II - A Parent's Worst Nightmare

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Noa saluted her last student and headed home to her house near the beach. She was accompanied by Gala, who was spending a few days in the region to check her martial arts school. The cave at the village's entrance had become a sort of branch of Biron, though with less restrictive rules. Noa's teaching was renowned far and wide and had become a source of pride in Rim Elm.

Noa wasn't the girl who had come out of the Snowdrift Cave so many years ago anymore. The passing of time and motherhood had made her blossom into a remarkable young woman, but she had retained that spark of life that set her apart from most folk. If anything she was stronger and faster than before, and coupled to experience it made her a formidable opponent. Even her close friends were still in awe at her liquid grace and feline agility.

Nene was cradling Lyra, Noa's youngest daughter, on the front steps of the house. Upon seeing her fiends she greeted, "Noa, Gala, you're back early."

"Yes Nene," Said the red-haired woman as she took her daughter in her arms, "The last class was cancelled due to the festival's preparations."

"Say, isn't Nara with you?" Inquired the teenager, "I saw her and Thoram head towards the village's entrance, and I assumed that they were going to your school."

"No, I haven't seen her all day," Answered Noa, "Do you mind going to Mei's? I'll fix dinner meanwhile."

Nene acquiesced, "Yes, I have to talk to Trevor about fixing my door anyway, and I already prepared something, it's in the oven."

"You're an angel," said the young woman, "Some day you'll make a man very happy."

Vahn's sister smiled and left on her errand, escorted by the tall Monk.

Noa gently rocked Lyra, "Born of Fire and Wind my little cherub, mommy is so happy to see you." She playfully whispered to the baby and thought about how good her life was.

Vahn was quiet and not very demonstrative, and thus many people wondered how a lively woman like her could be happy with him. They didn't know how gentle, caring, loving, and loyal he really was. But she did, and her fine honed instincts sensed his deep feelings for her.

He had built their house with Mei's husband's help. It was near the ocean as he had promised her, and the soothing sound of the waves reached the mother and her child. They lived happily with their two daughters and had many good friends. Noa couldn't ask for more and she didn't want more, for what they had contented her completely.

Of course Vahn's responsibilities forced him to stay at Drake Castle from time to time. Noa hated when he was away for she missed him bitterly, even if she knew that it was only for a few days. Her spirits were high at that moment because her beloved was coming back to her this evening, after a weeklong absence training new recruits.

Nene and Gala returned shortly accompanied by Mei, her daughter, Candela, and her husband, Trevor. The four grown-ups had a look that told Noa that something wasn't right, not right at all.

Mei greeted her, "Noa, the good evening to you, I fear that our offspring has gotten into mischief."

"What has Nara done this time?" said the red-haired woman, rolling her eyes.

Candela answered, "They wanted to explore the Bio-Castle, but I didn't go because Noa wanted to be you, Auntie Noa, Thoram was going to be Uncle Gala, and they wanted me to be Uncle Vahn and I didn't want to be a man."

Dark premonitions crossed Noa's mind, "Candela, tell me, do you know where they have gone exactly?"

"To that place, near the mountains." Answered the girl.

"What?" exclaimed Noa, "Isn't that region guarded?"

"I guess that we should go and have a look," stated Gala in his usual no-nonsense tone, "It's getting dark and there are still monsters around there."

"I'm going too." Said Trevor.

Gala almost dismissed the big man, for he might be more of a hindrance than anything else should they encounter trouble. But he understood Trevor's concern for it reflected his own. Not for the first time, he thought that the teachings of Biron should encompass more down-to-earth matters, like being a friend or an uncle.

"Very well," Said the Monk, "You'll need a weapon though."

"I have just the thing." Announced Noa and she then entered her house. She came out a few minutes later, wearing her fighter's gear and carrying a mean-looking battle-axe.

Trevor accepted it, lifting the heavy weapon with ease, "Isn't this Vahn's? Won't he object at me using it?"

The red haired woman dismissed her friend's concerns, "He would insist, knowing that it's to help the kids. Let's go before it gets too dark. Mei, Nene, would you take care of Lyra, please?"

It wasn't a long walk, but Trevor was hard put to keep up with the two martial artists. They met a patrol and explanations were given. The soldiers had not seen the children, but since they were dealing with two respected heroes they let trio pass by and joined the search. Dusk was upon them, making the whole landscape take a grayish hue. Noa's keen eyes soon found traces of the two small explorers.

"Here," She announced, "They went that way first, then Thoram carried Nara for a while and headed back towards the village."

Trevor could hardly see anything in the dust and scarce grass, "How do you know that he was carrying her?" He inquired.

"Two things," Answered Noa, as if it was obviously plain, "His traces show that he was carrying a weight, and there's only his footsteps coming back. From this point here they both ran towards the pits, it's quite clear."

It wasn't clear at all to the giant, but he trusted his friend's judgment. Gala was also a good tracker, but he lacked Noa's night-vision and so let her lead the way. They soon reached the boulders, and the young woman soon discovered the hole through which their children had fallen.

"Oh, don't tell me that they went into the pits!" Exclaimed the Monk.

The guards couldn't help them there, as they were under orders to never enter the pits themselves. Noa and Gala preferred to be a small group at any rate, so they dismissed the men with instructions to carry news to the village. As Noa prepared herself to jump down, a familiar voice, slightly out of breath, announced, "Well, guys, you were going to go back in there without me?"

"Vahn, I'm so glad you're here!" exclaimed Noa with gratitude.

"Well," Interrupted Gala, "I guess we should go now."

And with that, the four adults jumped down into darkness.

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End chapter 02