Chihiro got off the train. She remembered the platform well, smooth polished stone and green fungus illuminating the walls. The tunnel that the train had travelled through disappeared on into the darkness, gaping like a toothless monster's cavernous mouth. Her feet slipped a little on the damp stone. She would have taken off her shoes but she knew the stone would be cold underfoot.

Linca and Rin looked around them. Linca had only ever been here once but Rin had never seen any of the place at all, even though her sister spent half of her time here. Chihiro knew her sisters were uneasy; they felt as if they were intruding, and indeed they would be if they were here without Chihiro.

A bonded spirit's home was a very private thing; it was the most intimate and vulnerable part of the entity and only those trusted were allowed near, unless they were human, of course, and could not sense the spirit's displeasure at being disturbed. Scott proved the point; he had no uneasiness at all about standing on the threshold of the domain of one of the most powerful of spirits. He looked around, a small frown on his face, drawing his dark eyebrows together.

"You live here?" he asked. Chihiro nodded and moved forward through the tunnel that exited the platform. "Cosy," he muttered behind her, obviously still seeking to lock horns with her. But Chihiro was not paying him any attention. She was too focused on what lay ahead of her; the vast body of water that was whispering and calling for her.

The tunnel was low and Scott was obliged to bend his head a little. The air was slightly stale. Haku always kept the place well ventilated; it was the first sign that all was not as it should be. The fungus glowed just as brightly, however, and the air was not rank; not yet. The tunnel angled downward. Rin lost her footing on the slick ground and fell, slithering for a few feet on her bottom. Scott turned and took her hands, pulling her up and dusting down her back for her.

"Be more careful," he said gruffly then turned to follow Chihiro without another word. Rin's dark eyes glared at his back. The nerve of the human! Linca laughed at her sister's expression.

"He did not mean it as it sounded, Rin," she said in a low tone. Muttering, Rin trailed after the tall human.

It was not long before the tunnel began to widen and the light grew brighter. Chihiro could smell the damp in the air; the water could feel her coming and rejoiced. After about half an hour, the tunnel entered the cavern. Chihiro smiled at the gasps behind her. She supposed it was impressive. The tunnel came out on a platform above the lake. The cavern was illuminated with soft green light that bounced off the black water below. The vast lake was in constant motion; black waves stirred the surface as if blown by an intangible wind. The lake was in turmoil; confused and in pain with the forced separation from itself.

The reaction from Linca was instantaneous. With a little cry she threw herself down the steps cut into the cavern wall, her white hair streaming behind her.

"Linca!" shouted Scott. "You'll fall!"

"If she does, she'll bounce," said Chihiro picking her way down the slippery steps.

"She's a spirit; it takes more than falling thirty feet to hurt her," sniffed Rin. Scott raised an eyebrow and looked at the woman's sharp face.

"I did not mean to patronise you a moment ago." He bowed formally to her. "I have a younger sister; she was forever falling over as a child. I did not think."

Rin actually smiled at him. "Well, that's understandable, I suppose," she said awkwardly.

Linca was at the bottom of the steps already and racing towards the lakeshore.

"LINCA!" Chihiro yelled urgently. "Don't touch that water!" But the sprite was not listening. Chihiro guessed that it was her own loneliness that was driving the sprite. She had to abandon her own home; the sight of the lake in so much pain was probably too much for her to take. Rin took over Chihiro and bounded down the steps, four at a time, but Linca was already at the shore. Lip trembling, she held out her delicate light blue hand to the pounding waves.

"LINCA!" Rin cried. "DON'T!"

Chihiro could feel the malice building in the water; it would turn on the sprite-like a pain-maddened animal if she touched it.

"It's alright," Linca cooed at the water, "I want to help."

Chihiro could feel what the water was doing but she could not control it; the only control it had was its other self, who understood the world much better.

The water exploded outwards and something large and bulky shot out of it, knocking the sprite backwards. Chihiro swore and quickened her pace.

"What is that?" hissed Scott.

"A friend," said Chihiro. "But we need to stop him eating her."

Rin reached the prone spirit first, who was pinned by four hooves and was staring up into a velvet nose and mad dark eyes. Rin carefully drew a blade from somewhere on her person.

"No, Rin," gasped Chihiro, finally catching up. "He's ok; let me talk to him." The nygel bared his tombstone-like teeth at the spirit below him, ears laid flat against his head, flanks quivering. Linca was soaking from the water running off him but all she could do was stare in shock.

"What are you doing here?" he whinnied angrily. "What makes you think a lowly sprite-like yourself is worthy enough to touch this water?" Linca just shook her head, mute.

"Nygel," said Chihiro gently. The stocky pony looked up, tossing its head to flick its shaggy main out of its face. "You're scaring my friend," she said calmly. The nygel stared at her; slowly his ears pricked forward and his brown eyes softened.

"Mistress," he whispered.

"Yes," she replied with a small smile.

"Where have you been?" he asked with a sharp whinny.

"I'm here now," she said. Stepping forward, she reached out and carefully rested a hand on his long nose. The water horse nickered and nuzzled her shoulder, nearly knocking her back.

"The water hurts," he said, nibbling her clothes like a foal.

"I know," she replied. "But I hope to help it as much as I can."

"Where is the dragon?" he asked, leaning into her as she scratched his neck. Linca seized the opportunity to scramble back from the dangerous creature. Water horses could snack on spirit as well as human if they so chose.

"I don't know," whispered Chihiro. "But I will get him back."

The nygel tossed his head and glared at the people behind Chihiro. "Who are they?" he demanded.

"My sisters and a friend of mine," said Chihiro firmly. "And no dunking the human and certainly no snacking!" she warned.

"Me?" said the water horse with affronted pride. "I was just trying to stop the stupid sprite from getting hurt."

"I know," said Chihiro with a smile. "You did well." She patted his neck and slapped his wet hide appreciatively.

"I don't know how the water will receive you if you go near it," said the nygel seriously.

"It won't hurt me," said Chihiro with conviction. "We are going to the house now," she said gently. "You're welcome to come."

The water horse pranced back from her. "But I'll wet the floor!" he squealed.

"That's alright," she said with a sad smile. "I think I need to talk to you, and my sister needs dry clothes and an apology from you." The horse grunted and swished his tail glaring at the crestfallen sprite who was hanging onto Rin for dear life.

"Very well," he grumbled and followed the human across the beach. "You could ride," he offered.

"No, thank you," she said her hand falling to her stomach. "But I appreciate the offer."

Chihiro sat in the main front room of her house and sighed. It had been icy when she arrived but now a fire crackled in the hearth and she had a full stomach. The house was well stocked with food and Linca had concocted a dried fish stew that was spicy but satisfying. The sprite was very quiet but seemed to bear no ill will towards the water horse.

The horse himself had been very awkward in the house at first, bemoaning the puddles that followed him around the polished stone floors. He was lying by the fire now, sprawled like a giant dog. His coat had dried out and was actually incredibly fluffy. He had told her the state the lake was in; it had been very confused at first but now it was coming to terms with what had happened. This was familiar territory for it; it had been separated from its dragon before. That was not to say it was not distressed. Apart from being polluted, this was the worst thing that could happen to it. But the nygel had warned Chihiro against approaching the lake.

"It is in pain it will not treat you gently because it's mated to you," he snorted.

"Your mate is the water?" said Scott incredulously.

"Yes," she said. "It's difficult to explain but it's like his soul. His physical form was taken so his inner self is suffering." Scott just shook his head, not understanding. Chihiro sighed and stood. She returned a few minutes later, a small picture frame in her hand. She had kept Meeka's present to her in her bedroom; it was such a good likeness of her mate she wanted to keep it close to her. She handed the picture frame to Scott and he carefully turned it over. The image jumped out at him. Chihiro watched as Scott examined the Baraka. He passed his hand through the three-dimensional hologram-like image of Chihiro riding a white dragon.

"Is that him?" he asked, blue eyes serious. She nodded.

"In his other physical form; I don't have a picture of him in his human form," she said apologetically. Scott looked at the expression of joy on the face of the girl in the picture and the sad, hunted features of the mother-to-be before him. He put the picture down on the table beside him.

"I still don't understand, Chihiro, but I can tell by the way you are suffering that this person may as well be your husband. I am here to help you even if I am just a human and my understanding is limited."

"I'm human too; I've not changed. I'm just plain old Chihiro. I'm still learning about this place; in fact, I think I will spend the rest of my life learning about it," she said quietly. She picked the picture back up and hugged it to her. She sat quietly for the rest of the evening; saying little; speaking only when spoken to. Like a good hostess she showed her guests to their rooms, biding them goodnight in hushed tones. She returned to the sleeping water horse. She knelt beside the creature and ran her hands through the fluffy bay coat, straightening the lighter coloured mane. It snorted in its sleep and a leg twitched, unshod hoof scraping the stone floor. She patted it fondly and left it to rest.

She sat on a large comfy chair and tucked her feet up. She could hear the pounding of the lake on the shore and its voice was still in her mind, small and whimpering. If it had been a child she would have held it to her until it felt better. But this was water; how could she possibly comfort it?

She closed her eyes and she must have fallen asleep. When she opened her eyes again the room was just the same, dimly lit with a horse sprawled before the fire, fast asleep. The only difference was there was someone else in the room, sitting on the seat next to her. She turned to see a very familiar profile, sharp features and flashing green eyes. Her heart leapt.

"Haku?" she breathed.

"Almost," he replied, turning to her with a small smile. Realisation hit Chihiro.

"I'm dreaming, aren't I?" she whispered, disappointment crushing her hope.

"Yes," he replied. "But the interesting thing is that I don't feel like a dream." He put his head on one side. "Touch me," he whispered. Lip trembling, Chihiro reached out for her mate, just to stroke his hair, it was all she needed. Her hand passed straight through him. Haku closed his beautiful eyes and sighed. "As I thought, I'm not really here."

"Then where are you?" she breathed, tears starting to trickle down her face.

"Somewhere too dry; other than that, I have no idea," he smiled at her.

"Don't cry, little one," he whispered, running a hand that was not really there over her face. She felt nothing but drank in the sight of him.

"This won't last long I barely have the strength to stand at the moment," he said sadly. "Good thing I had the foresight to leave part of my soul with you," he said with a chuckle. "Or any communication between us would be impossible. As it is, this may be all we have; I can't guarantee my mind will be able to reach you again."

"I'm going to rescue you!" she blurted out. "I'm coming to get you."

Haku shook his head, his face serious. "No, little one, you stay where it is safe. They want you to come, that is what this is all about," he said softly. "They will make you dance to their tune and manipulate you through me. I won't have that."

She burned to tell him her news; she longed to tell him he was going to be a father. But the words stuck in her throat; he did not need to know that now. The news might weaken him. If he thought she was safe and protected he would concentrate on his own safety.

"Alright," she whispered. "I will stay with the lake." She was lying; she was going to do everything in her power to rescue him but she did not want to fill these precious moments with argument. She wanted to rescue him.

"I miss you so much," she sobbed.

"And I, you," he whispered, moving to close to her. She should be able to feel his sweet breath on her face. "But I need to know you are safe."

"I know," she replied. "I am well taken care of, I can assure you," she said with a smile.

"I'm working on a way out," he said softly. "Be patient and I will return to you; you have my word, Chihiro."

She nodded, wiping at her eyes. When she looked up again, he was gone.

"No!" she screamed.

She sprang out of her chair, looking around. She was awake and the water horse was staring at her. "Come back!" she croaked, her throat closing over. "Please!" she begged. But there was no answer; there was just faint warmth in the Tac'Tal around her neck.

"I did not even tell him I loved him," she thought, hiding her face in her hands. The thought rattled around her brain that she might have stained their last words together with lies. But needs must; she was his mate and she was going to do all she could to bring him back to her, including tell barefaced lies to him to keep him strong. The marks on her arms ached.

Resolve strengthened, she lowered her hands to find the nygel struggling to his feet.

"What is it?" he asked, trotting over to her. "Did you have a bad dream?"

"I need to talk to the lake," she whispered, looking at him steadily. "I want you to come with me and pull me out if things go bad."

"It's not a good idea; I told you it could drown you by accident..."

"I know," she interrupted him. "But I can't waste time here; I have to find out what I have to do and quickly. I need to get my mate back." The nygel snorted at the human's arrogance. If the dragon could not free himself, how could she ever hope to help him?

"Now, nygel," she said firmly.

"Yes, mistress," he replied, bowing his head.

"Do you have a name other than nygel?" she asked her voice still a little unsteady.

"Snaffu," he replied.

"Snaffu?" she almost laughed.

"It was the name of the first human ever to capture me; he treated me well. He was a pharaoh. I pulled his chariot but he got careless one day and did not renew the control spells on me. I ate him, except the liver, of course; I left that to float in the Nile."

Chihiro shook her head at the amoral spirit. "And you wonder why I won't ride you," she muttered.

"You are a nice human. Even if you were not the dragon's mate, I would not eat you," he said, baring his teeth in a horsy grin.

"Very reassuring," she muttered. "Come on, I want to do this before the others wake up."

On the cliff line above the lake, Chihiro sat and removed her shoes. She placed them beside her then emptied her pockets. Some gold coins, a sprig of mint that she had been chewing on and a lock of her mate's hair; she had tied red thread around it to bind it together. She stroked it and then tucked it into her right shoe. With that she stood; her travelling clothes would not weigh her down too much. She looked over the cliff at the choppy black water.

"Tell me you are not thinking of jumping in there," whinnied the nygel. Chihiro grinned at him and sprinted off the edge of the cliff. She plunged through the air, her stomach rising into her mouth. She crossed her arms and prepared to hit the water but the water parted below her and received her without so much as a splash.

"HUMANS!" snorted the nygel before he dove over the cliff himself.

Chihiro was sucked down. She did not fight the water; it knew she needed to breathe. She held her breath and trusted it. Her faith paid off, she was borne upward, completely supported by the currents. Her head broke the surface and she sucked in lungfuls of air. She was in a small cavern filled with green fungus and black water. There was barely enough room for her head, but there was a fissure in the rock above her through which fresh air leaked. The water below her was probably fathoms deep but the water held her motionless; she did not have to move at all.

"Thank you," she thought at it. The water pressed against her, desperate to be close. "Not too much," she warned. "I can get damaged." The water understood. It told her that it was damaged. Without Haku it could not regulate its temperature; it was getting too cold and some of the life within it was already starting to die. The air from above was not filtering through as it should. It reeled off an incomprehensible list of things that were going wrong at a microscopic level. Chihiro felt like covering her ears; it was too much.

She thought to it that she could give it sympathy but not much else. She was human, there was nothing she could do... but the water was no longer listening to her. A small wave of pressure ran up her stomach like a caress; she could feel its interest. There was something different about her but what was it? She pictured in her mind what a foetus looked like, human-shaped but transparent, heart beating in its chest and her own body feeding it. The whole lake stilled. Not a single current stirred within it.

Its human was with child.

Gently she was pulled back into the water; she was handled as if she would break apart. When she was pushed back to the surface again she was not far from the black sand shore where she had first met the water horse. The horse himself was prancing around the sand in worried circles; the water had obviously kept her from him.

Chihiro found her footing and began to wade towards him. The water bubbled around her feet joyfully; she did not have to worry about a thing, she just had to stay safe. It did not matter what happened to itself now; it would live on in the child.

Chihiro could not lie to the water; she told it of her intention to go after its physical self. The water considered her plan and grudgingly agreed that she should go after him. It was in her interests and the child's to gain back what had been taken from them. The water pushed something into her hand.

It was a small glass bottle of water, no bigger than her thumb. The water told her that she could check on its condition by the colour of the water within. If it turned black, that was the last phase before it was dead. She thanked it. She struggled up the beach and the nygel whinnied in greeting.

"I'm sorry; it threw me out and would not let me return. It wanted you all to itself," he explained, ears swivelling.

"Now I know where your other self gets his possessive streak from," thought Chihiro to the water. They finally left the lake. She felt exhausted but she knew they should be leaving in a few hours.

"Will you please let me take you up to the house?" begged the horse.

"I can't ride," said Chihiro, patting him.

"Are you worried I'll dunk you or is it the child?" he asked with a sly nicker.

"Both," she replied, "How long have you known?"

"I have a very good nose; I smelt the change in you when you first came near me," he said proudly. "As for not wanting to damage the child, I'm not a normal horse; the ride will be so smooth you will think you are sitting in a chair."

Chihiro was too tired to argue. The horse knelt for her and she slipped onto its back. It rose and Chihiro thought she would surely fall off, but she seemed to be held magically in place. The nygel turned away from the lake and walked up the steps to the house. He did indeed step lightly; Chihiro hardly moved at all.

"Wherever it is you are going, I'm coming too," he declared. Chihiro did not argue. She lent forward and rested her cheek against his mane, her arms hugging his neck.

"I'm sorry I lied to you, Haku," she whispered and fell into a dark, dreamless sleep.