As the figure came closer, the guard took a good look at him. He was thin and quite tall. Angular features adorned what was visible of his face. His hair covered part of it just as a brown cloak covered much of his body. Something hung from his belt, surely a sword scabbard. His clothing was dirty, and his hair, though regal with the touch of gray at the sides, looked as if it had been through better days.

The boulder at his side became clearer. It had antennae and seemed to be some kind of very large insect. Hundred of tiny limbs flailed about beneath, propelling the thing forward. The rocky-like appearance was due to the rough skin of it. Looked like tough armor plating. He thought he heard the creature squeak as it moved along.

The guard waited silently, studying them until they approached.

"Kohlingen, isn't it?" said the stranger.

The guard nodded. "You have business here?"

The man smiled. "I have business anywhere I can find an inn."

"Well, I believe the inn's in good shape. Not sure what they'd do about your friend there."

The stranger frowned. "Good shape? Isn't the rest of the town?"

The guard shook his head. "We've been better. Never even used to need a guard like me. Heck, I was just a farmer's kid not a week ago. Now..." he trailed off. "That new empire's got us all scared."

"Empire?"

"You don't know about the new empire? Where have you been hiding yourself the last couple of months?" asked the guard in shock.

The man smiled again. "Cavorting with dwarves."

He surveyed the dirt on the stranger's garb and grinned back. "Looks like it. But really, this new empire's had us a while. Finally sent 'em back, but they'll return." His eyes narrowed. "We might not have a chance in the world, but we will be ready."

"Back to where?" asked the stranger.

The guard scratched his chin. "I remember them saying something about Doma Castle a lot. Maybe that's their station."

The guard thought he saw the stranger's eyes flash a moment, but when he blinked, all was the same, except the stranger's face was quite serious. Silence pervaded the air for a time except for an occasional squeak from the insect.

"Thanks for your help." He turned to leave.

"Sure, but... didn't you want an inn?"

The man spoke as he walked away. "Thanks, but my plans just changed."

Shaking his head, the farmer's son watched as the stranger strode south into the distance partnered with a boulder. Strangely as he came, he walked away.

* * * * * * * * * * *

"I realize that my plan at that point really wasn't much of one. What was I planning to do? Fight an entire empire on my own? I'm still not sure, but I headed off for Jidoor, hoping to find passage from there. And still I was accompanied by a rock.

"But even that would change soon. And like I never dreamed."

* * * * * * * * * * *

Kebah chittered, noticing his master's serious mood.

"This empire sounds like it's not exactly friendly, little one. And if they've got Doma, I have to see what's being done about fighting back for it. It's my home."

Kebah chittered again.

Kindar laughed a bit, his mood lightening a little. "As if you really understand what I'm saying, eh?" He smiled and looked down at the creature. "For all you know, I could be planning on roasting you for dinner soon."

The insect stopped and began to slink away from the man.

"Hey! I'm sorry!" He continued when Kebah came back to his side. "Maybe you can understand me. Or at least have a feeling for what I'm saying."

It chittered emphatically.

"Well." He started forward again. "I'm hoping Jidoor has a port built by now. Surely after this many years they'll have something arranged."

He thought back to the conversation with the guard at Kohlingen. "He kept calling it the 'new' empire," he said, rubbing his chin. "Sounds to me like there was an old one. I certainly don't remember any, but then... a lot can happen ten years. I should have stayed to talk with him a little, or at least to stay at the inn. Would have done me a little good. The sun looks like it's going down soon. Ah, well. Looking back doesn't do me any good. I figure I can get some information in Jidoor. A city of that size ought to have a good deal of information."

The two walked continually for several hours before the sun slipped behind the mountains. An array of colors illuminated the clouds, bathing the land in pinks and oranges. It reminded Kindar of the underworld. "Look like home, Kebah?" Its antennae waved around toward the sight. "Yeah. Somehow, I miss it, too." He rubbed the insect's shell, and it turned to look up at him. No sounds, but still an understanding.

Kindar nodded and looked around. "I'd rather it were an inn, but it'll feel like the old grasslands again." He smiled. "You'd like it there, little one. All sorts of creatures to play with. Some even as strange as you." He thought of Mipza and continued, his voice trailing off, "Some even stranger."

Kindar shook his head. "No sense remembering the past now, Kebah. Let's look at the present, and see if we can find something for dinner, eh?"

Kebah chittered and then dashed off for the forest. "Hey!" said Kindar in surprise. "Didn't know you could move that fast. Wait up!"

By the time the man had caught up with the beast, it was circling a fallen deer. When it noticed its master, it chittered excitedly and advanced to meet him. He reached down and patted the shell. "Good job." It caressed his leg in thanks.

After the meal was eaten, Kindar looked over at the creature. "Didn't know you could hunt, little guy. Guess I never thought about what you ate naturally. You were always just satisfied eating whatever I gave you. I wonder what else you can do..."

It looked up, seeming to speak to him, "Oh, you'll see."

"'When I in awesome wonder

consider all the worlds thy hands hath made,

I see the clouds, I hear the rolling thunder,

Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings out my soul.

When through the woods and forest glades I wander

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur

And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze,

Then sings out my soul.'

"I could never forget those words. Especially after all the things I saw; the beautiful sunrises and majestic forests and the glow off the cavern walls in the underworld.

"It surprised me, however, to find out how beauty can hide."

* * * * * * * * * * *

The morning sun glistened off the dew of the grass as it rose above the distant, ocean waters. Kindar rolled to his side and looked out toward the sea. Though far off, he could still see the the illumination of the globe causing the waves to glow like candlelight. He lay there, surveying the scene for a time and found himself wishing he had taken a painter with him for his journeys. But then, when one's mind takes leave, it tends not to consider such things.

After a moment, he sat up and considered his surroundings. The trees were sparse around him as most of the forest had been left behind. A mountain range was quite close to the west and clear space to the sea lay east. Grass surrounded him for the most part, a few random plants and shrubs near the trees. Yet, something was missing. Some- thing... familiar.

"Kebah..."

He stood and looked around. "Kebah!..." he called. "Kebah!" No comforting chitter returned. Kindar lifted his cloak and brushed the dew from the fabric. He quickly fit it into place and looked again. There was nothing. Kindar sighed and shook his head. "I suppose he had found his own way, then. Perhaps we shall meet together another day." Turning south, he walked on without his friend.

The trees were becoming more sparse as the land rolled away behind him while the grass took over. There was life in the area, but Kindar took little notice, preoccupied with thoughts. He was amazed at how much he had come to like the waist high boulder from the caverns. It surprised him to realize that he still wanted the rock by his side. He shook the thoughts from his head. "That time is over," he thought. "Perhaps again someday, but not now."

As he walked onward, something caught his eye. A mound toward the mountains. Something large and roughly semicircular. Still hoping, he ran to the site and examined the object. A trail of crushed grass ran behind it, and blue and yellow markings lined the side of the rock. It was...

... a shell.

Kindar pulled away from it and stared. "Kebah..." he whispered. The rocky shell was darker and crept beneath the belly, but there was little mistaking him. There was no movement of limbs beneath the shell. No waving antennae and excited chittering. The man dropped to one knee. "Ten years ago, I lost my wife. Ten years ago, I lost my son. Two nights ago, I lost a friend. Now, I lose a brother. So be it. I do not understand it, but so be it."

He brushed aside a tear and rose to his feet. Without another word, he turned and walked solemnly away.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Ocean waves lapped lightly at the sand as the sun drifted slowly down over the waters. A day's march left Kindar standing on a southern shore. "Truly this world has changed much. Jidoor and Kohlingen are separated by ocean. I wonder if this even remains connected to Figaro or if Kohlingen is separated from all contact."

He sat in the sand, watching the waves display their power. The wind blew through his hair, brushing it behind. The crashing of the ocean filled his ears, and he closed his eyes to listen. The majesty of all the world filled him in moments as the sights and memories of the worlds he had seen returned with the sound of the sea. Time slipped away as he settled back in wonder.

Before long, the sun, too, slipped away to hide itself and give way to the blanket of night. Still, Kindar remained to watch as points of light showed themselves before an audience of one. He marveled at them, contemplating their numbers, a myriad of stars peeking through the darkness that enveloped the land. "Perhaps," he thought, "they have meaning. Each pinpoint of light in the dark, a single piece of the hope that all mankind holds precious in the midst of turmoil."

He sat a while longer under the comfort of the night sky, dreaming and remembering while the stars winked at him through the black. Before long, however, fatigue pulled him down, and he rested on the sand, drifting to sleep, dreaming of the ever changing paintings that nature set before all.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Clouds obscured the sun that morning, preventing the light from giving the world back its eyes a little longer. When Kindar awoke on the soft sand, the tide had pulled the water back from its rest the previous evening. He pulled out a small pouch from his belt and opened the latch. A leathery interior guarded small strips of meat from the underworld, a gift from Gimet in case civilization was far, and hunting was scarce. Kindar tore the meat and ate it silently in thought. Jidoor was across an ocean. Or perhaps, Jidoor no longer even remained from the quakes that shook the world. There was no way to tell then. There was only Kohlingen behind him. Reluctantly, he stood and began his trek back to the village.

Before long, a shape appeared on the horizon. It seemed to hover above the ground, pulsing quickly and growing larger. He stopped to watch it a moment before realizing it was coming toward him. Curious, he studied it as it made its approach. Coming into view, he realized it appeared to be a rather large butterfly, a wingspan of probably 5 to 6 feet. Green and a faint blue decorated the fluttering wings with spheres of white toward the tips. As with most creatures, he kneeled and waited for it to approach. Then, pursing his lips, he chirped through his teeth and slowly reached out a hand. The creature settled a few feet away from him and watched a moment, its eyes covering every angle and movement.

Still, Kindar waited a moment for the creature to move. Nearly ready to give up, it waved its wings a moment as if to gain his attention.

And it chirped.

It took Kindar a moment, but his mind quickly took it in. "Kebah?" he whispered in wonder.

It flew up to him and waved its antennae. Several legs rubbed against his arms and side. "It is you!" said the man. It chirped happily in response. Kindar rubbed the belly a moment. "All rolled up inside something of a cocoon, huh? Well, I'm happy to see you, little one."

It squeaked and fluttered a bit and finally settled at the man's side, looking up expectantly. "Well, friend, I can't go to Jidoor. The world's broken it away from here. I'm going back to Kohlingen. Perhaps I can find something there that can help me." He gave a final belly rub and began to walk forward.

Kebah stayed back. "You don't want to come with?" It took to the air a moment and flew back, then settled to the ground to watch him. It repeated this one time again, and Kindar began to follow. Before long, he found himself at the shoreline again. "See, fella. There's no way for me to go on."

Kebah flew back behind, and Kindar turned to see, but before he managed, he felt several legs wrap around him. "Kebah! What are you..." The man looked down to find his feet no longer on the ground.

"Me? I've been just about everywhere."

* * * * * * * * * * *

Islands littered the southern shore of the continent. Most were barren rocks, a few stood out with abundant green, grasses and shrubs and even some beginning saplings. Kebah would grasp Kindar about the waist with his legs and flap furiously with his newborn wings. Though it was slow work and quite tedious, the pair made progress towards what they hoped remained of Jidoor. Figuring that Kohlingen was still around, Kindar assumed that other towns had survived just as well, yet still a small voice edged into the back of his mind, pushing ever so faintly, whispering that his quest was nothing - certain to fail - doomed to find nothing but rubble and debris.

Kebah set down the man for perhaps the twentieth time and rested at his side. A few squeaks and chirps were heard despite the tired rasping of the giant creature. Kindar rubbed the underbelly a moment. "You're tired, little one. You will certainly need to rest. I would guess that you also need food." He looked at the tube protruding from his friend's face. "But, what can you eat with that tongue of yours?" The moth merely chirped in response. Kindar smiled. "Never mind, Kebah. I'll find something. Perhaps you'll surprise me once again."

He stood and walked the area. A few shrubs here and there had berries, and insects were, as usual, prevalent all over. Kindar found nothing on the tiny island that looked as if it would provide for a sufficient meal. No game was anywhere, and besides the small berries, no fruit was to be found. He went back to the shrubbery and began pulling berries off and placed them carefully in his pouch. It took time, but it filled, and he returned, hoping it was enough and was edible to his friend.

Kebah watched him approach and twitched anxiously. His new wings were beginning to ache and his stomach was gnawing at him in a hunger that he had never felt before. It was decided that flying distances with a passenger would be reserved for emergencies in the future.

Kindar opened the bag and laid the contents before the creature. They spilled out onto the ground, a mound of berries with a knife and a few strips of meat poking out. Before he could say a word, Kebah snatched up two of the strips and pulled them down the narrow tube. "Well, my friend," said Kindar, "if you had told me, I might have given some to you." He chuckled. "Ah, well. I think you've earned it, little one."

He looked out over the ocean. Only a few islands remained, and then it ended in a mass of water. Squinting, he could see the faint outlines of a larger island or perhaps a continent in the distance. He wasn't sure if he wanted Kebah to try to make such a journey after the many hoppings that had already been done. It seemed unlikely that he would make it without much time to rest beforehand, and even then, perhaps only with some sort of rest along the way.

Turning, he said, "Kebah?" The creature chirped in acknowledgement. "See that green island out there? Just before the water really starts?" Kebah cocked his head to one side, and Kindar smiled. "I'll assume that's yes. Can you get us there for today? You can rest tonight and even a few days if you need it. We can find food somehow. What do you think?"

The creature sat quiet for a moment and turned toward the south. He cocked his head again and stared. A little later, he squeaked with what seemed to be a little trepidation. Kindar spoke, "Yes?" The moth squeaked again with a bit more confidence. "All right, then, friend. We can rest a while longer, but then we'll try again, hmm?" Kebah chirped happily in response.

Kindar found his mind wandering a bit while waiting for Kebah to recover. The thought of returning to Doma to find it under foreign rule frightened him, yet filled him with such anger that he was determined to find out no matter the cost. He didn't know what was being done to free the fortress from this if anything, but after hearing from the guard at Kohlingen, he knew that something had to be done. Silently, he wondered just what could be done by merely a man and a moth.

A slight breeze slid through his hair and brushed it back. He closed his eyes and felt it touch and caress him. His mood relaxed, and he sat quietly just thinking of the world - nature and it's beauty. The small, quiet voices that spoke so forcefully in everything of the creation.

Soon, however, Kindar felt the familiar grasp of legs around his side. "Ready, Kebah?" A resounding chirp replied. Again, Kindar stood to find his feet lifted from the ground, and the beating of wings carrying him across the water. Slowly, they found themselves above another island, a jutting of rocks and stone from the sea. Kebah, however, didn't stop there, or at the next island. Kindar was confused but silent as he was carried along.

Perhaps an hour later, he found himself being laid to rest upon the island he chose earlier. The moth set him gently onto the grass and then, releasing his grasp, landed upon the ground with a heavy thump.

Silence pervaded until nightfall. Finally, Kindar stood and went to the water's edge. He returned to the center of the island and grabbed a small sapling. He pulled it from the ground and snapped the branches from it. He hated to kill a tree, especially one so new and green, but it was necessary.

At the water, he kneeled patiently, waiting for an opportunity. As the fish came by, he watched them for an opening. Every so often, he jabbed down with the tip of the tree as a spear. Most often, the fish dashed out of the way, but others were not so lucky and found themselves caught on the jagged point. He pulled them off quickly and used his knife to strip them of their gills. After several hours, he managed to amass five or six fish. He returned to the center of the island where Kebah waited eagerly for him.

Kindar stripped the fish of their scales and chopped them into pieces, removing the bones he feared Kebah might not take time to notice. Both of them picked their portions and ate their meals in relative silence. It seemed it would be enough for both of them, and Kebah chirped in satisfaction after the last piece slid down the long mouth.

The rest of the evening passed by quickly, and the two soon found themselves drifting into a peaceful sleep, carried off by the gentle waves upon the shore.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Dawn poked cautiously over the horizon, peeking to see if it was all right to make an appearance. With it, Kebah rose and watched in wait for his friend to come around. He, too, soon lifted himself and took stock of his surroundings. Gone was the fear that gripped him as he rose from the under the ground in the caverns. Now, only a peaceful refresh greeted him.

They made a small breakfast of the berries on the island and Kebah looked at the man in expectation. "You think you're ready, today, little one?" The moth chirped happily and swung around to the back of him. Kindar found himself in the air once more, and the two began traveling southward again.

Time passwd slowly, but Kindar could tell that it had been several hours since they had began their journey off the island. Kebah's wing beats were becoming strained and uneven. He scanned the are for anything that resembled an island or even a log that could be used as a temporary rest. Nothing was found.

Eventually, as it became apparent that Kebah was tiring, Kindar reached carefully around to pull off his boots. He placed them as well as he could in his pouch and pulled it around to his front with the clasp as well in place as it would go with the boots pushing out. With a prayer, he said, "Kebah, let go."

The moth squeaked in confusion. "Kebah, let go. Don't worry about things yet. Just let go." He squeaked again, but when no response was made, he slowly loosened his legs with apprehension. The man plunged into the water and quickly pulled himself back up to the surface. He spread his cloak out behind him and then moved to lay on his back. As he hoped, the cloak spread out underneath giving Kindar something of a thin pontoon.

"Kebah! Here. On my cloak. You can rest a while." The moth quickly understood the man's insinuation and came down to land with his legs on either side of the cloak. "I can't stay like this long. The ocean will take me down if I stay like this for a time, but at least you can rest this way." Kebah chirped in appreciation.

Kindar paddled slowly with his legs, fearing that too much force would disrupt the cloak overly much. Progress was slow, but it was not meant to be much, just a supplement to Kebah's work.

After a time, the moth lifted to the air once again. He grabbed the man's waist again, and Kindar squirmed and rolled as well as he could to return to a face down position. Once again, the pair flew slowly, but steadily across the ocean. The land grew closer into view and was quite close when Kindar called again, "Let go!"

With less hesitation this time, the moth dropped the man into the sea. Kindar wrapped his cloak into a ball behind his head as best as he could, and proceeded to swim to shore with Kebah fluttering above. Finally, the sand and rock bottom of the ocean was palpable. He waded slowly to shore and finally dropped to the sand, his arms aching from the mile long swim. Kebah set down beside him. With a smile, he said "I think we'll need a lot of rest tonight, eh, little one?"

Kebah, as always, could only chirp in response.