They walked for a long time herded like sheep. It was impossible to tell which direction they headed. Distinctive tugs at their arms and shoulders guided them in silence.

How Owen and Lucas were being transported through the woods was unknown to all of them.

When they halted it wasn't to rest. It was to change direction: up. It was a frightening experience having the sense of being lifted to unknown heights. Individually they were hoisted onto a small platform and had their hands placed along a thick coarse rope.

The platform swayed, putting Aurora's nerves on edge not that the elves seemed to notice with their natural balance. They were moved from one platform to another, always climbing higher and higher.

Once they were told to watch their step (to which Aurora was certain she could hear Eri comment about their lack of sight) as they were walking along a narrow branch. But always one guard remained at their side. The threat of being pushed over at any given moment did not escape their minds.

They arrived at a larger platform with delicate railings, and the muted clanking of metal wheels were heard close by. Still blinded by the bags over their heads, they were led across a bridge in pairs.

Tezaro and Owen were placed in their cell first. It was only then that their hoods were removed. Once again the clanking of metal wheels was heard and Eri and Aurora were led to their own cell, before they were able to see.

They were in a cell unlike Eri had ever been before. She turned and looked back at the wooden gate, their barrier to freedom. It was unlocked!

The eyes of the one called Jarvis followed Eri's stare from behind the gate. He smiled broadly. "The door is really more for your protection than keeping you from escaping."

Eri and Aurora turned to each other puzzled. By the time they looked out again, Jarvis was at the end of the platform and the clanking wheels began turning.

They looked out and down. Far, far down.

Beyond them they could see Jarvis and the others retreating around the massive trunk. These trees were even larger than the ones where they had been ambushed. It was easy to understand now where they were: inside one of the massive tree trunks.

Their cell was hallowed out like others that dotted the tree at different heights. The branches of their prison-tree were the size of a tall man lying down, but the sheer sized caused them to be far and separate from others. There was no branch outside their cell.

Across from them they spotted the mechanism rigged into the tree. That was why Jarvis had smiled at his clever comment. If they opened the door there was nowhere to go but down. A jump across to a neighboring tree was impossible.

The mechanism controlled a retractable bridge that blended as part of the trunk. Spiraling stairs led from one platform at one level to another. Without the bridge there was no escape.

As soon as Eri looked down she scrambled away from the door to the farthest corner of the cell. Aurora sat beside her, "I know. It's pretty high up." She stared at Eri's tight crouched form, studying her reaction. "Eri? Is something wrong?" Aurora placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Eri squeezed her eyes shut and punched at the wall. "I'm fine." The grinding of her teeth was  louder than the mechanism outside.

Aurora remained unconvinced and stared at her. Eri's gaze went to the wooden gate. "You're afraid of heights. Aren't you?"

Eri's eyes narrowed, but slowly she nodded regretfully. "Believe it or not it was more comforting wearing the hood. At least that way I could not see how high up we were."

The revelation shocked Aurora. How could this buddle of nerves be the same confident, feisty and deadly woman that had chased them so relentlessly through the forest?

She needed that confidence right now. "I know this sounds completely selfish, but you can't do this to me now. I need you to be strong so we can plan an escape and get to my friend. Please." Aurora's voice spiked in panic as her knees hit the ground next to Eri.

Eri whipped her eyes at her. "You're right. It is selfish." Aurora gulped and bit her lip.

"I'm sorry, Eri. I'm lost and I'm scared. I'm not used to your way of life. I've placed my trust on people I've only just met, to save the life of a person they've never met. My nerves are on edge at every moment...never knowing..."

Tears began to stream down her face as the stress of the last days finally unleashed. "I just, I just thought you were a rock. Someone I could lean on." Aurora picked herself up and scurried to the other edge of the cell, looking out the barred door away from Eri.

A long while later Eri broke the silence. "I am not a rock." Frustration frothed at the surface. "Rocks fall and they belong on the ground." She seemed to be returning to normal. At least she was snapping back. "What scares you?"

"Are you kidding? Everything. I've been frightened since the moment I met Tez. At every turn there is something strange and deadly. People are hunting me down or trying to kill me and I don't know why." Aurora wiped tears angrily from her cheeks.

"This is not my home." She sighed defeated. "Do you want to know what truly scares me?"

Eri responded with a slight shake of her head.

"I'm afraid of being left alone."

"What do you mean? Like in a room?"

A gurgled laugh hiccuped out of Aurora. It was not like Eri to be dense: must be stress. Aurora shook her head and faced her squarely. "Several years ago my mother died. I blamed myself for her death." Her eyes fell to her hands.

"You see it wasn't until that terrible day that this power came out. The following weeks after her death were the most horrible and frightening of my life. I had I power I did not understand or want." The tears began to dry, but the memories of that time flowed through her mind.

"But there was something worse. I was alone. No family. No friends. It had always been just the two of us. She was my only family. I carry her picture with me always in a locket," she fingered Tezaro's medallion remembering she'd placed her locket in her pack that the elves had taken.

"I didn't speak for weeks. It took a long time for me to realize that there was nothing I could have done to save her."

Aurora took in a deep breath and suddenly weight seemed to have been lifted from her shoulders. "Then I met Lily in a foster home. She saved me. I wasn't alone anymore. She understood. She's my family now and I can't let her down. This time I can fight back. I won't fail her. I can't lose her too." Her voice softened. "But I guess that just makes me even more selfish."

Eri reached out her hand to her, still uncomfortable to move near the door. "It's never selfish to want to save those we love. I'd do the same." Eri offered her a meager smile.

"Really?"

Eri nodded. "Thank you for telling me about your past, and for distracting me." She sighed. "That reminds me," Eri's mind began to refocus, "did you see where they led my brother and the others?"

Aurora shook her head in dismay. "No, I'm sorry. Do you think they would have taken him to a healer? Or maybe Lucas could help? I mean, after that dart hit him---"

"No, they will not bother to heal him." Aurora's eyes widened in shocked horror. "They'll let it run its course and keep him weak."

Aurora was amazed at how calmly Eri described her brother's fate. "What do you mean? Wasn't it poisonous?"

"Yes, but it's not lethal. It's meant to keep him unconscious. Some poisons are meant to keep him weak so that magi can't channel their powers." Eri finally noticed Aurora's expression.

"It's not the first time he's been hit. Do not misunderstand; I'm still worried about him. I just have an idea of what he's up against. As soon as the poison wears off, he'll be fine." She stood back against the wall.

"Can't Lucas help? Afterall, he's a healer?" Aurora pointed out.

Eri shook her head. "There would be no need for Lucas to heal him. These things simply require time. At any rate, there are few healers who would attempt to cure a fatally poisoned victim and put themselves at risk. Any lack of concentration and it could be fatal to the healer."

"Eri, it seems like keeping your mind busy is helping you." Aurora stood up and dusted herself. "I have an idea how to find out where the others are." She leaned on the door.

"You mean, grabbing the next elf that comes by and beating it out of him?" There was a twinkle in Eri's eyes.

Aurora bunched her brows together in skepticism. "Uh, no. Something else." She opened the door and leaned out holding onto the bars, while Eri remained motionless at the back.

"Just as I thought, the tree is honeycombed with cells." She didn't bother to turn inside and face Eri, instead Aurora leaned out farther craning her neck. "Tezaro?" She waited. Nothing. She raised her voice, "Tezaro? Tez!"

She waited and was about to shout again when she heard her name. "Aurora? Are you okay?"

It came from somewhere high on her right. Relief flooded her. "Yes, we're fine." She answered. "How are you? Is Owen alright? We've been worried."

"He's still out." In similar fashion, Tezaro leaned out in hopes to spy Aurora. It was no use. "I'll take care of him." He glanced at Owen to check on him. He'd only left his side when he heard Aurora's voice. "How is Eri?"

Aurora wondered if he knew about Eri's fear of heights or did he mean her concern for her brother. She decided to guard Eri's weakness. "She's," Aurora leaned back in to find Eri standing stock still by the wall, "...fine. Is Lucas okay?"

There was a pregnant silence. "I do not know. He's not with us."

Aurora let Tezaro's words sink in. What? If Lucas wasn't with them, then where was he?