Clara

The young woman, seeing her mates' reactions, thought they weren't talking about a new tourist village, but she wasn't discouraged!

<<Oh well, I arrived in this world two weeks ago and I already got through a lot, how much worse could it be than what we experienced?>> She enquired, not realizing what they were going to face.

<<No way. If someone gets lost in the memory lane, he won't get back, destined to roam till the end of time in a dark limbo between death and life. You won't come and this discussion is over. Feathered man, get up, you heard the old hag, we have a mission.>> Amos joined in the speech, terribly impetuous. That place seemed to terrorize him.

Elijah was getting up as told by the Obscure dragon and the strange thing was that he wasn't about to reply. Did they really want leaving her there after all they went through together?!

<<I am sorry to against you, but wherever you, I will follow you. We are a team and if you think I will remain here not doing nothing, well, you misunderstood me! I am not Penelope and I have no intention of waiting you here for twenty years with the Proci keeping me company, got it?>>

In the huge room everyone turned to her, trying to catch what she just said.

<<I will have to hold a classic Mythology's course, but another time. Anyways, except Ulysses and the Proci, I come with you.>>

<<We can't stop her. It's right that she chose freely and she has always been a great help many times. You can't deny it.>> Elijah spoke, putting in a word for Clara, but since Amos is hard nut to crack, maybe he would have needed to use tons of good words!

<<Oh sure we can, we are among the most powerful beings alive, do you really think a little girl could prevent us from doing something if we want to? You are too soft and I don't want to pay for it. Old hack, send her back and make that she remained there at least until we won't be back from this suicide mission.>> He spoke, crusty as an old dog, to Lillybeth, who, in the meanwhile kept smoking her strange pipe like nothing ever, except for a little eye's tick listening to the unpolite tone he used.

<<You are not my master or my father or brother so you can't tell me what to do. And watch your tone, I want you to remember you are speaking to an old lady.>> The young woman replied, throwing herself on the dark haired one, enraged as an hold of barbarians.

<<My dear lady, don't be scared, this one's barking isn't enough to offend me and, anyway, I am still in my youthfulness.>> Lillybeth said, concluding with a Durbans smile, worthing of the best advertisings for toothpaste. Wow, she really seemed to believe it!

Clara is a great ally and a fundamental piece in the accomplishment of these missions. Stars tell me that her help is the only way to hope to win against evil, so stop complaining and do your best. And what do you worry about? Everyone here knows that rather letting anything happen to her, you would suffer the worst tortures with no reply. With you she is safer than with anyone else, so stop chatting and set off, flying or on foot, do as you please.>> She encouraged them playfully, keeping smocking her bizarre pipe, looking Amos who already took off and she and Elijah doing the same, or better, he doing the same!

<<Oh God now he will hold a grudge the whole way. I don't know to fear more this or the kamikaze mission we are about to face.>> She affirmed, making her "way of transport" laugh.

<<I opt for a draw. Hey, do you want to grandstand? Because at this rate you won't surprise anyone.>> Elijah tried poking the Obscure who, in response, pick up the "pace".>>

<<Hey in case he left us behind, do you know the way, right?>> Clara asked, hoping for a "yes".

<<Well, it has been a few hundred years since the last time so don't worry, we shouldn't have any problem and, don't be scared because someone like me could never get left behind by that sort of winged turtle!>>

<<That's incredible, put together they are more than 10000 years old, but they have the same hormonal level of an adolescent, with all the consequences!" She thought, passing an hand through her hair, suddenly realizing of having just entered in a blanket of fog. Looking behind the three of them only saw an endless sea of clouds and the most you tried to pass though the most you got lost. The only choice was to keep going, seeing what destiny had in store for them!

Suddenly a lighting stabbed the sky, provoking an enormous roar and powerful beam of light. The three heroes lost sight of each other for just a second, than a scaring darkness held them in its fatal grip, separating them!

When Clara woke up she realized of lying on a hard and dry land where a bad penny couldn't grow either. Here and there you could see distorted thorns with thorns sharp as knives. Getting up she realized to have bruises and scratches all around her body. She must have fallen really bad. The positive side was she was still alive, considering she could have easily become a tasty steak! The negative one was she had no idea of where she was and, moreover, she had been separated from her friends.

"Oh God, I am starting to think Amos was right. If I had listened to him, now I would be at home, with my cat on my lap, under the plaid, watching some tv series and filling my belly with fries. Instead, look where I am." She mumbled, really anxious and distressed. Her only hope was seeing them coming out with the Truth's statuette, ready to take off and to get away from that infernal place.

All of a sudden, a sweet voice wiped out the darkness around her and began leading her the way, or at least, she believe so, otherwise she should have started to think she was showing the first symptoms of a stress disorder!

Well, contrary to every logic, the young woman decided to get rid of her wisdom, following that path and hoping not reaching out certain death!