It took quite a bit of focus to notice where the natural fog ended and a Värian under a mist makutu began. The children crouched together near the circle of wilted lilacs, frozen like vulnerable prey. In mist form, they couldn't touch each other and if they kept trying to touch an object, they would cancel the makutu. This included the ground. Kaiyennah would have to take them to a safe place before they made the makutu wear off from simply trying to walk.

She went against all her instinct and floated up right in front of them where she knew the children would be able to see the outline of her body without a doubt. She wished she could say something, but clearly these children couldn't understand her language.

But even an incomprehensible word would be better than no sound at all. Unfortunately, in her misty state, her vocal cords couldn't produce sound, so she couldn't speak.

She pulled her legs up and drifted off just above the ground, doing her best to show the children how they would need to move.

One child finally drifted forward. Now hopefully, the others would catch on. Kaiyennah stood watching as the first child turned back to look at the other two who were still huddling together. One at a time, they both joined the first, who finally turned back towards Kaiyennah. They could follow her now.

With a rush of excitement, she led the children through the forest, hugging the edges of bushes where the fog collected, but making sure to stay visible even if it put her at risk. She looked back constantly to check that the children were still in mist form and still following her.

They had a long way to travel, up the world's spine to Kaiyennah's dwelling called Miarrah. In mist form, they could reach their destination by nightfall. It took very little effort to move a misty body, making it a much faster method of travel. Once the children grew accustomed to it, Kaiyennah increased her pace, and the children easily kept up.

Anyone walking by would think they were just a strong gust of wind. They passed trees and bushes by the hundreds; birds and squirrels and rabbits and even a few deer all looked up as they passed but didn't flee, showing no fear as the group of misty travelers flew by.

They hugged the edges of bushes and creeks, whooshing up the slight slope toward Kohatu Tapu, the holy stone of her people. The high king of Väria lived near Kohatu Tapu, in the capital city of Patapu.

The king had a mythical creature for a Companion. His whole tribe had tamed the mythical Companions. And any girl who learned how to Summon a mythical Companion could become a high princess and maybe have the chance to marry the high prince.

With their new quicker pace, they made it to Miarrah before the sun set.

She slowly lessened her pace until they were calmly drifting along. After a few more paces, she stopped completely and waved her hand to dismiss the makutu that had allowed her to travel so safely and quickly. Her body vibrated from the sheer force of traveling such a long distance in such a small amount of time.

The children all followed her lead and appeared out of the mist. It gave her the impression that wherever they were from, maybe their sorcery worked the same as hers somehow. Did they use their spirit to cast their sorcery? With Circles like she did? After peering more carefully at the children, she noted that two of them had elaborate black circles with odd symbols in the centers, drawn directly on their skin. The boy in particular was covered in them. Maybe they used the odd symbols in their sorcery.

The children seemed rather weary, and Kaiyennah guessed they were hungry and sleep deprived. Mist walking left the body drained as well, and likely their first mist walk had taken its toll on them. Vespeera appeared at Kaiyennah's side, and she patted the large cat on his head. He immediately purred at her. It's good to be home, he said.

Home. Yes, it is. Aloud she said, "Come." But they didn't speak her language. She would have to rely on gestures. With the wave of her hand, she invited the children into her dwelling. Glancing up, she located the lookout nest where a fellow Värian sat in a tree. "It's alright! These children are friendly. They needed rescuing and were alone without any parents, so I brought them here."

"Understood!" a man's voice called back.

As they grew closer to the heart of the dwelling, more and more Värian noticed the children. Kaiyennah's uncle Janari and his wife Sunka retreated back into their hogan, where they put their arms around their two boys. Several others looked out from their hogans, peering with curiosity. They all no doubt wondered if the Enchanters needed to cast their illusion makutu to hide them from sight. Maybe they worried they would need to move their dwelling again.

"Don't worry, my friends," Kaiyennah called out. "They are only children. Friendly, I promise."

A few Värian children came out to attempt to make friends. Shanara waved at the three and giggled, and Konta introduced himself with a grin, but the three children stared blankly at him, though the boy waved back at Shanara. Kaiyennah realized they would need to at least exchange names soon, to make it easier to distinguish everyone.

Soon enough, Zanasha, the village wise woman, appeared ahead of them and beckoned Kaiyennah forward. "Were you followed?" she asked urgently. As the Wakaora of their dwelling, she took everyone's safety very seriously.

"No, we mist walked here," Kaiyennah assured her. "I rescued them from beastmen. They can't understand us, so I don't know how we'll help them go home."

"Zing says these children have mythical Companions, but they're not Värian of the high tribe," Zanasha said, passing along her bonded panther's thoughts. "He may be able to communicate with them given enough time. In the meantime, let's all get some food and rest, hmm?"

Kaiyennah looked down at Zing trailing behind Zanasha. The black panther licked his nose and chuffed at the children, who didn't seem afraid. Perhaps if they had a flying panther, then a panther like Zing or Vespeera would maybe seem normal to these children. Zing seemed to be able to sense the flying panther, so it must be nearby.

Vespeera, can you sense their flying panther?

I think he's nearby, but I don't know where.

Kaiyennah nodded at Zanasha's suggestion of food. "Shall we dine together?" she asked.

"Of course. I have plenty at my hogan."

They followed Zanasha to the heart of Miarrah where the largest hogan sat apart from the others. Zanasha led them all into a slightly smaller hogan just to the side.

The strong smell of freshly cooked venison filled Kaiyennah's nose. A bowl full of berries sat on the table. Near the fire, a basket of squash sat ready to be skewered to roast over the open flame. With all this extra food, she wondered if Zanasha had intended to invite someone over.

"Sit please, and help yourself." Zanasha motioned, and Kaiyennah set down her pack and sat on the floor blanket near the bowl of fruit atop the rough wooden table. The three children hesitantly sat down near her.

Zanasha busied herself with roasting the squash while Kaiyennah took a handful of berries and handed the bowl to the nearest child, the one with light hair. She said something in her language, maybe thank you, Kaiyennah guessed, as she took the bowl and helped herself to a handful. The other two took some as well.

"I'm Kaiyennah," she said, gesturing to herself. "Kaiyennah." She waved her hand to indicate all three of them.

"Chadwick," the boy said first. He pointed at himself and said his name again. "Chadwick."

What a strange name, Kaiyennah thought.

"Thea," said the girl with curly brown hair. She pointed at herself. Thea sounded like a more normal name.

And the last girl with the light hair finally spoke. "Tayana," she said. That name sounded completely normal to Kaiyennah. But these children had obviously come from somewhere else. A land far, far away, no doubt.

"Where are you from?" Kaiyennah asked.

The boy, Chadwick, put his hands up and shrugged. He gestured impatiently and added a few words, which Kaiyennah couldn't comprehend. Talking was pointless she thought as she looked away. But something made her look again in surprise. Chadwick had a tiny yellow lizard on his wrist. A fluffy lizard with butterfly wings. How beautiful!

Chadwick saw her face and held his arm up to show her the strange creature. "Stella," he said.

"Stella," Kaiyennah repeated with a smile.

Tayana went to a pouch hanging on her belt and pulled out a tiny white horse. "Dushan," Tayana said while patting the white horse's back. That's when Kaiyennah noticed that Dushan had a beautiful icy white horn on his forehead.

"Wow!" she said.

Finally, Thea put her hand in her pocket and pulled out two creatures. A gray horse with wings. And the gray winged panther, who sat on her shoulder and stared at them. "Celeste Cecelia," Thea said, patting the winged horse. "Pax," she added, pointing to the winged panther cub on her shoulder.

Kaiyennah couldn't help but smile. How wondrous! She tested her memory. "Stella?" She pointed at the yellow butterfly lizard. Chadwick nodded. "Dushan?" She pointed at the miniature white horse with the horn, and Tayana nodded. She pointed at the miniature winged horse. "Celeste Cecelia?" she asked, and Thea nodded. "And Pax?" Kaiyennah pointed at the miniature winged panther. Everyone smiled and nodded.

"Chimaeras," Chadwick said, gesturing at all of the creatures. Chimaeras. These special creatures must be called Chimaeras.

Finally, Kaiyennah pointed to her panther and said, "Vespeera."

All three of the children and their mythical Companions nodded at Vespeera.

These creatures are so cute, but strange, Kaiyennah said to Vespeera.

I think it's odd that none of them are the right size, he replied.

The butterfly lizard is the same size as a lizard, so she's the right size.

Well, yes, the lizard is the right size. But have you ever seen a horse so small it could fit in a pocket? Vespeera asked.

You're right. Those two horse creatures are so tiny. It's very bizarre. And the winged panther is small now, but he was the right size in the woods.

Vespeera chuffed in response.

Vespeera, can you try to talk with their flying panther? Kaiyennah suggested.

I suppose. Just because we're both panthers, doesn't mean we speak the same language. Vespeera slowly padded his way up to the table and looked right at the tiny panther on Thea's shoulder.

Everyone watched curiously as the two wild cats stared at each other. Kaiyennah's brain tickled while they talked. Finally, Vespeera sat down and looked back at Kaiyennah. I think I can sort of understand him.

Really? That's great news. What does he say? Kaiyennah asked.

I can't understand what he's saying. It's more like I can understand his feelings and glimpse mental images. He seems very worried about where we are. I tried to explain that we're in Väria, but he doesn't seem to understand.

Hmm. So, we still can't really understand each other.

So it seems, Vespeera grumbled.

I wonder if these children can understand their own creatures the way we can understand each other.

Vespeera sat down and nodded his head. I'm sure they can.

But we still need to figure out how to talk to each other.

Perhaps we will, soon enough, Vespeera said, hisvoice deep and calm inside her head.

Thanks for reading! Please vote, comment, and share. Feedback is always appreciated.

~Mrs. Sutliff