When Ghost got back to the Vapran castle, Ordon got ointment for Ghost's wound. She managed to snatch some time with the All Maudra and Brea and explained what happened. The two Vapran were horrified by this. "I'm terribly sorry that happened to you, Ghost. I'll make sure your grandparents answer for that behavior. Thank you for telling me."

"It's been an honor to talk to you." Ghost bowed. Then was hugged by Brea. "Thank you for showing me around Brea. I hope I get to see you again."

"Me too." Brea said. She backed away and handed Ghost a blank book. "Here. Your own diary for you travels. Just something to keep you occupied during the carriage rides. I hope your experience with the other clans will be better." She smiled, bowed and turned in for the night.

Ghost sighed. At least Rian and Mira will be happy to know that I've made a friend during the ceremony. Ghost thought. She sat down on her seat. Ordon sat next to her as he applied the ointment to her wounds. "At least they aren't too deep." Ordon said. "You should probably rest now. It'll be awhile until we reach Stone in Wood."

"I wonder how my tormentors will react when they see me like this." Ghost smirked at the thought of the shocked expressions on their faces. A few times she was bullied by young Stonewood warriors because of her half Grotten heritage and her strange look. She knows that they are extremely careful because Ordon was protective of her and the lords would get angry if they pick on her too much. Yet it still hurts.

Ordon chuckled. Then, he frowned. "Ghost...I understand that you are trying to handle the situation without ending in disaster, but it's ok for you to be angry. What your grandparents did was unfair. They gave you away." He hugged her. "When you feel like talking about it, let me know." He waved her goodnight and went away.

Ghost sighed. She didn't want to be unfair to everyone. Even she tried to have SkekSil be heard even if she did hate him. Yet there's always that part of her that wanted to just explode but Rian once said that the last time she got mad about some bullies, her heart nearly caved on her. Since then, she had to be careful of letting her emotions get the best of her. Today was just that example. The sheer shame and fear she felt today made her heart ready to break apart and she was certain that her breathing would stop completely. Then, SkekMal seemed to wipe all those feelings away. Even though she didn't approve of what he did at least he was gentle with her. The way his claws held her face made her heart fly peacefully. He was so close to her face and there was a strange warmth that he couldn't name.

Ghost suddenly blushed and shook that feeling away. It was unwise to feel that way around him. He's a lord of the crystal after all. It might've been just a temporary thing. He probably went back to hunting something else pretty soon. She laid herself down on the carriage seat and felt her mind drift back to him. Imagining how he would look against the mountain background. The Sifan ocean and the Stonewood forest. His tail wrapped around her. Hugging her. A smell of earth and fire on his skin. A soft purr tickling her ears. Then, his voice softly saying her name. "Ghost."

-(Caves of Grot, Deet)-

Deet twist and turn in her bed. She woke with a start. She saw her fathers and her little brother, Bobbi'N run over to her. "It's all right, Deet. You're home." said one of her fathers.

"How did I get here?" Deet asked.

"One of the neighbors found you unconscious at the bottom of a ravine. Maudra Argot will be here soon to treat your wounds." Her other father said.

"There's-" Deet was cut off as there was a loud slam at the door. She looked to see Maudra Argot making her way to the house. The old Grotten used her stick to locate an area to place her items down. "I need to get going! I need to warn the All Maudra!"

"You're not going anywhere until I have a proper look at you." Maudra Argot said. She laughed at her own joke as she knocked some items down and set them on a nearby table. Then, went over to Deet and felt around her. "Hmmm...A few bruises...A broken wing. Nothing a few herbs couldn't fix." She went over to her medicine to prepare a solvent for Deet's wounds.

"But the Sentry Tree told me I need to stop the Darkening." Deet argued.

"But Deet…" Her father, Mathjin said. "Trees don't talk."

Maudra Argot stiffened at that mention. "Only when they can." She turned to Deet. "What did the Sentry Tree say?"

"That I must warn the All Maudra of the Darkening. I must head up to the surface."

"Then...You must go to Ha'rar and warn her."

Bobbin looked at his sister sadly. "Why Deet go?"

Deet smiled sweetly. "Because the Sentry Tree chose me."

"It chose well. Can't argue with trees!" Maudra Argot laughed once again.

-(Brea's bedroom)-

Brea sat in her bed. Drawing the events that had happened at her first tithing ceremony. She drew Ghost facing off the Scrollkeeper in her light blue robe. The two colored eyes showing an unearthly light. Brea even went as far as drawing Ghost's injuries after the encounter with the grandparents. Seladon and her mother had been discussing the proper punishment and will continue it tomorrow. In another entry, she drew a strange symbol she'd seen back at the library.

After Ghost left to search for answers, Brea decided to review some of the laws the Skeksis made trines ago. There was something about these laws that didn't make sense. The Skeksis have everything, but they still demand tithings every year. Barely leaving anything for the others. Ghost seemed to recognize this as well otherwise she wouldn't have been that bold to step in and use her words against SkekOk. When Brea asked these questions to the librarian, he took the book away and the two fought for it. "I demand the truth!" Brea shouted.

Suddenly, the book glowed and a veil of swirling colors scattered everywhere. The librarian ran in pure fear. Brea only looked on in amazement as the colors started to form images before her. One was a strange circle with a flower in the center and a triangle around it. The second was when the sun, moon and star overlap one another. It was the most beautiful sight she had seen. She rushed back home to tell her mother about when she came across Ghost and the lords. Her heart nearly broke when she saw the sad expression on the white Gelflings face along with three angry welts caked with blood. Brea wanted to cry on that day. She ran into her room and decided to give Ghost a journal of her own. Her thoughts were snapped back to reality when she heard a knock on her door. "Come in."

Tavra opened the door and walked in. "Just wanted to say goodnight." She tilted her head with concern. "Are you alright?"

Brea nodded. "I'm ok. Why?"

"It looked to me that you were crying."

Brea touched her face and learned that Tavra was right. Her cheeks were wet from tears. "Oh...I guess I was thinking about what happened to Ghost. She's such a nice Gelfling. I can't believe her grandparents would do that to her."

"Neither could I." Tavra sat down on the edge of the bed. "She definitely shocked everyone at the ceremony."

"You know...I noticed that she had this fear in her eyes when she was looking at Scrollkeeper. It felt like if she didn't step in, something horrible would happen."

"It might be because she didn't have a mother and wanted to respect those feelings. Her actions were risky but she's been around the Skeksis far longer than we have. I do admit that is the one thing I admire her for."

"When she came back, it looked as if she was fighting the pain in her eyes. Like she wanted to cry but couldn't. Ghost seemed to take on the diplomatic approach to talk to mother about it. There was no doubt that she didn't tell them otherwise they wouldn't have been shocked as we are." Brea looked down at her journal. "I hope she'll be ok."

"Ghost will be." Tavra hugged her sister. "I saw a strong spirit in her. Despite how dainty she looks, Ghost holds herself out in more ways than one. I'm just glad you had a chance to meet her. Good night, Brea." She got up and left the room.

Brea looked at the image of Ghost one more time. Then, blew out the candle and went to sleep.

-(Sifan Coast, Ghost)-

Ghost looked over the shoreline of the Sifan Coast. She tried her best to keep her excitement in check. It was her first time actually seeing the Sifa Clan in real life. She'd seen pictures but never had one in the castle guard. All she knew was that they specialized in visions and symbols. They even went with the tides almost as if they're one with the sea itself. Ghost closed her eyes in sheer content as a breeze from the ocean wafted in.

When they reached Stonewood, everything went ok. No one got in trouble and SkekOk didn't try to demand anything from the farmers in the Stonewood Clan. They didn't even scold her of what happened at Ha'rar during the trip down there. However, SkekOk did give her a warning. "Be careful, little one. Don't let your feelings get the better of you. Sooner or later someone would take advantage of it."

SkekLach was silent throughout the whole trip. Didn't even complain. Just simply looked at Ghost with eyes filled with concern. He even handed one of the ointments from his necklace. "Don't want Ornamentalist go crazy. He loves your face the most." Which was true in more ways than one. He would internally groan whenever the proud SkekEkt would talk about Ghost almost as much as he talked about himself.

They stopped where the Sifa Maudra lived and everyone gathered there. Ghost was staring in amazement at the garments and red hair of the sea-faring clan. She took a step and said, "Hello. I'm glad you're able to make it today." The group looked at her with strange looks. "A nice day out. I hope you get a chance to use your boats after this." Ghost found herself flushing. This is going to be harder than I thought, she thought as one of them made a comment of the white Gelfling.

As usual, the ceremony began. Ghost tried not to look at the shore. Her body practically itched to go out to that sea and explore those waters. However, she had to stay in place. She squeezed her hands together. It felt as if it was taking forever. The ceremony was finally over. Before Ghost could even start walking, a Sifa Gelfling with curly red hair and about Tavra's age walked up to her.

"Excuse me. I've noticed you before you entered the throne room. What name do you go by?"

Ghost was practically beaming at this. "My name's Ghost! A pleasure to meet you. What's yours?"

"Onica." Onica replied. "I'm one of the Soothsayers. I had a vision of you yesterday and I thought to ask you if you would like to read your fortune."

"It would be-" Ghost stopped to turn around. She looked to SkekLach and SkekOk. They both nodded and waved her off. She faced Onica. "Yes. I accept your invitation." She followed Onica down to the nearest tent. Her eyes widened at the pillows, chairs and candles that lit the room. The smells of spices and sea salt tickled her nose. Ghost sat down. Her hand was stroking the table cloth when Onica sat down. She looked a little embarrassed. She took her hand back onto her lap. "Sorry...It's my first time being in a Sifa tent. Pretty roomy and colorful."

"Thank you." Onica reached out and noticed Ghost quickly turned her head. "My apologies. I wanted to give you your fortune, but I need to see your face first. As well as your injury." She gently removed the bandage that covered part of Ghost's face. Her green eyes focused on her. The room was thick with silence for a moment until Onica stared at Ghost with wonder. "I see a great power that resides within you. It's been with you from the moment you were born. A great destiny awaits you. Be warned...You will encounter three betrayals. One you're already familiar with."

Ghost was silent. She had finally gotten over what had happened and now it was brought up again. Ghost simply nodded.

"The other two will come…" Onica hesitated for a moment. "From the people you love."

Ghost felt her heart drop like a rock. Surely she didn't mean Rain or Gurjin. Worse: the Skeksis. Sure SkekSil would be likely to do so but the rest? It was hard for her to grasp. Would SkekMal? No, he had a bizarre sense of honor. He would never do that. They took her in and gave her a home. She's yet to meet the other lords, but how would they betray her. "I-i-i-is there anything else you see? P-p-p-p-p-perhaps a more positive one?"

Onica looked at a shorter strand of hair that was a few inches above her left ear. "You will find a lover. He's different from you but you are his heart and he is your strength. The two of you might bring change to Thra before anyone else realizes it." She leaned forward. "Do you have someone in mind?"

Ghost blushed. Her entire face turned pink as she thought of the hunter. "Y-y-y-y-yes...No! Maybe...I've only met him once and I don't think he sees me as something of interest aside from a white Gelfling with two colored eyes." She chuckled to herself. "Anyway. Thank you for your time, Onica." She went into her satchel. Looking for her money that she always kept in her purse. "How much do I owe you?"

Onica shook her head. "No need to pay me."

"But don't Sifas-"

"No. Not all the time. Besides, I personally had a vision of you coming to the ceremony today. I thought it would be nice to talk."

"Alright. What other things do you want to-"

"Onica!" said a rough voice. "I need your assistance!"

"Coming!" Onica sighed. "Sorry...Elder Cadia always has something for me to do. I'm his apprentice after all." She got up from her chair and handed Ghost her bandages. "Thank you for your audience."

"You're welcome Onica." Ghost replaced the bandages. "Oh. Do you know any boats I can use?"

"They are unoccupied at night. However, there won't be anyone to guide you." Onica said as she tried to rush to the door.

"That's ok. I won't be too far offshore." Ghost said. She joined the soothsayer out of the tent then waved her goodbye. Ghost smiled for a moment as she went back to the others to have a look around the Sifas before the next ceremony.

-(Later that night)-

Ghost peeked out of the carriage. The other guards were doing small patrols while resting for the night. This was going to be her one chance to experience riding a boat before heading over to the next four clans. Not that she isn't eager to meet them too. She just wanted to enjoy the experience being outside of the castle. Might even help her shake off some of the things Onica said to her. Ghost was glad to hear them, but she had to be careful now after what she witnessed SkekOk trying to hurt the farmers.

Ghost carefully slid out of the opening of the carriage. With only a compass, she walked over to the nearby dock where all the boats are. She went over to the closest boat and started moving ropes around. "Almost got it..."

"Nice night to use a boat, huh?"

Ghost nearly lost her grip on the rope that unfurled the sails. She turned around to see SkekLach looming over her. "Lach!" She covered her mouth. The Skeksis told her not to say their names like that, especially when there could be Gelfling within earshot. "Collector. What are you doing here?"

"What do you think? After what happened in Ha'rar, I decided to follow you. I knew you would do something like this." SkekLach sighed. "I better go with you then." He stepped onto the dock of the boat. It sunk slightly under his weight. The Sifa really know how to build sturdy boats. He sat down.

Ghost looked at him confused. "Why? Wouldn't you rather stop me?"

"You were so sad when we left Ha'rar. Scrollkeeper and I decided it would be best to let you explore Thra for a bit to make you feel better. Besides, you're less annoying when you're happy."

Ghost smiled. "Thank you, Collector." She looked up at the sail. "You may want to move to the left a little. The sail might hit you."

"I'm fine right here." SkekLach said. He soon regretted those words when he got hit by the mast. "Ow! On second thought...I'll take up your advice. Just don't SkekOk about it." He rubbed his nose as he moved to a different spot.

Ghost giggled and started to move the ship. She's surprised that she was doing well despite knowing how to sail in a book. Ghost moved the boat to a spot where it would stay in place. The boat was only five feet away from the shoreline. Then took off her shoes and dipped her feet into the water. She shivered. Her white body glowing under the bright moonlight. "It's colder than I thought. Try SkekLach. It might help."

SkekLach looked annoyed but did so. He also shivered. Then sniffled. "Aw no...I forgot that fresh handkerchief you gave me!" He wiped his sleeve against his robe.

"Don't worry about that." Ghost looked up at the sky. An array of stars glowed in the night. Sparkling like diamonds and pearls in the sky. "It's strange that there could be so many worlds among the stars. I still think Thra is the best one."

"What are ya talking about? There's nothing around here."

"Well...You're here. So is Rian, Mira, Gurjin, SkekTek, you, SkekOk, SkekVar, SkekEkt, SkekZok, Ordon, Princess Brea, SkekAyuk, SkekMal, SkekSo…" She sighed and made a soured expression. "And of course SkekSil."

SkekLach laughed. "You two hate each other with a passion. Ever since you were a baby, you gave new ways to give him grief."

"Not until I got older and smarter. Sometimes he has good advice when he's not too obsessed with power and giving everyone a hard time with his schemes."

"Schemes?"

"Remember how he got SkekAyuk and SkekZok to fight after Gourmand had his gravy stolen?"

"Oh yeah!" Skek Lach laughed. "You really nailed him with that one."

"I can't help but wonder if he ever did love me when he wasn't threatened."

"Not as much as I wonder how in Thra you managed to get SkekMal so calm like that. Let alone give him hair."

Ghost blushed. "W-well...He was upset about the trophy he didn't have and I thought to show my gratitude for saving me."

"He could've killed you. You know that, right?"

"I know, but-" A flicker of purple light streaked across the night. Ghost immediately looked up. "What was that?!"

Thoom! Without warning, the tide pulled away at the boat. This caused them to go further from the shore. Ghost and SkekLach rolled onto the deck. They frantically grabbed ahold of whatever they could find on the ship. Before long, a large wave crashed onto them. The Sifan boat splintering into a million pieces. Ghost found herself swimming in the currents. Her heart hammering hard. She popped up to the surface. SkekLach followed behind her. They coughed and scrunched up their eyes from the sting of sea water.

"Are you ok, Lach?" Ghost asked.

"Gaaahhhh! Some sea water got up my nose!" SkekLach spat into the water a few times.

Ghost looked out to the horizon. "I think we can get to shore if we swim for it."

"Swim all that way!" The Collector stared in disbelief. "There's no way in Thra-" He was cut off by a strange noise. A hollow whistle. Suddenly, something firm and smooth touched his feet. He grabbed Ghost and pulled her close as they were suddenly lifted out of the waters by an unknown creature. A large turtle with spikes on its shell.

A door swung open and a strange looking Skeksis wearing a pirate-like outfit stood before them. "Guess I wasn't the only one that got swept up by that strange current."

SkekLach beamed for the first time in a while. "SkekSa! We're saved!"