BACK TO THE BEGINNING — What had returned with her

Skyblue sat beside the trunk. A mango came down within reach of her paws. She accepted it gratefully and sat looking at it for a moment before she tasted it.

It was sweet.

Different from every mango she had ever eaten.

When she had finished, she took Yaseee’s labradorite from her satchel. A blue gleam flared in the stone between her paws. It had gone with her and come home again, just as the dwarf had said it would. Skyblue set it beside her other treasures and sat listening to the stream. Evening settled over the village.

Tomorrow she would see her parents again. She would stop by Evarista’s tree. She would speak with those who wanted to listen and learn to listen to those she did not yet understand. Later, there would be time for new adventures with Aurora and Feliz.

For now, she was here.