The intermission has been long, and much has happened behind the curtains. But the story goes on, in its twelfth year, and once again, the stage lights are coming up.

Married now for almost four years, the St. Germains (Tabitha and Toby, who upon getting married took her last name; he still gets mail to "John Michael Emerson" now and then, though.) now have two little ones of their own and a third on the way, as well as their three dogs Duke, Duchess and Hershey.

The cabin has become a genuinely happy place, full of laughter and song, and of course, the sounds of the piano.

But there's always something new to be discovered, and this Act will be no exception.

Let the tale resume.

There was, in recent years, a sort of revival if you will, a retro trend towards some of the antiquated forms of image capture. Old-school photography, and specifically, a quick-format type known as "Polaroid". Toby and Tabitha had one of these retro-chic cameras, which they found charmingly quaint to use at times.

One such Polaroid now hangs in Toby's locker in the back office of Star's End Bar. It shows an exhausted but beaming Tabitha holding a little bundle of newborn, just barely visible in all the wrappings. In the Polaroid's margins is scribbled, lovingly:

"Selene Danae St. Germain - 7lbs, 3 oz. Born 12/21/2011, at 7:32 PM."

Just at the edge of the frame, two little heads can be seen poking over the railing of the bed - one about 3 years old and raven-haired like Tabitha, the other smaller and daintier still, with blonde hair so fair it almost seems to glow.

Tabitha herself is smiling up at whoever is taking the picture, and the loving look on her face leaves little doubt as to just who that would be."

Another note is scribbled on the lower margin.

"Best. Christmas Present. EVER."

Saturday night was often the party night. The wild night. The 'let your hair down and rock out' night. But around this part of town, it was the music night.

It usually found Tabitha sprawled out on the couch, with little Seline tucked in her arms, cooing or singing softly to her - Tabitha loved to sing, after all. Maurin and Reinette could be found either playing nearby with their toys, or (depending on their mood), curled up at the foot of the couch or next to their mother, listening to (and sometimes trying to sing along with) the music.

Toby, of course, was sitting as he always did, at the piano. The music changed all the time, sometimes it was a soft and melodic lullaby (more often than not, either the older girls ignored this, or were nodding off as a result of it), or a classical piece (also sometimes ignored by the older girls, depending on mood)... or something more playful. The Beer Barrel Polka was a perennial favorite, as Maurin would frequently insist to Daddy that he "roll out da berry!"

The dogs, for their part, just lay sprawled out and occasionally would perk an ear to look at their humans, their expression that of the mildly annoyed indulgence all dogs have when you wake them up.

Occasionally he would try something on the guitar, the one left to him by a dying man's last wish. It was not Toby's preferred instrument, not the one he was intimately bound with as with the piano.. but he could still learn anything he put his mind to. And the girls seemed to like it just as well.

Maurin and Reinette had both shown some curiosity about the piano as well, which Toby had smugly announced meant they were both destined to be virtuosos. Tabitha just gave him the same indulgent look that the dogs did, when he started on that.

"How long has she been doing this?"

"We first noticed it last week. She's been kind of off for a while now, but that's because she had that fever. But that broke last weekend, and ever since then she's.. well, you see for yourself."

"Exactly this way?"

"Yes.. she seems like she's in another world. Doesn't answer or respond to her name, to touch, to hot or cold.. nothing."

"Does she eat?"

".... sort of. She doesn't react to the bottle, sometimes it'll sit there if one of us holds it for an hour. But eventually, as if she expects it to have been there, she'll eat."

"I see. First, let me assure you, there are a number of possibilities for what might be happening, but I am completely confident that we can handle it. Just give me some time to run a full examination on her, and I promise you we'll get this turned around."

"I'd like to wait here, if it's allowed." A pause. "We both would."

"I'm sorry, but I really can't permit it. I know you're upset... but I can do this much faster and more efficiently alone. Please.. wait out in the lobby?"

"..... "

"Of course, Doctor. It's just... this is a little scary, you understand..."

"I do, believe me. I'll have someone give you regular updates as soon as I know anything."

"......"


"Thanks, Doctor. Come on, honey.. let's let her do her job."

The Call

Bedtime was a quiet time, a soothing time, with stories of gallant princes and heroic princesses, soft lullabies on the player, and sweet kisses of dimples cheeks as Tabitha tucked in each little girl - Maurin first, then Reinette, then baby Selene, who was finally more herself after spiking a fever a week or so prior.

The sight that met her eyes when they lit upon Selene's crib, however, made Tabitha's heart stutter - for her littlest angel was... fuzzy.

Literally fuzzy, as if being viewed by someone with severe myopia.

The rest of the room stood in stark hyper-focus as the near 7-month-old infant continued to blur, golden hair nearly indistinguishable from soft yellow sheets, polka dotted sleeper blending into striped blankets.

Until Selene sneezed, and stirred, and snapped back into focus once more.

With a racing heart and shallow breath, Tabitha fumbled for the comm she kept in her pocket, bought for her just in case something happened that required Toby's immediate attention. For the first time, she pressed the button that would ring her husband's comm, tears pricking in her eyes from fear and shock, tears that again rendered baby Selene blurry.

Weeks had passed, and thus far the terrifying incident with little Selene had not repeated itself. Tabitha hardly left the cabin, she'd taken a leave of absence from the little bookstore where she worked on the outskirts of the spaceport. Toby himself rarely went out either, and when he did, he had one of his spherical 'bots providing a near-constant holographic view of Selene's crib - additional sensors monitoring her heartbeat, her temperature, everything.

And still it was not enough to soothe the fear, the paranoia. There was no denying what Tabitha had seen, and it had been a simple matter for Toby to 'see' it through her memory as well. But if he had hoped that viewing the incident through Tabitha's eyes would help give him some great flash of insight, well, he was sorely mistaken.

His mentor was nowhere to be found (which was normal for her, it would be like trying to pin down the north wind), and she was the one person he felt he could have really asked for answers. There were others with the gift, but none he trusted in a matter like this. It left Toby feeling powerless, and that was a feeling he did NOT like.

Up until now, all of their combined efforts had been passive. Observation, meditation, theorizing. It wasn't enough, that much was now clear. They could just wait for it to happen again, but this time the little girl might not stabilize. She might just vanish.

That was not acceptable. It was time to take action.

The thud also brought Auntie Wyh to Tabitha's side. The Ice Mage had been staying at the Cabin at Toby's request, to keep an eye on the edgy, bordering-on-paranoid Tabitha - which had the added benefit of allowing Wyh to spend time with her beloved Goddaughters. Reinette especially was easily entertained by Wyh's ice crystals - her favorite being when Wyh would tickle the toddler's cheeks with snowflakes, making her giggle.

Carefully, Wyh lifted Tabitha, staggering a bit as she carefully carried her to the large, overstuffed recliner Toby put in the nursery for nighttime feedings. With a tender air, she rearranged Maurin's blankie over Tabitha, brushing the unruly waves from her face, murmuring softly. "Sleep now, dear friend - I will watch over Selene."

And watch she did, settling into a rather uncomfortable chair Tabitha had dragged into the nursery for the sole purpose of staying awake while Selene slept. And while watching over the baby, a sad sort of wistfulness filled Wyheree's eyes - and a growing resolve seized her heart.

The tension in the cabin was affecting even the Ice Mage herself - faint grey smudges marred her fair complexion, revealing just how tired she was, keeping watch over both Selene and Tabitha. She had been drifting off a bit when Toby's voice snapped her back to reality, his tone making her brow furrow in concern - until the rather unusual request made her brows go up.

"Of course, Toby - I will contact him right now, and make the arrangements."

Staggering a bit, for sitting so long had made her legs cramp, she wandered outside, breathing in the crisp air that marked the close of Summer, and the gradual onset of Fall. With a hint of shaky fingers, she reached into the bodice of her gown, and drew out the two pendants she wore constantly. The heavy grey-metal symbol of Roran's clan on its matching chain was caressed lovingly as it caught the rays of the setting sun. The second pendant was a thin golden trianglar amulet, suspended from a golden chain so fine, it only gleamed at intervals, when the sun hit it just so. Closing her eyes, she gently touched three fingers to the surface of the amulet, letting her thoughts reach out across the miles.

Xenograg - please come and meet with my dear friend Toby as soon as you are able, about a most urgent, yet most delicate matter. It is very rare for him to ask for help like this, and I grow worried for him, and for his family.

After a brief moment of silence, a familiar voice echoed in her mind.

Wyheree, I will come to RhyDin at once. Where would Toby prefer to meet?

Someplace in the public eye - are you familiar with the Star's End Bar? He works there at times.

Yes, I know the place, if not well. Please tell him, I will meet him there at his earliest convenience.

I will - thank you, Xenograg.

You are welcome. And do not worry.

The link faded as Wyheree released the amulet. With a deep breath, she walked to the porch, where Toby stood waiting. "He is on his way, and will meet you at Star's End - I thought that better than the cabin."

The bar was lightly populated that night, and before very long, the few dedicated drinkers (longshoremen and the like) present began to filter out. The remaining man did not have to wait very long, however.

Shortly before the wall chrono read ten, a vortex of ice crystals swirled into being behind the bar. The mist dissipated quickly to reveal the form of the ice mage, Wyheree, who joined her friend and teacher with a warm smile.

"Good evening, Xenograg - thank you for coming." Wyheree descended gracefully into a seat at Xenograg's table.

"Wyheree." He greeted her with a smile in return. "I suppose we have an unfair advantage in traveling here quickly."

But as before, they did not have long to wait. A few moments later, the doors from the back office opened up, and in walked Toby. His usually friendly countenance was showing the strain of the past few weeks, and his eyes clearly had not known sleep in some time. Their normally light blue was a shade darker now. Still, Toby managed a polite greeting and smile to the pair.

"Thank you for coming, I appreciate it." He could see the worry in Wyheree's eyes, and knew how worn he must look. But there was nothing for it - and perhaps this meeting would be the key step towards ending that long nightmare. He cleared his throat. "Can I offer either of you a drink?"

"Cold water, please," replied the older man.

"Some wine would be nice, Toby - thank you kindly," answered Wyheree.

With the drinks in hand (and an ice water of his own), Toby joined them at the table.

~~~~
(All material attributed to Xenograg, Emerson and Wyheree and their respective authors.)

The half-sampled drinks were set down upon the table, already forgotten. Toby folded his hands as he looked to them both. "I am.. not one to trust easily, ", he said slowly, "But Wyheree trusts you. And I trust her with my life. And given the situation? that will be enough for me. I hope you'll understand my initial reluctance, but I grew up here. I've learned lessons the hard way."

"I understand and appreciate your near-blind trust in me," came the reply from the older man with a smile. "I am a sorcerer, which I could describe as a kind of war mage. Defenses against enemies is a primary skill. And likewise, Wyheree trusts you."

A nod came from the aforementioned Wyheree, at the mentions from both men. "Aside from Roran, there is no one I trust more, than both of you."

Toby nodded, then tilted his head at Xenograg "You have some psionic defenses in place, don't you?"

Xenograg raised his chin a little at the tangent. "Yes. I have too many secrets."

"I have a very clear rule about the sanctity of other minds, but I can usually pick up a...." Toby cast about for the right word, "buzz when near someone. Nothing distinct, but like hearing a conversation from outside a room, just impressions." He settled his gaze on Xenograg. "Nothing like that exists around you."

The older man smiled "I once "snuck up" on a psychic because he used his mind more than his eyes. I was standing right in front of him." There were understanding chuckles from everyone at that. "My defense is not foolproof, of course."

Finally Toby reached for his water, took one last sip and set it back down. "Then, if you're both ready, I'll take us to the cabin. I must ask for the same trust from you. The only safe way to reach my cabin, is with me."

"I am ready", answered Xenograg as he stood. He looked down a moment at his sidearm, a pistol in a cross-hip holster model, set on the left hip for a right hand draw. With his left hand, he slowly drew the pistol barrel-first, offering the weapon handle-first to Toby. "I would not wish to startle your wife," he added by way of explanation. "Though I am hardly disarmed, of course."

Toby took it very carefully. He had no fear of guns, though he never used them personally. But this was still the other man's personal sidearm, after all. "I think she'll appreciate that. It's all about perception." There was a beat, and then he nodded. "Would you please take Wyh's hand?"

Xenograg did so, furrowing his brow slightly in curiosity. "This is psychoportation?"

"I don't know what to call it. I can promise you that it's safe," came the reply. Toby took Wyh's other hand, as the three stood in a loose semi-circle. He closed his eyes, with the other two watching him - Xenograg with senses both mundane and ethereal, and Wyh with a sort of resigned look. She'd gone through this before, after all, and wouldn't exactly classify it as a favorite experience.

There was a moment or two of nothing. Then, the world itself seemed to grow indistinct, hazy, to the three individuals. And without warning, reality spun violently around them like a colossal lazy susan even as their feet seemed duly planted on the 'ground'. Echoes, impressions of things seemed to fly past - buildings, people, ground, trees, other things too faint and too strange to perceive clearly.

It was dizzying, to say the least. And it felt 'wrong', to be the center of all things, even so briefly. That more than anything drew out the sensations of discomfort.

And in a moment of non-time, it was over.

After several minutes, Xenograg lowered his hand from the tree, brushing the bits of bark off of his hand. "I find no evidence of any magical intrusion. I think your defenses are adequate, Kairee has the magical vector covered. You, the psychic...and technological?"

"I have some psionic defenses, but I put those up when I was very new to the art. I want to revisit them in time." Toby looked around, adding with a wry smile, "I'm far better with technology."

He trailed off, his expression betraying both relief at the confirmation of no intrusion, and mounting unease as the mystery now deepened at the same time. The moment was interrupted by the soft click of a door, and Wyheree's appearance on the porch. Moreover, their attention was drawn to the slumbering little bundle in her arms as she approached them at the treeline.

Toby turned to look at the little one with that look only fathers get, and his voice had that same note of grace in it. "And this.. is little Selene."

Selene blinked open her eyes, showing them to be a blue like her father's. She was a delicate little thing, as all eight-month-olds are, with blonde hair so silky-fine that it almost didn't seem to be there at all. She blinked again, and made a burbling little sound as her little arms reach for her daddy.

Toby gathered the little figure into his arms as Xenograg leaned over, smiling. "Hello, little one," he whispered. The older man's index finger was proferred to the child, who promptly grasped it without hesitation. She was, just like her sisters, absolutely fearless and utterly curious.

The act was not just symbolic, however. Once Xenograg had the physical contact he desired, he began to whisper again, this time in a strange, tonal language. Selene blinked owlishly up at him, offering up a baby grin that showed the hints of newly sprouted teeth. Xenograg grinned back at her in return as he replied quietly, "Bannu...."

Wyheree and Toby watched in silence, she with a wistful gaze and he with a strange silence. Around them, the leaves of the trees rustled and stirred, though there was no breeze to be had.The only other sound was Selene's little voice, crowing in victory as she held tightly to her prize.

"But that is mine," whispered Xenograg to the child, making a silly, effort-like face as he wiggled his finger once more.

Selene burbled in her own personal language at him, informing him that he was gravely mistaken in his appraisal of the situation. Though, her eyes occasionally flickered to the side - Auntie Wyh's blonde hair was always a distraction. And after a moment, Wyh sent over another favored distraction - a soft flurry of diamond-like snowflakes. The silly bearded man's finger was suddenly forgotten, as little hands went for those instead.

Xenograg glanced up at Toby for a moment, as if trying to answer an unasked question. He thought a moment, even as the snowflakes dusted his head with flecks of white.. Then he leaned over and brushes his lips across the baby's forehead. "Great Mother, protect this child as you have protected me." Finally he stepped back and straightened.

Toby looked up quietly, then. "Anything?"

A shake of a bearded head, dislodging some of the snowflakes that had found a home. "Nothing. I hope you do not mind the blessing... I could be considered a priest, depending upon your definition."

"No, " said Toby heavily, smiling wryly, "at this point I think we could use all the blessings we can get."

The three now clustered around the bassinet, Selene still snuggled into Daddy's arms. Xenograg gestured to the bassinet. "What shall the ward do when activated?"

"Can it just.. keep her here?" Toby thought aloud, the simplest possible choice.

Xenograg nodded slowly. "Actually, I am thinking of this backwards. Yes, that's it exactly. Not keep something out; keep her within. And now, the problem." He stroked his beard, thinking aloud as well. "The trick is to keep her here without locking her in permanently. That would be annoying," he added with a smirk.

"I don't know...," mused Toby wryly, "It would keep her from dating."

"Except would she not outgrow the bassinet?" came Wyheree's innocent contribution.

"I'm sure I can rig something," answered Toby, utterly deadpan, before his reply turned serious. "But, the point's well taken."


Xenograg grew serious again as well. "How many people pick up Selene?"

Toby looked thoughtful. "Myself. Tabitha. Wyheree. Occasionally, her oldest sister, but only when we're overseeing. Doctor Turunen, her physician. I think Roran held her once."

"Mmm." Xenograg nodded slowly. "I could place a ward that would only allow certain people to reach in. But they would have to be here when I cast the spell... The ward could not allow Selene to remove herself, just in case. How much crawling does she do?"

"Not a lot, but Reinette was slow to crawl too. Maurin was the agile one. Can you.. put something in that would permit physical departure, but not magical?"

There was a moment's pause as Xenograg thought about that. "Yes, that is doable. And easier on the family. Do you object to me carving some symbols into the wood? The ward will be more durable. I will try not to mar it."

Toby shook his head. "No. At this point, I'm willing to try almost anything. And, it'll be worth it," he concluded soberly.

Wyh promptly sent a little snow cloud over, to flurry upon the bassinet. The three of them watched in fascination as the snow bounced off an invisible shield, as it were - like bouncing dandruff.. or Rice Krispies. The barrier was concave, sloping at the edges of the bassinet. The bounce was slight, some of the snow bouncing several times before it reached the edge.

"And this will repel anything that tries to take her from the bassinet?" Toby watched the snowflakes in their slow dance of futility.

Xenograg nodded, also watching his handiwork with satisfaction. "Any magical effect is repelled."

"So this will eliminate any possibility of magical movement. Anything strong enough to violate this ward, I take it, would cause a reaction on the rest of the cabin's protection, am I right?"

"Yes, I factored that in. This ward can be overcome--burned out--but that will take time and energy. The ward will glow if a large amount of magic is throw at it. The droids should be able to see that, if no one else is present to do so. It is a force field, in the general sense."

Toby nodded. "And I think I can eliminate it being what you saw me do to bring us here. I've been present for at least one of these?events. I know what it feels like when I move, and she wasn't doing that." He sighed and rubbed the back of his hand over his eyes. "I have, as you saw, one of my surveillance droids watching constantly. If it detects the reaction you described, it'll warn me immediately. And I'll be in the room a moment later."


Wyheree spoke now, curious. "Can one be taught to craft such a ward?"

"Yes." Xenograg nodded. "Breaking a spell causes a kind of psychic feedback. If the ward is breached, I will know--only a breach, though.". In other words he would have a headache, though he didn't point that out.

Toby paced around the bassinet, looking it over. "She'll be under constant surveillance as well. Tabitha...," he cast a pained look over at his wife, asleep in the chair, "never leaves the room anymore. Well, almost never."

Xenograg knelt to retrieve and resheath the knife. "I suggest more people for your vigil. You are looking tired, too." He paused and added, "I suppose I just volunteered."

Toby nodded gratefully to the offer. "That's the rub. There are few people I can bring myself to trust in here. Roran is another. I have my droids, but they have their limitations. I wouldn't impose, but any help you are willing to offer, would mean my unending gratitude." He leaned down and lay the sleeping Selene into the crib, covering her up with her favorite blankie. "Can I offer you some coffee? I know it's late, I didn't want to keep you overlong from home."

"No coffee, thank you. A taste I have not been able to acquire." He added with a slight smirk, "How can something that smells so wonderful taste so vile?"

This drew a chuckle from Toby, the first in some time. "Gives me a headache personally, but Tabitha likes it.

"I find it tastes better with the addition of fine cream," added Wyheree.

Toby turned on the nightlight near the crib, dousing the lamp. "I have some other things, if you'd like to stay a while. It's rare of late we've had the chance to entertain, even poor Wyh just gets the 'come in, watch, go home' treatment."

"I would be honored," answered Xenograg. "Do you have tea?"

"Quite a bit. A friend of mine comes from a planet that has tea as a primary export. He talked my boss into a contract."

"It must be excellent, then."

"Even I drink it, and I normally can't deal with tea," Toby chuckled.

Wyheree's eyes lit up. "If it is the tea I am thinking, it is truly divine."

Xenograg tilted his head just a shade. "Divine? That is a quite a boast. I shall compare it to Eldarie tea and we shall see," he concluded with a smile.

The door to the nursery room closed behind the three, leaving Tabitha and Selene dozing quietly, untroubled for the moment by dreams.

The bookstore trip was uneventful - save for the customer that nearly swooned at her feet, a bit of residual side effect from the modeling work she did part time for fun, the most recent being a spread advertising jump suits. Lizzie, Selene's partner-in-crime on the job, gave a mock eye-roll before filling her friend in on the goings-on at the store, including an update on their fellow co-worker, Tabitha.

Selene's brow furrowed, listening to the latest news - which was secondhand at best, given that Tabitha hadn't actually been to work for any length of time since Selene's namesake nearly faded away, and it made her all the more anxious to see Tabitha and Toby both. They'd been so kind to her, it felt only right to repay that favor by watching over the little one as she slept. to give Mama and Papa the chance to sleep as well.

Armed with all the latest tidbits of information, and after a small round of autographs and smiles - and a stray picture - Selene headed over to Star's End, where she knew Todd would be waiting, and hopefully, she wouldn't have to wait too long for Toby and Tabitha. The sooner she got herself into the watching rotation, the better.

It was about 9:00 when Toby arrived at the cabin with Todd and Selene. Wyheree was there as well, since neither of the parents ever were alone anymore while watching. Pleasantries were exchanged, and the bassinet was wheeled out into the main room so that everyone could sit down around the table and have some drinks and food - in particular, fresh homemade cheese and homemade pretzels from places that were known to them. Not to mention, other goodies from the steadily growing garden outside the cabin. Todd and Selene had brought goodies as well - tea of course, and some other delicacies from Todd's home world, such as those little tasty lemon moon cookies.

The first part of the evening was comfortable, almost a shadowy reflection of the sort of 'relaxing evenings with friends' that the St. Germains used to know. Wyheree was visiting that evening, and the setting sun found the five adults sitting around the cabin's dinner table with snacks and coffee or tea. Little Selene's bassinet had been wheeled out and was parked in between Toby and Tabitha's chairs. It was a surreal mockery of what should have been a lighthearted evening, however, because no one could forget the threat that hung over the little child's head.

The explanation of what was happening elicited a lot of surprise and sympathy, but as expected neither Todd nor Selene really had much help to offer, except of course for offering to come by and help watch. Selene was especially sympathetic - the wear in Tabitha's eyes tugging at her. They had, after all, been friends for some time now.

Little Selene was awake for all of this, all the new faces had her excited. She was all coos and smiles, waving her chubby little arms in delight. Everyone was fawning over her, though of course Todd and Selene weren't' *as* devoted since they weren't the 'ooh, want one!' types.

In addition, Selene O'Malley felt a distinctly strange sensation from the first moment she looked at the child. She couldn't even figure it out. There was something eeriely familiar about her, yet Selene couldn't figure out why - after all, she'd only seen the baby once before, on her christening day.

In the nursery, both Wyheree and Selene O'Malley kept watch. That is, until one of them fell asleep. Just about that same time, without warning, little Selene.. flickered.

Selene O'Malley, still awake, let out a gasp of shock, watching as the infant started to fade out like an old tube TV being turned-off. In turn, her gasp awakened Wyh, who had been half-drowsing. Together they saw the child, sleeping peacefully at last... and half-translucent.

Both women stared, dumbfounded - it was one thing to hear about it, but another thing entirely to see Selene fading out in front of them. But this time, she faded out completely, and the covers settled down onto the bassinet mattress where she had lain.

As Selene gaped, Wyh dashed to get Toby, and a newly awakwened Tabitha dashed wildly about, looking under the bassinet in vain for baby Selene. The panic that gripped the place was legendary: Everyone was talking, Tabitha was practically screaming, Toby was frantic, it seemed like the entire cabin was chaos incarnate. Toby's droid was able to replay the sight of Selene vanishing, which only made things worse.

The chaos went on, until five words silenced everyone, and changed everything.

"Hey... I've seen that before."

"That, I don't know exactly, but given she's still a baby, she can't have gone far."

Toby closed his eyes at Selene's answer. "I don't understand? you mean her physical body is out there, somewhere? Or nowhere?"

"A Dreamwalker moves through the dream-world physically." Selene nodded, trying to explain to them what seemed so clear and obvious to her. "That's why she vanished, why she seemed to be fading away. She was moving into the reality that exists in all dreams, everywhere. It's just as real when you're in a dream, and to someone like her... someone like me... even more so." She paced as she spoke, and then looked up at the others. "I.. could go after her."

Once again, everyone stopped, and stared at her again. Tabitha spoke up in a hollow whisper, "Are you sure you can find her?"

Selene's reply held a note of confidence. "She's so young, she wouldn't stray far from her own dreamscape. I can find her."


~~


So many questions hung in the air, but all seemed unimportant right now in the face of getting the baby back. But the obvious one came from Todd, who had the most direct experience with this beyond Selene herself (even if it was just observation).

"Don't you have to be asleep too?"

Selene was quiet a moment, then nodded:: Yes... naturally asleep. Drugs won't work, they interfere with the Walking. It has to be completely naturally falling asleep for me to be able to do this."

"Are you feeling sleepy?" Tabitha felt silly for asking, even as she said it. The sheepish look on Selene's face answered her rather plainly.

"I was.. until she vanished before my eyes."

A despondency fell over the room, heavy like a blanket. It lasted until Toby looked at Tabitha. The two exchanged a long, silent, and meaningful look, the kind you can only share through long experience together. Tabitha bit her lip, then nodded to Toby, answering his unspoken question. All through this, Todd, Selene and Wyheree all looked lost.

Finally, Tabitha gave Selene the same sort of sheepish look Selene had given her. "There's times I can sort of send the girls to sleep. Comes in real handy for nap time." She tried not to notice the curious look from Selene, nor the pricelessly confused look on Wyheree's face. She had known for a long time that Tabitha had a knack for getting fussy girls to go to sleep, but never an inkling that it was more than just a knack.

Selene broke the silence. "You can do that - send someone to sleep, without a drugged effect? But how?"

"Ahh, well. You're going to have to trust me."

Upon further reflection, it wasn't as impossible as it first seemed. Not everything she knew was wrong - Tabitha was not *her*. Not the same Her that Selene remembered, if distantly. Two reflections in different mirrors, perhaps. Just enough for her to recognize.

As Selene came to in the Dreamworld, she immediately searched wildly about, calling in a bit of confusion.

"Mummy?"

But the distant memory was fading, all those questions remained in the back of her mind. So much to work through... but not now. Not yet. She had a mission - perhaps for the first time in her life, Selene had a true, clear, unswerving purpose. And she would not fail. That was the thought that began to draw her out of her confusion, that gave clarity to her once more.

Selene shook herself fully awake. There'd be time enough for that later; right now, it was time to find the child. She knew, too well, that the Dreams had hazards all their own to trap the unwary, much less an innocent child.

That's when she heard that echoing voice again - but this time it was not hers. The grey mist around her solidified, and Selene found herself in a long dark hallway, with closed doors to either side.

Selene tested each door she came to, slowly moving down the hallway. For some time, she met only with frustration and locked doors. But gradually she began to see a faint diffused glow up ahead of her. With no other options apparent, Selene headed for the glow, squinting at it. Instinctively, she began preparing to change the Dream, should it be someting harmful.

As she came closer, Selene recognized the glow. It was soft, natural light, emanating from the last doorway. Though the place itself was dark, decrepit, and unnerving, the part of Selene's mind that walked in dreams understood that there was no danger here. Not to her. She couldn't have said HOW she knew - she just knew.

Selene took a breath, reaching for the doorknob. Her fingers closed around it, twisting, and in she stepped, blinking a bit in the light. The room within was familiar to her. Of course, how could she have forgotten it? It was the room she'd seen in her dream not a few days past. The same wallpaper, the bed, the little desk and stool. But it was somehow more familiar than it should be.

Standing there, facing Selene, was a little girl, with the prettiest head of blonde hair. Perhaps five years old, she looked up at Selene with wise, innocent eyes, and smiled.

"I knew you would come. I knew it."

"Because... you're me, or I'm you...?"

The little girl giggled, then turned solemn."No, silly. I'm me! I'm your reflection here."

"I - I don't understand... How can that be, when our parents are - different? I'm not even from this world."

"I don't understand it all. I sometimes understand it a little better when I'm older, but it goes away when I get little again. This world is a great big mirror," she looked around, "with reflections everywhere. My mama is your mama... but not the same mama. Does that make sense?"

Selene blinked. "No, it doesn't.." And yet, in her mind's eye now, she could remember distant images of her mother... the beautiful, kind face... the wild dark hair. It was Tabitha... but it wasn't the woman she had met in Rhydin. She realized something, then. "Mummy never left where she was born, and your mama did."

A nod from the tousled head. "They came from different mirrors. This is my world. You come from another world, the one where your mama lived. And my mama came from yet another world, all pretty echoes of each other.

Selene paced around after hearing that. It finally did make some sense, now that she thought about it. All those fantasy stories she'd read, fiction about 'parallel worlds' - it was true, all of it. She came from Earth, the daughter of a woman named Tabitha St. Germain. And the Tabitha she knew on Rhydin, was from a slightly different world. Similar.. but not exactly the same. Just... echoes of each other.

Which made the little girl in front of her, the infant Selene she'd been searching for... a echo of her own self. "Then, how did you find the pieces of my world, in yours?"

A serene little smile. "Because you're here too. Everything mixes together, now that you're here. Dreams cross worlds... my world, your world."

Selene nodded to that. "Yes... yes they do. That's how I got here, to RhyDin."

"In here, it's our world. But time is different in here too. That is why I can talk to you, because part of me has been here for a long time. The part of me that is you. Sometimes I'm the me, that has years to go in that world." The little girl smiled with an odd serenity. "When I go back, I will change. I will lose all of this. But you won't."

"When you go back, you'll be... a baby, again?"

"I'll be me, the me that should be there right now." A solemn nod. You came to take me home. To Mama." It wasn't a question.

"Yes..," Selene confirmed, "She's worried about you - everyone is worried about you."

"Will they let me come out to play again here?"

Selene smiled at that. "I don't know... you'll be quite tiny again. But perhaps - I think if.. I'm here with you, they will in time. After all, someone will have to teach you." Selene paused, looking at the chair. Her expression suddenly became wistful, sad.

The little girl pointed at her. "You're not lost anymore either. You found me, you found here. You remember now." She reached up to gently squeeze Selene's hand. "Don't be sad. You have new friends to play with. And now you have everything back that you lost."

"But - if this is your mirror, then.. what does that make me, in this world?" The hidden fear that had been lurking inside now burst out of Selene. She had never really thought about it consciously, but she was not of this world. She was a visitor, an interloper, or other words less charitable. This little girl was her, or a possible variation of her, but she belonged to this world. Did that mean...

"Can there really be room for me, in your world...?"

Some time had passed since the resolution of baby Selene's disappearance, and while the time had settled things down somewhat, the reverberations of it could still be felt.

Tabitha still had funny sleepless fits, where she would go downstairs on the pretext of needing a drink, only to lurk fretfully outside Selene's room. There had not been any signs of a recurrance, and if asked she insisted that she fully trusted Toby's statement that he'd been able to put the necessary block on the baby's gift. But still, she worried..

The older girls, Maurin and Reinette, had also mostly left the odd events behind them - but sometimes, one or the other (or both!) would linger by the crib, as if curiously waiting to see their little sister disappear again. Reinette was fascinated by it, but Maurin was a little more displeased. She was just a little older than Reinette (four years versus two and a half), but enough to have a better idea what had happened. And if it bothered her parents, it bothered Maurin.

Toby himself still had some sleepless moments of his own, tied in with the self-doubt he felt about the whole thing. Had he done the right thing? He was no expert even now, but yet he'd taken it upon himself (a third time) to intercede in one of his daughter's minds. What if he made a mistake? What if something went wrong? What if... what if...

The winter promised no answers as it stretched on, endless days of grey skies and chill winds. And now, as the second month slowly died... those clouds on the western horizon began to grow darker and darker. Something was coming, even the humans could feel it. There'd been some snow squalls in the past few days, but something bigger was lurking beyond the mountainous horizon.

And in the clearing, within the cabin, the St. Germains prepared.

OOC:

This post is to bring the Acts into chronological order, with the addition of Act III.