Having had decided where to enter the forest, Murelle, Miles, Toby and his 'droid Max set off. They decided to enter just a few yards from where the energy field seemed to end. The full moon was now overhead, and pale shadows were cast behind them, the ground seemed level and free from pits and rocks. Maybe it was a farmer's field at one time, Murelle ponders to herself.

"I didn't think we'd ever get going. All that formality and stuff. Sheesh." She mutters to Miles and Toby. "I think highly of the queen, but I find all that posturing unnecessary."

It doesn't take long to reach the forest itself. Without speaking, night vision goggles were pulled over their eyes and with a moment's hesitation they plunge into the darkness. There was little in their path at that moment. The occasional downed tree limb or they had to move around the trunk of a large tree.

The usual night noises were heard, the hoot of a distant owl, scrambling of rodents as they are disturbed by the footfalls of the trio along with croaks of frogs.

Freezing in their steps after they hear rustling to their right, Mure turns to look and the unmistakable form of a spider was seen, moving outside the brush. Slowly she pulls out her blaster and aims. She doesn't fire at once looking to see if it was alone. The spider disappears back into the brush.

"Why didn't you shoot it Mure?" Miles asks in a whisper.

"I don't want to draw attention. Not yet."

No further remark was made; Murelle is very relieved no other spiders appeared. It was getting harder to move through the undergrowth, the twisted trunks, dank rotting branches and large boulders block their path and more than once Miles or Toby had to help Murelle climb over some of the larger downed trunks or branches. It was slow going.

Suddenly the silence was shattered with the blast of horns, the calls of the company....declaring the invasion.

The trio stopped and pulled off their night vision goggles, the grey of dawn had crept in.

"I guess it's started." Murelle murmurs. "Let's go, we can't waste time."

Toby did not reply at first. He just stood there, eyes closed. While he did not feel what she did, he was aware of it - whether through her, or from some other perception was not clear.

The attack was obvious enough, but it felt....diffused, unfocused. A moment's thought told him why.

"It's aware of the attack. The only reason such an attack, on such a scale, would be going on, is because of you....or so I think it thinks. So it's casting about for you, blindly, since it's already tasted your mind previously."

He put away his weapon, and kept his eyes closed. Though no one in their group could perceive it, the shadow around them deepened and closed. Without thought of the spiders to get in his way, his full focus turned to making Murelle....'disappear'. In a psychic sense, of course. The echoes of the attack would gradually fizzle out, though she might have an uncomfortable few minutes ahead of her.

After a moment, Toby realized that it had a second (if temporary) effect. This close, such an attack could not be easily hidden. He turned to look meaningfully at the others, and simply pointed off into the distance. It wouldn't be hard for them to realize what was in the direction he was pointing.

Toby barely noticed the grenades or the resultant destruction. He wasn't really there, in a very real sense. His body was, for sure, but his consciousness was almost completely into the mindscape now.

The Mindscape - that 'space' between conscious thoughts and minds. Unknown to most people, perceived by those able to push beyond the barriers of their own heads, it really was its own unique dimension.

It was for this reason that Max was truly along for the trip. He loomed behind his master, silent and ominous, just waiting. And like his master, he too perceived the world around him with senses beyond the mundane - motion tracking, infrared, ultraviolet, X-Ray, and a myriad of others. Waiting.

~~~~

The creatures, the spiders they called them, barely registered to him. They were unintelligent minions, pawns, tools. He was aware of their tiny flickers of dark light in the mindscape, and saw some of them disappear as the grenades did their bloody work. But they were just details to him now.

What he had perceived, what he had been pointing at, was their source, their master. The Entity, whatever you want to call it - their raison d'etre here in this place. He could still see the faint echoes of its first attack on Murelle, fading rapidly but still perceptible.

His voice was almost a whisper, as it responded to the thoughts of mind that (for now) left it behind. "Not them. *It*. That way. I don't know how far, and it might move. But it came from there."

Sometimes, I hear voices.

Strange thing, the mind. Sometimes it whispers to you, gives you hints that seem to come from nowhere. Suggestions, or nudges. Just where they come from, has always been a matter of debate. The subconscious, most would agree.

Whence came this particular message, Toby didn't know. But he knew clearly that it was something to be taken seriously.

The time for revelation isn't come.

More than anything, that whisper was very clear to him, even though the physical world around him was half-lost in an indistinct haze. Max was still following his last order, which was to clear a path. When the hulking red machine noticed the new approach, a silent query was given. Toby's answer came back in the same way, simple and direct.

Do nothing yet.

Max obeyed his master's order, and remained motionless - though that wasn't going to be confused with 'peaceful looking'. He simply wasn't capable of that.

As for Toby, he had been lagging behind the others for a little while now. As the beings made their presence known, he went still and silent...waiting. Gradually, the darkness of the forest surrounded him in turn, veiling him. He lifted his chin, sightless eyes gazing skyward...slowly became more and more indistinct. More shadowy. In time, he was indeed nothing more than a living shadow himself.

He had already been hidden in the mindscape, from the Entity...or anything else that could perceive. In there, he didn't seem to exist at all. The exception to that was Murelle...for he continued to shield her mind, leaving it hidden and protected from the Entity. As such, she would surely still be aware of him in turn, even if she could not see him.

But for anyone else, Toby was gone, just another shadow in the dim, dark, dismal forest. One among many.

Waiting.

Climbing up the ladder wasn't as hard as Murelle feared. It went fairly fast and before she knew it, she was being helped up to the first flet. It was so long and wide it held a small village.

Murelle looks around, her amazement growing. Men, women, children going about their lives above the forest floor. They seemed to be just as amazed with Murelle and Miles. They stare in curiosity, their chatter now silencing to a mere whisper, pointing and looking at each other then at the new-comers. The one, who seems to be in charge of the company that swept Murelle and Miles from the forest floor, speaks in very broken common tongue.

"Stay, I will tell you are here." He turns and walks away.

Murelle slowly moves away from the ledge, not daring to look down. Murelle studied those who seemed to live in this village above the floor. They seemed to be a race of elves. Dark skin, almost the color of a golden brown, yellow hair and ears much like the elves she had seen in Eldicor and other points of Rhy-Din; tall, hands with long finger and graceful in movement. Different Elvish races are abundant in Rhy-Din, who knew how long they've lived in the forest.

Remembering the injector that Miles slipped her, she had pushed it in her pocket when the natives showed up. Discreetly as possible, she reaches into her pocket and slips it out, then holds it to her neck and felt rather than heard a soft "hss." Almost immediately she feels a rush of energy. Sighing with satisfaction she slips the injector back into her pocket. There was still much to do.

The warrior who captured them returns, gesturing. "Come."

Taking a deep breath she follows as she looks around her. Children follow them chattering in their tongue. Again, it seemed to be some form of Elvish. They reached a hut that was larger than most, it was made of a criss-cross of branches, ferns and the hides of animals stretching over the hut to prevent leakage from rain. She saw pictures of huts similar to those in historical pictures of Native American dwelling places on Earth. The warrior lifted the hide that covered the door and gestures for Murelle and Miles to enter.

For a moment it takes Murelle's eyes to adjust to the dark of the hut. There were a few openings that let in some light, greenish as the rays reflect off the leaves in the tree that held the hut. There was a fire pit built with rock and some sort of cement in the center of the hut. She hoped they learned how to burn a fire without taking down the tree. Obviously they had.

Hands on her shoulder broke her observations, pushing her down on her knees. In front of her was probably the "chief" of this forest village. He was imposing both in height and dress. He had a cape of some sort of fur, his hair longer than most and his braids had small bones, feathers and to her amazement small owls identical to the one she wore around her neck. In fact, as her eyes adjusted to the gloom, she noticed his chair had the same owl carved on the "throne."

"Who are you and why are you here?" His command of the common tongue showed he traveled to Rhy-Din Town. He would blend quite well, the different types of races that are found there, he wouldn't have garnered a second glance. He waited, his sharp golden eyes studying Murelle and Miles closely.

"Who are you and why are you here?"

Murelle pauses and for a worried moment wonders where Toby is. The flap of the hut flutters open as if a breeze caught it then settles back in place. She glances at Miles.

"I am Murelle GreyMantle."

"Miles Grimm." Was Miles terse reply. Murelle could feel his tension, it was palatable.

"Xenograg." Murelle and Mile try to hide their mutual surprise as Xenograg introduces himself. Neither even sensed his arrival, but he was here.

The chief, or whatever he was, nods. "And the fourth that was with you and one of those...mechanical creatures?"

Murelle could honestly say, "I don't know. We were separated when your people came upon us on the forest floor."

"And why have you come?" The question is repeated.

Murelle decides to take a more personable approach. Perhaps it will calm the sudden appearance of two and one not accounted for, were obviously out of place and in their territory.

"We're here to kill that monster that lives on the forest floor." Came Miles terse reply. "I hope you don't keep us long. The longer we get to it, the longer the fighting will go on. And what is YOUR name?"

Murelle nudges Miles.

"I am Calaron, heru of the people. I hear the fighting in the forest. Who would dare to face that rauko?"

His command of the common tongue was remarkable. Murelle continues.

"The Queen Teleperien who resides in Sawrey. She and many have come together to help kill it."

The heru throws his head back while he laughs. He pulls himself together and stares at the small woman kneeling on the floor in front of him. "And you, how is it that you, small and a woman at that could face such a creature."

"It killed my husband. I've come to end its miserable life."

"How?" He is obviously amused by this.

Murelle reaches around and pats the plasma blaster. "With this."

As she reaches around the talisman she had tucked inside her tunic swung out, hangs freely from her neck. The chief stops for a moment and stares. He gestures to one who swept them up off the forest floor and spoke in a low voice in his own tongue. The warrior nods in respect then leaves the hut.

"There is one here who could know if you speak the truth." Calaron says. Murelle sits as he eyes them suspiciously while they wait. The flap opens and an elf that was a female enters. She nods to Calaron.

"What am I to see Calaron?"

He gestures to Murelle. "What you see about her neck."

She gracefully walks to Murelle and gently lifts the talisman with her long-fingered hand. She looks into Murelle's face, her golden eyes studying her features.

"How did you come to have this?" The woman asks gently yet with some authority.

Murelle keeps her gaze steady. "My grandmother, she gave it to me as a token that I will find someone that will help me."

The woman straightens and speaks to the heru in their own tongue. She turns to Murelle and Miles.

"I am Alatariel. This rauko you speak of, has been in our forest for longer than my life."

Her accent was exotic and rich. She moved gracefully about the hut, her long gold hair glinted in the sun. She was indeed beautiful.

"It has taken more than one of our own people. So we can hunt, we would feed the rauko an offering so it may eat."

Murelle nods in understanding.

Alatariel continues. "This reason is why we live in the trees."

She pauses for a moment and steps to a trunk fashioned from rustic planks. Opening it she pushes around a pile of ancient scrolls then pulls one out. Unrolling the scroll she gives a quick scan then looks at Calaron. She nods and turns her gaze back to Murelle and Miles.

"Your arrival has been foreseen, as told by the white elves more than thousand years hence. Our people had been allies and when the white elves were driven from this land, we hoped for their return. We learned of the new white elven queen, we hoped to meet. Mayhaps this is the time."

Alatariel now faces Calaron again.

"It is as it was written; "One who is not among you will destroy the threat. A threat that will live among you for thousand year time. This ONE will carry the nai, unknown to us. " She..." The elf waves her hand in Murelle's direction. "Is the one."

Murelle feels her eyes go wide. Calaron focuses his gaze on Alatariel then back to Murelle and Miles. "And the one with her?"

"It does not speak of him, Calaron, but it is certainly not to be unexpected. She would need help as you have had in the past."

Calaron nods slowly. "Very well, we will show you the way. The way our people have used to feed the rauko without harm. But we can go no further."

"I thank you." Murelle said sincerely and nods her head. "I can only ask as much."

Calaron gestures to the warrior who had stood in the shadows as this conversation took place; he speaks to him in their own tongue. Mure wishes she had brought her translator. But she had to trust them. There was no other way. The warrior steps to the door way and opens the flap, jerks his head out. Murelle stood Miles right at her elbow. Obviously he did not trust these new players yet. Murelle had no choice. She came out of the gloom of the hut and blinks as her eyes re-adjusted to the sunlight. A crowd had gathered by this time to gape at the newcomers. Alatariel and the warrior gestures which direction they needed to go. Wordlessly Murelle follows, Miles, tense and on alert, next to her. They stepped on a bridge that was slung to another tree and as they walked on it, it swings slightly, making Murelle dizzy.

"Don't look down....down't look down." She mutters to herself.

When they reached the other tree, Murelle sees the bridge is blocked by a sturdy but rustic gate. It is locked. Without word Alatariel gestures to the warrior, he produces a rather ancient looking key. He unlocks the gate, opens it and stands aside.

Alatariel turns her gaze to Murelle, Xenograg and Miles, her eyes intense.

"Silence. It has ears that hears all. May the grace of the gods go with you."

Miles steps through the gate first, with a silent "Thank you." Murelle follows him, and Xenograg last. The gate is closed and locked. If nothing else, the stench of the lair was undeniable. Death lay all around it. Murelle notices that her mind is clearer than even when Toby was protecting it. She could see why. The front lines of the battle were only a few yards away from it and it was more intent on them than her. A rope ladder was rolled up in the tree branches, together the three work it free and slowly lower it down so not to attract attention. Not yet.

Murelle reaches around, yanking off her pack. It will not be needed here. Slinging the plasma rifle to the front she activates it. For a couple minutes it whines to life. When it reaches full strength she nods to Miles. Forgetting her fears, she reaches down and grabs the rope ladder.

"Let's do this."

What is the 'mindscape', anyway' Some describe it as the ocean in which the foam bubbles of our indivdiual minds bob and float, as they move through time and experience.

Others think of it as akin to a public street, down which thoughts can be sent freely...while the houses along that street are the minds of individuals, secured and protected from invasion (usually.)

This is perhaps a more evocative view, and it highlights some of the strange truths inherent in telepathic communication. We may think of a telepath as someone with a skeleton key....or in more extreme cases, a burglar skilled at breaking through the windows and doors. If they are capable, and skilled enough, they can push through into the house of another's mind - and have full and unrestricted access to the memories and thoughts housed within.

But let us take it back a step, now. While still outside that 'house', a telepath may no longer be able to hear the thoughts within. However, given sufficient skill and power, they may still be able to project thoughts of their own out into the mindscape. And sometimes, the mind within that house is able to hear those thoughts safely from within their own barriers.

Even more skilled telepaths can do this and be heard ONLY by a particular mind, or perhaps that mind and the ones close around them.

This, then, is what Toby sought to do. To send everything about what Murelle was doing and where she was going, back across the distance to the ongoing battle. Back to the mind of Xenograg.