Brek and Isu sat in a tree peering out into the ocean while the young male and female Satke, who helped lead the escape from the Koru’s facility, sparred with their magic on the beach. The boy had short dark hair and wore form fitting pants, a dark tank top, and tight slippers. He had jagged fire markings across his amber arms. His sister had complex water runes drawn across her arms, shoulders, and cheeks. She held her dark hair in a tight bun and wore a similar skin tight garb, with a halter top.

Skillfully she created a shield of ice to block her brothers fireballs. Then cleverly activated an ice spike rune on her arm to form a thin, clear shard barely visible in the bright sun. She braced against his fiery onslaught with the shield, then using the smoke as cover, discreetly threw the shard. The boy narrowly saw it, and with no time to dodge focused heat into his palm and blocked.

“Ah, Clesio! are you seriously trying to kill me! The tip of that shard stabbed my hand, could have been my heart!” Shouted the boy.

“Your hearts of the other side. And you were flinging fireballs like you were trying to kill me! Try using something different next time, you’re too predictable,” retorted Clesio.

“She has a point Sperio, but that was a nice block,” said Brek kicking his legs and clapping with glee.

“It’s not funny Brek, look at my hand, she almost put a hole through it. I barely melted it.”

“Quite being a baby, let me see,” She took his hand between hers, and started chanting, several of her runes began to glow a deep blue, and pure water gathered in the space between their palms washing over the wound. Then she flattened her palm into his gently pressing the water into a clear gelatinous bandage over the puncture. He flexed his palm and pressed at the mold curiously. “Don’t mess with it, and it’ll heal fast, won’t even leave a scar.”

“What’s the point of going through all this pain if it doesn’t leave a scar to tell a story by later?”

“Shut up, I know it doesn’t hurt, Bassinee taught me that spell.”

“Hey everyone something’s coming,” said Isu pointing.

“About time Clo-Whu got here,” said Sperio.

“No, look where I’m pointing, it’s coming from the sky.”

“Wait is that?” Brek squinted against the glare of the sun, he could hardly make out the shape, but he knew what it had to be. “It’s Dungii!”

“What are you sure?” asked Isu.

“What other thing has a giant mushroom like that?”

“The Great Silokbin! It can fly too.” Said Sperio.

“What did you call him?” asked Brek.

“The Great Silokbin. It’s what our people call the giant mushroom creature that lead us to the cloud,” said Clesio.

“The Great Silokbin,” chuckled Brek. "Well, his actual name is Dungii, which means they're back.” Brek jumped from the branch and ran to the shore. As Dungii flew in closer, he recognized the passengers waving back, along with a giant praying mantis perched on top, and a carnivores looking tail. “He looks different, but it’s definitely him, and I see Ang and Vlux.”

“Murp murp!”

“Were back!” hollered Ang as they landed. He jumped off and Brek took notice of how he’d grown broader, his beard bushier, and his skin darker, but his smile remained the same. He ran to him and Ang swept him up in a big bear hug.

“I missed you,” said Brek.

“I missed you too. They let you out of the city?”

“I taught Aletha and Bassinee how to play Crescendo, so now I’m free to leave and apply my skills out here. How was your trip? Did you find Lysyntri?”

“Next time you’re coming with me. I found my relatives, this is my cousin Kartegus, his grandfather also came with us. I’ll introduce you to them once they catch up.”

“I take it your mission was a success?” asked Isu.

“Oh yeah, we have a huge living vessel, an army of giant birds, a dragon, a man dragon, a Saberfang tiger, a manish tiger doctor, and an old guy who knows things. Hey, I think I recognize you two,” said Vlux.

“You were the pixie that reached out and helped us escape. I’m Clesio.”

“Thank you so much for freeing us. We’ve been working to drive the Koru from Brexcen and find a way to defeat them, I’m Sperio.” He said kneeling with respect.

“You should really thank him and the spider, he convinced the team to free everyone and we couldn’t have done it without her daughters. You two still only speak your native language. Hey Brek I have a new trick I need to show you.” She walked over to him and touched his shoulder.

“Really, we can do that?”

“Yup, go ahead and try it on them.”

Brek approached the twins. “If you both trust me, please take my hand, close your eyes, open your mind, and focus on me.” They both took his hand without question and did as he instructed. After a moment they began to sway. Clesio started to fall but Nantidae ran and caught her. Sperio stumbled back and leaned against a tree.

“Whoa that was weird,” he said.

“Makes your head feel bloated doesn’t it,” said Kartegus.

“What! how am I? Oh this is great! I’ve been trying to learn your language.”

“Is Clesio alright?” Asked Brek.

“Yeah sorry I didn’t warn you, it makes some people pass out, most just get dizzy,” said Vlux.

“Everyone look! It’s Clo-Whu, but something is not right.” said Isu.

They turned and saw the giant octopus skimming the surface, jet propelling himself toward the shore. Then one after another the watercraft broke through the waves, their sleek black sails unfurled, becoming the menacing Koru ships.

“This isn’t good. Clo-Whu’s got a whole fleet after him, we can’t handle that many,” said Brek.

“Yes we can, hey Thramuny can you hear me?” said Vlux touching the ACORN in her hair.

“Yes, I can hear you. And we’ve already spotted the ships. Azurumene really wants to test the thing.”

“I’m sure he does, go ahead and do it.”

“Vlux you have to say it,” came Azurumene’s voice.

“Why? Just do it.”

“It doesn’t feel right unless you say it.”

“Why do I have to say it?”

“Cause you’re the Grand Pukar.”

Vlux sighed. “COMMENCE EGG DROP.”

From within the looming cloud, a murder of big black birds emerged. They swooped down and above the Koru ships dropping their special eggs. The eggs burst into red fire that swiftly consumed the vessels. Desperately the troops retracted the sails and dove beneath the waves. The fire continued to burn. Many of the smaller ships avoided the bombardment and turned their armaments up. They used crystal ball loaded cannons to launch an elemental counter attack that the birds easily avoided. They retreated into the cloud. The bombing gave Clo-Whu a chance to get away and make it to shore. Brek noticed that he was missing an arm. He walked over and touched Clo-Whu.

“Everyone it looks like the Koru have adapted their ships and made better weapons. Things will get much more difficult for us if we don’t acquire more force.”

“Hey did I mention we have a dragon,” said Vlux. On cue Tial-Meh her magnificence parted the cloud, Couraderi behind her, spheres orbiting. She descended on the ships expelling her blue fire that spread fast and wide across the surface of the water, extinguishing any remnants of red fire and destroying the remaining ships from the bottom up. Her fire didn’t burn long but wrought irreparable damage, sinking most of the remaining vessels. It left only a few small escape craft. Tial-Meh circled back around.

“Vlux call off the dragon, we’ve won,” said Brek.

“No, they’ll report back that we have a dragon.”

“Exactly! We have a dragon. Maybe that’ll be enough to scare them away.”

“Brek, they're just going to come back at us with more weapons and corrupt creatures. They don’t deserve mercy you haven’t seen the things they do.”

“I’ve seen what they do, and I’ve seen what we’ve done. One side has to show mercy, or we’ll keep fighting forever just like the people in Buwahutee, and Kyxichen.” said Ang.

“You two bleeding hearts belong together, but you have a point. Thramuny tell Eio to back off.”

“But why?”

“Just do it fast. I have a plan.”

“Alright I trust you, it’s done,” Tial-Meh ascended back to Couraderi, allowing the survivors to escape.

“Everyone listen, if those soldiers make it back their going to report what they saw here. That will frighten the Koru into devoting all their resources to finding a countermeasure. If we're going to take advantage of their shock, then we need to mobilize soon. Is this the new diversionary team?”

“Yes it is,” confirmed Isu.

“I see the team has gotten smaller and younger,” remarked Vlux.

“But we are efficient and capable. I’ve been training every moment of every day. I’ve honed my skills. We have destroyed outposts, redirected troops, and sabotaged facilities,” said Sperio.

“These twins are exceptional in their element, Isu can use Cascade so we need her to get in and out of the city, and move unnoticed, and I have developed an effective technique to fight,” said Brek.”

“Pixies generally aren’t fighters, and there are still many Satke that are sick and malnourished, Aletha and Bassinee have been working to treat them. Bassinee has also been conducting elemental affinity tests and applying marking based on one's affinity. Sperio shows a strong affinity to fire, Clesio has a strong water affinity. The pixies and Satke who are healthy have been partaking in DUSTT sessions led by Gron and Rux.” briefed Isu.

“What do you mean by DUSTT sessions?” asked Kartegus.

“The training course I developed, it stands for Diversionary Utility Special Tactics Training,” said Vlux. Couraderi dispersed its cloud cover and descended close enough that its long central tentacles brushed the ground. Drumya with Thramuny flew down first, followed by Zurtegus on Heniptera, and finally Azurumene and Euyene on Tial-Meh. “Everyone this is Brek, Isu, Sperio, and the unconscious one is Clesio. I taught Brek how to gift Babel. D team this is our reinforcements from The Land Behind the Sea and The Sky City of Kebv.

“So this is the other Elucidator you mentioned. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Azurumene got uncomfortably close to Brek and began examining his marking.

“You must be the tiger doctor, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” responded Brek with a forced but pleasant smile.

“Who drew your eloquent markings?”

“Or resident physician Bassinee did.”

“Are you sure about that?” questioned Vlux.

“Yes, who else? She does all the markings.”

“Look at Isu, Clesio and Sperio’s markings, now look at mine. Mine look different because Myorni drew them. Yours are different from all of ours.”

“You’re right. I never took notice of that.”

“Well, you can ask her when we get back, ready to take a ride on our Nebzulu Couraderi.”

“I want to, but something that big and pretty will be spotted right away,” said Sperio.

“Don’t worry Couraderi can disguise itself as a passing cloud, it can’t move as fast but it won’t be seen,” said Kartegus.

“Or I can shroud this, Couraderi in Cascade and we can move at whatever the normal pace is for a Nebzulu.”

“Couraderi can move at hundreds of kilometers an hour, like super fast,” boasted Kartegus, while Zurtegus chuckled next to him.

“You can shroud something as big as this,” said Thramuny.

“I could shroud all of Brexcen.”

“Well, let’s get a move on, Muscle, go pick up Clesio.” Drumya put on his intimidating ‘Muscle’ scowl and moved toward Clesio. Brek almost thought this large muscular man with leathery wings meant to harm her, were it not for Thramuny giggling behind him.

“It must have been quite a trip, you found some interesting ally’s. Would there also be room for our Highhorns?” asked Brek.

“You have Highhorns?” asked Zurtegus.

“Yes, It’s how we’ve been getting around,” said Isu.

“What’s a Highhorn?” asked Ang.

“Their creatures from a land very far from here. It is to us, what Kyxichen and Goblesues is to you. How did you acquire them?” asked Zurtegus.

“Our resident veterinary doctor Aletha found them,” said Brek. As they spoke, Sperio ran behind a bush and came out leading the two Highhorns. Large regal creatures with gold fur, white feathered hooves, and two large horns that intertwined, the ends curving up like elaborate headwear.

“Their pulchritudinous,” said Thramuny.

Brek chuckled. “Thramuny your choice in words always amused me.”

“Did I say the wrong thing?”

“That word wouldn’t apply to them. You can say they're handsome,” corrected Drumya.

“Seems Babel gifting is more effective than I theorized,” said Zurtegus.

“Yeah, Muscles here already has a firmer grasp on the language than someone who read the dictionary,” laughed Vlux.

“Couraderi has plenty of room, we can use the tentacles to pick up the Highhorns and bring them in that way,” said Kartegus.

“What about Clo-Whu?” asked Ang.

“He’s going back into the ocean, he says he has a lot of work to do,” said Brek.

“Will he be alright, that was an awfully close call. And about the whale song you gave me, we sorta had to break it.”

Brek translates for Clo-Whu. “I already know of your deeds. You made a valiant effort to save her and helped me save her family. Thus, destined to die, she put her soul in my care to give to you, so she may continue traveling and aiding you on your journey home. That wound in the land was first opened by the Koru, though made worse by the strife. In being released at the opportune time, her final act saw her ascend beyond Zan-Weia. The sea knows and is eternally grateful.” With that Clo-Whu turned and disappeared beneath the waves.”

“The whale we saved on the beach. That whale became the Whalesong and wanted to thank me by seeing that I made it home. What she really did was help me find a new home and save the home of so many. I wish Clo-Whu would have told me her name,” said Ang.

“Whales don’t have the same concept of names that we do, their song is their name,” said Brek.

“We and the people of Buwahutee won’t forget her song. Now let’s get everyone loaded up I’m eager to get home,” said Vlux.

The dwarfs and pixies climbed under the mushroom. Drumya placed Clesio on Tial-Meh between Sperio and Azurumene. They flew to the top of the vessel, which now served as a giant nest and brought up the Highhorns. Isu stepped to the edge where she spread Cascade all around the vessel concealing it. They sped off to Brexcen. Once they were above the location of the entrance, floating high in the sky, Couraderi formed its cloud cover, Isu retrieved Cascade.

“Everyone we’re going to leave Couraderi parked here and make a careful descent into the city. I need to examine how well Gron and Rux have been conducting DUSTT. Since Tial-Meh can go invisible I need all the big people, looking at you Drumya, to ride with Tial-Meh under her guise.”

“Wait if she can turn invisible, why didn’t you have her do that before blowing fire on the fleet,” asked Isu.

“Because she can’t blow fire and remain invisible at the same time. The rest of use will ride on Dungii, and use Cascade for cover. We're also taking a few of the daughters with us to gather intelligence, Tial-Meh is going to disperse them.”

The dwarfs and pixies climbed under the mushroom, with the two mecha perched on top, Isu cast her veil over Dungii. Everyone else rode with Tial-Meh and Eio under his invisibility field. As they descended Brek saw the black sails skimming the neighboring lake. Tial-Meh circled the area as Dungii softly landed in the water, where Brek could recite the new incantation to open the path to the source of the lakes. The area began to glow softly just under the surface, Tial-Meh circled back and spun upside down over the spot dropping her passengers into the entrance, before flying back to Couraderi, Dungii shed his form and they swam into the city.