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Ayumu paused, sweeping his gaze over the girls and the lion. "Are you ready to go home?" Setsuko felt as though she couldn't breath. Home? After all the days...weeks, even? She nodded numbly.

"Yes," Rue said, speaking. Her mouth felt dry at the possiblilty of finally going home.

"Alight." Ayumu spoke clearly, his voice well defined even in the dark, echoing tunnels. He opened his wings and cried to the Caverns themselves, "Caverns of Life, dreams from all around! Rue Ride, Setsuko, and Jaci have completed the task they where summoned to do! They have learned of the dreams and of each other! Now let them return in peace!" He lowered his head swiftly, black eyes suddenly glowing white. He glared into Setsuko's, and soon a burning sensation clouded her eyes...they were glowing like Ayumu's. Suddenly, the world went black. Ayumu turned to Jaci and burned into the feline's eyes, sending him quickly after his master. With them gone, Ayumu only had one person left to send. He turned to Rue...

Rue felt a burning sensation in her once brown eyes as they suddenly glowed a bright white. Wanting to blink but finding herself unable to do so, Rue saw everything go black.

The next thing Setsuko knew, she was lying in a bed. Not just a bed, she realized...her bed. Her bed. She sat up quickly, though she was still in a bit of a haze. Glancing around, she saw the familiar surroundings of her room in her tent at the South Pole. Wait...the South Pole? Home! She was home! She stood and moved outside to the main room. On a couchlike mound sat two adults. "Mother?" Setsuko murmured, "Father?" They turned quickly to the sound of her voice. Both wore solemn expressions and Katara's crystal-blue eyes were brimmed red as if she had been crying. But their faces soon shifted, their eyes widening in delight and their smiles reaching ear-to-ear. "Setsuko!" They excalimed, running up to embrace her. The family stood that way for several moments in absolute silence. Aang broke it. "Where have you been, Setsuko? We've been worried sick." "I..." Setsuko began, but then she paused. "You know what? I can't remember. In fact, if feels like it was all a dream...."

THe smell of pine needles filled her nose, and she pulled herself off the forest floor, momentarily confused. "Rue!" he name being called made her look up. The sight of Lark flying overhead made her smile, and she leapt into the air. He dived down to greet her, followed by most of the family. Happiness coursed through her to see them. "Rue, where did you go?" Celeste finally asked, her small voice sweet and curious. Rue frowned, then shrugged. LArk shot her a questioning glance, but she ignored it. "Let's all go back home." she said. Turning around, the breeze ruffling her feathers, Rue's smile widened.

((Ayumu's POV))

And so the two girls from different worlds made it back to their homes, and I was happy to have been their guide. After all, nothing is as it seems in the dream world, nor in the Caverns of Life. Though let me tell you something...Setsuko and Rue where not the first to have their worlds collided, nor will they be the last.

THE END~