Chapter X, Reading 18

Dakra was asleep and looked at peace. There was a slight smile on her lips and Icy was curled up behind her knees. She must be having a pleasant dream.

Flindra said nothing but took the time to look around the tidy little room. Now she noticed that Dakra was living in Leudh's home. Her mother's things were all in place, but the house was different. Everything appeared so real as she looked about her and she knew this could be no memory. This was new and so intensely real. The sights and the sounds swept over her; she was pulled into this alternate reality. As far as her eyes were concerned, she was home.

Flindra concentrated on her mother, planting the message that she was all right. As she was thinking, Dakra's eyes opened. She looked at the foot of the bed with shocked surprise. "Flindra! What are you doing home?"

It unnerved Flindra to be hearing her mother's words outside the dream realm. "I'm not really here, Momma," she answered hesitantly. "I'm still with Kewero in the Northern Reaches. I'm just projecting my mind through the crystal sphere. I'm not sure you will be able to hear me now that you are awake."

"I can hear you quite well, dear Flindra," Dakra said with a happy smile. "I don't know how you are doing this, but you're here. You're here, Flindra."

"I'm awed, Momma. I don't know how I'm doing this. I don't quite understand how."

"Don't question things, Flindra," Dakra said with the wisdom of a mother. "Now, tell me why you are here."

"I wanted to tell you that you and Leudh saved me. I wanted to thank you. It was your love, which helped me focus my thoughts so I could escape the void. Without your help, I couldn't have made it. I also want to know how you knew I was in such trouble."

"Dearest Flindra, there is no need for thanks. The knowledge that we, in some small way, helped you is thanks enough. We knew you were in trouble when both Leudh and I had a nightmare about you and our hearts were filled with worry. The next night I dreamt of you again. In this dream, I experienced a horrible, endless and hopeless void. I could wake up from such a nightmare but I knew you weren't able to. I talked it over with Leudh and we decided that we had to try to reach you. We thought of our home as we went back to sleep. We know you love this place and hoped that love could aid you."

"How did you guess to do this?"

"It was Leudh's suggestion. Perhaps his love for you gave him the answer."

"Will you thank him for me?"

"You've already done that."

"I have?"

"After we sent the vision of this home, we both knew that we had succeeded. You reached out to thank us. Don't you remember?"