Welcome to Gaia! ::

Third and Constant were out in the street in front of the house when they ran into Trant. The tall, grey-skinned alien emerged from his rocky abode and greeted both Third and Constant with a smile that, coupled with his bright yellow eyes, was mildly unnerving.

"Are you enjoying it here?"

It was an odd question, given without preface. Third nodded. "Yes, very much," he said, tossing the rubber ball to Constant. The daemon caught it in her jaws and ran it back for another throw, and to give herself an excuse to stay near to Third in the presence of a man who was still very much a stranger. She passed the ball to Third with the understanding he not throw it yet. She wanted her teeth to be available.

Trant seemed not to mind the distrust, if he minded anything. He seemed utterly immovable from his gentle benevolence and humor. The universe could be ending in the next five minutes and Trant would continue as if he had not a care in the world.

"Good," said Trant, and held his hand out for the ball. After a brief moment of hestation, Third tossed it to the alien and Trant caught it easily. He studied the object with typical amusement before tossing it back. Third caught it just as easily. "Tell me," asked Trant, "do you experience the same general digestive process as a human?"

It was a simple question from one alien to another. Third pondered it a moment. "I think so."

"And your diet is much the same?"

Another pause, another nod. "Yes," said Third, but hardly with any certainty. He had never tried to eat anything that had not also been edible by a human.

"You have excellent balance."

That surprised Third. He did? He had never noticed. He looked at Trant questioningly, wondering what had brought on this meandering of inquiries from one topic to the next.

Trant tilted his head slightly to the side, a very human habit. He had spent a lot of time with humans, enough to pick up many of their social conventions and habits, but with him it was like play-acting. "Do my questions bother you?" he asked.

Third gave a shrug. They did, a little, but more out of unfamiliarity than anything else. "No."

The constant smile on Trant's stone-colored face widened. "I am very interested in what makes you different from the humans, much the same as I am interested in Lim'e and her differences, and in the differences between other species. It is a hobby of mine." Apparently, this was what passed for a hobby among Trant's species.

"What do you eat?" asked Third, figuring that mutual interest was the polite response. Trant gestured to the boulders that made up his home. "Do you see the patches of growth on the rocks?" Third nodded. "Those are lichen which are native to my homeworld. It is those which my kind eat. There are many different varieties of lichen on Calymur, several of them poisonous to both humans and my kind, but only the edible varieties are here, as there are limits on my space for growing them."

That actually was somewhat interesting. Third took a step forward. "What do you do to grow them?"

Trant seemed to appreciate Third's curiosity, or perhaps it was merely customary in his culture to trade information and this was his repayment for Third's generosity. "The lichen grow quite well on their own, but in order to speed up their process we treat them with rock paste. It contains minerals the lichen need to grow and moisture, which also is of benefit to them."

"Then are you a Vegan?" asked Third, remembering Aberdeen. Trant shook his head.

"No. Many of my kind are, but I am not."

Almost instantly, Third asked, "Are you typical of your species?" He thought he perceieved something more than mere amusement behind Trant's eyes at the question.

"No," said Trant, "in many ways I am not. Do you wish to know why?"

"It's not your markings, is it?" Third asked, looking once more at the intricacy of Trant's black tattoos and piercings.

Once more, something more than amusement. Approval. "No. Most of my people bear such decorations. Do you have a goal in life, Third?"

That was a tough question, and Third took his time in answering. "I don't know," he said honestly. He had not yet formulated a larger goal, as he had not yet lived long enough to encounter a conflict worthy of it. "I like to read a lot, and go swimming." He cast a glance at Constant and she at him. "Maybe to stay with Constant."

"Interesting," said Trant. "To answer your question--" though Third had not directly asked it-- "I am in all physical regards an exemplary specimen of my species, but it is in my mental capacity that I differ. Whereas my people are philosophers, even the warriors among them, I have no care for lofty principles such as justice and peace. I live simply to conquer those challenges which are presented me."

Constant listened to this attentively. She flattened her ears against her head. She did not wholly approve of an answer such as that. She made it known to Third, but he himself could find no fault in such an honest existence. Devoid of good and evil, devoid of higher meaning, accepting life only as what it appeared to be and nothing more.

For all that Trant eschewed high principles, he seemed to have very strong principles himself. Third said as much, and Trant laughed.

"Yes, perhaps. But in context, those principles of which I speak have a different meaning. A principle may be a belief, or it may be a rule of a higher nature. To the former, I attest I have many principles, but to the latter, not so many."

"I think that not believing in high principles is a sort of high principle," said Third, almost to himself.

"Between you and I, yes. But to others, high principles are things such as justice, religion, and equality. I shall remember in the future that you already know the difference."

For some reason, that made Third proud. He smiled shyly. Trant smiled back, amiably as ever.

"Perhaps we shall continue this another day, Third Hhalak." Trant nodded to Third.

Understanding that this interview of sorts was over, Third bobbed his head in response and gestured to Constant. They turned and headed back towards their side of the road.

"Third! Third!"

Third looked up at Emperial. His guardian was several paces ahead of him, box of fireworks in hand, looking back with a mild frown of impatience. Third, Emperial, and Constant had gone out today in search of fireworks for the Fourth of July. Naturally, Emperial had concluded that the biggest fireworks were the best. She struggled under the weight of the box she carried. The box itself was a gift from the fireworks merchant. He figured if his customer was buying a box worth of fireworks, she may as well have the box to match.

Emperial's frown continued. "This is heavy, come on!"

Third nodded absently to Emperial, a token agreement. He was too distracted to offer anything more. His eyes were fixed at a spot on the ground. At his side, Constant looked at her Forgotten curiously.

Third stepped forward and reached down. Something was buried in the loose earth, a cream-colored curve protruding from the dirt. Third's fingers closed around it and he pulled.

The object came free easily, loosely-packed earth falling away. The bit of visible curve was merely one protrusion among an immensity of curves, a tangle of crystalline bone. A brown leather cord twisted through the cream-colored mass. It was about the size of Third's hand. He felt a fleeting sense of destiny.

"What's that?" asked Emperial, dropping the box on the ground with a WHOOMPF that sent dust flying up in all directions.

Third took hold of the leather cord and let the object fall free, shaking free the remainder of the dirt. It bounced and tembled at the end of the cord. Constant stretched up her nose to sniff at it.

"Necklace," Third concluded by the length of the string.

Emperial walked to Third's side for a better look. "Weird. Is that bone?"

Third considered the question, holding the object up against the sky. It looked a bit like bone, with a similar smoothness and color, but not quite. "No, I don't think so."

"Can I see?"

Third relinquished the necklace to Emperial, who turned it over in her hands with a thoughtful "hm" before returning it. "Nice," she said.

Third slipped the necklace on over his head. The odd piece hung down to his chest, a little big. Emperial moved behind Third and pulled the cord back, looping it around itself to shorten it to a more reaosnable length.

"There!" she said, stepping back to admire her handiwork. "That's just right!"

Third lifted the twisting, curved mass in his hand. Yes, it was just right.

Excerpted from the Diary of Third Hhalak Atreides-Piett

Third could feel it was close now, in some unexplainable way. He would have thought it was merely wild fancy had not Constant concluded the same thing.

They were on Third's bed, Third stretched out on the quilt and Constant lying on top of him with her head and paws on his chest. The twisting curves of the necklace lay by his neck.

It was hard, not impossibly so, but as hard as the Medium had hinted at. Maybe it was something to do with his age. Third thought it more likely something to do with his connection to Constant. It was as if someone had added a new connection to the mix, spreading his energy out thinner. It was tiring. Not ready-to-fall-asleep tiring, but been-on-my-feet-all-day-need-to-relax. Only Third was relaxing, and the tiring wasn't going away.

Part of the reason he thought it must be close now was that the energy going to the crystal (if one thought of it that way, and Third did) had spiked mid-morning. He thought perhaps that meant the necklace was gearing itself (herself?) up for something. He excused himself from any activities, said he wanted to get in some more reading, and left Emperial to her new computer game, EV Nova. She was all too happy to oblige. For the moment, computer games ruled her life. Especially figuring out ways to cheat.

Third saw the attraction in cheating, but not in Emperial's method. He would rather learn the game so thoroughly he could exploit any loopholes, not rewrite the game's rules to his benefit. He closed his eyes and sighed.

Constant's paws dug into his chest and when he opened his eyes he found her looking down at him, concerned. She was tired, too, but not nearly so much. She nuzzled her wet nose down against his cleek and licked him. Then she settled back down against his side, curling up so her nose touched her tail.

Third ran his hand along her back. Her fur was thick in spite of the summer. In winter it would be even thicker, fluffy and warm. If it snowed. Her fur responded to changes in the temperature, and back on World Zero there had been no changes in the temperature so Third had never seen her full winter coat. He could only take Constant's assurance that she had one.

Third's hand fall back onto the quilt and he stared up at the ceiling, looking for patterns in the bumps and dimples. He slid his left hand up along the quilt to it touched the necklace.

He had a lot of questions he wanted to ask the Medium now, but he lacked the energy to get up and do it. Maybe soon. Assuming this was not a permanent condition of lethargy.

Third closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Emperial had not been happy about the explanation, but she had not been overly upset, either. Just concerned. In a way, the Medium had probably been concerned as well, just not as expressively, and today made a strong point as to why they might be concerned.

Third was unworried. If he thought it was too much, he would simply tell Emperial as much. Laying around doing nothing was not the best use of the day, but Third was merely a bit tired, nothing too exhaustive. He could still get up if he wanted to, if he really felt like pressing the point. He knew his heart rate and his blood pressure and both were still fine. Constant could tell, too, and so far she agreed. They were doing fine.

The one regret Third had was that Constant was tired, too. Not to the degree that he himself was, but she did not roll around on the floor playing as usual. She knew Third was sorry and told him not to worry about it. In truth, the daemon was as excited as Third was, and probably less frightened. She had more confidence in Third than he himself did.

Measured breathing helped. Third counted the seconds. One, two, three, four, five, breath, one two three four five, hold, one, two, three, four, five, exhale. It was enjoyable in its own way, just the act of breathing. So many people--

On that unhappy thought Third jerked, both to pull himself out of a self-destructive line of reasoning and in response to a very definite noise and change in sensation. Constant heard and sensed it, too.

Third immediately cringed at the change. It was as if a great deal of energy was suddenly , and just as soon it was gone. Third let out a gasp-- he had unconsciously been holding his breath. Constant scrambled to her feet.

They both saw the crystal necklace at the same time. Third's mouth fell open. Constant's eyes went wide.

The crystal was alive. Not writhing, at least not in the physical sense, but a halo of energy surrounded it. Wisps faded around the edges. The crystal had not cracked somuch as begun to crumble.

Third started to sit up, but the necklace cord was still attached to him so he stopped, not wanting to jar it. he propped himself up on one arm and looked down at the crystal. Constant jumped over him to get closer.

The crystal seemed to have reached whatever point it was building up all that energy for, a threshold. The drain on Third and Constant's resources was much diminished. Still there, proof the crystal was not dead or broken, just back to the level it had been at when Third first found the necklace.

Third and Constant's eyes were riveted on the crystal. Even if they could still sense it was alive, the crumbling look did not inspire confidence. They both reasoned this was probably the point there the crystal was going to become the promised "daughter" (or sister, as Third decided). Everything was ready, they were ready, and the excitement was almost palpable.

Nothing happened. The energy moved, the wisps changed, but nothing happened.

Maybe they had broken it. Maybe something about Third's being a Forgotten was wrong, maybe the Crystal had simply malfunctioned, maybs this was why Third was supposed to be older, maybe any number of things. Third bit his lip and crinkled his brow in worry. He looked at Constant questioningly. <> he thought quickly. Constant's reply was affirmative, with the added caveat, <>

Third reached up and pulled a pillow, careful not to jostle the necklace. He pulled the cover off. Ever so carefully, he slipped it underneath the necklace, enfolding the curving tendrils and strange energy up inside where it was protected. <>

<>

Third cradled the pendant in his hands, buffeted by the slipcover. <>

<> thought Constant, who still did not like their neighbor very much, but it was a weak protest. Third knew he would ask the grey-skinned alien despite the objection. Trant could be trusted not to tell Emperial about the trip. At the same time he enjoyed Emperial's complete trust even where the safety of her own children was concerned. Trant was strange like that. Even people who did not trust him trusted him. He possessed a strong quality of honor.

Sliding off the bed, Third headed for the door with his wrapped treasure, Constant jumping down to follow.

They had some questions. They needed some answers.

Sand floated through the blue clear sky, landing gently on the crashing waves of the ocean. Vin sat surrounded by the warmth emitted from the sand roasting in the sun. Arranos, the newly blue... shiny baby, rested between Vin's legs. Digging his own hands into the sand, permitting the sand to send the warmth through his blue, gem encrusted arms.

A slight grin grew on the baby's face as he dug and played in the sand. Feeling slightly more at home in a way here at the beach, rather than being at Vin's own home.

Vin stared out into the blue sea, watching as the waves crashed into the shore and riding onto the soles of the elf's shoes.
"Hey... Arranos, how would you like to go explore a mine that’s near here?" The elf looked down, peering over the babies multi color hair and into the crystal blue eyes.

A slight grin grew on his face, even though he understood very little of what the man was saying. Something just felt comforting about his voice.

"That look like a yes then," Vin scooted back slightly and stood up, reaching down and grasping on to Arranos, "I'm sure there will be a lot of shiny things in there!" Vin held the child of gems close to him and took off toward the mine's entrance, resting only a few feet... almost half a mile down the coast of the beach.

The mine was set into a cliffside, accessible by a well-worn path leading up from the warm beach sands. Seagulls and shore birds nested along the rocks. A cooling breeze came in from the ocean and the crashing waves echoed down into the cracks between the rocks.

As nice as the ocean breeze was, it was nothing in comparison to the rush of cold air coming from the mine's entrance. It was the perfect hot summer destination, except for the half-mile walk in the sun and general appeal of Gaia's wide beaches. Why march into the freezing bowels of the earth when you could lie along the shore and show off the newest swimsuit styles from Gambino?

Of course, such social hotspots did not appeal to everyone, and the mine saw a few visitors every day. As was soon evident, Vina and Arranos were not the first today. Along with the gust of cold air were voices, echoing exclamations, resounding out from somewhere in the mine's depths. The exact words were lost, too distorted by the mine's weaving turns, but the voice was distinctly female. She was accompanied by what sounded like a dog barking.

Vin cocked his head, listening to the voices that poured out from the mines gaping hole. Strange was it that some one else had found this cave, but then again there happened to be a lot of people in the area. Vin shook his head and ignored the fact of reason.

Heading on in, Arranos tightened his grip on his guardians arm. The on coming darkness began to shroud the two in a cloak like darkness.

"You'll live little man," Vin protested. Holding tighter on his prized possession between his arms. The voices began to grow as the two kept there movement onward. Trying to keep the sound of the guardians foot steps to an absolute minimum, but not much could have helped remedied the problem.

Why am I trying to be sneaky? I doubt any one else is in here, but then again that voice from earlier...

It was awfully dark in the mine, and cold, and a bit damp, almost the exact opposite of the sunny day outside. And then, once more, a burst of voices. Louder now, with words discernible. "Don't worry, I'm alright!" said the unseen woman, laughing.

A second voice, somewhat high in pitch: "You have to be more careful, it's slippery here." And the dog's bark once more. The flash of lights bounced around the mine shaft ahead.

Wait a minute, that was right. Vin did hear more voices... now joined with another. Vin looked around confused then back down to his child in his arms. Who began to clench even harder against his guardians arm, jamming his gems into the elf's arms.

Vin winced in pain. Shifting his arms in a more comfortable position.
"Uhh.. Hello?" The young elf called out, readying himself to dart right out of the mine if need be.

There was a pause. Then, the female, something muffled followed by, "Hello!" and another set of muffled noise, this time from the second voice. Much confusion, if nothing else, but the greeting sounded friendly enough.

Vin shook his head and continued on ward, something about the female voice seemed friendly. The voices continued to grow louder and louder joined in with the sound of footsteps against the stone. Arranos began to whimper slightly, being in this mine seemed to set him off slightly.

"Hey... your fine." Vin mumbled, seeing a few flashlights up ahead. Giving it some thought, Vin didn't carry a flashlight with him. Something of his Elvin past seemed to give him a little more ability into seeing in the dark. But then again, Arranos was with him and things just seemed different with him around.

As it turned out, the lights were not flashlights but hmining helmets, as befit proper spelunkers. Rounding the bend revealed a trio of odd folk, one a young woman covered in smears of mud and grinning, the next a young boy of perhaps six dressed completely in black, and the last a small wolfen cub.

The boy and the cub were not quite human. Each sported a pair of softly glowing red energy wings from their shoulderblades, casting a reddish tint onto the dirt floor. The boy held a strange necklace in his hands, a faint energy around it as well, but grey in color. He was looking at Arranos and Vin with surprise. It was not surprise at their arrival but surprise at their identities, or perhaps merely surprise at the identity of Arranos.

Vin held tighter onto his child, looking at the three. The woman, boy, and the cub. Vin seemed to be overly protective of the boy, but than again these three happened to be strangers... and strange these three had been. With glowing red light emitting from wing like creations off the boys shoulder blades. That was probably the oddest thing the young elf had ever seen since... well meeting up with the medium.

Looking over at the woman then back towards the boy, what caught the guardians eye the most was what was hanging in his hand.
"You have an Iridae don't you?" Vin spoke softly, not knowing what kind of condition this mind was in. The next thing the two needed was a cave in on them.

"Yes," said the boy, almost breathless, because if he understood what the sensation from his Crystal was correctly... he swallowed quickly. "I'm Third, this is Constant, and Emperial." Constant cutely bowed to Vin and Arranos, stretching out her front paws, while Emperial merely smiled and waved.

"Out spelunking, eh?" Emperial asked. "It's a great day for it. Of course, any day is a great day for NOT BEING IN THE SUN, which is my archnemesis..."

"Just exploring, I thought I would bring Arranos here to a mine.." Vin smiled and waved slightly. Seeing Constant bow sent a giggling voice up and out of Arranos, giving him some kick and giggles. It was the first real happy look since the two had entered the mine.

Vin laughed slightly, hearing Emperial comment on the sun. Vin looked down at Arranos, seeing the light from the group begin to collect with in the gems encrusted on the boys arms and body.

"Yea, it's a great mine," agreed Emperial. She had not caught the fact that Arranos was an Iridae just like Third's cracked crystal, being too involved in her own little world. "It's easier than blocking out the sun at least, but someday!"

Third could only sigh. He had long since figured out that his guardian, while she did tend to dislike brightness, had no real interest in destroying or blocking out the sun as she frequently claimed. It was one of those things she said to make herself interesting and seemingly crazy. Unfortunately, she said such things so often she had begun to believe them.

Third studied Arranos, interest piqued by the collection of light. "It's like having your own flashlight," he commented, looking to Vin for confirmation and a sign that it was permissable to approach since neither party had any intention of harming the other.

"Yeah I guess you could say that," Vin smiled, looking down at his child proudly. Watching as the rays of light danced off the wall's from the reflective gems.

Arranos seemed to grin himself, feeling slightly head strong about himself. Event though he couldn't understand a bit any of the three had been saying... being a baby and all, but the slight hint he knew they had been talking about himself.

Emperial finally seemed to make the connection between Arranos and Iridae. She paled, which was hard given that her dislike of the sun meant she had skin about as tan as a sheet of white paper. "Wait," she began suspiciously.

"How old is Arranos?" asked Third, a quick diversionary tactic in both directions. On the one hand he was diverting Emperial from asking anything further, on the other diverting Vin from taking too much notice of Emperial, who was now reduced to dark mutters and mumbling to herself.

Third left it to Constant to approach Vin and Arranos, the daemon trotting forward and sniffing Vin for identification purposes. Her tail wagged softly.

Vin shifted his gaze away, looking at the one they called Third. Suspiciously he eyed the three. "Arranos..." Vin began to think, looking down at the baby boy of blue.

"How old is he... I think about one or two maybe," Vin thought back to the day the baby emerged from the colorful crystal, "It hasn't been to far back since the baby came from the crystal, but to sum it up... I would say about that!" Holding the baby in his arm in such a way to test the weight and take a guess.

"Yeah about that..."

Third turned his head to the side in question. "Have you not been with him his entire life?" Something about his relationship with his crystal, however vague and indistinct, told him Iridae were not the sort of "pets" you could pass around. At least not where Third was concerned. He had come to think of whatever lay inside the crystal as much a part of himself as his daemon.

"No of course not... surely the medium explained things to you?" Vin tilted his head slightly, thinking about what it was the child did in his past life to deserve something such as this.

"I don't know what he did to deserve this, but it must of been pretty bad..." Vin looked down to the baby of blue and gems. Who in fact had looked back up at his guardian and smiled and giggled with unknown.

"I guess I have been with him here ever since he arrived from the crystal I found, but his mental and physical is unknown really." Vin gently smiled.[

Third kept his expression neutral, but nodded as if in agreement, willing to let the topic pass.

Emperial was not so forgiving. Planting her hands on her hips she drew herself up, sticking out her chest (which, really, needed no emphasis beyond what nature had given it) and asked, "Then how old?" Part dare, part taunt, wholly demanding.


Vin looked around confused, wondering if the woman even heard what he had said before.
"Umm... two I would say!" Vin scratched at his head and gave her a gaze of confusion. Tilting his head to the left.

Arranos seemed to mimic Vin's exact movement. Tilting his own head to the left as well, shooting the woman a sign of confusion and a grumpy grin.

Emperial smacked her hand against her helmet. "Greek," she said. "If it's going to stay a baby for two years, Third, I don't see how you can keep it. At least not in my house. Maybe you can move in with Max and Sally? Two years, good gods..." She turned away, still muttering to herself as she thought aloud.

Vin looked around, rolling his eyes every so often. Then looking back to Third.
"Is she always like this?" Vin whispered.
"If your asking how long since Arranos materialized, it's been about a month." Vin shook his head and laughed.

Arranos grew a grin ear to ear, his grumpy frown washing away in an instant. A slight giggling noise arose from the depths.

"I was under the impression age was measure from the moment of one's birth," said Third, sounding honestly confused. "I'm only a year and five months old myself. Constant as well." He was always quick to include his daemon, who, being an animal of sorts, was easily overlooked by human conversation.

Emperial stomped her foot, annoyed. "Yes, well, we have a LOT of spelunking to do today, you should probably go get a helmet if you intend on exploring the cave more. We don't have extras."

"Ah... well I go by mentality really," Vin looked from Third back to Emperial and shot her a confused and annoyed look. Shaking his head left and right.

"I actually must get going," Vin looked down to Arranos, who happened to be gripping Vin's arm and pointing to his mouth.
"You see... it must be feeding time and I don't need to end up on his bad side." Vin smiled.

"It was nice meeting you, the name is Vin by the way," Vin turned his back to the group and headed off for the entrance.

"I hope I run into you guys again!" Vin chuckled as his Elvin figure was absorbed into the light pouring into the cave.

"It was a pleasure meeting you," offered Third, inclining his head politely. It was a motion he had unconsciously picked up from Trant. Emperial just glared until Vin and Arranos were out of sight.

"Well," she said. When she was quite sure they were beyond earshot, echoes and all, she added, "That was stupid," and turned her glare on Third.

Third gave a small sigh. "Em..." He trailed off, frowning at her.

Emperial scrunched up her nose, wincing at what she knew was a well-deserved admonition. "Who goes into a cave without a helmet!" she said, exasperated. "I mean the danger of loose rocks in the ceiling of a mine is enormous, and you can't tell me..." Emperial resumed marching deeper into the mine, fuming with each step.

Third and Constant merely exchanged mental looks and trudged along behind her. Third's hand found the Crystal. Emperial could dislike Vin and Arranos as much as she liked, but the Crystal seemed to resonate with contentment in Third's hands, and he rather hoped they might run into the elf and the gem-covered Iridae again.

It was a rainy day and Emperial was out in the backyard digging rivers in the mud, leaving Third and Constant to their own devices. Own devices meant, as usual, Constant was chasing her own tail and chewing on toys while Third expanded his horizons with a book on the French Revolution. He read several of the more interesting passages aloud to Constant, testing the feel of the words on his tongue. Constant was always quick to tell him when the pronunciation seemed wrong. It was almost as if Third contained an instinct for the written word and Constant an instinct for the spoken. Together, they had concluded that the correct spelling was "Iridae" without either really being able to say why.

"'But how these things may act on the rude soldier mind, with its military pedantries, its inexperience of all that lies off the parade-ground; inexperience as of a child, yet fierceness of a man and vehemence of a Frenchmen!'"

Reading to Constant was little different from reading to himself, and Third used the same voice he might if the room were empty. Constant gave no noticeable indication that she had heard his words, but their mental connection could not have made it clearer.

<>

Third gave a small laugh and said aloud, "You would." He might have responded with a thought, but with only Constant as an audience, he switched from thinking to speaking at whim. Her reply was a laughing bark as she terrorized a rubber bone. Sometimes Third wondered how her teeth did not fall out with all the gnawing she did. Her toys were all covered in chew marks and coming apart. Third suspected she had accidentally ingested more than a few pieces of plastic and rubber.

Third read on, fingering his Crystal as he did. The energy seemed unaffected by his touch and was not nearly as fragile as he had first feared. If anything, his touch seemed to make the energy stronger, more alive.

For the past few days, with all their misadventures, Third and Constant had been followed by the notion that it would be soon. Soon, soon, soon, but still it had not happened. Only the Medium's blank reassurance kept them from worry. The Crystal was fine, it was doing what it was supposed to, it simply took time.

Third placed aside his book and reached for the plate of crackers and cheese at his bedside. Occasionally, Emperial did something thoughtful, and it was easy to forget her many shortcomings in those moments. Third was beginning to learn what made her who she was, and why she had the family she did. Often she was careless, irresponsible, and childish, and did stupid, petulant things. Yet she was capable of forgiving the worst crimes and sins, of embracing the despised, and of championing the causes of the downtrodden. It was easy to forget that capacity for good given all the countless stupid things she did throughout the day, but it was there. The crackers and cheese were merely one of the smaller manifestations of her innately good nature.

Third supposed most humans were like that: all the best intentions and not enough follow-through. It took great strength of will to make it through a single day of hectic human life without growing angry at someone or something, a perceived turn of bad luck or karma.

Third, of course, was not human, and could be excused for not following the pattern. He found his own minor frustrations, but with Constant at his side there was never any need for vexation. Perhaps if humans had daemons they would be better. Kinder, more compassionate, peaceful.

Third laid back and tried to imagine a world where everyone had a daemon. He thought it might look like the way he envisioned the Golden Compass, which he had found on Emperial's bookshelf some days ago.

There was the sudden sensation of something warm on his chest, pulsing, and without opening his eyes Third knew it was the Crystal. He let out a soft cry in confusion, as if pained, and Constant was immediately up on the bed next to him, tugging at his hand gently with her teeth. <up, roll over>> she said, and Third cupped the Crystal in one hand and rolled onto his knees. One hand pressed against the plush quilted covering of the bed, the other cradled the cracked crystal, elbow and forearm flat against the bedspread.

Third and Constant's thoughts mixed up into a single jumble. <you cried like you were and if there was something perhaps i get it's not enough time we may be need it forget that, we don't need it after all>>

The Crystal was glowing, too, in its own, greyish way. Third closed his eyes just a moment to formulate one strong thought: <<COME>> and almost unbidden a response, an echo as Third opened his eyes and Constant let out a yip of joy -- <<she's safe she's safe!>> the daemon could be heard to exclaim in the back of Third's mind -- and the energy was so much--

Jaw trembling, Third looked down at the quivering form below him and struggled to speak. He had no idea what to say. He was terrified as surely as he had ever been terrified by his nightmares because she was there and she was so perfect and he had no idea what to say.

Little fingers were clasped around the curving crystal, clutching it tightly. Wide reddish eyes looked up at him with matching fear. Little lips quivered and shook. Against the bedding, her grey hair was haloed around her, tied with a dark purple bow. A matching dark purple muffler cushioned her neck. She wore a soft cream-colored shift.

At her back, white wings lay splayed against the dark blue of the bed.

She had everything. Ten fingers and ten toes, breath and a heartbeat. Everything, except...

The echo in Third's mind surfaced again and he whispered it into the air in faint question. When she burst into tears and hugged her crystal relic close Third forgot all of his fear and simply pulled her close and hugged her while Constant watched with worried wolfen eyes. She yipped for Third's attention, trying to ask him what he needed, and Third did not answer because he had what he needed.

Aelinye.

Aelinye began to quiet and Third start thinking to her, only of course that did not work. Their bond was not the same as his and Constant's. While the connection was there and he could feel it, he could not converse with her through thought alone. At best, it was a sense of emotion, of who she was.

"It's okay," said Third, and Aelinye slowly started to believe that. Here was the person who felt familiar, and as scary as that was to her, scarier still was the vast unfamiliarity of everything else. She shivered in Third's arms, but settled in close. Third exchanged thoughts with Constant and the little daemon jumped off the bed to go and fetch one of the blankets carefully folded by the door.

The ends of the tied cord slipped from Third's neck. Aelinye looked up at him pleadingly. Third very carefully adjusted his position so he could pick up the ends of the cord and tie it around her neck.

"Okay?" he asked, smiling. Aelinye could only look at him with wide eyes. Her fingers seemed to find natural resting places within the curves and turns of the relic.

"Don't worry," said Third, "I'm never, ever going to leave you again." Surely he had never left her a first time, but the words seemed right even though Third could not fathom why.

Aelinye finally ventured a faintly hopeful smile, her answer to his earlier question. Between the three of them, it was going to be okay.

Excerpted from the Diary of Third Hhalak Atreides-Piett

It was with great enthusiasm that Third set out in search of Vin and Arranos. He could have just as easily gone to see the Medium, but for today's questions, another Keeper made more sense. He was looking for the outside perspective, the caretaker's perspective. The Medium did not strike him as much of a caretaker in any sense of the word.

He had obtained a baby carrier for this purpose, adjusting the straps to their smallest possible setting and then, when the smallest setting was still a bit too big, cutting the straps and resewing them to fit. The stiches were not pretty, but they worked. Constant helped him test the adjustments to make sure it was safe for Aelinye. Then came the real test.

Aelinye watched the development of the carrier with some interest. She was getting used to her brother and his daemon quickly, instinctively imprinting upon them. She was quiet for a baby, except for bouts of whimpering and soft crying when things scared or surprised her or something required attention. Third could always tell which was which. He suspected he had more of an understanding about the bond with Aelinye than she did, thanks to his experience with Constant.

Constant took up the job of supply carrier, gripping the handle of an insulated lunch box in her teeth. The lunch box held two bottles, a small light blanket, a diaper, and sunscreen. (Which Sally had warned them was very important.)

When Third approached Emperial, she was again flustered by her outsider status, wanting to be some direct help with Aelinye. She had chosen to be the outsider, but now she felt guilty about it. Third very politely forced her not to interfere, asking only, "Can you look up the address of Vin and Arranos?"

A bit of annoyance showed through. "Why--" she began, but stopped herself. If that was the help Third needed, by golly, that was what she would give him. She brought up her level-three databases on her system and searched through the records for the information. The former Fleet had been very good at collecting information on Gaians, information that was not considered to be part of the technological downgrade required by the peace treaty. Emperial wrote down the address and handed it off, watching regretfully as Third, Constant,a dn Aelinye headed off to find an escort to Gaia.

They first went to Trant, but he was nowhere to be found, so then Third walked up the street to Windhall, Trion's home. Trion, too, was out, but his partner Alin-Maya was seated under the trees in the front garden. "I'm sorry," he called out to Third, "Trion isn't here. Is there something I can help you with?"

Third considered the question. He was not well-acquainted with Alin-Maya, but he trusted Trion's judgment of people, and Alin-Maya had been nothing but pleasant towards Third so far. So Third asked if Alin wanted to go to Gaia.

The fair-headed prince thought about it for a moment, glancing skyward. He was hesitating for some reason. Third almost told him not to mind, that he would go find someone else, but then Alin-Maya said, "I'd be happy to go with you! Just let me leave a note." He disappeared into the house and reappeared a moment later, carrying a delicate parasol which he opened to shade himself from the sun.

Alin-Maya was surprised to find a baby strapped to Third's back. "This is Aelinye," Third explained, "my little sister."

"I've always wanted a sister!" came Alin-Maya's polite reply. "Are you sure you can manage?"

Third expected that response from adults, of course, and nodded. "We're fine. We're just supposed to take an adult with us when we go to Gaia." It was more than a little misleading; Third made it sound as if he, Constant, and Aelinye made frequent trips to Gaia when in fact this would be their first with Aelinye since her emergence.

"All right, then," conceded Alin-Maya with a smile, and they set off.

Third knew the way quite well, walking carefully so as not to upset Aelinye too much. The Iridae was none to happy about the excursion. She was happy to be with her brother, but outdoors? Walking around? Bright lights and unfamiliar things? She spent most of the walk curled up in faint fear, wondering what was going on.

It was slow going. Alin-Maya was easily winded and carrying Aelinye proved to be a bit tougher than Third expected. Still, it was progress.

They made a strange little group, hustling along to Gaia. Third was quick to choose the quietest route possible, able to tell that Aelinye was disturbed by the noises and images. He began to think maybe the excursion was not such a good idea, but since they were almost there, he plodded on until they found themselves at their destination.

"I think this is it," Third said to Alin-Maya. Assuming the databases were at all reliable...

A small hut rested in a grove of trees. No one really spent the time to identify the tree's that made up the grove, since many species had home there amongst the small hut made of sturdy wood, a thatched roof, and entwined in vines and ropes... which of course homed Vin the elf of wild persuasion.

Deep within the hut, Vin and Arranos rested on there hemp rug. Scattered amongst the floor where tiny trinkets and shiny objects... of course which attracted the gemstone baby's attention like nothing else.

"I knew these little things would catch your eye," Vin smiled gently, releasing a exasperated yawn. Vin's Elvin ears began to twitch, sensing something was aloft in the forest surrounding the two.

A tentative knock came on the door. Outside, Third and Alin-Maya shifted nervously, Alin-Maya most of all. Aelinye had given up all hope at this point and merely hung in her carrier, staring at the ground in near-despondence. Only Constant seemed at all enthusiastic, recognizing familiar scents on the air.

Vin cocked his head in suspicion, eyeing the door with a certain glance of pure evil. Standing up quietly and swiftly. The Elvin man moved with such grace and skill.
I wasn't expected anyone for the day...

Vin moved ever the silently, stepping one foot over the other. Every now and again looking behind him to check up on the baby of blue.
Vin pierced out the crack in the door, his blue eye staring down on the group outside.

"Third?" Vin scratched at his head, reaching for the door knob with his tattooed hand. Vin gently pulled it toward him.

"Come on in..." Vin muttered, still in a state of confusion.

It was Alin-Maya who answered, brushing strands of blonde hair from his violet eyes. His cheeks were flushed with red at the exertion of the walk. "Thank you," he said as he followed Third inside, closing his frilly parasol.

Third was utterly without reservation as he entered, Constant at his side. "I hope you don't mind us coming over unannounced," he said, shifting the straps of the carrier on his shoulders. "I was wondering if I could ask you some more questions. This is Alin-Maya Mauritius the Seventeenth."

The flush on Alin-Maya's pale cheeks was too heavy for there to be any noticeable sign of blushing. "Alin-Maya is fine," he said softly, extending his hand and bowing his head respectfully. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Vin shook the mans hand vigorously, "It's nice to meet you to!" Vin shifted his gaze over to Third. Tilting his head slightly, seeing the bundle resting in the carrier.

"Ahh, I see your Iridae has arrived," Vin smiled gently. "What's up? Oh and don't mind coming over unannounced... I rather like things that come surprised." Vin smiled. Glaring at the carrier. Looking over the weaving done to it, noticing that few places are... not in perfect order. Vin's eye began to twitch, but the Elvin man simply discarded the thought.

Alin-Maya winced ever so slightly at Vin's vigor, too exhausted to do anything but weakly acquiesce. "Ah, is there somewhere I might sit down?" he inquired, glancing around.

"OH ummm...." Vin looked around his wooden thatched home. Eyeing the place for a place to rest.
"Sorry... I don't have much of furniture. Vin nodded off into the distance where a rug made of hemp rested on the floor, "That’s pretty much the only place to sit," Vin sheepishly smiled, " I hope that’s ok?"

Arranos stared up at the group, sitting in the center of the hemp rug. Tilting his head slightly a small grin grew on his face as he put a memory to the face of Third. Remembering him from the dark cave at the beach.

"Of course, that will be fine!" said Alin-Maya. He gracefully made his way to the rug while Third carefully lowered Aelinye's carrier to the ground (with a little help from Constant). If Vin had any thought of trying to assist Third, it was quickly dissuaded as Third went about the task of pulling Aelinye free from the carrier with his back to Vin, Constant his only help.

"This is Aelinye," said Third, hefting the tiny girl into his arms. She seemed tired, her eyes half-drooping, already overloaded by the journey.

"Interesting," Vin smirked, eyeing the little girl. Peeking over to Arranos all the while. Watching him as the baby of blue eyed the new comer on the rug as well.

Arranos glared at the boy as if he was treading on private property. A small smile of deviousness grew inch by inch across the blue clouded face of his.

Vin smiled gently, seeing as the Arranos was getting along quite nicely.

"So how long ago did Aelinye arrive?" Vin returned his gaze to Third.

"A few days," said Third, purposefully vague, but since Vin was vague about dates during their first encounter, it seemed to be something he could get away with.

Aelinye gave a little yawn, stretching her mouth wide as it could go, which was not very. Third looked over at the rug, where Alin-Maya was daintily perched, and headed in its direction. Constant followed, still carrying the insulated bag.

"I think she needs a nap," said Third. He marveled at the size of the hut and lack of furnishings, wondering how Vin and Arranos slept and ate with only a rug and not even any of the pillow-leaves or fuzzy plant blankets he remembered from World Zero.

Vin scratched at a pointed ear and followed the two toward the rug in the center of the room. Watching the expressions on thirds face.

"It's not much I know, but it's enough for us." Vin smiled looking around the hut and the lack of items that would of homed themselves in the hut.
It was really all that the tribe the young elf derived from really needed to survive. Food of course was stored off in some compartment off to the side hidden from sight of course... for safety reasons.

"So what brings you here," Vin took a seat, wrapping his legs around the blue baby.
"And how did you find me?" Vin smiled gently.

Third seated himself next to Alin-Maya, who seemed to be resting, and said, "My guardian has a lot of connections, she can find almost anything in her databases."

Actually, Emperial's boast was that she could find literally everything, but Third could only question the veracity of such a totalitarian claim. How could any computer find the secrets hidden inside a person's mind? Third set Aelinye down beside him and she draped herself across his lap, closing her eyes. Constant completed the trio, sitting down on Aelinye's other side and dropping the lunchbag on the mat.

"Hmmm...." Vin pondered, wondering if Third's guardian could really find just about anyone.

"Any ways back to the point," Vin draped his arms around Arranos. Who in fact had a shiny toy twirling between his baby fat fingers.
"what did you need to know? I'm sure that the Medium could have helped you... but she does come off a little creepy..."

Vin smiled remembering his first time meeting up with the woman. It was in fact pretty creepy... the way her house looked, the way the woman looked and acted drove shivers up his spine him out.

"I didn't want to bother her further," said Third, still worried what sort of impression Trant had left the Death guardian with. He smoothed down Aelinye's hair with his hand. "I was just wondering if there were any differences between Iridae and normal children in how they're cared for."

Meditating quietly, Alin-Maya listened to the conversation with half an ear.

"I haven’t cared for any other children before...." Vin smiled looking down at Arranos. The baby seemed to have a personality to call his own and already at such an age.

"But so far it's been nothing but cake for me, Arranos is so calm and usually never frets about anything," Vin scratched at his head,
"It's strange really..." Vin looked back up to Third and over to his guest.

"If you need help why don't you ask Emperial?" Vin cocked his head to the side.

"For what?" replied Third simply, as if the inquiry made no sense. Alin-Maya cracked open one eye. Third wore a look of stubborn determination on his face. Alin-Maya had to smile faintly. That expression reminded him a lot of Trion.

Vin raised an eye brow at Third, sensing the determination to do this on his own.
"Just thought I would say, I'm sure she could be much help." Vin smiled, running his hands through Arranos' multi colored hair.
"But if you want to do this on your own more power to you!" The Elvin man nodded, looking over to Alin-Maya then back toward Third.

Third wondered if Vin was simply too naive and good-natured to realize what Emperial of thought of him, but if so, it was probably better for the elf's sake. "No," he said, "Constant and I can take care of Aelinye. Why shouldn't we?" By some miracle, he kept any trace of indignation from creeping into his voice.

Alin-Maya softly giggled, opened both of his eyes and smiling at Third. "Of course you should! It's clear Aelinye likes you best." The Merovingian had a unique perspective on the situation, having been raised by servants the first six years of his life.

"You obtained the crystal, now your basically stuck with the child," Vin smirked, "Didn't the Medium tell you?" Vin patted Arranos on the head, who in return shot a disgruntled glare.

"You two share the same life force in a way...." Vin muttered, remembering how nervous and scared he was when he first found out about this.
"At least it doesn't kill you... heh..." The elf chuckled.

"We're not stuck with Aelinye," said Third, slightly appalled at the notion. "I was looking for her. Constant, too." He almost let slip that the desire was more his than his daemon's, that his finding Aelinye had been an act of selfishness. He pursed his lips. "Of course we know all about bonding." Probably more than Vin did, frankly.

Alin-Maya thoughtfully pressed his fingers against his lips and watched Third carefully, coyly avoiding comment.

"No means to offend you, I just put things in terms I'm used to," Vin scratched at his head, glaring down at the floor.
"Your right, your not stuck with her... there more like gifts I guess." Vin looked back up returning his gaze toward the group.

"Gifts to those who I guess deserve them most... I'm lucky I found this little one," Vin chuckled weakly. Ever since Arranos had arrived in to his life... things have been a little unplanned... something this elf needed most.

Alin-Maya relaxed with a gentle hum, glad for such a diffusive answer. "Children are so wonderful!" Alin said.

Looking at Aelinye, Third had to agree, and wonder if Emperial had at all felt the same way about him when he arrived. Constant assured him she had. Third remembered some of Trant's questions. "There aren't any dietary requirements or special procedures?" He was trying very hard to be a conscientious Keeper, trying to make sure there was not a single detail he was missing that would later be attributed to or blamed on his age.

"No, I guess there isn't anything special procedures," Vin smiled gently.
"Just do what you think is right I guess...." Vin patted Arranos on the head and ruffled up his hair.

"That’s what I've been doing so far and it's been working..."

Vin looked over to Alin-Maya, listening to his gentle hum then finally tuned in, "Sometimes they can be a nightmare too." Vin began to chuckle.


"We're not afraid of nightmares," said Third, as if saying it would make it true. It was in a way true and in a way false. Third and Constant had no fear of any nightmare that Aelinye could set upon them, but Third's fear of his own nightmares was very real, too real, so he denied it with a protective mantra.

In his lap, Aelinye rested lightly, strands of grey hair trembling at her breath and the gentle weight of Third's fingers. No hint of nightmare surrounded her; she daydreamed peacefully.

Third phrased his next question carefully, hoping to avoid confusion. He asked, "Can you tell me how fast an Iridae grows?" He knew that his own growth was accelerated beyond that of a human and suspected that Aelinye, with her Gaian origins, was the same. How fast she might grow was important. He had no intention of allowing her to outgrow him and turn their tentative relationship upside-down, reversing the roles of ward and protector.

"How fast... they grow?" Vin looked down toward the hemp sewn rug then over to Arranos... his own Iridae.
"That I don't know... I guess just over time they grow..." Vin pondered on it for a minute, wondering to himself why would some one ask that kind of question.

Vin looked back toward Third. Biting down on his lower lip, "That you'll probably have to ask the Medium... she would know better than any of us!"

Arranos continued to tinker with his own toys, looking over at the two new people every so often. The girl with grey hair stood out the most. Dropping the toy between his fingers, the blue baby began to crawl against the rug and toward the resting child. Plopping back down on his cushioned rear end once again. Arranos grew more daring by the second as he reached out to touch her hair.

Alin-Maya leaned forward, resting his palms on his knees. "Who is the Medium?" he asked, as innocently eager as a small child.

"She's another Iridae," said Third, "guardian of Death." He looked to Arranos for confirmation, and in the hopes that the other Keeper had more information on the strange woman. Third could only go by what he knew from the two brief encounters.

Vin nodded, "Yeah.."
Vin scratched at his head, thinking about how these Iridae fell. Why exactly did Arranos fall? Why did the Medium fall... after all she was the guardian of death.

"Did you find out why she fell?" Vin rested his hand back on the floor. Watching Third suspiciously.

Arranos patted Aelinye on the head gently with what strength his arms contained. Mimicking what his own guardian did to him every so often. Feeling her grey hair between his fingers, the color attracted him the most.

Third lightly edged Arranos away, but not soon enough. Aelinye and stirred at the unfamiliar touch, opening her eyes and then her mouth in a plaintive whimper. Her little fingers pulled at Third's jacket and she buried her head into the fabric with a shudder.

Blanking his face against reaction, Third repositioned Aelinye on the far side from Arranos and Vin and hugged her close, Constant taking Aelinye's place in front of Arranos. The daemon panted and wagged her tail in eager friendliness.

"No, We don't know that," said Third to Vin, wondering what Aelinye's mistake had been. Whatever it was, he was grateful, because it meant she was here now.

Arranos gave a grumpy frown, watching as Aelinye was moved away... but seeing the daemon Constant replace the child melted the frown in an almost instant. Throwing his hands up into the air, the little blue baby instantly latched onto the dog.

"Hmmm...." Vin scratched at one of his tattooed arms. "Well is there anything else you need answered... that I can try to answer.." Vin sort of chuckled, "Sorry that I'm not to much of any help..."

"No, thank you, you've been plenty of help," said Third. He glanced down at Aelinye, who was still shivering a bit. "I'm sure Aelinye is tired, we should get home." He smoothed Aelinye's hair down, which helped a bit.

Constant wagged her tail and licked Arranos, happy to acquiesce to the attention.

"No problem," Vin smiled "I wish I could have been more help to you!" Vin shrugged his shoulders. Latching his tattooed arms around Arranos, Vin lifted up the baby... who in turn shot his guardian a dirty look since he was having a blast with constant.

"If you need any more help, don't fret to stop by. Maybe I’ll be more help later on in the future!" Vin chuckled unknowingly. Glancing down to Arranos in his arms.

"Thank you very much," said Third. He would have shaken Vin's hand had the elf not been holding Arranos. Instead, Third's sincere nod would have to suffice.

"Yes, thank you for sharing your home with us," said Alin-Maya. He bobbed his head in respect as he stood, brushing off his silken pants with delicate hands.

Third hefted Aelinye up and deposited her back in her carrier. He was getting better at it, or perhaps it was simply that the carrier was settling into Aelinye's shape. The little Iridae girl sat there like a rag doll, frowning at being in the carrier again since that meant more jostling and more journeying and more being stuck helpless on her brother's back.

Alin-Maya continued pleasantries, saying, "It was very nice to meet you both," bowing slightly all the while and displaying the polite honor one would accord visiting foreign dignitaries in times of peace.

~~~

They were not yet all the way back when Trion found them, shuffling along at a snail's pace and pretending it was on account of the scenery. Alin-Maya, who had been bravely pretending he was not already past the point of exhaustion, made comments on the many trees and flowers and begged several rests, supposedly to more closely examine the flowers, but each stop he simply sat underneath the shade of his frilly parasol and caught his breath.

As hard a task as carrying Aelinye could be, Third was nowhere near his exhaustion point. He could have easily pressed on to home at a faster speed, but guilt held him back. Alin-Maya was so polite, so apologetic, that Third slowed himself down so as not to make Alin-Maya feel like a burden. He pretended he was tired, too, and that his shoulders ached more than they did, and that the fatigue was as much his as Alin-Maya's.

Even Constant was tired. Hers was not a physical exhaustion -- the daemon could run for miles more before even feeling the need to pause for breath -- but mental. Ever since their departure from Vin and Arranos's abode, she had grown increasingly worried about Third, Alin-Maya, and Aelinye. The mental stress of this journey was wearing on her more than any physical toll. It was made all the stronger by the fact that Constant could have run ahead and brought back someone to help them, to help Alin-Maya, if only she could get more than fifty yards away from Third without passing out.

(They had never actually tested exactly how far Constant could leave Third's side, but at thirty yards both Forgotten and daemon began to get very dizzy, so fifty was probably beyond their limits.)

And then Aelinye, who was at this point both tired and hungry and fed up with the whole concept of journeys. If she had any say in it (and she would not, for several weeks at least) they would never leave the house.

All that ended when Trion found them, clustered at the foot of a large oak tree, Alin-Maya mumbling about how soothing the day was, and that he just wanted to sit and enjoy it with his eyes closed for a minute. Third soothed Aelinye with a bottle, just barely cool at this point, and Constant sat on guard in front of them.

Third had never thought Trion Bartholomew, former bodyguard and mercenary, martial arts and weapons expert, veteran of several wars and countless battles, de facto leader of the deific three, could look so scared. His only greeting was to gasp Alin's name and charge the tree, pausing to breathe only when he was at Alin-Maya's side.

Alin-Maya opened his eyes and said, "Oh, Trion!"

The horrified look on Trion's face was thankfully not directed at any individual but at the situation as a whole. "What are you doing out here?" he demanded, reaching over to feel Alin's forehead with his hand.

"Oh, we went for a walk!" said Alin-Maya cheerily, as if this was a five-minute stroll in the park and nothing terribly grueling. (It would have been easygoing for anyone else, really.)

"Alin," sighed Trion, horror fading into relief. He shook his head. "Mer's sake, Alin, do you have any idea how dangerous that was?"

Alin-Maya was genuinely sorry, of course, an apology that Trion accepted by ruffling Alin-Maya's hair in almost brotherly affection and sitting down beside him. Alin-Maya happily leaned his head against Trion's shoulder and resumed his momentary recooperation.

It was only then that Trion seemed to take notice of Third, Constant, and Aelinye, pausing briefly on Aelinye to process the unfamiliar face. "Third, Constant," he said, nodding his head in greeting.

"This is Aelinye," said Third, but Aelinye only looked away and studied the ground, not interested in yet another new person today. "She's my sister."

Trion seemed to have a perfect understanding of that introduction. "That's good," he said, wrapping his arm around Alin-Maya.

They sat like that for some time, quiet but for the noise of Aelinye's slurping and Constant's tail occasionally thumping on the ground. When Aelinye was tired of her bottle Third let her sit next to him and play with the grass.

At some invisible cue, Trion finally stirred Alin-Maya back awake and nodded to Third. It was time to go. Third went to scoop up Aelinye and put her back in her carrier when he noticed she had something in her hand.

It was an acorn, the top still attached, not yet wholly brown. Probably the first to fall from the tree, knocked by some marauding bird or squirrel. The first sign of autumn. Third wondered if that was altogether something good for a baby, who might swallow and choke on it, and attempted to remove it from Aelinye's hand.

Aelinye's immediate reaction was utter disbelief. Her fingers closed around the nut like an iron vise and she let out a small cry of upset, drawing everyone's attention. Third stopped trying to open her hand and simply held out his own expectantly, hoping she might simply pass the acorn over.

She did not. Just the opposite -- she covered her fist with her other hand and let out another upset cry, threatening to erupt into a full-blown display of noise and waterworks.

Third stood there, trying to decide what to do.

"What's she got?" asked Trion.

"An acorn. I'm worried she might choke," answered Third. Frowning, Trion attempted to coax Aelinye into relinquishing her prize, and then Constant and Alin-Maya, too.

They tried everything. Cajoling, forcing, distracting, until they were out of tactics one could ethically use on a baby and were forced to give up. Poor Aelinye made very clear what she thought about this interference: she cried her little heart out, guilting everyone into complaisance.

"Just let her have it," sighed Trion, and Third was forced to agree. Only then did Aelinye quiet and consent to being put back into the carrier. Constant was given the task of watching her to make sure she did not eat the acorn all the way back.

The rest seemed to have done everyone good and they made good time the way back, especially after Trion decided to carry Alin-Maya on his back. The journey grew lighthearted as they neared the Bridge and finally the Neighborhood and their houses.

All the way back Constant watched that acorn, and all the way back Aelinye held it carefully to herself and did not try to eat it. Third managed to forget the acorn entirely by the time he left Trion and Alin-Maya at the gate and made his way inside. He put the carrier down, turned away, and when he went to remove Aelinye from the carrier the acorn was nowhere to be seen.

"Did you eat it?" he asked Aelinye. She merely looked back at him with big, innocent eyes. A mystery that was not to be solved for many weeks to come.