Part XXI—Together yet Apart
Healer fluttered through the forest in the manner of a human's morning walk. She enjoyed this time of waking and freshness, which arrived with each dawn, and rarely missed the opportunity. True, things had been difficult since they had found Zazie but, all in all, helping her overcome the hardships that fate had thrust upon the poor girl was worth missing the odd morning flutter for. Days were always pleasantly summer-like but outside she new winter was advancing to a spring not very distant but before that would come the night of the new moon. Such nights were not usually important to the Ancients and Spirit Beings that dwelled in the dale but this one was a finish line of sorts for their newest member. I hope she'll be ready in time, Healer thought, it may be a long time before we are back this way and I know we will not make a special trip just for Zazie. At least it looks like she has the ability, that's for sure, but she needs the will too. Yet, if yesterday was any indication of her motivation, I think she'll make it. Healer cast tendrils of empathy to see if she could 'sniff' out Zazie's vampire aura. She couldn't sense it, but that could just mean that they were still asleep. She thought. Lost in reflection, Healer flew without speed or care, until an excitedly chattering squirrel interrupter her serenity.
"What is it little friend?" She asked in a voice completely without threat or malice and reached out her hands. The squirrel hopped into her hand and its little brown eyes plead with her fae senses.
Healer's thoughts reached into the little animal's mind: the poor thing was horribly frightened and staccato-paced pictures filled her thoughts. She sorted and made sense of the images and saw that this furry denizen of the vale was telling her that one of her babies was injured.
"Show me where," Healer whispered softly.
The little animal leapt from her hand and scurried into the forest. It looked back occasionally, as if to be sure the fairy was following, and lead Healer to the foot of a tree. It chattered to her again and then hopped over a root. Healer followed and immediate found the small animal shivering in pain and fear on the ground. She rushed to the poor thing and gently scooped it up in her hands; Healer cooed softly. Letting her mind connect to the baby, she searched for the nature of its injury. There it is, she thought, and saw that the animal's front leg was broken. She focused on the injury and a faint glow wrapped the animal's leg in healing magic. She smiled and looked at the little creature; it made her think of Zazie yesterday. Our young get hurt so often as they learn their way around their world and about the things they can or cannot do, she thought with a smile. Thinking of Zazie, Healer remembered what Seeker had told her last night. I wonder how that's going; she thought and decided to check.
"Be more careful, next time," she whispered to the baby squirrel.
The little animal jumped from Healer's hands, fully healed, and ready for another day of learning how to navigate the trees safely. It looked back once, chattered as if to say thanks and then climbed to the canopy of the forest. The mother followed, after exchanging final pleasantries with the fairy. Healer smiled.
With the urgent business of the day complete, Healer turned and fluttered towards Central happily riding the currents and breezes that were a Fae's road. She passed under the great trees and through the curtain of greens and browns that encircled the meadow beneath Central and rose in a lazy spiral before fluttering through the open balcony door.
"Library," She called.
"Yes Healer?" It responded promptly.
"Where are they?"
"If you mean your mate, Zazies and Caster they are in the workshop." Library replied.
"Thank you Library." Healer said, "By the way . . ."
"Yes Healer?" Library asked.
"You're beginning to sound like Zazie." Healer commented and, in friendly amusement, continued. "Maybe you two are spending too much time together. Is there something between the two of you I should know about?"
"I don't understand the nature of your question, Healer." Library responded, "Why did you observe that I was sounding like Zazie?"
"You used the plural when you referred to her." Healer said simply. "Workshop you said?"
"Yes Healer." Library replied.
"Thank you." Healer said and then fluttered through the living chambers and into the antechamber.
The model of the world slowly rotated in its place in the void and Healer fluttered past. She was so used to it that she rarely ever looked at it anymore but today she saw it through the eyes of the family's youngest member; it made her think about how all this must seem to the young woman they had come to know as Zazie. She fluttered past the globe and, seeing it as if through Zazie's eyes, remembered that it was an amazing piece of magic; the sight renewed her awe in the sorcerer's abilities. The thought of their enigmatic captor, host and friend brought back sad memories of loss and Healer brushed a stray tear from her eye. She took a deep, calming, breath and continued to the door to the workshop. It swung open as she arrived and a cacophony of playful screams and giggles instantly assaulted her ears. Unsure what to expect she entered the room feeling a little apprehensive and saw her mate. Casually standing beside a table he was looking at the ceiling; Seeker was smiling.
"What's going on?" Healer asked as she landed beside her mate. She followed her mate's gaze.
Above her, four pixie-sized, creatures darted and soared near the ceiling, haphazardly chasing one another with playful abandon. The giggles, laughs and screams echoed as they darted about, not caring about anything other than fun. The music of their happiness reminded Healer of the life she had known, when still a young Fae, and the soaring games of chase she had played with her siblings and friends. Those days were long gone now and unlikely ever to be found again in this world.
"It started out as a game of tag but has devolved into something a little less innocent." Seeker replied, chuckling, without looking at Healer. "The goal has changed; it now involves trying to kiss or touch one another in a rather brazen manner."
One of the pixie-sized creatures noticed Healer and streaked towards her. Abruptly, the little creature back-winged, to a quick stop, and hovered before her: it smiled at her.
"You wanna play too, Healer?" The creature asked while eyeing the fairy shamelessly with a gaze that roved vicariously across Healer's body. The small creature smiled explicitly then it darted off.
"Seeker am I wrong or was that a pixie-sized Zazie?" She asked as she silently questioned her own eyes. I guess that explains Library's use of the plural, too, she realized.
"I guess that's a reasonably close observation, my love." He said, trying to soothe the coming anger he was sure to experience because of what he had done and the risk he had taken.
"Do I even want to know?" She commented offhandedly.
The air between the fairies became heavy and the dark mood attracted Caster. The pixie looked down, saw Healer, and knew her friend wasn't happy. She flew to the table, hoping to soften the exchange that—at any moment—might ignite between her elders. She smiled sweetly at Healer. Caster's first glance told her that they were in trouble; her shimmer brightened and turned orange with sparks of red in it.
"Why are you nude, Caster?" Healer asked; the edge on her voice as sharp as a sword's.
"Well, it didn't seem fair . . . I mean they don't have any clothes . . . it only seemed proper . . . and, you know . . . natural." Caster managed to reply and then humbly admitted, "Besides, it was more fun this way."
Caster's shimmer was almost a blinding orange.
"WHAT IS GOING ON!?" Healer finally burst and her yell drew the attention of the three remaining creatures flying near the ceiling.
All three stopped, hovered for a moment and looked down. Healer seemed very angry and they felt cowed by the waves of intense anger pulsating from the fairy. Timidly, they fluttered to the tabletop and, all but one, landed adeptly on the table. The third fell a short distance, stood up and brushed her self off; she looked embarrassed. The three lined up and looked at Healer, now glaring towards at their sleeping body. Black and gold—pretty—and well fitting too, she thought offhandedly as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing
They stared at Healer and the fairy's eyes returned to the three; she studied each in turn and her eyes could penetrate stone. They all had Zazie's face, she thought, but their bodies and wings differ. One had very pale blue skin, black hair, ruby eyes and bat-like wings; she had fangs too. The second's skin was pale green, her eyes emerald and her hair was forest green. She sported green butterfly wings, highlighted in gold and the small creature, so similar to Healer in colour, made one almost think she was the fairy's little sister. The third was the strangest of the three; she looked exactly like Zazie in all ways but for the beautiful white feather wings—angelic, she thought—on the girl's or whatever's back.
"Library?" Healer called the edge in her voice softening.
"Yes Healer?" Library responded and even it sound a little worried.
"Please clothe our three . . . um . . . additions." She said before turning to the pixie. "Caster put your clothes on; this game was your idea wasn't it?"
"It wasn't my idea, honestly." Caster said without conviction.
Library provided one-piece outfits with bare backs, to accommodate their wings, for the three creatures. It opted for colours that matched their features and it shod each with a pair of low cut boots with surprisingly high heels. Library is getting good at the aesthetics of dress, Healer thought, absently, as Caster dressed. The now clothed pixie stood beside her three new playmates. Healer remained silent and continued studying the three new additions. On second glance she realized that bat-like wasn't quite the best way to describe the first's wings. They're shiny, leathery and sparkle with colour in their black depths—like a rainbow—when light hits them; they're not really bat-like, either, more dragonesque. She considered and turned her attention to the pixie.
"First off", Healer began, "What were you doing Caster?"
"Playing tag." She replied meekly.
"I know that, why?"
"How did you become agile and graceful on wing?" She asked in answer, perhaps a little too forward considering the circumstances.
"Fine, you've made your point." Healer replied and turned her attention to Seeker. "What have you done?"
"I made magical effigies that allowed Zazie's three aspects to manifest to physical forms." He replied as if that explained everything. "It worked good too."
"I can see." Healer observed and added—more in demand than in question, "How is the shell and can you put them back?"
Seeker glanced at Zazie's body and said, "The shell looks fine."
"THAT IS NOT WHAT I MEANT . . . AND YOU KNOW IT!"
"Please, Healer the shell is only asleep . . . like yesterday . . . that's all." Seeker said submissively and yet sounding boastful simultaneously. "It's fine."
"WONDERFUL, YOU'RE VERY CLEVER; WE ALL KNOW THAT BUT CAN YOU PUT THEM BACK?!" Healer's anger blazed as her concern for Zazie grew.
"No." Seeker said quietly.
"WHAT!" She raged.
"I didn't put them in the effigies; they did that in their own. I just supplied the means." Seeker said as soothingly as possible.
Healer glared at Seeker, Caster and the three Zazies. They looked like naughty children who had been caught with their hands in some mischief.
"SO?" Healer said; her wings were twitching in the Fae equivalent of foot tapping.
Seeker knew his mate well enough to know what she was asking and said, "They will have to return to the shell on their own. It should work in the exact opposite of how they animated the dolls in the first place."
"Do you three Zazies understand that?" Healer directly questioned the three; she was much calmer than she had been when speaking to Caster and Seeker.
"Um . . ." Caster spoke softly.
"What!" Healer's glare fell on Caster.
"They have names . . . I mean we've given them names, Healer." Caster said, "We thought it would make things easier."
"Fine you've named them then but that doesn't mean you may keep them." Healer's anger continued to recede; she addressed the three mini-Zazies. "Well?"
"I'm Pix." The one with the butterfly wings said.
"I'm Vam," said the one with the dragonesque wings.
Turning to the third she asked, "And you?"
"Um . . . Zaz." The one with the angel wings said. "Please don't be angry with Seeker or Caster . . . we did this on our own . . . they didn't do anything to us."
"Um . . . Healer?" The one called Pix said timidly.
"Yes?"
"I started the . . . ah . . . game you saw when you came in, not Caster. I mean Caster started the game of tag but I was the one who turned it into what you saw. I just got a little excited, that's all." Pix said warily.
Twisted wings—she's another Caster!—just what we need, another nymphet fluttering around. She exclaimed in thought. She was lost for words too and Healer just found herself looking at the three small—enfaed or should that be enpixied? She asked herself—Zazies. They all have Zazie's voice and face; even the scar and teardrop; she thought. Leave it to my mate to find odd convoluted magic, she reflected, no wonder he and the sorcerer got along so well: they never do anything halfway. Still I'm worried about them. I hope they'll be able to return to their body, safely.
"Can you go back to your body?" Healer asked.
"We think so," Zaz began, "we noticed when we entered the dolls, that there were faint strings that connect us to our body . . ."
". . . and, even now, if we don't concentrate—at least a little—on remaining in the vessels," Vam continued, "we can feel a tug from it . . ."
". . . so, all we have to do," Pix concluded, "is release our hold on the effigies and the pull from our body will draw us back . . . We think."
It was an odd three-part answer and indicated that they remained connected, not only to their body, but to each other as well. I guess this could be very handy, Healer thought, as long as they can move freely between places.
"Will at least one of you try to return to your body, please?" Healer asked.
"Yes Healer." Zaz replied obediently.
Healer, Caster, Seeker and the others looked on. Zaz closed her eyes and, like a stone, her effigy dropped to the tabletop. It lay as if she had just died and it was dreadfully morose to look at. Seeker was surprised; he had thought that once an essence moved from an effigy it would revert to its straw form but Zaz's remained detailed and sculpted in her aspect's self-image. Hesitantly, he touched the doll: it was warm but cooling rapidly and soft under his finger.
Zazie spoke from the chair and said, "That's kind of eerie; it looks like I'm dead. Please, Seeker, would you mind not poking me, I don't like the way it looks."
Zazie stood up and immediately the tension in the room lifted and even Caster was sparkling in greens again. She felt a brief passing wave of vertigo and an undeniable sense of loneliness. It made her feel empty and, seeking comfort in contact; Zazie wrapped her arms around herself and hugged. I've never felt so lonely, ever. She thought. I guess it's because I always had my fae aspect, at least, even if I wasn't aware of her. She walked to the table, hugging herself as if she were cold, and looked closely at her effigy, lying deathly still on the table. Like Seeker earlier, she couldn't resist touching her miniature on the table. She shivered and quickly withdrew her finger from the soft lifelike doll.
"It looks worse when we poke it, Zazie." Pix said trying to lighten the melancholy the lifeless figure on the table brought to the room.
"Alright, I'd say that was successful." Healer began and, tuning to Vam and Pix, said. "Now, can you two do it?"
The remaining two closed their eyes and concentrated. As it had been with Zaz, their dolls dropped, lifelessly, to the table. The room was silent for a moment and then Zazie felt the familiar sensation of sharing her body with her aspects.
"Are you all there?" Healer asked looking at Zazie.
Zazie nodded; she looked transfixed by the sight of her three effigies lying on the table. Definitely morbid, she thought; her aspects whole-heartedly agreed.
"I'm glad; I was worried that you wouldn't be able to return to your body." Healer said; her tone, a sigh of relief.
"I would suggest at least one of Zazie's aspects try to return to their doll without assistance." Library said suddenly and everyone jumped. "Otherwise this whole experiment will be pointless."
"You're right Library, are any of our Zazies willing?" Caster asked.
Zazie's thoughts turned inward and she queried her aspects. We'll give it another go, the fae aspect thought. We're beginning to think you really don't like us, Pix, the vampire aspect added. It not like that really, Vam, Pix thought. We've been with Zazie since birth and we were never able to do anything: it was like we didn't exist before yesterday. You've only been here since death and rebirth you can't know how this freedom feels to us but it's not like we want us to be separate either. If you want to try, again, we won't stop you but we just want you to know that when we are alone in our body it's very empty feeling. Zazie added and Vam mentally nodded. With their permission, Pix once more stretched out her being and fell into her effigy; it instantly reanimated with her return.
"That's easy." She said turning to Zazie. "Why don't you take a seat and come out and play again?"
Zazie sat and Vam followed Pix. On her way, she mentally took Zaz's figurative hand and pulled her along. Both spirits immediately reappeared in their respective dolls and stood up.
"Tag, you're it." Pix laughed as she touched Caster and then took immediately flight: Vam was on wing almost as fast.
Caster looked longingly as the two happily flew off. She turned to Seeker; he gave her a curt nod. In a sudden shift, Caster was gleaming in brilliant yellows mixed with hints of purple.
"You're it," She said as she touched Zaz and Caster joined the others near the ceiling.
"Zaz, go and play with them, it really is the best way to learn how to fly well and your ability to fly well may one day be very important." Healer said.
"I'm surprised, I didn't think you'd be so tolerant," Seeker said looking at the four flying creatures near the ceiling.
"I may as well accept it, Zazie has." Healer said. "How far apart do you think they can go? Or, 'how far from their body?' might be a better question."
"I'm not sure," Seeker said thoughtfully. "As Faes we know that spirit strings don't diminish with distance, they just become veiled and tangled with others. As long as nothing severs them they should be able to immediately return to their shell at will or need."
"How much function do the effigies have?" Healer asked curiously.
"As far as I can tell they are fully functioning, except for an ability to procreate." Seeker replied. "Come to think of it, I'm not sure if Zazie can have children, I have my doubts—but who knows?—there is so much we don't know about her. We know some vampires sometimes have children, despite being undead. One more question to add to our growing list, I guess."
"I can't picture Zazie as mother just yet," Healer said with a smile.
"No, neither can I, but who knows what her future holds." Seeker said, "At least things will be interesting for awhile.
"I think I could do with less interest in life." Healer said in irony and then asked. "What happens if one of the effigies is injured or damaged while away from the shell?"
"Minor injuries, like cuts or what not, will likely heal very quickly. They aren't flesh and blood after all: actually, I'm not sure what they are, now, other than not straw. Major trauma would likely cause the spirit to return to the shell, immediately." Seeker answered.
"What do you think Library?" Healer asked calling for a second opinion.
"I would have to agree with Seeker but there is no real way to tell unless it happens." Library said. "I suggest we tell Zazie to treat her aspect-effigies as if they were as real as her body. We know the dolls need to eat to provide energy for themselves so other weaknesses, which we can't see or know about yet, may be present too."
"Speaking of eating, I'm curious." Healer said.
"About what?" Seeker asked.
"If they need to eat, does that mean they need to excrete?" Healer asked with a healer's curiosity.
"I don't think so," Seeker began, "I believe the effigies are fully efficient and use all they consume. I don't think they need to drink or drink much. We'll have to see."
"There is a lot you don't know this time," Healer teased her mate.
"Very true," He replied with a smile
"That's not fair!" One of the Zazie's exclaimed and Healer and Seeker looked up.
Since they all shared the same voice it was impossible to tell who was speaking without seeing who it was directly.
"What's not fair?" At least Caster's voice was obvious.
"Doing that . . . that . . . whatever you just did!"
"Blink?" Caster asked.
"If that's what you call it, yes!"
"It's a natural pixie ability," Caster said as she playfully rolled and swooped near one of the others. "Pix may be able, if she can you may be able too; that's if we are right about you sharing abilities. Let's head back."
Together, they fluttered to the table and this time Zaz landed without falling the final bit: she looked happy with her achievement.
"You're getting better, Zaz." Caster said.
"Thank you." Zazie answered with a shy smile.
"You three should eat some more, you've used a lot of energy." Caster said and summoned a bowl of berries for them.
Zaz noticed that she felt weak and it became especially obvious when the berries appeared. She did a hop and flutter and landed beside the bowl. She picked up a strawberry, which was absolutely huge next to her, turned and sat facing the others. Hungrily, she began to eat and soon her other aspects joined her.
"About that blink thing," Vam asked after swallowing a mouthful, "What is it?"
"It's a short range random teleport that pixies use to escape from predators or other creatures trying to capture us." Caster explained. "I don't know how it works exactly because it is something that all pixies are born able to do: it isn't learned. It's not very controllable either, at least not for me; the best I can do is re-appear in the general direction of where I want to be. Commonly, the distance is a little more than a human's arm length, maybe two, allowing us to get away. By the way, males have more control over their blinks than females; I think it's because of our rolls differ in pixie society.
"In pixie society, we almost are always found in at least in pairs." Caster continued, "Our pairings, or groupings if more than two, is a partnership that provides companionship but also symbiotic offence and defence abilities. It's a good deal for pixies, necessary really, because males can't use offensive magic and females can't use defensive magic. The males also provide corporal protection for the female since they are stronger and tougher than the girls. The boys stand between an attacker and the female casters; that frees the girls to use their magic without worrying about physical or arcane interruption: you can't use magic if you're being interrupted or attacked. Our ability to Blink or turn invisible are the only defensive magic female pixies can use. "
"Do you think we can learn?" Pix asked.
"To Blink? Like I said it is something we just do," Caster said, "we can train our ability a little but that's about it. You may be able to do it but I wouldn't know how to draw the ability out. The first time we Blink, as a young pixie, is usually when we find ourselves in serious danger, which is something young pixies are good at."
Healer chuckled and quipped, "Very good at, I might add; it's not just the young either."
"Once we have done it once, though, we can do it again at will." Caster continued, ignoring the fairy's jab. "I don't know if your fae aspect has that power, though. Scout may be able to help you, he can Shadow Skip and you have to learn how to Shadow Skip. I can't, but then I'm a girl."
"Shadow skip?' Zaz asked.
"It's a controlled directional Blink that only males can do." Caster replied, "Scout is really good at too. If you add Shadow Skipping to our natural speed, well, you can imagine how fast we become. I'll ask Scout to show you later, if you have some time and he's about: it's an odd thing to see."
Caster's stomach growled and she realized that she had used a lot of energy this morning too.
"Its time for lunch and time," the pixie said and then chuckled, "for Zazie to pull herself together: Your body needs to eat too."
Zaz flopped over as Zazie stirred and opened her eyes. Oddly, this time she was more attuned to the dim strings connecting her and her aspects, even when they were in their dolls, and Zazie didn't feel as lonely as before. She still felt unsettled when she looked at the Zaz vessel lying motionless on the table.
"What should we do with Zaz?" She asked looking at her effigy.
"Take her with you I guess," Caster replied. "Library can you get a satchel or something for Zazie, please?"
The familiar sparkle of summoning glowed in Zazie's hands and a bag, which matched her attire, appeared in her hands. She put the satchel strap over her shoulder and, gingerly, lifted her Zaz effigy from the table. She felt her skin crawl a little and although she knew it had been made from straw; it felt like flesh and blood now. She tenderly put the doll in the satchel. This is going to take a while to get used to, too. She thought.
"What about you two?" Zazie asked as she looked at Vam and Pix.
"Can we stay out a little longer mommy?" Vam teased.
"Please, we wanna play some more." Pix playfully plead.
Zazie turned an enquiring gaze to Healer and Seeker shrugged and said, "If Vam and Pix want to remain out it makes little difference to me. It's up to you, really, and whether the three of you are comfortable enough."
"If they want to stay out, let them, Zazie," Healer said, "the rest of the family should meet them too so they know what is happening.
"Besides, I want to see Driver when he is faced with three of you," Caster chimed, "and he said that he would meet us here after lunch."
"Library," Healer called, "Please give us something hardy to eat, I think we're all in for a very busy afternoon."
"Lunch will be served in the library," Library said, "I think the Scrythe would prefer not having Vam so close to the tapestry."
"Have you figured out how to talk to the Scrythe?" Seeker asked.
"Not talk, it's more of an understanding of it and its purpose from observing it, I suppose," Library responded, "and I could sense underlying turbulence whenever Vam fluttered near it while they were playing earlier."
"Very well then, I'll meet you in the library," Seeker said, "I want to tidy up a few things here first."
Caster, Healer and the Zazies exited the into the world foyer. As the mottled ball slowly spun, Vam and Pix hovered at the edge of the walking ring and looked curiously at it.
"If you could've kept your wings you wouldn't have to take the long way around," Pix said smugly.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Caster said.
"Why not?" either Pix or Vam asked in the voice they shared with Zazie before fluttering into the space between the ring and globe.
"You'll see." Caster replied and smiled.
As the two aspect-effigies launched themselves from the ring, a sudden look of confusion and fear appeared on their faces. They flapped their wings and found that they had little or no control over their flight; they just drifted aimlessly in the general direction they had started in. They drifted over to the ball, which Seeker had called home and it seemed as if it started to grow. They felt like they were floating higher and higher and when they looked away from the globe, the stars seemed to stretch forever. They could see neither the walking ring nor their companions that had stayed behind.
"Help!" Pix cried out in a space that felt like there was no down.
"Caster," Healer began, "You'll have to go get them. Hopefully, if they hold on to you, they will move with you, when you Blink."
Caster looked into the void between ring and world; the two aspect-effigies were floating and tumbling aimlessly in the space. The sight triggered an embarrassing memory for her and she looked at Healer who was smiling at her discomfort: obviously the fairy remembered too."
"I wish Scout was here," She said, "Shadow Skipping works so much better at times like this."
"What's wrong Caster?" Healer said with an amused smile.
"You know very well what's wrong, Healer, don't be so smug." Caster said, "I didn't know any better then."
"Hmm . . . I seem to remember telling you, 'I wouldn't do that if I were you' then and your response was the same, 'why not?'" Healer countered and her laugh was hiding just beneath her words, "But you were so arrogant and sure of yourself that you didn't think you had to listen to this old Fae."
"That was a long time ago," Caster said with chagrin as pink became the dominate colour of her shimmer. "Besides, Scout was there that time."
"Well he isn't this time, so it's up to you." Healer rebutted.
"What's going on?" Zazie asked unsure whether to worry of laugh after listening to her friends' conversation.
Healer turned to Zazie, gave her an encouraging smile, and said, "It's nothing dangerous but I'm sure they're uncomfortable. You see, once they pass the edge of the ring there is no longer any up or down and the illusion they're in doesn't allow you to see the ring that we're standing on. Without a sense of up or down their ability to fly is limited because there is nothing but air for their wings to work against. It's an interesting sensation and I suggest you try it some day but make sure you're ready and have someone with you. Seeker and I flutter out there for some fun, sometimes, and Caster and Scout do too."
"Healer, she doesn't need to know that." Caster said.
"Since when did you become shy, Caster?" Healer teased.
"It's different for us, besides, Scout can Shadow Skip." Caster replied her shimmer settling back to greens. "Although, I've always wondered how you and Seeker make it back, afterwards."
"It's a secret," Healer said. "Please go and retrieve our troublesome children, I'm sure they've had enough by now."
"Fine, fine . . . I'll go get them." Caster said and launched herself from the ring.
Zazie watched Caster float into the void, barely using her wings, and drift gracefully towards her two aspect-effigies. They looked very distressed. Caster reached Vam first and took hold of her effigy's hand before mouthing something to Pix but sound didn't travel from the void so Zazie couldn't here what was said. She watched and saw Caster and Vam vanish and immediately reappear nearer the ring. After two more Blinks, Vam was safely hovering over the walking ring.
"Are you alright, Vam?" Zazie asked with concern. Vam turned a faint purple and then looked away before fluttering over to sit on Zazie's shoulder. Vam's small hands held her larger self's hair in a death grip and she was shaking.
"We don't think we want to do that again," she said in Zazie's ear as Caster retrieved Pix. Pix, after being rescued, decided to sit on Zazie's other shoulder, she was in the same state as Vam.
"You two going to listen next time," She scolded the two.
They nodded.
"So, was that entertaining?" Caster said sarcastically.
Vam and Pix shook their heads.
"Don't be so embarrassed you two," Healer said in gentle amusement. "Caster did the same thing the first time she was here; she had to be rescued by Scout. But next time, I think you'll think twice before doing something that we tell you isn't a good idea."
"Yes Healer." Pix and Vam said with bowed heads.
"Well, I'm really hungry now," Caster said.
The small group continued around the globe and Pix and Vam held onto Zazie's hair the whole distance. The library door swung open and a gentle zephyr carried the scent of something very good. The trail wafting though the air drew them to the table and they sat down to bowls of hearty stew and fresh bread. Library even provided a smaller table for Caster, Vam and Pix who, like the larger diners, hungrily began to eat their pixie-sized portions provided by Library. Soon, Seeker joined them and he chuckled when Healer told him what happened to Vam and Pix. For a brief moment, his eyes fell on Caster and he smiled: Caster shimmered pink
"The next time two or three of you decide to flutter into the void remember this," He began, smiling, "all you have to do is push away from each other very hard. You'll always drift to the edge, eventually, but that gets you there faster."
"Thank you Seeker." Zazie, Vam and Pix said.