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"Nothing left to eat," Setsuko replied, smiling faintly. Inwardly, she was worried. Yesterday she had seemed so sure of the task...but now, on her way to face Ayumu, her confidence was faltering. What if they where wrong? Oh well. No backing out now. She had to do whatever it took to get back.

"There's always fishing," Rue said.

Setsuko shook her head. "Let's just...go," She said. "If we get home, we can eat there....and even if we don't, we can fish afterward."

Rue nodded, agreeing comepletly. She walked out of the cabin, the refreshing morning air crisp. She breathed in deeply, feeling strangely nervous.

"Alright," Said Setsuko, unfurling her glider for the first time in a while. "Are you ready for this?" She looked at Rue, but she was talking to herself as well.

Rue unfolded her wings as Setsuko's glider was opened, making a slight whoosh. She nodded, a slight breeze ruffling her feathers.

Setsuko blinked nervously. "Jaci, huphup," She instructed, voice shaking slightly. "Here we go," She murmured, glancing at Rue.

"You okay?" Rue asked, noticing how shaky she was.

Setsuko nodded, though her eyes still showed nervousness. "Yeah. L...let's go." She readied herself to leap into the air.

Rue nodded. She could understand Setsuko's nervousness. She felt the same, though she had more practice at hiding it. She leapt into the air, beating hard to gain altitude. Joy rushed through her as she took to air, as it always did, making a smile appear on her face.

Setsuko leaped off the ground, glider tilted almost completely vertically in order to get around Jaci's weight. Crisp wind blew through Setsuko's beige hair and Jaci's thick, bluish-gray pelt as they soared.

Rue was content to fly along in silence, left with her thoughts. Images of her brother, Lark, and the rest of her family, crowded her mind, making her anticipate the moment even more. ONly a small thread of nervousness was inside of her, and was soon dismissed. Nothing would go wrong, and she would soon be re-united with her family.

Setsuko glided beside Rue, equally silent. Her thoughts and feelings were taking uncomfortable twists and turns: I get to see my parents again! But what if the task isn't over? But what if it is? How will I get home? I'll see Kuilak, I'll sleep in my home rather than the cabin...but what will happen to Rue? What if we made a mistake? But there's still a possibility...

Soon the cave came into view, and Rue started to dive down slowly. Sooon she was flying into teh entrance, her breath unnaturally loud inside the cave walls.

Setsuko landed just outside the cave, Jaci jumping down beside her. She hesitated a moment before entering the Caverns.