Jake's POV:

Chapter Ten

"Um…you did say after dinner…right?" She took an uncertain step into my… box. The blanket fell back in place smothered what little light there was.

"Yes."

"Oh…okay… …did you talk to her?"

"Yeah I did."

"What'd she say?"

"You know what she said, but you're still in, right?" It was more of a statement than a question.

"I hate not carrying my own weight."

"So you're still in." I saw myself through a separate set of eyes; I was the younger, more naïve Jake that was standing against the higher wall, observing this meeting between a monster and his little cousin. His tone was forceful; he needed confirmation…she had to say the words…

"I can't just sit around and do nothing while-"

"-but you're in?"

"I'm in." An almost invisible smile passed across his lips: satisfaction.

"Good."

"…Um…do you have an oil lamp in here…or something?"

"Huh?" We-young Jake and the monster-were one again. "…Forget that and come on." I grabbed her arm and pulled her from my cave and out into the night. The stars were daylight by comparison.

We walked the path I had mapped out earlier that afternoon. It wouldn't be hard to sneak her out; even with the Hork Bajir helping us there were plenty of gaping holes in our defense system that she could use.

I mentioned this to her.

"And mom still can't escape..."

"Well, your mother's a very direct sort of person. Why slip out the backdoor when she can march out the front?" She turned to me.

"You mean like my sister?"

"Not quite. I think your sister would rather make a whole in the wall."

"Wow. Okay."

"We're here."

"This… is it?"

"Yes."