Aya found herself so transfixed on the visitor so she didn't notice Flora who ran and embraced her. "Thank every star in the sky," Flora cried covering her friend's neck with her long curly hair. Shocked, Aya slowly put her hand around her friends back. "It's a miracle times two. Some man found Buck and my father in the forest and now we've found you too," she continued as Aya smiled and patted her friend's back in order to calm her down.

"Who is he?" Aya asked as she peered around Flora's floppy hat before looking at her friend again.

Flora positioned her large eyes towards the heavens. "He says he came from outer space," she frowned in confusion. "Funny place to live. I didn't think you could breath up there."

Aya gave a friendly roll of her eyes. "I don't think he literally lives in space. He came from another planetoid. There are thousands out there." With a flash of her eyes, Aya moved towards the crowd of farmers. The most prominent member being Mrs. Du Bois. She stood with her hands placed firmly on her returned son's shoulder and her other hand on her husband's good shoulder. Accompanying her were several blushing wives of the farmers gazing longingly at the space traveler as their husbands tried their best not to feel inferior. The traveler went back to pretending he hadn't noticed Aya since they first locked eyes, but then turned back to her with more reserved eyes, eyes that looked over her shapely, toned figure. He spoke in a voice that was rough and deep, but at the same time had a boyish charm to it. "Whoa, you didn't tell me you had women like her on your planet!"

"What's that supposed to mean?" One of the women in the crowd jeered as the space-man strolled over to Aya.

"Hello foxy lady," the man said, inserting his left hand into his jacket pocket, but keeping his thumb visible.

Aya felt her ears grow warm. They were always the most sensitive part of her body. "Nice to meet a man who appreciates my fox-like tracking abilities," she said with a bashful smile.

She looked down and saw Eterna glaring up at her. "Child, he is leering at you. I've been around long enough to hear the entire dictionary of mating calls."

Aya shook her head and glared at the man who remained confident and smug, not having heard Eterna. He was unflinching in the face of a towering Aquan and his height nearly matched Aya's. "Mrs. Du Bois, who is this man?" she demanded, her face red.

"Why Aya," the older belle said, "This wonderful young man is Lunsford."

Taylor smiled and pointed to his face with his thumb, "Well that's what the women call me, but my full name is Taylor Lunsford, the Strapping Space Traveling Aristocrat."

Aya despite her annoyance with Taylor's first few comments, gave a small bow to him. "Where do you hail from?" she asked with polite reverence. Taylor's eyes illuminated as she did. "Ah, the Aquan way of greeting interstellar travelers," he said in a knowledgeable voice.

Aya's eyes expanded and her mouth hung open wide. "You know about our customs?"

"When you are young and go to places on a whim," Taylor responded, his eyes observing her agape expression. "Sometimes you venture to a place like Tarabos."

"But...that was so long ago..." Aya responded murmuring with sadness.

"Aye, it was a beauty but it could be desolate, acrid and full of misery as well," Taylor said, his eyes deep in reflection. "I was fortunate to be traveling with my father before its end."

Aya was silent. Her brain could barely process the words this man said. He was well familiar with her planet and she had never met anyone other than Jeeg who shared that knowledge with her.

Seeing the young Aquan freeze in a vacant expression, just gaping at him, Taylor raised his arms. "But I digress, this is a joyous occasion. After all, I did find this young lad lost in the wilderness. And, I found his manly father battling a Noctursa."

"And I would have had that scoundrel lying flat on the ground, if he didn't bust up my arm," Du Bois said, managing a course laugh. "I'm grateful to have a gentleman like you swoop in with your ship and give that monster a good scare."

Buck's mother clasped her hands to her chest, "I'm forever grateful." Her eyes lit up like they were illuminated by lights. "And, though I haven't asked the hubby yet. I am thinking of having a party at the beer barn in your honor."

Taylor rubbed out a smudge on his helmet, and grinned. "I certainly wouldn't mind a toast to me. After all, I've been traveling for several nights without anything but sprouts."

Mr. Du Bois raised his arm and put it around his wife, "Every year my wife has a good idea. And I think the momentous occasion has come for another one." He gazed up at the tall young man who'd rescued him and his son, "I'd love to celebrate this strapping young man, the hero of the day."

"It's settled," Mrs. Du Bois exclaimed, sliding her hands together. "Wives, looks like we have some planning to do." Mrs. Du Bois gave a sly wink at her husband, "And I have a little brown nosing to do with the hubby so we can plan this party my way."

"Mom, what's brown nosing?" Buck asked.

Having forgotten her child was there, Du Bois grinned nervously. "Uh, Flora explain this to your brother."

Flora paused for a moment, pondering in her head, before her raising her finger "It's when you give someone a bag of brown sugar and when they eat from it, they get a little on their nose."

"But what does that have to do with planning a party?" Buck asked with even more curiosity.

Mrs. Du Bois continued grinning but put her arms on Buck's shoulders. "Come along dear, you'll understand when you're older."

"Ladies, I think I'll join you," Taylor said, joining the crowd who left their husbands to gape. "After all, I am the guest of honor."

As the crowd departed and the farmers began to disperse for the forest as well, Flora looked at Aya who stood quietly. She felt she should comfort Aya but didn't want to earn the ire of her parents again. Knowing this, Aya smiled and waved goodbye to her friend just to let her know she was ok. Flora nodded and continued on. When everyone was gone, Aya began to converse with her tattoo.

"Child, don't let that smooth talking manchild get to you," Eterna snapped at Aya's uneasy face.

"I didn't," Aya said in proud denial. "It just took me by surprise that he knew about my home. Tarabos never had many visitors from what Jeeg told me."

"That boy, he has an air of familiarity. There's something besides his lecherous nature I don't like about him. I want you to keep an eye on him," Eterna growled.

"Yes, Eterna," Aya responded, "I want to learn more about him too."

Settling down a little, Eterna spoke in a voice reserved for a doting mother. "But perhaps you can take me to Jeeg. I want to be with my child."

Aya nodded in agreement, making Eterna stretch her skin to smile. Aya walked back along the outskirts of town to a cabin by the freshwater lake. Aya and Jeeg loved being close to any body of water; it allowed them to reminisce about their home. Walking onto the front porch, Aya could see the wood of the cabin glowing white. Unlike the rest of the villages cabin's, Jeeg and Aya had Myron properly honor the Atma tree before cutting it. Like Aya's staff, it shone brightly as a result. "I can already tell Jeeg is more reverent than the villagers," Eterna spoke to Aya as she opened the door. Inside the one room cabin, Aya saw Jeeg standing across the room with his back turned. He stood by a small shelf carved in dark wood where he reflected on some heirlooms from his past life.

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He held a crimson shell with an upside down spade like pattern. It was fractured neatly down the middle but the other half was missing. Aya quietly shut the door, but as she walked in, Jeeg's ears perked up. After placing the shell back where it once sat, he turned around and walked to her silently before embracing her in a warm grandfatherly hug. "Thank the creator," his voice creaked in relief, "I couldn't bear to lose anyone else."

"You're not," Aya told him. "I'm ok. I have a quite a tale to tell you." Leading Jeeg outside onto the front porch, she spoke of the downed Matriarch Tree, the spiritual upheaval and her encounter with Eterna. "Can I see her?" Jeeg asked and Aya held her hand out.

"She can move too," Aya said. "She talks to me."

Jeegs hand scruffed his beard. "Curiously, she doesn't move for me."

As Aya puzzled her mind, Eterna spoke up to her, "Child, only you can see can see my spirit move. I am your guide and no one else's."

"Jeeg, I don't think you'll see her move," Aya said, and explained what Eterna had told her. "You'll just have to trust me."

"I always believe you," Jeeg responded, "And I believe what you've told me about the downed Matriarch tree. I just need to see the wreckage myself to assess how bad things are."

Aya looked down at her tattoo and observed the expression Eterna made. She desperately wanted to see her kid and Aya felt it was her duty to alleviate her motherly woes. "Jeeg, where inside is the wolfhound pup?"

"Ah, so the mother and child wish to be reunited?" Jeeg's wizened eyes looked up at Aya who had already begun to rise. "She's on my bed wrapped in blankets. I wanted the little pup to be cozy. I slept in your bed, Aya, I hope you don't mind."

"Normally, I'd be grossed out," Aya said frowning, "but honestly, I'd do the same thing."

Entering their house again, they walked right to the two Aquan beds. By the window was the pup of silver fur, still fast asleep in Jeeg's bed and tucked in gently. The pup's body was bandaged and dried blood had hardened on the cloth. She breathed out with the soft murmurings of a small mammal. Aya held her arm and watched the mother release her strife. "I wish I could have said goodbye to my Gardenia," Eterna said with her head bowed, "It pains me that I didn't."

"You had no choice," Aya responded, feeling the emotion herself. "I know how hard it must be for you."

"Tell Jeeg," the mother said, looking over her child as she rested, "To help raise her to be strong. Please, just for this old woman's sake."

Aya did what Eterna commanded, and Jeeg gave a humble bow. "I will consider it my new dharma, oh great elder of the spirit woods." Jeeg grabbed his white spirit staff that leaned against the shelf of Aquan heirlooms. "I won't stop there. I'm going to get to the bottom of this turmoil in the forest."

Aya turned to face Jeeg as he walked to the door. "Do you need me to do anything?"

"Question anyone who was a witness the night it happened"—Jeeg put his hand to his beard—"I heard young Buck was found. Maybe he will be of some assistance."

"I'll ask him," Aya said with a quick nod. Jeeg paced out the door and it closed it in a huff.

Aya's face brightened up as she spoke—"Well done Eterna. You managed to get Jeeg moving, and that alone is an impossible feat." She grabbed her own staff, which leaned against the door. "And I'm going to keep moving too. We will get to the bottom of this."

"Thank you," Eterna responded with a soft and kind voice. "You two are carrying out what I no longer can, and it means the planetoid to me."

Aya stepped outside and surveyed the coast line. Her ears twitched, and she could hear a small, faraway voice coming from the shore. It was Buck's voice. "I guess he's playing by the islands again," Aya said. "Funny they'd leave him unattended after what happened."

Aya took off in a sprint towards the coast. Her hands pumping through the air and her breath hot with anger. She didn't understand why Mrs. Du Bois couldn't have anyone look after a child as slippery as this one. Her tune changed when she skidded to a stop and saw Buck with his hands curled up into a makeshift telescope. "Well, Buck Island will be a go today," he said to himself like a young adventurer.

"Buck what are you doing here all alone?" Aya questioned in a very concerned voice.

"I'm not all alone, Aya." Buck responded earnestly.

A loud release of air came from above Aya, spooking her and causing her to wobble backwards. She quickly regained balance and draw her staff into defensive position. Aya looked up and felt the heat of exhaust as a spaceship the size of her cabin's roof landed next to her. It was purple and blue lined, cylindrical and with glideresque wings built for speedy sleekness in the outer rims of space. Its dark windows formed a small dome that protected the passengers of the spaceship. The only thing Aya could see on it was an emblazoned decal of a bolt of white lightning with the shapely legs of an adult humanoid female crossed in a cheesecake pose.

"Buck get back!" Aya screamed and whacked the purple and blue lined cylindrical ship repeatedly.

"Hey Aquan, ease up on my ship," a familiar voice snapped, "She's been through hell already."

The dark glass over the cockpit slid back revealing Taylor's conceited mug. Aya walked around to the cone shaped nose of the vehicle to see that it was badly crunched inward. "What happened to this vehicle?" Aya asked with sudden suspicion.

Taylor hopped down between Buck and Aya. His long hair following him down in a graceful manner. "Whoa, he's so cool!" Buck yelled.

Regardless of Taylor's words, his presence managed to offset the balance of everyone around Aya. They had not expected such a modern man to show his face in their rural community. "You ever piloted through an asteroid field, Aquan?" Taylor asked.

"My name is Aya. And I have only flown through space once"—Aya shirked her presence over a touched nerve—"I never want to again."

"Then you never want to go through an asteroid field. Dinged my woman up real good," Taylor responded. "And you know what they say, an unhappy wife means an unhappy life."

Eterna growled, "He treats objects as women and women as objects."

Aya looked up from her arm and gave a tough glare at Taylor to let him know she meant business. "Taylor, why are you here and what are you doing with Buck?"

Taylor remained unphased by the hostile glance of a warrior. Instead he gave a little chuckle. "I like you, Aya, though you do seem a little tight assed."

He strolled over to Aya, moving into her personal bubble and causing her to leap to a defensive stance with a reddened face. "If you want to know why I'm here. The farm ladies wanted to keep their little party under wraps so I'm watching the young spud for them."

"He's not watching me. We're partners in crime," Buck said with a wide grin. "He's going to fly me to Buck Island so I can claim it."

"Exactly," Taylor said with a confident smirk to match it. "But remember kid, you can't name it til you claim it."

"Sure thing, big brother," Buck responded as Taylor hoisted him into his purple space cruiser. Aya gritted her teeth over his words. She was never called "big sister" by Buck even though she felt like she was as much as Flora and her other sisters were. Aya tried to shrug it off as a mere annoyance, but it lingered with her causing Taylor and Eterna to both call her name as she stared into space.

Taylor laughed. "Seems I'm not the only space cadet. We have more in common by the second, Aya. Listen..." He walked closer to Aya again and leaned up against his spaceship. His eyes met hers with a peculiar glance; it was both self-satisfied but also interested in her. "Don't be so serious. Life's a garden of misfortune and delight. Just gotta know which trees to pick from."

Taylor leaped onto the wing of his space cruiser and then jumped into the cockpit. He gave the befuddled Aquan a playful salute. "With these words of wisdom I graciously imparted on you, I hope you learn to live a little, Aya. Because if you don't, who else will? Farewell my sweet Aquan." The cockpit closed around Taylor and Buck and the ship hovered before zooming all the way to the levitating islands over the lake.

"I wish that man's tongue had been severed from his maw," Eterna chimed in as Aya stood still with an expression of confusion. "We have no idea what Buck saw. And now he's out of reach."—Aya shook her head—"Aya, why are you just standing there?"

"That man..." Aya said with a look of intrigue. "I don't know why but I want to learn more about him. His eyes, they perplex me, and I don't like the effect he has over Buck."

"He is like slime in a swamp, covers all he can reach with his self righteous muck," Eterna responded, "There's always parasites looking to cling onto those with power. Better to remain without a mate than to pair with a leech ."

"He's very different from some of the men who've flirted with me in the village," Aya added, her eyes revealing a passionate curiosity. "They were stupid and driven purely by impulse. He isn't letting on who he truly is or his honest intent."

"That I agree with absolutely," Eterna said with a nod. "He's dangerous and untrustworthy..."

"I don't trust him...either," Aya quietly agreed as Allons ran to the shore.

"Miss Aya," he said, out of breath. "Jeeg requires you. It's about that dern spirit tree. He found something at it."

"Great," Eterna said, "We can at least advance on that front. Aya get yourself together, we're going to solve this crime."

Aya gazed out to the sea one last time. Aya thought of the words Taylor had first spoken to her of her lost planet. "Aye, it was a beauty but it could be desolate, acrid and full of misery as well."

He was referring to the opposite side of Tarabos when he called it desolate. It was a desert area very few Aquans ever ventured because of the hostile climates, black dream chimer snakes and dangerous sand sharks.

Just who was he? And why was he so knowledgeable of her planet? It was just a memory kept alive by her and Jeeg. Aya finally pulled herself away and headed off towards the spirit forest. She knew her sworn duty called for her to be present in the here and now, but still, she wondered about the growing mystery of the traveler Taylor Lunsford.