On their way back to camp to locate TJ, Ciara was nervous. She tried discussing details with Skye, but he seemed oddly disinterested in possible clues about the 'what happeneds' of library pens.

"Which way did the footprints go, Skye?" She stared at the path. "How do you see them?"

The grasses shimmered in the breeze.  Watching them, Ciara thought back to how she'd felt when Skye had tried to convince TJ she could be his "Sign."  The sensation of life-in-all-things had filled her.  And now, it was as if the grasses were speaking for "life" and the warmth of the land responded to her thoughts.

Movement ahead grabbed her attention. TJ approached on the path from the camp.  As he got closer, Skye's breathing grew so quiet Ciara had to strain to hear it.

"Pardon me, again," Ciara greeted the instructor. They both came to a halt.

"Hello, young lady. How are you today?"

"I'm sorry. I realize I should know where I belong by now. But I don't have even the faintest idea. You may have told me, but I can't seem to remember."

"Yes. You took a spill. I recall. You must be a mid-level student. You look like you are. We didn't get a chance to discuss it before your friend whisked you off."

"Thank you— So where do I go to find out where I belong?"

"Well, I'm the Tracking Instructor, plus a few other things, so I should be able to help you. Ylva told me one of the students thought a donation to the library had gone missing—on purpose?"

Ciara's mouth fell open.  "How did she tell you so fast—?"

"Mind-voice, Dear Girl. I suppose that student would have been you?"

Ciara nodded.

"As it turns out, I'm not sure where you are from yet. I'd like to consult some books. All right with you? I'm headed there now."

Ciara perked up. She turned back to go with him.

"I don't know how soon I can sort out where you came from—bit of a mystery, but I promise you'll be in good hands while you're here."

"Thank you."

"Meantime, I doubt artifacts have vanished from the library archives without The Keepers noticing.  They're too good at their jobs.  But a word of caution—when it's calm here, as it is now, things can go topsy-turvy rather quickly." 

Ciara mulled over what he said. I wonder what he means by 'topsy-turvy'? Hmmm—?  I suppose I'll find out.  But I like TJ.  He's kind.

TJ smiled as if he'd heard her thought.  "The artifact may be gone, but I'd wager it's only been momentarily misplaced in the chaos of students arriving.  We've only been at it two weeks. Everyone's new. It's not just you. That make you feel any better?"

"Much, much better."

He studied her for a second and gave her another smile.  "I'm impressed by your interests, but it's likely nothing's amiss—so don't you go worry."

"But—what about where the holder was found? And the clasps on the gems?  And the crate— It was sealed back up!  Shouldn't we look into the other crates?"

"I'm sure the thing will turn up first. That pen is quite memorable—everyone knows about it. Don't you worry. Mysteries here often look a great deal less mysterious after some calm examination."

Ciara shook her head slowly.  "I don't know about that.  It looked so suspicious."

"Here," TJ added, "I'll give you an example— I was just tracking a man who was having unusual visions. So, I 'looked-inward'—out of concern, you see.  I wanted to help him.  When I saw what he'd been seeing, I grew extremely alarmed.  I finally caught up to him in the the clear space of Offlands, and imagine my surprise, he turned out to be one-hundred and three. It was just his dementia. Very clever, he was, as well."

"What's that? —Dementia?"

"That's what happens when your brain gets too tired to remember all the things that you've done in your life, so it just puts the pieces wherever it wants. And it makes some extra stuff up to fill in the holes between all the pieces—to make sense of it."

"Is that what I have? Did I come from Offlands?"

"Ha!" he roared. "No, dear girl. You do not have dementia. You've just had a momentary lapse—a disorientation, likely due to the thin air up here and maybe your fall. Offlands is what we call the outer reaches of mind-space—his physical body is not here."

"Oh."

"Turned out, the old man had been rearranging the crests of all of the dragons gone-by—making them fit what he thought he remembered. Well, I happened to know that sequence of events was impossible, so— Hmmm."  TJ drifted off into thought, his tangent having nothing to do with Ciara or her problems. "What I was getting to is that I suggest you join Tracking Circle, with us. Would you like that?"

"I'd learn how to track? Maybe—that's good, yes." Ciara nodded. "But what if I don't know as much as the other kids know? It might be okay, if that's where I'm supposed be—"

"You show the right aptitudes. If I can't find out who you are, the instructors would vote and assign you a buddy to watch out for you, while we investigate."

Ciara waited to hear more assurance. I need to know who I am! Would I get Sadie at least, in the meantime?

"In reality, I have a perfect opportunity for an observant, young set of eyes. Until we find out for sure which Circle you should be assigned to, would you mind keeping your eyes open for any unusual signs of—er, well—something that might look like—large animal movements, here on the main Mountain of Aulde?"

"But I don't know what I'm looking for.  What if I miss it?"

"Oh— You don't have to do anything. Just let me or Master Robesaille know, if you see anything you consider unusual."

"Uh-hum—" Ciara felt both curious and uncertain. I think this normal might be my un—usual though.

The big man crouched down. "Listen," he said, speaking quietly. "There's only one special being that should live here in Mearth. And he's terribly gentle and not a dangerous sort; and most nobody knows anything of him. He's been in hiding—but—he's wandered off."

"Do you mean, Skye?"

"Who?"

"Skye-voice. My—Trainer."

"Certainly, not!" TJ gave a suspicious glance around and above him. "That troublesome lout! Sorry. I know he might be your friend, but he won't stop pestering us—and we don't know why or how to stop him. He fills the guild-mind channels so much, we can't get a word in to each other." He looked about as if he suspected Skye was close.

Humpf! thought Skye, as if he were offended.  Skye likely meant to keep the sentiment to himself, but Ciara could feel him quite clearly, especially since the rainbow shimmering experience.

You don't even count or include me! he whinged, clearly upset with TJ.  I told you I would bring her to take care of your problems.

TJ seemed not to take any heed of Skye's mutterings this time.

Shhh! Ciara directed her thoughts to where she had sensed Skye had last been. You two clearly don't see eye to eye. Let me ask questions.

That is your job!

Shhh! You're grumpy. It doesn't help.

TJ still behaved as though he didn't hear or was purposely ignoring Skye. 

Why can't TJ hear Skye?  Maybe mind-voice has to be specifically directed to a person.  Like calling them on the phone. Otherwise, they can't hear it. 

TJ continued to speak kindly to her, "Except, now you and only three others will know this. So, I'll trust you'll keep this a secret, until we all tell the school, but we might need a new pair of eyes in the meantime."

But why do I hear him when TJ isn't listening? Was it Skye's shimmer?

"And—if you can be patient while I find out where you belong, then we have a deal. Work well enough? You report anything odd? —Do some amateur tracking for me?"

"Sure, I can do that."

"—And this very special creature that I am referring to, normally receives special attention from a very special student who quietly takes very good care of him—most of the time—in the lower Mountains of Aulde behind us here, so that's where we're looking."

Ciara felt awe. This place is so much bigger than my life is at home— Home—? Ciara suddenly panicked. This is my home?

Right. Skye-voice jumped in quickly.

Where are all the kids from that are here, Skye?

Shhh! You'll start TJ all up again.

TJ continued on, "A long time ago, these mountains were used as exercise grounds.  Dragons trained with the ancients—their handlers back in that day."

She nodded, again to TJ, not sure what to say.  Skye, do I know about dragons?

Apparently, not very much. Skye swooshed his tail, completely unseen.

The man stood up. "You look around. I'll see you later," and he moved down the path towards the library.

≈≈≈/