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"I wish I could do that," Tess murmured, wistful longing in her eyes.

"We have wings and can fly," Gale reminded her quietly.

Sumi, who had been standing pretty close to Gale, caught the comment. "Pssst, I can fly, too," He muttered loud enough for them to hear.

"Not ith wings," Gale countered, his voice still quiet, but scathing none the less.

Sensing a forming arguement, Tess retreated to Maddy.

Sumi rolled his eyes, but said nothing.

Kuilak and Setsuko turned. "Coming?" Kuilak called. Sumi glanced up to see that most of the people were already heading back. He ran ahead with them.

Gale followed, quickly passing Sumi.

"I don't think Gale likes Sumi," Tess whispered to Misaki.

"I don't think Sumi likes Gale either," Misaki whispered back as she followed the boys. "But then again, Sumi doesn't really like anyone."

Setsuko walked in silence, lost for words. And what she saw after a few more paces left her more speechless than before.
The cabin...well, there was no longer a cabin. Wood was piled in messy clumps. The "beds" they had been using earlier were soaked, scattered and torn. The food they had caught earlier but had not yet eaten was trampled to the ground, no longer edible.

Rue stared speechlessly at the barely recognizable remains of the cabin. She looked at Setsuko. "What are we going to do now?"

Setsuko sighed in exasperation. "There's only one choice left," She murmured, voice so low it was almost a whisper. "We have to go back into the Caverns..." Her eyes widened, then closed. This had been her worst fear, having to bring the children to the Caverns of Life. And now it just might be realized, unless Kuilak could look after them. Maybe.

Rue opened her mouth to protest, but closed it almost immediatly. The cabin was destroyed, and they had no idea how to get back to their own world. There didn't seem to be another choice. Slowly, Rue nodded. "I guess we do," she said, her voice as soft as Setsuko's.

The silence returned for a long period of time. Setsuko stood her ground, thinking hard. At last, she spoke up. "Kuilak, do you think you could watch the kids for an hour or so? Rue and I have to go somewhere..." She lowered her voice, "And it's not a kid-friendly place." Kuilak sighed inwardly. This was the what, third time he'd been handed the kids while Setsuko ran off somewhere in the past few days. But he agreed...how could he not? "Thank you," Said Setsuko, "And sorry. We'll be back as soon as possible, I promise."

Rue didn't need to say anything before Tariq gave a resigned sigh. "I'll watch the kids, too." His voice made it obvious he wasn't happy with this.

"Thank you," Rue said, her wings already half-way unfolded. She unfurled them the rest of the way, a loose feather twirling as it fell towards the wet ground.

Setsuko kissed Kuilak's cheek gently and handed Li to him. "I'll see you soon," She murmured. The she grabbed her glider, unfurled it, and followed Rue towards the Caverns. Kuilak watched her go, curious as to what this was about. But his thoughts were interrupted bu Yuumi's complaint. "So now what?" He whined. Kuilak groaned good-naturedly. "We'll think of something," he assured his son. "Something, indeed."

"I want to swim again," Tess said, looking hopefully at Tariq. "Please, Daddy?"
"Maybe later," Tariq said quickly. He had just been through a storm, and did not want to be put through more water.

The Caverns came into view all to soon, and Rue landed, pulling in her wings. They were hot from the exercise, and heated her back.

Setsuko landed in front of the Caverns. She inhaled deeply, followed in turn by a nervous exhale. "Are you ready for this?" She asked Rue.

Rue gave a hesitant nod. "You first," she said, clenching her hands into a fist.