Early in the morning, the strange desert woman in the hood arrives back into the tent. With her, she carries a basket of bread, a jug of water, bandages and more herbs with medicinal properties as well as a kettle of boiling water. Upon arriving, she sees Dreamfinder still sleeping on the green mat with Figment and Alex in each side. The sunlight that is shining bright illuminates the inside of the tent. It reaches up to Dreamfinder's sleeping eyelids, making them clench tightly at the reaction. Beside him, the morning light has made Figment yawn big and Alex begin to stretch. Only Dreamfinder wakes up from the light. His heart leaps at the sudden surprise of the hooded stranger standing before him.

          Kneeling down beside the Dreamfinder where Figment had previously slept, the stranger sets the basket down. She then removes her hood and reveals her identity. Under the hood, the stranger is obviously a female. Her physique is more of an anthropomorphic meerkat than human despite her human mannerisms. Her dark brown eyes resemble boulder opal gems as earthy as the desert sand at night. With it, her dark brown hair, curled and frizzy from the scorching sun's wave of dry heat dangles and bounces with each step. The surface on her face and body is full of short tan fur from top to bottom. Her nose is round and black like a stone and her ears a not human, but meerkat ears drooping downward instead of standing upward. Her fashion choice is light weighted with a satin sleeveless jacket vest robed with silk scarves and short-cut draperies and two layers of light shirts. The baggy pants are white stained with the dirt of sand. She wears no shoes. Her feet and hands are more like paws than of a human's, especially since she has four fingers and toes instead of five. That would explain how Rachel had noticed her hands looking like claws.

          She takes out a small cup from the basket and pours the kettle of hot water in it. Added next is the dried herbs she had crushed beforehand: peppermint, sarsaparilla root, and Assamese plant leaves. Then with a stirring stick, the meerkat-faced stranger mixes the ingredients together perfecting a nice hot cup of black peppermint tea. The aroma of the tea has filled the entire interior of the tent, alerting the scents of the other three travelers to a full wake with its peppery chilling rush.

"kayf tasher?" the stranger asks in her Arabian accent.

"I beg your pardon?" Dreamfinder asks, raising an eyebrow to his confusion.

"qulta, kayf halk?"

"Forgive me, but I don't understand a word you're saying."

" 'ana 'araa. Rubma..." then the stranger speaks in a different language saying, "bu dil?"

"Uh...I still don't understand."

"Boreíte na katalávete tóra?" she spoke again in another new language.

"...Mmm?" his eyes squinted with no ease in his conscious. He may never be able to understand what this person is saying.

"H-how about now? Yes?"

"Yes! That's it! Boy, I was afraid we'd never be able to communicate."

"Oh, I see!" the stranger exclaims with excitement. "You speak Falzimmeran!"

"Well actually, where we come from, we call it English." Dreamfinder clarifies.

"English? Strange. I've never heard of that word before."

"Probably because my friends and I are from a different world."

"I thought you looked too peculiar to be one of our own. Especially considering the way you dress."

"Heh. We...we get that a lot."

"What I was trying to ask you was if you are feeling alright? Are you feeling better from the disease?"

"Yes, very much. Thank you. You medication is working wonders for me."

"I am glad. But to be sure, I want you to drink this."

"What is it?"

"Black tea with peppermint, sarsaparilla, and Assamese."

"Oh!" Dreamfinder takes a sip of the tea. Liking it, and not realizing how very thirsty he was after three days of recovering, he gulps down the entire cup. He did not even care how hot or cold it was. "My goodness, this is really good!"

"Thank you, when I'm not journeying across the desert I take the time to make tea for my clan. It is both a hobby out of my best interest as well as the only useful thing I can do out here."

"I see. Oh, I'm sorry! We've never been properly introduced. I am—"

"Dreamfinder. Yes, I know. Your friends have already explained it to me. I am Zahara, daughter of the chief of this Clan of Deshandjah."

"Zahara. That's a lovely name. I most definitely would like to thank all of you for providing me and my friends with such fine treatment."

"It is our pleasure to help. Now I must ask you...you have mentioned that you are from a different world. If that is so, where did you come from? And why have you come?"

"My friends and I are explorers from a far-off land called Earth, except for our friend Alex. I suppose they may have already told you that part, have they?"

"Yes, they have. But how are you all together if this is true?" Zahara asks.

"We traveled together to and from different worlds using the power of both science and our imagination." said Dreamfinder, excited to explain about his journey. "The science part maybe a bit too technical to explain out here, if I'm not wrong, but the imagination part is the most fun. Whatever we picture in our heads from places to objects to even a variety of people, the dream power that our vehicle outside is powered with takes us there. Figment and I, before we met with Rachel back home and Alex in another world called Iyrilia, we have normally traveled across these realms by ourselves until recently. You see, we're looking for a large spherical structure that is said to hold get mounds of energy inside. It was once located back home on Earth where the current location of my school had been researching and testing it for the best use possible. That was until I accidentally made it disappear in a...'fearful' mishap. But that mishap has been taken cared of already. Now the hard part is finding the structure, bring it back if possible and perhaps learn its secrets. We don't...know exactly what it actually is yet or where it is. And that is why we're looking for it."

"And you've come to the Deshandjah Desert to see if this structure you're looking for was here."

"That's right. We've searched here for about a month, more or less, but we haven't found it with any luck. Then just as we were giving up, we found an oasis here and cooled off before we started exploring this cave, which I suppose that was actually the opening of a giant shell."

"You must mean the Abiteth monster." Zahara guesses.

"If that is what you call a spider-legged creature with large squid tentacles as part of a face, then yes." Dreamfinder confirms. "I take it you know of it?"

"Yes, my clan and I have lived, survived and fallen prey to the Abiteth's appetite for thousands of years. I spent all of my life training day and night so I would one day face the beast and destroy it once and for all. To do that so I would avenge my fallen brethren and past ancestors who had become carnage to it. Overtime, the people who have been very lucky to escape the beast's jaws have not always been so lucky to recover from its residue or its haunting memories. Many of them died from the infection, which makes you, Dreamfinder, of all people, very lucky. I call you lucky because as time went by, our clerics, apothecaries and priests have experimented, tested and perfected the antidote that can cure the most unfortunate of the Abiteth's victims; the same antidote we have used on you these past few days. We thank our ancestors, as well as our highest lords in the heavens, for blessing us with this knowledge of medicine.

Then just days ago, when I believed I was ready to take on the Abiteth monster, we have heard the shrieks and loud thumps of its legs shuffling in the sand and saw from a distance a giant cloud of dust flying about. We followed it, where I hoped I would finally have my chance in defeating the creature. But by the time we arrived, we have found your flying mechanism already pulling the Abiteth out of the shell it lived in with your large net and watched the monster die with its ashes taken by the winds. Also upon arriving, when your machine has landed, we have found your unconscious self and your friends stranded and alone with no means of help. We had believed that before we found you, you have already been lured into its lair and had and breathed the noxious fumes and been covered with its slime, infecting you. After seeing the creature finally die after all this time, I'm afraid that all of the years of my training and chasing the creature now may have all been for naught."

"Oh, Zahara. I'm so sorry." Dreamfinder expresses with his guilt. "If we had known about this, we would—"

"It is alright, Dreamfinder." Zahara smiles. "We have fought and ran from this creature for thousands of years without success. To finally see it dead and gone for the rest of eternity has brought peace for our future and an incredible weight off of our shoulders for the very best. If it weren't for you and your friends, we probably would have had to face the beast for a thousand millenniums more. We all owe you our lives, forever in your debts."

"I honored, really. And I'm sure Rachel, Alex and Figment will be much obliged to hear that."

"There is one thing I do not understand."

"What's that?"

"When we found you all three days ago, I spoke in my own culture's language and yet Rachel was the only person who was able to speak it as well, while everyone else couldn't."

"Yes, that's right. Rachel mentioned this to me last night. I'm just as confused as you must be."

"And what's even more strange is that you couldn't understand me either, and you're the same race as she is! Though, I've never actually seen a feminine version of a humanoid before."

"Really? I suppose that makes Rachel a rare specimen around here."

"Yes, most definitely." said Zahara with agreement. "Added with her language, too. Did you at least understand something I said before I spoke your English?"

"Well...sort of, actually." Dreamfinder answered, though unsure of his reply. "All I got out of you was 'how', 'this' and 'feeling'. Other than that, it was all gibberish to be, not to insult your language of course."

"What's gibberish?" Figment yawns. His purple scales sparkle in the creeping sunlight that is sneaking through the small leftover opening of the tent. His wings extend to as far as it can stretch. He stretches more of his body like a cat would do it, and then like a dog doing yoga. His neck cracks. His whole body now feels as loose a single strand of spaghetti.

"Good morning, Figment." said Dreamfinder happily.

"Hello, Figment." said Zahara. "Did you sleep well?"

"Hmm? Hey, Zahara! You DO speak Falzimmeran!" Figment exclaims with excitement.

          Surprised to hear Figment say that, Zahara and Dreamfinder look at each other with blank faces. After seconds of silence, they both felt the need to laugh. So they did. Their laughter fills up the entire tent echoing and bouncing off the tarp walls into Alex's ears. The young Katkin opens its eyes heavily. His head buzzes out the annoyance of receiving a headache from this continuously loud merriment. Even plugging those giant cat ears of his would not have helped prevent it.

"Hey guys, can you keep it down?" Alex groans.

"Oh sorry, Alex." Dreamfinder giggles. "You just missed out on something funny."

"I know. I heard it. It's funny. Are you better yet?"

"Hmmm..." Zahara looks to Dreamfinder, observing what is left of the goop on his body. Compared to today, the Dreamfinder's torso had been smothering with it three days ago. Now there is more skin than goop itself. "The medication seems to be working wonders as you have said, Dreamfinder. Since there is still a small fraction of the Abiteth's residue left, I suggest we wait one more day with one more cup of the black tea and see if you'll be completely cured."

"That's a relief." sighs Dreamfinder with relief.

"Dreamfinder, you're one lucky guy!" Figment gleefully said.

*************************************************************

          Peaking through the window of the cabin, the desert sun shines onto Rachel's head heating up her hair. As usual, the heat is beginning to make her head sweat. The heat intensifies as Rachel lies comfortably on her bed sheets. Just as well, since having those sheets covering her would only make her feel even hotter to die of heatstroke, if it can be called that. Yuna, however, seems to be enjoying herself with Rachel's blanket as she had been last night. It's as if the heat is not affecting her at all! The aura in her sprite form flickers heavenward as she nestles in the covers. Her murmuring in her sleep is synchronized with off moments of giggling.

          But then a swift pull of Rachel taking the blanket has made Yuna swirl into the air, waking her up. Yuna hits the ceiling with her mind dazed and confused. And now looking down, she sees Rachel completely, and finally, covered in her sheets. With slight agitation, Yuna then swoops down and performs a bounce attack on Rachel from head to toe and back up again. The bouncing has irritated Rachel more than enough. The girl's eyes open slowly and angrily. Her pupils follow the springing sprite back and forth. With each bounce, the surprisingly weightless sprite increasingly presses its landing pressure. Finally, as soon as Yuna has bounced down toward the other side of the bed, Rachel grabs her end of the blanket and quickly wraps it over the sprite.

"Hey! Let me out!" Yuna shouts as she attempts to fight her way out of the blanket.

"Morning Yuna." Rachel yawns and chuckles, "What's the matter? I thought you likesleeping in my blankets?"

"You are a true card, Rachel." Yuna replied with her voice muffled inside. "Don't forget you've allowed me to sleep here last night."

"I didn't think you were going to take all of my blankets at once."

"People like my kind take great pride and comfort in soft cushions and blankets, Rachel. I must say Dreamfinder really knows his soft fabrics. He must really want to make you feel comfortable on this trip."

"Except I haven't been getting much of a chance to actually feel how comfortable it is because of the heat."

"Did you sleep well?" Yuna asks.

"I tried," said Rachel, "but I couldn't stop thinking about Dreamfinder's condition. I hope he's okay."

"I've taken notice of his body being covered in a lot less broth than before. He seems to be in a lot better shape today."

"Enough to where the disease is no longer contagious?"

"More or less, but I'd be wary of it in case it continues to spread."

"I'll take that into account."

"You should get yourself cleaned up, too." Yuna suggests. "Clean skin is happy skin."

"You're one to talk since you have pale skin." Rachel points out.

"Go take a shower now, Rachel."

"Bossy, bossy."

*************************************************************

          Fully refreshed and clean, and with Yuna hiding in the necklace again, Rachel steps out of the cabin area to meet up with Dreamfinder and the others. As she comes out, she sees a couple of the other hooded persons from Zahara's clan curiously observing the pilot's seat at the head of the Dream Machine. Given that no one in this world has ever seen a dirigible of any kind before, she can tell that these two people do not understand what and how the controls work. On the other hand, they might not be just looking at it in a curious manner but also snooping around for anything suspicious. That would make it obvious enough for Rachel to walk up to these characters and ask some questions.

"Can I help you two?" Rachel asks firmly.

          The two hooded men jolted their heads in shock by Rachel's voice. Unsure of what to do, they both jump off the Dream Machine and run back to the camp carrying with them a brown satchel that has been clanging and hanging over one of their shoulders as they went forth. Noticing how fast they are running, Rachel watches them go. Was it something I said, she wondered? Could it be possible that those people actually understood what Rachel just said, especially since how she and Zahara were able to communicate at their first meeting a few days ago? Maybe.

          To be on the safe side, Rachel walks over to the pilot seat to see if anything had been stolen. It looked like everything is still in its place. Then again, how would Rachel even know what is here or not. The Dream Machine doesn't belong to her, but to Dreamfinder.

          That is when Rachel had remembered what she was going to do. She jumps off the Dream Machine and runs straight for Dreamfinder's tent. She could tell which tent is the one considering how it's the only one in the camp covered in red tarp while all the other tents are white. From what Zahara had told Rachel along with Figment and Alex, the red tents are used for medical purposes. In other words, it's where sick people go into. If the Sun hadn't beat down so much, to run a good thirty steps from the Dream Machine to Dreamfinder's tent would not be a problem. Running up to halfway in between, she decides to walk the rest of the way. Already Rachel feels the need to quench her thirst. By now, she should have known that even in the early morning, the Sun picks up the heat very quickly.

          Dreamfinder's tent finally comes into range from where Rachel had stopped to catch her breath. She found it a wonder how she had managed to maneuver through that short, yet very exhausting, trip. She may just faint herself. But Rachel continues forth anyway. Dreamfinder became the top priority on her list of worries, if there is one. She pulls the draped curtain of the red tent aside with heavy breaths, finding Dreamfinder and Figment with Zahara having their morning tea.

"Rachel! Hi!" Figment cheers.

"Oh! Good morning, Rachel" Dreamfinder says with glee.

"I...HATE...the heat!" Rachel exclaims exhaustingly.

"Ew..." Figment groans.

"Goodness, Rachel!" Dreamfinder exclaims. "You look like you've just sweat yourself a storm."

"Storm, flood, call it what you want. I'm sweating tons of waterfalls of it just standing here. I can't stand this heat anymore! No offense, Zahara."

"Non taken, Rachel." said Zahara. "It would seem that even fleshier beings like yourselves are likely to burn quickly."

"Here, Rachel. Have some tea." Dreamfinder says as he holds out a freshly poured cup of the black tea.

"Just be careful not to drink it so—" Figment tries to say.

          Ignoring Figment and without thinking, or considering giving Dreamfinder a "thank you", Rachel grabs the cup from Dreamfinder and gulps the tea down her throat. Halfway finished, she realizes her throat beginning to swell up rapidly. There is so much heat rushing down there that it is making her eyes begin to tear up. Rachel stops drinking and abruptly hands the cup back to Dreamfinder, revealing her eyes completely dilated, filled with tears, and red.

"Ow...." she whimpers, squealing at a high note.

"I...probably should have told that the tea is hot." Dreamfinder shyly flushes in embarrassment.

          This is where Rachel slowly lies down on the green satin carpet and turns her back against her two friends,