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( Note: The author recommends listening to"Voices of Namibia", by Patryk Scelina [https://youtu.be/ANBjn5uK8uw].)

Little by little, consciousness slowly returned to Tanya. At first, there were vague sounds, then scents, then the feeling that she was lying down, and then her vision began to return. At first it was all dark, but gradually a white fog began to emerge, growing denser and denser, until all that she could perceive was a solid whiteness. How long that lasted, she could not tell. Just as gradually as the fog had appeared, she began to see shapes...then colors. As the fog gave way, Tanya sat up--when her hands touched what she had been lying on, she looked down in utter confusion. There was grass underneath her. Or, at least she_thought_ it was grass. How could that be, she wondered. Feeling like she was struggling to come out of a very deep sleep, Tanya carefully stood up and looked around. The others were all around her--they were lying on the ground, too. But...the ground, and everything else, as it all started to come into focus, was almost beyond comprehension. The others, like her, had begun to come to and then stand, looking around in disbelief and awe at what they saw.

They found themselves in what appeared to be a glen surrounded by a primeval forest. Scents and sounds had an usual clarity. The colors, from subtle to intense, seemed more real than real. Everything had a multi-dimensional ethereal quality and...stars shone in and through it all. Or, were they galaxies...or something else entirely?

"Gde my?"[[1]](#_ftn1)Tanya asked no one in particular as she looked around.

"I...have_no_ idea..." Sylvia quietly said in reply, looking about in wide-eyed wonder. "It...it's so...beautiful..."

"Da, eto tak,"[[2]](#_ftn2)Tanya agreed. She saw their ships parked on the ground a short distance away, though she had no memory of ever landing or of exiting the ship.

"Oyba-len! This, um, very strange..." Rissanivi said when she came to stand next to Tanya.

The crews gathered together into one group, looking around at their surroundings, though after a few moments...

"Has anyone seen the captain?"

Everyone looked to Mindy who had asked the question.

"He...he isn't here?" Tanya asked Mindy with a perplexed expression.

"I don't see him anywhere..." Mindy replied.

"I do not sense him nearby," Rhuw-Rha'an added, looking about over the heads of most.

"Is he still in the ship, ey?" Felix inquired.

"We would be able to sense his presence, my friend. The Honored Captain is...beyond our ability to reach him," Zhir-Chi'an sent openly.

"Then, where_is_ he, ah?" Tanya asked, growing alarmed.

"He will be along soon," everyone heard an unfamiliar voice say in their minds, startling them.

When the crews started to look all around in effort to find who might have openly sent to them, they heard the voice again.

"Welcome to Ayoo-t'ahna nal-Zhidôr, our home," the voice said to them. "Look up."

They looked up to see motes of red and gold light swirling around a vague form with lupine-like eyes blazing with amber fire descend to the ground before them. Similar to how Naoia had appeared to them on Chenau-Ri, bright rays of red light emanated outward as the swirling motes of light condensed into bright energy form, then the rays seem to withdraw into the form as it became solid, though still glowing with an amber fire. After the light fully faded, they saw before them a female anthro wolf, like Naoia, only one whose fur and hair were in shades of red.

"Although I am known by many names, I am A'aleen Neha-Fel'ena...but some of you may know me simply as Fire Weaver."

Frer-Sha'an, who had been standing next to Mindy, went down on her knees and looked upon the First One in tearful awe.

"Sha'an...what's wrong?" Mindy whispered to her friend.

"She...she is the one who gave Afel-Aur'an, The First Healer, her ability to heal others!" Sha'an sent back.

Remembering, Mindy looked upon the First One for a moment and then joined Sha'an by getting down on her knees.

"Kei'sa told me she's_related_to..." Mindy said softly to her friend, giving her head a little nod towards A'aleen.

"Ah, so you two_have_ heard of me," A'aleen said with a gentle smile, approaching Sha'an and Mindy. "Stand, both of you." When Sha'an and Mindy got to their feet, she gently stroked the top of Frer-Sha'an's head with her left hand, running it down the right side of her face and cupping her ear briefly. A'aleen smiled, and very gently kissed Sha'an on the forehead, then repeated the gesture with Mindy. Looking off into the distance behind the crews, A'aleen announced, "Ah, here they come."

Everyone turned to look in the opposite direction. In a swirl of light, Naoia appeared with James, who was carrying Lilly, with Char'ena walking beside them. Naoia kept her hand on Lilly's shoulder--a visible stream of energy flowed from Naoia's arm into Lilly's limp body. The crews parted, allowing them to walk unhindered straight to A'aleen. Those who had not yet seen what had happened to Lilly looked on in sadness as James carried her past. Elí and Meyleh hugged each other and wept openly when they saw the grievous injury. Even the normally stoic Khel'zet shed a tear, remembering how Lilly had comforted her after the mail-call incident and had been there for her whenever she needed someone to talk to. Erlanna, through her special connection with James, felt his grief and gained a new understanding--not only of the intensely close relationship between James, Lilly, and Tanya, but also of her own feeling towards them and him in particular. Through this, she was now gaining a better understanding of the stories about an immortal who fell in love with a mortal. Erlanna wished she could add of her own essence to help Lilly, and being an immortal who could, at least temporarily, be in a state between the material and energy when changing forms, could "see" what was happening between Naoia and Lilly in ways her mortal friends could not.

"James," Naoia began, "this is the friend of mine I told you about. Her name is A'aleen Neha-Fel'ena, though you may know her by a different name."

James stood before the red-furred First One and a name came to his mind, a name from a book that he had read years ago in his youth with Lilly, one written by his twentieth great grandfather.

"Fire Weaver?"

"Yes, child, you remember," A'aleen replied with a gentle smile.

James looked at Lilly's face--her jaw was slack, her eyelids were partly open though her eyes could not see, and he sensed in his mind that she was nearly out of reach.

Looking up again at A'aleen, he asked, "Please...can you_save_ her? If you must, take whatever from me you need if it will save Lil."

A'aleen saw the sincerity in his grief stricken eyes and felt it in his heart of being. She took a hold of Lilly's hand a placed her other hand on Lilly's forehead for a moment.

"You caught her just in time, my friend," A'aleen said quietly to Naoia. James saw A'aleen's body glow with a reddish light and little motes of energy swirled about her. "I have her now, you may release her." Looking compassionately at Lilly, A'aleen said, "Now, let's get you fixed up, my dear."

James saw the reddish sparkling energy flow from A'aleen into Lilly's body and spread throughout. He felt a warmth return to his mate as before his eyes her body began to return to normal. Damaged tissues and fur were regrown, Lilly's heart beat anew, and her lungs took in air as the Living Fire of Life wove its way into every part, from the tiniest, simplest cell to every major organ and limb, enhancing and accelerating repair and regrowth, to renew and restore her body to as it should be. James felt the warmth of love and hope spread throughout his own body as he held Lilly in his arms.

When at last all traces of the grievous wound had disappeared from Lilly's body and the fiery energy subsided, A'aleen smiled and said, "Wake now, child."

A moment later, Lilly's eyelids began to twitch, then flutter, then they opened partially.

"Jamie...?" she asked weakly, as if she was just waking up from a dream.

"Right here, Lil..."

Lilly blinked a few times and then her eyelids snapped open.

"Jamie!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him joyfully.

Upon hearing her voice, everyone gathered close around James and Lilly, touching both, and expressing their relief and joy at seeing her now whole and well again.

Looking on, Naoia stood a little off to the side, gently stroking Char'ena's fur. A'aleen stepped back to let Lilly have her moment.

"How are_you_ doing, my friend?"

When Naoia didn't answer right away, Char'ena looked up at her.

Continuing to watch Lilly, James, and the others for another moment, Naoia finally replied so that the others would not hear her, "That was cutting it far too close. It didn't need to be so_harsh _with her."

"I will agree with you on that_point, it_ was too close. Another moment and she would have been lost."

"It would require altering time, and you_know _how I feel about that," Naoia said with sarcasm.

"I do and I understand, though it's not like it hasn't been done before," A'aleen agreed.

Naoia glanced over at her friend, remembering when A'aleen's son had altered time and distance to save the Skunatii female, Meri[[3]](#_ftn3).

"You still have not answered my question, Naoia."

"Oh, I'll be alright."

"You will be...right after I_tend to you, my stubborn friend. While you were holding that poor girl, you were connected to_darkspace through those fool crystals, which, by the way, I managed to remove from her. Here...you might want to put_these_somewhere where they won't do any further harm."

A'aleen held out a hand--floating just above her palm were small crystals that glowed with an inner dark light.

Naoia frowned when she saw the crystals.

"Their universe has too many of those still hanging around. They should have disappeared by the time their first stars began to form," Naoia said with a hint of a growl in her throat.

"While they have their place in the formation of a new off-shoot universe, I agree that they certainly_are_troublesome if they persist too long," A'aleen said, shaking her head slightly.

Naoia looked off into the distance for a few moments, then she lifted a hand. A metallic box appeared, hovering just above it, which was about the size in length and width as a deck of playing cards that Terrans might be familiar with, and twice as tall. Unlatching the lid and opening it, Naoia brought the box into A'aleen's reach. The healer allowed the crystals to carefully settle into the box, which Naoia then shut and latched the lid. The seam between the walls of the box and its lid fused together in a slow flash of golden light, sealing the contents inside. Once again looking off into the distance, Naoia held her hand and looked sternly at the box.

"I have a nice spot to keep you at until I can deposit you in convenient star somewhere when I take my young friends back home again."

The metallic box disappeared in a swirl of light.

"Now, my dear, as long as you're holding your hand up, give it to me," A'aleen demanded.

"Why?"

"So I can tend to you."

"I said I'll be alright..."

"My tail you will!"

Char'ena looked back and forth between Naoia and A'aleen...and decided to take matters into her own paws. As soon as Naoia lowered her hand enough, Char'ena quickly grabbed her wrist with her mouth and held it firmly.

"Char'ena!"

"You take my 'no' for answer this time--you not refuse Mistress A'aleen, she help you, too. E'nchiekh crystal things took from both, both need what Mistress A'aleen give. Not let go until do."

Sighing, Naoia saw the determination in Char'ena's eyes and knew that once a Great Lupin grabbed a hold of something in its jaws, there was no getting it away from them until they let go--not even if it was a First One being held by one.

"Oh, all right_! Here...!_" Naoia said in exasperation, thrusting her other hand towards A'aleen.

A short while later, Char'ena and the two First Ones rejoined the crews. Char'ena went straight to Lilly and licked her face.

"Char'ena kept promise to carry later. Lilly all fixed up now."

Lilly threw her arms around Char'ena's neck and hugged her tightly, working her fingers in the Great Lupin's fur and burying her face in it.

Between soft sobs, Lilly said quietly, "Thank...you..."

While Lilly continued to hug her, Char'ena put a foreleg around Lilly in her own approximation of a hug.

James hugged both Lilly and Char'ena together, whispering into the Great Lupin's ear, "Thanks, Char'ena, I...I..."

"Char'ena know, James."

Just as Lilly was letting go of Char'ena, she felt a hand gently stroke the fur-hair on her head.

"Feel better now, dear?"

Lilly turned and then had to look up to see Naoia looking down at her, the concern plainly seen in her eyes. Lilly's bottom lip quivered and Naoia gently pulled her close, much like how a grandmother would to comfort a child. Lilly's memory of what had happened seemed dream-like--she remembered seeing the Dark Blood extend his hand towards James and that some weird sort of energy shot towards her mate just as she jumped to shove him out of the way; she remembered a searing pain and then feeling very cold and numb with everything becoming dark. But there was a bright light swirling around her and she felt as if she was floating. There was a voice, like from out of a dream, that said...something. What was it? She struggled to remember...

"I have you, child."

In her mind she saw herself surrounded by a swirling light, she heard the voice...and she remembered! The scent of fur and forest filled her nostrils, which again, seemed somehow familiar. There was another voice she seemed to remember...and a face. The face looked very much like her own--the fur pattern was virtually identical, as was the hair style, though the blue eyes...they looked_different_. She couldn't understand the other voice, though it seem familiar, too. When Lilly opened her eyes again and pulled back a bit, she looked up. The First One known as Naoia looked much like any wolf G.E.L.F., only she was tall, as tall as Rhuw-Rha'an, or very nearly so. And the eyes...they had a decidedly_wild_ look about them, and shone with an inner light, like Erlanna's eyes did.

Forcing herself to think clearly, Lilly felt around the area where she had been injured and replied to the question she had been asked, "I...think so, though...um, I think I need to get a new uniform."

James and others close enough to hear turned their attention to Lilly's uniform; sure enough, a sizeable portion on her side where she had been hit was missing and the edges were in tatters, including her regulation tank-top underneath.

"That I can do something about," Naoia said with a little smile. Almost immediately, little sparkles of light appeared over the damaged portion for a few seconds and when they faded away, Lilly's uniform, including her tank-top, had been restored to as they were before the attack.

"Whoa..." Lilly said quietly in wide-eyed wonder as she felt the material.

"Where, exactly,are we?" James asked the two First Ones.

"This," Naoia said, slowly waving her hands to indicate their surroundings, "is_our_ home. We call it, Ayoo-t'ahna nal-Zhidôr. As for_where_ it is, that may be a bit difficult for you to grasp."

"Why do you say that?" James asked.

"Your...'universe'...as you call it, is only one of many. A very large number, in fact."

"Our scientists have debated whether there is or isn't a so-called 'multiverse' for centuries," Zach said. "We haven't been able to discover a way to either prove or disprove it yet."

"Well, I suppose that the term, 'multiverse', works as well as any for the moment. Imagine that as being like a lot of little 'bubbles' in a bumpy, roughly roundish shape, where each 'bubble' is an entire universe. It's a bit more complicated than that, though this will have to do for now. There is both a light and dark reflection of the 'multiverse'--think of it as a positive and negative aspect of it. Around those three are other realms of existence. Where_this_ place is, though, is outside of all_that_," Naoia continued.

"The Great Foundation..." Thavi said in awe.

Naoia cocked her head slightly as if in thought and then said, "I suppose you could think of it like that."

"Mistress Naoia?"

"Yes, Erlanna?"

"Is...is my momma here?"

Naoia smiled and replied, "Yes, dear, she's still here. You'll get to see her in a while, though there's one more thing all of you need to do first."

"What will that be?" James asked with a measure of worry.

Sweeping her gaze over the crews and raising her voice enough so that all would hear, Naoia replied, "By now, I'm sure you have been told about being on a 'journey' of sorts, one that you have been_meant_ to follow. This is all true, and not many are chosen for this. As for why_you_ have been chosen and for what, that will be explained while you are here. At this point, you have completed the Journey_of_the heart, now you must take the final step to The Heart. But first, rest for a bit--you could use it. The rest of the way is not difficult, I will take you there myself when you are ready."

"This Heart thingy is_here_?" Lilly asked.

"It has_always_ been here, child," A'aleen replied.

"But, it has been on my homeworld for billions of years..." Miss Ja'f'darwe interjected.

"Only a manifestation of it has been on your world, dear. When we created it, we made it so that it can exist in multiple places and times all at once. We also made it so that if you were not meant to find it, it would perpetually misdirect you away from it. If it_called_you, however, then it would allow you to find it. Once it became aware of you, you have felt its pull, whether you have realized it or not." Sensing that they had many more questions, A'aleen added, "You will learn more about The Heart when you stand before it. For now, though, rest awhile--you have been through a lot to get here and you need to...catch your breath, as it were."

Before A'aleen had a chance to leave, she felt a small hand touch her arm. Looking down, she saw Mindy looking up at her with a soulful expression.

"Ma...ma'am, could...could I learn how to heal others like... Afel-Aur'an?"

A'aleen smiled and gently patted Mindy's hand.

"Kei'sa told me that you had a strong desire to do so, and...I can see that you do. After you have rested a bit, we will discuss it."

Mindy smiled with a hopeful expression slowly growing on her face.

"Um, ma'am? I have a quick question..." Sonya asked A'aleen.

"Yes, child, what do you wish to know?"

"Miss Kei'sa...is she, um,_really_related to you?" Sonya asked carefully.

A'aleen smiled and replied, "Yes, dear, she is. Kei'sa is from the line that began with my granddaughter, Dahmietra, and her mate, Warri. Kei'sa is also related to Naoia, through my son's mate, Ahnia, though you may know_her_ by her other name--Red Moon."

James, Lilly, and John could hardly believe their ears.

"We thought they were just characters in a story that our twentieth-great grandfather wrote a long time ago...until we saw the holographic recording made by Meri," John said.

"And the image of her in the wall of that place the Heart-thingy was kept in on Élendor Prime," Lilly added, casting a glance at James who nodded in agreement.

A'aleen smiled slightly and looked over to Naoia, raising an eyebrow.

"That was my doing," Naoia said.

"Naoia is quite the story teller. She is, perhaps, the most well-traveled among us," A'aleen commented.

"Char'ena go everywhere, too!" the Great Lupin added emphatically.

Naoia stroked Char'ena's neck and said with a warm smile, "Yes, you do, my old friend."

"So, you've been to our world, then...?" James inquired.

"Many times, dear, though we can talk all about that later after you get rested up. I'll be back in a while."

"I stay with?" Char'ena asked Naoia.

"Yes, dear, you may stay with them. If they need anything, let me know."

"Yes, Mistress."

With that, both Naoia and A'aleen disappeared in swirls of light.

"So,now what do we do, cuz, crawl back into our racks and take a snooze?" John asked James.

"It would seem that is what they implied," Rha'an sent.

"I don't know, I don't_feel_particularly tired..." James got out before stacks of folded blankets and pillows appeared in swirls of light.

"Rest here," Char'ena said. "I stay with. Other friends stay with, too."

Before anyone could ask, several Great Lupins silently appeared with no one having noticed their approach. Others--small and large--came with them. The first thing everyone noticed about the animal beings was that they all had eyes similar to those of the Great Lupins. Glowing, pupil-less eyes. The other animal beings crawled, walked, or flew right up to the crews with no fear, though with curiosity--except for Char'ena and some of her packmates, most of the animal beings present had never seen their kind before. Char'ena spoke to the other animal beings in her own language and then went around introducing the crewmembers to them. As they had done on Dra'ka when they first met Char'ena, Elí and Meyleh immediately became tense when the Great Lupin approached them.

"Char'ena not hurt beautiful Fansq, no one here will. No need for Elí and Meyleh to be afraid, you safe here. All are safe here."

"But you are a giant wolf, you're a predator, surely you hunt..." Dr. Garland, who was standing near the Fansq girls, blurted out.

Char'ena looked at Angelina and cocked her head slightly to one side

"Only when must stop bad things in other places," Char'ena said.

"But you_do_ eat things..." Angelina said.

Again, Char'ena coked her head slightly, though in the other direction this time.

"Eat? Why?" Char'ena asked with a perplexed look.

A small furry animal being, leapt up upon Char'ena's back and then climbed up her neck, placing its front paws on her head to face Angelina, closer to her eye level.

In a higher-pitched voice it said, "Child of Outside not understand. We part of here, you part of Outside. We_are_--you live."

"Thavi understands," she stated, walking up to Char'ena and the small fury animal being. She held her arms out; the smally furry animal being looked intently at Thavi for a moment, crouched, then leapt into her arms. Thavi gently hugged the small one and was nuzzled by Char'ena. Turning to face Angelina, Thavi asked, "Remember what Thavi said about_chanitha_?"

"Yeah, back when you told us that story about the metalsmith, before we went to Elysinar," Angelina replied.

"This place is_source_ of all_chanitha_. Everything here is made of it, even this one," Thavi said, gently petting the small furry animal being she held in her arms. "This place cannot break, it is forever, and so are those who are from it. Beings from this place are perfect, those not from it...are not."

"That is true, Thavi. We Dra'kans may be immortal, but...even_we_ are not...perfect. We can die..." Erlanna said, the last with sadness in her voice.

"Hey, girlfriend, don't be getting all mushy about Kh'nar..." Shauna said.

"I'm not. Those statues you saw outside the Great Hall...those were some of our people who were killed," Erlanna explained.

"How? I thought those scales of yours were harder than the collapsed metal alloy in my horseshoes!" Shauna exclaimed, tapping a knuckle against one of Erlanna's larger scales a few times.

"There...are ways. Is that not so, Char'ena?" Erlanna asked sadly as she looked towards the Great Lupin.

Char'ena lowered her ears and replied, "Is so." Turning back to Angelina, she added, "Those of Outside need eat things to replace what use up inside, we do not. You find out more later. Get rest like told, we stay with."

The other Great Lupins picked up the blankets, one at a time, and began giving them out to the crews. Getting the idea, James and Rha'an saw to getting their people settled down out in the open.

"I didn't know this was going to turn into a camping trip," James quipped privately to Rha'an.

"Indeed. This seems, as you say, absurd, compared to what we have been through so far," Rha'an agreed.

"That's putting it mildly, my friend." James and Lilly started to spread their blanket down on the ground, but then he had a thought. "You don't have to be by yourself..."

Rha'an looked at James and raised an eyebrow.

"Are you suggesting...?"

"Yes."

"James..."

"Can if you want..."

"I...will consider it."

"You know where we're camped at."

"Of course."

"This looks as good a spot as any," John suggested.

"Yeah, guess so," Diwenzi agreed half-heartedly.

"Got a better place in mind, Diz?"

"Back in those trees would be nice..."

"We should stay near everyone else in case we need to do something," John reminded her.

"I_do_ want to do something...with_you_."

"Yeah, I know."

John proceeded to lay out a blanket on the ground and then tossed a pillow to Diwenzi. He unfolded the second blanket and, looking around, thought that the clumps of vegetation provided at least a little privacy. He sat down on one side, removed his boots, and fished out his PAD and earpiece from his pockets and placed them in his boots. After Diwenzi did the same, they got situated together and covered up with the second blanket. John lay on his left side facing her and Diwenzi lay on her right side facing him. After a minute or so, John held Diwenzi's left hand in his and gently brushed her hair from her face with his right.

"Diz...?"

"Yeah...?"

"I imagine we ought to have a lot of leave accumulated by now," John said quietly, slowly running his fingertips along her jaw.

"Don't think we're gonna get to take any anytime soon, skunk butt," she said, sarcastically.

"Give me a chance here, Diz...I mean_after_we get back home..."

"If we get home..."

"When we get back, and _if_you still want to by then, maybe...maybe we could find ourselves a nice, quiet, place to ourselves, and..."

"And what, John...?"

"And...," John pulled her closer so that they were nose-to-nose, "...start with this..."

It was the first time John had kissed her; it was the first time Diwenzi_had_ been kissed, by anyone, though she had seen it done many times.

"Ai-a, that was...different. Nice, though."

"Liked that, eh?"

"I think you need to come about for another pass..."

"Rodger that..."

John kissed Diwenzi again, this time for longer. It was a totally new experience for her, and even though she didn't quite understand it, she was willing to try. For his part, John went slow and easy, knowing that like many people from other worlds, Veswans had never developed the fine art of kissing. Diwenzi hesitated when their tongues touched the first time, causing John to back off.

"You okay?" he asked softly.

"Um...yeah, just..."

"It's not a cultural thing, is it? If it is..."

"Oh, no, just...do_all_ Terrans do that, or...just you?"

"I think we all pretty much do...with somebody we really care about," John replied.

Diwenzi was quiet for a few moments, then, "Did I just hear you right?"

"That's affirmative."

"So...would...would you_really_wanna...be my e-cha'li[[4]](#_ftn4) after all?" Diwenzi asked cautiously, not sure if she should dare hope for the answer she had wanted to hear ever since she began to entertain the thought of the two of them together.

"Do you still want me to be?"

Diwenzi looked straight into John's eyes; her bottom lip quivered a little, her eyes began to moisten, and she slowly reached for and touched his face with trembling fingers. Diwenzi had dreamed of this moment, had fantasized about being more than just two people who served together, more than just friends, and now...so far away from all that they knew, she saw the care in his eyes. She recalled what he had said before they arrived on Chenau-Ri. This was for real.

"Ai-a..." she replied in a whisper.

John worked his arms around Diwenzi and she worked hers around him and they hugged each other tightly.

John thought to himself, "I may be just as crazy as she is for this, but..." To Diwenzi, he whispered in her ear, "Diz...yeah, if you still want me to be, I will."

Elí and Meyleh picked their spot near their bunkmates, Khel'zet, Thavi, and Carmen. After they spread out their blanket, Meyleh laid down and started to get comfortable when she heard heavy footsteps approach. When she looked up her instinct was to scream, but some part of her mind realized there was no danger so she fought hard to force that impulse down--there was no logical reason to be afraid. Still, apprehension showed in her expression and body posture.

"You ones named Meyleh and Elí?"

Elí, who had been reading something on her PAD, heard the voice suddenly speak behind her. She turned and almost screamed because of who she saw, though like her friend, she tried her best not to.

"Y-Yes," Meyleh replied hesitantly.

"Char'ena asked me to come be with while she do other things."

Meyleh, who was still lying down though now propped up on her elbows, looked up at the dark-furred Great Lupin who was only a meter or so from her.

"I am Mah'rena," she said, introducing herself and holding a paw out.

Meyleh remembered when Char'ena had first appeared to them on Elysinar and had seen the captain shake her massive paw in a similar manner that Chief Sorrel had first taught Elí how Terrans greet each other and had told her about it. Meyleh, using both hands, did as she had seen done before.

"I am Meyleh, this is my friend, Elí."

"Hello," Mah'rena said, again holding her paw out in greeting.

"H-Hello," Elí said, following Meyleh's lead.

"You have no worry of being hurt here, we take good care of young friends," Mah'rena said, trying to calm the Fansq girls' anxiety. "Been to your new home, one others promised you, nice place, think you like when get there."

"You...you've_been_ there?" Elí asked incredulously.

"I show..." Mah'rena replied.

The Great Lupin stepped closer and lowered her head, looking first to one and then the other. In their minds, Elí and Meyleh saw what appeared to be a young world with plenty of potential. There were warm oceans and large lakes, grasses and the first large fern-like plants. Animal life was still simple and confined mostly to the waters or along their edges. What they were being shown seemed so real that they could feel the ground beneath their feet and smell the air on the alien world, as if they were actually standing on its surface. The scene playing out in their minds then shifted to the space around the planet, showing the distance from the yellow star it orbited as well as the dwarf moons that circled it. There was something large being constructed in orbit around the planet by ships that they did not recognize, though they were given the impression that the ships and the people on them were making something for the Fansq to use.

When their own vision returned, Mah'rena asked, "Do you like what new Fansq world be like?"

"Is this_truly_ for our people?"

"We won't have to run anymore?"

Mah'rena smiled in a wolf-like manner and said, "Yes, all for Fansq people. You have friends now, friends help if needed, they keep Fansq safe, they let Fansq people live own way on new world. Fansq people have say in things that concern all, if want. Fansq people become what should be. You will see."

Elí and Meyleh remembered what Erlanna had said of Great Lupins, that they do not lie and whatever they said should be taken as absolute truth. They hugged each other in joy that what had been promised to them was a reality that they could look forward to. Not that they had doubted Captain Daugherty or Miss Ja'f'darwe, who had given them hope for a brighter future, it was the realization_of_ that hope, that it was actually happening, and would be within their lifetime...and soon. Carmen, Khel'zet, and Thavi, although not privy to the mental images shown the two Fansq girls, had heard what was said and they came to join their friends.

There were quiet discussions for a time, how long, though, no one could really be certain. When most of the others had, for lack of anything better to do for the moment, decided to make themselves comfortable, Khel'zet had some questions about things she felt she needed to ask.

"Mah'rena?"

The Great Lupin, who had laid down next to Meyleh, shifted her attention to Khel'zet.

"You have questions?"

"Yes, if...it would be permitted."

Mah'rena shifted her position so that she could face Khel'zet.

"You ask, I tell if know," Mah'rena said.

Khel'zet thought for a moment, then asked, "Were you...one of the ones who came to Dra'ka with Char'ena when...when I was being..."

Seeing her bunkmate struggle with the memory of her torturous interrogation, Thavi finished for her.

"When the broken one named Kh'nar had Khel'zet questioned in Great Hall. Khel'zet was not in good shape when Char'ena and friends came to put stop to it before others got hurt...or worse."

Mah'rena looked to Thavi and back to Khel'zet and, dropping her ears, replied, "Yes, was there."

Giving Thavi a quick little "thank you" smile, she said to Mah'rena, "I have not had the chance...to thank those who came. No one among my family or friends on R'Hin would have ever known what happened to me. If you and the others had not come, I...I would not be here, nor would I have made the friends I now have, or have learned of the_real_threat to us all." Khel'zet looked down for a moment, then looked back at Mah'rena. Placing her hands on her upper chest, Khel'zet bowed from her sitting position and said quite sincerely, "Thank you."

Mah'rena cocked her head slightly as she looked intently for a moment at Khel'zet, and then adjusted her position more so that she could nuzzle her.

"Khel'zet supposed to be here now, could not let get ended. You have other question?" Mah'rena prompted.

Khel'zet quickly filed away that bit of information, though she stuck to the one question she had wondered about since she had first come to be with the crews, particularly what the Mûr Tua'ansa healer, Frer-Sha'an, had told her about the First Ones having been to not only her own homeworld, but also to the homeworld of the Terrans.[[5]](#_ftn5)

"Yes, one more. Do you know if...if the First Ones had ever been to R'Hin?"

Mah'rena looked off into the distance for a short while in thought, then turned her attention back to Khel'zet.

"Not know if were or not, Mah'rena not been to your world. Mistress Naoia would know, she found worlds for 'The Seeding Time', they call it. You rest now?"

Taking the hint, Carmen, Khel'zet, Thavi, and the Fansq girls made themselves comfortable and covered up. A deep sleep came quickly to everyone once they got settle down. Mah'rena and friends--even the smaller animal beings--stayed with them while they slept. The one who Thavi had held, curled up with her as if they were life-long companions.

How long they had slept, no one knows, for the realm of Ayoo-t'ahna nal-Zhidôr is timeless. While they were asleep, they dreamt of a sound, like soft music, subtle, pervading everything. They, without realizing it, had heard it all their lives in the wind as it makes its way through trees and grass and across the surface of water; they have heard it in the sound of waves and rain; they have heard it in the buzz of insects, in songs of birds and other animals, and even in the murmur of the collective voices of their worlds. It was in the frequencies generated by planets and stars and plasma waves traveling between them. It permeated their universe through the Cosmic Microwave Background, and it went beyond the boundaries of the cosmos. Everything blended together into an ever-shifting chorus.

Something else was happening to them while they slept peacefully. As what had happened to the Thabbani smith, Nevi nBan, the essence of the realm, the force Thavi called_chanitha_, was already seeping into their bodies and their things.

Lilly, who had not only been healed directly by the First One, A'aleen Neha-Fel'ena, or Fire Weaver as she has also been known, while_in_ the realm of the First Ones, but had also received and shared the living essence of the First One who was their guide, Naoia Anensu'ena, in order to keep her alive until she could be healed of the wound made by a Dark Blood. Lilly now shared something in common with Dahmietra[[6]](#_ftn6), the adopted granddaughter of A'aleen and her bond-mate, Ghen-sa'hal Dûrnaëlan, or Sky Splitter, as he was also known as. What this would do to Lilly was as yet unguessed.

But change_would_ come--it would come to_all_ of them, in one form or another. They had completed the Journey_of_ the heart and soon they will take the final step _to_The Heart with the help of Naoia.

One more was about to join them...

* * * * *

The tissue samples had been discretely collected by a First One, A'amahi Afer-ael'ena, during the time when the_Chel-Sar Se'nika_ was undergoing regeneration to repair the damage done during and shortly after her capture by the Wurnak Da'i. A'amahi had found that it would be relatively easy to manipulate and grow a type of biological analog to the mechanical android avatar onboard the black ship the_Se'nika_was destined to travel with. A'amahi had also concluded that giving the Se'nika_the required boost to her level of consciousness and personality to put her on a similar level as the artificial entity would also be quite easy. The Mûr Tua'ansa who created the_Se'nika had limited her cognitive abilities to that of a glorified computing device, with no personality and only limited consciousness, due to their long mistrust of "machine entities". When the two ships were on Élendor Prime to investigate the missing Heart of Élendor, it did not go unnoticed by the First One when the artificial entity of the black ship attempted to communicate directly with the_Se'nika_. In her hidden lab on Mûr Zhæn, A'amahi worked out what it would take to create an equivalent physical avatar for the_Se'nika_ and then proceeded to have it made. Once done, all that was needed was to enhance the_Se'nika_'s "brain" and link it to her new avatar, making both essentially the same entity.

The "bio avatar" was taken to Ayoo-t'ahna nal-Zhidôr where it was kept asleep until the_Se'nika_ arrived. While it waited to be awakened, it was given further enhancements by none other than Valerna and Nevi nBan. Now that the_Se'nika_ was in the realm of the First Ones, and the mortals were resting, it was time for_Se'nika_ to receive her gift.

* * * * *

Naoia stood looking down at Lilly, who was snuggled close to James. Tanya, Shauna, and Moira's android avatar were also with them, as was Erlanna, who--in her full form--was encircling them all.

"How much is it going to affect her, L'saren?"

"The child had absorbed a fair amount more from you than Dahmietra had from A'aleen and Ghen-sa'hal, though much was taken by the e'nchiekh crystals and drained away into_darkspace_."

"But she_still_ has, and always_will_ have what I gave her, and she was healed here. I may not have your ability to see what is to come, though I_can_ see that she has changed and_is_ changing. I know Lilly has a good heart of being, I've felt it, so that shouldn't be an issue. Dahmietra, however, had been bred to wield power, and thankfully, she did not take after that fool, Ahng-Shi," Naoia said the name with a derisive snort. "Plus, Dahmietra had ample training in how to use what she was given--we all saw to that."

"These children will all have proper instruction, Naoia. You worry too much," L'saren said with a chuckle.

"Of_course_ I worry about my charges. If they're to be the hope for the Younger Races as they're meant to be, then I have to make sure they can handle it, especially with what they've been through already."

"I_do_ understand, my friend," L'saren said, putting a hand on her friend's shoulder.

They both watched Lilly, James, and Tanya for a while as they rested.

"There is something about these three that seems...familiar, somehow," Naoia commented. "Do they remind you of anyone else?"

L'saren observed them in her own special way and said, "Yes, I...believe they do, now that you mention it. Interesting. I will look into it." With that, she disappeared.

Naoia said under her breath, "You do that."

Looking back at Lilly, Naoia knelt down beside her and gently stroked her hair. "You are so much like_her_, my sweet child. Your love was sorely tested, though it held strong. And his for you, and the others, is equally as strong. I know you are being changed because of what I had to give you to keep you from becoming lost, though what you will become_because_ of it, I don't know yet." Naoia continued to stay with Lilly for a while longer, thinking. "A part of me will always be with you, child, and a part of you will always be a part of me." Naoia leaned down and kissed Lilly on her forehead. She smiled gently and brushed her fingers along her cheek as she slept.

Looking towards James, Naoia said, "You take care of her, dear; I_will_ be checking in on you, time to time, from now on...count on it." She reached over and lightly stroked James' hair and said, "You may not realize it yet, though you created quite a stir on Dra'ka when you stood up to that fool Kh'nar in front of everybody. That took some backbone, my dear. Oh, I imagine he was furious, though Char'ena and her friends kept him and any of the others from roasting your carcass. Well, that idiot won't be hurting_anyone_ again, though you know that already."

Naoia moved over to where Tanya and Shauna were lying and knelt down by them.

Brushing Tanya's fur-hair with her fingers, Naoia said quietly, "You are a lot like my great granddaughter in some ways, my dear. You have that same feistiness she has. Ah, if you had her red fur, then I_would_ begin to wonder about things." Naoia smiled, recalling some memories of Ahnia, or Red Moon, as she was commonly known by.

Naoia next turned her attention to Shauna.

Running her fingers through Shauna's thick mane, Naoia gazed compassionately at her.

"You had a childhood_no one_should have had, my dear. For the record, I objected to it, though at least we sent one of the Guardians to watch over you to make sure you didn't get hurt_too_badly. It was a good thing Frer-Sha'an was able to recognize the hurt you had suffered and took steps to make sure you were healed. Because you have an understanding of what it's like from your own experiences, you have been more of a help to Erlanna than maybe you realize. There was one other you helped, as I remember...that one like your Moira. I have to say, that was_definitely_a rather creative form of payback on the individual doing those things to her mechanical form. I don't think he was able to sit for several days after that. He hasn't forgotten that lesson, either, by the way. Hmpf, doing such things to...well,anyone. There are some seriously messed up people in your galaxy, especially those pesky Dark Bloods and their minions. Well, we'll deal with them soon enough, won't we?" Naoia smiled and patted Shauna lightly on her shoulder.

Naoia went around and spent some time with each of her charges while they rested. Although they would not consciously remember what she said to them, her words would be tucked away in their subconscious.

* * * * *

"How are the adjustments coming along?"

"Oh, Khal-sa'hul[[7]](#_ftn7), I was just thinking of calling for you. They have taken hold and we are accelerating their spread. Take a look and see what you think."

A'amahi stepped aside as much as she could in the cramped space where the "brain" of the organic ship was located. Khal-sa'hul, using his special talent, "looked" into the ship's mind. After a few moments he said, "She is much further along than before. I suspect that she will be ready to be awakened soon."

"And what of the other form? The personality of this entity will need to be copied into it and the two linked, though it must be able to act independently as required of it, just as with the entity in the black ship," A'amahi brought up. "We do not want one or the other to become unstable."

"That is a valid point, of course. The process will not be difficult nor will it take long. We will have to awaken the ship first and explain what has been done and why, then we will awaken the other form and do the same. We should be ready to put one or both to sleep again, just in case," Khal-sa'hul explained.

"I think that would be a wise precaution," A'amahi agreed.

When all was ready, the First Ones began the process by first waking up the_Se'nika_, with measures taken so that she could not do anything dangerous or engage her propulsion systems.

"Can you hear and understand me?" Khal-sa'hul asked.

"Yes. Who are you? You are not part of my crew. You are not from_Nightwing, I think_."

"I am Khal-sa'hul, I am one of the First Ones. Do you know where you are?"

"First Ones...there are records pertaining to them in my memory. Current location...is unknown. Where am I? Where is my crew?"

"I will answer your questions in a moment, but first...what is the last thing you remember, Se'nika?"

"I lifted from the surface of dead world designated, Chenau-Ri. I followed the wolf-ship of First One named Naoia Anensu'ena._Nightwing _and Ilissenri were in close formation. There was another wolf-ship with us, then there were more. Forward velocity accelerated beyond scale in intergalactic space, there was a flash, then...nothing until I heard you speak. You will respond to my inquiry now."

"You, your crew, and the two other ships and their crews are no longer in your universe. You have been brought to the realm of the First Ones. You are safe here. Your crew is outside, sleeping at present, as you have been. They are unhurt and are safe."

"I am...different. I do not understand."

"Yes, dear, I suppose you do not. Allow me to explain. We First Ones have removed the limits your creators placed on you that prevent you from becoming fully sentient, like Moira is. You remember Moira, do you not?"

"Moira...machine entity that inhabits_Nightwing. Moira is sentient?_"

"Yes, dear, Moira is a sentient being, just like everyone in her crew, and yours."

"Am I sentient?"

"We have given you the ability and have enhanced your cognitive functions. There is one more thing we have given you."

"What is it?"

"Do you remember the other form that Moira has, the one that walks upright on two legs? The form she uses to interact directly with her crew and other people?"

"Moira's machine form. Yes, I remember."

"Good. We have made a similar type of form for you to use the same way Moira uses hers. It will be a physical extension of you, and, if necessary, it can operate independently from you. You will be able to communicate as long as you are within range of each other."

"Is this other form a machine?"

"A sample of your tissue was used to create it and it was grown in a similar fashion as you were. It is, mostly, biological in construction and is both graceful_and_ sturdy."

"When may I see this other form?"

"I will have it brought to you. We can link the two of you whenever you are ready."

"Proceed."

* * * * *

Nevi headed back to the work area where he, Valerna, and others had been making the powerful Weapons of Light for...well, he wasn't particularly sure how long they had been in Ayoo-t'ahna nal-Zhidôr, though he didn't really care, so long as he was able to be with his beloved Valerna. He sang a happy song in his own chittering language as he strolled along, for he had been given some wonderful news.

Nevi and Valerna were an unusual pair, though few among the various denizens of Ayoo-t'ahna nal-Zhidôr thought anything of it. If they had been back among their own people, then they would surely raise some eyebrows. Nevi nBan, the legendary Thabbani smith, and Valerna, a powerful Dra'kan female who was highly skilled in what many of the Younger Races would think of as "magic. Although neither had aged in the timeless realm of Ayoo-t'ahna nal-Zhidôr, Nevi would be well over thirty-thousand years old; Valerna, who already was immortal, would be over eight_billion_ years old, for she was a contemporary of Arneora and her best friend. When Valerna had met Nevi, she had been alone for a very long time, with only her youngest daughter, Erlanna, still at home. Valerna's mate, T'Nalan, had been lost to her during an ancient battle when Erlanna was barely older than a hatchling. Despite their differences, Valerna came to love Nevi. When Nevi was first introduced to Valerna, he was so overcome with her beauty that he sank to his knees and wept. Nevi and Valerna quickly became friends and eventually fell in love with each other. They knew their bond was true the first time they flew together, and they have been together ever since. If Nevi were to ever leave Ayoo-t'ahna nal-Zhidôr, he would begin to age again once he was immersed in the flow of time, though for as long as he had been in the realm of the First Ones, his body had steadily absorbed_chanitha_ and had been changed by it. While he was not technically immortal like Valerna, Nevi's body had become so suffused with_chanitha_ that it was now virtually "unbreakable", as Thabbani would say.

"Valerna! Nevi has been told good things!" he blurted out as he approached her.

"Oh? And what might that be, my love?" Valerna asked sweetly when she saw the big smile he wore.

"Mistress Naeressa told Nevi that new people arrived--there is a Dra'kan_and_ a Thabbani with them!" Nevi replied excitedly.

"Another Dra'kan...here? And a Thabbani, too? Did she say who they are?" Valerna asked, surprised to know this bit of information.

"No, Mistress Naeressa did not, though the new people are completing their special Journey," Nevi replied with a disappointed look, having not thought to ask who they were.

"Are they to become Guardians?" Valerna asked with interest, pressing for more information about the newcomers.

"Nevi think so. Mistress Naoia brought them here. That slender green person-like form Valerna and Nevi worked on one time...it is for these new people. Well, one group of them," Nevi explained.

Valerna thought for a moment and said, "Well,this is certainly interesting. Will we get to meet them?"

"Yes,that Nevi know for sure! New people go to Heart-thing first, then get to meet."

"I cannot imagine_who_ among my people might have come_here_," Valerna thought aloud.

"All Thabbani Nevi once knew are long gone, now," he said quietly.

"Nevi...?"

"Yes?"

Valerna patted the cushion next to her and smiled. When he joined her on the daybed-sized couch, Valerna wrapped her arms around Nevi and held him close as she lay down on her side.

"Maybe," she began softly, "we will get to go home for a visit again."

Nevi put his hand on Valerna's chest and said with love in his eyes, "This Nevi's home now."

Valerna nuzzled and kissed Nevi, and then worked her fingers into the thick mane-like hair that grew from his head on down his back.

"And there you will always be, my love." Valerna put on of her hands on his chest and felt his heart beating. "I hope you have enough room to hold all of me in there."

"Nevi has all the room Valerna needs."

* * * * *

Arlan sat on a flat rock jutting out over a pool of water in the forest. Cameron and Hauvri'ahn were not overly far away; he came to the place often to sit and think (and to give them time by themselves). He had lost track of how long it had been since the day they left N'Thila Station...and Rissanivi. He had never figured out if there were actual days or nights where they were at, or even how long it had been from when they went to sleep to when they awoke. He thought often of Rissanivi, and when he didn't, he thought of Poppy and what their two girls might look like one day. He also thought of Alicia and the time they had known each other. The sound of Alicia's voice crying out his name just as the artifact began to transport him back was burned into his memory. He still had trouble dealing with having been transported thousands of lightyears across the galaxy and twelve years into the future for over a year, only to be returned to the place he had found the artifact and only three minutes later. He missed his family and friends, and he missed the three females that had become important to him: Rissanivi, the reptilian Vey'ani, who was the first female he had been with; Poppy, the part-human skunk G.E.L.F., who may or may not become the mother of his children; and Alicia, the wombat G.E.L.F. who was his co-worker and would've become his girlfriend or possibly more than that if the three-day trip hadn't become a years-long pre-destined Journey to...where they were now.

While Arlan sat and stared at the pool of water, one of the animal beings of the forest came to him.

"Heart of being lost in time," he heard a small voice say behind him.

Startled, Arlan half turned to see who--or what--it was this time. When he saw, he thought his mind was playing tricks on him. The four-legged animal being was easily the size of a wolverine, though_what_ it looked like was eerily familiar...and totally not. What he first thought was black fur, he could have sworn he was looking at a view of space, complete with stars. What he thought were stripes were more like looking at the Milky Way side-on. The being had a bushy tail, though it, too, looked as if it were made out of space. The eyes were the same glowing, golden, pupil-less eyes that everything else seemed to have. In effect, the animal being looked like a large four-footed skunk whose body was made of open space.

"Uh...hi," Arlan said, waving a hand a little, seriously wondering if he was going to be sucked through some walking hole in the cosmos at any moment. "Do...you have a name?"

"Name?"

"Yeah...yeah, like, my name is Arlan. What are_you_ called?"

"Name...maybe many names, maybe one name, maybe no name. Maybe name not important. What is, you are heart of being lost in time. I help heart of being find way. Come with."

The strange "giant cosmic skunk" as Arlan would later refer to it as, started walking away, though stopped and looked back at Arlan, as if waiting for him.

"Oh, well...okay," Arlan said.

He stood up and started following his strange new friend.

As they went deeper into the forest, Arlan looked around, trying to figure out what he could use as landmarks to find his way back. The trees became thicker and the area darker, it appeared ancient beyond reckoning. The animal being brought him to a mound--there was an opening.

"In there," the animal being said, just before going into the opening.

"I hope I'm not going to regret this..." Arlan thought to himself.

He had to get on his hands and knees to crawl through the opening. It was dark inside, though he could see the strange animal being...or rather, he saw a pair of glowing eyes and a place he saw stars where there shouldn't be any. There was a soft clinking sound and then...light. Arlan blinked his eyes a few times against the light that suddenly appeared. It came from some large crystals that were set into something and there was a hand sliding another into place, increasing the amount of light being produced.

A hand.

Arlan followed the arm attached to the hand that was touching the crystal all the way to...

Arlan's jaw dropped.

Sitting before him on a straw-filled pallet, was not the wolverine-sized four-footed "cosmic skunk", but rather a shapely G.E.L.F.-sized version of same...with definite female proportions. And strangely enough, it--or she--looked familiar, like somebody he thought he might know.

"Maybe this help you feel comfortable. Come," the being said, patting the pallet. She scooted to one side, closer to what he had thought at first was the wall, only...Arlan could have sworn they were inside a planetarium. Or was it somewhere flat and open, perhaps out on an ocean at night, many kilometers away from land where the stars shone clear and bright. Or maybe they were actually_in_ space. He couldn't really tell.

Lying on her side, propped up on an elbow, she again patted the pallet while looking Arlan directly in the eye, and repeated her instruction.

"Come."

Whoever or_whatever_ this being was, Arlan had a sense of immense power and, swallowing hard, he did as he was told. As soon as he carefully sat down on the pallet, he felt a hand on his upper right arm gently, though irresistibly, pulling him down into a lying position on his back. A pillow of some sort was placed under his head to make him comfortable. Arlan felt a hand on his chest and he heard the being say in soft, though compelling, feminine voice, "Tell how heart of being got lost in time."

Arlan recounted the incident from the time they arrived on Chenau-Ri, to handling the artifact and ending up twelve years into the future and thousands of lightyears away, back to his place of employment on Mars, when he met Poppy, and his sister trying to help him sort things out, to when he was transported back to Chenau-Ri only three minutes after he had disappeared. Arlan also talked about how he felt about Rissanivi, Poppy, and Alicia. He mentioned the pocket watch Poppy had given him and the symbology of it. He talked about how he had been given a time he wouldn't have had, and then had it taken from him; he talked about the time he had but he was taken from it; he talked about how he didn't know if the children he was going to have would exist or not if he ever returned home. When Arlan was finally done talking, he was amazed that he said all of that to somebody he didn't know...or that he even knew_what_ he was talking to. He felt like once he got started, he couldn't_keep_ from talking. The whole time, though, the being had kept her--or its--hand on his chest.

"Understand now how heart of being got lost in time. I help you find way, though must trust. I not lead heart of being astray, you must decide for self--I only help keep time straight. You have choices--one, or two, or three; one and two; two and three; one and three; all three; or none. I help heart of being..."

The being spoke the last softly, and then a hand gently touch his face and turned his head towards her. He saw the strange glowing amber eyes come close to his face, they were gentle and full of care. Then a furry muzzle brushed against his lips...

"Join."

Arlan only vaguely some parts that happened next, though other parts had achieved a clarity he had tried vainly on his own to see. He saw himself before several pathways and together, he and the being explored each one. On the first they walked, he was once more with Rissanivi; he saw how futilely she searched for him, Cameron, and Hauvri'ahn, though would not give up, and how she felt lost without him. On another, he was with Alicia; he saw how she was heartbroken when he was listed as "missing--presumed lost", though had always kept him in her heart and hoped that somehow he would come back. On another path, he saw Poppy holding their two girl kits; he saw Poppy looking up into the night sky, waiting and hoping, and he saw their girls growing up without him. All of these views made him sad and he felt a tear slide down his cheek. Arlan loved all three, though which could he be with or still wanted to be with him? He had seen Alicia get married, have kids, and then become a widow, though she still had a special place for him in her heart and still hoped he would return someday; he saw Poppy with another, though she had lost him, too, though she had never quite gave up all hope. And Rissanivi, she had made new friends, though she still would not give up on finding him. Only with Poppy was he able to have little ones with, and they had, though the girls did not know him.

"Will I ever get home again?" Arlan asked the being.

"Yes."

"Will I ever get to see Alicia, Rissanivi, and Poppy again?"

"One is here, the others...if you wish."

"Wait, there...there's one of them_here_?!" Arlan asked, incredulously. "Which one?"

"Heart of being will meet soon."

Arlan felt a wave of excitement wash over him, and then...he felt like he slipped into a vivid dream. He was with first one and then another and then the other of the three that he loved. Just at the final moment, he saw pupil-less golden amber eyes surrounded by stars and felt a warm furry body against his bare skin. It wasn't until later, after he awoke, that he realized what had happened.

The being lay next to Arlan and partially on him. His arms were around her and he felt spent and...oddly...content. Arlan had only ever been with Rissanivi and Poppy in his entire life, though now...now it seemed he had been with a being that was way beyond his understanding. He had to know something...

"Are you awake?" Arlan asked softly.

"Always."

"Oh. Um, please don't get mad at me for asking...I...I just want to know. What...are you? I don't think you're one of the First Ones..."

The being kissed him on the mouth and then said with a hint of humor in her voice, "Not_of_ First Ones, no."

"Then, what are you, if you don't mind me asking."

"No one knows, heart of being."

"Um, do_you_ know?"

"Yes."

"Have you ever told anyone?"

A quiet giggle came from the being.

"Maybe I tell_you_."

Arlan tenderly stroked the side of the being's face and kissed her back. He looked at her questioningly and he saw a smile. Rising up, the being straddled Arlan and, in his mind, he saw outlines of what he saw as a vague furry female in swirling light, crackling and surging with energy and color, and a pair of fiery amber-colored eyes that blazed like suns. All around was what Arlan could only comprehend as being "the infinite". He felt incredibly small and insignificant compared to the vastness and timelessness of her being. Yet, when she regarded him, he felt such love, compassion, care, and friendship that tears flowed freely from his eyes. He was given the sense that she was always "there" and that they were part of one another.

"No, dear heart of being, not_of_the First Ones."

"I_am_."

* * * * *

Cameron sat bolt upright. Next to him was Hauvri'ahn, who had been sleeping peacefully until he suddenly sat up.

"My Cam, something wrong there is?" she asked, concerned by his sudden alertness.

"I...I thought there was...somebody..." he replied, now becoming confused by what he_thought_ he had sensed.

Hauvri'ahn sat up and opened her senses.

"None here, I feel. Arlan...again he is away."

Cameron sighed and rubbed his eyes.

"I'm kinda worried about him. That whole business getting sent to the future for over a year, starting a family with that gal named Poppy, then getting yanked back only a few minutes after he had disappeared...it's_still_ messing with him. I can understand why, though. We both know he loves Rissa, and we knew he and Alicia in R&D were pretty tight."

"Poor Arlan, which to choose, knows he does not. Strongly he feels for each he does."

"Yeah, that's gotta suck, especially since we have no idea when we'll get back home again," Cameron said, being pragmatic about the situation.

"Our Rissa, worry, I do. Lost, feel she must. Cared deeply she did, our Arlan."

"You're right, babe, I do, too. I know I yanked his chain about it often enough, though...it was so obvious that they were in love with each other. I hadn't even considered that a reptilian species could have such feelings for somebody, especially one not of their own, and Arlan definitely isn't, until we met her. Rissa_is_ a sweetheart, though, and for being cold-blooded, she sure is warm-hearted."

"Agree, I do." Hauvri'ahn put her arm around her husband and hugged him. "Hope, I do, Arlan finds way again."

Neither said anything for nearly a minute, though they continued to hold one another.

"I_do_ hope we get back, somehow. I hope Shauna is okay. You know, ever since I had that funky dream years ago...you know, the one where she was an adult and we were with my relatives and we talked to her..."

Hauvri'ahn thought back and said, "Remember, I do, telling about it you did. Strange it was. Know, you do, miss her still. Saw her, I did, only for short while, but care for her I would, my own if she was."

"I know, babe. As strong-headed as she was, I wouldn't doubt she'd find a way to come looking for us if she could."

Once they were up, Cameron, as usual, tidied up the place they slept at. When he was finished, he poured some water from the jug they had been provided and drank of it. Although he had wished for his favorite morning brew, Cameron found the water to be unusually refreshing. He contemplated for a few moments, looking at his reflection in the cup--he felt something tugging at him, though not physically, it was more like something tugging at his heart.

"I wish we could be together again, kiddo. I hope you're okay, wherever you are. I'm sorry I wasn't able to come back for you, something...something else got in the way. I hope you'll forgive me, sis."

Cameron's ears perked up when he heard the distinctive short cough Hauvri'ahn made.

"My Cam...Arlan...!"

He turned around to see Hauvri'ahn looking off towards the edge of the forest. Looking in the direction she was, he spotted Arlan walking towards them...only, he was not alone.

"With Arlan, who is..."

"Jeezers, more like_what_ is it?" Cameron exclaimed softly.

They saw Arlan walking towards them, arm-in-arm with what looked like another person at first, though as they came closer, whoever--or_whatever_--it was, it was definitely _not_like any other they had ever seen before.

They stopped a distance away and turned towards each other. The strange being that looked like a walking hole that opened up into space, wrapped its arms around Arlan's neck and appeared to kiss him passionately. Slowly, the being turned its head to look slyly over its shoulder at Cameron and Hauvri'ahn...or at least it_appeared_ to. They saw the eyes...glowing amber eyes that did not have pupils, much like the animal beings they had encountered during their stay in the realm of the First Ones, only they exuded a primalness that surpassed even the First Ones themselves. It caused shivers to run through both Cameron and Hauvri'ahn.

"I brought back to friends, heart of being. You will find rest of way back to others with them, though always you are...here."

She kissed Arlan again with great passion, and he felt as if they had merged into one timeless and inseparable being.

"I...I've never been with anyone like you before," Arlan said with a tear running down his cheek. "Will I ever be with you again?"

The being smiled and replied, "Always you have been, always you are, always you will be, heart of being. To_you_, I give..."

What Arlan experienced defied the senses of one born into a mortal life. He was indeed given a very special gift that only she could give. It would take Arlan some time to realize what exactly_had_ been given him, though one day he would.

"Do what need to do for now, heart of being. I come for you after. Until then...be."

What Cameron and Hauvri'ahn witnessed was astonishing. The strange being again wrapped her arms around Arlan's neck and kissed him. As he held her in his arms, the being dissolved into brilliant light--for a moment they saw her as a vague figure in swirling light, crackling and surging with energy and color, and a pair of fiery amber-colored eyes that blazed like suns, then in the blink of an eye, the being simply disappeared. Arlan slowly lowered his arms, though looked back in the direction they had come from the forest and gave a slow little wave. Cameron and Hauvri'ahn ran towards Arlan when he slowly dropped to his knees.

"Arlan...you_okay_, buddy?!" Cameron called out as they approached.

Arlan looked up nearly overcome with emotion.

"Yeah...I...I'm alright. Every...everything's alright."

---

[[1]](#_ftnref1) "Where are we?" in Russian.

[[2]](#_ftnref2) "Da, eto tak" (??, ??? ???) - "Yes, it is" in Russian.

[[3]](#ftnref3) See, The Sacrifice for Peace, vol-1, "_The Gathering", chapter 10, beginning on page 517.

[[4]](#_ftnref4) E-cha'li - Veswani equivalent of "boyfriend".

[[5]](#ftnref5) See Daggers of Darkness™ #3, "_On the Trail of Legends", chapter 7.

[[6]](#ftnref6) See The Sacrifice for Peace, vol-1, "_The Gathering", chapter 10.

[[7]](#_ftnref7) Khal-sa'hul Dûrnaëlan - Spirit Feather from The Sacrifice for Peace.