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It was a long walk, made no easier by Setsuko's lack of self-motivation, but Kuilak and the others finally made it to the Caverns. Ayumu greeted them thankfully.

"Ah, at last, you're here," he mused. "Good. Please help me."

"That's what we came here for," Rue sighed, exhaustion showing in her voice. Dark circles under her eyes stood prominent against her pale skin. Despite their break and short rest, she didn't feel very rejuvinated. The woryr for her children was like a literal weight pressing down on her, slowing her down.

Ayumu nodded desparatly. "Children, please come," he rasped.

No one moved.

"Please," the spirit begged.

Kuilak nodded "Go," he encouraged.

Surprisingly, quiet Kanna was the first to take a few shaky steps forwards, standing right in front to the sickened spirit. She glanced back at her mother, Setsuko, so worn and beaten with the recent events, then at her father, Kuilak, his face almost devoid of all hope, with just a glimmer left in his deep blue eyes, just a slight glisten that said "maybe...". "I...I'll do whatever it takes to help my Mama," she announced. "I...I..I'll help you, Ay...Ayumu."

Misaki followed her sister, tightly grasping her hand. "M...me, too," she mumbled. "Me too!"

Kya stepped forward as well. "As will I. I...I would be happy to assist you, Spirit Ayumu."

Sumi sighed and joined his siblings. "What choice do I have, really?" He groaned sarcastically.

"None," Gale agreed, dragging a reluctant Maddy behind him as he stepped forward with the others.

Tess slowly let go of Tariq's hand, eyes uncertain yet naive. She took up Maddy's hand instead, staring at the diseased spirit cautiously.

Rue felt her heart wrench in two as all three of her children moved away from her and towards Ayumu. She was having some serious second thoughts; it took everything she had not to drag them away from here. But she couldn't. This was their only chance to get home.

Kuilak glanced over at Setsuko, still holding a nervous Yuumi in his arms. She seemed...shocked. Dazed. But her eyes were brighter than he'd seen them in a while. What was going on in her head?

The answer to that question can best be described as "chaos". Setsuko was still trying to recover from Li's death, and coming to the spiritual Caverns which she had once so badly feared to take the children was not helping at all. Only Kuilak's coaxing...and perhaps the instinct to protect her children with her life, it things were to come to that...could get her to go. But now, the children...her children...were volunteering to help the plagued spirit. They were scared, she could tell. She knew them well enough. They were frightened of Ayumu, but they still went up there. Why did they? What was it that Kanna had said... "I'll do whatever it takes to help my Mama."

Those words echoed around in Setsuko's frantic mind. She could not shake them. Were her children doing this...were they facing their fears and potentially risking their lives for her?

A few wet, hot tears burst free onto Setsuko's parched face like rain falling on a desert. Here she had been, moping in the corner like a nimrod about her son's death, all during which she still had children here who were alive, who cared for her, who needed her. And she'd turned her back! What a jerk she'd been, Setsuko realized. What a jerk!

The tears continued. Kuilak tightened his grasp. What was she thinking?

Rue struggled to divide her worry and concern between her children and her friend. "Setsuko? Are you alright?" Setsuko had been incredibly fragile ever since Li had died; her mental health seemed to be somewhat detoriating. She had at least became closed off from the world, barely interacting with it.

Her eyes seemed brighter now, though, more attentive. Was she finally returning to them? But why was she crying?

"Thank...you," Ayumu managed. Now...please. Sort...the dreams." He gestured with his head to the branching tunnels of various colors. Go into...each one and if you find....one that....has a color unlike the rest, just pick...it up and bring it...to the...right tunnel."

"The right tunnel as in the one on the right?" Maddy piped up. "Or like, not the wrong one."

"Not the wrong one," Kya whispered to Maddy.

"Oh," Maddy said.

Gale looked at the others with apprehension clear in his eyes. "Should we split up, or go together?"

Kanna blinked nervously. "I don't care. Let's just...get this over with."

And with that, she went into the nearest tunnel.

Maddy was the first to follow Kanna, bringing Tess with her. Splitting up didn't seem like a good idea to her; the thought of being alone here, and in the tunnels, was creepy and unappealing. She wanted to stay with others.

Gale found himself following his twin, though apprehension fluttered in his stomach.

The sorting of dreams was a long process, but sure enough, one dream at a time, the task was completed. Ayumu sighed with relief when the last correct dream was placed in its own tunnel and a wave of healing washed over his birdlike body. His crumpled, crusty feathers straightened and waxed themselves; dull, bloodshot eyes became bright and knowing; a crippled stance straightedge into a strong and noble one.

"Thank you," the spirit breathed, his voice having lost its ragged roughness from before, flowed smoothly through the air. "My world is again whole."

Sure enough, if the group were to look outside, they would find the lake full and glittering, with a beautiful, lush forest just beyond, and if they were to go into that forest, they would find a cabin, standing strong and tall.

And in that cabin, they just might find a little boy crying for Mama...

Maddy led the way out of the tunnels, Tess still holding her older sister's hand. Gale followed behind somewhat, looking incredibly relieved.

Rue felt like a literal weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She couldn't help but have been worried for her children, and now that the task was over...she felt relaxed for the first time she had in a long time. And seeing Ayumu healthy again was nice too, especially since the cavern no longer reeked of sickness. Rue glanced at Setsuko. "Are you ready to go?" she asked.

But Setsuko barely heard Rue's question. She was distracted by a pull...some weird bond that suddenly captured her mind.

"We need to go back to the cabin," she murmured softly.

"Setsuko, the cabin was destroyed, remember?" Chided Kuilak.

"We need to go to the cabin!" Setsuko repeated, louder, and ran out of the cave, Jaci right on her tail.