Disclaimer: Not mine. Bwhahahahahahaha!

Authors Note: There was a technical difficulty when I wrote the fourth chapter. I fixed some errors and reposted it, but I forgot to delete the original first chapter. That's fixed so for the two people who reviewed chapter 'five' I thank you:

Sitting Dragon: I get them as long as I can, but I'll try. I end up writing them at school a lot of the time. So I do what I can. :D Thanks for reviewing! (Again.:))

Basest-8: So far, Daine has had no dreams. I kind of think of Gainel as a favorite Uncle to her, so he would be watching over her. He was worried about Daine trying to lie herself into a perfect world, because there is no such thing. So he warned her parents and other Favorite Uncle (Badger). Badger offered to go and prod Daine back into the real world. And there we are.

MunkeyLynne: Hey, who said I need to make you happy? ;) Lol, here it is!

***

The rest of the day dragged by after the Badger went back into the Divine Realms. Spots and Cloud were assuring Daine that they would try their best not to fade into nothingness. Daine was only slightly reassured.

Numair sighed and reined in Spots as they cleared the last of the Royal Forrest and faced the back of Corus again.

"Home." He whispered.

"Its been almost a year. Do you think they've changed?" She asked nervously.

"Undoubtedly. But so have we." Numair caught her startled gaze, "It is human nature to change, Magelet. Just like it is in the world to change. Once, a very long time ago, Carthak, the Copper Isles, Galla, the Yamani Isles, everything, even Tortall, was connected. One could walk from Tortall into Carthak without stepping off land."

Daine listened intently as they trotted into Corus, towards the palace.

***

Onua smiled at the sight of her assistant and her friend. They were standing close together, closer than need be for just giving a report to Jon.

Numair finished the report of Hurroks in Yadi, and the King sighed, "I'm afraid there have been reports of Spidrens in Mindelan, and with Lady Knight Keladry training with Alanna at Trebond..." He trailed off.

Numair shook his head slowly, "We just got back, Jon." Daine nodded.

"In addition to the Spidrens in Mindelan, these Spidrens have been capturing children from the town, wrapping them in their infernal webs, and hanging them upside down from trees. Only two have been found dead, and five others wounded. By the looks of things, two Spidrens have been sighted, though there may be more."

There was a knock on the door and a clerk came in at Jon's beckoning call. "Sire, Lady Knight Alanna of Pirates Swoop, and Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan have answered your summons." The clerk bowed and left.

Daine watched with relief as first Alanna, then Kel entered Jon's office. She heard the sparrows out the window, and the horses, and she tuned out the two-legger prattle around her. It was nesting time for the sparrows, and Cloud was deliberately angering Kel's big gelding, Peachblossom. She didn't realize she had fainted until she saw Numair's worried face floating above her and Onua snapping at Jon, saying that Daine needed her sleep.

She was vaguely aware of Numair picking her up and carrying her out of the room, and she rested her head on his shoulder, happily inhaling his scent. Several minutes later, they reached Numair's rooms, where he placed her on the bed and she drifted into oblivion.

***

Gainel sighed with no small amount of relief as Daine slept. Things were on the mend.