“No... that’s the wrong biireo...” Thairyn moaned incoherently, “...Valii took it... it wasn’t me, I promise...” Her voice was so soft and guileless that, in spite of the incoherence of her defence—whatever defence she was making—Neyhira almost believed her. For a few seconds, all was still. Thairyn thought that Neyhira might have lost interest in her. Then, suddenly, her entire world started rocking and shaking violently! That fiend was bouncing on her! Stubbornly, Thairyn held fast to her blankets and did not move.

“Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!” Neyhira’s voice was hushed, but excited enough that Thairyn could not for the life of her ignore it.

Thairyn groaned and cracked open an eyelid. The room was still dark! With a more determined groan, she pulled the blanket over her head. “Leave me alone, Neyhira. The Kiir isn’t even up yet.”

Neyhira stopped bouncing.

But there was still a problem. Thairyn could not sleep. If brains could be ticklish, Neyhira had certainly gone and tickled Thairyn’s. She waited a moment longer, however, just to prove that Neyhira had not “won”. Then blanket flew off her head and she sat straight up. “Why are you awake?”

Still sitting beside her, Neyhira smiled. “Shh!” She put her hand on Thairyn’s mouth. “Come on, we’re getting ready for Valii’s party! It’s going to be a surprise.”

Thairyn felt her heart start racing. Could that mean—she looked at Neyhira’s face and saw her beaming, as happy as she had seen her since—oh, yes, perhaps it could! She hopped out of bed, caught Neyhira’s hand, and the pair of them hurriedly (but quietly) made their way out of the room, up the hall, and out of Grandmama’s teiami. Thairyn paused there. Looking out over The Way from the branches before the ladder, she saw a small gathering of people under The Cira-anu, illuminated by blue lamps. Everyone was busy, setting up tables and decorations—but the figure that both caught and held Thairyn and Neyhira’s attention was one who sat still in a wickerwork chair in the grass…

A dusty beam of Kiirlight leaked into the Gem Matron’s dim room via a small round window very near the domed ceiling. Valii was as comfortable as a little child could possibly be, nestled down in the soft, warm fibres of her Grandmama’s nest, safely wrapped in her own puffy blankets, enveloped in familiar scents... few things could make her happier. Her feet had that puffy-sleepy feeling in them which made her blankets feel that much softer, and for a few moments she rubbed her toes together enjoying the cosy sensation. She would have stayed there much longer, rubbing her tummy with her palms and curling her warm tail around her ankles, had she not been drawn up from her plush comfort by an odd feeling...

Slowly, ever so slowly, for the nest was still warm and the blanket pulled up under her chin and around her cheeks were still so soft, Valii opened her eyes. She saw the ceiling of the teiami, and that made her happy. Then she stretched her wings and ruffled the blankets. Cool air passed over her face and the effect was soothing.

Valii sat up, blinking her eyes and looking around. She saw the Kiirlight, and if her face was not so sleepy she certainly would have smiled, because it made her feel content and quite sure that today was a good day. It did not take much to be so, nor did it really need to stay that way, for she lived in the moment. To Valii, the morning Kiirlight was the promise of wonderful exciting things to come; a chance to see each loving face of her family and play grand games with her siblings in some amazing land of their own making! The anticipation of such adventures before it all began was a good, quiet feeling, which filled her whole heart. But as she sat there, looking very groggy but feeling very pleasant, she suddenly found the source of that odd feeling she had before... Mama was not in the nest. She was not even in the room, and everything was very quiet.

This seemed very peculiar to Valii, if not somewhat unnerving. She remembered that she was in Grandmama's room, and that she had been sleeping with Grandmama ever since Mama had been sick. Now she felt solemn. When she remembered this, she knew she would not be able to go back to sleep, and knowing that she was alone made the warm embrace of the blankets less inviting.

Without making a peep, Valii slipped out of the nest and touched her toes on the floor. There she waited a moment, wondering if anyone would hear her. But as no one seemed to be around to do so, Valii let herself down and very quietly went to the room entrance. Again she paused, this time to look out the room entranceway and see if anyone was waiting for her, or if anyone was talking in the rooms upstairs; then she might be able to make a decision as to join them or go back to bed and wait for someone to come get her. She wondered, and hoped a little, that ciraanc was being prepared and that she would find her family gathering to eat, but there was no sound to indicate that was the case.

Feeling a tad bit more anxious, and a tad bit more curious, Valii left her Grandmama’s room. She was not really meaning to sneak, but she was being exceptionally quiet as she listened for familiar voices.

She made her way up the stairs and peered into the main room, never hearing a voice or seeing a face. So she went a bit further and peeked into the kitchen, to see if anyone was up or if there was any food to be found. But she only found more silence and more loneliness. Valii wondered if she had not woken up very

early, or if everyone had simply slept in too long, or all were sick... but in that case, where was Grandmama?

Valii decided that she would go on to the tome room where her sisters were sleeping, and see if they were still asleep or just being quiet in bed. If it were the latter, she might join them. But of course, when she got there, she found their beds empty. This was when Valii really started to wonder where her family was and what they were doing. She would go on up, as close as she dared without anyone with her, to the Gem Elder’s room. She would have to be, careful because she knew Grandmama did not want her in there. She hoped she would not be vexed. She just wanted to listen for any sound that might indicate her family was there. But everywhere she looked, she simply could not find anyone.

Valii had come back down to the main room, and was beginning to wonder whether or not to go back to Grandmama’s room and wait, or leave the teiami when she heard a noise; a distant cheer and a chorus of laughter and whooping, outside. Curious, Valii looked around for a window that she might look out, but all of the windows in the Gem Matron’s teiami were much too high up and covered with heavy tapestries for Valii to get a good look. All except one, that is: the one beside which sat the water urn. It was perhaps the biggest and lowest of all the windows in Grandmama’s teiami.  Yet, in spite of this, Valii still could not manage to peek outside, even when she reached up, grasped the fibrous lip of the window, and pulled herself up some. She just was not tall enough, or strong enough for that matter!

But Valii was not so uncreative as to direct any more of her attention to the window. She knew the noise was laughter, and she knew it was outside, so that was where she would go. Thinking there was a good chance it was her sisters, believing that they might be having great fun, and, anyway, knowing that there was someone outside, Valii did not hesitate or waste a moment! As fast as her chubby legs could possibly carry her, she scampered out of the Alaanc chamber, through the main room, and out onto the branches of the Tree Kin. Glorious Kiirlight met her there, bright and cheerful, and a soft cool breeze wafted through her curly hair. Several deep blue biireos with bright red-and-white breasts whistled and trilled at one another as they fluttered from branch to branch high in the canopy above her. Valii paid each of these things proper notice, for she was very observant and keen to have her mood lifted, and here she did pause. She looked carefully down the ladder, and around for the source of the laughter, straining to see from whence all the excitement came. Then she proceeded down the ladder—a hand, a foot, a hand, a foot—until she reached near enough the bottom to leap down without hurting herself, and she skipped the last rung altogether. Her feet landed pitter-pat in the grass, and another chorus of cheers met her earfins. She did not have to strain to see the crowds making the noise now, though. They were all across The Way, in front of her home, looking towards her and smiling. Everyone was dressed up so fancily in their ceremonial things; even the Cira-Anu was dressed up in golden flowers and yellow ribbons! A tall pole had been erected in the centre of the gathering, adorned with gold and white ribbons.

“Good morning Val!” Kaocoa Torran beckoned her over.

Valii stood a moment, looking shyly on as though she might retreat back to the teiami at any minute. But, after a few minutes, the four-year-old did come toddling across The Way, her earfins pinned back and her hands clasped under her chin. As soon as she had crossed over, there was a happy shout and a clap, then all at once exciting music began to play—flutes and strings! The crowds started to clap in tune with the upbeat rhythm, and a pair of young cousins came dancing out from amongst them to adorn Valii’s head and shoulders with a circlet of flowers and a shawl of white lace. They skipped and danced around her, and caught her by each hand and gently led her into the crowds towards the birthday pole. All the while Valii felt smaller and more concerned, though she could see everyone was happy, and that kept her from crying or running back to the teiami. Smiling and complimenting, the crowds parted way until Valii could see that there, at the foot of the pole, stood her sisters, her grandmother—and Papa and Mama! Mama looked a little tired, and she was sitting on a chair in front of Papa—but she was smiling, and she was there! Valii’s face, a moment prior looking shy, sleepy, and a little intimidated, brightened at once and her anxiety was forgotten. She smiled and hurried towards them to be caught in her family’s embrace!

“Happy birthday, my little one,” Mama whispered into her earfin, prinnaging her gently behind the earfins. She pulled Valii up into her lap and hugged her tight!

Valii was speechless with delight. She wrapped her chubby arms around her mother’s neck, nuzzled her, and prinnaged her cheek. Mama gently stroked the side of her face, looking into her eyes adoringly and smiling. Valii nuzzled her, stroked her face similarly, and prinnaged her again. Mama laughed softly and prinnaged the tip of her nose.

“Are you surprised?” Neyhira asked excitedly, tugging on the hem of Valii’s nightdress.

Valii looked down at her and smiled.

“Are you hungry?” Thairyn asked, as though this were the more pressing question. Many hours had been endured after decorating had been completed, each with her having to look at that wonderful food and being forced to wait because Valii was still asleep.

Valii said nothing still, much to Thairyn’s dismay. She looked up at the pole; so high up, it must have been more than fifteen feet tall! Mama turned her around in her lap to face her friends and family again. She clasped her hands in her lap and looked at Kaocoa Torran and Nanani Shemsi, Nanani Kerriah, her husband, and her two daughters (whom had been the cousins that put the circlet of flowers and lace shawl over her head), and other close members of the family she recognized, smiling shyly. Kaocoa Calis was there, as were all of Papa’s other brothers and sisters and their families. There were also several faces in the crowds she did not recognize as well; probably friends of her mother and father—she had seen them before, but she did not know their names. Ordinarily, all their attention would have made Valii feel a little bashful, but tucked safely in her mother’s lap, Valii felt only happy and content.  She looked at all the beautiful and exciting decorations—all set up just for her! There were blankets spread out around the pole, set with eating places. Near the Cira-anu, Valii saw several wickerwork tables had been set up; and piles of

delicious looking treats, fruit juices, and glittering gemfruits were laid out over each!

Kaqurei laughed and leaned over to prinnage Valii’s cheek. “You’re getting so big!”

Just since yesterday? Valii was very pleased. She leaned in to the gesture of affection and smiled brightly at her oldest sister. Then she looked around for Faeralie. She spotted her with a few other Dracoens around the same age, the music players. Faeralie was merrily strumming out a tune with her instrument. Catching Valii’s eye, Faeralie smiled and winked.

Valii gasped. “I’m gonna go get my own thing,” she said, patting her mother’s cheek and slipping down from her lap.

“What thing?” Mama asked.

Valii opened her mouth and almost told her, but remembered it was a secret. “I’ll show you!” she said, “Come!”

Just as she took Mama’s hand and was about to hurry back to Grandmama’s teiami with her mother in tow, Papa said, “Just a moment, Valii,” and she looked to see what the matter was. Papa and Mama both exchanged proud smiles and Papa continued, “Don’t you want to take this with you?” He lifted up a beautiful yellow gown, hemmed and embroidered with golden lacy patterns!

Valii gasped and covered her mouth, but smiled wide under her little hands. It was her new birthday gown! Each year, a young girl in the Gem Clan would be presented with such a gift from her parents, lovingly hand crafted by her mother (or another family matron if her mother had passed as Faeralie’s had), to be worn throughout her birthday celebration. It was a very special tradition! “Oh, yes!” Valii exclaimed.

Family and friends laughed affectionately.

“Come, Valii,” Grandmama said, approaching her and taking her by the hand. “Let’s get you dressed, and then you can get your thing.” She winked, and Valii smiled. But although she was excited to put on the gown and get her bubbles to show Mama, she was hesitant to leave, and made sure to say, “Wait here, my own Mama, I’ll be right back,” before going with her Grandmother.

The pair hurried to Grandmama’s teiami. For the short time that they were gone, family and friends chatted cheerfully. Thairyn and Neyhira agreed with a look that they were very unhappy with any sort of interruption from the party, especially since Valii was awake now, and they both wanted to get at the treats. But there was something else agreed upon in that look; neither of them had the nerve to complain.

However, it was not long at all before Valii and Grandmama returned, the former dressed up in her birthday gown (which matched the lace shawl a lot better than her nightdress had) and smiling brightly, clutching a large crystal jar in her hands.

Neyhira, it must be admitted, felt just the teensiest bit envious of her sister, seeing her all dressed up and pretty. The fact that she felt that way bothered her, and she tried not to let it show... but she did slip up a little when she commented to Thairyn, “I wish it was our birthday.”

Valii brought her crystal jar to her mother. “Here, Mama,” she said.

Mama gasped softly and took the jar delicately into her hands. With wonder and joy in her face, she looked to Valii and asked, “Oh, Valii, what do we have here?”

Valii grinned. “Bubbles, Mama!”

Mama lifted the jar into the Kiirlight so that it shined and looked magicael all over again. “Oh, Valii, it’s lovely!”

“Faeralie gave it to me, and I saved it forever and ever, special for you, Mama. I wanted you to have your own bubbles when you got all better,” Valii said. “I was so careful I didn’t spill any, but Neyhira did, all over the bed when Thairyn and her were play-fighting.”

Some people chuckled, and Mama looked at Neyhira, who ducked her head as though this were the greatest shame in the world. Mama smiled. “Never you mind, Neyhira.”

Valii offered Mama the yellow reed loop. “Do you know how to blow your own bubbles, Mama? I can show you how, if you want.”

“Go ahead and show me, little one.”

The party lasted well into the afternoon, and, in due course, Thairyn and Neyhira did eventually receive the so desired treats that they had been eyeing. They were more than happy to partake in the festivities and praise their little sister without a trace of envy after that.

It was the most delicious feeling in the world that night to Thairyn when she and her sisters were able to return with their parents to their very own teiami. They spent the evening laughing and telling stories about all their adventures in the past few days. It was the best Alaanc Thairyn could ever remember. She wished that Mama had done more story telling, but, she supposed, there was not much to tell when one had spent nearly a week being ill in bed. Still, she thought, noticing a wistful look in Mama's eye just as Kaqurei was recounting the tale of Prince Noren, It does look like she has something she wishes she could say.

After the Alaanc, Papa told Thairyn to join him in his study. “It has been far too eventful a week with far too little guidance from your Star-guardian,” he told her. “Let’s see what Manairus has in store for you today.”

“Okay!” Thairyn said eagerly. She sat down next to him on the soft pillow with the big tome he had given her.

“Well, where did we leave off last time?”

Thairyn opened the heavy tome to a point near the beginning; about an inch into the six inch thick volume. She examined the page and finally pointed to a line. “About there, where Manairus writes; A storm is brewing amongst the elders and brothers in the clan.”

“Ah, yes. But the author of this chapter is Manairus’ father,” Papa said, “Manairus himself has not

been born yet. This is right before the war broke out.”

Thairyn sighed. “Can we skip ahead? I know about the war. People were awful and they killed each other. I get it. That doesn’t have anything to do with me. I want to know what Manairus would do if he were me, not a dumb war.”

“Thairyn,” Papa said, more seriously than she expected, “This is Manairus’ journey. Yours may mirror it in some ways. At times, many times, his days were dark. He faced conflicts and injustices, he was betrayed. Perhaps, if he had one who had gone through such times before him to look to for guidance, some of these things might have been prevented.”

Thairyn puffed a sigh through her lips. “Preventing war is easy: just get along or leave each other alone.”

“It’s not that simple, my little one. There were many during this time that did not desire war, and yet it came to them regardless.”

Thairyn sighed. “Well, why?”

“Let us find out.” He put his arm around Thairyn and began to read the tome. “The clan is divided, ever since the Little Ones came. Many fear them. They give us cause to question all that we have been taught to believe. There many who seek to destroy them. Others believe that they are a test of the One Who Is Endless. They desire to give them the best of the land and nourish them as though they were little children. I feel that would be unwise, for they are not children; though unruly and undisciplined, they are quick to destroy and slow to fear, slow to respect. They may have the form of the One Who Is Endless, but they are mortal as any Dracoen. They die. They do not create. They do not give. They kill and they take. They are more as a disease. Were they stronger now, I believe they would do this land and our people much harm. But I fear that a Great Separation will come upon us for the ferocity of our disagreements concerning this thing, and I would sooner see the Little Ones remain than that we fight one another, brother against brother, father against son, and son against father.”

“...A Separation? Little Ones? Does he mean the Münshirlings? Are those the little people he’s talking about?”

“Yes,” Papa said.

Thairyn scoffed as though personally insulted. “A disease?”

“Manairus’ father, and many of his kin, did not understand the ways of the Münshirlings, and that frightened them. Rather than try to face this fear with a sort of understanding, they were more inclined to hate them. So you see, there were those amongst the clan that would neither get along with nor leave alone the Münshirlings. Those who did not desire war could not stand idly by and allow those of evil intent destroy the innocent, though they were our brothers. Those that initially refused peace would act and thus force reaction. Thus came the war.” He resumed reading the chapter.”

Thairyn was quiet and listened as he continued to read for a little while, though her mind was not exactly on his words. She thought about meeting Gideon and Nya, and how kind they had been. Then she thought about what Gideon had said about Manairus dying. It still bugged her very much. At last, she asked softly, “Papa, did Manairus die?”

Papa paused reading and gave her a long, solemn look. “There comes a time in everyone’s life when our part to play in this world, large or small, is fulfilled, Thairyn,” he said gently. “And when that time comes, we will die. It is the fate of every living thing.”

“Even Star-guardians?”

“Even Star-guardians,” Papa said with a slow nod. “Do you remember the lesson of the talgonfree?”

“Yes, but what does that have to do with Manairus?” Thairyn asked.

“Death is not the final stage, is it?” Papa said. “Everything that came before would be meaningless if that were so. Death is peupa, or in the middle. Remember when Mama showed you the lavaa? It is is very different from the emago, isn’t it? It has to change drastically to become emago. That change is difficult. But without peupa, we would remain lavaa, we would never become emago. Do you understand?”

Thairyn was quiet for a moment. She did not think becoming a peupa was as terrible as dying, or being killed. But at length she nodded. “Yes, Papa, I understand.”

Papa smiled. “You will some day, my little one,” he said, brushing her cheek. She looked at him and met his eyes. He looked so earnest, his whole being so full of the deepest affection and devotion to her. She wondered what he was thinking about as his eyes searched hers. He almost looked worried. Then sad. Then he would smile again, admiring her. She loved him so. She loved his touch. She wanted to make him proud of her. It seemed a long time, but it was probably only a minute or two before the moment passed and Papa patted her head and returned to the tome. “Now, this Great Separation that Manairus’ father is writing about; that was when the Gem Clan was broken into two parts. The part that wanted to destroy the Münshirlings later became known as the Moon Clan. The Gem Clan remained the Gem Clan, and fought to protect the Münshirlings.”

Thairyn was thoughtful for a moment. “Which side was Manairus on? Mama said he was a Moonkind.”

Papa nodded.

So Manairus wanted to destroy the Münshirlings? Thairyn had mixed feelings about that. She had always admired her Star-guardian, she was sure whatever he did was right... but wanting to destroy people like Gideon and Nya did not sound very good to her.

Guessing her thoughts, Papa went on to explain. “Manairus was born during the war, as a Moonkind. He did not really have a choice as to whose side he wanted to be on. But he always wanted peace, especially between the two Clans.”

Thairyn nodded quietly. Then she smiled. “And then he met Telae’ah, and they fell in love. Like when you met Mama.”

Papa smiled too. He looked up at the window, and was thoughtful for a moment. “Well, my child,” he said softly, “The day is done. I have kept you awake long enough. You must sleep, if you are to be ready for tomorrow.”

Tomorrow came, as tomorrows so often do, and Thairyn and her sisters were not ready for it at all. This tomorrow came earlier than any of the others they could remember. The Kiir had not yet even peeped over the edges of the eastern mountains when Mama quietly entered their sleeping chambers to wake them. For her part, Neyhira felt she had only just closed her eyes when Mama’s hand gently caressed her face and urged her to wake.

“My dear ones, you must wake. The morning has come, and the Day of Remembering with it. My darlings, wake,” she said softly. There was no real urgency in her voice, nothing that would frighten them, yet, somehow, they each felt an feeling in their hearts, one they could only ever describe as being strong. The “strong feeling” would not let them sleep on, and as they felt it, not one of the girls even had the desire to, lest something important happen without them.

So it was that three little figures, slowly and drowsy as they might be, slipped from their beds and followed their mother to another room. Which? Why, it must have been her own, hers and Papa’s, as Neyhira recalled later. There Mama dressed them in special ceremonial gowns coloured like the stars, and their feet she shod in silver embroidered covers that would adorn the tops of the feet and the shins, and arm bands to match. Their hair she brushed and braided, and adorned with special beads, and upon each head she set a crown with a silken silver veil.

It was then, waking a bit more now, that Thairyn noticed her mother donned very similar, but different, garb. Upon her head was no crown, but a tall hat from which flowed the veil, which was much longer than any of the girls’. It cascaded down her shoulders to her chest, and in the back down nearly to the base of her tail. Her wings, too, were clothed in a similar transparent silken material as the veil, embroidered with white stars.

Kaqurei entered the room, dressed the same as her sisters. She carried with her a small, intricately carved box, and presented it to her mother.

“Thank you, my dear one,” Mama said as she took it from her.

Valii had sat down on her mother’s bedside, and drifted again to sleep. Neyhira and Thairyn though were now wide awake. Neyhira shook Valii’s shoulders. “Valii, wake up, we’re not done yet!” she whispered.

Valii moaned. “But my own Kiir isn’t even up yet!”

Mama smiled. “Come now, my dears,” she said, and Valii was obliged to sit up again.

The four year old looked around drowsily, and rubbed her eyes. “Where’s my own Papa?” she asked sleepily.

“He is down in the welcoming room, waiting for us,” Kaqurei said.

Mama opened the box. Inside were eight silver rings. Each was inscribed with a special character, and four of them were set each with a white gemstone that was cut to resemble a star. She took one set with a gem and placed it upon Kaqurei’s right index finger. The next ring, one without a gem, was put upon her right thumb. Thairyn, Neyhira, and Valii each in turn were given rings also; the one with the gem placed upon the right index finger, the one without placed upon the thumb.

“Why don’t you get your own rings, Mama?” Valii asked.

“Shh, she does, but Papa has to put them on her,” Thairyn whispered. Valii must have been too little to recall the last Day of Remembering.

“Come now, we must go to meet your father,” Mama said.

They went down the winding hallway and found Papa. He was wearing a ceremonial robe, with a silver sash. He too wore silver embroidered foot covers and arm bands, and, like Mama, his wings were clothed in a silken transparent covering. He wore a golden circlet, with long pronghorns fashioned upon it, and he held in his hands a box much like the one Mama had produced the eight silver rings from. When he saw Mama, he smiled and opened the box. He took from it a golden ring set with a crescent cut gemstone, and placed it upon her index finger, and another golden ring without a gem upon her thumb. In turn, she took a golden ring set with a gemstone cut to resemble the Kiir out of the box and placed it upon his right index finger, and the remaining golden ring upon his thumb.

The family proceeded on out of their teiami and down towards The Way. By this time, the forest had taken on a twilight blue glow, for the Kiir was rising. The girls saw other families, dressed as they were, also coming from their homes, and others already travelling The Way. They were all humming a familiar ancient song, in deep, rumbling tones, and the air vibrated with their voices.

“Mama, Mama,” Valii squeaked, “Where are we all going?”

“The Delvings, my dear,” Mama said softly. With a graceful wave of her hand and a delicate touch to her mouth, Mama motioned that Valii be quiet.

Thairyn felt a chill go up her spine as she heard her parents join the song of the others. She had heard them hum it on Remembering Days past, but for some reason it struck her differently this time. She looked to Neyhira, and through her veil could see her eyes were wide with wonder. Thairyn supposed she must have felt it too.

The procession continued on down The Way, further than the girls had ever travelled it by themselves, on out of the Forest. In the distance now ahead, they could see the Jag Circle, and to their right they could see the Azure Mountains, where the sky was starting to become pink. Humming on in those deep, melodious tones, they proceeded all a small distance after that, and turned with the beaten path towards the northwest from the Forest. The ground sloped down from there, into a rocky uneven glen, where everything—tree, rock, stump, and mound—seemed to be covered in a rich green moss. The path continued to be flat,

trodden down by centuries of use. They continued on, though how long the girls certainly did not know—only that the Kiir had risen and the sky was a pale blue when they arrived at a cave situated in one of the great stone banks that rose up along the glen.

Though the entrance was small, so that each family of Dracoens was compelled to enter it only two by two, there was revealed within to be a much larger space, so that many thousands might stand abreast inside.  Holes bored centuries before in the great domed ceiling of the place allowed for beams of pale morning Kiirlight to shine inside. Valii could easily see the vastness of the cavern. She marvelled at the stone trees carved to support the ceiling—thinking at first that they were Tree Kin turned to stone. The floor sloped ever downward into darkness, and the procession continued on down into it. The humming became a solemn song with words;

They travelled deep into The Delving, and after a time, Valii realized that she could still see. The walls were glowing a soft, ethereal white all by themselves! She whispered excitedly to her sisters about this, but they shushed her and told her they already knew.

At last the cavern levelled out into a wide chamber supported by six tree-pillars, which glowed a little brighter than the walls of The Delving themselves and filled the whole chamber with a quiet glow. Valii could see that all three of the chamber’s walls were lined with what appeared to her to be small domed doorways. The walls and floors alike were intricately carved with patterns of leaves. In the centre of the room was a great stone box, three times as wide as it was tall, and it was ornately decorated with carvings and inlaid with gold and silver. Everyone in turn came to the box and touched it softly with the same hand that donned the rings. When Valii’s turn came, Papa whispered softly to her that this was where the body of the first Gem Dracoen laid, and her husband, Darghir.

“What’s her own name, Papa?” Valii asked.

“Mishkii,” Papa whispered, “The mother of our Clan. We touch the tomb to remember her and Darghir our Father.”

After they touched Mishkii and Darghir’s tomb, some people began to go one way, and others another, each to different doorways. Papa and Mama followed Grandmama, and all of Papa’s brothers and sisters and their families did the same. Grandmama led them on forward, towards what looked to be the centre doorway. It was a little larger than all the others, Thairyn noted.

Unlike the entrance of The Delving, this doorway did not open into a wider chamber, but a long hallway that was of the same dimensions as the door itself. The families were made to walk two by two again (at least, the adults were—Thairyn, Neyhira, and Valii were able to walk comfortably alongside each other). Papa and Mama were just behind Grandmama and The Gem Elder, and Kaqurei just behind them. Behind the three younger girls, who elected to walk together, was Kaocoa Calis and Faeralie, and more Nananisu and Kaocoasu behind them. The song became a gentle humming again.

After a short time, the hallway opened into another grand chamber, though this one was only half the size of Mishkii and Darghir’s; only three tree pillars supported it. In the centre of the chamber was another great box, much wider and taller than Mishkii and Darghir’s tomb, with another smaller box on top of it. It was decorated in smaller sections, each with a name engraved upon its face. Grandmama came to the centre section of this tomb, and touched the first name. She proceeded to touch the next one to its immediate right, and the one after until she had gone all around the tomb and touched each name. Everyone followed her and did the same. Thairyn was surprised, as this was the first time in her memory that she was actually able to read the engravings and names. More surprised, when she came to and touched a section of the tomb that read:

She looked at Neyhira, who returned a surprised and excited look. They could not talk about their discovery, of course, as both knew that this part of the ceremony required silence, but they agreed with a look that they would discuss it later. Immediately afterwards, they discovered Gem Chief Noren’s tomb, though it did not mention his parentage and went on instead to describe some of his deeds, and his beloved wife just beside it. At the end of the round, they saw another pair of names they immediately recognized: GEM-CHIEF TORRANO and PRINCESS SAHKII. Those were the names of Grandmama’s father and mother. Grandmama stayed a moment longer at this tomb than she did the others. Then she proceeded with another nanani up a stone ramp to the second box above. There was only one closed section on this box, and many other spaces hollowed out in regular intervals afterwards. This one Neyhira and Thairyn knew without needing to read the name, for they had been told many times in Remembering Days before. This was the tomb of Grandmama’s brother, whom the twins had never met. He had died some years before their egg hatched.

Neyhira felt a touch upon her shoulder. She looked up and saw Mama standing there, quietly beckoning her and Thairyn to follow her to where Papa and their other sisters were waiting, standing a part from the others. Papa led them down another passageway, to a room that was empty.

“Remember the lesson of the talgonfree, my daughters?” Papa said softly.

Thairyn nodded.

“Kinda,” Neyhira said.

“Ova, lava, peupa, emago,” Kaqurei said. “Egg which is Birth, Spirit which must Eat, Doll that is Still, Image that is Complete.”

Papa nodded to Kaqurei. “You have been born, and now you live as the Spirit Which Must Eat.

These, our kinsmen laid to rest in this Delving, have gone before us and now lie still. They are waiting, as one day we must also wait.”

“What are they waiting for, Papa?” Valii asked.

“They are waiting for the day that they will become Image that is Complete. When their full potential shall be realized. That is a day promised to us all,” Papa said. “You must remember, my little ones, death is not the end of any living thing. All shall become the Image. It is according as we have lived that determines what the Image shall be. You must live and be kind, be fearless and selfless to become the best Image you can be. Feed the Spirit with good works and knowledge.”

A funny thought had come to Thairyn, seeing Grandmama at her brother’s tomb. She was quiet for a moment, as they all were, thinking about what Papa had said. “Papa?” she ventured at last, “What is it like to have a brother that is still?”

Mama and Papa looked at each other, their eyes meeting and a familiar sadness filling their faces.

“Is my brother still?”

“No, Thairyn,” Mama said quietly. “Your brother lives.”

“Then how come I’ve never met them before?”

“He was taken away, my child,” Mama said. “But we shall see him again. For that, we must also wait. But it is a different sort of waiting than the Doll that is Still.”

“Who took him away?” Neyhira asked.

“Hush now, my children,” Mama whispered, “We will speak of these things, but not now. Remember your brother, but know that he is not still.”

A nanani and a kaocoa entered the passage and drew Mama and Papa’s attention, speaking in hushed tones.

“My older brother is still,” Kaqurei said quietly to her sisters. “He rests with my Moonkind mother and father. It’s a feeling sort of like serethia, Thairyn. It makes me sad, but I’m happy too, because I know that I will see them again when we become the Image.”

Neyhira wrinkled her brow. “So who will be your Mama and Papa when that happens?”

“I just have two Mamas and two Papas. They are your Mamas and Papas too, because they are mine, and we’re all a family.”

Thairyn and Neyhira looked at each other, and both looked at Valii. They agreed quietly that it would be strange to have two Mamas and Papas and they were not sure why Kaqurei seemed to like the idea. Certainly they did not want other Mamas and Papas.

Kaqurei looked at them and understood. She looked as though she wanted to say more, but she did not.

“What does it mean to become the Image?” Thairyn asked instead. Papa said that Manairus had become the Image. But he was a Star-guardian. Did everyone become Star-guardians after they die? If they did, why did some have to wait while others became Star-guardians right away?

Kaqurei looked at her strangely. “I suppose it means that we reach our full potential.”

“But what does that mean?”

Kaqurei shrugged. “I don’t really know. What we’re supposed to be, I guess.”

When the ceremony was over, everyone left The Delving by the way they had come and continued to sing until they reached the Gem Forest. Then they had a wonderful gathering where treats were served, music was played, and everyone talked and laughed as they fondly remembered those who had passed on. Ceremonial attire was exchanged for those of every day use, and the rings and hats and crowns were reverently put away. Then at last friends and family parted ways, until only a few remained gathered by the

Tree Mother, engaged still in conversation or play. Thairyn and her sisters hastily told their parents of their plans to meet with Prince Gideon and his friends by the Glassmere and were sent merrily on their way.

“He might have been looking for us an hour ago, by the Kiir’s light,” Neyhira said, “Let’s hurry!”

“Oh! Oh!” Valii exclaimed. “Wait, I want to show my own Marley my own doll Mama made for my own birthday! Can we stop at our own teiami to get it? Please?”

Neyhira and Thairyn exchanged hesitant glances, but complied. They knew how disappointed they would be if such a request were denied one of them, after all. So the three ran as fast as they could to their teiami home and leapt, climbed, and fluttered up to to their room. Valii’s doll was found and collected in a minute, and the three little sisters leapt out their window with wings outspread so that they might glide to the ground. It was not the proper way to exit a teiami, in fact, it would have been considered wild behaviour, but there were no adults to stop them, and they were in a great hurry indeed. They sailed on the wind a fair distance from their home and touched on the ground running.

“I hope my own Marley is there! I hope I hope!” Valii was heard to say.

However, when the girls at last crested the hill separating them from their destination, they were surprised to see that only two figures waited for them by the lake, and Marley was not one of them. They paused, panting, and Thairyn and Neyhira looked regretfully to Valii. But little Valii did not seem too disappointed. So they called out a Dracoen greeting and hurried down the hill to meet their friends.

“Salwé!” Gideon exclaimed cheerfully, meeting them half way. “I’m so glad you could make it! We were just about to return to New Münshir. We had thought we would miss you.”

“I am very much glad that you did not!” Neyhira said. “We are very much apologetic!”

“We were very much preoccupied. Today is the Day of Remembering,” Thairyn said.

“Oh? What is that?” Gideon asked eagerly.

“It is the day we remember our ancestors and friends who have become Peupa,” Thairyn said.

Gideon knit his brow and gave them an odd look. He looked to Nya, who shrugged. “Peupa?” he asked. “What do you mean? A peupa is a child’s plaything, is it not? A doll?”

“Yes,” Neyhira said. “The Doll That Is Still. That is what we call someone when they have died.”

“But we do not play with them,” Thairyn added, wrinkling her nose. “That would be very much strange.”

Gideon and Nya laughed. “I agree,” said Gideon.

Valii twittered something in Dracoen to Thairyn, and looked at Gideon with a big smile, raising her own little doll to show him. It was certainly different than Münshirling dolls, and not just in that it was designed to represent a little Dracoen figure rather than a human child. What it was made of could not be said, as it was completely embroidered over with vibrant patterns, symbols, and pictures. On the face was embroidered two bright eyes and large nostrils, but without a mouth. The rest of the head and body was encrusted with figures of plants and animals. The head primary displayed symbols and letters in the Dracoen language, with especially important looking ones being depicting on its large ears. The wings displayed figures of biireos, flying erepods, clouds, and rain. The arms and legs were embroidered with figures of mountains, the roots of trees, and creatures that Gideon could not name, for he had never seen the like. The body had symbols like flowers, talgonfrees, gemstones, and Dracoens in pairs holding hands. The tail displayed many colours and patterns, mostly stripes. Its hair was fashioned of some sort of feathery grass, all braided and beaded. It did not wear clothes. The sort of apparel the Prince had found to be most commonly worn by the Dracoen girls was a piece of apparel that looked to him like a pleated skirt that had been put over the head and one shoulder, and this over loose fitting trousers which had open outseams, but were secured by ribbons at the ankles (or knees, as Neyhira seemed to wear a shorter version) and low on the hips.

“It is called a kyntin,” Neyhira said when Gideon asked. She pinched her trousers at the knee and said, “And this is taiee.”

“And babies do not wear them,” Thairyn added.

“What do Dracoen babies wear?” Gideon asked.

“For the Ceremony of the Names they wear gowns, like a kyntin but longer and with more layers, and both your arms go under it. Like the one I was wearing when we first met, you remember?”

Gideon did not really remember, though he said he did.

“Fien appreciating na peupa?” Valii asked.

“She wants to know if you appreciate her doll,” Neyhira said.

Gideon nodded. “Very much. It's beautiful.”

Neyhira translated for Valii, and she beamed. “Our Mama made it,” Neyhira said, looking at Gideon.

Gideon grinned again. This time, Thairyn had to ask. “Why do that?” And she gestured at her face and mouth.

Gideon shrugged. “Smile? Because I’m happy…?”

“But you do it with your teeth,” Thairyn said quietly.

“It is bad to show your teeth,” Neyhira said. “It means you are angry, not happy.”

“Oh, I see. I apologize.”

“It is fine,” Neyhira said. She wanted to use that funny word Gideon had used in reference to Valii’s foot when first they had met, but she did not remember it.

“I am glad though,” Gideon said. “I wanted to tell you that I won’t be able to meet again for a while. I’m going to be setting sail for Zaine in a few days, to visit my aunt.”

The girls looked at each other sadly. “Where is Zaine? When you be back?”

“I don’t have the map with me,” Gideon muttered after shoving his hands in his pockets in vain. He looked to Nya. “Do you have it on you, perchance?”

“Nah,” Nya said, shaking his head. “We didn’t plan t’ go far t’day. I didn’t bring it.”

Gideon clicked his tongue. He looked at the Dracoen girls again. “Have you maps back at the Forest? Of the world?”

“Oh yes,” Neyhira said. “We have a very much large one that shows all of the land up to the sea. I thought that the Forest of Gems was the largest place, but it is really very much small on the map.”

“Does it show the lands past the sea?” Gideon asked.

The girls looked at each other, confused. Then they looked at Gideon. “There is land past the sea?” Thairyn asked.

“Yes,” Gideon said. “One of them is Zaine, and that’s where I’m going. I’ll be there for a few weeks. But don’t worry. I’ll be back before my birthday in Jinto. They’ll have a great celebration in New Münshir to commemorate it. Come to think of it, I would love it if you and your family would come and join us. And we’ll see each other again then.”

While Thairyn was translating for Valii and before Neyhira could accept the offer (though her face lit up and she looked delighted by the prospect), Nya interjected. “Ah, sire, are yeh sure zat’s a good idea? I mean, I would not mind it ‘t all, but I worry. What wiz ze zreat of ze Vüls, it might make ze people a bit uncomfortable.”

The girls looked at Gideon. He looked a little taken aback.

“What is zreatazevüls?” Thairyn asked.

“He meant to say Threat of the Vüls—the Vüls are an enemy to New Münshir,” Gideon said.

“What do they have to do with us?” Neyhira asked, looking a little disappointed.

“Nothing, really,” Gideon said, with only a brief glance at Nya. “Vüls are terrible brutes, nothing like you at all. They’re big and ugly and they eat people.”

“...They… eat people?” Neyhira repeated.

Valii seemed to gather what Neyhira had said, though it was trade speak. Her eyes opened wide and she tugged on Thairyn’s arm. “Yes, Valii, Vüls eat people,” Thairyn said in the Dracoen language. She looked at Gideon and said in a low voice, “Where are they? Are they at Zaine?”

“No,” Gideon said. “They’re from a land called Kaiyar. It’s in the opposite direction from Zaine. But it’s still across the sea. I wouldn’t worry, there’s no way that they could ever come here. But they do sail ships. That’s why I’ll be taking a special underwater craft to Zaine, so they can’t attack my ship while I’m on my way.”

“Valii wants to know why they eat people,” Thairyn said.

Gideon shrugged. “I’m certain I don’t know.”

“People are not for eating,” Neyhira said gravely.

Gideon laughed. “Believe me, I agree with you!”

“Someone must not have taught them that. If you just teach them, they will not eat you any more. Our people have taught the bigger animals in the Forest what is not for eating, so they know better.”

Nya and Gideon exchanged glances. The latter hesitated a moment and opened his mouth to speak when there sounded a long, low howl or whistle on the air. It was a hollow sort of sound, like wind blowing through a great wooden flute, but more alive. It was beautiful and mournful. Gideon and Nya did not know what to make of it, but the three Dracoen girls shot up their attention at once. “That is our mother,” Neyhira said. “She is calling us. We must go.”

“Very well,” Gideon said. “We had better get back before we’re looked after as well.”

“We will see you again? At your celebration?” Thairyn asked.

Gideon smiled, careful not to show his teeth this time. “Of course.”