The Disciple was welcome to live with the three trolls of course. With open arms she was accepted by the Dolorosa who quickly fashioned a new bed for them. She and some of the neighboring trolls even built an extension on the house to provide more room. Now the Signless and Psiioniic shared a room while the Dolorosa and Disciple shared another. It was truly wonderful; the Disciple even quit her dancer job to study in the ways of the others. Each day she would practice in the field with the men and listened to the wise old trolls. She also began to help the Dolorosa re create her stories that had been lost in the fire. The jade blood would speak and the olive blood would record the story on a parchment; this became a sort of ritual they would perform every night the two would bond over. The Disciple even began helping the Signless create speeches and rehearse them for her. It was a joyful time for them all.

It was a clear night, all was well in the small village and the Psiioniic was currently helping the Dolorosa tend to some vegetables growing outside their small hive. They chatted idly, exchanging ideas for a new story she was currently working on with the Disciple. The Disciple herself had just woken up after a long night of writing and the Signless was no where to be seen. She stepped out into the night, fully dressed in a new outfit the Dolorosa had made her with her own sign looping around her neck. It fit her well and she was very grateful to have it.

"Good morning mother Dolorosa, good morning Psiioniic." She greeted the two.

"It seems our dear Disciple has returned to the living." The Psiioniic teased. The girl tossed her wild hair and flicked a playful glare in his direction.

"I was far overdue for a good sleep! Rather than those cat naps I usually take."

"Well, now that you're awake could you help us a bit with the garden?" The Dolorosa interjected. Quickly the three of them worked to pick out the most ready of their plants.

"I plan to make a special stew tonight to officially celebrate your return." The three brought the baskets inside. "Although I hadn't met you until recently I know the boys missed you a great deal." The Disciple blushed at the trolls kind words. The Psiioniic nodded along in agreement. Behind them the door to their hive opened and the Signless stepped inside. There was the rustling of robes as the Dolorosa whipped around to meet her son. He was grinning from ear to ear, his face a bit scruffy from and hair a bit shaggy.

"Where have you been?" His mother snapped at him.

"Mother, I am an adult. I can take care of myself!" He pleaded, still smiling. "I only went for a quick walk."

"Quick walk? You've been gone since sunrise! The night is almost halfway over, my child. That was no 'quick walk'." She placed her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow.

"Mother, please." The Signless sighed. And the jade blood sighed as well, relaxing her position. She ran a hand through his hair and she smiled almost sadly.

"You need a hair cut." She finally said. The Singless placed his mothers hands in his own and nuzzled his cheek into them.

"Well, I better get cooking this stew. Disciple, would you like to help me?" Just as the Disciple opened her mouth to say yes the Signless interrupted.

"Actually, I was hoping to kidnap her for a bit." He smiled mischievously.

"You've been gone all night!" The Dolorosa looked at her son incredulously.

"Yes yes, I know-"

"I need help with this stew."

"I'll help you." The Psiioniic stepped in.

"Thank you, Psiioniic." She smiled kindly up at him and placed a thankful hand on his chest. A light blush and smile appeared on the gold trolls face. "Alright, I'll let you go." She smiled playfully at her son and the olive troll.

"Thank you, mother." Signless swooped in and kissed her on the cheek. "I'll make us all dinner tomorrow."

"Be back in time to eat." She called after the two trolls as they exited the hut.

"Don't get too frisky!" Psiioniic added. The Disciple blushed a deep olive at the thought of her and the Signless getting "frisky".

"I advise the same for you two!" Signless called back. The two could hear the Psiioniic choke and began to laugh as the ruby lead the olive into the trees beyond their small village.

"While I was out on my walk I found this really amazing place. I sat there and meditated for a while, thinking of everything I stand for, everything I hope to do. It was an amazing experience to say the least. I thought you might enjoy it. Perhaps we could draw inspiration together." The Signless spoke as he lead her through the trees.

"Really now? Well I am honored to be taken to this place with you." She smiled at him. He smiled back as they continued on their path.

The two continued with idle chat until the Signless stuck out an arm to stop the Disciple in her tracks. She looked at him with wide glowing eyes. The forest was dark, but there was a mysterious glow ahead of them. He glanced back to her with those deep eyes and held out a hand for her to take without saying a word. Slowly she placed her small hand in his large on and he began to maneuver around the trees with her in tow. She easily mimicked her movements around the tight branches and hanging vines. The ground beneatrh them turned wet and a humming began, almost as if spirits were whispering to the two trolls. It could have been them alone in the world at this moment, the tension and excitement in her heart for what was to come left her breathless as she trusted in her guide completely. Signless propelled them forward and the Disciple watched him move with a tightness in her chest that was not only the excitement. The water was getting deeper, roughly waist deep on the girl. They trudged on until a very large branch blocked their path. He turned to meet her eyes.

"Hold your breath." He whispered. She did as he instructed, and with their fingers entwined the Signless dived beneath the water and guided the olive troll beneath the large branch. Ahead the glowing was brighter; much brighter. The two of them kicked onward and swam, trees entangling above them and roots extending themselves through the water. It progressively got brighter and brighter as they swam, the light was coming from the water itself; was this even water? Soon the Disciple had to squint through it, the white light almost painful to look through. Then the two surfaced for air. Both heads broke through the connection of mystical water and air, both gasping for the sweet breath that they both needed to survive. Slick black hair cascaded down the Disciples shoulders and pooled around her. The glow reflecting off of her made her look like an entirely different creature. Signless smiled at the girl, a foreign feeling pooling inside him. He disregarded it and returned to showing her the place. He lead her to a small island in the middle of the bright pool of something. There were no more trees, no more sky even; they were in a cave.

She could see the opening they came through on the far side of the cave, a dark opening with tree branches (or roots) curling inside to wrap themselves all across the walls of the caves and dip into the water. Although neither was even sure if it really was water, it could be some sort of energy. Or perhaps spirits even. The Disciple studied the pool around their small island for a while. The only ripples were from their presence. Signless came to kneel beside her and they stayed that way for a while, just looking into the energy flowing all around them, within them. After a while the pool stilled itself. It gave off the illusion of being a sleet of glass. The Disciple cold feel the energy building up now, something prickling under her skin. Her gaze shifted to the Signless now, and his to her. Their bodies drew a bit closer, neither of them really realizing it. They were mere inches apart and the Disciples lids fell shut, her lips heavy. The Signless leaned in more, closer now then ever.

And just like that they were apart again. Neither looking at each other, neither speaking. The Signless felt a weight within himself, something like guilt. He couldn't do this to her now. The troll very well knew of his duties; of what he was. It was dangerous and he had to focus his energies elsewhere. It was only a simple infatuation he may or may not harbor for the girl, but he would ignore it for the sake of what he needed to do. He felt guilt for feeling what he felt, but also guilty for leading her to believe that he felt something. He chanced a glance her way and saw her looking just as confused as he felt. Signless cleared his throat.

"Eherm- perhaps we should get going. I'm sure supper will be done soon." He said a bit awkwardly.

"Oh yes, and we both know she would kill us if we missed it." She grinned at him mischievously and he smiled back. "And thank you." She added. "For bringing me here. It's so beautiful and it was a really moving experience to stay here a while." Disciple was being honest. There was something mystic about this place that made her feel refreshed, clear, and focused.

"Thank you for enjoying it with me." Signless replied, holding out an arm for her to take. She wrapped hers within it, their earlier feelings forgotten (or so it seemed). The two of them marched into the water and bowed playfully. Then the Disciple pulled herself away quickly and splashed Signless.

"Hey!" He laughed, blacking the water from his face. There was another splash and she was gone, quickly swimming away. He smiled and dove in after her. She was not far ahead but it was still difficult to maneuver around the branches as quickly as the slender olive troll. He swore to catch her though.

Soon they were laughing and emerging from the forest to look down on their little village. The walk home had almost dried them but they were both still a bit damp. Both trolls sprinted down to the house and playfully shoved each other the whole way down. Signless reached the door first this time and both of them burst in the small hive. At the table sat the Psiioniic and Dolorosa staring at the two trolls. The Psiioniic was in mid bite of his stew.

"You're late." The Dolorosa said, irritation itching in the back of her voice.

"I'm so sorry, mother." The Signless looked truly disappointed in himself. "We ended up taking a bit longer than I thought we would."

"It was amazing." The Disciple interjected. "You wouldn't believe the place we were. It made me feel so… so alive!" She exclaimed. Dolorosa looked on with interest.

"Why don't you two sit down and tell us about this amazing place?" The Dolorsa motioned to two of the trolls to a pair of bowls on the table. "I hope you like your soup cold."

A blue blooded troll marched over the country side, arrows swaying in his quiver. It had been a long journey, and he wasn't getting any closer to what he was looking for. The mutants were practically impossible to locate. It seemed like he had searched every town but there had been no reports of what he was looking for. It was an endless search to please the empress.

After dinner the Signless collected the dishes and scrubbed them clean. The Disciple and Dolorosa discussed what the pool could have been made of and the Psiioniic eventually joined their conversation. But the Signless remained silent, his feeling weighing on his mind. His mother had always encouraged him to find his own way when it came to quadrants, but in his position he was unsure if he should have any quadrants filled. He glanced back to the girl, happy as could be. It didn't seem to be bothering her as much, so why should it bother him? As he scrubbed the last dish clean the Signless decided to forget his feelings and focus on his work. He placed the bowl in its proper place and went to his bed without saying goodnight to anyone.

The Disciple and Psiioniic were too busy arguing about the pool of light to notice, but the Dolorosa did. Discretely she picker herself up and took herself to the Signless' room. He lay on his bed in silence, so she joined him. Cradled in her arms she asked her son.

"What bothers you, my child." Her comforting voice made him feel better almost instantly.

"Nothing, mother." He said back.

"Oh it's not nothing. I know when my little Signless is worried about something." She looked down at him knowingly.

"I am not little." He said back, avoiding the question.

"I care for you." She whispered, stroking a lock of hair back. When he didn't say anything back she spoke again. "You still need a haircut." A small smile appeared on his face.

"Perhaps you can give me one when the moon rises tomorrow. But I need my sleep." She looked into his eyes, still worried for him. But she accepted his plea and planted a kiss on his forehead.

"Goodnight. I love you." The Dolorosa spoke, rising from the bed.

"I love you too." Signless said as she left.