"OK," she said, feeling around for her puch. Looking around, her eyes opened wide in panic. "Where's my pearl? I know I had it before I went to sleep," she said before she started tocough from her breathing picking up in pace.

"Don't worry about your pearl, it's safe," Alekai said, opening his mouth to reveal the pouch, "I found it on the floor near Mayumi,  just after we got back from the orphanage."

Using what little strength she had, Ece flew down to grab the pouch. When she landed, she curled around the pouch, taking deep breaths to calm herself.

"I made a promise to Mama that I would never loose it and always protect it. This pearl is all I have to remember her and Papa by, and I would give my own life to make sure it is safe if I had to," she said weakly, "I wish I had a better way of carrying it since this pouch is so old and worn, but I don't want to risk loosing the pearl."

"I'll hold her while you get the insects and medicine ready," Ahnah said, carefully picking Ece back up.

"Thank you Gold........Mama," Ece said before lookingup, "Thank you for everything."

"Alright," she said, taking the maggot as it was handed to her. After a few moments, she had completely eaten the insect, her face contorting from the tast of the medicine. "That stuff is rather bitter, but if it makes me recover faster I will take it."

"I'll try to find a way to mix it with something sweeter next time. It won't help if you feel sick when you eat it." she said as she handed another to Ece.

Nodding, Ece took the second maggot. After about a minute, the medicine in the spoon was gone along with half the maggots in the jar.

"All I could get the willow to tell me was that Goldenscale had puller Ece out of her sleep," Tieral said before seeing Goldenscale, "And I see the willow was right. What was holding her in her dreams?"

"I figured it was a nightmare, but what of? There must have been something about the nightmare that had a powerful grip on her," he said, walking over and watching Ece, "I just want to know what it was exactly that had such a hold on our little girl. Alekai did what he could to try waking her, but she kept forcing him out of her mind in one way or another."

"I'd rather not talk about it," Ece said, turning away from Tieral and letting a few tears fall, "I don't want to rememberthat night."

"It's ok, Ece. I'll protect you." she said as she held Ece close to her. 'Her nightmare was of the day her parents and sister died.' she told Tieral telepathically, making sure Ece could not pick up what she mentally said.

"That memory must cling to her soul like gembond to the skin," Tieral said, keeping his voice restricted to only Goldenscale, "I'm glad you found her and decided to adopt her. She need all the support she can get after such an event."