Nom-Mee settled into the comfy bed next to Wee-One as they continued to hum along with the ballet as they sang the healing lullaby.  Mal-Nai sat near the two humming souls still concerned about Lan-Oea.  “Do you think she wants us to come to her side?”
Wee-One grimaced, “I really want to help her, but we must trust her as she has trusted us.”
     “We have remained safe which means she is striving along the path toward our goal,” added Nom-Mee.
     The three cuddled together as the ballet sang softly until the girls drifted off to sleep.  Drip, drop, drip, drop, the water gathered together as it raced toward the peak to tumble gracefully bouncing on the cliffs skipping along each outcropping scattering as they gather as a family joining in the lagoon below.  The gentle roar could be heard echoing throughout the valley.  The soothing sound calmed the hearts and slowed their breathing.  His voice an ever-present reminder of the love held so closely, yet so fleeting.
     The story flowed evenly as they listened intently.  This was the sweetest prose ever composed.  This is the very definition of safety and security.  They felt more protected than any time in the past.  How could they keep this feeling lasting beyond this moment?
     Lightening crashed and the resounding thunder shook the rocks beyond the beautiful waterfall.  The tumbling stones fell from the walls rolling across the floor of the cave.  Boulders piled upon boulders colliding into each other as the mountain screamed with the pain of bones crushing . . .

“With each note, I further sealed her fate,” Terba trembled.  “It ends now.  I will no longer betray my charge.”  She knew Rock Monster would be looking for her message this evening.  “If I stay, I leave everyone to continue to have to live in terror as to when he will strike back.”  As the spectrum of color surrounded the squad, Terba hid at the edge of the mountain and slid unnoticed into the darkness.  She walked many lengths until she came upon an abandoned dwelling near a small lake still in the moonlight that shimmered along the surface.
     Terba rested until the following nightfall.  She prepared a simple meal longing for her child to be near her.  Resting throughout the day, Terba took flight as sunlight faded from sight.  Rising slowly in the breeze, she flew, not toward the assigned spot, but facing the path she felt her soul, her precious, precious soul had traversed.  Searching with each sweep of the wind, hoping above all that she will be safe.
     Traveler and Dweller came to the woods beyond the river, as the path became steep and rocky he stood before them.  Each jumped at the sight and thought, “What now?”
     “Pardon me, sirs, I do not mean to intrude upon your hike,” Ralgam politely spoke.  “Gentlemen, I have been dispatched to inform you of the latest findings.  While Lan-Oea is progressing along on her path, her previous taunters have returned.  She has attempted in vain to battle them, but have succumbed to their ravages.  My comrades have been monitoring her.  She has fallen into a trance, a deep trance.  We do not know how to help her awaken.”

     “Lan-Oea, we have longed for your company and now you do not wish us to leave as before,” gloated Gemkai’akai.  “How is it you have been able to survive in misery without us?”
     “Look at her!  She did not triumph.  She is weaker than when we left her.  She wears a façade,” taunted Zegbuk.
     “Ah, how right you are,” celebrated Skadzib.  “Her body carries many scars even with me around.”
     Taladmoord sighed heavily, “My, my, my, I hear you have given up time and time again.  This does cause my heart to leap with joy.”
     “It is not your time, Bindini.  You must leave me,” pushed Lan-Oea.  She attempted to argue, but Bindini knew there was no point.  Backing away slowly, she turned toward the rising moon.
     Lan-Oea snickered at the assembly before attempting to depart on her own.  Taladmoord blocked her path.  Once again, she tried to move, but the others had attacked her from behind slamming her to the ground.  Wanting desperately to scream, but noise was not there.  Closing her eyes, she escaped to “her” place to hide.
     Water splattered over the boulders, tripping and dancing along the way.  It was music to her ears.  It laughed and sung with each additional splash.  Soon, she could hear it the voice, that voice, the only thing that would comfort her when she felt lost and alone.
      The words turned into a melody so familiar a single tear made its way down her cheek.  With all of her might, she tried to force her eyes to open fearing at the same time this precious tune would disappear.  Nothing moved, the harder she tried, each muscle refused its job.
     Silence engulfed them as they marveled at the sight.  How Terba longed for her precious one to share in this symphony of color . . .

Bags dove to catch him before he could drop the only torch.  “Easy, my friend we want everyone to be safe.  How much further?  It is growing colder in this darkness.  Do you know where we will egress?  We must stop soon to eat and rest.”
     Yeinar cleared his throat, “Is that a light I see ahead?  Have we been discovered?”
     “No, no, my comrades, it is the halbs.  They come in a large swarm to rest in the moonlight,” Gruashe expressed.
     As the crew stepped away from the stairwell, they discovered the beaming ground carpeted with the beautiful halbs.  Cleinags sneezed causing the sky to brighten with their fluttering wings.  Terba sniffled to hold back her tears, “Oh, I miss my precious one.  She would have loved this sight.  How could I have sought to injury her?” she sobbed to herself.
     Bags took flight to seek a place of refuge for the others.  She began soar higher as her stomach sang its own tune.  She quickly found a cave, but continued her search for her tender love . . .

“Klon, where are you?  How could you abandon me like this?”  She rose gingerly from her position so as not to disturb the brightly colored night halbs settling in for the cool evening breezes.  Their glowing wings fluttered with the wind as she tiptoed around these precious creatures.
     Mal-Nai entered the cottage to the lilting sounds of the healing lullaby.  She was confused by the choice of the song.  Was someone sick, lost, afraid?  She feared someone my need her help and she had been lost in her own miserable thoughts as words from Taladmoord clouded her entire brain.
     Wee-One looked toward the door to see her walk in as the Glad moon’s rays shone behind her.  Mal-Nai was quickly embraced by Wee-One.  “How is it everyone is singing this song?  Who needs help?  You needed to get me so I could assist,” Mal-Nai questioned.
     With tears streaming down her face, Nom-Mee spoke, “We were afraid for you, but you returned prior to the full rising of the Glad moon.  We sang in hopes of surrounding you with its words of hope, healing, and comfort.  It worked!  You came before the peak.”
     “She is in grave danger!” exclaimed Mal-Nai.  “Where is Traveler and Dweller?  They must go to her, now!”
     Klon responded, “They have left and we do not know where they are.”
     Gruashe slipped and began to stumble, trying to grasp a rail, a branch, something . . .

      Bindini stretched out her arms.  These arms weathered the by the sun with sinew, tendons, and thew covered a gentle, benevolent spirit.  Lan-Oea quavered and shuddered at this sight.  Before she could speak, “I am here to keep you safe,” comforted Bindini.  “You must leave her alone,” she told Skadzib, Gemkai’akai, Zegbuk, and Taladmoord.  “Now is the time to work toward health as apposed to death and destruction.  Lan-Oea is not your enemy.  Your temptations will not be heard.”
     “Taladmoord has been my lone friend during many troubling days.  He was my only escape from the oppressive qualm and woefulness.  He sang sweet tunes to abate my fears allowing me to step forward.  How can I send him away?
     “Skadzib releases my angst when my heart seems to leap out of my chest with each beat.  Oh, Zegbuk, my multi-level companion numbing those emotions that whelm me to the point I cannot form a sentence.  At least, with him, I have courage to ignore those who dwell in the basement.  Gemkai’akai keeps me straight and calm in the midst of the chaos.  Please do not banish these confidants.  They mean merely to protect the abashed ones, but at times, harm others in the process.”
     “Ah, so lovely to hear your accolades and musings of missing us, especially me,” whispered Taladmoord, “I can be here to squelch those noisy neighbors once again.  How shall we assist you today?”
     Yeinar was consumed with his sadness as he ruminated to himself, “My own love, how can I help you remember my heart for you?  I have longed for an interlude, a moment, in which I can help you realize you true identity.  I remember our times of frolicking through the meadows and beautiful forests before, before he came and the memories were wiped in one instant.”
     The Glad moon began to creep slowly upwards, Mal-Nai’s eyes darted back and forth searching for compassion, for help, for solace from the heaviness that engulfed her . . .

I fought against the guards as much as I could.  As they drug me through the forest, I gripped and grabbed any and everything I could.  I heard it snap and then . . . then, it happened.  I caused the curse of the entire land.  If she discovers it, how will she ever forgive me?”
     Nags slowly felt his way along the wall.  “I must tell someone we are not seeking to heal Mal-Nai, Nom-Mee, Wee-One, or whoever she is at this time.  We are seeking to find her daddy and heal him.”
     Bags made an attempt to try to fly instead of walk, but the passageway was too narrow.    “That day, that awful, awful day it was a flash then I had these as she looked down at her webbed feet.  I spun around and he . . . was . . . gone.  Will I ever find him?  My love I fear is lost forever, I fear.  Each day I take to the skies, I truly search for him as I soar.  Yet, I do not know his form.  What will happen with him?”
     Terba’s soul filled with grief and guilt.  “I have sent messages to Rock Monster daily.  She trusted me!  I will be forever known as Terba, the tergiversate (tur-ji-ver-seyt)!  I cannot believe I have threatened her safety all along!  How can I seek a new path and help us all escape?”

Each wondered in secret despair as the group wanted to lift her off the bridge to carry her to the comfy bed, but they would not force her.  Mal-Nai must decide on her own to return.
     Lan-Oea yelled in her head, “I am safe.  I am safe.  I am safe,” as if to conjure her secret spot before her eyes in which to find refuge.  “I cannot do this alone.  I do not know how.  Poppie said I must do it alone, but I cannot find the strength he said I had,” she mulled to herself.  Just as she was about to give into the temptations before her, Bindini (bend-den-ee) appeared amongst them.
     The others followed Yeinar and Gruashe through the opening carrying their provisions for the expedition each feared what might be around the next corner as they descended into the discovered as a fraud of a leader and his true feelings were uncovered.  Gruashe cautiously led the others as a lump appeared in his throat.  “How would they treat me if the crew knew I was the true brother of their sworn leader?”

     “I think you need to eat this,” shouted Gemkai’akai (gim-key-ā-koo) as she held up the forbidden fruits from the kingdom’s hidden cellar.   Lan-Oea remembers eating them as a youngster and when Rock Monster discovered her, she was punished for stealing and forced only to eat food that would not “make you look like a nehlem (neigh-lamb).”  Lan-Oea began to shake as she backed away from Gemkai’akai.
     “No, take this,” Skadzib (sky-dab) yelled while wielding a meif (mafe).  Lan-Oea jumped as she saw it glint in the moonlight.
     “Why are you doing this?  I have done nothing to you,” she responded in shock.
     “Wait,” Zegbuk (zage-book) said teasingly, “When did we stop being friends?”
     “You can no longer hide from us.  You have ignored us for far too long.  Don’t you remember how we helped you?”  Taladmoord (tall-ad-ma-erd) cooed silently in her ear as he led the others to come closer.  He was their leader and seemed the most powerful of all.
     Lan-Oea drew her weapons, but was unable to maintain control as she continued to quiver violently.  She willed herself not to cry, but to stand firm in her mlooks that covered her newly healed feet.  She struggled to speak, to say something, anything, but no air could escape her ever-tightening chest as her heart raced so loudly she was sure the attackers could hear.  They came closer, encircling her trembling form.  She wanted to yell, to scream stop, to force them to leave, but she was frozen as she was flooded with memories she had labored so frantically to forget.
      Klon sang softly and slowly the healing lullaby in hopes to retrieve Mal-Nai from her trance.  Soon the ballet joined as they circled the Alpha moon in full flight.  Wee-One quietly joined in as she gently swayed back and forth reaching to Nom-Mee for support.  “We are safe.  We are safe.  We are safe,” Nom-Mee whispered.
     The Alpha moon darkened as the skylights danced before them.  Presently the Glad moon would appear.  Was it too late, now?

     Wee-One ran out of the cottage desperately looking for Nom-Mee.  Klon met her at the door to comfort her.  “Where is Nom-Mee?  I must find her,” Wee-One spoke rapidly as Klon attempted to calm her.
     “Have you looked under her the bed, her favorite spot?  We should try there,” Klon responded.
They both raced to the comfy bed.  Wee-One crawled under as Klon spoke encouraging words, “You are a strong person.  You can do this.  Do not give up, now.”
     Wee-One laid next to Nom-Mee as she rocked back and forth.  Wee-One sang the healing lullaby softly in her ear.  Klon left to search for Traveler and nearly trampled him in the passageway.  “What is your rush, Klon?”
     “I . . . I . . . I was lo . . . looking for you.  She is upset, but all are singing the healing lullaby.  I think she is afraid and she might need your help.  Where is Dweller?  Why are you leaving now?  Don’t they need you?”
     Gruashe felt through the stone face looking for something, but he did not know exactly what “it” was, but was sure he would settle when he found the mark.  “Hey, hey, I feel something between the boulders!  I think this is the mark I left.  It, it shows the secret passage door, but I, I cannot push it.  I need help.”
     Yeinar and Nags ran to assist.  All three worked together to depress the stubborn lever.  As each groaned with the struggle, it did not budge.  Mags joined in the fight.  Finally, landed atop the melee and a puff of a dust cloud escaped as pebbles shifted and fell to the ground.
     Metal screeched as the door slowly opened as the crew stumbled to the earth below.  The door seemed to lead to an endless, dark pit.  Gruashe lit a torch and carefully crept forward.  He tripped on the first step and began to tumble.  Yeinar caught him before he dropped further into the cavern.
     Wee-One and Nom-Mee joined Mal-Nai on the bridge.  Wee-One hung her head as she sat near Klon.  “How long has she been out here?  We are very sad.  What is wrong?”
     Klon replied, “She is giving up.  She no longer believe in hope.  I found her like this as the Alpha moon rose over the river.  I am afraid if we do not go in before the rising of the Glad moon, we will never be able to help her.”
     “Traveler and Dweller have been sent on a mission without us,” said Wee-One.  We do not know what they are doing or where they are trekking.”
     Lan-Oea looked at the moon and “sparkling rocks,” as she called the skylights as a child.  OK, Poppie, I need your guidance.  I do not know how to do this without you.”  As she spoke to the skylights, three small figures silently trotted in front of her.  She was so intensely searching for some secret pattern in the sparkling rocks, she was unaware of the visitors until they began chattering amongst themselves.  “OH! When did you arrive?  How did you get here? Where did you come from?”