Arnie felt himself lying on soft ground as he gradually approached conciousness again. He felt the darkness that had engulfed him lifting. Slowly he began to hear sounds. They were distant at first and he couldn't make them out. Then they became clearer. Rustling noises, like autumn leaves stepped on, and then there were voices. A girls voice - he recognised the voice. And a high-pitched tone - someting like a cartoon character but he recognised that too. And a voice he didn't recognise. Deep, powerful and yet gentle, kind and understanding. It sounded wise beyond measure.

He opened his eyes. Above him he saw the orange glow of the sun shining through the blue leaves of a tree. He blinked and opened his eyes several times over, accustoming them to the light. His memories began returning and it didn't take long before he knew where he was and who the voices belonged to. He remembered Flimgog and with a sense of joy he remembered Isabelle. He was in Sockland.

The deep voice spoke again. He didn't recognise it. He looked around carefully, testing his body for damage as he did so. He felt exhausted and battered as though he had been worked to the bone for days.

"He will wake soon and the Papilio Filios shall arrive to take you on."

Arnie's heart seemed to skip a beat when he saw that Isabelle was talking to the blue tree. Then the memory of the beach came back and he remembered that they had been told to find the everblue tree and wait with him. They had done that. He was relieved at the realisation.

"You are now awake I see." Said the tree. "Good - your friends have been most worried."

Isabelle bounded over to him. "Arnie!" she squealed excitedly and nervously. He was worried she would land on top of his battered and weak body, but she merely looked at him. He imagined what it must have looked like, charging off into the trees in this environment and he felt embarrased. His cheeks felt warm and he imagined he was going red. He didn't understand what had happened or what had driven him to do it. Something had taken over control of his senses, he knew that, but he felt ashamed. Here he was lying on the ground, weak and beaten. He closed is eyes.

"Do not be embarrased Arnold." The tree said. It seemed to have an uncanny ability to perceive emotions and feelings. "The creatures you encountered have strong hypnotic force. They are currently standing guard for the Queen and have the power of attracting potential enemies to them and removing the threat."

Arnie thought about this. Neither Isabelle not Flimgog had been affected. He opened is mouth to say so but the tree spoke again before he got the chance.

"They targeted you as the strongest, most visible threat. There was no other reason you were pulled into that situation. They are a race filled with malice but, alas, they are necessary to protect the Queen from potential enemies." The tree looked down at Arnie, it's eyes were deep orbs, filled with wisdom of the years.

"Can you stand up yet?" Flimgog was speaking now and he had appeared at Arnie's side.

"Probably." Arnie said shakily.

"Don't rise yet. They will be here for you shortly. Stay there and stay with me. I shall feed you all."

A giant branch swung towards them. Arnie would have flinched but he was lying down. He needn't have worried however, the branch stopped short of touching them in a perfectly controlled fashion. The blue, bark coated arm had abundant vegetation on it. Leaves of a lighter, more sky coloured blue and round apple-shaped fruits - a darker, royal blue.

"You may eat of my arm the round fruit. It shall give you strength." The tree said. It was stated like a request or an offer, but there was no mistaking it was an order. "On the underside you shall find small fruit more suited to your size Flimgog."

Isabelle plucked two of the fruits off the branch while flimgog took hold of a smaller piece. Arnie raised his head slightly as Isabelle handed him the fruit. He took it in his hand and took a bite. The taste was spectacular on his toungue. The blue flesh was soft and juicy, the sweet flavours - like a Red delicious mixed with grapes. He savoured the feel and the flavour and felt a surge of energy in his body. When had they last eaten? He couldn't remember.

He heard Isabelle and Flimgog crunching on their fruits too and felt the atmosphere lighten around him as they all took nourishment from this fruit. Arnie demolished the whole thing and sat up, feeling a lot better.

"What is it that we are waiting for?" Arnie asked the everblue tree.

"You are waiting for the Papilio Filios who shall take you to the Queen. You wanted to visit the Queen I believe?" he finished it as a question.

"Oh yes. But what are the Papilio Filios that keep being mentioned?" Arnie asked, curious.

The tree turned and looked into the woods, further in than they were now. He held his gaze for several moments but Arnie, who was trying to look the same way, couldn't see anything at all. He was about to open his mouth again to ask when he heard it. It was a rustling noise coming towards them.

Isabelle and he craned their necks but saw nothing. The noise continued. It got louder. The tree turned back and looked at them again just as something appeared up ahead. Three of them were coming straight towards them through the clearing.

"These are the Papilio Filios." The tree said simply. As they closed in, they could see them more clearly. They were white creatures with a sort of ring-tailed look about them. Their bodies moved with a fluidity and they had spiky looking hairs prodruding from their backs. The three of them were almost identical.

"What are those?" Isabelle let out a sort of squeal when she saw them.

The creatures stopped by the tree where they were and stayed still. Nobody had answered Isabelle's question. Arnie thought he knew what they were but said nothing.

"And now you go on from here. Perhaps we shall meet again." Said the tree.

Arnie looked up at the wise, mysterious blue face and emerald orbs. "Thank you for saving me." he said simply. "Are we expected to follow these creatures?"

"You are welcome Arnold. Follow not these creatures but be carried by them into what your future holds. Go well." And the large tree turned and ran from them at a speed you would not imagine possible.

"We're supposed to ride these?" Isabelle asked. She sounded reluctant.

"Seems so." Arnie said. He was feeling well, cheerful and unafraid. He approached the creature near to him. They were certainly big enough. This one came up to Arnie's thigh in height and was slightly longer than he was tall. He felt its back to test whether the spiky hair was sharp. It folded easily under his touch.

"The hair is soft." he said to no one in particular and then threw one leg over the creature and sat atop its back as though it was a horse. He felt comfortable.

"It's ok" he said. "Feels safe and comfy."

Flimgog didn't need telling twice, he ran and launched himself onto another of the creatures. The one he took was a bit smaller than the other two.

Isabelle didn't look convinced but approached the remaining creature anyway. "I'm...sorry for this." she said and she closed her eyes as she mounted the creature. Arnie saw her cautiously feeling its back before settling in to holding on position.

"Not so bad." she said after a moment.

And with them all seated, the creatures turned around and began to carry them into the depths of the forest. The trees became thicker and denser as they went, the pathway darker. They were on their way to the Queen.

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