Thomas and Trish - 4

“Welcome to the Black Toad.” a voice boomed from the darkness of the main room as they entered. “Sorry about the dark.”

Thomas and Trish stood just inside the door letting their eyes adjust. The room was quiet, and almost completely dark until Thomas draw his sword. As the light erupted from the sword, they saw some movement near the back of the room and heard a crash as someone tripped over something, and hit the floor tangled up with some furniture.

“What the blazes!” bellowed the voice again as the person extracted himself from the wreck.

The room was large and crowded with two rows of small tables down the center and booths along both walls. They extended about tables extended about five deep, and beyond that a large counter that extended the width of the room. There was a wide doorway on the left left just before the counter, and seemed to be one in each corner behind the bar. There were two large front windows and four along each wall, but only the tops of them allowed any light in at all.

The last window on the right wall had collapsed filling the booth with snow and spilling more onto the floor and under two tables. It was in this pile of snow, and chairs, and glass that a man seemed to have gotten himself entangled. As he rose, Thomas and Trish could see that this was a dwarf. He stood only five feet tall, and seemed as broad as he was tall. He had bright red hair and a beard down to his waist. He covered his eyes trying to see past the light.

Thomas turned the blade down so that the glowing diamond was up, and shielded it so the man could see who they were.

“Whoa” said the man in surprise. “Jacquelyn, get out here. The polar bears have come down from the north to spend the night.” he said in disbelief.

“We didn’t mean to startle you.” Thomas apologized.

“Oh its not you. It this blasted snow.” he replied. “Now I have to dig out AND fix a window.”

They all turned as the sound of running feet came pounding down the stairs. Out of the doorway burst a short woman with broad shoulders. She may have been human or dwarf, The two polar bears couldn’t tell. She wore a heavy woolen skirt that did not cover her knees and thick leather boots that did. Cover both was a great white apron that nearly reached the floor. Under the apron she wore a loose short sleeve shirt that was tight around her arms, and loose around her neck. Her arms looked stronger than Thomas’ and her stride was solid and strong. Her hips were wide and her legs were short and stout.

When she saw the light and the two visitors she stopped short with her mouth open and her knuckles on her hips. “Well,” she said in a tone that might have been sarcastic or defiant, “we don’t server polar bears, but if you let me take your coats, I can get you some food.”

She walked straight up to Thomas and Trish and held out both arms. Thomas and Trish began to take their cloaks off when Jacquelyn saw her husband standing in the middle of the snow and overturned table. She let out a squeal that started both of the visitors.

“My beloved, your are hurt!” she said in a tone that sounded like he might die at any moment.

“Oh, poop.” he said looking down at his forearms that were streaming blood. “It was the blasted snow what broke the window and threw this table at me.”

“My dearest Donald, I can’t possibly see you suffer so, please sit down before you pass out from the loss of blood.” she said as she ran to his rescue. She wrapped her apron around both of his arms, getting one of hers tied up in the process.

“Darn blast it woman!” bellowed Donald, “I am fine, and I am not bleeding to death; and blast it, now I can’t even find my hands to clean them up.”

Meanwhile Thomas and Trish had laid their cloaks on a table and were scrambling over to the couple to try to help as well. When they arrived to where they might heal the man, he was so caught up wrestling with his wife’s apron that they couldn’t reach him.

Donald raised his hands into the air to try to free them, but only succeeded in blinding Jacquelyn, and throwing her off balance. She fell forward into his arms, and he fell backward over a chair right back into the snow, with Jacquelyn right on top of him.

Donald landed with a “hooooof” and “baaaaallllaaaaaast it woman!”

She, on the other hand, seemed pleased to be laying on top of her husband. “You see dear. This is what happens when you try to escape me.” she said in a soft flirty tone. She then locked lips with him until he began to thrash around.

“Get off. Get off. GET OOOOOOFF!” he bellowed.

She rolled off him and stood blinking shyly at him while he kicked his way free of the chars and snow. Thomas was laughing freely and the scene, and Trish was smiling broadly as she reached out send a soft blue light coursing through his body.

Jacquelyn squealed and laughed and she watched her husband skin glow. “My husband is glowing!!!” she said in glee.

Donald on the other had was rather taken aback and couldn’t speak. He wiped the remaining blood from his arms to find the cuts completely gone.

Jacquelyn flew into his arms again, nearly sending them back to the floor. This time Donald took her around the waist, and with amazing strength, swept her right off her feet and into his arms. Then for the first time they saw Thomas and Trish. Thomas’ gleaming armor and Trish’s radiant beauty completely overcame both of their tongues.

Slowly Donald whispered, “Blimey, they are not polar bears, they are gods descended from their fluffy clouds right into our family room.”

Thomas and Trish smiled humbly, and Trish quietly introduced them. “I am Trish, and this is my husband Thomas. We are not gods, but are sent by the powers of light and good. We only wish to trouble you for a couple nights.” she paused a couple moments and then added, “We also have horses if you could accommodate them as well, we would greatly appreciate it.”

“Johnny! Jorge!” Yelled Jacquelyn with such suddenness and volume that Thomas and Trish took a step back. She lowered her voice momentarily, “Sorry, it is hard to get their attention sometimes.” She then went right back to full volume, “Boys! Living Room! Now!”

They heard a couple quick steps, and the something heavy slamming into a wall. A few more quick step, and door slammed, followed by another heavy thump. Then a younger version of Donald, minus the beard, strode into the room from behind the counter smiling from ear to ear. “Yes ma?” he said innocently.

There was another slam as a door was opened in the back room, and then some quick footsteps, and another young man, also a spitting image of their father came barreling into the room. It is doubtful that he saw anything except the back of his twin brother because he barreled into him, and they both careened headlong into a table and chairs. They wrestled for a bit while their mother sprinted across the room, and picked them both up by their hair. The boys continued to swing at each other until the pain in their heads got the better of them and they went limp.

Setting the boys on their feet Jacquelyn pointed at the front door and said, “Horses! Now!”

They both dropped their heads and walked heavily out the front door.

Once the front door had closed she spun on her heals and faced Thomas and Trish again. “I am sorry, those two have more energy and fight in them than dragons, and sometime I wonder if didn’t sleep with a dragon when they were conceived.”

Thomas and Trish both blushed at her candor, but quickly smiled, and Trish said, “Its okay.”

“Now,” said Jacquelyn as she retrieved their cloaks, “Are you hungry? …tired? …need a bath?”

“How about some proper lights so we don’t trip over the broken stuff anymore!” ordered Donald.

“Oh honey” said Jacquelyn innocently, “they have their own light. Our will only be a stars twinkle against the daylight sun that they carry.”

“Baaaaa!” bellowed Donald as he stamped his way to the back room muttering, “At least warm fire then.”

“Food then!” said Jacquelyn. “My kitchen helper didn’t make it today, probably because of the snow, poor dear, but have a good fire in the oven, and I can get you something warm at least.”

Trish tried to break in to explain they had eaten, but only got as far as, “Actually we…” before Jacquelyn continued.

“Of course, I’m sorry, you would like to settle into a room and rest while I get something for you. It turns out that we still have master’s suit available, which you will certainly want.”

Jacquelyn grabbed hold of Trish’s hand while she continued to speak. “And don’t you worry, we’ll get this place warmed up and lit up in no time, and then you can tell us all about yourselves.”

Trish gave up trying to get a word in and just allowed herself to be led out the door and up the stairs followed closely by Thomas. At the top of the stairs was a hallway with doors evenly spaced along both walls. At the end of the hall was a door.

Inside the door Jacquelyn pointed out the coat rack, water basin, bed, windows, and privacy room off to one side. She lit several oil lamps, and Thomas put his sword away. As left she closed the door behind her; then stuck her head back in briefly, “Did you want your dinner up here or at the tables?”

Thomas smiled and said, “The tables will be fine.”

“Great, I’ll knock when its ready.” said Jacquelyn, and disappeared.

After their hostess left, Thomas and Trish sat on the bed hand in hand for several minutes. Eventually Thomas spoke, “Trish, I don’t trust the king. Something about him just seems wrong, and when he speaks I know he is not telling the whole truth; not to mention that witch.”

“I cannot bear to be think of that foul creature either, but outside of that, I felt like there is something wrong in the palace as well. I can’t put my finger on it, but something is not right there.” replied Trish.

“So what do we do?” Thomas spoke more to himself than to the Trish. “How can we help those women and children, and not get tangled up in whatever is going on with the king?”

“Well I think we have to continue with the plan for now.” Trish said resignedly.

“Ya, for now…” said Thomas is voice trailing into silence.

Trish laid her head on Thomas’ shoulder, and he laid his cheek on her head. The listened to the sounds of the inn, and let their minds and bodies relax. They hear the boys come in from wherever they had taken the horses. They hear various pots and pans being put to use in the kitchen. There was the occasional creaking of the inn itself, struggling to support the heavy load of snow.

They almost fell asleep sitting there on the bed, when they hear a familiar voice echo through the inn, “Jorge! Go tell the guests that dinner is ready!” There was pause, a couple pans knocking together in the kitchen, then louder than before, “Jorge! Now!”

They immediately heard a pair of heavy feet come up the stairs, and begin moving down the hall. Jorge knocked on two other doors announcing dinner before he did the same at the door of Thomas and Trish. Thomas roused himself enough to call a grateful confirmation, and began to stretch. Trish did the same and they headed down to the family room, as Jacquelyn had called it.

They were the last to descend the stairs and enter the family room. The room was bustling with activity. There were numerous lamps and four roaring fires burning lighting the room. All four mMyrnas of the host family where moving about bringing food, setting tables, stoking fires, and the like. There was a lone man sitting in one of the booths near the door, Jacquelyn was standing in front of him unloading a tray of food and drink onto his table, and a group of four boisterous men laughing and carrying on while they ate. There was another booth on the far wall where the two boys were busy laying out plates, napkins, and utensils.

As Thomas and Trish entered the room, everyone went silent and everyone stared as they made their way through to the empty booth on the far side. They were getting used to this kind of reception so they calmly passed through the room nodding and smiling at its occupants. The two boys gave way allowing them to quietly took their places at the booth.

It was as if none dared to breath. Then Jacquelyn got the world moving again with her characteristic, “Johnny! Jorge! Move it!” The boys jumped sending spoons and forks clattering across the table, and everyone went back to their business. The four men in the center of the room whispered quietly for a few minutes, but were soon back at their laughing and storytelling.

Jacquelyn quickly brought out another tray full of food and asked, “What would you like to drink?”

“Water.” they both replied, and she was off to the counter ordering to water from her husband.

The meal was a thick stew with meat, potatoes, carrots, celery, and several spices or garnishes. It was accompanied by a loaf of bread and a bowl of honey butter.
Thomas and Trish ate quietly, pondering to themselves until Jacquelyn and the boys came back through the room distributing something she called sugar cookies. As she placed each oddly shaped glistening cookie before each of the patrons, the boys explained what shape they had tried to make. One was a dragon, one was a sunset, another a tree, a horse, and a river. When they got to Thomas and Trish they announced proudly that Thomas would be eating Johnny’s girlfriend, and Trish would be eating a turtle. The odd shapes did kind of resemble a human and a turtle, but whatever shape they were intended, the cookies were delightful, and everyone thanked the hostess until she had to retreat to hide her blushing face.

After the evening chores were done and the other guests and the boys were off to bed, Jacquelyn and Donald brought out some warm spiced cider, and pulled up chair to chat with their extraordinary visitors.

“Business first,” began Donald as they all took their first sips of cider. “That room of yours goes for five silver a night. I don’t suppose the messengers of the gods travel with mortal money do they?”

Both Thomas and Trish put their cups down and shook their heads no.

“We thought that might be the case” said Donald putting his arm around his wife. “So we have a proposal for you.”

Hope ignited in the eyes of the guests, and he continued. “Thomas, you look you have a strong back, and could probably help me dig out from the snow?” Thomas eager shook his head in the affirmative. “…and Trish you could probably lend Jacquelyn a hand for day couldn’t you?” Trish enthusiastically agreed. “Then we have a deal.” Donald concluded holding out his hand, and shaking Thomas’ firmly.

“Now,” started Jacquelyn, “tells us what it means to the called by the gods.”

Thomas and Trish took turns telling of the events of the last year. The rescue, the honeymoon, the vision, the trip south, the visit to Fen’s valley, and their meeting with the king.

“Holy smokes!” said Donald when their story arrived at the front door of the inn. “If that don’t beat all. I wouldn’t believe it if you were sitting right in my family room with shining armor, and eyes of gold and all.”

Jacquelyn, on the other hand, couldn’t find anything to say, but just sat there blinking at looking from Thomas to Trish.

Donald then leaned in and spoke in a softer voice, “I have my suspicions about the king, and especially now that I know he’s got a witch up there in the castle. But I have heard some disturbing rumors about the royal family, intrigue and infighting and all. There have been too many royal funerals not suspect something is going on up there.”
“…and that Alethra” he continued, “She gives everyone the heebeegeebeez. She is just not natural, with that get skin and milky eyes. I’d wager she is some kind of demon, or magical creature summoned by the witch.“

Trish responded in hushed tones, “We felt the same way, but we’re not sure what to do. We’re committed now to go with her up to clean out the camp, but I don’t see us and a couple of men taking on the fifty or sixty men Fen has up there in that camp.”

“…and it not just that” interjected Jacquelyn. “The honest truth is, the few women that live here in the city aren’t treated much better. The women that aren’t spoken for early are pressed into service at one of the brothels, or” her voice took on a severe sarcasm ‘volunteer’ to join the royal brothel on the hill… errr… I mean… ‘marry the king’.”

Trish was absolutely appalled and Thomas turned a bit green at the thought of rescuing the women and throwing them into another situation just as bad.
Exasperated and desperate Trish asked, “So what can we do.” Tears appeared in her eyes, and hand sank down into her hands. Thomas reached across the table and put his hand on her shoulder, but she didn’t look up.

Donald began to ponder aloud: “We could try to take them down to Kith, but that is a long ride, and with that many women and children…” his voice trailed off. “Perhaps we could…” again his voice trailed off.

Suddenly Jacquelyn jumped to her feet, which didn’t make her any taller, “We just teach those women how to defend themselves, and let them stay right were they are.”

All three of the others looked at her in disbelief, but she continued. “We women can be tough as nails when it comes right down to it, and I bet there is a lot of fire in those women. We just march right in there, boot those lecherous men out, and let the women rule the camp.”

Trish spoke hesitantly, “We?”

“That’s right.” said Jacquelyn. “We have been looking for a good reason to get out of the accused city, and there ain’t nothing more noble than rescuing women and children. Besides, you need someone at your back that you can trust.”

Jacquelyn jumped back into her seat, with a determined fire in her eyes, and let the others consider what she was proposing. Donald raised his eyebrows and blinked a couple times before his eyes fell to his hands, and he pondered what had just happened. The silence went on few several minutes, and each played out various scenarios in the heads.

Finally, they all just sat back, and said, “Okay.”

It wasn’t that any of them liked the idea, but they couldn’t come up with anything better.

“Let’s sleep on it, and see what tomorrow brings.” suggested Thomas.

Donald climbed to his feet and beat his fist on the table once. “Done. See you tomorrow.” He then began blowing out the lamps in the family room.

Thomas and Trish wandered their way up to their room, and Donald and Jacquelyn finished putting the inn to bed. They all slept as they could, and were up at the crack of dawn.

Thomas and Donald spent the morning digging out the inn and boarding up the broken window. After lunch Donald left to run some errands, and Thomas helped the boys dig out the barn, and the neighbor’s front doors.

Trish, on the other hand, had quite the adventure in the kitchen. When she reported to Jacquelyn, the hostess looked at her fine white and gold clothing, and insisted they would not do. She could not be doing kitchen work in her church clothes. She contorted her face up trying to figure out what to do, when in popped a young woman not much younger than Trish.

The young woman was shorter than Trish by a couple inches, and had a plain face. Her hair was a mix of brown and blond tied up in a bun on the back of her head. Her hips and chest were generously endowed, and Trish immediately recognized her from Thomas’ cookie the night before. She had a cheerful smile, and gave Jacquelyn a big hug.

“Hey Jaques”, said the girl. “How many we got today?”

“Anna” retuned Jacquelyn, “I am so glad to see you.”

“I am so sorry for yesterday” said the girl, “but our front door was buried, and I had to crawl out a window and help my dad dig it out, and then…”

“Never mind sweetheart.” interrupted Jacquelyn not hearing a word of what she said. “We have a bigger problem. Trish here thinks that is appropriate attire for kitchen work.”

Seeing Trish for the first time, Anna was dumbstruck.

Jacquelyn stepped between them, took Anna’s face in her hands, dragging it down to her level, and started straight into her eyes. “Focus!” she said, “Clothes. You are about the same size. Do you have anything she can wear?”

Anna blinked back into reality, and stammered, “No, I… well perhaps…”

Jacquelyn brought her had between their faces and snapped her fingers several times.

Anna stopped stammering, and said, “I bet one of my mothers summer dresses would fit her.”

“Great!” said Jacquelyn kissing her on the forehead. “Go fetch it. There’s a good girl.”

Anna retreated back the way she came, and Jacquelyn said like al moving mother, “She’s a good girl, but a bit thick. She just needs a strong hand to keep her focused. Until she gets back, you just stand over there.” she said pointing to a corner out of the way.

When Anna returned she was out of breath, but carrying a dress over her arm. Trish disappeared, dressed, and popped back into the kitchen where the other two women could get a look at her. The dress was simple, but nice. It extended just below Trish’s knees, and seemed to fit her perfectly. It had yellow and blue flowers set on a white background. It had a few stains down the front, and Anna began to apologize, but Jacquelyn quickly set her peeling potatoes.

As Jacquelyn turned back to Trish, her eyes just about popped out of her head. Trish was passing her hand down across the dress, and as she did so it was returned to absolutely brilliantly colored new. Jacquelyn looked at the dress, up at Trish, and then back at the dress without saying a word.

The silence caught Anna’s attention. She turned and innocently said the first thing that popped into her head, “Are you a witch?”

Jacquelyn turned to face her so fast that Anna flinched. Jacquelyn face was instantly red as a beat, and she stomped over to a terrified Anna, took her by the hand and dragged her back to the peeling table. “Peel.” is all she said.

Trish quickly recovered from her horror, realizing that the girl meant no harm. She quickly stepped over behind Anna pet her arms around her in a big hug. She could see that tears were beginning to run down her cheeks, and Trish quickly gave her a kiss on the top of the head and whispered. “It okay. You don’t need to cry.”
Anna spun and buried her head in Trish shoulder returning the hug. With her face firmly pressed into Trish’s should she mumbled some kind of apology, and Trish stroked her head, while Jacquelyn came over and rubbed her back.

Soon Jacquelyn had a bandana around Trish’s head and a long apron over the dress. They all chatted, and peeled, and chopped their way through the morning. Then there was serving and running out to the cold house, and fetching more eggs, and cleaning the dishes.

When Thomas and Donald came in for lunch, they both approved of Trish’s work dress, and Thomas stood long enough to pick her up and kiss passionately. She blushed, curtseyed, and rushed off to more work.

One of the boys wandered into the kitchen once. He shyly said hi to Anna and retreated with a small loaf of bread tucked under his arm while she blushed to shy to speak.

Lunch work faded into dinner works, and then dinner cleanup drew their attention, until all of a sudden there was nothing left to do. Jacquelyn ushered Trish off to put on her nice clothes, but before she went she transformed their clothes to sparkling clean and new. They both gaped in awe until Trish returned. They then all wandered out into the family room to chat with the guests.

It turned out that their visitors had also been out during the day, and though they had all checked out already, the returned for dinner. It soon became clear that they had been telling people about the luminous guests at the Black Pig, because, as darkness fell people began wandering in to get a look at the two spectacles. Thomas obliged the guests and put on his armor. He showed off the shining gem, and before long inn was full to overflowing.

Donald and the boys were scrambling to keep up with drink orders, and Jacquelyn and Anna were hard pressed baking cookies and serving up everything they could quickly whip up.

At one point a man pulled out a flute, and another man began tapping mugs and chairs to the beat. Everyone called for the ‘newlyweds’, as the called them, to dance, and pulled all the tables to the side. Before long, The couple was separated, and were both danced until feet began to stumble. Finally Donald stood up on the bar and called for one more for the happy couple. The crowd drove them together, and as they met in the tight ring of people, Donald dragged them up onto the bar for their final dance.

As the dance began, Thomas winked at Trish and his hands began to turn blue. She did the same, and as they came together the blue glow flowed through their bodies, and the crowd let out a gasp, and then began to cheer drowning out the flute, but Trish and Thomas danced anyway. They pulled Donald and Jacquelyn up beside them. they pulled the aprons off them, and Trish ran her hand over Thomas’ well work and stained work clothes mending and cleaning them as she went. The crowd cheered again, and the four danced for several minutes before Donald announced the bar was closing.

The crowd booed, and just kept cheering the dance on. Thomas whispered something in Donald’s ear, and the all danced their way off the bar and over to the front door. They began dancing the patron out the front door one at a time, and soon the four were able to close the door, and collapsed into a booth near the door laughing as they panted. The women both laid against the men as they relived the wonderful and funny moments of the evening.

They rose to turn off the lights and found the boys sitting with Anna in a both across the room. Anna was sitting next to Johnny holding his hand. As the adult approached she quickly buried both her hands between her knees, and blushed.

“Anna” spoke Jacquelyn, “Why don’t you stay in one of the rooms upstairs? It is too late for you to out alone.”

Anna nodded and excused herself, followed by Thomas and Trish.

After Thomas and Trish had gone up their room Donald and Jacquelyn sat down with the boys, and told them of their plans to help Thomas and Trish. The boys, actually Johnny, had only one hesitation, Anna. He informed his family that he would not be leaving without her.

“You know.” he began “what her father is like. I think he is already looking for a good brothel to broker her off to. Apparently that would make a lot more money than working here.”

Jacquelyn and Donald looked at each other for a minute, and then Donald spoke. “She can’t come with us unless you are engaged to her.” he said flatly.

Johnny began to sweat visibly, and Jorge elbowed him in the ribs. He looked desperately to his mother, and only got, “We leave in the morning.”

Johnny’s breath began to come short and quick, and his face went completely pale. After a minute Donald stood, took Jacquelyn by the hand and said, “Bedtime then.”

Johnny took a deep breath and held it while the other three left the room.

A few minutes later Anna heard a hesitant knock at her door, and whisper, “Anna, are you awake?”

She tiptoed over to the door, and asked, “Who is it?”

“Johnny.” came the reply.

“You can’t come into a girls bedroom after dark. Go to bed.” she said a little disappointed.

“No, its not like that.” he returned quickly. “I just need to talk for a minute.”

She climbed into her bed and covered her night dress with her blanket and whispered: “Okay. Just for a minute.”

The door creaked open, and Johnny came to sit on the foot of the bed. He explained that his family was leaving in the morning, and that they might not be coming back. He could not see her face in the dark, but her breathing was labored and unsteady.

“Anna?” he said after a pause.

“Yes?” she replied.

“Will you marry me, and come with us?”

Her stuttered breathing broke into outright crying as she buried her eyes in her blanket.

Johnny stood to leave with his head bowed, when Anna dashed out of bed planted a kiss right on his lips. “Yes.” she cried. “Yes I will.”

Suddenly the door flew open and in burst with tears, and hushed cheers, and lots of hugs and congratulations.

Thomas and Trish heard the scuffle, and were about to go investigate when they heard Jacquelyn whisper through their door, “Sorry for the noise. See you in the morning.”

Nénuphar - 6

When Nénuphar, awoke the light from her dagger was gone, and everything was quiet. Somewhere in the distance she could hear some water, but her magic was not yet restored, and she didn’t dare move more than she had to in the darkness.

She reached out and touched Yetta’s shoulder, but she didn’t move. Placing a hand on her chest, she was able to feel its steady rise and fall and the beat of her heart. Satisfied, she again lay down with Griffe to sleep.

She awoke some time later to Yetta’s crying and moaning.

“What is it?” she asked sitting up and staring into the darkness.

Through her wincing and moaning Yetta replied, “My hips are broken, and I can’t feel my legs.”

A quick intake of breath some rapid breathing told Nénuphar that she was in terrible pain. So Nénuphar began casting her strongest healing spell. Yetta tried to lay still, but in the light of the blue glow, Nénuphar could see tears streaming down her face, and hands and tech clenched beneath the onslaught of the pain.

She placed her glowing hands on Yetta’s hips that yielded a half scream and a whimper. The glow passed into Yetta’s body and Nénuphar could see the bone and muscle returning to its proper condition. One more casting and the glow began to spread from her hips to her left legs which was also broken just below the hip. The spell was able to bring the bone back together, but was unable to completely mend the bone before the light faded.

Yetta’s breathing slowed and came more regular, and her hands and jaw were able to relax as the light once again faded.

“Thank you,” said Yetta softly. “Can you see my legs? I can’t feel anything below my hips.” she said trying to hold back the fear in her voice.

Nénuphar reached out and ran her hand blindly down both legs to her feet. “They seem okay.” offered Nénuphar.

There was a short pause Yetta reached up placing a hand on the side of Nénuphar’s face. “You’re blind aren’t you?” she said with the deepest of sorrow. “Was it the fall?”

“No.” returned Nénuphar. “My eyes work fine, but its just dark, I can’t see unless I cast a light spell.”

“You can’t see at all?” asked Yetta incredulously.

“No.” sighed Nénuphar.

Yetta let out a puff of air and replied, “Oh. Okay. So I can’t walk and you can’t see. That is going to make things tough.” As she spoke, she rolled over to her side and felt her legs.

“Hows the cub?” asked Yetta after a few minutes.

“The cub!” shrieked Nénuphar. “Where is he?”

Yetta pointed Nénuphar’s hand in the direction of the cub, and began to drag her legs in the same direction. When they reached the cub, he seemed to be breathing normally.

“Either he is unconscious,” said Nénuphar, “or he is still hibernating.”

She cast a healing spell, and the spell mend a couple of broken ribs and some cuts on its head.

“He was hurt, but seems to be hibernating.” said Nénuphar.

Yetta looked around trying to get a feel for their situation. They seemed to be in a crack that extended out of sight in both directions. Above them and below them it continued broken by ledges and falls. She could not see beyond the ledge twenty feet above them, but knew that must be where they had come from. Below them there were a couple more ledges, but they were small and not very long. The chasm was about fifty feet wide and the far was sheer without ledges or cracks as far as Yetta could see.
The ledge that they were on was slightly sloped toward the chasm. It was about twenty feet wide and a hundred long, but narrowed to sheer cliff at both ends. Her bow and quiver lay on the ledge near her, but could be of no value now.

Nénuphar cast her light spell and her knife began to glow. Yetta called out in surprise and pain as she covered her eyes.

Covering the knife with her hand, Nénuphar apologized, “I’m sorry, does this light burn your eyes?”

“Ya.” said Yetta. “My eyes have adjusted back to dark vision, and that light is blindingly bright.”

Canceling the spell she said, “Its okay. I can’t see very well with it anyway.”

Yetta dragged her legs over to the cliff where she could rest in a sitting position, and Nénuphar crawled over beside her with Griffe on her lap. They sat silently while Griffe cleaned himself and Nénuphar.

After a few minutes, Yetta asked, “Do you hear some water falling in the distance?”

“Yes.” said Nénuphar.

“Are you as thirsty as I am?” said Yetta.

“Yes.” said Nénuphar, realizing how thirsty she really was.

Again they sat in silence for several minutes. Then Nénuphar heard yetta crying.

“What is it?” she asked.

“My legs.” said Yetta.

“Do they hurt?” asked Nénuphar preparing to cast a spell.

“No.” said Yetta. “I wish they did.”

She sniffed, whipped away her tears, and took a deep breath.

“You’ll be okay.” said Nénuphar, “We’ll find some help.”

“Even if we do,” said Yetta in complete depression, “I will never walk again.”

She then pulled together her courage, and took another deep breath. “Do you think you can make it back up to the bear cave?” she asked.

“It doesn’t matter.” said Nénuphar matter-of-factly, “I won’t be going without you.”

“You may have to.” came the reply.

They both fell silent except for Yetta’s occasional sobs.

After what might have been hours or days, Yetta spoke up in a dry hopeless voice, “Why don’t you go see if you can get a drink.”

“How?” asked Nénuphar.

“I can cast the move through earth spell if you are low on magic. You travel inside the stone except with your head out over the chasm so you can see where you are going.”

“But what about you?” asked Nénuphar her heart beginning to ache with the reality of their situation.

“We need to worry about you.” said Yetta. She tried to keep the tear on her cheeks from her voice, but was not very successful. “Now go.”

She cast the spell, and Nénuphar felt the stone beneath her soften.

“Wait, no. I can’t go without you.” she said.

“Yes. You can.” came the reply. “You should be able to make it to the falls and back if you hurry.”

Nénuphar tried to find some logic that would allow her to argue, but Yetta gave her a little push, “Please.” she said. “Go.”

As Nénuphar lit up her dagger, Yetta was glad of the opportunity to hide her eyes fearing that Nénuphar would see the resignation that had settled into her heart.

Nénuphar moved to the end of the ledge and passed into the stone wall with Griffe on her shoulders. Yetta saw the little light move farther and farther into the distance until it completely disappeared around a corner. When the light finally went out she gave in to the despair in her heart, and collapsed in to deep chest wracking sobs. She knew that Nénuphar would never be able to drag her back up the bear cave in her condition. They had travelled too far through the stone. They simply could not do it.

As her eyes dried, and her body stopped convulsing from exhaustion, she dragged herself over to the bear cub and lay next to him for comfort. She stared at the wall for a long time until she fell asleep again.

She was waken to someone shaking her violently, and a blinding light right in her face. Before she could react Nénuphar thrust her hands into Yetta’s mouth opening it as far as it would go. She deposited the contents of her bulging cheeks, and force Yetta to swallow the contents.

Yetta twisted away coughing a sputtering, as her mind tried to grasp what had just happened. Had she been attacked or kissed. She was actually not sure.

Nénuphar then spoke. “Whew. I thought I would never get back here. Sorry to startle you, but that is the only way I could bring any water back for you.”

She hid her knife in her clothes, and Yetta could see that Nénuphar’s hair was still wet. It took her a minute to comprehend what had just happened, and they she was able to lay back against the bear cub.

“How did it go?” she asked.

“It was farther than I thought.” said Nénuphar. “I had to use the last of my magic to get back here. I really am sorry for startling you.” she said with a gentle smile.

“Its okay.” said yetta falling back into the depression that had consumed her hope. “Thanks.”

Then trying to wring the hopelessness out of her voice she said, “Why don’t you sleep. Gather your strength.”

Nénuphar lay down against the wall and buried her face in Griffe’s thick fur.

Yetta was wide awake from the startling experience, so she once again ran her hands down her legs, and began to cry. She knew that as long as she was alive Nénuphar too would be trapped on the ledge, and if she waited too long she wouldn’t have the strength to make it back to the bear cave. The depression became deeper and deeper, and eventually overpowered all reason and hope casting her thoughts into the deepest abyss of hopelessness. Her mind became blind to anything except what seemed to be a long and miserable death from dehydration and starvation.

Once the depression had completely consumed her, she began to pull herself toward the ledge. Looking down, she knew there was nothing to catch her for a long way. Far out of the range of her vision, which was considerable. She took a couple deep breaths, and began to slide over the edge.

Suddenly she felt something grab her around the neck. Instantly she knew the feel of teeth closing around her neck, biting through the skin on the back of her neck. She screamed from the pain, but figured this was as good a way to die as falling anyway. Even as her brain scrambled to imagine what kind of creature could have found them, she let go of her will to live, and waited for blow or another bite that would bring the end.

She screamed again as the teeth dug in deeper, and began to drag her backward. She was slowly dragged back from the edge, and after an excruciating eternity was dropped on the stone. She relaxed waiting for the end, but instead a burning blinding light was thrust into her brain. She squinted and tried to put her arm over her eyes, but the light vanished and she was smothered in Nénuphar’s embrace.

Her mind and body were both completely numb, and she didn’t try to move, or swallow, or even breath. She refused to comprehend what was happening to her. She was still just waiting for it all to end. She felt a powerful slap throw her head to one side. She refused to try or to care. Then another slap threw her head to the other side. Then another and another. She relaxed, not caring.

She heard some yelling, but she refused to open her eyes or try to comprehend what was being said. She let her lol as if she was already dead. Suddenly, the light was again thrust into her eyes, and she clenched her eyes as tight as she could, but could not make the light go away. It seemed to be striking right through the clouds of despair and threatened to cast them aside.

She felt her body laid on the stone again, and the light retreated a little. Then a great suddenly dropped on her chest. She could feel her breath more difficult to draw as her body felt like it was being crushed. As she pondered, trying to comprehend what was happening, her mind slowly turned back on out of simple curiosity. She could feel the weight on her chest and stomach, and one of her arms seemed to be pinned as well. The weight was warm and alive, and kept moving as if it was alive. She began to identify body part of the creature that was crushing her: a foot, a claw, a large abdomen.

Then roar erupted right in her face. It was not really deep, but it was loud, and accompanied by a great deal of flying goo. The volume and proximity of the sound brought her to full consciousness, and she tried to roll away out of reflex, but couldn’t move. Suddenly adrenaline burst through her body, and she threw the creature from her. She knew it hit the wall that was nearby, and she tried to rise to pounce on it, but as her body failed to respond, she remembered that it was broken. The thought brought her back to reality, and she began to put the pieces together: where she was, what was happening, and who she was.

She realized what she had just tried to do. She remembered her people, counting on her to bring help. She remembered the sun and the moon. She remembered Nénuphar…
Suddenly she was herself again. She squinted against the light that was still blinding her and said, “Nénuphar, I am so sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”
She continued to say over and over again, “I so sorry.”

Nénuphar jumped on her and embraced long and hard. They both cried for several minutes. Nénuphar slipped around behind Yetta’s shoulders and rocked her back and forth. Yetta laid against Nénuphar’s chest just feeling alive, and being grateful for it. She swore to herself, and to Nénuphar that she would never try that again. Even if she never walked again, she would bring help to her people.

Suddenly the bear cub was standing right in front of her. He licked her face from chin to temple coating it in good. Then he did the other side. Again and again he licked her head, face, and neck. She tried to push him away, but he responded by placing both of his front paws on her chest, and licking her again. The only escape she was able to find was the grab the bear by the cheeks and pull him toward her. She was able to get her arms around her neck, and laid her head against his. Suddenly she knew that it was he that had saved her life the only way he knew how, just like his mother had dragged him around.

Her heart burned with love and appreciation for the cub, and hugged in even tighter. The crushing hug surprised him and he stepped back and stood on his back legs. She clung to his neck, and was raised with him, she tried to get her feet under her, but still could not move them. The cub dropped back to all fours, and Yetta lowered herself the ground. He then laid down and rolled up against her.

“Maybe he’s not hibernating anymore.” laughed Nénuphar.

Yetta laughed too, a deep long cleansing laugh that brought tears to her eyes. They both laughed long and loud, tears gushing in all directions. By the time they regained their senses the cub was snoring and Griffe was meowing in a concerned tone and rubbing up against them both.

“Okay, okay.” said Nénuphar finally, “So no more wishing to die?”

“No more wishing to die.” said Yetta.

“Now, let me take a look at your neck.” said Nénuphar.

She cringed as she saw the damage. The skin between her shoulder blades up to her head was mangled an stretched. Her long hair was caked with blood, but the bleeding seemed to have stopped until Nénuphar pulled the hair aside to examine the wound. She placed Yetta’s hand over the wound, and had her sit up to help it stop bleeding.

“I wish I could heal that, but I still need to retain my spells before I can cast again.” said Nénuphar apologetically.

“It’s okay. You go sleep. I’ll keep it covered for now.” said Yetta.

Nénuphar hesitated momentarily and Yetta reassured her, “No more depression. I am determined to get you back to the surface, if I have to drag you there without my legs.”

Nénuphar smiled and laid down again, much to Griffe's relief.

Nénuphar - 5

One winter day Nénuphar and Yetta were sitting alone beside the hibernating bears. They were talking about Yetta’s people, and how they could help them get to the surface. They figured the best way to do that was to bring them up the way that Yetta had come. The problem they were puzzling over was that many of her people could not cast spells, and certainly most would be unable to cast spells strong enough to reach the surface.

Yetta had taught Nénuphar the spell to move through earth, and they had both become quite proficient with it, but that would still not help her people.

“Do you think” said Nénuphar, “that it would be possible to cast the spell on someone else?”

“I don’t know.” replied Yetta, “I suppose it might be possible. Lets give it a try.”

So Yetta tried casting the spell on Nénuphar, and Nénuphar tried casting it on Yetta. After a couple tries and a few mild shunting they got it to work just fine.

“So that might work.” said Yetta.

“Maybe, but still we would only be able to bring a couple people at a time to the surface.” said Nénuphar. “It would take years to get them all up here.”

She paused for a minute and then spoke again, “I wonder if it would be possible to cast it on more than one person at a time?”

“Yah.” said Yetta. “Lets try it.”

They both paused and looked around realizing that they were the only two people around.

“hmm.” said Yetta, sounding a bit disappointed.

“The bears?” asked Nénuphar.

“Why not.” came the reply.

So they took turns trying to cast the spell on several bears at a time, and found some success, but to their surprise they found that when they both cast the spell they could affect a much greater area and more of the bears. They would cast the spell and then gently push on each of the bears to see if it would sink into the stone floor. A couple times they sank into the floor deep enough that it took both of them to pull the bear back up.

They continued to practice, and one night they were able to cast the spell on all the bears, nine in total, in addition to both of them and Little Paws. When they finally achieved a complete success they actually cheered causing the bears to stir a bit.

They hushed their celebrations, but in their dancing around Nénuphar tripped, landing on one of the bear cubs. Rather than bouncing off the bear as she had feared, the bear was simply pushed deep into the ground where they could not reach him. The both began to panic knowing that if the spell wore off, the bear would be shunted out of the stone and probably killed.

So, they held hands, Nénuphar carrying Griffe in her other arm, and descended into the stone floor. The experience of passing through the stone was much like swimming. Some of it was smooth, and other areas were rough more difficult to pass through.

A combination of movement, much like swimming, would propel them through the stone. They found that air pockets in the stone made it more difficult to move as their movement was hampered in the air. They were completely blind inside the stone, and any sound the made came out like a moaning vibrating sound, and was quickly dampened by the stone. Nénuphar found it much easier if Griffe were wrapped around her neck so that she could use one of her hands to propel herself through the stone; her other hand firmly locked in Yetta’s.

They felt their way down into the stone expecting at any moment to bump into the bear cub, but after several feet, they still felt nothing. They moved around in a circle thinking that the bear may not have moved in a straight line, still nothing. Eventually Yetta gently tugged Nénuphar’s hand in a downward direction, and they began to descend at a more rapid pace.

Nénuphar felt something bump into her leg, and she pulled Yetta back to examine it. As she reached out to it with her hand it moved away. They pursued it, and found that it continued to move. They again caught up with it, and they each grabbed hold with their free hand.

It was indeed a bear cub, but it seemed to be propelling itself through the stone just as they were. It continued to drag the forward as they tried to drag it back up to the surface. They began to panic, realizing that both of the were being dragged by the bear rather the opposite. They tried harder and harder, but movement was exhausting them very quickly.

Suddenly the bear jerked forward, and accelerated downward. They held on trying to slow the bears movement, but suddenly found the bear and themselves falling through air. They both screamed and thrashed around trying to grab the last bits of rock, but they only passed through them like a hand slapping a pool of water.

The fall completely broke their concentration, and the earth movement spell was completely gone by the time they collided with the bottom of the chasm. The place where they landed was sloped, but still knocked the wind out of their lungs. Nénuphar felt her head impact the ground, and head exploded in pain. They tumbled down the slope faster and faster, until once again they were free falling. This time the ground was solid. They landed in a heap, but the fall knocked both of the girls unconscious.

Nénuphar did not know how long she had been unconscious, but she couldn’t see anything, and Griffe was licking her face. It felt like he had slobbered all over her. She tried to move, but the movement was so painful that she screamed, and thought she would loose consciousness again. Her head spun, and her left should had so much pain that screamed over and over again.

Eventually she was able to control here screams, and tried to focus her mind on a healing spell. Several times she tried to cast it, but the movement brought the pain back redoubled, and she was forced to lay back to avoid loosing consciousness again.

As she ground her teeth trying not to scream, she hear Griffe meow beside her, and purred as he rubbed up against her. She waited until he turned and began to rub against her again when she forced every synapse in her brain to focus on casting the spell. She saw her hands light up, and the light began to pass into her shoulder before she screamed and lost consciousness again.

The next time she woke up, she found Griffe curled up in a ball against her cheek. She opened her eyes, but it seemed to get even darker with her eyes open, so she shut them again and concentrated on feeling. She tried moving each part of her body, and found that her left should did not hurt any more, but she could feel painful abrasions on much of her body and head.

She was about to try another healing spell when she remembered Yetta. She desperately called out for her, but got no response. She called louder, and still nothing. She became desperate, and began feeling along the floor for a stone that she could cast a light spell on, but the floor was perfectly hard and smooth. There was some dust, but nothing larger than a grain of sand. She began to feel through her pouches, and came across her stone knife.

She whipped it out and quickly cast the spell. It only gave off the light of a candle, but in the light she could see the bear cub and and Yetta laying a short distance away near the edge of another drop. Neither of them were moving, and Yetta was lying in a very awkward position wither her face looking away from Nénuphar.

She scrambled over to Yetta’s and laid her head on her back to lister for her heart. She did not hear anything at first, and a wave of fear and nausea swept over her, but before she was overcome, she did hear a faint fluttering.

She quickly rolled Yetta onto her back, and the sight again threatened to overwhelm her. Yetta had been bleeding from both of her ears, her nose and her mouth. She was clearly hurt very badly.

Griffe licked Yetta’s cheek a couple times and then returned to Nénuphar. He meowed once and licked her arm. The sensation brought her back to full awareness, and she immediately cast her spell, and placed her hands on Yetta’s cheeks. The light passed into her face illuminating and healing as it passed into her head. To Nénuphar’s horror she saw the bones in Yetta’s face had been shattered, but the spell quickly fixed much of the damage before fading.

She again cast the spell, and the light passed deeper into her head. Again and again she cast the spell, and eventually the light began to pass into the rest of her body bringing tears to her eyes as it revealed the extent of the damages to her body. As she cast the last spell she could must, the light revealed that her pelvis had been broken in several places, and light faded away before it could do more than correct the blood flow to her legs.

Nénuphar collapsed into tears, laying her head on Yetta’s shoulder. She was surprised when Yetta raised her hand, and placed it on top of Nénuphar’s head.

She snapped her head up as said, “You’re awake. I thought for sure you were going to die. I cast my healing on you and…”

Before Nénuphar could finish, Yetta’s eyes opened wide in terror and pain, and she let out a scream that was terrible to hear. The scream faded into a whimper and finally into silence as Yetta mercifully passed back into unconsciousness.

Through her tears and the dim light, Nénuphar examined the rest of Yetta’s body as well as she could without moving her. Her entire body looked like it had been dragged through gravel pit by wild horses, but she did not seem to be bleeding any more. Her right legs was still thrown over her left, and her broken pelvis was twisted in a wicked angle. Nénuphar laid her body out as flat as she could, but knew there was little she could do without her magic.

She sat back and tried to wipe the tears from her eyes, but found they stung her cheeks and her hands as well. She took a minute to examine her own body, and found it to be much the same as Yetta’s. She cried in pain and despair for several minutes. Griffe tried to comfort her, but the fear, and pain swept across her in waves that refused to subside. Eventually, she pulled Griffe into her arms, and began to sing softly to him. The sound seemed to sooth him, and before long they both fell asleep beside Yetta.

Nénuphar - 4

She was awakened in the late afternoon by the hand of Silencieuse on her shoulder. She jumped to her feet and gave her a big hug.

“How are you?” asked Silencieuse.

“Surviving.” replied Nénuphar.

“How goes the water project?” asked Silencieuse.

“It is going very slowly, but…” at this point Nénuphar led her to the other side of the pond. “…but I have met a woman from deep in the earth.” she said indicating the leaves where she had been sleeping.

“She can’t survive in the sun, so we cover her in leaves during the day.”

“How did she get here? I don’t know of any caves in this area.” puzzled Silencieuse.

“She just popped out of the sand, right over there.” Nénuphar pointed to the center of the pond. “She says that she has a spell that lets her move through rocks, that she has
been traveling toward the surface for many days, and that her people need to find a new home.”

“Hmmm.” said Silencieuse, “Well lets go see about the river.”

As they walked toward the river Nénuphar repeated Yetta’s story, and how the water would actually block her passage back to her people. Silencieuse pondered this predicament as they walked.

Reaching the river, they could see that the beavers were making good progress on their dam, but it looked like it would be several days before the full force of the river would be diverted to the original course.

“It is looking good…” said Silencieuse indicating the frames of the dam. “but it looks like the beavers are going to need some help finding wood. We should head up river and send down some materials for them to use.”

“But what about Yetta?” asked Nénuphar.

“I am afraid we may not be able to help her.” said Silencieuse sadly. “Every day we delay, more of the riverbed dies.”

They both pondered for a few minutes as they watched the beavers work then Silencieuse spoke up softly, “Come. Lets find some food, and we will talk to Yetta about it.”
Nénuphar agreed, and they went off into the woods to collect some dinner.

When they returned to the spot where Yetta lay buried under the leaves the sun had slipped behind the distant mountains, and Yetta was already awake.

“Is that you Lily?” Asked a voice from under the leaves.

“Yes,” answered Nénuphar, ” and I have my mentor, Silencieuse, with me. She is a master druid, and wants to help as well.”

“Has the sun gone?” asked Yetta.

“It has, but it is still pretty bright out. You may want to wait a little longer.” said Nénuphar hesitantly.

Despite the warning Yetta began slowing digging her way out of the leaves. When she surfaces, she had her eyes buried in the crook of her elbow. She slowly pulled her arm away and opened her eyes. The sky was still fairly bright, and Yetta squinted and shielded her eyes from the brightest of it, but she found that she could endure it.
Still shielding her eyes from the light above the horizon, Yetta greeted Silencieuse. “Greetings, I am Yetta of the Sansen.”

“And I am Silencieuse Ébène, Head of the Master Druids of the Fey Wood. I am honored to meet you.” replied Silencieuse. “Nénuphar has told me your story, and I hope that we can help you and your people.” Then in a much lighter tone she offered Yetta some food, “But for now, lets offer thanks to the bounty of the forrest.”

As they ate, the light faded quickly, and Yetta relaxed and talked with Silencieuse. They discussed the river, and Yetta came to understand why the water stopped flowing for a time each year. Silencieuse and Nénuphar learned that not only were they saving the true riverbed by turning the river back into its proper course, but they were sending water to that Sansen people as well.

After eating, they all went to consider the dam, and watch the beavers work. Before long the beavers retired for the night leaving the women alone to talk about how to proceed. Finally, Yetta turned to her new friends with tears in her eyes, and said: “Lets turn the river.”

She wiped the tears from her eyes and continued, “My people need the water, and so does the true river bed.”

Silencieuse responded softly, “That means you will be trapped here.”

“Yes, I know.” said Yetta. “But perhaps when the water stops again next year, I can return and tell my people about the surface world.”

Tears flowed down Yetta’s cheeks again, but her face remained resolute.

“So what do we do?” she asked firmly.

“I’ll show you.” said Silencieuse standing and leading them into the woods.

All that night they gathered fallen branches and dead wood into piles long the edge of the river. As dawn approached, they paused to discuss how to help Yetta through the daylight hours. They knew that even under the heavy shade of the trees, Yetta would be tortured by the light of the sun.

“I have an idea.” said Silencieuse. “You can spend the days in the bear cave. It is quite a ways from here, but the forest will help us cover the distance.”

She then turned to Nénuphar, “You will have to wait here, but I won’t be gone long.”

Nénuphar nodded, and sat down at the foot of a tree nearby.

Silencieuse turned back to Yetta. “I will have to carry you. Will that be alright.”

Shyly Yetta agreed. Silencieuse then lifter her inter her arms like a large baby, and walked right into a tree. There was a shimmering in the tree as they passed through, but that quickly faded, and the tree showed no signs of their passage.

Nénuphar was quite surprised. She had expected Silencieuse to transform and run off with Yetta on her back, but this was something she had never seen. She went over to the tree, but could detect no signs of magic. It was just a tree. Puzzled she returned to her spot and waited.

It was nearly an hour later when Silencieuse returned, and the sky was growing brighter by the minute. She returned in the same way that she had left, and Nénuphar greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.

“Now.” said Silencieuse, “lets get the beavers ready and send the wood down to them. Then we should rest.”

They returned to the dam the beavers had begun, and they were already hard at work. Silencieuse spoke to them and told them about the wood that would be coming down the river. They seemed to understand, and lined up on the shore watching the river.

It only took a couple hours for Nénuphar and Silencieuse to dump all the wood they had gathered into the river, and then they laid down to sleep.

Nénuphar was startled awake to Yetta’s voice; “Wow! that is an amazing way to travel.” she said as they appear from a nearby tree.

The sky was almost completely dark, and Yetta seemed to be having no trouble with the extra light.

“Lily, did you see that?” said Yetta.

Nénuphar was still trying to rub the sleep from her eyes, and didn’t respond.

“We walk right into that tree, and right out of a tree somewhere else. Is that the way you always travel?” she asked, her eyes darting from Nénuphar to Silencieuse and back.

Silencieuse smiled and set her on her feet. “No, that is a fairly advanced spell, and unnecessary most of the time. But lets go see how the beavers are doing.”

To their astonishment, the beavers has nearly completed their dam, and most of the river was already flowing down the original path. They hurried down the river to the pond, and found that had been cleared of sand. The river swirled through the pond and out the other side, dissolving away the sand along the banks and whisking it away.

Seeing the pond filled with water brought a finality to Yetta’s decision, a lump filled her throat, she couldn’t speak, and tears trickled down her cheeks. She did not regret her decision, but she did not know what lay ahead for her either. At least she had met some friends that she could lean on.

That night the three swam in the pond and rested along its bank. The moon was waning, and Yetta didn’t seem to have an trouble with the light in showered down on them. Griffe didn’t like the water at all, and stayed out of splashing range.

When the moon finally disappeared, Silencieuse suggested they begin heading back to the forest so Yetta could be in the bear cave before dawn. Reluctantly Nénuphar and Yetta climbed out of the pond and sat on some rocks to dry and catch their breath.

“So, what is the bear cave?” asked Nénuphar to no one in particular.

Yetta took up the question, “Well, it seems to be just what it sounds like. A cave where bears live.”

Nénuphar was taken aback, “You mean you sleep there WITH the bears?”

“Yup.” replied Yetta, “Silencieuse seems to be pretty good friends with them, and after she explained to them that I am a friend too, they let me in. They seem to out and about at night, and sleep through the daylight hours like me, so it is kind of a good match.”

Nénuphar thought about the mischievous bear cubs, and wondered how anyone could sleep right next to them.

Silencieuse came and sat by the two younger women with a ponderous look on her face. “We are going to need travel down the river to make sure everything is back in order, but I am concerned about Yetta. We can travel at night, but still there is only so much shade, and during the day we would pretty much be exposed to the full light of the sun.”
Hesitantly Yetta spoke up. “I have been getting used to the light. Maybe I could keep my eyes covered during the day?”

“Maybe.” said Silencieuse hesitantly.

“Or,” said Nénuphar, “Maybe we could tie something around your eyes. Something thick.”

“Perfect.” said Silencieuse. “I have just the thing. Lets get you back to the cave for tonight, and I’ll see what I can make.”

The next evening, Silencieuse found Yetta sitting out in front of the bear cave at dusk when she went to pick her up.

“I had to wait until the sun started to go dow,” she said to a surprised Silencieuse, “but was able to look at the trees while the sun was shining on them. I think I am getting used to the light.”

“Good.” replied Silencieuse, “…and I brought you this.”

Yetta accepted a strange black strip of cloth. It was about eight feet long, and looked like a scarf except that it had a very thick section at the center.

Silencieuse took it back began to wrap it around Yetta’s head.

“You see, the thick section goes across your eyes, and the the rest of the scarf wraps around your head twice, and ties in the back like this.” she said.

“That works really well. Thank you.” said Yetta unwinding the scarf and tying it around her waist.

The trip to the coast took most of four days. The days were difficult for Yetta; even with the scarf it was hotter than she had ever experienced, and the dryness made her skin itch incessantly. She kept her eyes uncovered as much as she could, and by the time they reached the coast, she could stand in the full light of day, and while squinting painfully, she could make her way around.

The coast was much like the desert. Waves of sand formed large shifting sandbars that in turn all combined into a massive delta of twisting streams well out into the ocean itself. Nénuphar and Yetta got their first taste of salt water, and Silencieuse laughed deeply as they spat and snorted and tried to get the taste out of their mouths.

The river had all returned normal, and plants were beginning to peek out of the sand along the banks. Frogs and crickets could be heard all night, and birds were returning the trees. At the coast, the herd of elephants was still hanging about and playing in the water.

They spent most of one night playing in the waves, and sand. Silencieuse was able to introduce them to some of the nixies and mermaids that lived off the shore. They saw crabs, rays, octopi, and all kinds of sea birds. The leaned about many of the sea plants, and the various flora and fauna were reliant on both the salt and fresh water.

As they travelled back up the river, they discussed plans for the coming year while they waited for winter winds to bury the pond again. Yetta was becoming quite attached to the bears, and decided to make her home with them. As the cave was only a few miles from the southern end of the lake, Silencieuse felt that would be a good staging ground for Nénuphar’s instructions as well.

Nénuphar was not as comfortable in a cave so she settled into a hollow between two great trees that had failed some years before. It was heavily covered in moss and grass, and felt like a new home.

Through the summer and into the winter both Nénuphar and Yetta learned from the druids, and grew in their mastery of knowledge and magic. They learned to care for the animals and plants of the forest, and the lake, and made frequent trips to visit Nénuphar’s mother and friends back on the north east shore of the lake where she had grown up.

Nénuphar - 3

It was almost dawn when she finally came completely awake. A rough tongue was desperately trying to clean the dried residue of the aloe vera plant from her arms. She tickled the kitten, and then stretched. The kitten jumped off her lap into the sand and began cleaning himself. Then the thought of Trell drew her gaze slowly to her ring where she feared what she would see. To her relief the flower was alive. It did not look healthy, but it was improving. The yellow color had returned to the center petals, and the outer petals seemed to be reversing their progression as well. The blackness was getting higher, and brittle petals at the edges were softening.

She was so excited she literally pounced on Silencieuse; Nénuphar’s knees thumping against her hip, and her hand crashing down on Silencieuse’s shoulders, shaking and lifting her into a sitting position.

“Look! Look!” she kept saying waving her dandelion ring in her face.

Silencieuse quickly shoot the sleep from her eyes and took a look. Drawing the flower away from her nose so that she could focus on it, she sighed, and whispered, “Hurray, I am so glad.”

Nénuphar burst into tears again and began crush Silencieuse in a hug fed by days of worry and grief. Her tears turned to sobs that grew deeper and deeper until she seemed to be convulsing uncontrollably. She release Silencieuse and sat back burying her face in her hands. The kitten stood on its hind legs and began licking the tears from her hands and arms. She continued to sob great convulsing sobs for several minutes. Silencieuse sat holding her, and the kitten became overwhelmed by the flood of tears.

After a few minutes she picked up the cat and hugged him. Cradling him in her arms where he could lick her cheeks, and better keep up with the tears. Silencieuse rocked her gently until the sobs subsided, and she was sure the Nénuphar was breathing normally. She then gave her a kiss on the forehead and a little squeeze before releasing her, moving away to gather her things. Looking back she whispered again: “I am so glad.”

Nénuphar hugged the kitten again until he let out a tortured meow. She loosened her crushing hug, but refused to let him down, and relaxed in her arms purring contently.

Nénuphar literally skipped her way among the animals petting and tickling them, waking them or slashing them with water. When she came to the elephants, she ran straight to the large bull, who as laying with his legs curled under him, and threw against his huge mass as if trying to hug a mountain. He responded by curling his trunk around her waist, the tip searching through her hair and tickling her. She called up the birds in the trees both large and small, and before long the whole camp was chirping, grunting, and trumpeting a good morning to the world.

Eventually she returned to Silencieuse and the shared another meal of fish, roots, and coconut. This time she let the kitten have his fill of the coconut water, and he revived to his old rambunctious self, pouncing on his sisters and parents, and generally harassing the larger animals.

As they were finishing their meal Silencieuse took Nénuphar’s hands in her own and looked into her eyes. Nénuphar saw love and kindness her her eyes, but her voice was serious. “Now you are one of us. Now you will begin your journey as a protector and healer of the forest.”

She released one of Nénuphar’s hand and pulled a something from the back of her belt handing it to Nénuphar. It was a knife about nine inches long. The handle was made of polished horn with a large green gem set into the base of the pommel. The blade was covered in a sheath of toughened brown leaves. Drawing the bade from its sheath she drew a quick breath. It was made of a shiny black stone, worked to a perfect smoothness and sharp and anything Nénuphar had ever known.

She looked into Silencieuse’s eye and began to shake her head, pushing the knife back toward her. Silencieuse put her free hand on Nénuphar’s cheek, and looked deep into her eyes.

“I hope you will never need to spill blood or take a life with it, but my heart tells me that you will may.” she said softly. “…and I cannot bear to leave you with nothing for protection, but a few kitten claws.”

“Besides” she said in a much lighter tone, “it can be very useful.”

She then grabbed two of the drained coconuts and smashed them together. One of them crashed, but the other broke into several pieces. Offering one of the pieces to Nénuphar she said, “Try getting the meat out you knife.

Nénuphar drew the knife out again, and it was wonderfully effective and separating the meat for the shell. All three of them spent a few minutes chewing the coconut meat until Nénuphar got up the courage to ask: “What do you mean leave me?” she said hesitantly.

Silencieuse again looked into her eyes. This time with a strong determined look. “I need to leave you for a couple days.”

Nénuphar’s brow wrinkled noticeably and she opened her mouth to protest, but Silencieuse gently placed her hand on Nénuphar’s lips and continued.

“I am going to take the elephants east to the shore, and coerce the river back into its channel further down stream. I need you to take the rest of the animals back up the real riverbed, and start turning the river down the the track that we made. I’ll rejoin you as soon as I get the lower river righted, and it is desperately urgent to get the river back in its course. It has been absent for far to long, and I fear that every day is causing more and more hurt to the flora and fauna around the true channel.”

Nénuphar was breathing faster as she contemplated striking out on her own. She again took a breath to protest, but Silencieuse pressed more firmly.

“The animals WILL follow you, and the way is clearly marked. When you get back to the forest, where the river leaves its channel, just do your best to get as much water into the track we made as you can. Some of the animals will be a great help. Ask them to help. I know you can do it. The forest needs you to do this. I need you to do this… Please.”

Nénuphar took several deep breaths as new objections rose in her mind, but slowly she sank back to her knees, and said quietly, “Okay.”

“Excellent!” said Silencieuse. She leaned forward and gave Nénuphar a big kiss on the cheek, then stood and strode off toward the elephants.

Nénuphar sat for a few minutes building up her courage until the kitten stood up in her arms, placed both of his forepaws on her cheek and meowed loudly.

“Okay!” she said playfully, looking into the kittens face.

Leaping to her feet skipped her way down to the river where most of the animals were drinking or washing, and announced loudly. “Its time to HEAD OUT!” She skipped back across the sand toward the rocky slope followed closely by the family of cats, and a few of the smaller animals. Most of the large animals, however, hesitated looking after Nénuphar and back to Silencieuse.

When she reach the base of the slope she turned, noticing the hesitation, and called “Well, come on!”

She saw Silencieuse slap one of the bull elk on the butt. He trumpeted and the whole heard began stampeding toward Nénuphar followed by all the other animals. Nénuphar had to laugh as Silencieuse struggle to hold the elephants back. She turned and danced her way up the slope.

The morning passed quickly retracing their steps, and further working a path for the water. She refused to set the kitten; cradling him in her arms or strapping him across her shoulders. She watched her ring regularly, and it did continue to improve. All of the petals cam back to life, but still they stayed a light yellow grayish color rather than turning the bright yellow she had hoped. Still, gray was better than black; at least Trell was alive.

She stopped the procession about mid day to rest in the shade of some healthy cottonwood trees, but with nothing to eat or drink, she began to get worried. She noticed the elk pawing at the sand uncovering some crushed water plants. She saw them eat the dried leaves and then they began to paw at the ground as if there were more deeper down; but rather than exposing more leaves they tore up the roots leaving them exposed. The elk would then look at Nénuphar and grunt before moving away and pawing at the ground again. After a minute Nénuphar realized they were trying to tell her something so she came over to take a closer look. She was surprised to find the roots dug out by the elk were the same bulbous roots that Silencieuse had given her on the trip down. She patted the elk affectionately in gratitude, and brushed off a couple roots. After she had taken a couple several other animals ate the rest.

Nénuphar knew that the next water was over a days journey so she only allowed a short rest before she lead them on. As the afternoon progressed she found parts of her skin were beginning to burn pretty badly, but rather than using her healing spells on herself, she chose to suffer through. She did find some relief as she walked beside one of the large bull elk, and put her kitten across her shoulders, but still she knew it was going to get worse.

She did find the coconut she had discarded the previous day. It had some sand, but with the knife she was able to get the remaining meat out. It had retained its moisture very well, and provide a small relief to her thirst. The kitten too seemed grateful to be able to chew on the coconut.

Her legs were shaking badly, and the sun was less than an hour from setting, when they finally reach the lake were they had slept on their journey down the river. She was so grateful for the familiar spot that she just sat down on one the dunes in the shade of one of the trees. The other animals filed into he ring of trees. They were also grateful for the end of a long march.

The elk were able to dig up some of the roots, but they were so hard to eat with a parched throat that Nénuphar was only able to choke down a couple bites. She wondered where Silencieuse had found the coconut last time they were here, and began to look around hopefully. The trees were of various types, and they were all suffering from the lack of water, but none more than the tall trees with the massive leaves. Their leaves were withering and mostly brown dangling from the center of the leaf like dead appendages. She did notice gray oblong fruit handing from a couple of the more healthy trees, but it was twenty feet off the ground and looked like it would be hard to cut away from the tree anyway. She tried climbing the tree, but was unable so she quickly gave up and sat down in the shade.

As she sat and watched the various animals, she found that many of them were in very bad shape. Even the mother bear was half carrying half dragging one of her cubs.
Nénuphar did not know how much magical healing she could provide, so she selected the mother animals that looked to be having the most trouble, and started healing them first. It only took a handful of spells before she was exhausted, and knew her magic was spent. Her heart ached to see so many other animals in distress, but could only store their backs and let them sleep.

For Nénuphar, sleep was difficult that night. Her shoulders and legs were burned pretty badly, and she woke up often from the pain of sand rubbing against them. Once she tried laying on some of the fallen branches, but found that they had barbs on them several inches long, so she just laid on the sand and grit her teeth.

The morning sun was excruciating, but she forced herself to up and announced the beginning of another day’s march. She wanted to stay at the back and help any animals that were struggling, but she knew that she had to lead them on or they would not keep moving. She placed her kitten carefully on her shoulders, and started off.

The morning sun turned into a scorching torture for Nénuphar as the day drew on toward mid-day. Her legs ached and shook with every step, and stung constantly. Something inside her was distressed about the discoloration of her skin, but she knew that far more important was finding water and food for all the animals. She did glance at her ring from time to time, and it seemed to doing well enough.

She now walked beside one of the bulk elk at all times as much to steady herself as to the get shade, and before long she found herself leaning on him more and more. Her knuckles began to bleed freely from the burns and general dehydration, but she hardly even noticed except for a wince as one would open anew.

The sand began to rise as if climbing a gentle hill, but she only felt her legs growing weaker and weaker until she was almost riding the elk at her side.

Finally the circle of trees that indicated the small pond came into view, and she knew the were almost to the river. She pushed herself upright in an attempt to walk by her own strength, but collapsed into the sand. As she fell her kitten tensed and his claws came out as he tried to land on his feet. On her hands and knees, Nénuphar cried out as blood began to trickle down her shoulders in several places. The other animals were beginning to run now as they could smell the river ahead, but he burns combined with the cuts were too much for her, and she vision darkened as she lost consciousness.

She awoke after nightfall to her shoulders itching and burning unbearably. She tried touching with her hands, but that only made them worse. Her kitten was laying next to, and several other animals were there as well. She rose to her hands and knees and stopped to let the pain of her skin subside.

She gently nudged her kitten, and was relieved when he got up and licked her face. Her burned cheek erupted in pain, and she jerked back involuntarily. The kitten meowed softly and before she could stop him, he rubbed up against her arm. She clenched waiting to pain that was surely to come from the touch, but it didn’t come. For some reason the soft touch of his fur calmed the pain slightly as he brushed against her. It quickly returned, but she let him rub against her for a minute while she struggled to keep herself from crying out from the pain.

With her mind racing she knew that the river was less than a mile ahead, and she desperately need to get there, but moving caused her shoulders to hurt so badly that she was not sure she could stand without passing out again. Then as if in answer, her kitten leaned softly against one of her shoulders. She cried out softly, but found that his touch even help her shoulders a little. She wonder if there was any way she could get him onto her shoulders without moving, and without opening new scratches across her shoulders or back.

The kitten knew she was in great pain, and began to meow and nudge her with its nose. When that got no movement from her, her gave her one solid lick behind her left ear. Nénuphar’s eye shot open as a tingling cold chill spread across her body lighting up every nerve with its tingling sensation, without even thinking she grabbed the kitten dropped in onto her shoulders and stood with a cry of defiance. Her legs still trembled, but they held for now.

As the tingling faded, the burn returned as painful as it had before, but with the kitten across her shoulders it was just bearable enough for her to stay upright. She began to walk, and cracks opened up all across her toes and feet. Yet as painful as they were, they did not compare the burning of the rest of her body, so she set teeth and kept moving.

Eternity seemed to pass with each footstep, but slowly she climbed out of the dunes and approached the river. Every step a fresh pain to her feet, and her legs weakened quickly. She saw many of the animals milling around the rivers edge or wading into the current as she approached. Her steps began to come faster and faster, and she knew she was going to fall headlong into the swift current unable to stop her momentum, so at the last moment the tossed kitten into small grass and let her momentum carry her into the river.

The cold water against her skin brought her back to full consciousness in a flash. She felt herself rolling over and over in the water without the strength to stop it. She was just about to surrender to the current completely when she heard some strange splashing near her. Then her body struck a couple obstructions in the water, and she stuck fast; not able to get her head above the water, and unable to move with the current crushing her against what felt like branches in her back.

Again she began to relax and surrender when she felt herself speared by several other branches and lifted out of the water. She gasped for breath, and then screamed as the branches dug into her arm and ribs. Her weight shifted and fell against more of the branches and stuck fast again. Her eyes were closed and she couldn't help the cries that were escaping from her body when she felt the branches begin to move. Slowly at first then faster they moved, and she expected to be pitched into the river at any moment, but it didn’t happen.

After a few moments she felt herself falling then her shoulder struck the branches again. Her weight carried her forward out of the branches, and she rolled into some grass on the bank of the river. Looking up she saw the bull elk, its horns and head dripping wet, standing over her. As she stirred and began to drink from the river, he splashed back up stream to be with the other elk.

She had to heal herself twice to be able to stand properly, but once she was up she immediately began digging a trench to bring water to the animals too weak to leave the pond of sand below. She knew that she did not have the magic or the strength to help them in any other way than to bring the water to her.

She found a strong stick and began grinding a small path for the water to follow. Soon the animal that were strong enough began pawing and digging in the dirt as well. Before long they had a small trickle in the path then a small stream. Most of the animals were as exhausted as she was, and could only work for a few minutes before they had to rest, but the stream was growing ever faster. She moved forward following and watching the stream until it reach the deep sand where it seemed to disappear; the sand drinking it up.

She went back up to the top of the hill and found the beavers working feverishly to cut down trees, and wedge them into the river. Soon it was all she could do to sit on a rock as watch in agony as some of the trees floated freely down the stream while others caught hold in the mud and rocks. Then as she watch a large tree fell right into the river it struck still partially attached, but all of its leaves and branches pushing the water toward the north side of the river where surge of water began to flow down the old riverbed. She suddenly realized that the beavers would be able to do morello shift the water than all the other animals combined, and she decided to give them all the help she could. As each beaver came out of the water to find a new tree or branch, she would heal it. The beavers were clearly strengthen by this redoubled their efforts. With her magic expended she knew she could be of no more value to them, and returned to the pond. The water was making progress against the sand, but it was heart bracingly slow, moving only a few feet at a time before stopping to fill some new pit of sand.

As she watched the slow advance of the water she grew increasingly anxious for the animals that still lay at the pond, too weak to move. She decided that no matter how little it was, she was going to carry water in her hands and her cheeks to those desperate animals. She did this many times that night walking up to the head of the river and back to the animals, giving them a lick or two at a time.

By morning, she had given each of the animals at least a swallow of water, and the larger ones two or three. As the sun rose she shifted her tactic to trying to urge, carry, and drag animals up the river to where the water was. On her return trips she would bring a handful and mouthful of water, and then escort another animal up the slope. She had rescued all the animals except a large cow elk, and the bear cub when she reached the end of her strength. She sat for a minute next the bear stroking its fur but the scorching sun soon drove her into the shade. She could see the water now, and hoped it would arrive in time.

As she watched the water inch its way forward there was a sudden explosion in the sand near her, and something came flying out of the sand landing right in the middle of the pond by the bear cub.

Nénuphar leapt to her feet. It was a woman, her skin was as black as space between the stars at night. She had a strong build, and long black fluffy looking hair that was tied at several places down her back. She was dressed in strange white and gray clothing, and was gasping for breath.

After a couple of quick breaths the woman raised her head, and began screaming in pain. She buried her eyes in her elbow thrust it toward the sand. She continued to scream as if she were being burned alive.

Nénuphar had no idea what was happening, but she began calling out to the woman: “What’s wrong? What can I do.”

The woman’s reply was strange, and Nénuphar could not understand what she said, but she kept waving her free hand in the direction of the sun.

Nénuphar guessed that she was either afraid of the sun, or was being burned by it. She ran to the woman’s side and began pulling her toward the shade several yards away. Amid the crying out she slowly crawled in the direction that Nénuphar was attempting to drag her.

The shade helped soften her cries some, but still she could not take her eyes from the crook in her elbow without excruciating pain. Nénuphar found some large hand shaped leaves, and began cover the black woman in them. She seemed to catch to the idea and laid down pulling them over her face. Nénuphar gathered every leaf and stick she could find, and still the woman continued to moan and cry. Extremely worried Nénuphar could do nothing more except wait, and hope for a miracle.

As afternoon passed into evening the woman fell quiet, and Nénuphar, hoping she was asleep, slipped off into the forest to find some food. She returned with some raspberries piled high on a large piece of bark, a handful of some sweet roots, and another piece of bark piled with walnuts.

She made it back to the pond just before sunset, but the woman did not seem to have moved. She sat down and placed the food between herself and the woman, and waited.

It was nearly two hours before the woman began to stir, and Griffe, as Nénuphar came to call the kitten, Griffe in common speech, was getting anxious to eat the berries.

The woman spoke softly, but Nénuphar could not make out what she said. The woman repeated the words a couple times, and Nénuphar responded as best she could, but neither of them understood the other. Slowly the woman began to raise the branches until she could see that the sky was dark. Lucky for her the moon was a late riser that night.

As the woman sat up she winced in pain as if every muscle and joined was in pain. Concerned, Nénuphar tried to ask if she was hurt, but couldn’t get any idea where. She offered her the food, which was quickly accepted. She was surprised by the sweetness of the root, and seemed to enjoy it thoroughly. When Nénuphar finally convinced her to try the raspberries, she was absolutely flabbergasted. She enjoyed the nuts as well, but the raspberries were clearly the favorite.

After eating, Nénuphar helped Yetta to the river. They found that where it entered the pond, it seemed to have stopped. At least it had stopped advancing. The water was still flowing into the sand, but the sand was simply drinking it up as fast as it could come.

They drank their fill and returned to the tree to rest. They tried for several minutes to communicate with hand signals and simple words, but all that Nénuphar learned was that the woman’s name was Yetta. Nénuphar tried several times to help the woman pronounce her name, and finally reverted the common name Lily, which was much easier for her.
Finally Yetta signaled for Nénuphar to stay be quiet for a minute. Yetta began to chant and then placed one hand on her mouth and one hand on Nénuphar’s mouth. Nénuphar recognized the feelings as similar to the one that allowed her to talk to animals, but this spell was somewhat different. It seemed to take hold of her lips and tongue as the other had, but it spread into the back of her throat and even made her ears begin to ring.

As the sensation passed, and their ears stopped ringing, Yetta spoke, “There, can you understand me now?”

Surprised Nénuphar replied in the affirmative.

“Good. I am Yetta of the Sansen. Thank you so much for your help.”

“You’re very welcome.” said Nénuphar. “…but where did you come from?”

“Down below.” said Yetta pointing at the ground.

Nénuphar blinked a couple times trying to comprehend what she could possibly mean.

“My people,” began Yetta, “have a spell we call pass through earth. It allows us to move through rock and sand magically.”

“So you mean you came from the ground?” asked Nénuphar hesitantly.

“Yes, well we live in a space between the rocks that we call Paradise. It is not very big, but it is what we have.” said Yetta.

“Oh, so you live in a cave underground?!” replied Nénuphar cheerfully.

“A cave?” now it was Yetta that was at a loss.

“Yes” said Nénuphar, “That is what we call the space inside the ground.”

“Oh, okay.” consented Yetta.

Yetta then touched Nénuphar’s knee, and ask very seriously: “Is this… is this the… surface?”

Nénuphar was not sure how to answer, but slow answered, “Yes.”

Yetta closed her eyes and sat back raising her hands and face to the sky, “Praise the maker. I actually made it.” She kissed her palms and raised them to the sky. Her voice then dropped to a whisper, “Thank you.” she spoke skyward.

Nénuphar sat curiously watching her strange show of devotions that seemed to consist of much kissing of the palms and raising them to the sky, intermixed with thanking the maker for all her ancestors, and her gifts, and her families gifts, and her protection, and guidance, and on an on. Soon she found, though, that her eyes began closing involuntarily. She nearly fell right over, but her body jerked and she regained her seated position.

Yetta said a few more thank you’s and then whispered to Nénuphar. “You are tired. Sleep friend. I will watch.”
No sooner had her cheek rested on her arm than she was asleep.

It was a couple hours later, when Yetta noticed the light of the moon began to brighten at the horizon. She rose nervously and raised her hand to shield her yes from the light until the first glimpse of the moon itself appeared. She immediately pounced on Nénuphar who struggled to find consciousness again. After several shakes she sat up trying to understand what was happening.

“The dagger! The blue dagger is coming! We have to hide.” begged Yetta desperately.

Nénuphar followed Yetta’s hand, but couldn’t understand what she was pointing at. Her head continued to clear, and she remembered Yetta’s reaction to the sun, then it occurred to her. The moon was just beginning to wax, and with only the top section above the horizon it did kind of look like the blade of a dagger.

“No, no.” Its okay said Nénuphar, “That is the moon.”

Yetta took a deep breath and whispered, “The mun. We have legends of that, but I didn’t even think.” She continued shield her eyes, but couldn’t help stealing quick glances of it.

“The mooooooon.” said Nénuphar slowly.

“Moon. Okay.” said Yetta. “Our people have legends that on the surface a mun… err moon… crosses the roof of the great surface space and makes everything glow. I never imagined it was so bright.”

Nénuphar finally understood Yetta’s reaction to the sun, and began to worry.

“How often does it cross the roof, and how big is this surface? It seems so far away.”

Nénuphar was not sure how to explain, but began with, “It comes out every night. Well almost every night. Sometimes it… well every night.”

Yetta looked at Nénuphar with complete bewilderment, “Every… night? What does that mean.”

Nénuphar began to feel tired again as she tried to figure out how to explain the day and night cycle to someone who had never been to the surface world. She pondered and struggled to keep her eyes open and the moon cleared the horizon, and began to climb into the sky.

Yetta broke the silence again in amazement, “What a strange shape. What is it?”

Nénuphar’s muddled brain could not bring her brain to focus, and just said, “I’m sorry, can we talk in the morning?”, and she laid her head down again.

As she faded into sleep she heard Yetta rolling the new word around in her mouth, “morning”.

Yetta watched diligently to make sure the moon didn’t come any closer, and was amazed that with how bright it was, she never caught the slightest glimpse of the ceiling even as it passed by the glowing dots of fungus on the roof. She walked around a bit and looked at the strange plants that glowed under the power of the moon. She looked out over the sand dunes to the south was completely overcome with nausea at the sheer distance. Her brain just couldn’t register such a vast expanse.

By the time the moon was directly overhead she was able to look at it without wincing, but she still was baffled by its shape, and could not figure out how it moved. She concluded that she must be seeing some kind of shell, and its legs moved smoothly across the ceiling, but the shapes and patterns on the shell were very strange and the curvature of the shell was imperceptible.

As she lay on her back pondering she dozed off a couple times, but snapped back awake afraid to miss even a minute of the magical crawl across the ceiling. She watched it slowly crawl down the other side when she noticed that the entire ceiling began to brighten, especially over where the moon had first appeared. When she saw the dots of fungus begin to disappear, she quickly roused Nénuphar.

“Quick, look.” she said pointing to the east. “What is happening?”

Nénuphar knew that Yetta could not bear the sun so she began to arrange the large branches and leaves again for Yetta. As Yetta realized what she was doing, terror rose in her eyes again.

“Is it coming back?” she ask shaking.

“Yes.” said Nénuphar calmly, “but its okay. Lets just get you in here, and I will watch over you while it passes.”

Her breathing began to accelerate as she climbed back under the leaves, and buried her yes in her arm.

Keeping her eyes covered she whispered with a shaking voice, “What is it?”

“The sun.” whispered Nénuphar. “but don’t worry, you are safe here.”

Nénuphar then asked, “How are you doing? Do you still hurt?”

“Yes.” replied Yetta from under the leaves. “It will be many days before that pain is gone.”

“Then I have a gift for you.” said Nénuphar as her hands began to glow a gentle blue.

When the healing was complete, Yetta moved around a little, and said in amazement and deep gratitude, “Thank you.”

Nénuphar heard a kiss and Yetta’s palm extended from the branches toward her. She did not know what she was supposed to do, so she placed her palm against Yetta’s and said, “You’re welcome.” She then added quietly, “What happened to you anyway?”

Yetta paused, and then began her tale. “Our village is a wonderful and beautiful place, but we have overfilled it. The fungus is no longer able to support the growing families, and the fish are becoming harder to find in the water. The naga are attacking our fishermen, and there are rumors that the elves have finally found our home.”

“So when the waters stopped again, the elders send me to follow the water trail, and see if I could find another space where we could live.”

“I followed the trail as far as I could but found the way blocked several times by rock. Each time I used the spell to move through earth, and each time found that the trail continued on. I spent several days climbing, and moving through earth when I had to, but it seemed to go on forever. One day the water started to flow, and I knew that time was short. I must either find a space, or return before the water reached its full capacity.”

“I knew that my people were in a very dangerous place, and any day the elves would attack and probably kill us all, so I decided to continue no matter what. The water was steadily increasing, and I got in a hurry. The last time I cast the spell, I found it much further than I had anticipated; I guess it was the presence of this sand that threw me off.”

“Anyway, my spell began to fail, and I was trapped, I panicked when I hit the sand, and felt trapped. As the spell faltered, I thought I would die, but instead found myself shunted out of the sand.”

“Shunted?” ask Nénuphar.

“Yes.” Yetta continued. If you are still in the earth when the spell ends, you will get squished and if you are lucky you get shunted or thrown out to the nearest hollow space. I was extremely lucky that I was so close to the surface, but it was still excruciating to be shunted out of the earth.”

“So that is where I met you, under the destructive glare of the sun. I thought I was being burned alive, and my eyes have never felt such pain.”

Yetta fell silent for a moment then added, “Thank you again Lily.”

Nénuphar laid down near the leaves and talked to Yetta for several hours, asking questions, and telling Yetta about the surface world. They both marveled at the incomprehensible descriptions, and promised to show each other the wonders of their homes. Nénuphar explained the cycle of day and night, and that the sun was hot and incomprehensibly bright, but that they had learned to enjoy its presence, and Nénuphar hoped that one day Yetta could feel its warmth without pain.

As the sun climbed toward noon, Nénuphar expressed again her certainty that Yetta would be okay under the leaves, but that she needed to go help some of the animals. Yetta accepted her comforting, and urged her to go. She even promised to try to sleep while they waited for the sun to go away.

Nénuphar was able to heal the remaining animals and ushered them off into the woods. She checked on the beavers, and found them hard at work, but not progressing very quickly
in their new diversion dam. She gathered some berries, nuts, and roots, and returned to see how Yetta was doing. Her slow breathing indicated that she was indeed asleep, so Nénuphar pulled Griffe close, and went to sleep herself.

Nénuphar - 2

With some fish in her belly and her body rehydrated, Nénuphar was able to sit in the shade of some strange trees that had huge leaves like hands reaching out from a single bare trunk. From there, she was able look around. To the west, was the rocky slope they had come down. It seems to be where the the original riverbed lay, thus explaining why it was so rocky and slick. The river itself had swung far to the south in its new course, but had found its way back to this spot to once again follow its normal route. To the south were still sand dunes as far as she could see. The river simply slipping between them where it could. To the north were hills that rolled on as far as she could see. To the east was still pretty much a mystery. The riverbed, lined with trees, extended as far as she could see. It wound around small hills, but seem to continue due east. She knew the ocean was out there eventually, but she did not know how far it was, and could see no sign of it.

She learned from Silencieuse that they would be resting the remainder of the day, and start again in the morning. Apparently the river lost its way again before reaching the ocean and they needed to correct the riverbed all the way to the ocean.

She also learned that the elephants didn’t often travel this far north, and when they did they did not travel this far inland. Silencieuse did not know what they had come, but both of them were glad that they had.

She asked why the river was so small here, but Silencieuse could only give a partial answer. It seemed that it lost a lot of water as it wandered around in the dunes and had a tendency to pool up and break free from time to time, but that did not fully explain its diminished state. The druids had always known the river was much smaller as it flowed into the ocean, than when it left the Fey Wood Lake, but they did not know why, and could only guess.

They rested and talked off and on for the rest of the day until an hour or so before sunset when a large crow flew by and dropped a couple strange branches near Nénuphar’s feet. Picking one one she quickly discovered that the bulging green leaf had sharp thorns running up the side. It was difficult to tell whether it was leaf or a branch as it was shaped like an elongated triangle comment to a barbed point on one end and a thick roundish stump on the the other. Between the two rows of barbs the plant was squishy, but beyond that, Nénuphar did not have any idea what it was.

Silencieuse quickly came to her rescue, explaining that this was the plant that would help with her sunburns. She showed Nénuphar how to open the plant and spread the clear jelly across her skin.

The piece that the crow had dropped was only a couple inches long and only contained enough of the jelly to cover one of her shoulders, but still, she was very grateful as it immediately removed the stinging. It did not help restore the color, but hopefully that would come in time.

A few minutes later a hawk dropped another leaf about the same size, and Nénuphar quickly applied it to her other shoulder. Another and another came, and soon she had covered most of her arms as well.

Nénuphar began to watch the sky again hoping for more of the birds to return. Eventually several more did return when she suddenly the two great eagles approaching. Each of them had and entire plant in their talons which they dropped at her feet. Excitedly she covered her body in the jelly (aloe vera as Silencieuse called it) which raised her spirits a great deal. She did complain more than once about the sticky feeling on her skin, but agreed that was better than the stinging and burning. When she was done, Silencieuse showed her how to replant the roots so it would grow. To her surprise they had to travel almost a mile away from the river to find a spot the was suitable.

When they returned to the river, most of the animals had settled down for the night, and they decided to do the same. Their conversation prompted Nénuphar to take a fresh look at her dandelion, and to her horror, she found it be almost entirely wilted gray and black. There were only a few yellow petals right at the center.

She began to panic, and was unable to sit still. She began to pace back and forth staring at the flower and occasionally wiping a tear from her eyes. Silencieuse also showed sincere concern, but had no way to help Trell, wherever he was. She could not even talk to the birds again until she had rested and refreshed her magic.

Silencieuse watched as Nénuphar began to work herself into a panic. She could also see that even the last couple petals were darkening and wilting. She knew that Nénuphar was going still weak, but would not be able to sleep unless she could do something. So she decided to try to distract her.

“Nénuphar!” she said walking over to her.

Nénuphar looked at her with teary and glazed eyes like a rabbit that is trapped by a wolf.

“I think you might be able to do something.” she said hopefully.

Nénuphar stopped, “What!?” she said, her eyes wide staring at Silencieuse expectantly.

“Do you remember that spell that I cast that allowed me to talk to the birds this morning?” she began calmly.

“Yes!?”, returned Nénuphar anxious, but not sure how that would help.

“Well, “ continued Silencieuse, “we could send one of these larger birds to see if they can find or even help Trell. Maybe like they helped you with the sunburn plant.”

“But, I thought your magic as was.” protested Nénuphar.

“It is.” she replied, then added, “…but yours is not.” She paused waiting for the thought to register.

Suddenly Nénuphar let out a high pitched squeak that sounds a little bit like: “Me?”.

Silencieuse calmly took her hands and lead her to the base of a tree where she tried to get her to sit down. Nénuphar began to sit but was just too anxious, and couldn’t.
“Show me. Show me.” she begged over and over looking again at her ring.

Just at that moment the brave young kitten rubbed up against her leg and purred, looking up to her expectantly.

Momentarily distracted Nénuphar replied, “Oh, hello claws, are you going to try to climb my leg again?”

The kitten just sat down looking up at her and let out a meow.

She looked at the ring again and absent-mindedly reached down and picked up the kitten. She then plopped down beside Silencieuse, and began stroking the kittens back. She took a couple deep breaths letting them out with a hiss, and turned again to Silencieuse.

“Okay, ready.” she said.

“Now this spell is a little tricky.” began Silencieuse. “It comes in two parts. If you want to be able to understand animals you just have to cast the ears part, and if you only want the animal to understand you, you only have to cast the throat part.”

“Oh right!” chimed in Nénuphar. I saw you rubbing your ears and throat.

“Yes.” continued Silencieuse, “Now here are the words.”

She began chanting strange sounds and phrases, and Nénuphar repeated them diligently.

“Now place both hands on your throat…” said Silencieuse demonstrating on her own. “…and reach into yourself and out into the world around you and continue to chant.”

Nénuphar continued again and again, and eventually she posed for a minute, wrinkled up her brow, and began again, a little slower, and with a stronger confidence in her voice. She immediately began to feel the magic collect in her hands and then move into her throat.

As the spell ended Silencieuse looked excitedly and expectantly at Nénuphar. She raised her eyebrows and motioned for her to speak.

Nénuphar looked around for an animal to talk to, and saw a large hawk with a bright red tail sitting in a nearby tree watching them. She looked at the bird and asked if he could understand her. The hawk screeched in reply, and continued to watch.

Silencieuse grabbed her hand and began to pat it excitedly. “You did it.” she said smiling.

Nénuphar was excited as well, but quickly turned back to the hawk and asked it to go find Trell and make sure he was okay. The hawk screeched again and flew off.

Laying next to Silencieuse, with a purring cat in her arms Nénuphar did eventually fall asleep. She had fitful desperate dreams where she was searching for Trell. She saw herself flying over the forest then the deserts beyond ever searching, but not finding him. When she did awake she looked desperately at her ring hoping to find a change for the better, but saw no change.