Safe spot . . .

       Poppie prepared a meal for Klon who was still distraught for not protecting Mal-Nai.  Klon wondered what she would do now.  Her only job had been to protect Mal-Nai and now she was gone.  Gone, that word seemed so foreign to Klon.  Mal-Nai was always there; Klon would stay in the shadows to leap into action, if needed.  “The one time she needed me and I failed her.”  Klon collapsed from the day’s events and slept where she sat.
       Lan-Oea (lan-way) awoke to voices coming from downstairs.  Again, fear crept in as she found once again suppressing herself under the assumed safety of the bed.  She lay there crying and shivering disparaging that once more she began doubting that she would ever feel secure in the world.  “Who is there to trust?  Each person wants to hurt me and keep me guessing.  Why must I keep trying to figure out what someone is thinking?”
      Klon crept up the stairs to look for Lan-Oea.  She found Poppie and told him that Lan-Oea could not be found.  Poppie knew just where to look for her, but he warned Klon to remain calm, as she was still weak even though she would assure them she was ready for any battle that lay ahead . . .