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It wasn't long before Rue could see what used to be the lake, and the Cavern of Dreams. The heavy feeling of dread only grew stronger, until Rue felt physically nauseous. She felt more scared than she had the first time meeting Ayumu; this time, she had to worry about her family.

Setsuko landed just outside of the mouth to the Caverns of Life. Kuilak, feeling dizzy and uneasy from the flight, stumbled off of Setsuko's glider, trying to grasp his bearings on the solid ground. As soon as his clumsiness subsided, Setsuko passed Li off to him and hopped down the rocky slope to retrieve Yuumi from Jaci. Jaci, with his large, strong paws and limbs mixed in with his spectacular feline balance, would be able to climb the slope to the Caverns with ease; small, young Yuumi, on the other hand, would not, nor would he be able to cling to the Blue Lion's back during such a steep ascent. Setsuko was able to solve the problem by carrying Yuumi up, using Airbending to ease the trail. Once all were up, Setsuko stared into the darkness of the cave, here silvery eyes as wide as those of a coyote-deer in a bright light, able to scarcely detect the different glows that the dream-tunnels emitted.

It was time.

Rue, Tariq, Maddy, Gale, and Tess were able to see more clearly, due to their enhanced vision. The cavern looked different, and gave Rue the feeling of unease. Remembering the colored caves that branched off, she made sure she didn't stare into one. But the feeling of unease remained.

Rue was the first to step inside, the air almost musty. She tried to hold back a cough; something about the cavern made her want to whisper.

Everyone followed Rue, including Jaci. Li was handed back to Setsuko, who help the infant close, hoping that her pounding heart wouldn't frighten the child more.

It wasn't long until Ayumu's shape could be made out as he approached. Entering into decent enough light, Ayumu's full features were soon visible. Setsuko bit back a shocked screech. The spirit's well-being was even worse off than before. Dirt and parasites infested his crumpled, filthy feathers. A sickly crimson glow leaked from his terribly bloodshot eyes, all the previous spiritual power and wisdom that they had once held now chased away. Hot, rancid breath pored in ragged amounts from his crippled, dented beak as he breathed. Each breath was a painful gush of sharp, yet soft sound, and Setsuko was almost positive that she could hear his heart hammering a slow, uneven pattern, like a bass drummer just learning to play.

"You're back," The spirit croaked. Yuumi whimpered at the rough, throaty grumbled that had become of the spirit's voice, hiding behind his father. Kuilak, too, sucked in his breath, eyes wide and wild. Kya and Kanna clung to each other, teeth chattering nervously. Even Sumi, as reckless in the face of danger as he was, took a few nervous paces back, fear fluttering across his facial features like it never had before. "Finally."

Setsuko now realized that she and Rue had made a mistake. By waiting so long to take their families to the sickened spirit, they had forced upon themselves a much worse situation. Each day they had stayed in the weakening forest, Ayumu's heath had spilled further down the drain. She gulped, unable to grasp any coherent words to reply to Ayumu's comment. Instead, she held Li closer and nodded weakly.

Rue's face was a mask of shock and dread. She wasn't as scared of Ayumu as she was for her children's future at the moment. She had reached the same conclusion as Setsuko; they had only put themselves in a worse situation.

Tess let out a small sound of fear, and sidled closer to Tariq, whose face wasn't all that comforting. He looked frightened, and that isn't something any child wishes to see, especially younger ones. Maddy and Gale found themselves clutching each others' hands. Despite their relationship, which included many, many arguements and scuffles, they had a common enemy, as far as they could tell.

Ayumu did, indeed, look like the enemy. Parasites infested his filth-caked feathers, and his eyes were incredibly bloodshot, giving him an almost crazed look. He certainly wasn't recovering; his state of health -and hygiene- were rapidly detoriating.

Misaki edged closer to Tess and grasped her friend's quivering hand, squeezing tightly out of fear.

"W...what exactly is it that you want with my family and I?" Setsuko squeaked, a nervous, uncertain waver tapering her voice.

"I need your help," Ayumu rasped admittedly, "Sorting the dreams."

Whatever Setsuko was expecting, it wasn't that. Her eyes widened, and when she spoke again, rapid fear was thick in her horrified tone. "Sort...sort the dreams? The dreams?! No...w...we can't...isn't that dangerous?!?" She couldn't bear the thought of her children helping to sort those strange, mystical whips of the dreams out of minds. She knew that just looking into a tunnel of them could cause immense emotional confusion, but to be even closer? There was no way she could risk her children doing such a preposterous task.

"For you two, perhaps," Ayumu mused throatily, "And for your spouses, as well. But your children...don't you know?" Setsuko gulped again as the crippled spirit turned to face her, breathing in ragged gasps as the sickly boodshot eyes seemed to penetrate her soul. "Because you and Rue were exposed to the dreams in the past, your children have been born with immunity to them. Tell me, now, have any of them ever come crying to you due to a nightmare?"

Setsuko opened her mouth to reply, but then shut it again, trying to recall a time that such had happened. She couldn't, and her lack of an answer was all Ayumu needed.

"Exactly," the spirit grumbled.

Rue's mind felt oddly blank as she was unable to think of any such occasion. Suddenly, most of her dread evaporated, leaving the light feeling of relief. She had been so afraid...how could she ever risk their lives? But at least her children would be safe. Or safer.

Of course, Tariq was still in danger, but Rue felt better. She could protect one better than she could four. Then her relief turned once again to dread and doubt. Only looking into the tunnels had played with her emotion. How were she, Setsuko, Tariq, and Kuilak supposed to succeed?

Setsuko had to let the idea really sink into her mind before she could think again. When it finally did, she, like Rue, felt a great portion of the fear and anxiety she had felt evaporate into the still-tense air. But she still manage to cling to a nagging doubt. After all, what about herself and Kuilak? And Rue and Tariq, for that matter?

Rue glanced at Tariq, who still looked just as worried as before. She managed a small smile, hoping to comfort him somewhat. She had the feeling she didn't succeed entirely, and turned to Setsuko instead. She was sure her friend felt the same way she did, at least partway.

"Well?" Ayumu snapped impatiently, "Will you help me or not?!"

Setsuko just about leaped in surprise. "Er...um...yes, of course, Ayumu," As intimidating as the plagued spirit was, he was still a spirit, and Setsuko assumed that if they ever wanted him healed, this was a necessary task. "But...how would we sort the dreams?"

Rue's mouth was open to ask the same question. She shut it abruptly, waiting almost impatiently for the spirit to reply. She wanted to get this ordeal over with, and go home.

Ayumu opened his crusty beak to reply, but instead of words, what wound up coming out was a nasty, deafening screech. All the people trembled and fell back out of fear and shock as Ayumu began to writhe and struggled to keep any sanity he had left, battling stubbornly against the disease which had grasped him. "Go!" He gasped in pain, "Go now! Come back tomorrow, when this p...ain...is...th...rogh..." and with those words, his own feet collapsed beneath his body, and he was left thrashing and screeching. Setsuko and her family had no problem following those orders, each dashing for the mouth of the cave.

But as soon as everyone was out, yet another problem arose. They both heard and felt a terrible shake with one of Ayumu's desperate thrashes, as though the very earth were quaking with the dream spirit. Rocks tumbled down from overhead, what were once solidly atop the mountain now crumbled and crashed down the steep slope. None of them hit the two families, but they did clobber into the Caverns. The entrance was now blocked.

How would they get back to Ayumu now?

"Crap," Rue muttered once safely outside. Massive understatement. She didn't want to have to do this...task, but how else would they get home? We can't, she thought, both grimly and desperately. She looked at Setsuko. "What do we do know?" she asked, a look of hopelessness entering her brown eyes.

Setsuko stared worriedly at the now-blocked tunnels, then glanced back at Rue, desperation shining in her gaze. "I don't know," she murmured, voice laden with confusion and lost hope. "I guess for now, we'll just go back." Too upset to bother flying, she began to stumble down the rocks and slump across the dried lakebed. Her family had no choice but to follow by foot.

Rue immediatly felt some of her concern direct towards her friend. Her family trudging slowly, she raced ahead until by Setsuko. She placed a hand comfortingly on her arm, unable to think of anything else to do. "We'll think of something," she said quietly.