"

"Don't know," Amanda continues, shaking her head. "There's no way to know _how_ many other spiders may have been coming into the room. I _hope_ he got away, somehow, but... well..."

"Where did those spiders _come_ from anyway?" Sadie asks.

"I thought about that as we were fighting them," Tia says nodding slightly. "I _think_ , they came through that round door Thian and I found. The one that had the _huge_ black metal spider on it. We had just gotten that door open when I was grabbed by the... the _Bogey_. Thian? You didn't _close_ and lock that door did you?"

The color drains from Thian's face as everyone turns to look at him. "Well... uh, no. After _I_ was grabbed by the Bogey too, trying to get to you and I got away, I flew out of there as _fast_ as I could. I was so scared... I... I never even _thought_ of trying to close that door. But you're right. They _must_ have been kept behind that heavy metal door and... and I... I..."

"It's not your fault Thian," Amanda says gently. " _You_ didn't know there were huge spiders behind that door. And if it were _me_ , instead of you with Tia... _I_ would have done the _same_ thing you did. I mean, closing a door which nothing had come out of, would have been the _last_ thing on my mind, when some _Bogey_ was trying to get me. I hope Wind Rider is okay though. And I don't know _what_ happened to Morpheus once he was knocked down and covered with webbing."

"I wish I could have _killed_ Morpheus!" Tianna hisses through clinched teeth. "I hope those spiders _tore_ him apart and _ate_ him... _slowly_... one _piece_ at a time... while he was _still_ alive that is."

"And those men... Jake and Yarro," Sadie says looking behind her. "At least _they_ got what was coming to 'em. I saw one of the spiders... well, with _one_ half of Jake sticking out of its mouth."

"Who was that really _tall_ man with Morpheus?" Tianna asks.

" _That_... was _Taldan_ ," Amanda says, a shiver running through her.

" _Taldan_?!" Thian asks wide eyed. " _The_ Taldan... like from the _Journal_ , Taldan? The _Dark_ wizard that Morpheus and Blaine are, were... _apprentices_ for?"

"Yeah, the same," Amanda says nodding slowly. "He told me who he was when he was about to _kill_ me. But a spider got in his way."

Everyone gasps.

"I can't _believe_ we managed to get away from them... then the _spiders_ and the snake here," Sadie says looking around the forest below. "So, uh, what do we do now? I'm so tired I feel like I'm gonna fall off my broom."

"Yeah, the _adrenalin_ rush is beginning to make us crash," Thian says with a yawn. "We need to find a place to set up the cabin and get some rest. Good thing I put the _tent_ can in my pants pocket, with the can of Instant _Outhouse_ and Instant _Toilet_ Paper. Because if not, and we had left our packs inside the mountain like we were first going to..."

They all laugh. Tia says, "Yeah, I'm really glad you didn't put the _cabin_ back into your travelers pack Thian, and that we _didn't_ leave our packs in the mountain. Otherwise? I'd be sleeping in my _outhouse_... because there's _no_ way I'm just gonna sleep out on the _ground_ after our adventures with the _spiders_. The last thing I saw of the hundreds of smaller ones, was them _scurrying_ into the forest. Who knows _how_ far they'll go looking for us or for _how_ long. So where should we go? And by the way Amanda, where _are_ we?"

They all turn to Amanda. Reaching into her pocket, she pulls up the chain, until she grabs the Specteroscope. "Let's see, I set the dial to... The _Grass_ People. Have any of you heard of them?"

No one has, then Tia asks, "Amanda, what about the map? Bellinora said that the map would _change_ to show whatever area we're in. Maybe it shows where we are, and maybe we can see someplace to camp for the night."

"Good idea." Amanda reaches into her pocket and retrieves the map, handing it to Thian. "You keep it Thian. You're better at reading maps and stuff than I am for sure."

After unfolding the map, Thian turns it around. Everyone watches his eyes go wide as he says, "Whoa! This is _really_ cool!" After a few moments, he turns the map to show Amanda and the others.

"Wow!" Tianna says with a grin. "Those little 3D _avatars_ are all of us, _floating_ on little brooms with our names over them!" She and the others laugh.

"Yeah, and _look_ ," Sadie says pointing to the top of the map. "It says, 'Land of the Grass People.' So, I _guess_ we're in the right place."

"What are all those red dots?" Tia asks pointing to a red dot some distance from where they are shown hovering.

" _Remember_ sis?" Bellinora said the map will show the most _likely_ places where a shard _may_ be hidden. Gosh, there are a _lot_ of them though aren't there?"

"Yeah there are," Thian says turning the map to look at it. "I'm too tired to think about 'em now though. This closest lake on the map doesn't look too far from us. Let's head there then set up camp. It's a good way from the _spiders_ too. Maybe we can get some rest... if there aren't any spiders or giant _snakes_ there too."

They study the map for a few more minutes, then agree to head to the lake for the night.

Flying quickly, they arrive about an hour later, hardly able to keep their eyes open. They descend, dismount, then while Tianna and Thian get the cabin ready, the others keep watch for anything moving around them.

In no time the cabin is up, filled with water, then everyone goes in and straight to bed. They don't even stop for anything to eat or take a bath, just use the restroom then go to bed.

Thian and Tianna had set detection spells around the cabin, so if anything large comes within two-hundred feet of them, an alarm will sound.

They are fast asleep, only moments after their heads hit the pillows.

#  Curses

Clang! Clang! Clang! The alarm bells shriek while Amanda is sound asleep at the edge of her bed. Startled, she rolls off the bed and strikes the floor with a cry. Sadie, who is in the other bed in the room, lets out a yell of surprise herself, as she swings her feet over the bed then drops to the floor yelling, "What _is_ it? What's going on?"

"Don't know, maybe the _spiders_!" Amanda says quickly getting to her feet. " _Grab_ your wand and let's see!" Grabbing their wands, they quickly head out the bedroom door, where they find Tianna and Tia who share the other bedroom, just stepping into the hallway.

"What's going on?" Tia shouts over the alarms, wide eyed.

"Have no idea," Amanda says with a shaky voice, wiping some of the sleep from her eyes. "Where's _Thian_?"

"Come on, let's go," Tianna says sprinting down the hallway to the living room, where Thian was sleeping on the couch. When they enter, they see the door open and Thian... is _missing_.

"Oh God! You don't think something, or, uh, _someone_ came in and _took_ Thian do you?" Amanda asks frantically looking around.

"I don't know... maybe one of those _smaller_ spiders tracked us, came through the door and _snatched_ him," Sadie says as they move to the open doorway.

Tianna steps out first, quickly moving her wand from side-to-side, then turning around to face the doorway, where the others are standing, _snaps_ her wand up at the roof, quickly moving back.

"What? What's _up_ there?" Amanda yells.

"Nothing... _yet_ anyway," Tianna shouts back over the din of the clanging bells. "I just don't want something to jump _down_ on me is all. Come on, I don't see anything." Tianna flicks her wand while saying something Amanda cannot hear. The clanging alarm bells suddenly fall silent.

"Thanks sis. Those bells just make things that much _scarier_. I don't see any spider tracks, do you?"

"No, but there are..."

A noise from behind bushes that are shaking startle them. Everyone points their wand at the bushes ready to shoot. From around the bushes steps Thian, grinning, holding a fishing pole in one hand, along with a string of fish, while directing a carcass of some kind of wild boar using his wand, floating a couple feet in front of him.

"Oh... you're _up_. Glad you turned off the alarm, was driving me _bonkers_ you know," Thian says as he walks up. "I was too far away to do it myself."

"Of _course_ we're up you _idiot_!" Tianna shouts. "Thian, you _scared_ us half to death! We thought one of those _spiders_ may have gotten you or maybe something or _someone_ else. What happened?"

"Oh, uh, well, I woke up kind of early. Had a nightmare about that _huge_ spider that got me, and... it was, like, gonna _eat_ me you know? I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. So, I

thought I'd get up and do some fishing. I know it's not something you normally have for _breakfast_ , but... anyway, I grabbed the pole and headed for the lake. I caught a couple of _beauties_ , see..." he says holding up the string of fish. "Then decided to wander further around the lake, lookin' for another good spot to fish, closer to where the perimeter alarm was set. I caught these three fish there, see? _Gorgeous_ aren't they? Anyway, I was about to head back when _crashing_ sounds came from behind me. When I turned around, this, _boargreg_ came _charging_ out right at me. It had its _head_ down and these long sharp tusks _pointed_ at my chest."

"Oh my _god_ Thian... what did you do?" Amanda asks, heart still pounding.

"Well, I snatched my wand out, but since I don't know any _killing_ curses, and the only binding spells I know are really for people... I didn't really know _what_ to do. So, I _ran_ a few steps to a bunch of boulders that were on the other side of the perimeter alarm... which set it off. I scrambled up to the top of the highest boulder. But, the _boargreg_ was slowly making its way up the rocks too. The only thing I could think of, was to take out my hunting knife, and use my wand to throw it like a spear. It took _three_ stabs, but on the last one the boargreg dropped from the boulder just as its tusk _brushed_ against my boot. I was _sure_ it was gonna get _me_ before I got _it_. But, well... I was just really _lucky_ is all."

"How _horrible_!" Tia says looking at the two-hundred pound wild boargreg, its long sharp tusks thrust out in front of its long snout.

" _Yeah_ it was... let me _tell_ you!" Thian says looking at the floating boargreg. "Uh, anyone for either _fish_ or, um, possibly _roasted_ boargreg for breakfast or lunch?"

They all laugh, even Tianna smiles and says, "Actually, I'm _starved_! I've never had boargreg before, but I've heard it tastes _wonderful_. Come on Thian, I'll help you skin and prep it for roasting. Tia? Can you three get a fire going and prepare everything else? It won't be ready for breakfast, but, if we're still here later, some of it should be ready for lunch... maybe."

Thian and Tianna grab some items from the cabin, then head off some distance to skin and dress the boargreg. By the time they get back to the cabin, there is a nice fire going with two upright branches with a 'Y' shape on the upper end, stuck in the dirt on opposite sides of the fire. Thian uses his wand to direct the boargreg toward the fire, a thick branch running through it. He rests the branch on the upright posts, setting a rotation spell on it. Amanda watches in awe as the huge boargreg begins to rotate on the spit.

"Of course, like I said before, you _know_ it's going to take all day for this to cook, so I guess it's _fish_ for breakfast," Tianna says turning to the others. "And I've got something to say, and _please_ hear me out before objecting okay?"

"Okay, what is it sis, you _really_ look serious."

"I, well... _listen_ , I've _had_ it with using _puss_ popping, _vomiting_ and _itching_ spells to fight with. The _worst_ spell any of us knows... other than Amanda that is... is our _slashing_ spell. We've been _really_ lucky so far, fighting all those people and _spiders_ with these _stupid_ little spells. I'm _sick_ of it! Pretty much till now, people have only been trying to capture us, but, after our last fight, I think that's changed.

"We're being _hunted_ by witches and wizards who _will_ use killing curses on us. When we fought the spiders, _none_ of our spells did much of anything at all, other than _piss_ 'em off. Well, other than for the _slashing_ spell that is, which we had to use _over_ and _over_ and _over,_ before the spells would cut _deep_ enough to do any damage. Sure, it kept them away for the most part, but if they had gathered together and _charged_... or we didn't get away when we did... we'd all be _dead_! Well, maybe not Amanda, but who _knows_? Thian killed that _one_ spider by striking it in the same place, _over_ and over again, until it penetrated its _brain_. Just lucky the way I see it."

"So, what are you saying?" Tia asks curiously.

"I'm _saying_ , we need to know some proper curses, including _killing_ and torture curses, and other spells which we may need to stay _alive_..."

"But it's... _illegal_ to use killing curses! We're all under _age_ ," Thian says shaking his head. "It's illegal for _anyone_ underage to even _learn_ the lesser torture curses, and if we _used_ one... well, you _know_ it's an _instant_ prison sentence, _no_ questions asked regardless of how close you are to being of age."

" _Thian_..." Tianna snaps, placing both hands on her hips. "We may have survived till _now_ on luck. But we're in the _Dark Forest_ now... a place where _no one_ has ever returned from, that we really know of. The stories are, that _everyone_ who's entered here... were _never_ heard nor seen from again! We're not here on vacation you know, we're looking for the _lost_ Shards of Legend Thian, which Bellinora and Ellanya say are protected by the most _evil_ and _violent_ of spells, set by some previous _Wielder_. Do you _really_ think that we can fight whatever's protecting the Shards using puss popping, vomiting, _hiccup_ and slashing spells... against the most _violent_ and evil of curses? And do you think if we meet Taldan, Morpheus or other Dark witches or wizards, that our stupid little spells will stop _them_? They will do _anything_ to get Amanda now, knowing she _can_ still be hurt... including killing all of us!

"We are being _hunted_ wherever we go now, and here in the _Dark Forest_ , who knows _what_ we'll have to face! I'm _not_ putting my life on the line without knowing how to _fight_ , using spells and _curses_ that will at least give us a _chance_. And, I'm not going to worry about being _underage_ and using whatever I have to... to _stay_ alive. And there is only _one_ person here who can teach us what we need to know..."

They all turn to face Amanda, the color draining from Amanda's face. "What? You want _me_ to teach you the stuff I read about in... the _Lost Book of the Dillian's_?"

"That's right," Tianna says stepping to Amanda, resting a hand on her shoulder. "And I'm not talking about _little_ stuff either. I'm saying, you have to teach us some of the _worst_ things you know. _Killing_ curses, _binding_ curses for people _and_ animals, _torture_ curses... in case we can get away without _having_ to kill if at all possible. Look, Amanda, we _all_ wanted to come with you, and I for one, _still_ do. But don't you think we deserve a fighting chance, against whatever we may face in the future? I mean, if we somehow _do_ manage to get out of here... the word will have spread for sure that you are just a _kid_ , and maybe can _still_ be killed. There may be hundreds... _thousands_ , maybe more, that will be trying to find and _kill_ you... and since we're with you... _us_ too."

"Yeah, and you _saw_ what effect our puny spells had on those _spiders_ ," Thian says shaking his head. "And _Morpheus_ and those others, they were firing killing curses at those _spiders_ , and even _they_ couldn't kill them, well, _mostly_ anyway. I'm not sure what curses they _did_ use to kill some of them, but I heard them yelling a _lot_ of various killing curses, and _they_ didn't work at all.

"Amanda, she's right, we've just been _lucky_ so far, but _I_ don't think our luck will last either." Tia says thoughtfully. "You've _got_ to teach us stuff we can _really_ use."

Amanda is reluctant at first, but knowing what they have been through already, finally agrees. And since this is the first time they have really had any chance to rest, and be by themselves, this looks like the perfect time and place to prepare as best as they can, for _whatever_ is to come.

Throughout the day, between potty breaks and chowing down on the cooked portions of the boargreg, not waiting for the whole thing to cook, which to Amanda's delight tastes something like roast beef, she begins training the others.

Everyone is nervous, but excited at the same time, to learn things which are absolutely forbidden, even for the most advanced witches and wizards, who deem the spells and curses within the book so horrible, and so complex, even they would not attempt to learn them. These spells would require a master to teach others, and since no one knew of any living master, even if the most powerful wizard had found the book, they know that the spells and curses are so intricate, that the least slip-up could mean their doom.

Tianna explains all this to Amanda, who goes pale and at first refuses to proceed. Tia tells Amanda that it's obvious that not only had she read the book, but, the spirits trapped within the necklace, actually do know how to do all the evil spells and curses, and therefore, she does too. With everyone telling her that they just have no choice, and will be killed as soon as someone sees them... she finally relents.

They all know they must take a great deal of care while learning, and decide that since no one knows where they are, at the moment anyway, they can take as much time as they need to get each step correct, before proceeding to the next.

That evening, while they are all reliving their adventures, eating something similar to what Amanda calls popcorn, Thian says, "We sure end up in some _strange_ places don't we? A couple times now, we've been separated from each other. Other times, we were just lucky we weren't."

"That's for sure," Amanda says stuffing a handful of the buttered, purple popcorn-like stuff into her mouth.

"Sometime, we may not be so lucky though you know." Thian says with a sigh. "If something happens, like a cave-in, we still need to be able to communicate if at all possible."

"What are you talking about Thian? We can just send a Wizitched note to anyone anywhere. _You_ know that." Tianna says making her face.

"Yeah, _sometimes_. But what if a spell has been set to _prevent_ the sending or receiving of the message. We've read about them you know."

"Okay, maybe. But let's say there was a cave-in. Just _how_ do you communicate through solid stone may I ask?" Tianna says smirking.

"The _Caver's_ Code," Thian says with a smile. "It's called all kinds of things on other realms, and is used a little differently too, but if everyone uses the same one, it works really well most of the time. Anyone who goes underground or into caves, should _know_ the Caver's Code for sure. You, like, use a rock to tap against another rock or something, which will send the sound from the outside person to the one inside. Or, the other way around."

"How does it work?" Sadie asks, then takes a drink.

Waving his wand, a pad of paper and pencil appear. Thian says, "Here, lean in and I'll draw it out on the table. Once you learn the code, it doesn't matter if you are the one _trapped_ in a cave-in for instance, or the one outside trying to _rescue_ someone. Here, I'll show you how to make it, and how it's used."

Thian draws a large square which he divides into five rows and five columns.

"Now, first, like you see here, you draw a square. Next, divide it into _five_ rows and _five_ columns. On the _outside_ of the square, number each column across the top, going from left to right, with the numbers one to five like this.

"Now, number each of the _rows_ , putting a number at the outside left of each row, numbering from _top_ to bottom, from one to five, like this."

Amanda nods. "Okay. So, now you have one to five across the top, and one to five down the left, all on the _outside_. So, what about all those _empty_ squares inside this big one?"

" _Those_ are where you write out the alphabet, well, other than for one _letter_ anyway."

"What do you mean, other than one letter?" Sadie asks. "Why would you want to leave out _any_ of the letters?"

"Because, _that's_ how the code works. Like I said, there are millions of ways to use similar codes depending on what language you speak, the number of letters in your alphabet and so on. In the code we use back home, using the common Dwarf alphabet, we leave out one letter, and use some other letter twice."

They all look at Thian as though he has completely lost his mind.

Thian smiles. "Yeah, I _know_... I had the same face you guys have when Loki first tried explaining it to _me_. I'll only teach you the most common one, and the one that's the _easiest_ to remember okay?

"The _two_ letters that sound the most alike are the ones you only use one of. Let's take Amanda's English for example. In English the letters 'c' and 'k' sound pretty much the same. So, to make the code, you only use _one_ of those letters..."

"That still doesn't make any sense Thian," Tia says shaking her head. "Why do you _do_ it like that?"

"Because we need to make a _grid_ that's even on both sides. See... five columns by five rows... The _English_ alphabet has twenty-six letters. Five times five is twenty-five... which leaves _one_ letter out.

Just as Tianna is about to interrupt Thian, he says, "Just _wait_ a minute Tianna and I'll explain! The most _common_ of the Caver's Codes leaves out the letter 'k.' When you want to _spell_ something that has the letter 'k' in it, you use the letter 'c' instead."

"I s _till_ don't get it," Sadie says shaking her head.

"Well, let's fill in all the _blank_ squares first, leaving out the letter 'k', and I'll _show_ you how the whole thing works.

"Here in the _top_ row, you just start writing out the alphabet. Since there are only five squares _across_ , we get the letters A, B, C, D, E... _see_?

"In the next row _down_ , we continue with the alphabet, so, now we get, F, G, H, I and J. Now... it's in our _third_ row, where the Wizitch happens to make our grid come out _even_. Our _next_ letter, _should_ be the letter 'k', right? But remember, we need to leave it _out_ , and start with the letter 'L'. Hang on Tia, I'll show you why in a second.

"Okay, so now our _third_ row is L, M, N, O and P. The forth row is Q, R, S, T and U. Our _last_ row is V, W, X, Y and Z.

" _Now_ we're ready to send or _receive_ code in the English language, by tapping out the code.

"Let's say... I want to tap out Sadie's name. First thing to do is to look at the grid we made. Your _first_ tap, or _sequence_ of taps, is the _row_ number the letter's _found_ in. The _second_ tap, or sequences of taps, represent the _column_ number that letter's found in. So, to tap out _Sadie_ , you find out what _row_ the letter 'S' is in. It's in the _fourth_ row down, so you would tap... _four times_. That lets the one listening know what _row_ to look in. The letter is _also_ found down the _fourth_ column, so the second tap sequence gets _four_ taps too. This lets the one listening look across the _row_ number you sent, until they come to the _column_ number you just sent. Where the _two_ meet, is the _letter_ you sent. They write it down, and wait for the next sequence of taps. The one doing the tapping, needs to wait a second or two, dependent upon how _fast_ both the sender and receiver are, so each has time to find the row and column number and _write_ the letter down. Then, you send the _next_ letter of your word.

"So, the next letter we want to send in your name, Sadie, is 'A.' It's found in the _first_ row, so we tap _once_ , then pause. It's found down column _one_ , so, we tap _once_. This tells whoever's listening, to look at row _one_ , column _one_ , and write down that letter. Do you see how it works now?"

"Maybe," Amanda says studying the grid. So, the next letter in Sadie's name, 'D' is found in row _one_. So we would _tap_ once. The column though, is column _four_ , so... now, we tap _four_ times right?"

Thian nods, grinning. " _Good_ , but you need to be _sure_ to wait a second or two, _between_ sending the _row_ number, and the _column_ number. If you don't, they all _run_ together and _no_ one will be able to figure out what you're saying. Okay. Tianna, you want to have a go for the letter 'I'?"

"Okay... well, it's in row _two_... so we tap _twice_. The column it's in is column four. So... I _guess_ we tap four times... right?"

"Yep! See, it's _really_ easy. Sadie, you want the last letter?"

"Okay. This is fun. Um... well, the letter 'E' is in row one, so we tap once. The column it's in is column five, so, we just tap five times... waiting a couple of seconds between sending the row and column number, right?"

"Good for you Sadie!" Thian says poking her in the ribs and making her giggle.

"But Thian, I _still_ don' get why we need to leave out the letter 'k'?" Tia says confused.

"Yeah, I know. I had asked Loki the same thing. Say you want to spell the word... 'think'."

"Okay."

"Well, when you go to _spell_ 'think', using the _Caver's_ Code anyway, when you get to the _letter_ 'k', you can't _find_ it on the grid. So, since the letter 'c' and the letter 'k' sound the same, _most_ of the time, you send the letter ' _c_ ' instead."

"But Thian, the spelling wouldn't be correct. How would the other person know what word you were sending?" Amanda asks.

"That's where the really cool part comes in Amanda. You see, it doesn't _matter_ , because both sides just _write_ down every letter they're sent. It's when you read several words _together_ , in the _context_ they're used... how they're _used_ in a sentence and such, _that's_ when it'll make sense."

"Yeah... okay, I _think_ I get it now." Tianna nods. "So, if I want to tap out, something like... 'Kicking Snorkrats', I use the letter ' _c_ ' in in place of the letter 'k' in the word 'kicking,' and the letter 'c' in place of the letter 'k' in 'Snorkrats. Is the right?

"So, the word 'Kicking,' would be sent as ' _ciccing_ ' and the word 'Snorkrats' would be sent as 'Snorcrats.' Yeah... _now_ I get it! The word 'ciccing' wouldn't mean anything. But when you put the two words _together_ , since it's a common saying, you _know_ what the other person is trying to say, even though it's _really_ not spelled right. Knowing the letter 'c' could be that letter, or, the letter 'k'. That really _is_ cool!"

Laughing, Thian says, "Yeah, see, it _really_ is. Some people use the letter 'k' and leave out the letter 'c'. But, this is the way Loki and I do it. As long as _everyone_ uses the same grid and _alphabet_ , and leaves the _same_ letter out, everyone's okay."

"But, you said you could use this code in a _cave-in_ , through solid _rock._ How?" Tianna asks rubbing her cheek.

"Let's say we're inside some cave and Tianna and I go outside to collect some wood. All of a sudden, there's a cave-in.

"Tianna and I won't know if any of you are alive, or maybe injured, or how badly. But, by using the _Caver's_ Code, we step up to the rocks and tap out a message to see if any of you are alive. Sound travels _pretty_ good through rocks, but is even _better_ through metal, like if I was in the barn, and _you_ guys wanted me to come into the house. It's raining, and none of you want to open the door and _yell_ for me or don't have your wand handy to send a floating note. So, you tap on the water pipes. The sound travels through the pipe, I hear it, write it down, and I know it's time for a really _tasty_ dinner."

They laugh.

"So, let me see if I've got this," Amanda says slowly. "As long as you have something to tap with, and whatever you are tapping on, isn't _too_ thick, or something that deadens sound too much, you can communicate pretty well, yes?"

"Yep. People on _lots_ of realms use this type of code to send messages _miles_ away."

"Miles? How?" Amanda asks watching Tianna tickling Sadie.

"Well, on _your_ realm Amanda, back on Earth, you have natives in some of your jungles that use _sticks_ to bang on hollow logs, so they can send messages to others throughout the forest. Another time to use the code, is if, say, _you_ were standing on a hill, or, better yet, say a _cliff's_ edge, and _I_ were on the other side of a canyon on another cliff, or even _down_ in the canyon for that matter. If we tried yelling to each other, we'd never hear or understand what was being said. Heck, your voice may not even _make_ it that far.

"But, if _both_ of us picked up a rock and _struck_ it against another rock, that _sound_ will travel across the canyon. It may take a second or two for the sound to travel that far, but even if it echoes some, you'd just _listen_ for the loudest sound, and write that down, wait a few seconds, until you hear another loud sound or sounds, then write them down. If there is a lot of echo, you _really_ have to wait between the series, but, it works.

"You know how the sound of someone using a hammer can really travel, like blocks, or even a mile or more? Loki and I've sent messages back and forth over _three_ miles using this code.

"I think it might be a good idea for each of you to write this down, then _memorize_ it. Maybe you should keep a copy in your pant's pocket too, just in case you forget. That way, if something does happen, you won't need your travelers pack if you forget how to draw the code. It's _really_ easy to remember though. Just a square, split into _five_ rows and _five_ columns. Number the rows and columns, then write out the alphabet from _left_ to right, leaving _out_ the letter 'k'. Easy!"

They remain camped by the lake for the next five months. There are plenty of animals to hunt and the lake is abundant with fish. They had decided to use as little of the cabin supplies as they could get away with, not knowing if food would be easy to come by as their adventure continues.

During their stay, they celebrate Thian's birthday, which on earth would be February 15th, and Amanda's, which she said she thought was on February 27th. Tia and Tianna, who are twins, were born on what would be March the first. They are all now fourteen years of age, but feel much older. Sadie, who never knew her real birthdate, and had been given several for the convenience of whatever orphanage she had stayed at the time, decides that her birthday is the same as Tia's and Tianna's, so they all celebrate her sixth birthday with extra rations of cookies, with a dollop of pink frosting from a can Amanda had found.

The days pass slowly into weeks, the weeks into months. Amanda continues teaching them many of the most vile of curses and spells. Many are various kinds of killing curses. Others, various binding spells. Still others that will sever an arm, leg, or whatever else you direct the curse at. Several torture curses of varying intensities are taught as well. All taking many days just to learn and perfect the arm, wrist, finger and various flicking, twisting and twizzling techniques.

Flaming curses are taught as well, some of which will set an adversary on fire... from the inside out, along with dozens upon dozens of other spells and curses. They practice from sun up to sun down each and every day, memorizing the words or phrases needed, along with perfecting the timing that had to be matched precisely to the many intricate wand movements and other motions. Amanda is insistent on teaching them every defensive spell she knew first. She did not want to use anything that would kill or maim unless absolutely necessary. Amanda insisted that they use the many binding, stunning and temporary blinding spells first, so they could just get away without having to use anything more severe. Everyone agreed at first, other than Tianna. Tianna insisted that if she ever saw Morpheus again, she would kill him on sight. After what Morpheus had done to Thea, no one disagreed.

For Thian, making the movements while concentrating on what he wanted to achieve was the hardest. None of them had ever seen or heard of such intricate movements, and the need for absolute timing, and the perfection of each section of the overall movements were mind numbing.

It was far too dangerous to actually use the arm, wand and finger movements while using the proper word, words or phrases while holding a wand, so they practiced each separately until Amanda gave her approval.

Of course, none of them knew if what they were learning would actually work when they needed them, because these were the kinds of spells and curses you could not just practice on one another. And they had no intention of looking for animals or unsuspecting creatures to try these spells and curses on, as the originators had. But, Amanda knew the movements and word uses as though she had actually used them, thousands of times before. Everyone knowing that in a way, she had... through the spirits forever trapped within the necklace... making her a true master. So, with her watchful eye and constant refinements of their motions and timing... when she eventually said one day that they had all mastered them... they took her word for it.

After a particularly wonderful dinner at the end of their fifth month, Amanda gets up from the dining table saying, "May I have your attention please? I think you all have what I've shown you down to almost a reflex now. Your wand movements are _quick_ , smooth and _accurate_. Your wording is timed _perfectly_ , and I'm sure you are all focused enough with your concentration. I say... you're _ready_. And, I think it's time we moved on, and started _looking_ for those shards. After all, there are a _lot_ of places to look on the map here, and that's just for this _one_ shard. What do you think?"

Everyone cheers.

"Yeah... I guess you're right," Thian says taking his plate to the sink. "Actually, I feel _pretty_ good with the movements and stuff. Wish I knew for sure they _worked_... but then again... I really hope we never have to _use_ most of them you know. These are really _horrible_. And to think, that we _five_ may be the only ones living who know most of them... _weird_ really, you know?"

"You can say _that_ again," Tia laughs. "I was thinking last night while lying in bed, about what our _mom_ would have said if she knew we were learning this kind of stuff."

"That's funny," Tianna says calmly with a sad expression. "I was thinking of mom last night too. Like I _always_ do. And _I_ was wondering the same thing."

"Well, I know I didn't know Thea for very long," Amanda says quietly, remembering how Thea had treated her as one of her own. "But, under _these_ circumstances? I really think she _would_ want you to know whatever you needed, to _stay_ alive. Oh, she wouldn't _like_ it any I know... but, I'd bet all I _have_ that she'd understand, and actually, I think she'd rest easier knowing you _could_ defend yourself in any way needed, if _forced_ to. She knows... uh, would have known... that you would do _everything_ you could to get away first, and _only_ use these horrible things if forced to."

After a few moments of silence. "Well," Tianna says with a sigh. "I guess you're right Amanda. Tia and I've cried most every night, thinking about mom. But, we know she's gone and she would want us to move on with our lives. And, you're right. We could stay here and _practice_ for six more months, or even a year or so, but, the _sooner_ we find those ten shards, _then_ , well, somehow _find_ Bellinora, so she can tell us where the other three shards are... we can then find that _stupid_ _Great Book Of Power_ , and see if there is a way to get that necklace _off_ of you. Or, at _least_ so you can find out how to use and control it. So, what do you all say we pack up and head off in the morning?"

Reluctantly they all agree, knowing they will be heading deeper into the _Dark Forest_ , trying to find and retrieve, the _first_ of ten shards.

#  Grass People

Early the next morning, they have a good breakfast, pack up, gather their things then head out of the cabin. Thian packs the cabin back into its little can, slips it into his pant's pocket, giving it a little pat as he turns to the others. "Okay, all set. So, where to first Amanda?"

"Oh, well, I was thinking about that last night, and, well, pull out the map Thian, and let's see where the closest spot on the map is."

Thian pulls the map out then unfolds it. Everyone gathers around as he kneels, so Sadie can see too. "Well, it looks like there's, like _thirty_ red dots on the map. Here _we_ are, pictured gathered in a circle."

Amanda smiles seeing five tiny figures slightly moving on the map, with their own first names pointing at them.

"Here's the lake we're at," Thian continues, "and _here's_ the nearest red dot. So, I guess we could head there first... although I _still_ don't know what we're supposed to be looking _for_ once we get there. I mean... it's just a _dot_ on the map, which could be miles in diameter. When we get there, just what is it we're supposed to look _for_?"

"Have no idea," Amanda says shaking her head followed by a deep sigh. " _That's_ the problem, those men showed up before Bellinora or Ellanya could give us more information. It's like looking for a _needle_ in a hay stack you know?"

"Why would you _want_ to look for a needle in a stack of hay?" Sadie asks looking quite confused. "Why not use your wand to get it?"

"What? Oh, never mind," Amanda smiles. "I just mean, we're pretty sure that _one_ of the shards is hidden somewhere within the area of this map. But, from the looks of it, there are _hundreds_ of square miles here. The shard _could_ be anywhere... buried underground, _in_ a lake or stream, in a _tree_ , under a rock, in a cave... who _knows_ where."

"No _wonder_ no one has ever found them... and from what Bellinora said, people have been searching for them for _centuries_ , and only three have ever been found." Tia says mounting her broom.

"Yeah, well, we'll never find them standing around _here_ ," Tianna says mounting up then kicks into a hover. "Let's head for that closest dot like you said Thian. Thian, you lead the way, and I guess we'll just look for... _whatever_ as we fly, and look closer when we get nearer to the spot on the map. Maybe we'll find some old runes, or like you said, a cave or other obvious hiding place or something."

Not knowing what else to do, the others kick off, Thian leading them up over the trees near the lake, then banks to the left.

They spend the next two weeks flying from one dot on the map to another, doing their best to look for anything suspicious, or for anyone or anything that may look like they are protecting something. They see an abundance of wildlife, but without any luck so far, and after spending a very long and exhausting day, having looked through many caves they had come upon which were near one of the dots on the map, they set up camp by a very narrow stream.

After filling the cabin with water, then refilling their water bottles and _Instant Outhouses_ , they all clean up and prepare their supper.

"This is _hopeless_!" Tianna says shoving her plate away then grasping her tea. "We're _never_ going to find even _one_ shard, let alone _ten_ of them! We don't even know what we're _looking_ for!"

"Yeah, I know how you feel," Tia says with a long sigh. "And there are a _lot_ of red dots left on the map too. But, what other choice do we have? We can't go back... and there just isn't any other way to go really. I'm not sure if we'll _ever_ find anything or not, but... I guess we just keep on looking is all."

"It sure is _frustrating_ though," Thian says taking his dish to the sink. "I mean, we haven't found much of anything. Some nice _scenery_ , good fishing and _hunting_ sometimes, but that's about it. The thing is though, the water in the rivers and streams we've been coming to, look like they're drying up. This stream looks to be at least _half_ low too. I think when we leave this time, I'll leave some water in the cabin, so we'll at least have _some_ if we need it."

"But, I thought you said you needed to get water for the cabin wherever you set it up, and that you didn't _keep_ water in it." Amanda says after taking a sip of tea.

"Well, usually when you go camping, you set up a cabin near water, so there's no need to store any in the cabin between camping trips, and you _can't_ completely fill the tanks in the cabin then repack it. But, you _can_ keep a minimum amount, which will last a few days if you're careful.

"Mom and I usually just filled and drained the tanks each time we went, because we didn't go very often, and mom never liked the idea of keeping water in the cabin, when the forests we take the water from could use it, or the animals that lived there.

"I just got used to doing that too. But, now that we're using the cabin every night, _who_ knows, there may come a time when we need to set up where there _isn't_ any water. I mean, so far, we've been following the dots along the waterways. But since we're going to be heading _away_ from here, I just thought I'd keep the allowed level in the tanks. Of course, if we run out of water, we always have the clean water in our _Instant Outhouses_. The thing is though, we're running low on food. We'll finish it off soon, so we'll have to hunt and gather _everything_ we need after it runs out. Well, unless we come across a _town_ or something, although there aren't any I can find on the map."

They spend another quiet and uneventful night in the cabin, then head off once again after breakfast to the next dot on the map. This next dot is much deeper within the forest, with some swamps, bogs and other things surrounding it, including a huge river with many fingers branching off into the surrounding forested landscape. There appears to be some kind of road or wide pathway that, according to the map, cuts right through the forest.

After several hours of flying, Thian calls for a halt. Everyone comes to a hover.

"What is it Thian?" Tianna asks drifting to Thian as he takes out the map.

"I _think_ we're near where the next red dot is. Yeah, _here_ it is. See... there are those three hills on our left, and the _four_ on the right, with what _should_ be a large river running between them."

"But there's no river there," Sadie says looking at the dry ground between the hills. "There's only dried and dead grass, along with lots of dead and dying trees. Looks like it dried up not too long ago though."

"Yeah, and _see_ where the river heads into the forest over there?" Thian says pointing to the beginning of a dense forested area. " _That's_ where the map shows some kind of road or path, about a thousand feet to the left of where the river was. It looks to be cut right _through_ the forest here on the map, but... I can only see _trees_ over there now, except for that little area where you can see where a road _used_ to enter the forest ages ago... I think. It must have grown over since the map was made I guess.

"I don't think we'll be able to follow where the road was if we fly _over_ the trees. I think we'll have to either fly just above ground level or dismount and _walk_ from here on, if we don't want to miss anything. There's a faded, red dotted _line_ running along the road here on the map, so I think maybe we're supposed to look for the shard along the road too. Well, _maybe_. There's nothing on the map _anyplace_ that says what else the dotted line is for."

They argue about whether to fly over the forested area and forget the road to save time, or if taking the road... which really isn't there any longer... would help them decide what they may find. In the end, they know it is the only thing they can do, since the road or pathway is on the map for some reason and appears to be the only logical route to follow from their current position.

They descend to where the map shows a roadway, and do indeed find the remains of what surely was once a wide, well used road leading into the forest, lined with a short stone wall. Now however, it is very overgrown with weeds, vines, plants, and young trees. The canopy of the huge pines completely conceals the ancient road from above.

"You know, I really _used_ to love going into the forest," Tia says in almost a whisper as they slowly make their way into the forest, flying just over the tops of the brush covering the road. "But, well, _lately_ on our little adventures, I'm not quite so excited.... with like the _spiders_ and all."

Amanda laughs, "I know what you mean. And I'm _still_ having nightmares about that _screaming_ frog that landed on me." Everyone laughs.

As they continue their journey, they encounter many large and small hills, leading at times down into deep valleys. They find several marshes and three swamps that Thian verifies on his map, so they at least know they are indeed still following the ancient road, which at times, is so overgrown, they lose it completely for a while.

At the next swampy area, Thian checks his map saying, "Well, we _should_ be leaving the forest soon, if the map is still accurate, that is. It shows that we're coming to a vast area of scattered trees and wide areas of grasslands. It shows lots of _smaller_ streams branching from the huge river. They look like dozens and dozens of long _squiggly_ lines. I bet it's really pretty there. There are three small lakes there too, see..."

Thian shows everyone the map, then folds and slips it back into his pocket.

"I don't know about all of you," Sadie says with a yawn. "But, _I'm_ going to be really happy to get out of this dark _creepy_ forest. I'm _hungry_ too."

"Yeah, it'll be nice to be back in the _open_ again for sure," Tianna says then yawns. "And I could use some rest and something to eat too. Why don't we find one of the nearest streams or lake and set up camp? It's getting on near dusk anyway. It's almost _completely_ dark here under the trees. My wand light's making me sleepy."

Everyone agrees. Continuing through the forest, Thian and Tianna talk about going fishing when they reach the clearing, then begin arguing about who gets the better fishing pole.

In no time, they can see more light ahead of them. In another few minutes, they break through the tree line and all come to a hover.

"Oh my _god_!" Amanda says, her mouth hanging open. "What _happened_? Where are the _streams_ and the _lakes_? Look at the grass... it's mostly _dead_ for at least several miles. What on _earth_ do you think happened?"

"No idea," Thian says moving forward pulling the map from his pocket. "But it looks like since the river has dried up, so have the streams. You can still see where a lake used to be over there, where that big indentation is, but, _it's_ dried up too. The thing is, there are a _lot_ of dead trees out and around where the streams and lake used to be, but not as many further toward the forest. Looks like the river and lakes have been dry for months at least. Too bad, I was _really_ looking forward to swimming in the lake and catching some fish."

They set up camp then have more canned goods for dinner. The cookies have long since run out, and not knowing what lay ahead, they have begun watching closely what they eat, although they have mostly lived on the fish they catch, and on other game they have hunted. None of them like or want to kill any animal, but as Thian had said, "It's either them or us. You have to do what you have to do in the forest to survive. You either hunt and kill what you need, and no more or starve. But whenever you kill another living thing, you thank it for its sacrifice, for giving its life so you can live. In the wild, its simply the law of the land, and, well, all the animals know it. But we only catch, kill and eat what we need, and not for sport. Always remember to thank and honor the spirit of what you kill or any animal you eat."

After spending the night, they pack up then head off once again. They cross the grassland then stop to look around the dried lakes, looking for anything that may hide the shard they are searching for, but find nothing around the area of the red dot on the map that looks suspicious.

They enter the forest again, following the ancient overgrown roadway, which winds its way through the dense trees, at times, losing sight of the stone walls which are simply too over grown with plants and bushes. They eventually come upon another grassland, filled with oaks, ash, and many other wonderful trees that none of them recognize. They wonder at the surrounding area, which looks like flattened half dead grasses.

Thian locates what should be a roaring river on the map, but when they find it, it is nothing more than a dry riverbed. There are a couple red dots along its length, so they decide to follow it and check out the areas around the dots.

They follow the dry riverbed for several days, saddened by the dead trees surrounding it. They are all discouraged at not having found the shard. They are hot, tired and irritable. No one is in a good mood as they once again enter another grassland. This wide area is also mostly nothing but dried grass, with some scattered odd looking trees about.

They fly some thirty feet above the dried grass, heading for the next dot on the map. After some fifteen minutes, Tia says, "Hey... _what's_ that over there?" pointing to what looks like a mound of partially dried grass and plant matter.

"What? You mean that _lump_ over there?" Thian asks looking where she is pointing. "Just a mound of _dirt_ covered by grass and decaying plants. Why?"

They have all come to a hover after Tia stops. "I... I thought I saw it _move_ , but I guess..."

"Hey! _I_ just saw it move too," Amanda says rather startled. "What do you think it is?"

The mass moves slightly again, appearing to turn sideways.

"Snarkins!" Thian says with a gasp. "It almost looks like the shape of a _person_ all covered in grass. Let's take a look, but get your _wands_ out, this _is_ the _Dark Forest_ after all, and nobody _really_ knows what's in here."

They begin flying toward the mass, which has not moved again. As they get closer, Amanda notices that it does indeed appear to be in the shape of a person, but made entirely out of strands of grass and vines. Approaching the shape, it moves slightly, startling them.

Only a few feet away, they hear a moan. Everyone comes to an instant stop, all eyes wide, as what appears to be the back of a head, made from intertwined grass and vines, rises slightly from the ground, turns to face them with what can only be knotholes from some tree for its eyes.

Gasping, they drop to the ground, staring at the odd sight with their wands pointed at it, ready to blast it to pieces. A parting in the weaving of its face, opens where a mouth would be, and what is clearly some kind of speech is heard. None understand the language it is speaking, but you did not have to understand the language to know it was a plea for help.

Amanda, without fear or hesitation, walks forward, placing her hand on its shoulder. For a moment, the two of them look at each other, then the grass person speaks again. Amanda gives a short gasp and shudder, then begins speaking in the same language as the grass person. The others turn to look at one another briefly, then back at Amanda and the strange grass creature.

"Quick, _Thian_ , come touch my shoulder, the rest of you gather round and hold hands leading from Thian, I want _all_ of you to be able to understand Poa... uh, that's his name."

Thian springs forward as he slips his wand back into its holster, as do the others. Thian places his hand on Amanda's shoulder, then holds out his hand. Tianna grasps Thian's hand, Tia hers, followed by little Sadie. Amanda says in the creature's language, "Everyone, I'd like you all to meet Poa, he needs our help. He's _dying_."

Poa is very weak and can hardly move or speak. He is shocked that Amanda can speak his language, and even more shocked that when the others touch her, they can somehow understand and speak with him too.

"Poa, like I said, there's _no_ time to explain now what type of creatures we are. Maybe later. But _first_ , how can we help you? I... _we_... have never met, uh, someone of your _kind_ before." Amanda looks at the others to see if any of them know anything about _grass_ people. Thian shakes his head, as do the others.

"Water... _no_ water... will die. My _people_... all _dying_. Rivers, streams... lakes... dry. No water... have to find out _why_..." his voice trails off as he appears to have passed out.

"Water! He needs _water_!" Amanda shouts. "But, if he's passed out, _how_ do we get him to drink it?"

"I don't think he's _talking_ about drinking it. At least not the way _we_ do anyway," Tia says studying the odd creature. "I mean, _look_ at him. He's made out of, well, varying thicknesses of _vines_ and long grass. Look at his legs. You can see where some of the grass has dried and fallen off, exposing an underlying structure of _muscle,_ I guess, but made from woven _vines_. And look how some of those really long _thick_ ones have unwrapped from his legs and are trailing away from him. They're kind of _pointed_ at the ends, and they get _thicker_ as they make their way toward and _up_ his legs."

"Yeah, _weird_ ," Thian says looking at the many thick twisting strands. "So, what are you thinking Tia?"

"I'm not _sure_ of course, but, well, they just look too much like _roots_ to me. I think, somehow, he, uh, needs to be _planted_..."

"Planted?" Tianna says turning to look at her sister. "You mean, like you would plant a _tree_ or something?"

"Yeah, that's what I'm _thinking_. But, he's in _really_ bad shape. I'm not sure he would make it if we dug a hole, planted him, then just _watered_ him. I think we need to _immerse_ him in water with minerals, _vitamins_ and stuff like that. Thian, set up an _Instant_ Outhouse. Then, you, Amanda and Sadie, get him into the _bathtub_ and fill it... like _halfway_ with cool water. Tianna, you and I need to find some minerals and scat if we can."

" _Scat_? Like in... uh, _animal_ poop?" Sadie asks scrunching up her nose.

"Yeah, fertilizer. If he _is_ a plant-based creature, like _most_ plants, they need light, _water_ , and food... like from decayed plants, fertilizer from animals, and other minerals. Of course, if I'm _wrong_... we could _kill_ him. But... I think we need to chance it. We passed several areas which may have what we need near the dried lake, streams and the river that's not far from here. Tianna and I'll gather what we need and be back soon."

Thian has just finished setting up the Instant Outhouse, as Tia and Tianna fly quickly toward the large lake they had passed, after grabbing a couple of large cloth bags from under the outhouse sink.

"Okay, let's get him to the tub," Thian says pulling his wand.

"Thian _wait_!" Amanda says stepping in front of him. "Uh, maybe _Sadie_... or I should do it you know. I mean, just in case your wand, well, sets him on _fire_ or something."

"Oh, yeah, right. Sure, okay, good thinking. Sadie, why don't you move him, while Amanda and I guide him into the tub, and make sure all his, um, well... trailing roots, or _whatever_ they are, get in the tub too."

Sadie draws her wand and in a moment, after maneuvering Poa into the outhouse, Thian and Amanda guide Poa into a good position within the tub, while Sadie carefully lowers him in.

"Great. _That_ should do it, I think," Thian says looking at where the strands of grass have covered where the creatures knothole eyes had been, now appearing more like eyelids. "Amanda, go ahead and turn on the water, cold to _medium_ I guess. I mean, if they _are_ usually, well, _planted_... they don't need _hot_ water."

"Yeah, okay." Amanda turns on the cold water and slowly the tub begins to fill. "Thian, maybe you had better set up the cabin too. We may be here for a while." With a nod, Thian heads out to set up the cabin, then returns to wait and watch with Amanda and Sadie, for any movement from Poa.

It has been about half an hour when they hear a moan as Poa's head rises. His grassy eyelids flutter open, and the two knothole eyes begin looking around. The knotholes are a rather light brown near the outsides, which get darker towards the center, until an almost black area, about a quarter of an inch in diameter, represents the pupil. It is strange to look at the wooden eyes with obvious cracks in them, like most knotholes have, and realize that this odd creature can actually see from them.

At first, Poa is in a daze, not knowing where he is. He looks down at the water, then to the faucet where the water continues to pour out because Amanda decided that there should be more water in the tub than they had at first considered.

"Where... where _am_ I? Water?... _how_?... from _where_?"

"It's alright Poa," Amanda says kneeling beside the tub. "We're _friends_ , we only want to help you. Is it alright that we put you _in_ water? That you, well, somehow need to, uh, absorb it through your..." her voice trails off as she turns to look at Thian and Sadie, who look as unsure as she does as to what to say.

"Yes. _Thank_ you. My roots are taking in the water, but, I need... I don't know how to explain it."

"It's okay Poa," Thian says smiling at the odd creature. "Tia and her sister, Tianna, are looking for... well, what they _think_ you may need. They should be back soon. Is the water too cold? Would you like it warmer?"

"You... can _control_ the temperature of water?" Poa asks, shifting his wooden eyes toward Thian.

"Uh, well, _yeah_ , actually. We can even _freeze_ it, or heat it until it boils and _evaporates_ into steam."

Poa stares at them for a long moment, then asks, "What kind of creatures _are_ you? Where do you come from? I've never seen your kind before. Why are you... _helping_ me?"

"Poa, relax. Like I said, we're _friends_ ," Amanda says gently as she turns off the water. Poa watches with interest at how she has stopped the flow of water by turning some strange looking shiny rock. "We come from places far, _far_ away. We're not even from this _realm_. I can't get into any details, but just know we're _not_ here to hurt you. We only want to help."

Tia and Tianna's voices drift in from outside. In a moment, they appear at the doorway, each holding a very large bag.

"How's he doing?" Tia asks as she enters.

"Ask him yourself," Thian says with a grin as Tia approaches the tub. Amanda, Thian and Sadie back out so Tianna can enter as well.

Poa blinks several times, in what Amanda thinks must be surprise and apprehension, looking Tia and Tianna over very carefully, as Tia rests her large bag on the edge of the tub, then begins untying it.

"Hi Poa, my name is Tia. This is my sister Tianna. Our kind are called _elves_ , and we have both been trained some in the healing arts. At least, for those of our _own_ kind. I was just guessing about you needing to be planted, or at least, having what I believe to be your roots in soil and water. Was I right?"

"Yes. I can already feel some strength returning, but I need to, well, _eat_ too..."

"Got that _right_ here, hope it's to your taste," Tianna says untying her bag as well. "Okay sis, dump it in and let's see if you're right."

Tia smiles at Tianna, then looking at Poa says, "We're not sure what you really like to, well... _eat_... so we brought a little of what we could find." Tia dumps her bag into the water, spilling its contents of soil, minerals and some animal poop. This startles Poa, who rises a little in the tub, looking on as Tianna empties her bag into the tub as well.

Poa stares at the mess for a moment, then, begins wiggling his roots around to stir the mass, as a smile, or what they all take as a smile, spreads across his grassy face. He closes his eyes, leans his head back, taking several deep breaths, letting them out as if in ecstasy.

"I take it then," Tia says with a laugh, "that this is... _okay_?"

"Okay? This is _wonderful_!" Poa exclaims continuing to move the smelly mud around in the tub. "But, _how_? How did you know what to do... what I _needed_?"

"Oh, uh, _well_..." Tia says looking at the others, then back at Poa. "Where _we_ come from, we have gardens and we, well, plant flowers, _trees_ , bushes and things. But only a few special trees can _talk_ , or _see_ or think and stuff like you can. But, since _they_ all need water, minerals and some kind of fertilizer, I just figured _you_ might too."

"Poa," Amanda asks with a look of concern. "If you're not too... _tired_ , can you tell us what happened? You had told us before that you and your people were dying. That the rivers and lakes had dried up. What happened?"

"I don't know. _None_ of us do. We are an ancient race who love the _song_ of the wind, and _rejoice_ at the rain and changing of the seasons. We are one of _intelligent_ energy. We are _invisible_ in our natural form. To experience the wonders of a place, my father told me that we take on whatever forms we may find... becoming _that_ kind of entity.

"Our kind is not originally from this realm. Our ancestors traveled very long and far before arriving here. From _where_ they originated, has long been lost to us. Many of us have taken on the form of trees, _plants_ , and the grasses. We have learned over the millennia, how to combine various parts from plants, trees, grasses and the like, to form a living being that allows us to _see_ , feel, smell, _hear_ , taste and so on. My father, and his father, and his before him, have told of creatures here who had a shape just as you do, now that I think back on it. Our ancestors took on their form, as it seems to be a good one, but our energy needs are such, that we need the _nutrients_ of the soil. So, our ancients learned how to combine what we needed, with the shape of those they had first found here.

"I am formed, as you can see, from plant matter, covered in intertwining vines, which act as muscle and a kind of support structure. I am _usually_ covered with green plant matter, and finally, covered in long strands of grass, to finish off the form, to look somewhat as you do."

"Poa, you said that your ancients took on the form of those who they found here. Where are those creatures now?" Amanda asks.

"Gone. All gone. My father tells me, that many ages ago, a _single_ one of what may be your creature kind arrived and a _great_ battle began. The One who came _killed_ all the others of your kind, and would have killed all of _my_ kind too. But, the One... said it would _not_ destroy us, if we _did_ something for them. Do not ask me what, for I am _forbidden_ to speak of it."

"You say that there was only _one_ person who came here?" Sadie asks. "And that just _one_ person killed all the others? How many, uh, others _were_ there?"

" _Hundreds_ upon hundreds, from what I have been told. The One, from my understanding, would torture, then _kill_ those of your kind, in what my father tells me seemed to be _joy_ to the One... though I cannot understand _how_ they could feel joy at _killing_ when there was no reason."

"Hundreds and _hundreds_?" Thian says with eyes wide.

Poa nods.

"Poa, you keep calling the creature... the _One_. It didn't have a _name_ , like we do?" Amanda asks.

"We call it the One, because that is what it was... only one... _your_ kind I think, from the description of it. But my grandfather, who has been on this realm for many thousands of years, told me once that his great, great grandmother had said _her_ ancestors, had once called the One... _Eris_ I believe, or something like that."

Amanda and the others go rigid, eyes wide. Amanda turns to look at the others as she licks her lips, forcing a dry swallow.

"Do... do you _know_ of the One?" Poa asks blinking at Amanda. "It is said to be the most _evil_ creature my kind has ever encountered."

"Uh... well, we've _heard_ of her for sure," Thian says looking at Amanda, who reaches up touching her robe where the necklace rests just beneath.

Quickly changing the subject, "But Poa, how did you... get _here_?" Sadie asks from the doorway. "Are there _more_ of you around? Should we go look for _them_ too?"

"There are none of us this far north and west. But there are _many_ of my kind to the south and east. _All_ dying, many already dead. I fear the rest will die soon if the waters do not return. I was sent by my father, our leader, to find what has caused our mighty river to dry up, and all the tributaries which sustain our people, by providing the water and nutrients we need.

"I have traveled for many, _many_ days. I have tried to follow the river, hoping to find water, but I have found none. Everything has dried up. I knew I was dying too, and had not long to live. I spotted the tree line near where you found me, knowing that by the way the trees were shaped, a _stream_ must be close. I was headed there when I could go no further. I fell. I tried to dig my roots into the soil, but I had no strength to do so. And the soil here is rocky and hard. I never made it to the stream. I would have _died_ if you had not found me, or cared to help."

"Well, the stream you were headed to is dry too, so it doesn't matter that you didn't make it there," Tianna says looking down at Poa. "But, when things dried up, why didn't you just take on another form or just go back to your, uh, _invisible_ selves until things got better?"

"We cannot," Poa says with a sigh. "We have been here for as long as there have been hills and valleys. My father tells me that once we take on a chosen form, we can regenerate the plant life, grasses, flowers, vines and such as needed, as long as we have water and the nutrients to do so, but that once in that form, we must _stay_ that way till our end. He says our energy actually _becomes_ the plants, and if we cannot regenerate them, as _they_ die, so _our_ energy escapes to become other things. And we, as a being, are no more. My people, all of us, _will_ die without water to help feed us." Beginning to rise from the tub, but slipping back in, Poa says, "I _have_ to leave... I _must_ help my people. I have to find out what _happened_ to the water that feeds us."

" _Hold_ on now," Thian says stepping in and placing his hand on Poa's shoulder, preventing him from trying to get out of the slippery tub. "You aren't going _anywhere_ for now. You need to _rest_ and regain your strength. Has this sort of thing ever happened before?"

Amanda and the others learn that there _have_ been times of course, when their main river has been low, and times were hard, but _never_ in all of remembered history, has the great river ever dried _completely_.

Assuring Poa that they will do all they can to help him and his people, he begins to calm somewhat, then answers many more of their questions.

"Poa?" asks Sadie. "How... how can you _speak_? I mean, do you have _vocal_ cords or something."

Poa says, "Well, speech is accomplished through the vibration of varying thicknesses of reeds growing in the throat area, which we gather from the riverbanks, then stretch to varying tightness. The long, _thicker_ strands which are my roots, wind up to form feet, then wrap up around my legs like thick netting. I unwrap them when I need to feed, then dig them into the soil to eat for however long I need. I wrap them up my legs so I can actually _walk_ , on two, well, _trunks_ , to get to wherever I like. This is how my kind gets around."

"So, you were trying to _walk_ up the river, looking for why the water stopped?" Tianna asks.

"Yes. We have long known that our mighty river is fed from high up in the mountains to the north. Our ancients passed down to us that there are many waterfalls, and many streams which flow into a large lake. It is the waters from there that flow down the mountain, which forms our river here. The river branches off into _many_ streams which feed many of us, and many streams empty into other lakes, where many of our families have gathered and thrive.

"There are _many_ lakes high in the mountains. My father's father told my father many ages ago that the lake that feeds our river is known as _The Lake of Qumong_. The Lake is said to be many _hundreds_ of miles from here. I knew I may never have made it there. We cannot move long without needing to rest and recover what is worn away as we move. My roots are warn badly, and I was afraid they would sever, and I would not be able to dig them in and perish to nothing. I do not know _what_ I can do now to save my people."

"Well, let us think that over while you rest," Amanda says from the doorway. "Come on you guys, let's get to the cabin and think of what we can do. Tia, you want to stay with Poa for a while?"

"Yeah I do. I saw some plants I can use to make a kind of poultice, which will help heal his wounds. I'll cast some _healing_ spells momma taught me too. I'll see you guys in a little bit."

With what Tia had learned from her mom, and some guidance from Poa, Tia tends to his needs.

Once in the cabin, everyone but Tia gathers in the living room.

"Amanda?" Tianna asks. "Poa said the lake he thinks feeds the river is called, _The Lake of Qumong_. Isn't that one of the places Bellinora said we needed to go, to possibly find a shard?"

Amanda looks a little startled, as she reaches into her pant's pocket, pulling out the Specteroscope, saying, "Yeah, you know... I think you're _right_." She looks at the outside ring of the scope, looking at the places they need to translocate to. " _Yeah_ , in fact, it's the one on the scope just after here. You don't think... there's a _connection_ do you?"

"Nah," Thian says shaking his head. "How _could_ there be? But, maybe it's on the map too. Let me check." Thian pulls out the map as Amanda puts the scope back into her pocket. "Nope. The map _ends_ before it gets that far north. But look..." he turns the map around so everyone can see. " _Here's_ the river we've been following, and it leads right up to the very edge of the map. I think that, well, once we _get_ to _The Lake of Qumong_ , the map will change to show where the river continues."

They all want to stay for several days while Poa recovers more, but Poa is frantic, insisting that more of his people are dying each day, and he has to see how they are, but it would take many days to return. The kids decide he is right and tell him that in the morning, once they have had some sleep, which their kind needs, they will fly him back to his people, then translocate to _The Lake of Qumong_ to try tracking the water from there, since it is said to be the source back down the mountain to wherever the water stops flowing.

Poa has no idea as to what they are talking about and assures them he cannot fly.

Early next morning after packing everything up, they rig a tarp, securing it between four of their brooms. Sadie uses her wand to guide Poa out of the tub which frightens the beegebers out of him. They lay him gently in the tarp and tell him to hold on to the front edge. They all mount their brooms, then kick off into a hover as poor Poa screams from fright and surprise.

After they calm him down, they fly Poa down the river, keeping a few feet off the ground to where it branches off to the East. Of course, Poa has never been off the ground before, and at first is terrified, but as time goes on, his terror turns to excitement, then to that of pure joy as they begin to soar up above the trees.

"We're _flying_ , just like the _birds_ ," he says as they pass a flock of four winged blue birds, a grin spreading on his grassy face. "I can't _believe_ I'm flying!"

Everyone laughs.

They fly as quickly as they think safe with Poa stretched out on the tarp between them. Poa directs them up several dry streams, leading further toward another opening in the forest which the kids know should be a lush, green valley, according to the map. However, as they approach, flying high in the sky a good distance away, they can see that the area is mostly dry grass and dead or dying trees.

Amanda turns to Tia who is flying on the other side of Poa, their brooms tied to the back of the tarp, as Tia turns to her, giving a sad shake of her head. Amanda knows Tia is thinking the same thing she is. That they are too late and will find that all Poa's friends and family are dead.

They begin their descent, and as they lower, they see many grass forms in the vague shape of people, laying, stumbling or sitting in the tall decaying grasses, or beneath trees, even within bushes. Most, barely alive, are a brownish-green coloring. However, many are no longer living, but have become dried out and brown... a good number have already decayed or are in the process of decay.

"They're... they're all _dying_ ," Poa says sadly, watching some of his friends look up to them with startled expressions as they fly over. "That cluster of trees... there, close to the rivers bank. That's where my father and my _family_ are. Please... _hurry_!"

The kids fly quickly across the dead and decaying grassland. The sight of many grass people lying motionless, and scattered about is heart wrenching. As they approach the cluster of trees, they slow, soon seeing several grass people stumble from the shade of the trees, out into the clearing. Amanda lets out a small cry, as she sees a massive person-shaped vine creature step out. Its entire body is made from thick twisted vines, no grasses or plants covering it... just layers upon layers of intertwined vines... more like roots. As Amanda looks at its feet, she sees that they too are made of root-like strands.

Those having entered the clearing are holding large rocks or long spears in their trembling hands. The massive creature is holding something like a huge limb from a tree with a large rounded rock on one end.

"That is my _father_!" Poa says as he lifts his head and raises his arm to his father in greeting.

The huge vine creature staggers back with a startled expression on his twisted face, his knothole eyes quickly taking in the scene approaching him, clearly trying to understand the odd sight. He is even more startled when he spots Poa laying on the tarp, waving at him. He drops his staff and staggers forward as the kids land, quickly helping Poa to his feet. Poa is still very weak, but strong enough to stand and move slowly as Amanda and Thian assist him.

Poa and his father embrace, as several others make their way over, joyful to see Poa alive, but wary of the strange creatures he has brought with him... or more appropriately, who have brought him... and from the sky, like some kind of wingless birds.

It takes some time for Poa to tell his tale, while Thian sets up the cabin, darn near scaring the remaining life out of Poa's mother who has just arrived, wrapping her vine-like arms around Poa, like a kind of strangler plant.

"Thian, get _all_ the Instant Outhouses you can find, and set 'em up in a row," Tia says pointing to a spot not far away. "Start filling their tubs with water. _Oh_ , and would you get me another tarp please? _You_ three are coming with me. Let's get as _many_ of Poa's people into the tubs as _quickly_ as we can, then we'll gather the soil and nutrients they need."

In a few moments, Thian rushes through the door of the cabin, followed by Sadie, who says she knows where another tarp is.

Sadie returns with the tarp which they stretch between their brooms, then the girls quickly fly off, just as Thian comes through the door with an armload of cans.

Over the next hour, Thian has set up twenty-three Instant Outhouses, and has helped Poa's mother, two sisters and a brother, into the tubs, along with many others, as the girls would fly them back from around the area. Soon, all the tubs are full, including the one in the cabin, and filled with sloshing soil. Poa, remaining by his mother for the most part, but checking on his father, sisters and brother from time to time, is feeling much better himself.

"This is _horrible_!" Tia says, completely exhausted. "There are _dozens_ and _dozens_ of others, but no _tubs_ for them. And Poa says there are _hundreds_ upon hundreds of others in other areas too. What are we going to do?"

"The only thing we _can_!" Tianna says wiping sweat from her forehead. "Let's spend as much time as we dare, gathering the ones we think can still _make_ it... and bring them here. Once those in the tubs recover some, _others_ can take their place, then we can keep rotating until they're all strong again. Poa said that once they are strong enough, as he says _he_ is... _they_ can run the water and refill the tubs with new soil as needed. Well, at least until the water runs out. Thian told him the tubs can be filled something like _fifty_ times before no more water will flow. Poa doesn't understand _where_ the water is coming from or _how_ it comes out of the faucet, but _does_ understand there is only so much water, and says he and others can help the weak into and out of the tubs and will only refill them when needed. So, let's get as _many_ as we can back here, then... well, we'll go see if we can find out what's _caused_ the water to stop flowing."

It takes three more hours before they have retrieved those that were still alive and _willing_ to make the trip. Many were too far gone and knew it... and refused to take the place of someone who may survive.

"These are _remarkable_ creatures," Amanda says, tears flowing down her cheeks as they fly the latest unconscious survivor back to Poa. "I mean, several _dozen_ said to leave them to die... to _save_ the others. It tears my _heart_ out... watching them look up at us as we fly away, _knowing_ they'll die."

"Yeah, it tears my heart out too," Tia says wiping her own eyes on her dirty sleeve. "This is the last of them anywhere around here that is, and she's in _really_ bad shape. We need to see what's happened to the flow of water... _fast_!"

After checking on Poa, they tend to his family and the others, then meet with Poa who is with his father who is now quickly regaining his strength within the large tub in the cabin.

"Poa?" Amanda calls as she and the others enter the bathroom. "We're going to leave now, to see what's happened to the water. We're going to, um, _disappear_ for a while, but we'll be back... I _promise_. We'll do _whatever_ we can."

Poa had not told his father his new friends were planning to look for what had happened to the water. Poa's father looks at them asking, "You will do that... for _us_? But _why_? You do not know us. You are not... of _our_ kind. And, where will you look?"

"We may not be of your kind sir," Amanda says with a smile. "But, you are _living_ creatures, which are _not_ trying to hurt us, so if we can _help_ another, _whatever_ creature that may be, that's what most of _our_ kind want to do. Well, _many_ anyway. And as for where we're going, we're going to start our search at _The Lake of Qumong_."

Amanda no sooner gets the words out, when Detree, Poa's father, lets out a cry. " _The Lake of Qumong_! _No_ , you must not go there... it is _forbidden_! It is an _ancient_ and _evil_ place. A place our ancestors told us will _destroy_ all creature kind who enter there. You _must_ not go, even for _our_ sakes!"

"But _father_... you never _told_ me that! Only that it was very far and the source of our water. What _evil_ do you speak of? What lies in wait there?"

"I do not know what awaits one there, only that it is said, that those who enter there, _Qumong_ and his legions will _destroy_! We have heard tales over the centuries, of creatures, _many_ like your friends here Poa, having made their way to the Lake, _never_ to be heard from again." Turning to Amanda, "Should you go... you will _all_ be destroyed!"

The kids' faces show their fear, as Sadie clings to Tianna's legs.

"Uh, _well_..." Amanda says looking at the others for a moment, then back at Poa and Detree. "Actually, we _need_ to go there anyway. I can't say why, just that we need to. So, don't worry about us. We'll, uh, be okay... I _hope_. Listen, we need to leave now. You know what to do here. We'll be back just as soon as we can."

"I don't know what to _say_ ," Detree says shaking his head. "I have never _met_ creatures willing to _die_ for... _us_. I have never even _heard_ of such a thing. I don't know how I... my _people_ , could ever repay you for your kindness. You have _already_ saved the lives of many, and now risk your own."

"Oh... well," Amanda says smiling up at the other kids, then turning back to Poa and Detree. "Actually, there _may_ be a way you can repay us, though you don't need to... but we'll talk about that later. For now, we need to go. I hope you, your family and friends recover soon. I'm sorry about the others, but if we can find a way to get the water flowing again... and _soon_... maybe some others in other areas will survive too. Come on you guys, let's get to _The Lake of Qumong_ , and see what we can find."

With that, they say goodbye to Detree, then walk outside with Poa.

"Before we go," Tia says, "why don't we loosen the soil here to make it easier for them to dig up and move. The ground here is pretty dense, and, they are just _beginning_ to recover."

All agree then tell Poa and the others to move back. Taking out their wands, each using a bursting spell, fire several times at the ground, causing Poa and the others to cry out as they quickly move back. Once they see what the kids are doing, they become very excited. When the kids finish, they are thanked many times from all.

Amanda pulls out her Specteroscope setting the dials. They say goodbye to Poa, then everyone holds onto Amanda.

"We'll be back Poa... _promise_. Okay, here we go, on three. One... two... _three_!" Amanda pushes the buttons.

There is a _flash_ , momentarily blinding Poa and those around him. When Poa and the others look up, those with Poa take a few staggering steps back, surprise and bewilderment clearly etched on their faces, for the kids... have vanished.

#  Lake Of Qumong

After traveling through the strange tunnel filled with streaking light, they land together, thudding on the dry, rocky ground, Amanda holding the Specteroscope, the others holding hands with Thian touching Amanda's shoulder.

Sadie looks around at the dry and barren landscape. "Is _this_ what's gonna happen to Poa and his family?" she asks looking at Tia. "Is this what's gonna happen to their grassland?" her voice mirrors her sad eyes.

Everyone turns to Tia, the acknowledged expert in all things plant-based. Tia looks at Sadie, then meets Tianna's eyes for a brief moment. "No. Not if _we_ can help it, it won't," and desperately hopes she is right.

"What happened here?" Thian asks, kicking at the rocks and brown dust at his feet.

"It's like Poa said," Tia says bending, running her hand over a small tuft of dead grass at her feet. It disintegrates into dust at her touch. " _Something's_ blocked the water." Looking across the bare plain, she shakes her head. "We've got to find out why," she says with determination, standing as she rubs her hands together.

"Then let's get the _map_ out and see if we can find out which direction we need to go," Tianna says as she turns to Thian.

Thian pulls the map from his waist pouch. "Well, here _we_ are. It looks like we should follow that path..." pointing to the left then squints at the map again. "Then go past some hills..."

"Then let's get _going_. Poa's depending on us," Tia says, looking at Sadie.

Sadie nods vigorously. "Depending on us," she echoes.

"Wait," Tianna says. "Before we just go wandering about, maybe we can narrow it down. Let me see the map Thian." Thian hands it to her as he starts to mount his broom. Tianna's eyes move quickly over the map.

"Thian!" Tianna says quickly. "Stop! Don't get on."

"Why not?"

"Did you _read_ this?" All heads turn her way.

"What d'ya mean? I just read it to _you_ , didn't I?" Thian dismounts then walks to Tianna.

"You read the _map_ part..." then continues quickly, just as Thian is about to argue. "But you _missed_ this... because if you would have read it completely, you would have seen that you _can't_ ride your broom - none of us can. We have to _walk_ to the _Lake of Qumong_ or there'll be trouble, for sure!"

"Walk?" Thian looks at her in surprise. "No way! Do you see how far the Lake _is_ from here? Show me where it says we have to _walk_."

"Here!" she says, pointing to small script in the upper right hand corner with that infuriating, "See, I'm _right_ again," look on her face.

Thian peers closer as Tia and Amanda walk over. "Oh. I must've missed it. What?" Thian says defensively, "I thought it was a _smudged_ area, okay... the writing's so small. So, where does it say we can't fly?"

"Right here. Listen," then Tianna begins:

Walk you must to reach your gain

Change you will find in each terrain.

Find the Lake to help you see

Just where the Shard of Legend be.

Brooms can fly... but here are banned

Only wands may you hold in your hand.

Remember this warning, it must be clear

Wizitched brooms will draw Them near

Take heed our words, remember our last

No brooms may be used or your fate be cast.

They rise from the depths, these Bringers of Doom

Beware of Their coming or your fate be your tomb.

"They're _banned_...?" Thian says as though he cannot fathom having to walk when he has a perfectly good broom to ride.

"'They rise from the depths?'" Tia repeats, looking at the others questioningly. "I don't like this '...your fate be cast' and '...your fate be your tomb' stuff," fear rising in her voice.

"Yeah. I know. But do we have a _choice_?" Tianna counters. "No, we _don't_ ," answering her own question when no one replies. "Not as long as we need the next Shard, and we need it, not to mention helping Poa. As long as we don't use our brooms, we'll be okay," and looks at Thian.

"Okay... so, we _walk_. I get it," Thian says, shaking his head.

The others follow his example, except for Amanda. She has not moved. "What are the 'Bringers of Doom'?" she asks, a queasy feeling in her stomach.

A small voice answers. "I'm not sure if they're the _same_ but I read about the Minions of Anglat in class."

All heads turn toward Sadie. "What does it mean, Sadie?" Amanda asks.

"They're beings summoned by Dark forces." Seeing confused and anxious faces looking back at her, she tries again. "They're like _guardians_ who've been given the task to destroy anyone who comes to remove whatever it is that the Dark forces have _hidden_ or want to remain unfound. They can be part of _anything_."

"How can they be part of _anything_ , Sadie? That doesn't make sense..." Thian asks, clearly unnerved.

"I don't know... they just _are_. I read that they can take the shape of anything around the hidden object. They only come to life when the object is moved then come out and kill the intruders," she finishes quietly. "But _maybe_ they're not the same thing," she says hopefully.

"It won't matter if they are or not," Tianna says, walking over to Sadie, putting her arm on Sadie's small shoulder. "Whether they're the Minions of Anglat or the Bringers of Doom, we'll need a plan to find and get the Shard of Legend."

"And help _Poa_ ," Sadie says, making sure no one forgets.

Tianna smiles. "And help Poa... yes, of course."

"You're right," Amanda says. "And the poem says the _Lake_ will help us find it. We'll need to think this through."

"How can we think it through when we don't know what _part_ of the Lake to search or what's around it, other than what's on the map?" Tia asks.

"And we _won't_ know as long as we stay here. I say we follow the map until we get to the Lake, see what our obstacles are, _then_ make our plan," Tianna says.

"Okay... but we can at least plan our trip to get there. Tianna and I will take the lead. Tia, you walk with Sadie. Amanda, you watch our backs. How's that?" Thian spoke with authority as the others nod their agreement.

Tianna looks pleased. She smiles at Thian then hugs Sadie. "Ready for the _next_ adventure, Miss Sadie?"

"Ready," Sadie answers as she shrugs on her travelers pack.

They follow the rock strewn path for some time. It is a desolate and monochromatic place: mostly sand, rocks and gravel making up the terrain. Here and there, small weeds try and fail to take purchase in the hard ground. As they walk, their shoes kick up yellow and brown dust, mixed with dried weeds all floating back through the warm, dry air, toward Amanda.

Gradually, the scenery changes. Rocks and sand give way to small hills covered with short, scrubby vegetation. Amanda realizes the beginning of the poem is holding true so far. With every step, she hopes that not all of the poem will be realized.

Every now and then, the quiet is broken as small bird-like creatures with four strangely-shaped wings and two long tails fly high above them, squawking their presence. But Amanda sees no small animals on the ground. "Not too many places to hide around here," she thinks. Then looking around the mostly desolate area, she speaks softly to herself, "Hide from _what_? The Bringers of Doom wouldn't be here..."

"Can we stop? I'm _tired_ ," Sadie asks no one in particular.

Tianna turns around and goes to her. "I'm _sorry_ Sadie. Thian and I were talking and going over the map. I should've realized you needed to rest. Your strides are much shorter than ours, so, it's like you've walked a _lot_ further than we all have." Tianna kneels so they look into each other's eyes. Stroking Sadie's hair, she studies her face. "You do look tired." Tianna looks up at the others. "Sadie's right. Let's stop and rest. We'll all feel better after we eat something."

"Great idea!" Thian says dropping his travelers pack. "I really _miss_ riding..." he says longingly, gently placing his broom next to his pack.

Tianna helps Sadie with her travelers pack. They all set about making a small camp, getting food and water out as they begin to relax. Tia brings the tiny girl some water, dried fruit, hard cheese and crackers. Tianna sits with her arm around Sadie's small shoulders as Sadie rests her head against Tianna.

Tianna and Sadie sit together, speaking softly, eating, sharing the water bottle and sometimes laughing.

Amanda sits with Thian and Tia, observing them. "I've never seen Tianna so _happy_ as when she's with Sadie," Thian says with an odd timber to his voice.

"I know," Tia says. "Sadie brings out another side of Tianna. I don't know what it is... Tianna doesn't really _like_ little kids... but Sadie's not like other kids. There's something different, something _special_ about her. Bellinora and Ellanya saw it in Sadie too."

Amanda nods but cannot speak. Memories flood her, but none that she wants to share. It was always like this. Whenever she saw someone... anyone... being sweet with a child... she remembers that she never had that. She had wanted it more than anything... all those nights she had longed for it... dreamed about having a mom and dad who loved her... wanted her...

"Hey," Tia says, shaking Amanda's arm, "You okay? I asked when you wanted to start out again and you looked like you were a million miles away."

"Oh, sorry," Amanda says, shaking her head. "A million miles... a _million_ years. Let's ask Sadie and Tianna," and gets up and walks to them.

Tia and Thian look knowingly at each other. Thian, shaking his head sadly, rises then follows Amanda.

Tianna is resting her head on Sadie's, humming a tune when the others come over and sit with them. Tianna smiles a smile of contentment at each of them.

"When do you want to go Sadie?" Thian asks gently.

"I feel better now. I had my 'Ti time.'" The others laugh. Everyone gets up then begins breaking camp. The rest worked wonders on them all. Once ready, Thian checks the map then they all head off.

They journey a few miles when the terrain changes again. They are entering an area with more plant life. There are small, broad-leafed trees and a variety of bushes. The dense branches of the trees offer welcomed shade as they pass under them.

They hear the tinkle of water and soon find a small, clear stream making its way around the rocks, bushes and trees, disappearing to some distant place in the horizon.

"Water!" Sadie is ecstatic. "This is the water that Poa and his _family_ needs! We _found_ it!"

Amanda shakes her head. "It's not enough. This is only a small stream. We need to find the source that _feeds_ this stream. Once we find that, then we'll be able to find what's stopping all the water from flowing to them."

Tia turns to see Sadie's disappointed face. "Amanda's right but, we're _closer_ , aren't we? We'll keep following the stream and we'll find the Lake and help Poa and his people."

They take time to drink deeply and fill their water bottles. It is so inviting, they decide to rest in a clearing they find not too far from the small stream.

"We are still going the right way, _aren't_ we?" Tianna asks, looking around. "It's way different than where we started from."

"It's what the map said... that we're going to go through different terrains," Tia says, rubbing her feet.

Thian takes the map out from his waist pocket and looks at it again. "Yeah, Tia's right. _See_... here we are, but we still haven't come to this _Lake of Qumong_ someplace over here and _that's_ where we need to get to. See..." and holds the map out to Tianna.

Tianna looks at the map for the hundredth time then sighs. "Yeah. Okay. We just keep going straight," then hands it back to Thian.

"But, at least the terrain is getting easier to cross... definitely more vegetation and water." The mention of water makes Amanda realize just how hot and dusty she feels. She gets up. "I need to wash up a little... be right back," then walks through the tall bushes and trees to the stream. Running her hands in the cool water, she washes her face. It feels cold, refreshing and wonderful when she suddenly thinks of Poa and his family, literally _dying_ of thirst. Her determination to find why the water is not running as it should, becomes steel as she stands.

#  Sesai

About to turn back and join the others, she hears a small chirp. Stopping, she looks around but sees nothing. Taking another step, she hears it again. This time, it is more than a chirp; it seems more like a small cry. Turning, she looks at the ground near her feet. Again, nothing. Tilting her head back, straining her eyes, she searches the branches, but sees no movement above. But she knows she has not imagined it. It was a small cry. Something is in distress.

From the corner of her eye, she sees a small rustle by the reeds near the water's edge. Slowly, she moves toward it and bends down. As she parts some high weeds, she sees it. A small bird-like creature with four wings and two tails and the most beautiful amber eyes she has ever seen. It is shivering, either from cold or fear or perhaps both. It tries to back away from Amanda but gives a small cry as it moves. Amanda sees that one of its feet had twisted under a rock and is caught.

"Oh, you _poor_ thing," she says softly. "How did you do that?" Reaching a hand toward the creature, she immediately snatches it back as the creature goes into panic trying to get away which only serves to make it cry out even more.

Amanda sits back watching the helpless creature shake in fear. "I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to _help_."

Amanda tilts her head and smiles. She almost laughs out loud when the bird-like creature mimics her movement. Tilting her head the other way, it does the same. "You are _so_ funny! I'm so sorry you're hurt. Won't you let me help you?"

The small creature blinks twice then stares at her. "Can I try again?" Amanda offers, very slowly moving her hand closer to the bird. It starts to move back then remains still, tilting its head from side-to-side. Amanda does the same. The bird gives a small chirp. Amanda moves her hand a little closer and this time the bird does not try to move away. It stays very still giving a small shiver every few seconds.

"That's right... I'm not going to hurt you," Amanda croons as she moves her hand closer. "I'm just going to lift this rock off your leg. _See_..." and slowly lifts the rock away. The bird pulls its leg away and tries to stand, but falls over. It stumbles around trying out its leg and after some comical flops, it seems to steady itself.

"There you go... you _did_ it!" and laughs. The bird, startled by her laugh, falls again. " _Oh_ , no... I'm sorry," Amanda says soothingly. "I'm glad you're better. I'll go and let you go, too."

Amanda rises cautiously. Turning, she takes a small step when the bird gives a loud chirp. Turning, worried the bird's leg is not as strong as she thought it was, she sees the bird is standing looking up at her. "What's the _matter_?" she asks. "You'll be fine. _Go_ on now," then watches in surprise as the little creature takes a small hop toward her, tilting its head. Amanda kneels and waits. The little bird takes another hop toward her. Tilting its head the other way it gives a small chirp.

Amanda cannot help it and laughs. But this time, the bird does not move away. "What is it?" she asks, unsure what to do. It seems to be waiting, but for what, she has no idea. Amanda tentatively extends her arm. Without hesitation the bird hops up onto her palm. Amanda is so surprised she almost jerks her hand back, but stops a second before she does.

It is so small in her hand, so soft and fuzzy. Looking at its four wings, she marvels at how long they are for such a small bird. Never taking its eyes from Amanda, the tiny bird folds its wings against its body and sits down.

Amanda is not sure what to do. "You're _welcome_ ," she says smiling. The bird blinks and gives a small chirp. Lifting her hand toward her face, Amanda is ready to quickly put her hand down if the bird looks as though it will jump off. But the bird does not move, not even to get up. When her hand is next to her face, the bird rises and brushes its tiny beak next to her lips. "Oh, you're so _sweet!_ " Amanda whispers.

For a moment, Amanda turns around looking back in the direction of camp, then turns back to her new-found friend. "Would you like to meet my friends?" The bird looks at her, tilting its head again. Amanda cups the bird with her other hand and stands, fearing she might frighten it. But the bird stays quiet, continuing to look only at Amanda's face.

"Where _were_ you?" Tia asks as Amanda comes back into camp. "We were getting worried and... what's _that_?"

Tia walks to Amanda then looks in wonder at the little bird-like creature in her palm. "Oh, Amanda, where did you _find_ it?"

"Near the stream. It was hurt. Somehow, it got its leg caught under a rock and I heard it _cry_ out. I found it then lifted the rock away. I think I've got a new _friend_ ," Amanda laughs.

The others walk over, and when Sadie comes, Amanda lowers her hands so Sadie can see, too. "It's so _small_. Look at its eyes... so pretty," Sadie says. Wanting to touch it, Sadie reaches out her hand toward it. Amanda is just about to pull her hands away, worried that the bird will be scared of all these people around it, but the fear is unnecessary. As Sadie touches its back, the bird chirps and tilts its head at Sadie. Sadie laughs in delight.

"What are you going to do with it?" Tianna asks.

"What do you mean?" Amanda asks. "I'm not going to do _anything_ with it. It just wanted to say Thank You... I think, but it'll want to go back to its home... _probably_ as soon as I put it down." This last part comes out with a tinge of sadness in her voice.

"Try it," Tia says.

"Try _what_?" Amanda looks confused.

"Put it down and see if it scampers back home. My guess is... it _won't_."

"Why wouldn't it?" Amanda asks, sadly lowering her hands to the ground, hoping the bird will not hop off.

As her hand touches the ground, the bird hops off. "See," Amanda says, sounding sad, "it'll just hop away..." she cannot understand why the bird has this effect on her. Without knowing why, she begins to think of ways she can keep it... take care of it... raise it... nurture and love it.

But the bird does not hop away. It begins to hop around the others chirping happily. Sadie claps her hands and bends down to be closer to it.

Amanda and the others are all laughing at the birds antics. In her heart, Amanda knows it will leave her... her smile fades. They all leave her; she is always alone. Not knowing how long her thoughts had overtaken her, her trance is broken as Sadie pulls on her arm. "I'm sorry, Sadie, _what_ did you say?"

" _Look_ ," Sadie says pointing down.

Amanda looks and sees that the bird has climbed onto her boot looking up at her. It bends its head so far back, it falls backward, tumbling over itself, making everyone laugh again. Bending, holding her hand down, the tiny bird quickly hops onto her open palm again, nestles down, and chirps.

"Because you _saved_ it. It's so young, it may look to you as its _protector_ ," Tia finally answers Amanda's question.

"Forever..." Amanda says standing, speaking the word quietly, hopefully.

"Not forever." Sadie says looking at Amanda, sensing the need. "It's very young so it's on its own... must not have its _parents_ anymore. But it'll want its freedom. It'll stay until it feels it's ready to face things on its own." For a fleeting moment, Amanda thinks Sadie can read her thoughts.

"Why don't we stay in camp for a while?" Thian says gently. Amanda smiles as everyone agrees while walking back to their small campfire.

"Can I watch it with you?" Sadie asks Amanda.

"Sure."

They make their way to Amanda's sleeping bag. "Are you _hungry_?" Amanda asks as she settles the bird in a soft nest of her socks. Looking around, Sadie picks up some crackers and cheese that she finds near Amanda's water bottle. Crumbling them into small pieces, she shows them to Amanda.

"Maybe a little more... they need to be _really_ small for her."

"How do you know it's a her?" Sadie asks as she grinds the food even smaller.

"I don't," Amanda shrugs. "I don't know _why_ I said that... it just seems like a her. What do _you_ think?"

Sadie studies the creature for a few seconds then turns to Amanda. "I think she's _definitely_ a girl," she says seriously. "Those eyes are so beautiful. Only a _girl_ could have eyes like that." Sadie pours the crushed food into her hand then holds it toward the bird. The bird chirps, jumps onto Sadie's palm and moves its beak into the food as though checking out this strange substance, then starts eating. Sadie is thrilled.

Amanda pours some water into the cap of her water bottle then hands it to Sadie. Sadie waits until the little bird stops eating then places the water-filled cap on her palm. The bird looks at the cap, tilting its tiny head then sticks her beak in and begins to drink. "Hungry _and_ thirsty," Sadie says knowingly.

"It's too bad she doesn't have her family anymore. She's _lonely_. But we could be her family," Sadie says excitedly. " _Couldn't_ we?" Sadie asks with eyes wide. "We should give her a name. What do you want to call her?"

Amanda had not thought of that. "A _name_? Well, why _not_ ," she thinks. "I'm not sure. Is there a name _you_ want to call her?"

Sadie looks at the small bird as though studying it. After it has eaten its fill and drunk all the water in the small cap, it jumps down, nestling in Amanda's socks then closes its eyes.

"Sesai," Sadie says solemnly.

"Sesai... I _like_ it," Amanda says. "How did you think of that?"

"It's a name in my language. It means 'small, _beautiful_ one.' It also means 'one who is _found_.' I thought it fit."

"It does fit. It fits _perfectly_. Sesai, it is."

"Can I stay with Sesai until she wakes up?"

"Of course you can."

Amanda hugs Sadie then walks over to Tia, Tianna and Thian and sits down.

"How's the bird doing?" Thian asks.

"Sesai," she says with a smile. "And she's doing fine. She's asleep after eating a _ton_ of crackers and cheese. Sadie's watching her sleep."

"Ses... _what_?" Thian asks. "How do you know it's a _girl_?"

"Her name is Sesai. Sadie named her. And Sadie decided it was a girl after looking at her huge eyes." Amanda turns her head and sees that Sadie is laying on her stomach, her head in her hands, watching Sesai sleep.

"Oh, it's more than Sadie deciding after looking at her eyes," Tianna says. Amanda turns to her confused. "Remember, Sadie's people are _Keptics_. And even though they're a highly advanced race, Sadie is even _more_ advanced than is typical for them. She's what we call, a _Kateem_. I believe in your earth realm she'd be known as a _psychic_." Tianna turns, looks at Sadie and smiles.

"She's unusual... I think more unusual than she even knows." Tianna turns back to Amanda. "She _knows_ things. All she has to do is touch someone or something, and she knows all about it, even its _feelings_ , if it has any. She told me about this when we were resting earlier. Of course, her abilities are still just developing, so actually at _this_ point, she may only sense _some_ things. But... my guess is she knows the bird is female."

"A psychic. _Wow_... I didn't know." Amanda turns to look at Sadie. "She said it was lonely and doesn't have its family anymore," her voice sounding sad.

The others look at one another until Amanda turns back. "She wants to keep Sesai," wondering if her voice gives away the fact that she wants to keep Sesai, too.

"I think that's a good idea..." all heads turn to Tia, Tianna looking surprised. "...until Sesai is ready to leave _us_ ," she finished.

Amanda sighs, knowing it is true. Tia puts her hand on Amanda's arm, trying to comfort her.

"It's starting to get dark," Tianna says, wanting to change the subject for Amanda. "Would you tell Sadie that dinner will be ready soon?"

"Sure." Amanda gets up and walks back to her sleeping area. Sitting quietly, she sees that Sadie's eyes are closed and she is breathing deeply. Turning back to Tianna, she motions that Sadie is asleep. Tianna nods, smiles then begins dinner preparations.

Amanda watches Sadie sleep. "A _psychic_ ," she thinks. " _That's_ why she's different." Now it makes sense to her. "And she loves Tianna so much."

Amanda looks at Sesai who has turned on her back, her small legs dangling to the sides, sleeping contentedly. Not being able to help herself, Amanda begins to laugh but stops herself. "Sadie knew Sesai was lonely. No family. Abandoned. Just like me," she thinks sadly.

Sadie stirs and opens her eyes. Looking first at Sesai to be sure she is okay, she looks at Amanda as she sits up. Beginning to smile at Amanda, she senses something then rests her hand on Amanda's arm. Sadie closes her eyes and when she opens them they are filled with tears. "We're with you _now_ , Amanda. _We_ won't go away. Promise." Her little voice breaking on the last word.

Over the years, Amanda has found a way to block these feelings, and yet, now a small bird has opened a flood-gate within her. She feels confused.

"I know," Sadie whispers.

Amanda forces herself to talk. Wanting to thank Sadie for understanding the feelings she kept hidden away deep inside her, she says quietly, "I know you do... thank you."

"I.... _know_ ," Sadie repeats, the meaning somehow different.

"What do you know, Sadie?" Amanda asks, somewhat confused by the sound of those two words.

"I know where you're going. The _journey_ you're on. I know." She kisses Amanda on the cheek. Turning, she bends down and kisses Sesai on her tummy. Looking back at Amanda, she gets up then walks to Tianna, who smiles at her arrival.

Amanda wanted to stop Sadie and ask her to explain what she meant. "What _was_ the journey? How would it end?" she thinks. But something else... something stronger... stopped her from asking. She feels two new emotions flooding her, taking over. First, purpose then resolve. There is a purpose to her life. A journey. Beginning to feel stronger, she thinks that somehow, everything will be alright in the end.

Sesai chirps loudly. Amanda looks down to see the bird awake and standing. Sesai hops toward Amanda tilting her head. "Well, good to see you awake, Sesai." Amanda says smiling as she puts her hand out. But before Amanda's hand is completely on the ground, Sesai jumps up onto it, startling her. Sesai begins hopping up Amanda's arm, clinging with her tiny claws to Amanda's clothing, quickly making her way up to Amanda's shoulder where she cuddles next to Amanda's neck and chirps once. Amanda tilts her head then rubs it gently against her tiny friend. Sesai chirps again as though returning the love.

" _Dinner's_ ready," Tianna calls.

Amanda makes her way over to the others and sits. Sadie leans over to Amanda's shoulder, puckering her lips. Sesai hops twice and brushes her beak against Sadie's lips, then hops back to Amanda's neck. They all laugh at the little bird's antics.

Dinner is fun that night with everyone feeding Sesai little bits of their food. They are all amazed at how much the little bird can eat. Amanda helps clean up, and after saying good night to all she heads back to her sleeping area. Carefully, Amanda unfolds her sleeping bag and slips in. As she lays on her back, she tries not to dislodge Sesai from her shoulder.

Amanda is so happy that Sesai is here and wants to stay with her. Exhausted from the day's long journey, Amanda's eyes begin closing when she feels Sesai move. Sesai climbs onto the top of Amanda's head, gently scratches at her forehead, chirps once as she turns around in a full circle like most cats do then nestles down. "Good night, Sesai," Amanda murmurs. As she quickly drifts off to sleep, she hears a faint, almost distant, chirp.

Amanda sleeps deeply that night dreaming of hopping birds with four strange wings and two tails, flying high in the sky, journeying to unknown places along with flashes of hidden and mysterious shards in strange lands.

Morning light filters through the branches lighting her face, as Amanda stretches while opening her eyes. Remembering that Sesai was on top of her head she slowly feels the area. Sesai is gone. Worried, Amanda lifts her head and looks around. There, picking at some of the cracker and cheese crumbs from the day before, is Sesai. Sesai looks fuller, more rounded, even a little _larger_. "Must be from all that eating," Amanda thinks happily.

Amanda rolls onto her side, resting on an elbow. "How did you sleep, Sesai?" At the sound of Amanda's voice, Sesai looks up then hops over to Amanda. Amanda laughs. Lowering her face, Sesai rubs her beak against Amanda's lips, chirping once.

"I know... you're _hungry_. For a little thing, you sure eat a lot!" But Amanda is happy to pull more crackers and cheese out for her. As soon as Sesai sees the food, she hops over and begins to peck at it, breaking it apart easily with her beak. Amanda realizes with a start that, in just one day, she no longer has to crush food for Sesai. Sesai is not only rounder and slightly larger, she is _stronger_.

Amanda pours water in the small cap and gives it to Sesai. "I'll be right back. I'm going to the stream to wash up. Now _don't_ go away... okay?" Sesai looks up at her, tilts her head from side-to-side, chirps, then goes back to eating.

When Amanda returns, the others had finished their breakfast and are breaking camp. Sadie plays with Sesai as Amanda packs her things. Amanda had found a large leaf by the water and had punctured the tough fibers with her small knife. Near the leaf are some long, thin vines, which she wound through the four holes in the leaf. It is perfect. Deciding to keep her socks out, she makes a nest with them in the large leaf to carry Sesai in, slung around her neck.

"Everyone ready?" Thian calls.

"You _bet_ ," Amanda answers as she slings the vines over her head, carefully placing the nest of her socks in the middle of the large leaf. The leaf fits perfectly next to her heart. Looking around for Sesai, she sees her nearby, tilting her head from side-to-side. Dropping to her knees, Amanda extends her hand. "We're going _traveling_ , Sesai, and I made you a great little nest. Come on, _hop_ on."

Sesai hops toward Amanda, but stops short of hopping onto her hand. Sesai chirps twice. "What's the matter? _Come_ on, we have to go."

Tianna puts a hand on Thian's arm, stopping him from walking on, then points to Amanda on the ground with Sesai about two feet away from her. Sadie already knows and looks up at Tianna who nods to her. Sadie walks to Amanda and stands right behind her.

"Sesai, we don't have _time_ for this. Come on, let's _go_." Amanda is smiling, but when she sees Sesai not moving, the smile slides from her face. "Sesai...?"

The small bird tilts her head chirping twice. She then hops backward, away from Amanda.

Amanda's heart is beating fast. "Sesai..." she says questioningly. And in her mind, she continued, " _Please_ don't go... stay with me, Sesai. I'll take _care_ of you, I'll _love_ you and I'll feed you and make sure you're _never_ hurt. Please, Sesai..."

"She has to go."

Startled, Amanda turns to Sadie. "Go? Go _where_? No, she _can't_ go. She needs to stay here with _me_."

"When I was playing with her, she told me that she doesn't want to go any further, Amanda. She doesn't want _any_ of us to go any further, but she knows we will. So she told me she can't go with us. Well, not so much in actual words but in what I felt from her. But... she'll _always_ remember you, Amanda. That I'm sure of." Sadie's words are like daggers of cold steel stabbing at her already damaged heart.

"But _why_ doesn't she want to go or want us to? I don't understand..." Amanda barely gets the words out.

"She didn't tell me. I just got the feeling that if we were intent on going on, we had to part ways. It's time."

Amanda turns back and looks at the little bird that has stolen her heart. Sesai tilts her head from side-to-side and waits. Her heart heavy, Amanda tilts her head from side-to-side too.

Sesai chirps twice, turns around, then hops back toward the stream. Amanda follows her with desperate eyes for as long as she can until the tiny bird disappears into the brush and is gone. Amanda slowly rises to her feet, tugs the leaf from around her neck dropping it to the ground. Sadie picks up the socks and hands them to Amanda.

For a while, no one moves or speaks. After a few more moments, Sadie takes Amanda's hand and leads her to the others and, without a word, they all start out.

Amanda thinks of Sesai constantly as they walk, not seeing anything around her. After a while, she realizes that the small trees have grown in number and height. They soon find themselves in a forest of tall trees. Wide palms sway to and fro, ferns and bushes spread their large fronds and leaves all around them. Brilliant reds, yellows, robin's egg blue and light lavender flowers sprout up everywhere.

They have been walking for quite some time and decide to rest again, sheltering between trees with long, swaying branches heavily laden with large white flowers. Their perfume fills the air, and Amanda notices she and the others are all taking deep breaths, as though filling their minds, bodies and souls with the sweet fragrance. With every deep breath Amanda takes, her heart feels lighter. Amanda begins feeling like herself again.

Butterflies with wings of sunsets, brilliant sunshine and the sea, flit among the flowers and Sadie laughs as three of them land and rest on her open palm. It is hard to see the open sky now, as the canopy of trees sways with an unfelt breeze. It is cool here and inviting.

They set up camp then rest on fallen leaves and flower petals as soft as a feather bed. They feel happy and laugh easily at silly things they say.

"It's so _pretty_ here." Amanda smiles, bending to admire a group of flowers she thinks look something like white and purple day lilies back on earth.

Amanda hears loud laughing. Looking up, she sees Thian and Tianna sitting together, holding hands, laughing at some private joke. Smiling, she thinks they look good together.

After a short rest, they reluctantly break camp then travel onward covering many more miles, when the lushness that had enthralled them becomes even more compact... denser. Amanda becomes ever more aware that they have gone from dry terrain, to forest, and now to a crowded jungle in a matter of days.

Amanda stumbles for what feels like the tenth time. Strange iridescent lichen and mosses cover the ground with slick rocks making walking slippery. No wind blows here, and yet huge ferns sway as though dancing to their own melody. The trees have changed, too. They are older, showing their years with massive trunks, scarred barks and fallen branches. Amanda looks up, noting that the first leafed branches are high over their heads. Walking, she gently touches the rough barks of trees close to her, sometimes closing her eyes for a second, swearing she can feel the life within.

As they wind their way deeper into the jungle, walking becomes more difficult. They are forced to look down more than up as they make their way slowly over the lianas, thick vines that attach themselves to these mighty giants with sucker roots and tendrils that climb by winding themselves round the tree's trunk to other trees and even to other vines. They have all tripped over the vines countless times, as though the vines grabbed at their ankles. The area is greener, thicker... darker.

"Perfect place for _Tarzan_ ," Amanda muses out loud, looking at the thick web of vines high above her head.

"What's a _Tarzan_?" Tia asks, turning around to Amanda. "An animal?"

Amanda laughs. "No, Tarzan's a _person_ who likes to swing from vine to vine. He wears this loincloth and lives with _Cheetah_ in the jungle."

"He swings from vine to vine? Why would he do that when he can just use his broom? And what's a _Cheetah_?" Tia asks curiously.

"Oh, Tarzan isn't _real_ , just a made-up character back on earth." Amanda realizes how odd her explanation sounded. "And Cheetah is his _monkey_... his companion."

"A made-up person? That's weird. And he's got a _monkey_? Oh..." Tia says nodding her understanding, " _now_ I get it. Cheetah is his _familiar_ , like Jasmine is Bellinora's. Still don't get why they don't just fly, though..."

Amanda can hardly see the others in front of her as she laughs, constantly pushing large fronds and leaves out of her face as they walk.

Amanda hears scurrying, chirps and screeches, some that raise the hair on her arms, but as she looks down, she can barely make out her own feet, let alone see anything moving around her.

The land soon changes yet again. The group now finds themselves surrounded by a jungle of strange looking plants and trees. They pass foliage that grows close to the ground, and yet, sparkles like drops of dew that laugh as sunlight tickles them. Other plants tower over miniature, twisted and deformed trees. Amanda watches as a many-legged insect crawls onto one of the leaves of a stunted tree. Without warning, a leaf curls around the insect for a moment and the leaf begins to quiver, then goes still. Her breath catches as the leaf opens to reveal an empty, glistening surface. The insect is gone.

The air is heavy here as the convergence of smells overwhelms them. Amanda hears herself and the others taking labored breaths, as they slow their pace even more, straining to push past the vines, leaves and giant fronds. Turning her thoughts to Sesai, she knows she would not have been happy here.

Amanda notices that as they walk, Tia will point to different plants, telling Sadie what they are, their healing properties as well as their deadly ones, and other interesting things. Tia is so animated when she speaks that Amanda understands why Sadie is so fascinated. So is Amanda. She never knew the depth of Tia's expertise and knowledge when it came to plants and healing.

Thian and Tianna stop more often now, checking the markers and indicators on the map in relation to where they are, making sure they are still going in the right direction. "We're stopping for ten minutes everyone," Thian gasps to the others.

As Tia and Sadie drop their travelers packs, Amanda walks closer, seeing Tia pointing out a seedling, a green sprout just breaking through on the ground near an ancient looking tree. "And _this_ ," she points to the seedling, "this is a Matayo. It has many names in the realms," she looks at Amanda as she steps up. "On the _earth_ realm, it's called a _Strangler_ Fig."

"Why?" Sadie asks mesmerized by the tiny plant.

"See that green shoot?" Sadie nods, watching it intently. "Well... that little shoot is really the _seedling's_ root. It's going to go down, _very_ deep, and grow around the tree's roots, feeding off all the nutrients in the ground, so that there won't be _any_ left for the tree. When it gets _strong_ enough, it will send out more roots in the ground and to the surface too. Those will grow all around the trunk of the tree to its very _top_."

Tia touches the tiny green shoot. "These roots grow very quickly and eventually this _tiny_ plant will suffocate this huge tree. And when the tree dies, it will become a _strangler_ tree with a hollow core."

"The tree _dies_?" Sadie asks, her eyes huge.

"Yes, but when it dies, it helps more plants grow and _live_." Tia looks up at the tree, then back at Sadie. "This tree will become a host to _orchids_ , bromeliads, lichens, mosses, ferns, even _herbs_ and vegetables. Without this process, Sadie, these small plants on the ground will _die_ , because they'd have to fight for light and nutrients in the ground, and they can't compete with these giant trees."

Tia points to other trees nearby, vines tightly wrapped around their trunks and branches. "See that Sadie?" Sadie's eyes widen as she looks at the majestic trees Tia points to. "Look at the _high_ branches. See what's on the branches?"

"Flowers and _plants_. Lots of plants," Sadie says looking at Tia, wonder in her large eyes.

"Yes," Tia says smiling. " _Wonderful_ plants to use for food and healing."

"You know so _much_ about plants and healing, Tia," Amanda says smiling. "I just _love_ to hear you talk about them."

Tia looks down. "My mom is... well, was... a _Healer_ you know. She was teaching me to be a Healer, just like her."

"I know. I'm so sorry," Amanda says as Sadie hugs Tia.

"Maybe we should get moving," Thian's voice sounds thin.

For a time, all is quiet; each lost in their own daydream, only speaking on occasion.

Amanda becomes mesmerized by the unusual plants she passes. Her favorite ones are large and colorful, reminding her of irises but with a large bulb on the bottom. As charmed as she is by the plants she is just as put off by the insects which are suddenly everywhere. Large, strange flies with eyes at the ends of continually moving antennae buzz around them all. Prickly caterpillars the size of dragonflies, move over plants with amazing speed. Beetles that look like weird spiders with tails and furry moths with multiple heads are their constant companions.

The ground, the air, the flora is alive. Amanda hears shrill cries, screeches, yowls and squawks, so loud at times she has to put her hands over her ears to shut out the racket.

A particularly large fly with its roving eye antennae suddenly flies in front of her, making her take a step back. There is something about this particular fly that she knows she has to witness. Watching, she sees it land on one of the purple and white iris-type flowers beside her. Hypnotized, she watches closely as it makes its way slowly around each petal, moving closer to its center.

If she would have blinked, she would have missed it. In an instant, the leaves curl over the fly, dragging it to its center, dropping it into the bulb. Amanda bends down. A light beam through the trees catches the silhouette of the struggling insect, fighting desperately to free itself within its beautiful, deadly prison. Amanda gasps as the bulb begins to wriggle then slowly fill with a fluid. The powerful fly is frantic with its efforts to free itself, slamming against the sides and lid of its tomb... but to no avail. As the fluid rises higher and begins to engulf the fly, a fizzing sound comes from the plant.

Suddenly, the plant issues a strange cry as the fly becomes completely engulfed by the liquid and dissolves before her opened mouth, the bulb twitching excitedly. Amanda swallows, stepping back in disbelief, her heart beating wildly, shocked by a jolt of adrenaline.

Amanda had been sure that all the sounds she hears come from the creatures around her. Looking around now, she realizes she is wrong. Only some of the cries come from animals. Her eyes move quickly around her darting everywhere. The knowledge hits her with brute force. Everything she sees... everything around them... is alive... and _hungry_.

Her heart gradually slows back to normal as the scenery begins to enchant her once again.

"Sadie, _look_ ," Amanda exclaims in delight, pointing out what looks like a large fluttering dragonfly with four wings and a long, thin tail. Each wing is a glorious pearlescent color, different from the others and emits a wondrous glow. It seems to dance in the air more than flutter. It is so beautiful, she is utterly spellbound. It is, altogether, breathtaking.

Sadie laughs, then stops abruptly, jumping back into Amanda as something darts past her feet. Amanda grabs Sadie as the small creature jumps up, grabs the fluttering dragonfly by its tail, and proceeds to rip it apart.

Sadie trembles holding onto Amanda. "Stay _close_ to me Sadie," Amanda urges, though, with Sadie clinging tightly to her, it seems an unnecessary request.

As Amanda walks, she nods to herself as understanding blossoms within her. She still appreciates the raw beauty of the strangely hypnotic foliage and bewildering creatures around her, but their tantalizing strangeness and beauty are deceiving. They are hunters and _killing_ machines.

"There's another one," Tianna says as she puts out a protective arm toward Thian.

He is just about to move a thick branch out of his way when he stops at Tianna's warning. Sitting on a low branch, about three feet away from him, is a small cat-like creature. The face is definitely feline, but the body is low to the ground covered in fur near the head with scales over the rest of the body resembling a lizard. It hisses at them. Thian stands very still, waiting, knowing what is coming.

They do not have to wait long. A heavy breeze blows against Thian and Tianna, rustling their hair and clothing. The cat-like creature crouches as it looks around. It hisses louder. Just as it is about to crawl off the branch, a large bird-like creature drops through an opening in the tangle of branches above, the wind from its wings disorienting the cat-like creature. The cat-like creature tries to run managing a few panicked steps before being pierced completely through by huge, curved, razor-sharp claws. A small cry escapes it before it is snatched into the air as the strange bird-like creature takes flight, screeching its victory. The wind stops as soon as it had flown off.

"What was _that_ thing?" Tianna asks Tia, who has just come up to them. Tia had seen the bird-like creature carry off the cat-lizard, as well.

"Whatever they are, at least they don't seem interested in _us_!" Tia says, sounding unnerved.

"By the _moons_... this place gives me the _jabbers_!" Thian says quietly.

After a short while, the thick growth begins to thin and the foliage changes again. Pushing aside some massive ferns, Thian and Tianna enter a large open area more expansive than the dense jungle, but filled with the strangest plants they have yet encountered.

"Can we rest for a while?" Sadie asks with a deep sigh.

"Oh, _sure_ , why not," Tianna says looking around. "Let's drop our stuff, rest for a while, then take a look around."

"Good, I'd like to take a closer look at some of these _plants_ ," Tia says eyeing an odd fern.

#  The Plants

After a good rest while Tia studies a few of the odd plants, they decide to leave their packs and brooms in the clearing, then head off to look around, knowing the Lake is somewhere nearby.

After fifteen minutes, they stop as one, captivated by what they see before them. Slim plants that tower over them, at least twenty feet high are crowded together in clusters. They resemble huge leaves that curl tightly around themselves, narrower on the bottom, wider at the top, resembling a tall, thin pitcher in shades of greens and yellows. At their apex, each plant has an extra flap or lid in shades of orange and red extending high above their openings. There must be at least two dozen of these clusters around the huge clearing.

Near these tall plants are moss-covered trees with scaly bark. Hanging from the branches are groups of what Amanda first thinks are fruits, the shape reminding her of peanut shells. Shaking her head, she quickly dismisses the idea when she realizes that each of these smooth shells are at least three feet long and open at their top. As she watches she sees many of the shells shake.

There are other trees as well: larger and darker, with long, smooth branches covered with enormous yellow and blue flowers that trail on the ground, swaying back and forth.

But the plants that delight her the most are the sparklers, the name she gives them. They are scattered throughout the clearing. Each plant is short, only about a foot tall, and has long, thin stems that project outward. The dozens of spines on the stems reminds Amanda of the prickly spines on desert cactus, but these sparkle with what looks like a dewdrop on each of their tips. The stems shimmer in the sunlight and shake as a breeze ruffles through them.

Spellbound, she is transfixed by the sights, colors and perfumes that drift on the air. "It's so _beautiful_ ," she breathes to herself, wanting to stay here forever.

Turning her head slightly, a new site holds her. "What are _those_?" Amanda whispers. It looks like a tree but cannot be, she thinks. Fascinated, she watches the folding and unfolding of its long branches. Each branch covered with glowing leaves. But something about it does not make sense to her. "No," she thinks, "not branches." The word enters her mind, unbidden, " _Tendrils_. Yes," she says aloud quietly. "Yes... they're _tendrils_ ," watching them curl upward then slowly uncurl as each tendril moves independently from the rest.

Her eyes follow one particularly large tendril that curls all the way up. Her eyes suddenly grow large as she locks onto the top of the tree-like thing. Her breath catches.

There are times when we believe we see all things around us, only to be shocked to realize that we missed something so obviously right in front of our eyes. So it is now with Amanda. The top of the tree has a smooth, rounded dome. It is enormous. How could she have missed that? Now that her eyes are locked on it all else seems to disappear. As the tendrils curl upward, they momentarily disappear as they slide under the bottom edge of the dome then reappear as they uncurl.

The entire canopy seems to undulate now and then, but not with a random movement. There is thought and _purpose_ to these movements. Not knowing why, Amanda thinks back to the fly caught in the twitching bulb of a flower.

Amanda's mind reels as another burst of realization strikes her. Because of the shock of seeing the tendrils curl and uncurl, she only now becomes fully cognizant of the strangest fact of all... each leaf glowed on and off within each strand. Amanda is sure of it. They blink on and off in succession radiating upward then downward as though chasing one another. There must be thousands of them.

Amanda shakes her head trying to come to terms with what she sees, when a third sight and then a final certainty comes to her.

Having been so bewitched by the flashing colorful tendril-leaves, she just now sees the trunk. It is completely _clear_. Looking through it, she can easily make out the leaf tendrils behind it, curling and uncurling.

With final certainty the truth reveals itself to her. This is not a plant nor a _tree_ at all. It is, she knows without a doubt, a _living_ creature. And when she accepts that fact its name comes to her. This creature is as close to a massive, land-dwelling jellyfish as she can imagine.

Amanda slowly turns her head. The area is ringed with these huge, dazzling organisms. Counting the groupings of them as she turns, she stops counting at a dozen.

Her eyes fix on the hypnotic movement of the one closest to her. Thousands of moving, waving tendrils, each lit with colorful leaves flashing on and off, curling, uncurling. They are bizarre and yet so entrancing, compelling. An irresistible desire floods her, a need to go to them and touch them, overtakes her, and she begins walking toward the nearest one.

"They're so _beautiful_!" Sadie says, her eyes glazed. Walking quickly, she walks past Amanda toward the same jellyfish creature. So close, almost there, reaching out her hand to touch the glowing leaves.

"Sadie, STOP!" Thian yells, rushing after her as he breaks through his own trance.

Amanda has been in her own world, so deep within the grip of the creature's call that she had forgotten about the others... about everything... until Thian's voice broke through her stupor. Shaking her head to clear it, she sees Sadie close to one of the creatures with Thian running after her.

Sadie is so intent on touching the glowing leaves that she has not noticed, or does not care, about the uncurling tendrils moving toward her. Thian grabs her waist and yanking hard, spins her off to the side toward the others where she falls to the ground with a cry.

Turning quickly, Thian takes a step to follow her, but is not fast enough. A dozen tendrils, leaves flashing faster and faster, lash out. With blinding speed they wrap around his waist, while many others twist around his arms, binding them to his body. Screaming, he struggles desperately against their hold, but to no avail - their grasp is as strong as iron.

It happens in seconds. As Sadie scrambles to her feet, Tianna runs forward, grabs her by the arm and literally drags her back, just as a tendril shoots out wrapping around Sadie's ankle. Sadie and Tianna scream as Sadie is lifted into the air. Tianna frantically holds onto one of Sadie's arms as the snake-like tendril wraps around Sadie's opposite ankle. Sadie is now at a forty-five degree angle, just above Tianna's head, as Tianna continues to lean back, her heals digging into the dirt as she and Sadie are pulled forward. With one final effort, yanking as hard as she can, Tianna rips Sadie from the creatures grasp. If it had not been for the single wrap around Sadie's ankle, Sadie would be gone. Tianna pushes an hysterical Sadie behind her.

Tia and Amanda, no longer in the creature's thrall, run forward to help Thian, who is screaming and thrashing about. They are feet from him when Thian is snatched violently off the ground, being lifted toward the rounded canopy.

"Thian!" Tianna screams.

"Don't get too _close_ , Tia!" Amanda shouts as more tendrils whip out violently toward them, trying to seize them. "Don't look at the lights! They're hypnotic!" Amanda yells pulling her wand.

Thian screams sharp piercing cries that bore deep into Amanda and the others. Tia, almost hysterical, looks up at Thian through streams of tears. Struggling, she pulls her wand, but is shaking so hard, she drops it. Kneeling, watching tendrils weaving and crawling nearer, she blindly gropes for her wand. The side of her hand smacks against her wand, sending it skidding and rolling to within inches of a large, frenzied, whipping tendril.

Sadie is clinging tightly to Tianna's legs, her head buried against Tianna's thigh. "Sadie, _stay_ here! Don't move!" Tianna cries, gently moving Sadie aside, then runs to help the others.

"Leave it, _Tia!_ " Tianna commands, running up to her. Tianna whips her wand out as she looks up at the thrashing Thian, tears glistening on her cheeks. "Thian! _Thian!_ " her words are swallowed by Tia's and Amanda's shouts.

Tia sees a small branch near her foot and quickly picks it up. As a tendril moves over her wand reaching for her ankle she hits the tendril with all she has. The tendril wraps around the branch then quickly drags it back several feet. Tia leans forward and snatches her wand as she rolls away to the side yelling, " _Got_ it!"

In an instant, before Tia could get up, Amanda knew what would happen. Reacting without thinking, Amanda dives beside Tia, pulling Tia's hand away just as a large tendril scrapes against Tia's outstretched fingers. Screaming, Tia's fingers immediately blister.

As Amanda and Tia scramble to their feet, Amanda yanks Tia away just as a thick tendril slaps hard across Amanda's face, knocking her back and to the ground. Falling hard, she strikes her head against a rock and drops her wand. Trying to get up, she falls back. Her sight becomes narrow and dark. The sound of Tia's screams ringing in her head, are the last sounds she hears as she loses consciousness.

Tianna screams, " _Amanda_... I'm..." but turns away from her as another tendril lashes out, winding around Tia's arm. Tia's screams echo Thian's.

Tianna pulls at Tia but the tendril holds fast. Two more tendrils grab Tia's ankles and she is wrenched from Tianna's hands, lifted high into the air causing Tianna to fall backward. Tia's high-pitched, tortured screams fill the air.

"Let her go, _now_!" Tianna bellows as she gets up quickly, her face turning red. Determined, she points her wand at the tendril holding Tia's arm. " _Laceraté!_ " and with an answering scream to Tia's excruciating one, the tendril is slashed apart. Tia drops a few feet. Tianna uses the slashing curse again and again to free her sister from the tendrils binding her feet. Tears stream down Tianna's dirt stained face as the tree creature finally releases Tia.

Tianna runs to Tia then drops to the ground beside her, tearing at the tendril leaves around Tia's blistered arm and legs, flinging them aside as fast as she can get them off. Tianna gently holds Tia, rocking her back and forth saying, "You're okay, sis, you'll be okay."

Tia, coming fully to herself again, sees Amanda lying on the ground nearby. "Help Amanda, _help_ her!" she gasps. "I'll be okay, _go_!"

Just then Thian screams again.

Tia and Tianna look up, paralyzed with fear. The canopy of the jellyfish creature begins to flash red and black, making convulsive movements. To their horror, they see the canopy separate into two huge sections. The top is not a solid piece as they had thought - it had simply been closed. From the open lower half of the dome, a very large, snapping, black beak, like that of an octopus, rises.

As the beak opens wide, the tendrils holding Thian suddenly jerk him higher, moving him up and over the opening. Everyone screams, knowing what will happen next. Thian, thrashing violently, screams, looking at the snapping beak. His screams pierce the very souls of everyone as the tendrils let go. They watch, frozen in place, as Thian drops through the huge gaping mouth. The beak clamps shut, slipping back into the lower half of the dome as the top half folds once again tightly shut.

Coming out of shock, Tia grabs Tianna by the shoulders and shakes. "Tianna! We've _got_ to help Amanda!"

But Tianna, still in shock from seeing Thian drop into the beast's maw, is frozen, unmoving. Tia drops her hands then runs to Amanda, dropping beside her. "Amanda, _please_ get up, Amanda... _please_!" Tia shakes Amanda harder. Amanda groans and opens her eyes. "Amanda, get up, get _up_! We need you!" Tia sobs harder.

Amanda's eyes are unfocused. Everything looks blurry. Suddenly, she becomes aware of Tia crying beside her. Sitting up, she shakes her head. "My wand... I _dropped_ it," Amanda says looking around.

Tia's eyes rake the area and finds it. "I've got it," she says grabbing it. Getting to her feet, she helps Amanda up then hands her the wand.

Tia sees Tianna move toward the trunk of the creature which has Thian and rushes to her. " _Stop_ , Tianna, you can't get to him that way! _None_ of us can!"

Tianna and Tia see Thian sliding slowly downward, high over their heads, arms flailing, eyes bulging with horror as he realizes what his purpose is to be. In a moment, he is there, eye to eye with them, furiously, desperately, scratching at the walls that hold him, legs pumping wildly, as though trying to climb his way back out, screaming something to them though they cannot make out the words.

Suddenly Thian stops moving and looks down, terror on his face. Tia and Tianna follow his eyes and with a gasp, see a disgusting thick, dark green mucus bubbling up from the base of the trunk and begin to rise. Thian snaps his head up, eyes bulging in complete terror, looking to his friends who look back with the same terrorized eyes. For a moment, no one moves, then Thian screams a scream so loud the girls can hear it through the thick clear trunk.

Tianna pulls away from Tia, points her wand at the base of the trunk and screams, " _Expello_!" The tree lurches from side-to-side. Thian is slammed violently back and forth within the trunk. The tendrils whip through the air even more savagely as a high-pitched screech of the creature assaults them. The dark, bubbling mucus continues to rise but faster.

"Amanda... Amanda... _please_..." Tianna cries as she and Tia frantically look around.

Amanda is standing just behind them. They watch as Amanda's body suddenly jerks forward, her long, jet black hair starts to rise and stand straight back from her head. Tia and Tianna exchange a quick look then move away from the trunk, as Amanda's hair whips and snaps violently behind her, as though in a powerful wind tunnel.

" _Wait!_ " Tianna suddenly yells, looking from Amanda to Thian. The thick, gelatinous mucus already covers Thian's waist. Tianna rushes to Amanda. "You'll _kill_ Thian! _Stop_!"

"What are you _doing_?" Tia screams, pulling her away. "It's the _only_ way!"

"She'll _kill_ him!" Tianna sobs, struggling against Tia. "She'll _kill_ him!"

Amanda looks toward Thian with unseeing eyes, raises her wand, points it at the base of the creature and yells, " _Expello Abo Injur_!"

The effect is instantaneous. They hear an unearthly scream as the jellyfish creature is blown apart. Chunks of the trunk and shredded pieces of tendrils explode outward, flung through the air, along with Thian, Tia, Tianna and Amanda.

Sadie screams as Tianna, Tia and Thian slam into the ground just feet from her. Running first to Tianna, she drops to her knees and begins casting away large pieces of tendrils tangled in Tianna's hair and stuck to her clothes. " _Tianna_ , are you all right? Are you _alive_? Please, Tianna, don't be _dead_!" shaking her as tears fall across Tianna's face.

Tianna groans then slowly opens her eyes. "Oh, Sadie... you _all_ right?" Tianna struggles to get up. "It's _okay_ , Sadie... I'm okay," gently moving Sadie to the side as she looks around for the others.

Looking to her right, Tianna spots Tia lying a few feet away on her back not moving. Her hair, arms and legs are completely covered in clumps of tendrils and pieces of trunk. "Come on," Tianna says taking Sadie's hand and staggers to her.

Tianna pulls off the remains of the jellyfish creature from Tia's body, throwing them as far away from her as she can. Underneath, they reveal bloodied red blisters. "Sis... can you _hear_ me? Tia... are you all right?" Tia moans. "Oh, thank the _Lord_ and Lady!" Tianna sighs, stifling a cry.

Tia's eyes flutter open. "Well... let's not do _that_ again, okay?" smiling weakly as Tianna helps her sit up.

Tianna laughs with relief. "I'm going to find Thian and help him... I'll be right back, sis," Tianna says with so much love in her voice that Tia looks at her in surprise.

" _Wait_... I want to come, too. I can get up," and pushes herself up onto her knees as Tianna supports her.

"Oh, _yuck_!"

Tianna and Tia turn in Sadie's direction and are met with the vilest smell they have ever encountered. But the smell was nothing compared to the site they behold. There stands Thian, legs shaking, head down, arms raised slightly away from his sides, completely covered with the green mucus from the jellyfish creature. If the girls had not known that the disgusting, foul smelling, somewhat repulsive thing standing before them was Thian, they would have thought it was one of Tia's long-ago experiments with regurgitated entrails from decomposing swamp slugs.

The girls cover their noses with the crook of their elbow, making retching sounds. "Oh... _Thian_..." Tianna barely gets the words out as she turns, her stomach revolting at the nauseating onslaught. As happy as she feels that he is alive, she waves her arm at him. "Go... _away_... go!" she gags.

Thian lifts his head slowly. "I can't _help_ it!" he says, spitting out some green slime. "Aren't you gonna to _help_ me?" he pleads. "I was trapped inside that _thing_! I could use some _help_ here!" He wipes some of the slime from his eyes then tries to shake the thick, gelatinous gunk from his hands.

And then... it happened. Sadie, watching Thian stagger around shaking his leg, trying to dislodge the goo, begins to giggle as she turns to look at Tianna. Tianna grins then puts her hand to her mouth as her body shakes trying to contain her laughter. Tia turns to them, looks at Thian doing his odd dance and erupts with laughter. They all laugh so hard their sides ache, but cannot stop. Tia, now sitting, points to Thian and rolls over, laughing so hard she is crying.

Thian sees they are in no condition to help him and sighs. Shaking his head, he turns slowly and walks away, lifting first one leg, then the other, still attempting to shake the phlegm-like substance off of him. His boots make sucking sounds every time he lifts them to take a step.

Thian plunks himself down under a gnarled tree with the low-hanging peanut-shaped shells, and waits for the nauseating sludge to slide off, thankful the goo had not dissolved him like they saw some other plants do. He looks pitiful and feels the same.

The girls sit feeling exhausted but strangely exhilarated. Tianna looks around, instant awareness draining the high spirits she feels. "Where's Amanda?"

Tia follows her gaze. "Oh, _no_..." she says, pointing to where she spots Amanda's prone body some distance away.

Without a word they all get up and run to her. They find Amanda on her back, arms spread wide, a bloodied welt across her cheek. Her eyes are closed. All around Amanda are dozens of chunks and globs of the jellyfish creature, but none on her.

"Her _bubble_ ," Sadie says knowingly.

Tianna is the first to drop to Amanda's side. "Amanda...? Amanda...?" she says gently, shaking her. No response. "Why didn't we notice she wasn't _with_ us?"

"It all happened so _fast_." Tia says shaking her head. "Let me check her." Tia carefully lifts, then feels the back of Amanda's head. "No bump. That's good. You know, she's done this before, when..." she looks at the others, "she becomes... _whatever_ she becomes."

"The _Wielder_ ," Sadie answers looking serious. Getting to her knees, Sadie bends low then whispers something the others cannot hear in Amanda's ear.

Tianna begins, "Sadie, what did you..."

" _Look_ ," Tia says excitedly, "her eyes are moving!"

Amanda opens her eyes... one amber, the other orange, to three pairs of concerned and startled eyes looking down at her. Amanda feels the familiar groggy feeling as she sits up. "Did I do it _again_?" she asks them. Holding her head for a moment, she blinks, shakes it, then looks back at them, her eyes once again their brilliant green color.

"Did you _ever_!" Tianna says, and to everyone's surprise, hugs Amanda tightly. After a moment, Tianna lets go but holds her gaze. "I don't know what we would have done _without_ you. You saved _all_ of us from whatever that thing was... especially _Thian_."

"I don't remember what happened. The last thing I thought was weird... something about a fly in a _flower_ bulb... I don't know..."

"It doesn't matter," Tia says gently. "You were _great_! You always give me goose bumps when you change!" rubbing her arms for effect.

"Speaking of _Thian_ ," Tianna says, getting up and looking around, "Where did the Creature from the Land of _Snot_ go?"

Amanda looks at her. "What creature? The land of... _what_?" sure she had not heard her correctly.

Tianna points. " _There_ he is! See... he's under that tree. By the _moons_ , he looks like one of your _experiments_ , Tia! Like those _slugs_ we found under that bucket of sludge, _remember_?" Laughter threatens to erupt again. The smile vanishes as she turns to the others. "I was so scared when he... when that _thing_ dropped him. We really _should_ help him, you know."

None could explain the hilarity afterward. Maybe it was the sight and _smell_ of Thian, looking more like an explosion of snot, or their escape from the jellyfish creature or both. It did not matter. They are young, they survived a fight to the death and they are all together.

Tia looks down at her bloodied blisters. "I have something that'll _heal_ these blisters." Sighing, she says, "Poor _Thian_... he must be covered in them. Amanda, would you mind getting our travelers packs? I've got an ointment in mine, and there are some herbs in the others that will do the trick for us."

"Sure. Sadie, would you help me?" Sadie smiles and nods.

"Tianna, would you mind getting me some water? I'll need a _lot_ of it. I've got to wash all the blisters clean before I can apply the ointment or herbs if I need them."

Tianna frowns looking at Tia. "And just _where_ am I gonna get a lot of _water_? I guess I could try and find the _stream_ again, but even if I do, I don't have anything to _carry_ it in." Tianna looks in Thian's direction. "I wonder if I can use one of those shells hanging on that tree? They're definitely big enough. If I find water, I can make a few trips to get what you need. Okay sis, I'm going," then walks toward Thian.

As she reaches him, he lifts his head and looks at her with a pathetic expression. "Are you going to help me _now_?" he pleads.

Tianna gives him a sorrowful smile. "Tia's got something to heal those blisters once we get you cleaned up," she says solemnly. "Let me see your arms."

Thian holds his arms out for her to inspect, but Tianna cannot see anything under the thick layer of green slime covering him. Thian starts to say something when a glob of mucus falls into his open mouth from his hair, and starts to gag.

"Oh, _Thian_... don't talk, okay! Look, I've got to find something to carry water in for Tia," and looks around. Spotting some fallen shells on the ground, she picks one up. It feels substantial. Heavier than she initially thought it would be.

"This'll do. I'm going to see if I can find enough water..." then looking down at Thian she corrects herself, "a _lot_ of water to clean you up. Tia, Amanda and Sadie will be here soon." Smiling down at him, she says, "I'm really glad you're all right, and I'm _sorry_ we all laughed at you before..." then turns, walks into the surrounding foliage and out of sight.

Tianna searches the ground for the stream they had followed on their way here and knows the Lake should be in this same direction. Making her way cautiously through the tall plants with the curled leaves, she gives a wide berth to the jellyfish creatures.

#  No Reflection

Her feet begin to hurt as she realizes she has walked for quite some distance. Having lost all track of time she keeps replaying scenes of Thian and Tia in the grasp of the jellyfish creature and shudders.

Her sight seems clouded when she suddenly stops. Tianna looks around and realizes that it is not her sight that is clouded... it is the terrain. "How long have I been walking in this _fog_?" she wonders. Trying to think back to when the fog had first appeared, she just cannot remember, but she feels that it could not have been long. Looking around, she sees the ground partially covered by a rolling mist-fog in all directions.

"Great!" she mutters. "This just keeps getting better and _better_!" About to turn back the way she had come, she hears the plunk... plunk... plunk of dripping water and decides to follow the sound. As she walks, the swirling mist-fog grows taller until the ground is completely blind to her.

Massive weeds suddenly appear before her, and as she parts them, Tianna is astounded to see a large, flat expanse. The only thing moving is the mist-fog over it. Some of the mist nearby rolls over itself, and as it does, she catches a glimpse of water. The realization strikes her. "It's the _Lake_... I found the Lake! We must have walked a lot further than any of us had thought," then moves forward, anticipating what the others will say when she tells them.

Not able to see the ground near her feet, she walks cautiously until she feels the ground tip downward. Gingerly, she moves her foot out and down, the tip of her boot tapping water. "So this _is_ the Lake..." she thinks. As the mist arches over itself, she catches brief snatches of the rippling black water.

Looking around, she can just make out the tops of all the tall weeds and boulders no more than twenty feet away; anything further is hidden from sight. A shiver goes through her, but not from the cold as she looks around. The entire place feels odd. "Mysterious," she thinks, then corrects herself. "No, not mysterious... _foreboding_."

It is more than just the weird mist, she realizes. It is the sounds - there are none. Tianna slowly turns her head from side-to-side and realizes how deathly still it is.

Shaking her head, she steels herself to do what she came to do. Tianna bends down to the water's edge as the mist enfolds her within its wispy arms. Leaning close to the water, she tips the shell into it watching the surface ripple. Heart pounding, she leans back sure something is wrong but unsure exactly what. Shaking slightly, she repeats her movement and gasps as the revelation hits her. "No. It _can't_ be," she thinks furrowing her brows. "It's just the mist playing _tricks_ on my eyes."

Setting the shell aside, she leans over the water again, this time, her face only inches from its surface, looking directly into it.

No denying the truth this time. There is no reflection.

Picking up the shell, she tips the edge into the water once again. Watching closely, she sees that the shell is not reflected either.

Confused, pursing her lips, she looks at the water again. It seems fine. Tianna slowly shakes her head. "Right," she thinks, "everything seems fine, on the _surface_ , anyway. It _always_ seems fine, that's the problem." With a deep sigh, "Well, we still need the water," she says, her voice sounding hollow to her, then tips the shell's edge back in the water to fill it.

Satisfied with the amount of water in the shell, she gets to her feet. Taking one last look around, a feeling of relief sweeps over her as she turns and heads back to the others. Smiling, she cannot wait to tell them what she has found.

"Thanks, Sadie," Tia smiles as she once again takes her travelers pack from her. Rummaging through her pack, she pulls out a dark blue bottle.

"Can I _smell_ it?" Sadie asks looking at the pretty bottle.

"I don't care if it smells like a Cintay's _ass_... can't you just _use_ it?" Thian says gritting his teeth, "Right now, I'll try _anything_!"

"I know," Tia says gently. "Me, too. I've almost got everything ready. As soon as Tianna comes back with the water, we can wash all that gunk off. Nothing will work unless we clean the skin first. You know that."

Thian sighs and nods.

Tia uncorks the bottle then holds it out to Sadie. "It's really good. Go on, it smells like flowers. It's an oil made from the dried Lekekie flower petals and leaves, they're great for healing and relieving pain. You can't use the roots though, they're poisonous."

Tia looks at Thian. "Now all I need is the wat..."

"You will _not_ believe it! " Tianna says, stepping around a cluster of trees and carefully putting the water-filled shell down next to Tia with a grunt.

"Not believe what?" Amanda asks, wondering what next to expect.

"I _found_ it. _The Lake of Qumong_. I found it!"

They all look at Tianna then began speaking over one another. Tianna puts her hands up to quiet them and sits next to Sadie. "It's pretty far from here," pointing with her head in the direction from which she just came. "But... there's a _problem_."

"Wow... _what_ a surprise! Another problem... _just_ what we need!" Thian says, making squishing sounds as he moves.

"What's the problem?" Amanda asks, placing her hand on Thian's uninjured arm to calm him.

"There are _no_ reflections."

The others look at her then one another.

"No _reflections_?" Sadie asks, her eyes wide.

Tianna puts her arm around Sadie's shoulders. "None."

Tia and Thian begin firing questions at her faster than she can answer them, both clearly unnerved by what this new development could mean.

" _Stop_ and just listen okay?" Tianna raises her hands again for quiet. "I was filling the shell with water, and I didn't see my reflection.... and," she continues as Thian is about to interrupt her, "... not just _mine_. There was _no_ reflection of the shell either," she nods at the water-filled shell.

Looking at them expectantly, they just stare back. When no one speaks, she continues pressing her point. "Don't you _see_? Something's wrong! There's always reflections in water, but _none_ in the Lake water! Maybe it's those _Bringers_ _of Doom_ in the poem... on the map?" she looks meaningfully at Thian.

When there is still no response, she turns to Amanda, the only one who has remained quiet the entire time. Only Amanda had noticed that Tianna's face had drained of color as she spoke of the Lake. "Amanda... there's _something_ extremely weird there. I felt it. I _know_ it," she sounds almost desperate. "Something's _wrong_!"

"Yeah," Amanda nods slowly. "I agree. But we don't know what's causing it. The poem said something about the Lake _showing_ us the Shard so we still have to go there. But..." Amanda's eyes rake the area suspiciously, "everything we've passed... this _entire_ clearing, is not what it seems. The flowers, the lights, the colors... it all looks _beautiful_... smells sweet... inviting..." she shakes her head, "but it's deceiving. Everything around us is _alive_ and deadly."

"My thinking, exactly!" Tianna blurts out.

"So, let's get the Shard and _leave_ this place, before the Bringers of Doom even know we've _been_ here," Tia adds. "We need a strategy."

"There's more," Tianna says, some of the fear she felt at the Lake returning.

"What?" Amanda worries.

Tianna sighs. "As I got closer to the Lake, an odd _mist_ started covering the area. And it completely covers the Lake's surface. You can only see about twenty feet ahead of you, then there's a wall of _thick_ mist. It's creepy... _strange_."

"Why is it strange?" Tia asks.

"Well," Tianna turns to Tia, "first, the mist is nowhere else, just on and around the Lake. Second, the air's not cold... the _mist's_ not cold, so... what's making the mist? And third, the mist constantly moves, like it's _rolling_ over itself even when the air is still."

No one speaks for a while as they all consider this newest development.

"We could use that _strategy_ about now," Thian says.

Amanda sighs deeply. "Then here's what we do. Tia, we need you to get you and Thian healed as best you can for now. Then, we'll all go to the Lake together. _No_ one goes by themselves again. Once there, we can decide if the mist is dangerous or not, like that _red_ mist I went through on earth, then see if we can find what's blocking the water for Poa. Who knows, we may even get lucky and find the _Shard_."

They all agree. Tia takes some large fallen leaves, dunks them in the shell filled with water, and begins wiping the gunk first from Thian then herself. Tia and Tianna dab the Lekekie ointment over the blistered skin, then cast several healing spells as Amanda watches in amazement, as new skin quickly forms over the raw blistered areas. When they finish, Tia puts the ointment back into her pack. Once everyone gathers their things and puts on their travelers packs, they head for the _Lake of Qumong_ , Tianna leading the way.

They walk without talking for some time, then, "It'll start soon, I think," Tianna says. True to her word, whispers of mist soon slide over the low-lying bushes, then grow higher, denser, as they come closer to the Lake, Sadie's waist just clearing the thick mist as it swirls up around her.

Holding up a hand, Tianna signals their arrival. Crowding around, they watch as Tianna parts the tall weeds and see the Lake.

No one speaks. It is mesmerizing to watch the grey mist rolling over itself, in constant motion.

"The way it _moves_... it's like something's in the water causing it," Amanda whispers. With a sigh, she shakes her head. "Now that I see it, I don't see how we're going to find a _Shard_ through all this or where the water's blocked."

"And listen," Tianna whispers, cocking her head to the side. "Nothing. No _sound_ at all. It's odd. I don't like it."

"There might be a way to find the Shard and help Poa," Sadie says quietly as she moves toward the water.

"Sadie, what are you doing? Don't get _close_ to the water!" Tianna sounds alarmed as she moves after her.

"It's okay, Ti. I learned this at school. It worked before... it might work now, too." Hesitating for a moment, Sadie bends down, searching.

"What are you looking for?" Amanda asks.

"Rocks."

Amanda and Tianna look at each other, one more confused than the other.

"Well... there are plenty of those _here_. Why do you need rocks? And, what worked before?" Tianna asks.

Sadie, never taking her eyes from the ground as her boot keeps the mist swirling, answers, "In school, we were being tested. It was fun. We took rocks and dropped them in water, then told the teacher what we heard."

"You mean the sound the rock made as it hit the water?" Thian asks. "Wouldn't it be just a plop?"

Sadie picks up a rock, weighs it in her hand, and puts it down. "Yes and no. For the _other_ kids, it was just a plop." She looks up at Thian. "But I heard other sounds," then continues her search.

Amanda knows she is hearing about another one of Sadie's, unique talents. "What did you hear?"

Sadie picks up two rocks, shakes her head, puts them down gently and stands up. Looking at Amanda, she says, "The water, well, it sort of _talked_ to me. I mean, there weren't words or anything like that out loud, but I _heard_ things inside my head. The teacher was really excited."

"So what did the water say?" Tianna asks gently.

"It said that it liked me. Then it said that Lucinda... I didn't like her because she was always mean to me and made fun of me... that she put some glue on my chair and not to sit on it." Sadie looks up into skeptical faces.

No one says anything for a few moments, then Amanda asks, "And _was_ there glue on your chair?"

Sadie nods. "Yup. But when I headed back to my seat, I saw that Lucinda had left for the bathroom, and I had an idea. I looked around and saw the teacher getting our multi-universe books out, so I moved _my_ chair to Lucinda's desk real quick and swapped chairs. I was sitting when she came back. When she saw me, she had a really _mean_ smile on her face. But, as soon as she sat down, I stood up to straighten my skirt, and she saw I wasn't stuck to the chair! Her eyes got really big when I and the other kids started laughing at her. She stood up so fast, the chair came up with her, stuck to her _butt_. Everyone laughed, but she was so mad. Then, to make it the best, the teacher tells Lucinda to sit back down and _stop_ fooling around!" Sadie laughs as she ends her story, the others joining in.

"Wow... that's _great_ Sadie, being able to hear water _speak_ to you! That's an amazing talent!" Amanda says, still laughing.

"Yeah, that's what the teacher said, until I told him the rest."

"The rest?" Tia asks. "There's _more_?"

"Um, yeah. Well, it's the ripples too, you know?" Sadie says innocently.

"Ripples?" Thian asks, shaking his head.

"Sure. When you drop something in water, you get... _ripples_..." Sadie says this slowly, as though she were speaking to a very small child or someone very slow on the uptake.

"I _know_ that..." Thian says, his voice sounding hurt.

"Shush," Tianna says to Thian, "let her finish. Go on Miss Sadie, tell us about the ripples."

Sadie puts on her very best teacher face, looks at Thian and speaks very slowly. "Like I said, when you drop something in water, there are ripples. And the ripples, well, it's the way they move outward that tells you what's gonna happen... something good or _bad_." Sadie looks directly at Thian. "The ripples... _know_."

Again, there is silence.

Tia breaks the silence. "How many other kids in your class heard the water talking, and understood the ripples Sadie?"

"Just _me_. I got the highest marks in class," she says with a glint in her eye. "Lucinda was _so_ mad! _She_ didn't pass!"

"Will wonders never cease?" Amanda says aloud.

"I guess not, when it comes to _Sadie_ anyway!" Tianna says, smiling like a proud parent, the fear temporarily at bay.

"Clairsentient... probably a Diviner, too," Tia says nodding.

They all look at her. "Momma told me about people who can do that. It's really rare, those gifts."

"It's hard to see the rocks with the mist," Sadie frets.

Tianna pulls a large leaf from a nearby tree then waves it over Sadie and a pile of small rocks, chasing the fog away so Sadie can inspect each clearly. Sadie solemnly studies each one, turning them over in her small hand, weighing them, listening to them. If she rejects a rock, she puts it on the ground behind her, and after some time, she rejects most of them. Finally, she is satisfied with two larger rocks.

"Okay Ti. I've _got_ 'em." Sadie moves to the edge of the water and looks in. Looking to Tianna she says, "It's hard to see the water."

"There's a large boulder right over there," Tianna says pointing about four feet away to the boulder she just spotted. "Do you want to move closer to it? It might make it _easier_ to see the ripples around it."

Sadie shakes her head. "Could you just keep using the leaf?"

Tianna moves closer to the water, fanning the leaf back and forth.

"I wonder what she'll hear..." Tia asks Amanda.

"And see..."

Tia nods.

They all move closer to Sadie and Tianna, and wait.

Sadie drops the first rock into the water, tilting her head. Tianna looks at the others as she keeps waving the large leaf.

Sadie suddenly cries out, falling backward away from the water. The others stumble back, startled. Tianna drops the leaf, sinking down next to Sadie.

"Honey, what _is_ it? What's wrong? What did you _hear_?

At first, Sadie just looks at the water, her eyes wide. Breathing hard, she looks up at Tianna and whispers, "There's something there," pointing at the water.

Tianna's eyes follow her outstretched hand. "Do you know what it is? Can you tell?"

Not taking her eyes from the water, Sadie shakes her head.

"What about the ripples? Did the _ripples_ tell you anything?" Thian asks, clearly nervous.

"The ripples don't tell. They _show_. But I didn't get the chance to see, because something bumped into that big rock and they moved different. I'm sorry..."

"No, Miss Sadie," Tianna soothes as she brushes some of Sadie's hair out of her eyes. "Don't be sorry... it's not your fault."

"I want to try again."

"You don't have to," Tianna says, her eyes filled with concern for the tiny girl.

"Yes, I do!" Sadie says. "We need to know what's there! We have to help _Poa_ and his family, or they'll _die_!"

Amanda bends down to Sadie. "Sadie, I want you to go over to that big rock and try from there. That way, you won't be right next to the water, and you'll be able to see the way the ripples move away. Okay?"

Tianna opens her mouth, but Amanda raises a hand to stop her. "It's up to _Sadie_." Tianna nods, and both turn to the small girl with her gigantic abilities.

Sadie looks at Tianna, then Amanda. "Okay."

Amanda helps Sadie up. Tianna picks up the big leaf she had dropped, and all move to the large boulder, partially sitting in the Lake. Sadie climbs the boulder and waits for Tianna to wave the fog away.

When the glassy, obsidian surface is revealed, Sadie tosses the second large stone into the water, seeing it splash four feet away. Sadie leans over the water, tilting her head. She gasps, but does not move back this time.

Tianna makes a move toward Sadie, but Amanda stops her. Amanda does not want her presence to put any undue pressure on Sadie, so she quietly moves the two of them away from the group.

Sadie leans further out, closely watching the ripples. Her eyes grow enormous. Leaning further out from the boulder, Amanda has a momentary fear that she might fall into the Lake, when Sadie suddenly rears back, clamping her hands to her ears.

Sadie turns to the others, overwhelming fear distorting her small face. " _Run_!"

Tianna snatches Sadie from the boulder. Everyone turns to run back through the alien forest, back to the relative safety of the clearing, but all stop as one... and turn around. Sadie's tiny hand, held tightly by Tianna, begins to shake.

It was the sound.

In the deathlike stillness that permeates the Lake, the sound explodes through them, filling them with terror that even the jellyfish creatures had not elicited.

#  The Hydra

Far out in the middle of the huge Lake, the stillness of the water breaks violently, frothing and churning, the mist rising and falling over itself as though the Lake were a huge pot threatening to boil over.

Sadie whimpers as she tries to pull a frozen Tianna backward.

As Tianna takes a step back, a massive surge of water gushes upward, followed by another and another. All eyes are locked on the water as it pushes higher, cresting several feet above the tops of the surrounding trees. Tianna wants to say something, anything to the others, but finds she cannot speak. Suddenly, just as quickly as the upsurge had started, it stopped.

"What in two _moons_ was that?" Thian asks, his voice sounding strangled.

No one speaks. They all seem to be waiting for something else to happen, but nothing does.

"We have to go," Amanda says. "Now!" Urgency filling her with dread. With a shiver, she knows something deep in the black Lake has been awakened. Somehow, she can sense it, and knows this is just the beginning.

Even with Amanda's warning shout, no one can move. It is as though they are being held there against their will.

"What's _that_?" Tia asks, hardly able to get the words out.

Amanda searches the surface of the water, unaware her hands begin to shake as she sees something massive, dark, scaly with a rounded thick-body, quietly breaking the surface of the water, then diving back down. There is no splash. The water is still again. Amanda wonders if she had really seen something, or whether it was her imagination. A sudden picture flashes in her mind. " _Nessie..._?" she breathes to herself.

Tia hears her. "Did you see it, too?" her voice quivering with fear. "What _is_ it?"

"I saw it but I don't know _what_ it is. I just thought of _Nessie_ back home," Amanda says.

"Who's Nessie?" Tia asks. Knowing Amanda, she's not sure she really wants to know.

Her voice barely carries. "Back on earth, there's this strange creature in Scotland, in the Loch Ness... they call her Nessie. Some people believe they've really seen her, but others think it's just a _hoax_. She's supposed to be a _monster_ , maybe a type of dinosaur that's survived somehow... I don't know. But she lives in the water and..."

"Wha..." Thian starts to say, but stops abruptly at the sight he now beholds.

For at that moment, the mist moves oddly. Not over itself as before, but toward them. And it's moving fast.

A rolling bank of mist begins to glide, then quickly accelerates toward them with a speed that shocks them. It swirls and twists around itself into the air, faster and higher it moves, so that Amanda's neck is fully back when the crest of the fog finally breaks apart.

Sadie _screams_ as it turns to look at them.

The head is gigantic, snake-like, gleaming. It is crowned with a massive, pleated frill on the top that extends around the sides. As it eyes them with its four small eyes, glowing yellow above a long snout, its deep, blood red frill shoots outward, vibrating feverishly.

As the frill vibrates violently, it opens its mouth that extends the full width of the snout. It is huge. It has to be because of the teeth, some well over five feet long that curve downward so far, they curl back past its head.

There is still a thick, swirling mist around the monster's long neck.

Up through the mist a second head explodes. As soon as she sees the second head, Amanda knows they are surely doomed. Two monsters? How could they ever survive two of them?

Her mind can hardly contain her terror as she sees a third head burst upward, sending the Lake water surging over the shore. The heads, moving and coiling around each other on thick, long necks covered in dark green slimy scales, bellow their rage at being disturbed.

The surface of the water churns with such ferocity, Amanda thinks another head will rise any second, but instead, the rounded, scaly long body of the creature, undulates through the water.

It is a nightmare come to life.

Sadie screams again and again, as Tianna pushes her behind her. But it is too late. All three heads turn to face them, roaring their fury as they lunge forward.

Amanda knows she was wrong. Not three monsters. One. One monster that towers over sixty feet in the air, with three heads. The name comes to her, "A _Hydra_!"

The others scream as fresh panic gives them the strength to move. They fall over each other as they try to move back through the tall plants. All but Thian, who pulls his wand and steps toward the Lake, ready to do battle for them.

The Hydra is quickly upon them as its three heads pick their respective prey, its tail slashing wildly through the air.

Amanda sees Thian standing by himself and pulls her wand, ready to move to Thian's side, when her head suddenly explodes in pain. Amanda's hands shoot to her temples. Strange visions race through her mind - visions that make no sense. Falling to her knees, she drops her wand, still gripping her head. The pain is excruciating. "What's _happening_?" her mind screams at her.

In the distance, Amanda hears someone calling her name but she's pulled forward, away from the sound. Amanda's eyes roll back in her head as she is no longer on land. She feels herself gliding through a silky, watery darkness, her strong body instinctively knowing when to turn. Small fish surround her, slip sliding along with her.

She is the strong one of the three. Looking to her right, she sees her other tearing into a large fish. Good. Amanda tastes the blood and feels the ripping flesh sliding down her long throat. The still beating heart of the fish now bursts in her mouth, her teeth ripping it apart, flooding her mouth with the warm, delicious delicacy. Turning to the left, she sees the third one swallowing small stones to help digest the hundreds of fish eaten each day.

In less than a heartbeat, another vision takes its place. Amanda needs a new place to hunt, for she has not eaten in over a week. She is hungry - she is always hungry now. The water edging this grassland does not have enough large fish to fulfill her needs anymore, and the needs of the small ones inside her. She follows the Lake around the large field upstream until, finally, she climbs up onto a low cliff overhanging the rushing water. Looking down, she sees hundreds of silver streaks just under the glimmering surface. "Fish!" she thinks to her others. She knows what they must do.

Gathering large stones, they roll them over the cliff, one after another after another, until the water stops falling.

Amanda jerks her eyes open, and sees the dam, but not with her eyes. Her vision clouds again as her mind feels as though a bomb had detonated in her head. She is not herself again. The vision intensifies. There, deep in the Lake are caves: one huge cave and many smaller ones, offshoots of the large one. Perfect for when the time comes. Not yet... not yet... she still has some time.

But there is food here. Large fish see her and try to swim away but she always catches them. She or one of her others.

Amanda's mind tries to back away, fearful as a new image overtakes her, and yet... not her at all.

In this vision, she does not back away from the strange creature she sees on the land. She is curious. What is this thing she wonders? She has never seen anything like it before. It walks on two limbs. Not even enough on its bones for a meal. The head was interesting. The odd creature sees her and runs away. But it soon returns with long spears to throw at her. They only graze her scaly necks. She lunges at it, grabs it and dives.

Deep, deep down in the Lake Amanda swims, taking the creature with the interesting head into one of the smaller caves. Amanda rolls a large stone in front, sealing it inside. It will be a good size for when the time is right and they need to feed.

A new picture forms in Amanda's head; a much older one - an ancient memory. She and her others had just finished feeding on a huge fish. They climbed onto the grassy bank to rest, as they tire much easier now. Rolling onto her side, she sees her stomach move slightly. There... it did it again. Her other head lowers, licking the stomach making a thin mewling sound. The small movement stops, then becomes harder. In her vision, Amanda feels certain the ones inside hear the sound.

Other feelings bombard her. A series of emotions and thoughts flood her being. Random but powerful: feelings of caring, warmth, safety, fear, fire, pain, rage and anger. Then overwhelming sadness and loss. Gone. All gone. Alone. Hunger. Fear. Wandering. Anger. Anger. ANGER.

Finally breaking free from the devastating emotions and visions, Amanda falls back against a tree. Her body shakes with the feelings that are not her own. Fear? Anger? What does it all mean? How long was her mind trapped? Are the others already dead? She understands nothing that just happened.

Screams quickly assault her ears, and she fears the worst. Looking for her wand, she finds it nearby. Scooping it up, she turns to run to the others. Her heart stops as she sees the Hydra's tail, tightly curled around a bloody Thian, who is high in the air, being swung back and forth. One of the Hydra's heads is lunging toward Tia, the other for Tianna, who is still trying to protect Sadie.

The Hydra must not have seen Amanda. Looking at the others, Amanda realizes her visions had taken only seconds. Amanda knows she will never make it to the others in time.

Running to the water's edge, Amanda screams, " _Stop_!"

The strongest of the heads, the middle one, rears back, pulling the other two heads with her as they turn in Amanda's direction. She roars with such ferocity, thick strings of spittle erupt from her mouth, spraying Amanda and the surrounding area. The Hydra has turned fully in her direction, and swoops down on her.

As the middle Hydra's head shoots toward her, Amanda raises her wand, yelling the command, " _Stop_!" again. As she does so, she brings her mind to bear on the Hydra's, hoping that she can make the connection.

As Amanda looks into the pitiless eyes of the Hydra, an intense shock jolts through her. Suddenly, she understands the visions perfectly.

The Hydra is forty feet away, closing fast.

Amanda closes her eyes, willing herself into the Hydra's mind. Reaching up, she touches the necklace, and the creature's language is revealed to her. Her eyes fly open.

"Ga uuahx chmmp qvzz cheee. Ga uuahx udt shtp eeef nah." The words come out sounding strange, guttural and high-pitched. But she knows what she said. "I _know_ why you're here." As her mind is now completely focused on the deadly yellow eyes. "I know of the _young_ ones inside you!"

Thirty feet now, and the Hydra's heads shriek again.

" _Fstah_! Oovz rwoi cheee ahx qvzz ee bcd ka! _Stop_! We're _not_ here to hurt you or the small ones!"

Twenty feet now. The Hydra has not slowed.

"Qvzz tuq axoou hata! Qvzz rwoiil cheee! Wuzula daba ee qvzz moit sa cheee! You must _leave_ this place! You do not belong here! Break the dam or you will _die_ here!"

Ten feet away. Amanda can feel the power radiating from the massive body.

With sure death staring at her, rushing toward her, Amanda staggers backward as a powerful surge radiates throughout her body. Someone else has risen within her. Amanda shouts in a voice not her own, a voice hundreds of centuries old. A woman's voice the Hydra remembers.

"FSTAH BO! Guh te" the voice shouts. The meaning immediately translated in Amanda's mind. " _Wielder_ _of Power_!"

"Nyieth ee qvzz ta udt shtp sa!" the voice continues. "Stop _now_! I am the _Wielder_ _of Power_! Obey or you and your _young_ ones will perish!"

Amanda's eyes burn with a power that cannot be extinguished; her body shaking with the force that has taken hold of her. The part that is still Amanda remembers the force, but this time, she cannot so easily break free from it, as she had done with the Bogey.

Water surges over her, drenching her as she is pushed back by its force, landing hard on her back. Sputtering, she wipes the water from her hair and eyes and with all her strength she forced the other voice to go.

Amanda looks up into the yellow eyes of the Hydra. The Hydra has lowered its heads, and is now only five feet away - so close she can almost reach out a hand and touch it.

The three heads shriek as one, the bellows so loud Amanda slams her hands over her ears. Amanda is battered by the hurricane-force winds emanating from the Hydra and covering her with more long, thick strings of spittle. And, as suddenly, a volley of thoughts pound her in unrelenting ferocity, bringing her to her knees: thoughts that belong to the Hydra.

"Cha! Wpatah! Cha! Wielder of Power! Cheee! Vo uuahx shtp eeef! Kill! Destroy! Kill! Wielder of Power here! She knows of the young ones!"

With a cry of pain, Amanda bends forward, feeling physically assaulted with the rage that pours from those thoughts directly at her. She gasps at the fury that stabs at her, piercing her again and again. Fury and fear. Anger and rage. And yet, the Hydra comes no closer.

"Lw im nyieth, Wielder of Power ty cha udt shtp. Im moit nyieth...Im moit nyieth... Im moit nyieth... rioth cha! If I obey, Wielder of Power will not kill young ones. I must obey... must obey... must obey... no, want to kill!"

Without understanding how she knows, Amanda knows that her only chance, the only chance for all of them, is for her to make contact with the creature, if she can. Touching the necklace, she forces herself to look into the Hydra's blazing eyes, concentrating on the center head, the largest of the three.

The memories, much older than the others, come to life. The vision becomes clearer: she is young, living in the grotto with her Mother and three male siblings. There is fire everywhere. The _ancient_ Wielder of Power is there. The power within the necklace she wears, _surges_ through her wand and killed them all. Her Mother. Her siblings. Gone. All gone. Only she survived by diving deep in the Lake, as her home grotto explodes.

Amanda had not realized she had fallen to the ground, until she came back to herself. Looking up, he sees the Hydra moving her heads back and forth, sometimes giving them an odd shake, as though trying to rid itself of an irksome bird as each of the three heads snorts.

Still, the Hydra comes no closer.

Still gripped in the throes of the Hydra's memories, Amanda's body shakes badly. Breathing hard, she knows she has somehow made contact... and the contact has not broken.

Getting up, Amanda tries to keep her voice steady, as she speaks in the Hydra's language. "I am the _Wielder_ _of Power_ ," and lifts her head back as she brings the necklace out. The Hydra's eyes become enormous, jerking her heads back and away from Amanda. "But," she continues, "I am _not_ her."

The Hydra looks at Amanda with eyes narrowed into slits, her heads constantly moving, as though sizing her up.

Amanda hears the Hydra's thoughts. "Not same but still Wielder. Must obey. Must save young ones. Will not be alone like me."

And then the oddest thing happens.

The Hydra bends all her heads slightly toward Amanda. Strange thoughts come into Amanda's mind. "Is it _bowing_? It looks like its bowing. It _knows_ the necklace." No, she realizes, "It recognizes it! It _fears_ the Wielder of Power!

"And with good reason," Amanda says out loud with disgust. She thought hard. Turning, Amanda looks at Tia and Tianna who had not moved, then suddenly sees Thian still clutched in the Hydra's tail. " _Powerful_ one," she speaks in the Hydra's language, which now comes easily to her, "place the small creature you hold in your tail on the ground with the others. Place him down slowly and _carefully_." Swallowing hard, she waits to see how this request will be heeded.

At first, the Hydra does nothing. Then, slowly, her tail moves to the shore and drops Thian to the ground. Thian, still conscious, crab walks backward, running into Tianna, Tia and Sadie.

"So far, so good," Amanda thinks. Turning to the Hydra, she says, more calmly than she feels, "You cannot stay here. You _must_ go back, or go somewhere else where you will be _safe_ , and can raise your young ones without fear of _anyone_ hurting you. Do you understand?"

The Hydra's heads are still. All twelve eyes lock on Amanda as though weighing their chances. The eyes shift to the necklace. The heads, as one, move back slightly. "I think she fears the necklace. Remembers its _power_ and what it did to her family." If it is fear, it is not the only fear being felt. Fear is working its way up Amanda's spine that it will not accept what she said. Slowly the center head moves closer to her, staring with intent.

Amanda hears the Hydra's thoughts clearly now and has learned to work with the power that envelops her, and not against it.

"You are Wielder," came its thoughts. "Not same. But _great_ power. Must obey or will destroy young ones. Must not _hurt_ young ones. They must live. Hurt me. Kill me, if must. Not young ones."

Amanda's mind feels the anguish and fear, the conflict within the Hydra. Only the fear for her young ones holds it back from tearing her apart. Amanda knows she has to be careful if she is to save the others and herself, but feels sick at heart at the destruction of the Hydra's family.

Focusing her mind, she decides to go with it. "Yes," she says, in its own language. "The Wielder has _great_ power. This area is not safe for you and your young. You must leave."

"Leave? Leave home?" Amanda feels anger rising within the Hydra. "The Wielder _commands_?"

"Yes, I _command_ it," Amanda says with as commanding a tone as she can muster.

The three heads shake with a deep fury as she forces herself to obey. Her heads try to bow to Amanda once again, but cannot. They shake with the attempt. Finally, all heads lower as the Hydra turns away.

"Wait!" Amanda says quickly.

The Hydra stops and turns around, looking warily at her. "What is the _creature_ with the interesting head? The one you have in the cave?"

The Hydra's eyes narrow. "It is nothing. Just a _creature_. Nothing more. It is to be for the young ones to feed on. It is thin and strange."

Something tells Amanda, that the creature is important, though she does not know why. "Bring it to me."

"The Wielder commands?"

"Yes, I _command_ it," Amanda says for the second time.

The Hydra grudgingly bows her heads as she backs away, turns, and without another glance backward, silently slips beneath the dark water.

Thian is the first to reach Amanda. His face is scratched and he has a cut over his left eye. He grabs her shoulders. "Amanda, what's _happening_? How can you communicate with it? You _talked_ to it... I mean, I guess it was talking... sounded like weird sounds to me... but it _looked_ like it understood you. How can it understand you?"

The answer comes readily to her. "Remember what Josh and Sam said? They said I know over 4,000 languages... _remember_? Well... maybe some of them are languages of creatures?"

Releasing her, Thian nods, awe in his eyes.

Then a small voice says, "Don't forget, she's the _Wielder_ _of Power_. And, obviously, it knows something about the necklace." Sadie locks eyes with Amanda. "Without _you_ , we couldn't have survived this..." Sadie continues, almost as an afterthought, "I'm really getting to _like_ this Wielder thing, Amanda!" and rushing forward, hugs her.

Everyone backs quickly away from the shore, as a massive rush of water erupts upward. There, in the Hydra's tail, is the strange creature Amanda had summoned.

"What the..." Thian begins, his eyes bulging with disbelief.

Tia and Tianna exhale sharply, moving back, Tianna grabbing Sadie.

#  Qumong

The Hydra swims forward and drops the creature on the bank near Amanda. It lays crumpled and unmoving. Shuddering, it slowly crawls away from the Hydra until it bumps into Amanda's legs. It turns its head and looks Amanda full in the face. Amanda's face shows her shock. Amanda has no idea what this creature is, and is about to ask it who or what it is, when her eyes are drawn up to the Hydra's.

Amanda feels no fear now. Instead, she is overcome with an intense feeling of sadness from the massive creature in the Lake.

"The Wielder _commands_ me to go? I go. No _hurt_ young ones."

Amanda and the Hydra stare at one another. Amanda is silent for a moment, then knows what she must do.

"Yes, I _command_ it. But, Powerful One, before you go, I command something else."

"What does the _Wielder_ command?"

"Break the rocks apart you used to stop the water flow. Let the water flow _freely_ once again. Then go where you wish and have your young in peace and safety.

"I am the _Wielder_ _of Power_ , and I will do everything I can to _protect_ you and your young. You go with the Wielder's _thanks_."

The Hydra's eyes show their own shock and disbelief. "The Wielder will _protect_ young? Protect...?" Amanda's mind feels a physical shock from the Hydra at hearing that the Wielder will protect her and her young.

The Hydra lowers her heads close to Amanda, who stands her ground. The creature brought up by the Hydra slithers quickly around and behind her legs, looking up at the fearsome beast. Amanda feels its body shaking violently.

Amanda keeps her eyes locked on the center Hydra's four eyes, trying not to blink. Finally, the Hydra speaks.

"Wielder is _different_. Not same as before. Why protect now when all _destroyed_ before?"

Amanda's mind is suddenly filled, once again, with the Hydra's memories. The grotto on fire, everything exploding around her, the Hydra's Mother and siblings killed by the other Wielder. The other Wielder laughing at the destruction. Amanda almost falls to her knees from the pain the Hydra still feels.

Amanda says, her heart thumping in her chest, "I'm not her. I'm so sorry about everything she did... but I'm _not_ her. _I_ am the Wielder now, and I will not harm you or your young ones," shaking her head to emphasize her feelings.

After a full minute that lasts an eternity, the Hydra fully bows her heads to Amanda, as she backs away, and for the last time, dives silently beneath the black water.

"This just gets more and _more_ bizarre," Tianna says, tearing her eyes from the still water where the Hydra dived, then stares down at the strange creature near Amanda's feet.

And strange it is. Its body and two legs most resemble that of a person, though not quite. The legs are thin, much thinner than a person's legs. "More like thick _twigs_ ," Amanda thinks, calming herself as she turns to the almost man.

But its head is the oddest part. The head is a large piece of lace coral, in shades of reds and pinks. It has two eyes, but not next to each other. One is large and near the top of the coral, on the left. The other is off to the side, beneath the first one and very small, both blinking independently of the other.

Amanda is not sure which eye to look at, so she takes turns looking at both. Amanda speaks to the coral man in his language, startling him. "My name is Aman..." but before she can finish, the creature gets to his knees and begins bowing feverishly to her.

Amanda is completely taken aback by this. Bending down, she reaches out a hand to help the coral man up, but the gesture startles him and he misinterprets her intention, and begins to babble in a strange language in obvious panic. Again, Amanda understands it.

"Please," the coral man says, " _please_... don't punish me again! I've _done_ what you wanted! I've _never_ left! I didn't _know_ the Hydra would come! It wasn't my _fault_..." suddenly his other thirteen eyes open, all filled with tears. "It _wasn't_ my fault," he cries in his odd language, his body shaking, holding a three fingered hand in front of his large coral face, trying to back away from Amanda, while still bowing on his knees. There was no question... his terror of Amanda was real.

Amanda looks at the others in shock. Their expressions mirror her own. Even though she understands him, she knows the others do not. But no spoken language is necessary to understand his fear and dread of Amanda. Looking down at the coral man, who is lying prostrate on the ground, she sees the convulsive shakes racking his thin body.

Amanda stands frozen for a moment as the coral man begins moaning softly... heart wrenching moans.

Amanda's eyes fill with tears, again. Not able to bear it, she kneels and puts her hand gently on his back. Immediately, she withdraws her hand as he begins screaming, "No! No! Stop! I'm _begging_ you! Please... don't _punish_ me again! Please! PLE-E-EASE!" The last word drawn out into a long wail.

Looking at the others, she holds her hands out to the side with a gesture that shows she is unsure what to do. Sadie walks forward and stands between Amanda and the coral man. Kneeling, she speaks soothingly to him in Elvish. "It's only Amanda. You don't have to cry. She's really nice. She saved you, didn't she?"

The coral man lifts his head suddenly and looks at Sadie, his eyes showing confusion. "I don't know what you're saying. I don't understand you! Only the _Wielder_ knows my language!" and looks frantically at Amanda. Sadie tries again to speak to the creature, using a gentle tone. "Please don't cry. You're _safe_ now. And we're," Sadie turns to the others, sweeping her arm across the group, " _friends_ of Amanda's. And we can be your friend, too, if you like."

The coral man looks at the others, then back to Sadie. He surprises them as he turns away from them, becoming more aggressive toward them in his language and mannerisms. Amanda is taken aback as the coral man begins uttering threats toward Sadie and the others and realizes she must have him understand them so he knows they mean him no harm. She closes her eyes and concentrates on the necklace and wills the spell she needs. Opening her eyes, she looks at the coral man and speaks the spell, "Tu lang si lang." He keeps looking at Amanda, all eyes blinking open and shut. Finally, he speaks tentatively, "How are _you_ the Wielder of Power? You're... different, not the _same_ Wielder – just like the Hydra said," his voice shaking with each word.

"I _am_ the Wielder now but I'm not like the first Wielder. I don't mean you _any_ harm and neither do my friends."

"Friends?" he says in disbelief, looking at the others. "These are your _friends_ and not your prisoners?"

In answer, Sadie says, "Prisoners? Of _course_ we're not prisoners! Amanda is our friend and we could be _your_ friend, too, if you like..."

"You understood him, Sadie? Amanda asks.

"Yes – it sounded like Elvish."

"We all understood him," Tianna added, looking at Tia and Thian as they nodded their agreement.

Feeling heartened, Amanda asked the coral man, "Now tell me something. Why did you say that only the Wielder knows the language?"

He says nothing. Then, slowly, still shaking, he asks, "Why did you _save_ me?"

Amanda had not expected that and, at first, cannot think of what to say. After a moment she answers, "Because I became aware of you, saw you, and _knew_ you were in trouble. I thought you would want to get out of the cave."

Before the coral man can say anything, Thian says, "But _how_ did you know he was in the Lake? And, what do you mean you _saw_ him?"

Amanda looks down and is suddenly hesitant to say anything. But she knows she has to say something. "I... I _saw_ the Hydra's thoughts... memories," and looks at the others. "In one of the thoughts, I _saw_ the Hydra capture..." she looks at the coral man, " _you_ , and take you to one of the caves below." The coral man slowly shakes his head. "I do not understand. The Wielder does not have... _friends_ ," stealing a look at Sadie and the others. "The Wielder would _not_ have saved me from the Hydra. You... you are _different_. Younger. You have eyes that do not...do not..." he cannot continue.

"My eyes don't... _what_?"

"Burn."

"I _am_ different but still the Wielder. Let me show you," and slowly draws out the necklace, sure that he will recognize it just as the Hydra had. All the coral man's eyes grow huge as the blood red gem in the center of the necklace flashed like fire. He stands and trips over himself as he skids backward, away from Amanda, whimpering again in his strange language.

As he falls to the ground, Amanda sees the surrounding plants lean toward him, the closest ones touching him, winding their leaves around every part of him. About to warn him of the danger the plants present, she stops in complete surprise. The plants lean into him softly, as if caressing him, sweetly, lovingly. And to add to her shock, she sees him bring his face to them and, her eyes growing large with disbelief, murmurs and kisses them!

Amanda turns to the others and sees their own baffled expressions. Amanda hurriedly stuffs the necklace back under her shirt and waits. She knows that if she tries to touch him now, he might go into convulsions, and she desperately needs to speak with him.

The coral man, now under the charm of the plants, quiets and becomes calm. He looks up at Amanda, whispering to the plants who immediately withdraw their leaves and vines from him.

He gets up and looks at Amanda. "You truly _are_ the Wielder. Only the Wielder would have that... that _object_ of evil."

Hearing him say the words, _object of evil_ , makes Amanda shiver with dread. Now, more than ever, she has to find the next Shard! Quietly she asks, "Now will you answer my question?"

He nods.

"Why did you say that only the Wielder knows your language?"

The coral man looks at Amanda, then at the others. His head falls as his shoulders shake. He looks back at them all, tears in all his eyes, and begins.

"I once was like _you_ ," looking at Thian. "I was young and ventured away from my home, looking for _adventure_ and excitement. A fire quickly burned inside of me as I heard tales of immense _treasures_ and kingdoms, and I came to this realm in search of it. I wanted to be a ruler of my _own_ kingdom, where I, alone, would have control over _all_ who dwelt within. But it was not treasure or a kingdom I found. It was... _her_ ," he shivers, shaking his head.

"She was," looking at Amanda, " _beautiful_ beyond words and _immensely_ powerful. She did not need to speak of her power... I _sensed_ it. I _knew_ it." Eyes shifting over Amanda's face, "just like I know _your_ power.

"But her beauty was not the type to take delight in. It was a cold, _dark_ , empty beauty. Except for her eyes... they gave off a _fire_. They burned and they... I know this will sound strange... they... _changed_ colors."

Amanda exchanges looks with the others, then turns when he continues. "A deadly beauty, like the beauty of flowers who, as you bend to inhale and delight in their perfume, spray you with their _paralyzing_ toxin." The coral man caresses a huge, bluish rose that leans toward him, moving sinuously, tantalizingly.

"At first, I was taken with her, hypnotized by her. I _wanted_ her. I was so stupid!" his voice rising in anger. "She promised me _wealth_ and I knew she could give it to me! I _knew_ it! More wealth than I could possibly ever want... and all I had to do was give her one thing... just _one_ very small thing, she said, in return," and with those last words, he drops to his knees, crying deeply.

Without thinking, Amanda kneels down and puts her hand on his stick arm covered with moss, offering comfort. He looks up at her, but this time, does not pull away. He nods, composing himself, and continues.

"And I agreed! I never asked her what the one small thing was. What a fool! I was blinded by the thought... intoxicated by the _desire_ for wealth and the fantasy to _rule_ a realm! It was all I ever wanted! All I thought about... _dreamt_ about! What was one _small_ favor, I thought stupidly, in exchange for that? So I agreed! Never asking..." He looks into Amanda's eyes, then up at the others, who surrounded them. "The one small thing she wanted... the _only_ small thing she requested... was my _life_."

Amanda is frozen in disbelief, as are the others.

"I know what you're all thinking... that I _deserved_ it! I know it!" he continues as everyone begins to protest. He shakes his head with complete self-loathing. "I didn't understand what she meant. So I asked... as a child asks an _innocent_ question before the slap comes. She laughed. She said, I had agreed, and I could not change my mind. I remember backing away from her, and moving toward the Lake," his head gestures toward the water.

"And as I moved, I heard her say, 'If it is _treasure_ you desire, I will let you guard a most _valuable_ treasure for me. _Forever_. And in return, I will give you a _kingdom_ to rule. The Lake will be yours to command. And, because I am generous, I will give you all above the waters to command as well, within an area of _ten_ miles around the Lake. But should you attempt to leave, you will _suffer_ beyond your wildest nightmares, for _all_ eternity!'

"But I refused! I tried to leave but she _stopped_ me with a single glance. I couldn't move. I was paralyzed! I said I had changed my mind! I begged! I _pleaded_ with her to let me go! But she would not hear of it. I'll never forget her laugh as she cast her spell, whereupon I fell to the ground in such pain, I could do nothing but thrash.

"And then she created some of the plants you see and said to me, 'Since you see only what you _think_ there is and not what is real, you will be _surrounded_ by all those things that are not what they seem... not what they _truly_ are. You will hold court over them and they will worship you, _adore_ you. Isn't that what you wanted?' She taunted me.

"But she was not done. She gave me her _treasure_ and told me to hide it deep in the largest cave below the waters of the Lake. I looked at her and said, 'But I can't swim! I can't do what you want!' She pulled her wand, and with a few words, turned me into... _this_. I saw my reflection in the water and fell to my knees. _What_ had I become? I was no longer me. I became a _slave_ of the Lake... both a slave and master, who was ruled and who ruled the Lake and the land. I had a realm, but not as I wanted.

"She ordered me again to take her treasure and hide it in the deepest recesses of the largest cave. I took it and went into the water, hoping I would drown in its depths. But, instead, I found I could breathe, and water to me was as land. I had no choice. I did as she ordered, and when I came back to the surface, she said, 'My treasure must _never_ be harmed or _leave_ its resting place, unless _I_ the Wielder of Power return for it. It will be guarded and protected by an ancient Wizitch, my _own_ watchers who will dwell beneath the waters, who I command forever and will serve me... like you. You are the _ruler_ of this kingdom, and every kingdom needs to have its own language. So, to rule your subjects, you will now have a language that only _you_ and your subjects will know. And,' she smiled at me, 'of course, I will know, as well. Should anyone ever come to your kingdom, they will never understand you, nor you them. I _command_ that you kill, or have killed on your behalf, anyone who comes here. You will _protect_ the treasure at all costs. And should you _ever_ try to leave, my watchers will make sure you cannot, and you will _suffer_ beyond your comprehension - as will any _family_ you have.'

"And so, as others have come here, without being able to understand them, I never knew if they would be _friendly_ to me or not and..." the coral man did not continue but only shook his large head in despair.

Amanda suddenly understood. "And how many others came here?"

The coral man looked into Amanda's eyes. "Do you not know?" Amanda shook her head.

"Many. _Hundreds_. More."

"And you were forced to _kill_ them?"

The coral man looks stricken and nods. "Yes. _All_ of them. Many _I_ killed. Many my _plants_ killed. But they all died. All of them, because of the _Wielder_."

Amanda looks at the others and though unspoken, they begin to understand the deadly plants filling the beautiful grounds.

"So... who _are_ these watchers the other Wielder spoke about?" Tia asks, looking around nervously.

The coral man turns to her. "They forever rest _beneath_ the water guarding the entrance to the large cave and the Wielder's treasure. The number grew as they came here. They are large and strong men and some women and Elves and other beings from different realms and all are fearful to look upon."

Amanda and the others look at him in shock. "Do you mean that the _watchers_ are all those who came here and were _killed_?" Amanda asks, disbelievingly.

The coral man nods in reply. "The Wielder used an ancient Wizitch spell, so that any who came here looking for her treasure would be, once killed, turned into a _stone_ watcher who would forever protect the treasure. Once they were _dead_ , they turned into stone and walked into the Lake, their resting place forevermore."

Amanda and the others are speechless at this revelation. Sadie slowly turns to look at the Lake then up at Tianna and nods.

"And," the coral man continues, "they will make sure that I can _never_ leave. But she needn't have bothered to order them to keep me here. I _want_ to stay." He looks around him, smiling. "I have my _family_ here," and sweeps his arm around vaguely.

"Your _family_? What do you mean your family?" Tianna asks cautiously.

Amanda suddenly understands the horror of the coral man's existence. "So to make up for all the killings, you decided to bring these plants, trees and creatures to _life_ : to nurture and care for them? To _love_ them? You want to stay because... _these_ are your family... everything here? Is that what you mean?"

"Yes, all these created by my own doing. All mine. I _love_ them, and _they_ love me. It has taken many rotations of the three moons to create them, care for them and teach them, but I have."

When he stops speaking, Amanda looks at the others for a moment, then turns back to him quickly, realization blazing in her. "You taught them to _protect_ themselves, protect you and the _treasure_ she had you hide, didn't you? You gave them the ability to _defend_ themselves... to not have anything or anyone _hurt_ them... to, to _kill_ anything that entered your kingdom?"

"Yeah... well... you did a _really_ good job too!" Thian says angrily. "They tried to kill _us_! And that weird jellyfish creature tried to _eat_ me! Look..." Thian thrusts out his arms which still show signs of the blisters. "Just _look_ at this! We didn't do anything and it _attacked_ us!"

The coral man looks at Thian, letting him finish his tirade. He bows his huge head to Thian and the others. "My apologies for your injuries, but it was the _Wielder's_ command. You must understand that I had no _choice_..." his voice pleading for understanding.

As quickly as Thian's anger flared, it drained away. His whole body seemed to relax as his pent up breath escaped. "I... I'm _sorry_ then. I didn't understand. It was just, really _scary_ is all. I thought we were going to die."

"Oh, I'm so _sorry_! I blasted the jellyfish creature apart," Amanda says, worried how the coral man will take this news. "It had Thian and was going to _kill_ him! I'm sorry, but _I_ had no choice!"

"I know. I felt its cries within the confines of my cave. But, no matter, it has already healed itself. Should any of my plants become damaged, they have the ability to grow new plants from any of the _severed_ or damaged pieces. So my family will continue to grow ever larger. But please, no apologies necessary! You _saved_ me from the Hydra! I owe you my _life_... as it is."

"Speaking of the Hydra," Tia says, "Why couldn't you command _it_? Why did it capture and hold _you_ prisoner?"

The coral man shakes his head. "The Hydra is not part of my realm. It came, already massive and huge, from elsewhere. I have _no_ command of it. One day, I saw the water in the Lake begin to rise. I did not know why. I began to investigate, and discovered that where the river typically flowed, the ground became hard and dry. After many rotations of the moons, many of my family began dying from thirst.

"I went back to the Lake and saw a strange colossal ripple in the water. When I went to the water, I saw I had no _reflection_. Something was _very_ wrong. As I was preparing to enter the Lake, I witnessed the Hydra rise from the still waters and it saw me! I ran to the clearing and spoke with my family. There are _huge_ trees there with giant flowers..."

Sadie interrupts. " _I_ know that tree! The flowers are _yellow_ and blue, aren't they? And they're huge..."

The coral man smiles proudly. "Yes! That's the one! It has very long, very smooth branches, and the flowers will sway on the ground!" sounding like a proud parent.

"What about them?" Thian asks, with considerably less excitement in his voice.

"Oh," turning to Thian, "it's a good thing you did not go near _them_! The branches, you see, are actually _spears_ , which will attack anyone who goes near the trailing flowers."

"Why am I _not_ surprised?" Thian says, half fearful, half amazed. "So, just going near the thing would _kill_ you... probably a slow and really _painful_ death, huh?"

"Oh no! No, no! The death would be quick as the tree _itself_ is poisonous. So are the _flowers_. Very deadly. Just a _touch_ of the flowers and the branches will project themselves in your direction. You'd be _dead_ before you hit the ground!"

Amanda and the others turn to one another, looks of terror and relief etched their faces. "It's a good thing we never went near them, or touched the flowers then," Amanda says quietly.

"So, as I was saying," he continues, "I went to my tree and asked for some long, _thick_ branches, which, of course, it gave me. I went back to the Lake and waited. When I saw the Hydra surface again, it came quickly after me. I _tried_ to pierce its skin again and again with the branches, but they only glanced off it, and finally, it wrapped the end of its whip-like tail around me, lifting me high in the air. I dropped the branches," shuddering at the memory, "it turned and _dragged_ me under, and took me to a small cave, where it blocked the entrance with a large boulder.

"And so, I have been _trapped_ for many rotations of the moons, as best as I can determine, until you came," he looks at Amanda and smiles, his many eyes blinking open and shut, "and _freed_ me. I feared I would die there. I was so sad. Not for me, you understand. I didn't care about me... but for my _family_ here. I missed taking care of them. And I knew they missed me.

"I am in your _debt_ , Wielder," the coral man says gratefully. "I would do whatever I can for you! Please, just _tell_ me what you wish, and if it is in my power, it shall be done!"

Amanda looks at him saying, "Well, maybe you'd come back with us to the clearing. I mean, we don't want to be harmed by any of your family on the way back."

"Of course, of course!" replies the coral man. "That goes without saying. I will help you. I will tell them that you and your friends are _not_ to be harmed." He turns and with a complicated wave of his arms, the tree and plant creatures seem to bow, then straighten. "It is done. But, _tell_ me, how did you come to my realm in the first place?"

Amanda tells him a little of their journey, and then realizes what he may be able to do. Trying to hold in her excitement, she says, "Well, since you can breathe under water..."

Looking at the others, she sees they know what she is going to ask. "I'm _looking_ for something and, well, the map we have says that the Lake can _help_ me, so maybe you can," she hurries on. "It looks like... well... I don't _know_ exactly, because I've never seen it. But it's supposed to be some kind of broken _stone_..." Amanda is at a loss for words, and with every pause becomes more and more frustrated.

"A broken _stone_?" the coral man asks. "There are _many_ stones in the Lake and most _are_ broken. Does it have a special color or shape? Is it large or small?"

"I don't know..." Amanda cannot think how to describe it. "It's probably not _too_ big, and it's got a _jagged_ shape, at least on one side, and it's got some strange markings on it, and..."

" _Markings_?" the coral man interrupts, his many eyes open all at once, obviously stunned.

"Yes! Strange markings. Do you _know_ it? Please... if you do, I need it desperately!"

He walks away from Amanda who turns and looks at the others. They wait, hardly breathing.

Turning back to Amanda, he says, "Yes, I think I know it. There is no other stone _like_ it. Well... if the _Wielder_ wants it back, I will retrieve it, for it is only meant for _her_."

"What do you mean, if I want it _back_? I've never _had_ it," Amanda is completely confused, and worried that he will bring her something other than one of the Shards of Legend.

"You don't understand. The stone with markings _is_ the treasure that the Wielder... the _other_ Wielder... commanded me to hide deep in the Lake. It is only a stone, but I will _never_ forget the markings on it. She said it was only to be given to her... the _Wielder_. But since _you_ are the Wielder now, I will bring it to _you_."

Turning around, he says, "Look!" and points to the water. "No _mist_..." He smiles, bows to Amanda and heads toward the Lake.

"Wait!" Amanda says, feeling a prickling sensation on the back of her neck as she asks the question. The coral man turns around. "Before you go... what is your _name_?"

The coral man looks surprised. "My _name_? I have not used my name in all these many rotations. It is _Qumong_ ," and with that, walks into the Lake.

The others, stunned, start speaking over one another. Finally, Tianna says, "There are some things we need to think about before we all get _too_ excited."

"Like what?" Thian is beside himself with happiness. "We get the Shard and we _leave_ this realm in one piece! This is great!"

"If what Qumong brings _is_ the Shard..." Tia says.

"It _will_ be the Shard," Amanda sounds certain. She does not know how she knows it is the Shard, but she knows it will be. "Qumong said the other Wielder called it her _treasure_. It's _got_ to be the Shard."

"Ti," Sadie asks Tianna, " _What_ other things?"

Tianna seems to hold her breath for a moment as she looks around nervously. "The _watchers_. What in two moons _are_ they?"

Thian does not want anything to put a damper on his elation at leaving this realm. "Probably nothing. _You_ heard Qumong. They're at the bottom of the Lake – not on _land_. And, besides, the other Wielder created them to keep _Qumong_ here. I think we're in the clear."

That seems to placate Tianna and the others. But Amanda feels nervous, knowing that the Wielder would not make things that simple.

They sit on the ground, away from any plants and wait. After a short time, the water begins to bubble, and as they all move to the water's edge, Qumong, dripping wet and covered with moss and algae, walks out from the Lake, carrying a shard from a stone tablet with jagged edges.

Amanda gasps as she feels the necklace give her a jolt. It is one of the thirteen Shards of Legend. She knew it. The first piece.

Qumong walks toward Amanda and holds out the saturated Shard, as he bows deeply. Amanda takes it with trembling hands. "Thank you, Qumong. The _Wielder_ thanks you."

Turning she shows the others the shard.

Through tear filled eyes, Amanda holds the Shard tightly near her heart.

Qumong raises his head and smiles. "Will you be _leaving_ now, Wielder, or can you stay a while?" he asks tentatively.

Amanda understands that he wants a little more time with his new friends. "I'm sorry, but we _must_ leave." And then an idea comes to her. "Qumong, would you like to come _with_ us?"

" _With_ us?" Thian asks startled.

"Yes, _with_ us," Amanda says, looking first at Thian then at Qumong. "You can go to another realm, be with other beings. You won't have to be imprisoned here. You won't have to be _alone_ anymore. I could try to change you back to the way you were..."

Qumong's eyes all blink at her. "But I am _not_ alone." He turns his large coral head and looks around. "And I do not want to leave. This is my _home_. And my family would miss me and I them. If I left, who would take care of them? Who would sing to them by the blue and green lights of the moons? Who would walk amongst them, _loving_ them, teaching them?

"And they accept me as I am. They do not care how I look but others _will_." Qumong looks at Amanda and she sees peace in his many eyes, "I have grown _happy_ here. Thank you... but no, I do not wish to leave."

Amanda nods, a lump growing in her throat. He is surrounded by his family, as strange as they may be. He loves them, and they love him back.

"Will you come back to our clearing with us? We left all our things there..." Then, thinking to herself, "and, we can say goodbye to you one last time."

Qumong nods and leads the way around the deadly plants until they reach the clearing. As they walk, Tia and Qumong spoke of the plants and their regenerative and healing properties. There was no question that Qumong enjoyed speaking with someone who also appreciated plants and herbs and they became fast friends. As they packed, they stopped abruptly, looking around as they hear deafening sounds off in the distance followed by a titanic rushing sound.

Thian looks worried, eyes growing large. "What's _that_?" he asks, fear riding his words.

Qumong smiles. "It is the beautiful sound of _water_ , traveling the way it is meant to." He looks at Amanda. "The _Hydra..._ "

Amanda understands immediately. They all do. Sadie gives a whoop of joy. " _Poa_ will be okay! I'm so happy!"

Amanda is elated: they were _all_ safe, she has the first Shard of Legend and Poa and his kind were going to live! This is the best day she can remember in a long time.

"Okay, everyone, _time_ to go!" Tianna says picking up her broom.

Amanda steps to Qumong and hugs him, feeling the weight of the Shard in her travel pack. Qumong is so startled that he stands completely still for a moment, then hugs Amanda fiercely.

#  The Creatures

Tianna kicks into a hover, followed by all the others except for Amanda. "We _did_ it!" Jubilant, she pumps the air with her fist. "This wasn't so bad. If they're _all_ like this, we can find all the Shards in _no_ time. So much for those _Bringers_ of Doom... it must have been the _Hydra_ all along! We did it! Let's go!"

As soon as Tianna finishes speaking, Amanda's head snaps around toward her, remembering the warning on the map: _Brooms can fly... but here are banned; Wizitched brooms will draw Them near; No brooms may be used or your fate be cast._

Her stomach drops. "Everyone... get _off_ your brooms! Get off!"

Everyone turns to Amanda... but too late.

The ground begins to shake. Small rocks are thrown from their resting places.

Amanda, turning to Qumong, sees that he looks just as shocked and frightened as she does. "What _is_ it?" she shouts, "A _realmquake_? What's happening?"

"I don't know! I don't know!" Qumong answers, turning in circles and looking all around him. The realm feels as though it is being turned upside down and inside out. Cries and wails shatter the quiet.

The shaking grows worse. Large stones begin moving upward as though gravity has suddenly decided to take a holiday. Boulders fly into the air, then drop, just missing Amanda and Sadie. Amanda watches with dread as Thian, Tia, Tianna and Sadie fall from their brooms, covering their heads as large pieces of plants, roots and debris fall all around them.

Trees begin to scream as they are uprooted. Qumong cries out in horror as a jellyfish creature falls over. He rushes to its aid, but covers his head as other tall plants are suddenly thrown upward, only to come crashing back down.

Feeling intense panic, Amanda covers her head with her arms as dirt, rocks and plants begin raining down on her. Panting, she tries to cower under a nearby tree until, with a rending sound, the tree is ripped from the ground by its roots and hurtles skyward. Amanda is thrown backward as its branches slap against her, drawing blood from her arms and face. Dazed, she tries to get up, but as she rises to her knees, she is pelted with small stones and plants that have fallen back to the ground. Amanda hears Sadie, Tia and Tianna screaming in obvious pain and her heart jolts with fear for her friends.

Instinctively, Amanda grabs her necklace and as she does so, she suddenly feels a power emanating from it that she had never felt before and closing her eyes, she _feels_ the power grow from her body. The power becomes stronger and opening her eyes, she sees an iridescent bubble flow from her upward, surrounding the group, then growing higher and brighter until it surrounds everything within a fifty foot radius. Strangely, the bubble reminds her of the bubbles formed from a child's toy, but this bubble is not fragile. As the tons of dirt, boulders, trees and creatures rain down on them, they slide off the bubble harmlessly.

With new terror flooding her, Amanda looks down as the sound of rocks, grinding against one another deep within the ground, grows with unbridled fury.

With startling speed, Thian pushes the others away from him and jumps to one side as the ground near their feet breaks apart, sending fifty feet of thick sediment, rocks and strange creatures into the air spilling all around them, covering the many smaller plants. Even though the bubble still protects them, in the distance, Amanda sees the sparklers she loves crushed under the tonnage of material vomited from the ground.

The sounds grow deafening as the ground all around them shakes violently, bursting apart, rocketing boulders, trees, plants and nameless creatures, high into the air. Wails, shrieks and screams of despair fill the air, higher and louder than the sounds of destruction made by the heaving land around them.

The air outside the bubble is thick with dust and pieces of regurgitated plant and creature life as it rains down, when the realization comes to Amanda that the unearthly sounds she hears... the wails of despair and cries of pain... are coming from the _trees_ and plants themselves, from Qumong's family in their death throes... and from _Qumong_ himself who is trying to protect his family from the deadly reign of horror he now finds himself in.

Amanda, losing her balance, is thrown onto her back, as another massive upheaval launches tons of rocks and soil high into the air. The din is still ringing in her ears when she unexpectedly realizes it has stopped. Amanda looks around her in confusion. Standing on shaky legs, she peers through the dirt and haze-filled air. Looking at the rubble around her, she is still unable to take in all that just happened. It reminds her of pictures she saw back on earth, of the total devastation wrought by earthquakes, and feels an immense sadness for Qumong and his family.

"Thian... _Tianna_..." she yells, "can you _hear_ me? Where _are_ you?" Amanda hears them calling her but she cannot make out their location.

Suddenly, a ghost-like form appears through the haze. It is Qumong. Part of his fan-like coral head is missing. "Are you all _right_?" he gasps, staggering to Amanda.

"Qumong!" Amanda sees his damaged head. "Your head...weren't you in the _bubble_?"

"Only for a few moments, but it does not matter. It's nothing... I can repair it." He looks at Amanda, eyes filled with tears and stops as he slowly looks around. "My _children_... what have they _done_? My home... my _home_..." his voice breaks.

"It's my fault! _My_ fault, Qumong! _I_ brought this on you and your family!"

Qumong looks at her in complete confusion. "No... you are the _Wielder_. Why..."

"The map said..." she interrupts him but stops as she tries to clarify her thoughts. "The map warned," she began again, "about the _Bringers_ _of Doom_. It's them, I _know_ it is! As soon as Tianna got on her broom, I remembered the warning that using _brooms_ would cause the Bringers of Doom to arrive! I knew it wasn't the _Hydra_ – it couldn't be! I knew she was wrong! We took the treasure... _her_ treasure... the Shard! It's all because of _me_! If I had come alone as the Wielder, I _might_ have gotten away with it... maybe. But, I brought others with me, _don't_ you see?"

"The Wielder," he hisses. "She _told_ me she had watchers... but I never _saw_ them. I believed they were just a _threat_ the Wielder made, but was not really true. But they _are_ true! Yes! You're right! And I _failed_ my family! I did not _protect_ them because I believed it was only a lie!" Qumong lifts his head high, raises his stick-like arms and bellows a scream that makes Amanda gasp and fall back from him.

Amanda is about to comfort Qumong... when she stops.

Deep within her bones she feels a rumbling that begins from the abyss under the ground. Her eyes huge, she looks at Qumong's damaged coral head and his eyes tell her he felt it too.

"They are _coming_! We must get you all out of here!"

As the ground shakes, they reach out to each other for balance. Amanda knows with absolute certainty, that the tremors they feel are the sounds of the approaching Bringers of Doom, racing upward toward them.

"Qumong... _please_ , come with us! You'll be _killed_ if you stay here!"

Qumong shakes his head. "I cannot die! The other Wielder gave me _eternal_ life unless I disobeyed her. "I will regenerate. But, I can do _more_. Don't worry about me..."

"But your _family_... the plants... the _creatures_... I'm so sorry..."

"They will live again. Each part of them will regenerate anew. I _taught_ them how. But you and your friends _must_ leave before..."

But before never comes. It is too late.

A massive explosion below them propels them into the air where they are thrust several feet before landing hard on the rock-strewn ground. Amanda sees in horror that the bubble protecting them begins to dissolve.

Up from the chasm of destruction, huge figures rise, looming above them. Grotesque they are, each a height of over twelve feet, their heads crawling with things moving through their eyeless sockets, skittering in and out of their seeping mouths. Their huge arms hang down, scraping the ground, while their thick legs are covered with thin, long slithering things, ghost-like, almost transparent, utterly alien to life above ground. There were different creatures: some crawling, all slimy, slithering things with many articulated legs and joints, all bound together by dead and decomposing compacted soil. Made of the things that time forgot, they are an accumulation of those nameless things that dwell deep within the crevices and bowels of the realm... repulsive, savage and vile... this was their essence that the other Wielder created and cast there to serve her. They are the worst of nightmares, only called to service by one who is even more base then they.

Amanda's breath catches as she hears Sadie scream again, and knows more creatures are rising from the ground all around them. Amanda feels a scream rise in her throat as she beholds the most chilling entities ever devised into creation.

Amanda's body shakes involuntarily, not understanding why the necklace is not protecting her or the others. Holding the necklace, she wills it, again, to protect her and her friends but nothing happens. Looking to Qumong, something more than fear consumes her.

Qumong scrambles to his feet, brings his hands to his ravaged face and calls in his strange language. "Rise! Rise and _come_ to be! You are needed to _protect_ the Creator! I call all who I command! _Rise_ and protect your home!"

As he spoke, Amanda gets up and turns to see more horrific creatures rise from the ground. A dozen soon grow to twenty, then thirty, and still more come. The other Wielder, _Eris_ , had created an army of them.

Amanda pulls her wand and yells to Thian and the others, "Your wands! Get ready to fight!"

The nearest creature brings its heavy foot down, causing some of the ghost-like worms to fall to the ground on impact. It staggers then steadies itself. The other creatures try to move, twisting their limbs awkwardly, as though their bulk makes moving above ground unwieldy.

Amanda sees the advantage immediately. "Laceraté" she yells, and is heartened to see the nearest creature's leg slash apart. As soon as she shouts the spell, she hears the slashing spells being repeated by the others.

The creature whose leg is slashed apart, bellows in fury, dragging its damaged leg as it continues staggering toward Amanda. Qumong turns to her. "I'll be back! I must _call_ the others!" and leaves at a run.

Two of the creatures behind the damaged one, push it aside and stagger forward, their fearsome arms raised threateningly, as long centipedes drip from their two fingered hands.

Amanda's panting comes loud and fast, as she darts back and forth, trying to stay out of range of those long arms, yelling slashing spells and exploding curses. Because she is moving quickly, some spells hit their target, while others fly past.

Amanda takes aim, shooting an exploding curse at one creature who has made its way closer to her. Part of its head and shoulder pulverize, sending it reeling backward against the others. The force of its fall causes two others to crash backward.

Amanda's elation is short-lived, as the creatures behind the damaged one push it off them and fight to rise to their feet to continue the battle. Something catches Amanda's attention behind them. As she watches, her heart threatening to erupt from her chest, she sees more creatures rise from the ground. At least a dozen more join their army.

True panic setting in, she runs backward, falling over rocks and broken roots, yelling any curse she can think of. Many curses have little to no effect on the creatures and only bounce off them harmlessly, or doing minimal damage. "Why isn't the necklace _helping_ me?" her mind screams. " _Help_ me!" she begs.

But no help comes as the new creatures begin firing their own spells at her. Moving behind a boulder, she fires off curse after curse at the advancing monsters. The only thing saving her from their crushing arms is their clumsy gait, causing some to collapse as they trip over a large exposed root or stone.

Frantically, she looks around as she hears first Tia scream, then Sadie. She desperately wants to get to them but there are so many of the beasts, that before she realizes what has happened, she is _surrounded_ on all sides.

Turning round and round, she looks desperately for an opening but they are everywhere! They stumble closer to her. Grabbing at the necklace, she wills it to come to life for her, but finally drops her hand as she realizes it is futile, not knowing how to fully command it.

The ground trembles violently. Thinking more creatures are emerging, she looks around trying to get her bearings. But she beholds a sight that stops her in her tracks. What she sees simply cannot be. The many hills nearby are moving. At least, they look like they arre moving. One... two... three of them! Stumbling backward, she readies her wand to defend herself against these new enemies when she sees the creatures around her shriek and turn from her, making their way toward the towers of rock.

Stumbling backward, Amanda finds the creatures moving around her. Seeing their direction, she looks at the moving hills and the creatures and understanding finally dawns! The rock hills are not _enemies_ at all! As she watches, she sees each rock hill turning in a different direction, bringing their massive legs down on the creatures, smashing them to dust. One after another, the creatures are being decimated. Now Amanda knows where Qumong went... he had _called_ his family to protect their home and they answered his call!

But as quickly as hope had risen in her heart, it plummeted as she sees the creatures shoot spells at the rock hills. One hill exploded violently, sending deadly missiles of rocks and debris flying everywhere. Then another went down. The legs of the third rock hill shatter. The creatures, Amanda realizes, will not go down so easily. Eris had prepared her army well.

In Amanda's mind an image begins to form. "What? _What_?" she desperately screams out loud, trying to will the image to become clear. Then she has it. Of _course_... why hadn't she remembered! The Lost Book of the Dillian's. And instantly her mind is filled with the most evil and vile curses ever devised. "I'll use it, I _will_! After all, it's not like I use the really _powerful_ spells and curses very often and, well, nothing's happened to me _so_ far... so, I don't think this one more time will hurt. And if the _necklace_ isn't going to help us, then _I_ will!"

" _Dillian's_!" she screams to her friends, hoping they can hear her and understand what to do as the creatures advance toward them. As she lifts her wand, a heavy force at her back knocks it out of her hands and is thrown forward into the oncoming creatures. Amanda is surrounded by an army of death.

Rolling onto her back, Amanda looks to see what had attacked her and looks up into the face of a creature standing over her. Getting quickly to her feet, she watches the creature teetering forward as though it were going to fall and crush her to death. She grunts as she dives to the side, when she sees three other giant creatures behind it.

Looking for her wand, she sees it a couple feet away and lunges for it.

Her fingers just wrap around it when two centipedes, longer than her wand, fall on her arm. With a cry of disgust she shakes them off and they scuttle toward her leg. She jumps back a split second before the ground trembles again, this time from the force of the creature falling forward.

Amanda fires spell after spell at the creatures. "Demolior!" "Frango!" hoping the first spell will demolish the creatures from existence while the second will break them apart. But no spell she utters works as the creatures counter every spell she casts with ones of their own.

Climbing quickly over one of the fallen creatures as it reaches for her with its outstretched hand, she screams as three white, long-legged spiders fly at her. Revolted as they land on her, she gives a short cry, moving her arm reflexively to flip them off.

Out of the corner of her eye she sees a jellyfish creature with part of its crown missing and its tendrils moving wildly with flashing leaves, still standing. A crazy idea forms in her mind. Maybe it will recognize her as a _friend_ of Qumong's. Then again, maybe it will know she is not protected by Qumong and do what it was taught: to _destroy_ her as a means of self-defense and to protect the treasure. But she knows she has no time to think this one through. The ground shakes with each step the creatures make.

Amanda runs between and behind the closest creatures, primal _moans_ escaping her as their frenzied swinging arms reach out to her. One of the creature's fingers trips her and she lands hard on the ground splitting her lip open. Not stopping, she scrabbles toward the jellyfish creature.

#  Sesai Returns

Almost there, she hears a loud chirp. Sliding to a stop, almost tripping over herself, she looks around, her breath coming loud and fast. The sound is so familiar that she recognizes it immediately, but it cannot be, she thinks wildly. Not here. Not now. Her heart almost stops when she feels something hit her shoulder sure it is another creature's hand dripping writhing worms on her. And she is so close... so close to the jellyfish creature, her mind cries.

The loud chirp rings in her ear. Turning her head, she sees her. The little bird tilts her head from side-to-side and chirps again. "Sesai!" Amanda is shocked to see her tiny friend. "What are _you_ doing here? You've got to leave before they _get_ you!" and begins to cry. Amanda's emotions finally overwhelm her. Before, she would have given almost anything to have Sesai with her. But not now. Not with this deadly army destroying everything.

Sesai tilts her head again. Out of habit Amanda does the same. Sesai chirps once and looks straight up. A moving darkness falls over all, blotting out the light of day. Amanda looks up and clamps her hands over her ears as ear-piercing screeches shatter the air. Gale-force winds knock her over, forcing her to close her eyes and whipping her long hair around her head.

Finally opening her eyes, she sees dozens of bird-like creatures with four strangely-shaped wings and two long tails fly over her. Amanda looks to Sesai, who had hovered near her when she fell, then landed back on her shoulder. Sesai is staring at Amanda intently. "Sesai..." Amanda says quietly as Sesai rubs her beak against Amanda's lips.

Amanda gets up, speechless as she watches the birds dive-bomb the creatures, their razor-sharp claws and beaks tearing at the wriggling worms and spiders, pulling them out and devouring them. Creature after creature goes down, literally ripped apart. The creatures fire spell after spell at the strange birds, but to no avail.

A huge bird, easily the size of two buses drops from the sky near Amanda, turning toward her. Amanda backs away, her very soul quaking in fear at the sight of the frightening creature, with its beak snapping. Amanda feels Sesai fly from her shoulder and heads to the giant bird. Sesai lands on one of the forward wings and chirps. The giant bird brushes its beak lightly against Sesai's, as Amanda realizes that this is what Sesai will become. This was her family - she has a family after all.

"Did _you_ call them to help us, Sesai?" Amanda feels foolish for asking, but thinks she already knows the answer. Sesai chirps once, tilting her head from side-to-side. Amanda laughs and does the same. Then, as though amazing things will never end, the giant bird tilts its head from side-to-side, too.

Sesai chirps twice and before Amanda can say anything the giant bird lifts into the air, taking Sesai with it.

The force of the wings gaining altitude pushes Amanda to the ground again. Looking up, she tries to follow Sesai and the other birds, but the swirling wind forces her eyes closed.

When the wind stops, she opens her eyes. The light has returned and the sky is empty. Amanda scrambles up and looks around. The creatures, or what is left of them, are scattered into piles of dirt and rock everywhere. The feeling of relief makes her legs weak and she drops to her knees, laughing and crying at the same time.

"Oh, _Sesai_... my Sesai..." she struggles with the emotions enveloping her.

#  Aftermath

Something grabs her arm. Amanda snaps her wand up, ready to fight. It is Thian, talking to her. She tries to understand him, but her mind is still filled with thoughts of Sesai and the creatures.

"...so we started _yelling_ a few curses from the book of the Dillian's, but only _some_ of 'em worked! The previous Wielder must of known _some_ of those spells would be used to stop these creatures." Thian's words come faster like a train accelerating downhill with no brakes. "Tianna and _Sadie_ were great, but a giant worm-thing grabbed Sadie from behind and spiders started _attacking_ her, so Tianna was frantic and _blasted_ 'em apart, but then Sadie fell and hit her head... are you _listening_ to me?" Thian says shaking her.

"Yes... I'm listening..." Amanda shakes her head looking around for the others. "Where are they, Thian? Is _Sadie_ okay? What about _Tianna_?" Amanda cannot get the words out fast enough.

"Tianna's _hurt_. So is _Sadie_. But I don't know where she is... or Tia!" He looks behind them for a moment then turns back to Amanda. "I don't know _where_ they are Amanda! Come on, help me find 'em!"

Amanda suddenly realizes Thian's arm is bleeding. " _Thian_..." shocked at the amount of blood on his sleeve and dripping down his hand.

"I'm fine! Come on!" Helping Amanda up, he looks into her eyes, his eyes wild. "Amanda... the _birds_... the birds..." his voice chokes back tears.

"Yes! It was Sesai! I saw her! She came and brought her family! But, how did she _know_? How did she _know_ to come?" And then, without another word, they hug each other tightly, as though they had traveled through a lifetime and survived together.

They break apart at the same time. "Are _you_ hurt?" Thian asks.

"No. Scratches and bruises... but that's all."

"Right. I forgot... the _necklace_. Come on then, we've got to help Tianna and find _Tia_ and Sadie."

Thian leads Amanda across the ravaged land toward Tianna. She suddenly sees Tianna and runs to her. Kneeling beside her, she gently takes her hand. She looks bad. Tianna is deathly pale, her eyes sunken and ringed with shadows. Slowly, Tianna opens her eyes and grimaces. "Where does it hurt?" Amanda asks softly.

"Where _doesn't_ it?" Her eyes suddenly take on a frantic look. "Sadie! How's _Sadie_?" Tianna tries to get up but falls back with a cry of pain. Amanda looks at Thian. He shakes his head.

"She's good. Lie still and _don't_ move!" Thian's voice is gentle but firm.

Tianna moans and nods. Just as Amanda starts to get up, Tianna's hand squeezes Amanda's hard. Amanda looks back at her. "They were _great_ ," she groans, then tries to smile. "Weren't they great? The _birds_... it must have been Ses..." but a cry from her stops her from going on.

"Tianna... _please_ don't talk. They _were_ great. I saw Sesai!" Tianna's eyes find hers as she smiles, nodding slowly.

Amanda pats her hand then places it gently down as she gets up. "I'll go that way," she indicates with her head to Thian, then dropping her voice, "and look for Sadie and Tia. When I find them," forcing herself not to say " _If_ I find them," "I'll call you. You do the same, okay?" He nods, looks one more time at Tianna and jogs off, determination registered in each step.

Amanda looks down at Tianna and sees she is looking up at her. Tianna smiles. "You'll help them. I _know_ you will. You're," she gasps again as a sharp pain shoots through her, "the _Wielder_."

Amanda gives a faint smile, turns and leaves to look for the others. "Some Wielder!" She thinks, sickened at her own failure to help them all! "I let them down... but it _won't_ happen again!" she vows, more to the necklace than to herself.

Amanda's eyes fill with tears at the destruction she sees everywhere and thinks of Qumong. He never came back. He must have been injured. Her heart physically aches for him.

And then, a different emotion comes over her. Her mind suddenly thinks of the other Wielder. Thinks of Qumong... of the Hydra... of all the pain and suffering the other Wielder had ever caused... she was evil incarnate. Deep hatred rises up inside Amanda. Rage like she has never known before. "I will _never_ be like her!" Amanda thinks ferociously. Turning, she sees one of the huge centipedes struggling to free itself from under a smashed creature. Amanda takes vicious pleasure as she points her wand at it and blasts it apart. Slowly, she masters her emotions and continues the search.

"Amanda... _here_..." Amanda turns toward the voice and sees Tia, trapped between two huge boulders. Amanda runs toward her.

"Tia! Tia! Are you okay?" Amanda surveys Tia's plight. "I can't move!" she tried to twist but couldn't. "My arm's stuck behind me and I couldn't get my wand!"

"All right. _Stop_ moving. I'm going to blast the boulder away from you," and points her wand toward the larger boulder.

"No!" Tia's yell surprises Amanda. " _Sadie's_ stuck here, too! If you blast the boulders, you could _kill_ her!"

"Where is she?"

" _Behind_ me! Go behind me and you'll see her!"

Amanda moves around the boulder. "I don't see her!" Amanda is frantic. "Sadie! Sadie! Where _are_ you? Thian! Here... here... I _found_ Tia. I need help!"

Tia answers, "She's _hurt_ , Amanda! She was attacked by some of the big white _spiders_. Maybe she's _under_ some of the smaller rocks... try moving them aside!"

Amanda grabs at a pile of smaller rocks and heaves them aside. Seeing nothing, she moves to a different area. After moving to three different areas, she finds Sadie's small crumpled body.

Sadie is on her stomach, not moving. "I _found_ her!" she screams. "Thian! Where _are_ you?"

Amanda wants to yank Sadie up but knows she has to be careful or she could injure her even more. Supporting Sadie's neck and head, she slowly turns her over... and gasps. The ground around Sadie's head is soaked with blood. Sadie is bleeding from an ugly gash on the side of her neck that has a whitish foam around the edges.

"Is she all right?" Tia yells.

Amanda cannot move; she is frozen in place at the sight of Sadie's ghost-like face.

"Amanda! Is _Sadie_ all right?"

Amanda turns her head toward Tia's voice. "She's... _bleeding_. Bad. It's _bad_ , Tia! What do I do?"

"Bad? _How_ bad? Where is she bleeding?"

"Uh... she's... uh..."

"Amanda! _I_ can't help her now... _you_ have to! How _bad_ is she hurt?"

Amanda looks at Sadie's small body and starts to cry. "There's blood _everywhere_! Her _neck_... there's a deep cut..."

"You'll need to _wrap_ her neck to stop the bleeding... you'll need something to wrap her neck with!"

Amanda frantically looks around but sees nothing useful. Looking down her eyes land on a tear at the bottom of her shirt. Gently placing Sadie's head down, she rips the bottom all the way around, her tears soaking the material.

"Okay... I've got some fabric! I'm wrapping it around the wound!"

"Make sure to wrap it _snugly_... but not too tight. Tell me when you're done."

Amanda's hands shake each time she lifts Sadie's head winding the fabric around her neck, causing the wound to open and bleed freely.

"It's not _working_! She's still bleeding!"

"You need to find something that you can _press_ against the wound Amanda! It needs to have _pressure_ to stop! No... wait! Amanda... there's a plant here... it's got spines all over it and there's some dew on the tips. Do you see any around you?"

" _Sparklers_? Do you mean the _sparklers_? Amanda looks around and sees one small surviving plant about ten feet away. "Yes! I see some! What should I do?"

"That _dew_ isn't water. It's a type of secretion Qumong uses to _heal_ any of the creatures that might injure themselves. It's a _powerful_ healing balm. He told me. Dab the fabric over the drops and it will soak it up right away. Then place that against the cut and see if the bleeding stops! Hurry!"

Adrenaline races through Amanda as she sprints to the sparklers. About to tear more of her shirt away she looks at her arm. Her right sleeve is torn from her elbow down. Ripping it completely away, she bunches it up and places it against the glittering dew drops. "I _knew_ you were special," she says to herself. "Please work..."

The fabric sops up the dew quickly. As the dew is absorbed, more dew appears from the spines; it never stops flowing. Soon, the material is completely soaked with it.

Amanda runs to Sadie dropping to her knees beside her. Carefully lifting Sadie's head, she gently pulls the fabric away from her neck. Holding her breath, Amanda places the drenched fabric on top of the wound. After a few seconds she removes the fabric and sees that not only has the wound stopped bleeding, but that the foam has disappeared.

Amanda exhales in a rush, overcome with joy and yells to Tia, "It's _working_ , Tia! It's working!"

"Amanda... that's good! Now, _listen_ to me! Keep it against the wound and wrap the _rest_ of the fabric around it and secure it. Keep her head slightly elevated. Tell me when you're done."

Amanda works quickly but cautiously. Relief floods her as she sees that each time she lifts Sadie's head no new blood appears.

Amanda places some dense plants under Sadie's head elevating it slightly. Falling to the ground beside Sadie, completely exhausted, she lovingly rubs Sadie's arm.

"It's _done_ , Tia."

"Good! I _knew_ you could do it! There's nothing more you can do for her. She needs to rest and get to a _hospital_ fast! Come back and help me get out of here, then I can see what else we can do for her."

Amanda nods as she slowly gets up. Her legs feel like jelly but she knows she has to get them all out of here. Taking one last look at Sadie she turns and goes to Tia.

Pulling her wand as she reaches Tia, Amanda remembers Thian. " _Thian_ ," she yells, "I _found_ them! Where are you? Thian!" Knowing she can now move the boulder to free Tia, Amanda takes aim at the boulder furthest from Sadie. The giant boulder quivers for a moment, then slowly moves away from Tia. Amanda breaks her spell and the massive boulder crashes to the ground.

Freeing Tia's shoulder causes her to cry out from severe pain as she crumples to the ground. Amanda drops to her, unsure where to touch her.

"Oh... by the Lord and _Lady_ , it hurts," Tia moans grabbing her injured right arm with her left.

"Is it _broken_?" Amanda asks sounding frantic.

Tia nods. "Yeah," she says through clenched teeth. "My _shoulder_ and my arm..."

"What can I do? Just tell me and I'll do it! Please, Tia... please!"

Through the thick haze of pain enveloping her, Tia hears the sound of panic in Amanda's voice. "Amanda... don't worry, okay." Tia feels the edges of her eyesight begin to darken. "Listen..." she says, realizing she does not have much time as a strange buzzing fills her ears. "Put something... under head... I'm going to... it's getting dark... don't worry..." Tia's eyes close as her head falls back.

"Tia!" Amanda screams. Not knowing what to do first, she steels herself and remembers Tia's last words. Exhausted, Amanda feels her muscles strain as she pulls out a copse of dense plants nearby and gently places them under Tia's head. Slowly, holding her breath, Amanda cautiously moves Tia's injured right arm from beneath her body to her side. Tia's shoulder and arm bones push against her skin where they should not have. "Where is _Thian_?" her mind screams! She needs him now!

As if her prayers were heard, Thian runs toward her. "Amanda! I _heard_ you!" Thian skids to a stop as he spots Tia, fear taking over his eyes. "Amanda..." he whispers. "Is she..." he cannot say the words.

Amanda shakes her head. "She just _passed_ out. Her arm and shoulder are broken. That's what Tia said..." Amanda rises to her feet and rushes into Thian's arms, sobbing. "I'm so _sorry_ , Thian!" shaking her head. "I didn't... I don't know why..."

Thian shifts his glance from Tia to Amanda. "You have _nothing_ to be sorry about... you didn't do anything..."

"That's right! I didn't do _anything_! The necklace didn't do _anything_ and I don't know why! And because of _me_ , they're all hurt! Little Sadie..." she sobs harder.

"You... you _found_ Sadie? Where is she?" When Amanda does not answer, Thian grabs her arms and shakes her gently. " _Where_ is Sadie, Amanda?"

Wiping her eyes with her only remaining sleeve, Amanda takes Thian's hand and leads him to Sadie. Gasping, Thian stops when he sees Sadie's little body lying perfectly still. A lump in his throat causes him to force down a swallow as his eyes lock on a bloody strip of material around her neck and the pool of blood surrounding her head soaking the ground. Turning, Thian looks into Amanda's tear filled eyes, his expression begging to know she is alright. Amanda shakes her head. "I don't know. Tia told me what to do and I did it, but she hasn't woken up." Amanda drops to her knees beside Sadie and slowly strokes her arm.

"Tia told you what to do?" Thian asks quietly.

Amanda nods. Thian lets out a breath and kneels beside Amanda. "The bleeding's stopped. Tia told me that Qumong told her the dew on the tips of the sparklers spines aren't water but a healing fluid. She told me to drench some material in the dew, then press it against Sadie's throat. I did and the bleeding stopped." Amanda looks at Thian... he smiles back at her.

"That's good. You did _real_ good."

A whispered, thin sound floats toward them. They turn to Sadie and see her eyes flutter and open slightly. "Sadie..." Amanda breathes. This small sound feels like the best gift Amanda had ever been given. Amanda wants to speak but is so overcome, she cannot. Somehow, Thian understands and squeezes her hand for reassurance.

"How are you feeling, Sadie?" tenderness in every word.

Sadie gives a small smile, then closes her eyes again, falling back into unconsciousness.

Thian, thinking hard as he looks around turns to Amanda. "Do you know where _Qumong_ is?"

"No. He's injured. He never came back."

Thian sighs. "Then it's up to us I guess. We've got to get Sadie and Tia back to Tianna, so we can use the Specteroscope and get the _Snarkins_ out of here!"

"But it's too _dangerous_ to move them! We might _kill_ them!"

Thian looks at Amanda's bruised and battered face. "We can use the Appareto spell since we _know_ where we're going and that nothing is there we might, uh, end up _inside_. Just remember to hold onto Sadie when you cast it. You know where Tianna is." Thian shakes his head as he stands. "We're _lucky_ none of us was killed. At least it's over..."

Amanda nods, forcing down a swallow. "Yeah. All right." Bending over Sadie, Amanda kisses her cheek. "Rest, Miss Sadie. You'll be alright now," she whispers in her ear, then looks up at Thian.

"I'll move Tia to Tianna," he says smiling at Amanda.

Amanda nods and watches him leave. "Thian's here now... it'll be all right," she whispers.

Amanda pulls her wand again and gently holds Sadie's hand. Just as she points her wand at Sadie and begins to cast the spell... she freezes.

An unearthly sound thunders through the air. A wailing that fills her with dread. The hair on her arms and the back of her neck stand up. Looking around, she thinks the creatures are rising up again but nothing's moving. The fallen creatures lie where they fell.

Her heart pounds, ice cold sweat dripping down her back causes her to shudder. "What's going on? What _now_?" she asks no one as she gets to her feet.

And no one answers.

#  The Watchers

About to call to Thian, the ground trembles beneath her. It quakes, as though the entire realm was hit by a huge sledge hammer. Again and again the blows come until she is almost thrown off her feet. Amanda looks down at Sadie. Her eyes are closed... Amanda wonders if she still breathed. Amanda's thoughts suddenly shift to the ancient Wielder wondering what _new_ disaster she cast upon them.

The quake strikes again... more severe. A tingling begins flooding over Amanda, but this time she allows the feelings to wash over her... consume her.

Amanda's eyes narrow, changing into slits. Looking up, she turns toward the Lake. With each impact, her hands and arms began to shake. Not with fear but with a rage that wells up, boiling in her that scares her more than the shaking ground... and what that could mean to them all.

There are no more thoughts of Thian or the others. This is a battle between the powers of the two Wielders... and this time... _Amanda_ is ready for it.

Bending low, Amanda starts running toward the Lake, sure the new threat emanates from there. She thinks she hears her name being called, but pays no attention. Someone, or something is coming for her and she will meet them.

Her breath is ragged and sounds as though it belongs to someone else. She jumps and climbs her way over and around the fallen creatures, almost willing them to rise so she can annihilate them all. Running, she sees only that which is in front of her, aware that her vision has narrowed, and seems to be veiled with red but she does not care.

Amanda runs through the destroyed plants and trees that were Qumong's family, around the deep crevices that was the dwelling place of the Bringers of Doom, and still she ran. She runs past the destroyed rock hills, silently sending them a thanks for their help and runs to the edge of the clearing where they all first beheld the strange and beautiful trees and flowers and where Thian was captured by a jellyfish tree and almost died, and still she ran. Determination and hatred fueled her legs and lungs, running through the tall plants until, finally, she came to the Lake.

Confused, breathing hard, she cannot grasp what she is seeing. On one side of the Lake stone figures are rising from the water: some obviously men, others are women, while others are strange creatures – but all stone. They stand at various heights as they would have been in life and walk stiff and unbending in files of ten across. There are _hundreds_ coming up from the Lake. As the stone figures take a step in unison, the ground shakes with the force. Amanda realizes that each is covered with moss and barnacles. " _Barnacles_? How is that possible?" she thinks as she looks them over. But her eyes do not deceive her, for she realizes with a shudder that these stone creatures are the _watchers_ that Eris had spoken about; these were the visitors who came to steal the treasure of the Shard and were in turn killed by Qumong and his family of plants and forced to stay beneath the waters of the Lake until called upon to defend the Shard's resting place.

"Amanda!"

Amanda turns and sees Qumong running toward her.

"Qumong! We thought you were... Where were you?"

"I came here to call my children for help. My hills came to battle for you and I called the Gehaim, I believe you call them the jellyfish creatures, and I asked them to go and protect you, and they did their best. Then, I saw the Sabees come down from the sky! I did not call them for I have no power over them, and yet, they came! I was overjoyed when I heard them battle the creatures from the deep!

"But as I called for others, the Lake began to churn, and I thought the Hydra must be back! I hid and waited for a while but saw nothing. I came out and walked closer to the edge, but fell back as the ground shook again and again! I was afraid but decided to go into the Lake to see if something was happening beneath the water.

"Amanda... I was shocked! The army... the _watchers_! They moved... they MOVED! All these rotations and they have never moved once placed there! But..." Qumong turns toward the army of watchers, " _here_ they are!"

"Are they the ones from the other Wielder – the ones you were ordered to kill?"

Qumong nods his damaged head. "Yes! Yes! They are the army the Wielder _commanded_ me to place within the Lake to protect her treasure! But all these eons, the untold number of times I have been within the Lake, they never moved, so I thought nothing of them! Fool! Again, I am a fool!"

"But... they're made of _stone_. Can't we just use an exploding or shattering spell to destroy them?"

"The _stone_ they are made of is not a normal stone," Qumong makes a sound of laughter with no humor in it. "No! The _Wielder_ would not create something that could so easily be destroyed. She used a _special_ Wizitched spell so the fallen would turn into the hardest of materials.

"But I remember she said..." his remaining eyes opening and closing rapidly, "that only something from a realm that harbored _strange_ elements could destroy the watchers." Qumong looks at the watchers then turns his tormented eyes to Amanda. "But nothing has ever come here from another realm harboring strange elements. And none of my _children_ can destroy them... I don't know what we shall do..."

Amanda looks at Qumong in disbelief. So, this was the Wielder's plan? These stone-like watchers are another type of Bringers of Doom? Even if she and the others can use the Specteroscope to translocate to a different area, Qumong, along with all his plants and trees... his family... would be damaged beyond repair, or even destroyed. Because of her. "No," she thinks, " _not_ because of me... because of the other Wielder!" Closing her eyes, Amanda feels the anger rise in her.

Still thinking about what she can do to stop these other Bringers of Doom from their appointed task, she suddenly realizes how quiet it is. Her head snaps up and sees the watchers have stopped their foot stomping. Startled, she waits. The quiet is more unnerving than the ground tremors. There are at least a hundred rows of these strange stone watchers, as far as one could see; an unimaginable army of death and destruction facing her. Then, as one, all the stone heads turn toward the area where Thian, Tianna, Tia and Sadie lay injured. Without any verbal indication, the watchers begin marching as the ground trembles with each step they take. Their footfalls are slow and lumbering as they take a step and move their bodies from one side to the other.

Amanda turns to Qumong. "I've got to go back! They're heading for my _friends_ and I've got the Specteroscope with me! They'll _kill_ them!"

Qumong holds her arm. "I'll go with you Wielder. You have not ordered me too, but I will go. If my family is to die then I will _defend_ them as long as one of them lives!"

Amanda nods. Turning, they run, quickly outpacing the watchers, until they reach the area where the group lies injured. Amanda finds Thian holding Tianna who is clearly unconscious.

"What's going on? What's causing the shaking?" Thian asks. Then catching sight of Qumong behind Amanda, he says, "Qumong! You... your injured! Do you know what's happening?" Thian speaks quickly every word filled with dread.

Qumong nods, clearly out of breath. "It is the _watchers_... from the Lake... the _Wielder_ created them..."

Thian, confused, turns and looks at Amanda. " _You_ created them? What watchers?"

Amanda shakes her head trying to slow her breath. "No. Not _me_... the _other_ Wielder, Thian," she says, grabbing his arm. "The watchers are the ones under the _Lake_... the ones Qumong and his family were ordered to kill! But that's not the worst part – the worst part is that they're another group of Bringers of Doom! And they're coming!"

"You mean, those _monsters_ from the ground... the _creatures_... those weren't the _only_ Bringers of Doom? You mean there's something _else_? We'll..." he looks down at Tianna, "Amanda... how are we going to get _out_ of here? Tia's _way_ over there and Sadie... Sadie... I don't see how..." Thian's eyes look as scared as Amanda feels.

They all look up as they hear the faint but ominous sound of trees crashing. Faint cries float on the air as the pounding of the ground continues.

"I'll think of something!" Amanda says shaking.

Like cracks which race through breaking glass, wails shatter the air on all sides of them.

"They're _killing_ them... my family!" Qumong cries.

"Amanda, think _fast_ , because we can't move Tia, Tianna and _Sadie_ without injuring them more or even _killing_ them!"

The trees in the far distance seem to shiver then drop out of sight as they are mowed down by the advancing stone army. Mournful cries erupt then suddenly stop as Qumong's family is ripped apart and trampled.

The slow thump, thump, thump of the ground continues without stopping until they all feel it inside their bones.

"AMANDA!" Thian screams.

"I'm _trying_!" she says, as terrified as Thian.

Amanda grabs fanatically at the necklace. "Please," she begs, tears streaming down her face. "Please, _help_ us!" But nothing happens.

And then, Amanda feels the power within the necklace overtake her mind, as her eyes involuntarily close. She hears a strange voice speak an unknown language, but one which Amanda recognizes. Amanda feels a jolt as her head snaps up. The voice within her head repeats the call, again and again, until it fills her mind completely, screaming louder and louder.

And then... the answer comes.

Amanda's eyes fly open as she looks to the sky. An answering screech explodes through the air. It is _coming_. Another screech sounds - so loud that Amanda and Thian have to hold their ears, so their eardrums will not burst.

Looking up, Qumong moves behind Amanda, where he drops to the ground, shaking in fear.

Thian yells something to Amanda, but she cannot hear anything he says. The air becomes violent, whipping about them. Thian drapes himself over Tianna, doing his best to protect her. Amanda does not move. She stands straight, unmoving, as though made of stone herself and not of flesh and bone. Her eyes never blink as her raven black hair whips at her face, her mind filled with the language of the _Wielder_.

Dropping from the sky... it was there. It had answered the Wielder's summons.

The three heads of the Hydra bow as her body lands. "The Wielder summons me."

The air is still now... broken only by the sounds of destruction and death inflicted by the stone army.

Amanda looks into the eyes of the larger, center head. "We _need_ you. The stone army... the Bringers of Doom are coming. They _must_ be stopped!"

"You command me to _protect_ you?" The language fills her mind.

"I _command_ it."

The Hydra studies Amanda then turns her massive head toward the Lake, hesitates, then turns back again.

"Wielder, I shall do as you command... but I _ask_ something of you in return."

"What do you ask?"

"My young. They are still in the Lake." The Hydra hesitates. "I will protect the Wielder... but I ask the _Wielder_ to protect my young."

Amanda had not expected that. Thinking hard, she is unsure how she can protect the Hydra's young. A voice, not her own, answers in her mind. "The Specteroscope. Use it to take the young to another lake. The huge lake over the mountains will have food and keep them safe. Ask the Specter. Use the Specteroscope."

"How many young _are_ there?" Amanda asks.

"Three. They are _very_ small. Will the Wielder take them... protect them?"

"I _will_. Bring them to me. _Quickly_."

The Hydra lowers her gigantic heads, backs away, and takes to the air, her wings causing a small tornado effect.

Thian lowers himself over Tianna until the air becomes still again. "Amanda, did _you_ call the Hydra? Where's it going?"

Qumong stands, looks at Amanda then to the sky expecting to see the Hydra materialize any second.

Amanda shakes herself as though coming out of a trance. She knows what she has to do. Tugging at the chain in her pocket, her hand grazes the dragon clasp attached to her belt. Pulling the pouch out, she fumbles at the elasticized opening. Opening the drawstring, she catches a glimpse of the multi colors on the inside of the pouch as she draws out the Specteroscope. Letting the pouch drop, she tightly clutches the Specteroscope.

"Amanda! _What's_ going on?" Thian yells again, every word punctuated by another thumping sound from the stone army.

"I'm getting us _out_ of here! _That's_ what I'm doing! But first, I have to get the baby Hydras out of here."

Thian cannot believe his ears. "Baby... did you say baby _Hydras_? What in _two_ moons is going on?"

"I made a _deal_ with the Hydra, Thian! I have to _protect_ her young and she'll protect us! Now be _quiet_ and let me concentrate!"

Closing her eyes, Amanda focuses her will on the necklace. In her mind, she forms the question, "How do I get the Spector out? What do I do?"

And a male voice answers her, "Ask the Specter in the Specteroscope for help, Amanda. Once it comes, ask it to give you the sequence you need to get to the lake past the mountains. Press the buttons and you will be taken there. Make sure that all touch each other." The voice fades.

Amanda takes a deep breath and about to begin, when more crashing sounds stop her. "They're almost here! You've _got_ to hurry!" Thian shouts.

Looking at the Specteroscope her voice shaking, Amanda commands, "Specter of the Scope, _reveal_ yourself."

Slowly she sees a faint mist begin to rise from the center of the scope. The mist rises higher, and as it does, it becomes thicker, though still gaseous in form. Rising even higher in the air from a formless nothingness, the shape of a head begins to appear. Constantly moving, ever changing, it coalesces into gossamer eyes and a mouth.

Thian and Qumong are mesmerized by the face but Amanda is impatient. Just as she opens her mouth, the Specter's eyes snap open. "Your _wish_ is my command. How may I be of assistance?" Its voice is ethereal, strong and yet insubstantial.

Amanda nods. "Specter... _please_... I need to get to a _massive_ lake on the other side of these mountains. Can you tell me how to set the scope and which buttons to push to get there?"

"Of course." The Specter proceeds to tell Amanda how to set the scope. Amanda has to ask the Specter to repeat the order twice before feeling certain she had it right. "Specter, once I'm there, how do I get back?"

"Reverse the sequence. Is this all that you wish?"

"Yes. Yes, _thank_ you so much! I don't know how to than..." but before Amanda can finish her sentence, the Specter begins rotating faster and faster sinking back into the center of the Specteroscope.

Just as the Spector completely vanishes, the air grows into a tornado force, heralding the arrival of the Hydra. For the third time, Thian covers Tianna with his body as Qumong moves behind Amanda.

The Hydra lowers itself onto the ground. There, on her back, are her three young. Each is the size of a small car. Amanda realizes that to the mother Hydra, her young are small. The Hydra takes a baby in each of her jaws and lowers them gently to the ground. Turning her massive heads she looks at Amanda.

"Will you take them now, Wielder? The stone creatures are almost here."

"Yes. Please tell them to come to me. They must _touch_ one another. I will touch one of them, and we will go instantly. I am taking them to a far lake over the mountains. There is much food there and they will be safe. They will wait for you there. You will _all_ be safe there. The Wielder _will_ protect your young."

The Hydra lowers each head, licking each of the young several times. Amanda knows the Hydra is communicating with them. The larger, center head pushes each of the young Hydras toward Amanda. They mewled not wanting to leave their mother. But the Hydra pushes harder and, reluctantly, they go. They hesitate as they get closer to Amanda, obviously fearful. Amanda smiles and speaks to them in their language, soothing them. Reaching out a hand, Amanda touches the nearest Hydra, stroking it gently. Tilting her head up, she looks directly into the eyes of the mother Hydra; their eyes fix on one another.

After a moment, the Hydra bows her great heads, backs away and takes flight.

Amanda looks at Qumong and sees the wonder in his eyes as he looks at the baby Hydras. The nearest one to Amanda tries to snuggle against her.

Amanda looks at Thian. "I'll be back soon. Then we'll get Tia and Sadie near you and we'll leave."

Thian looks at Amanda completely lost for words at what he just witnessed. After a short pause, he nods and gives a weak smile.

Amanda presses the buttons on the Specteroscope in their correct sequence then looks at the three Hydras to be sure they are all touching one another. Satisfied, she presses the final button. There is a flash, forcing Thian to turn away. When he looks back an instant later, Amanda and the three baby Hydras are gone.

Amanda looks up and is startled to see that she has reappeared at the water's edge of a massive lake. The baby Hydras whimper. The closest one to Amanda tries to wriggle close to her but only succeeds in knocking her down.

Amanda laughs then speaks to them in their language urging them to go into the lake.

Without a backward glance, they move quickly toward the water. Amanda waits until she sees each one slide into the water leaving not as much as a ripple.

Needing to get back to the others, Amanda wastes no time in reversing the sequence. Taking a deep breath she punches the last button. There is a brilliant flash and when she opens her eyes, she finds herself standing back in Qumong's clearing.

But something's wrong; she has reappeared in what is a massive storm, a tornado that does not move but which sucks into its vortex everything around her. Amanda holds onto the roots of a fallen tree next to her, hoping not to be sucked into the wind. The storm rages on for almost an hour, when Amanda realizes that she can no longer hear the thumping of the advancing army. Suddenly, she hears a high, _horrible_ screech. It makes her blood run cold. The tornado instantly begins to slow and finally die down.

"Where did you _go_?" Thian asks thickly. Amanda had not realized that she landed only a short distance from Thian and Tianna.

"Thian! Are you all _right_? How's Tianna?"

"Well... I don't know how he _did_ it, but Qumong asked the last of his plants and trees to cover us with some type of silky material that protected us. He did the same for Tia and Sadie. Without it," he shakes his head, "we _wouldn't_ have survived."

Amanda looks around. "Where is he?"

"He said he needed to go and help the Hydra."

"What do you mean _help_ the Hydra? That doesn't make sense. Why would the _Hydra_ need help?"

"I don't know... that's just what he said. But you can ask him yourself... he's..." Thian points to something over Amanda's shoulder.

"Wielder..."

Startled, Amanda turns fully around to see Qumong a short distance away. She cannot believe her eyes. The Hydra is lying motionless on the ground. Qumong stands beside the Hydra's center head, stroking it, trying to comfort her. The sight is so unbelievable it takes Amanda a moment to realize what is wrong.

The large center head of the Hydra rests on the ground, bleeding from hundreds of cuts that sliced into her. She only has three eyes left. Her head on the right is dangling by a small amount of sinew as the neck bleeds copiously. Her left head has part of her lower jaw completely missing. Blood pours from her throat pooling on the ground. The Hydra is dying.

Amanda runs to the Hydra stopping near her head. As Amanda looks at Qumong, she sees that each of his remaining eyes are crying unashamedly. A lump builds in Amanda's throat. Reaching out, Amanda strokes the Hydra's head. Amanda hears the moans from the Hydra inside her head as the Hydra tries to speak. "Are... they... _safe_? My young? Will they live?"

Amanda tries not to cry, but the immensity of what they all went through and what the Hydra had done for all of them, overwhelms her. Nodding, hot tears run down her face as she says, "They are _all_ safe. Please... please... don't..." but is unable to finish. Amanda leans forward against the massive Hydra, spreading her arms wide, hugging her. "Please... I can _take_ you to them. You'll be all right there. Please..."

"No, Wielder. I cannot go. I will not see my young again." Closing her eyes for a moment she then reopens them looking at Amanda. "You kept your word. You _are_ the Wielder... and yet... not. Different. _Better_. I am _happy_ to have served you Wielder."

"And I am _honored_ to have helped you and your young. I am proud to have known you powerful one. I am..." Qumong puts his hand on Amanda's arm, stopping her. Amanda turns questioningly to him, seeing him closing the last three eyes of the Hydra which had remained open in her death.

Amanda throws herself against Qumong where they hold one another as they both cry hard, their bodies leaning against the Hydra's. After some time, Amanda pulls away. Drying her eyes with her hands and with a last tear-filled look at the Hydra, she turns and walks toward her friends.

Amanda and Thian gently move Sadie and Tia to where Tianna lays.

"Amanda, we need to get our brooms and packs, then _leave_ right away," Thian says trying to keep his composure.

When they are all together, Amanda looks at Qumong, tears once again flowing down her cheeks. "Thank you for _everything_. You _saved_ us so many times... I don't know how to thank you."

Qumong tilts his broken head. "You are the _Wielder_ and I will never forget you and your friends, for you have all become _my_ friends... and friends of my..."

Amanda looks down and shakes her head. "I feel so _terrible_ , Qumong. Your family. All your children. All _gone_."

Qumong lifts her chin with his stick-like hand. "No Wielder. Not gone." Amanda looks up as Qumong continues. "I have the means to bring them _back_. It will take time, yes. Many, many rotations but it can be done." He looks around. "I love them all and _they_ love me too. We will be a family again. Maybe, sometime, the Wielder will _visit_ again?"

"If I can, I will. I promise!" Amanda hugs him fiercely, hoping that she can, someday, see him again.

"Time to go Amanda," Thian says quietly.

Amanda steps away from Qumong and nods. Qumong gives a short bow and moves away. Thian places Sadie's hand in Tianna's, then Tia's hand on Sadie's shoulder. Thian holds Tianna's hand, then reaching out, takes Amanda's hand. "What is it, Amanda?" Thian senses her disquiet.

Amanda knows she cannot leave without giving Qumong a special gift. Amanda closes her eyes and wills the necklace to give her the spell she needs; the spell that Qumong will not expect. And as she feels the necklace respond to her, she mutters the spell and feels the air change – something has broken and with that confirmation, Amanda demands one last spell – for Qumong's family. With a last look and wave to Qumong and a lingering look of thanks to the Hydra, Amanda looks at a puzzled Thian, answering, "A gift for Qumong; a special gift and one for his family."

Squeezing Thian's hand, she presses the buttons for Poa's grassland. There is a blinding flash as they vanish along with the first Shard of Legend.

#  Back To The Grass People

Amanda watches the lights within the color-streaked tunnel but for a heartbeat, as the solid black end appears. There is a blinding _flash_ and the next thing she knows, she is standing at the exact spot they had all left after saying goodbye to Poa and his family.

Immediately, several of the nearby Grass People turn with startled expressions, and for a moment, do not move.

Poa sees the flash and knows it is his friends. When he sees some are injured, he yells to the others to come and help.

There is a roaring sound from far away. Thian says at once, "Oh _no_! Amanda, the _water_! The Hydra _broke_ the dam!"

"Yeah, so? Now we hear it coming. That's a _good_ thing isn't it?"

"No... not all at _once_. Don't you see? She _broke_ the dam and _all_ the water's now rushing down the mountainside and along the dried up river. _Tons_ and _tons_ of water... all at _once_! It could wipe out _everything_ for miles around, don't you get it?"

"Oh _God_... you're _right_! But what can we do?"

"Maybe... maybe we can use a _freezing_ spell on it or something. But, the only freezing spell I know wouldn't be _strong_ enough to, uh, stop tons and tons of rushing water. Amanda, you've _got_ to do something or Poa and all his people will be _wiped_ out when the force of all that water sweeps over the banks of the river, then across the plains here and for _miles_ around. And we _know_ that's where Poa's people have moved to, trying to find water!"

At the thought of Poa and his people being killed because she had asked the Hydra to destroy the dam, a shock shoots through her and her hair begins to shoot up. Thian, Poa and the others stand back, not knowing what to expect.

Amanda grabs her broom from the dropped pile of brooms and packs, mounts and shoots off, headed for the sound of the roaring water.

Half an hour later, Poa enters the cabin where he and his friends have taken the kids on stretchers to be tended, then tells Thian the sound of the water has completely stopped. Thian accompanies Poa outside, and as they step from the cabin, they see Amanda off in the distance, flying quickly toward them. In another few moments, she comes to a hover. Her hair has returned to its down position, and she has a big smile on her face... even though her eyes are still very violet.

"I _did_ it! I _did_ it Thian! I used a kind of _gelling_ spell. It somehow turned the water into a kind of _jelly-_ _like_ substance. I know the spell to make it dissolve _slowly_ too. So, I have a good amount still running, which should reach here pretty soon, and will make its way down all the other waterways as well. But, when we're ready, I can cast the spell, and the jell will, uh, like melt _quicker_ I guess, releasing the pure water at whatever rate I cast. Oh, and for some reason, the jell doesn't kill or _hurt_ the fish. I saw _hundreds_ of them. The bottom third of the jell, well, _isn't_ jell, but pure water. So, you can still see them swimming around and stuff. The jell just kind of, well, is somehow draped over it or something. The majority of the water though, _is_ the jell.

"I was thinking on the way back, that maybe we can somehow, dig _trenches_ , or make _new_ rivers and streams, even _lakes_ , wherever Poa and his people would like to live. Then, I can release the water, and we can direct it along wherever we've dug. What do you think?"

"Brilliant! But, uh, I don't have any idea how to _do_ that. But, I guess _you_ do though... from the... _book_?" Thian asks.

"Yeah. It had a _lot_ of spells for moving, _trenching_ , hollowing and stuff like that. Although they were _designed_ to make hiding places from attacks, or to hollow a hill out to take shelter and stuff. Thian, how are the others doing?"

"They're hurt pretty bad. Poa and his friends are doing what they can, but, well, they're not flesh and bone, so..."

"We have done all we can," Poa says sadly, "but I don't think it will be enough, I..."

"It's not your fault Poa," Amanda says placing her hand on his branch-like shoulder. "You and your friends have done what you can, and that's all anyone can ask. Poa, get your father and the other leaders, and plan out _where_ and how you want the water directed. I'll do the best I can on digging whatever you need. Don't worry about our friends, I'll go in with Thian, and we'll think of what we need to do. It's okay, really." She smiles, turns and jogs toward the cabin to check on the others.

Poa stands for a brief moment watching her leave, marveling at her great powers, confused and not quite understanding how something like that could be done. But having seen what they could do already, nods to himself then heads off to collect the others for planning.

After a few minutes of talking to Tia, whose arm is in a sling made from huge leaves and vines with her shoulder seemingly held in place by other huge leaves and vines, they learn that Sadie's injuries are critical. She has been injected with _venom_ which would have killed anyone other than a Keptic, and the gash in her neck is bad. Sadie has lost a good deal of blood, and if she does not get help soon, _will_ die. Tia is also pretty sure that Tianna's hip is broken.

Tia managed to stop the bleeding from Thian's arm, and has applied some healing salves along with casting several healing spells Rayolin had taught her.

"What are we gonna do?" Amanda asks Tia, her tone filled with worry.

"I don't know. But if we _don't_ get Sadie some help..."

"We've _got_ to get her to a hospital... _now_! She hasn't regained consciousness since we got here." Tianna says lying on the bed next to Sadie.

"But... _where_? _How_?" Tia asks frantically. "We're in the _Dark_ Forest. At least, I _think_ we are. I don't know of any hospitals here. _Are_ there any Amanda?"

"What? No... I mean, how would _I_ know? _I've_ never been in here before, you know."

"Amanda. Do you think you could ask the _Specter_ in your Specteroscope? I mean, Bellinora and Ellanya said that you could ask the scope _anything_ , and if an answer were possible, it _would_ be given."

"Hey, that's a _great_ idea!" Amanda says drawing the Scope from her pocket.

Amanda sets the dials to call the Specter, then presses the buttons as she sets the scope at the foot of the bed.

After a short pause, a dark _mist_ begins to rise from the center of the dial. In a moment, the clear form of the previous Spector appears, turns and faces Amanda.

"I am at your command. What is your wish?"

"Specter, we need your help, _please_. My friends are hurt, some _really_ bad. Are there any _hospitals_ here in the _Dark Forest_?"

"No. There are none. You must go elsewhere."

"But, _where_ can we go?" Thian asks quickly. "We _can't_ go back home. I mean, to where _I_ come from. They'll be _waiting_ for us. And they'll be _looking_ for us in all the cities there as well. What are we gonna do?"

"I am _commanded_ to take you wherever you wish to go Wielder," the Specter says having noticed the necklace for the first time. "You... you wish to _help_ these others?"

"Yes, of _course_!" Amanda says impatiently. She watches as a puzzled expression passes over the Specter's face.

"She's a _good_ Wielder, not like the others were," Thian says, also noticing the questioning expression.

"There is no such thing as a _good_ Wielder. The _Wielder_ is the most _foul_ and vile creature in existence, but we, called by the Specteroscope, are _bound_ to serve the user. We _must_ obey, we have no choice. What is your command... _Wielder_?"

"Wait, just _wait_ a minute and let me think," Amanda says beginning to pace the room.

"Amanda, every _second_ we wait, brings Sadie closer to _death_. We need to do something _now_!" Tia says urgently.

"Specter... do you know how to get us to the _Realm Of The Witches_? To a place called _Arcoma_ Village?"

"Of _course_ Wielder. Is that where you wish to go?"

"Uh, _yeah_ , well, for _now_ anyway. Listen, we need you to get us into a house there. Our friends _Rayolin_ and Anastasia live there. Can you take us there, _inside_ the house without our being seen by anyone?"

"Yes."

"Then _that's_ where I want you to take all of us. When we get there, I would like you to put Tianna and Sadie here," she says pointing to the girls lying on the bed, "in one of the guest rooms. _Please_ place the rest of us in the living room. Can you do that?"

Amanda could have sworn that the misty Spector had raised its eyebrows when she said ' _please_ ', and watches the face narrow its eyebrows as it replies, "Yes. Do you wish me to set the Scope for that destination now? You may press the two outside buttons when you are ready to depart."

" _Yes_ , thank you _so_ much."

"Is there anything else Wielder?"

"No, uh, not now anyway, thank you."

"As you wish..." with that, the Specter swirls quickly down into the dial face and is gone.

" _Talkative_ chap isn't he?" Tianna says with a weak laugh. "Gives me the _creeps_ , you know?"

A moment later, Thian gasps, " _Look_!" as he points to the dials. They can see the dials turning on their own, the three hands spinning around many times as both the inner and outer disks whirl, then stop. Strange symbols appear in what used to be blank spaces.

"Wow! _Cool_ ," Thian says with a smile. "So, do we leave now or what?"

"I've got to talk to Poa and his people first. Listen, this is what I'm going to do. I'm going to take all of you to Rayolin. I'm pretty sure she can help the three of you, but I'm _not_ so sure about Sadie. But, if she _can_ help, I'm sure she _will_. If she can't help Sadie, uh, well, _maybe_ she can tell us where to go for help.

"Once we find out if she can help or not, or we somehow get Sadie to a hospital, I'm going to use the Specteroscope to come back here alone..."

There are objections from everyone all at once.

"Wait! Let me _finish_ okay. I'm going to come back here and help Poa and his people. I know the spells to use to create new waterways, and to clear out rock and stuff, to make new lakes, streams and ponds. While all of _you_ are healing, _I_ can be here helping them. It's the _only_ thing that makes sense. But, is it okay if I keep the cabin _here_ for now Thian?"

"You, you _will_ come back for us though... _won't_ you? You, uh, aren't planning on _leaving_ us there are you?"

They all look at Amanda nervously. Amanda has a shocked expression as she says, "No! Of _course_ not. Why would you _say_ that?"

Tia steps up to Amanda saying, "Because we know _you_ feel responsible for all of us getting injured, and... if Sadie... well, you would _never_ forgive yourself. But I'm _telling_ you, it was _our_ decision to come, and it will be _our_ decision to stay with you or not. You _told_ us we could leave whenever we wanted. Well, _I_ for one, am _not_ ready to leave... not _yet_..."

"Me neither. You _aren't_ getting rid of me _that_ easy," Tianna says with a grimace.

"And _I'm_ sure not going anywhere," Thian says with a smile. "We're a _team_ , and we _stick_ together. But as for Sadie..."

"Yeah, I _never_ should have said she could come with us," Amanda says, her eyes filling with tears as she looks at the tiny girl beside Tianna.

"Amanda, _she_ wanted to come too," Tianna says softly. "She has no other place to go, and no one at all to care for her, or who cares about her. If _she_ wants to call it quits, okay, but I think she's _earned_ the right to decide for herself. But for now, we need to get her some help."

"Okay. I'll be right back, I just need to talk to Poa and his dad for a minute. You guys get ready to leave okay. You better grab your brooms and packs... _just_ in case things don't work out the way we hope."

Amanda quickly leaves to talk to Poa and his father. She tells them what they need to do, and that she will be back soon, to do what she can for them. They tell her that word has come from near and far, from their own kind of Root Network, of water once again making its way along the existing waterways and that many of Poa's people, who were on the verge of death, are now recovering. They are grateful beyond words.

Amanda hurries back into the cabin, passing one of the recovering Grass people who had been soaking in the tub. Amanda finds her friends gathered around the bed. Thian has his pack on, with all the other packs gathered on the end of the bed.

"Oh! I _forgot_ that none of you but Thian can put your _packs_ on!" Amanda says wide-eyed.

"I don't think it's a problem," Thian says smiling. "I'll just loop my arm through all the straps, and I'm pretty sure they'll make the trip with us. After all, we hold onto our brooms and they come with us, so..."

"Yeah, well, _maybe_ ," Amanda says looking at the packs. "Yeah, okay, we'll try. _Loop_ your arms through the straps, and if you can hang onto your broom, _I'll_ grab the others."

"Amanda," Tianna says quickly, "lay my broom on the bed and put the end of the handle in this hand. I'll hold _Sadie's_ hand with my other hand. Tia can put her hand on my broom hand."

"I can at _least_ hold onto my broom," Tia says taking her broom from Thian.

"Okay, I'll take mine and Sadie's," Amanda says grabbing the brooms.

"Alright. Everyone hold on to one another. Thian, _loop_ through the straps and put your hand on my shoulder."

"But Amanda," Tianna asks, her voice filled with worry, "what about the trip _there_? What if... all that _speed_ , and the _twisting_ and turning injures us even more? Sadie... she could... she could..."

"Yeah... I know," Amanda says worried as well, "but I just don't think we have any other _choice_ , so everyone... hold on."

Looking to be sure everyone is ready, Amanda takes the Specteroscope in her hands, and while holding tightly to the brooms says, "On three. One... two... _three_!" then pushes the two outside buttons.

As Poa steps to the bedroom doorway, he sees everyone gathered around the bed, Amanda saying the word 'three.' There is a blinding flash as Poa turns his head to the side for a moment. When he looks back, his eyes roam quickly about the room, as he slowly enters.

There is no one there.

*~*~*

After Amanda had used the jell spell, and was about to head back to Poa and the others, she slipped the first Shard from her pocket. After looking at it for a long moment, she smiles, nods, then uses a translocation spell to send the Shard to a hiding place she has in mind.

There is a flash and the Shard is gone.

The Shard arrives at the intended destination, laying beneath some broken and splintered floorboards in the dirt, sparkling like glitter in sunlight for a moment as it solidifies. Once again in solid form, it begins to shift position, digging into the dirt, pulsing a dull red light.

As Amanda mounts her broom to fly back to Poa and the others, she feels a strange surge of something she cannot explain shoot through her, making her nauseous for a moment, and rather dizzy.

A shadow passes over her face but for a brief moment, making her tremble.

Shaking her head as though ridding herself of a pesky fly, she kicks off heading for Poa and her friends.

*~*~*

#  Return To Arcoma Village

Amanda finds herself, once again, shooting quickly along the inside of the bright tunnel, with all the multicolored lights streaking by as before. She tries to turn her head, but finds she cannot, nor can she shut her eyes. In a few moments, she sees the now familiar solid black end of the tunnel come streaking toward her.

As she strikes the end of the tunnel, there is another blinding flash. When her vision clears, she is staring at the Specteroscope in her hands. Quickly looking around she feels a hand drop from her shoulder.

Turning, Amanda sees Thian standing next to her, bent over, quickly having dropped all the packs from the weight of them. Tia is standing beside him, looking frightened, as she too looks around wide-eyed.

Amanda and Thian pull their wands.

Eyes still wide, Thian says in a low whisper, "Well... we _got_ here anyway. At least... it _looks_ the same. It's really _dark_ out. Must be pretty late. I don't feel any worse from the trip. Do _you_ Tia?"

"No. But we _need_ to get to Tianna and Sadie."

They stealthily walk toward the back bedrooms, listening for any movement within the house.

"I don't hear anything at _all_ in here. They must be out," Tia whispers as they step to the door of one of the bedrooms.

Opening the door slowly, looking in, they see that the bed is empty. They quickly make their way to the other bedroom and cautiously open the door. Tianna has her wand out, pointing it at the door when it opens. Seeing her friends she lowers it, saying, "Wow... _that_ was some trip. I'm okay... well, the _same_ anyway. I don't think the trip hurt Sadie either. I guess we remain in exactly the same position from one location to the next. That's _something_ anyway."

As Thian and Amanda step around the bed to check on Sadie, Tia steps up to Tianna asking, "You _sure_ you're okay sis?"

"Yeah. But now what? I take it Rayolin and Anastasia aren't home?"

Amanda looks up, finding Sadie in the same shape she was when they left and says, "No, they're not. Maybe..."

There is an odd sound. They realize someone has just opened the front door.

Tianna raises her wand, as do Thian and Amanda.

The door closes. Everyone is scared half to death, hearing footsteps come further into the house, suddenly stopping.

Amanda knows whoever it is, just saw the pile of travelers packs and brooms on the floor.

It is a deafening silence, Amanda straining to hear any movement, then, in half a whisper hears...

"Amanda? _Sadie_? Is that you?" comes Rayolin's soft but shaky voice.

"Rayolin!" Amanda cries. " _Back_ here, _Sadie's_ hurt real bad, so is _Tianna_ and Tia."

They hear running. A moment later, a surprised and frightened Rayolin steps to the doorway, taking in the sight of the completely filthy and injured children. Her eyes looking from one to the other.

Stepping quickly into the room, Rayolin asks, "What's _happened_? How... _how_ did you get here?" Looking at Sadie and the blood-soaked rag, " _Quickly_ , tell me what's happened to her, she has _no_ color!"

As fast as she can, Amanda tells Rayolin of the injuries Sadie has sustained, promising to tell her the entire story later if there is time. Tia tells her what she had done to Sadie, Tianna and Thian, while Rayolin gently looks Sadie over.

"Where's Anastasia?" Amanda asks nervously, not knowing whether Anastasia ever actually made it back or not.

"We were out back feeding the Kiki. I know it is rather late for that, but, it has been a _very_ long day. We had supper at a friend's. She should be back any..."

They hear the front door open, close and latch, followed by the sound of footsteps, which come to an abrupt stop.

After a brief pause, "Mom?"

"Back _here_ honey... " and in a dry voice continues, "and you _won't_ believe who's come to visit... make sure the door is _locked_." Turning her attention back to Sadie, she says softly to the others, "Old force of habit I guess. No one has _ever_ tried to enter without permission... not _yet_ anyway."

There is a short cry from the doorway. "By the _moons_! Amanda, _Thian_ , Tia, how?... she notices Tianna and Sadie lying on the bed. "Tianna! You're hurt! What's happened? Oh... mom... _Sadie_! Is she... is she..."

"No, she's _alive_ , but _seriously_ hurt. She has lost a _lot_ of blood and has a _cracked_ skull. I have no idea what the injuries to her brain may be. I... I'm afraid I know very _little_ about the Keptic. I mean, in _med_ school, we did not have any _subjects_ of which to actually study. Everything we learned were from _very_ old books and _ancient_ view screens. After all, there are only a _handful_ of Keptic's in existence, at least, as far as anyone seems to know. The chances of meeting one of them were, well, _almost_ nonexistent."

"Well, you've met one _now_. Can you help her? Please?" Amanda pleads.

"I'll do what I can for the moment, although, Tia has done a _tremendous_ job." Turning to Tia, "Your mom would be _very_ proud of you, as _I_ am. But, I am afraid Sadie needs more help than I believe _I_ can handle on my own. She has lost _too_ much blood, and..."

"And _what_?" Tianna asks in a panic.

"Well, I am not _sure_ where one would _get_ Keptic blood anyway. I mean, it is of a _very_ rare and special type. You can't just _walk_ into a hospital and get some."

"So what are we going to do? If we don't get her some help, she'll _die_ won't she?" Tia cries, tears filling her eyes.

"Possibly. We _need_ to get her to a hospital right away. The rest of you too," Rayolin says thoughtfully.

"But _mom_ ," Anastasia says stepping over to look down at the still unconscious Sadie. "A hospital... _which_ one?"

"Well, the _closest_ is in Ulmorkeen. And, it is one of the _largest_ and most well equipped too. I take some of the villagers there from time to time when their injuries are _greater_ than I alone can handle," Rayolin says confirming Tianna's broken hip. "You all must have been in one _heck_ of a battle."

"I still can't believe _Cassa_ was killed by those _horrible_ men, you know? Amanda, did Bellinora, Ellanya and Jasmine get out okay?" Anastasia asks looking worried.

The kids all stiffen.

"You... you _remember_ what happened?" Amanda asks as her eyes grow wide. "But, but Bellinora put a _spell_ on you so you would think that... that..."

"Cassa went _missing_ in the woods? Yeah, I know. I'm not _sure_ what happened, but, I _think_ that when Bellinora was putting that memory spell on me, that when those _men_ made all that noise and she turned away for a moment, I _think_ she lost concentration _just_ long enough to break the spell which I was trying to fight against anyway. I mean, I really didn't want to forget. I heard those other people coming, then there was a _flash_ and I found myself in the forest, just a little way from the village _just_ like Bellinora said I would. I was _really_ scared, but... I remembered _everything_!"

"Holy _cow_!" Amanda says turning to look at Rayolin. "You, you _know_ what happened, and, and _everything_?"

"Yes Amanda, I do, or... would you prefer I call you... _Wielder_?" Rayolin says as she begins changing the odd poultice applied to Sadie's neck, with a new one, as well as adding some new healing spells.

All eyes fly wide with fright and surprise.

"And," Rayolin continues, "I've got to tell you, it was _quite_ a story she gave that first night back. But, I believe _everything_ Anastasia told me, and relax. I _know_ you well enough Amanda, to know you and the others are _not_ evil. Although, I am so sorry for the _burden_ which you now carry. It is hard to imagine that the fate of _all_ living things, all those of the _Light_ on all the realms, of _all_ the known universes... now rests in the hands of an _innocent_ child. I wish I could help you, but..."

"But... what did you tell Cassandrea's _uncle_ , and the _others_ here in the village?" Tianna asks with a groan having tried to turn to see Anastasia better.

"I told them _exactly_ what Bellinora intended me to tell them," Anastasia says with a shrug. "It was weird really. Cassa's uncle _actually_ looked... _hurt_... like he really _cared_ for her after all or something. A couple days later, he just _up_ and left. Took all his belongings and left during the night. No one's _seen_ or heard from him since."

"Rayolin," Amanda asks, "How are we going to get Sadie to the hospital _without_ hurting her even more? And, what do we tell them happened to her?"

"Yeah, and they'll find out she's _Keptic_ too mom," Anastasia says with a worried expression.

"So?" Thian says looking confused.

"So," Anastasia says in a hushed voice, like someone may overhear them. "There were like a _dozen_ men, and some _really_ mean looking _women_ through here a few days ago, _looking_ for all of _you_. One of the men, a _really_ mean one, I think he said his name was _Morpheus_ , asked _specifically_ about a tiny girl, who is _Keptic_. They didn't mention the necklace though Amanda."

"Morpheus!" Tianna shouts, then cries out in pain from trying to rise up. "Morpheus _survived_? _How_? The _last_ time we saw him, he was wrapped up in a _cocoon_. I thought one of those giant _spiders_ would have killed and _eaten_ him!"

"Giant... _spiders_?" Anastasia asks with a shiver. " _What_... giant spiders?"

"Not _now_ hon. We need to get Sadie to the hospital, once I get her head stabilized. But, the hospital is a good way away, and... if we rigged a _stretcher_ for her, I am not sure she could survive the flight, not with all the _jostling_. Not in her condition. Wait... how _did_ all of you get here? I do not remember seeing a stretcher or anything."

"Oh, uh, we used the _Specteroscope_. I guess Anastasia told you about it too huh?" Amanda asks placing a hand on her pocket.

"Ahhhh, yes. I had _forgotten_ about the Specteroscope," Rayolin says sitting on the edge of the bed, casting a pain relief spell at Tianna's hip. Tianna instantly sighs in relief. "I have never seen one. Never _heard_ of one for that matter. But, perhaps you could use it to get into the hospital. I mean... Amanda, can you ask the, well, _Specter_ to take you all into the hospital, without being _seen_ by anyone? And then... well, I am not sure."

"Uh, I _guess_ so. He was able to get us _here_ and into your _house_ without being seen. Yeah, I think so. But, what do we tell them _happened_? And, well, won't they need _insurance_ information on everyone... and _money_ or something?"

Rayolin looks at Amanda for a moment, then says, "Well, I have _no_ idea what _insurance_ information is, but, here, on this realm anyway, only _money_ is exchanged, if that is what you are referring to."

Rayolin applies some ointment to Sadie's arms and legs, then begins wrapping them. "The problem is Amanda, we have _very_ little money. You are welcome however, to _all_ that we have, but I really don't think it will be enough for the care Sadie will need, nor possibly, _even_ for what Tianna will need alone. I can tend to Tia and Thian well enough here, but, not Tianna and Sadie."

"Do, uh, they have a _bank_ or kiosk in Ulmorkeen?" Thian asks.

"Of _course_. Why?" Rayolin asks looking confused. "Do you kids have any money you can draw from? _Really_? But, _honestly_... I doubt it will be enough. The care _Sadie_ will need is... well, being _Keptic_... I, I have no idea _how_ much that will be, but it will be substantial. Honey? Would you hand me that tape please? Oh, and would you hand me that pad and a pen please?"

Thian smiles back at her, "Oh, between _all_ of us, we can _scrounge_ up enough I think." The others laugh, leaving Rayolin and Anastasia with blank expressions.

Anastasia hands Rayolin the pad and pen. Rayolin quickly scribbles something and hands it to Amanda.

"What's this?" Amanda asks looking at the numbers on the page.

"It is our bank account number. Honey, would you get our key for them please. I have tried to visit Ulmorkeen every few months, and deposit the little cash Anastasia and I manage to hang onto here after getting what we need to survive. We were saving up to get away from here, but... well, I am afraid there really isn't much. Maybe three or four thousand Turrens. I don't think it will help you much, but I... _we_... want you to use _all_ of it to help Tianna and Sadie."

"Oh, we _can't_ take this," Amanda says trying to hand the key back to Anastasia.

"Amanda, mom's right, we've tried saving up to move away for years, but, something _always_ happens and we need to spend the money. But I'm with mom. We _want_ you to have all the money. It's not really doing _us_ any good, and, well... _honestly_ , I don't think we'll _ever_ get away from here. So, _please_ , let us do this for you, okay?"

"We will _not_ take no for an answer," Rayolin says with a weak smile. So, get to Ulmorkeen, and when you get to the hospital, perhaps what little we have, will at _least_ get the two of them admitted."

Looking into the eyes of Rayolin and Anastasia, Amanda can see they are serious. Amanda begins to choke up at having people they had only known for a short while, willing to give up _all_ they had saved to help others they hardly knew. With tears beginning to well in her eyes, she says, "Well, okay. Thank you both _so_ much. This means _more_ to me than you could possibly know. Thank you.

"So... listen," Amanda says quickly turning to the others. "I'll ask the Specter to take Tianna, Sadie and myself to the hosp..."

Immediately Tia yells, "You're _not_ taking Tianna without _me_. _I'm_ going too!"

"That goes for _me_ too!" Thian says flatly, crossing his arms then yelping because of his wound.

"But _Rayolin_ said she and Anastasia can treat the two of you _here_. And with all of us, it will draw _too_ much attention," Amanda says sternly.

"I _don't_ care. I'm _going_ with my sister, and that's _all_ there is to it."

"And besides Amanda," Thian says stepping forward, "what if you get there and there's _trouble_? _Sadie_ can't defend herself at all, and Tianna, well, _she_ can, but only where she's lying. I mean, she can't like, jump _up_ and go _running_ and _diving_ while shooting you know. Listen, I'll make a deal with you okay... Tia, I want you to do the same. You let us go with you now Amanda, to get them into the hospital okay, and to be sure things are alright. When we know everything's okay, we can all come back here, then _Rayolin_ and Anastasia can help us. What do you say?"

Amanda thinks it over for a moment, turns to look at Tia, who is reluctant, but finally nods.

"Well, okay. We'll _all_ go to the hospital," Amanda says thoughtfully, "but, not _into_ it. I think it would be better if the Specter puts us _near_ the hospital, but not _in_ it. Like in a _park_ nearby or something. Then, I'll go first. I'll tell them that you were all hurt in a hiking accident, and, and that some other hikers had flown you to the park, but for some reason didn't want to be seen, so they left."

"Actually, that is _not_ a bad idea Amanda," Rayolin says nodding. "There are enough shady characters around that may still help some injured children, but would _definitely_ not want to be seen or recognized by others. Yes. I think that will do. You should leave as soon as these spells I have cast on Sadie and Tianna take effect, which should be within the next ten minutes or so. I will feel a _lot_ better moving Sadie, once these stabilization spells set in and when Tianna's hip stabilizers have set. The hospital can do much better but I have to work with what I have here."

"I'll get the Specter to set the Specteroscope," Amanda says pulling out the Scope.

"Wait! What did Delten and the _others_ tell Morpheus and his gang about us?" Tianna asks, anger clearly etched in her face.

"Delten did _not_ like Morpheus much. And was _not_ going to tell him anything at all," Rayolin says shaking her head. "Morpheus pulled his wand and hit Delten with a _really_ vicious _torture_ curse, while his... _gang_ as you call them, held their wands on the others to keep them at bay."

The kids exchange worried looks.

"Don't worry," Anastasia says with a smile. "Delten _lied_! He told them you _had_ come here, but that you had only picked up some supplies, then headed off through the forest. That he, nor _anyone_ here, had any idea where you went, or cared."

"Morpheus must want you very badly," Rayolin says with a smile checking on Tianna's hip. "He was _so_ worked up at hearing you had _just_ left, he did not even bother to use a _truth_ potion to see whether Delten was lying! They mounted up and flew like _wild_ people off into the darkness of the forest. That was the last we saw of them. But, _who_ knows, they may come back."

"Well, we'll worry about them later," Amanda says flipping the cover of the Specteroscope open. "Uh, you and Anastasia may want to stand behind me some. The, um, _Spector_ is a little scary at first."

"At _first_?" Thian says with a nervous chuckle.

Rayolin and Anastasia move to stand behind and to the side of Amanda, while Thian and Tia do the same. Amanda spins some dials, presses the buttons, and sets the Scope on the end of the bed.

The black mist rises from the center of the Scope, bringing _gasps_ from Rayolin and Anastasia as they both take several wide-eyed steps back.

The mist swirls, forming the familiar shape of the Specter.

As the Spector glances around, getting his bearings, he turns to see Tianna and Sadie lying on the bed. He then sees the others standing behind Amanda, looking very frightened. His wavering eyes turn to focus on Amanda.

"I am at you command Wielder. What is your wish?"

"Uh, well, we need to get Tianna and Sadie to a hospital, and the rest of us will go too. Well, not these two," she says pointing to the shaking Rayolin and Anastasia. "They will stay here. We want you to take us to the city of Ulmorkeen, and put us in, like, a _park_ or something like that, as _close_ to the hospital as you can. Can you do that?"

"There is very little we within the Scope cannot do Wielder. But... you are trying to... _save_ the little Keptic girl? And... _help_ these others?"

"Yes, and I need _your_ help! Please... will you help us?"

"I am _bound_ by an ancient curse, to _forever_ serve whoever holds the Specteroscope. Their _wish_ is my command... literally." After a long pause the specter continues. "I would not believe you to be the Wielder, if not for your wearing the _Necklace of Power_. And though I do not understand, I _will_ obey. Do you wish me to set the dials now Wielder?"

"Yes please. Oh, and would you set them so when I push them again, I can come back here? In fact, would you write the instructions on how to get here and to the hospital, so I don't have to bother you? That way, I can bring up the Manual and look for Rayolin's home or the _hospital_ in Ulmorkeen. Is that alright?"

The Specter once again, through his dark misty appearance, seems startled at her politeness, at _asking_ for his help, and not _demanding_ it.

After a brief pause, "Yes Wielder, I shall proceed at once. Will there be anything else?"

"No, I think..."

"Wait!" Thian shouts stepping forward, startling everyone. "Amanda, if you come with us, and Morpheus or some of his gang are there, and they _see_ you or..."

"Oh, I hadn't _thought_ of that," Amanda says looking worried. "But, I _have_ to go with you. I have the _Specteroscope_ , and I'm not to let it out of my _sight_. But you're right. Morpheus knows we were here, so he _might_ just be smart enough to have someone checking the towns, villages and cities around here, to see if someone _spots_ us. What the _heck_ do we do now?"

"Well, we know if they see you, they'll try to _kill_ you Amanda," Tia says now biting her lower lip. After a moment she continues. "We don't know if the necklace will be fast enough at _recognizing_ a threat and saving you yet. But... I don't think they would hurt any of _us_ at first really, not in plain _sight_ of everyone in the hospital anyway. But, then again, just like they did with Cassandrea, and _tried_ to do with Anastasia, they _could_ kidnap us, then _torture_ us, trying to find out where you've gone Amanda."

"Oh _great_. _That_ makes me feel _so_ much better," Amanda sighs.

"Hey, wait!" Thian cries. "Amanda, use the Specteroscope to Transmutate! You know, like how Bellinora and Ellanya had told us you could change into, like, an old _man_ with a cane and such."

"Thian, that's a _great_ idea!" Tianna says eagerly. "That way, you could come with us, and _no_ one would know who you were. You wouldn't _look_ like a kid anymore, and even if Morpheus or some of his gang look you _right_ in the face, they won't _recognize_ you! Thian, you're _brilliant_... for once."

"I have my moments," he says with a smile, hiking up his pants.

"Yeah, okay. I guess so. That sounds a little _scary_ though. Specter, can you tell me _exactly_ what I need to do, and how it works? I _know_ it's in the manual somewhere but I don't have _time_. Can you tell me what I need to do?"

The Spector again looks surprised at being _asked_ , not commanded.

"Yes. Of course Wielder. _This_ is what must be done..." He proceeds to tell Amanda, the others listening in awe, _how_ Amanda can change into _anything_ she wants... _imagined_ or otherwise.

Amanda decides to change into an older woman, with gray hair, wrinkled face, and one who walks with a limp, carrying a wooden cane... with the head of a dragon on the handle. Which Thian thinks is a nice touch.

"...and that is what you must do. Do you understand Wielder?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Is there anything further you wish of me?"

"No, thanks. I _really_ appreciate your help. If I need you, I'll call... if you're not _busy_ or something."

The Specter actually laughs, a deep and honest laugh, then says as he studies Amanda's face, "I am _always_ available Wielder, whenever you call. That is _my_ lot in death. If there is nothing else?"

Amanda shakes her head. Instantly, the mist begins to swirl, descending into the open face of the Scope, then vanishes.

"Well, _that_ was interesting," Rayolin says with a hand to her heart. "That is _certainly_ something one does not see every _day_!"

"You can say _that_ again mom. How's Sadie doing?"

Rayolin steps to Sadie then checks her head, neck, arms and legs. "Just a few more minutes honey. I know you all want to leave now, but we _really_ need to wait a few more minutes to be sure. After all, you will not be the ones moving her once in the park, but most likely, hospital personnel. The girls need to be as stable as possible before being jostled in some stretcher. Amanda, perhaps you should begin your, um, _Transmutation_ or _whatever_ it is you do."

"Yeah, okay. Listen, the Specter said I needed to concentrate on the _image_ I wish to become, and that when I push these buttons with the dials set like they are now, I will _immediately_ morph into that, uh, _form_... clothing, _feathers_ , fur or _whatever_. I'm really _scared_ , but, well, you had better stand back. I'm not _really_ sure what will actually happen."

Amanda moves away from the bed as the others around her step away.

"Well, here goes..."

Closing her eyes, with a look of intense concentration on her face, she pushes the buttons.

#  Little Old Woman

Everyone's jaw _drops_ as their eyes bulge.

Amanda begins to distort, like someone pushing and pulling on a clay figure. All eyes are fixed on the transforming figure before them. Amanda grows taller for a moment, then seems to bend forward slightly. Her long, beautiful jet black hair, begins wiggling, shortening and growing thinner as it turns a perfect shade of gray for an old woman.

The skin on Amanda's face, arms and hands, which is all that is exposed, begins to darken somewhat, as many age spots appear dotted about, while wrinkle after wrinkle appear. Her face becomes very wrinkled as her eyebrows change and her nose begins to look somewhat crooked. A fairly good sized wart suddenly appears on the end of her nose, making Thian gasp.

Amanda's eyes lose some of their sparkle, and her usually full lips quickly thin to the point that there hardly seems to be any lips at all. Beginning to smile, the look of fear begins to leave her face, as she looks at her arms and hands, then runs her hands over her very aged face. When she feels her nose, and the large wart, Amanda breaks into a huge grin, which sends everyone to nervous laughter. Amanda moves her hand to her lips, then to the one missing tooth, and laughs again as her clothing begins to change to those an old woman may wear. Suddenly, a beautifully carved cane appears in her hand, her fingers wrapping around the intricately carved dragon's head.

Everyone is stunned as Amanda leaps into the air, bringing her feet straight out in front of her, like making the letter 'L', and while holding the cane between her hands, touches the long portion of the cane to the tips of her granny shoes. She lands lightly, laughing with relief, the others laughing along with her. With hesitant steps at first, she begins walking around the room with a limp, holding onto her cane, doing her best to look fragile.

"Wow, _Amanda_..." Thian says with a smile as Amanda makes the cane shake a little as she walks, like it is really supporting her weight. "How do you feel?"

"I _feel_ just the same, other than I can't straighten up all the way. I mean... I feel _just_ like I did, and, I'm _still_ just as fast and limber, other than for when I actually walk, or for the bent posture. Other than that, this is _really_ cool!"

Everyone chuckles nervously, knowing she is okay.

"But, how do I _look_?" Amanda asks with her yellow and toothless grin.

With a smile, Rayolin says, "There is a full length mirror in the closet over there, go have a look."

Amanda hurries to the closet door, swings it opens, and just cannot help but laugh, breaking the tension and worry for the moment. She cannot believe how she looks.

"This is _so_ awesome! I look even _better_ than I had pictured in my _head_. And the _clothing_... it's _just_ what I had thought of. Do you think the wart on my nose, and the missing tooth are a little _too_ much?"

"Are you _kidding_?" Tianna says trying not to laugh, because when she does, the movement hurts her broken hip. "I think they're _great_! I don't think _anyone_ will pay much attention to you at all, you're so... so..."

"Ugly as any _hag_ I've ever heard of in any old story, _that's_ for sure!" Anastasia says smiling at Thian.

Tia steps up to Amanda saying, "And you're a lot _taller_ now too, even though you are bent over. Does that, _hurt_? I mean, do your _joints_ hurt or anything?"

"No. I'm _telling_ you, I feel just the same as always. I just can't _straighten_ up, but it doesn't hurt at all. I _look_ really weak, and like I could _break_ if you touched me, but I'm just as strong and flexible as I was when I pushed the buttons."

"Well then," Rayolin says stepping forward. "I think you should leave now and get Sadie settled into the hospital straight away. She's stable enough for now. So is Tianna."

"Great. Okay, but we'll leave our brooms and packs here, if that's okay. Our brooms will be a _dead_ giveaway that we're not from around here, that's for sure. But, since we're all wearing the clothes the two of you made for us, we should fit in okay. Our packs may cause a stir too, or at least some of the _contents_ would, so we'll need to leave them here too."

"No problem dear," Rayolin says nodding. "We'll store them until you all return."

"Listen, I need to get everyone to the hospital," Amanda says seriously, "then I'll come back here with Tia and Thian, and let you know how everything went, before I go back to help the Grass People."

"The _Grass_ People?" Anastasia asks with interest. " _What_ Grass People?"

"We'll tell you _all_ about them and our other, uh, _adventures_ when we come back. But now, we've got to be going." Turning to the others she asks, "Everybody ready to see if we can pull this off?"

They nod. Tia takes Tianna's broom from the bed and hands it to Anastasia, then holds Tianna's hand, who reaches over and holds Sadie's. Thian steps over and places his hand on Tia's shoulder as Amanda steps up to him.

After resetting the Specteroscope to their new destination, she places her hand on Thian's shoulder and turns to Rayolin and Anastasia. "Well... _this_ is it. Thanks for watching our stuff, and helping us. If everything goes okay, the three of us will be back sometime soon... I hope.

"Okay guys, on three. One... two... _three_!" and presses the buttons.

There is a brilliant flash, and as Rayolin and Anastasia open their eyes and turn their heads back toward the bed, they both gasp at the now missing children.

#  To The Hospital

In less than a blink of an eye, Amanda finds herself in the dark next to a tree, standing on short grass. As she looks down, she sees Tianna's startled face, who is lying on the ground, still holding onto Sadie's hand. Tia is standing next to Tianna, with Thian next to her, everyone looking around nervously.

"Hey! Is that a _street_ over there, through the trees?" Tia asks pointing between two large trees.

They turn, then squinting through the trees, can just make out a long street with many buildings and shops.

"Yeah, it _is_ ," Thian says in a whisper. "Listen, you all stay here and watch after Tianna and Sadie. I'll go get help."

"No. _Wait_ , I'll go," Amanda says quickly. "I can tell them that I was out for a walk, and found all of you lying here in the park, and that _you_ two," nodding to Tia and Thian, "didn't know where you were, and were too _afraid_ to leave your friends. Stay here, but keep _ready_ for... well, for _anything_ okay? The Hospital can't be very far from here."

Reluctantly, they all agree.

Amanda turns and begins limping away toward the street, lit by _dozens_ of lanterns, both on buildings, and on the end of several brooms, as their riders go about their business, moving this way and that.

When Amanda reaches the street, it takes her no more than a few moments to spot the huge Hospital sign on a very tall building about half way down the street, on the right hand side. As quickly as she can, she limps off away from the park, across the street, and up onto a wooden walkway, which makes its way along the front of the many shops and other buildings.

Amanda nervously approaches a group of rather rough looking men, who are standing in front of a building where there is a good deal of loud music coming through the closed doors. The men look up as she approaches. Not slowing her pace, she walks right at them. When she reaches them, they give her a quick glance, move to the side and let her through, one of the men touching the brim of his pointed hat saying, " _Evening_ mam."

With her heart pounding, Amanda nods to the man, quickly making her way on past, giving a huge sigh some steps away, trying to keep a smile from spreading across her face as she thinks, " _Mam_?"

Soon, Amanda reaches the huge double doors of the hospital. Taking a deep breath, she pushes through the right hand door and enters a large lobby filled with chatter from the many people waiting to be seen.

Amanda quickly steps to the admittance window and tells her story. The middle aged woman behind the counter listens intently, then pushes a button, and in almost an instant, two large orderlies step up beside her.

In a few moments, Amanda is hobbling out of the hospital with the two orderlies in tow. They soon reach Thian and the others, all closely huddled together, with at least seven people standing around them, having discovered them injured within the park.

The two orderlies pull their wands and use a locomotion spell on Tianna and Sadie, and say they will take them directly to their rooms, since they can see they are both seriously hurt.

Once Amanda, Tia and Thian make their way to the Hospital, they find that the hospital wants 3,000 Turrens to admit Tianna and Sadie, and needed an account number to pull whatever funds may be needed for their care. Amanda had explained that both Thian and Tia have refused treatment. Thian is about to give his number, when Amanda steps forward, saying since she is the one who found them, and they won't tell her who their parents are, like the typical runaways that seem to be in every large city, she would be responsible for them, since she has managed to save a good deal of money over her long life. Amanda hands the woman her account number.

The woman punches in the account number, then the admittance fees. She has Amanda place her hand on a scanner, then says, "Thank you, miss..."

Amanda looks surprised for a moment, then says evenly, " _Mrs_. Turner. _Lily_ Turner."

"Thank you Mrs. Turner. You do indeed have the amount required for admittance in this account. But, um, are you _sure_ you want to be _financially_ responsible for the two children? It may be... rather _expensive_. How much do you wish to authorize us to pull from your account each day?"

"Oh, uh, whatever the _usual_ is now days I suppose," Amanda says softly. "But, _whatever_ they need, I want them to _have_ , do you understand me young lady? _Whatever_ the cost!"

"Well... I'll need your authorization Mrs. Turner. If you'll just place your right hand on this pad, so we can scan your aura, we'll be all set."

"Oh, yes, of _course_ ," Amanda says worriedly, wondering if they somehow match the name Mrs. Lily Turner, with the name she had opened the account with originally, which was as Amanda Ackers.

"It's okay Mrs. Turner," Thian says stepping forward. "It's just like you _always_ do to buy something... _right_? The aura is matched to the account number... that's all. Oh, and we _really_ appreciate your taking care of our friends too."

Amanda looks into Thian's eyes. He gives the slightest nod. Amanda turns placing her hand on the pad saying, "Well of _course_ it's like I always do. I _knew_ that sonny. I'm not _senile_ you know!"

Tia and Thian do their best to stifle a laugh.

There is a green light from the pad, then Amanda removes her hand.

"That should do it mam," the lady says to Amanda. "They have taken the children to their room. They are _sharing_ a room, I hope that is alright... _private_ rooms are much more expensive, and frankly, at the moment, there is a _waiting_ list, so..."

"Oh, sharing will be _fine_ dearie," Amanda says nodding. "I think the two of them, being _friends_ and all, will feel _much_ better being together. May we visit them now please?"

"Not just yet I'm afraid. It says here that they were both severely injured, one... uh..." she looks at Thian and Tia for a moment, then back at Amanda. "One _far_ more seriously than the other. They are both being examined and having a series of tests run as we speak. It may be sometime before you can see them. But please, feel free to check in whenever you like for an update."

Nodding, Amanda says, "Well, if there isn't anything further, I'd like to get _these_ two something to eat, then take them home with me, till their _friends_ are well enough to travel."

Having done everything they could for the moment, Amanda, Tia and Thian leave, and make their way back along the street, and into an alleyway. Once hidden behind some large, long discarded wooden boxes, Amanda pulls the Specteroscope from her pocket, as both Tia and Thian place their hands on Amanda's shoulder.

"On three. One... two... _three_!" then pushes the buttons.

There is a flash, and as the flash dissipates, they find themselves standing in the living room, back in the home of Rayolin and Anastasia.

There is a _gasp_ to Amanda's left. Both Tia and Thian drop their hands from her shoulder as all three spin around, where a very startled Rayolin and Anastasia are standing in front of one of the two couches.

"Snarkins! You _scared_ us half to death!" Anastasia says with a laugh, a hand to her chest.

"How is _Sadie_... Tianna?" Rayolin asks walking forward to check on Tia, who looks a little pale.

"We got them admitted okay. _No_ problems. They're sharing a room, for _now_ anyway. I don't think they know Sadie is _Keptic_ yet though, so things may _change_ once they find out." Looking at Thian and Tia, Amanda yawns saying, "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm _wiped_ out. Is it okay if I stay the night too, and leave in the morning?"

"Of _course_ dear," Rayolin says motioning to the back guest rooms. Why don't you, well, change _back_ into the Amanda we all know and love, and get some sleep. I need to change Tia's poultices and wraps, and the same for Thian. Then they can get some rest too. Amanda, you and Tia can share one room, and _this_ time Thian, you _do_ get a bed all to yourself."

"Well, I _am_ really tired," Thian says with a smile. "Things have been kind of _hectic_ for a while. It would be really nice to get some rest, knowing something isn't going to try to _eat_ or _kill_ you while you sleep. But, we're so _dirty_... shouldn't we, um, take a _bath_ first?"

"Not _this_ time," Rayolin says with a warm smile. "I'll quickly clean up those areas that need it, and you can take a bath in the morning Thian. As for you Tia, I'll help you with a bath tomorrow too. But for now Amanda, _off_ to bed. It's past time for Anastasia and I to go to bed too, so let us all get ready for bed. Oh, and _please_ , get up when you are rested, _regardless_ of how late. You all need the rest. Now, _scoot_ Amanda! You two, come with me and let me change your dressings."

Once Rayolin and Anastasia finish with Tia and Thian, Thian trots off down the hallway to the restroom before getting to bed.

Anastasia says her goodnights and heads for her own room, as Rayolin accompanies Tia to the guestroom where Amanda is sitting at the edge of the bed.

"I, uh, didn't want to try changing back without someone here, just in case something goes wrong. So..." Amanda pulls out the Specteroscope, focusing her attention on the dials as she spins them into position.

"Well, I _hope_ I get back to looking like myself. Here goes."

Taking a deep breath, Amanda pushes the buttons as Rayolin and Tia look on a little apprehensively, not knowing what will happen.

Amanda begins to distort, once again like someone molding a clay figure. She quickly changes size and shape. Her hair darkens as it lengthens, her back straightens as her eyes take on their sparkle. Amanda's skin lightens and changes to her usual smooth blemish-free skin.

As Rayolin and Tia smile, seeing Amanda once again looking like, well, _Amanda_ , Amanda's cane vanishes as her clothing changes back to the filthy clothing she had warn previously. In another moment, Amanda is patting at her face with a smile, turns and heads for the closet to check herself in the mirror.

"Well, I _look_ like myself again anyway. And, I feel _great_ , just _exhausted_. Thanks for letting us stay. We don't mean to keep imposing on the two of you... we just didn't, well, I _just_ didn't know where else to go."

"It is _no_ imposition whatsoever," Rayolin says unwrapping some gauze from Tia's shoulder. "And you may stay as long as you like. Although, you will have to remain in the house at all times, _otherwise_ , the villagers will see you, and that could mean _big_ trouble. Morpheus placed a _very_ large bounty on all your heads, and the villagers will not hesitate to turn you all in... or worse.

"Also Amanda, I'm not sure what you all are _up_ to, and I know you cannot tell me all. But Anastasia tells me you are now looking for the _Lost Shards of Legend_. I could hardly _believe_ it when she told me. Legend has it, that _many_ thousands of various races have searched for those shards for _eons_. Most who went searching, _never_ returned. I know you will face _many_ hardships on your journey, but I want you to know, that should you _ever_ find yourselves in need of a place to stay, or are in need of help which _Anastasia_ or I may provide... please, do _not_ hesitate to come here, _day_ or night. I want you all to consider this, well, your _home_. You will _always_ be welcomed here, and _loved_. Promise?"

Amanda is so overcome, she rushes to Rayolin, bursting into tears as she hugs her fiercely. Amanda cannot help herself, and all the fear, pain and uncertainty, pours out of her in huge sobs, shaking both she and Rayolin. After so many years of no adult caring about her, here, in a woman she hardly knows, she has found someone other than Thea, who really does. Not just someone who says they care, just to be nice... but someone who honestly cares.

At first, Rayolin is rather taken aback with Amanda clinging to her so tightly, and crying harder than she has ever heard anyone cry. Turning to look at Tia, Rayolin sees Tia crying, and holds out an arm for her. In a moment, both Tia and Amanda, clutching tightly to a now sobbing and emotional Rayolin, at long last are letting all the fear, hurt, pain and sorrow, flow out.

In the late morning, everyone has a nice hot bath, has their clothes washed, dried and repaired. Amanda gets a new shirt, and after they have a nice breakfast, all are eager for Amanda to turn into the old woman again and visit the hospital to check on Tianna and Sadie.

"I wish _I_ could go with you," Anastasia says with a sigh. "I'd really like to see Tianna and Sadie again. I _really_ like them."

"I would love to see them too," Rayolin says getting up and taking her dish to the sink.

"Hey! Why _not_ go and see them?" Thian says with his last mouth full of Cucuteo eggs. "Amanda can take the two of _you_ with her, and Tia and I can stay here. I really _want_ to go to see them, and I know _Tia_ does too, but, we're still recovering. Anyway, if _all_ of us went, we would draw too much attention. Even if _Tia_ and I went back with you now... I think that, if maybe someone is still hanging around and they hadn't seen us all last night, we'd be _pushing_ our luck to go back now. I mean, they have a _pretty_ good idea of what we look like and all. And it's daylight now. Amanda says the Spector told her, only she can transmutate now for some reason, and not all of us."

" _Would_ you Amanda? Would you _really_ take mom and me to see them... _please_?"

Amanda smiles at Thian, then looks at Tia, who nods with a weak smile, really wanting to see her sister and Sadie, but _knowing_ Thian is correct.

"Well. Let's get these _dishes_ done first. Then, while Rayolin checks up on Tia and Thian, I'll, um, _change_ into my other self, and, _yeah_... the _two_ of you can come with me. Once we come back, I'll leave for Poa and his people."

Rayolin and Anastasia are _thrilled_ and somewhat frightened at the same time. _Neither_ of them have ever traveled by _Specteroscope_ before, and had no idea as to what to expect.

With the dishes cleaned and put away, Anastasia mixes new poultices for Rayolin to apply to both Tia and Thian. Amanda headed off to the back bedroom to watch herself change in the full length mirror.

In a few minutes, they see Amanda come into the living room where everyone is seated, chatting about what had happened after Anastasia had left Bellinora.

Amanda enters using her cane, wearing a hideous flowered dress, ugly black shoes which have had seen much better days, and her hair, now gray, is up in a bun, with two odd looking sticks she calls chopsticks, stuck in the bun.

Everyone remarks on her appearance, as they all laugh, watching her do a little old lady dance.

"Okay, _time_ to go see how they got through the night, and how they're doing now," Amanda says with a grin pulling her Specteroscope. "You both need to touch me to come with me. Oh, and I've _reprogrammed_ the Scope to take us to that spot behind the large discarded wooden boxes in that alley we used. That way, since it's _daylight_ now, we won't just _pop_ into sight in the park, where I'm _sure_ there may be lots of people or kids walking and playing." Looking at Thian and Tia, "You two gonna be okay for a while?"

"Sure, no problem," Tia says with a smile. "Actually, I'm _already_ beginning to feel much better. Those _healing_ spells Rayolin used are _really_ doing the trick. She says I _may_ be fully healed within a _week_ or two!"

"Yeah, and _I_ should be good to go in another _day_ maybe," Thian says touching his wrapped arm.

"Great!" Amanda says smiling. "We'll say hi to Tianna and Sadie for you, and let them know how you're doing. Okay. Rayolin, Anastasia, _hold_ on, it's one _freaky_ ride, but from here to the hospital... it's _over_ almost as soon as it starts, since we're so close. On three. One... two... _three_!"

There is a flash, and when Tia and Thian open their eyes, the others are gone.

In an instant, there is a flash next to some wooden boxes.

Amanda _laughs_ as hands fall from her shoulders, gasping sounds coming from either side of her.

"By the _Great_ Mother Amanda," Rayolin says holding a hand to her heart, her eyes wide looking around nervously. "That _scared_ me half to death." Then laughing says, " _What_ an experience, I can't _wait_ to try that _again_!"

As Amanda puts the Specteroscope into her pocket, Anastasia peaks out from around the wooden boxes. "The alleyway's empty. Let's go."

They make their way quickly down the alley to the street, turning right onto the wooden walkway. The street and walkways are full of people headed this way and that, going about their business. There are a great many flying on brooms at various levels as well.

In no time, they arrive at the hospital, enter, and head up to the fifth floor to find Tianna and Sadie's room.

When they reach the floor nurse on duty and tell her they are here to see Tianna and Sadie, the nurse instantly stiffens, sending immediate shivers of alarm up the spines of Amanda, Rayolin and Anastasia.

"Are _you_ the one who found them in the park?" the lady asks suspiciously.

"That's _right_ dearie, and _now_ , if you don't mind, we'd like to _visit_ them."

"I'm sorry, but, they are _not_ allowed visitors at this time mam. Only _doctors_ and nurses are allowed in at present. Perhaps, if you came back in a few _days_ or so, you may be able to visit them then."

" _Why_ can't we visit them now?" Amanda asks crossly.

"Hospital _policy_ mam. You told admissions that you are _not_ family and that you had been out for a walk when you happened upon them within the park. _No_ one other than family are allowed to visit at this time. As I've stated, _perhaps_ in a few days or so, if they have recovered enough, you _may_ be allowed to visit, but that will be up to the hospital administrator."

"Now _wait_ just a minute dearie," Amanda begins...

" _Excuse_ me, but I _am_ a nurse...," Rayolin says stepping to the counter.

The lady quickly cuts her off saying, "I'm _sorry_ , but you need to be a nurse of _this_ hospital mam. _Hospital_ policy here."

"You did _not_ let me finish," Rayolin says with rather a stern tone. "I am not only a nurse, I am the _cousin_ of the young girl named _Tianna_ , and since you have stated that only a _nurse_ or a _family_ member may visit at this time... I believe _I_ qualify, for _both_. As to your statement of this hospital having a _policy_ which a visiting nurse is not recognized, _that_ is an outright _lie_. I have brought to this hospital, _dozens_ of injured over many years, and have always been allowed to visit and even _attend_ to them."

The floor nurse rises quickly from her chair... the many other nurses and patients nearby turn to listen to the heated discussion, as the floor nurse begins to protest.

" _And_... do _not_ state that this is some _new_ policy just implemented or I shall take _you_ and the hospital's administrator to task, and present a _formal_ complaint to the _Wizitch Board of Medicine_. I will, at the _same_ time, _forward_ the complaint to _every_ newspaper and transmission service in the Realm. Now... do we _see_ the children, or do we take _your_ career _and_ this administration, and flush you _both_ down the toilet?" Rayolin now has both hands on the counter, leaning in with a very angry expression.

The floor nurse turns beet red, both from anger and embarrassment, as her fellow nurses and patients look on in awe, waiting to see what she is going to say.

Looking around at everyone staring at her, the floor nurse does her best to calm herself, then says, "I have been given _strict_ orders not to allow anyone to see them. You'll _have_ to speak to the administrator."

"Great, then _get_ him or her up here, and make it _quick_... I have _other_ patients of my own to tend to," Rayolin says stepping away from the counter as she places both hands on her hips.

The nurse glares at them for a moment, turns, and walks off in a huff down the hall and around a corner. After a few moments, everyone who had been watching the confrontation, begins to go about their way.

Lowering her voice to a whisper, Amanda says, "Holy _cow_ Rayolin, that was _awesome_! Quick thinking on being Tianna's _cousin_ too. Since she's an elf and you're, uh, _not_ , and none of us are Keptic and all. Do you think it's because they've found out Sadie _is_ Keptic that they came up with this _story_ about policy?"

Speaking softly, "You can _count_ on it." Rayolin says with a slight smile of her own. "We should know more in a minute though. Here comes the nurse with whom I will _assume_ , is the hospital's administrator. And she does _not_ look happy to have been disturbed."

A very tall, thin woman steps up to them with a stern expression. "I'm Ms. _Yates_ , the hospital administrator. _Which_ of you are _threatening_ my floor nurse and this _hospital_?"

" _That_... would be _me_ ," Rayolin says stepping forward. "And, _unless_ you would like everyone in this hospital to know what an _Opherious_ ass you are, perhaps we should all find somewhere more _private_ to have our conversation."

Ms. Yates glares at Rayolin for a moment, then at Amanda, who is all bent over with a look of anger on her face, as she repeatedly pushes her tongue through the gap of her missing tooth. Anastasia is standing with both hands on her hips, mirroring her mom.

" _This_ way," Ms. Yates growls with a wave of her hand as she heads off down the hallway. The floor nurse gives one last nasty look at them before making her way around the counter to take her seat.

Amanda, Rayolin and Anastasia, follow Ms. Yates down the hallway and into a small conference room. She motions them to the chairs around the long oval table, then, after shutting the door, everyone takes their seats.

"How _dare_ you threaten me and this hospital Miss...?"

"Harris. And it's _Mrs_. Harris. And let me make this very clear Ms. Yates," Rayolin says very calmly. "I _apologize_ if it sounded like I was making a threat in any way..."

"Well, _that's_ better," Ms. Yates says cutting her off, now leaning back in her chair with a smug smile spreading across her face.

" _Please_ don't cut me off when I am speaking. I was not finished. I am not _threatening_ your floor nurse, nor you, _nor_ this hospital. I do not _make_ idle threats, because threats are generally made by those who have _no_ intent of carrying through with them. I am _not_ making any idle threat Ms. Yates. I _am_ making a statement of clear _fact_. _Should_ you attempt in _any_ way to impede our rights to see the children, I will _destroy_ you and the _reputation_ of this hospital. Not only will you _lose_ your position, I am most _certain_ that you will _never_ hold another position within the medical field, and perhaps, because of the _charges_ I shall level against you, may never hold _any_ other job... _ever_ again."

Springing from her chair, Ms. Yates yells, "How _dare_ you talk to me like that! You can't _talk_ to me like that! This is _my_ hospital and I want the _three_ of you to leave _now_ , or I'll call _security_!"

"Really? _Interesting_. I did not think you were quite that _stupid_ ," Rayolin says doing her best to temper her anger. "You see, should you _force_ my hand, I will charge you _formerly_ with _falsification_ of hospital policy, which in _this_ realm, is governed by the _Wizitch Board of Medicine._ It is _they_ who make the policies Ms. Yates, and _not_ you. Therefore, _I_ , as a practicing nurse, _fully_ credentialed within this realm, _demand_ to see your purported policy in _writing_ , which is my _right_ pursuant to Section seventeen dot eight, latter division nine, of the _Wizitch Board of Medical Codes of Policies and Practices_. Should you choose _not_ to present them to me immediately, you will be charged with _crimes_ which may include _criminal_ intent.

"This woman is the one _financially_ responsible for the children, and according to the _Wizitch Board of Medical Codes of Policies and Practices_ , has a _direct_ right to see that the children are _indeed_ getting what she is paying for. Should you _violate_ that right, that is a whole _new_ set of problems for you and... _your_ hospital!

"Should you not allow us to see the children _immediately_ , I will see that you are _personally_ charged with _kidnapping_ , with the possible intent to _exploit_ a minor. I will charge you also, with kidnapping with the possible intent to exploit for _personal_ gain, the abilities of a _Keptic_ child. _Both_ of these crimes which include kidnapping, are punishable on _this_ realm, by _death_.

"So... _unless_ you would like to see your _ugly_ face on the cover of _every_ newspaper and video screen, not only in _this_ realm, but in _thousands_... I would _suggest_ you stop this obvious _farce_ and take us to see the children... or would you like to see if I _truly_ mean what I say?"

Amanda and Anastasia are wide-eyed and a little red. Amanda cannot believe Rayolin is ripping this woman apart, and has such an angry expression.

Anastasia is staring at her mom with her mouth half open and eyes wide. She has never heard her mom talk to anyone like this before.

Ms. Yates is red in the face with anger, but her expression is more of intense fear. She knows every word Rayolin has said is true, and should even a hint of exploitation be given to the press, she knows her career will be over, or worse.

"We're waiting," Rayolin says evenly.

Getting slowly to her feet, Ms. Yates says, "Very well. I'll take you to them, but I need to know who the little Keptic girl is, _where_ she came from, and _what_ she's doing here. They are _very_ dangerous, and I have a _right_ to protect myself, my _staff_ and this hospital. She has been _seriously_ injured, and it is quite obvious to all, that her injuries are _not_ the result of a hiking accident. I _insist_ on knowing what _really_ happened!"

"You may _insist_ all you want," Rayolin says as she and the others follow the woman out into the hall, "but your _professional_ responsibility is to see that she receives the _care_ she needs, and _nothing_ more, other than that payment is made for those services, which I _believe_ , um, _Lilly_ here is graciously providing. As to _endangering_ you, your staff or your hospital, the _Keptic_ , unless things have radically changed and I am simply unaware, have long been declared a _free_ and _peaceful_ race, afforded the _same_ freedoms, rights, courtesy, _respect_ and treatment, as anyone else.

"Should you _attempt_ to hold her here for _any_ reason other than to provide her with the _highest_ quality of care, and _release_ her when _she_ wishes to leave, I will _crush_ you like a lowly insect. Should I, or _any_ of the three of us, find that she is _mistreated_ in anyway... or somehow, goes _missing_... _you_ shall pay for it dearly. Do _we_ understand one another?"

" _Perfectly_ ," Ms. Yates spits coming to a door with two security personnel stationed on each side.

"They're being _guarded_? _Why_?" Anastasia asks.

"For _their_ protection I assure you," Ms. Yates says with smirk.

"Yeah, I just _bet_ that's it," Amanda snarls.

"Please inform these men and your other security staff, that _we_ are allowed to come and go as we please... at _any_ hour," Rayolin says with a commanding voice.

Ms. Yates glares at her then says to the guards, "Please see that these three have _limitless_ access to these patients."

"Yes Ms. Yates," the heavier set man says unclipping a pad from his belt. "If you will each place your hand on this pad for identification please."

Rayolin places her hand on the pad first, followed by Anastasia. Nervously, Amanda places her hand on the pad, afraid alarm bells will sound or something, but nothing happens.

"Thank you, just tell security when you get to these doors, that you are authorized. They'll check your Aura against what we just took, and let you pass."

"You have _three_ minutes, no more," Ms. Yates snarls at them, doing her best to show her superior authority.

"We have as much time as _I_ judge appropriate for the conditions of the patients," Rayolin says flatly. "I hold the _Altean Nursing Credential_ , and graduated with _Class One_ honors. Should I need to challenge _you_ or any of your nurses orders to the contrary of my judgment, I will bring _you,_ or _them_ up on charges of malpractice... which will _include_ this hospital. The civil suits against you, your staff and the investors of this hospital, will be... _substantial_! Now, _please_ instruct the nurses on your staff to allow us to come and go as we see fit, and if I _ask_ for something to be done, it had _better_ be done. Now, _step_ aside!"

With that, Rayolin pushes a startled Ms. Yates to one side as the stunned guards watch with their mouths open. Rayolin whips the swinging door open, rushing in, Anastasia hot on her heals.

As the door swings shut, Amanda sticks out the end of her cane to stop it from swinging back into the hall and striking her, as she turns to face a very angry and red faced Ms. Yates. " _Feisty_ little thing, _ain't_ she?" Amanda says with a chuckle. "I don't think she's _bluffing_ for a second... do _you_ dearie?" Amanda pushes through the door where she sees Anastasia standing by Tianna, with Rayolin at the other bed by Sadie.

"Aman..." Tianna begins to shout, her eyes going wide. Anastasia quickly says, "Tianna, do you _remember_ this woman? She's the one who found you and Sadie in the park, she likes to be called _Lily_."

"What? Oh, um, _sure_ , _hi_ Lily, it's great to see you again, you look... _good_."

Amanda limps forward with a smile, knowing the guards outside may be able to hear their conversation. "Nice to see _you_ again too dear. How are you feeling?"

"Much better thanks, and Sadie, she's woken a few times. I, uh," lowering her voice to a whisper, "told her what's happened since, well, since she got _hurt_. She understands. They were _really_ freaked out when they did the blood workup on her, let me _tell_ you. We had all _sorts_ of doctors, _nurses_ , specialists, technicians and such _in_ and out of here at all hours. I'm more tired from not getting any sleep now, than from being _hurt_. How's Thian and Tia, why didn't they come too?"

The three fill Tianna in on Thian and Tia's conditions, and their conversation with Ms. Yates.

"Yeah, I _met_ Ms. Yates. What a piece of work _she_ is," Tianna says with a laugh. "Tells people what to do like she actually _owns_ the place or something. She's really _mean_ and rude to all her staff. I don't _like_ her at all. _Good_ for you Rayolin. I would have loved to see you _rip_ her a new one."

"Oh, well, _thank_ you dear... I _think_ ," Rayolin says with a laugh. "What have they asked you, about who you are, who Sadie is, and what you're doing in the area without parents or guardians? By the way, I told them I am your _cousin_ , so should they ask..."

"Good _thinking_! Yeah, okay, I'll remember. Well, let's see, they kept asking me who I was, and I would only tell them my name is Tianna. I wouldn't give them my last name. I told them Sadie's name was, well, _Sadie_ , and that _whatever_ our business was here, was our own, and that we, and Tia and Thian, had _run_ away together a couple years ago. They wanted to know from where, and I told them to _stuff_ it!

"The second they found out that Sadie was _Keptic_ , from her blood tests, they placed the guards outside, and _all_ the doc's, nurses and others, started coming in to do all _kinds_ of tests on her. She's been in and out of here so many times for tests, I'm always afraid when she leaves, she _won't_ be back."

"Well, you won't have to worry about _that_ anymore," Amanda says with a smile. "Rayolin pretty much saw to that, and Ms. Yates was _not_ happy in the least."

A small groan comes from Sadie, who slowly flutters her eyes open, to see Rayolin smiling down at her.

"Rayolin?" Sadie's weak voice squeaks.

"Yes dear, I'm here. _Anastasia_ is here too. So is... _Lily_ , you know, the nice old lady Tianna told you had _found_ you in the park, after your _hiking_ accident."

Anastasia had stepped over and is smiling at Sadie, when Amanda walks over and looks down at her tiny face. Sadie looks at Amanda, completely bewildered, then, slowly she remembers what Tianna had told her, about Amanda Transfiguring into an old woman, so as not to be recognized.

" _Lily_?" Sadie says with a weak smile as her eyes close and she is once again unconscious.

"Rayolin, how is she?" Amanda asks noticing Rayolin now reading over Sadie's chart on the nearby viewing crystal.

"Well, I am not sure how or _where_ they managed to get it, but it _seems_ that Sadie has had several pints of _Keptic_ blood administered. It looks as though her condition is improving rapidly. It states here that some unknown substance had been found within the wound on her neck. That must be some of the _plant_ substance you had told me about Amanda. Some of it must have remained _deep_ within the wound I could not remove with the instruments I have at home. It seems that _whatever_ that substance was, is of _great_ interest. There are special notes to the administrator as to the discovery of some _new_ and previously _undiscovered_ healing substance. That may _not_ be good."

"Why?" Tianna asks with worry in her voice.

"Well, _think_ about it for a moment," Rayolin says as she examines Sadie herself. "Several children are found in a park, who _claim_ to have been injured in an _hiking_ accident. The children claim to have _no_ parents, but will not say where they come from, _nor_ where they are going, or what brings them to this city. They discover that the most _seriously_ injured is a very young _Keptic_ girl. This _alone_ would be of the greatest interest and suspicion. Upon further inspection, they find that this young Keptic girl has some _unknown_ healing substance imbedded within her wound. A substance which _could_ be worth _millions_ to whoever finds it and perhaps is able to _synthesize_ it.

"The Keptic are one of the most _powerful_ of _all_ Wizitch kind. To have possession of one, to be able to _study_ one first hand, is almost _unheard_ of. It would be an opportunity _few_ could pass up. And to _exploit_ the skills and abilities of one as young as Sadie, to get her to _trust_ and befriend them... well, the implications are _staggering_!"

"Well, I can tell you, they questioned me for _hours_ , but I never changed my statement. And, the few times Sadie _has_ woken up, she only stayed awake about as long as she did now, so _she_ hasn't told them anything either. The only time Sadie was awake for about half an hour, was when I told her everything that had happened. I'm not sure she fully understood though, she didn't _look_ too good, you know. When I asked how she was doing, the only thing she did was _smile_. She closed her eyes and was unconscious again."

Amanda, Rayolin and Anastasia stay for a few more minutes, telling Tianna of Amanda's plans to help Poa and his family. Tianna is thrilled and says she will tell Sadie the next time she wakes, knowing it will cheer her up.

After a few more minutes, they leave, telling Tianna they will say hi to Tia and Thian for them.

As they pass through the room door, the two guards give them curious looks as they let them pass.

Once they reach the nursing station, the floor nurse gives them a quick glance, then ignores them, which is fine with them.

Once outside, the three of them quickly make their way down the boardwalk, then into the alleyway. Once behind the wooden boxes, Amanda slips the Specteroscope from her pants pocket, as Anastasia and Rayolin place a hand on Amanda's shoulder.

"On three," Amanda says checking to see that no one is around. "One... two... _three_!" then presses the buttons.

Once again, there is a bright flash, the brief trip within the colorful tunnel, then...

_Flash_!

Thian jumps to his feet, Tia crying out with pain as she instinctively does the same, as the room is lit by the flash. Turning his eyes back to where the flash had occurred, Thian smiles at the sight of Amanda all bent over, holding her cane in one hand, the Specteroscope in the other. Anastasia and Rayolin, have a frightened look on their faces as they drop their hands from Amanda's shoulders.

After about an hour of telling their story, with many questions from Tia and Thian, Amanda leaves to change into her usual self. When she comes back into the room, she is wearing her backpack, and holding her broom.

"You are leaving now dear?" Rayolin asks with a saddened tone.

"Yeah, I promised I'd go back and help Poa and his people. Listen, I'll come back _every_ day for a little while, so we can go to check on Tianna and Sadie okay? Then, I'll go back and help Poa some more. I don't know _how_ long it will take to do everything for them, but I want to do whatever I can."

"Yeah, well, when I'm _better_ , in a couple days," Thian says seriously, " _I'm_ going with you. I want to help too."

"And when I'm better, _I'm_ coming too," Tia says firmly. "They're _my_ friends too you know."

"Um, mom? May _I_ go with Amanda, if she doesn't mind that is? I mean, you _really_ don't need me here to help with Thian and Tia do you? And, well, if you _do_ need me, like Amanda said, we'd be coming back _every_ day. I'd _really_ like to meet Poa and his people, and besides, maybe Amanda could show me how to help her. _Two_ of us would make things go _faster_ you know... _please_?"

Looking at Rayolin's face, you can see that she is thinking about what had happened the last time she had told Anastasia it was okay to go with them on an adventure. After a few moments pause, she says, "Well, okay honey, but you can go on _one_ condition, that is, _if_ it is alright with Amanda that you accompany her."

"What condition is that?" Amanda asks watching a small smile creep across Rayolin's face.

"On the _condition,_ that once Thian and _Tia_ are able to join you, that _I_ go too. I would really _love_ to meet this race of Grass People you have told me so much about, and perhaps, if possible, and _safe_ , we could all go and visit _Qumong_ also... _deal_?"

They all _cheer_. Amanda says, "You _bet_! Anastasia, shove some stuff into your pack and grab your broom. The cabin still has some food and stuff, but over the next few days, when we revisit the city, I want to go shopping for new supplies and _fully_ restock the cabin, for _whatever_ adventures we get ourselves into next. _Go_... grab your stuff."

Ten minutes later, a grinning Anastasia comes into the living room saying, "Okay, I'm ready. I can't _believe_ I'm actually going to visit another _realm_... and meet a _new_ race of, uh, people made from _grass_ and trees and all. Let's go!"

Amanda pulls out her Specteroscope as Anastasia walks over to her, placing her hand on Amanda's shoulder.

"On three. One... two... _three_!"

In a flash, the two of them vanish. Once again leaving Rayolin silently questioning whether she has done the right thing in letting her go.

#  The Second Shard

Amanda finds herself speeding through the colorful tunnel, maneuvering many twists and turns, until soon, she sees the solid black end rapidly approaching.

_Flash_!

Amanda feels Anastasia's hand drop from her shoulder as Anastasia gasps at the sight around her. They are standing a short distance in front of Thian's cabin. Nearby is the treeline, and many strange looking creatures resembling people made from grass, leaves and vines, having turned to look at them. Many smile and wave as Amanda smiles and waves back.

"By the _moons_ Amanda, we're really _here_ aren't we? I've only been to our own village and to the city, and of course, into _Witch Mountain_ , but never anywhere else. But to think... we are standing on another _realm_ , who knows _how_ far from our own... _wow_!"

Amanda laughs as she slips the Specteroscope back into her pocket, hearing a familiar voice.

"Amanda, you're _back_ ," Poa calls as he makes his way forward on his grass and vine woven feet. Amanda quickly takes Anastasia's hand, knowing that once she speaks to Poa, Anastasia will be able to understand his language. "And you've brought a _friend_ ," Poa says stopping beside them. Anastasia receives a slight shock through her body and the fuzzy speech in her ears. She instantly knows what has happened and smiles.

"Hi Poa. This is Anastasia. Anastasia, this is my friend _Poa_ ," Amanda says getting a nod from Anastasia, letting Amanda know she can understand the new speech, as Amanda drops her hand.

Anastasia and Poa exchange pleasantries, then Poa asks, "How are your friends? Are they going to be alright?"

Amanda and Anastasia fill Poa in on their conditions. Amanda asks, "Have you, your dad and the others figured out what you'd like done?"

" _Yes_ , well, what would be our greatest _desire_ , that is. But, _none_ of us believe it can be done. It is _just_ not possible. But then again, I told them that you said you would return the waters to us, and you did... so, what _harm_ would it do to plan things out, show you what we would like, and see what you say. If you can even do a _little_ of what is planned, it would be of _tremendous_ help to my people."

"Well, _Anastasia_ and I are here to get things started. We will return to Anastasia's realm to check on our injured friends every day. When the others are healed, _they_ all want to come back and help too."

Poa's mother and father joined them and cannot believe creatures unlike themselves would want to help them, _especially_ , the _Wielder_ herself. But, they know that none of them would be alive if not for Amanda and her friends. They take Anastasia and Amanda into the forest, to a small clearing, where many Grass and _Tree_ People are seated, to discuss what had been decided upon.

In no time, Amanda and Anastasia return to the cabin to clean it up. There is mud and dirt _everywhere_ from the Grass People going in and out, _especially_ leaving the bath tub. Fortunately, Amanda knows several spells that can not only remove all the dirt and stains, but will leave _everything_ spotless. It takes over an hour for Anastasia to learn and get a handle on the spells, but once she does, Amanda sets her loose on the Instant Outhouses to clean them up, while she flies off to check on the progress of the release of water from the gel.

Amanda checked the gel, then had flown to several of the closest locations Poa and his people would like altered. Once back at the cabin, she helps Anastasia finish cleaning up the Instant Outhouses, put them back into their cans, then store them back in the cabin under the sink.

"Anastasia," Amanda says as they wash their hands in the kitchen. "When I was out flying around, I asked the manual in the Specteroscope how to store the location I was at, so I could return to that spot whenever I wanted. It turns out, you can store as many locations in the Scope as you want, and can just tell it to save the place with the name you give it. Then, you just ask the scope to take you to such and such a place. It's _really_ easy. So, I don't have to keep asking the _Specter_ in the scope."

"Great, that should help in the future for sure."

"Yeah it should. But, I was _thinking_ too, that, well, _maybe_ we could bring Poa, or even some _others_ to the places they want something done. That way, they can show us for _sure_ where they want something, you know?"

"But... _can_ you take, uh, Grass People _with_ you using the Specteroscope? Like, well, _regular_ people and stuff?"

Amanda laughs, "I've got _no_ idea. But, I was thinking, we've been able to bring our brooms with us, and, well, the _cane_ I used came with me alright. They were made of _wood_ and twigs for the most part, so I think maybe they can. Although, those things weren't actually _living_."

"Hey! Why not see if you can take a _plant_ with you, and see if it gets there okay... and is still alive when you get there and back?"

"That's a _great_ idea! Yeah, okay, let's go tell Poa what we want to do. Wonder if he or anyone else would want to travel by _Specteroscope..._ " Amanda says laughing as they head out of the cabin.

They find Poa and a few others, then tell them their plan. _No_ one but Poa is willing to go, should the plant survive that is. Amanda takes a small plant which Poa gives her, then vanishes for a few moments, reappearing with a smile.

"Well, _here's_ the plant Poa. Looks okay to me, but, well, _check_ it out okay?" Amanda says handing Poa the plant.

After looking it over very carefully, he smiles. "It is in _pristine_ condition. May I go with you this time? I _am_ frightened, but would _love_ to experience what your kind can do."

"Sure. Anastasia, grab your broom and come along." Anastasia quickly retrieves her broom and steps up to Poa and Amanda, who are surrounded by at least two dozen Grass and Tree People gathered in a rather large circle. Poa's mother and father are standing beside Poa.

"Okay... you _sure_ you really want to do this Poa?" Amanda asks seriously. "I mean, the _plant_ made it okay, but..."

"Yes, _please_. I _know_ the risk, but if you had not found me and cared for me when you did, I would _already_ be dead. It is _my_ decision to make, and I have made it. I am ready."

"Well... okay, you need to put your, um, hand on my shoulder here. Yeah, that's good. Anastasia, all set?" Anastasia nods as she places her hand on Amanda's other shoulder, while Amanda pulls the Specteroscope from her pocket. Turning some dials, she says to the Scope, "Grass People, location _one_." The dials and disks of the scope begin spinning by themselves, then stop.

"We go on three," Amanda says looking at Poa and his wooden knothole eyes, as all the other creatures take several steps back. "One... two... _three_!" then pushes the buttons.

Flash!

The color within the tunnel never even shows up - the trip is that fast. As the flash dissipates, Amanda and the others find themselves standing near the river, which now has a good amount of water running through it. There are dozens of Grass and Tree People who turn, startled to see Amanda and Anastasia, but dumfounded to see Poa dropping his vine and root-like fingers from the visitor's shoulder.

Since Poa's eyes are made from knotholes, Amanda knows they can't grow large like a human's or an elf's, but she laughs as she sees Poa quickly looking around, as a very large grin spreads on his grassy face. Many of the Grass and Tree People make their way as quickly as they can to join the three arrivals.

"Oh! That was _wonderful_!" Poa says with a grin. "I... I feel _fine_ too. The trip did not hurt at all. I cannot _wait_ to do that again!"

"Sounds like mom," Anastasia says. Both Amanda and Anastasia laugh.

After being taken into the trees near the river, providing some shade for their guests, Amanda and Anastasia listen to what they would like done, if such a thing were possible. After several minutes, they all leave the shade of the trees and enter back near the river.

"Poa, Anastasia and I are going to fly up and out a ways. I'm going to use some spells I know to trace out what I _think_ everyone is talking about. If it looks okay when I'm finished, Anastasia and I will dig the new streams, _ponds_ and create the large _lake_ the elders would like. If you, or they don't like what I draw, no problem, I'll just keep doing it until it's the way you or they want, okay?"

Poa and the others agree, however, none of the Grass and Tree People believe such things can be done. Even Poa is skeptical.

Amanda and Anastasia fly toward the river, then hover several hundred feet before reaching the water's edge. Amanda pulls her wand and begins showing Anastasia the wand movements and the proper phrasing, to shallowly carve into rock or dirt.

"I'll show you how to do it first," Amanda says smiling. "If you would like to try after that, great."

Amanda points her wand at the ground, does a small flourish of movements saying, " _Crecia_!" and while keeping her wand pointed at the ground, begins flying rather slowly. Anastasia, Poa and the others are surprised to see a fairly wide, shallow gouge appear in the ground beneath Amanda as she flies. Poa and the others exchange looks, then turn back to watch Amanda making several long snake like turns, continuing for a good mile or so, before the orange jets from her wand suddenly stop, and she and Anastasia quickly fly back.

"Well? _How'd_ I do?" Amanda asks with a grin. "Is something like that what you had in mind?"

Poa steps up with his Grass-like smile. "You did well. I _think_ it is very good," he turns to the elders who nod.

"Poa, would you and perhaps some of the elders, or others, like to come with us to where we ended this first run? That way, you or they, could better point out just where you want the lake, okay?"

Poa of course is thrilled at the chance. He asks the others and is surprised to find that two of the elders, and three of the younger Grass People wish to go.

Amanda has all of them hold their hands of vines and branches, as once again Poa places his hand on Amanda's shoulder, Anastasia doing the same.

"On three. One... two... _three_!"

Flash!

Amanda hears gasps from the others as Poa's hand slips from her shoulder.

After several moments of the startled Grass and Tree People looking around and talking very excitedly, they get down to business. They have a short discussion, then point out where they would like a lake, and say any size would be good, however, a very large lake would be wonderful, since many of their kind can spread out around the lake, and enjoy not only the refreshing nutrients when they plant their feet, but also the wonderful view.

After taking everyone back to the river where they all began, the elders and the youngsters excitedly tell everyone of the marvelous experience, Amanda and Anastasia fly off toward where the lake is to be dug.

Once at the site of the lake, Amanda says, "Okay. _Here's_ what I think we should do. If you're _up_ for it, I'd like you to fly back and forth from _here_ to the river where we started the gouge. Use the _same_ spell, but add the phrase, ' _Dissolvo_.' That will not only keep digging, but _this_ time, all _dirt_ , rock and _other_ debris will dissolve into _nothing_. Just keep doing that until Poa and the others say it's deep enough, _okay_? I'm going to get started on the lake."

"Yeah, okay. I _hope_ I do it alright. See you in a bit." With that, Anastasia rises, pulls her wand, points it at the shallow gouge below her and with a flick of her wrist says, " _Crecia Dissolvo_!" An orangish-yellow jet flares from her wand, her eyes growing large as a much deeper gouge begins. As she slowly flies off, all dirt, rock, old stumps, fallen trees and such, vanish, leaving a nice clean gouge in the ground.

Amanda laughs watching Anastasia flying along one of the long winding curves with a huge grin on her face.

Amanda flies high, then begins making a pattern in the ground as she goes. The shape of the lake she has in her head is _huge_ with many nice curves. After about an hour, she finishes her outline. Anastasia has flown back and forth many times, and has now gotten the okay from Poa and the others that the depth is perfect.

Amanda flies back to everyone. As she dismounts she says, "Anastasia, _nice_ job! It's _awesome_!"

" _Thanks_ , that was _really_ fun, but _tiring_. I kept _breaking_ concentration and had to start _over_ and over again. But, I think I'm getting the _hang_ of it now. So... how are things at the lake?"

"That's why I came back. I'd like Poa and the others to come with us like before and tell me how _deep_ to make it, and what _slope_ they want."

They all agree and in a few moments are all standing a short distance from a small portion of the outline. None of them have any idea of the scale of the lake from this perspective, since the scope of the lake can only be seen from above. Amanda leaves one Grass Person at this location, taking the others to various places around the outline, arriving at the final place with Poa and Anastasia.

"Okay," Amanda says with a grin. "Poa, I'm going to leave you here to check the _contour_ and depth at this spot. With you and the others spaced out around the lake, I _think_ we can all get what you want. Anastasia, you come with me and I'll show you the _hollowing_ spells."

With that, the two girls fly off, leaving a rather confused Poa trying to see where the lake is going to be, but the outline is very shallow, and soon vanishes from sight as he looks into the distance.

At a good height, Amanda spends a few minutes showing Anastasia the wand movements, along with the phrasing.

"Got it?" Amanda asks.

"Yeah. Well, I _think_ so anyway."

"Okay. _Watch_ me for a while, then I want you to fly back a ways to one of the other Grass People, and _try_ it out. Don't worry if you get it wrong a _little_ to begin with. The great thing here is, if you _overdue_ it, it's going to be a lake after all, and it's going to take a good _many_ passes to get things hollowed to the depth they want. Come on, let's get this lake started."

With that, Amanda does a flourish of movements as she casts the spell. Anastasia's mouth falls fully open, as below them, a good chunk of ground vanishes as Amanda waves her wand, first in large circles, then in ever smaller ones, the ground vanishing as she swings her arms.

In a few moments, Poa's head turns from side-to-side, as the ground a short distance in front of him, simply disappears, having dropped down several feet. His own grass-like mouth opens as Amanda and Anastasia begin to fly, Amanda still waving her arms in circles. The scope of the _giant_ lake begins to form in his mind. After several stunned moments, Poa smiles.

Several hours later, the little lake that Poa and the others had discussed, has turned into a gigantic, wonderfully curving lake, which will nourish thousands of Grass and Tree People. It is far from finished by any means, however, the shape and magnitude is now easily visible.

After collecting the other startled but excited Grass and Tree People, Amanda and Anastasia take them back to the cabin, near the beginning of the project.

Over the next several days, Amanda and Anastasia have gone back to see Rayolin, Tia, Tianna, Sadie and Thian.

Sadie is now fully conscious, and recovering quickly. Far faster than anyone could fathom, but then again, she _is_ Keptic. Tianna's hip is also coming along well.

After two more days, Rayolin, Tia and Thian have joined Anastasia and Amanda, and have been taught the spells needed to help Poa and his people. Rayolin is beside herself, acting like a little kid having just discovered candy. She wants to know everything about these marvelous creatures and their history. Anastasia had told the others that she had never seen her mom so happy and excited before.

After three more weeks, Amanda and the others have completed the lake, nine ponds, the branch from the river, as well as seven streams. They had taken dozens and dozens of Grass and Tree People from areas far, far away, once Poa had convinced them they would not die in the process, to various locations around the still dry lake. Amanda had to smile seeing several dozen frightened Grass and Tree People all holding hands in a long row, with one touching her.

"Well, the _hospital_ said that tomorrow _Sadie_ and Tianna will be discharged," Tia says at the end of a very long day. "I think it was _really_ nice of Tianna to stay with Sadie, even though she could have been discharged last week. When do we fill the lake Amanda?"

"Well, I was thinking... how about... _now?_ "

"Are you _kidding_?" Anastasia says placing a hand to her mouth, then looking at her mom. Rayolin has the biggest grin on her face Anastasia can remember.

"Well _yeah_. Why _not_?" Amanda says grinning. "It's early evening, and it looks like it'll be a _beautiful_ night. Full _moon_ and all. Let's get Poa and his family, and the others too, and have some kind of, uh, ' _The return of the waters_ ' ceremony."

They all laugh, then eagerly gather Poa and the others near the river and the new branch which leads off to the gigantic lake.

Once everyone has gathered, Amanda says, "We've finished all the digging, _trenching_ and hollowing. It's time to begin to release and direct the water along its new routes. Poa, I'm going to fly _way_ back to where I stopped the water, then begin releasing it. Thian and the others will be stationed along the routes, to direct the water as it gets there, to make sure it flows properly. Okay, let's _do_ this!"

Amanda and the others mount and fly off quickly to take up their previously assigned positions. Amanda makes her way to the massive water gel, and gives the command to release it in a good sized volume, but at a rate which will not destroy the surrounding land.

Amanda watches with a smile, as the gel melts into the clear fresh water, which quickly makes its way down the river. Flying just above the crest, she soon sees the branch she and the others had cut.

When Amanda and the huge volume of water reach the new branch, Anastasia flicks her wrist, points her wand at the rushing water, and as she directs her wand along the new branch, a large volume moves in that direction. Once the water is moving rapidly along the new river on its own, Anastasia flies up to join Amanda. They smile as they hear Poa and his family _cheer_ from a short distance away, as they all move as fast as their grass, root and vine-like legs can carry them, to witness the movement of the life-giving waters.

There are cheers all along the new river and branching streams, as the Grass and Tree People stand watching the water enter their new home. Soon, the water has reached the gigantic lake, and cheers erupt from miles around as the starlight glints off the water. It will take many days for the ponds and the lake to fill, but the finished waterways will be far beyond the dreams of all.

Sadie and Tianna have now joined them. Both Tianna and Sadie are as strong and fit as ever. Amanda had programmed the Specteroscope to take her directly into the hospital room. One night, she suddenly appeared, Sadie and Tianna ready to leave. With a flash, the three of them vanished into the night. When the night nurse came in to check on them and found them gone, heads would roll! The guards insisted they had not seen or heard anything, and that the two girls had simply vanished without a trace!

Over the next month, Sadie and the others learning what they needed from Amanda, dug out many other rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. Amanda and Tianna built many stone bridges over the rivers and streams, even across the gigantic lake at narrow places, so the Grass and Tree People could travel freely from one side to the other to visit friends.

After a long and tiring day, Amanda and the others say goodnight to Poa and his people and head for the cabin.

"Well, we're _all_ finished," Amanda says dropping into one of the chairs in the living room next to a tall glow lamp. They did not want to make a wood fire since their new friends are made partly from trees... it just wouldn't be right.

"So what _now_ Amanda?" Rayolin asks sitting on one of the couches cuddled up next to Anastasia.

"Well, _actually_ Rayolin, I thought you and Anastasia, and any of the _rest_ of you that want to come, could pay a visit to _Qumong_ , before moving on."

Rayolin and Anastasia are thrilled, as are the others. At first, they thought that perhaps Sadie may wish to stay at the cabin, having almost been killed there. However, she is as eager to see Qumong again as anyone.

They all have a good night's sleep, and after a very nice breakfast, Poa having provided them with much fruit and berries, and Amanda having fully restocked the cabin to almost bursting the day before, with one full cupboard crammed with packages of _Instant Cookies_ , they pack everything up, including the cabin, which Thian slips into his pant's pocket.

"Amanda," Tia asks, "you said something about not only stocking the cabin, but having purchased and stored like a year's supply of food in some cave or something. What for?"

"Well, we have a little food in our packs and even some in the outhouses under the sink. Most is in the cabin of course, but it can only hold so much. I was just thinking that, not knowing where we may be going, and for how long, we may run out of food. If we do, that means needing to get to some village or town and that just means a greater chance of being found out. Couldn't hurt anyway. Got tons of _cookies_ too!"

Hearing a noise, they turn to see dozens of Poa's people coming to see them off.

Poa, along with his mother and father, step from the shadows of the nearby trees. Poa's father is carrying what looks to Amanda, to be an odd shaped wad of grass and vines. As Poa steps forward, he takes the strange package from his father, turns and hands it to Amanda.

"What's _this_?" Amanda asks looking at the strange bundle.

"My father and the elders, had not believed me when I had told him you wore the stone of _terror_ , the same one described in detail to us by our ancestors, for unknown generations. I told my father the story you had told me, of how you came to possess it, the day when I saw what you call _The Necklace Of Power_ , slip from beneath your robe. I did not believe it myself at first, because the One who wore the _single_ red stone ages ago, was _pure_ evil. She killed all of her own kind when she had first arrived for no reason whatsoever, then _killed_ and tortured _thousands_ of our ancestors.

"The One, bound our kind to serve her _forever_ , her only command, to _protect_ what she handed to us, which is what you now hold in your hands. We were commanded to _kill_ any and _all_ who come looking for what you now hold. To _protect_ it at whatever the cost, including all the lives of our kind. To _never_ let it leave our lands, unless she returned, or all our kind _would_ be tortured or killed from some _horrible_ curse she had cast upon us eons ago.

"We _have_ obeyed Wielder, all through time passed, much to our own horror and _shame_. We _have_ killed all who have come here and said they were looking for what you now possess. It was _only_ when my mother and father saw your necklace for themselves, that they _too_ believed, that you... are the _new_ Wielder, and wear around your neck that of what we so much fear. But your kindness is not born of the Dark but from the _Light_. Wielder, _all_ our kind would have perished, if not for _your_ kindness, caring and the help of your friends.

"These that you have brought with you, are of the _Light_ also, and shall _forever_ be welcomed should any wish to return. We wish you _peace_ and good fortune in your journeys, wherever they may lead. We hope that what you hold will help you in your quest, for I believe it is one of those which you seek. We give it freely and wish to be released from our bond, should you wish to release us."

Amanda's heart beats wildly as she quickly unwraps the mass of tightly woven grass. As the last binding drops away, the top half of the grass cover falls, leaving an oddly shaped Shard resting in her hand.

"Oh my god! It's... it's one of the thirteen _Shards_!" She is so surprised that she begins to shake. Amanda had planned to ask if they may know anything about the Shards before leaving, but, never in a million years would she have expected to simply be handed such a treasure.

"Poa... you have no idea what this _means_ to me! Thank you _so_ much!" She steps forward giving him a hug, hearing some grass crunching from the tight squeeze. "Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you!"

Laughing, Poa says, "It did not hurt, it was quite _pleasant_ actually." Stepping to the side, Amanda cautiously hugs Poa's mom, then his dad, both smiling broadly.

Stepping back next to Thian and the others, all with tears in their eyes, Amanda holds up her arms and says in a commanding voice. " _I_ , the Wielder, _release_ you and all your kind, from _any_ bond the previous Wielder commanded. You are _free_ to live in peace, and, I, uh, _command_ that you harm _none_ but those who wish to do harm to you. Um... Live _long_ and prosper!" As she lowers her arms, cheers erupt from all around.

"We need to go now Poa, but if we ever get the chance, we _will_ come back to visit." Poa smiles while nodding.

Amanda looks at the Shard in her hand, steps to the side away from the others, then with a smile waves her wand over the Shard mumbling something the others cannot hear. In a green flash, the Shard is gone.

As Amanda turns back to the others, her face clearly goes gray for a moment as she staggers forward clutching at her necklace.

"Amanda!" Thian shouts rushing forward grabbing her by the shoulders. "Amanda, are you alright?"

Feeling slightly faint and tingly all over for another few heartbeats, she raises her head to look into Thian's worried eyes, the dizziness and tingling vanishing and she feels just fine.

"Yeah. That was _weird_. Maybe I'm coming _down_ with something."

Motioning Thian and the others to her, Amanda slips the Specteroscope from her pocket, sets the dials to take them all to the _Lake Of Qumong_ , as everyone takes their now familiar positions around her, each holding onto the other.

" _Goodbye_ everyone! Amanda cries loudly, her friends smiling and waving to the Grass People one last time. "Okay everyone, here we go, hang on. On three. One... two... _three_!

In a flash, they are gone.

They arrive in a flash of blinding light where Amanda had last seen the Hydra. Anastasia and Rayolin have their mouths open as their eyes take in the scene around them. Everywhere they look, there are mounds of rock and dirt with many small and odd looking plants scattered about.

From off to Amanda's right comes a familiar voice. " _Wielder_! You have returned, and with the others. You, you are _all_ healed? But... _how_?" Little Sadie steps into view. " _Sadie_ , I am so _very_ pleased to see you, I was so afraid you would not make it, but _look_ at you!"

Sadie runs to Qumong, hugging him, which at first startles him, but soon makes him laugh. Thian, Tia, and even a reluctant Tianna give him hugs too, then introduce Rayolin and Anastasia.

Over the next three days, they tell Qumong all that has happened, and that the Grass People are once again thriving. Qumong shows them around the area of destruction and the new plants already poking their small heads up through the damaged soil.

Several months pass as Amanda and the others help Qumong reconstruct the landscape in the manner he would like, as they very carefully transplant all of Qumong's family into their new locations. Amanda and Rayolin return several times to Arcoma Village so Rayolin can check on the villagers, while Amanda changes into the little old woman and snoops around back near the hospital, to see if she can hear anything about who may be hunting her and the others, or who may be waiting in the shadows to snatch them should they show themselves. Amanda also restocks the cabin with each visit. Rayolin tells the villagers that she is visiting her ailing mother, but will return when things work themselves out.

Soon, it is time to leave, for Rayolin needs to get back home and tend to the villagers. She and Anastasia have been gone far too long.

They say their goodbyes to Qumong, each giving him a hug, then step away.

Using the Specteroscope, everyone returns to Rayolin's home and spends the night.

After breakfast, Amanda and the others gather their things and meet in the living room to say goodbye.

"Well, we really need to be going," Amanda says with a sigh. "It was _really_ great to see you two again, and spend some more time together."

"We loved _every_ moment of it dear, well, most anyway. Anastasia and I have now _both_ shared in adventures, and will remember them for the rest of our lives. Thank you."

Everyone exchanges hugs, then Rayolin and Anastasia step away as the others gather round Amanda, getting into their positions, each holding onto another. Amanda smiles at Rayolin after setting the buttons on the Specteroscope, saying, "Oh, by the way, I put a _little_ money into your account, it's not _much_ , but it may help some, thanks again for offering to have us use whatever you had." Not waiting for an argument, Amanda says quickly, "On _three_! Hang on, here we go. One... two... _three_!" She pushes the buttons and in a flash, they are gone.

Amanda had told the others the night before, that when she was getting supplies for the cabin a few days ago, she had decided to put some money into Rayolin's bank account, to thank her for all she and Anastasia had done for them. Amanda told them that when she had been scanned at one of the kiosks, after entering her account number, she was shocked to see that her balance had substantially gone up!

Thian laughed and reminded her that because of the very large amount in their vaults, the interest applied would be 0.075 percent per month! This is because there is only one Wizitching banking system for all the Wizitch realms, and therefore, the banking system is able to pay out huge interest rates. They have all been gone a considerable amount of time since their initial deposits, so all their accounts have grown. With a huge grin, Amanda tells everyone that she transferred 4,000,000 Turrens into Rayolin's account. They all laugh as Thian says, "Well, _that_ should knock the socks off her. I bet she _faints_ too! Anastasia's gonna go nuts!"

*~*~*~*

As Amanda waved her wand over the second shard and it vanished from her hand, beneath the floorboards of her hiding place, where the first Shard lay, a sparkling appears. In a moment the second Shard begins vibrating, glowing a fierce, deep red. The new Shard begins moving toward the first, as though drawn by a magnet. In another moment, the two Shards snap together, the seam between them vanishing to become one Shard.

The glowing dims, and all goes dark.

*~*~*~*

#  Arrival at The Burning Swamp Of The Dead

After the usual trip through the multi-colored tunnel, reaching the black end of it, there is a blinding flash as Amanda finds herself standing on damp but firm ground. Hearing frantic splashing behind her, she quickly turns to see Thian and Tianna thrashing in green fuzzy water. They quickly pull themselves out of the water, as Amanda, Tia and Sadie burst into laughter.

Spitting out a mouthful of slimy green water, Thian says quite irritated, "Oh yes, _very_ funny, very funny... unless it happens to _you_!"

Tianna, quickly getting to her feet, pulls a large clump of soggy moss from her hair. Letting out a stream of profanity, she turns away from Thian, reaches into the top of her blouse, and pulls out a large chunk of moss. The others are in tears, they are laughing so hard.

Thian, shaking his head like a wet dog, covers everyone with sprays of water and shouts, "Well? Stop _laughing_ , it's not _funny_ you know!" But, looking down at himself covered completely in fuzzy green moss, like some kind of swamp creature, he turns to look at Tianna, who is looking at him with a smile spreading across her face. Looking at her green hair and some moss in her teeth, he bursts into laughter, which sets them all to laughing even harder.

"I thought Bellinora said the Specteroscope would _always_ get you to your destination _safely_!" Thian says shaking his leg trying to dislodge a rather large clump of moss from his boot.

"She _did_ ," Tia says with a laugh. "She said you didn't have to worry about appearing _inside_ a tree or _rock_ or something. She never said _anything_ about dropping into water though. Since this path is so narrow, I guess the way you and Tianna were holding on to us, put _us_ on the path, and the two of _you_ just a little off... into the _swamp_ water _next_ to the path!"

"Well, I sure hope that when we use the scope again, we don't arrive on a narrow ledge of some cliff, with some of us just a little _off_!" Tianna says with irritation.

"I don't think that'll happen actually," Amanda says wiping away a tear from laughing. "I don't think the Specteroscope will allow anyone to be killed. I don't know why though... just a feeling."

"Sadie... would you _mind_?" Tianna says trying to keep from laughing at Thian, who is jumping up and down, trying to get clumps of moss out from up inside his pant legs.

"My pleasure," Sadie says pointing her wand at Tianna. She uses her drying spell, followed by a focused removal spell Amanda had shown her to get rid of the moss, mud, sticks and other debris. She does the same to a most grateful Thian.

"Well, at least it's still _daylight_ here," Tianna says looking around. "And nothing's made the trip with us, so..."

"Hey! _Look_ at the sky over there," Tia says pointing up and off in front of them over the tall trees. "Those dark clouds are _really_ moving fast, and they're headed our way. But look at those clouds further behind. They sure are _black_ , but they've got some weird _gray_ areas too. I've never _seen_ a sky like this before, or clouds that move that _fast_ either. And, look how they're _rolling_ , like _waves_ in water. And look at all the _lightning_ flashing inside them. Wow! I've never seen _anything_ like _that_!"

"I have," Amanda says softly with foreboding, looking at the rolling sky headed straight for them.

"You have? _When_?" Tia asks as everyone turns to look at Amanda.

"When this _nightmare_ first started. When I was back on earth, running up the mountain in the _storm_ of all storms. _Remember_? I told you how the sky got really dark with black and gray clouds. _They_ were moving _just_ like these, more like a rolling _sea_ than a sky. It had gone from slightly overcast to a _full_ blown _violent_ storm within minutes. _That's_ when the rains started and all that _lightning_ began striking all around me. And we know why _that_ all happened now too, don't we."

Everyone is quiet for a moment, then in a small, shaky, frightened voice, Sadie says, "Yeah, Bellinora said someone had cast _spells_ on the mountain. One trying to _kill_ you, another to try to lead you to that first cave opening you found when you _fell_ off the cliff."

"Wait..." Thian says now looking up at the boiling sky several miles away, the thunder constantly booming. "You mean you think that someone cast a _spell_ to detect when somebody comes here? Like... to _find_ and take the Shard?"

"I don't know," Amanda says quietly. "I just know that _this_ sky looks and _acts_ like the one when everything first started. Looks like that lightning storm will reach us before those rolling clouds though, which are really flashing. I've got a _really_ bad feeling about this."

"Yeah, _me_ too," Tianna says looking around. "Take a look at all the ancient trees here, they're _gigantic_!"

"And look at their _roots_ ," Sadie says walking forward on the narrow dirt path. "Some of the roots crawl along the surface of the ground for like thirty _feet_ before going under. And _look_ at all those trees out in the water. All of 'em _covered_ in moss. And all those long _strands_ of moss hanging from all the branches. It gives me the _creeps_."

"This place gives _me_ the creeps too," Tianna says looking up. "The canopy of the trees _almost_ blocks out the dim light we have. It will get _really_ dark when those clouds get here, which by the looks of it, will be in another few minutes. And you can _feel_ the moisture that's already in the air."

"It's _hot_ and stuffy too," Thian says swatting at a large cloud of tiny flying insects, which only stirs them up into a larger cloud. "From the _looks_ of this place, our _next_ adventure isn't going to be much fun."

"Well, at least we _made_ it to the swamp," Amanda says with a sigh. "And, at least there's _one_ good thing... it's _not_ burning like its name says... that's _something_. Thian, pull out the map and let's see where we actually are, and where the first dot is okay? Maybe there's a place we can go to get away from the storm."

"Yeah, okay. Can we _move_ though, these no- _see_ -um's are flying all around my head." Then coughing says, "Oh _gross_! I just _inhaled_ a cloud of 'em... there's some _stuck_ to my tongue!" While making a disgusted expression, Thian quickly wipes his tongue with both his dirty hands, sending Sadie into a fit of laughter.

They walk along the narrow pathway until they come to a small clearing where the path _widens_ and more of the rapidly fading light filters in through the overhanging trees.

"The _smell_ here is _horrible_!" Tia says wrinkling her nose. "Like _rotting_ and decaying... _whatever_. You can actually _taste_ it. I feel like I'm gonna throw up."

"Well, then aim _away_ from me sis. But I'm with you, it really _stinks_ here, and it's so _humid_ , I'm already _sweating_. Thian, where _are_ we anyway?"

Thian unrolls the map then turns it around as he kneels on the ground, as do the others, so everyone can see.

"Here we are," Thian says pointing to a cluster of images with their names hovering above them. "Well, it looks like we're near the southeast end of the map. Gee. Look how _big_ this place is, and there must be... over a _hundred_ dots on this map. This could take _forever_!"

Just then, there is a brilliant flash, the thunder coming from directly over their heads make them all jump and cry out in surprise. They no sooner look up to the sky, when another flash momentarily blinds them, the bolt striking the ground fifty yards behind them, blowing a huge hole in the pathway as the rain begins to fall.

" _Snarkins_ that was close!" Thian says jumping to his feet as the others do the same.

Another bolt strikes a huge tree just behind and to the right of them, splitting it cleanly in half, one half tossed high in the air and falling rapidly toward them.

"Run!" Tianna yells as she scoops Sadie into her arms and sprints further along the now muddy pathway headed to the other side of their little clearing.

Thian snaps his head up and sees the massive tree about to strike them. Turning, he shoves Amanda hard, whereupon she falls and rolls down a short embankment, coming to a painful stop against a moss-covered boulder. As Amanda rolls over and looks up, the ground quakes from the impact of the huge fallen tree, which from her vantage point, has struck the ground right where she and Thian had been standing.

Thian had managed a few quick strides before losing his balance and slipping in the mud and falling hard on his face. Quickly standing he turns to run, but is struck by many branches from the massive limbs of the falling tree, sending him instantly and painfully to the ground with a moan, the wind knocked out from him. Suddenly, a huge limb slams against his chest... he hears and feels his ribs crack! Blood trickles from the corner of his mouth as he struggles for breath, a gurgling sound coming from his throat. He cannot move at all. His vision dims until all goes dark.

Amanda frantically scrambles on hands and knees, slipping and sliding as she claws her way up the slick moss and mud-covered embankment, the warm rain pouring down as if the flood gates of the skies have opened.

Reaching the top, for a brief moment Amanda is frozen in place by the horror of what she sees. The massive tree is laying right where she and Thian had been. It is obvious that Thian has been crushed by the limbs.

"Thian!" Amanda screams, her voice cracking as she looks at the massive fallen tree. She sprints for the spot where she had seen him.

Tia, along with Tianna who is still holding Sadie, run back to where the tree had fallen, coming to a sliding stop beside Amanda, eyes wide from fright, hearts racing.

"Thian!" Tianna cries lowering Sadie. "Amanda! _Do_ something!" As Tianna turns to look at Amanda, she sees Amanda coming out of her stupor.

Amanda snatches her wand from its holster, points it down at the huge tree, its massive branches lying over an unseen Thian, and with a flick of her wrist yells, " _Adscendo_!" as she snaps her arm up across her chest. The massive multi-ton tree flies from the ground, up and away from them through the air, over the nearby treetops and disappears from sight.

Tia, Tianna and Sadie are stunned, and for a moment are simply frozen in place. Moving a multi-ton object that massive is very difficult, and takes absolute, focused concentration. Yet, Amanda had no sooner pointed her wand when she had flicked her wrist, sending the massive tree whirling through the air like flicking a bug from your arm!

Amanda runs forward and drops to Thian's side. Tia, Tianna and Sadie sprint forward, completely soaked from the now relentless downpour, and drop beside Amanda who is quickly looking Thian over. The blood from Thian's mouth is smeared across his muddy cheek, but is quickly being washed away.

"Thian!" Amanda cries, tears streaming down her face mixed with the muddy water from her mud soaked hair. "Thian! _Please_ don't be dead... _please_!" Turning to the others she says, "He _pushed_ me out of the way. He's _dead_ because of _me_!"

"Amanda, _move_!" Tia says nudging Amanda aside. Tia kneels beside Thian and rests her ear on his chest, straining to listen through all the thunder and heavy rain. "His hearts beating, _barely_ , it's weak and _thready. H_ e's _alive_ , but I don't think he will be for long, he's _really_ hurt.

"His chest is _caved_ in. His _ribcage_ is shattered. He's bleeding from the mouth. He more than likely punctured a lung... maybe both, and possibly other organs as well. There's a _lot_ of internal bleeding.

"I... I don't know what to _do_!" Tia says bursting into tears. "We've _got_ to get him help, but I don't think there's _time_ to get him to _Rayolin_ or even the hospital. By the time Rayolin or doctors at the hospital look him over and run all kinds of tests on him... he'll be dead! We _have_ to get him out of this _rain_ though, so I can at least try _something_! But... _where_ can we go? There's no _room_ here to set up the cabin, and _it's_ got all the _medical_ supplies. Should we set up an _outhouse_ instead? Just to get him and us out of the storm? What should we _do_? Do any of you..." Tia stops short as she looks up into Amanda's eyes.

"What? What's _wrong_ sis?" Tianna asks with dread, wiping the tears and rain from her eyes.

Amanda has gone silent, and begins to stand.

With eyes wide, Tia glances at Tianna and Sadie, tilting her head in Amanda's direction.

Tianna looks up to see Amanda staring at the side of the mountain only half a mile away. Tianna is again about to ask Tia what she's talking about, when Amanda turns slightly, giving Tianna a clear look at Amanda's eyes.

" _Uh_ oh... they're _violet_... Great _Mother_ , here we go again," Tianna says as she stands along with Tia and Sadie, hugging Sadie close to her.

Amanda turns back, pointing her wand down at Thian. "Selo," she says evenly. Then turns to face a rather frightened Tia, Tianna and Sadie. In rapid succession, Amanda points her wand at each in turn, saying "Selo Treo... _Abscedo_!"

There is a bluish-white flash from Amanda's wand, as Thian, Tia, Tianna and Sadie, turn into a silver smoke and are sucked right into the tip of Amanda's wand... and vanish.

A brilliant red-orange flash lights the sky. Amanda's violet eyes look up into the rolling sea of black and grey clouds which have reached them. An odd smile creeps across her face, as several bolts of lightning strike but a few yards from her. Although there are only a few small animals there to witness it, in the afterglow of the lightning, a faint silver bubble begins to glow around Amanda. Mounting her broom she takes flight like the wolves of _Tuma_ are after her. As she flies, several bolts strike directly at her, but somehow, sensing the timing of the strikes, Amanda spins and zig zags on her broom, whirling around in odd movements, avoiding being struck.

To the few animals intently focused on the display of this odd behavior, it appears to them that this strange flying creature is actually enjoying itself.

Amanda quickly makes her way to the side of the mountain, descends and dismounts.

Once again snatching her wand from her holster, she fires a thick orange bolt up into the boiling black sky. Thin red fingers of lightening branch out into the clouds from where her bolt strikes, fanning out like webbing from a rock striking glass, sending thousands of red cracks in all directions.

The sky begins to swirl, like stirring a cup of hot coco. Faster and faster the swirling grows, until the clouds around the center begin to look like a massive black and gray galaxy. The dark clouds begin stretching as they are pulled into the center, as though a black hole rests there, then vanish, as though flushed down a drain. In a few moments, the majority of the rolling clouds have disappeared, leaving a much lighter rainy sky.

Amanda turns, pointing her wand at the ground to her right while yelling, " _Treo Ep Appareo_!" A stream of silver smoke shoots from the tip of the wand, hovering over the ground a few steps away. A green-white flash momentarily blinds her. When she looks back to where the silver smoke had been, a very frightened Tia, Tianna and trembling Sadie are standing looking around with eyes wide.

"What... what _happened_? Where _are_ we..." Sadie shrieks, her voice cracking.

Before anyone can answer, a bolt of lightning strikes the ground not more than thirty feet behind Amanda, making the girls cry out. Amanda, does not even flinch. She is staring directly at the solid mountainside beside them.

Turning slightly, Amanda looks at the girls for a moment, then down to where Thian is resting on the soaked ground, his hair covered by the mud running off the mountainside and pooling around them all. Amanda steps a few yards to the side away from the others, raising her wand, aiming it at the mountain.

Amanda begins making small circles by waving her wand arm around and around in front of her, making many small and intricate movements with her wrist. The size of her circles begin growing larger.

"What's she doing?" Tia asks in a hushed voice, the rain running into her eyes.

"Have _no_ idea," Tianna says in a whisper, just loud enough to hear over the thunder and pouring rain. "I sure hope she's still more _Amanda_ rather than, uh, one of her _necklace_ friends. But honestly, I don't think _Amanda_ would be doing... "

Amanda's arm, moving rapidly in ever larger circles, her wrist snapping in odd movements, yells, " _Caverno_!"

There is a flash from her wand as a continuous stream of lightning shoots from its tip. The girls jaws drop as the mountain in front of Amanda begins to hollow. A tunnel-like opening appears, the rock of the mountain simply vanishing as she begins walking forward, continuing to make circular motions with her wand. Amanda enters into the now hollowing tunnel of the mountain.

"Great _Mother_ of creation," Tianna says clutching tightly to Sadie, who is beginning to cut off the circulation in Tianna's leg. "I never knew you could _do_ that! Though, it must be like the spells used to create _Witch Mountain_. Come on, let's follow her, we'll catch our _death_ out here. It's like that _lightning_ has a mind of its own."

"But, what about _Thian_?" Tia asks looking down at Thian's still form.

"Yeah, I know," Tianna says looking down at him as well. "But we don't know if we should even _try_ move him or not. Let's see what Amanda is up to... she would _never_ leave Thian unless she had _something_ in mind, you know. I just _know_ she wouldn't!"

The girls follow Amanda into the cave-like tunnel. Making their way further inside, they soon come to where Amanda is standing with her arms at her side. Sadie, Tia and Tianna have their wands out and lit since it is dark inside.

Amanda turns, glancing at them for a quick moment, then turning away, begins waving her arms in circles in all directions around her, other than behind where the kids are standing. She shouts, " _Immuto Grandesco_!" To the others surprise, the walls and ceiling begin to change form and shape, and the cave tunnel begins to grow enormous in all directions. In a moment, they are facing a giant hollowed out cavern.

Amanda turns and walks directly at the girls, who step aside to let her pass. Amanda walks quickly down the tunnel, then steps outside. There, the girls see her point her wand down and to one side of the entrance. There is a quick flash, Amanda stepping back a little as Thian's limp form comes into view, floating some three feet off the ground.

"By the _Lord_ and Lady, would you look at _that_!" Tia says breathlessly. "She's using some kind of advanced _locomotive_ spell on Thian. He's laying _completely_ flat in the air. She's being _really_ careful not to move any part of him... _Wow_!"

"Yeah, we wouldn't learn something like that for like, eight or nine more years, if even _then_ ," Tianna says in awe.

Amanda directs Thian's body through the tunnel, past the girls and to the center of the cavern. There she raises her wand, causing Thian to rise some fifteen feet into the air. He begins rotating slowly, as if laying on a transparent turntable.

Amanda begins walking around him in a wide circle, her left hand clutching her necklace which she has pulled out from under her blouse. Pointing her wand again at Thian, she begins mumbling things none of the others can understand.

"What's she doing now?" Tia whispers looking worried.

"Shhh! I don't know, but we know she would _never_ hurt him, so let's just see what she does," Tianna says swallowing hard, never taking her eyes from Thian.

There is a bright green-blue flash. Thian's body begins to pulsate a blue-violet glow, which scares the heck out of the girls. Amanda continues to chant strange words and make odd movements with her wand. A large clear bubble suddenly appears around Thian, as hundreds of multi-colored electric arcs begin zapping his body from the inside of the bubble.

Tianna lets out a cry, as do Tia and Sadie, their eyes flying wide as their jaws drop once again. The sight is terrifying, yet beautiful.

After some three or four minutes, Amanda points her wand at Thian, flicks her wrist and the bubble and arcing vanish. Flicking her wrist again, Thian stops turning and slowly lowers to the cavern floor.

After a few heart pounding moments of everyone still shaking, staring at Thian's prone body, not knowing what will happen next, a moan escapes Thian. Tianna glances quickly at Amanda, who sensing her uncertainty, looks back at her, smiles and nods. Tianna runs forward followed by Tia and Sadie. Tianna drops to her knees by Thian's head as his eyes flutter open.

"What... what _happened_?" Thian asks groggily. "Feels like I've been _sat_ on by a _Gahthumptor_ or something. Last thing I remember, that tree was about to... hey, where _are_ we? How did we _get_ here?"

Amanda walks forward, looking directly at Thian. As their eyes meet, Thian's eyes go wide as he inhales sharply. He whispers, "By the _moons_! Her eyes... they're..."

" _Violet_... we know," Tianna says quietly turning to look at Thian, then back to Amanda. "And we're just hoping that it's _still_ Amanda standing there, and not one of her pals."

Amanda gives a slight smile at Thian, then takes a few steps away from them, looking around as though admiring her handiwork. Turning back to face them, she smiles, gives a slow, deep nod, blinks a few times, begins to weave, taking several staggering steps toward them. Her head tilts up as her eyes roll back, dropping her wand. As her eyes close, her knees buckle, dropping her hard to the dry and rocky cavern floor.

"Amanda! Thian shouts scrambling to his feet with a grunt of pain, the others jump up and run to kneel by Amanda. Thian, kneeling beside her head, begins stroking her cheek. "Amanda? Can you _hear_ me?"

"She's passed out," Tia says taking her pulse. "I think she'll be okay though. Maybe we should just let her rest. We've seen her do this _lots_ of times now, and she _always_ comes around.

"Thian, how are you _feeling_? The tree had fallen right beside you, and the huge _branches_ knocked you down and, well, a huge limb _crushed_ your chest. For a while, we thought you might be... _dead_. But when I put my ear on your chest, I _heard_ your heart beating, so I knew you were alive, but just. But, I'm _pretty_ sure you _had_ died just as Amanda started to do, well, _whatever_ it is she did."

"I... I _died_?" Thian says looking into all their ashen faces. "Oh. Well, then I _guess_ I'm really doing okay. Just really _sore_ you know. But, where _are_ we? And how did we _get_ here? What happened?"

The girls fill him in on what happened and the things Amanda had done.

" _Wow_... that's _unbelievable_ , you know!" Thian says shaking his head as they all sit in a circle around Amanda. "She used some _really_ powerful spells, _that's_ for sure. And... and I was _floating_ in a bubble and getting _zapped_ by bolts of electricity? And I was _glowing_... _green_? Why?"

"I'm not _sure_ , of course," Tia says furrowing her brows. "But, I _think_ she used some type of _advanced_ Wizitch to heal your internal injuries, repair your punctured lungs and other organs, then reconstruct your ribcage."

" _What_?" Tianna says _._ " But _sis_ , that's not _possible_. I mean, even... _momma_ couldn't do something like that, not even anyone at the clinic or any specialist I've ever heard of! I mean, I've never heard of _any_ hospital being able to something like that."

"Yeah, I _know_... I've never heard of it either, but Amanda has, well, _more_ knowledge than _anybody_ else in the healing arts could possibly _dream_ of. I sure wish she could teach _us_ how to do it."

"Well, then _why_ didn't she use it on all of us _before_ when we were hurt?" Sadie asks with a frown.

"I don't know Sadie," Tia continues. "Maybe she didn't _know_ she could. Maybe, something, _clicked_ in her now, you know. The thing is, I'm a little _worried_ about her. Remember that Bellinora had _warned_ Amanda _not_ to use the powers of the necklace, unless _absolutely_ necessary, because..."

"She would become _more_ and more a part of the _necklace_... and _it_ would be more a part of her," Tianna says softly remembering the conversation with Bellinora.

"And, that if she used it often enough, she could be _taken_ over by the powers in the necklace, and become one of the _Dark_ ," Sadie says lowering her head to look at Amanda. "And with all the things she did helping _Qumong_ and us... she used a _lot_ of spells and _curses_ we know she got from that ancient book. And, even teaching _us_ stuff. Maybe _that_ counts too. And, using these really advanced spells now on Thian. Even though, well, they _were_ used for good, do you think _those_ are changing her?"

A movement catches Thian's eyes and he turns to see Amanda moving her head. "Amanda?" Thian says stroking her cheek gently. "Amanda? Are, um, _you_ back with us?"

Amanda opens her eyes, blinks several times looking around saying, "Yeah, it's _me_. That was _really_ weird. Thian, are you okay? Did the healing spells work?"

"Uh... well, I _guess_ so. I mean, I'm really _sore_ and stuff. But, yeah, other than that, I feel okay. What did you _do_ to me anyway?"

"Well, _actually_ , I didn't do anything. Someone by the name of _Malinda_ started yelling in my head that _Thian_ was crushed beneath the fallen tree. She said he had a _shattered_ ribcage, punctured _both_ his lungs which were filling with blood, a lacerated liver, had damaged _both_ kidneys, and had other internal bleeding. Malinda said he would _die_ within a few minutes if he didn't get help right away."

The others gasp, Thian swallowing hard looking at Tianna, the color clearly draining from her face.

"Then, um, well, Malinda said you _did_ die!"

"I... I really _did_ die?" Thian says turning gray.

"Yeah, well, at least that's what Malinda said. And I _believe_ her too. She yelled that either I let her take me over for a while, or you'd _stay_ dead!

"That _Eris_ witch was trying to _stop_ her from talking to me, and trying to get _inside_ me herself. So I figured _Malinda_ must be on the _Light_ side. So... I just gave myself over to her. I was still _awake_ and everything... _kind_ of, I guess, but I couldn't do _anything_ once she and I exchanged places. I can't really explain it, but, _trust_ me, it's a _really_ weird feeling falling inside one of those _gems_ of the necklace, and landing among _thousands_ of witches, _wizards_ , non-Wizitch folk and _strange_ creatures.

"Anyway, she _flicked_ that huge tree off of you, Thian, and I couldn't _believe_ it flew off like it did. I mean... _wow_! Then she made all of you _disappear_ into her wand... I mean, _my_ wand. She got on her broom, and was almost _hit_ by lightning several times. She told me that there _were_ several spells set here at the swamp. She said that _Eris_ had set them here ages ago, to take out anyone looking for the Shard. But, Malinda _knew_ of the spells, since she's been _trapped_ in the necklace even longer than Eris! So, when she got to the mountain, she fired a _counter_ spell at the clouds that had a _lightning_ spell that was trying to _kill_ us all! The clouds all _swirled_ around like water going down a drain, and the greater part of the ancient spell _vanished_ , leaving only a normal storm with _some_ ability to continue to discharge for another hour or so.

"Malinda fired her wand and _you_ all shot out of the end and _instantly_ reformed into yourselves. You know the rest really. She used a _hollowing_ spell to enter the mountain, then an _expanding_ spell to enlarge the inside to form this large cavern. She then did, well, _whatever_ it is she did to Thian, using those _healing_ spells. When she was done, we... well, _changed_ places again. Again, I _can't_ explain it, but as we passed each other, she smiled and said, 'Everything's okay for now Amanda, Thian's fine.' Her smile faded as she began slipping back down into the necklace, saying, 'but that could _change_ in an instant, don't..."

"Don't... _what_ Amanda?" Sadie asks leaning in toward Amanda who is now sitting up.

"I don't know. She was _gone_ and I was back, but like always, I was so weak, I guess I _passed_ out." Turning her head and looking back down the tunnel, Amanda says, "It sounds like it's still raining pretty hard outside. Wow, it's really _big_ in here. Thian, do you think you could set up the _cabin_ in here? It would be nice to rest in a little comfort and take a _good_ look at the map to see where to go next."

They all get to their feet as Thian looks around judging the size of the cavern. "Yeah, there's _plenty_ of space for the cabin, and a _good_ deal of room after that too. I'll set it up right now. You feel strong enough to walk Amanda?"

"Yeah, I'm okay now. But I could _sure_ use a little rest and maybe something to eat too."

Thian pulls the cabin can from his pocket and sets it on the cavern floor. Pulling his wand, he does his thing and the cabin is soon fully assembled, looking most inviting. They make their way inside and help Amanda to one of the sofas, Tianna using her wand to light the glow crystals.

"Thian, you sit and rest with Amanda. Tia, Sadie and I'll fix up something to eat, then, like Amanda said, let's take a good look at the map and see where we need to go from here. You know, it's _odd_ \- we left Rayolin's just after breakfast, but it looks like it's early _evening_ here and I'm _starved_. It's been getting darker. I think we should stay in the cabin, have something to eat, then try to see if we can get some sleep, then head out in the _daylight_. I sure don't want to go looking around this swamp in the _dark_!"

They all agree, and after a bite to eat, they spend several minutes looking over the map, deciding where they will begin their search, then spend several hours talking about their adventures since Amanda had started her journey back on earth, before trying to get some sleep.

Once in bed, they do a good deal of tossing and turning throughout the night, replaying the horrible events of the day, over and over in their mind.

#  Burning Swamp

In the morning, everyone is yawning, not having gotten much sleep at all. They have a nice breakfast, check the map one last time, then pack everything up. Thian repacks the cabin, pushing the can back into his deep pocket, then joins everyone just outside the cavern.

"Well, let's _mount_ up and head for that first dot okay?" Amanda says mounting her broom.

"By the way, Amanda, what _did_ you do with the two Shards?" Thian asks working a kink from his neck.

Amanda smiles, "Let's just say they're safe... I _hope_. Like Bellinora said, I'm not telling _anyone_ , even you guys. Sorry, but I really do think it best, you know?"

"Of _course_ you shouldn't tell any of us!" Tianna says shaking her head. "If we do somehow get captured, and, well, _tortured_ , at least we can't lead anyone to those Shards. Come on, let's get going."

They fly several feet above the damp ground, following a dotted line they had found on the map, weaving its way through this part of the swamp.

Over the next several weeks, they become quite frustrated from looking around the area of each dot, not knowing exactly what they are looking for, and constantly fighting swamp flies and odd mosquitos over an inch long, which Thian swears are trying to eat them alive.

On several occasions they had to fire various spells at strange and, at times, fearsome animals that charged them, to frighten them away - many of which none had ever seen before. But so far, they encountered nothing they could not handle using spells, other than the horrible ones they all swore they would not use unless absolutely necessary.

"Listen, it's getting late, the light's fading and we're all _snapping_ at each other," Amanda says as they hover over the fifty-eighth dot on the map.

"Yeah, you're right," Thian says with a sigh. "Tianna... uh, I'm _sorry_ I yelled at you back there. I'm just _tired_ , and all these _bugs_ trying to eat us is driving me _nuts_! I've tried _every_ bug-be-gone spell I can think of and _nothing's_ worked. I tried using the bubble around the broom in the beginning, but all those _no_ -see-ums were trapped inside with me, and I _couldn't_ get away from 'em! Sorry."

"Yeah, well, that's okay. Sorry I yelled at you too, well, _mostly_ anyway." Tianna says with a smile spreading across her face as Thian spins to face her, about to yell at her again.

Seeing the smile playing on her face, Thian begins to laugh. "Yeah, okay." Thian pulls out the map. "The map shows a large enough clearing to set up the cabin, I _think_ , and it's about twenty to twenty five miles from here, near one of the dots. We should follow the map until we come out of the trees near the dot, then head left to set up camp. Let's head over that way," he says pointing off to the right. "Let's head over and stay the night, then get a fresh look near the dot in the morning."

Everyone agrees and once again they fly very low, weaving their way between the huge moss-covered trees, still doing their best to follow the dotted line on the map.

Approaching the spot on the map, Sadie says, "Is... is that flickering _light_ up ahead through the trees?"

"Yeah, I think it is. I was _just_ wondering the same thing," Tia says squinting ahead. "There's lots of it, and you're right, it _is_ flickering, but it's flickering red, blue and some purple too. _Weird_."

As they get closer Amanda says with a start, "Holy cow! That's fire! It's red, blue and purple _flames_!"

"Well... looks like we found the _burning_ part of the _Burning Swamp_!" Tianna says with a forced laugh.

"Great! The only place I could see on the map to set up the cabin, unless we fly _three_ hours back to where we set up yesterday, and it just _has_ to be next to a flaming _swamp_!" Thian shakes his head in disbelief.

"Well, I'm exhausted," Amanda says with a yawn. "And there's no way I could fly for another _three_ hours. As long as we're far enough from the flames not to get burned, I say we continue, set up camp for the night, then take a look around in the morning."

Ten minutes later, they have climbed above the treeline for a better look as to where to set up camp. But they want to see where the flames are coming from too, so they fly toward the flames first.

"Uh... do you see what I see, or am I _hallucinating_?" Thian asks leaning forward squinting into the flames below.

"Well, if you see two huge _pyramids_ right in the middle of _flaming_ water... then, no. Unless I'm having the same hallucination _you_ are! But, they have no capstone, they're just flat on top. _Weird_ ," Tianna says with wonder.

"Pyramids? _Here_? I thought pyramids were only on _earth_." Amanda says as they watch the flames flicker, casting ever dancing light around the shoreline.

"You _always_ think earth was the first to have _everything_ , Amanda, or is the _only_ place some things can be found." Tianna says with annoyance. "Pyramids are found throughout _thousands_ of realms, just like labyrinths."

"Gosh, look at the _size_ of 'em!" Sadie says with awe as they descend closer. "There are two of them, way out in the middle of the water, consumed in flames. How is the water on _fire_?"

"Maybe it's _swamp_ gas that was ignited and never went out," Thian says softly. "Wow, you can _really_ feel the heat from here now. What the heck are two _pyramids_ doing here... unless..."

"Yeah. Unless it's a lure filled with deadly _traps_ , or... this _is_ where the Shard is kept and will be well protected. Well, maybe anyway," Amanda says, her eyes glinting in the firelight.

"Hey, _look_! There are _shiny_ things all around the shoreline, and... I think I see some in the water when the flames move around," Sadie says leaning down to see better.

"Put up your bubbles and let's have a quick look okay?" Thian says pulling his wand.

"Okay, but just for a _minute_ though," Tianna says shaking her head, thinking this is a really bad idea.

They each take out their wands, tap their booms and are immediately enclosed within their individual bubbles.

"I thought these bubbles were for when it _rained_ ," Amanda says checking her bubble, "or when it was too _cold_ and you could use a heater, or..."

"In this case Amanda," Tia says with a laugh, "it's the ' _or_.' Remember? Thian told you ages ago that if it got hot, the bubble could provide air-conditioning. Good idea Thian. Amanda, the bubble will not protect us _completely_ , but it will at _least_ get us closer before its cooling spell can't handle the higher heat of the flames. Let's go, I want to get a closer look too. Look how the pyramids and whatever it is on the shore _shimmer_ in the flames."

They make as close a flyby as they can before the heat becomes unbearable flying at the altitude they are.

"Let's drop and take a quick look around the perimeter," Thian says, then begins to go lower. "I want to take a look and see what the _shiny_ stuff is."

They drop low and as they approach the shoreline, Tia says, "Are those _shields_ , helmets and..."

" _Swords_?" Thian says.

"Yeah, they are, and looks like _hundreds_ of them too, along with chest and back plates and other armor too," Amanda says coming to a hover, the others stopping beside her.

"Hey, look! In the _water_!" Tia shouts.

" _What_? What is it?" Thian asks looking below him.

"I... I thought I saw a _body_ in the water when the flames mov..."

"Holy moly! I see it _too_! Wait... look, there are _more_ of them!"

"Where? I still don't see _anything_ ," Thian says straining to see through the ever changing flames.

"Oh!" Tianna says, startled as she suddenly sees beneath the flames, which are illuminating what are clearly bodies.

"I see them, I _see_ them!" Sadie shouts.

"By the moons... _I_ see them now too," Thian says, his voice quaking.

"I'm going in for a closer look," Tianna says immediately dropping closer. The others reluctantly follow.

As they get low enough, the heat becomes unbearable. Amanda looks in horror at the bodies below her, visible only when the flames move and leave a gap on the surface.

"Oh Jesus! They look like they've _decayed_. They're a light bluish gray color, at least I _think_ they are. And look, lots of places on their bodies have _slashed_ areas where their skin is flapping in the murky water. That one over there is missing _half_ their face. I think I'm gonna _throw_ up." Amanda turns and begins to fly away.

"Uh, I don't _like_ this any, especially being here in the dark." Tia says nervously. "The flames are so bright, I can't see a thing other than them, the tops of the pyramids and all this armor. What do you think happened here?"

"Have no idea," Thian says slowly moving forward and dropping low to hover over a pile of armor. " _Whatever_ happened, it was a _blood_ bath, that's for sure. Look, some of the _shields_ and swords are sticking up out of the dirt and sand. Looks like this happened hundreds of years ago, maybe _thousands_."

"How do you think all those bodies got _into_ the water?" Tia asks looking frightened.

"I don't _like_ it here. I'm _scared_ ," Sadie says shivering as she looks around. "Can we _go_ now, _please_? Can we _go_?"

"I'm with Sadie," Tianna says, still looking at a headless body. "Let's get away from here and come back in the morning."

They all agree, then head for the clearing to set up camp some twenty miles away. It's very dark as they leave the glow of the flames so they ignite their wands.

The swamp is alive with sounds and zillions of flying and crawling insects and other creepy crawly creatures, most of which none of them have ever seen or read about before. The light from their wands has attracted large clouds of flying insects and what look to Amanda like _mosquitos_ the size of a quarter. They are all thankful to be _inside_ their bubbles, and the insects outside.

As they near the clearing where they will set up camp, they drop to within a few feet of the ground near the edge of the treeline they just cleared.

Sadie asks, "Hey... what are _those_?" as she points her wand to the left toward the base of the trees.

"What are... oh my _god_! What _are_ those things?" Amanda asks with eyes wide.

Everyone turns their attention to where it looks like the ground is slowly moving in many directions. From this beginning part of the clearing to where it meets the treeline, the ground from there going back into the trees is... creeping.

Thian begins moving forward very slowly, the others following closely behind. As they make their way toward the trees they stop and look at the strange multi-legged creatures.

"Those things look like _starfish.._. starfish some twenty inches across!" Amanda says with surprise. "But these look like they have _suckers_ on their arms, more like an octopus."

"Well, I don't know what a starfish is Amanda, or, uh, an _octopus_ ," Tia says slowly, "but, um, are starfish _poisonous_?"

"No. Well, I don't _think_ so anyway. But, on earth, starfish are found in the _ocean_ , not on the _land_. And look! Up there! Jesus... these things can _climb_ too! They're not just on the ground, they're in the _trees_. Holy _cow_!"

"There has to be _millions_ of them in there, and they're all kinds of colors too, " Thian says with a shiver. "Look around - there are _thousands_ of them right at the border of the trees and the clearing. Weird really. Why aren't they coming _into_ the clearing?"

"Don' know," Tianna says nervously. "Maybe they're _afraid_ of something."

"Oh great," Sadie says shaking her head. " _We're_ afraid of them, and you think _they're_ afraid of something else. Something like... _what_?" Sadie asks.

As they follow the treeline heading nearer to the area of the clearing, Tianna answers Sadie.

"Have no idea, but _maybe_ they will stay away from the cabin, since they don't _seem_ to want to come into the clearing. Listen, I can hardly keep my eyes open. Thian, let's get to the main part of the clearing, set up the cabin, then set up and cast some perimeter alarms. After that, let's get some _sleep_. Well, if we _can_ anyway."

"Okay, but first, let's fly up for a sec and see how far they go up into the trees," Tia says beginning to rise. They all have their wands pointed at the trees and as they rise, marvel at the many colors of the strange creatures scattered about and clinging onto the branches.

As they approach the top of the trees, Thian says, "Well, it _looks_ like these things go all the way to the top. See? There are a lot less of them the higher up the trees, but there are a couple over there right at the _very_ top. See the blue and green one?"

"Yeah I do," Tianna says forcing a swallow. "Look, I don't know about you, but I've seen _enough_ for tonight. Can we _please_ just set up the cabin and get some sleep?" Tianna turns away and begins to fly toward the center of the clearing as the others turn to follow.

After flying only a few yards, descending toward the center of the clearing, Thian gives a cry, "Great _Mother_! Look at all _those_ creepy crawling things down _there_!" he says pointing his wand below them.

Amanda points her wand down as she looks below her. Thousands of other strange crawling black creatures completely cover the ground, their bodies shimmering in the wand light as they crawl over one another.

"By the moons! There are _thousands_ of 'em! What are we gonna _do_?" Tianna asks.

"Uh, well... let's use a _force_ field spell to clear them away okay?" Tia says with a shaky voice. "Amanda taught us several of them and they're one of the easier spells for us to do," Tia continues as they hover over where the cabin is to be placed.

"Those are the _strangest_ creatures I've seen in a _very_ long time," Thian says looking closely at the writhing creatures, the ground so thick with them, they are continuously climbing over one another and making a kind of mushing and clicking sound.

"They have the front end of a big _spider_ , including all the long hairy _legs_ ," Amanda says studying the creatures. "A long thin body, kind of like a _centipede_ with all those little legs rippling along their length. And the end of it has kind of a long curved tail with... are those two sharp _barbs_ on the end? Like... like... a _scorpion_ , but with _two_ stingers in line at the end of its tail? And Thian, did you see the spidery front end has _dozens_ of eyes and not just a few. And, _look -_ they have four long _fangs_ sticking out!"

"What? _Where_? By the _moons_ Amanda, you're right! Look at the _size_ of 'em! I _hate_ spiders and I've had quite enough of them to last my _lifetime_ , thank you _very_ much."

"I _really_ don't like the looks of these things," Tianna says, her voice cracking. "I sure hope our _spells_ keep them away tonight. Let's see if we can clear them away and set up the cabin as fast as we can."

"Maybe we need to ditch the bubbles first," Tia says. "I mean, we never tried those spells inside the bubble before. I'm not sure what might happen." Tapping her broom, the bubble vanishes and she is instantly assaulted by clouds of hungry flying insects.

"Thian, we'll _blast_ 'em out of the way. When we do, you drop to the ground and set up the cabin, then we all drop," Tianna says. "Then, Thian and I will set up the perimeter alarms then get inside too. Amanda? You, Sadie and Tia keep those _things_ away from us while we set up the perimeter system, then you guys get inside and make sure all the windows are closed and locked tight, okay? When you have things secured, let us know and Thian and I will get inside too."

" _Count_ on it!" Amanda says as her bubble vanishes.

They form a tight circle in the center of the clearing, then use the _Ovasia_ _Repulsion Force Field_ spell Amanda had taught them. Immediately the thousands of creeping crawling creatures are whisked away like some large black tidal wave, being tossed into the nearby trees. It is like a drop of detergent touching the surface of greasy water.

Violent thrashing immediately comes from within the trees, accompanied by high pitched shrieks. Startled, everyone turns for a moment to see the starfish-like creatures closing their suckered arms around the odd spider-centipede-scorpion-like creatures which were swept into the trees.

"Those starfish things are... they're _tearing_ those others apart and... and..." Sadie says with fright.

" _Eating_ them!" Tia finishes. "Those things have some kind of sharp _beak_ in the center underneath their bodies. I think I'm gonna be _sick_."

"Yeah, but look!" Thian says pointing a shaking arm down and to the left, just at the treeline. "Those spider-scorpion things are attacking the _starfish_ things, too, and..."

" _They're_ killing the starfish!" Tia says swallowing hard. "And look... those starfish are..."

" _Deflating_? Great _Mother_ of creation!" Tianna says shaking her head. "They're sucking the liquefied _guts_ out of the starfish! Their fangs and stingers must have some kind of venom that..."

"Dissolves _flesh_!" Sadie shouts.

"Maybe we should try to find somewhere _else_ for the night!" Tia says watching a starfish creature ripping one of the spider-scorpion creatures to shreds.

"But, there _was_ no place else on the map!" Thian says with eyes wide. "Unless we fly a good _three_ hours back to where we were before!"

"I don't think I could _make_ it," Sadie says with droopy eyes. "I can hardly hold onto my broom _now_. I think I would fall off, and..."

"Oh god... let's get the _cabin_ up and get inside quick!"

In a few minutes, as Amanda and the rest keep the creepy crawling creatures from retuning, Thian quickly sets up the cabin. Tianna drops, dismounts and helps Thian set up the perimeter force field, adding the _Ovasia_ spell to the usual one for added protection. Once finished, Amanda, Tia and Sadie drop and sprint inside to secure the windows, just in case.

Amanda soon appears in the doorframe yelling, "Come on! Everything's secured."

Thian and Tianna turn and bolt for the doorway. As they sprint inside, Thian spins around, slamming and locking the door behind them, pressing his back against the door panting heavily.

"Do you think the force field will hold 'em Amanda? We added the _Ovasia_ spell too," Tia asks as a shiver shakes her.

"I don't know really. The _Ovasia Repulsion_ spell was meant for, well, _people-_ like creatures, like you and me. But... well..."

"The field _seemed_ to be keeping them back as Tianna and me waited for you to secure the cabin. It _looked_ like they were trying to get away from the starfish things, but were stopped at our perimeter barrier. But listen, I _sure_ don't want to wake up with those things all over the _cabin_... or _us_ , if your spell doesn't _work_ Amanda!" Thian says a little too loudly, clearly frightened.

"Well, if _you_ know any other spell to keep them away, you're free to go outside and _try_ it," Tianna says with a sneer as she drops into one of the fluffy chairs.

"I didn't _say_ I knew a better spell Tianna!" Thian shoots back. "I just _said_ I don't want to wake up with all those things _crawling_ all over the cabin or us is all. _Snarkins_ , give me a _break_ will ya!"

"Enough!" Amanda shouts. "We're all _snapping_ at one another again. Let's hope the force field works and the _perimeter_ alarm will sound if... well, _whatever_. For now, I'm going to _bed_ , and I think we should all stay dressed, even keep our boots on just in case. If the _two_ of you want to stay up all night and argue, _fine_ , but keep it _down_ okay! Some of us, have had _enough_ of the two of you for one day." Turning, Amanda storms off to the room she and Sadie share.

Everyone watches Amanda galumphing out of the room, dragging her broom behind her.

"Wow. What's gotten into _her_?" Thian says looking puzzled.

Tianna, turning a little pink, grits her teeth, and with a grunt she too gets up and stomps off toward her room.

Tia shakes her head at Thian as he holds his arms up slightly as though asking, "What?"

Tia and Sadie rise and head off for bed, leaving a bewildered and blinking Thian confused, scared and... alone on the sofa.

#  They Come In The Night

Thian is startled awake several hours after they had gone to bed. Sitting bolt upright, he listens, trying to clear the sleep from his eyes and ears.

"What, what _is_ that?" he thinks cocking his head slightly.

Scratching and tapping sounds are coming from outside the windows, door, the cabin walls and ceiling.

Thinking it must be wind tossing debris from the forest against the cabin, or possibly rain of some kind, Thian ignites his wand as he gets up, pointing it toward the window next to the door.

Thian screams from the shock of the sight before him.

More screams come from the other rooms. In a moment, the girls charge into the living room, joining a frightened and shaking Thian, their wands lit, clutched tightly in their hands.

"They're trying to _get_ in!" Sadie cries, tears streaming down her little face. "They're trying to get in to kill and _eat_ us!"

"Guess your _spell_ and our perimeter alarm didn't work Amanda," Tianna says with her wand arm shaking.

"Make them _stop_! Make them _stop_!" Sadie screams placing both hands over her ears. The sound is rising in strength as more and more crawling creatures flood over the cabin, all trying to scratch and dig their way in.

"What are we gonna do?" Tia cries pointing her wand at another window.

"Look!" Amanda shouts pointing the bright tip of her wand at the window too. "It's those spider-centipede- _scorpion_ things! There must be _thousands_ of them out there!"

"Well, we can't just _stand_ here waiting for them to get in!" Tianna shouts. "Let's use that _repulsion_ spell again. Maybe that spell _along_ with our usual force field spell, kinda _canceled_ each other out or something. Let's clear them away and get the Kelees _out_ of here!"

"Okay, yeah, I'm with you," Amanda says with her knees shaking. "Thian, when we clear the area and get outside, we'll keep them away and you pack up the cabin okay?"

Thian just stands there looking at the fangs and stingers slamming against the window in their wand light, barely able to keep hold of his wand.

"Thian!" Tianna shouts. "Don't just _stand_ there, get ready!"

Swallowing hard, all Thian can do is nod.

"Okay, on three," Amanda says. Thian crouches, ready to sprint out the door. As he licks his lips, sweat streaming down his forehead, Amanda says, "Just like before. One... two... _three_!"

The girls each fire the spell aiming in different directions at the door and windows.

There is a tremendous yellow flash, as everyone is thrown to the cabin floor, their breath knocked out of them.

As everyone gathers their wits and get to their feet, "What _happened_?" Sadie asks clutching tightly to Tianna.

"The spell _backfired_ for some reason. How is that _possible_?" Amanda asks.

"There _are_ some creatures that adapt quickly to spells and curses, to protect themselves," Tia says looking up, listening to the horrid scratching coming from the ceiling. "It's like spraying bugs with something that's supposed to _kill_ them, but the bugs become resistant over generations.

"The thing is, it seems _these_ things have the ability to _mutate_ quickly or something, and now have some kind of _reflection_ shielding. So when we hit them, it reflected off of _them_ and back onto us."

Sadie screams an ear splittingly high screech, making everyone jump and spin around, looking to where her tiny arm is pointing, frozen in place from fear.

"Stuttering _Snorkrats_! They're coming in through the _fireplace_!" Thian shouts.

The black creatures are pouring out of the fireplace by the hundreds, quickly fanning out and scurrying about the floors, mantel, then up the walls to the ceiling.

"Quick! _Get_ 'em! _Get_ 'em! Amanda, _do_ something!" Sadie shouts.

Amanda, frozen in place from fear as well, watching dozens of creatures scurrying across the ceiling in their direction, comes back to her senses as Tia fires a stunning spell at a group on the floor about to reach their feet. The creatures instantly go ridged.

"It _works_! Use the _Lecreatus_ stunning spell Amanda taught us. Hurry!" Tia shouts as she spins and fires off another spell at those on the ceiling. They are pelted by the falling, stunned creatures who hit the floor sounding like a wet washcloth.

In a moment, the cabin is filled with flashes and stunned creatures.

Thian sprints forward, the creatures crunching and squirting as his boots stomp down on them as he heads to the fireplace. " _Incendo_ _granda_!"

The fireplace flares to life. Huge flames lick their way up the chimney like searing fingers reaching for whatever lies hidden within.

In a moment, hundreds of dead creatures fall through the chimney into the consuming flames. Their bodies hiss and expand, then burst apart, tossing bits of tid over everyone, like black kernels of hot popcorn bursting from the fire. The stench from the burning creatures is overpowering, making everyone retch.

"Fire! _Fire_ will kill them too!" Thian shouts. "Hit them with a _fire_ spell!"

"And _burn_ down the cabin with us _in_ it you idiot? No _thanks_!" Tianna shouts back.

"Oh, yeah... Amanda, Tia, Sadie, you three check the other rooms and stun all the creatures you find. Tianna and I are going outside to..."

"Are you _crazy_? _I'm_ not going out there with _thousands_ of those things waiting for us!"

"Yes, you _are_ because I can't do it myself. You open the door and I'll fire a couple stunning spells to take out the nearest ones. _You_ run outside and fire some more spells, but _don't_ let them drop down on you or get _tangled_ in your hair, or down your _blouse_ or... or up your _pants_!"

"Thian! You _aren't_ helping! Why do _I_ have to open the door? Why don't _you_ open it?"

"Uh, okay, I'll open it, but _listen_ up everyone, Amanda taught us three really good stunning spells. We know the one we tried a few minutes ago won't work anymore, so, um, let's use the _Lecreatus_ spell Tia used. It's a stronger spell for sure. When I open this door Tianna, you _better_ be ready to blast 'em."

"You think you have to _tell_ me that? Just get the dang _door_ open!"

Amanda and the others sprint off to kill any creatures in the other parts of the cabin, flashes from their wands immediately light the cabin as they run down the hallway.

"Whenever you're ready..." Tianna says lowering into a crouch, her wand arm extended.

Thian steps to the door, hearing horrific scratching and tapping from hundreds of fangs and stingers, only an inch away on the other side.

Licking his lips one last time, trying to swallow but finding he cannot, he places his hand on the handle, turns and nods to Tianna, who nods back.

Turning the knob, Thian yanks the door wide, quickly stepping back and to the side.

Creatures completely cover the door and dozens begin entering from the ground and around the door frame.

Tianna fires several of the new stunning spells, sending those on the door and the ones flooding inside, flying back into the darkness, while stunning hundreds of creatures on the ground outside to a distance of fifteen feet.

Seeing that the new stunning spell is working, at least for the moment, Thian charges outside, firing his wand to either side faster than Tianna had ever seen him move. Thian begins spinning around, continuing to fire blast after blast, the bright yellow bolts from his wand illuminate the ground and cabin, showing thousands of crawling black shapes a short distance away.

Tianna sprints through the doorway firing more stunning spells, watching the creatures go ridged around her as her boots crunch down on them, making her cringe. She can feel their bodies bursting under her boots, her expression one of intense fear and revulsion.

"Thian! There are too many, _thousands_ are coming out from... it looks like they're coming up out of the _ground_ near the trees, we can't stun all of them _fast_ enough!"

Suddenly, hundreds of stunned creatures fly from the doorway as Amanda, Tia and Sadie rush for the door using a sweeping spell to remove the creatures from the cabin. They spring through the door, shocked not only to see the hundreds upon hundreds of already stunned creatures, but the thousands pouring out from the ground like some kind of fountain, spreading out into the clearing.

"Oh god, oh _god_!" is all Amanda can say.

"Amanda, use the necklace!" Tianna shouts. "There's too _many_ of them, we can't hold 'em back!"

"NO! Not _yet_ ," Thian cries as he fires three more quick stunning spells around them. "Amanda _can't_ use the necklace unless she absolutely _has_ to remember!"

"Well I think now would be the _has_ to part!" Tianna yells firing several spells at the roof of the cabin, where hundreds of the creatures are now making their way off the roof and flowing down the walls.

"Tia, Sadie, _get_ our brooms! And _don't_ forget our travelers packs!" Thian thunders.

Tia and Sadie immediately turn and while firing, sprint back into the cabin. Hearing the creatures bursting beneath their boots and spraying them with their juicy, sticky innards, Tia has to stop to throw up... twice.

In less than a minute, the girls are back and everyone takes their broom and slipping quickly into the packs.

"Everyone up! Use the stunning and sweeping spells to get those around the cabin, on the walls and on the _roof_. Do your best to get them _completely_ off. When you say it's clear, I'm gonna pack up the cabin and like Tianna said, let's get the _Kellies_ out of here!"

The girls rise quickly firing their spells. Amanda and Sadie head off in opposite directions around the cabin, firing at the creatures on the ground and flowing across the walls, first stunning them, then using the sweeping spell to clear them away from the cabin.

Tia climbs high firing at those on the roof. The creatures are thrown off the walls and roof like heavy rain, pelting Thian as he runs from one side of the cabin to the other, firing as quickly as he can. Several of the stunned creatures go down his shirt as they are flung from the roof, sending him into a screaming, thrashing and stomping fit, as he lifts his shirt shaking them out.

Thousands of creatures have been stunned around the cabin, but more are climbing over them, becoming stunned themselves. In only these few minutes, the height of the stunned creatures thirty feet from the cabin has reached nearly seven feet, with more pouring over the edge of the huge critter wall, like water cascading over a waterfall, dropping to the ground and scattering.

"Hurry!" Thian shouts, I can't _hold_ 'em any more. The cabin has all our _food_ and drinkable water, we _have_ to save the cabin. Hurry!"

Tia flies down after clearing the roof to join Thian, firing stunning spells at those flowing over the ever expanding wall of stunned creatures.

Amanda comes into view screaming, "Now! Do it _now_ Thian! Sadie and I'll keep them from the sides -Tia, cover the _back_. Tianna, you cover Thian. Hurry!"

Sadie and Amanda fly around the sides of the cabin blasting away, as Tia shoots up over the roof headed for the back. Tianna looks like a mad woman, face stone cold, hair frizzy, wand flashing in what seems like all directions at once.

Thian slips the can from his pants pocket then drops it, picks it up and drops it again.

"Thian! For _Seedas_ sake! Hurry!"

Setting the can in position, Thian stands and waves his wand. With all the cries from the creatures, Tianna doesn't even hear Thian use the spell, but sees the flash from his wand.

When the last bit of vapor enters the can, Thian slaps the lid on, slips it into his pants pocket as he gets up, and sees Amanda, Tia and Sadie rapidly approaching.

" _Got_ it!" Thian shouts.

Amanda, Tia and Sadie begin firing stunning spells as more creatures pour over the huge critter wall, now looking more like a huge black waterfall completely surrounding them, thousands of creatures cascading over the wall to the ground, landing and scattering away over a thick, expanding carpet of their fallen brothers and sisters.

Thian grabs his broom, bends and snatches up Tianna's, which she had dropped for better turning and firing speed.

"Tianna! _Here_!"

Tianna turns as Thian tosses her the broom. She and Thian mount quickly and everyone shoots high into the hot, stifling night air.

Flying quickly away toward the treetops, Amanda glances back over her shoulder, the blood draining from her face. The entire area where the cabin had stood, is now covered with at least five feet of live, creeping crawling, deadly black creatures.

Reaching the treeline, about to clear the tops of the nearest trees, Amanda once again chances a look back.

Feeling faint, she sees the area where the cabin had just stood is now filled with the creatures to the same height as the surrounding walls. Millions of the creatures in a frenzy, looking for... them.

Amanda knows that if Thian had not woken when he did, and those creatures had gotten in through the fireplace and scattered before they had detected them... they would have been buried in creeping, wriggling creatures so quickly, they would have been stung to death, liquefied and... Amanda does not want to think about it.

The necklace had not helped Amanda at all, even though she was scared out of her mind.

Watching the height of the creatures continue to rise, Amanda forces a dry swallow as the sight of the clearing vanishes as she speeds away over the tops of the trees, wondering, "What if the necklace _wouldn't_ have helped me if the creatures actually started flowing over me, and, and sting and bite me? I'd... we'd _all_ be dead!

"Why _didn't_ it help?" her mind screams. "Why didn't it do anything at all... even for _me_?"

#  Fire and Water

Amanda catches up to the others and they all come to a hover high above the trees, panting, trying to catch their breath.

"Is everyone okay?" Amanda asks.

"Yeah, I _think_ so. No thanks to _you_ Amanda!" Tianna says hotly. "Why didn't you use the _necklace_ , at least near the _end_ when those things were flowing over the wall of the stunned ones? We could have been _killed_ you know!"

They look at Amanda with questioning and accusatory expressions.

"I... I don't _know_ why it didn't do anything. _I_ thought we were going to die too. I... I just don't _know_ why... honestly!"

"So, where do we go _now_?" Sadie asks, knowing it wasn't Amanda's fault and wanting to change the subject. "And why do you think those _starfish_ creatures didn't come after us too?"

"I don't know about the starfish things, but I do know we're _not_ sleeping anywhere around these trees tonight, _that's_ for sure!" Thian says swatting at a cloud of no-see-ums.

"But, you said there _wasn't_ any place else to set up the cabin, unless we flew at _least_ three hours back to where we camped before. So, where _do_ we go then Thian?" Tia asks looking below them, expecting to see the creatures scurrying about trying to follow them.

"Well, I didn't see any other clearings big enough for the cabin, but maybe we can find a smaller one where we can set up all our outhouses in a tight circle."

"I don't think I want to try another clearing of _any_ size near these trees," Sadie says with a shiver.

"I'm with Sadie," Tia says nodding. "Seems to me, there was a _good_ deal of shoreline next to the burning swamp. I know it'll be pretty hot, but I'd rather be _hot_ for one night than eaten alive, or stung, _paralyzed_ , then have my innards turned to liquid and _sucked_ out like some tasty drink. We didn't see any of those creatures around when we were there. It is pretty far you know. Let's check out the shoreline okay? That is, unless any of you have a better idea which _won't_ get us all eaten!"

With eyes wide, they all agree to head for the flames.

As they approach the shoreline, "Look, over there!" Tia shouts. "That spot is the furthest away from the water, and may be far enough from the flames not to _cook_ us, and the trees there are a good distance away too, leaving a wide strip of ground. We can line up the outhouses _there_ can't we?"

"Yeah, no problem," Thian says with a smile as he wipes his sweaty face on his dirty sleeve. "Let's give it a go. Come on, but keep _sharp_. I don't see any of the _starfish_ creatures in the trees way over there, and none of those spider-centipede- _scorpion_ things around either, but they could be _hiding_. Or, maybe they're afraid of _fire_ or can't take the _heat_ or something."

"Maybe," Tianna says scanning the trees and surrounding shoreline. "Only one way to find out I guess. My adrenaline's _crashing_ and I'm so tired I'm about to fall off my broom. Come on, we can't stay up here all night."

Descending nervously they wonder about the shining shields, swords, and other armor scattered about everywhere, and what battle had taken place here. Cautiously, they dismount. Standing together in silence for a full minute, each squints their ears and eyes.

"Any of you see or _hear_ anything?" Tia asks.

"I don't think so," Amanda says tilting her head to hear better. "But honestly, with the flames _flickering_ , they're casting shadows around so fast I can't tell if what I'm seeing are moving _shadows_ , or something moving _in_ the shadows. And the _crackling_ of the flames is making it hard to hear _anything_ other than ourselves. Any of you see or hear anything?"

None did.

"Okay then, let's get our outhouses set up and see if we can at least get some _rest_. Although, I don't think _any_ of us will actually get any _sleep_ ," Thian says. "I've had to sleep in the outhouse bathtub a _few_ times when it rained where I was camping without the cabin. It's not the most comfortable, but using a lot of the towels from under the sink, you can make a _pretty_ good pillow. Well, mostly."

Slipping out of her pack, Amanda reaches in and pulls out the can of _Instant Outhouse_. They all move away stacks of shields, swords and armor, then set the cans up in a row as Amanda says, "God, It's so _hot_! We'll _burn_ up this close to the flames."

"No we won't," Thian says waving his wand over his can as the others do the same. "These have _air-conditioning_ units in them too. Just use the same spell you use when inside the bubble on your broom. It may still get _pretty_ hot I guess, but I've never had it cranked up all the way either. It _will_ be a lot cooler than standing out here. We've just got to take our chances unless any of you have any _better_ ideas about where to stay."

They all shake their heads and as their outhouses finish growing and solidifying, they say their 'goodnights and stay safes,' then all head inside, shutting and locking the door behind them.

They had decided not to bother with the perimeter alarm, since it did not seem to detect the creatures, and since most animals do not like fire, perhaps they will be safe.

Amanda is still shaking, but igniting her wand, manages to cast the air-conditioning spell. Immediately, she feels the air around her cool greatly. Giving the spell again, the air _really_ begins to cool, feeling wonderful.

Giving a sigh of relief, she makes her way further in and uses the restroom, washes her face, then retrieves a stack of soft fluffy towels. She climbs into the large tub, hardly able to keep her eyes open. Lying down, she places the soft towels beneath her head. As she lays her head back against the towels and closes her eyes, she is immediately asleep.

~~

A pounding on Amanda's door scares her awake. For a moment, she does not recognize where she is, then remembers as the pounding starts again, followed by Thian yelling, "Amanda! Come _on_! Get _up_ already!"

Getting out of the tub, she rubs her aching neck and shoulders as she heads for the door. Opening it, she shields her eyes from the glaring sunlight. The others are wearing their packs, hovering a couple feet off the ground, their bubbles surrounding them, other than Thian that is, who is grinning at Amanda.

"Come on. You're the last one up and we need to take a look at those pyramids."

"Just a sec. I need to use the restroom first."

Amanda soon opens the door wearing her pack and carrying her broom. The moment she steps out of the cool outhouse, sweat begins to bead on her forehead.

Thian mounts up as they wait while Amanda gets her outhouse back into the can, then slips it into one of her pant's pockets, not wanting to be without it should something happen again where she cannot get to her pack.

Once on her broom, she pulls her wand and with a wave the bubble appears. Waving her wand again, Amanda lets out a loud, long, "Ahhhh," then waves her wand once again to _really_ crank up the cooling.

Everyone laughs.

"Well, looks like everyone _survived_ the night okay," Tia says smiling. "And I can't _believe_ I actually fell asleep."

"I know. I was so _scared_ I thought I'd never get to sleep either," Tianna says grinning too. "But, as soon as my head hit the towels... I was _out_!"

The all laugh saying they all did the same.

"Well, at least those creepy _crawlers_ didn't come back. That's something anyway," Thian says turning to look to the left at the towering pyramids sticking up out of the flames. "Guess we should have a look huh?"

"Yeah, but now that it's light, let's fly up and to the side again, and take a _better_ look around from a good distance okay?" Tianna suggests. "We _may_ spot something from up there we might miss if we just look around from down here."

All agree and rise high over the flames, looking down on the two pyramids without their capstones, but a good distance to the side because of the tremendous heat rising from the flames.

They can see that this part of the swamp has several sections completely covered in mossy water, surrounded by trees, but not _burning_. Below them however, are the red and blue flames, making an ever changing purple fire across the water's surface. The flames begin a few inches from the water's edge, continuing right up against the pyramids.

"Those pyramids are _beautiful_ ," Amanda says with eyes wide. They look like they're made from some kind of metal, and have _flame_ patinas of blues, greens and _purples_. Awesome!"

"Well, they also have some kind of _symbols_ on all their sides. I don't recognize them though," Tia says squinting through the flames. She is doing her best to ignore the hundreds of bodies she sees swaying gently beneath the surface, along with hundreds of brown and green reeds swaying between and below the bodies.

"I see the symbols too sis. _I_ don't know what they mean either. You ever seen anything like these Thian?" Tianna asks.

"No, never. You Sadie?"

"They look _kind_ of familiar, but I can't really see them though. The flames are too thick. Amanda, have you seen these symbols in that journal or the big book you memorized?"

"No. Well, not that I _remember_ anyway."

"That's juusst _great_!" Tianna says pursing her lips, accompanied by a great sigh. "So _what_ are we supposed to do now? We have to at least _see_ all the symbols before we can try to figure them out. We can't get any _closer_ to the pyramids without _bursting_ into flames ourselves, and all those decaying bodies are _creeping_ me out!"

"Can we use some kind of _repulsion_ spell on the water to push the flames away, like we did with those creatures last night?" Sadie asks.

"Interesting," Tia says thinking for a moment. "Ya know, it _could_ work I suppose. Those spells are meant for solid things like people, animals and creatures. I'm not sure anyone has ever tried it on fire before. Let's give it a try okay. We have to try _something_ to get to the pyramids."

They all agree and head back to the strip of shoreline at the water's edge.

"You want to do it Amanda?" Thian asks.

"Oh, uh, well, why don't we let _Sadie_ try it, since it was her idea."

Sadie beams, stepping in front of the others as she nervously looks into the flaming water. She sees a decaying body a few feet from the water's edge, its eyes closed, long hair waving in the slight current caused by the movement of the violent flames above it.

"Okay, I'll use the spell we used last night." Sadie clears her throat, points her wand and with a flip of her wrist, shouts " _Lecreatus_!" There is a brilliant yellow flash as they are violently tossed from their brooms and sent tumbling fifteen feet from the shoreline. Tia's head slams into a large golden shield sticking up out of the sand, knocking her unconscious.

Getting to her feet, Tianna sees Tia sill laying near her broom, not moving.

"Tia!" Tianna shouts as she sprints to her sister, dropping to her knees. "Tia! Tia! Can you _hear_ me? Tia!"

The others drop beside Tianna as she presses her ear to Tia's chest. "She's _breathing_ and I can hear her heart beating. I think she just got knocked out."

As soon as Tianna says that, Tia groans then opens her eyes, which at first are unfocused.

Sitting up, rubbing the side of her head, Tia asks, "What happened?"

"You were _knocked_ out. That repulsion spell sent us _flying_. You hit your head on this shield," Tianna says with a weak smile. "Someone _knew_ whoever came here would try that kind of spell I guess, and was _ready_ for it. You alright sis?"

"Yeah, help me up okay. I need to get back on my broom, I'm _burning_ up."

They all mount up, cast the bubble spell and get the air-conditioning cranked up.

"So, do you think since it seems there's at least _one_ spell preventing someone from getting to the pyramids, a _Shard_ might actually be inside?" Sadie asks.

"Maybe. You'd _think_ if this _were_ just some kind of trap, they would want to make it rather _easy_ to get to them, _then_ spring the trap. But it looks like whoever put these counter spells here, didn't want anyone to get _to_ them," Thian says scratching his head then spitting out some sand. He tries to wipe sand from his tongue with his dirty and sandy fingers, just adding more sand and grit to his tongue, making him spit and sputter.

Tianna purses and shifts her lips to one side, shaking her head as she sighs. Amanda has come to call this expression, 'the look.'

Amanda, having seen what Thian was doing, and Tianna's expression, does her best not to laugh, then says, "Well, we need to try something else."

"Sure, but _what_?" Tianna asks. "I think we need to be _very_ careful as to which spells we try. Some of the _strong_ ones could rebound and not just knock us out... if you know what I mean," she says tilting her head toward the bodies in the water.

"Yeah, I'm with you sis. But, _what_ spells do we know that might work? Should we try to use a _freezing_ spell on the flames? It works on smaller fires."

"I don't know sis. We were taught that a fire freezing spell would only work on flames to three feet in height and about fifteen feet in diameter. At least at _our_ level of training. These are at least _sixty_ feet high and several _hundred_ feet across the water."

"Well, let's give it a try anyway," Amanda says studying the flames. "But, I think maybe _I_ better cast it. It's not one of the spells from the big book, so I should be okay to use it. And, if something goes wrong, maybe _this_ time my necklace will _do_ something. You guys should fly back a ways okay. And, um, if the spell _backfires_ and I, uh, get frozen..."

"No worries, we'll thaw you out Amanda," Sadie says with authority in her tiny voice, drawing herself up to her full height, which if she were standing, would reach about mid-thigh on Tianna. Tia has to stifle a laugh.

"Okay Amanda, do your thing. Come on, let's go over _there_ ," Thian says still trying to spit sand.

Amanda watches as they fly some distance away. She dismounts then turns and faces the flames. Pointing her wand at the flames, she flicks her wrist shouting, " _Freezeio_!"

A blue bolt jets from her wand, fans out several yards and strikes the flames. For an instant, the closest flames freeze in place, like a colorful ice sculpture with the flames locked inside. But seconds later, the immense heat from the surrounding flames melts the spell away.

"Darn!" Amanda says stomping her foot. "It's just not _strong_ enough!"

"Amanda," Thian says, "do you think the _gelling_ spell you used on the water would, I don' know, maybe keep them _enclosed_ long enough for us to get to the pyramids and see what they say?"

"Maybe. Good idea. Let me try it. Better get back again though."

Amanda uses the gelling spell which does not affect the flames at all.

For the next half hour, they try _dozens_ of spells they think might work on the flames.

But nothing does.

Amanda mounts up and gets her bubble and air going.

"Wish we had a tornado or something to _blow_ the flames out," Thian says as they all hover facing the flames.

After several moments of silence, Tia says, "A tornado? Wait, why _not_? Well, not a _tornado_ exactly, but what about that _wind_ spell Amanda told us about. _We_ didn't learn it because we figured we would never _need_ it, but..."

"Are you thinking we can actually _blow_ the flames out?" Amanda asks rather excited.

"Might just work," Thian says nodding. "What do you think Tianna?"

"No idea. I never _heard_ of such a spell until Amanda mentioned it. But since you're the only one that knows the spell, Amanda, I'm afraid _you'll_ have to be the one that does it, but... it's one you learned from the _big_ book, and is one you said the necklace _has_ to help you with. You _sure_ you want to chance using somebody in the necklace to take _control_ of you?"

They all look at Amanda's stunned expression. "Gosh, I _forgot_ about where I learned that one. Uh... well... _No_ , I don't. But actually, I guess we don't have any _choice_ really. We've tried everything else we can think of."

"Um... how _do_ you call whoever's in the necklace Amanda?" Sadie asks looking nervous.

"Well, when I've asked _before_ , nothing's _ever_ happened. And the necklace didn't help us with those creatures _yesterday_ either. I'm not sure _how_ to ask for help."

"Maybe the _Specter_ in the scope knows how the necklace works," Tianna says thoughtfully. "It couldn't hurt to _ask_ could it?"

"No... I _guess_ not. Okay, I'll try it. Let's fly over there a little further away okay. I'm going to need to _ditch_ the bubble first. I don't want the _Specter_ growing inside the bubble with me."

They fly as far from the flames as possible, still wanting to keep some distance from the tree line. There has been no sign of the creatures from last night, but they do _not_ want to be surprised with their backs to the trees.

Amanda disengages her bubble, then dismounts. Pulling the Specteroscope from her pants pocket, she slips it from its pouch. She looks at the others one last time, who nod back to her. Setting the dials, she presses the buttons, quickly setting the Specteroscope on the ground then stepping back.

A black mist begins to rise and spread from the center of the scope, rising like black fog.

They watch with nervous eyes as the black fog begins to take the rough shape of a person. In another few moments, a fully formed Specter stands to the side of the scope, arms crossed, glancing at the flaming swamp before him saying, "I am at your _command_ Wielder."

"Uh, hi. We need your help. We need to get past those flames so we can read what's on the pyramids. Do _you_ know any way we can do that? We'd _really_ appreciate it."

The Specter stares at Amanda for a long moment, looks at the others hovering on their brooms surrounded by their bubbles.

"I am not sure I understand Wielder. Did you not use a separation spell on the water?"

"A what?"

The Specter looks at the others who look as puzzled as Amanda does.

"A separation spell. There are several spells which cause something to be separated, to move apart, moving away from another. They are _very_ ancient spells Wielder. Not many were able to use such spells, for they are _very_ complicated. But you... _you_ are the Wielder. You can summon a _spirit_ within the necklace who knows the spells, and cast a spell which will cause the water and flames to separate, to move away from where you point your wand, leaving a pathway to travel along safely."

"Well, I guess I have no other choice. Okay, how do I, um, _call_ someone in the necklace who knows what I want to do."

The Specter looks very surprised by the question.

"You... you do not know _how_ to use the necklace Wielder?"

"Well, uh, not _really_. I'm kind of _new_ to this Wielder thing. Can you tell me how to call them?"

The Specter is silent for a very long time, as though waiting for Amanda to do or say something more. The Specter tilts his head slightly toward Amanda while raising his eyebrows. Amanda's eyes go wide, then says, "I _command_ you to tell me how to use the necklace to summon _any_ spirit I need to help me, ever!"

The Specter straightens, drawing a deep breath. "As you... _command_ Wielder. This is what you must do."

After the Specter explains to Amanda what she must say and do, Amanda says, " _Got_ it. Thanks _so_ much for your help, uh, sir."

"I am always at your command Wielder. Is there anything else?"

"No, _thank_ you."

The Specter immediately begins to return to a black fog, swirling quickly into what looks like a black tornado, then appears to be sucked back into the Specteroscope.

"Did you _see_ the face on him, when Amanda told him she needed his _help_ with how to use the necklace?" Tia asks.

"Yeah, he looked _really_ surprised didn't he?" Tianna says shaking her head.

"Well, at least he told me what to _do_. So, I guess I'll have to try it."

Amanda picks up the scope, slips it into its pouch, then back into her pant's pocket.

"Amanda, I'm _really_ scared," Thian says with the pitch in his voice rising. "You're not _supposed_ to use spells from the necklace you know. And now, you're actually going to _call_ a spirit from the crystals to _possess_ you. You've had to _fight_ 'em before, to get them back into the necklace, you know? _One_ of these times though..."

"Yeah, I know," Amanda says forcing a swallow as she wipes the sweat from her face. "But, I don't think we have any other _choice_ do we?"

"Not that _I_ can see," Tianna says seriously. "It's like some kind of race, to see if we can find all the Shards, reconstruct the tablet, find the _Book_ and see if there is a way to get the necklace off Amanda, or if the _necklace_ slowly turns Amanda into... well, into..."

"Pure _evil_. Which means no one could stop her..." Tia says.

"Which means the end of the _Light_ and everything good on all the realms of all the universes. All will be lost forever," Thian finishes, his voice fading.

Amanda stands with terror on her face, visibly shaking.

"Well, we better _win_ then," Sadie says loudly. "The sooner we get all the Shards, the less Amanda will have to _use_ the necklace."

"She's right," Tianna says. "I guess there's just going to be sometimes we'll have to use the necklace when we can't find any other way, and this is one of 'em."

"The decision is up to you Amanda," Thian says solemnly. "If you want, we can just keep looking for other Shards, which might be easier to find, then come back here later. Maybe you won't have to use the necklace at a lot of the other places, so you won't, well, be taken _over_ so fast. We don't even _know_ if a Shard is in there or anywhere else in this _stinking_ swamp."

They are all silent for a long moment, looking at Amanda as she stands blinking back at them, her mind spinning. Finally, Amanda slowly shakes her head.

"No. We _don't_ know what we may find at the other places either, and skipping around from place to place just puts us in greater danger of being _discovered_ or tracked. No... I think I should do it now. If a Shard _is_ here someplace, I want to get it now and _leave_ this place."

"Well, what do you want _us_ to do Amanda?" Thian asks looking at the flaming swamp. "Do you want us to stay here beside you, or or do you want us to fly away some or what?"

"I think it may be a good idea if you guys fly away some, then _keep_ an eye on me. I don't know what might happen to me or if I _can_ get someone to come help me. I'm really _scared_ they may take me over and I won't be able to get back. I _still_ have nightmares of when I was trapped inside that stone. I wouldn't want to be trapped in there for all _eternity_ , let me tell you. If I _am_ taken over, and I can't get back... you guys need to get away from here as _fast_ as you can."

"And just where do we _go_ Amanda?" Tianna asks holding her arms up. " _You_ have the Specteroscope, and it's the _only_ way we can travel to some other place or another Realm. If you _aren't_ , well, the _Wielder_ any more, and we try to fly away, the new Wielder will _kill_ us all for sure!"

Amanda chews on her lower lip for a moment, then reaching into her pant's pocket, she takes the Specteroscope out.

"What are you doing?" Sadie asks.

As Amanda unclips the clasp from her belt, she says, "I'm giving _you_ guys the scope. If something happens to me, use it to go... well to go back to _Poa_ and his people until you can figure out what else to do."

"But Amanda, Bellinora said _you_ were the one to use it, and _not_ to let it out of your sight, not to lose it or the _pouch_ either," Tianna says shaking her head.

"I know, but I don't think she _anticipated_ these kinds of situations or just didn't have time to tell me what to do if something like this _did_ happen. And you're right, if I _don't_ come back, whoever it is inside of me _will_ more than likely kill all of you. And Bellinora did say, the scope could be used by _whoever_ had it."

Walking to Thian, she holds out the scope. "I want you to take it... but I want it back if I'm still _me_ after I use the necklace okay?"

Thian's bubble vanishes and he takes the Specteroscope in trembling hands. "Yeah, okay, sure, but just make sure you _come_ back okay. Alright guys, I say we fly up a good distance, ditch the bubbles and hold hands... just in case we need to leave in an instant. I know how to call up the dial settings for Poa's place that Amanda programmed into the scope, so we'll go there if something happens. Good luck Amanda. Let's go."

They all wish her luck, then fly up and away a good distance. Amanda watches her friends fly away as a lump forms in her throat.

Turning to face the flames, she reaches into her robe and pulls out the necklace, the light in the gems casting rays of colored light in all directions.

With her left hand clutching the large ruby as the Specter told her, she closes her eyes and says the spell as instructed, focusing her concentration on summoning a spirit who _knows_ the ancient separation spells.

Amanda begins to shake, continuing to chant the summoning spell over and over. She feels herself begin to float down into some kind of tunnel. There is someone coming toward her. As Amanda continues floating down, she knows she will soon drop into one of the stones and be trapped.

A spirit approaches. Amanda is scared out of her mind, but as the spirit comes nearer, the hooded figure lifts its head and Amanda sees it is a beautiful woman. She smiles, holds her hands up when she is ten feet from Amanda, and says, "I am from the Light, Amanda. My name is Linda Gray. It is alright child, I will help you as I can."

They pass one another as Amanda speeds down the tunnel and into a crystal, dropping from what seems hundreds of feet, seeing thousands of souls looking up at her. She is so frightened she cannot swallow.

"Look at her _shake_!" Tia says watching Amanda's body thrash about.

"Well, looks like somebody answered her _call_ ," Tianna says nervously.

"Yeah, but... from which _side_?" Thian adds.

Amanda's hair rises into the air, then snaps back like it has before, as though waving in a violent wind storm.

Stepping forward, Amanda points her wand at the water's edge, snaps her wrist using some curves and twizzles, then a brilliant orange bolt shoots from her wand striking the water at the shoreline. She slowly raises her wand as a bright green line from the bolt is left trailing in the water, like she is drawing a fluorescing green line. She continues until the line meets the pyramid.

Raising her other arm she puts her palms together, wand still pointed at the pyramid. Slowly, she begins moving her arms apart to the sides.

"Great _Mother_! Would you look at _that_!" Thian says wide eyed.

"The water's _parting_ at that green line, moving away on either side. Look, it's forming a _huge_ wall of water and flames on either side of her, and... and there are _bodies_ tumbling inside the walls of water too. Wow!" Tia says, her jaw dropping.

Tianna has not said a thing as she watches Amanda's arms continue to widen, the path in front of Amanda now leading all the way to the first pyramid.

Amanda begins to walk forward along the path.

"Where's she _going_?" Sadie stutters.

"Don't know, but I really think we had better get ready to leave. I don't _like_ this any," Tianna says looking at Thian."

"Yeah, right. Okay, ditch the bubbles and hold hands. I've already set the dials. All I have to do is _push_ these two buttons."

They move into position.

Amanda walks to the pyramid and snaps her wand first to the right, then the left. As the kids watch, the water and flames part from around the pyramid and move away. There is now a path leading to the pyramids, and continuing all the way around.

"Look, she's coming back," Sadie says nervously.

"Get _ready_ to go!" Thian shouts as Amanda looks up at them, now standing at the shoreline. She just stands for a few more moments, looking around the area, then with one last look up to the kids, begins to shake.

"Here we _go_. I sure hope Amanda makes her way back okay," Tianna says griping Thian's hand so hard he yelps.

They watch as Amanda's body drops, sprawling her at the edge of the pathway.

"Let's go see if she's okay," Sadie says beginning to fly away.

"Wait! Not yet!" Thian bellows. "We don't know if it _will_ be Amanda getting up or... or _what_. Let's just wait and see. We've all seen this before. So... wait."

It is several agonizing moments before Amanda's body stirs. She sits up and looks around, then looks at the huge walls of water with the flames rising high on the crests. She can see right into the walls of murky water, as though into an aquarium which needs cleaning. For a few moments, she cannot tear her eyes away. Hundreds of decaying bodies are floating in the distance, thousands of weaving reeds scattered about everywhere along with boulders of various sizes dotted about.

Turning, Amanda looks up to see her friends holding hands staring at her with frightened expressions. Amanda gets to her feet on rubbery legs and waves.

"Do you think it's _her_... I mean _Amanda_?" Tia asks.

Thian licks his lips, "Only one way to find out I guess. Come on, let's go see."

"Wait! What if it _isn't_ Amanda and we _all_ fly down and whoever it is, _kills_ us?" Sadie says trembling.

"Oh. _Good_ point Sadie. Uh, maybe I should go see and you guys wait here," Thian says in almost a whisper.

"No, not _you_ Thian! _You_ have the Specteroscope!" Tianna says nodding to the scope in Thian's trembling hands. "And you know how to use it, so I'll go. If something happens, the _rest_ of you get out of here, okay?"

"Sis, _no_. I'll come with you."

"No, only _one_ of us should go, and I'm the one."

Without waiting for an argument, Tianna turns away and begins flying slowly toward who may or may not be Amanda. As she descends, she extends her wand in front of her, pointed directly at Amanda, hoping it is Amanda. As Tianna gets closer, Amanda, or whoever it is, pulls her wand and points it directly at Tianna.

#  Pyramids

Tianna is visibly shaking as she draws to within fifteen feet of the person holding their wand out, pointed directly at her face.

Looking at the bright violet eyes, Tianna forces a swallow. "Amanda, is that _you_?"

"Yeah, it's me, but are you, _you_?"

"What? Of _course_ I'm me! Who else do you _think_ I'd be?"

Amanda lowers her wand, as does Tianna.

"Well, since I wasn't really _here_ to see what was going on, you _could_ have been, I don't know, someone _made_ to look like you, but _not_ you, you know?"

Making 'the face,' along with a sigh and shake of her head, Tianna turns and waves to the others to join them, then dismounts to stand next to Amanda. Since the flames are high above them, it is still hot but not so hot they need the bubbles any longer.

As the others join them, Thian hands Amanda the scope after she convinces him she is who she says she is.

"You _sure_ you're okay Amanda?" Sadie asks.

"Yeah, but we need to get _moving_. Linda, the lady who took me over, she's from the Light, said she didn't know _how_ long the spell would last and to _hurry_. So, _let's_ go. Tia, you write pretty fast, let's go take a closer look at the pyramids and _you_ write down all the symbols okay?"

"Okay. I _really_ don't want to be standing on this path if the _spell_ breaks. Maybe that's what happened to all those _bodies_ in the water. Maybe this really _is_ a trap you know? Maybe, maybe whoever _cast_ the fire spell, _knew_ someone would use a spell like Amanda just did, to _lure_ them into the middle of the path, then _break_ the spell, _trapping_ us underwater _forever_ or something!"

They all have horrified expressions, then Thian clears his voice.

"We're wasting _time_!" Thian says stepping up beside Amanda. " _Mount_ up and let's see what we find."

They all mount and quickly head along the path to the base of the first huge pyramid.

"Ya know, I think..." Sadie begins.

"Not _now_ Sadie! Start copying Tia, while the rest of us take a look around for a way in. Sadie, Tianna, go left. Amanda, _you_ come with me. Let's move."

Tia is left alone, _frantically_ copying down the symbols she sees on the first face of the first pyramid, wondering when the spell will break and trap her forever.

Fifteen minutes later, Tia has finished copying everything from both pyramids, and the kids have found nothing indicating a way into them. They hurriedly make their way back to the shoreline.

"Why don't we see if we can find any shoreline near one of those _other_ watery areas we saw, where there are no _flames_ okay, now that we know there _are_ some," Tianna says pointing off to the left.

"Good idea, let's move, I don't want to be this close if the spell _breaks_ and all the flaming water and _bodies_ crash to shore like some huge tidal wave," Thian says looking at the massive walls of water.

They fly up and off to the left, soon coming to another good sized area of water, with a decent enough depth of shoreline before it reaches the dense moss-laden trees.

As they all sit in a circle, Tia says, "Take a look at this. This is what the first face looks like."

"Nice. So what all did you get?" Thian asks anxiously.

"Here, take a look. I put one side per piece of paper to make it large enough to see easily. Maybe we can figure out..."

"Wait! Like I was trying to say before..."

"Not _now_ Sadie, let her finish!" Thian says with irritation.

"No, now! _Listen_ to me, I _do_ know what those symbols are and how to read them!" Sadie says excitedly.

"I learned all about those symbols when I was held on... well, when I was someplace else. I learned how _pyramid_ coding is set up too."

"Sniggering _Zumbats_! Pyramid coding?" Thian asks, his ears twitching.

"Yeah, in ancient times, _lots_ of the most powerful witches and wizards needed a way to leave hidden messages, which only others of the _highest_ Order could decipher. They would write out their message on _papyrus_ first, then use special characters to write the message. _Those_ symbols on the pyramids are the _oldest_ known coding on any realm yet known. The symbols are _double_ usage!"

"What do you mean, _double_ usage?" Tianna asks brushing some hair from Sadie's face.

"Here, let me show you, it's _really_ neat!" Sadie pulls her wand, waves it over her hand and a pad of paper and a sharp pencil pop onto her lap.

"Give me a minute to draw the original diagram for the code, _then_ I'll show you how it works, just in case we come up against these again or something like them. The thing is though, the coding methods _vary_. I don't know which variation ours is, but I'll show you the most common base graph. After you see how it works, it should only take a few minutes to figure out the variations, if any, for ours."

Sadie draws for several minutes then turns the page around so everyone can see.

"Interesting," Thian says leaning in to get a better look. "But how does it work?"

"Well, here, let me darken some lines so you can see how they did it."

"There take a look at this."

"It's kind of _complicated_ at first, but I'll do my best to give you a couple of examples. See the letter 'A' and 'O' at the top left? And see how I've darkened in what looks like a backwards 'L."

"Yeah, and you did the same with the letters, 'C' and 'P'," Tia says looking confused.

"Right. Now, the _symbol_ for the letter 'A' is drawn just like you see it, like a backward 'L.' But to make the letter 'O' you draw the same thing, but put a _dot_ near the middle of that symbol. Now, look at the letters 'C' and 'P.' You draw the letter 'C' using the symbol that looks like an 'L.' To make the letter 'P,' you add a _dot_.

"Now this is where things get interesting. Look at the bottom letters on the left, the 'D' and 'Q.' The symbol for the letter 'D' would be drawn with the line above it, and the one coming down the side near the letter 'Q.' The letter 'Q' is the same symbol but adding a dot. The _first_ letter you see in a two letter combination is drawn with _no_ dot, the second one _with_ a dot."

"Wow, this _is_ complicated," Amanda says shaking her head. "But Sadie, what about 'K' and 'N,' they don't have _any_ letters next to them, and the 'L' and 'Y,' and the 'M' and 'Z' look like they have a _colon_ between them. How do you use _those_?"

"Well, the 'K' would be drawn like a square cut in half, see. There is a _vertical_ bar to the left, a _long_ line below it, and _another_ vertical bar on the right. The letter 'N' is the same symbol but upside down, like the top of a square cut in half.

"Now, look at the letters 'L,' 'Y,' 'M' and 'Z.' This one took me a while to learn but I finally got it. The _easiest_ way to think of them is to _forget_ all the other lines and just think of a _square_. Now _cut_ that square in half, the upper half become the symbol for the 'L' and 'Y,' and the 'M' and 'Z' are the bottom portion, okay?"

"Uh, huh?" Thian says furrowing his brows.

"Okay. Think only of the upper half of the square. You have a line on the left, a longer line across the top, and a line on the right. To make the _symbol_ for the letter 'L,' you draw those lines, _then_ place a dot, then the _two_ dots to the right of that which look like a colon, in the middle of that half of the box. To make the letter 'Y,' you put the _double_ dots first, then a _single_ dot to the right. Same thing for the bottom half of the square. For the symbols 'M' and 'Z,' draw the bottom half of the box, then to make the symbol for 'M,' put a dot followed by the two dots that look like a colon. For the symbol 'Z,' you reverse the order of the dots.

"But this isn't the really _cool_ part! If you take this piece of paper and turn it upside down, _all_ the symbols look the same but would represent different letters... other than the symbols for the letters 'K' and 'N,' which don't change."

"Well I'm confused!" Tia says shaking her head and laughing.

"Why would you want to make symbols that look the _same_ but mean something else when they are upside down to look like some other symbol?" Thian asks very puzzled.

"Actually, it's really interesting," Sadie says grinning. "If you wanted to write something which would be almost _impossible_ for someone to decipher, in the _ancient_ times anyway, _this_ was the very best way to do it. Should someone find your message, they might _try_ to decipher it by trying to figure the letters out using the total number of each symbol used. You know, the letter 'E' is used more than the letter 'Y' and the letter 'Y' is used more than the letter 'Z.'

"But, what if you wrote your message on several pieces of paper, then turned _one_ of the papers upside down and numbered the pages at the bottom. All the symbols would _still_ look the same, but when someone tried to count up the number of times a symbol was used, they would come up with the wrong letter. Turning the page over before numbering it throws everything off."

"Very smart. But _how_ does that work with the pyramids?" Tianna asks.

"You'll _love_ this!" Sadie says with a laugh. "They would take two or more pyramids, however many were needed to complete the message, and lay them side-by-side, but with their tops facing in opposite directions. You know, one point facing up, the other down. They would then begin writing their message in these symbols, writing _across_ one face of a pyramid, and continuing _right_ across to the others. When they ran out of room, they just started writing below that line of symbols, and continued until they reached the bottom and ran out of room.

"They would then rotate the pyramids by one face, then continue writing until done. When you stand both pyramids right-side up, if you tried to read the message, you would _never_ be able to decipher it, because the _message_ has been split between _two_ or more pyramids, _each_ having four sides and each pyramid missing huge chunks of the message while at least _one_ pyramid has all its sides _upside_ down!"

" _Genius_!" Thian says grinning. So, what do we do to _read_ the symbols Tia wrote?"

"Well, first let me draw out the alphabet and work on what variation I think they used, then I'll put the symbols under them. While I do that Tia, would you cut your papers you have along the lines of the pyramid shapes. We need to put one with the tip up, another with the tip down."

"But, which one do we start with and which one points up or _down_?" Amanda asks as Tia waves her wand and a pair of scissors appears.

"One of the drawings you have will have a _dot_ at the base. _That's_ the symbol for the starting face. One of the other drawings you have will have a _line_ at the base, that's the one you turn upside down and place against the first one. It's a good thing you put all the faces together for one pyramid, and the same for the other in the order of the faces. You _were_ walking around them in the same direction weren't you? Good. You know... I think I know the variations they used for our pyramid's alphabet. I mean, I can read the base code and I think I know what they did here looking at what Tia just put together. Let me draw out the alphabet."

A few minutes later, Sadie has drawn the alphabet and the symbols she thinks represents them. Tia has just finished cutting all the shapes out, and has numbered them as to whether that page is for pyramid one or two and which face the page represents.

"Here, take a look," Sadie says turning her paper around.

" _Now_ I see what you mean about turning the page upside _down_ , the letter 'U' becomes the letter 'V', the letter 'S' becomes 'T' and so on. _Neat_!" Thian says laughing.

"Show us your pages sis," Tianna says with a grin.

"Here's pyramid _one_ , _face_ one on the left, and pyramid _two_ , face _one_ on the right.

"Now. Here's pyramid one, face _two_ on the left, pyramid two, face two on the right.

"And the third faces."

"And the last faces."

"Great! Now all we have to do is substitute the common _wizarding_ alphabet for the symbols. Actually, I think Amanda can just _look_ at the alphabet and symbol sheet, then just concentrate on the symbols and they'll _morph_ into her native English. Can you _do_ that Amanda, then write them down so we can all read them?" Tianna asks handing the pages to Amanda.

"Oh, uh, well, I don't know, but I'll give it a _try_."

After several minutes of focused concentration, Amanda begins writing. In another few minutes, she smiles up at everyone saying, "Got it! Look!" Then shows them what she came up with.

"But... all the letters are _run_ together," Tianna says cocking her head.

"Yeah. Without _spaces_ , someone could _never_ figure out where one word ends and another one starts using only symbols. In the ancient times, these messages _couldn't_ be broken," Sadie says nodding.

Sadie continues, "You just have to read across really careful, picking out words as you find them. When you come to the bottom of one set of the faces, you just continue with the next set. As you can see, words are broken up not only as you go from left to right _across_ the faces, but some are broken up from _one_ set to another."

"Sadie, this is the most _complicated_ coding I've ever seen. Loki would _love_ this!" Thian says trying to pick out words. "Are you _sure_ you're only six years old?" He says with a grin. "You sure know a _lot_ for your age and you speak really good too."

Sadie giggles nervously.

"Well, since you're practically _drooling_ on the pages Thian, why don't you see if you can write out the entire message okay?" Amanda says with a smile.

Thian takes the pages, licks the end of the pencil, leaving a long black streak on his tongue, and begins writing on another piece of paper.

While Thian does his thing, the others get into an excited discussion as to what the message might say.

Several minutes later, "Wow! Okay, I've _got_ it! It's _really_ weird though, but I checked it _three_ times, and I didn't make _any_ mistakes Tianna."

"Well what _did_ you get?" Tianna asks leaning over to look at the page in his lap.

"Well, _first_ I wrote out all the letters one after the other, instead of having to try to figure things out on all those pages. This is what I came up with."

'Thegreathallofthewizardsisfoundatthenortheastendoftheswampthirdcavefromtherightfollowtherighthandpathstotheendspeakdenateentoenterwizardshallenterroomontherightturnfifthpyramidenterchambertakestoneidolplaceinbasinfillwithwaterenterthirdtunnelthenfollowmediumpyramidsforfurtherinstructions'

"Next, I broke the words _apart_ and got... _this_!"

'The great hall of the wizards is found at the north east end of the swamp third cave from the right follow the right hand paths to the end speak denateen to enter wizards hall enter room on the right turn fifth pyramid enter chamber take stone idol place in basin fill with water enter third tunnel then follow medium pyramids for further instructions'

"Wow... that _is_ weird," Amanda says. "What do you think it all means?"

"Haven't a _clue_ ," Thian says shaking his head. "But it looks like we need to go to some caves at the northeast end of the swamp here... I _guess_ anyway."

"Thian, were there any caves shown on the map?" Tia asks taking the papers back from him and slipping them into her travelers pack.

"Oh, um, let me see." Thian pulls out the map and unfolds it. "Let's seeee, here we are sitting in a circle, see? And... well... _here_ they are! I _think_ anyway. I don't see any other caves shown near the north _east_ end of the swamp. So, I _think_ these may be them. Let's mount up and get the heck away from here. It looks like a good _five_ hours of flying, but there is a _good-_ sized area where we can put up the cabin for sure. I'm starving, and I can't wait to take a bath!"

"Good, because _I'm_ starving too," Sadie says resting her head against Tianna's shoulder.

"Me too," Tianna says touching Sadie's nose with her finger, making Sadie giggle and the others smile.

"Well, it's going to be getting late by the time we get there. I say let's fly over, set up the cabin, get _clean_ , have something to eat, then relax a little before getting to bed," Amanda says getting to her feet, heading for her travelers pack and broom.

As they mount up, they hear a _loud_ sound which at first, they cannot recognize. Looking at one another, they rise high over the trees and look around.

"Oh my _god_! _Look_!" Amanda shouts, everyone turning to look to where she is pointing.

"The pyramids... they're _gone_!"

#  The Cave

"Not only _that_ , there're no _flames_ either!" Sadie says surprised.

"I don't like _this_ ," Tianna says, then purses her lips and shakes her head.

"Yeah, _I_ don't like this either sis. Where did they go and _why_ is the fire out?"

After Thian rechecks the map for the location of the caves and gets his bearings, he shouts, "Let's get the heck _out_ of here before something else happens - _follow_ me!"

It takes them a little over five hours to reach the area on the map showing the caves. The swamp ends at the base of a very large mountain. They rise over the mountain and follow the tops of the trees down the other side, and find they are headed down and into a tight narrow canyon.

Shooting along the canyon, rocky and cragged cliffs rising a thousand feet or more only fifteen to twenty-five feet to either side of them, they look nervously for any kind of trap. They all know this would be a _perfect_ place for an ambush.

They continue following a rushing stream only feet below, through the ever twisting and turning canyon. From time to time, rocks and small boulders tumble down from far above, keeping them all alert. Getting struck by one of the boulders could kill them, and there may be no way to get out of the way in time.

When they reach the end of the canyon, it widens out considerably. A vertical cliff rising at least two thousand feet signals the end of their journey. The huge face of the cliff is littered with hundreds of caves, beginning at the base of the cliff and rising into the darkness above. Many of the caves are very large, the size of a house or larger. Others, very hard to see are only large enough to crawl into.

"Well, looks like we found the _caves_ , huh Tianna?" Sadie says with a smile.

"We sure did," she smiles back, "but, look how _many_ there are, and all the different _sizes_ too."

"I'm _exhausted_. Thian, is that spot over there large enough to set up the cabin?" Amanda asks.

"Yeah, no problem and it's a ways from the cliff's edge too, so we should be safe there... unless, well, we're not."

" _Brilliant_ Thian. Once again you demonstrate your _mastery_ of the obvious. Come on, let's get the cabin set up. At least there's lots of relatively clean water here from the waterfalls over there," Tianna says, pointing to the left.

"It's so dark, I can hardly _see_ the falls, but you're right sis," Tia says looking in the direction of the falls, "we can replace the water in the cabin and outhouses while we're here, and get our water bottles filled."

"I'm _hungry_ ," Sadie says in her best little girl voice, making the others smile.

"Okay, let's set up, clean up, then have something to eat and unwind a bit before bed. We'll take a look at all those caves in the morning," Thian says, then flies off toward the flatter ground at the river's bank.

Thian sets up the cabin, then he and Tianna do their thing with transferring water from the cleaner part of the river, which is coming from where the falls first enter the stream, to the cabin. In the meantime, the others go inside and search for any remaining creatures that may have made the trip with them. They do not really think the creatures could have survived the recompression of the cabin into the can, but they want to make sure.

In no time, they are cleaned up, the table is set, and they all sit to a well-deserved meal.

"Gosh this is good," Amanda says with a grin. "It's been so long since we ate, almost _anything_ would taste good, but this is outstanding Tia!" Tia smiles.

After dinner, they spend a couple hours resting in the living room, discussing all the events since arriving at the _Burning Swamp of The Dead_.

Sadie yawns, hardly able to keep her eyes open.

"Looks like it's someone's bedtime young lady," Tianna says to Sadie.

"If you're talking to _me_ , you're right. I've had it for the day. I'm going to bed," Amanda says, the others laughing.

"Well, if _you're_ tired Amanda, and _you're_ going to bed, then I think I will too," Sadie says then yawns again as she and Amanda get up.

"Maybe a good idea if we all get some rest," Tia says stretching. "It's been a while since any of us had any _real_ sleep. I think we could all use it. Good night Thian."

They all say their goodnights, and head for bed, leaving Thian to make up the couch, put out the glow lamps and lie down. With his hands behind his head looking at the ceiling, he thinks back over all the adventures they have been on since meeting Amanda, as slowly, his eyelids close and he is fast asleep.

In the morning, they have a grand breakfast, fill the outhouses, restock their travelers packs with snacks and clean clothing, then fill and cap their water bottles. Slipping into their packs and grabbing their brooms, they all head outside, where Thian repacks the cabin and slips the can back into his deep pant's pocket.

Mounting up, Amanda says, "Well, since we're supposed to find the _third_ cave from the right, I guess we start at the right hand wall where it meets the end of the canyon, and start counting. Did you see how _many_ caves there are? Last night, we couldn't see _half_ of 'em it was so dark. Now it looks like there're caves scattered all _over_ the place, all the way to the top of the cliff!"

"I wonder what would happen to us if we pick the _wrong_ cave?" Sadie says nervously looking at all the various sized cave openings.

"Well, just be thankful Amanda _was_ able to use the necklace, and you Sadie, were able to _remember_ how to read those symbols, and how that code on the pyramids worked," Tianna says smiling. "Come on, let's get this show on the road."

As they fly to the right, they soon reach where the canyon walls meet the dead end cliff, each silently counting the caves, to see if they can find the third one from the right hand cliff wall. It turns out to be much harder than they had thought it would be. Many of the caves look to be the same distance from the canyon wall, but at various heights, to at least a thousand feet.

For the fifth time, they ascend slowly up the cliff face, trying to fly up in as straight a line as they can, with the wind buffeting them around from time to time. Each argues that one cave was just a few inches further right than some other, everyone having a different opinion.

" _No_ Thian!... It is _not_ closer, you _idiot_! I'm _telling_ you, the one we just passed was _further_ to the right than this one. Maybe only an _inch_ or two, but it _was_ closer!"

"No _way_! And I'm telling _you_ , _this_ one is closer, and _I'm_ not the idiot, _you_ are!"

"Stop it!" Amanda shouts. "The _two_ of you! You're driving the rest of us _nuts_! It's obvious we all have _different_ opinions. What we _need_ to do is think of some other way to do this. Isn't there some kind of, I don't know... _measuring_ spells or something?"

"Well, there are," Tia says frowning. "But we've never had to measure something like _this_ though. This cliff is huge!"

" _Wait_... I think you may have hit on something Amanda," Thian says snapping his fingers. "Listen, what if we use a standard _leveling_ spell on one of our wands, set it at the base of the cliff and, say, have it rise a couple of feet so rocks on the ground won't get in the way, then cast a _locomotion_ spell on it, and have it slowly move to the left a little at a time? We fire a thin bolt from the wand, which..."

"Which will shoot a _perfectly_ straight line up the face of the cliff!" Tianna shouts. "That's _brilliant_ Thian!"

"A minute ago, you said he was an _idiot_ ," Sadie says with a smile.

"Well, a minute ago, he _was_. But honestly, that plan just might work. While the bolt is shooting up the cliff, we can rise up the line it makes and judge where the bolt _just_ touches the right hand side of one of the caves. Yeah. I think this might work. Thian, I'll help you set things up okay?"

Thian and Tianna begin to descend, leaving the others sitting on their brooms, watching the two of them laughing and bumping into one other playfully.

"I swear, they're like a couple of old _married_ people," Tia says shaking her head.

Amanda and Sadie laugh.

They soon have the wand set up, and begin ascending the cliff, looking for where the brilliant bolt just touches the third cave opening from the right.

After twenty tedious minutes of ascending all the way to the top of the cliff, then descending, moving the bolt of the wand a few inches at a time, they finally come to a hover.

"Well, I think we've _found_ it!" Tia says looking at the others. "But, after centuries, the weather and such could have warn away parts of the cave openings, making them bigger. Or, with mud and rock slides... could have filled some of them in, making the openings smaller. We may be picking the wrong cave."

"You're right, of course, but this is our very best guess. I say we need to chance it. Any arguments?" Thian asks.

None are given.

They return and pack up the cabin, fill their outhouses and water bottles, then head back to the cave.

They hover a few yards in front of their chosen cave.

"Great! It just _has_ to be one of those really small ones we'll have to _crawl_ through," Tia says with dread. "That is, if it's even _large_ enough for us to get into very far. We sure won't be able to get inside with our packs on though."

"Yeah," Thian says shaking his head giving a huge sigh, "and look at all the _spider_ webs in there too. What's with all the _spiders_ already! Can't we go _anyplace_ without having to deal with _spiders_?"

"Well, spiders _are_ the most prolific creatures in all the known universes you know." Tia says looking nervously at the gauze of webbing. "But I'm with you, I've had more than my _fill_ of spiders on this adventure. You'd think we'd get used to them after a while, but..."

"Yeah, good luck with _that_!" Amanda says with a laugh. "I hate them too, and back home, we only had _little_ ones and just about _everyone_ is afraid of them. But since I've been with _you_ guys, we've not only had to deal with little ones, we've had to fight _gigantic_ ones too. I think I'd like to encounter something _else_ if we have to, like big fluffy bunnies or something. Spiders give me the _creeps_. All those eyes, hairy, _spikey_ legs, and big bodies. Not to mention the _fangs_ too."

"Well, regardless of how we _feel_ about them," Tianna says nervously, "it looks like we may be finding _lots_ of 'em inside. No use sitting out here, the _wind's_ beginning to make it hard to keep my broom steady. At least the opening _looks_ big enough for one of us at a time to land in - well, if we take our pack off and _toss_ it in first. Then we can land, all hunched over of course, dismount and push our pack and broom into the cave tunnel, then the next one of us can follow."

"Uh... so who wants to go _first_?" Thian asks hoping they won't pick him.

"I think I should go first," Sadie says surprising everyone.

" _You_? Why you Sadie?" Tianna asks.

"I'm the _smallest_. If I go first, I can let you know what's further in the tunnel. Besides, I can see through _walls_ and stuff pretty good now, so I can look for _traps_ before we get to them."

"That's _good_ enough for me," Thian says with relief.

"Are you sure Sadie? Aren't you scared?" Tianna asks, her voice soft and questioning.

"Yeah, I _am_ scared. But I'm gonna be scared if I'm first or last. But, well, at least this way, I can _help_... maybe."

"Okay Sadie, the wind is _really_ beginning to whip us around way up here, so we had all better get inside," Amanda says fighting to keep her position. "Listen, Sadie, be _really_ careful okay? And _before_ you even toss your pack into the opening, take a _good_ look around, using your... um, _skills_. There may be a trap right at or just inside the opening."

"Okay. Well, here I go. Wait. Maybe the rest of you should fly away some, just in case there is some kind of _proximity_ spell which will send the cliffs _down_ on us?"

All eyes fly wide. Thian spins, quickly flying away a couple hundred yards, then waits for everyone else to catch up with him, leaving tiny Sadie hovering and fighting the wind in front of the cave.

"How does she _think_ of these things?" Amanda asks. "It's like she's in her late _twenties_ or thirties or something some times, and not just a little six year old _kid_."

"Must be because she's _Keptic_ or something," Tianna says smiling. "We don't know that much about them really."

They watch as Sadie struggles against the wind to maneuver her broom to the cave opening. She leans forward for a few seconds, then turns and waves to everyone that she is going in.

"Look how _tiny_ she is," Amanda says shaking her head. "I just _love_ her to death."

Sadie slips out of one side of her pack, then the other. Slinging it around a couple of times, she tosses it into the opening which looks like a shallow funnel, the larger area facing her. She watches the pack skid in a short distance, then flies into the opening, dismounts and stands up.

"Gosh, the opening is only about _three_ times her height. It's going to be tight for us to fly into," Tia says watching Sadie scanning the walls, floor and ceiling.

Smiling, Sadie faces them, waving and motioning for them to come back, which they quickly do.

"Everything _looks_ okay here anyway," Sadie says with some relief. "I'm going to use my broom to get rid of most of the spider webs in front of me first, then use the broom to push my pack further in, then I'll follow. If I find something, I'll let you know."

"Good job Sadie!" Tianna says grinning.

"Sadie, I know you're scared and all," Thian says looking at the tiny girl, "and I know you want all of us to be right there with you, but, well, it may be better if you go in a ways by yourself first, then the next one of us follows, then the next until we are all in and crawling. That way, uh, if something _bad_ happens, at least one of us may make it out okay and will have a better chance of doing something to rescue the others."

"Thian! That's a _horrible_ thing to say \- and a _horrible_ idea!" Tianna shouts. "If _you're_ so scared, you can just go _last_ , but _I'm_ going in as soon as Sadie is in the tunnel, and I'll be _right_ with her all the way! Sadie, get moving, the less time I'm out here with _Thian_ , the better!"

Thian turns red from embarrassment and licks his lips as he looks down at his broom handle.

"Actually, Thian's _right_ Tianna." Amanda says thoughtfully. "Don't _yell_ at me Tianna... let me explain. I _agree_ with you that Sadie shouldn't have to go in by herself, since she will face whatever might be in there waiting for us first. So, _I'll_ follow Sadie and stick right with her.

"I hate to say it, but, if something bad does happen, and the necklace does, well, its _thing_ to protect me, I _might_ be able to stop whatever may be in there before _it_ gets us. The rest of you should follow maybe a couple minutes behind, which _may_ give you time to use some spell or curse if needed."

"I _don't_ like it!" Tianna says shaking her head.

"Well..." Amanda says motioning for Sadie to enter the tunnel, while quickly slipping out of her own pack. "For once, I'm afraid you're _not_ going to get your way." Amanda, seeing that Sadie has moved the spider webs out of the way and pushed her pack in, her feet are all Amanda can see. Sadie crawls further into the tunnel. Quickly, Amanda tosses her pack into the opening, and shoots forward, leaving a startled and fuming Tianna behind. Amanda scoots her pack into the tunnel, then uses her broom to push her pack further in, then disappears from sight.

They are scared to death for the forty-five minutes they are all crawling flat on their stomachs, wands held lit in one hand and their brooms in the other. Suddenly, Sadie calls, "Hey! I think the tunnel's ending. My wand light's shining into some kind of small _cave_ or something."

Sadie exits the tunnel and stands in a spectacular cave almost completely filled with stalactites and stalagmites. The floor of the cavern around the stalagmites, is strewn with mesmerizing tiny crystals of blues, greens, purples and even clumps of clear ones. Sadie steps to the side to let Amanda through, soon followed by the others.

"Wow!" Thian says as he stands looking around, doing his best to dust himself off. "This is _awesome_! I've never seen anything so _stunning_ in my life!"

"Yeah, it _is_ awesome isn't it?" Tianna says pulling handfuls of spider webs first from her hair and face, then from her travelers pack, before slipping it on. The others follow her lead.

"The only thing in here I can see, though, are those two tunnels - one on the left and one on the right," Sadie says looking around, smiling at all the pretty crystals.

"So, _what_ was it we need to do now?" Tianna asks pulling more webs from her face and hair.

"Oh, I've got it right here," Thian says digging into his pocket for the translation of the message on the pyramids. "Well, we _think_ we went into the right cave. I mean, I didn't see any _other_ caves listed on the map, but I guess there _could_ have been more."

"That's _very_ reassuring Thian. So, what you're _saying_ is, that you may have picked the _wrong_ caves. That's... just... _great_!" Tianna says both hands on her hips.

"Hey! It's not _his_ fault if there _were_ other caves Tianna. We _all_ agreed that this was where we needed to go, including _you_! So if there _were_ some other caves and we _all_ missed them, when we _all_ looked at the map, it's _all_ our faults, and not just Thian's," Amanda fumes.

Tianna looks as though she had just been scolded by her mother. She looks around at the others staring at her. Turning red with embarrassment, she looks at the ground.

"Now... I believe you were going to tell us what we needed to do next Thian," Amanda says trying to calm herself.

"Yeah, okay, um, it says to follow the right hand paths to the end."

"Well, since there is only one _anything_ on the right, I guess they mean that tunnel over there," Tia says bending to pick up her broom, then begins walking toward the tunnel. The others adjust their packs, collect their brooms and follow.

Peering into the tunnel, all holding their lit wands into the opening, the eerie blue from the wands show that the path disappears into the inky darkness.

"Guess we better get started," Thian says nervously. "Sadie... you see anything we should know about?"

Sadie steps to the front and leans in slightly, scanning the tunnel.

"No. Not _yet_ anyway. You want me to go first like before?"

Thian turns to look at the others.

"It may be a good idea Sadie," Tianna says with a weak smile. But, if it's alright with everybody, I'd like to be the one to go with her this time."

They all turn to look at Amanda who nods, smiling at Tianna, who smiles back.

"Let's go Miss Sadie."

Sadie smiles, turns and walks into the tunnel, her wand held up and slightly in front of her, like carrying a torch. The tunnel is wide enough for Tianna and Sadie to walk side by side. The others look on for a few moments, then Thian says, "Let's move out. You two first, I'll watch our backs, just in case."

They enter the tunnel, slowly making their way in, watching the faint glow of wands a good distance in front of them.

After twenty minutes, the light from the wands Sadie and Tianna are holding, suddenly vanish.

"Stop!" Thian says jogging up to Tia and Amanda, both of whom are in a crouch, wands at the ready.

"Where'd they go?" Amanda stammers, scanning into the darkness ahead.

"I don't know," Thian says as he steps in front of them. "Maybe something..."

A blue glow flickers into the dark tunnel ahead.

"It's okay!" Tianna yells down the tunnel to them. "Come on, we found _more_ tunnels!"

They jog to catch up to Tianna.

"The path makes a _really_ sharp 'z' curve here. Sorry, we knew our wand light would be cut off for a minute, but we wanted to take a quick look before letting you know about the curves. We found a _lot_ of other tunnels on both sides of the path. Come on, I'll show you."

They turn a very sharp corner, and immediately have to turn another one. Sadie's wand light comes into view as they round the corner. Sadie is standing just outside an ancient, crumbling brick archway over their pathway. On the other side of the arch, are tunnels on either side.

"Oh golly, there's _dozens_ of tunnels or paths I guess," Amanda says, eyes darting from one side of the long tunnel to another. "And... and they all have..."

"Carved _doors_!" Thian says forcing a swallow. "Ahhhh _man_... not _again_! You, you don't think..."

"That there are _creatures_ behind them waiting to _eat_ us, like before?" Sadie says looking into the tunnel as she clutches Tianna's leg.

With a great sigh, Amanda says, "Maybe. But _last_ time we had to go _through_ a door to get into that other tunnel with all the other doors. Well, you know what I mean. There isn't _any_ door leading in there, just this old archway."

"It sure is _quiet_ isn't it?" Tia says in almost a whisper. "Sadie, can you see anything in there, or behind any of the doors?"

"No. I can't see into them from here, I have to get closer. But, I've looked at the walls, ceiling and floor just on the other side, and I don't see any traps."

"So, what now?" Tia asks.

"Like before," Thian says stepping forward. "But, if there _are_ traps... we walk into them together. I don't want just Sadie and Tianna or Amanda to walk in there and then have something _jump_ out and snatch them through some stupid _door_ , and _us_ just standing back out here. Together, we have a better chance of firing in different directions. We _go_ together."

Without waiting for a response, Thian strides forward, passing through the archway. Pausing, finding that nothing at all has happened, he looks back, "Are you _coming_ or not?"

Amanda steps through, followed by Tianna, Sadie, and a _very_ nervous Tia.

Once Tia steps through the archway, there is a brilliant orange flash, as the archway disappears, leaving a solid rock wall in its place.

Screaming and the sound of something pounding behind each door rips through the air, making everyone scream and jump back, running to and pounding on the rock wall where the arch once stood.

"It's no _use_! It's no use... we're _sealed_ in like before!" Amanda shouts.

"Listen, we all made it through the last time this happened, and we'll _do_ it again," Thian says stepping further into the tunnel. "The message said to follow the _right_ hand paths, and _that's_ what we need to do."

"Great, but _which_ right hand path?" Tianna shouts over the screaming, frantic scratching and pounding behind the doors. "There are _dozens_ of doors on each _side_ and _all_ the doors are bulging, and this time, it didn't tell us to, like, take the _third_ or fifth one, it just says to follow the right hand _paths_!"

"Sadie, can you see anything behind the doors?" Tia shouts.

A shaking and frightened Sadie steps up near the door next to her on the left side of the tunnel. She leans in slightly and screams, scaring everyone else as they look at the door while backing away to the other side of the path.

"Sadie! What is it?" Tianna shouts snatching Sadie off her feet and carrying her to the other side of the path.

"I... I don't _know_ what it is! But it's _huge_ and is mostly all _teeth_!"

"Sadie, what about this first door on the right?" Thian shouts over the horrible screams filling the tunnel.

Sadie is shaking so hard, Tianna has to help her to the door. Immediately Sadie screams, quickly stepping back onto Tianna's foot.

"It's... it's _filled_ with those black _spider-_ centipede- _scorpion_ things! I'm _scared_ , I want to go! Tianna, I want to _go_!"

They all move away from the door and are huddled back-to-back in the center of the pathway where they stand frozen for a few seconds in terror, each pointing their wand from one bulging door to another.

"Come on!" Thian shouts, then darts across the pathway to the first door on the right. Before anyone can stop him, he grabs the latch and yanks the door open. To everyone's surprise, Thian immediately bolts through the door as he gives a loud battle cry.

All eyes are wide as knees quake from fear. Everyone's wand is pointed at the open doorway, waiting for a flood of the black creatures to pour into the pathway, where they will all be attacked, bitten and stung to death.

Nothing.

Thian's head pops around the doorframe shouting, "Well, _come_ on, unless you've all _missed_ the screaming!" He disappears back into the new path.

Tianna is the last one through, slamming the door. Turning she sees the pathway is glowing a yellow green.

"Thian! By the Lord and _Lady_! Why did you _do_ that? We could _all_ have been killed you _idiot_!" Tianna yells, her face red.

"Yeah. _Maybe_ , if these weren't the caves the map talked about. But since Sadie said she _saw_ things behind the doors, just what would you have us _do_? Pick a door at _random_ and take our _chances_ or _follow_ the message from the pyramids, which says to _follow_ the right hand _paths_? Not right hand path... _paths_!

"This door is the _first_ on the right hand side. So, either what Sadie saw behind _this_ door was real or some kind of a _spell_ had been cast to make it appear something was behind it, keep someone _without_ the knowledge of the message from entering.

"So... would you'd rather pick a door that has a _better_ chance of having something jump out and eat us, _or_ go through the door the message _said_ to? I chose to _trust_ the message. And I'm _not_ apologizing! To _anyone_ Tianna, so just _shut_ up! Now, if you're through _whining_... I suggest we get _moving_! The sooner we're back on the surface, the _better_!"

Thian extinguishes his wand as he begins walking along the new path, which thankfully, has no doors.

Everyone stands watching Thian make his way along the path.

Amanda smiles, then begins to laugh. Shaking her head, "You know, he _really_ surprises me sometimes. At times he is the biggest _scaredy_ cat. Others, like now, he just takes _charge_ when things get really bad, while _we_ all stand around with our _faces_ hanging out. Come on, let's catch up to _Master_ Thian."

Over the next hour, they enter and follow five more paths which they found on the right. Each time, they have to cross an archway, which _seals_ itself, leaving them in a tunnel which, at times, has _dozens_ of doors, each bulging with screams or roars coming from them.

As they approach yet another archway, Sadie says, "I'm too tired! I have to sit, and I want something to _eat_ ," she says in a high pitched whiny voice.

"I could really use a rest too," Tia says slipping from her pack.

They all sit, pull out their _Instant Outhouses_ , use the restroom and cleanup for lunch.

After resting for almost an hour, Amanda asks, "How many more of these things do you think we'll have to _go_ through, before we get to, well, _wherever_?"

"Don't know," Thian says getting up. "I sure hope it's soon though. It's really _depressing_ in all these dark tunnels you know. I'm gonna use the restroom, then I think we should move out."

They all use the restroom one last time. They fill their water bottles from the sink, put their outhouse back into the can and into their pockets.

"Everybody ready?" Thian asks.

They all sigh at the same time, causing them all to laugh.

Thian stops laughing and says, "Well, I'll take that as not _really_ , but, _okay_ if we have to. So, like before, we all go through the archway, wait for it to seal, then sprint for the right hand door. Okay?"

Everyone nods.

"I'll go first, you all follow," Thian says turning to face the archway. Thian walks in and to the door. The others quickly jog in, and as Tianna enters, as usual, the archway vanishes and the screaming and pounding begins. As Tianna heads for the others, Thian yanks the door open and...

Screams!

#  Surprise!

Something flicks through the doorway in a blur, knocking Thian off his feet. A huge, roundish, twelve-legged feathery creature with a dozen searching eyes flashes in the wand light.

Amanda looks first at the eyes, then the row of glistening fangs ringing its head.

The creature reaches down with a spikey claw-like arm, snatching a scrabbling Thian up by the ankles, lifting him high as the creature turns and thunders back into the tunnel, its thick feathery legs pounding against the tunnel walls.

Thian is screaming at the top of his lungs. The others are so surprised and frightened that for a few moments, are stiff as statues, frozen in place from pure terror.

"Thian!" Tianna screams coming back to herself. She charges into the tunnel after them, Amanda and the others following quickly behind.

As Amanda enters, Thian's wand light shows the creature running with five of its legs on the rough rocky floor while another holds Thian hanging upside down, clutched in a red claw. Six of its other legs are a blur as they move across the ceiling as the creature takes up almost the entire diameter of the tunnel. Thian tries to fire a couple of times, but he is being swung around so violently, it's all he can do just to keep hold of his wand.

Amanda and the others have only run a short way through the doorway, when the door slams with a thunderous clap so loud, the girls all skid to a stop and whip around. Their hearts feel as though they will burst from their chests as they point their wands back toward the doorway.

Squinting, trying to see through the thick cloud of dust and dirt, they wait for the attack.

The cloud quickly thins and they see that nothing is charging them.

Worse... the door is gone and a solid wall of rock stands in its place.

"Snarkins! Tia shouts. "We're _trapped_!"

"There's no _time_ for that! We _have_ to save Thian... _again_! Come on!" Tianna shouts.

The girls run along the tunnel, watching the light from Thian's wand grow dimmer, until it suddenly vanishes.

"Oh Jesus!" Amanda says as they run faster.

Panting, they reach three tunnels on the left. The tunnels form a 'Y,' one leg leading perpendicular to their tunnel, the other two veer off to the sides.

"Which _way_?" Tianna shouts as Sadie catches up. "There's no _light_ down any of them and there's too much _echo_ to tell where the sound's _coming_ from!"

"Look!" Tia says pointing above them to a feather stuck to the ceiling of the tunnel on their right.

"But, how do we know it hasn't been there for months or _years_?" Tianna asks in a panic.

"We _don't_! But it's the only _clue_ we have. We have to pick _one_ of them, so why not _this_ one?" Amanda shouts.

Not waiting for a reply, Amanda pushes Tianna aside and _dashes_ into the tunnel, her wand light creating ever shifting shadows as she runs. The others turn and charge in after her.

Fifteen minutes later, they hear clicking sounds, lots of them, faint at first, but getting louder as they continue.

"I think you picked the right tunnel Amanda," Tia says breathlessly as they come to a halt. Listening for a few moments, they can hear Sadie running up behind them.

"Why'd you..."

"Shhh! Listen..." Tianna says in a whisper so low Sadie can hardly hear her.

"What _is_ that?" Sadie asks completely out of breath.

"Have no idea, but you can bet it can't be _good_ ," Tianna says following Amanda and Tia further into the tunnel.

A minute later Amanda stops, whispering, "Put out your wands. There's wand light shining around the corner up ahead where the tunnel turns to the left." They extinguish their wands and are immediately plunged into an eerie darkness. The only light is the distant blue flickering from Thian's wand.

Trying to catch her breath, Tia asks, "Do you think he's still alive?"

"He _better_ be, because I'm going to _kill_ him for not waiting to open that _stinking_ door!" Tianna says in a hushed growl.

"Oh _no_!" Amanda shouts, "it must have heard us, it's _running_ again. We _can't_ let it get away! _Come_ on, maybe we can use a stunning spell on it!"

They charge around the corner igniting their wands. The blue and green feathery creature is running down the tunnel. Thian begins to scream as he is banged up against the rough tunnel wall. His head slams against the tunnel wall, knocking him out and he drops his wand.

" _Shoot_ it! Tia yells. "SHOOOT IT!"

Tianna fires off a stunning spell, aiming at the creature's underside. The bolt strikes true. The creature lets out a horrific high-pitched shriek, making them all wince.

"You _got_ it sis! You _got_ it! But it's still _running_. Quick, _hit_ it again!

As Tianna fires off another stunning spell, the creature suddenly turns left and disappears.

"No!" Amanda shouts. " _Hurry_ , it's getting away!"

Tianna and Amanda are in front as they whip around the corner and immediately begin tumbling down a very steep embankment. Tia and Sadie sprint around the corner and tumble after them. Screaming as they tumble, everyone drops their broom while Sadie tumbles right out of her travelers pack.

Coming to a painful stop at the bottom, Amanda hears Tianna scream beside her. As Amanda springs to her feet facing Tianna, she sees the terror on her face.

Amanda spins around facing in the same direction and as she does, she hears both Tia and Sadie scream.

Amanda is so shocked, she takes a step back, trips over a rock and falls on her backside.

They are in a huge cavern filled with glow worms that make it look like starlight is all around them. Standing before them in their wand light, are thousands of the feathery spider-like creatures. The one they were chasing must have been a child. Hundreds of others rise over three stories.

The creature they were chasing faces them, holding Thian up by both arms and legs, spread eagle, as if ready to tear him in half. Thian has regained consciousness and is screaming and crying. Sadie is hysterical. Tia feels faint and Amanda quickly gets to her feet and stands beside Tianna. Both of them still have their wands, but Tia and Sadie scramble back up the embankment after theirs.

Looking around quickly, Amanda sees piles of bones at least a story high, covering a good thousand feet in all directions before them. Many look to be of various kinds of creatures, but others are clearly human-like or elf-like in form.

The huge mass of creatures begin stomping their feet, making the ground tremble.

"What are they _doing_?" Sadie cries.

"I don't _know_!" Tianna says trembling. "Amanda... Great _Mother_! Look at _Amanda_! By the moons, here we go _again_ Sadie!"

Sadie, crying so hard she can barely see, turns to face Amanda and goes ridged.

Amanda's hair is streaming out behind her as she stares stone-faced at the thousands of stomping creatures.

Amanda turns snatching Tianna's wand from her outstretched arm, then sprints directly at the mass of hissing creatures. The creatures begin charging as well. The one holding Thian begins running up a giant stalagmite.

Brilliant red bolts from both Amanda's wands seem to be flashing in all directions at once. Creatures, large and small are dropping like roaches sprayed with bug killer. One of the most giant one falls directly in front of Amanda. Without slowing, she charges up a huge glistening fang, making her way up and onto its massive head. She sprints straight across two eyes, her boots crunching and squishing beneath her as she continues firing spells like an out of control pinwheel.

Tianna snaps out of her trance-like state. Snatching Tia's wand away from her, Tianna turns and charges after Amanda, firing the killing curses Amanda had taught them. Her bolts are dropping the creatures as though they were struck in the head by a hammer.

Hundreds upon hundreds of dead creatures are scattered everywhere, many hundreds more turn and dash off through huge tunnels behind and to the sides of the cavern. Others scramble up the walls as still others scurry up stalagmites. Hundreds more dart into giant cracks within the cavern's rocky floor.

Sadie had picked up Thian's broom when he dropped it when the creature first grabbed him, and grabbed his wand just after he had dropped it and hands it to Tia. Tia darts off to the left firing the killing curse she heard Tianna using. Sadie darts off to the right, doing the same.

The entire cavern is awash in brilliant bolts of deadly lightning. The flashes turn the cavern into one massive stop motion strobe effect.

In a few minutes, hundreds of the creatures lay dead. None moving.

Thian's screaming echo filters down to them. Amanda snaps her head up, still standing atop the head of the massive creature. Looking high above to the giant stalagmite, she quickly scans the darkness. The creature that has Thian is quickly scurrying for a large crack in the ceiling. If she doesn't stop the creature before it gets into that crack, she knows Thian will never be found alive or in one piece.

Amanda looks at the wands in her hands, then up to the ceiling, where the creature is still holding a terrified Thian upside down.

Tianna knows what Amanda is thinking. "NO! Amanda, it's _too_ far! You'll hit Thian and _kill_ him. _Don't_!" she screams.

Amanda's hair shoots straight up, snapping like electrical discharges as she twirls both wands in opposite directions flat on her palms. Her fingers wrap around the ends of the wands, then, with a flourish of intricate wrist and arm movements, she fires twin bolts yelling, Sesor _mor_ dum!"

Tianna, Sadie and Tia _scream_ as the creature holding Thian is struck and falls from the ceiling, just as it had started entering the narrow crack. The girls watch with terror-stricken expressions as they see the creature fall toward the rocky cavern floor several hundred feet below.

The creature, dead the instant it was struck, had let go of Thian, whose arms and legs are thrashing as he screams, tumbling helplessly toward the jagged rocks below.

Thirty feet from striking the rocks, Amanda fires a yellow bolt, striking Thian in the chest. Thian rapidly begins decelerating. By the time he strikes the floor, it is like falling from the roof of a single story house. He has fallen behind a large boulder and Tianna and the others cannot see _how_ fast he had struck. All fear the worst.

Tianna, in tears, as are Tia and Sadie, run to where they had last seen him disappear behind the boulder. They have to climb their way over heaps of dead smelly and oozing creatures before finally rounding the boulder.

They gasp, skidding to a halt.

Thian, lays half-draped over the leg of one of the hideous creatures on his back, not moving. His left leg is bent at an unnatural angle.

Eyes filled with tears, jaw trembling, Tianna steps to the limp and pale body of Thian.

Dropping to her knees, tears streaming down her cheeks, Tianna's trembling hand reaches out and touches his chest.

"He's... he's _alive_! I can feel his heart _pounding_! By the Lord and _Lady_ , he's alive!"

"But his _leg..._ " Sadie cries pointing to what is clearly a broken leg.

"Sadie, go see if you can find my travelers pack. Hurry!" Tia says moving to Thian's leg.

Sadie turns darting off around the corner of the boulder.

"Tianna, help me straighten his leg, but be _really_ careful. He's losing a lot of blood from where his bone is sticking through. By the _moons_ , he's got cuts and slices all _over_ him. Must be from the sharp pointy legs of those, those _horrible_ things!"

Sadie soon flies around the boulder wearing her pack. She has Tia's and Tianna's brooms across her lap and is holding Tia's pack.

"Here," Sadie says handing Tia her pack and dropping Tia's broom. "I couldn't carry your pack too Tianna, sorry. But, well, you better go have a look at Amanda."

"Snarkins! I _forgot_ about Amanda! Where is she Sadie?" Tianna asks in a rush.

"She's lying on top of that _monster_. The one where she shot that thing holding Thian. She's just _lying_ there."

"Okay, stay with Tia and do as she says okay?"

Mounting her broom, Tianna shoots around the boulder and disappears.

"Sadie, I need you to fly off and gather a couple handfuls worth of those glow worms. I need to crush them and add some herbs to make a poultice to stop the bleeding. They're filled with anti-bacterial, anti-viral disinfectant and anti-infection properties. Here, use this mortar. When it's half full, that should be enough."

Sadie takes the mortar, mounts up and shoots off toward the closest wall, Tia watching the tiny girl for a moment, then turning her attention back to Thian.

Tianna rises over several stacks of creatures, then comes level to the huge one Amanda is laying on. Amanda is on her back, both wands lying on huge feathers beside her. Tianna lands and runs to her. Seeing that Amanda's eyes are closed and not knowing if it _will_ be Amanda who opens her eyes, Tianna takes both wands and slips them into one of her deep pockets.

"Amanda? Amanda, _wake_ up. Wake up," Tianna says softly while gently shaking Amanda.

In a couple minutes as Tianna is seated cross-legged beside her, Amanda begins to stir. Leaning over Amanda, Tianna once again gently shakes her. "Amanda, _wake_ up."

Amanda's eyes fly open as she sits bolt upright, her eyes a brighter violet than ever, scaring Tianna who scuttles back a few feet, her heart pounding as she looks into those unnatural violet eyes.

"Thian!" Amanda cries in her own voice. "Where's Thian?"

With her heart in her throat, Tianna takes a deep breath and says, "Behind that boulder over there. He's _alive_ , but has a broken leg and has lost a _lot_ of blood. Tia and Sadie are with him. Amanda, are _you_ alright?"

"Yeah. Well, I am _now_. I'll tell you about it later. Where's my broom?"

"Here, take mine, I'll get yours and meet you back with them. Oh, and..." Tianna reaches into her pocket, "here's your wand too."

Tianna helps Amanda to her feet and watches as Amanda mounts and shoots off for the boulder. Tianna then runs, making her way down the side of the massive creature, then making her way over several more as she heads for both her and Amanda's packs, and Amanda's broom.

Amanda whips around the boulder scaring both Sadie and Tia, who both let out a cry when they see Amanda's brilliant violet eyes.

Dismounting, Amanda quickly says, "It's okay, it's _me_. How's Thian?"

Both Sadie and Tia sit for a moment looking into those stunning violet eyes, then Tia looks at Thian saying, "Well, Sadie got some glow worms which I mashed up and added some herbs to, to make a poultice. I applied the poultice and the blood flow stopped immediately. I secured the poultice with some gauze, then used an _Insta-Cast_ to set his leg.

"He'll be able to get up as soon as he wakes up, and with these _Insta-Crutches_ , he'll be able to get around pretty good. I put enough anti-pain herbs in the poultice to keep him pain-free for _days_. Long enough for his leg to heal with the help of those glow worms and the herbs.

"I'm pretty sure he'll be back to himself in just a few days. I cast some healing spells on his leg too. Sadie and I also applied some of the poultice to the dozens of cuts and gashes he has from the sharp _spines_ of those creatures. He's a _real_ mess! All those little pieces of gauze taped over all his wounds. I'll keep an eye on him for a few days, but like I said, I think he'll be fine. Thanks to _you_."

"No, not _me_ Tia, thanks to _all_ of us! We all worked as a team."

Tianna whips around the boulder wearing her pack, Amanda's and Thian's brooms across her lap, and holding Amanda's pack. She dismounts and joins the others.

"How is he?"

"He'll be fine in a few days. Once he wakes up, we can get the heck out of here before those creatures regroup and come back."

"Look, he's moving," Sadie says in an excited voice.

"Ahhhh!" Thian cries sitting straight up with his eyes wide.

"Thian! It's _okay_. It's _okay_ , they're gone! We got 'em... it's okay," Tianna sooths.

Shaking, Thian looks into Tianna's tear-stained face, then at Tia and Sadie who smile at him. He turns slightly to look over his shoulder to where Amanda is sitting on the dead creature, and lets out a cry, looking into her violet eyes.

"It's me Thian. It's me. I'm okay."

"What, what happened?" Thian asks clearly shaking, looking at the _Insta-Cast_ on his leg, then at the dozens of strips of gauze taped to his chest, arms and other leg.

They help him up and Tia hands him his _Insta-Crutches_ which he puts into a pocket. They help him mount his broom just as they begin to hear... clicking.

"Oh, I don't like the sound of _that_!" Thian says nervously. "Let's get out of here!"

To Amanda's surprise, Tianna helps Thian slip back into his travelers pack, which Thian insists he wants to wear. Once everyone is mounted, the clicking noises seem to be coming from all around them. They fly around the boulder and back toward the tunnel.

Reaching the tunnel, they have to dismount because there is not enough room to fly in them. They help Thian off his broom and wait for him to cast the _Insta-Crutches_ spell. There is a 'pop' from the can and a pair of crutches instantly appear hovering vertically before him.

Amanda shakes her head with a smile, "I'll never get used to all the Wizitchal things you have and can do. _Instant Outhouses_ , _Instant Cabins_ , _Instant Tents_ , _Insta-Casts_ , _Insta-Crutches_... how come with all you can do, you don't have _Insta-Tea_ for Pete's sake!"

They all laugh.

Slowly they make their way through the tunnels until they reach the main one they had been traveling along.

"Uh, do you _hear_ that?" Sadie says turning around, tilting her head as she looks back into the tunnel they had just exited.

Everyone stops.

Thundering.

"The creatures! They're coming!" Tia shouts watching Thian go stiff.

"Tianna, can you use that spell you used back at Thian's house, in the _tunnel_ when we were trying to get out of the burning house. _You_ know, the one where you caused a cave-in on _purpose_?" Amanda asks quickly.

"Yeah! _Sure_! I'll be right back!"

Tianna bolts back into the tunnel as the thundering of hundreds of legs pound ever closer.

"Do you think it will stop them? Some of them are huge!" Tia says.

"Yeah, but only the _smaller_ ones can get into _this_ tunnel," Amanda says hopefully.

The sound of tons of rocks and stones are followed by a rush of dust which bellows from the tunnel opening.

"Tianna!" Tia screams.

All eyes are on the tunnel.

In a flash, Tianna comes staggering from the thick cloud, coughing, trying to catch her breath. She is covered in dirt and dust.

"Guess... I used a little too much _twizzle_ on that one," Tianna wheezes with a grin. "But, they won't be getting through _this_ tunnel for a while. I sure hope there aren't any big side tunnels up ahead."

"Well, let's not stand here then," Tia says with a shiver.

"Sadie, would you mind getting all this dirt and dust off me?" Tianna asks.

Sadie giggles, then uses her wand to clean Tianna up as best she can.

"Ready to move on sis?"

Tianna nods and begins to walk away, Thian right at her side, hobbling along on his _Insta-Crutches._ Everyone constantly listening for thundering feet both behind and in front of them.

They walk for quite some time, when rounding a corner, Thian and Tianna come to a stop, the others walking into them.

"Look... a _dead_ end," Tia says looking at the stone wall. "This _is_ supposed to be here, _right_?"

"Yeah. The message says to take all the right hand paths until we reach the end." Thian says leaning on his crutches. This _has_ to be it. Now we need to speak the password. Let me make sure what it is. I don't want us to say the _wrong_ thing and get _vaporized_ or something."

"Oh! Let's not do _that_ okay?" Sadie says looking up into Tianna's eyes.

"Looks like some kind of _massive_ cave-in happened or something," Tia says looking at the wall, which appears to be made from hundreds of large rocks and boulders.

Thian pulls the message from his pocket, reads it and hands it the others to read over too. When they are finished reading, Thian says, "Tia, you're better at pronunciation than any of us, so why don't you say it okay?"

With a swallow and short nod, Tia steps before the rock wall. Taking a steadying breath, she says, "D _enateen_!"

They move back as the wall begins shifting, the giant rocks rolling and moving from one position to another as if unfolding. They watch as the rocks move back inside a large room, pressing themselves against the walls inside.

"Wow! Would you look at _that_!" Tianna says stepping just inside the opening.

As she does, flames flare high above. Startled, Tianna jumps back, aiming her wand up at the growing rows of fire on either side of the hall, one flare after another moving further into the very long hall before them. In a moment, the hall is brightly lit.

"By the _moons_ ," Thian says stepping inside. "Those are _huge_ bowls of fire on top of polished obelisks! Look how _tall_ they are. They must be _thirty_ feet at least!"

As they enter the long hall, which is twenty-five feet across, they marvel at the tall obelisks, strange symbols filling their sides. All have flaming bowls where their capstones would be. As they pass them, there are wonderful statues between the obelisks, some of wizards, some of witches, some of unknown creatures.

"Look, back there," Sadie says pointing. "There are two rooms on the left and one on the right. Aren't we supposed to go in the one on the _right_?"

"Yeah we are," Thian says as they approach the rooms. "But, what do you think's in the others over there? Maybe we should take a quick look and see okay?"

"I guess we have our _usual_ Thian back." Tianna says shaking her head and making 'the face.' "Listen, I don't think we should. Those could be _traps_ , even if Sadie doesn't see anything in them. Remember, we're in the _great_ hall of a powerful wizard. Only wizards of the highest Order have halls like this, and they are known to set traps in them when they're not here. The message said to _take_ the room on the right. I _really_ think we should just do as the message says, _forget_ anything else and get _out_ of here!"

"I'm with you sis. Let's see what's in that right-hand room," The two sisters walk toward the room, Sadie and the others trailing behind. Thian looks back over his shoulder longingly at the other two rooms, his curiosity making his head spin with the possibilities.

Entering the room, a light blue glow emanates from the walls.

"Wow, look at all the _bookshelves_. They're crammed full and go all the way up the walls right to the ceiling!" Tia says with a grin.

"Yeah, the only other things in here is that long table with all the chairs, and all those various sized small pyramids down the center of the table. Kind of looks like centerpieces," Tianna says moving further into the room.

"The message says we have to turn the _fifth_ pyramid, then enter some kind of _chamber_ ," Thian says quickly checking the message. "So far, the message has been right. I sure hope there's nothing in there _waiting_ for us. I've had _quite_ enough excitement for one day."

"You just _had_ to go and say that, _didn't_ you Thian!" Tianna says shaking her head.

"Well, here's the fifth pyramid," Amanda says stepping up to it.

"Might as well give it a turn Amanda," Tia says looking at Tianna who shrugs.

"But which way do I turn it Thian?"

"Uh... it doesn't say, so I guess it doesn't matter... I hope."

Amanda places her hands on the sides of the two foot tall pyramid and twists. It turns easily.

There is a rumbling which startles everyone as a bookcase swings forward, revealing a small chamber with the sound of running water.

Sadie quickly scans the room and nods to Tianna, then turns and steps into the soft blue glow of the chamber.

"Well, this is interesting," Amanda says looking around the bedroom-sized domed chamber.

"Yeah it is... only things in here is the _pedestal_ with what looks like a crystal basin, some kind of little stream on the left, and those metal, various colored crystal and _stone_ figurines," Tia says walking up to the figurines. She picks one up, then another. "Interesting. These are all different weights."

"The message says to fill the basin with water, then put the _stone_ idol in the water didn't it?" Amanda asks looking at the wonderfully carved figures.

"Yeah. Bring the _stone_ one. At least since it's the _only_ one made of stone, so that _has_ to be it," Thian says stepping to the basin.

Amanda takes the stone idol and walks to the basin where everyone is standing. As Amanda leans forward and begins to place the idol into the basin, Thian grabs her arm. "Wait! _No_. The message said to fill the _basin_ first, _then_ put the idol into the water."

"What _difference_ does it make anyway," Tianna asks.

"I don't know if there _is_ any difference, but do you _really_ want to take the chance?" Thian asks looking around the chamber. "We've done everything _exactly_ the way the message has instructed us to do, and we're _still_ alive. Do you _really_ want to change the order of the instructions _now_?"

"Um, well, since you put it _that_ way... no, not really," Tianna says looking into the empty basin.

"Tia, there's a bowl over there next to that little stream, would you bring some water and fill the basin?" Amanda asks from the other side of the basin.

"Sure."

Tia brings the large bowl of water to the basin and pours it up to what is clearly a line running around the inside top of the basin. They take several minutes to add then subtract water, until the water is perfectly _level_ with the line.

"Okay, moment of truth," Thian says nervously. "Go ahead Amanda, put the idol in the center okay?"

Amanda chews on her lower lip for a moment, nods and with trembling hands, places the idol carefully into the basin.

Nothing.

"Uh, shouldn't something _happen_?" Sadie asks looking around the chamber.

"The message says once the idol is in the water, to enter the _third_ tunnel, but... I don't see..."

The floor drops out from under them, sending them crashing fifteen feet before slamming to the rocky floor of a large cavern.

Painfully getting to her feet, Tianna helps a struggling Thian up, who rubs the back of his head as Tianna hands him his crutches.

Thian asks, "Everybody okay?"

"I _really_ banged my knee," Tianna says limping to Sadie. "You okay Miss Sadie? Are you hurt?"

"Just some scrapes. I'm okay."

Amanda helps Tia to her feet, and the two look into the cavern when the others join them.

"Check the message Thian. I know it said something about tunnels but I don't want to leave it to memory _this_ time," Amanda says shaking her head.

"Let's see. It says to enter the _third_ tunnel, then follow medium pyramids for further instructions. More tunnels... _swell_!"

"You okay to go on sis?" Tia asks.

"Yeah, really, I'm okay. Just a banged up knee. No problem. Listen, I think we can mount up and fly over to that tunnel over there. It's the only way we can go that I see, so I guess that's where we go next. At least that tunnel looks big enough to fly in and not like all the others."

Mounting up, "Let's go," Thian says igniting his wand as he moves into the dark tunnel, his feet inches from the ground, with the clearance over his head about the same.

After several hours, a quick bite of something to eat from their packs, and several potty stops along the way, "Look! There's the _first_ tunnel. There on the left!" Tianna shouts.

"About _time_ already. I'm _exhausted_ ," Amanda says readjusting her pack.

"Me too," Sadie says with a sigh.

"Well, let's keep moving," Thian says edging forward.

Ten minutes later, they come to another tunnel on the left. Half hour later another one on the right followed a few yards later by one on the left.

"Look, there's the third tunnel, that one on the right. Everybody agree?" Tianna asks.

"By the Lord and _Lady_ , this underground adventure better end _soon_. I've _had_ it with spider webs and the occasional spider down my _blouse_ ," Tia says pulling several handfuls of webs from her hair and face she had just flown through.

The new tunnel is not large enough to fly along, so everyone dismounts and stretches for a moment.

Entering the tunnel, they have only walked for fifteen minutes before the tunnel ends into a small, long cavern, lined down one side with small, medium and large pyramids, the large ones reaching seven feet.

Once inside, they begin walking to the first pyramid, when as usual, the opening behind them seals. This has happened _every_ time they have stepped into a new tunnel, so they are only slightly startled, paying little attention to being trapped inside. For now.

Hobbling to the first pyramid, Thian's wand light reveals the faces are covered in the same symbols that the huge ones in the flaming swamp had been.

Turning to face Sadie, Thian says, "Great Mother! It's a good thing Sadie knew how to read those symbols on the two pyramids in the swamp, and knew about how the pyramids worked, or..."

"Well, she _does_ , so what now?" Amanda asks Sadie. "I mean, there must be a dozen medium pyramids in here."

"Same as before really," Sadie smiles at being the center of attention. "Remember the dot at the base of one of the huge pyramids, and the line at the base of the other?"

Everyone nods.

"We have to find the one with the dot _first_ , then lay it on the ground. It's the _first_ pyramid. Then find the one with the _line_ , and lay it beside the first one, but with its point facing the other way."

"But what about the others?" Tianna asks.

"I'll draw the symbols for the numbers one through ten which you'll find at the base of the others. I'll only do ten because it doesn't look like there's more than ten medium ones. We alternate laying the pyramids next to each other, point up, then point down, then repeat."

Once Sadie hands everyone a copy of what to look for, they begin looking at the bases of the pyramids, then all help to move what turns out to be thin, hollow metal pyramids into position. They soon have all the pyramids lined up. Thian having found several piles of wooden blocks, uses his wand to place them under each of the points to level the faces of the pyramids.

"Now what?" Tia says panting after helping to lay the last one.

"We read!" Sadie says. "Just like we did before. But, since Amanda touched us all back in the cabin when we were talking about reading the symbols on the pyramids at the swamp, we can all use that _morphing_ thing Amanda does, so we can all have the symbols morph into our native languages. Let's see what we are supposed to do now okay? I'm getting _really_ sleepy."

An hour later, they have read and recorded the instructions from the pyramids, and using a password they found, enter one tunnel after another, following the instructions.

Everyone is dragging, hardly able to keep their eyes open and want to stop, but are now following the last tunnel of the instructions.

"There had better be a nice _door_ leading back up to the surface," Tianna says trying to keep Sadie from falling asleep on her feet.

"I'm with you sis. We've followed these tunnels going up and down so many times, I have no idea if we are miles _underground_ , or just under the surface."

A few minutes later, they approach the end of the tunnel. The last thing the messages on the pyramids said was when they reach the end, they will find a round door and are to enter the cavern on the other side. There are no other instructions.

"There's the round door," Thian says coming to a halt, the others gathering around him. Sadie has fallen asleep in Tianna's arms, and they are all so tired they have been stumbling along the tunnel, each, other than Thian, taking turns carrying Sadie.

Tianna gently shakes Sadie until her tiny eyes open.

"Are we _there_ yet?"

"Yes, we found the door. I need you to stand up and maybe see if you can see what's on the other side okay?"

Yawning, Sadie nods as Tianna puts her down. Sadie rubs her eyes, then walks to the large round door. Leaning in some and concentrating says, "It's a _huge_ cavern! It's kind of dark, but... like the walls near us are _glowing_ , like _thousands_ of blue... _dots_. And... I _think_ they're moving!"

"Well, _this_ can't be good, _can_ it?" Tia asks shaking her head.

"One way to find out, and I'm not about to sleep in my _outhouse_ , if there is any place to set up the cabin in there," Thian says maneuvering on his crutches to the door. "Everyone get your wands pointed at the door. On three, I'm gonna yank it open. Ready?"

They nod.

"One... two... _three_!"

Thian slams the latch to one side and yanks the door wide as he steps back quickly, almost losing his balance.

Eyes fly wide as their jaws drop!

#  The Contraption

The cavern is gigantic and filled with blue and green glowworms on the walls and ceiling. There is a rushing river making its way through the cavern, the sound of the water causing their eyes to droop.

"Look at all the _waterfalls -_ they're gorgeous!" Tianna says stepping through the doorway.

They step out onto a wide ledge, overlooking the river and all the trees and vegetation far below.

"It's kind of like what you found back on earth isn't it Amanda? All the vegetation you found inside a mountain I mean?" Sadie asks.

"Yeah, it is. This place is huge. There's plenty of space down there near those trees to set up the cabin next to the river for sure."

"No problem," Thian says yawning. "I sure hope there aren't any creatures down there that would like a _snack_. Speaking of which, I'm _starving_ and I'm so sleepy I'm about to fall off my broom. I don't know if I should eat or just go straight to bed."

The others laugh.

"Well _come_ on Thian, let's set up next to those twin falls over there like Amanda said. After that, let's just see how we feel," Tianna says mounting her broom.

Tianna kicks into a hover, waiting for everyone else. They then fly down and to the spot they had chosen.

Once the cabin is set up and filled with water, Tianna and Thian enter, Thian almost falling on his face as his crutch catches on the upper step making him lose his balance. Tianna catches him and helps him hobble into the living room, where she dumps him into a fluffy chair.

"We've made some simple sandwiches and set out some drinks." Amanda says coming from the kitchen. "We're all sleepy, so we didn't make much. We just decided we didn't want to be kept up all night listening to our _stomach's_ grumble." Amanda hands Thian a plate with his favorite sandwich along with two cookies.

They eat mostly in silence, too tired to talk, but each reliving the day's events. Once finished, they all say their good nights and head for bed. Thian, still in his chair, closes his eyes and is out.

The next morning, having slept till what according to the clock in the living room says is 10:00 a.m.in the Realm of the _Deep Forest Elves_ , they have a hearty breakfast, then everyone takes a well-deserved bath.

Amanda enters the living room with a towel wrapped around her wet hair and takes a seat next to Tia. "I added all my clothes to all of yours and started the laundry. Should be done in a few minutes. I _love_ Wizitch! It's fast and efficient and I'm really getting used to using it. That laundry would take a good hour or more back home."

"Feel better?" Tia asks.

"Much. But every muscle I have is stiff and _really_ sore!"

"Listen, Amanda, we've been talking while you were taking your bath," Tianna says after taking a drink of her tea. "We've decided, if it's alright with you, to stay here for a week or so until Thian is back to one hundred percent...well, for him anyway," she says with a smile. "We could all use a break too you know?"

Amanda laughs. "I was thinking the same thing when I was taking my bath. Those Shards have been waiting to be found for eons, so I don't think taking a good break is going to hurt me any."

"Yeah, about that," Tianna says shifting on the couch. "Back with those creature things, when you woke up, I asked you if you were okay. You said, 'Yeah. Well, I am _now_. I'll tell you about it later,' remember? What did you mean, 'I am _now_ '? What happened?"

"I _almost_... didn't make it back," Amanda says casually, then takes a drink.

"What?" Thian says spitting his tea across the little table. "What do you mean you _almost_ didn't make it back? Amanda, by the moons, what _happened_?"

"Well, when those things started stomping their feet, I took the necklace out and held the stone in my left hand, with my wand in my right. I asked the necklace for help and... nothing happened. I then _commanded_ the spirits in the necklace to protect the Wielder and those with her. I got my usual jolt and felt _my_ spirit slipping into the necklace."

Everyone is riveted to Amanda's replay.

"As I was dropping, a really nasty girl was rising. When we got close enough, she said, 'Now I've got my chance, you'll _never_ be coming back!' as she passed, we both looked over our shoulders and she said, 'Say hi to my _loving_ mother, Eris, for me will you?' and laughed as we sped in opposite directions."

" _Snarkins_ ,Amanda, are you telling us, that _she_ is... was, the _daughter_ of the original _Wielder_... _the_ Eris?"

"Yeah, I am."

They all inhale quickly, then everyone begins talking at once.

"Wait! _Wait_ a minute and I'll _tell_ you already!" Amanda says with a weak smile.

"This was another _weird_ and scary trip, believe _me_! When I was dropping into the gem, I could see _thousands_ of souls looking up at me, most with _hate_ in their eyes, but others more with looks of _awe_ and amazement. I suddenly felt myself veer _sharply_ to one side and accelerate.

"It seemed like _hours_ , but of course could only have been a split second or two really, and I see Eris standing with her hands on her hips glaring up at me. I was _really_ scared, but there wasn't anything I could do to stop. It was like she was _pulling_ me to her.

"I landed _right_ in front of her and I'm _immediately_ surrounded by _dozens_ of other people and _lots_ of really scary creatures too," Amanda pauses to take a drink.

"By the _moons_ Amanda, what happened then?" Tia asks leaning forward.

"Well, Eris said real _snotty-_ like, 'So, I guess you met my _daughter_ , Saleanna ,did you? _Worthless_! Should have _killed_ her myself when I had the _chance_.' Eris started pacing around me then. I was trying really hard not to shake, but...

"Well, anyway, she stands right in my face and says, 'Oh yes Amanda, _Saleanna_ became the _Wielder_ after me. Age _finally_ took me, although as you see, in _here_ , your spirit can take on the look of whatever age you like. I chose the way I looked in my youth and days of _power_!

"'Saleanna was by my side as I lay dying, watching me, grinning, waiting with _hungry_ eyes to snatch the necklace from my _lifeless_ body. As I died, I found _myself_ being sucked into the necklace, something I had not planned for. I had not _dreamed_ the spell I had cast on the stone to take the most _powerful_ of the dead, trapping them _forever_ within one of the stones, would include _me_ as the one who cast the spell. But it _did_ , and... _here_ I've stayed. But not for long.

"'Saleanna took the necklace from me, but she was afraid at first of the _power_ surging through her. Took her _centuries_ to begin mass _killings_ of the Light! Oh yes, she killed _tens_ of thousands on various realms, while _testing_ and playing around with her power, but wasted _valuable_ time!

"'Whenever she _commanded_ a spirit to assist her, she _never_ asked for me! Afraid _I_ would take her over and send _her_ here for all eternity. And she was _right_. I would have.

"'But, time took _her_ too, didn't it? She never knew that when _her_ time came, that _her_ worthless soul would be pulled into the necklace too. She thought she had solved that problem, but, as you know, she did not!

"'Oh how I _laughed_ as she descended. A look of _shock_ and confusion on her _pretty_ little face. When she saw me looking up at her, _laughing_ , she was _furious_! We have been _fighting_ in here ever since.

"'When _you_ came along and the watcher allowed you to pick up the necklace, you were allowed to place it around your _neck_ , completing the _bond_ , becoming the _new_ Wielder, I couldn't _believe_ it. A _child_? An _innocent_? It should _not_ have been possible. _I_ set all the spells myself, over _centuries_! And I'm telling you... it _isn't_ possible... but, here you are, aren't you.

"'There is something _very_ strange about you Amanda. And I _intend_ to find out what it is, then _crush_ your spirit, and replace it with _mine_. Oh, to _live_ again! And _this_ time, I'll _find_ the _Great Book of Power_ , then _nothing_ will stop me from ruling _all_ the realms within _all_ the universes. I shall _extinguish_ the Light forever! I have been planning my return for _centuries_ , but was not strong enough to take over the other Wielders after her. But now... there's _you_. And I will succeed. But my _stupid_ daughter wants the power for herself! I _won't_ let her have it I tell you, I won't!'"

"By the moons Amanda... that must have been _horrible_!" Tia says shaking her head.

"Oh yeah, it _was_ , but here's the thing. Even though I was standing and talking to Eris, I was also, well, in my own head, right beside Saleanna too!"

"Huh? What do you mean you were with Saleanna too?" Sadie asks.

"I don't know how to _explain_ it really, but I was really scared. _She_ wanted to turn and leave all of you there to _die_. We... kind of got into a big _fight_ and I screamed at her saying, 'I _command_ you as a spirit of the stones to _serve_ me, the _Wielder_ , or suffer pain and _agony_ beyond your _greatest_ imagination for all eternity!'"

" _You_ said that?" Tianna says nervously.

"Yeah, but I had no idea _why_! Then it was like I closed my eyes, even though they were open. I mean, em, I don't know _how_ to explain it. I was fully _me_ down in the gem within the necklace, but fully _me_ standing beside what looked to be a real girl _and_ looking out the eyes of my own _head_ all at the same time!"

They all look at Amanda as though she had lost her mind.

"I _know_! I _can't_ explain it. It's like... well, you know when you're sleeping, having a dream, but really know you're not _really_ asleep? You know, just kind of _floating_? That's how it was with _me_ , but I was in _three_ different places at once, and... I _knew_ I was, and I was fully aware of what was going on with the other two me's! _Get_ it?"

None of them do, but ask her to continue anyway, everyone very confused.

"Okay, well, once I _yelled_ at her, and I still don't know why I said what I did, I closed my eyes, well, the me that was with _her_ anyway. And in my mind I, I stepped up to a burning fire and took out a _red_ hot iron. I walked up to her and... _burned_ her with the iron! All this happening just in my head you know? I mean, I would _never_ do something like that. Never!

"Well, the second I _burned_ her with the glowing iron, she _screamed_ something horrible. It was weird really, but I could actually feel my _hair_ shoot straight up as a huge _jolt_ shot through all _three_ of me. Next thing I know, we snatched Tianna's wand and bolted directly for all those creatures!"

"By the Oak and _Ash_ Amanda, I can't even _imagine_ how scared you must have been, being _fully_ aware and not really being able to _do_ anything. By the moons! What did it _feel_ like?" Tia says half dazed.

"Like being the _passenger_ in a car. I was along for the ride, but actually, I could give her _directions_. But mostly, she just did what I told her. To kill every creature she could to protect you guys, and me of course."

"Wait. You could actually _tell_ her what to do?" Thian asks narrowing his brows.

"Well, yes and _no_. I could while the _fight_ was going on, but then when we saw you and that monster approaching the ceiling, and knew it would head for that crack, I told her to save you, but she began _fighting_ me... and I mean like an actual _fist_ fight! It really _hurt_ when she hit me too. It was _beyond_ scary. She said she was _not_ going to give me... my _soul_ I mean... back to my body. That _she_ was going to be the _new_ Wielder, and that there wasn't _anything_ I could do about it!"

" _Snarkins_ Amanda, what happened?" Sadie asks as she and the others sit on the edge of their seats, all eyes wide.

"In my mind, I set her _hair_ on fire. I don't know how I _did_ it, but you should have seen the _look_ on her face. I thought her _eyes_ were going to fly right out of her _head_. 'Put it out! Put it out!' she screamed. Then I shouted, 'Save my friend or I'll set your _arms_ on fire to burn for a _hundred_ years'"

" _Crimany_ Amanda. That just isn't _like_ you," Tia says shaking her head.

"Yeah, I _know_ , but it _was_ me! Well I _think_. Anyway, Saleanna fired at the creature _just_ when it was taking you into the crack Thian. You and the creature began to drop and I was _sure_ you would die when you hit the ground."

Thian forces a swallow as he looks at the others for a moment, seeing all the terror in their faces, then looks back at Amanda.

"I looked at Saleanna, and _flames_ appeared in my _hands_! I have _no_ idea how, and it didn't burn. Saleanna spun and fired a bolt at you _just_ before you hit the ground.

"While I was focused on where you fell Thian, Saleanna came up behind me and started _choking_ me!"

They all gasp and sit back.

"Well, the _fire_ in my hands was gone, so I stepped to the side and _slammed_ my elbow into her stomach. She let go and I _spun_ around and _punched_ her in the face. That's when I felt really strange, like my other me's were beginning to become one again.

"Saleanna began to, well, _dissolve_ I guess and started screaming 'Noooo!' She reached out to grab me, but I _kicked_ her in the chest and... well, I saw her _falling_ away from me. But at the same _time_ , she was coming right _at_ me as my other self in the gem, came rushing _up_. As we passed, she was _swearing_ at the top of her lungs that she was going to find a way to _kill_ me and take me over."

Everyone sits stunned for several long moments, then, with tears in his eyes, Thian says, "I'm sorry Amanda. I'm sorry you had to go through all that for... _me_. You aren't _supposed_ to use the necklace because Bellinora said that every time you do, the necklace _takes_ over just a little bit more of you, and _you_ become a little more evil. You, you almost didn't make it back because of _me_!"

Thian gets up, grabs his crutches and heads for the door.

"Thian, _wait_!" Amanda says beginning to get up.

Tianna grabs Amanda's arm, stopping her.

"No Amanda, let him be. He'll be okay. I'll go out and stay with him until he's ready to come back in. He really loves you Amanda, and right now it's _killing_ him to think he is responsible for turning you more evil."

Amanda starts to protest but Tianna holds up a hand saying, "I _know_ it wasn't his fault Amanda. I know that if Thian had opened that door and _nothing_ was there, we more than likely would have met up with one or more of those things _somewhere_ later in the tunnel. For now though, he's just not ready to hear that it was _not_ his fault. I'll be back in a while. It'll be okay, you'll see. I know Thian better than anyone, and it will be okay."

Tianna pats Amanda's arm, looking into her very violet, tear-filled eyes. Tianna smiles as she gets up. Walking to the fireplace, Tianna reaches up to the mantel and grabs two fishing poles. Turning she holds them up with a sly smile, then heads out the door.

Some hours later, Tianna and a timid Thian come through the door, both holding a string of various colored fish. Tianna is grinning as she holds up her huge string of very large fish. Thian holds up his pathetic catch of two medium-sized fish, giving an embarrassed smile. The girls laugh and rush to him, almost knocking him off his crutches, hugging him and saying how wonderful his _huge_ fish are and that they could feed them for weeks. Thian begins to laugh as they step back.

"Very _funny_ you guys. Very _funny_. And, uh, thanks for, well, _you_ know," Thian says turning pink. "So... anyone want _fish_ for lunch?"

They laugh and in an hour, have a marvelous fish lunch, cookies, and for desert, _more_ cookies.

Having their cookies, everyone is laughing at Thian's fish story. Thian is animatedly telling how he struggled and fought with all his might against the mighty four inch long purple fish.

"So, you _see_ , it really gave me a _fight_ , but in the end, it was just no match for _me_! My _massive_ muscles were just too much for it, and it simply gave up. It was rather _tasty_ too."

They are all in hysterics.

They talk for a while as to what they should do now, deciding that since it seems rather nice here in this cavern, so far anyway, they will stay for six weeks to rest up, heal, and gather their strength before moving on.

They end up staying there for several months, continuing to practice the spells and curses Amanda had taught them, and returning to the town near Arcoma Village to restock the cabin and get new clothing, and even some money just in case they find someplace which does not have a bank or kiosk.

They celebrate Thian's birthday, then Amanda's, with lots of laughs, and a wonderful cake Tia baked.

On what would be March the first, they all celebrated Tia, Tianna and Sadie's birthdays, with lots of laughing, dancing, singing and a cake Amanda and Thian had baked. No one cared that it was very lopsided, because Thian had tried to straighten it out using gobs and gobs of frosting.

Before bed one evening, Amanda says, "Well, I hate to say this, but... we've been here way too long. Sadie is seven now and we're all fifteen. We could all grow old in here ya know. I think it's time we move on. As nice as it is here, maybe _miles_ underground, I kind of miss the _sunlight_ you know? What do you say we do _laundry_ in the morning, check our packs for supplies, top off our water bottles, and _head_ out?"

Reluctantly they all agree. Thian's leg has been healed for some time now, and is back to its full strength, thanks to Tia.

Next morning, laundry having been finished, folded and put away, the cabin repacked into its little can, then slipped into Thian's pocket, everything checked and rechecked for the third time, they head for the far side of the cavern, where they had discovered an arched wooden door weeks ago. This door is the only obvious way they had found to continue, so all agreed that when they were ready, they would pass through this door and just have to be ready for whatever lay in wait on the other side.

Dismounting, they walk to the arched door. The door has many strange raised symbols on it. This time however, none of them can read the symbols.

"Well, no use just _standing_ out here," Tianna says with a sigh. "Miss Sadie, if you _would_ please," Tianna says motioning to the door.

Sadie giggles then skips up to the door. Leaning in and squinting her eyes, she moves her head up, down and to the sides.

"It looks like a _huge_ room. Everything made from some kind of stone bricks, I _think_. I can't see all of it though, it's too _big_. I can't see very far to the sides either. But, I don't see any traps yet. But it's a _strange_ room. I can't explain why."

"Okay Thian," Amanda says pulling her wand. "Get ready."

Everyone has their wands at the ready, standing several yards back, ready to blast _anything_ that may be waiting just out of Sadie's sight.

"Ready?" Thian asks.

Everyone nods, lowering into a fighting stance. Thian holds his wand in his left hand, slides the bolt to the left and swings the heavy door wide, quickly switching wand hands while jumping back.

Nothing charges them, so they cautiously step to the door and look in for a moment.

"Wow!" Amanda says stepping through the doorway into the very long room. "By the moons, what's _that_?" Amanda says pointing to some very strange looking contraption against the center of the wall just to their right.

"No idea," Thian says shaking his head looking at the odd machine. It has three six foot high towers at odd angles, each with some kind of triangles on them. "But there's a _pedestal_ near it. Maybe it'll tell us something. I don't see anything else in here at all, do any of you?"

"No. Not even another _door_ ," Tia says stepping in further. "This _is_ a strange room Sadie. Grayish stone blocks making up the floor, walls _and_ ceiling, and look how _huge_ this room is."

Amanda heads for the pedestal with Tianna beside her. As they approach the contraption, there is rumbling and everyone spins to look back at the door.

It is gone.

The area where the door once stood, has been replaced by the same type of stone bricks in the rest of the walls. They are now standing in a completely sealed room.

"Well, I _did_ jump and my heart's pounding, but it's not like this hasn't happened a _lot_ since we entered the cave near the swamp." Sadie says with a nervous smile. "We _always_ find a way out, _don't_ we Ti'?"

Tianna smiles, "We sure do, and we will _this_ time too. What's on the pedestal Amanda?"

"Just this," Amanda says rubbing her hand over the cover of a thin black leather book. "Look at all these strange symbols _moving_ slowly across the cover. They never stop moving. They just keep changing positions."

"What's inside?" Sadie asks.

Amanda opens the cover and as soon as she does, the room begins to tremble.

"Snarkins! What's going on?" Tia shouts.

The rumbling lessens to a faint grinding sound.

"I don't know, but I really don't like this," Thian says pointing his wand from one side of the room to the other.

"Amanda, what does the book say?" Tia asks nervously.

"Uh, well, at least the writing's in _Theban_." Amanda takes the book from the pedestal and kneels so everyone including Sadie can see. "Here, take a look."

Using the morphing technique Amanda had taught them, they all focus on the writing, which begins to morph for each one of them into their native language.

Amanda reads out loud as everyone follows along. "So, you dare to search for the _Shards Of Legend_? You dare pit your Wizitch against mine?

"Whoever you are, your mere presence in this chamber means you have defeated all traps and spells since arriving at the _Burning Swamp of The Dead_. My congratulations. You are very skilled. However, by opening the book, you have set in motion a spell which leaves you three days to escape this chamber before the far stone wall crushes you to death. I have set an impact spell on the room. Should you attempt to use your wands to blast your way out, you will be killed instantly.

"You are trapped. You have come to your end. I have entrusted your fate to _Arderburg_ the Great. One of my very few trusted servants and the greatest wizard I have ever had the pleasure of breaking. He has been with me for three hundred centuries. He is very loyal. He had asked if he could devise the trap for this room, and for his loyalty, I granted that wish. He has devised your end. You see, only I, Eris, know where the Shards are hidden for now, but will change locations whenever a new Wielder takes the previous Wielders place should they wish. And I have cast many special spells and curses here which I have devised myself. You could not have succeeded from the beginning. You were _foolish_ to even try.

"May your fate be as _horrible_ an ending as you deserve. Goodbye!"

The others are breathing in quick shallow breaths.

"Three _days_! Is she _kidding_?" Thian asks furrowing his brows. "Why three _days_ and not just kill us all now and get it over with?"

"She wants us to _suffer_ ," Tianna says placing her hands on her hips making 'the face.' It's like some kind of _game_ to her. Like a _cat_ playing with its catch, until it tires and _kills_ it." Tianna thinks about trying to use her wand to either blast their way out or cast an anti-motion spell on the back wall, but thinks better of it. Knowing what she has learned about Eris thus far, she _knows_ Eris isn't bluffing.

"Amanda, there's another page, what does it say?" Tia asks.

"Oh, let's see."

Amanda turns the page and everyone looks at a rough diagram of the odd contraption which is the only other thing in the room with them.

"Well, besides the detailed drawing, which has all the parts of that thing listed, it says, 'Begin by turning the valve to the right of the machine on the single pipe to the open position, so the handle is in line with the pipe. Next, ignite the fire behind the glass under the boiler. You will find a button next to the door. Press it and the glow crystals will actuate.'"

"That must be that huge vertical _cylinder_ over there with all the _glow_ crystals behind the glass door at the bottom," Thian says pointing.

"What else Amanda?" Sadie asks looking at the huge boiler.

"'When the gauge reaches where the yellow line meets the red, turn the valve leading into the compressor until the handle is in line with the pipe. Do not let the gauge enter the red zone more than three needles worth. You will not survive the resulting explosion.'"

"Well, then let's not do _that_ okay?" Sadie says looking once again at the boiler.

The laugh nervously.

"Um, let's see, where was I? Oh! 'You will find three rotating towers, each with twenty-five triangles which may each be rotated to present one side, as seen when standing in front of the machine, away from the pipes.'"

They all turn to look at the odd contraption and the three towers of stone-like triangles, one stacked atop the other with a very small clearance between them.

"Do you think those two towers are _supposed_ to be bent at those angles?" Tia asks.

"Maybe," Thian says studying the towers. "The gears under 'em are tilted too. And where those shafts enter the metal box...the _holes_ in the box are angled too, so, yeah, I guess they _are_... but why?"

"Keep reading Amanda," Tianna says with a sigh. "I think things are about to get a _lot_ more interesting."

"It says, 'Though you may not notice it to start, the low rumbling you hear is the back wall slowly making its way toward you.'"

Everyone snaps their attention to the back wall.

"I don't see it _moving_... do any of you?" Tia asks looking frightened.

None do.

"Uh, here's what it says next," Amanda says and forces a swallow. "'Each of the triangles must be turned into an exact position, in the correct order, to retract the wall. Should you need to begin again, you will find three foot buttons behind the towers. Stepping on a button will return the tower to its original position. Should you solve the puzzle, your way out will appear. Should you fail to solve the puzzle within three days, your fate has already been sealed.'"

"Wait... that's _it_?" Sadie asks getting up.

"But... this is _impossible_!" Tia says, her eyes wide as she trembles. " _What_ puzzle? The _towers_? I don't understand how we're supposed to know _which_ one to turn first, in what _direction_ and in what _order_. This just isn't _possible_!"

"Maybe," Tianna calls from the far rear of the room, "but this wall _is_ moving. Really slowly, for now, but it _is_ moving. The clock... is _ticking_!"

"We can't just _sit_ here. Tia, open that valve on that long pipe. Thian, see if you can get the crystals glowing okay?" Amanda says quickly. "Oh, and you better stay there and watch the gauge okay? We have _no_ idea how long it'll take to get the gauge to the yellow line."

Tia heads for the valve as Thian jogs to the boiler.

In less than a minute, the valve is in position and Thian has pressed the button on the boiler. To everyone's surprise, the glow crystals come to life. Thian can immediately feel the heat coming through the glass.

"Any of you have _any_ idea how this thing works?" Amanda asks hopefully as she steps up to the right-hand tower, hesitantly touching one of the triangles.

No one has any idea.

An argument soon flares as to which tower to begin with, as well as which triangle to turn first and in which direction it should be turned.

Amanda, Tia, Thian and Tianna are soon all yelling at one another, each trying to get the others to accept their opinion.

"Stop! _Stop_ it!" Sadie yells. "We're just _wasting_ time! Thian, how close is the pointer on the gauge to the yellow line?"

"A few more seconds I think and... wait, it's right on it now!"

"Thian," Amanda calls, "better turn the valve on that thing that looks like an egg. The diagram says it's a compressor, and to turn it when the needle reaches the yellow line."

"Sadie's right," Tia says looking at the towers. "We need to start _doing_ something, even if it's just to see how these things turn and stuff. But, how many permutations _are_ there? There has to be _millions_ of 'em! Thian, do your permutations thing again on these things will you? I think I'm going to need a _ton_ of paper to keep track of what we do."

Thian waves his wand and his calculator appears in his palm. "Okay, just give me a minute or two."

While Thian does his calculations, Tia has waved her wand and is now holding a pad of paper and a pencil. "I'm thinking this is going to take a _lot_ of paper."

Amanda has chosen the towers and triangles to turn first, as Sadie watches Amanda, Tia writes down the tower number, the triangle turned, which direction it was turned, and to what face.

"Oh, this _isn't_ good," Tianna says watching Tia who has almost filled the first page, and after just a few of Amanda's choices.

"Uh oh," Thian says from the boiler.

"What? How many are there Thian?" Tianna asks.

"You wouldn't _believe_ me anyway."

"Yes, I _would_ ," Tianna says seriously. "After the last time you did your thing and I thought you were _wrong_ , then checked your calculations myself, and we got the _same_ answer, yeah I _trust_ you. So, how _bad_ is it?"

Thian's face goes ashen as he licks his lips, looking into all their expectant faces.

"Well, honestly, I _may_ have done the math wrong, because it _is_ rather confusing with all the stuff going on with that thing, but it just doesn't _matter_ if I'm off some. Heck, it doesn't really matter if I'm off by several _billion_!"

" _Billion_?" everyone cries at once.

"Yeah, the total wouldn't fit on my calculator, but it gave it to me in _Burlic_ Notation. It says the possible permutations are... 47153.998765 Eps!"

Amanda walks to Thian and looks at the number he came up with. As she focuses and concentrates on converting Eps to Scientific Notation, the figures change in her mind to, 2.7222 times 10^29 power. She almost faints.

"But, wait... even if we spin these triangles as _fast_ as we can, we could never even come _close_ to all those permutations in just _three_ days!" Tianna yells raising her arms over her head. "Great. This is _just_ great. Here we've made it through all those _nightmares_ we've been through so far, just to end up getting _crushed_ to death because of some _stupid_ puzzle!"

"Yeah, where I come from that number would be 27220 followed by, like, twenty-five zeros!" Amanda says shaking her head. "Tianna's right, there is _no_ way to go through all those permutations. It's an _impossible_ puzzle to solve in three days or three years or, or, three _lifetimes_!"

They all begin arguing, everyone yelling at one another. Even Sadie is yelling trying to put in her two picos worth.

"Wait!" Tianna says. "What's wrong with us? Amanda, just use the _Specteroscope_ and get us _out_ of here!"

"But what if the way out _Arderburg_ was talking about, _isn't_ just the way out of this room, or even the mountain? And, what if we get some other instructions or _locations_ we have to follow to find the Shards?" Thian says in protest. "If we can't find even _one_ of the Shards, Tianna, we can't put the _tablet_ back together, which means we won't _ever_ find the _Great Book of Power_. Without the book, uh, Amanda won't be able to, well she'll..."

"Yeah I _know_ Thian! But what are we supposed to _do_? Get _killed_ over some _stupid_ puzzle you just proved can _never_ be solved in several _lifetimes_ , let alone only three _days_? You _idiot_! We have to get _out_ of here _now_!"

"Stop _calling_ me an idiot! _You're_ the idiot, you..."

Tianna and Thian really go at it for several minutes before Amanda yells, "Stop! Listen, let's just see if we can somehow get _lucky_ with these things, and if not, _then_ I'll use the scope when we have to. Okay? No problem!"

Thian and Tianna, both red in the face and breathing hard, stare at one another for a moment, then Tianna says, "Fine!"

"Yeah... _fine_!" Thian says stomping off again to check the gauge.

Hours pass and nothing has happened through all the turning of the triangles. They have reset the towers numerous times, thinking somehow that may help. They decided that since there were so many possible permutations, it would be useless for Tia to try and keep track of their moves. They decide that Tianna will take the left stack, Amanda the middle and Tia the right hand one. The only plan they have is for Tianna to pick and spin a triangle. When it is in a new position, Amanda will choose and spin, then Tia. They will wait a second or two to see if something happens or not. If not, they continue.

More hours pass.

"That's it! I'm _exhausted_!" Amanda says slumping against the wall behind the contraption. "Look, I know we only have _three_ days, but honestly, if I don't get some _sleep_ I'll fall down. I say we call it a _night_ and get started in the morning. Let's have something to eat, then get to bed. Since we don't want to use the cabin, in case something happens and we can get out of here just in time, we already have our outhouses set up, so, if you want, we can use the restroom, wash up, and meet back here for a bite to eat. Later, we can sleep in the tub again."

They all grumble, but everyone is so tired, physically, mentally and emotionally, they finally agree.

They eat in silence, everyone lined up against the wall and thinking about what a mess they are in, but knowing Amanda will get them out using the Specteroscope when she decides the time is right.

"This is the _stupidest_ thing we've ever done!" Tianna shouts getting to her feet. "You _know_ there's no way we're going to _solve_ this Amanda. Why are you being such a _snot_ and putting us all through this... for _nothin_? Let's just _use_ the scope and _get_ out of here! I _do_ have a life of my _own_ you know. And I'd _like_ to get _back_ to it as soon as _possible_!"

Amanda begins to fume. Shaking, she holds her temper, biting down on her lip until it begins to bleed.

"We are going to _stay_ until the last possible _moment_ Tianna. And _that's_ the way it's going to be, whether you _like_ it or not!"

"Oh, the _great_ _Wielder_ has spoken. You're really starting to _enjoy_ bossing people around _aren't_ you! Well, I've _had_ it. I'm going to bed and _tomorrow_ , you can just spin those _stupid_ things _without_ me!"

Tianna stomps off to her outhouse and _slams_ the door.

"I... I've never _seen_ her that upset before, and I've seen her upset a _lot_ ," Tia says with a shocked expression as she shakes her head. Tia turns to look at Amanda, and sees Amanda's eyes are filled with tears and her jaw is quivering. "Oh, Amanda, you know she didn't _mean_ what she said. Not _really_."

"Yes she did. But she's _wrong_ , I _don't_ like bossing people around. I don't _want_ to, but, if I need to, to get this thing _off_ of me then I _will_. But she's right too. We more than likely _won't_ accidently solve this _stupid_ puzzle, but even if you all give up, _I_ have to keep trying. I just _have_ to!"

They all head for bed though no one gets much sleep.

In the morning, Amanda is the first one up. As she steps out of her outhouse, she is startled to see how close the back wall has come. She absent mindedly pats the Specteroscope in her pocket, takes a deep breath and heads for the towers.

The others soon join her, and they have a bite to eat as they all steal glances at the towers and the ever closer back wall.

The day is once again spent spinning the triangles. Today though, they decide that instead of spinning them one at a time, they would spin them in groups of varying sizes.

For most of the day, Tia, Sadie, Amanda and Thian take turns watching the gauge on the boiler, which thus far shows the needle is right where it is supposed to be. Tianna sits by herself off to one side of the room, grumbling from time to time.

Just as the day before, there are a good many arguments, before they have a very quick bite to eat in complete silence, everyone trying to keep their tempers in check, then head for bed.

Amanda snaps awake hearing pounding on her outhouse door.

"Amanda! Amanda! Get out here now!" comes Thian's frightened voice.

Almost falling as she steps out of the tub, she rushes to the door and whips it open, smacking Thian in the face.

"What! What's wrong?"

"Look! Thian shouts pointing to the back wall, which has pushed his outhouse, and Sadie's several yards. Tia, Tianna and Sadie are all standing near the contraption with terrified expressions. The sound of the wall scraping over the brick blocks on the floor sets their teeth on edge.

"Snarkins!" Amanda yells as she exits the outhouse. "Isn't it moving _faster_ now?"

"Yeah, it is!" Thian says trembling. "When I checked the gauge this morning, the needle was a _quarter_ inch into the red! It must have sped things up sometime during the night. It never moved before, so I told Tia and Sadie not to take their shifts, and to just get some sleep."

"Typical _Thian_!" Tianna says sarcastically

"What are we gonna do now?" Sadie asks with eyes wide.

"Time to _leave_ ," Amanda says evenly. "Pack up, we're getting out of here as soon as everyone's ready."

"About _time_!" Tianna snarls heading for her outhouse.

They quickly pack everything up, and step to the side of the contraption holding their brooms.

Amanda pulls the Specteroscope from her pocket, then slips it from its pouch. "I'm setting the buttons to the next dot that was on the map. I had programmed it just before we went into the cave. Just in case something happened.

"Okay, assume your positions. On three. One... two... _three_!

Amanda pushes the buttons and...

Nothing happens.

Amanda's eyes grow huge as she presses the buttons again and again.

"Why isn't it working?" Tianna yells.

"I... I don't _know_. Maybe I set it wrong or something. I'll set the dial to where we first came to the _Burning Swamp of the Dead_. Okay, got it, hold on. One... two... _three_!"

Nothing.

Everyone becomes hysterical as they all begin yelling at the same time.

"Arderburg must have cast some kind of anti-Appario spell. The Specteroscope is no good in here!" Tia shouts. "What now?"

"Amanda, use the _necklace_!" Tianna yells red-faced at Amanda. "Don't just _stand_ there like an idiot, get one of those spirits to get us the _Gellies_ out of here!"

Sadie is crying hard and sits to the right of the contraption against the wall hugging her knees.

Amanda grabs her necklace and _commands_ a spirit to come forth and help.

Nothing.

"Amanda!" Tianna yells at her. " _Now_ would be good you know!"

" _Shut_ up Tianna! I'm _trying_ but nothing's happening!"

"So call someone _else_!"

"I'm _trying_ but nothing's happening!"

Thian and Tia are frantically spinning triangles.

"How much _time_ do you think we have?" Tia asks as Tianna and Amanda step up to them.

"Maybe three or four hours at the _most_ ," Thian says spinning like crazy. "This is our only hope now, and I'm not giving up until I'm a red _splat_ on the wall."

"But Thian!..." Tianna begins placing her hands on her hips.

"Tianna! If you're not going to _help_ , then just _shut_ up and go stand someplace and wait to _die_ , or get a..."

"Stop it!" Tia shouts as she spins two triangles. "Tianna, just get up here and start spinning or I _swear_ I'll make you regret it!"

Amanda is shocked. She has never heard the mild mannered Tia so angry before.

Sadie has been sitting and staring at the towers for two hours. Her eyes constantly roaming the towers, studying the stacks of triangles. The moving wall is only nine feet from her friends, who are now hysterical.

Sadie gets up and for a moment just stands looking at the towers. Amanda, Thian, Tia and Tianna have all stopped spinning and are in a heated argument.

Raising her wand, Sadie points it at the towers and without a word, snaps her wrist. An amber bolt fans out from the tip of her wand, striking the tower on the left from her position. The triangles begin spinning.

Amanda and the others are so startled, they back right up against the moving wall.

"What happen..." Amanda begins, then sees the amber fan of light leading from Sadie's wand.

"Sadie! What are you..." Tianna begins yelling, then sees Sadie's dazed expression, as though her mind is someplace else.

While the first tower keeps spinning, Sadie moves her wand to the second tower. The second the vertical fan of light touches the tower, it too begins to spin. Then the last tower begins spinning.

Watching Sadie, everyone' s eyes are wide with frightened expressions.

Sadie lowers her wand for a moment, then, snaps it up yelling, " _Otaleean_!"

Immediately tower one's triangles turn and snap into position, a flat face of each triangle facing the kids.

The moving wall is now seven feet from the contraption, the kids with their backs pressed hard against the wall as if trying to stop its progress.

The second tower begins snapping triangle after triangle into place. It reminds Amanda of watching the windows on a slot machine spinning then snapping to a stop showing one of the faces on the wheel.

All eyes turn to the last tower. Sadie is standing with a blank expression, wand at her side, staring at the towers.

The back wall is three feet from the contraption.

Triangles begin snapping into position, then spin, snapping into another position. In a moment, the last triangle snaps into place. All towers now have flat faces facing the kids.

The moving wall _immediately_ begins reversing quickly causing the kids to almost lose their balance.

Turning to watch the wall quickly recede, Amanda's heart is pounding harder than it ever had.

"Sadie?" Tianna calls to Sadie who is still standing in a trance-like state. "Sadie!" Tianna yells and begins running to Sadie as Sadie drops her wand and falls to the floor.

As they reach Sadie, they hear the moving wall thunder back into its original position on the far side of the huge room.

With a loud _pop_ , the triangles on the towers begin to spin slowly, startling everyone.

"Sadie, wake up!" Tianna shouts shaking Sadie.

"What do you think she did?" Thian asks looking from Sadie to the towers, which have begun spinning and are picking up considerable speed.

"I... I don't know," Tianna says still trying to wake Sadie.

"Wow... look at those triangles go!" Tia says watching the triangles move so fast they are a blur.

Sadie opens her eyes and as she focuses, looks into Tianna's tear-filled eyes. Looking around, Sadie has a look of confusion as she says, "What happened? Why am I on the _floor_? Hey _look_! The towers are _spinning_!" and becomes frantic.

"Sadie it's okay, you did _good_... we think. At least you got that wall to go back where it started."

"I... _I_ didn't do anything. It wasn't me! Last thing I remember is looking at all those triangles spinning in my head, but... they really _weren't_ spinning. You were all fighting and... now I'm on the _floor_. What..."

Suddenly there are horrendous sounds as sections of the huge floor in front of the contraption begin to crumble and fall out of sight, cracks fanning out in all directions.

"What's happening?" Sadie cries scrambling to her feet.

"Look! The _ceiling_!" Tia shouts as she points.

Amanda snaps her eyes up and gasps. Many of the blocks within the ceiling are rising up and out of sight while many more stone bricks fall from the floor to unknown depths below. The entire room is shaking as though they are in a Realm quake.

They scream as many of the stone bricks on the walls slide back into the darkness.

It is terrifying to hear the cracking of hundreds of stones, as though standing on a frozen lake, where the ice is too thin. The constant cracking sounds send a shiver up Amanda's spine.

Thian yells, "Look!" pointing to the ceiling. Where the stones had slid up and out of sight, hundreds of crystals of varying lengths, thicknesses and angles extend from the holes left by the stones.

Crystals begin poking through all the open areas on the walls as well. The only part of the huge room that has not been affected are the stones under their own feet and the wall they all have their backs pressed against. They are all so scared, they are frozen in place.

The towers continue spinning while all this happens.

Suddenly, the rumbling and quaking of the room stops. The abrupt stop is almost as frightening as the quaking.

With all hearts beating as though wanting out of their chests, everyone stands unmoving, afraid to breathe.

Amanda is about to say something when she screams, startled by brilliant lights flaring from all the cracks and missing stones in the floor. She watches wide-eyed as the beams strike various groups of crystals on the walls and ceiling. Each crystal beam bends and sends the bolt to another set of crystals, then to another and another, but ever slowly. It's as though each crystal was taking several seconds to charge, then sends a beam of a slightly different color to the next set of crystals.

Scared out of her mind, Amanda turns to look at the others. Thian's eyes are about to pop out of his head, and he is trembling violently.

Sadie is clutching tightly to Tianna's legs, while Tianna's eyes move from one set of crystals to another.

Tia looks as though she is about to pass out, but she is so stiff from fright, she simply cannot fall.

As the last set of crystals is charging, a _huge_ crystal lowers from the ceiling and thunders into place. The second it locks into place, the last charged crystal sends its bolt directly at the huge crystal.

There is a blinding flash causing everyone to clamp their eyes shut.

When Amanda opens her eyes, all the clusters of crystals in the room are firing bolts of colored light at the huge one.

Amanda forces a swallow, then a very high pitch screech causes her to clamp her palms over her ears, as the others to the same.

There is a sudden burst of blue-white light from the huge crystal which fans out, quickly moving up and down the spinning triangles on the towers.

The high pitch stops. Amanda lowers her hands as her jaw drops.

The fan of light striking the triangles is being reflected back into the center of the huge room, causing the light to sparkle. Memorized, Amanda cannot tear her eyes away. As the triangles spin faster, they also begin to rapidly move up and down slightly on the tower shafts. An image is beginning to form where all the light from the towers fan out further and further into the room.

At first, it is like watching static on a screen, with an occasional flash of an image, but the flash so brief, you cannot quite figure out what you saw.

The image becomes clearer and more stable, Amanda drawing a quick breath with a jolt of recognition.

"It's... it's a huge _dragon_ ," she says mostly to herself in awe, looking into the massive eyes of the semitransparent dragon. Its long neck extends almost to the ceiling. Its wings are gigantic, folded against its side. It stands on thick, powerful scaly legs. Its body is armored by huge plates of curving scales. It has two, long curved pointed horns on its head and as it turns to look directly at Amanda, she sees its teeth shining in the flickering light.

Everyone gasps as the huge dragon turns slowly to the right, revealing someone sitting on its back, holding huge reigns which Amanda quickly follows to a thick collar around the dragon's neck she had not immediately noticed.

The image has become crystal clear. There is a tall wizard in full dress robes with an ancient pointed hat, who is now looking around the room in surprise. The image appears to be some kind of super 3D hologram. Extremely fine detail, fluid movements, but all made of light.

Laughing, the wizard turns suddenly to face the kids, who are all scared to death, drained of color and shaking so hard they cannot move.

"Great _Mother_ of Creation!" The wizard says then breaks into a bellowing laugh. Looking at the kids stunned faces, he says, "I guess it _worked_ after all. Well I'll be. Wasn't sure if I could _pull_ it off really. But, how did you manage to _solve_ the keyolayograph?" He is looking directly at Amanda.

"You... you can _see_ us?" Amanda stutters, heart pounding so hard she can hardly speak.

"Well of _course_ I can see you," he says gruffly. "Now, _tell_ me how you solved the keyolayograph!"

"Uh, we don't _know_ sir," Thian says shaking.

"Well of _course_ you do boy - it's _working_ isn't it?"

"Um, yes sir, but, _honestly_... they just started _spinning_ when..."

"When _what_ boy? Spit it out!"

They all turn to look at Sadie, who looks terrified.

" _You_ there! _You_ solved the keyolayograph?"

Sadie cringes at the thunder in his voice.

"I... I don't _remember_ what happened. I was watching them _spin_ in my head, but they hadn't really started _spinning_ yet. I... we don't know _what_ I did. _Honestly_."

"You saw them spinning in your _head_ you say? Interesting. Are you elvish? Cerelic? Morgagian? Keptic? Senantorian?..."

"She's Keptic! What _of_ it? Tianna says coming to her senses, stepping in front of Sadie pulling her wand.

" _Spunky_ little thing aren't you? What? Are you going to _shoot_ me? Really? Do you think that wise since I'm the only one who came to get you out of here?"

"You can get us _out_?" Thian asks lowering his wand as well.

"That's the bond I made when I cast the spell. Anyone smart enough to solve the keyolayograph, and I would return from the dead, which I must be since I'm here... and take to safety whomever solved the puzzle. Which by the way, should take about two centuries. However, none of you look that old, so the three day spell must still be working. But I have been away a good long time by the look of your clothing and brooms over there. Never seen anything like them."

"Why did you cast the spell sir?" Tia asks licking her lips.

"Because of Eris! She isn't, uh, still _around_ is she?"

Everyone looks at Amanda.

"Well, yes and _no_ actually sir. She died eons ago, which I guess means _you_ did too. But, when she died, she..." Amanda hesitates.

"Her soul got _sucked_ into her necklace, and that's where she's been ever since," Thian says looking at the huge dragon who just burped orange flame.

The wizard roars with laughter. His long white beard giggling. "Well, I guess she had some flaws _after_ all. Wish I could have been there to see _that_. I hated the witch! I was her _servant_ for thousands of years. She got to trust me though. All the while, my _despising_ her and everything she stood for, I played the loyal servant, waiting. Waiting for my chance to _escape_ or... die, and I really didn't care which.

"Then one day, she summand me here. Well, just outside this room which did not exist as yet. She told me that she wanted me to create some _contraption_ which would be a puzzle so involved, it could not be solved for _hundreds_ of thousands of years. Unless by another Wielder, who would know how to solve the puzzle once I informed the current Wielder, that should someone use any spell to try to _escape_ , their _own_ spell would kill them. She wanted a net cast within the room so even _Tagowan_ the Great, one of the elders of the Light, could not use her Specteroscope to escape, and she _didn't_.

"I toiled many hundreds of years to devise and construct the keyolayograph. She _insisted_ that only three rotations be granted whomever entered to solve the puzzle or die.

"I had been at her side for _centuries_ , and I had learned a great deal from her. _Secrets_ she shared with me, and me alone. Not because of _friendship_ , but because no one _else_ would talk to her if they could help it. All _afraid_ of her wrath. The more I _praised_ her, the more I learned. I learned enough from her to create a spell which would bring me _back_ in this form should I have died. Long enough to _escape_ with anyone who may break the mystery of the puzzle.

"I have to tell you, I am more than _surprised_ it was solved, and even more so by... a group of _children_. But, I had never thought about a _hunter_ being a Keptic! They have been both loved and hated over the eons."

He laughs again. "If only _Eris_ could see that it was a _child_ who solved the puzzle. By the way, if Eris _is_ dead, who _is_ the Wielder now? One of her daughters? Her _son_?"

"She... she has more than _one_ daughter?" Amanda asks with a shaky voice.

"And she had a _son_ too?" Tianna asks.

"Well of _course_ she did. I would think, that if it's been _centuries_ since her death, everyone would _know_ that! So... w _ho_ is the Wielder now?"

The kids turn to look at a trembling Amanda, who slowly reaches up and pulls the necklace from her robe.

The dragon rears up and lets out an ear-splitting roar then drops into a fighting position, scaring everyone. The old wizard lets out a cry of surprise as a look of fear sweeps across his face.

"You! _You_ are the Wielder? Is this some kind of _joke_! A _child_? No! I do _not_ believe it!"

"Well whether you _believe_ it or not is none of our concern," Tianna snaps. "You said you set a _binding_ spell, is that correct?"

The wizard stares at Tianna for a few long moments then sighs. "Yes. That is correct."

"Was it _Eris_ who bound you to whatever spell you may cast upon the keyolayograph?"

Again there is a hesitation before the wizard replies, "Yes."

"You _are_ the _Great_ wizard Arderburg, are you not?"

The wizard nods.

"Then by the code of _Honor_ and of the High, you _must_ obey the bond. You must take us safely out of here." Tianna finishes placing her hands on her hips.

"And just why didn't you, the _Wielder,_ simply leave may I ask?"

"I... I don't know how to use the necklace really."

The wizard's eyes fly wide with surprise.

"She's of the _Light_ , and not the Dark sir," Tia says with a slight smile. "It's a long story actually, and if you would like to hear the tale, we'd be honored to tell it, but would you mind getting us _out_ of here first?"

The wizard studies Amanda then looks at all the trembling kids. Somehow, he knows they are telling the truth and can't wait to hear the story.

"Come. Gather your things, _and_ your brooms, and get on. Don't worry, she won't bite, well, _usually_. Zaora has been with me since her hatching. Hadn't really thought about it, but I must have died while riding her, since she has returned with me. Interesting. You don't know _how_ I died do you? No? Well, all I remember is a bright _flash_ coming from the top of a hill as we were flying over it. Then Zaora and I began to fall. Another red flash and... now I'm _here_! Are you sure you don't know how I died?"

"No. Sorry sir," Amanda says looking at the dragon shaking its massive head.

"Well, no matter. Just curious is all. You _must_ be from the Light, none from the Dark would ever call me sir! Get your things and get on. Well, come on! And by the way, _I_ am of the Light as well. Captured, tortured and according to Eris, _broken_ and converted to the Dark. Another big mistake she made. Anyway, let's get moving. You tell me _your_ story, and I'll tell you mine."

They gather their things and hesitantly approach Zaora, who looks like she is frowning as she lets out a rush of translucent smoke from her fluttering nostrils.

"Zaora! _Behave_ yourself. We have _very_ special guests."

Fifteen feet from the glaring dragon, Thian, who is in front, suddenly begins to glow, then turns into a 3D hologram - the same moving, flickering light as the dragon and the wizard.

"Thian!" Tianna shouts.

"What? Thian says practically jumping out of his skin.

"You... you're... _look_ at yourself!" Sadie cries.

Thian looks down as he holds his hands out and screams! "What's _happened_ to me, I'm... I'm..."

"Made of _light_!" Amanda shouts.

"Oh. _Sorry_ about that," the wizard says with a laugh. "Forgot to tell you. The only way to leave this room is as an _elemental_. In this case, I chose light. You are still _you_ , but your energy has been changed to one of a substance _resembling_ light. It's not of course. Can't explain quite how it works, but it does, and that's _all_ that matters. When you all turn to a lighted hologram, we will fly Zaora _through_ the walls, and... vanish once we reach the portal. We shall reappear on another realm, if Eris has not _destroyed_ it, that is. We'll talk again then.

"Zaora, if you would please."

Zaora lowers part of her folded wing and rests it on the crumbled cavern floor.

" _Up_ you go, and be careful not to slip. Her wings are like those of a dragon fly but very slippery if you're not careful. That's right, _good_. Take your place behind me young man, and hold on. The rest of you in a line behind him, and _hold_ on to each other."

Once they are all nervously seated, still in shock as they continue to look at one another's mostly transparent bodies made of nothing but light, Arderburg asks, "Everyone ready?"

No one answers, which he takes for a yes. He laughs saying, " _Away_ Zaora! To the forest of _Nar_!"

The huge dragon extends her massive wings and with a snort of smoke and flame, jumps into the air, passing up and through half of the ceiling as though the ceiling were not there.

The kids all scream as she rises, and with powerful muscles, flaps her beautiful wings.

Up, up they travel passing through rock and stone as though they were an illusion. Soon, they burst into dazzling sunlight, everyone snapping their eyes shut, breathing in the crisp, clean air.

They fly away from the side of the mountain toward a small hill nearby.

Flapping her mighty wings, Zaora turns and heads for a mountain some distance away.

Arderburg asks how Amanda came to be the new Wielder, and is fascinated with her story. He then tells them about his time with Eris.

After clearing a large mountain, Zaora turns quickly heading down and flying toward another nearby hill. Everyone braces for impact as Zaora's head reaches the rocky side of the hill, but her head, followed by the rest of her and them, slips into the stone as though it were not there.

Several seconds later, Amanda is startled to see that they are flying out the side of a mountain, with a very strange forest below. She shivers as she looks at the very oddly shaped black trees they are descending toward.

#  Forest of Nar

Zaora soon flairs her huge wings to slow, then glides to a landing in a clearing within the odd trees.

"Well, this is where you get off," Arderburg says with a smile.

" _Where_ are we again?" Amanda asks, watching Thian slide down Zaora's wing to the ground.

"The _Dark_ Forest of Nar. _Nasty_ place really, filled with all _kinds_ of strange creatures, and the trees... _move_. So you must be _very_ careful!"

"Uh, isn't there some _other_ place you could take us?" Tia asks looking at the gnarled and knobby trees.

"Sorry, this is the location I had programmed _ages_ ago. At the time, none from the _Light_ ever set foot here. This is the domain of the _Dark_ and some very foul creatures. Sure looks different though. This was just a very small clearing at the edge of the forest before. And there used to be a pond yonder. No trace of it now. At least the main path through the trees is still over there. I figured this would be a good spot to bring someone who could stay a while, then move on to wherever they like, using a _labyrinth_ or some other translocation device of the time. Eris and her _murderers_ would never think to look here for a hunter of the Shards.

"Well, I need to go. It was nice to meet you all, and I'm glad that I could be of service. You must take that path over there, it may still lead to one of the Shards. Of course, the Wielder would move them around from time to time. Anyway, follow the path until you come to a small clearing, if it's still there, oh, and I suggest you do _not_..."

Before he can finish, or the kids could ask more questions, Zaora and Arderburg begin to sparkle, turning to a shimmering mist. Arderburg has a startled expression, quickly looking around, then, in a flash... they vanish. The kids all stumble back.

The very instance Zaora and Arderburg vanish, the kids resume their natural, solid forms.

"Yikes! That was close!" Thian says with his eyes wide. "If we hadn't got here when we did, _we_ may have vanished too. Maybe forever!"

Everyone looks around with nervous and frightened expressions, eyeing the odd trees, worried about what may await them.

"These trees really _creep_ me out you know," Tianna says looking toward the path they need to take.

"Me too," Tia says looking into the branches. "They aren't very tall really, maybe nine feet or so. Well, here anyway. The roots are thick and braided, and look how _many_ there are. The trunks are twisted, like wringing out a towel, and they're all bent over too."

"Yeah, and those _limbs_ and branches are twisted too, and they all arch out then down. Some of them to the ground. And all those limbs have long and short spikey branches. Looks kind of like quills to me," Amanda says then chews on her lower lip hearing a high pitched wail in the distance.

"I've never seen black _trees_ before," Sadie says with a shiver. "The branches at the tops of each tree are twisted together with the trees next to them. Like they're holding onto each other. I don't _like_ it here."

"I don't like it here either," Tianna says mounting her broom. "But, I guess we follow the path and see what we find. Before we head off though, does the map show where we are Thian?"

Everyone is hovering as Thian pulls the map from his pocket.

"Great _Mother_ of Creation! The map is... blank!"

"What? But it _can't_ be!" Amanda cries. "Why would it be blank?"

"Because we aren't in the _Dark Forest_ anymore. We're in the Forest of _Nar_ ," Tia says in a small voice.

"But... wait, I don't get it," Sadie says looking confused. "How can the map be blank, when Arderburg said we might find a _Shard_ here?"

"Remember what Bellinora told me? She said the scope was programmed to take us to many places, but _not_ all. Only the places she and others had _thought_ the Shards may be found. And, most of the Shards were found in the _Dark Forest_. Maybe the map will work in other places too, but I guess this was one of the places no one had thought about. We're on our own here."

They are silent for a long moment, all looking along the dark pathway. It is getting darker and they decide to move on to see what, if anything they can find, then leave as soon as possible.

"Do you hear _anything_ at all?" Tia asks. "Arderburg said the forest is a nasty placed filled with all kinds of creatures, but I haven't seen a _single_ living thing, and I can't _hear_ any either."

"Yeah, I've been thinking the same thing," Thian says looking above him at the tangled branches. "Not only that, but there aren't any flying _insects_ either."

"You're right! _Snarkins_ , I hadn't thought of that," Amanda says rather startled. "Better get your wands out and light 'em up. It's really getting dark in here. I swear the trees are getting _closer_ together, and this path is getting narrower and harder to see. If those branches get much lower, they're going to knock us off our brooms!"

An hour later, the limbs and branches are so low they have to walk.

"We've been walking for _ages_! I haven't seen a _single_ clearing large enough to set up the cabin, and I'm tired of _tripping_ over all these roots!" Tianna says getting up for the umpteenth time. "Ever since we had to start walking because those branches were getting so low, I've been _stumbling_ all over the place!"

"Yeah. I've been waiting for a good sized clearing too," Thian says wiping sweat from his face. "But it doesn't look like we're going to find one big enough for the cabin in here. Let's go a little further. That looks like a huge pile of rocks near the path up ahead, I _think_ anyway. Let's climb 'em and see if we can spot anything. The trees seem to stand several yards back from 'em."

Their wand light leading the way, they make their way to the stack of boulders, each climbing to the top.

"It's so dark, we can't see much at all," Amanda says with a sigh. "But, it does look like there's a small clearing to the left of the path, there... in the trees. But, it's really small. It doesn't even look like it's big enough to set up all five of our outhouses."

"Yeah, well, maybe this time we should use the _Instant Tent_ ," Thian says listening to the wind picking up, as it begins to howl like some primal animal on the hunt.

"But... I thought you said you only had a four person tent. There are _five_ of us," Amanda says as they all climb back to the ground.

"Yeah, it is. But, one of us could sleep in the living room, or maybe the den."

"What! Wait, are you telling me your tent has a _living_ room and a den?" Amanda stutters.

"Well yeah. It's a four bedroom, two bathroom tent with a nice living room, fireplace and a den. Mom and dad have a lot of books on shelves in the den. I've read most of them, but there are still a few I haven't."

The expression on Amanda and Sadie's faces make the others laugh.

"Thian, why didn't we use the tent before, instead of the outhouses?" Sadie asks.

"Well, like the cabin, the tent has air-conditioning, and the fireplace does keep you nice and toasty, but the tent takes up a little more room than three of the outhouses, and requires a different shape on the ground. This is the first place we've come to where it's too small for the cabin, and too small for all the outhouses, but the size and _shape_ are okay for the tent I think. That is, unless you want to sleep on the _ground_ out here?"

"Uh, no thanks," Amanda says with a shiver as the cold wind blows her hair into her face. "I think I'd rather take my chances in the tent, thank you."

Everyone laughs and watches as Thian sets the _Instant Tent_ can on the forest floor, then draws his wand. In a moment, there is a brownish-green mist which rises from the can, and as Amanda watches, the mist turns into what looks like a nice sized tent which would hold four people lying scrunched up side-by-side. There is a brick chimney sticking out from the top of the tent at the back, with some smoke rising wispily a foot or two, before being blown away by the increasing wind. Amanda is thinking the tent may be large enough for four to lay down in, but not large enough for a fireplace, four beds, a living room and a den.

Thian steps aside and motions for Amanda to enter. She steps up to the flap and pulls it aside. Her jaw drops. It is huge inside. Several tables, chairs and a couch are sitting on a lovely purple and pink carpet. There is a beautiful glow crystal hanging from the tent's ceiling like a chandelier, with many smaller crystals of blue, pink, purple and clear. Amanda sees that there are three side hallways. Amazed, Amanda enters the tent, with Sadie wide-eyed right behind her.

Amanda walks to one of the hallways and enters. It leads to a large room with two beds, all made up and ready to slip into. She and Sadie are speechless, with the others laughing and enjoying their reactions.

As Amanda and Sadie enter the opposite hallway, they find another room with two more beds.

Walking along the third hallway, they enter a large den with wood paneling, a large table with six chairs, a glow lamp and several shelves filled with books.

"Oh, my, God!" Amanda says as she begins to laugh. "This is _awesome_! Where's the kitchen and the bathroom though?"

"It doesn't have 'em," Thian says with a laugh. "After all, it _is_ just a little camping tent you know. You have to do all your cooking outdoors, and you need to use your _Instant Outhouse_ or, uh, find a tree or bush when you want to go potty."

They all laugh.

"Listen," Tianna says with a grin. "Why don't we get some snacks from our packs and have something to eat. It won't be much, but at least it will be something. We haven't found any rivers, streams or even a pond, so no fishing. And I for one, don't want to go hunting for our dinner and possibly _become_ dinner instead. Whatdaya say?"

They all agree, dropping their packs in the den, they grab a little to eat along with their water bottles, and head for the living room where they take a seat.

"We sure have been on some _scary_ adventures haven't we?" Sadie looks up into Tianna's eyes.

"Yeah, we _have_ for sure. And we only have a _few_ of the Shards. Bellinora had said something about the Shards being _connected_ together somehow Amanda. I had to use the restroom when she was talking about them though. What exactly did she mean, they are somehow _connected_?"

The others who had been there go quiet, all turning to look into Amanda's frightened eyes.

"Well, she said that there had been _terrible_ spells and curses placed at each location of a Shard - which we know _firsthand_. But, she said that as we find a Shard, the others somehow, well, are _triggered_ to increase the strength of their own spells and curses. So, every area we come to that has a Shard is going to be _worse_ and worse."

"You're _kidding_ right?" Tianna says with a snort.

"I wish I were, but that's what she said. And, and that's not the _worst_ of it."

"I'm not sure I _really_ want to know, but go ahead. I guess I had better be prepared," Tianna says reaching for her water bottle.

"Well. Bellinora and Ellanya said that to retrieve some of the Shards... _someone_ , or something must _die_ in order to retrieve the Shard."

"Wait. _What_? What do you mean someone _has_ to die? Why do they have to die?"

"Because," Thian says looking frightened, "Ellanya said that some of the Shards might be found _inside_ some creature, and that there was no known way to retrieve the Shard without their death. And Bellinora said that if you attempted to take a Shard from inside some living thing, and you _killed_ it, all people or creatures in that village, town or city would be _killed_ by some kind of self-replicating spell, which will eventually piddle out, but not before killing _every_ living thing within range."

"Yeah, we've been _lucky_ so far," Tia says nodding. "Poa and his people gave us the Shard, and so did Qumong. I think _they_ were lucky too, because a spell or curse could have been set so if they gave the Shard away, they would have been killed."

"Well, somehow, I don't think the last Wielder had even _thought_ that someone she had threatened would ever even _think_ of giving the Shard away." Amanda says with a look of concentration. "After all, she had told all of them to protect the Shard with their _lives_ , or die. She said that she had given the holder of the Shard the ability to live tens of thousands of years, and as long as they protected the Shard, then passed it on at their death, their families and friends wouldn't be killed. I'm not sure how she could extend someone's, or something's life though. Maybe that part is just a myth or something.

"Ellanya had said that Bellinora had set the Specteroscope in a sequence we should follow first, which may be the ones with the _least_ powerful spells and curses. The first three Shards that were found, lots of people lost their lives getting them. And Ellanya said that the _last_ one that was taken was a _nightmare_ , and that some lady witch was killed trying to leave with the Shard, but someone with her managed to get away with it, using a Specteroscope like the one we have."

They talk for a couple of hours, then decide to get some sleep.

Screaming awakens Thian who is sleeping on the couch in the living room of the tent. He rolls off landing hard on his face. The tent is being tossed around upending everything, heavy sounds like snorting coming from outside.

Thian scrambles to his feet and pulls his wand, "Enatious!" he yells pointing his wand at the flap of the tent just as something black and shiny begins to slither in. There is a burst of white light from his wand and the thing is blown from the opening like a feather in wild wind.

Tianna thunders into the living room to join Thian just as a thundering sound, which Amanda thinks sounds like huge running dinosaurs, shakes the ground.

Tia and Sadie enter, skidding to a halt next to Amanda, both frightened out of their minds. They are all too scared to say a word, and just stand together with eyes wide and hearts pounding, Sadie tightly clutching Tianna's legs.

Amanda is suddenly aware that the same type of thundering is coming from behind them. Something huge passes by their tent, growling loudly. The upheaval as the ground shakes sends them all screaming and sprawling on the floor.

Immediately there is the sound of violent fighting, like huge animals engaged in a fierce battle, the sound of flesh and bone smacking and crunching is terrifying. They can hear heavy breathing coming from high above and a short distance outside the flap of the tent. The sound of tree branches and limbs _snapping_ sets their teeth on edge.

Something huge crashes to the ground only feet away, tossing everyone into the air as a large cloud of dirt and dust blows into the tent.

"What's happening?" Tia shouts grabbing Sadie as she quickly begins tumbling away.

"Don't k _now_!" Thian shouts back. "But we have to..."

Suddenly, the tent is grabbed by something crushing the entire top half of the tent as they are flung high into the air, screaming as they begin to arc and head downward. Striking the top of a tree, several branches pierce through the tent like dozens of large daggers, ripping and tearing the fabric as they continue to fall. Suddenly and violently they come to a stop, the tent swaying slightly filled with many branches sticking up around them.

The sounds of fighting along with the growling and roars continue for several more minutes, then, once again the sound of something very heavy strikes the ground below and to their left. For a few moments, the only thing they can hear, other than their own crying and sniffing, is the sound of heavy breathing.

Everyone goes quiet, no one says a thing as a they hear a growling which seems to be coming from just overhead. It is a very deep and rumbling tone. After several moments, what sounds like thunderous footsteps appears to be heading away from them.

After a long pause, Amanda whispers, "I... I _think_ it's gone, whatever it was. Everybody okay?"

"I'm _banged_ up pretty good, but okay. I dropped my wand and can't _find_ it," Tia says with a sniff.

"Sadie... _you_ okay?" comes Tianna's shaky voice.

"Yeah. I'm over _here_ at the edge of the tent. I'm lying on a seam I think. I dropped _my_ wand too but I'm too _scared_ to look for it."

A blue light flairs making everyone cry out.

"It's _okay_ , it's just my wand," Thian says quickly looking around at the demolished tent.

Amanda ignites her wand and holds it out. Seeing the devastation around her, she lets out a small cry. "Oh, _no_... look at the _tent_! It's destroyed. Branches are sticking up _everywhere_. There are some pretty good rips and tears in here too."

The faces of the others are now lit by the blue wand light of Thian's and Amanda's wands.

"Can everyone find their wands now?" Thian asks continuing to look around, noticing a tall sharp branch only inches behind him, making him force a swallow, visualizing himself impaled and hanging limply on the branch.

Everyone manages to locate and retrieve their wands.

Amanda is about to say something when horrible cries, roars and what sounds like screaming suddenly rent the air, making everyone cry out themselves.

"Oh... I don't like the sound of _that_!" Tianna says trying to get to Sadie without falling through a very large tear in the tent's flooring.

"Thian," Amanda asks nervously. "Can... can you _see_ anything outside?"

Thian who had been tossed within a foot of the tent flap, swallows hard and turns to look at the closed flap.

"Uh. Well, if my _knees_ will stop shaking and I don't _pass_ out, I'll take a look."

Thian very carefully crawls around the branch sticking up beside him and grasps the flap. Extinguishing his wand, he opens the flap just enough to see outside.

"It's so _dark_ out, I can't see anything at _all_. But all those growls, _roars_ and stuff sound like they're pretty close."

"What are we gonna do?" Tia asks crawling to Tianna and Sadie.

The sound of ripping and tearing scares them all, as they begin tumbling toward a huge rip in the tent's flooring.

"Well, we sure as heck aren't staying in _here_ ," Tianna says quickly, "that's for _sure_ , let's..."

The rumbling sound like thundering pile drivers begins again, steadily growing stronger, until they all scream as they are lifted violently, the branches ripping back through the fabric of the tent, leaving longer and larger tears.

Sadie screams as she begins falling through a large tear a branch makes beside her, as it is ripped back through the fabric.

Tianna and Tia grab Sadie's hands as she quickly slides by them and begins dropping through the tear, half of her dangling in thin air as she, along with everyone else, screams in terror.

They feel themselves being flung through the air and to the side for a moment, then slam against what may be a small tree trunk, as they drop a few feet striking something hard and flat. Right outside something growls deeply. They are lifted then begin swinging as though trapped in a bag someone is carrying beside them.

Crashing sounds come from all around, as though they are on some kind of giant Realm mover, with the sound of trees crashing down around them. After roughly half an hour, they feel themselves drop into free fall, sending them all into a screaming fit, then slam painfully onto what feels like solid ground. The thundering pile driver-like sound quickly begins fading into the distance.

The tent has completely collapsed over everyone, and all are screaming and yelling for help.

A blue light flairs as Amanda ignites her wand. Another blue flash, then another as they all find and ignite their wands.

"I'm _pinned_ up against something outside," Thian yells. "I'm gonna us a _slashing_ spell to cut away the tent fabric over my head, everybody do the same so we can see where the _heck_ we are!"

Yellow flashes come from various places within the dark tent.

As Amanda slips through the opening she has made, her blue wand light shines into the frightened eyes of Sadie, who is crying so hard she has the hiccups. Letting out a cry, Amanda spins around as something grasps her shoulder. Heart wanting out of her chest, she is relieved to see it is only Tianna's hand as she stands beside her.

"Tia? Where's _Tia_?" Tianna says trembling.

"Here, I'm banged up again, and _scared_ out of my mind, but I'm okay. You?"

"Yeah, I'm okay sis. Looks like Amanda and Sadie are too. Thian, you okay?"

"I guess so. Cut up my _arm_ pretty good on a branch that shot up right beside me. But, better a gash in my arm than _skewered_ on a stick. Where the heck _are_ we anyway?"

As Amanda looks around she sees that there are thick wooden posts all around them a few yards away. Looking up, she sees the posts are bent far above and tied together somehow. Looking to her right, she gasps, everyone turning to face the direction she is pointing.

"Great _jumpin'_ Snorkrats!" Tianna cries. "We're, we're in some kind of _cage_! And look how _huge_ this cavern is! I don't like _this_ , let's get the _geebers_ out of here!"

"Tianna, all of you," Thian calls, "get back inside the tent and when I tell you to, we'll move the top of the tent back up, then, Tianna, keep it raised while we all get our brooms and packs. I'll get yours. Go!"

Everyone shimmies back into the collapsed tent. In a moment, Amanda hears Thian's muffled voice count, "One, two, _three_!" Amanda holding the fabric up over her head so she can use her wand, shouts, "Adscendo!"

The fabric rises some nine feet then Thian shouts, "That's _high_ enough, Tianna, hold it there and we'll get our stuff."

Tianna once again standing in the demolished living room, does her best to keep focus, which she finds very hard to do. The tent ceiling keeps dropping several feet, when her focus is taken away as she hears growling sounds coming from somewhere outside.

In a few moments, Amanda and Sadie run into the living room wearing their packs and holding their brooms. Tia dashes in, followed quickly by Thian, who is carrying Tianna's broom and pack.

Thian takes over holding the roof up, while Tianna quickly slips into her pack and snatches her broom from the floor where Thian had dropped them.

"What do we do now?" Amanda croaks, knees shaking and finding it hard to stand.

There is a moment of silence, then, "Tianna, while I continue to hold the ceiling up, use a _slashing_ spell in a circle over our heads," Thian says confidently. "If you cut a hole _large_ enough for all of us, the ceiling will fall and we'll go through the hole!"

There is a bright yellow-orange bolt that spits from Tianna's wand as she whips her arm around in a big circle over her head.

As Thian sees the center piece cut out by Tianna's slashing begin to hover, he shouts, "I'm gonna release the spell and everything's gonna _drop_. Tianna, hit that centerpiece you just cut and hold it up until the tent falls, then whip it to the side. Then, we'll climb out of the hole okay?"

"Yeah, okay." Tianna fires a bolt at the hovering section still held in place by Thian's spell. "Okay, I've got it. _Let_ 'er fall!"

Thian snaps his wand down and the tent immediately falls around them. Once the walls crash to the floor, Tianna whips her wand to the side yelling, "Adicio!" sending the hovering circle of cloth flying, which strikes the side of the huge cage and falls.

They rush to one another and hug, assuring each other that while they are all banged up, each having many cuts and bruises, everyone is okay.

The growling and cries of unknown animals has been going on since they were dropped in the cavern. The cries are now almost too much to bear.

"Look!" Sadie cries clutching Tianna.

Amanda turns and is shocked to see what may be hundreds of cages scattered throughout the cavern.

"Great _Mother_! What _is_ this place?" Tia says in barely a whisper.

"I don't know, but I think we should get the heck _out_ of here," Tianna says aiming her wand at the huge wooden door of their cage. "Abiugo!" the door separates from the frame, lock and all, then falls with a crash.

Amanda nods, remembering that Abiugo means to "remove" or "separate from."

Rushing out of the cage and climbing over the posts which make up the huge door, they find themselves standing high on some kind of flat topped rock. The ground begins to tremble as the thunderous sound comes from outside the cavern, quickly growing louder.

Thian yells, " _Mount_ up and let's get..."

Something huge ducks into the twenty five foot tall cavern. Amanda's eyes fly wide as her jaw drops, too frightened to scream. In their wand light stands a giant of a creature. It reminds Amanda of a huge brownish green ogre, but not the cute and friendly type like Shrek. This thing is ugly and huge. The head of the giant is almost scraping the ceiling. With its short thick neck, it looks like its giant head is resting on its shoulders. It has large yellow eyes, a bulbous nose, and a tusk lined mouth. The body is tall, wide and extremely muscular. Huge hands hold a large cage in each. The feet are long, wide, rather flat with eleven toes each. Knotted, tangled and dirty hair, or fur, hangs to its waist. It is wearing oddly fashioned shorts, a thick belt which has a long curved sword on one side, and a club tucked in the other.

Breathing hard, holding cages filled with what looks like very large balls of fur, it stands staring with a puzzled expression at the kids holding their glowing wands, as though it had never seen such creatures. The entire cavern is now filled with screams, cries and wails from the hundreds of frantic creatures trapped within their cages.

Dropping the cages the giant runs forward making the ground heave.

"Fly!" Thian shouts rising into the air seeing the giant pull the club from its belt.

Amanda shoots up and to the right, along with Sadie and Tia. Tianna has flown up and is just behind Thian when the giant takes a swing at them.

Amanda almost falls from her broom watching the edge of the spiked club whip toward Tianna, catching her hair streaming out behind her. She is yanked off the broom and sent tumbling through the air, striking the cavern floor hard on her back. Amanda sees her grab her chest, try to sit up, but falls back and lays motionless.

Tia had seen what happened as well and screams, immediately heading for her sister.

The giant bellows a roar so loud Amanda feels her head will explode, as the monster thunders after Tia who has just landed beside Tianna.

Sadie flies in front of his face, causing him to come up short, startled and confused, watching this tiny creature whipping around, first in one direction, then another, rising and dropping like a drunken fly.

The giant begins swatting a huge hand at Sadie, missing her on the first two passes, then Amanda feels a jolt and her hair begin to rise.

"No!" she shouts, "I can handle this myself... get out... get _out_ of me!" Fighting to not be taken over by one of the spirits within the necklace.

Amanda's hair drops as she watches Sadie duck, flying between two of the huge fingers of the giant, almost striking her.

The giant turns and charges Tia and Tianna as Tianna still lies motionless as the giant rises its club overhead ready to flatten the girls.

Tia turns and sees the creature raise its club, then, with a cavern shaking roar, brings the club down at her. Throwing her arms up, pure terror on her face, the club whizzing toward her, she screams an ear piercing scream, sending shivers through all then passes out.

The club is about to strike Tia and Tianna when there is a bright red bolt, Amanda yelling, "Tostonia!"

The bolt strikes the arm holding the club. The giant instantly goes ridged, eyes wide, a look of surprise and confusion, as it begins turning to stone.

Tianna opens her eyes and screams seeing the huge club mere inches over Tia's head. She watches in horror as the huge creature begins turning gray, as if into gray marble with many cracks like the fingers of shattering glass branching out in every direction.

The only thing the giant can move is its head and eyes. Frantically looking around, the huge creature roars fiercely as excruciating pain rips it apart. A moment later, it goes silent, as the stone reaches its throat. Tianna is shaking so hard her teeth are rattling as she watches in stunned horror as the panicked eyes of the giant freeze, now completely turned to stone.

Tianna snaps her head around and sees Amanda slowly lowering her wand, as Thian and Sadie fly down to Tianna, dismount and roll Tia over. Amanda flies to them also, amid the horrible cries, roars and wailing from the creatures worked into a frenzy within their cages.

Gently shaking Tia, Tianna says, "Tia? Tia _wake_ up."

In a moment there is a groan as Tia slowly blinks her eyes open. Looking past Thian's shoulder into the hideous face of the now stone statue, she screams while scuttling back.

"It's okay! It's okay sis, Amanda turned it to _stone_ like she did Blaine, remember?"

"Blaine?... oh, Blaine!" Tia says as Thian and Tianna help her to her feet.

"Sis, are _you_ alright?" Tia asks Tianna who is dusting off her bottom, scrunching up her face as the howls and wails sound all around them.

"Yeah, the darn thing _knocked_ me off my broom and when I landed, got the _wind_ knocked out of me. Guess I passed out." Turning to Amanda who is looking up into the face of the stone statue, says, "Thanks Amanda. _Quick_ thinking. You saved Tia and I for _sure_ , and well, all of us maybe. Why did you choose to turn it to _stone_ and not just stun it or bind it or something?"

Turning, Amanda swallows hard, fright still in her eyes and says, "I... I just saw a _flash_ in my head, that a stunning spell and binding spell for the size of this thing, may not work, but uh, well, I was _pretty_ sure it was made from some kind of flesh, and, _that's_ what the stone curse is for, so I fired off the curse just before the club struck Tia in the head."

"Thanks," Tia says hugging Amanda.

"Listen, there'll be time for thanks and _hugs_ later," Thian says quickly. "Right now, we need to get _out_ of here, there may be more of those things around, and we may not be so _lucky_ next time."

"But, what about all the _animals_?" Sadie says with concern. "Let's let them out so _they_ can get away too."

"Sadie, we don't know what _most_ of those things are." Thian says nervously looking at some creatures crashing against their cages, frantically trying to escape. "They could _charge_ us, or fly at us and kill us. Uh-uh, we _leave_ them alone and get out."

"No! I _won't_ leave them, I _won't_ leave them to suffer like I did." Sadie mounts up and rises into the air. Amanda hands Tianna her broom which Amanda had retrieved, and everyone mounts up and flies off after Sadie, who has already fired some bolts at the cages nearest the entrance to the cavern.

The round fur ball animals in the cages the giant had come in with, quickly roll out of the cage and vanish around the corner to the cavern.

"Sadie! Stop!" Tianna yells watching Sadie fire another bolt at a huge cage with a very fearsome troll-looking creature gnashing its rows of sharp teeth, along with two long curved teeth, more like tusks, jetting up from its bottom jaw.

The troll is three times as large as the kids, and much thicker and far more muscular than many of the other strange creatures. The door is blown from its cage, and for a moment, the creature stands stunned at what has just happened. Looking up at Sadie, her wand now blasting the door from another cage, turns quickly, charges out of the cage, and sprints to another large cage which has something resembling a rhinoceros, but with three horns. One is very long and thick at the base near the end of the face, curving then tapering to a very sharp point. The one behind that is shorter but just as sharp. The one near the forehead is shorter still, and somewhat blunt. It is stomping its short thick legs making frantic grunting sounds. The creature is chained to the cage posts by all four legs, so it cannot break its way through.

Tia, Thian and Tianna, watching creatures bolt from the cavern, paying no attention to them whatsoever, are now blasting doors from other cages. The cavern is awash in running, slithering, crawling and flying creatures of many sizes shapes and colors.

Amanda watches as what she calls the troll, desperately pounds on the lock of the caged rhino looking creature, but with no success. Chewing her lower lip for a moment, she sighs and quickly flies toward the troll.

As she gets closer, she comes up short, hearing the troll tell the rhino thing not to worry, he will free her, and everything will be alright. Amanda sits speechless, listening to this strange creature talking to the caged animal. For a moment, she wonders how she can understand it, but, hearing the familiar buzzing in her head, knows that this must be one of the over four-thousand languages she already knows.

Flying toward the troll, Amanda yells in its language, "Move! Get out of the way!"

The troll spins around, eyes growing wide, staring at the approaching creature flying on some kind of strange branch, holding a very small glowing stick.

"Move! _Now_ , I want to help!"

The large troll staggers to the side, trips and falls as a yellow bolt of lightning flashes from Amanda's wand. The door is blown from its bindings, whirling just over and past the trolls slightly raised head.

Getting quickly to its feet, it says, "Who... _what_ are you? How..."

"No time now, my name's Amanda. We need to get _out_ of here before another one of those _giants_ come back. What is that thing in the cage?"

"My _friend_ , we were captured three days ago, to be held until the Vistora come to take us away, to be sold to various traders from other realms. Please, can you help me _free_ her?"

Amanda dismounts, looking into the huge cage where the creature continues thrashing, trying to free itself. With a swallow, Amanda moves forward pointing her wand at the creature. She steps up to the side of it as it growls, then roars, and rests her hand against the thick armor like plates of skin.

As she does, the creature cries out, but the cry in Amanda's head instantly turns into, "No! Don't _kill_ me, let me go!"

Amanda stumbles back as Thian and the others fly down pointing their wands at the troll, wondering what Amanda is doing standing beside the chained creature.

"Don't _hurt_ him!" Amanda shouts seeing Tianna raise her wand as the troll moves into a defensive posture. "I can understand him and I'm trying to _help_ him and his friend here. Please don't _hurt_ him!"

Tianna lowers her wand as do the others.

"Tianna, Tia, keep an eye on this thing. Sadie, come with me and let's keep watch at the entrance."

Thian and Sadie veer off, quickly flying for the entrance, Tianna's eyes never leave those of the troll.

Tia, Tianna and the troll turn as one as they hear Amanda growling and grunting.

"It's okay, I'm _not_ going to hurt you, I want to _help_ you get loose," Amanda says feeling the creature go ridged.

"You _understand_ me? How? _You_ are not Tursorious as I. What kind of _creature_ are you? Why are you helping me?"

"Uh, let's just get you _free_ so we can all get out of here okay. Now, stay still, I'm going to blast those bindings around your ankles. This may _hurt_ a little though. Here goes."

Amanda, pointing her wand at the front left metal binding around its leg yells, "Frango!" There is a flash of orange from her wand, startling the creature and the troll. There are a good many sparks as the binding shatters and falls away."

"Did that _hurt_ you?" Amanda asks with concern. The others only hearing her grunting and growling, the creature doing the same.

"No, but, how...?"

" _Later_ ," Amanda says rushing to the other front leg. "Frango!" The binding shatters. She does the back two bindings also, freeing the creature.

The troll beginning to move into the cage, looks up at a hovering Tianna, who is once again pointing her wand at him. Having seen what the glowing stick can do, he looks desperately at her, then to the creature in the cage, then back at her. Tianna can somehow sense his fear of her, but a need to get to his friend. Tianna lowers her wand and nods toward the creature.

Slowly at first, the troll moves just inside the doorway, keeping an eye on Tianna and Tia, who has also lowered her wand.

As the troll moves further into the cage, the creature standing next to Amanda moves toward him, where the troll hugs the huge horned face of the creature, the creature nuzzling back.

The troll and creature are making strange grunts and chuffing sounds as Amanda steps up to them, Tia and Tianna walking up to them also.

"What's her name?" Amanda asks looking with awe at the two fierce looking creatures clearly happy to be together again.

"Her name is _Nara_. She's a..."

"Tursorious, yes, that's what she said."

"Amanda, are you _talking_ to this troll thing? And were you talking to that _creature_ too?" Thian asks with eyes wide, he and Sadie having arrived moments ago.

"Yes, _assume_ the position and I'll introduce you."

Hesitantly they all hold hands and Thian places his hand on Amanda's shoulder.

"First of all, this is _Nara_ ," Amanda says as the others feel a slight shock rush through them, then the familiar buzzing. "Nara, these are my _friends_ , Thian, Tianna, Sadie and Tia."

The troll has moved back slightly, watching the odd creatures holding hands with the one who had freed them resting their hand against Nara. The troll watches as the creatures and Nara seem to stiffen, then all the creatures are grunting and growling just as Nara does. A look of confusion spreads over his face.

Turning to look at the troll, Amanda takes a few steps toward hem asking, "What's your name?"

"Teaskis. Are, are you _talking_ to Nara? In _her_ language?"

"Yes. Listen, I want you to do something okay. It won't hurt, well, I _think_ anyway. I want you to place your hand on Nara. It's okay, really, but we have to _hurry_."

With a look of fear, Teaskis lumbers up to Nara, looks her in the face, then places his hand against her cheek.

Everyone placing their hands on Amanda again, knowing what is coming, Amanda speaks first in Nara's language, saying, "Nara, this is _Teaskis_."

Teaskis hears a buzzing in his head. He knows Amanda is grunting, but he can understand her in his language.

"I know, we have been together for many ages," Nara says causing Teaskis to cry out and stumble back. Nara turns her head toward him with worry in her eyes.

"Please, place your hand back on Nara, Teaskis," Amanda says in Nara's language, smiling looking to Teaskis stunned expression.

Teaskis steps forward, placing his hand back on Nara. Amanda says, "Teaskis, say _hello_ to Nara. Nara say hello to _Teaskis_."

Teaskis again stumbles back, as he and Nara look into one another's eyes with fear and confusion, as the kids all drop hands smiling at them.

"Nara? You, you understand me?"

Nara stiffens, then in a warm tone, for her kind anyway, says, "Yes. Yes, I _can_ understand you. How do you know my language? How, how do _I_ know yours?"

Teaskis steps up to Nara fiercely hugging her face. "I don't know, but..."

"Not _now_ , there's no time!" Thian shuts hearing the distant thundering like rumbling he knows has to be at least one giant, but sounds like several. "We need to leave, now!"

"But where to?" Sadie asks looking up into the large dark brown eyes of Nara who stands nine feet tall.

"Follow us!" Teaskis shouts as Nara kneels letting him climb up and onto her back. "I saw you fly on those sticks. Can you follow us? Do you think you can keep up?"

"Uh, yeah, I _think_ we can manage that," Tianna says with a laugh. "Okay guys, mount up and _let's_ go."

The kids grab their brooms, mount and soar up and over the now empty cages scattered and tumbled about, headed for the mouth of the cavern, Teaskis and Nara watching wide-eyed.

The thundering is almost upon them when Teaskis yells, "To the _tree_ Nara! To the tree!"

Nara charges for the entrance, Teaskis riding easily on her back.

Thirty feet from reaching the entrance, a huge form steps in front of the opening and begins to enter.

Thian who is in the lead, flies through the entrance just over the giant's bending shoulder as it enters. Sadie just clears his shoulder to the right behind Thian.

Tianna and Tia break hard to the sides as the giant steps fully inside, completely confused, looking around at all the empty overturned cages, then spots Amanda hovering a few yards in front of him.

"Tostonia! The giant slowly begins going ridged as Nara charges between the giant's legs, whipping around the corner to the left.

The giant screams in agonizing pain as it quickly begins turning to grey stone from the feet up.

Amanda screams as a huge hand sails toward her, fingers closing into a fist around her, to be crushed like a bug. As the fist begins snapping closed around her, thousands of dark lines, like spider veins spread over the hand, freezing the fingers in place, the hand turns to stone as she flies up through the hole made between its thumb and forefinger. With a quick glance back, she sees the giant's face, a terrified expression, eyes wide with alarm, now forever set in stone. Trying to swallow, but finding she cannot, she darts to the left around the entrance and is gone.

Amanda hears thundering behind her and looks back over her shoulder. Half a dozen more giants, some taller and thicker than the one she just turned to stone, are charging along the path. The huge gates of the giants cause them to catch up quickly. Looking forward, Amanda sees her friends. She knows they can out fly the giants easily, or simply fly up and over the trees, causing the giants to either end their pursuit, or have to crush a path through the trees. The problem is, _Nara_ with her very short legs, and being rather heavy, is no match for the giants.

Amanda, chewing her lip as she passes Nara, watches Teaskis look up at her with eyes knowing they can never outrun the giants. Even if they dashed in among the trees, Nara would be slowed even further, and the giants would get them anyway.

Approaching Thian and the others, Amanda swerves to a stop fifty-feet from them, turns, and faces the giants. The huge creatures will catch Nara and Teaskis in another dozen or so strides. Amanda cranks the throttle and with her wand glowing out in front of her, shoots off like a rocket, exploding forward, yelling as one of the smaller, faster giants reaches down for Teaskis and Nara, still in a full sprint.

"Abscondo!" a dazzling opalescent beam erupts from Amanda's wand, striking Nara square in the face. In the split second the beam strikes Nara, she began to shimmer, and disappear. Amanda has just a glance at the surprise on Teaskis face, before he too vanishes.

The giant slowed just enough as the bolt struck Nara, for his grasping fingertips to just miss grasping Nara's backside. The giant skids to a stop, quickly looking around, searching for his pray. The largest giant shoves the smaller giant away, sending him sprawling into the trees, focused on the clouds of dust being kicked up as Nara continues running for their lives along the dirt pathway.

Seeing the huge giant continue along the path, Amanda realizes it isn't Nara or Teaskis he sees, but the _dust_. Once again she accelerates for the giant. Immediately she is passed by Tianna, Thian, Sadie and Tia, Thian yelling, "You take the _big_ guy Amanda, we've got the others!"

Amanda had been so focused on the giants, she had not seen that her friends were speeding toward her.

Tianna and the others fan out around the largest giant, who does not even pause to watch them, now focused on the flying thing on a stick in front of him.

Amanda shouts, "Alligo!" a bolt strikes the giant in his left leg. Snapping her wand to the right, the bolt continuing from the giant's leg, wraps around a massive boulder just off the pathway.

A large iron band appears around the ankle of the giant, along with a huge thick chain materializing along the length of Amanda's bolt, continuing all the way round the boulder, ending in a large heavy lock.

The giant trips, falling heavily onto its face with a cry of surprise.

Snapping her head up, Amanda sees Thian and the others firing various spells at the giants, most with little effect. Unexpectedly, there is a huge flash from Thian's wand, striking one of the larger giants reaching up to take a swipe at him. Instantly, a large box which looks to be made of glass appears around the giant. Surprise and fright are clearly etched on the giant's face. The giant pounds on the clear substance, but it does not break, fracture nor have any effect whatsoever.

In a moment, Amanda hears Tianna shout, "Arceo!" and her giant is enclosed in a similar glass looking box. Sadie, Tia, Tianna and Thian are all yelling "Arceo!" first at one, then another of the giants.

In a few more seconds, Amanda who is still hovering with a huge grin on her face, watches as her friends fly back toward her, also grinning, Sadie giggling as she points to the huge giant Amanda had bound to the boulder, yanking and biting the chain, trying to free itself.

As the kids swerve to a stop beside Amanda, still giggling, Sadie points her wand at the huge giant, yelling, "Arceo grandesco!" A huge glass-like box encloses the frightened, angry and very surprised giant.

"Well, _that_ ought to hold 'em for a while anyway," Thian says with a laugh.

"Nice _job_ you guys!" Amanda says watching all the encased giants pounding against their enclosures. "What made you use Arceo?"

"I remembered you _taught_ us that one," Tianna smiles watching the giants. "You said it meant, to enclose, or _box_ in. We never tried it though, not knowing what it would do or if it worked. But, you said to never _kill_ anything unless we had no choice. So, after trying some of the _simpler_ stuff, which didn't work at _all_ , I just tried arceo, and... that _clear_ box popped up and the giant couldn't get out. I then heard the others yelling the same spell."

" _Excellent_ work you guys!"

"But Amanda, what happened to Nara and Teaskis? They, just _sparkled_ then vanished?" Tia asks with confusion.

"We're right _below_ you," comes Teaskis shaky voice, startling everyone.

"What? _Where_?" Thian cries looking around below him.

"Right _here_. We can see _you_ , but, we _can't_ see ourselves. Are, are we _dead_? Are we _wraiths_ now?"

Amanda laughs, pointing her wand below her. With a large circular motion, she says, "Detego!" A fanning bolt from her wand waves across the pathway below. Everyone's jaw drops as there is a shimmering as Nara and Teaskis reappear.

"Totally _cool_ Amanda!" Thian says in awe. "You didn't teach us _that_ one, or the spell you used to make 'em _disappear_."

Amanda watches as Nara and Teaskis look at one another for a moment, then up to her with surprise and what is clearly fear.

Lowering to the pathway, the others doing the same, Amanda dismounts facing Nara and Teaskis. "You two okay?"

"Yes, but..." looking at the trapped and frantic giants, Teaskis says, "How? How did you _do_ that? How do you _fly_? What creatures are you and _why_ did you help us?"

"You saved me, _us_ ," Nara says stepping up next to Amanda looking down on her. "I don't know what creatures you are, but... _thank_ you for saving us."

"Yeah, well, those giant things will figure out that all they have to do is dig their way under the box and get out." Amanda says watching the giant struggle. "That or in about five hours, the spell will wear off. The shackle on the huge one will vanish in about an hour too. Then, it can dig its way out like the others."

"Why did you not _kill_ them?" Nara asks looking to the giant gnawing on the chain. "They would have killed _all_ of you, and us too. They are _very_ bad creatures and capture and _torture_ many, before selling them to traders who often visit this realm."

"We don't want to kill _anything_ or anyone, unless we absolutely have to," Sadie says trying to reassure them they are not here to capture and sell them.

"It is very late," Teaskis says looking into the trees, the roots and branches beginning to move. "The trees are _awakening_ , they capture and _devour_ many creatures of the night, or save them for days before killing and _eating_ them, and many other predators will be out hunting soon, we _must_ get to the tree where we will be safe. Come, _quickly_ , follow us."

Nara turns and charges along the pathway, the kids all mounting their broom and flying along closely behind.

Soon, Nara turns and heads along a much smaller pathway through the trees. The kids have to duck and weave, so they do not get struck from low hanging limbs and groping branches.

Thian, who is now in the lead following Nara, is suddenly snatched from his broom as a thick branch he was passing quickly reaches out, wrapping around him. The others swerve to a hover, Nara and Teaskis stopping at hearing Thian's scream.

The gnarled and twisted trunk of the tree begins unwinding, a large gap appearing between the twists. Thian is violently tossed into the tall, dark opening, his wand hand slamming against the side of the tree, causing him to drop his wand, before disappearing into the darkness. The tree quickly twists closed, while other branches wave, groping for other prey.

#  Tunnels and the Labyrinth

Tianna screams as a branch from another tree on the other side of the path wraps around her arm, yanking her from her broom and swinging her toward the gaping darkness within the untwisting trunk of the tree, as though bound in the tentacle of an octopus.

Quick as a Krispet, Tia yells, "Frango!" firing the same fragmenting spell Amanda had used to shatter Blaine once he had turned to stone. Amanda had taught them that the spell means, 'break or shatter.' Tia focuses on the branch, using the meaning, 'break,' watching as the branch snaps, falling to the ground still wrapped around Tianna's arm, Tianna struggling for a moment before freeing herself.

"We _must_ get to the tree or we will all be killed!" Teaskis shouts, extreme fear and urgency in his trembling voice.

"No! _Not_ without Thian!" Tianna shouts ducking after grabbing Thian's dropped broom and mounting hers, another branch swinging and grasping for anything in its reach, just over her head.

"Your friend may be alright for several _days_ ," Teaskis cries, "there is _no_ way to know. He may be held beneath the tree in the _tunnels_ below, but _we_ may not be so lucky. Please, the trees are awakening, they are _very_ slow now, but will be quick as lightening soon. Please, your _death_ will not help your friend. If you want to help, we _must_ get to the safety of the tree!"

"No! _Not_ withou..." Tianna begins yelling, then snaps her head around hearing Tia scream as she is knocked from her boom.

Tianna, seeing her sister lying on her back about to be grabbed by a thick slithering root, fires the Frango spell, instantly snapping the root in half. The tree begins thrashing violently, other branches and roots quickly heading for a scuttling Tia. Grasping her broom, Tia remounts, shouting, "Tianna! We _have_ to go or be killed! He's right, we _can't_ help Thian if we're dead! We'll get to safety _then_ think of how to save him."

Nara staggers and cries out as a branch slams against her side, turns and bolts along the little pathway.

" _Now_ Tianna!" Amanda shouts, "And don't ask why the _necklace_ isn't helping. It just..." She ducks, a branch whipping over her head. "It just _isn't_ okay. Now move!"

Amanda turns her broom and flies after Nara, Tia right behind her, rising over a large limb which would have knocked her to the ground.

"Tianna, _please_ , I'm scared," Sadie says, tears streaming down her little face.

A wildly swinging branch just misses Sadie's head from behind as Sadie had leaned in pleading with Tianna. Tianna's eyes, flying wide watching the thick end almost strike Sadie, yells, "Sadie, let's go!" the two of them quickly fly to catch up with the others.

Tears blur Tianna's vision as she bites down hard on her lip, drawing blood, thinking of how terrified Thian looked as he was tossed into the gaping darkness, and wondering what horrors await him.

Soon they reach a huge tree, much larger than most. As Nara skids to a halt in front of the twisted trunk, Teaskis slides quickly from her back. Stepping to the trunk, he strokes a large twisted section.

Amanda watches as the tree quivers, beginning to untwist, revealing a large oval opening, dark as night without a moon.

"Come, we _must_ hurry, the other trees will not only be awake but walking soon, and will not return to their original positions until morning. We must _not_ be out at night." He turns, dashing inside, followed by Nara.

Hesitating for just a moment, considering, Amanda flies in behind them, Tia, Sadie and Tianna following. As Tianna enters, Teaskis strokes an inside twist and the tree begins closing.

The kids still have their wands lit, and watch as Teaskis picks up a couple of large stones and strikes them together, causing them to glow. Striking several more times, the stones glowing brighter, he walks to what appears to be a tall staff, with a large natural crystal mounted at its tip. Holding one of the glowing stones next to the crystal, the crystal begins glowing a very bright blue. So bright, the kids need to extinguish their wands.

"Must be how they get _glow_ crystals to work here without a wand. Interesting," Tia says fascinated.

"We are safe, for now," Teaskis says nodding at Nara, who nods back. "Please, follow me to our home. You are welcome to stay as long as you like, and plan how to save your friend, if he _can_ be saved. Nara and I will do whatever we can to help. Come." Turning, he walks down a rather steep embankment within the tree. Nara walks closely behind on the narrow path, followed by Amanda and the others all on foot.

They pass several huge roots poking down into the tunnel, Nara needs to duck around many, but soon reach a place where the tunnel levels out. In another minute, they enter a large circular space filled with what Amanda thinks looks something like straw or hay on one side of the space, along with a small stream, with a simple, but _huge_ table and a crudely hewn chair on the other, along with many logs, a very long bench, and a few clubs scattered about.

As Amanda looks around, she sees three other tunnels leading from the room. The room smells horrible, like rotting and decaying flesh. There is a large pile of bones, many which still have some strips of flesh on them, off to the right.

Teaskis walks to a medium-sized glow crystal next to the table and lifts his staff. The large crystal, immediately glows brightly.

Turning to look at Amanda and the others, seeing their wrinkled and disgusted expressions, Teaskis says, "It may not be _much_ , but it's home. I'm afraid I only have the one chair, and, well you are all much too _small_ for one anyway. All four of you could fit in one easily. Perhaps you can sit on the little bench."

Amanda glances at the 'little bench' which is twenty feet long, stands seven feet high, and is nine feet deep. "Yeah, I think we can all fit on _that_ , but for now, we'll sit on the ground if you don't mind," she says with a nervous smile. "You said our friend, _Thian_ , may still be alive, and maybe will be for a couple days?"

"Yes, that is correct," Teaskis says nodding while Nara eats some of the grass on the other side of the room. "The trees are _flesh_ eaters. They capture unwary animals which must come out at night to hunt, to survive themselves. It is far too dangerous during the day for most any creature. All hide during the days, forcing them to forage for food at night. Many of the trees will _crush_ their prey inside their trunks as they twist shut, the juices from their victims absorbed, sustaining them until the next feed."

Everyone shivers, thinking of Thian being _juiced_.

"However," Teaskis continues, "many of the tree creatures will capture, then toss their prey into the tunnels below, many trees sharing their catch with others. That is how they survive."

"So, do you really think Thian's... _alive_?" Tianna asks, tears in her eyes.

"Yes. Since Nara and I cut this smaller pathway from the large one many years ago, finding this tree by luck, many, _many_ creatures travel along its path, which is much safer and faster to travel at night, than maneuvering around trees constantly trying to snatch and eat you. I know that for the past few days, the trees here, _along_ the path, have captured _many_ creatures, far too many to have ingested them all, so, _yes_ , I think your friend, Thian, is being held in the tunnels... until, they need to be _fed_."

There are gasps from all, everyone with worried expressions.

"How do we get him _back_?" Tianna asks desperately.

Teaskis turns and looks at Nara, who has stopped eating and is slowly walking toward them.

"You... must go _into_ the tunnels yourselves to find him," Nara says still wondering how everyone can understand one another. "It may not be easy to find him though. He may try making his way through the tunnels, to _find_ a way out. This could be a very _bad_ thing to do. There are many, many intertwining tunnels, leading in many directions. So many, you may _never_ find him until..."

"Some tree _squishes_ and sucks his... _juices_ out," Tianna says trembling.

"He may be alive, yes," Nara says standing beside Teaskis, "but perhaps not, nor for long. He will not be the _only_ creature the trees have captured and tossed into the tunnels. There are many _fearsome_ and evil creatures here. Each needing to survive... anyway they can."

"We have _got_ to get into the tunnels now!" Tianna shouts. "There's no _time_ for a plan! The plan is to _save_ Thian before he gets..." Her voice trails off.

"Teaskis, Nara, can you show us how to get into the tunnels?" Amanda asks, watching Sadie cling to Tianna with wide frightened eyes.

After looking at one another for a moment, Teaskis nods, Nara nodding back.

"The tunnels are a fairly good size, so, you may be able to fly on your sticks. And, with your little sticks, seeing what you have done already, may be able to defend your friend, but, _yes_ , there is very little time perhaps. Nara, you are too big and heavy for the tunnels we need to enter. Should we not return this night, wait until it is safe, and look for us at the tower."

Nara nuzzles Teaskis, saying, "I will. Be safe. Go. I will be alright. Go!"

Teaskis picks up one of the clubs, then his staff. He puts the two glow stones in a filthy sack, and ties it around his waist. Touching his staff to the glow crystal in the cave, his staff once again glows brightly.

"This way," he says, heading for another large tunnel. "Stay close, and watch for creatures _rising_ from the floor, the walls and... dropping _down_ from the ceiling."

Forcing a dry swallow, Amanda adjusts her pack, nods to Nara who nods back, and jogs off after Teaskis. Tianna has to pry Sadie from her legs, then she, Sadie and Tia nod to Nara, Sadie saying, "Be _safe_ Nara, I hope we see you again soon." Then, they disappear into the tunnel.

Standing looking at the tunnel, the light within dimming as they get further away, Nara says in a whisper, "Yes, be safe too my friends. And Teaskis, be safe and come back to me. We have much now to discuss."

Reaching a huge boulder at the end of the tunnel Amanda and the others are traveling in, Teaskis turns to Tianna. "I do not travel here often, only when I cannot find food for Nara and I elsewhere. I will not need my staff in the tunnels, nor you your glowing stick, but, I keep my staff ready anyway. Many of the creatures, being night prowlers, do _not_ like bright light. It will take me a few moments to move this stone to the side."

Before Teaskis reaches the stone, Tianna points her wand, snapping her wrist saying, "Abiugo!" The huge stone slides toward them as Teaskis jumps to the side quite startled.

Amanda smiles, knowing the spell Abiugo means 'remove or separate from.' In this instance, she knew Tianna was using the spell with the meaning of, 'remove' and was thinking about the huge boulder being removed from blocking the entrance.

The kids have their wands pointed at the opening as the boulder slides to the side where Tianna is directing her wand, then breaks the spell.

Amanda can see the tunnel beyond is glowing a very soft blue, and sees many strange types of glow worms on the tunnel wall.

"Keep alert! And let's find Thian," Amanda says whispering. "Teaskis, which way do we go? Where do we start?"

"I have traveled these tunnels many years, I know the side tunnel where your friend was tossed. Come."

Teaskis looks into the tunnel, then quickly to both sides. Stepping in, he motions for them to follow, raising his club to the ready. Once in the new tunnel, Tianna uses her wand to direct the huge boulder back into place, once again blocking the way to Teaskis's and Nara's home.

There are cries, howls, yelps and screeches coming from both directions. Taking a step to the right, a large rock the size of a double bed drops from the ceiling. Teaskis freezes, staring at the rock, his club now held ready at the side.

"What? It's just a _rock_ ," Sadie says peeking out from around Tianna. "Why are we..."

Amanda's eyes fly wide as the rock changes color, shape and quickly grows many long purple spines all over it, standing on what looks like dozens of blue tube like things for feet, growing to seven feet in height. The spines, now waving around, remind Amanda of the spines she had seen on sea urchins.

"What _is_ that thing?" Tia shouts pointing her wand at it, along with the others. Another thud sounds behind them. All but Teaskis turn to see what the noise is. As they turn, they see two more large rocks beginning to transform into the urchin-like creatures.

"I was _hoping_ not to run into any of these," Teaskis says waving his club in short circles ready to attack.

"What _are_ they?" Tia yells, watching the two new creatures rise toward the ceiling.

"Custaros!" Teaskis shouts. " _Very_ dangerous, the spines are filled with poison. They _stun_ their prey, then eat it. They have a _huge_ beak which comes from below them. They will _tear_ you apart while you are _still_ alive."

"Not if _we_ can help it they won't..." Tianna begins to say.

The creature in front of Teaskis moves forward on the strange almost translucent blue tube legs, waiving the purple tentacles wildly.

As Teaskis swings his club at the creature, Amanda fires a killing curse yelling, Interficio!"while making many movements of her wand. A bright yellow bolt strikes the creature, tentacles having just knocked the club from Teaskis, sending him sprawling to the tunnel floor with a thunderous sound.

The creature goes ridged, then begins shaking violently. It begins to foam and froth a whitish-yellow looking pus. It makes a hideous screech and drops to the floor, dissolving into nothing but a quivering blob.

Tianna and the others all fire the Interficio curse at the two other creatures, which foam and soon dissolve.

Teaskis, getting to his feet, eyes wide with fright and confusion, yells, " _Come_ , there may be more of them, they tend to cluster together, we must go now!"

"You don't have to tell _me_ twice!" Tianna says picking up her broom, and pulling Sadie along behind her.

Rushing along the tunnel, they soon come to three tunnels branching to the right, two to the left. Before Amanda can ask which one, Teaskis charges down the second tunnel on the right.

With a quick glance at the others, all frightened out of their minds, Amanda turns and sprints off after Teaskis.

The sound of many running feet make them all slide to a stop. A large thick, red centipede looking thing with over a dozen eyes comes thundering out of a side tunnel to their left. The moment Teaskis sees the creature, he charges forward swinging his club at its lowered head.

Thud, thud, thud, _crack_! The creature drops dead to the tunnel's floor as Amanda and the others shake where they stand.

"Come, hurry, the _tree_ where your friend was tossed is just around this corner."

Moving nervously around the thirty foot centipede, they jog on behind Teaskis.

Before turning into the tunnel Teaskis points at, a six foot tall fur ball rolls into the tunnel, stops for a moment, then begins flinging itself off the sides of the tunnel so quickly, Amanda's having a hard time following it.

Teaskis is swinging his club wildly, but missing every time.

"Incendo!" A bolt flashes past the cheek of Amanda's stunned face, striking the quickly flying fur ball, which bursts into flame, with a bone shaking scream as it is sent whirling into another tunnel.

Amanda spins and sees Sadie's wide eyes, knees shaking, tears streaming down her face, wand still pointed in the direction she had flung the flaming creature.

Sadie is so stiff, Tianna at first has to pick her up and run with her.

Soon, Teaskis stops and looks around.

"What? What _is_ it Teaskis?" Tia asks.

"This is where your friend would have been tossed... if... if he were not _squeezed_ to death by the twisting of the tree creature."

Terrified, they frantically look around.

Tianna drops to the cavern floor, igniting her wand, holding it close to the dirt. Crawling on hands and knees, she studies the ground, then cries, "Here! I _found_ them. Thian's footprints, look!"

They all gather around Tianna, where she is pointing to what are clearly footprints made by a boot Thian's size, and not long ago.

"He's _alive_ , or was. Look... they go off that way," Amanda says with hope. "Come on, let's go!"

They follow the footprints for several minutes, into and out of several tunnels when a blue glowing creature whips around a tunnel several yards in front of them, startling everyone, including... _Thian_.

Thian, seeing the large troll charging him as it swings its club about to flatten him, screams.

"Wait! That's _Thian_!" Tianna shouts. "Teaskis, _no_ , that's our friend!"

Teaskis had just swung his club at Thian when he heard Tianna shout. Moving his club quickly to the side just as it is about to strike Thian on the side of his head, the huge club slams into the side of the tunnel, leaving a huge dent in the wall.

"Thian!" Tianna yells rushing forward to hug him, but stopping just in front of him. He smells awful, and is glowing. Tianna takes several steps back holding her nose, scrunching up her face and watching the glow of Thian seem to twinkle and constantly move around.

"Boy, am I glad to see _you_ guys!" Thian says stepping forward to hug Tianna before she can step away. When Tianna pushes him away, the _front_ of her becomes a glowing, blue, smelly mess.

Amanda, Tia and Sadie all step up, then take several steps back due to the overpowering stench.

"Oh, it's _you_ , Teaskis," Thian says nervously looking first at Teaskis then to the large dent in the tunnel wall. "How did you find me?"

"Teaskis brought us here. Uh, can we _catch_ up later?" Tia says looking around, hearing what sounds like running and wailing behind them.

"Yeah, but _which_ way?" Thian asks as Tianna hands him his wand. "Thanks, where's my _broom_?"

"We didn't have time to bring it with us, it's back with Nara, in their home.

"Their... _home_? Here? In the _trees_?"

"Yes, and we do mean... in and _under_ a tree," Tia says quickly. "Look, something's coming, we need to leave!"

"This way, _quickly_ ," Teaskis says sprinting into another tunnel.

After a few more encounters with minor creatures, they arrive at the same huge boulder leading back up to Teaskis and Nara's home. Tianna moves the boulder and they all dash in. Tianna slides the boulder back in place, just as several creatures are about to attack them.

Everyone breathing heavily, look to one another, and smile uneasily.

In a few minutes, they enter the home where Nara walks to greet them as she eyes the glowing Thian carefully.

"You have returned. And with your _friend_. Why does he _smell_ and look like that?" Nara asks scrunching her face.

"Yeah, why _do_ you smell like that, and why are you, uh, glowing?" Tianna asks stepping further away from him.

"Oh, _yeah_ , about that. Well, I was being chased by some kind of big black _centipede_ looking thing. I ran around a corner into a huge pile of... well, when I got out of it, it looked like a huge pile of glowing poop!

"Ewe!" Sadie says, then giggles.

"The pile was _completely_ covered in, like, baby glow worm-like things. I think they were _eating_ the poop!"

Tia puts a hand to her mouth, ready to throw up.

"The centipede came around the corner and stopped. I was _scared_ to death, and moved away from it... and, _it_ was backing up from me! I threw a handful of the glowing poop at it, and it turned and went screeching down the tunnel. I met several other creatures, but they took one look at me, or _smell_ maybe, and... _went_ away."

"Are you _kidding_?" Tianna says shaking her head. We had to fight _several_ of them, and you're telling us, all we needed to do was cover ourselves in glowing _poop_ , and they would have _stayed_ away?"

"Yeah, I _guess_ so. It's the only reason I can think of why they didn't _kill_ and eat me."

"Teaskis, perhaps you can all do that when you take them to the tower. Perhaps it will get you there safely."

"Yes, we'll try it in the morning. For now, we rest the night. We must all be rested for the journey to the tower."

Everyone is so tired, they don't even bother asking about just what the tower is, and why they need to get there. They don't even eat anything. Just use their Instant Outhouses, which frightens Teaskis and Nara as they pop into sight, then everyone says good night. Each of the kids takes a quick bath, other than Thian which needs to take three, then sleeps in the tub.

As soon as Amanda's head rests against the stack of fluffy towels she is using as a pillow, she is fast asleep.

The next morning, Amanda hears sounds outside, and after getting dressed and using the facility, steps out into the _horrible_ smell of Teaskis and Nara's home. The others are packing up their outhouses with crinkled up noses, and Amanda does the same.

"We have some _freshly_ killed Urgotious, Rurok, Milak and Ouster for _breakfast_ if you like," Teaskis says taking a big bite out of what appears to be the thigh from some creature. Amanda barely keeps from throwing up, as she sees it has not been cooked, with blood dripping all over the table, down the front of Teaskis, and a large puddle soaking into the dirt floor.

Everyone politely refuses, saying it is their custom not to eat till much later in the day. Thian makes the mistake of standing a little too close to Teaskis, looking down at a three foot tall, very strangely shaped skull, trying to figure out what kind of creature could have something like that, when he hears a pop and is sprayed, then drips with some horrid smelling fluid.

Holding his arms slightly away from his sides, he turns looking up at Teaskis, wiping his dripping face on his arm.

Teaskis glances down to see Thian covered in the viscous fluid saying, " _Sorry_ about that. Never know what you'll get when you crunch down on a Urgotious _intestine_ now do you? Ya know ya got a _good_ one when they burst like that in your mouth though."

Too much for Tia to take, she throws up, immediately followed by Thian and Sadie. Tianna and Amanda manage to hold their rising bile back, but just.

"You three alright?" Nara asks chewing on what appears to be dried grass. "Are you _supposed_ to do that?"

Amanda forces a swallow, then says, "Oh, _yeah_ , well at times anyway. Uh, we're just excited about getting away from all these trees and giants and things trying to kill and eat us."

Thian has once again set up his outhouse, as has Tia and Sadie, to clean themselves up.

Soon, all the kids are standing together as Teaskis rises from his chair saying, "Well, I guess I had better wash up some before we head for the tower. Be back in a sec." He then lumbers across the room to the stream near Nara, steps in, walks to the middle which comes to his waist, lies down and rolls over a few times, then gets up.

"Ahhh, _very_ refreshing. Don't want to go around smelling like your _breakfast_ now do you? Well, if you're ready, we can head for the tower."

"Teaskis, just what _is_ this tower you talk about," Thian asks watching Teaskis pick his teeth, finding a rather good sized piece of meat stuck on his left tusk.

"Don' know really. _Strange_ lookin' thing. Made of rocks mostly."

"But why are we _going_ there?" Tianna asks as Nara walks over.

"Only place we know of with no trees close. Not many creatures go there. Next to the tower, is some kind of _strange_ looking... thing."

"What _kind_ of thing?" Tia asks looking nervous.

"Kind of made of round looking things, with some of them sticking up at angles."

"Sounds something like a _homing_ labyrinth doesn't it?" Sadie says thoughtfully.

"Yeah, it does," Thian says nodding. "So, where _is_ this tower thing? How far?"

"Some three hours south, by my walking," Nara says looking into Amanda's eyes, making her shiver.

"Right, we ought to get started," Teaskis says grabbing a club. Nara will come with us this time, since we're taking a different tunnel, that one over there. Took us ages to dig it and all, but it leads right to the tower. We like to look at all the glowing things in the sky at night."

"You mean the _moon_ and stars?" Sadie asks.

"I don't know what a moon is, or _stars_ either," Nara says looking to Teaskis who shrugs.

"Teaskis, have you heard anything about something ancient being kept there, some kind of _Shard?_ " Amanda asks hopefully.

"What's a Shard?" Nara asks.

"Oh, it's like uh, well, kind of like... a flat _broken_ rock I guess," Amanda sputters.

"Got _hundreds_ of them around," Teaskis says confused.

"It may be kind of a greenish color, very flat, and has _strange_ squiggly lines on it," Tianna says stepping up to Sadie.

Nara and Teaskis look at each other for a very long moment, then Teaskis says, "Why are _you_ looking for the Obiska?"

"The _what_?" Thian asks looking at the others.

"What you describe is something very ancient, and only _evil_ surrounds it. We have heard there are many such stones, but hidden on other realms. Sometimes, Nara and I will walk the tunnels under the caves of the giants, and hear stories from traders about the Obiska which had been hidden there. They offer a great reward to any creature who finds it, and will give it to them. Many of the creatures that are brought here, have been told to search everywhere, and should they find the Obiska, they will be freed. Many have looked, but the Obiska has never been found. We heard that it is most likely the _evil_ one came and moved it, hiding it somewhere else, but none are certain. Many say it is hidden below the towers somewhere, but all who have entered there, have never been seen again."

A shiver shakes Amanda who turns and looks at the others, all eyes wide and mouths half agape, knowing this sounds just like all the other places a Shard had been hidden, and now know they must enter beneath the tower in search of it.

"Why are you looking for it?"

"Oh, well, I'm not sure the _Obiska_ is what we _are_ looking for actually," Amanda lies. "It's just some pretty, oddly shaped _stone_ is all. Nothing special. The Obiska sounds _interesting_ though."

Nara and Teaskis look suspiciously at Amanda, making her turn a little red.

"Well, shouldn't we be getting started?" Tia says cheerfully, changing the subject.

"Yes, we should," Nara says looking at Teaskis, who nods and heads for the tunnel.

"Follow us. I'm gonna ride Nara, and all of you can, ride those _sticks_ you have."

They all enter the tunnel, Teaskis mounted on Nara, holding a club in one hand, his glowing staff in the other. The kids all nervously flying along behind them in the huge tunnel.

After three hours of nonstop flying, the tunnel gets smaller and smaller, to the point that Teaskis has to dismount Nara, and the kids walk the last five hundred feet where they reach the end of the tunnel. Once again the opening is blocked by a huge boulder.

"Allow me," Tianna says with a smile, pointing her wand at the boulder.

"Oh, okay, Nara, ya gotta _see_ this," Teaskis says with what Amanda thinks must be a grin.

Nara and Teaskis step back as Tianna moves forward.

"Abiugo!" the boulder begins sliding back into the tunnel, startling Nara who cries out. The eyes on Teaskis grow large, once again seeing the massive stone slide without touching it.

Peering past the boulder, they see it is very dark out with flashes of lightning illuminating the landscape, as heavy rain washes into the tunnel.

Nara and Teaskis stare at one another for a brief moment, then Teaskis says, "The skies are _angry_ this day. A good thing for us though, for the _giants_ do not go out on such days. The creatures in the dark sky that make water and light, do _not_ like giants. We have seen many struck with bright zig-zagging light. Like that from your _sticks_ , only much larger."

"Makes sense," Thian says, "a lot of the giants are taller than the trees, so, would be a perfect target for lightning."

Teaskis steps to the opening and cautiously sticks his head out for a quick look around. "Looks okay. I'll go first. Stay put till I wave for you." He steps from the tunnel, looking around nervously.

Nara, standing at the entrance, blocks everyone's view of the storm outside. The wind is whipping fiercely, howling through the trees and the ancient tower. In a few moments, Nara nods, turns and looks at Sadie who is standing next to her saying, "Come."

Stepping into the downpour, Amanda immediately sees in the distance to the left, a steep hill with at least a three hundred foot high dark stone tower at the top, mostly in ruins. The tower has many wonderful turrets. From her vantage point, it looks like the tower has several huge rooms around the base, except for what may be an open area. It's just too far away to tell.

Bright lightning illuminates the tower, making shadows flicker on the surrounding stone walls.

"This place is _really_ creepy. I don't like the looks of this any," Tia says looking at the surrounding trees a good distance away, none of which are moving thankfully.

"Yeah, it is, and _I_ don't like the looks of the place either sis."

With Nara leading the way, they approach Teaskis who turns and leads them up the hill on what looks to Amanda to be an old overgrown and rutted dirt road.

Near the top it flattens out some and Amanda is stunned to see how massive the place is. There are giant stone structures around the base of the tower. The structures on both the left and right reach at least a hundred feet in height, and are extremely broad.

Reaching the top of the hill, Teaskis and Nara walk into a large covered section held up with many carved stone pillars, several leaning at odd angles. To Amanda, it looks like a huge courtyard of some kind.

"Nara and I will go no further." Looking into Nara's huge brown eyes he says, "We are afraid. As I have said, _many_ have entered here, but none have ever returned."

"What will you do now?" Sadie asks worried.

With a sigh, the huge troll says, "Go _back_ into hiding. It is all we can do. We got captured, and you freed us. But, next time..."

"Teaskis?" Amanda asks stepping up to him, craning her neck to look into his eyes. "Where are you and Nara from?"

"From? We are from... _home_. I do not know any other name. It is just, our home."

"Then you don't know how to get back?" Tia asks looking sad.

"Back... no, there _is_ no back," Nara says shaking her massive horned head. "We were captured at home and brought here, to be traded, and then... I don't know what would happen. We escaped, and hid. We will stay hidden, capturing and eating what we can, till the end of our days. Here, where _every_ day you believe will be your last. This is an _evil_ place. Not like home."

"What is your home like?" Thian asks.

"It is wonderful!" Teaskis says holding his massive arms up. "It has a shining disk in the sky during the day, which is very warm to feel. At night, there is sometimes another shiny disk, but of silver, and there are _thousands_ of little white and blue dots everywhere."

"There is plenty of grass to graze," Nara says looking at Thian. "Rivers, streams, ponds, and _lakes_. Hills and valleys to wander and _explore_ too. There are _hundreds_ of trees which are green, not _black_ as those here. I would like to go home, but _home_ is where I shall never go."

"If you could go somewhere, kind of like what you described," Amanda asks, "with green trees, lakes and such, but it _wasn't_ your home, would you go there? I mean if there weren't _giants_ and such?"

"There _is_ such a place?" Teaskis asks with wonder.

"Yeah, there is. And I've got an idea," Amanda turns facing her friends. "What if we send Nara and Teaskis to the _Grass_ People? There's plenty of wildlife for Teaskis, and more types of grasses, berries, nuts, fruit and plants, than Nara could _ever_ eat?"

"Jumpin' _skeeters_ Amanda! That's a _great_ idea!" Tia says as Sadie claps her tiny hands while jumping up and down. "Well, as long as Nara doesn't eat _Poa_ and his people, being made of plants and grass and all themselves."

Turning to look at Nara and Teaskis, Amanda smiles and says, "Listen. We have friends a long way from here. Far away from giants and these other creatures. I think they would welcome you, if you don't _eat_ them that is. Nara, many of the creatures there, have shapes something like us, but, are made from _trees_ , plants and grasses. They are _very_ nice, and I think you'll like them as well.

"I think it will help if you can talk to them though. I can't think of a way to have them know your language, but if you know theirs, you can communicate okay. You will be safe there."

Teaskis and Nara look at one another for a moment, then Nara nods, followed by Teaskis.

"But, _how_ would we get there?" Teaskis asks.

"Well, I can handle _that_ I think. First though, I need to be touching the both of you, for just a minute, like we did when you could first understand each other okay? You're going to have to know their language when you get there."

Amanda steps between them, "It won't hurt, _promise_ ," she places one hand against Nara's leg, the other hand against Teaskis leg, then begins speaking in Poa's language.

Teaskis and Nara feel a little jolt and the fuzzy sound in their heads, as Amanda's strange sounds turn into clear speech. Nara and Teaskis each hearing the new language translated into their own language.

As Amanda steps away, looking into the startled faces of Nara and Teaskis, she smiles, seeing the confusion mixed with fear on their faces, knowing they can now speak and understand Poa's people.

"How... What?" Teaskis stutters.

"Just something _our_ kind can do is all," Tianna says seeing Amanda going pale.

"Teaskis, the very moment you and Nara get to your new home, you may see the creatures I have mentioned. They will _not_ know what kind of creatures you are, and may see you as a threat. I don't know if they would attack you or not, but, _please_ , yell out that you are friends of Amanda, and would like to speak with _Poa_. If you do that _right_ away, you'll be safe. Tell Poa, Amanda, Thian and the others, say hi, and that we are safe, and please tell them what has happened here okay?"

"Yes, we will do as you ask. But, why are you not coming with us?" Nara asks.

"We must go into the tower, in _search_ of the stone we seek."

"You _are_ looking for the Obiska," Teaskis says taking a step back. "No, you _must_ not do so. You will never be seen again. Please come with us and be safe with your friends."

"We can't. We _must_ find the stone. I can't tell you why, but, we must try."

"Can't we go with them to Poa's?" Sadie pleads.

"No, I'm sorry Sadie, there are no giants or other creatures here at the moment, maybe because of the rain and lightning. If we go to see Poa, in the time it will take to get there, talk to Poa, then get back here. Who knows what may have come out of the trees and be here waiting for us. No, I think we need to enter the ruins _now_ , while we have the chance."

"Then how are you going to get them to Poa's. Don't you have to use the Specteroscope?" Tia asks?

"No."

"Then _what_?" Tianna asks, making 'the face.'

"Well, if it still works... _that_!" Amanda says pointing through a gap in one of the pillars.

They all turn to look where she is pointing to a huge open area into one of the giant rooms.

"What? I don't see anythi..." Thian begins.

A brilliant flash of lightning illuminates a small portion of the huge room within. For just a moment, everyone can see the shape of a giant labyrinth.

"Snarkins!" Thian shouts, "It _is_ a homing labyrinth! I don't believe it! It's _gigantic_ too. Must have been used to transport lots of the Dark here when the Wielder needed them. Or, lots of equipment and supplies or something."

"Do you think... it still _works_?" Amanda asks squinting to see into now darkened room.

"Well, unless it's _physically_ broken, even really ancient ones still work. But, how do you know what _frequency_ to set it vibrating to, to send them to Poa?" Tianna asks.

"The Spectroscope! Every time I set it, the Specter said I could call up the coordinates in hundreds of various descriptions, including... _frequencies_ for a labyrinth!"

They all smile. Nara and the huge troll Teaskis, listen but don't understanding a thing. They have never seen nor heard of a Specteroscope, nor anything called a labyrinth.

"Come on, let's see if we can do this. I don't want to stand out here in plain sight any longer than we have to," Amanda says walking toward the gap in the pillars.

They walk across the courtyard and through the giant open doorway. Everyone is startled as the entrance seems to shimmer slightly as they pass through.

"What... what was _that_?" Amanda asks nervously, everyone looking around, wands pointed in various directions.

"You know, we read about something like this in our ancient history class," Tia says nodding. "Remember? Mrs. Marcos said that in ancient times, they used a kind of _shield_ to keep out dirt, dust, _leaves_ and small animals. And none of us are that small I guess. I mean, look how _clean_ everything is, those huge stones in the floor and walls don't have a thing on them."

"Yeah, now that you _mention_ it," Tianna says looking around, "I think you're right. Well, if the _barrier_ still works, I think the labyrinth may too."

"It's set up in its last transmission position," Thian says walking forward, looking at the raised walls around the labyrinth.

"What do you mean?" Amanda asks.

"Amanda, remember? Once you cast a coordinate spell on a labyrinth, one or more arches rise to various positions. What looks like circles with connection points, when lying flat on the ground, are _actually_ individual arches which will rise and lock into position, until the transport is complete, then, it just stays in that position until the next use, or, someone returns it to the flat position on the ground."

"Oh, yeah. I forgot."

"Nara, Teaskis, you need to walk along the long path in the labyrinth there on the left, then stand in the center, in that _huge_ open circle okay?" Amanda says slipping the Specteroscope from her pants pocket.

Hesitating for a few moments, Nara turns and walks to the largest outside circle, then along the wide pathway, stepping over connecting sections, followed by Teaskis, until they reach the center.

Amanda punches in Poa's position, then presses two buttons. After the hands stop spinning, she turns the knob of the third. Several figures appear on her scope for a moment, which then morph into words. These words are the spell to be cast to have the labyrinth vibrate at the proper frequency to transport Nara and Teaskis to the land of the Grass People - to the very spot Amanda and the others had last left, which is just in the clearing next to where Poa's family lives.

"Ready." Amanda says pointing her wand at a very nervous Nara and Teaskis. "This won't hurt... I _think_ anyway. I've never traveled by labyrinth before, but _millions_ of others have, so... anyway, remember what I told you. The _moment_ you, uh, appear, tell whoever you see, that you are _friends_ of Amanda, Thian and the others, and that _I_ have sent you there. Ask to see _Poa_ , then tell him your story. Ready?"

Teaskis looks around as though he wants to run off down the hill and into the trees and take his chances.

"We are ready. And thank you," Nara says wagging her short tail. "We will do as you ask. You should hurry, the water from the sky, and the bright streaks are lessening. The sky may calm and the giants and other day creatures will be on the prowl soon."

"Goodbye Nara, _bye_ Teaskis" Sadie waves, the others doing the same.

Teaskis waves a huge hand, while resting his other against Nara.

"Tontu es terah heatorn esk sah!" A brilliant violet bolt from Amanda's wand strikes the labyrinth, which begins ringing like a bell. The circles which make up the labyrinth begin to rise, turning into arches, rising to various heights and angles, frightening _everyone_ , since none of them have ever seen an actual homing labyrinth larger than a fist. The arches are _massive_ , the shortest reaching at least sixty feet.

There is a high pitch humming as Nara and Teaskis look around with fright.

Flash!

Nara and Teaskis have vanished.

#  Into The Ruins

There is another flash and the sound of distant thunder from outside.

"Well, we better get going before some _giant_ or one of those other creatures come calling," Amanda says slipping the Specteroscope into her pocket.

"I wonder who'll be the most surprised - Nara and Teaskis, or _Poa_ and his people," Tia says with a laugh, following Amanda and Thian back into the courtyard.

Everyone laughs.

"Well, I'm pretty sure both! I know it will be one wild ride for Nara and Teaskis for sure," Amanda says walking up some steps to a long missing door leading to the inner area of the tower. "I know Poa will be happy to let them stay, and actually, I think Nara and Teaskis will love it there."

"Would it be okay if we stopped inside someplace and had something to eat?" Sadie whines. "I'm _hungry_ , and I have to go potty."

"Sure. But can you wait a little until we look around some, to find a good _hiding_ place?" Tianna says with a grin. "We don't want any giants or those _nasty_ critters to get us now do we?"

Sadie's eyes grow large as she looks over her shoulders toward the treeline. With a swallow she says, "I can _wait_ to go potty I guess, at least for a few minutes. And, and maybe I'm not _that_ hungry after all."

They laugh.

"Well, it's really dark inside, and even though I'm dreading going in, I guess we better, just to get out of sight. Keep your wands ready and lets move out." Thian says stepping around Amanda and taking the lead.

Tianna passes Amanda and walks beside Thian. Tia and Sadie follow Amanda in and to the side to take a look around. They hear the sound of light rain, with an occasional howl of wind, but the storm is indeed passing quickly.

"Well, we know the place is _huge_ , so it's gonna have a lot of rooms," Tianna says looking to the spiral stone staircase across the room.

"Yeah, and why does everyplace we go, have to be someplace no one's _ever_ come back from?" Thian says walking further to the left toward a large decayed wooden door.

"It does seem like that for sure," Amanda says waving away some spider webs. "Honestly, we've been in some _strange_ and spooky places, but this place... it makes my _skin_ crawl and we've just entered. I really don't like this place. It feels..."

" _Evil_ ," Sadie says stepping up beside Thian and Tianna, now standing in front of the first door.

"Sadie," Thian says with a swallow, "would you, uh, do your _thing_ and see if there's something waiting for us in there?"

Stepping to the door, Sadie leans forward furrowing her brows. She moves her head around for a moment, then says, "I don't see any _creatures_ , and I don't see any traps either. Just a huge room with lots of furniture and a _giant_ fireplace."

"Okay, well, let's go in and check it out," Amanda says to Thian.

"Right. Keep wands at the ready," as he places his hand on the old tarnished handle. After tugging several times, the door pops free and squeaks open. The high pitched sound of the squealing hinges makes everyone cringe.

As they enter the room, they quickly look around. Nothing is found waiting for them as Sadie had said.

Sadie says she needs to use the restroom and wants to dry off, so she, Tia and Amanda set up their outhouses, and when finished, Thian and Tianna take a turn.

Once everything is packed up, they keep their wands at the ready and fan out to see what they can find.

The room is filled with ancient overturned chairs, couches and tables. Books are scattered about, as well as broken bookcases. There are still several bookcases crammed with books, covered with dust and spider webs.

A giant fireplace stands against one wall with a huge painting mounted over the mantle of a scary woman dressed all in black, with a very large silver broach in the design of some symbol. There is a very large cabinet at the right of the room, which Amanda walks to as Tianna and Thian browse the ancient books, looking for anything out of the ordinary, or perhaps a _secret_ passageway.

Amanda sifts through ancient documents, needing to morph their writing into her native English, but finds nothing of much interest. She begins opening the drawers to have a look.

"Hey! Take a look at _this_!" Thian shouts.

"What? What did you find?" Tianna asks standing several yards from him, thumbing through books looking for hidden papers.

"Come see."

Everyone gathers around Thian who says, "This _book_ is great! It's got all kinds of spells and stuff I've never heard of, and it's ancient!"

"Let me see," Tianna says taking the book from Thian, then kneeling so everyone can look over her shoulder. She begins flipping the pages slowly. "Wow, this _is_ really interesting. There are _tons_ of illustrations, like in the big book Amanda had found. I've never seen or _heard_ of most of these spells either," she says flipping the pages.

"Wait! Go _back_ ," Amanda says quickly. "Go back a couple pages."

Tianna begins flipping back the pages.

"Stop! What does that say over the image of that ancient broom?" Amanda asks squinting at the faded page.

"Uh, well, it says... 'How to _miniaturize_ a broom for pocket carry.'"

"Huh? You can _shrink_ a broom and put it in your _pocket_?" Thian asks wide-eyed. "That would be great! I _hate_ carrying my broom around all the time. After a while, not only does it get in the _way_ , but it gets really _heavy_ too! How do you do it Tianna?"

Tianna reads the page with the illustrations, then the next one, which gives the spell to return your broom to full size. After everyone learns the wand movements and the words to supposedly miniaturize a broom, they have a short argument about who will try it first, all afraid that if they do it wrong, their broom may be destroyed.

While the girls are arguing, they hear Thian shout, "Exiguus Scopae!" There is a very light silver flash. When the girls turn to face Thian, he has his wand pointed at a three inch, miniature broom resting on the floor.

"Snarkins! It worked!" Thian says breaking into a laugh.

"Wow! Look how _small_ it is!" Sadie says clapping and giggling.

"Thian, see if you can get it _back_ to normal," Amanda says with excitement.

"Yeah, okay," Thian clears his throat, points his wand, and flicks his wrist in the movements found in the book. "Grandesco Scopae Reah!" There is a golden flash and Thian's broom returns to normal size.

"Awesome!" Thian says grinning at the others.

"See if it still works though," Tianna says with a laugh.

Thian picks up the broom, feels for its balance and weight, then mounts. "Well, here I go." He hops and is immediately hovering to the cheers of the others. He then takes it for a spin around the room, whooping and pumping his arm in the air, making everyone laugh as he returns and dismounts.

"This is _so_ cool!" Amanda laughs. " _I_ hate having to lug my broom around all the time too. I sure wish we knew this spell when we first _started_ out!"

"Yeah, me too," Tia says pointing her wand at her broom. "Wonder why we've never heard of such a spell. I mean, I've never seen anyone, nor _heard_ of anyone ever using the spell before."

"Have no idea," Tianna says looking through the book again, "but I think maybe we ought to _keep_ this book. It might have other good stuff too. Actually, all these books may have ancient spells, potions and curses no one's heard of for _thousands_ of years. They could come in handy, like the ones Amanda taught us."

Over the next few minutes, everyone shrinks their broom, restores it, flies around a little, then shrinks their brooms again and are just about to put them in their pocket.

"Wait." Sadie says looking at her little broom.

"What? What's wrong?" Tianna asks stepping to Sadie.

"Well, I was thinking. We get into some pretty _nasty_ situations, where we fall a _lot_ , or get thrown around."

"Yeah, _tell_ me about it," Thian says with a laugh. "But what are you getting at?"

"If we put these little sticks in our pocket, and we _fall_ or get hit by something right on the broom, it's so thin now, won't it just _snap_ or be crushed, and well, _that_ would be that wouldn't it?"

All eyes go wide.

"Maybe _that's_ why we've never heard of this spell," Tianna says nodding. "Maybe there were just too many times when a witch or wizard _snapped_ their broom in a fight, or like Sadie said, just fell and _crushed_ it. And she's right, all of us have been hit, beat, tossed and tumbled. Thinking back, if I would have had my broom in my pocket during _most_ of those adventures, I wouldn't _have_ a broom now, and I really don't like to have to walk for hours to get someplace. Our wands at least have some kind of protection spell on them, but, a broom is so large, I've never heard of them being protected."

"Listen, I may know a lot of stuff you don't," Amanda says thoughtfully, "but, even so, I'm still new to all this Wizitch stuff, and don't understand it much at all. Is there a spell to, well, put something in a protective case? You know, like is there a spell that can take the little broom and protect it in a _metal_ case or something. Like a container, like we did the giants, but with a bottom?"

Everyone is quiet for a moment, then Tia says, "Well, of course, the spell to _protect_ something is Protego. You use that spell and focus on what you want protected and _how_ you want it protected."

"Yeah, and Metalli is normally the word used when dealing with metal, since it _means_ metal," Thian says nodding.

"And... _Theca_ is used for creating a box or some kind of case!" Tianna shouts. "Amanda, you're _brilliant_! Well, I _think_ , this time anyway. But here's the thing. We know all the individual words and wand movements for each of these separately, but..."

" _How_ to put them together and not _destroy_ our brooms is another thing," Tia says frowning. "Make a mistake and we could end up with a _tiny_ metal broom we can never get back."

"Well... I think if we _shrink_ our broom first," Thian says pacing, "then give it the protection spell, immediately followed by the _box_ or case spell, maybe focusing on putting the little broom in a _box_ , and focusing on the box being made of _metal_ as we say that spell, it _might_ work.

"I mean, we aren't using a single combination spell which gets really tricky, but is used the most because it's _fast_ and combined into a single word or two. But, we don't _care_ if it takes several steps now, so we can use separate spells using that ancient combining spell Amanda taught us. You know, the one that links several spells into one. When we think we may need our broom in a hurry, we can just carry it as usual."

"So, who wants to try it?" Tia says nervously.

"Well, I did it last time, so let me try it now okay?" Thian says setting his tiny broom on the ground.

Everyone steps back. Thian takes a deep breath, lets it out, then shouts, "Protego!" flash – "Theca," flash, "Metalli!" each while performing the wand movement for the intended spell, visualizing what he wants to happen in his mind, making sure the word is paired with the intended meaning.

Everyone looks down at a small, solid, rather flat golden metal box and smiles.

"Uh, how do you get the broom _out_ though?" Sadie asks with concern.

Amanda looks around at all the startled faces. "What? You mean you tried this without knowing how to get the broom _out_ of the box?"

"Well... I... uh, maybe you could... hum." Thian says turning red.

"Wait. Can't we just use Aperio?" Tianna says smacking herself on the forehead. "After all, Aperio does literally mean _uncover_! What if we use the Aperio spell while focusing on uncovering the broom from the box?"

With a huge smile, Thian points his wand at the golden box and shouts, "Aperio Scopae!"

An aqua bolt strikes the small box. The box dissolves, the broom resting in one piece as before. Everyone cheers.

After Thian returns his broom to normal size, and flies around again to be sure it still works, everyone uses the spells to put their brooms into little boxes, then slip the box into their pockets.

"I _love_ this!" Amanda laughs. "Hey... you don't suppose we could miniaturize our _travelers_ packs too do you? I mean, after all, someone got a tent and a huge _cabin_ into a small can didn't they?"

"Yeah, they did, but it takes really _advanced_ Wizitch to do it," Thian says looking at Amanda's travelers pack.

"But Thian, we just _did_ it! And with only a wand. Those outhouses, tents and cabins take an entire _factory_ of advanced Wizitched objects to transform them." Tianna says and makes 'the face.'

"Oh, yeah. Well, the Wizitch word for a travelers pack is Mantica. I've used the spell Grandesco Mantica a couple of times when I needed more space in my travelers pack. It works _most_ of the time. Well, when I don't set it on _fire_ anyway."

They others laugh.

"So... are you saying we might be able to use the shrinking spell along with M _antica_ to shrink our backpacks enough to put them in our pockets too?" Amanda says, her eyes excited. "You mean, we might _really_ be able to do that?"

"Well, not without that combination spell movement you taught us. I think that's the only _missing_ link we have now. But, there's only one way to find out," Thian says taking off his travelers pack and setting in on the ground. "I'll try shrinking it, then protecting it in a _silver_ box. Here goes."

Everyone watches nervously but with excitement as Thian points his wand. "Exisguus Protego Mantica Metalli!"

Flash. They are now looking at a small flat silver box. Everyone cheers.

"I decided to run each spell together, seeing each in my head as I wanted the meaning. Looks like it worked okay. I think. Let me see if I can get the pack back."

Thian points his wand, and while concentrating on seeing only his travelers pack, shouts, "Aperio Mantica!" There is a flash and his travelers pack in miniature is resting on the floor.

"Grandesco Mantica Reah!" His travelers pack instantly grows to its original size.

"Stutterin' _snorkrats,_ Thian! See if your _stuff_ is okay?" Tianna laughs.

Thian pulls several items from the pack, hands them out and everyone checks them very carefully.

"This is _so_ awesome! And the boxes are so light too. You know, we may be the only ones alive on _any_ realm to know these spells. How _cool_ is that?" Amanda says laughing. "Okay, let's get our brooms and packs in our pockets and check the rest of this place out, with both hands ready, and no _monkey_ on our backs."

"Why would a monkey be on your back?" Sadie asks looking around Amanda at her back.

"Huh? Oh, no Sadie, that's just an _expression_ back on Earth. Come on, let's get things packed and get on our way."

Everyone uses their new spells and soon all brooms and packs are protected in small, flat metal boxes, slipped into pockets.

"Well, let's look around in here a little more before we move on," Amanda says looking around the dusty and disheveled room.

They fan out and begin rummaging through everything they can find. Amanda returns to the drawers she wants to open. Two of them open easily, the third won't open. She uses several of the usual spells for opening such things, but nothing happens. Pausing for a moment, she then points her wand and says, "Orathian!" The drawer pops open. Surprised, she smiles and pulls.

There is a small black book inside which she picks up. The book scrapes against the underside of the drawer above as she removes it. A small, strangely shaped rusted and bent key falls to the bottom of the drawer. Pausing, Amanda picks it up, and begins lifting it to her face.

"Hey! Over _here_!" Sadie shouts standing next to the giant fireplace.

Amanda closes the drawer. Taking the book with her, she drops the key into her pants pocket, walking to where Sadie and the others are standing.

"What's up?" Thian asks, looking around for something Sadie may have seen, but sees nothing but scattered furniture.

"Well, I _thought_ since the rest of you were looking at things we _can_ see, I'd look for things we _can't._ "

"Huh?" Thian says scratching his dusty head.

"You know... doing my _thing_!"

"What? You found some hidden _passage_ or something didn't you?" Tianna says very excited.

"Yeah, I _did_."

"Where Sadie?" Tia asks looking around.

"Right _here_ ," Sadie points into the fireplace. "There's a room on the other side of the bricks in there, but there's just a wall in the other room we passed, and there _isn't_ another room or door over there, so there would be _no_ way to get into the room. It _has_ to be a hidden room!"

"Sadie, you're the best!" Amanda laughs. "What's in there, anything we need to be concerned about?"

"I didn't _see_ anything. And I've looked for a latch or a brick that moves to open the room, but couldn't find anything."

"Okay, let me try," Amanda says stepping up to the huge opening. "Orathian!"

Nothing.

"Move a little closer to the back bricks Amanda. It may have a proximity spell on it or something too," Thian says.

"Yeah, okay." Amanda steps inside the fireplace, stepping right up in front of the bricks. "Orathian!"

There is a tremendous purple flash, forcing everyone to turn away. When they look back, Amanda is gone. Only huge blue and purple flames remain where she had stood.

"Amanda!" Thian yells.

"Amanda!" The others yell as well.

There is no answer.

"Where'd she _go_?" Sadie asks clinging to Tianna, looking at the snapping flames.

"I... I don't _know_. Any of you have any ideas?"

No one does.

"Well, we have to do _something_!" Thian shouts pacing before the flames.

"Wait... Sadie, did she somehow get _into_ the hidden room?" Tianna asks hopefully.

Shaking, Sadie walks near the flames and leans in, squinting, trying to see anything moving in the room at all through the flames. "No... it looks the same. Nobody's in there. Just furniture, and, well like a workroom or _lab_ or something. Lots of glass bottles and stuff on the tables, and _huge_ bookshelves filled with books. Nothing looks _broken_ in there either. Just has lots of dust and spider webs."

After several minutes of arguing over what they should do next, Tia says, "Stop! _Listen_. What is that?"

The others stop and listen for a moment, but hear nothing.

"I don't hear anythi..." Sadie begins saying.

"There! There it is again, listen." Tia says eyes wide.

"Sounds like _tapping_ or something," Tianna says furrowing her brows. "Sounds like _really_ faint taps on, like metal, kind of like something hitting up against the water pipes at home, when that _Snorkrat_ got trapped, remember Tia?"

"Yeah, it does kind of sound like..."

"That's not just _tapping_!" Thian shouts. "It's got a _pattern_. By the moons... that's Amanda using the _cavern_ code! She's sending us a coded message! Quick, Tia, you're the fastest. Draw out the cavern code, five rows by five columns. Put the alphabet inside, but remember..."

"I _know_ Thian. Leave out the letter 'k'." Tia waves her wand and a pad of paper appears along with a pencil. Quickly she draws out the grid and hands it to Thian. "Here, you're more familiar with this, you do it."

Thian takes the pad and looks around. "Where's that tapping coming from? See if you can find any pipes or something." With a quick look around, finding nothing, Thian says, "We have to try something _fast_ , before she thinks it's not working and walks away. The tapping is _really_ faint. If she moves, we may never hear her again."

Thian pulls the can for his travelers pack from his pocket, looks at the code on the pad and begins tapping with the box after the tapping from Amanda had stopped a good minute ago.

Thian taps, "Amanda are you ok?"

Everyone waits breathlessly for several moments, hope fading when there is no reply, then... tapping.

Thian is sitting on the floor next to the wall, as is everyone. The others watch Thian write one letter, pause, his fingers traveling first down the rows, then across the columns to find the next letter.

"She's okay!"

Everyone cheers.

"Quiet! She's sending something," Thian says, heart beating wildly.

Tianna watches carefully, making sure she gets the same letter from the grid as Thian does.

"She's asking if _we're_ okay," Tianna says quickly. "Tell her we are and ask where she is, okay?"

"Yeah, okay." Thian taps the row and column numbers for each letter of his message, being sure to pause between each sequence of taps, and waiting a good few beats before continuing with the next letter.

After several moments, the faint tapping begins again.

"I... behind... bars... don... no... where... dark... wet... cold... skeletons."

"Skeletons! Thian, we're in some kind of _castle-_ like place with the huge tower," Tia says worriedly. "Do you think Amanda is, well..."

"Trapped in some kind of _dungeon_?" Tianna says then chews on her lip.

"Yeah, I think you're _right_ ," Thian says scooting closer to the wall. "Maybe that's what happened to everyone who came here and never got out. I'll tell her what we think and that we're going to try to see if we can find a way down."

Thian very slowly taps out his message and they all wait for Amanda's answer.

"Okay... tried...wand... but... cant... get... out....... miss... you... tnx... for... code... thian... end... mess."

Thian then taps, "On... our... way... end... mess," then scrambles to his feet.

"Let's go. There _has_ to be a way down someplace. Sadie, can you see anything _below_ the flames? Like some kind of trap _door_ Amanda may have fallen through or something?"

Sadie steps back up to the flames and leans in. "No, it's _just_ a floor. What are we gonna do? I'm scared... I want Amanda back!"

"So do we sweetheart," Tianna says trying to comfort Sadie who is crying and shaking.

"Sadie. Listen up," Thian says seriously. "Amanda's _life_ is now in our hands. And _you_ are the only one who can see through walls, floors and stuff. So, _stop_ crying, _get_ up and start _looking_. You are our _most_ important team member, and we _really_ need you."

At first, Tianna and Tia are shocked to hear Thian speak to Sadie like that, when she is so frightened. Tianna starts to yell at Thian, but Sadie cuts her off.

"I... _I'm_ the most important member? Really?"

"You _bet_ you are," Thian says smiling. "You've _saved_ us several times before. Now, we're hoping you can find and _save_ Amanda. You're _special_ Sadie. Can we count on you?"

Wiping her tears as she gets up, wearing a serious expression says, "You can count on me. _I'll_ find her."

Sadie begins walking the floor looking for anything hidden.

Frustrated, after several minutes of looking, Sadie says, "I... I can't find _anything_ and I've looked everywhere!"

"That's okay Sadie," Tianna says with a weak smile. "There's a _lot_ of this place to look over. Come on, let's look in one of the other rooms down here. If we don't find anything, we'll go up the _tower_ to the other rooms."

Several hours later, after sending Amanda updates and Amanda letting them know she is still okay and is reading a book she found, Sadie, exhausted, walks into a room near the tower's peak.

Sadie had found seven rooms filled with piles of bones and all kinds of _horrible_ traps.

She wanders about this new room looking for hidden passageways, while the others rummage through books, desks and other items. Stopping, she looks down with confusion.

"Help me move this huge rug away. I _think_ I see a trapdoor with stairs under it," Sadie says excitedly.

Everyone helps move the furniture away, then begin rolling up the carpet.

"There! It _is_ a trapdoor!" Sadie shouts clapping her hands. "I _did_ it. I _found_ something."

"You sure _did_. Let's see where those stairs lead okay," Tianna says nervously as Thian grabs the ring and pulls the trapdoor up.

"Uh, sure is _dark_ down there," Thian says with a swallow. "My wand light only goes down a short ways, then the stairs turn off to the right. Before we go in, I want to let Amanda know what we found okay?"

Seeing the railing on the stairs is metallic, he taps his message on it with his little box. In a few minutes, Amanda taps back, "Great... taps... louder... see... ya... end... mess."

"Okay, let's go. Follow me and keep alert," Thian says stepping down the first few stairs. "I'm really getting _tired_ of every place being filled with _spiders_ and webs. When this thing is over, I _never_ want to see another spider as long as I live!"

Several hours later, after finding many underground rooms, most filled with more bones and traps, they come to a huge room with nothing in it. Suspicious, Sadie looks at the flooring, the near walls and the ceiling.

"Nothing yet, but I _really_ don't like this. Why isn't there _anything_ in here?"

"Don't know," Tianna says slowly shaking her head. "But I'm with you. This is really weird. Every other room's been _filled_ with ancient stuff. There's only dust and spider webs in there, and it's huge. You could get three of Thian's cabins in there with room left over. Yeah, _I_ don't like this either."

"Well, this is where the stairs end, and Amanda's tapping has been getting louder as we've come down. I don't like this either, but I'm going in," Thian says nervously. "Sadie, I need you to come with me. You _up_ to it?"

Sadie looks exhausted, almost weaving on her feet, but says in a weak voice, "Okay, I guess."

With a nod to Tia and Tianna, Thian takes Sadie's hand then steps into the room.

"Keep _sharp_ Sadie. Scan everything around us before we take each step okay?"

"Okay."

Thian and Sadie walk around a good portion of the room, then Thian calls to the others. "It looks okay. We haven' found anything."

Tia and Tianna enter, walking to Thian and Sadie, then make their way to the far side.

"I'm gonna let Amanda know that we haven't fou..."

A muffled voice floats to them.

"Thian? Tianna?"

"Amanda!" they all shout.

"Amanda, where are you?"

"Same place I've been," comes her muffled voice. "But I can hear you, and you me, so, we must be close."

"Okay. Keep talking and we'll see if we can find where we hear you the loudest," Thian yells.

Amanda starts singing some song none of them know, but provides a constant sound to hone in on.

"It's loudest right _here_ I think," Tia says standing in front of a solid brick wall.

"Sadie, you see _anything_ behind there?" Tianna asks as she and Sadie step up to Tia.

Staring at the wall for a moment, Sadie says, "Nooo, not _really_."

"What do you mean, not... _really_ Sadie?" Thian asks looking confused.

"Well... most of the time I can either see a room through a wall, or into a wall, or through other stuff, but here..."

"What Sadie, tell us _exactly_ what you see..." Tianna says kneeling to look into Sadie's drooping eyes.

"It's _dark_. Really dark. I don't know how to explain it. It's almost as _dark_ as the doorway where the bogey tried to get us."

Everyone goes stiff.

"Great! We're not on the realm of the _witches_ anymore," Tia says with a shutter, remembering the adventures she and Amanda had with the bogey.

"What do you want to do?" Tianna asks no one in particular.

"We _blast_ the wall, but keep back," Thian says squinting at the wall. "Amanda! Get into the corner of your cell, get down and cover yourself. I'm gonna try _blasting_ through the wall!

"Stand back!" Thian points his wand, flicks his wrist and yells, "Demolior!" a yellow bolt flies from his wand, bouncing off the wall setting his pants on fire.

"Exstinguo!" Tianna shouts, extinguishing the fire flaring on Thian's pants, Thian yelping, looking terrified.

" _Honestly_ Thian! Don't we have _enough_ trouble without you setting yourself on _fire_? Great Mother! Stop _doing_ that!" Tianna shouts as Thian pats frantically at a few glowing embers on his lower trousers. "Here, let _me_ do it. Get _out_ of the way!" Tianna says shoving Thian to the side.

Tianna points her wand at the wall yelling, "Demolior!" the wall blows apart as though blasted with explosives, but focused away from and not back at them.

They cough as a huge cloud of dust envelops them, everyone half expecting to see huge black arms of the bogey reaching for them.

From the cloud steps Amanda, coughing heavily. They all hug her and for several minutes they all talk excitedly, each assuring the others that they are all right after the blast.

After chatting about the code they used, and how great it was, Amanda turns her head to thank Sadie for finding her, but sees Sadie lying on the ground, fast asleep.

"Poor _Sadie_. She's _exhausted_. She's worked harder than any of us to find you Amanda," Tia says with a smile. "Actually, _I'm_ exhausted too. You don't suppose we could set up the cabin in here and get some rest in a nice soft _bed_ do you?"

"I'm all for that!" Amanda says with a laugh. "I could really use a hot _bath_ and something substantial to eat. I'm running on crumbs in my pack."

After Thian sets up the cabin, Tianna picks Sadie up and carries her to her room, laying her gently on the bed, covering her with blankets.

The others enter the kitchen, make a hurried dinner, then each takes a hot bath while the others chat. All droopy eyed, they head for their rooms. Thian falls asleep on the couch the moment his head hits the pillow.

#  The Witching Well

The next morning Sadie cleans up and they all have a wonderful breakfast, having slept deeply during the night.

Everyone is tired. Tired of being chased, tired of creatures trying to catch and either eat them or sell them. Tired of constantly facing traps set by some ancient witches or wizards, to kill whomever dares to enter or search their domain. And they are all tired physically and emotionally.

"I know we probably can't do it, but, well, do you think we could camp in here for a few days, just to _relax_ and regain our strength a little?" Tia says timidly.

Amanda laughs, "I was _just_ about to suggest the same thing! You took the words right out of my mouth. What do you say everybody? Spend, say, maybe a _week_ here until we're rested? We can look around the rooms we've already been in if you want. But I don't think we should go anyplace else for now."

Everyone is excited and relieved to have some time to relax and regenerate some strength.

Over the next few days, they have looked around the tower and have discovered many wonderful artifacts and interesting documents. Amanda has sent them all to a separate location than the Shards, but still, to what she thinks is a safe place, where no one will find them.

One evening as they are all sitting in the living room eating cookies, Amanda asks quietly, "Any of you want to leave?"

"What, right _now_?" Thian asks spraying cookie dust from his mouth, then reaches for his drink.

"No. I'm not talking about _that_ , well, not _really_. I mean... do any of you want to bail on sticking with me?"

They all go silent, surprised by her question.

"Why would you even _ask_ that?" Thian says puzzled.

"Because I wouldn't blame you if you did," Amanda says as her eyes tear up. "Look, I know you all agreed to come with me. But when we first started out, _none_ of us had any idea what we'd be facing or going through, at least _I_ didn't. I _really_ appreciate you all coming with me this far, but _honestly_ , it's okay if you want to call it quits. I _can't_ , but you can," Amanda says wiping her eyes.

"And just where would we _go_ Amanda?" Tianna asks solemnly. "Back to our _home_? There's no one there waiting for us. Or, actually, maybe there _is_ , but I don't think facing _them_ would be much better than facing all those creatures we did. I won't lie to you. There have been _lots_ of times I've regretted coming, and _lots_ of times I've thought about leaving. But there _is_ no place else to go, and... well, even though we _argue_ a lot, we are friends."

"I've thought about leaving too, from time to time," Tia says with her head down. "I'm not as _brave_ as the rest of you. I _try_ to be, but I'm not. I _miss_ the lives we had before, even though they weren't great, but no one was trying to _kill_ us almost every day either. I keep thinking, one of these times, we're _not_ going to be so lucky anymore, and and one of us..."

"Well, I'm _staying_ ," Sadie says firmly. "I never got _cookies_ anywhere I was before."

They all laugh quietly.

Everyone is quiet for a long moment.

"But, what if... you all had _new_ identities? And you all _looked_ and talked differently. That would give you a chance to go anywhere you want and start over, _no_ one knowing _who_ you really are or where you come from."

"You're making me nervous," Thian says putting his glass down. "What are you _really_ trying to say? What's up?"

Amanda bursts into tears, surprising everyone, no one knowing quite how to react.

"Amanda, what _is_ it?" Tia asks seated next to her. Amanda turns and buries her face and hands into Tia's shoulder, crying hard. Tia is so surprised, for a moment she sits stunned, then holds Amanda's head to her, feeling her body quake. Tears soon flow from Tia's eyes too, though she does not know why.

Everyone looks from one to the other as if asking, 'What the _heck's_ going on?'

Amanda lifts her head, tears streaming down her cheeks, "I, I don't want any of you to _die_ because of me! I couldn't _live_ with myself. I didn't want this _stupid_ necklace and I never meant for it to cause you so much _pain_!

"Your _house_ is gone because of _me_ Thian. _Everything_ you owned. Every _photograph_ , every memento of your _mom_ and dad... _gone_! All you have of your past is what you were able to escape with. _All_... because of _me_! And Birchmar... Birchmar is dead too. Not because of anything _he_ did. But because of _my_ showing up, and you, Thea, Tia and Tianna taking _care_ of me."

Amanda is crying so hard the hurt in her voice is heartbreaking.

" _Thea_... is dead because of _me_! Your mom _died_ and she was never anything but _kind_ to me. I felt she _loved_ me like _I_ was her daughter too! If not for _me_ , she would _still_ be alive.

"All of you would be home _laughing_ and having a good time. Not _here_ with me, wondering when, like _Tia_ said, our _luck_ will run out and one of you gets _killed_.

"If I could die right _now_ , to end this whole thing, I _would_. But I'm too big a _coward_ to even try!

"Sadie, you were _abandoned_ in the village. Why? Because of _me_! You have _no_ home because of this _stupid_ necklace! I've only caused all of you _nothing_ but misery, ever since you _met_ me.

"You should have let me _die_ when you found me. When I _could_ still die."

Everyone is in tears. Tia has covered her face with her hands and is wailing mournfully at the loss of her mother. Tianna has tears streaming down her face, one hand over her trembling mouth, the other trying to soothe Sadie, who is totally beside herself.

Everyone is crying hard. Long suppressed emotions of pain, grief and terror flooding out. No one tries to hide the hurt and sorrow they have been doing their best to hide, for such a long time.

Tianna is thinking of how much she loved and misses her mom.

Amanda does her best to calm herself, then says, "I... I _think_ I can use the Specteroscope to transmutate all of you into anything you want, to _look_ any way you like, and you can all have a _new_ life."

Tianna, thinking of her mom, remembering her body lying in the dirt, wipes her eyes on her sleeve, asking, "What do you mean, _transmutate_ us into anything we want? What are you saying?"

"I'm saying... remember when _I_ transmutated into the little old lady? I think I know enough about the Specteroscope to be able to _transmutate_ all of you, _permanently_ , to whatever look you like. Even change your _voice_. I could then take you to whatever realm you want. Then... well, I could leave. I just can't _take_ it anymore. I almost didn't make it back from the gem a couple of times. What if I hadn't? Or _don't_ the next time? Whoever it is that takes my place will more than likely kill _all_ of you, and you _know_ it!

"I, I love you all so _much_! I just, I just can't _do_ this anymore."

Tianna sits stunned, hearing Amanda willing to go on alone... Amanda who has no family, and no friends other than them. The thought of Amanda, who would give her life for anyone of them, and has stood in front of Tianna to protect her, and the others, suddenly pushes all other thoughts from Tianna's mind.

A clarity swirls in Tianna, like a new part awakening within her, shaking her to the core with new understanding. She realizes her life suddenly has a real purpose. Not just for the revenge of her mom, but to do something meaningful with her life. Something that may save all the people and creatures on every known realm, of all the known universes. The thought, and magnitude of what must be done, truly staggers her for the first time. And Amanda is ready to do it... alone.

In an instant, Tianna realizes what an unbearable burden Amanda is carrying. She cannot even begin to imagine Amanda's pain, how frightened she must be, and believing she is the cause of all their pain and suffering.

Tianna, wiping her eyes says, "No, it's _not_ your fault Amanda. It's not you who's caused the pain and endless suffering, it is the _evil_ within the necklace. An evil which if not controlled, will destroy _all_ the Light, wherever it may be found... forever.

"If _Amanda_ had not found the necklace, someday, perhaps still in our lifetime, someone else _would_ find it, and the chances are, _they_ would have been from the _Dark_." Tianna shivers at the thought. A decision solidifying in her mind, she knows with certainty now, what she has to do with her life.

Tianna continues, "There is _no_ way that I am leaving you. _Your_ quest is _my_ quest. And we will survive or _perish_ together. It's the evil powers of the _necklace_ that is to blame. Not you.

"Honestly, _think_ about it. If _you_ had not found it Amanda, someone else eventually _would_ have, and all may have been lost. The way I see it, it's up to _us_ now, and us _alone_ to find a way to get the necklace off, _destroy_ the necklace, or find a way to help you control its power before it controls you.

"No Amanda, you will _not_ carry this burden and walk alone. Not while _I'm_ still living. Don't you see? This is far _greater_ than any one of us, and there _is_ only us, the _five_ of us against something so _evil_ it will destroy _trillions_ upon _trillions_ of innocent lives!

"Don't you get it? Right now people and creatures are going about their everyday lives, singing and dancing, falling in love, _totally_ oblivious that if _we_ five don't succeed, _their_ lives are _over_. _And_ their children's, and their children's children, until _all_ of their line is _exterminated_.

"That's what the true power of the necklace was designed for... that's what it's all about, isn't it? The total and complete _extermination_ of all that is good, leaving only the most _evil_ and vile behind throughout all the universes.

"It's _mind_ numbing to think that if we _five_ fail... _all_ is lost. I owe you a _huge_ apology Amanda. And I'm ashamed. I'm ashamed that all this time, I've made it all about _me_. About _my_ pain and sorrow over the loss of my mom. About _my_ no longer having a real home. _My_ not being able to go wherever I want and not be _hunted_. Everything about me, me, _me_! I've been so _selfish_!

"But it's _not_ just about me, or Tia, or Thian, or Sadie, or _you_ Amanda. It's about doing what's _right_. It's about being _frightened_ out of your mind, _knowing_ the horrors which possibly await _all_ living things in the future, but having the _strength_ and courage to stand and _fight_ for those rights.

"And right now, we are fighting for the right to _exist_. To fight against the _extermination_ of _everything_ we hold dear to us. To _fight_! Not only for _ourselves_ , but those who can no longer _fight_ for themselves, or don't know _how_ to fight, and for those _innocent_ everywhere who have _no_ idea of the evil that will be unleashed, a shadow taking them all, if the five of _us_... give up.

"I can't speak for the rest of you. But as for me... I'm going to _fight_ side-by-side with Amanda, with _everything_ I've got. Not for me anymore, but for all living things that are of the Light, until my _last_ dying breath. I will _not_ give up on you Amanda, and I am _not_ going to give up on hope. I'm _in_... for as _long_ as it takes, until _whatever_ end may come."

It goes very quiet for a long moment, then...

"I'm ashamed too," Tia says with her head down. "Like you sis, I've just been focused on _myself_ , and my problems and emotions, and not the immense _gravity_ of what will happen if we _don't_ succeed. I'm in too Amanda, for as long as you'll have me, or until my end. But, it sure would be nice to have a _vacation_. Seems like _something_ is trying to kill us everywhere we go. Every _door_ we open, every _tunnel_ we pass through, every _room_ we enter, every _area_ we fly to... _something_ is waiting for us."

"But that's just it isn't it?" Thian says thoughtfully. "We _aren't_ on vacation. We're _not_ just flying from one safe place to another for the fun of it either, or off searching for treasure and not really caring if we find it or not, because we can just _laugh_ and go home. We're _not_ like everyone else. Not anymore.

"We _are_ different. And you're right Tia, _everywhere_ we go, _every_ time we open a door, walk into some tunnel, _whatever_ we do, we're being... hunted! Everywhere we go looking for the Shards of Legend, is being _protected_. Protected by spells, traps and _curses_ all designed to kill whoever _dares_ to find them. It seems like we're being attacked every day, because we _are_! _Every_ day we continue our search, brings us _closer_ to defeating evil. Every single day, we have to _fight_ for not only _our_ existence, but for trillions upon trillions of others. We - the _five_ of us - are a part of the _greatest_ quest ever attempted. One to save _all_ creatures of the Light, wherever they're found.

"You're right Tianna. This is _far_ greater than any of us. But _us_ is all we have to fight with. You're not going _anywhere_ without me Amanda. _I'm_ in till the end too."

"Well, you know you can't go without _me_!" Sadie says wiping her eyes. "You're the only family I've ever had. And it doesn't matter to me if we don't have a real home, because wherever we set up camp, _is_ home, as long as we're all together. Besides, who'll look through all the walls, ground and stuff, looking for traps? _I'm_ in too."

Tianna stands saying, "Then we're _all_ in Amanda." She extends her arm palm down and looks at Thian.

Thian nods, stands and places his hand on top of Tianna's.

Tia and Sadie stand, and as Sadie steps up, Tianna and Thian lower their hands so both Tia and Sadie can place their hands on top of theirs.

Everyone turns and looks at the tear streaked face of the hiccupping Amanda.

"Well Amanda, we can't do it without _you_ ," Tianna says with a weak smile.

Amanda sniffs and wipes her eyes, stands and walks to the others, placing her hand on top.

"To _whatever_ end." Tianna says nodding.

"To _whatever_ end!" they shout as they toss their arms up.

Everyone smiles nervously, then all hug one another for a very long time, then take their seats.

"Thanks," Amanda says wiping her eyes.

"You know, we really _should_ get started searching again," Tianna says thoughtfully. "I think we should get started in the morning. Any objections?"

"Well yeah!" Thian says with a laugh. "So... I guess you mean we can't stay here for like, a month, or a _year_ or two?"

"Nice _try_ airhead," Tianna says laughing. "We leave in the morning. Amanda restocked the cabin yesterday, so, restock your packs. Extra _cookies_ for Miss Sadie for being our shining star and _saving_ Amanda."

Everyone cheers as Sadie turns red as she giggles.

They head off to resupply their packs and refill their water bottles from the kitchen sink. Amanda realizes it was a good thing Thian refilled the tanks at the falls a while back.

Everyone checks each other's pack, which has become their normal routine, finding everything in order. Once again, they each take a long hot bath, not knowing when the next time will be they can do so. Saying their good nights, they all get to bed for an early start in the morning.

After a good breakfast, the cabin is packed and secured in Thian's pocket.

"So, where to now?" Sadie asks skipping around Tianna.

"Well, we really looked the upper area over pretty well over the past week," Amanda says thoughtfully. "So, I think since we didn't find _anything_ from the ground up, we should take another look below... in the _dungeons_. You know, Teaskis might have been right. The Shard may not even _be_ here anymore. We'll have a good look around anyway, and if we don't find anything, we'll use the Specteroscope and try the next place."

Everyone agrees and they slowly make their way down into the dungeons. It is dark, damp and filled with webs, and everyone cringes when some football sized rat-like creatures scurry about, disappearing into what everyone thinks may be drain pipes.

After going from one cell to another, Sadie yells, "Hey! I found another wall I can see through! But... I really can't see what's inside. It's dark, and... I don't see a _floor_. Just some kind of... well, I don't know _what_ exactly. Maybe some kind of really skinny _bridge_ or something?"

"Good work Sadie," Tianna says stepping up and tickling Sadie.

"Sadie, do you see some way to get in?" Tia asks looking at the stone wall.

"There's _something_ behind that stone up there. Like a _block_ with a long stick or something attached to it. I can't see the other end."

"This stone?" Thian asks placing his hand on a cold damp stone about head height.

"Two stones to the right and _one_ up."

Thian reaches over and presses on the stone.

A grinding sound startles them all, as everyone steps back.

"Okay, keep your wands at the _ready_ ," Thian says as Tianna steps up next to him.

An entire section of the wall begins folding back into the hidden room as the stones rotate changing positions, revealing an entrance. The sound of rushing water from a large underground river, along with a very cold rush of air, makes them shiver.

Stepping to the opening, Thian says, "You were right Sadie. It's a really narrow _arched_ stone bridge leading to the far side. Must be, like four hundred yards across. Gosh, it's only like four feet wide. I think I see the faint outline of a door over there."

Thian takes a few steps in, and stands on a fairly wide landing about seven feet deep. Stepping to the side, the others cautiously make their way in. Clearing his throat, forcing a swallow, Thian says, "I'm getting my broom out, and I'll fly across first, and take a look around on the other side."

Thian pulls the little box from his pocket, and after a few moments, picks up his fill sized broom.

Mounting, Thian says, "I'll be right back." Thian hops and immediately lands again.

"What happened?" Tianna says in shock.

"It won't fly! There must be some spell preventing us from flying!" Thian says with eyes wide.

"Sooo, does that mean we have to walk across?" Sadie says in a small voice.

"Yeah, guess it does," Tianna says shaking her head.

Nervously, Thian miniaturizes his broom and slips the metal box back into his pocket.

"Okay, I'm going across. Wait here okay. The bridge is _ancient_ , and, uh, well, I think maybe we should cross one at a time, to keep the _weight_ down, just in case."

Stepping to the edge, where the bridge begins, Thian looks down into the chasm below, but it is so dark, he cannot see the bottom.

With a quick look over his shoulder, eyes wide with fear, Thian turns and faces the bridge. Placing one foot on the first stone of the bridge, he stomps that foot. "It _seems_ solid."

Slowly Thian takes a full step onto the ancient stone bridge, hearing the roaring river below. One agonizing step after the other, he slowly makes his way to the middle. There are _no_ railings on the bridge, just the slightly curved, cold and wet stones.

Hesitating for a moment, Thian twists and waives back, the others waving also. Looking forward, he steps closer to the left edge of the bridge and holds his wand over the side as he looks down. Thian casts a spell Amanda had taught them all which sends a fireball from his wand. The bright ball drops into the void, everyone watching it as it falls. Thian's fire ball seems to be reflecting off the froth from violent waves over a thousand feet below. Swallowing hard with a shiver, he moves on.

Thian reaches the other side and with a huge sigh, he walks about fifteen feet to stand in front of the large door. After studying the door for a few moments, he places his ear against it and hearing nothing, turns and waves his wand over his head several times, signaling he made it okay and to send the next person over.

"Who's next?" Tia asks.

"Amanda, _you_ go next," Tianna says pointing to the bridge. "Then you Tia, then Sadie. I'll come last. I want to watch our backs. I don't like this at _all_!"

Amanda nods and slowly, nervously, begins to cross. She stops about half way across as Thian had done, then stepping to the edge, shines her wand over the side. She sees some tiny flickering far below, as Thian's little hovering ball of fire tickles the spray from the waves. Thian is grinning at her as she approaches, taking her hand as she steps from the bridge. They hug briefly.

"Glad you _made_ it okay," Thian says smiling. " _Scary_ huh?"

"You can say _that_ again. I'm out of breath and I was walking really slow. My _heart_ is beating like I just ran a mile."

Thian laughs as he waves his wand for the next one to follow.

Tia crosses next, followed by a very frightened Sadie. Tianna crosses last. No mishaps.

Everyone grins looking back over the bridge, thankful no one had fallen off, and that the bridge had not collapsed. About to turn to face the door, a rumbling sound returns their gaze to the far side of the bridge. As they look, the stones that formed the wall begin rolling, shifting positions, moving about, reforming a solid stone wall, as though the entrance had not existed. They look at one another nervously, then turn to face the large rotting wooden door.

"Well, let's see what's behind door number _two_ ," Thian says with a nervous laugh. "Ya know, I'm really getting to _hate_ doors," he says shaking his head. "Sadie, can you see anything on the other side?"

Staring at the door, Sadie moves her head around then says, "It's just a really small, narrow, well, _hallway_ I think. Looks like another door on the far side."

"Great... more _doors_ ," Thian says with a sigh as the others smile.

"Well Thian, _get_ 'er open and let's see what we get now," Tianna says pointing her wand at the door.

Thian slides the locking bolt to the right and grasps the tarnished ring. It takes several yanks using all his strength before the door makes a cracking sound as the door frame splinters apart at the hinges, sending the large, heavy door falling toward the others. Everyone screams as they dart to the sides, the old rotten door crashes to the ground, where it shatters into rotted pieces.

After everyone calms down, Tianna steps to the doorway shining her wand light inside. Thian steps beside her, shining his in too.

"See any _traps_ Sadie?" Tia asks.

After a moment Sadie says, "I... I don't _think_ so. But, my eyes are really tired from all the penetration I've done the past few days, and this morning in the dungeons. This room is, _different_ somehow."

"Different... _how_?" Amanda asks.

"I'm not sure. The ceiling, floor and two walls look... _weird_."

"What do you mean _weird,_ Sadie? What _kind_ of weird?" Thian asks looking into the hallway, not seeing anything suspicious at all.

"It's like... _one_ second everything's solid for at least fifteen feet behind the walls, then, the _next_ second... just _dark_. Like there's nothing there at all but darkness. I really can't explain..."

A rumbling sound startles everyone as the ground shakes. They spin around, shocked to see the bridge breaking apart and falling into the gaping chasm below. Before anyone can say anything, the landing they are standing on begins to crumble and fall away, forcing them all through the doorway, into the small hallway.

Filled with terror, they watch as the entire landing vanishes, right up to and against the open archway where the door used to be.

"Well, _so_ much for getting back across on foot," Tia says shaking.

"Yeah, I know," Tianna says with a shiver. "Somehow, I don't think there _is_ a way back through, and I bet there's some kind of _blast_ shield there now, trapping us in here. I really don't like this ya know. It's like we're being _lead_ , or _forced_ to go through that next door."

"Well, there's no other way _to_ go," Amanda says shaking her head. "So, I guess we go on, and like Thian said, see what's behind door number _three_."

Nervously they begin their way down the hallway. Getting to the door, Thian turns with a weak smile saying, "Well, at least we made it _to_ the door. Guess there weren't any traps in here aft..."

The end of the long hallway where they are standing, suddenly _drops_ down at a sixty degree angle. An adjoining shaft appears which they are sent tumbling into, sliding and screaming as they drop further along a narrow, slick and slimy shaft.

They feel themselves tossed from the end of the shaft into the air, arms and legs thrashing as they drop into darkness.

Amanda splashes into several feet of water, her back crashing hard against something that crunches. Frantically, she tries to stand, slipping on something as she hears sickening cracking and shattering sounds and hearing the others splashing nearby. Trying to stand once more, Amanda again slips on whatever the curved object is she is standing on, sending her splashing and sinking into filthy water. Rising to the surface, she hears Sadie scream, followed by Tia.

Amanda feels something crawl up her arm and begins thrashing again, as she hears Thian and Tianna let out a cry of fright at the same time. Amanda's eyes are huge as she begins to slip again on curved stones beneath her boots. Quickly steadying herself, she feels more things crawling on her arms and thrashing around in her long hair. All she can think of is the _bone_ pit they had fallen into, and would have died if Sadie had not found them. Her mind is in a panic, knowing that now, _Sadie_ is down here with them.

Looking around, eyes bulging, Amanda sees they have fallen into some kind of deep well, but one made entirely from... _skulls_.

Grabbing her floating wand, Amanda waves it around and sees many creepy crawling creatures slithering and crawling on her and the others. Sadie is _hysterical_ , Tianna pulling and tossing long multi-legged creatures from Sadie's face.

Slipping again, Amanda looks down as she forces the glowing tip of her wand under the water, and goes stiff. She is _standing_ on a couple of skulls. The entire floor of the well is made of skulls as well.

As the others move, Amanda can hear the crunching, cracking and muffled shattering of the skulls beneath their boots in the slippery slightly green water.

Everyone scrambles unsteadily to their feet, hearing the crunching and cracking beneath their feet.

"What, what _is_ this?" Amanda shouts scared out of her mind.

"Some kind of well made of skulls!" Thian shouts slapping at several bugs crawling up both arms.

" _Brilliant_ Thian! Ya _think_!" Tianna says frantically looking around.

"Well, the _last_ time we were in a well..." Tia says.

"Yeah, no _kidding_ , let's hope we don't have to go through _that_ again," Tianna says looking up into darkness. "Everybody got their _wands_ this time?"

They all do after finding them floating in the water.

"Get 'em _off_! Get 'em _off_ me Tianna!" Sadie screams then slips on a slick curved skill. The water is up to Sadie's shoulders when she is standing upright. Tianna grabs Sadie's arm as Sadie slips under, yanking her back to the surface.

"Wait. _Loki_ told me about these kinds of wells," Thian says smacking his face, squashing a large green beetle, sending it's innards spraying into Tianna's face. "This is a _witching_ well."

"A wishing well?" Amanda says confused.

"No, not a _wishing_ well, a _witching_ well. Loki said that many of the Dark made wells from the severed heads of their enemies. They would seal the heads in a shaft, using some kind of mortar that attached to the flesh, and hardened as the flesh from the skulls rotted and decayed, leaving just the skulls set in solid mortar. Loki said something about them thinking back then, that the souls of the dead would be forever trapped in the well. Without a body, they could never come back to life. Like, if they could _anyway_ you know?"

Fighting off various slithering and crawling creatures, Thian begins thrashing about as several dark beetles scurry across his face.

Crrrrack!

The well begins filling with water. Thian shouts, "I _didn't_ do it, I _didn't_ do it."

"It was _me_!" Tia shouts, "I stepped on a skull and it _shattered_ , then, I could feel water rushing up from it against my leg! What are we going to do?"

Sadie forces her back up against the side of the well, trying to get away from a two foot yellow centipede-looking creature, feeling the skulls pressing against her back. As she presses harder against the skulls, one shatters and that section behind her swings open, revealing a stairway leading down into the darkness. Sadie, flipping onto her back with a scream, begins sliding as the water rushes into the opening. She, along with _dozens_ of critters slides within the rushing water, as it cascades down slippery steps.

"Sadie!" Tianna screams as she is sucked off her feet along with the others, all swept into the opening and sent sliding down the stairway.

They all come to a painful stop several dozen steps below. Thian, Tia and Sadie having dropped their wands, their glow vanishing as they make their way along the rushing water.

"Everyone okay?" Amanda shouts.

"I'm okay I _guess_ ," Thian says with a moan helping Amanda up.

"Sadie! Are you alright?" Tianna asks in a panic.

"Yeah. I scraped my _leg_ though, it really hurts!"

"Sis? You okay?" Tianna asks helping Sadie up.

"A little banged up too, but okay. Good thing you and Amanda were able to hold onto your _wands_ Thian."

"Yeah, well, I sure don't want to stay _here_ ," Thian says in a shaky voice. "These stairs have to lead _someplace_ , and maybe it's to the way _out_... since they were hidden, I hope. Come on, let's go."

They very carefully make their way further down the stairs as more water rushes past them, making it hard to stay on their feet.

Following the stairs, hands against the close walls to steady themselves, they soon find the stairs end in a small flooded room.

"By the _moons_ , the stairs continue _below_ the water," Thian says thrusting his wand under the water to illuminate the stairs.

"Look!" Tianna shouts. "There's a _door_ under the water, on the other side of the room!"

As she says that, they hear a rumbling behind them as hundreds of skulls tumble down the stairs and into them.

They all scream as Sadie yells, "What's _happening_?" as they hear crashing far above.

"I don't know," Tianna says quickly, "But I think our way back _up_ was just closed!"

"Maybe, but the _water's_ still rushing down the stairs and into this pool. It must be getting through _somehow_!" Tia says with fright.

"Well, we can't stay here and _drown_ ," Thian shouts. "Hey, there go your wands. We have to swim out and get your wands first, then _dive_ and see if we can get that door open."

"But what if it's just another flooded _room_ or really long passageway?" Tia asks. "We could drown anyway!"

"Maybe, but we _have_ to see," Amanda says diving into the water after Thian.

The others dive in too, and soon, everyone has their wands lit.

"Listen," Thian says treading water. "I'm gonna dive down and see if I can open that door. I'll be right back." Without waiting, Thian takes a deep breath then dives, the others watching him kick with his arms helping to propel him, his wand light casting unnatural shifting shadows around him.

Amanda watches intently as Thian reaches the door. Grasping the ring, floating ninety degrees to the door, she watches him yank repeatedly, without any movement from the door, just his body being pulled into the door. Thian floats back a few feet, points his wand at the door, moves his wrist, but nothing happens. Thian turns, quickly making his way to the surface.

Taking a few quick breaths, Thian shouts, "It's stuck! I tried to _blast_ it open with my wand, but the water slowed my motions too much. I need help."

"I'm not _waiting_ ," Amanda says reaching into her pocket for the Specteroscope. "I've had _enough_ , I'm getting us _out_ of here!" She fiddles with the knobs, then says, "Okay, swim to me and take your positions!"

Everyone swims to Amanda and does their best to stay afloat while holding on to one another.

"On three! One... two... _three_!" she pushes the buttons

Nothing.

"What's _wrong_?" Sadie shouts beginning to slip under as Tianna grabs and brings her back up.

"It's not _working_! I don't know why!" Amanda yells. "You don't think it's not _waterproof_ do you?"

"More likely some kind of spell _preventing_ it from working," Thian shouts. "We have to get through that door. It's our _only_ chance now, but I can't do it alone. The water's rising much faster now. We have to do something, and do it now!"

"I'll go with you," Tianna says swimming to Thian.

"I'm going too," Amanda says. "If the _three_ of us can't get it open, it's not _going_ to open. If not, I sure hope the necklace will do something!"

After taking several quick breaths, they dive. Tia and Sadie watch them descend, blue wand light brightly illuminating the ancient wooden door below.

Approaching the door, Amanda can see wonderful carvings of many strange creatures, with a large witch with a pointed hat pointing back at Amanda.

Thian grabs the ring, as does Tianna and Amanda. Thian holds up his fist, and begins counting, by raising his fingers one at a time. On three, everyone yanks hard.

Nothing.

Thian is in the middle, and pointing to his legs, he then points to the wall on one side of the door. Amanda and Tianna nod then turn sideways so they can press their legs against the wall. Once in place, Thian begins counting again.

On three, they all yank, then again, then again. The third time bubbles burst from the doorframe. One last yank and the door bursts open, swinging wide, the force of the water sweeping them through the door and out of sight as the water quickly drains. The pressure of the water holds the door fully open against the wall. It's as if a plug had been pulled in a bathtub. Water rushes through the doorway, pulling a frightened and screaming Tia and Sadie along for the ride.

In a few seconds the room is empty. Only the sound of dripping and the fading sound of rushing water remains.

#  The Wand and Seeing Spheres

Amanda, quite startled, is swept over a good sized waterfall into a deep pool of water. Bobbing to the surface, she snatches her glowing wand floating beside her as she frantically looks around for the others.

The very large cavern they are in, has strange vegetation on both sides. On the right side of the cavern, she sees no place to get out of the water, but on the left, there is a wide strip of shoreline. The others spot it as well, and all swim for the smooth pebbled beach.

Stepping from the water, shaking his head like a dog, Thian says, "Well, guess we should have stayed in the comfort of that other huge cavern after all."

"Strange place," Tia says looking at the vegetation.

Tianna laughs wringing out her long blond hair, "And just what makes this cavern any _stranger_ than all the others we've been in?"

"I've never seen vegetation like this, it's _glowing_ but the light's rippling back and forth. Like it's _chasing_ itself."

"Yeah, but we've seen _tons_ of glowing bushes and stuff before," Thian says looking around.

"I guess. Never like _these_ though. These just look... I dunno... nothing I guess."

"Well, the cavern looks like it's blocked back there, in the direction the water's flowing from," Tianna says with a sigh. "And, it looks like it's vanishing the way it's flowing too. It must be flowing through some crack in the ground at the back wall. I don't think we should try to go that way, we could get sucked under."

"Yeah, I don't wanna go that way either," Sadie says wrapping her arms around herself shivering.

"Well, let's walk back that way anyway and see if there may be some other way to go," Thian says starting off along the beach. "I mean, _someone_ went through a lot of trouble to keep people from _getting_ here alive, so _what's_ so important? Maybe a Shard's hidden in here."

"But... why didn't _others_ get here? Why _us_?" Amanda asks following Thian as she pulls wet hair from across her mouth.

"Well, we've found hundreds of skeletons before now, so we know thousands more had to of been killed too. And, tons of witches and wizards may have gotten this far really," Thian says stepping over a large rock. "Well, if they found all the _hidden_ places we did, and those that didn't get _killed_ or traded by the giants, or _eaten_ by the trees and stuff. But you have to remember Amanda, when most of these spells and curses were created, it was _hundreds_ of thousands of years ago. In a time when most people didn't _have_ wands or brooms. So, _thousands_ of people and creatures could have been sent here somehow, and... well, didn't have the _skills_ or equipment we do today."

"Oh, I hadn't thought of that," Amanda says stopping beside Thian.

They reach the back of the cavern where the river is thundering down into a long wide crack at the wall, disappearing into unknown depths. There is a small stream branching to the left, away from the roaring river.

"Well, maybe we should follow that stream and see if we find anything," Tia says with a sigh.

They dry themselves off using one of several drying spells they have learned since Sadie's, and begin following the stream. Constantly making their way through thick glowing bushes, they hear scurrying and scampering sounds all around them.

Everyone is on edge.

After fifteen minutes, trudging through thick brush, not having seen the stream for several minutes, they continue to follow the sound of it. Breaking through a very tall thick cluster of brush, they step into another small cavern, facing the stream. The stream is much wider here. The far side of the cavern looks like a shear vertical wall of the glowing, ever changing and pulsing lights of the odd vegetation.

The only thing here is a patch of beach about the size of a large bedroom in front of them, with what appears to be a large rock with a fairly flat top.

"What's on that rock over there?" Sadie says pointing.

"Don't know, but let's go have a look," Tianna says tightening the grip on her wand. "Looks to me to be grown over with some kind of dead, orangish brown vines or something. I don't like the _looks_ of this. Don't you think it _odd_ that the river ended into a crack we couldn't or _wouldn't_ get into, forcing us to follow a side stream and we end up here? And, we just _happen_ to find a flat rock right in the _middle_ of this clearing, with something resting on it covered in _vines_?"

"Yeah, I _do_ ," Amanda says cautiously looking around. "This could be some kind of trap for sure. Sadie, do you see anything in the bushes or in the ground around here and that rock?"

Sadie concentrates for several moments then says, "Well, now I _really_ don't like this place either, because I can't see _anything_ but what's on the surface. It's like, like when someone had put an anti-penetration spell on those doors before. I can't see anything at all other than what all of you see."

"Well, _this_ can't be good," Thian says narrowing his eyes. "But, since a _Shard_ was rumored to be here, _maybe_ anyway, and since someone did go through a lot of trouble to keep searchers from getting this far..."

"Yeah, it _could_ be one of the Shards I guess," Amanda says softly. "Listen, if it _is_ a Shard, it may let me get close to it. I've asked the Specter in the Scope lots of questions about the Wielder, and one of the things he told me, was that a Wielder, once connected deep enough with the necklace, can actually _sense_ a Shards presence. Like, well, like the necklace becomes a _Shard_ detector I guess.

"So, stay here for a minute while I go see what's on the rock, or if I can, sense a Shard or something."

"Okay, but be _careful_ ," Thian says nervously, then licks his lips, tightening the grip on his wand.

Amanda cautiously makes her way to the large flat topped rock, which is roughly waist high to her. She has to walk over and through the tangle of old dead vines of some unknown vegetation, but reaches the rock without mishap.

After standing at the rock for a few moments, Amanda says, "I don't sense anything. There's a long, _ancient_ looking wooden box with a lock on it. Nothing else I can see. Come look."

The others make their way to stand beside Amanda.

"Wow, _cool_ box," Thian says studying the box. "Mostly covered by vines. Wonder what's in it?"

"One way to find out," Tianna says pulling some of the vines away as the others join in.

Once the rock and box have been pretty well cleared of vines, Tianna points her wand at the lock saying, "Orathian!"

Nothing.

She tries five other opening spells, with no luck. Everyone argues for several minutes about how to get the lock off without destroying what may be inside. Amanda suddenly remembers the odd little key she had picked up back in the tower.

"Wait...," she reaches into her pants pocket and pulls out the tiny key, looking at the odd end of it, then to the keyhole in the lock.

"Where'd you find _that_?" Tia asks puzzled.

"Found it in the tower along with that _book_ I showed you. I had forgotten all about the key. When I was pulling out the book, a corner of it scrapped across the top underside of the desk, and this _key_ fell down. But... _doesn't_ it look like it might fit the box?"

"Yeah, I guess it does. Let me give it a try," Tianna says taking the key.

"It fits!"

"Kind of _convenient_ though don't you think?" Thian says wearing a nervous expression.

"What do you mean?" Amanda asks watching Tianna turn the key and the lock popping open.

"You just _happen_ to find a key... then we just _happen_ to find a box, hidden deep in a cavern, and the key... just _happens_ to fit the box? You said the key fell when you took out the book?"

"Yeah... so?"

"So it just seems a little to..."

"I can't get the box open!" Tianna grunts, clutching the box trying to force it open. She hits it with the side of her fist several times, trying to loosen it, but it won't budge.

"Here, let _me_ try," Tia says taking the box. She does her best to pry it open, holding it tightly against her, but it will not open.

"Let me try it," Amanda says. Frustrated, Tia hands the box to Amanda as Thian walks away to see if he can find another way out of there.

"Darn! I can't open it either, it's _stuck_ solid!"

"Can I try?" Sadie asks in her little girl voice. Smiling, Amanda hands her the box. Sadie does her very best to pry it open with her tiny fingers, giving lots of grunts and groans, but no luck.

After handing the box back to Amanda, who places it back on the rock table, she and the others step to the side and enter into a heated argument on how to get the box open. Tianna wants to blast it open, but Amanda, afraid a Shard may be in the box, thinks it may get broken or shattered if they us a blasting or crushing spell. Tia thinks they should bash the box with a rock until it splinters and cracks, then just break it apart.

As the girls shout at one another, Thian returns, not sure what they are arguing about, and steps to the rock, placing his hand on the lid of the box.

Tianna, who is facing him snaps, "Oh _sure_ Thian, like _you_ could open it when none of us could!"

Ignoring Tianna, Thian easily flips it open.

A gasp of surprise from Tianna causes the others to turn, seeing the box open and the grin on Thian's face.

Looking into the box, Thian says, "Cool!"

Reaching into the box, he lifts out a wonderful ancient wand. Holding it up to show the others, the entire wand gives a brilliant blue flash for a moment, followed by a burst of blue-white light and gust of wind, which forces them all to take a step back.

The light fades until the wand stops glowing. Thian's hair is sticking straight out as though charged with static electricity. His eyes are wide and filled with surprise, fear and confusion, as are everyone else's.

Setting the wand quickly on the rock, Thian takes several stumbling steps back, breathing hard.

"Thian! Are you alright?" Tianna shouts.

"Yeah... I _think_ anyway. For a second there, it felt like I got hit with _lightning_. Man, did that ever hurt! What the heck _happened_?"

"Don't know, but you should _see_ your hair!" Sadie laughs, the others smiling.

"How did you get the box open?" Amanda asks walking to Thian.

"I... I just grabbed the lid and... _opened_ it. It opened really easy. But, look..." Thian steps back to the rock, tilts the box slightly and reaches in again. "Look at _these_ ," he says setting three perfectly round, crystal clear spheres on the rock.

"What are they?" Amanda asks picking one of them up.

"Don't know. _Weird_ huh?" Thian says handing one to Tianna as he picks up the larger of the three.

"Looks like really big _marbles_ I used to play with when I was a kid," Amanda says with a smile.

"But... why would someone hide an _ancient_ wand, with these crystal balls?" Tia asks as Tianna hands her the sphere to look over.

"No idea. One thing for sure though, they weren't hiding a _Shard_ ," Thian says putting the sphere in his pocket, then cautiously picks up the ancient wand.

"Well, looks like you finally found another wand Thian," Amanda laughs. "You've been _looking_ for one ever since I met you. You have some kind of _connection_ to this wand for sure. Why, I have no idea, but, it seems to have picked _you_ over any of us for some reason."

"Yeah. I guess so. Well, I'll keep it and try it out sometime. I'll stick to my _old_ one for now though. The other times I tried a new wand, uh, well, _you_ know."

Everyone laughs, then Thian continues, "I'd really like to get out of here though. We've been _inside_ mountains far too long for my liking. I'd really like to feel the sun on my face for a change."

"I'm with you," Tia says passing the sphere to Sadie to look at.

"Whatdaya wanna do with the spheres?" Thian asks. "I put one in my pocket, maybe two of you should take the others until we find out what they are. Amanda, why don't you take one, Tianna the other, unless Tia or Sadie wants to keep it."

Tianna passes the sphere to Sadie saying, "You keep it safe for us Miss Sadie, okay?"

Grinning, Sadie takes the sphere and slips it into her pants pocket, cinching it closed. "Okay. _I'll_ keep it safe. You can count on me."

"Well, this was an interesting find, but, we still need to look around some before I try using the Specteroscope to get us out of here," Amanda says looking around the small clearing. "There could _still_ be a Shard in here someplace, although, like I said, I don't sense anything. But... I don't know if I really _can_ yet or not."

"I'm with you Amanda," Tia says studying a nearby plant. "Things in here are _really_ strange, and the sooner we get out of here the better."

"Then let's get started," Tianna says walking toward the water. "Let's see if we can keep near the shoreline. We may have to swim some though, since these bushes are really thick here."

"Yeah, okay," Thian says. "Make sure your _pockets_ are sealed, and let's have a short swim. Just out a little to see where this stream is headed, and if we can see any other shoreline. We _could_ use our brooms I guess, but, we might spot a trail or something, and just have to put them away again. And, they may not work in here either."

They agree, then after checking that their pockets are sealed, wade into the cold water. The current near the shore is rather gentle, and they float together for a time, looking at the strange plants, bushes and other vegetation, glowing and pulsing in ever changing colors and patterns.

Fifteen minutes pass. "Hey! Look! Over there," Sadie yells. "There's some kind of _path_ going into those bushes."

"Let's check it out!" Tianna says headed for the shallow shoreline.

Once out of the water, they use a drying spell, leaving everyone steaming, making them laugh.

"Well, let's follow the path and see what we find," Amanda says nervously. "But, keep your wands at the ready. This really _is_ a creepy place, and we keep hearing things scurrying around in the bushes, but I haven't _seen_ anything. Uh, that path is really narrow, so we'll have to walk in single file. Let's go."

Thian takes point, followed by Amanda, Tia, Sadie and Tianna. Tianna once again watching their backs.

The path winds its way through the bushes and around huge boulders. The stream still sounds somewhat close, but has faded a good deal with all the thick vegetation surrounding them.

Thian comes to a halt, Amanda walking into him, with Tia walking into her.

"What's wrong Thian?" Amanda whispers.

"There's a round... _door_ in the cavern wall over there. Look."

Thian steps forward and to the side where the vegetation is very low. Amanda looks at the perfectly round ancient door. There is no writing or carvings, and no visible way to open it.

"What's up?" Tianna says squeezing up against Sadie.

"Another _door_ ," Tia says with a sigh.

Thian walks slowly toward the door, the path widening as he approaches. They are soon walking side by side, all eyes looking from the door, to the surrounding brush, then back again.

"No markings and no _latch_ or handle," Sadie says standing next to Tianna.

"Thian, see if you can get it open. The rest of you get ready," Amanda says lowering into a crouch. The others do the same.

Stepping to the door, Thian raises his arms saying, "Orathian!"

Clanking sounds work their way around the door, then, the door opens swinging _up_ from the ground, to stick straight out at the top like some kind of awning.

"Well, _that's_ interesting, haven't seen a door like that before," Tia says looking at the yawning opening.

"The path continues on the other side," Tianna says looking worried. "Guess we should follow it and see what we find... right?" She says hoping someone will object.

"Yeah, okay, let's move out," Thian says stepping through the opening.

They have only walked ten minutes when the sound of the stream returns, the path curving in that direction. Stepping between a small gap in some thick bushes, they reach a large area of beach. The water is moving swiftly, white water foaming out near the center. They all step to the water's edge.

"Great! So _now_ what?" Tianna asks and makes 'the face.'

"Well, I guess we could go bac..." Amanda begins.

Crashing and thrashing sounds come from the bushes behind them, scaring the bejeebers out of them. Before anyone can do anything, a large five headed creature charges out of the brush behind them, running on all six legs.

"Into the water! Quick!" Thian shouts diving into the stream, followed immediately by the others.

Terrified, Amanda and the others find themselves swept along the rapidly moving stream for several frightening minutes, the churning water occasionally sucking them under. Soon, they tumble over a twenty foot waterfall into a deep pool of icy water. Startled, they look around as they swim to the only shore they can see, quickly searching for any other creatures.

Getting to her feet as she reaches the shore, Amanda's eyes grow wide with fright. They are standing at the shoreline of a _dark_ forested landscape. Mist and low fog surrounds the many trees, bushes and shrubbery around them.

"Oh golly, I _really_ don't like the looks of _this_ place," Amanda says forcing a swallow.

After drying off, wands at the ready, they follow an overgrown winding path as it leads up and down several hills within the _gigantic_ cavern they have entered. The only lighting is from the many glowing trees, plants, bushes and other vegetation which are scattered about, as well as their own wand light.

As they walk, an eerie silence surrounds them. Amanda absentmindedly reaches up and touches the necklace as she receives a small shock from it. A tremor races through her, then is gone.

Amanda's eyes snap from one strange plant to another, while she shivers in the cold and rolling mist. "Uh, guys... these plants are _floating_ in the air. Are, are they _supposed_ to do that?" Amanda asks as they all walk for the only path they can see.

"I don't know. I've _never_ seen anything like them," Tia says in awe. "They're _beautiful_ , and they're all different sizes, shapes and colors."

"Yeah, some look like floating _jellyfish_ , but not like the ones with Qumong," Sadie says standing near and beneath one of the plants.

"Uh-huh. Well, _maybe_ ," Thian says looking at the gently swaying plants. "But, after having a plant like thing try to _eat_ me before, I'm staying away from these, and I don't care _how_ beautiful they are."

"There're _thousands_ of them!" Tianna says walking around a group of them. "They seem to all start about two feet off the ground, and float at various heights to, maybe a few hundred feet or so?"

"Yeah they do," Tia says gently poking a vibrant pink and purple one that looks kind of like a floating mushroom. It has a purple stem, bursting into a beautiful pink dome.

"Tia! Don't go _poking_ them okay!" Thian says nervously. "We don't know what they are. Uh, maybe they're _sleeping_ or something."

"Sleeping?" Tianna says with a laugh. "They're just _plants_ Thian, I don't think they sleep. They _are_ really interesting though, most have what look like clumps of long roots dangling down. Maybe they're like most air plants. You know, they take in water and nutrients from the air."

"Maybe, but can we just stay _away_ from them and get out of here?" Thian asks ducking under what looks like a floating stacked umbrella. "Look at _this_ thing would ya. Long yellow curvy stalk-looking thing, with a wide thin red dome and white polka dots. Looks just like an umbrella, but then, growing out of the top of the dome, is another long stalk with a dome, then another one. _Weird_. And at the very bottom, it has those long wide, thin root looking things too."

About an hour later...

"Hey! Are those floating plants way up there, like, dropping _lower_?" Tia asks.

They look up and see hundreds of the floating plants dropping rapidly, like the helium has left a balloon.

"Yeah they _are_ ," Thian says furrowing his brows. "What do you think they're doi.."

Without warning, Thian is attacked by the floating plants around him, as are the others.

Everyone yells in surprise as they are quickly lifted into the air, entangled in what they thought were the long dangling roots of the plants. They are bound so tightly, and so quickly, none have time to draw their wands. More of the floating plants entangle the ones holding the kids, and are lifted higher, as the added buoyancy of the plants combine to create something like a hot air balloon for each of them.

They struggle to no avail, watching the ground get smaller as they rise. They float through the air, legs dangling straight below them, scared to death they will be dropped to their death at any moment.

They are taken to the very ceiling of the inside of the mountain, and rapidly approach a gigantic cave.

Amanda knows they are headed for the largest cave she could ever imagine, wondering what may be waiting inside.

Thian's mass of floating plants takes him inside first, followed by Sadie, Tia, Tianna then Amanda.

It is pitch dark within the cave for a few moments, then the plants holding them glow brightly.

Amanda hears shrieks from Sadie and Tia, as both Thian and Tianna cry out too, making Amanda's heart thunder, her eyes almost popping from her face.

In a moment, Amanda lets out her own shriek, as she looks down at the massive floor of the cave. The floor is littered with thousands upon thousands of shattered skeletal remains. Many of the small ones look to have bone structures like hers, but many others are huge, the size of a dinosaur with some larger. Others are much smaller. There are many shields, swords, and armor of various kinds and sizes scattered about the bones.

Shaking uncontrollably, Amanda looks at the walls around her. The entire, gigantic cavern is made from skeletal remains. Most of the walls and ceiling are made of thousands of skulls from various creatures, along with what looks like the ends of leg or arm bones sticking out several feet around the skulls, like crystals around the inside of a geode.

They are deep within the cavern when the Amanda sees Thian's group of plants begin to lower, followed quickly by Sadie, then Tia and Tianna. Soon Amanda begins to lower as well. So scared she cannot swallow, she watches as Thian is released and drops through the air for twelve feet, where he strikes a large deep pile of bones, quickly crashing through many of them, disappearing from sight.

Sadie is screaming hysterically, thrashing around violently within the entanglement of the tentacle like roots. She gives such a high pitched shriek, Amanda feels her head will explode. Amanda is frozen in horror as she watches the tiny girl drop through the air, arms and legs flailing desperately, then strikes the mass of bones, vanishing through what looks like a ribcage.

Looking up, her mouth dry, heart beating so hard it hurts, Amanda lifts her head just in time to see Tia drop, screaming, flailing her arms with Tianna dropped but a second later. As Tia vanishes within the bones, Tianna is just about to strike them, when Amanda screams as she too is released from the grasp of the floating plant-like creatures.

About to strike the tangle of bones, Amanda clamps her eyes shut as she drops feet first through the massive ribcage of some gigantic creature, followed by shattering through some other bones, then dropping through the ribcage of a somewhat smaller creature. Amanda slams against and is draped over the backbone of a large skeleton, knocking the wind from her. About to pass out, she feels herself roll from the backbone and drop further, her eyes flying wide. Striking her head against a huge hard skull, she is knocked unconscious.

#  The Floating Witch

Amanda awakens to faint cries from the others some distance away. Her head is killing her. Reaching up, she feels a large knot on the back of her head. Her side is bruised, as are her arms and legs.

"Tia!" Tianna cries frantically. "Tia! Where _are_ you?"

No reply.

"Tianna?" Amanda asks in a whisper, her head still spinning but clearing rapidly. She immediately remembers what had happened. "Tianna! Thian? Sadie, where _are_ you?"

"Amanda!" Thian shouts somewhere to her left.

Turning, she sees a faint blue light through the mass of bones. "Thian! Are you alright?" Amanda cries pulling and igniting her wand.

"Yeah. _Banged_ up pretty good but nothin' broken. You?"

"I guess I got _knocked_ out when I hit my head. I'm banged up too, but okay. Tianna...? Sadie...? Tia?"

"I'm over here!" Sadie's faint voice floats from Amanda's right.

"Sadie, are you alright?" Amanda asks in a panic.

"Yeah, I _guess_ so. I'm _scared_! Tianna? Tianna, where _are_ you?"

"I'm _okay_ Sadie, but I haven't heard Tia. I've been calling her, but she hasn't answered."

"Tia? It's Amanda! Can you _hear_ me?"

Everyone falls silent, squinting their ears for any sound from Tia.

"You _hear_ that?" Amanda shouts.

"Yeah I did, _faintly_ ," Tianna says, "but I'm not _sure_ what that was. Was it Tia?"

"Don't know," comes Thian's voice. "Listen, we need to _find_ each other first, _then_ search for Tia. Amanda, I think you were the last in. Can you make your way to Tianna? Sadie and I'll find her too, then we can look for Tia alright?"

"Okay," Amanda says with a shaky voice. "Tianna, keep talking or _sing_ something so I can find you okay?" Tianna begins singing her favorite song, with a shaky voice. Swallowing hard, Amanda does her best to push giant bones away from her, or make her way through gaps within huge ribcages, crawling along the spine. Soon though, she uses a dissolving spell every few feet to make openings large enough to make her way through thick masses. The glow from Tianna's wand, along with her singing lead Amanda directly to her, quickly followed by Sadie and Thian.

"Well, it's a good thing you taught us that _dissolving_ spell Amanda. Worked great," Tianna says hugging Sadie.

"Yeah it _was_!" Thian says nervously. "Not sure _how_ we could have made our way through all these bones otherwise. You sure you're all okay?"

They assure him they are.

"We've _got_ to find Tia," Tianna says with worry.

"But, which _way_ do we go?" Sadie asks trembling as she holds onto a huge rib.

"Well, I think _Amanda_ heard the sound the loudest from where she fell, so maybe we should all crawl back near where Amanda was and search from there," Thian says as he looks at the mass of bones around them, eerily lit by their wand light, an ancient golden shield the size of a car poking down from some bones above.

"Okay, follow me," Amanda says turning around on all fours. "I'm still not sure it _was_ Tia though. The sound was really faint, couldn't tell what it was. Uh, I _hope_ it wasn't whatever killed and piled up all these _creatures_ though."

"Yeah, so do _I_ ," Tianna says crawling behind Amanda into the tunnel of bones.

After reaching the spot Amanda had begun her tunneling, she says, "I _think_ the sound we heard was coming from that direction," and points. "Let's all call Tia at the same time. Maybe with all our voices, it will be _loud_ enough for her to hear us, even if we can't hear _her_. If we do hear her though, we can move in her direction. But, maybe, if she hears us, but we can't hear her, she can move toward our voices. On three okay? One... two... _three_!"

Everyone yells, "Tia!" then falls silent.

A very faint sound, possibly a voice, floats up to them.

"You all _hear_ that?" Tianna asks excitedly.

"Yeah but it was so _muffled_ I couldn't tell what it was, could any of you?" Thian asks.

"Don't know _what_ it is," Sadie says snuggling closer to Tianna.

"That came from _below_ us and to the right a little, I think," Amanda says beginning to dissolve her way through the masses of bones. Using the dissolving spell not only hollows out a very glossy tunnel to crawl through, it melts then solidifies the bones around the dissolved section to form a type of solid pathway, so they do not fall through other bones as they crawl.

After several minutes of creating a tunnel leading down as they move on, they pause.

"Tia? Can you hear us?" Amanda shouts.

"I'm over _here_ , below you I think," Tia shouts, her voice clear but faint.

"She's _close_ , come on, let's go," Tianna says eagerly.

After another three minutes, "I _see_ your wand light!" Tia shouts. "I'm over _here_ to your right."

"Yeah, we see _your_ light too, we'll be there in a minute," Tianna shouts back.

" _There_ she is! I see her through those bones over there!" Sadie shouts as she points.

Amanda shifts her tunneling in the direction of Tia's light, and in a few moments, the last of the masses of bones dissolve as Amanda crawls into a large natural cave with piles of bones scattered about, Tia standing with a grin.

Getting to her feet, Amanda and Tia hug as the others crawl out of the bone tunnel. After they all embrace Tia, and everyone assures her that they are alright, they begin looking around.

"Have you ever seen or _heard_ of so many different types of bones in one place before?" Tia asks.

"No. And some of them are really weird too," Thian says with a shiver. "Looking at some of the armor scattered around, there were elves, dwarves, goblins, and, over there, is a shield from the grand order of witches and wizards. Loki showed me pictures of them once. So, there must be thousands, if not _tens_ of thousands of the most powerful witches and wizard bones here, along with lots of other creatures too. Not very _encouraging_ ya know."

"Yeah, and I saw several shields the size of our _bedroom_ back home," Tianna says nervously. "So, there were giant... _giants_ of some order here too."

"And what about all those strangely _shaped_ shields?" Amanda asks. "What were those?"

"Have no idea," Tianna says as they make their way along a tunnel. "But we know creatures from many realms and perhaps many _universes_ have come looking for the Shards. I think most of them who came to this realm, ended up here."

"You mean... after surviving all that _we_ did to get here... uh, they were _killed_?" Thian asks.

"I think so," Tianna says stepping around a misshapen skull the size of a refrigerator. "We've found _hundreds_ of bones on our previous adventures, but here, it's like a _thousand_ times as many. I _really_ don't like this. I've got a _really_ bad feeling about this place."

"So do I," Sadie says keeping close to Tianna. "Can, can we just _go_? Can't we come back after finding the _other_ Shards maybe?"

"I was just thinking the _same_ thing actually," Amanda nods. "But, even if we did leave, we'd have to face whatever's here when we came back. So, maybe better to face whatever it is _now_ than later."

"Well, _I_ could certainly wait till later," Thian says licking his lips. "Yeah... later would be just _fine_ with me."

"Why don't we _vote_ on it then?" Amanda says coming to a stop.

"What do you mean... _vote_ on it?" Tianna asks.

"Well, _I_ really don't like this place either, and we may go to places even _worse_. But, we're a team, and a team _works_ together. This isn't a dictatorship ya know, well not really. I can still program the Specteroscope to take you anyplace you want to go if you like. You don't _have_ to come with me. Even though my _gut_ wants to run away, my _bones_ know I should stay and go on. But _you_ don't. I know you all said you were in till whatever end, but honestly, it's okay. But, being a team, I think we should _vote_ on whether we go or stay, _as_ a team. If you vote _not_ to stay, well, we _won't_ , for now, but will have to come back at _some_ point. Whatdaya say?"

Everyone stands silently for a moment looking from one to the other, then Tianna sighs saying, "No need for me to vote Amanda. You're right of course, we have to keep going. It's better to get whatever's waiting for us here over with now, rather than having to worry about what will happen to us _months_ , or even years later when we do have to come back. I really _want_ to run away... but, staying is the _right_ thing to do. I say we stay and _fight_ whatever may be here waiting for us. What about you guys?"

Reluctantly, everyone nods.

"Well, okay then," Amanda says with a weak smile. Let's see where this gigantic tunnel takes us. Keep your wands at the ready, and _I_ say, if you see something, _shoot_ it! We'll worry about what we shot later."

Making their way nervously along the winding tunnel, they find huge piles of bones, along with stacks of scattered armor of various types.

"All these _bones_ and armor remind me of when I found my shield, sword and stuff back on earth. Glad I took 'em too. You know what would of happened if I hadn't. Didn't have a wand back then."

"Uh, ya know, that's not a bad idea really," Thian says stooping and picking up a dusty silver shield. "I mean, not knowing what we'll find when we come to the end of the tunnel, like finding another _door_ or something, maybe we _should_ each pick up a shield and sword, or at least a _dagger_."

"Why? We've got our _wands_ ," Sadie asks.

"A little bit of an _overkill_ don't you think Thian?" Tianna snorts.

"I dunno. I was just remembering Amanda telling us about those flying creatures that shot quills at her, and how the shield protected her from getting _killed_. There are a lot of bones here ya know, and I bet a lot of those creatures had wands too... but look what happened to them! I'm just saying, something besides our wands might come in handy. I'm not sure if we found lots of those flying creatures like Amanda did, out in the open, that we could fire off spells fast enough before getting _run_ through by three foot long _spears_."

Tianna's eyes go wide for a moment, remembering Amanda's adventures back on earth with the lizards and flying quilled creatures. Clearing her throat she says, "Well, uh, couldn't _hurt_ any I guess. Yeah, well, maybe we _should_ each find a shield and sword or something."

Everyone finds something they like and feel they can handle as they continue walking along the dark tunnel.

They follow the winding tunnel for twenty minutes, until Tia says, "Is that green _light_ up ahead?"

Amanda and the others look toward the end of the tunnel as they follow Tia around a curve.

"Uh-oh." Thian says coming to a halt. "Well, at least we weren't _ambushed_ from both ends of the tunnel, that's the _good_ news. The _bad_ news is, we don't know what's _outside_ the tunnel. I'm a little tired actually. I say we stay _right_ here, have a little to eat and drink, rest up, _then_ see what's outside."

Everyone agrees. They each place their little box holding their miniature travelers packs on the ground, return the pack to normal size, and pull out something to eat. Also, they each set up their instant outhouse, and use the facilities. Sitting against the rough tunnel wall, they talk quietly for about an hour.

"Well, no sense in putting this off any longer," Tianna says getting to her feet, dusting off her backside. "Let's see what kind of a _surprise_ party's waiting for us this time."

"If it's a party, I hope it's one with cake and a _ton_ of frosting," Thian says getting to his feet, then helping Sadie up.

"I'd like my cake with _sprinkles_ ," Sadie says with a giggle.

"And maybe an _ice_ cold soda too," Amanda laughs.

After repacking their outhouses and returning their travelers packs to a miniature version within a metal box, they slip the cans into their pockets. Slowly and cautiously they make their way toward end of the tunnel. As they approach the end, they see the tunnel gets smaller and narrower, ending into what they think is a gigantic cavern, more like the hollowed out portion of a large mountain. The outside of the tunnel is glowing, producing enough light to see by. They extinguish the light from their wands, but hold them at the ready.

"Okay, now my _knees_ are weak and I'm beginning to shake all over," Tia says with a hard swallow. You _hear_ that?"

"You mean what sounds like creatures being _tortured_?" Thian says slowing his advance.

"This is gonna be bad isn't it... _really_ bad." Tianna says holding her wand out in front of her, pointed directly toward the end of the tunnel.

Slowly, they make their way to the very end, where in awe, they look far down into a lush multi-colored glowing jungle, which must stretch for a good hundred miles in all directions. The entire jungle is thrashing, like frantic animals running and crashing into each other and the surrounding plants and trees. The cries are horrifying, making everyone's stomach turn.

A cry so loud it makes them all drop to their knees rents the air, making the cave floor tremble. A massive shadow passes from their right. As Amanda looks up, she screams, as do the others, everyone quickly placing hands over their mouths so as not to make another noise. The largest creature Amanda could possibly imagine, _floats_ overhead. It has to be the size of several streets back on earth. The creature looks like a semitransparent floating jellyfish, with really long tentacles dangling below.

As the creature descends, dozens and dozens of others, somewhat smaller, float into view. Amanda goes stiff as the giant one descends to the point she can just see over the top curved portion of the dome. Rising from the center of the dome, is what looks to be some kind of supersized _giant_ person, its waist melding into the dome. It rises like a skyscraper, head moving from side to side, long black hair wafting in the air and trailing across the back of its domed body.

The kids lay flat, doing their best not to move, each trying desperately not to make any noise, despite their crying. All are shaking so hard their teeth are chattering.

Soon, the creatures pass, heading lower toward the jungle floor.

"Look at the _size_ of those things!" Thian whispers.

"What _are_ they?" Amanda asks shaking hard.

"I've never seen or _heard_ of anything like 'em," Tianna says, her voice breaking. "But it looks kind of like one of _Qumong's_ creations, but with, with..."

"Some kind of _person_ or something being part of it," Amanda says with her heart pounding. "I've got a feeling _Eris_ had something to do with this. Maybe changed some witch she met into that... that floating _witch_ thing!"

"Ya think!" Thian says watching dozens of other creatures following the giant one come to a stop, just above the thrashing jungle. The huge upper portion of the witch-like creature, points to several areas of the jungle floor using huge long arms. The many smaller creatures move in the directions indicated.

The thrashing within the jungle increases to a frantic state as the smaller floating creatures quickly drop, their long tentacles whipping into the dense jungle, just to snap up a moment later with several screaming, screeching, crying creatures wound tightly within the long strands.

Amanda watches in horror as just below the dome, at the center of all the long tentacles, a long neck with what can only be a giant tooth filled jaw attached to it, quickly lowers. The screaming and screeching creatures are raised by the tentacles to the awaiting jaw, where the creatures are tossed into the gaping mouth, and _chewed_. Blood, foam, sparks, and squirts of what Amanda sees must be acid as it drops to the jungle leaves, leaving huge smoking holes.

"Uh, I _change_ my vote," Thian says scooting back from the opening.

"Yeah, _me_ too," Tianna says shaking so hard she can barely speak.

"Me too. I'm _pulling_ the Specteroscope and getting us the _heck_ out of here!"

Amanda pulls the Scope and hurriedly sets the dials for Poa and his people.

"Okay, _assume_ the positions," Amanda says shaking hard, trying not to drop the Specteroscope.

Everyone is ready. "On three. One... two... _three_!" Amanda closes her eyes as she pushes the buttons, expecting the usual flash, but when it does not come, she at first opens one eye, then the other as she hears everyone gasp.

"Amanda, why are we _still_ here?" Tia asks in a panic.

"I... I don't _know_. Maybe I set the _dials_ wrong or something."

"Well _check_ them and let's get _out_ of here!" Tianna shouts over the ear splitting shrieks coming from outside the tunnel.

Amanda fumbles with the dial settings, which look okay to her, but she resets them anyway. "Okay. On _three._ One... two... _three_!" Again she pushes the buttons.

Nothing.

"Amanda!" Tia shouts.

"It's not _working_! Eris must have used a _spell_ to prevent the use of a Specteroscope in here or something!"

"Well, then let's go back the way we came until it _does_ work!" Thian says turning to head back down the tunnel. With a cry of surprise, Thian finds he is looking at a solid wall.

The others turn giving a cry of surprise of their own.

"What _happened_ to the tunnel?" Sadie shouts.

"We're _trapped_! This tunnel was a _trap_!" Tianna shouts. "We walked _right_ into it. I bet all the bones of the _other_ creatures we found came from getting trapped then eaten too. There _is_ no way back now, and the _Scope_ won't work!"

Everyone is in uncontrolled terror, tears streaming down their faces, hearing the tortured shrieks and screams coming from thousands of terrified creatures, running for their lives within the densely packed jungle far below.

Turning to face the end of the tunnel, they watch as creature after creature is lifted by the tentacles and tossed into the huge awaiting jaws, juices squirting as they are chewed alive, then vanish down the creatures gullet.

After three hours of terror, all lying flat on the ground trying not to make a sound, they watch the giant floating witch rise past the small cave they are now trapped in, as the smaller floating creatures rise below her.

After a few minutes of silence, "Do you think we could _blast_ our way back through this wall?" Tia asks with a shaky voice. "I mean, we've come to walls of rock before where Sadie could see that it was only a few feet thick. We could blast through _that_ easy."

"Great idea sis, but I think maybe Amanda's _hollowing_ spell would be better. Blasting the rock, and being this close to the wall, well, we could end up _dead_ from the flying debris. Amanda, you're better at that spell, so you want to give it a try?"

"You _bet_ I do! Move back a little okay." Amanda clears her throat, points her wand and yells the hollowing spell while making the intricate wand movements.

Nothing.

"What's going on?" Thian asks. "No _bolt_ came from your wand. Try it again Amanda."

Amanda furrows her brows, a look of intense concentration etching lines in her face. Again she shouts the spell.

Nothing.

"Oh _no_ , it can't be!" Tianna says looking at her wand. "I just tried igniting _my_ wand, and it _won't_ light! Try yours!"

Everyone tries getting their wand to glow, but none of them work.

"Once the tunnel sealed itself," Tia says staring at her wand, "it must have completed a _proximity_ spell of some kind, which took our ability to use Wizitch away. What _now_?"

Everyone is talking at once, then Amanda says, "Stop! _Stop_ yelling! Those creatures may still be close enough to _hear_ us ya know. Anyway, I don't know why we're debating this. It's _impossible_ to go back now since we're sealed off. The only thing we _can_ do is to see if we can find a way out, somewhere outside this tunnel within the mountain."

Thian is about to argue when Amanda holds up her hands saying, " _Stop_ Thian. We either stay here in what's left of this short tunnel and _starve_ , or we go on. The only thing _to_ decide is, whether to venture out and down to the jungle floor now, or wait an hour or so for the creatures of the jungle to _calm_ down, and perhaps for the floating witch and her gang to get far enough away and interested in something else. Well, at least long enough to let us _get_ to the jungle. At least there, we _may_ be able to hide as we make our way to other places against that far mountain. We _could_ find some other tunnel that will..."

" _What_?" Tianna snorts. "Lead to the way _out_? Don't you think whatever those creatures are in the jungle would have _looked_ for and found a way out themselves? It's _suicide_ to go down there."

"It's _suicide_ to stay here," Sadie says surprising everyone. "Amanda's right. We _know_ there's no way to go back, so we either starve, doing _nothing_ , or like Amanda said, we go on and take our chances."

"Either way, we're most likely _dead_ ," Thian says solemnly. "But you're right, staying here and doing _nothing_ is just stupid. I mean, we really _don't_ know what we might find if we get to the jungle floor. At least we might survive together... for a while anyway. Yeah, we _could_ get killed and eaten by whatever creatures are down there, or the floating ones. But... _I'm_ not ready to die without a _fight_."

"Yeah, well, you can bet we'll _have_ to fight too," Tianna says and makes 'the face'.

"But Amanda's _necklace_ could save us too, couldn't it?" Sadie says in a whisper. "It's come through _before_ ya know."

"True," Tianna laughs, "like seconds before we _were_ actually going to be killed! But the stupid thing _will_ let us get seriously injured or _possibly_ killed if Amanda isn't somewhere close by watching. Look what happened to us at Qumong's! We got seriously injured and Sadie, you almost died!"

"Well, whether the necklace will _help_ or not," Amanda says shaking her head, "I say we get as much rest as we can for the next couple of hours, then we _move_. Again, I won't decide for all of you. You have to make the call yourself. Stay or take your chances outside in the jungle. But, as for me, _I'm_ not staying here just waiting to die. I'll take my chances outside. I know I have a better chance of surviving, well, _maybe_ anyway, so if you want to stay here and see if I find a way out, then come back for you, that's okay with me."

"Yeah, well, if we stay _trapped_ in this little area of the tunnel and one of those floating things spots us... we won't stand any _chance_ at all!" Tia says chewing on her lower lip.

They all know there really is not any other choice, and decide to rest for a couple more hours.

Rested, heaving a deep sigh, Amanda says, "Well, _I'm_ heading down. Anyone want to come along?"

"Not really," Thian says with a shrug, "but, best get to it I guess. The only weapons we have now are the _swords_ and the dagger Sadie found in the bone tunnel, and our new shields. I don't really think they'll _help_ much, but at least it's something I guess."

They all agree it's time to leave. With their wands secured in their pouches, they each heft their shield and sword. Sadie's sword is actually a long dagger, but feels like a sword to her.

"I'll lead the way down," Amanda says heading for the exit.

"No. _I'll_ go first," Tia says passing Amanda, quickly standing in the opening. She looks down the steep slippery moss like embankment to the jungle floor a good two thousand feet below.

"Why you?" Tianna asks in surprise.

"I'm not as _important_ as the rest of you. If I go first, and something happens to me, at least you'll know from what direction I was killed, and by _what_. Then, you'll know you need to try another direction."

Without waiting for a reply, Tia bolts from the opening, slipping and sliding as she struggles to keep her feet.

"Wait! Sis! No!"

Tia slips and falls on her backside, sliding a ways before coming to a stop against a boulder. Turning, she frantically looks around, expecting to be attacked by those floating creatures, or who knows what.

Scanning the side of the mountain where her friends are now gathered looking down at her, she sees nothing coming after her. Her eyes are wide, as she takes in the immensity of the hollow mountain. There are waterfalls, many of them, scattered about as far as the eye can see, cascading water falling into large pools, turning into rivers which vanish into the lush jungle. Huge, strange bird-like creatures are flying in flocks off in the distance, with smaller bat-like creatures rising from the jungle floor, keeping close to the tops of the treeline.

"Sis! Are you okay?" Tianna shouts.

Tia waves back at them, then slowly and cautiously gets to her feet, hugging her shield.

"I'm _not_ leaving her alone, _I'm_ going now too!" Tianna says stepping out of the tunnel, immediately slipping on the slick embankment.

"Me too," Sadie says darting past Amanda and Thian, then sliding down the slope on her bottom as Tianna grabs her before she shoots by.

"Well? _Shall_ we?" Amanda says with a weak smile.

"Yeah, okay... I guess," Thian says following Amanda out the exit. They both slide some but make their way to Sadie and Tianna, then as quietly as they can, the four of them make their way to Tia, everyone in awe of the sights and sounds around them.

"Well, so _far_ so good," Thian says nervously.

"Yeah, but we're only sixty feet or so from the tunnel. We've got like, two _thousand_ feet or more before we reach where the jungle meets this slope," Tianna says watching flocks of bat-like creatures circle an area of trees, then drop below the treeline and disappear.

"Well, let's not just _sit_ here out in the open," Amanda says starting down the slope. "Let's get down as _quickly_ as we can, and just hope nothing down there looks up and sees us coming down."

"Or something above us sees us headed _down_ ," Sadie says looking up and behind them.

"Come on, let's go," Thian says stepping up to Amanda, "but be careful, this slope is _really_ slippery."

After ten minutes of struggling to keep their footing, Sadie shouts, "Behind us! Up there! Look!"

Turning, everyone sees two of the smaller, almost transparent floating creatures, about the size of a house, quickly descending silently from above, several hundred feet away.

"Great Mother! Look how long the _tentacles_ are!" Tianna shouts.

"They're coming too _fast_ for us to get away! We'll never make it _down_ in time!" Tianna shouts.

"Oh _yes_ we will!" Amanda says looking at the shield in her hands. "Follow me and do what I do. Remember you can _steer_ by leaning your body!" Amanda reverses the grip on her sword, leans down, then dives for the slick slope, her shield held out and down. Her knees land on the inside of the shield, on either side of the handle. She immediately begins to rocket down the embankment as she hunches low.

Everyone stands stunned for a few heartbeats, watching Amanda zoom down the slope, leaning her body from side to side to miss various sized boulders on her way down.

" _Go_ Sadie! I'm right behind you!" Tianna shouts pushing Sadie forward. Sadie dives, landing on top of her small shield, her knees on either side of her little handle, as she shoots down the slope after Amanda.

Tianna and Tia dive at the same time, as Thian turns to look over his shoulder and up, shocked to see the whipping tentacles from the nearest creature only yards away. Turning, Thian dives forward just as he is struck on the back of his shoulder by the tip of one of the tentacles. Severe pain rips through his shoulder as the barbs on the tentacle stings him right through his clothing, feeling his sword arm go numb. Somehow, he is able to keep a grip on his sword as he begins a wild ride down the slick slope, watching his friends in front of him maneuver around boulders and small plants.

A huge shadow passes over Thian and the others as Thian hears the jungle become more frantic with terrified screams, cries and shrieks, watching the plants below thrashing violently as unseen creatures scramble for cover.

Far closer to the jungle floor than the others, Amanda chances a glance over her shoulder. Gasping, she sees that three more of the smaller creatures have joined the chase, with the gigantic witch speeding down toward her and her friends as the other creatures fan out.

Amanda realizes she and the others are shooting down the slope in pretty much a straight line, an easy target for the creatures. Immediately she rocks her body hard to the right, changing direction instantly, shooting around a large boulder, her body being bounced hard, teeth rattling as she speeds over the slick uneven ground.

The others, having seen Amanda's sudden movement, instantly understand, each rocking quickly to one side, all shooting in different directions and severity.

About to reach the jungle floor, Amanda once again glances back over her shoulder. The giant floating witch creature is coming fast, tilted at an angle where Amanda can clearly see the human like torso rising from the semitransparent dome. The expression on the witch, one of pure anger. Her long, jet black hair trails out behind her as she soars down, long tentacles thrashing threateningly.

#  The Jungle

With no way to stop, Amanda heads directly at a giant leaf, it's broad rounded front resting on the ground, the remainder of the leaf quickly curving up high above her. The leaf is as wide as her bedroom back on earth and a good twelve feet high. And this leaf is one of the very small ones at the edge of the jungle.

Amanda grips the handle of her shield as best she can while holding the long sword along her side. Shooting up the leaf, she is thrown from her shield, tumbling helplessly higher into the air. Screaming, she drops her sword. Falling she strikes a wide, flat leaf. Amanda bounces, then skids across the leaf on her back, coming to rest looking straight up into the glaring eyes of the rapidly approaching giant witch.

Quickly rolling to one side, Amanda slides down the slippery curved portion of the leaf, dropping eight feet off the end of it, crashing through three more smaller leaves to the damp ground, landing painfully on her backside. Grunting she scrambles to her feet as a huge tentacle crashes through the leaves above, ripping them apart like a sharp machete. The tentacle whips across the ground a foot beside her, leaving a deep gouge as she darts between the thick stalks and low growing plants, frantically looking for her shield and sword. She spots her shield first and sprints toward it, whipping the leaves of smaller plants out of her way, or ducking under them as a tentacle passes her on the left as it rises up and back out of the plants to strike again.

Diving, Amanda does a forward roll, grabs her shield and gets to her feet, breathing hard, shield clutched tightly against her. Turning quickly in a circle, she spots her sword. Running for all she is worth, she grabs the sword as a huge tentacle crashes through the overhead leaves, once again whipping past her only inches away.

Knowing this had to be one of the smaller creatures, in her mind, Amanda replays the direction the creatures had approached from, immediately sprinting through the thick plants to her right. Her heart pounds so hard it hurts. The screams, cries and shrieks coming from all around her are deafening, unnerving her.

It is dark here beneath the leaves as she sprints down a hill she had not seen from outside, due to the valley below being completely filled with larger plants and leaves. Quickly, she enters a thicker portion of the jungle. Something the size of a horse charges through the leaves and around the tall stalks to her left. The panicked creature takes one terrified look at Amanda, before a long tentacle whips down through the foliage, wrapping around the center of the creature. In an instant, the creature is snatched at a full run, screaming as it is yanked up through the leaves and disappears.

Frightened cries coming from all around Amanda are mind numbing. Scared to death that Thian and the others may not have made it to the jungle, or may not have gotten in far enough before being captured and eaten, makes Amanda's stomach lurch. Running as fast as her shaking legs can carry her, Amanda makes her way further, deeper, into the unknown depths of the jungle to her left.

~~

Seeing Amanda suddenly veer off to the side, Sadie shoots hard to her left, moving quickly into the tangle of jungle plants, maneuvering as best she can around the ever thickening stalks and broad leaves. Soon though, she gives a cry, clamping her eyes shut, about to crash into a thick twisted stalk of a large orange plant. Striking hard, thrown from her shield, she drops her sword as she tumbles through the air, crashing through several thick leaves before slamming into the ground, where she is sent spinning for several yards.

Stunned and shaken, Sadie's vision stops whirling as crashing sounds come rapidly behind her. Turning quickly, a dozen small creatures looking something like goblins, but with long floppy ears and long noses, dash through the surrounding plants. Several are immediately grabbed by thrashing tentacles and snatched up out of sight.

Sadie scrambles to her feet, shaking so hard she falls twice before regaining the use of her legs. Spotting her sword, she dashes forward, snatching it up then spins around in time to see one of the frightened creatures only a few feet away, wrapped around the ankles by a slim tentacle. The terror in the creatures eyes are mirrored in Sadie's as their eyes meet. As the creature is snatched, screaming off its feet, it is being whipped toward Sadie while continuing to rise. Sadie lunges forward, leaping high, swinging her sword, slicing cleanly through the tentacle just over the feet of the upside down creature.

A deep thundering roar from above shakes the plants around them as the creature drops to the ground beside Sadie, a five foot piece of the glowing red tentacle still wrapped tightly around the stung and stunned creature.

For a few terrifying moments, Sadie stands looking at the motionless creature, its eyes open and wide with fright. Sadie is breathing so hard, she feels she may pass out, when two more tentacles lash through the overhead leaves directly toward her. With a yell, she dives, doing a full flip directly over and between a gap in the whipping tentacles as they close together, right where her body had been. Rolling to her feet, Sadie spots her shield and sprints for it. Picking it up, she turns to see the end of a thick pulsing tentacle a foot from her face. She only has time to pull her shield up to where it just covers her forehead, hugging her shield tightly. The tentacle slams violently into the shield at face level, flipping Sadie off her feet so quickly she does a full flip before striking the ground, once again having dropped her sword and shield.

Crying hysterically, barely able to catch her breath, Sadie crawls to her shield and sword, snatching them as she scrambles to her feet. Turning she sees the creature with the tentacle wrapped around its ankles, moving slowly as two more of the little creatures dash from behind some leaves. They stand for a moment looking from Sadie to their fallen friend, then rush to help it.

Crashing sounds once again rip through the canopy of thick wide leaves, the sound coming toward the creatures. Sadie spots the thrashing end of a long tentacle slicing through the leaves. Her eyes flying wide, she sprints for the creatures, bringing her sword up behind her head. The creatures look up in surprise and terror as Sadie charges toward them. Screaming, tears streaming down her tiny face, Sadie dashes past the creatures just as the tentacle is about to snatch one of them. Diving forward off a short dirt mound, whipping her sword down and to the side, she severs the tentacle.

A deep thunderous roar shakes the leaves around them.

Turning, Sadie darts to the small creature still wrapped with the tentacle, the other creatures having moved back from the fallen one. Falling to her knees as she drops her shield and sword, Sadie quickly unwraps the tentacle from the creatures ankles and tosses it aside.

Screams, shrieks and cries continue to come from all around. Helping the stunned creature into a sitting position, Sadie looks around the stalks of many thick plants, watching strange creatures of various sizes being snatched off their feet or many legs, like struck by an anteater's tongue, vanishing into the canopy above.

Scared silly, shaking uncontrollably, Sadie struggles to help the creature to its feet as its friends hurry forward to help her steady it. The creatures look at Sadie with frightened eyes, but seeing what Sadie had done to the tentacle creature to save them, and not having harmed them, one of the trembling creatures points off into the jungle, making urgent squeaking sounds. Sadie cannot understand their speech, but being Keptic, can sense they mean her no harm, and want her to come with them.

Sadie nods. The creatures, their ears moving in all directions like radar, their long nose whipping about as if frantically pointing in various directions, quickly drag their friend deeper into the thickening jungle. Sadie, scared to her core, shield held close, sword clinched tightly in her tiny hands, dashes after them.

~~

Tianna, having been close behind Sadie when everyone broke off in different directions, had branched hard to her left as well, entering the jungle some two hundred feet from where Sadie had entered.

Rocketing around several large stalks and leaves, Tianna screams as she is about to strike two closely spaced leaves, which leave the narrowest gap to pass between them. Thinking she will just make it through, the left side of her shield bumps a small plant of only a few inches in height. With surprise, she finds the strike has steered her just a little too far to the right. Her shield strikes the right hand curved leaf, sending her up at an angle, spinning off the leaf like a cork screw to her left, dropping her sword as she is thrown from her shield. Slamming into a large stalk of a purple plant, she falls face first to damp ground, the impact knocking her semi unconscious.

Hearing crashing sounds to her left, Tianna snaps her head up and around in time to see three creatures that look like large boulders. There are no faces she can see, but they have many legs crashing through the low plants, coming in her direction. With a gasp, Tianna drops flat as one of the creatures charges right over the stalk of the plant she is lying next to, completely flattening the plant. Three of the creatures many thick legs narrowly miss trampling her to death as the legs pass on either side of her trembling body, leaving huge impressions in the dirt.

The wind still partially knocked from her, Tianna struggles to stand, then places her back against the stump of the trampled plant. Looking up through the gap in the leaves, she screams seeing the underside of one of the smaller floating creatures descending quickly, its many tentacles streaming forward in her direction. Spinning around, Tianna runs, finding she has sprained her right ankle. Limping forward, headed for what looks like a deep ditch, she is knocked off her feet as a tentacle whips over her head, catching in her wild hair, sending her sprawling to the ground. Rolling to her right, she watches with terrified eyes as yet another large tentacle strikes the ground, carving a deep groove as it rushes past her, inches away.

Tianna's heart is pounding so hard and quickly she feels it may explode, killing her from fright. Breathing rapidly and deeply, trying to calm her heart, she looks up again to see two large tentacles lashing down through the gap in the canopy, headed directly at her. Screaming while closing her eyes, she knows she will be stung and paralyzed as she is grabbed, then snatched up to the floating creature where she will be eaten alive.

Startled, a horrendous wail rents the air in front of her, the cry so ear splitting her eyes snap wide in surprise. Eyes bulging, she gasps as she scoots back on her backside, watching one of those strange horse-sized creatures being lifted into the air only two feet in front of her.

Tianna is so shocked she cannot move as she watches the creature lifted through a gap in the canopy, rising quickly as do many other tentacles from areas nearby, each tentacle wrapped around one or more paralyzed creatures. Filled with horror, she watches the creatures tossed into the awaiting jaws and chewed.

The sound of bones crunching and snapping while chewed sends a shiver up her spine, as she watches in stunned revulsion as their fluids squirt from the huge jaws, cascading down over her like thick, dark rain, drenching her, turning her long hair into a thick, dark, sticky mess.

Tianna feels faint, but the adrenaline rushing through her, along with the instinct to survive, has her scramble to her feet. Hearing crashing sounds, Tianna turns and sees three more tentacles ripping through the plants some distance away, headed in her direction. Once again, she tries to run, but limps badly on her injured ankle, making her way as quickly as she can to her left. There is no time to find her shield or sword. She will have to take her chances without them.

~~

With her sister shooting off hard to the left, Tia leans even harder to her left than either Sadie or Tianna. Watching Sadie enter the jungle, followed by Tianna, Tia zips into the jungle through a narrow gap between the stalks of two twenty-three foot tall wide-leafed yellow plants, about two hundred feet to the left of where Tianna had entered.

Managing to hold onto both her shield and sword as she flies up then off a natural dirt ramp, with a cry she slams against the slick ground, sprawled across her shield. Her shield begins spinning after striking a large rock, tossing her off to the side, losing hold of the shield, but managing to hold onto her sword.

Rolling several times before coming to a painful stop on her face, she turns onto her back, vision spinning. Shaking her head trying to clear it, she sits bold upright hearing Tianna's muffled, terrified scream somewhere nearby, then nothing but the screams and cries from hundreds of other creatures around her. Tia is completely disoriented, having no idea which direction she is facing.

Clambering to her feet, whipping her sword back over her right shoulder, she crouches. Scanning the ground for her shield, she spots it. About to dart for it, out from around a thick stalk larger around then she is, charges what appears to be a nine foot violet troll. Frozen with terror, Tia watches the troll crashing through the surrounding plants, rapidly approaching.

The troll bends its enormous head, its tusks from its lower jaw curving up a foot above its upper jaw, huge eyes glaring down at her for a moment, then shifting its eyes to the shiny shield laying nearby. Without so much as slowing, the troll reaches down grabbing the shield in one hand, crushing it, tossing it aside in a crumpled heap near Tia's feet. The troll turns slightly to one side, charging away into the darkening jungle.

Stunned, Tia stands, legs shaking, breathing hard as her wide eyes dart about, frantically trying to think of which way to run, and where to hide. Crashing and roaring sounds come from her left. She immediately turns, sprinting off to her right.

~~

Thian heads hard to his right, away from Amanda and the others. Riding his shield, his right shoulder and arm tingling from being stung, he watches as one after another of his friends whip into the jungle. Soon, Thian enters the jungle, sledding between many closely spaced stalks, whipping around boulders and low growing plants of various sizes. Rounding a thick blue stalk, surprise etched on his face, Thian shoots up a leaf, tossed high into the air while clinging desperately to both shield and sword. Thian lands in what looks to be the limbs of a rapidly moving tree-like creature.

The creature does not slow, but continues weaving around and between large tangles of stalks, making its way further away from where Thian had entered, deeper into the plant and fern filled valley of giant plants and trees.

Thian is sure he hears a scream from Sadie, then Tianna, as a centipede creature sixty feet long scrambles through the plants to his right around a huge blue stalk, making its way quickly up and over a large boulder, vanishing into the darkness beyond.

Thian's shield is wedged in the creatures branches, as he lays sprawled across it, sword gripped in one hand, clutching tightly to a branch with the other. With eyes wide, heart thundering, scared to death as he clings hold for dear life, the creature frantically makes its way down a steep embankment into the darker valley below.

Only the top portions of the leaves glow, their undersides dark as night. The further down into the valley Thian and the creature descend, the taller grow the plants, their stalks rising like trees trunks, which raise the faint light from their leaves up until it is almost pitch dark in places. Fortunately, many tips from long heavy leaves curve down through the canopy, offering an occasional flicker of dim light.

Thian's tree creature is doing its best to stay in the darker areas. After several minutes, the creature slips, tumbling down a steep embankment, taking Thian screaming along with it.

~~

Tianna is knocked off her feet, sent skidding across the slick ground after being struck by something resembling a fluffy teddy bear twice her height. The bear stops for a moment, looking down at Tianna with dark brown, round, glossy eyes. It looks up and around quickly, then back at Tianna who is scooting away from it on her backside. The bear bolts for Tianna, snatching her up and flinging her over its shoulder, as Tianna yells and beats on it with her fists. The fur is so deep, Tianna cannot feel her fists reach skin.

The bear, running upright, sprints quickly to its left as a tentacle crashes down through the leaves, slamming the ground in the exact spot Tianna had been laying.

~~

"That's Tianna! I know it is!" Tia thinks frantically looking slightly to her right. Clutching the sword, Tia sprints through the thick mass of young plants as quickly as she can, knowing her sister is close by.

~~

Thian is knocked semi unconscious as he and the tree creature tumble down the steep slope, Thian repeatedly striking his head on the ground. Thian is knocked unconscious. Through blurry eyes, head pounding, Thian finds himself looking up into the yellow eyes of the tree creature, its face made completely of bark. Thian begins scooting away from it, and immediately backs into something. Snapping his head around, he looks up into the eyes of yet another tree creature, but one much larger. Heart thundering, Thian looks around to see he is surrounded by dozens of tree creatures, all staring at him.

One of the larger creatures steps forward on its very long limb like legs, reaches down with huge, thick limb like arms, and grasps Thian with short branch like fingers. Thian is lifted as he frantically tries to pry the wooden fingers from his waist.

The creature lifts Thian in front of its face, yellow eyes looking Thian over very carefully. With a long deep rumbling sound, the huge tree turns to the one who had carried Thian down the slope. They exchange rumbling and grumbling sounds for a moment, then, the smaller one picks up Thian's shield and sword in one hand, as the larger tree turns and heads deeper into the jungle, the large gathering of other tree creatures following close behind, trampling smaller plants as they make their way around giant stalks of various colors.

Thian is squeezed so hard, he cannot breathe and once again, passes out.

#  Lost

As Thian tumbles down the embankment, Amanda trips, falls and slides quickly down a steep slope, dropping painfully into a deep crack in the ground, keeping a solid grip on her sword and shield. With a groan, she sits up. After a few moments, she gets to her feet as she quickly looks around. Something is speeding down the crack toward her, but she cannot tell what it is, since it is quite dark in there. The strange object moves erratically, speeding directly at her.

Crouching behind her shield, dropping into a defensive stance, she raises her sword as the object instantly comes to a halt three yards away. Startled, eyes wide, Amanda looks at what can only be described as a hairy, floating eye, about a foot in diameter. Just a single eye with hair about two feet long covering all but the cat-like exposed portion of the eye. The strange creature blinks at her several times, then backs up, staring at her.

The eye continues to blink and stare for a few moments, then slowly floats up above her, looking down on her as it slowly passes overhead, staying focused on Amanda, who is waiving her sword threateningly. The eye blinks at her several more times, turns then quickly floats off along the crevasse in erratic movements.

"What the heck was _that_?" Amanda says in a whisper.

Afraid to call for Thian and the others, fearing she may draw some hungry creature to her, she desperately tries to think of the direction the others had taken, trying to judge how far each may be from her.

"I think Sadie was the closest," she continues whispering looking around nervously. "That way I think," looking to her left. "I hope I can find a way out of this crack. The sides are _way_ too steep to try to climb out of here."

Thrashing, crashing sounds continue to frighten her as she quickly runs along the inside of the winding crack, making her way over rocks and small boulders, listening to horrible, terrified cries from the surrounding creatures.

Having made her way along the crack for three minutes, she steps up onto a large rock to make her way over it, when the rock drops out from under her, sending her screaming into the inky darkness below.

~~

Sadie slows as she turns looking over her shoulder, sure she had heard Amanda scream. Standing, eyes wide, she frantically tries to think from which direction the scream had come. One of the small goblin like creatures grabs Sadie by the arm, yanking her forward, half dragging her deeper into the jungle as several very large creatures resembling three tailed scorpions dash around nearby stalks, heading in their direction.

Dragged to the edge of a steep slope, Sadie hears high pitched cries. Looking over her shoulder, she sees a huge violet troll being stung multiple times by three of the scorpion creatures, their tails snapping long glistening stingers repeatedly into the troll, until all movement from the troll stops.

Sadie is dragged down the slope to a mass of young leaves. Two of the goblin creatures pull the leaves aside, revealing a small cave some six feet in diameter. The creatures shove Sadie inside the dimly green glowing cave as they quickly follow her in, pulling the leaves back to conceal their hiding place.

The creatures run along a very narrow passage that twists and turns for several minutes, until they run right through the end of the passage into a giant cavern, filled with hundreds of the goblin creatures, many very small, like children. Others stand bent, holding sticks as canes. There are shouts as Sadie and the others enter, the hundreds of creatures turn to face Sadie and those with her.

Sadie gives a cry as the creatures within the cavern yell and charge her, most carrying sticks or holding rocks. The nearest one to her and those who had brought her, raise a huge barbed stick as it runs, only a few yards away. Dropping into a defensive posture, Sadie snaps her shield close to her as she crouches, swinging her sword up and back over her shoulder, ready for the attack.

~~

Tianna is constantly being slapped by leaves of the younger growing plants. It is so dark, she cannot see more than a few feet. The bear runs with Tianna bouncing on its shoulder for several minutes, before reaching a small cave, which looks as though it were dug out of a hillside instead of a natural one. The bear ducks as it enters, running quickly along a winding pathway.

The cave glows a brighter blue the further in they run. Soon, they enter a large cavern with a small waterfall and meandering stream. The bear takes Tianna to the edge of the stream and sets her down. Terrified, Tianna immediately scoots back as the bear sits in front of her, keenly watching her.

Shaking uncontrollably, Tianna is too scared to move as the bear leans in, its large head coming within inches of Tianna's face, sniffing. Tianna clamps her eyes shut, scrunching up her face as the bear begins opening its teeth filled mouth.

~~

Tia continues sprinting around huge stalks and younger plants, moving swiftly around scattered boulders following the screams of her sister, the cries growing louder for a moment, then fade quickly, then stop all together.

Skidding to a stop, completely out of breath, Tia tilts her head slightly, squinting her ears for any sound from Tianna through the constant screams of other creatures.

"That way I think," Tia whispers charging down a hill. At its base, she hides behind several huge stalks as orc-like creatures frantically rush past as Tia, panting, tries to catch her breath. Turning her head, she spots a small cave. Not knowing what may be hiding there, or what may come out to attack her, she turns and begins running. A cry comes from within the cave causing her to skid to a stop.

"Tianna!" Tia shouts.

Holding her sword tightly in both hands she dashes into the cave crying Tianna's name over and over.

~~

When Thian opens his eyes, he is laying in the center of a large circle of the tree creatures. Dozens of them. Each swaying as though caught in a high wind, yellow eyes blinking as they turn to one another exchanging rumbles, then look back at Thian. Their expressions are hard to judge. Thian looks them over, noticing they have very long legs of thick limb like wood. Feet are a wide mass of root like toes. Their torso is that of a trunk of a rough barked tree, wider at the top. The head is below a wide mass of limbs and branches. Many of the tree creatures have leaves of varying colors, others no leaves at all. Their massive arms come directly from the torso, there are no shoulders. Thian notices now that the arms are more like twisted limbs, like a towel being rung out. Their hands are made of fairly thick branches, with longer, slender, more root like fingers. The most interesting trees are similar to a weeping willow.

Very slowly, getting to his feet, Thian turns in a full circle, all eyes watching. Looking for a way to escape, he sees his shield and sword resting near a boulder just beyond the circle of trees. Thian looks to the sword, then up into the eyes of the tallest creature, who turns and looks in the direction of the shield and sword.

Thian knows that he will never make it to his sword if he bolts for it. He would be trampled or crushed by the trees. Licking his lips, he moves very slowly toward the shield and sword.

The huge tree lets out a deep rumble, stopping Thian in his tracks. A tree creature near the shield and sword turns to face the sword. Thian watches in surprise as the tree bends and grasps the sword in its wooden fingers. The creature lifts the sword up to one side and comes at Thian, his eyes shooting wide, trembling as he watches the sword lift higher as the creature approaches.

~~

Sadie is startled when one of the goblin creatures who had taken her to this cavern jumps in front of her, giving high pitched squeaks, joined by the others that had brought her here. The charging goblin stops, it's ears twisting and turning in many directions, its long nose twitching as it looks Sadie over. The other goblins that had charged Sadie come to a stop, lowering their rocks and clubs.

Still crouched in a defensive posture, Sadie watches as the creature next to her, bows low. All the other creatures suddenly bow also. Sadie is so startled, she does not know what to do. After a few moments hesitation, she straightens, lowering her shield and sword, and bows low herself.

The goblins stand, ears turning, noses darting in all directions as they slowly walk toward Sadie, who senses she is perceived as something special, and they will not harm her.

One of the creatures wearing a crown of twigs steps forward, coming to stand just in front of Sadie. Folding its arms across its chest, it bows. Sadie returns the bow, and the goblin motions for her to follow them, the many other goblins squeaking in hushed voices, moving aside to let them pass, each watching Sadie with great interest.

~~

Tia sprints along the pathway within the cave, again calling Tianna's name.

"In here! Watch out, there's a _bear_!" Tianna cries.

Tia rounds a corner coming face to face with the standing bear, which immediately takes a swipe at her with its very large, long and sharp claws. Tia ducks low as the claw whizzes past her head, feeling the fur slap against the side of her face. Springing to the side, Tia is just about to be struck by the bear as it takes another swing at her. Tianna darts in front of the bear, swinging a very large leg bone from some helpless creature the bear had captured, killed and eaten, striking the bear hard in the knee.

The bear lets out an ear splitting roar as it rounds on Tianna, it's huge arms knocking Tianna off her feet as it turns to face her. As the bear begins to strike at Tianna with claws outstretched, Tia screams swinging her sword as hard as she can, striking the bear in the back of its leg, the blade slicing all the way through. Tia watches as instinctually, the bear tries to move its leg away, Tia wide-eyed, watches the bear lift the upper part of the leg as it turns bellowing, the lower part of its leg now separated from the upper, tumbles to the ground. As the bear turns, there is no leg to stand on, sending the bear crashing to the cavern floor. Tia lunges forward, and with five frantic swings, severs the head.

For a moment, both Tia and Tianna stand frozen in horror at the site of the dead bear, its head rolling a few feet, its severed leg laying near Tia.

Tianna sprints to Tia, where they embrace fiercely, both trembling, tears streaming down their faces.

~~

Amanda lands hard on top of what is actually a large boulder she had been standing on, knocking most of the wind from her. Head swimming, she blinks a few times trying to clear her vision. As her surroundings come into focus, she sees she is in some kind of huge tunnel, which is glowing orange. She can see thousands of glowing cave worms, along with glowing centipedes everywhere.

Looking down, Amanda gives a cry seeing the tunnel floor thrashing with hundreds of the scurrying centipedes. Looking around quickly from on top of her boulder, she sees the entire tunnel is alive for as far as she can see.

Amanda had dropped her shield as she had fallen, but had kept hold of her sword.

After staying on top of the boulder for several minutes, trying to think of what to do, Amanda whispers, "Well, I've got to do _something_. I can't just stay here, I've _got_ to find the others... if, they're _still_ alive."

Hearing roars from above, Amanda looks up to see a huge face looking down at her from the hole above. Licking her dry lips, she watches the face move away for a moment, then a huge hand and arm quickly reach down through the hole headed right at her. As the hand begins closing around her, Amanda leaps from the boulder to the tunnel floor, feeling the centipedes squish beneath her boots, sending their juices squirting everywhere. In a panic, Amanda sprints down the tunnel, hearing the slushing sounds of the bursting creatures.

Having run for twenty minutes through the ever twisting and turning tunnel, constantly heading down, she suddenly notices there are no creatures of any kind anywhere, and the soft light before her is a whiter light. Rounding a corner Amanda skids to a stop in a huge cavern.

Amanda stands stunned, eyes so wide they hurt, at what she faces.

#  Portallis Dimenscione

Thian frantically thinks of what to do, as the tree steps in front of him. Thian wants to run, but is so scared he cannot move.

Looking up into the strange eyes within the thick bark, Thian watches the tree move the sword quickly in his direction. Snapping his eyes shut, scrunching up his face. Thian waits for the fatal blow, hoping he dies instantly, and is not just slashed and left to die in agony.

Hearing a loud clanking, and not having been cut in half, Thian slowly opens his eyes, surprised to see the tree standing in front of him, its branch like fingers empty.

Quickly looking around, Thian sees the sword lying at his feet as the tree takes several steps back, keeping its eyes fixed on him.

Not moving for a few moments, Thian slowly bends and retrieves his sword as all the trees step back. Straightening slowly, gripping his sword tightly, Thian walks to and retrieves his shield. Turning in a full circle, Thian sees that none of the trees are approaching him.

"What's going on? Why aren't they _attacking_ me? Why did they give me my _sword_ back? I don't _get_ it!" Keeping the point of his sword pointed at the ground, Thian says, "Thank you," as he gives a low bow. The trees immediately begin rumbling and grumbling, turning and bending toward one another, startling Thian for a moment, but keeping his wits, keeps his sword pointed at the ground.

The largest of the trees steps forward, bowing low, Thian returns the bow. Bending, looking directly into Thian's eyes, with low rumbling sounds, the tree stares at him, then, very slowly, reaches for Thian with its long grasping fingers.

Trembling to the point he is having a hard time standing, Thian bites his lower lip, allowing himself to be grasped, then lifted high as the tree straightens. Thian is placed on what could be called a thick limb representing a kind of shoulder of sorts, if there had really been a shoulder. Hanging onto his shield, he loops his sword arm up and over another branch to keep from falling as the tree turns and quickly lumbers toward what appears to be a very large cave like tunnel. All the other trees move aside to let them pass, then follow behind.

~~

"Tianna, are you alright?" Tia cries holding onto Tianna's shoulders.

"Yeah, well, _now_ anyway. Thanks. That bear might of _looked_ like a nice fluffy teddy bear, but it was about to _eat_ me! It put me on the ground right over there, next to the stream, and was looking at me like it was trying to decide whether I might be _tasty_ or not. It had just opened its mouth and was about to _chomp_ on me, when you yelled my name. It got up and headed to the entrance. I was so _scared_ I couldn't think! Then, _you_ came charging in."

"Well, I've got to tell you, I heard you screaming several times before, but couldn't figure out for sure what direction the sounds were coming from. Where's your shield and sword?"

"Lost 'em. Come on, let's get the heck _out_ of here. I don't know if that thing might of had other _friends_ or family, and I'm not real keen on sticking around to find _out_!"

"Yeah, okay, but... where do we go?"

Tianna chews on her lip for a moment, then says, "I _think_ I know the direction I last heard Sadie's screams. I've lost track of Amanda and Thian. I don't suppose you know where any of them are do you?"

"No, but I think I've got a pretty good idea of where they may have first entered. That's how I found _you_. Let's see if we can find Sadie. If not, let's try to find Amanda or Thian, then they can help us look for the others. Come on, let's get out of here."

Stepping around the headless bear, they quickly make their way outside. The girls stand for a few moments, noticing that the jungle cries are lessening.

"Those floating creatures, and that huge floating _witch_ thing, must have either moved to a different area of the jungle, or they've left," Tia says looking around their dimly lit surroundings. "The others entered the jungle in that direction it think. Sadie too. Let's go."

The sisters run around the thick jungle stalks, occasionally encountering some strange creature, which looks just as startled and frightened as the girls, everyone running in opposite directions.

After their latest encounter with a huge two headed Cyclops, whose both heads moved independently with one eye per head, Tia asks, "Have you noticed that most of the creatures we've run into, seem to look at us for a moment, then at my shield and sword, and _run_ away?"

"Yeah, I've been thinking the _same_ thing sis."

"But why?"

They hide in a thick tangle of leaves and watch a rhinoceros-like creature thunder past, its thirty horns bristling from its body, a very long sharp horn on its forehead and a smaller one near its nose. Tianna is quiet for a moment, then replies, "I don't know really. But, with _all_ the creatures we've encountered, have you noticed that _we're_ the only ones with weapons? I haven't seen another piece of armor since we left the cave tunnel on the mountain."

"Yeah... come to think of it, I haven't either. Hey! What was _that_?" Tia asks coming to a stop beside a giant purple leaf. "You _hear_ that?"

"Yeah I _did_. I could _swear_ that sounded like Amanda screaming! It came from over there. _Come_ on!"

The girls sprint along what looks like a fairly well worn path leading to their right, going deeper into the jungle. After several minutes, they come to a deep crevasse. Looking down into the darkness Tia asks, "Do you think Amanda _fell_ in there?"

"Don't know. Let's call her and see if she answers. I don't hear any creatures moving nearby, so we may be okay if we yell. Actually though, even if something hears us, I don't think we really have any other choice. On three okay? One... two... _three_!" The sisters shout Amanda's name, then fall silent.

No reply.

"I'm _telling_ you, I _know_ that was Amanda, and I _know_ it came from this direction," Tianna says looking around quickly. "Look, it's not too deep over there. Use your sword and cut down that big plant okay? It should fall so the leaves reach the bottom, with the stalk sticking up out of the crack. We can make our way down on that."

Nodding, Tia runs to the plant and starts hacking at the thick stalk. In no time, the top heavy plant leans, snaps and crashes into the crevasse.

"Come on, let's go!" Tianna shouts mounting the stalk and beginning to make her way down, at times sliding on its slick surface. Tia has a hard time holding onto her shield and sword while sliding, but manages.

Reaching the bottom, the two look up the sheer cliff. "If Amanda fell in here..." Tia says in a whisper.

"Yeah. I know. But, _maybe_ she's still alive. Remember, the necklace has always kicked in when she would have died. And besides, she may have fallen in here someplace where it isn't so deep."

"But..." Tia says looking along the rock and boulder-littered floor, "it doesn't seem like Wizitch works here. If not, then do you think the necklace would _really_ save her?"

Tianna looks at Tia. With a shake of her head she says, "I don't know. Maybe not I guess. Come on, let's go."

It takes several minutes as the girls scramble over rocks and boulders, before coming to a large hole in the ground. Coming to a halt the girls get down on their knees and peer into the glowing depths.

"Great Mother! What are all _those_ things?" Tia says wide-eyed looking at the masses of glowing and slithering creatures.

"Have no idea. Kind of looks like, what... glowing centipedes? But look!"

"What?"

"On the _boulder_ ," Tianna says pointing. "That strip of cloth is from one of _us_ , and I bet it's from Amanda."

"Sis, that's a long way down," Tia says looking nervous. "How are we going to get..."

"Shush! Listen!" Tianna says in a whisper pulling Tia back from the hole. "Something's coming down that tunnel!"

The girls scoot back, just their foreheads and eyes peering over the hole. In a moment, several creatures resembling trees walk into view, the slithering orange centipede creatures squishing beneath their large root-like feet. Several more of the trees pass, when a huge one enters, the top of its branches coming to within six feet of the open hole.

As the huge tree steps forward, Thian, riding high on its shoulder, comes into view. Both Tia and Tianna shout his name. The tree creatures come to an instant halt as Thian snaps his head up and spots the girls. The huge tree lets out a thunderous rumble and begins reaching for the girls. Thian shouts as the tree's thick fingers are about to wrap around both Tia and Tianna. The girls quickly scoot back, watching branch-like fingers shoot up through the hole, about to grope for them, then stop, dropping from sight.

"It's okay!" Thian shouts. "They won't _hurt_ you... uh, I _think_."

Tianna sticks her head over the hole, looking down on Thian, who is grinning up at her.

"Pretty cool _ride_ huh?" Thian says swinging his leg over a branch to see the girls better.

"What are you _doing_ Thian?" Tia asks with a look of wonder. "What _are_ those things and where are they _taking_ you?"

"Have no idea. But, they could have _killed_ me easily a while ago, but didn't. It's a long story, but they haven't hurt me. Are you two okay? Where's _Amanda_ and Sadie?"

"We've both heard Amanda and Sadie scream a few times a while back," Tianna says leaning over the hole. "We were trying to follow Amanda's last scream when we found this hole. There's some _cloth_ on that boulder next to you. It has to be either Amanda's or Sadie's. We _think_ it's Amanda's though. So, what do we do now?"

"Well, you can either stay up there with all those hundreds or _thousands_ of creatures, or come on down and ride along with me. Have no idea _where_ they're headed, but like I said, they haven't hurt me so far and they even handed me my sword when I dropped it."

"But... how do we get _down_ there, and do you think they will take us with you?" Tia asks nervously.

Thian bangs the pummel of his sword against the shoulder of the huge tree. The tree looks at Thian who points up to the girls. The tree looks from Thian to the girls, then slowly, reaches up to the hole. At first Tia and Tianna step back, but Thian shouts, "It's okay! Let it bring you down."

Tianna steps forward, biting her lip, looking at the tangle of branches weaving together making a kind of basket. Swallowing hard, Tianna looks at Tia for a moment, then turns and steps into the basket.

Trembling, Tianna is lowered into the tunnel, and placed on the shoulder of another of the tree creatures. She hangs on tightly as she looks up to her sister.

The huge tree once again reaches up to the hole, making a basket with its fingers. Reluctantly, Tia steps in, holding her shield and sword up away from the fingers, afraid that if she should accidently cut its... fingers, she will be crushed to death.

Tia is placed on the shoulder of another tree, then all the trees head off down the tunnel. Thian fills them in on what had happened to him, then the girls tell their stories, the trees lumbering along without a grumble.

A few minutes later, the tunnel makes a turn and the leading trees enter into a giant cavern, immediately coming to a halt, rumbling and grumbling loudly. The trees step to the side allowing the large tree carrying Thian perched high on its shoulder to enter.

"Thian!" Amanda shouts, her shield and sword held at the ready. "Tia! Tianna!" She shouts again as the large tree steps to the side letting the other trees enter.

"Are... are you _alright_?" Amanda stammers looking at the huge trees. "Where's Sadie?"

Thian, Tia and Tianna are lowered to the ground, where upon they run to Amanda, who drops her shield and sword, as they all embrace, each crying freely.

Thian pulls away saying, "We're okay Amanda, but what about _you_? Are you hurt? Did the necklace, uh, _do_ anything?"

"I'm okay," Amanda says keeping a nervous eye on the swaying tree creatures. "Banged _up_ pretty good, but okay."

"Amanda... your _eyes_ , they're..."

" _Violet_?" Amanda asks then laughs at their expressions. "Yeah, I'll tell you about _that_ later, and yes, the necklace _did_ do something, or actually, I guess _I_ did."

"But... _how_? I thought Wizitch didn't work here?" Tianna says looking at a huge contraption embedded into the far wall of the cavern.

"Yeah, well, it _doesn't_ I guess - at least not in the normal sense. I tried the Specteroscope, but it didn't work. But when things got interesting, the necklace seemed to work just fine. And, take a look at _this_!" Amanda pulls out the necklace. Tia, Tianna and Thian all gasp as their eyes fly wide. The center ruby of the necklace is pulsing a dull red. There is low rumbling and grumbling from the tree creatures, causing everyone to spin and look at them. The trees bow low.

"What are they doing?" Amanda asks in bewilderment.

"Bow back Amanda," Thian says nodding toward the trees.

Not understanding, but trusting Thian, Amanda faces them and bows low. The trees stand, grumbling softly amongst themselves.

Turning back to face Amanda, Tianna says, "Well, this should be a _good_ story, but... what is that?" she says pointing over Amanda's shoulder to the huge metal thing mounted on the wall. It has four huge rings with strange symbols within fourteen sections of each ring. In the center is a large circular area where there are planets slowly moving. It looks like you could walk right through the center disk and find yourself floating in outer space.

"I have no idea _what_ it is, but it sure is huge! That center area must be at least, what? Twenty or _thirty_ feet in diameter?"

"At least!" Thian says stepping forward craning his neck. "What's that thing over there?" he says pointing to a dusty metal contraption with many rows of levers.

"Don't know anything about _that_ either," Amanda says with a shake of her head. "But I have a feeling it has something to do with that huge ringed... _whatever_ it is."

Turning to face the trees who haven't moved, but are watching with interest, Amanda asks, "Why'd they bring you here? Why were they bowing?"

"Well, we don't know that _either_ Amanda. All we know is that they _could_ have killed Thian when they found him, then later could have killed _Tia_ and me too, but, they didn't. They were very gentle with us. Do you think it has something to do with that _thing_ on the wall?"

" _Has_ to, but what I have no idea," Amanda says looking at the giant rings.

The trees begin rumbling as they quickly move to the side of the entrance, all turning as everyone hears noises within the tunnel outside.

Thian and Amanda raise their shields and swords. Tia hands her sword to Tianna, since she is the better fighter. Everyone drops into a defensive position, as the sounds get closer.

In a few moments, Amanda sees the strangest creatures she can remember. They look something like goblins, but with very long ears which are sticking straight up, but turn quickly nearly three hundred degrees, then back the other way, independently. They have long noses that dart in all directions.

Startled, the goblins come to an instant halt, first looking at Amanda and the others, then at the huge tree creatures.

As the first few goblins enter, they bow to the trees, who bow back. They then bow to Amanda and the others.

Amanda looks at Thian who shrugs, then she and the others bow low, lowering their shields and swords.

The goblins begin streaming into the cavern. In a moment, a procession of goblins enters, carrying very long poles resting on their shoulders, a large bundle of leaves covering something between them. There are twelve goblins in front, six to a side, with the same number at the back. The goblin-like creatures approach Amanda and the others, who watch nervously.

As they get closer, the procession makes an arc around Amanda and the others until they are in front of the strange rings on the cavern wall. The goblins turn to face Amanda and the others. Slowly, they lower the poles to the ground, then step back.

A goblin steps up on either side of whatever they have been carrying and together, pull back the leaves. Amanda and the others gasp, eyes snapping wide.

"Sadie!" Tianna shouts in surprise.

Sadie is seated on a roughly hewn throne made from the shredded stalks of plants. She is wearing a crown made from small twisted ferns. Sadie's eyes fly wide as she shouts, "Tianna! You're alive! Tia, Thian... Amanda! You're _all_ okay!"

Sadie is helped from her throne by the goblins, who bow then step back. Amanda and the others rush forward embracing Sadie, all laughing and crying at the same time.

"Sadie..." Tianna says stepping back, taking a good look at Sadie. "Are you... are you okay?"

Sadie laughs through her tears, saying she is.

"So, what's with the _crown_ and throne?" Thian asks looking at the goblins who have fanned out in front of the trees.

Sadie begins looking around to see where they are, "I'm not sure really, but I sense they think I'm specia..." Sadie goes stiff as she turns and faces the huge structure on the cavern wall, which had been behind her.

"Great _Mother_ of Creation, it can't be... a _Portallis_ Dimenscione," Sadie says in a low, awe stricken voice, eyes wide, tilting her head to look up at the huge structure.

Everyone turns to look at the structure as Thian asks, "What's a Portallis Dimenscione?"

For a few moments, Sadie does not speak as she looks with wonder at the slowly moving planets within the center circle.

"Sadie?" Tianna asks softly. "You _know_ what it is? You've seen one of these _before_?"

Sadie faces Tianna, then looks at the others. "Only in class. We learned about these in our _Ancient Studies of the Keptic_. That's one of the most powerful transportation devices ever created."

Everyone looks at the center where the planets are.

"You mean, it's like some kind of _homing_ labyrinth?" Tia asks. "Do you think it still works and we could use it to get _out_ of here?"

"It's _far_ more powerful than a labyrinth, and from what I remember, more powerful than any _Specteroscope_ too," Sadie says looking at the symbols within the rings. "A Portallis Dimenscione can send you _anywhere_."

"Yeah, well, so can a _labyrinth_ or a Specteroscope," Thian says with confusion. "They can send you anywhere too, even to other _universes_."

"Uh-huh," Sadie says mesmerized by the moving planets. "But a Portallis Dimenscione, can not only send you to other universes, but to other _dimensions_."

"Other... _dimensions_?" Tia asks. "What do you mean, to other dimensions?"

"Our books said that the Portallis Dimenscione was created in the second age of the Keptics. By using the Portallis Dimenscione the Keptic people were able to travel to, and from, trillions of destinations, obtaining knowledge far beyond any in our universe, and most others. Traveling to other dimensions, meeting beings that _defy_ our understanding of physics, alternate states of energy and matter, _time_ travel to any time, within any realm, of any universe, within any dimension."

Everyone stands for several moments in stunned silence.

"So... this is a _Keptic_ device," Amanda says looking at the rings. "Do you know what those symbols mean?"

"Yeah, they're just some of the letters from the Keptic alphabet."

"Sadie, do you know how this thing works?" Tianna says kneeling beside Sadie.

"Kind of. I mean, I read about this years ago when I was just a little kid. But, as I remember it, each ring can turn in _both_ directions, and, can be turned multiple times, like a _combination_ lock. Every realm has a coordinate. Every location on a realm has a coordinate too."

"What do you mean?" Tia asks.

"Well, say we wanted to go to the _Flash In The Pan_ restaurant back on the realm of the _Deep Forest Elves_. You would rotate the disks so each symbol aligned, maybe having to rotate, say the first ring three times to the right, the next ring thirty times to the left, once to the right, then twenty back, and so on with the other rings. You use those levers on that thing over there. The levers are used to activate each ring. You see, not only can each ring turn in either direction, and around any number of times in each direction, but, you can, say, turn the outside ring, then the third ring, then the second, then the forth.

"By the Lord and _Lady_ Sadie," Thian says looking at the huge rings. "That would mean there are trillions upon trillions upon _trillions_ of permutations!"

"But Sadie," Amanda asks as Tianna stands and walks to the levers. "How would they _possibly_ know how to set this thing up to get you to where you want to go?"

"Oh. In the cabinet below the levers, is a rectangular view crystal... I _think_. When you activate the device, you can say where you want to go, and it will provide coordinates and a _map_."

"Huh?" Thian says looking at a panel that Tianna is opening.

"Well, like if you say, _Deep Forest Elves,_ that realm will show up. You then say, _Flash In The Pan_. If there's _more_ than one location with that name, it puts little dots on the map. You rotate the map by using your fingers. When you see the one you _think_ you want, you tap that dot to zoom in. If that's where you want to go, you tap the bottom bar, and, once you confirm the coordinates by tapping the bar one more time, the rings will start moving, until those coordinates are set and locked."

"But, what happens _then_?" Tia asks as they all walk to where Tianna is standing looking at the rectangular view crystal.

Amanda has been watching the tree and goblin creatures very carefully, wondering why they had brought her friends here. Did these creatures know what this thing was, but couldn't figure out how it worked?

"Take a look at _this_ ," Tianna says looking at Amanda, noticing her eyes have remained violet. They've never stayed violet this long... ever."

"I don't see _anything_ ," Thian says puzzled.

"You have to turn it _on_ first," Sadie says skipping around the device, waving to the goblins, their noses darting about, eyes fixed on her.

"Uh, do _you_ see an 'On' button?" Tia asks looking over the device.

"No. Sadie, how do you get it to go on?" Amanda asks.

" _I_ don't know," Sadie says continuing to skip, blowing kisses to the tree creatures and goblins.

"What? What do you _mean_ you don't know?" Tianna asks, placing a hand on Sadie's shoulder to stop her as she skips by.

"We only read about what it was and how it worked. It never said what spell to use."

"Great! We may have found our way _out_ , but we can't figure out how to _use_ it!" Tianna says placing her hands on her hips, making 'the face'.

"Wait... Amanda, I know you said the Specteroscope won't work," Thian says looking thoughtful. "But, you _did_ say the necklace worked. Can't you ask, well, someone in the _necklace_ if they know how this works?"

"Thian, have you seen her _eyes_?" Tia says in a whisper. "They're still _violet_. Something big had to have happened for them to not have returned to green. If she uses the necklace _again_... well, I don't know what might happen to her. Or, uh, to us."

"She's right Thian," Tianna says looking at Amanda's eyes. "You _have_ been getting a little more snippy lately Amanda. Ever since we found that last shard and you sent it to wherever you send them, you've changed."

"What do you mean I've changed?"

"You've always been someone who would never hurt any creature unless you needed to. But, in the _ruins_ , and when we found the wand and stuff, when we were walking, sometimes you'd pull your wand and kill spiders, bugs, lizard creatures, and even lots of butterfly-like creatures, and for no reason."

"I did _not_!" Amanda says angrily.

"Yeah, you _did_ ," Tia says nodding.

"She's right Amanda. We've _all_ seen you do those things, and you did them without any expression at all," Thian says looking at Amanda's angry expression.

"You're _lying_! I would _never_ do anything like that!"

"No, _you_ wouldn't," Sadie says watching the trees and goblins moving closer to them. "But the _necklace_ would. Bellinora said that every time you use the necklace, you turn a little more evil, and that the _necklace_ becomes more a part of you. Maybe..."

"Maybe the _necklace_ is finally taking me over, and I don't even _know_ it?" Amanda says, her face going ashen. "Great _Mother_..."

"Look Amanda, we've been watching you, and you _have_ changed, but you're not really evil, yet, just... well... not _you_."

"But, if I _don't_ ask the necklace for help... how will we get _out_ of here?"

No one speaks for several long moments.

Amanda turns to see the huge tree and a goblin with a small crown standing beside them. Turning, Amanda says, "Well, maybe _they_ know something. After all, they did _bring_ all of you here."

"Uh, can you do your _Wielder_ thing and touch them, then talk to 'em?" Thian asks looking up into the large eyes of the tree creature.

"I'll try." Amanda turns and steps to the huge tree. Tilting her head back as far as it will go, she looks up into its dark brown eyes. Reaching out with her hand toward the creature, it takes a step back. Undaunted, Amanda steps forward placing her hand on its leg. The creature rumbles, as other trees rumble and grumble back. Amanda feels a jolt, and immediately understands what they are saying.

Amanda makes very strange, rather high pitched rumbling and grumbling sounds of her own. The trees step back, staring at her with what she knows must be their expression for shock.

The goblins have stepped back also, confused at seeing Amanda rumbling and the trees responding with what could be fear.

Amanda grumbles something to the huge tree, then turns and walks to the goblin with the crown, whose eyes go large, clearly frightened.

"Sadie, maybe you should come with me okay?" Amanda says holding out her hand to Sadie. Sadie takes her hand and walks to the goblin, who this time, does not move.

Bowing before the goblin, Sadie holds out her hand. For a moment, the goblin just looks at it, like it does not understand. Then, it looks at Amanda holding Sadie's hand. Slowly, the goblin extends its hand.

"Hang on Sadie," Amanda says with a smile, "Looks like you're about to learn some kind of _really_ weird _goblin_ speak."

Sadie smiles back as Amanda extends her hand, still holding Sadie's. She touches the hand of the goblin, then says in English, "Hi there."

The goblin stands staring at Sadie and Amanda, as Amanda begins reciting some poem she remembered, knowing full well that the goblin would not understand her. When Amanda stops speaking, she looks at the goblin as though waiting for it to respond, knowing that if she waits long enough, it will.

After a short pause, the goblin turns its head, nose darting around, as it looks to a rather tall goblin, then speaks.

" _What_ is this creature saying?" the goblin says to the other.

"I was saying hello!" Amanda says, the goblin jumping back in surprise, other goblins taking startled steps away from her.

"You... you _speak_ our language? How? Do you know how to work the Portallis?"

"You _know_ what a Portallis is?" Sadie asks with surprise.

Startled that Sadie can speak their language too, the goblin says, "Yes, all Powerful One. Our ancestors and your people lived and fought together many ages ago. Many things of importance have been passed down through the ages to us. And..."

" _Hang_ on a second, I think the tree people should be in on this too," Amanda says turning to the tree creatures.

Amanda calls the huge tree over to them, then asks the tree to hold out a finger and asks the goblin to hold out its hand. "Okay guys, take your positions so we can all understand each other."

Thian and the others hurry forward, placing their hands on Amanda and Sadie.

Amanda begins speaking in Ahuabor, tree speak, then in Logowin, or the speech of the goblin-like creatures. Both the tree and the goblin let out a cry, quickly stepping back.

It takes several hours of talk, but Amanda and the others learn that thousands of creatures have been brought to the jungle over the ages, and that all of the original creatures had been searching for... the Shards of Legend. The number of creatures had grown over time, as those who had been captured mated with others of their kind, and... provided more food for the Saseoustravorous... the floating creatures. It turns out that the floating witch is just that. A very powerful witch who had the misfortune to challenge one of Eris's daughters... and lost. She was changed into the creature she is now, to watch over any who came to this place looking for a Shard.

"Then, there _must_ me a Shard here!" Thian says nervously. "And... it must be a _really_ important one too, to have had all the protective spells in all the places we've been since we started back at to the Forest of Nar. I mean, that's when things began getting _really_ interesting ya know?"

"It does seem like it, _doesn't_ it? And there _was_ a Shard here, and _this_ is it!" Amanda says with a laugh.

Everyone turns to look at her as she reaches into her pocket and pulls out a greenish shard.

" _Snarkins_ Amanda!" Thian says wide-eyed, "Where did you _find_ it!"

" _Long_ story really, I'll tell you later. I had just gotten the Shard when I heard you coming Thian, so I slipped it into my pocket."

"Why didn't you _tell_ us you found a Shard?" Tia asks looking with awe at the Shard in Amanda's hand.

"Well, since _you_ showed up with your little friends, we've been a little _busy_ don't ya think? Listen, I can't send it to my hiding place, because for some reason, the spell won't work here either. So, if we get out of here, I'll send it then."

Looking at the tree and goblin, Amanda asks how they knew about the Portallis, and why they brought everyone here.

Amanda and the others learn that tunnels have been dug throughout the jungle, for safe places to hide. Several years ago, the goblin creatures had dug a tunnel which broke into this cavern, and they discovered the Portallis. They had no idea what it was, but knew it was Keptic writing, so it must be very powerful and very important. It was half buried in dirt and rock, the rocks far too heavy for the goblins to move. The goblins had been helped by the tree creatures ages ago, and asked them if they would move the large stones from the device. They did, and the goblins and tree creatures have been protecting the devise ever since.

No creature, ever, had been found with a weapon. Those who were not killed by the floating creatures, were stripped of any weapon, then thrown into the jungle, as food stock for the Saseoustravorous. When the tree creatures found Thian in the limbs of one of their kind, holding a shield and sword, they knew he was important. He had somehow managed to get past the floating creatures and into the jungle.

When Sadie had used her sword to rescue one of the goblins and save the others, they also knew that Sadie was very special. When Sadie was brought before their queen, the queen had seen the small necklace Sadie wears, and noticed it had Keptic writing.

The tree and goblin creatures brought everyone here, thinking they may know how to use the Portallis, so they could return to their own realms, even though all those in the cavern had been born here in the jungle.

After talking for hours, Amanda says, "Well... I guess I have no _choice_. I've got to see if someone in the necklace knows how to work this thing."

The others want to protest, but know she is right. If she does not try, all but Amanda will very likely die here.

Standing, Amanda pulls out the necklace, grasps the glowing center stone, closes her eyes and says, "I, the _Wielder_ _of Power_ , summon any _Keptic_ within this stone, who knows how a Portallis works. I _command_ you to come forth now."

Amanda immediately shakes violently, as though having a seizure.

Everyone, including the trees and goblins, move away. After a good thirty seconds of watching Amanda thrashing, Amanda stops shaking, and opens her eyes. They are a very bright violet, much more vivid than they have ever been before.

Amanda looks at Thian and the others, then at the trees and goblin creatures, who have taken several steps back.

"Amanda? Is that _you_?" Tia asks, her voice breaking.

"No. My name is _Danask_. I am, or was, a Keptic warrior in the Palnator war, in the second age of Kaul." Looking at Sadie, he bows low as Sadie bows back. "An _honor_ to be in the presence of a _Keptanur_ ," he says studying Sadie with interest. " _You_ do not know how to work the Portallis?" he asks Sadie.

"No, I've only read about them." Turning to Thian and the others she says, "Great lengths were used to keep the location of these hidden from the non-Keptic. They are _very_ powerful, and if other beings learn how to use them and know where to find one, it could be disastrous to those realms visited."

"Danask, can you get this thing to work, and send our friends the Ahuabor and Logowin to wherever they come from? And, uh, us to wherever Amanda wants us to go next?" Thian asks.

"Yes... she is _fighting_ me. I do not know why, since I am only trying to help, but this _Amanda_ is very strong. Here, let me show you how it works."

Danask steps up to the levers and dials, then spins the dials several times, then pulls two levers.

There is a deep humming coming from the Portallis, everyone spinning around in surprise to see all the rings moving.

Danask seems to know where the realms are for both the Ahuabor and Logowin, but asks the view crystal for the Ahuabor's home realm anyway. Thian watches with fascination as an oblong-like realm appears within the crystal. Danask asks the large tree where on their realm they would like to go. After conferring with the other trees, Danask is given a name. One dot appears on the map. Danask taps the dot and the view zooms in.

"Is _this_ where you wish to go?" Danask asks looking up into the wide eyes of the tree.

"Yes. It is the land of our ancestors, however, we have no idea what may await us there. But, whatever it is, will be better than staying here. Yes, my people will go."

Danask taps the bar at the bottom again and the rings come to a stop. After a pause, the third ring begins to spin counterclockwise, the outer ring and the second ring spin clockwise, the forth ring counterclockwise. The third ring stops, then spins in the opposite direction several times then stops. The outer ring, and the others, after each spins several times in both directions, come to a stop.

Nothing happens.

"Why isn't anything happenin..." Tianna begins.

There is a brilliant flash, causing everyone to avert their eyes. When they look back, everyone, including the Ahuabors and Logowins gasp.

"Great _Mother_!" Thian stammers. "What in all the ways of _Wizitch_ is that?"

In the center, where the moving planets had been, is a rapidly spiraling whirlpool, like a tornado viewed from the top, the far end of the thing moving quickly away from them, until it is nothing but a fine point.

Everyone is scared to death, several of the Logowins rushing from the cavern, back into the safety of the tunnel.

"Just what _is_ that thing?" Tia asks trembling.

"That is your way to anywhere you wish to go, or to any time you wish to travel to," Danask says softly watching the tornado swirl. In a voice almost too low to hear, he says, "Yeees, one can travel back in time... even... before it all started."

"What?" Sadie asks.

"Nothing. You need to use that _ramp_ over there to get to the center disk," Danask says pointing to a large dirty heap on the floor. You must leave any _weapons_ you cannot put in your pockets here. No _swords_ , shields, clubs, _daggers_ or the like. The swirling will spin you so quickly, you may be _killed_ by anything flying around you. Once the ramp is positioned in front of the center of the disk, and the portal opened, you _dive_ in."

"Wait! _What_? What do you mean you, uh, _dive_ in?" Thian asks looking to the swirling disk.

"That is how it works. You set the coordinates, then dive in. You have _one_ hour before the rings reset, and the Portallis is closed. Once you dive in, you will be transported to your set location. It's _quite_ a ride actually. Well, you and your kind had better get going," Danask says to the huge tree.

Several of the Ahuabors move to, then carry the huge ramp to the Portallis, positioning it as Danask instructs.

After thanking who used to be Amanda, Thian, Danask and the others, the huge tree lumbers up the ramp, standing before the whirlpool. After a few heartbeats, he leans forward, falling in. Gasps come from all as they watch him whip around and around, falling further into the vortex, until he vanishes into the dot which seems to be at infinity.

One by one, the other Ahuabors move up the ramp, then fall in and are gone.

Danask pulls a lever and there is a flash, the whirlpool has vanished and the moving planets have returned. Resetting the dials for the goblins, the rings spin for over five minutes in various directions, then stop. There is a flash and the whirlpool has returned.

The goblin queen thanks Sadie, then the others, and moves up the ramp. She turns and waves, Sadie waving her tiny hands in return. The queen turns quickly and dives in. She looks like a bug caught in a swirling drain for a moment, and is gone. All but three goblins, which are too afraid to go, take their turns diving into the whirlpool and vanish. At last, only Danask, Thian and the others are left standing.

Danask looks at Thian for a long moment, then turns to the others saying, "Your Amanda has told me where she wishes to go. I will set the dials now." Danask, who had taken Amanda over, begins setting the dials, when he begins trembling, then suddenly, shakes violently. He yells, "Noooo, let me go! Let me go back to _my_ time before the _Wielder_ came. Noooo!"

Danask, in Amanda's body, falls hard to the floor as Thian rushes up and drops to his knees. It takes several minutes of gentle shaking before Amanda opens her eyes.

"By the _moons_... her eyes... look at her eyes," Tia stutters. "They're, they're..."

" _Solid_ violet!" Thian says stepping back. "No whites to them at all, and... no _pupils_! Snarkins!"

Amanda looks around for a moment then says, "That _idiot_ wasn't going to let me back! But I _forced_ him back into the _darkest_ corner of the stone. He will _suffer_ for all of _eternity_ for what he tried to do to me! I swear he will!"

The others step back, the expression on Amanda's face is one they had not seen before. A hardened expression, no softness, caring or compassion. A look more of anger and smug satisfaction.

"Amanda, are you, uh, _alright_?" Tia asks softly.

"Of _course_ I'm alright, you _idiot_! I'm the _Wielder_! I can do _whatever_ I want, _whenever_ I want, and to _whomever_ or whatever I want! Now _help_ me up Thian. Don't just _stand_ there like some _moron_! I said... _help_ me up!"

Everyone is stunned at Amanda's attitude. She would never talk like that nor treat any of them is this manner.

Thian extends his hand and helps Amanda to her feet.

"Well? What are you all _staring_ at? Let's get _out_ of here and get on with things. _I'll_ set the dials for where I want to go next. Get _out_ of my way Tianna... _MOVE_!"

Tianna staggers back to let her pass, everyone with eyes wide, watch Amanda step to the crystal as she says, "Moulgar, sector nine, parcel eight, upper right quarter."

The map changes and shows the area Amanda had intended. She zooms in and slides her finger over the map until coming to an area of forest. She taps the bar, then taps it again. The huge rings begin spinning. Amanda walks past the others and up the ramp.

In a few minutes, the rings lock into position, there is a flash, and the whirlpool has returned, a slightly different color. Amanda looks back down the ramp to where the others are still standing huddled together where she had fallen.

"Well? You _coming_? Or would you like to stay _here_ and take your chances?" Not waiting for an answer, Amanda turns then dives into the swirling cloud-like whirlpool, spinning faster as she shoots further into its depths, until she is spinning so fast, none of the others can make her out.

"I don't really think that _was_ Amanda. I mean, I'm not _sure_ that was Amanda," Thian says with a hard swallow.

"Yeah, _I'm_ not sure it's her either. She would _never_ talk to any of us like that," Tia says with a shiver. "What are we gonna do?"

"Well, if we stay _here_ ," Sadie says looking at the entrance to the cavern, "we'll be fighting for our lives every hour of every day, and against creatures that want to _kill_ and eat us."

"Yeah, but, if that's _not_ Amanda, whoever it is may _kill_ us all anyway," Tianna says pacing. "But, I just can't _believe_ Amanda would really kill us. Not _our_ Amanda."

"But _is_ she our Amanda?" Thian says looking at the whirlpool.

With a sigh, Tianna says, "Well, whether that's our Amanda or not, I said I would stick with her, to _whatever_ end... and that's what I'm gonna do." Tianna walks up the ramp and stands at the top. Turning she says, "Anyone _else_ coming?" She turns and dives in as the others gasp, watching her spin, arms and legs wide, like some animal falling from a great height. In a second, she is gone.

"Tianna!" Sadie and Tia scream together, both charging up the ramp with Thian on their heels. Without slowing, they all dive in together.

Thian feels like he will be torn apart from the force of spinning. He screams, but no sound escapes him. The spinning increases rapidly, until he passes out.

"Thian! Thian! Can you _hear_ me?" Tianna shouts.

Thian slowly opens his eyes, looking up into Tianna's tear-filled eyes.

"What?" he says slowly as he sits up.

"Are you alright? Somehow, Tia, Sadie and I _landed_ on you. I... I thought you were dead!"

"Oh. Uh, no, I'm okay I guess. Felt like I was going to be _ripped_ apart in that whirlpool thing. Are you okay? Where are the others?"

"Yeah, I'm okay, so are the others, and, well, Amanda..."

"Thian!" Amanda shouts running to where Tianna is helping Thian up.

Amanda grabs Thian into a fierce bear hug, tears streaming from her green eyes. "You're okay! By the _moons_ Thian, you scared us half to death!"

"Scared _you_? Amanda... are you, uh, _you_?" Thian asks dusting off his backside.

"Yeah, it's _me_. Sadie and Tia have been filling me in on what happened. I don't remember a thing! I remember being taken over, but it was like, for just a second or two, then, I woke up here! I've spent the past hour wandering around looking for all of _you._ "

"Wait, you only left a few _seconds_ before we did, how come _we_ weren't right behind you?" Thian asks.

"Don't know, but, after searching, I came back here where I woke up, to begin another search over there," she says pointing off into the trees. "I was about to walk away, when there was a _brilliant_ flash, and all of _you_ came flying out of thin air. You landed in a pile and _unconscious_. I thought you were _all_ dead!

"Sadie came too first, then Tianna, then Tia. Tianna hasn't left your _side_ Thian." Looking at the others, Amanda asks, "You _sure_ you guys are okay?"

After assuring Amanda they are, and having been assured that this is their Amanda, Thian looks around at the odd trees and asks, "Uh, just where _are_ we anyway?"

"I don't know," Amanda says rather startled. "I've been so focused on finding all of you, I haven't even _tried_ my wand or Specteroscope yet. Let me see if the Scope works and where we are."

Amanda pulls her Specteroscope and asks where they are. "Someplace called _Gavanon_. Any of you heard of it?"

None had.

"Well," Amanda says looking at the odd twisted trees, "it shows _several_ places near here that may have a Shard, so should we start our search now or what? I'm actually really tired though, aren't you?"

"I am," Thian says with a groan, rubbing his side. " _One_ of you landed on my ribs I think. Maybe we could look for a clearing and _set_ up the cabin. It's been a _long_ time since any of us have had a bath or anything _decent_ to eat."

"Sounds good to me," Tianna says with a smile.

The others agree and head off into the trees.

#  The Mirror

By the time they come to a small clearing it has become very dark in amongst the twisted trees. It is not large enough for the cabin, so they set up their outhouses and spend the night in their tubs.

Amanda, in her outhouse, pulls out the Shard, gazing at the symbols as she runs her hand over them. "This must be the capstone."

With a tingling, she pulls her wand and sends the Shard to where the other two are hidden. There is a flash and the Shard vanishes.

In the darkness beneath rotting floorboards of a bedroom in an ancient house, a Shard appears in the dirt. It begins pulsing a dark orange glow as it quivers. Two other Shards which have become fused as one, shake and glow the same color of decaying orange. The new Shard vibrates faster, then shoots across the dirt, melding into the others, the three becoming a single Shard.

Amanda, putting her wand away, suddenly feels weak and has to steady herself. A feeling of intense anger shoots through her as her mind seems to darken for a moment, as though a black shadow envelopes her. She feels such an impulse to kill, she immediately shakes her head hard, her thoughts clearing, soon feeling like herself again.

"That was weird," Amanda says putting towels into the tub.

Early next morning, they pack up and have a small bite to eat from the little they had in their packs, then head off along what appears to be an old path. The overhang from the black and twisted trees are far too low to ride their brooms, so grudgingly, they walk.

After many hours, Sadie says, "Hey, what's _that_ over there?" pointing through the trees to a very small clearing.

"Yeah, what _is_ that?" Tianna asks looking to where Sadie is pointing. "Looks like..."

"A _mirror_ covered in vines?" Thian says furrowing his brows.

"Let's check it out," Amanda says heading toward it.

Entering the small clearing, Amanda walks to one side of the object, then says, "It _is_ a mirror! It's _beautiful_ \- but what's a mirror doing here, and all by itself?"

"Have no idea, but take a good look at the _front_. There's no _reflection_!" Sadie says with eyes wide.

"What? Sadie, there _has_ to be..." Tianna begins, but stepping in front of the mirror, gasps. "She's _right_. There isn't any reflection. Just a shiny surface. How is that _possible_?"

"Dunno," Thian says, "but the last time we found something that should have reflections and didn't, was the _Lake_. And we all know how _that_ turned out, but this mirror looks like it's been here for ages. It's an _ancient_ mirror to be sure. Almost hidden in all those vines covering it and stuff. Maybe it's some kind of _scrying_ mirror or something, like our seeing crystals back home ya know? Hey, maybe it says something on the _back_. Help me pull the vines away okay."

They remove the vines from the entire mirror and find that the back of the mirror is carved wood, with images of strange and disfigured creatures.

"You think there was a _house_ here before or something, and the mirror's all that's left?" Tia asks walking around it.

"Maybe, but... I don't see any _signs_ of an old house, or anything _else_ around here," Amanda says looking for anything that may indicate why the mirror was there by itself.

Amanda walks around the mirror, and as she does, she feels a strange sensation, one she has never felt before, but shakes her head, thinking she is just tired and hungry.

Returning to face the front of the mirror, the others join her, trying to see anything in the mirror at all. Thian makes funny faces, like he is watching himself, making everyone laugh, but there are no reflections whatsoever.

A ray of sunlight shimmers through the trees and strikes the mirror. "Look!" Tia shouts pointing at the surface of the mirror. They gasp as an image begins to appear, very faint at first. They all crowd around and squint to make out what is there. The image becomes clearer.

In a moment, they are staring at what appears to be the reflection of the area in front of the mirror, but something is wrong.

"Uh... is it just _me_ , or is _Amanda_ the only one we see in there?" Thian says swallowing hard. "And, uh, why is she wearing _different_ clothes?"

"Not only that," Tianna says nervously, "her _reflection_ is standing on a wide path, leading back into the trees, but," Tianna looks around for a moment, "there're the trees, but... there isn't any _path_ here!"

They all take a step back, including Amanda, her reflection doing the same, with the same startled expression. The image in the mirror is wearing strange clothing, but other than that, is the spitting image of Amanda in every way.

Amanda steps to her right, the image doing the same. Stepping to the left, the image matches perfectly. Amanda quickly snaps her head to the right, the image following along.

" _Weird_ , don't you think?" Thian says stepping directly behind Amanda, waving his arms, his reflection not showing.

"Yeah, _really_ weird," Tianna says stepping up beside Thian, her reflection missing as well. "I'm getting tired of saying this, but... I _really_ don't like this at all. I think maybe we'd better leave."

"I'm with you sis, come _on_ , let's go, this is just _creepy_."

Tia turns and walks toward the pathway they had been following, Sadie at her side. Thian and Tianna head back as well. Amanda is about to turn and join them, when she thinks she sees her reflection turn her head slightly, as it steps forward, appearing to stand right in front of the glass. Startled, Amanda stares for several seconds, then steps up directly in front of the mirror as well, the reflection not moving.

"You _coming_ Amanda?" Thian calls having stopped, noticing she had not joined them.

"Yeah... in a minute," Amanda says softly, eyes roaming the face of the reflection which looks to be her own, but, somehow isn't.

"Well, we can't _stay_ here all day," Tianna says everyone coming to a stop and looking back at Amanda standing in front of her strange reflection.

"Yeah, okay," Amanda says reaching a hand to touch the mirror.

The image in the mirror, mimicking her movements, reaches from her side. As their hands are about to touch the glass, the girl in the mirror reaches through the glass, grabs Amanda by the wrist, and yanks her into the mirror.

Everyone gasps then shouts, "Amanda! Amanda!" as they sprint toward the mirror, seeing Amanda fall to the ground beside herself, on the other side of the glass.

Thian has pulled his wand, as has Tianna, by the time they reach the mirror. Amanda is struggling with the girl when Thian presses his hand against the glass, expecting to reach right through, but, his hand stops, pressed firmly against solid glass.

"It's sealed!" Thian shouts, "She's _trapped_ on the other side. Get back, I'm gonna _blast_ it!"

"No! Stop!" Tianna yells. "You may just end up _shattering_ the glass and... and, well, she'll _never_ be able to get back, or us figure a way to get _to_ her."

They watch as Amanda is yanked to her feet, the girl snatching Amanda's wand, while pointing her own wand at Amanda. Amanda turns to look back to her friends, all with horrified expressions, looking in through the mirror, Thian's hand still resting against the glass. The girl shoves Amanda, forcing her to walk along the dirt path toward the trees.

"What are we gonna _do_?" Tia shouts. "How do we get her back? Where's that girl _taking_ her and why didn't Amanda's _necklace_ help her?"

"That _stupid_ necklace seems to pick and choose when it _wants_ to help out," Thian growls. "Mainly only when she or we are seconds from death! Look, they're turning left into the trees. Where do you think..."

The sunlight shining on the mirror winks out as the sun moves behind a thick grouping of leaves, from the odd trees on their side of the mirror.

In that moment, Amanda and her reflection... _vanish_.

#  Morana

"Who _are_ you? Where are you _taking_ me?" Amanda stutters being shoved hard again when she slows.

" _Shut_ up and keep moving, it's not far."

"But... what about my _friends_?"

"What _about_ them? They're still _alive_ aren't they? If I had _my_ way, I'd have killed _all_ of them, but _she_ didn't want me to."

"Who? _Who_ didn't want to kill them?"

"You talk too much. Just keep _walkin'_. Like I said, it isn't far."

"But... _what_ isn't far? What are you..."

Amanda is struck hard against the side of her head, making her dizzy. "I said... shut up!"

After half an hour, several red bolts flash from deep within the trees, striking the girl who looks just like Amanda. The girl falls face first to the ground, unmoving. Amanda screams then dives behind a large pine tree. Shaking, she looks out at the fallen girl, and at the wand still clutched in her hand.

"Amanda? Is that _you_?" Comes a trembling female voice.

Not recognizing the voice, Amanda stays silent.

"Amanda? It's _alright_ , we got her. She can't hurt you now. We're _friends_ who want to help you get the _necklace_ off. We must _hurry_ though, there are many others approaching and will try to _kill_ us all. Hurry! _Trust_ me... we only want to help!"

Amanda bites her lower lip, her mind spinning, when she hears thrashing coming from the trees behind and to the right of her.

"Amanda! Hurry! They're coming and there aren't enough of us to _stop_ them all," a man's deep frantic voice resonates. "We have to leave... _now_!"

Yellow and red bolts zip from the trees from where they had before, firing into the trees behind Amanda.

"Amanda! Run! They'll _tear_ you apart! Run here, run... now!"

The thrashing sounds are almost upon her. Looking out from around the tree, she sees a woman, man, boy and a young girl, all firing into the trees behind her. The woman turns to Amanda and shouts, "It's _now_ or we'll have to _leave_ you here!" She holds out her arm toward Amanda, and hearing a huge limb crack behind her, Amanda sprints for all she's worth toward the woman.

When she reaches the woman, the woman shouts, "Let's get out of here!"

The others all touch the woman or someone already touching her. Amanda touches the shoulder of the young girl as the woman taps the homing labyrinth she is wearing around her neck with her wand, saying something Amanda cannot hear, then, with a flash, Amanda finds herself traveling through a strange tunnel of light. There is another flash, and she finds herself standing in the rain, in front of a huge black stone castle. The path they are on is lined with large dark and very scary sculptures of robed and cloaked figures, along with some bizarre animals.

A bolt of lightning illuminates the ancient castle, as bone chilling thunder rattles Amanda's teeth. They begin running along a muddy path toward a large moat, muddy water spraying everywhere as their boots crash down into puddle after puddle.

About to reach the moat, with no visible way across to where a huge carved wooden door stands, Amanda is stunned when the woman pulls her wand, aims at the edge of the mote yelling, "Tipsum!"

A large arched brick bridge rises out of the dark mossy water, just as they reach the edge. Everyone continues racing onto the bridge, Amanda, wide-eyed, heart thundering, running onto the bridge as well beside the young girl.

In no time, they reach the huge door. "Tarven!" the man shuts, the huge door immediately opens inward.

Once inside, the man spins shouting, "Tarvana!" the door thunders closed, completely shouting out the sound of rain and thunder.

Panting hard, Amanda turns to face the others, who are also out of breath, staring at her.

"Who... Who _are_ you? Who was that _girl_ and what did she want with me? What about my _friends_?" Amanda cries. "We have to find and help my _friends_!"

"Calm yourself Amanda. We'll do everything we can to help you and your friends. Killian," the woman says to the man, "go back and hide in the trees, then get the girl when it's safe, if she hasn't been _ripped_ apart that is, and bring her here. We need to know _who_ she is and what she was _up_ to. She _may_ know where Amanda's friends are. Go, quickly!"

Killian nods and as the others make their way further into the castle, he opens the huge door, slips outside, with the door closing behind him.

"Amanda, my name is _Morana_. Killian is my husband. This is my son, Nox."

"Hi Amanda, nice to _meet_ you."

"These are my daughters, _Acantha_ , who is my eldest, _Eudora_ , my middle daughter, and this is _Narcissus_ , my youngest daughter."

They all say hi to Amanda, who stutters 'hi' back, then shouts, "We've _got_ to find my friends!"

"We will do _everything_ we can to find them Amanda," Morana says reassuringly. "Killian will bring the girl back if she's still alive. Uh, did the girl _say_ anything to you?"

"Not really. She said that if it were up to her, she would have _killed_ all my friends, but... but that someone told her not to."

"Really, did she... say _who_ this someone was?"

"No. She just said, ' _she_ ' told her not to."

"I see. Well, come, we need to dry off, then, we'd like to hear your story, if you would like to share that is.

"We need to know _where_ you've been, and _where_ you were going, so we know who, or _what_ , may be _hunting_ you. It might help us find and _save_ your friends. We need to know _everything_ that's happened since you became the _Wielder_. Something that may seem insignificant to you, may be of the _greatest_ importance to getting your friends back.

"Eudora, please show Amanda to her room would you dear? Amanda, you'll find some clothing in the closet in your room which I _think_ might fit. After you dry off and get changed, please join us in the family room... through that door over there. The sooner we hear your story, the sooner we may be able to help your friends."

"Come on Amanda, I'll show you your room," Eudora says with a smile. The two of them head for a door to Amanda's left, where Amanda can see a stone spiral staircase leading to the upper portions of the castle.

After taking a long bath, drying off and changing into some clothing which fits good enough, Amanda makes her way down the spiral staircase, then to the very large family room, where there is a roaring fire in the largest fireplace she has ever seen. As she enters, she glances at the huge painting over the mantle, an ancient looking portrait of a very beautiful young woman, holding a large ruby.

"Ah, _Amanda_ ," Morana says with a smile as she rises from her chair near the fire. "Come, sit. Would you like something to drink dear?"

"Oh, uh, some water if it's not too much trouble."

"No trouble at all dear. Narcissus, _fetch_ Amanda a glass of our... _finest_ water will you?"

Narcissus glares at Morana for the briefest moment, then with a smile answers, "Of _course_ mother, your _wish_ is my command." She gets up and walks out of the room.

Amanda is about to ask how they found her, when they hear Killian come through the huge front door, the wind howling until he manages to shut the door. In a moment, Killian, soaked to the bone enters the family room, running his hands through his wet hair saying, "Had to wait a bit for the creatures to leave, but, they _didn't_ get the girl. I have her tied up in the... _guest_ house. I'm going to have a little _chat_ with her later. Amanda, I found your wand. Here."

Killian hands Amanda her wand, which she looks over for a few seconds, then says, "What about my _friends_? How will we find them?"

"For now, we _don't_ ," Morana says gravely. "First Amanda, we need to know everything that has happened to you, and everything you and your friends have experienced since you found the necklace. By the way, where _did_ you find it, if I may ask?"

Amanda looks into the smiling face of Morana, then at Killian, and finally to the children. All seem to have a pasted on smile. Amanda has seen these smiles before, at the orphanage, which makes her very nervous.

"Oh, I, uh, just _found_ it someplace is all."

"Well of _course_ you did, after all you're _wearing_ it aren't you?" Morana says sarcastically. Then with a sickeningly sweet voice says, "But where _exactly_ did you find it dear?"

"I really don't see how that's important. I'm wearing it, and _that's_ all that matters." Amanda's eyes seem to change color slightly. "Who _was_ that girl anyway. She looks _just_ like me! Not just a little like me, but _just_ like me. How's that possible? What did she _want_ with me? How did she _find_ me?"

Narcissus returns and Amanda takes a long drink of water as Morana watches her closely.

"Well, the chances are Amanda," Morana says smiling with a tilt of her head, "the girl was obviously a _changeling_. A being who can appear as _any_ kind of creature, even taking on the exact appearance of someone or something."

"But... how did she know what I _looked_ like?"

"She must have seen _you_ through the mirror before you saw her, and..." Knox begins, but stops as Morana snaps her head around and glares at him.

"The _mirror_? How did you know there was a _mirror_? I don't think I _said_ anything about a mirror," Amanda says as a chill scurries up her spine.

"Well of _course_ you did," Morana says sweetly. "Remember? You mentioned you had been snatched by the girl and taken through some kind of _mirror_. Remember?"

Amanda knows she had said nothing about the mirror and what had happened, but not knowing what else to say, says, "Oh, _yeah_ , I... I guess I might have."

"Well, of _course_ you did dear. Killian, did the girl say anything to you?"

Killian, standing near the huge fire to get warm and dry off a little, has been watching Amanda carefully, not taking his eyes off her. "Oh, no, not _much_ anyway. She was still out of it from our spells, but she'll talk, I _assure_ you, she'll talk when _I_ get through with her."

"Amanda," Eudora says leaning forward in her chair, "what's it _like_ to be the Wielder? I mean, to be the most _powerful_ creature in all the _universes_? Can you kill anybody and anything you want?"

"Eudora!" Morana shouts. " _Mind_ your manners! Killian, don't you think you should, well, get the information we need from the _horrible_ girl?"

Killian glares at Morana for a moment, then says, "Of course dear, right away," then turns and walks away.

"Momma, I was just wondering how it _felt_ to be the Wielder is all. I mean, Amanda, do you feel _different_ now than you did before you found it?"

"Eudora!"

After Amanda takes another long drink from her large glass, she says, "It's okay. I don't mind really. I, uh, just feel a lot more _scared_ really."

"Scared! Amanda, you can do _anything_! If _I_ had that necklace, and were the most powerful of all, I'd be _thrilled_ and use that power all the time. I'd..."

"Enough!" Morana says forcefully. Turning to Amanda, once again in a sweet and calm voice says, "Now, Amanda, you must tell us everything you have done since finding the Necklace of Power. _Every_ detail may be of the greatest importance... to help your _friends_ of course."

Amanda cannot shake the feeling that something just is not right, but she thinks, "They did save my life though... _didn't_ they?"

Thinking back, "I never did see any creatures back in those trees, only heard them thrashing and crashing through the brush. But... we came to lots of doors which seemed to have some _giant_ creature crashing against the doors, just to find out _most_ of them were simply spells. Could _Morana_ and her family have cast spells to make me _think_ something was hunting me? Maybe, but what about the girl then? She _was_ real, and she was not _nice_ at all. No, Morana and her family really _must_ have saved me, but I'm not gonna tell 'em the truth for now, that's for _sure_."

Amanda makes up a completely new story of how she found the necklace, where she found it, and what had happened to her and her friends. None of it the truth.

Even though they seem to hang on her every word, the expression plastered on Morana's face tells Amanda that she isn't buying any of it.

"I see," Morana says when Amanda finishes, having arrived at the mirror they had found, and the girl snatching her through it, then walking until encountering Morana and her family. "Well... isn't that _interesting_. Are you _sure_ there isn't more dear?"

"I, I don't want to talk about it now!" Amanda says forcefully. "I want to find my _friends_! I won't talk about this _stupid_ necklace until I have my _friends_ back. Are you going to _help_ me or not? If you are, then _let's_ go. If not, then please take me back to where you _found_ me. You say the creatures are gone, _great_ , I'll start _searching_ from there."

Morana and her family look nervously at Amanda, as Amanda's hair begins rising off her shoulders, for no apparent reason as Killian reenters the room, coming to a halt looking at Amanda's hair.

"Of _course_ dear. You're right," Morana says looking at her timepiece. "Killian, did you get anything from her, like where Amanda's friends might be?"

"Oh, yeah, I got it out of her alright, they're headed to the ruins of _Gall_."

"Gall! A nasty place I assure you Amanda. We must go at once to _rescue_ your friends and bring them here where it's safe. From what you had told us Amanda, since you were all walking along the old pathway, by now or very soon, your friends will arrive at the old _ruins_ of Gall. That is, if they _went_ that way of course. Do you feel up to going to the ruins, to see if they're there?"

"Let's _go_ ," Amanda says downing the rest of her water, feeling a pain in her stomach. "But, how do we _get_ there?"

"I'll use the... well, perhaps this time, I'll use something called a _Specteroscope_. Have you ever _heard_ of one Amanda?" Morana watching Amanda's face carefully.

The hair on Amanda's arms stand on end. Somehow, she _knows_ that Morana knows she has a Specteroscope too. Bellinora had said that perhaps only _two_ were in existence. How is it, that Bellinora had one, and _this_ woman, out of the trillions of others, possesses the second one? Coincidence? Amanda doesn't think so. She does not know _what_ to think.

"Oh, yeah, actually I _had_ one for a while that I found in an old cave. But, uh, I _lost_ it when we, er, got to the _Forest_ _of Nar_. One of the _giants_ took it."

"Reeeeally..." Morana says eying Amanda suspiciously. "How _dreadful_. They are _very_ powerful, and very rare. No matter, I'll use mine."

Morana pulls on a chain attached to her belt, as Amanda's eyes grow large as a pouch similar to hers appears from Morana's pocket. Slipping the Specteroscope from the pouch, Morana sets the dials. "Everyone, get your wands at the ready, just in case we land in trouble. Take your positions. Amanda, you're on my right shoulder."

Everyone steps to Morana, taking what Amanda decides is their usual position. Amanda steps up to Morana, placing her hand on Morana's shoulder, with _Acantha_ resting her hand on Amanda's.

"Ready? On three. One... two... _three_!" Amanda watches as Morana presses two buttons at the same time. There is a flash, and Amanda finds herself traveling in a multi-colored tunnel, wondering what they will find when they arrive at the ruins. Are her friends still alive? Have they been captured? Or...

Flash!

Amanda finds herself standing on a low hill, overlooking what appears to be an almost completely destroyed castle, as several red bolts flash over her left ear.

"Down!" Morana shouts shoving Amanda hard, sending her sprawling onto the low grass. The others dive as well.

"Get to those boulders!" Killian shouts, beginning to crawl toward them.

Amanda is about to roll over and start crawling when she looks up to see five flyers streaming right at them, wands firing who knows what kind of spells. Amanda's hair instantly rises off her shoulders and begins snapping.

Morana, who is now firing at the flyers, turns to shout at Amanda to get to the boulders, but freezes, her eyes wide, seeing Amanda's hair snapping as if in a violent wind storm, but, there is only a gentle breeze present.

A red bolt strikes beside Morana, bringing her back to the moment. Quickly, she rolls away from Amanda and begins firing killing curses at the flyers. Immediately, dozens of robed flyers shoot overhead, all firing at Amanda and the others. Killian and his family are firing killing curses, flyer after flyer dropping from their brooms, dead before hitting the ground.

Amanda crawls forward to look over the top of the hill, then looks down at the ruins. There must be at least three hundred robed figures, along with many strange animal creatures, all firing red and yellow bolts at one another. Several robbed figures charge at the ruins doorway and are blasted with curses Amanda knows only she and her friends know.

"They're alive! They're alive! My friends are _inside_ the castle! We have to save them, they're _way_ out numbered. Who are all those _people_ and creatures?" Amanda shouts firing bolt after bolt at the throng of chaos below her.

"Several groups of _witches_ and wizards, and _worse_!" Killian shouts as a dozen bolts zip past he and the others.

In moments, it seems that everyone is firing killing curses at everyone else.

"Why are they trying to _kill_ my friends?" Amanda shouts firing off three killing curses of her own, watching three robed people drop, dead, who had been sneaking up on the castle doorway.

"Looking for _you_ of course!" Morana shouts firing at two flyers coming in low and fast.

"They think you're _with_ them and will do _anything_ to get to you and _kill_ you if they can."

Amanda watches as half a dozen timed bolts from a group of robed figures hiding behind a pile of boulders, strikes the doorway where she knows her friends are. The blast sends clouds of dust and rock into the air. No bolts return fire. Amanda's hair once again snaps up, and this time stays there.

"Momma? _Look_ at Amanda's hair," Eudora says with wonder.

Amanda gets to her feet firing bolts quick as a Krispit. Robed figures and fearsome animals fall as if sprayed by insecticide.

All attention is now focused on Amanda, as she begins walking over the hill, continuing to fire bolt after bolt, a shimmering bubble surrounding her.

Morana watches with eyes wide, mouth half open, as Amanda continues to advance toward the ruins, bolt after bolt of killing curses bursting into harmless sparks as they strike her bubble.

It becomes a hornet's nest, people and creatures taking to the sky as others scramble for better cover. Morana and her family are firing off bolts as fast as they can, watching flyer after flyer fall from their brooms, others falling from behind boulders and trees.

As Morana watches from the hilltop, she sees Amanda, who appears to be as calm as can be, while snapping off shots faster than Morana thought anyone could move, simply walks directly into the thickest part of the battle. In less than two minutes, _hundreds_ of dead lay everywhere. The remaining survivors vanish in flashes, having fled for their lives. Amanda lowers her wand, turns and faces where the doorway used to be, seeing nothing but rubble.

With several flicks of her wand, Amanda moves masses of crumbled stone away, leaving an opening as she approaches.

Morana and the others run down the hill to cover Amanda, but there is no need. Everyone, or everything here, is dead.

Amanda steps to the doorway. A yellow bolt strikes her bubble, bursting into thousands of sparks.

"Wait! It's Amanda!" Sadie cries.

"It... it _is_ Amanda!" Thian yells with a shaky voice. "Uh, at least I _think_ it's Amanda. Look at her face, her _hair_..."

"Yeah, look at her eyes," Tianna says nervously.

Morana calls to Amanda, "Amanda, are _you_ alright? Are your _friends_ okay?"

Amanda's hair falls to her shoulders, her legs give way and she crumbles to the ground.

"Momma! She's dead! She's dead! Quick! Get her!" Narcissus yells.

"Hush!" Morana says angrily, "She's just, just...

Morana shouts, "We're Amanda's _friends_ , we came with her to rescue you. It's _okay_ , we're friends!" Morana lowers her wand, waving at the others to do the same.

Killian steps up beside her shouting, "It's okay kids, everyone's _dead_. But, there may be _more_ here any minute, we have to leave... _Now_!"

Thian pokes his head out from the opening in the rubble, his wand pointed at Killian. "Who _are_ you? How did you _find_ us?"

"There's no _time_ now boy! We..."

Amanda groans then opens her eyes. Startled, she looks around for a moment at all the dead scattered about. Realizing she is sitting on the ground, she knows she has once again done something she does not remember. She feels... different, as though not all there.

"Amanda! Are you... uh _you_?" Thian calls to her.

"Yeah, it's _me_. It's okay, these people found and _saved_ me, and we came to find you. Come on, let's get _out_ of here."

"Tia's hurt!" Thian says with worry. "Tianna's with her now."

Amanda gets to her feet and runs to the opening, Morana and the others doing the same.

"Tianna, how is she?" Amanda asks stepping over some fallen bricks to get to them.

"Not _good_ , but not critical either... I _think_. I haven't had the time to really look her over, with the _attack_ and all."

"Let's not _stand_ around here," Morana says quickly. "Everyone kneel around her and take your positions. Everyone hold onto someone else."

Morana pulls her Specteroscope.

"Why does she have your Specteroscope?" Sadie asks with a puzzled expression.

"Oh, uh, it's not _mine_ you know. Remember, I _lost_ mine when one of the giants took it? _Remember?_ " Amanda says looking pleadingly at Thian.

"Oh... er, _yeah_ , we forgot."

"Ready?" Morana says looking nervously back through the opening to the bodies outside. "On three. One... two... _three_!"

Flash!

Small animals peek out from the trees nearby to witness the horror which had invaded their forest. The ruins now empty, the grounds and hillside littered with the fallen, cause the animals to back into the darkness.

Hidden within the rubble of the ruins, lies a leather pouch, with a long gold chain attached to it.

#  The Black Castle

There is a flash and Amanda and the others find themselves kneeling outside an ancient looking castle in heavy rain, a muddy pathway leading to a huge moat.

"Wow. _Awesome_ ," Thian says helping Amanda to her feet.

"Step _away_ from your friend," Morana snaps at Tianna, pointing her wand at Tia. "I'll use a locomotion spell to get her into the castle, keeping her as _still_ as possible. Amanda, we'll take her to the infirmary, then get a better look at her."

Tianna stands with Sadie, watching as Tia's unconscious body rises five feet from the muddy ground. Everyone begins making their way toward the moat. Once at the edge of the moat, Killian points his wand at the water, in a moment, the kids are surprised to see an arched bridge rise from the water, connecting the shoreline with the drawbridge on the other side, where they can see a huge carved wooden door.

Making their way over the bridge, Thian looks over the side and sees several strange swimming creatures about fifteen feet in length, with wide heads tapering to a long snout. He forces a swallow as he sees dozens of very long, sharp and pointed teeth lining the upper and lower jaws. Several of the teeth, twice as long as others, stick out at an angle.

Amanda looks across the grounds and sees several dozen men in black cloaks standing outside a large building, watching them with great interest.

Once in the castle, after Amanda introduces everyone, Morana has her daughters take Thian and the girls to their rooms, where they can take a hot bath, and will find a change of clothing. They are all to meet in the large family room when ready. Tia has been taken to the infirmary where several medically trained witches tend to her.

Morana has the girls prepare supper, which Amanda and her friends eat eagerly. Acantha had made milk shakes for everyone and were so good that Amanda and her friends were now on their second ones.

"Morana, this is _really_ good," Thian says wiping his mouth while still chewing. "Been a while since we've had anything _good_ to eat. And thanks again for _saving_ us."

"Our pleasure dear, just lucky we were in the woods _hunting_ when Amanda and that _horrible_ girl showed up."

"Yeah. That _was_ really lucky, _what_ a coincidence don't you _think_?" Tianna says suspiciously staring at Morana.

Ignoring Tianna, Morana turns to Sadie saying, "Is everything alright Sadie? Would you like some more?"

"Oh, no, thank you, this is fine."

"And where are you kids from, _originally_ I mean. The two of you," Morana says nodding to Thian and Tianna, "and your injured friend, are elves, are you _not_?" But, I'm not sure _where_ you may be from Amanda, or _you_ Sadie."

"I'm sorry Morana," Amanda says feeling a bit dizzy, "but since we're being _hunted_ , we want to keep that to ourselves. After all, should someone capture any of _you_ , if they _tortured_ you, you couldn't tell them anything, protecting our families. I'm _sure_ you understand."

Morana glares at Amanda, then says, "Yes, of course dear, if you like. I assume that you have been looking for the _Shards_ _of Legend_ , is that correct?"

"Yeah, and we _found_ some too!" Thian says reaching for his milkshake. Looking up, Thian looks into Tianna's wide eyes. He looks at Amanda who is also wide-eyed with a look of shock.

"Really!" Morana gasps. "Where did you _find_ them? Do you have them _with_ you? How many? I'd love to see what they look like."

"No, we _don't_ have 'em," Tianna says hotly, "Amanda sent them to a safe place, which only _she_ knows. She hasn't even told _us_ where they are, in case _we_ get captured and _tortured_. They're safe, that's _all_ you need to know!"

Morana turns red as her face contorts into an expression of pure rage. Killian quickly reaches over placing a hand on her shoulder. Morana slaps his hand away, still glaring at Tianna, saying, "I was only _asking_ , there is _no_ need to get angry, I am just _curious_! I would _think_ you would be grateful we _saved_ your lives, but I see I'm _wrong_. You are all _excused_. I suggest you return to your rooms for the night and get some rest. Good night!" She stands and walks from the room, Killian trotting off after her.

"But... I'm not _finished_ yet," Thian says with a mouth full of food.

"Take it with you if you like," Acantha says smiling at Thian. "Momma _gets_ in moods like this a _lot_ , and it's best to just _do_ what she says."

"Eudora, Narcissus and I'll get the dishes," Acantha says standing, collecting her plate and Amanda's. "Nox, please see them to their rooms and be sure that they have _everything_ they need. And _don't_ forget the water!"

Nox, who is about the same age as Amanda, smiles at Tianna saying, "Okay, come _on_ Tianna, uh, you too," he says looking at the others briefly, "I'll walk up with you and if you need anything Tianna, I'll get it for you right away okay? Oh, and you too of course," he says with a quick glance at Amanda and the others.

Tianna looks at Amanda who nods. "But what about Tia? I'd like to see her first," Tianna says with worry.

"She's being well tended to, Tianna," Eudora says with a smile. "Our servants are the very best, and anyway, she needs the rest. It's best not to disturb her don't you think?"

"Well, I guess so. Okay then, good _night_ ," she says getting up and taking Sadie's hand.

"Thanks for the _dinner_ and for letting us stay here for the night," Amanda says standing next to Thian.

"For the _night_?" Acantha says breaking into a broad smile. "Oh, I _think_ you may be staying more than just the _night_!" She turns and walks away with an armload of dishes, her sisters collecting dishes then walking off behind her.

"Come on, I'll take you back up to your rooms," Nox says walking toward the stairs.

Everyone is feeling a bit dizzy and very tired, it's been a very long day after all, and everyone is looking forward to some rest. Each of them has their own room with soft beds and very large bathrooms. Each room has beautiful windows overlooking the moat and forest beyond.

After Amanda and the others are in their rooms, there is a knock on Amanda's door. Opening it, she finds Nox with a large container of water.

"Thought you might be thirsty during the night, so I brought this just in case." Nox hurries across the room and sets the container next to a tall drinking glass. "Do you need anything else Amanda?"

"No, thank you. I'm really more tired than I thought. Even a little dizzy actually. But I'm still a little thirsty, thanks."

"No problem. Well, I've got to get water to the others too. Good night Amanda," Nox says headed for the door.

"Night Nox, thanks again."

Nox stands outside the door for a moment, looking at Amanda with rather a saddened expression, then closes the door.

Yawning, Amanda fills her glass with water and takes a long drink. She gets ready for bed and lies down. With her mind spinning, she quickly falls fast asleep.

Amanda is awakened when someone shakes her. She snaps her eyes open with a gasp as a hand is clamped over her mouth when she begins to cry out.

"Amanda, it's _me_ ," Tianna whispers. "You have to keep _quiet_ , do you understand?" Amanda stops struggling and nods. Tianna pulls her hand away.

"Tianna, what's going on?"

"We're in _big_ trouble Amanda. Morana and her family don't want to _help_ us, they want to _kill_ you and take the necklace for themselves!"

"What!"

"Shush! Did you feel dizzy before bed?"

"Uh, yeah, but..."

"Do you have a headache now?"

Amanda lays for a moment, trying to think of what's going on, then says, "Well, _yeah_ , I do, so?"

"Amanda, we've all been drugged!"

"What? Are you _sure_?"

"Yeah I am. Remember those shakes we drank last night?"

"Yeah."

"Did you start feeling dizzy _after_ drinking them?"

Amanda thinks for a moment as she sits up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed, noticing Thian and Sadie standing near the door listening for anyone outside. "Actually, after I had a drink of water and before we went to save all you. But, yeah, last night after the shakes I _did_... you too? What's going on?"

" _Tell_ her Tianna, tell her what you told us," Thian says in a whisper.

"Amanda, I hardly started my second shake, the rest of you drank _both_ of yours. Then when Nox took us up, he brought you _water_ didn't he?"

"So?"

"And you were _really_ thirsty?" Sadie asks turning to look at Amanda.

"So I was thirsty? Would someone _please_ tell me what's going on?"

"Amanda," Tianna says looking toward the door, "I never had any _water_ last night either. So, whatever they gave us, didn't work so good on me, because I didn't take enough of whatever it was. _My_ room is right next to yours. Last night, I heard my door open and I opened my eyes only a slit to see who it was. It was _Acantha_ , Eudora, Narcissus and _Nox_."

"What did they want?" Amanda asks completely confused.

"They wanted to be _sure_ I was asleep."

Amanda looks at Tianna, then at Thian and Sadie, and back to Tianna, more confused than ever. "Why would they want to know if you were _asleep_?"

"So they could start _programing_ us."

Amanda looks at Tianna as though she has lost her mind, then says, "What do you mean, _programming_ us?"

"Tianna! _Hurry_ it up would ya," Thian snaps, "someone may come soon."

Tianna nods. "Amanda, _Acantha_ and the others walked to my bed, then shook me. Then shook me hard! I pretended to be asleep, that's when I heard their plans."

"What plans?"

"Acantha said that the drugs are working, and in a couple of days, the drugs would build up to the point that _Morana_ could begin using spells on all of us, especially _you_!"

"But, why?"

"Are you _kidding_?" Thian says pressing his ear to the door. "Amanda, Wizitch is used all the _time_ to get people to do things they don't _want_ to, and won't even remember doing later. Morana asked a _lot_ of questions, and _you_ wouldn't answer them. I think she's gonna use drugs and _spells_ to find out everything we've been through, _where_ the Shards are, about the Specteroscope, _Bellinora_ , Wind Rider and everyone else. What she'll _do_ with the information, I don't know, but..."

" _But_ ," Tianna cuts in, "Acantha said last night that Morana wants to use the drugs and spells to get you so weak, you _can't_ control the necklace. I guess she knows it only works sometimes, but I don't know how she knows. When you're _weak_ enough, she plans on _killing_ you, and taking the necklace for herself! She's _obsessed_ with power, and will do _anything_ to become the Wielder!"

"Oh golly!" Amanda says slipping into her clothes in the restroom. Returning to her bed, she slips on her boots. "But... I thought I _couldn't_ be killed really. I mean, this _stupid_ necklace doesn't do much until I _am_ going to be killed, then well, it's always made me the _Wielder_ , ya know? So, how _could_ they kill me? It wouldn't let them... _would_ it?"

"Amanda," Thian says stepping up to Amanda, leaving Sadie as lookout, "Morana _knows_ , just by the way you're so nice, that you have _not_ made a solid bond with the necklace yet. Why, no one seems to know, not even Bellinora. If Morana uses _drugs_ over the next few days, you may become _so_ weak that she can slip _poison_ into your water, and... _that_ will be that. I mean, you couldn't _command_ the necklace to help you, and well, we've been _thinking_."

"Thinking what?"

"The _necklace_ was meant for someone who is _pure_ evil," Tianna says sitting next to Amanda. "The necklace now _knows_ it made a mistake, and that it should _never_ have picked you. What if the necklace _wants_ you to die, so it can be used by someone really evil like it was _designed_ to do?"

"Gosh, I never _thought_ about that," Amanda says with worry. "You think _that's_ why it never seems to help until the last second, because it _had_ to protect me if I needed it at the last minute?"

"Yeah, we _do_ ," Sadie says from the door. " _Think_ about it Amanda, it's only when you've gotten _really_ scared or actually _asked_ it to help you, that it did anything, and then only sometimes. You've asked it to do stuff before, but it _didn't_. Why? Even though all the spirits are _supposed_ to be awake, and you should be pure evil and the true _Wielder_... for some reason, that _hasn't_ happened. Remember, Bellinora and Ellanya couldn't figure it out either. _Something's_ prevented the necklace from truly bonding with you, and Morana _knows_ it. If she _kills_ you before the bond is complete and the necklace _has_ to protect you, no matter _what_ , the necklace can come off and _she_ could put it on, becoming the _Wielder_. And, I think she'll use it as it was intended. I don't _like_ Morana. I don't like her one _bit_!"

"But that's not all," Thian says gravely.

"There's _more_?" Amanda asks rather startled.

"Oh yeah, there is," Tianna says pacing. "Acantha, Eudora and Narcissus have _plans_ of their own!"

"Plans? _What_ plans?" Amanda asks looking out the window as a beam of sunlight streams in.

" _They_ want to kill you Amanda, and take the necklace for _themselves_ , and _not_ let Morana have it. They even talked about _killing_ Morana and Killian!"

"What! Are you _sure_?" Amanda asks trembling.

"Oh yeah, they _thought_ I was knocked out and couldn't hear 'em. They've decided to add _more_ drugs to our water than Morana told them to. Morana had told them that when she thought you were pretty much under her spell, she'd let Acantha, Eudora and Narcissus know that it was time, so _they_ could kill all of _us_ , while she kills _you_ and takes the necklace!"

"By the _moons_..." Amanda says getting up. "What are we gonna do?"

"I have a plan," Tianna says seriously. "Nox seems to be a really good guy, and just doesn't seem to fit with this bunch. In my room, he kept saying they _shouldn't_ kill us, and..."

"And they should at least let _Tianna_ go," Sadie says with a smile.

"Huh? Why _you_ Tianna?" Amanda asks looking toward the door, thinking she hears something.

"Nox is _sweet_ on Tianna," Sadie says with a giggle. "He'd do _anything_ for her, and he doesn't want her hurt."

"Oh. Uh, so Tianna, what's the plan?"

"Well, we have to check on _Tia_ first thing this morning, even if they say we _can't_. Last night after dinner, you thanked them for letting us stay the night. Do you remember what _Acantha_ said?"

Amanda looks confused.

"She said," Thian says in a whisper, "'Oh, I _think_ you may be staying more than just the _night_!' Remember? They plan to keep us here until _you're_ dead. They wouldn't _dare_ try to kill all of us when _you_ still may be able to use the necklace. So, we think they're going to use _Tia_ as an excuse to keep us here until they're ready to kill us, and we _don't_ think it will be more than a few days! Morana knows the bond between you and the necklace could happen at any second."

"Great _Mother_!" Amanda says loudly, immediately placing a hand over her mouth. "So, what does all this have to do with _Nox_?"

"Well, honestly," Tianna says with a sigh, "I think if I make _nice_ with Nox, he'll help us escape. I'm not sure of course, but..."

"Are you _kidding_?" Thian says with a snort. "You'd have to be _blind_ not to see the way he _drools_ over you. But, just what do you mean... make _nice_ with him?" Thian says hotly.

"I _mean_ , during the day today, and maybe tomorrow if we don't think they'll _kill_ us in the night, I'll spend as much _time_ with him as I can, and..."

"Use your womanly _wiles_?" Sadie giggles.

"What? No! No _way_ Tianna, you _can't_ do..." Thian fires off.

"Can't do _what_ Thian? Do you have a _better_ plan? One that _won't_ get us all killed? One that may get us out of here _before_ we're all drugged to the point we _can't_ fight back? If so, let's _hear_ _it_!"

Everyone looks at Thian, who is red in the face with anger at Tianna's proposal of spending time with Nox. After stuttering several times, trying to think of something else, he finally spits, "Fine! Fine! Just don't get _too_ cozy with him okay! He _is_ one of them you know! _He's_ in on killing Amanda and us too!"

" _Quiet_ Thian! Keep your _voice_ down," Tianna hisses. "Let's just see what _happens_ over the next..."

"Someone's _coming_ ," Sadie says moving quickly to the bed, everyone joining her sitting quietly.

There is a knock on the door.

"Come _in_ ," Amanda says in a shaky voice.

The door opens and Nox steps in. "Oh, _here_ you are Tianna, I was just looking for you. Thought you might, uh, like to take a look around the castle... or _something_. Oh, well, _you_ can all come too if your want. Anyway, Morana said to bring you all down for breakfast."

"Hi Nox," Tianna says sweetly with a shy smile. "That sounds like fun."

"Well, I'd like to stay inside and rest some more, I'm still kind of tired I guess," Amanda says with a yawn, "maybe I'll look around a little on my own later," She then looks at Thian.

"Oh, _yeah_ , uh, I guess I'll stay and keep Amanda company."

"I'll stay too," Sadie says with a smile. "So... I guess it's just _you_ and Nox then Tianna."

Tianna walks to Nox, swaying her hips sensually. Nox looks at her with a dreamy expression as she runs her hand up and down his arm saying, "Just you and me Nox, I think it will be fun to spend time together... _alone_."

Thian chokes and everyone turns to look at him, Tianna and Amanda give him looks that could kill.

"Sorry, _swallowed_ down the wrong pipe."

"Nox?" Tianna smiles. "After breakfast, would you take us to see Tia? She's a _good_ friend of ours you know, and we're worried about her."

"Oh, uh, well, um, _Morana_ will tell us if we can or not."

"Can't we see our friend without Morana's _permission_?" Sadie asks.

"Oh, well, it's, uh, it's just that she's the one who talks to the medical staff, and will know if Tia's up to seeing anyone. Uh, we _really_ need to get to breakfast, before Morana gets mad."

"Why do you call her _Morana_ and not mom or something?" Thian asks as they all head for the stairs.

"Oh, well, I _do_ call her mother sometimes, but, she likes me to call her Morana is all."

Amanda and the others look at one another for a moment, then follow Nox out the door.

They have breakfast with Morana just as sweet as can be, asking no questions of them other than how their night was, and if they got enough sleep. Having answered that everyone slept like a log, not waking up even once during the night, Morana seems to perk right up.

After breakfast, Morana said that Tia was still unconscious, and had internal injuries, and that it may be a couple of days before she wakes up, but, if they would like to see her, it would be okay, just not to stay long.

Everyone visits Tia, who looks like she is asleep, wearing a simple gown.

"Nox, could you get her another blanket please, it may be cold tonight you know? I'd like her to have it now, just in case," Tianna says batting her lashes at Nox, who trips over his own feet as he turns saying, "Yeah, _sure_ Tianna, whatever you want. I'll be right back, there are blankets in the cupboard."

The second Nox steps from the room, Tianna has Thian turn his back, then lifts Tia's gown and gives her a quick physical.

"Well, I'm not the healer Tia is by a long shout, but, there's only a _little_ bruising, which _wouldn't_ cause internal bleeding like they said she had. And... her _head_ only has a small _scratch_. There's no reason she shouldn't be conscious by now, unless..."

"She's been _drugged_!" Amanda says furiously.

They hear Nox coming and cover Tia.

"Will _these_ do Tianna?"

"Oh, those are _lovely_ Nox, thanks so much. Well, if you guys don't mind, Nox is going to show me around... _aren't_ you Noxy?"

"Noxy?" Amanda thinks doing her best not to laugh.

"Yeah, uh, okay. See you guys later okay? Come on Tianna, I'll show you around the _castle_ , and maybe we can have _lunch_ together in the forest later."

"Oh, I'd _love_ that Noxy, we'll have a picnic, just the _two_ of us."

Tianna smiles sweetly at Nox, turns and smiles at Amanda and the others saying, "Bye! See you at supper."

Thian makes some noise that Tianna and Nox do not hear, as they turn and head out of the room, Tianna taking Nox's hand. Nox looks at her with a huge grin.

When they are out of sight, Amanda laughs saying, "Thian, did you actually _growl_?"

"What? No... uh, had something in my _throat_ is all. Come on, let's get back and look like everything's okay." Without waiting for a response, Thian turns, quickly walking away.

That night after dinner, again drinking a shake they know has been drugged, Morana tries to get them to drink another, but everyone declines. Morana is _not_ happy, but knows that the drugs in the one shake, will make them all very thirsty, and they will all have a nice tall glass of drugged water later. Everyone spends an hour or so chatting with Morana, Killian, Nox and their daughters, about nothing of interest, then Amanda and the others say they are really tired, and say good night.

Once in their rooms, they wait for Nox to leave, then all meet in Amanda's room.

"Shout the door Thian," Tianna says quickly, "I've got some good news."

#  Escape

After Thian closes the door, everyone huddles around Tianna on the bed.

"Listen," Tianna says in a whisper, "we're getting out of here... _tonight_!"

"What!" Thian says loudly.

" _Shush_ Thian! Just _listen_ for a change will you! I spent the day with Nox and got to know him _really_ well."

" _How_ well?" Thian asks with netted brows crossing his arms.

"Not _that_ well Thian, but well enough. Nox really _is_ a good kid, he _hates_ living here with Morana, Killian and his sisters. He's treated poorly because they say he isn't _mean_ enough to become anyone of importance, and is more a _bother_ than anything else. He and Narcissus are _both_ treated like dirt. Narcissus is always trying to do something to impress Morana and her sisters, but is _always_ ignored.

"Nox said he had thought of running away lots of times, but had no idea where he'd go, and knew he'd be in _big_ trouble if they ever found him. Also, he didn't think he'd ever make it, since there are more than _two_ dozen well trained men in that guard house we saw when we came here. They patrol _round_ the clock. There is another guard house around the back of the castle too. Uh, I'm not sure how he'd get past them alone either.

"So, I, uh, asked him to come with _us_ when we left and..."

"You _what_?" Thian thunders.

"Shush!" Everyone hisses at once.

"Look Thian, he wants to get away from them, and so do _we_ , so it just seemed like the right thing to ask."

"What did he say though?" Sadie asks sitting at Tianna's feet.

"Well, at _first_ , he didn't say anything, just looked at me with a really scared expression. He constantly looked around, like the _trees_ had ears or something, then said in a whisper, "You mean, you _really_ want me to come with you Tianna... _together_?"

"I felt _awful_ for leading him on, but snuggling up to him..."

Thian inhales sharply ready to say something when everyone hisses, "Shush!"

"I told Nox that I _did_ want to be with him and that I liked him... a _lot_ , with an emphasis on a _lot_! It looked like he might pass out. But, when I told him that we'd have to wait until Tia was well enough to travel... his face went _pale_ , and he looked as nervous as a stuttering _Snorkrat_ in wand light."

"What did he say?" Amanda asks leaning forward.

"He told me everything! He told me that Tia _had_ been drugged to make it seem like she was really hurt. He told me that _we_ had been drugged and that Morana plans to _kill_ you Amanda, _tomorrow_ night! Then, Morana will take the necklace, and have Nox and her daughters, kill all of _us_. The thing is, since Morana had told Nox's sisters the plan too, they had talked with Nox on a plan to kill you _tonight_ instead, take the necklace, kill _Morana_ and Killian, use the Specteroscope to go... _someplace_ and wait for the bond with the necklace to take place, then... share in ruling _all_ the universes."

"Great _Mother_ of Creation!" Thian stutters. "They're going to try to poison Amanda _tonight_ ," turning to look at the container of water. "That, that means that the water..."

"Has what _may_ be a fatal dose, if the necklace doesn't help," Sadie says shaking.

"So, what do we do?" Amanda asks swallowing hard.

"Well, for one, _don't_ drink the water! Just empty most of the container down the drain, but keep just a little in your glass to make it _look_ like you drank a lot. Nox says his sisters are going to wait until _three_ in the morning, then come up and see if you're _dead_ , if you're not, they are going to keep forcing poison down your _throat_ until you are."

Amanda feels dizzy.

"Nox says there are spells set on the doors and windows, so no one can get in, and of course, _out_. So, he's going to meet us at _midnight_ , and sneak us out of here. He's going to give Tia an antidote to bring her fully conscious, and fill her in on what's happening. For now, we all need to get to our rooms, empty most of the water from the containers, and leave just a little in the glass. Just in case someone comes by earlier to check that we've all been _drugged_ and won't cause any trouble.

"Nox said to meet him in the family room _precisely_ at midnight. He says the guards at the front guard house, would be sleeping then, and it's the guards from the back on patrol. He said that at midnight, those on patrol will be behind the castle, and we'd have our best chance at getting away. Now, let's go before anyone gets suspicious, and don't find us in our rooms where we _said_ we'd be."

They all agree and head to their rooms, each scared to death of getting caught, and having to fight while trapped within the Black Castle, or outside on the grounds.

At three minutes to midnight, Amanda opens her door and sticks her head out. As she does, Tianna's door opens and she steps out nodding to Amanda. They wait for a few moments until Sadie comes out, followed by Thian. Thian nods to them, and they nod back. Thian pulls his wand, the others doing the same, as Thian leads them to the stairs. Looking down, they see Nox nervously pacing below.

As Thian and the others descend as quietly as they can, Tianna sees Tia step into view. Without thinking, Tianna says, "Tia!" _much_ too loudly. Morana and Killian's room is at the top of the stairs right beside them. Tianna slaps a hand over her mouth, but it is too late, scrambling noises come from Morana's bedroom.

Thian and the others thunder down the stairs and sprint for the huge door along with Nox and Tia. Nox waves his wand and the door quickly opens. Nox runs out first, points his wand and says, "Tipsum." The water starts to bubble and the arched brick bridge rises from the water.

Nox waves for Tianna and the others to cross as yelling is heard within the castle.

"Amanda, _take_ this," Nox says handing Amanda a pouch with a long gold chain attached to it. "It's called a _Specteroscope_ , just ask for the spirit in the Scope, and tell it to take you someplace _safe_ and it will. I've never been allowed to touch it, but Morana says this is more valuable than anything or _anyone_ , and keeps it with her at all times. I took it off her nightstand a while ago. I, uh, put some _drugs_ in their water tonight instead of all of yours. Guess I didn't put in enough though, but it might slow them down some."

"Run!" Tianna says seeing dozens of men pouring out of the guards quarters.

Bolts of red, yellow and orange flash from wands through the dark.

Sprinting from the bridge and headed for the relative safety of the forest, Amanda hears Morana screaming from the drawbridge, " _Kill_ them! Kill them all! Nox... _kill_ them!"

It is clear to Amanda, that Morana has no idea it was Nox who had helped them escape, since he had stayed back on the bridge to make sure Tianna got across safely and to stop anyone who came after her.

Amanda, Tia, Tianna, Thian and little Sadie, begin firing killing curses at the men as they continue to run, watching the red bolts from their wands strike the men, killing them instantly. There is no time for stunning spells or other less lethal spells, since none of the men are firing anything but killing curses at them.

"There're too _many_ of 'em!" Tianna shouts, a bolt burning her hair from behind, as a bolt from Morana whizzes past the side of Amanda's face.

Thian trips and falls, dropping his wand. Reaching for it, a bolt strikes the wand just as he is about to grasp it, blowing it apart. Pulling the wand they had found with the crystal spheres, he scrambles to his feet. Pointing his wand at a man behind a large log near the guard house, who had been firing at him, Thian shouts, "Osteano!" A thick red bolt zaps from his wand, striking the log which explodes as though struck with dynamite. The explosion causes everyone to dive for cover as debris rains down.

Having been knocked off his feet, Thian rolls to one side, eyes practically popping from his face, looking at his wand while shaking.

A bolt rips through Thian's robe, bringing him back to his senses. Scrambling to his feet, he begins firing spell after spell. Wherever the bolts strike, there is an explosion. One shot alone kills five men hiding behind a large boulder.

Amanda and the others are in shock at what Thian is doing, but manage to get to their feet and run for all they are worth to the forest, which is not far.

Suddenly Sadie screams.

Snapping her head around, looking over her shoulder, Amanda sees Sadie lying on the ground holding her ankle, Morana and Killian sprinting toward her. Tia and Tianna had just entered the forest, and had not heard Sadie scream due to all the shouting.

Amanda's hair begins to rise, then falls, rises again and falls. She does not understand why the necklace is not trying to save her and her friends, but suspects she may be drugged just enough for any kind of bond to be made.

Thian and Amanda make it to the forest, everyone fanning out as more men pour around the side of the castle from the rear guard house, red bolts from the guard's wands sizzling through the air like rapidly firing lasers.

Amanda peeks out from around a large tree as Morana shouts, "Stop! _Stop_ shooting!" she fires several bolts at the ground in front of her guards. "Let 'em go! _She'll_ come back, we've got her little _friend_ here." Sadie tries to get up, then Morana repeatedly strikes Sadie with torture curses as she laughs like a mad woman, causing Sadie to thrash violently in the mud.

One of the men approaches Morana holding tightly to Nox who is struggling to get away. Morana snaps her head up, seeing Nox kicking at the man and says, "What's the _meaning_ of this, release my son!" Killian and his daughters have joined Morana, looking first at Sadie groaning as she lays on her back, then to Nox who looks scared to death.

"We caught _him_ trying to get away with _them_!" the man says pointing to Sadie.

"No! _No_ I wasn't! I, I was trying to _kill_ them like you said!" Nox shouts.

" _No_ , he was _not_ trying to stop them, every shot he took missed, even when he was only yards away, and, I saw him strike Mannie, _killing_ him on the spot. Nox was not trying to protect _you_ , he was helping them to _escape_. How else could they have gotten out of the castle without help and the password, which you _personally_ set so it would only work using one of your families wands?"

Morana appears to go into shock for a moment, as though thinking this through, playing the events in her mind. She steps in front of Nox as the man lets him go. Nox stands frozen in place with fear.

"You! _You_ let them out of the castle? You _worthless_ brat, you _traitor_! I've had enough of you!" Snatching Sadie up by the arm, then turning and walking back toward the bridge, dragging Sadie half-conscious behind her, Morana walks past Killian saying, "Kill him! _Now_!"

Amanda watches Sadie's limp body being dragged away through the mud, but then, Killian steps to Nox, pulls his wand, yells at him for a moment, then there is a bright red bolt which strikes Nox in the chest. Nox drops face down in the mud, sending a splash of dirty water into the air.

"Two moons over the mountain! I... I think they just killed Nox!" Amanda says feeling weak.

"Amanda!" Tianna says in a whisper, I can't find..." as Tianna steps up to Amanda from around a tree, she sees Sadie being dragged along behind Morana and is about to cry out when Amanda slaps a hand over Tianna's mouth saying, "There's _nothing_ we can do for her now. Come on, let's find the others and get the heck _out_ of here, then figure out what to do. Tianna... they killed Nox."

Tianna looks first at Amanda, then to where a large man is lifting a muddy body from the mud. Tianna gasps, recognizing the body is Nox.

"Oh... no..." she says with tears in her eyes. "He died because of _me_. He died because... because he, he..."

"No time now Tianna. Look! Nox gave me Morana's _Specteroscope_. We'll use it to go back and get mine, then go somewhere to think this thing out."

"I'm _not_ leaving without Sadie! We're _not_ leaving!"

"Yes we _are_! We need a _plan_ to get her back! Tianna, _think_! If we try to go in after her now, they'll be waiting for us. I don't think Morana _will_ kill Sadie... yet. I _think_ she knows I wouldn't leave Sadie for long. _That's_ why she ordered her men to stop shooting at us. I heard her say something about my coming back, because they have my little friend. And she's _right_. We _will_ be back, but not _now_. Come on, there's Tia and Thian."

Quickly making their way to Tia and Thian, they quickly fill them in on what had happened to Sadie and Nox. Amanda checks Morana's Specteroscope then says, "Unless Morana has gone someplace with the Scope after we _got_ her, I can just move these two knobs like this, and..."

They all watch the hands on the Specteroscope spin, then lock into position. "This _should_ be where you were all attacked, and I hid _my_ Specteroscope. Now, if there _were_ only two Specteroscopes... we'll have _both_ of 'em! Take your positions."

Everyone gets into position, hearing twigs cracking in the forest not far away.

"I hope these _are_ the right coordinates, and I pray there isn't some army there waiting for us. On three. One... two... _three_!" Amanda presses the buttons as a deer walks out from behind a tree. There is a flash startling the deer who had just seen four creatures standing near a tree. When the deer looks back, they have vanished.

In less than a heartbeat, Amanda and the others find themselves standing in the ruins where they had been kneeling beside Tia when Morana had used the Specteroscope.

Looking around quickly for any signs of an attack and finding none, just huge heaps of dead bodies, Amanda drops to her knees reaching under a shelf of rock. She pulls out her own Specteroscope, sill in its pouch.

"Tianna, take Morana's scope and attach it to your belt, and slip it into your pocket. You've seen me use mine _lots_ of times, and if something happens to me, I think you know enough now to get that one to work. Thian can help too. If you forget, just remember the _manual_! I'm going to use mine to get us out of here."

"But, where are we going?" Thian says peeking out from the ruins to the surrounding forest.

"Get into position and _find_ out," Amanda says with a weary smile. "On three. One... two... _three_!"

Flash!

Amanda finds herself traveling within the familiar multicolored lights of a twisting tunnel, then after another flash, she finds she and the others standing several yards from a beautiful river, where several Grass People look rather startled.

"Wielder?" One of the Grass People asks walking forward on root-like feet. "Wielder, you and your friends have returned."

"Hi," Amanda says looking around. Do you know where we can find Poa?"

In a few minutes, Poa turns hearing his name being called.

"Amanda! Thian, Tia, Tianna, what a _grand_ surprise! Where is little _Sadie_?"

"It's a long story Poa," Amanda says shaking her head, "and not a very _happy_ one. Sadie's been _captured_ by very bad people, and we need to figure a way to rescue her. Is it okay if we stay here for the night?"

"Of _course_ Wielder! Set up your cabin as before. You are welcome anytime, and for as _long_ as you like. Are you alright Wielder?"

"Yeah, we all are I guess. But we've got to get some sleep if we can. We've been _drugged_ and we need to be clear headed to make our plans and function properly, and I have no idea what our plans will be."

Thian sets up the cabin, then grudgingly, everyone goes to bed after Amanda refuses to discuss anything before everyone gets some rest. Tia Mixes up what she thinks may be the antidote to the drugs, hands the drinks to the others, then all drain the glasses before going to bed.

Amanda looks through tears at the empty bed beside her... Sadie's. Tears running down her cheeks, feeling responsible for anything that is happening to Sadie, knowing that her friends would have all been killed the next night if Tianna had not overheard plans to kill them all first... Amanda closes her eyes and wills herself to sleep.

Early next morning and about to prepare breakfast, there is a knock on the cabin door. Thian walks to the door and opens it, Poa is standing with a grassy grin, then steps aside.

"Nara! Teaskis!" Thian shouts running past Poa.

Amanda and the others having heard Thian, rush to the door, then to Nara and Teaskis.

"Wielder, you are _alright_?" Nara asks with concern. "You don't look so good, even for one of _your_ kind."

They all spend some time talking quickly about what had happened to all, and whether Nara, Teaskis and the Grass People are getting along.

"So, you _love_ it here?" Thian says to Nara.

"Oh yes, Teaskis and I have found a magnificent new home, with _wonderful_ creatures who treat us with kindness and respect. We have all become great friends."

Tianna is about to ask something when there is a flash and _pop_ in front of Amanda's face, as a sheet of paper appears. Startled, Amanda steps back, then grabs the floating paper.

"Uh-oh. What is it?" Thian asks nervously.

Amanda's face goes ashen. "It's from _Morana_. She says she'll torture Sadie by using various torture curses, then by skinning her _alive_ and letting something called a ' _Humtar_ ' finish her off, unless _I_ come to the coordinates on the paper, _tomorrow_ at ten in the evening."

"Snarkins!" Thian says with eyes wide. "Amanda, a _Humtar_ is a huge two headed dog-like creature. By the _moons_ Amanda, we've got to do something, and do it now!"

"Where does she want us to go?" Tia asks, watching tears run down Tianna's face.

"I don't know really, it's just a bunch of numbers. But, there's one more thing... I'm to go alone."

Everyone stands in stunned silence for a moment, then Tianna says, "No. I'm coming with you. If Morana so much as _touches_ Sadie, I'll _kill_ her!"

"I'm coming too," Tia says quickly.

"Well, you don't think any of you are going any place without _me_ do you?" Thian says stepping up to the others."

"Amanda, can you ask the Specteroscope? Can it show you a _map_ or something?" Tianna says looking at the note.

"Uh, well, I can _try_ ," Amanda says pulling the Specteroscope from her pocket. Stepping away from the others a few feet, she says, "I, the _Wielder_ _of Power_ , _command_ the specter within the Scope to come forth." Amanda places the Specteroscope on the ground and steps back as a black smoke begins rising from the center of the Scope. In a moment, the full apparition appears, looking at Amanda, then to the others. While looking around the surrounding area he says, "I am at your command Wielder. What do you wish?"

"Hi, uh, good to _see_ you Mr. Specter. I was just wondering, if I show you some _coordinates_ , can you, well, show us a _map_ of where that would be?"

"May I see the coordinates Wielder?"

"Yeah, sure," Amanda turns the paper around and he studies the numbers.

"Wielder... that is a _very_ bad place, you should _not_ go there without the full power of the necklace, unless an _army_ accompanies you and they are very well-armed."

"Why?"

"It is a place of _death_ and misery. Tens of thousands have been slaughtered there. It is a place even the _powerful_ dare not go, unless there be no other choice."

Everyone is silent for a few moments, then Amanda says in a soft and frightened voice, "Well, I _have_ no choice. A witch called _Morana_ captured Sadie... the little girl who travels with us. I've been _summoned_ to wherever this place is, to exchange _me_ for her. If not, they'll _kill_ her."

" _Morana_!" The specter stammers, his smoky body quivering for a moment, then says, "You... you are the _Wielder_ _of Power_ , no one can summon _you_. You are capable of anything, even Morana... The necklace..."

"That _stupid_ necklace won't help!" Tianna snaps. "Amanda doesn't know how to control the spirits inside, and they only help her _sometimes_! We need to get to Sadie and _save_ her! Can you show us a map or _not_?"

The specter looks at Tianna and the tears streaming down her face, then instantly turns into a 3D hologram of a map. Everyone steps forward with mouths open.

"Wow! Would you look at that!" Thian says with awe.

"Amanda, zoom in a little okay," Tia says nervously looking at the terrain.

Amanda places both hands in front of her, then moves them to the side, the image zooming in. Running her finger across the map slowly, the map rotates until a red dot appears.

"That must be the spot," Thian says then bites his lip. "Looks like a couple of really large hills, and a _really_ tall mountain. There's lots of huge boulders scattered around, and a lot of them over here, but no trees or plants, or anything else. Right behind the dot, is an _ocean_. Amanda, the dot is right out in the _open_ , nowhere near a good hiding place like these _boulders_ over here, or those over there. And you can't go _this_ way, because you'd run right into the _ocean_." The specter is right, this looks bad, _really_ bad."

"Bad? Thian it's a _trap_!" Tia says stepping back.

"Yeah, it's a _trap_ alright," Amanda says with a shiver. "And Morana knows _full_ well that I'll show up, and... that all of _you_ will too. She plans on killing _all_ of us."

"So, what's the plan then?" Tianna says as Amanda studies the map for a few moments.

"Look, again, I _have_ to go, but you don't. _Wait_ Tianna! All I'm saying is, you can take _Morana's_ scope and the three of you can go someplace safe. Then, if... I can save Sadie... somehow, I'll use _my_ scope to get Sadie and I _out_ of there and to wherever we decide to set _your_ scope for."

"No _way_ Amanda! We're a team, a _family_ really, and _no_ one takes one of us without the others doing _whatever_ needs to be done to get 'em back!" Tianna thunders. "Besides, where would we go? Wherever we go we're being _hunted_. How could we ever _live_ with ourselves, always wondering what _would_ of happened if we had gone with you? I'd _never_ be able to sleep again. Uh-uh, we go, and that's _final_!"

Smiling, Amanda nods saying, "Yeah, I know. I knew you'd say that, but I had to give you all the choice. Are we all in then? Good, okay, I have an idea, but it's a _risky_ one."

"And when _aren't_ most of your ideas risky?" Tia laughs.

Smiling, Amanda says, "Yeah, I guess so. Look, here's what I'm thinking..."

After plans are made, Amanda says, "Spector are you _there_?"

The specter appears beside the map, startling everyone.

"Oh, good. Uh, would you please tell me how to set the scope for those boulders over there," she says pointing.

"Then you intend to go Wielder?"

"Yeah, we _have_ to. We have to try to _save_ Sadie, can you help me?"

The specter studies the faces of them all, then with a nod says, "Of course Wielder, as you command."

The specter tells Amanda in detail how to use the scope to go to any location seen on any map, then stands staring at them for a long moment, looking from one to the other and says, "Do you understand Wielder?"

"Yes, thank you _so_ much for all your help."

"The Wielder understands that _none_ of you may survive?"

"Yes. But Sadie is one of our family, and we have to at least _try_."

"I see. Does the Wielder command anything else?"

"Um... no, I guess not anyway. Uh, well, it's been nice knowing you if we don't come back."

The specter stands with a look of surprise. After a moment, he bows then swirls back into the Specteroscope.

Handing the Specteroscope to Tianna, Amanda walks away from the others as she chews on her lip for a few moments, wondering if she should really do what she is about to. Pulling her wand, with a wave, a pen and pad of paper appear in her palm. Quickly writing several pages, she tears them from the pad, folds them, then with a wave of her wand, the paper vanishes.

They spend the rest of the day, evening and all of the next day going over what plans they have, each rehearsing their parts, and visiting with Poa, many of the Grass People they had saved, and a long walk around the lake with Nara and Teaskis.

Later in the day, Amanda says, "Well, I think we should all try to get some sleep, or _rest_ anyway, before tonight. We're going to need to be _sharp_ and rested. I've got the feeling it's gonna to be a _long_ night! We _know_ Morana's not coming alone and will more than likely, bring an _army_!"

"Well, _there's_ an understatement!" Thian says shaking his head. "And I think you're right, I'll bet she knows _you_ won't be alone either. She knows where that place is, and she's probably been there before, and will be ready for _anything_ , and won't stop until you... well, _all_ of us, are dead."

"I know. But... I just can't think about it anymore. I'm feeling almost back to myself again, but, I'd like to rest up some before our battle."

They all head for bed, but no one sleeps, and all get very little rest, wondering what's been happening to Sadie, and if any of them will survive the night... including Amanda.

"Thian... Thian," Amanda says gently shaking Thian.

"What?" Thian says sitting bolt upright.

"Time to go," Amanda says gravely.

"Oh. Okay. I've got to go potty and I'll be right out."

"Okay, Tia and Tianna are outside. Be sure you bring your broom in its normal size okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be right back."

Amanda steps outside and walks to Tia and Tianna who are talking to Poa, his mother and father, as well as Nara and Teaskis. Poa wants to go with them to save little Sadie, as do Nara and Teaskis, but Amanda won't hear of it.

"Thanks for wanting to come too, but, this is just something we _have_ to do." Turning to the others she says, "Time to go," as she pulls out her Specteroscope. "Assume the position Thian. Hang on to your brooms, pull your wands and keep them at the ready."

The Grass People, along with Nara and Teaskis step away, looking fondly at their friends, knowing the chances are, one or more of them, possibly all, including Amanda, may die this night.

Looking one last time at Tianna, Thian and Tia, Amanda asks, "Ready Tianna?"

"Ready, let's go get Sadie and _finish_ Morana!"

Amanda nods, looks at the Specteroscope in her hands, then softly places her fingers on the buttons. With one last look around, she locks eyes with Tianna and says, "To whatever end."

Tianna, Tia and Thian all repeat, "To whatever end."

"On three then," Amanda says. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. "One... two... _three_!" and with a flash, they have _vanished_.

#  The White Knight

The trip through the multicolored tunnel takes much longer than Amanda had expected.

"We must be going a long way to take this much time," she thinks.

Amanda and the others intend to arrive an hour early so they can at least get a good look around, then, Thian, Tia and Tianna can find the best cover to hide behind the boulders they had seen on the map. At the designated time, Amanda would use her Specteroscope from behind a boulder, to reappear in the center of the open space the coordinates indicate.

Soon, the dark end of the tunnel appears.

Flash!

Amanda is immediately drenched in a fierce cold rain as lightning splits the dark as death night, lighting her surroundings, ear splitting thunder making her cringe.

There are shouts as hundreds of wands fire orange and red bolts flashing from all around, several striking close by, causing Amanda to dart from her boulder for another. Taking only a few strides, the boulder she had been standing beside explodes, sending flying rock in all directions.

Diving into a shallow hole, heart in throat, Amanda looks back to where the boulder had been, and screams.

"Thian! Noooo!" Thian is face down near the shattered boulder, broom and wand next to him.

For a few heartbeats, Amanda is oblivious to the killing curses flashing all around her, as she stares wide eyed, waiting for a flash of lightning to show her that Thian is okay. But, when the flash comes, Amanda sees a crimson pool of blood next to Thian's head.

Amanda screams louder, the rain washing over her, the fierce cold wind chilling her to the bone.

Dozens more killing curses burst around her, blasting small craters in the mud, splashing Amanda with filthy water. She scrambles out of the hole, sprints a few yards then dives behind a small boulder rolling into yet another shallow hole.

The sky thunders, lightning weaving like a web through the dark clouds. As Amanda looks around the boulder beside her, she sees dozens of bodies strewn across the ground. Startled, she looks again into the darkness in the distance, where dozens of cloaked figures charge into view, each firing bolts at those who had first shot at her and Thian.

Looking behind her, Amanda sees the dark sea rolling and frothing like a boiling pot.

In the afterglow of another flash of lightning, Amanda sees Tianna sprinting from a boulder two hundred yards away. Tianna had used Morans's Specteroscope to take she and Tia to another grouping of large boulders, knowing they would be landing in a trap. The idea was to have Thian nearby Amanda on one side, and Tia and Tianna on another, to better protect Amanda when she translocated into the middle of the field, but none had any idea they would appear in the middle of a fierce battle.

Amanda does her best to cover Tianna who is repeatedly fired upon as she zigzags her way quickly toward another huge boulder, while diving, jumping and doing cartwheels as she fires at a group of black cloaked figures.

Amanda dashes from the hole toward another she sees not far away. An orange bolt rips through her jacket, leaving a long gash. She twists and begins a series of backflips, firing killing curses as quickly as she can, then with a great leap, does three full twisting turns high in the air, her bolts looking like a pinwheels as she spins, bodies falling as they are struck by her spray. Landing, she does a forward roll, dropping into the hole. Shaking as she peers out, she sees that five of Tianna's bolts had struck their targets, killing the four men and one woman on impact, adding them to the mass of scattered bodies.

Mind reeling, Amanda is so sunned and scared, she cannot think. The entire landscape and sky is alive with bolts of death.

In a flash from the sky, Amanda snaps her head up to see hundreds of cloaked figures and numerous kinds of giant animals pouring over the large hill to her right in the distance. Those that had been shooting killing curses at her and Tianna, now turn their attention to the new comers. Bolts of every color flash like laser light in a disco. The flashes come so quickly, Amanda does not know which way to turn.

Looking at the hills to her left, she goes stiff, seeing hundreds of black cloaked figures pour over the top of the hill, each shooting flashes of red light at those coming down the opposite hill, and at those on the ground and in the air. In a moment, it seems everyone is shooting at everyone else. For several heartbeats, Amanda watches in stunned confusion.

"What's going on? Who _are_ all these people and _creatures_ , and and why are they shooting at each _other_?" she thinks, ducking as an orange bolt zips over her head.

A movement to one side catches Amanda's attention. Turning, she sees Tianna firing like a mad woman running out from behind one boulder, quickly headed for another, as bolt after bolt whizzes past her. In a moment, an orange bolt strikes the boulder she is passing, giving a bright flash. Amanda watches as Tianna is thrown through the air by the explosion, falling hard to the muddy ground fifteen feet away, where she lays still, wand still clutched in her hand.

"Nooo!" Amanda shouts, "Noooo Tiannaaaaa!" Amanda snaps her head around then up as a burst of lightning shows at least a hundred more dark cloaked figures on brooms soring down out of the dark clouds, immediately fanning out in all directions as those on the ground turn their attention to the sky. More fliers continue diving from clouds in front of and to the right of Amanda, just over the hill where she had seen all the cloaked figures a few moments ago.

Still in shock, Amanda watches as dozens of figures are shot from their brooms, dropping from the sky, many raining down around her. One lands face first on her boulder, splattering her with blood from his shattered head.

Flashes come from the boulders where Amanda knows Tianna and Tia had first appeared.

"Tia, she's alive! But, she's by herself, she's... she's _surrounded_!" Amanda stammers.

Snatching the necklace up from her jacket, Amanda clutches the center ruby shouting, "I, the _Wielder_ _of Power_ , _command_ the spirits within the necklace to help me... _now_!"

Nothing happens, not even the slightest jolt.

Amanda hysterically screams the command once more.

Nothing.

More than a dozen red bolts zip behind the boulder where Amanda now knows Tia is hiding, causing Amanda to cry out. Heart thundering, breathing in short quick breaths, Amanda stares at the boulder where the red streaks had passed, waiting for Tia to return fire.

No further bolts come from behind Tia's boulder.

Amanda, in tears, crying so hard she cannot catch her breath, frantically tries to think of what to do. "The _Specteroscope_!" Reaching for her Specteroscope, she gasps.

"It's _gone_! No. No!" She looks around her in a panic. It is nowhere to be seen. "I must have _dropped_ it when I was diving or spinning. I'm... I'm _trapped_ here and the necklace isn't helping!"

Huge flames light the sky causing Amanda to crouch low.

"Dragons!" Amanda shouts. "Dragons, _lots_ of 'em. They're, they're _incinerating_ all those flyers! By the _moons_ , look at how _many_ there are!"

In a few moments, bodies of cloaked figures and dozens of huge black dragons fall from the sky, having been struck from other fliers or those on the ground. Bolts are coming from all sides.

Amanda hears shouts behind her and spins to look toward the ocean. As lightning splits the sea, her eyes fly wide. "Ships! _Dozens_ of ships! Look at all those _creatures_! They look like huge _centipedes_ , but they're standing and holding _swords_ in each of their hundreds of hands. Great _Mother_ , they have some kind of three headed, long necked animals on board too!"

Dozens more cloaked figures soar from the sky, accompanied by fierce black dragons. As the dragons skim over the ground, flames from the dragons incinerate dozens of fighters with each breath. Amanda watches in horror as dozens more of the clocked figures run, fully engulfed in flame, screaming, clawing frantically at themselves before dropping to the mud, the heavy rain extinguishing the flames, leaving only heaps of chard remains behind.

A red bold strikes the ground directly beside Amanda, blowing her off her feet and back several yards, landing hard on her back. Strange thoughts and images flash through her mind. A faint image. Somewhere just beyond her reach, is someone reaching back for her, a woman.

The image fades.

Looking to the huge mountain in the distance, she is stunned to see that thousands of figures have poured over the top, flooding down its face, firing so many bolts, it looks like a fanning red and orange ribbon. Hundreds upon hundreds of cloaked figures, huge troll-like creatures and giants more than thirty feet tall, dropping dead, as though sprayed with bug spray.

A strange sensation floods through Amanda. Looking up where the mountains meet the dark skies above, then turning around to look at where the lighting splits the sea, Amanda swears there is someone, somewhere, watching her. Through the violent wind, the chill and pouring rain, the fierce storm sends a flood of water cascading down the left side of the mountain, cutting off any possible escape for her in that direction.

Movement at the top edge of a sheer cliff at the mountains top, catches her attention.

In a brilliant flash of lightning, she sees someone mounted on a huge white dragon, as the dragon rears up on its hind legs, then jumps from the cliff. Down, down it drops, wings folded together doing a perfect high speed dive. The dragon flairs its huge wings, straightens out and begins flying in Amanda's direction. With a shiver, Amanda can feel his approach like a fire in her blood.

Hundreds more of the cloaked figures continue pouring over the hills on either side of Amanda, joining those already engaged in battle, thousands of bodies litter the ground around them, the rain water having turned to rivers of crimson. Amanda watches in horror as cloaked figures, fantastical creatures, giant animals and dragons are slaughtered.

A flash of lightning and booming thunder cause Amanda to once again look to the sky. Dozens of white dragons are bursting from the black clouds, each spraying the air with their fiery breath, dozens of panicked flyers drop in flames, screaming until striking the ground, falling silent.

Amanda is in such shock she cannot move.

Amanda hears yelling as bolts of red streaks zip past her from the sea. Spinning, she sees the ships approach the shore, dozens of the centipede-like creatures and three-headed beasts jumping into to water, swarming the shoreline as they fan out.

Amanda knows she is completely surrounded. Looking to the hills and surrounding area, she sees that there is nowhere to go, no way to escape, and the necklace isn't helping.

A burst of brilliant red light illuminates the night behind her, continuing to glow. In a panic, Amanda twists to look behind her, back to the sea and gasps.

"Thian? _Thian_!" she shrieks.

Thian is standing in the open by himself, both hands holding his wand, waving it from side to side like a fire hose. Amanda has never seen anything like it, nor has she ever heard of something like this. Thian is not just sending pencil thin bursts as a normal wand would, it is like his wand is locked on, the bolt flaring as it leaves the tip until it is several yards wide, killing everything it touches. Amanda hugs her boulder tightly, afraid she may collapse, emotions overwhelmed at the sight of Thian.

Thian's bolts strike the ships, blowing them apart into fiery shrapnel, flaming cloaked figures, centipede creatures and long necked animals, along with some kind of giant troll-like creatures, bursting into flame, dropping into the foaming red sea.

Hearing shouting nearby, Amanda turns away, looking to the other side of her boulder. Blinking in the pouring rain, she gasps again.

Sadie is sprinting from a large grouping of boulders. "Sadie! Over here! Run!"

Turning her head, Sadie spots Amanda and begins running.

Several dozen figures and large snarling animals have almost reached Amanda and are almost upon Sadie. With a cry of surprise and panic, Amanda fires killing curses as quickly as she can, watching several four armed, two legged orange creatures and three giant green trolls drop like flies around Sadie. These creatures have no wands, but carry large clubs or curved blades, the blades gleaming in the lightning. Amanda remembers Thian telling her that most creatures cannot use Wizitch, and must depend on brute force. Many, very large Orc-like creatures are riding huge fierce animals, which look something like armored hippos, but with many curved tusks.

Everywhere Amanda looks, there are hundreds of these ugly creatures, trolls and several giants, all engaged in a battle to the death.

A huge rider perched upon the back of a snarling beast which looks like a giant, two headed, long neck giraffe with six legs, has almost reached Amanda. They had come from her blind spot on the other side of her boulder.

As Amanda steps from the boulder to shoot at three figures about to swing their long curved swords at Sadie, a thick red bolt zips over Amanda's head from behind, striking the animal about to rip Amanda apart in midflight. Amanda watches in shock as a three inch hole pierces through the two headed creature, dropping it to the ground beside her, splattering her with cascades of muddy water.

Amanda knows it was Thian who had saved her, but cannot see him due to her position at the boulder. The cloaked Orc gets to its feet and picks up the huge sword lying beside it. Snarling, spittle dripping from its lips, it slowly advances.

Amanda lifts her wand to fire, just as an orange bolt strikes her wand, bursting it into hundreds of pieces.

Staggering back as she screams, Amanda frantically looks for any weapon at all. The Orc makes odd growling sounds as it continues forward, the growls turning to a hideous, triumphant laugh as it lifts the sword over its head to strike. As the blade whirs down at Amanda, the force of which would split her from head through torso, a red bolt strikes the Orc in the back of the head, bursting it apart like a watermelon shot with a shotgun. Amanda is drenched in its stink and slime for a few heartbeats, before the heavy rain washes it from her face.

Looking to the side, away from the Orc missing its head, Amanda sees Tia sprinting for cover, but there is no cover to go to. Cloaked figures with swords and dozens of various sizes and types of animals are everywhere.

A huge Cyclops like-troll some fifteen feet tall is chasing Tia. It is completely green, covered with gnarls of bumpy and lumpy flesh. It has a long forked tail and short stubby legs. It is gaining quickly on Tia. Many figures and creatures nearby stop fighting to watch the huge Cyclops thundering after her. Reaching down at a full run, the Cyclops snatches a large boulder from the thick mud, quickly raising it over its head. Amanda, in stunned terror, knows there is nothing she can do, and that Tia will be flattened like a bug by the huge boulder.

About to fling the boulder down at Tia, the ground beneath the Cyclops explodes upward as a giant seventy five foot long realm worm bursts from the mud, thirty foot jaws wide, circular rows of teeth gleaming in a burst of lightning. Amanda is petrified, as she watches as though in slow motion, the Cyclops drop into the open jaws, boulder still held over its head. The jaws snap shut as the giant worm thunders down onto the ground, the impact tossing Amanda off her feet.

Within moments, dozens of these giant worms burst from the ground for as far as Amanda can see, consuming as many as a dozen cloaked figures, creatures and odd animals in one giant gulp. The ground shakes violently as though a continuous realm quake.

Tia had fallen when the giant worm burst from the ground behind her. Amanda coming out of stunned terror after watching the giant leaping worms far in the distance, looks frantically back for Tia.

Tia is gone.

Trembling, Amanda thinks, "Oh Tia... _no_. And what's happened to the others? What happened to _Thian_ and Tianna?"

Eyes flying wide Amanda screams, "Sadie! Oh no... _Sadie_!" as she drops low picking up the fallen sword.

Amanda is about to look to where she had last seen Sadie, when three goblins with long swords sprint around the corner of her boulder. Fortunately for Amanda, her sword was already at the ready. As the first charges around the corner, Amanda is so surprised she immediately swings her sword, loping off its head, the body taking three steps before falling, the head rolling past Amanda, eyes blinking.

Spinning in a circle, Amanda cuts the second goblin in half, blood spraying her like a garden hose. Startled, the third goblin tries to stop, but skids in the mud, quickly sliding right at Amanda. Amanda lunges forward, running her gleaming blade through the goblin's chest, watching the surprise on its face, as it looks down at her sword buried to the hilt. The goblin gives one shuttering death rattle as it falls face down in the mud with a thud.

Each of the goblins had also carried bows and quivers filled with nasty, multi-pointed arrows.

Snatching a bow from the mud, Amanda quickly collects the three quivers.

Having no idea what fate has befallen Sadie, for Sadie is nowhere to be seen, nor where Thian and the others are, Amanda has no time to think, for the sky, hills and mountain are alive with thousands of creatures. Killing curses whiz from everywhere around her, in all directions.

As fast as Amanda can notch an arrow, she fires at trolls, goblins, orcs, and other creatures now charging her, watching one after another fall, an arrow sticking out of them.

Amanda is outnumbered, she knows there is no hope.

The ground quakes as a huge spray of muddy water covers Amanda's face. From the sky, a huge dragon had fallen beside her, dead. Looking up, she sees that dozens of white dragons are bursting through the dark roiling clouds, many quickly incinerating what is left of the cloaked figures on brooms. Others are engaged in fierce aerial battles with the black dragons and their riders. Still other white dragons dive then level out as they approach the ground, spraying orange fire from open mouths, covering everything in range with flames. Creatures of all kinds, and cloaked figures writhe in agony, before being consumed, charred by flames.

A jolt rips through Amanda. Looking up, she sees a huge white dragon with a figure in shinning white armor mounted on its back, a glint from the rider's visor flashing in a burst of lightning. He and the dragon are skimming low over the ground, headed directly toward her. She knows this is the dragon and rider she had seen at the top of the mountain not more than a few minutes ago.

Amanda stands transfixed, eyes so wide they hurt, heart thundering so hard she can barely take a breath, as she looks down in front of her. She is about to be overrun by charging creatures and snarling animals.

They are almost upon her.

Cringing, snapping her eyes shut, knowing this is her end, her mind is flooded with images of her friends, along with their promises shaking her, " _To whatever end_."

Amanda feels a burst of heat wash over her, the force of it knocking her to the ground. Sitting up, she is stunned to see the huge white dragon flaring its immense wings as it incinerates dozens of the creatures and animals who had almost reached her. The dragon lands hard, turns quickly, stomping several screaming orcs and goblins into the mud. The stench from other flaming corpses makes Amanda sick.

Looking at the white knight mounted on the dragon, Amanda again feels a fire in her blood. She cannot explain it, it is like nothing she has ever felt before.

The knight drops from the dragon, landing with a muddy splash as the dragon continues spewing fire around them. The knight wields two long swords and as he approaches Amanda, spins the swords like a master martial artist, cleaving creature after creature in half, goblin, orc, cloaked figures, it did not matter what they were. Some were cleaved from the waist, others from head through torso. He is moving the blades so quickly, they are nothing but a blur as arms, heads and halves of bodies fall like rain around him as he continues to approach directly at Amanda, the closed visor of his helmet continually facing her.

The huge dragon steps forward, spraying orcs, goblins, cloaked witches, wizards and others with bursts of flame. Smoke streams from its nostrils, rising like black steam within the heavy rain. Breathing hard, the dragon and the knight are almost to Amanda. She begins staggering back.

An image flashes through Amanda's mind, of the small white dragon she had seen in " _The Dragons Den_ " back on the realm of the Deep Forest Elves.

"Kira?" Amanda says in a whisper. Not knowing why, she steps forward.

"Amanda! Get on! Get on Kira now!" the knight shouts.

The huge dragon lowers its left wing, creating a ramp up to its back.

Amanda, not knowing why, finds herself sprinting out from behind the boulder, then up the outstretched wing of the snow white dragon, the white knight running up the wing right behind her. The huge head of the dragon turns, spraying flickering orange flame over a charging group of orcs and goblins.

As the knight takes his place in front of Amanda, he takes reigns saying, "Hang on Amanda! Kira, _away_!"

The dragon takes a leap spewing flame in a broad arc as it rises.

Flying higher, the ground and masses of bodies being left behind, Amanda shouts, "My friends! What about my friends?"

"There's no _time_ Amanda, we have to leave, now! There is _nothing_ we can do for them!"

Tears streaming down her face, in spite of the torrential rain, Amanda looks down at the flaming landscape, littered with thousands of dead or dying... knowing her friends must be among them. All because of her.

Looking down as they rise, Amanda scans the ground, just in case she can spot one of her friends. After a few heartbeats, Amanda stiffens. Below, she sees Morana firing curses at seven orcs and just as many cloaked figures quickly approaching her. Morana looks up, seeing Amanda mounted on the huge white dragon, rising quickly. Morana stands for a moment looking up. Amanda cannot see her expression. Morana reaches up touching her chest with one hand, then waves her wand with the other. In a blinding blue flash, she is gone.

Everywhere around Amanda and the white knight, aerial battles are being fought. Amanda has flashbacks of her time with the huge flying lizards, and the aerial battles she herself had been in.

Flying through throngs of black dragons and dozens of cloaked witches and wizards on brooms, a couple of black dragons swoop down, level out, and fly directly at Kira. Kira turns to the side, snapping her wings shut as she rolls upside down, scaring Amanda to death, as Amanda clings fiercely to the white knight. As a huge black dragon passes above, Kira slashes out with her talons, ripping long holes in the black dragons outstretched wing. The black dragon begins to spin as Kira rights herself, her enormous wings flapping hard, carrying them higher.

Amanda looks down behind them, watching the black dragon and rider, spinning out of control, until striking the ground far below.

After Kira engages in three other fierce battles, scaring Amanda completely, they shoot ever higher.

Rising into the dark clouds, the terrifying battle fading from sight below, Amanda asks, "Who, who _are_ you?"

Turning his head to look back over his shoulder, the knight flips up his visor saying...

"Amanda. I'm your father."

End of book three. Please see special note below.

#  Special Note

Amanda has always had reoccurring dreams, ever since she was just a small child, where she imagines a white knight come riding out of nowhere, fresh from a fight, slaying her attackers to rescue her, just when things looked their worst. She has always loved the song " _I Need A Hero_ " and had it on a cassette tape she played full blast with her headphones on, while riding her purple bike, getting away from her adoptive mom, dad and little brother, waiting for a hero bigger than life to take her away.

It is that song that inspired me to write the final chapter the way I did for this book. I would encourage everyone reading this, to go online to YouTube, and do a search for, " _I Need a Hero," or "Holding Out For A Hero" by Bonnie Tyler_. Amanda loves Bonnie's voice, and thinks it fits the song perfectly.

Listen to that song as you visualize Amanda fighting for her life in the last chapter, looking for a hero to save she and her friends. A white knight, like those from a fairytale. I believe that if you read the chapter, then listen to the song, what happens in that chapter will have a greater, emotional impact.

There are several passages within the song that have very special meanings to Amanda, for some reason, which she has never been able to understand. Just flashes of images in her mind, which quickly fade.

One such image is tied to the passage, "Somewhere just beyond my reach, there's someone reaching back for me." Amanda's subconscious is actually playing out the last memory she has of her real mother, but does not know it. That memory is from the moment Amanda was torn from her mother's arms, to be taken to safety... Amanda reaching out her little arms as a baby, tears streaming down her tiny face, reaching for her mother... just beyond her reach, and her mother... reaching back for her as she too is dragged away through the flames.

Another, longer passage of the song has played over and over in Amanda's head almost every night of her life, "Up where the mountains meet the heavens above, out where the lighting splits the sea, I could swear there is someone somewhere watching me. Through the wind and the chill and the rain, and the storm and the flood, I can feel his approach like a fire in my blood _._ "

Indeed, during the battle, there had been someone, somewhere, watching her.

Whenever you hear the song, " _I Need A Hero_ ," please remember Amanda's battle, thinking of her friend and all she and the others have been through. Never forget.

Sasha and I hope that you will join Amanda and her friends in Book Four, as they continue their journey into the unknown. Many surprises await you, while much will be explained in Book Four.

Thank you so much for reading Amanda's story, and for all the support you have given, and for the thousands of kind emails.

Glenn and Sasha Gabriel.

###

Please continue with Book Four:

Amanda Ackers and

The Lost Family

Available sometime in 2015.

Discover other titles by Glenn and Sasha Gabriel at:

Smashwords.com

To contact the authors

email: glennandsasha@gmail.com

