At the Crystal Desert, the other knights weren't having much luck. Every time they took a step, the sands began to change. Even the magic from some of the Sluggans that tagged along barely helped. The unforgiving sun bore down its ferocious heat. To make matters worse, two of their guards were gone. The second was the idiot Hoipn who thought Blativir would be able to help them and went galavanting off against the queen's orders.

"GAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" Roared one of the guards. She was sleek and also was a Tasin. She removed her helmet to reveal a pale yellow color with beige stripes. Her one ear with a fang for an earring. "I can not take this anymore! We've been wandering the desert for days! So far...NOTHING! Not even an ounce of power that we can have."

"Maybe she lied to us." The small Lemmel suggested. The majority of his armor laid on the sand. He wiped his brow from the heat.

"HA!" Laughed another glider. This one with cherry red scales with a strong resemblance of a fruit bat. "That stupid creature is too scared of her own shadow. Plus, she would be dead if it turns out that theory to be true."

The green sluggan, the one known as Emran, looked on annoyed. She took a flask of water and poured it on herself. She pulled out a book that held a language that was far different from the Gelfling language. Her thoughts slowly went back to Tealin. His thoughtful eyes. His earnest nature. His devotion to his work to the point where he'd risk getting eaten if necessary. She shook herself and went back to the map.

"Well!" The Tasin said. "I'm not standing here any longer. No matter what those stupid queens tell me!" She moved over to her steed which was a gazelle with leopard teeth and scorpion tail. She reached for her barbed saddle when she was stopped by the Lemmel.

"Brani," The Lemmel spoke. His amber eyes tired. "You do realize that it could mean death for you."

Brani merely glared. "I don't care! They took everything away from me, Mansh. Same way they did with you and all of us."

Mansh was silent. He fiddled with his torn ear. His amber eyes filled with haunted memories. The blood. The dead and dying bodies around him. His sister pleading for his life. How he wanted nothing more to be rid of those. He went over to his steed, a mountain goat with a spiky tail. His legs made it a little difficult to climb up.

Brani raised a brow. Along with the confused stares from Emran and the red glider. "Whaaat are you doing?"

Mansh looked at them. "If you're planning to take that suicidal trip back to that village and look for that green-eyed Gelfling, I'd best come with you."

"Same here." The Glider said. He put his helmet back on. "Better than wasting anymore time here roasting." He put his helmet back on and hopped on his newt-like horse. "ONWARD!" He suddenly felt tentacles on him as Emran jumped in.

The Sluggan glared at them. "If you can think of ditching me like you do with Tealin, THINK AGAIN!"

-(Back Home)-

Luckee smiled as she fed Isaaic his bottle. Despite everything that's happened, her father, mother, Craven and Nadi helped in imprisoning the Briar Knight, who goes by the name Yamon, and tie up the hostile beast that tried to attack Isaaic. It was lunchtime and Luckee was more than happy to have more food in her stomach after flying properly for the first time.

Star was simply napping after his fill. He curled on Luckee's bed. Kai guarding over him like a vigilant soldier. Star's Fizzgig toy acted like a toy while the real Fizzgig settled next to the little blue skeksis. River and Melo were playing with the drums, paying no mind to Tealin who was watching over them.

Luckee then turned to Blativir. His wrists were still bound but now his feet were free. He looked so different without his armor. Less menacing. He managed to eat his food with ease. His ears twitched. His golden eyes sparkled. His muscles rippled. An air of modesty with a sense of power mixed in the air. She blushed slightly as he looked her way. "Um...Blativir...What do you mean of me being the solution?"

Blativir paused in midchew. He swallowed. "You see. From what I saw, you were able to tame...uh...Storm is it?" He continued once Luckee nodded. "Also, you recovered quickly from my sleep breath. Not many people I've known would get on their feet that fast. I did notice this air about you."

Luckee tilted her head. Isaac followed her example. "Air?"

"You come off so warm and friendly. Even when you stood before our queen, you acted like a mother. A stubborn one at that."

"I don't doubt that." Tealin said. To his surprise, Melo handed him his drum. "Oh...You want me to play little one?" He tapped the drum lightly. He chuckled as both River and Melo clapped. He began playing the drum in a steady beat. Careful not to break the skin of the drum.

Luckee smiled. She could almost feel some of the tension from earlier melt away. Except for Yamon who's hard glare at her and Blativir expressed great disdain. She ignored it. She picked up her hot tea only to yelp in surprise and spill it on Blativir. Her cheeks turned red as Blativir cried out in surprise and pain. She quickly grabbed a cloth and patted it down. "I'm so sorry!"

"It's quite alright. I was more startled than anything." He tried to reach for the cloth only for his claws to touch his fingers. His eyes sparkled as he looked at Luckee's eyes. His mouth turned dry. He couldn't explain why. "All Briar Knights are trained to experience unimaginable pain."

"Sounds awful." Kira said. She put down a fresh bowl of soup and passed it to Luckee.

"That's the way it is. When I get out of here, we'll make sure what pain is. After all. Miss Luckee's statement about the desert was a waste of time. I practically had to come here just to avoid seeing a spring mirage every. Single. Time." Yamon said. He was soon hit by a ball. He turned to see Kai growling at him. Craven glared at him. A sword raised in a warning stance. His black eyes just simply stared back. Unphased. His thick hands and feet bound by a heavy set of rope.

Jen walked over to his son. He placed his hand on Craven's shoulder. His dark eyes stared at his son. He shook his head. Jen then looked at Yamon. It wasn't a message of rage or anger. Just simply pity. With that, he simply picked up Kai and rubbed his back. In a matter of minutes, the dark-blue Skeksis settled down. The hissing died to a soft purr. Jen walked over to the table and handed Kai a bottle of Nebrie milk. He smiled as he heard suckling. Jen laughed when Kai twitched at the sound of the knocking door.

Nadi walked over to the door. She barely had enough time to back away as Mother Aughra and Naja came barreling in. She fell on her rear and gasped. "Mother Aughra! Naja! What're you doing here?"

Mother Aughra puffed out a breath of air before she continued. "I saw footprints of that large beast outside! Had to give it a good thwacking to make it stop growling!" She shook herself. She turned her one eye to Luckee. "Luckee! You and the others are in great danger! The ones called Briar Knights are coming for you!"

Jen stiffened at this. "When will they arrive?"

Naja shivered. "T-t-there just at the outskirts of the village!"

Luckee looked at all the Skeksis babies. Her heart sunk at the sight of them just acting like normal babies. They were being used as tools for a fight that wasn't theirs to begin with. They may have once been the very creatures that brought the near extinction of her people, but now. They're something different. Little creatures that could learn to love Thra and all that dwell within it. Could it be said the same for the Briar Knights? She turned her glance at Blativir.

Blativir smiled at her. "I can help you reason with them. They may not look like it, but they hate Queen Maroon and her sister as much as I do."

Yamon stared at him in shock. "Blativir! Have you lost your mind?!"

Blativir looked at him. His look slightly annoyed. "No I haven't. Let's be real here, Yamon. We've hated those two since they took over their clan. Burned down your village and tore apart my mother!" At that, his ears rose high. His teeth bared into a savage snarl. The pupils slanted in a predatory focus. He stood from his chair. A battle stance that nearly knocked over Kira. His ropes snapped.

Luckee only stood there in pure silence. She could've sworn that Blativir was crying. That charismatic attitude, She thought. It was nothing but a mask? She gently placed a hand on his shoulder. Her eyes filled with gentleness and warmth. Then, she noticed Isaac reaching out for the Glider. She took a deep breath and handed him over. To her surprise and relief, Blativir held the baby in his arms. The mask of rage fading.

"I'm tired serving someone who cares so little about the rest of us." He glanced at Isaac. He laughed as little claws touched his face. He smiled. A genuine smile. He soon handed Isaac to Kira. "Let's head out there." With that, Luckee and Blativir were about to head for the door when stopped by Mother Aughra.

"Be careful." She warned. "They're hot and hostile. They might not be willing to listen to you two."

Luckee took a big gulp. Normally she wouldn't want to do such an enormous task. Everything she touched would turn to rubble or trip herself over the littlest thing. Craven would normally be the one to raise a sword and Nadi can persuade. Then, she turned to look at Star. She found the baby Skeksis. Their lives are in her hands now. Luckee is the only one who can get in Queen Maroon's way of hurting them, her family and Thra. She let out a slow breath to settle her heart. "If I don't try, who will?"

Aughra nodded. "Who indeed?"

Craven walked over to them in stride. "Let me at least come with you." He raised his sword. "Just in case."

Blativir nodded. "If you're so worried than be my guest."

Kira also smiled. She hefted a sleepy Isaac in her arms. Then, set him down in his basket. "I'll keep watch."

"We best lock the doors." Jen said.

With that, Luckee, Blativir and Craven walked out together. Luckee held her hands together. Fingers squeezed to break away her nerves. Blativir tried to put an arm around her, but one glare from her brother made her reconsider that. One of the suns began to set in the sky, almost as it if it was preparing for something far worse. It soon became true as the trio went further away from the house. Only to find a few arrows in their wake.

A small chapter to give a little breather for some of the intense moments. It'll be a while when I'll do this story again. What do you think? Can Luckee convince the Briar Knights to stop fighting against Thra?