The small, stranded group shivered, and moved closer to the fire. The snow had stop some time ago, now replaced with a bitter, biting, piercing cold. Hoban was well-outfitted for the cold, in a fur coat aquired from the depths of Lucia's pack. She had given him that, ignoring the protests, and silencing him with a youd-better-take-it-or-else glare. She now hunted through, and with a resigned and melodramatic air, took and shook out a long dress. She vanished into the "Dressing crevice" as they had taken to call it in the two days trapped within the cave, and Hoban could not hold back a snort of amusment at the dress. She fixed him with a baleful stare, then looked down and plucked at the shash at the furry collar. It fell off, and she tied it to her backpack. It was a Miss Prissy Snowflake dress from the NC mall, and Lucia was not too happy about wearing it. But it was very warm, and of excellent make. She was able to run in it fairly well. But barely three silent minutes later, Hoban suddenly let out a great shout of hysterics. The other two looked at him quizzically.

"I can't take it any longer! Here. I hid it from you, at first, so I could see what ridiculous outfit you'd make up!" From behind his back, he revealed a bundle, which spilled open more winterwear, mercifully, pants instead of skirts.

She harrumphed good-naturedly and snatched up a pair of clothes identical to what Hoban was wearing: Blue Jumper, Ski coat over that, furry leggings and boots, thick mittens, furry hood pulled over her head, pale blue forelock falling over her eyes. She changed into those then came out again and lay by the fire, staring at the cieling. Presently Hoban and Seli heard her murmuring a poem, or song, to herself:

"Live the snow. Laugh the Light.

At which great price,

May I acheive such a height?

Brought down by Betrayal

Betrayal of those you love.

From below and above,

I seek out Betrayal,

Betrayal seeks out me.

I shall never Live the Snow,

Laugh the Light,

Cry the Dark,

Walk the Waters.

Myself shall do it for me."

She finished. Then mumbled, "That made almost no sense, but it fits...in an odd, enigmatic way."

Seli made a curious shrugging movement, sleek fur shining in the flickering light, then rested her head down upon the leaf pile again. The rest of the day passed much the same: Sleeping, eating, telling stories, poems, singing a few songs, and giving out little bits of gossip from their towns and daily lives. Seli declined to join in, and just spent the day humming, listening, eating, and sleeping. Around sunset, They felt the air grow warmer. Too late, Lucia realized the danger they were in now.

"Everybody get out! Run! The snow will melt and flood, and we might drown if we get stuck in here!" She heaved aside the entrance boulder, and it tumbled down with a crash. The rock shook, then a trickle of water came in. Now it was getting terribly hot- Hoban estimated 34 degrees C. The sun was shining brilliantly down upon them as they struggled out against a tide of melted snow and ice, and leaped onto the sands. Seli let out a cry of alarm, and fluttered to a palm tree. She vanished from sight among the thick leaves for a moment, then the whole head of the tree came off, Seli with it. Hoban strode up, and peeked underneath the mess. Seli flew out at him, snarled, then dragged it to Lucia. She hurridely patted the furious Seti's head, who calmed down in response.

"This is a palm cabbage. She thought you were going to take her treasure, but I told her that you will share. They are very edible. Come on." She ripped off a leaf, and chewed it. A blissful expression came over the Uni's face. Hoban grunted. "I'm an Aisha, not a Kau or a Uni. My old relatives were carnivores. I suppose I could have some, though." He shrugged slightly, then took the proffered leaf. He made a gesture of apology to Seli, who ignored the reconcilation and continued with ripping into a chunk.

"I guess Seti's are herbivores," He commented, eyes fixed warily on the creature. Lucia smiled, and swallowed.

"Most are. However, some petpets have been mutated and prefer meat. I have had the misfortune to come across a Tyrannian Gathow in my travels, and it was one of those rare petpets that hunted in the wild, only seeking innocent civilians as their prey. I fought it off, however. It was only a level 2, probably escaped, from its unfortunate owner. Or it might have eaten them...Poor thing."

She stretched, content with the pleasant warmth, and they took turns going into the jungle to change into summer clothes. When it was her turn, Lucia went a little way into the foilage, climbed a thick tree partways, and was shielded by hanging vines. She glanced dispassionatly at the soaking wet Tennis Shirt and gypsy boy trousers, which is what she would have worn. On an impulse, Lucia put her hoof in the pack and felt around. Her probing hoof touched upon something dry, so of course she pulled it out. "It" was a fanciful seaweed dress. She stared at it for a moment, conflicting emotions roiling around her thoughts.

"It's a rum go, but..." She mumbled. "Naw, confusticate this!" She slipped it on, then put on winged altadorian sandals. Walking sedatly out, back to the camping spot, she felt a little more cheerful. She sat down and gave Hoban a shy smile, then directed her attention to a backpack strap that didn't really need adjusting. Hoban looked down too, and an awkward silence grew between them.

"So...do you come to islands like this much?" He asked politely, then immediatly wished he hadn't. How stupid of him; of course Lucia did not come to enchanted islands much. But she did not seem to notice his slip of tongue, just gazed into the distance, then looked at Hoban, then looked down.

"I've only been on Mystery Island, if thats what you mean. Very nice there. I was first trained there, and the Techo Master is very wise. He once said to me, 'Never test water with two feet.'...." She paused, and looked into the Aisha's eyes. "Do you understand what he meant?"

Hoban shook his head ruefully. "Nope. But, well...It's pretty dark. I'll take first watch." Lucia smiled tiredly in thanks, and moved closer to sleeping Seli. Her head drooped down, and her eyes closed. The night passed.

'Today is the day after yesterday. Yesterday we had the melting snow.' Lucia thought, yawning. The sky was leaden-palled, and even as she watched, a few plinks of rain resounded. But it was a light rain, and she welcomed the freshness. It was still sweltering hot. So Lucia playfully nudged Hoban awake, and Seli leaped over to rest on the Uni's shoulders.

"Wha...?" Hoban groaned, then got up.

"First one to the ocean is a mutant Slorg!" Lucia called, already sprinting away. Hoban became fully awake at once with the challenge, but he realized he had no chance of winning this race. Instead, he jogged down, and splashed into the cool waters.

The threesome had already forgotten about the danger.

Now Lucia jumped off a slippery rock with a blood-curling yell, and did a cannonball into the water. Hoban laughed out loud at this ungraceful approach to swimming from one who was very serene and dignified. She got up, and flew to another rock. This time, she executed a perfect swan dive. Hoban waded in farther, and swam to a floating strand of kelp. He grabbed for it, intending to toss it at Seli swimming near, but the floating kelp...recoiled

In a flash, Lucia was there, but others were faster. The "kelp" rose out of the water and growled. It was a Maraquan Gallion. They gave nasty nips...but this one looked like it was capable of more than that. Then three more beings rose out up of the water, and Lucia realized the ferocious Gallion was the least of their problems...

-Authors Note- Major cliffie! Hopefully you R&R'ed. Please review! I write better with comments on my mind about the previous chapters. Sorry if the cahpters seem, short, because I have to type in bigger text format- healthier on the eyes. Try it. Also carrots are good for eyesight. Lol! ;) Review!