Unexpected

I am blinded the second the stone is lifted by Yubi and then am plunged back into darkness when it slams back down. Yumi watches her mother leave and then turns her head towards me. She smiles a not unpleasant smile, and walks towards me. She grabs my hand in hers small, cold hand, and gently pulls me up.

She starts to walk towards the back of the keep,leading me by my hand.

"Is it ok for me to go there," I ask, afraid of Yubi's wrath for venturing into her area.

Yumi just turns her head and smiles at me as she continues walking.

Soon, I hear the familiar trickle of water, and Yumi stops and points with a self-satisfied smile. A stream going from an golf ball sized hole in the ceiling to a small, swirling stream on the floor is in front of me. I swiftly go to the falling water and drink as much as I can. I also catch some in my hands and splash it onto my face.

"Thank you!" I say earnestly to Yumi, who has walked next to me, getting her own water to drink.

Yumi suddenly darkens, the smile drops from her face, and she turns to face where we had just come. She scurries toward the front of the keep and I hurry after her, worries Yubi May have returned early.

When we get to the front of the keep, I hear what upset Yumi. Above us, I can hear yelling and scurrying feet. Every few seconds is a yell or grunt. There is a battle going on above us.

"I'm here!" I scream once before Yumi puts her hands over my mouth. She looks genuinely frightened and continues to stare at the rock above. Dust starts to fall as the fighting grows near and I swear I can hear Arakan's voice and wings.

I struggle to try to get free from Yumi but her grip is beyond human. Suddenly, part of the rock falls, and Yumi pushes me forcefully away.

"Yumi!" I cry as I see her sad smile disappear underneath the rock.

"She's here!" Arakan tells. The light is too bright for my eyes, which are too full of tears to see anyways.

I hear wings rustle and I feel arms wrap around me.

"Your safe," Nobu states, as he flies us up and out of the keep.

"Is she hurt?" I hear Teruma ask.

"Your alive!" I cry, as I blink, trying to get accustomed to the light.

When I am able to see, I almost wish I had kept my eyes closed. All the spiders have been killed, there body's lying around us. I push my head against Nobu's chest.

"There poison wasn't enough to kill me, just to make me sleep for little while." Teruma reassures me.

"We can explain more once we back in the cave," Nobu states as he launches us into the sky with one strong flap of his wings.

When we land, Nobu gently sets me down on the cave.

"The others will be here soon, do you feel well enough to get changed?" He asks softly.

I nod and slowly walk to the back of the cave.

I rinse off using my personal waterfall, rinsing away the tears as I recall Yumi's sweet face when she helped me find the water. Her mother may have been evil, but Yumi wasn't.

I change into my blue nightgown, since my other dress was destroyed, and walk to the front of the cave.

Arakan and Teruma have rejoined Nobu and they all three stop whispering when I walk out.

"Your poor face," Teruma says sadly as he walks closely to me, seeing the bruises and cuts I obtained while in the spiders keep.

He softly wipes a stray tear away with his warm hands.

"Sit here," Arakan points to a soft pallet of leaves, and gently takes my arm and helps me sit. He sits next to me and I find myself leaning against his strong shoulder. I am beyond exhausted.

"So," Nobu starts, " would you like to explain how we were able to find her, Teruma?"

"Well," Teruma starts, as he sits on the other side of me;the soft fur of his tail against my legs. "That necklace is not just beautiful, it is also a tool."

I reach to the necklace and hold up the pearl, looking at its small, white shape.

"It has an enchantment on it so that I can always find it." He smiles sheepishly down at me.

"You put a tracker on her without telling her." Nobu clarifies. "As is to be expected of a sly fox".

"But it helped us save her quickly," Teruma argues, looking at me for a reaction.

"While I'm a little upset that I wasn't told about the pearls powers, I am just happy to be back" I say and I mean it.

"See," Teruma smiles and gently kisses the top of my head. I feel heat rising in my cheeks.

"Fine. Now, would you like to tell her or should I?" Nobu states, stating daggers at Teruma.

"Tell me what?" I ask.

"That your coming to live with me!" Arakan gleefully states.