It all came rushing back to me this second jump. They weren't dreams, but memories. I'd come to Alluvia often in my childhood. Saw Mom frequently, ate Grendel's stew, and went on the rounds with Jilla. How could I forget? Clearly an accident of some kind had caused me to think that all my memories of this places were mere dreams.

I fingered the faded scar along the hair line above my forehead. Dad had claimed it was due to a bike mishap and I believed him. He never gave me any reason to think otherwise. He knew nothing of Alluvia as Mom said but must have inferred the reason behind the gash on my forehead knowing I was an avid bike rider.

The gash. There had been blood everywhere, being it was a head wound. Pieces of the puzzle of my life came together in one neat click. Mordok. He'd done it. Used his magic to destroy me. No. That wasn't right. I'd gotten in the way. He was about to kill Mom. I'd followed her, curious.

I remember it all now. Mom had told me to stay with Grendel and Jilla. That she had an errand to run. But she had taken her sword with her a clear sign she intended to fight Mordok.

No. Go back a bit further. I'd woken up overhearing their argument. Mom had insisted on going to face Mordok alone. His threats against my person and my world couldn't go on any longer. She had to do something. She had asked Jilla and Grendel to keep an eye on me. Grendel protested. He said she shouldn't face Mordok alone. She wasn't ready. Mom insisted she was. Jilla tried to reason with Mom. She had a child, me, to think of.

I was the oddity in more ways than one. Half human, the only halfling in existence. My being here had attracted Mordok's eye and he wanted me gone. I was an abomination. Impure. Not wholly Alluvian. Dangerous. By virtue of the fact of being a halfling was what triggered my anti-magic. 

He perceived me as some new kind of evil that would destroy Alluvia when I came of age. Some kind of prophecy he spouted, for the lack of a better word, religiously. A true fanatic. I was a child, how could I be powerful enough to destroy Alluvia? It made no sense. 

Mom left the hut disregarding Grendel and Jilla's warnings. I stupidly followed her. I walked just beyond the reaches of her lighted torch. The journey was long and tiring. I was just beginning to realize the stupidity of my actions when Mordok showed up. 

He had been expecting her and waylaid her well before she arrived at his Fortress. Right there in the middle of the clearing, they circled, hands crackling with magic. I hid behind a tree and watched them. I could do nothing else.

Mom struck first, a glancing blow off his shoulder. He had shields in place which deflected her attacks. She adjusted. Going low instead of high. It worked rather well at first. She caused him to stumble into a stand of trees, the blow jarring his shoulder. His arm was useless for a time. He had rested against the tree, catching his breath.

Mom attacked hard, using all her magic to wear him down. He slumped to the ground, unable to do anything but look up at her. She turned away triumphantly to pick up her sword, intending to drive the point into his heart. That was her mistake. The forest came alive with magic as Mordok used every skill in his arsenal.

His blows were powerful, igniting trees, exploding bushes. Not unlike being in the middle of a battlefield. The sounds were remarkably similar to that of bombs and missiles exploding. When the tree I hid behind, caught fire, I ran. He caught sight of me and adjusted the range of his attack.

Mom shielded me from him but the shield took all of her concentration. She couldn't fight back. He pummeled the shield wearing it down until a crack appeared. With a final blow, he broke through. Mom collapsed, drained. He stared down at her in triumph, savoring the moment. 

He pointed a bony finger at me. "Abomination. You shall watch Lyra die. That will be your punishment. Will cause greater pain than if I simply killed you myself. Then I will kill your father."

He lifted both hands and closed his eyes, generating a build up of magic to its highest levels. He unleashed it. Without thinking, I reacted by jumping into the line of fire. His magic struck me full force, cutting open my head, rendering me unconscious. 

I woke up in a hospital having lost all memory of mom, Alluvia and the idea that magic ever existed. Since then, my memories have been perceived as dreams. With my memories now intact, I knew what I had to do. I took off the hazmat suit and stowed it in the bushes. Time passed differently here. The winter storms had abated and spring was on its way.

I entered the hut, startling Jilla. "Child, you scared me half to death."

"I came to rescue Mom."

"I thought Grendel lost you when he came back alone."

"I found another way in."

 "Good. I wished you had stayed in your world. It is not safe for you to be here."

"I'm aware. I would be home right now except for a slight problem. When I went back, I learned my world had changed."

"Changed? How?"

"A new form of Government has taken over. My jump home has somehow created an alternate universe."

Unlike Grendel, Jilla seemed to understand what I said. "Changes. Huh. That is not good."

"No. I came to rescue Mom but going back is not an option. Yet, I have to go back to stop Celia."

"And who is this Celia?"

"She is the one who created the portal I just jumped through."

"A human created a portal?"

"Yes."

"How is that possible?"

Shamefaced, I told her the truth. "She did it because of me. I brought back information about Alluvia that I shouldn't have. My phone sent her a video of the portal I went through both ways. Now, Celia is planning on coming here."

"She cannot. She will upset the balance."

"She's already upset the balance in my world. I need to go back and shut that portal down for good. But first, I have to rescue Mom." 

"Mordok has her hidden in an undisclosed location. I fear your magic is not strong enough."

"I have to try. I would never forgive myself if I didn't do something. Plus, I'm pretty sure Celia's mad enough to have me tossed in jail. Or hanged from the nearest tree. This is all my fault. If I hadn't tried to find Alluvia, Celia would have no knowledge of it."

"There is no good comes from regrets. We can only move forward."

"Right. Do you have any idea where Mordok is hiding Mom?"

"I am sorry, child. I do not."

"I'll start with the caves on the other side of the clearing then."

"Not without me."

"Aren't you afraid my magic will render yours null and void?"

"Hardly. I believe your magic will complement mine. I will come with you. Perhaps together we can stop him."

"Not on your life!" Grendel's voice boomed. "You will die." He strode in carrying a Juntan over his shoulder. I turned away. Blood dripped-- I stopped my mind from going further. 

"I do not think so," Jilla said. "Macy needs our help. You can stay here and cower in a corner if you like. I will help our granddaughter." She crossed the room to the fireplace. "Here, this will help us find your mother." She held up a necklace with a star attached to it. In its exact center was a purple crystal.

"My necklace. I had forgotten. It was here the entire time?"

"I found it in the clearing where you foolishly followed your mother. The necklace will also guide you to Lyra."

I took her comment in stride, knowing Jilla and her abrupt ways. While Grendel circumvented, Jilla was direct. I put on the necklace and the crystal immediately became attuned to my magic. It burned faintly against my skin, glowing dimly in the bright firelight.

Jilla took up the swords and handed me my mother's. "It is time."

Grendel took one as well. "What are you waiting for?" 

"Not you, old fool."

Together, we strode toward the clearing where I had been injured, marching quickly through it, on the look out for Banshees who did Mordok's bidding. With my memory intact, I no longer asked questions. I kept silent, knowing it was necessary to get through this part of the forest quickly. Harm would come to us if we delayed.

We entered the cave on the far side of the forest, the one Mom had gone through exerting extra caution. I walked heel to toe as I'd been taught by Grendel. He took me hunting once but I hated the idea of killing an animal and refused to allow him to shoot one. Not even a Juntan. Even though I liked the meat.

Mom was hung suspended over the chasm in a cocoon of dark magic. Gray and black tendrils surrounded her alternatively tightening and loosening. Her soul was waning, her energy drained. She didn't have much time.

"Macy," Mom said in a weak voice. "What are you doing here?"

"Getting you out of here."

"Mordok will destroy you."

"No. He won't."

"Don't be foolish Macy."

"I'm not leaving you."

"Then you'll die here."

"No. I'll live and so will you. I love you Mom."

"It is not my world's custom to speak of such things. I could never say it to your father."

"I'm sure he understood. Now, how are we going to do this?" I whispered to Jilla and Grendel. Mom had taken no notice of them and I didn't bother to enlighten her of the fact. "Make a jump for it?"

"I must confess, Macy, I am at a loss. I have never seen magic like this," Jilla answered.

"Nor I," Grendel answered. "This magic is pure evil. Beyond anything I have ever encountered in Alluvia."

"We need to reach Mom. Did you bring any rope?"

"I have some at the hut," Grendel said. "I will go get it."

"No. Vines will do. Just cut them as tall as you are."

"How many?"

I eyeballed it. From the outcropping to Mom it was ten of Grendel's height. "Better make it twenty, just to be on the safe side."

"I will be as quick as I can."

"What are thinking Macy?" 

"I am thinking of using the that outcropping as an anchor for the vines. See how it juts out over Mom?"

"You are not suggesting to climb up to that outcropping?"

"You have a better idea?"

"No. I do not. I will go and help Grendel, two of us are better than one."

I paced back and forth, keeping one eye on Mom and one eye out for Mordok. From what I remembered, he looked exactly like Gandalf from the Lord of the Rings movies. Except uglier. Mom didn't have much time, her life force was going out rapidly. I studied the outcropping wondering if I could get up there without the vines.

Just to get to other side, entailed scooting along a two foot wide lip of crumbly rock. In some areas, it appeared to be even narrower. My feet were small. I could probably pull it off.

"Don't do it Macy," Mom called out.

"Do what?"

"I know what you're thinking. You're thinking of climbing up there yourself."

"Forgive me, Mom, but you don't know me well enough to know what I'm thinking." Well, she was right but I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction by telling her that.

Jilla and Grendel returned with the vines connected into one long rope. Grendel threw the vine rope. We watched in satisfaction as it looped around the outcropping. Grendel tied the other end off securely.

"You are the only one light enough to do this Macy."

"Here goes nothing."