Sorry to keep everybody waiting, since I wasn't getting too many reviews (I can see this one going the way of Shift in the Sands sadly) I wasn't too motivated to slap this up. But I know there's at least one person who's reading this sucker! Thanx. You know who you are. ; )

Disclaimer: I've been kinda bad about this with this story but me no own.

Chapter 4: Phikel and Pikel

The nearest star glided behind the blue moon, letting the erie blue hue cover the dark half. Bright green lights zipped to and fro from tree to tree in the clean forest. Childish giggles filled the air as the lights seemingly played tag. Two were not in the game. They rested on the highest branch of the tallest tree above the waterfall, looking down at the rolling green carpet.

One nudged the other. "What's wrong with you?" Her voice was young and slightly squeaky. No answer. "Pikel?"

"You ask me this question every night," Pikel mused. "My answer's not any different than last night."

"Pikel," she said as she wrapped her arm around his glowing shoulders. "She said she'd come back some day. And she will... when she can."

He sighed, "I know. That still doesn't mean that I don't miss her."

"I miss her too."

"I just wish she'd give us a sign... anything would work!"

"Hey! You hear that?"

He cupped his pointy ear. His eyes grew wide. "Birds!"

She turned sharply and looked behind her to see a small black undulating cloud swoop down at them. She grabbed his wrist and pulled him down into the lower branches. "Where is everyone?!"

"Phikel this way!" he exclaimed as he twisted to his left. She turned and rocketed into a small knot in a low branch behind him.

They scrambled to the back and held each other close as the loud cawing crescendoed, peaked, and faded. "They're gone?" she asked shakily.

He nodded and stroked her silvery blue hair. "They're gone."

"What would make them scream like that?"

"Something must have spooked them," he said, trying to calm his pounding heart.

She finally detected the fear in his voice. She cupped his face in her hands and brushed the wing of his nose with hers. "It's okay. They're gone."

"There never used to be this many birds here," he said, pulling his arms in tighter around her. "When Talme was here..."

"We've made due for this long," she said softly. "We can keep going."

"I just wish she'd get here. I miss my home!"

"And you think I don't miss mine?" she asked sharply. "Is it not worth it?"

He pulled her in and let her head rest on his chest, "Of course it's worth it."

"She'll come. I know it." She slowly withdrew, "I have an idea. I know she told us not to, but let's at least wait for her at her home." She smiled, "We'll be the first to welcome her back."

He smiled, "Alright!" he said excitedly. "Let's go." He took her hand in his and lead the way south.

Where are we?

Talme panted for breath. We're here...

Zari extended her mind to look at the surroundings. We're in a forest.

They haven't spotted us yet, but they will.

Who will spot us?

Two little friends of mine. They'll find us... If they go against my order.

"There it is!" Phikel exclaimed as she pointed.

Down thirty feet below them was a wide circular clearing. Trees surrounded a large, beautifully crafted stone building that glimmered in the blue hue of night. Three paths lead away from it. One wound its way to an elaborate labyrinth of waterfalls. Phikel looked longingly at it. Another made a straight shot for a large garden. Pikel gazed at it, remembering the iron trellises he and his brothers used to dart under in their games. The third path was hidden beneath the forest canopy, but they both knew where it lead- to their destination. Pikel was the first to set his sights on the towering edifice. "The lookout tower," he whispered to himself. "And atop its peak is the very thing we need."

"Let's go," Phikel said as she gently tugged at his arm.

The features of the tower became clearer as they flew closer. The tower itself had been sculpted to resemble a tall spiral stair, wide at the base with a door that lead to the direct route to the top. A tiny twinkling light suddenly flashed to life. Pikel stopped dead in his tracks and stared at the rainbow light. "She's here," he whispered.

Phikel's face also lit up. "Come on! She's waiting for us!"

They made a straight shot for the tower then stopped dead as a shadow passed over the light, making it flicker.

Zari suddenly groaned and her eyes screwed shut. "She's... here..."

Talme went pale.

Phikel allowed Pikel to pull her behind him. "What is that?" she asked in a quivering voice.

"No creature I've seen here before," he replied in the same manner. He clenched his teeth and growled, "Where's a storm sprite when you need one?"

"They won't come," Phikel said. Her whole body shook and the sky blue light surrounding her pixie wings began to pale until her glowing blue skin turned a light gray. She gasped, "Pikel!"

He turned and shook her, "Don't let it scare you!" he said, but he was also turning afaint shade of gray and his green light was paling. He turned back and gasped. Where is it? He turned back to Phikel, his green light reigniting. "Phikel it's gone!"

She shivered as she looked over his shoulder. There it was. The rainbow light was back and burning as if nothing had touched it. She drew a deep breath and her shivering stopped. As she let it out her color returned. She buried her face in his chest.

"Come on," he said soothingly. "The sooner we find Talme the sooner we're safe."

Zari sighed in relief. I can't sense her anymore.

So she's gone? Talme asked hopefully.

She shook her head. She wouldn't leave unless she was driven out.

I'm sorry Zari. I thought we'd be safe here for a time.

It's okay. We'll have one or two suns before this place is no longer safe. She's just sent her scouts for now. She's scaling the area.

And once she's done with that?

I don't think I have to tell you that part.

"Are you sure you know how to work this thing?" Phikel asked as she watched Pikel busy himself with the roomful of controls.

"Talme showed me how all this worked," he replied.

"Once."

"I still have a good memory," he said. "I remember how this all worked." He flew up to a circuit board and pointed his hands at two wires. They lifted and moved as if his hands held the strings of a puppeteer. "All I have to do is just-" The two ends connected and a sudden spark sent him reeling back. Phikel gasped and flew up to catch him. He checked himself and shook his head. "It's okay. It does that sometimes." Phikel slowly glided back down to the floor in the opposite corner.

"Just be careful."

"I will," he said with a smile. "Let's see. Wires connected." He flew up and flipped a large black switch. "Power feed output..." The switch was heavy and took a great deal of his mental strength to turn. "Initiated!" he said when it finally clicked into place. He paused and let out a sigh.

"Don't overdo it Pikel," she called. "I'm here if you need help."

"That's okay. I got it under control." He flew along a line of small switches, flipping every other one as he went. Gadgets and gizmos either began moving on their own or beeped and buzzed. Phikel covered her ears against the racket. Pikel went on, zipping from panel to panel and checking the single viewing screen from time to time. It was still blank but fuzzy images began to light up. He turned the dials to fine-tune the image. He squinted his eyes as two figures slowly became clear. "There she is!" he cried. "Now all I have to do is point the beam in her direction and we can bring her straight home!" He paused when he caught sight of a second figure lying in Talme's arms. "Who in the kingdoms?"

"What is it?"

"Someone's with her."

"Who is it?"

"Don't know. We'll just bring them here and ask."

He flipped another switch and the ceiling opened a crack to reveal the rainbow crystal on the spire. He watched it carefully, turning the largest dial beneath the screen. Two small points emerged from the crystal; one pointing toward Talme and the other toward the stone house. The humming sound increased as a beacon of white light shot out. He looked at the screen to see Talme shielding her eyes. He looked at a large round button and his eyes sparked an emerald green. It clicked and Talme and the mystery woman disappeared from the screen as the second light shot out and struck the front step of the home. Pikel braced himself against the screen and panted laboriously. He raised a shaky hand and glanced at a small black button at the top of the screen. Once again his eyes sparked and the button depressed. All the flickering lights and noises slowly faded then stopped.

He wavered and swayed. His wings slowly stopped and he fell. Phikel rocketed for him. She collected him in her arms inches from the ground and rocked him gently.

"Sleep," she whispered. "I'll take care of the rest."

How was it? Two reviews at least please... thanx