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((All right, then. Now back to Cinel and the others...?))

((Oy..sorry I haven't been on. ))

Cinel looked around.

"Well, someone had to live here and they had to keep themself warm somehow ... so look for a box full of wood or something ..."

But, has it soon became clear, there was no source of wood in the cottage. Cinel was surprised that anyone could live in this weather.

"It isn't a matter of opinion, really," began Cinel, slowly and dilibrately. "Which choice is more sensable? We go back to the caves and we once more put us under the presure of an endless labrynth. Not to mention it is getting dark, and the only thing worse than going through a mountian snowstorm is going through a mountain snowstorm at night. And missing an appointment with Mon-Ama," he added, chuckling. "I belive it would be best to stay for just one night. There are, after all, rations. Nuts, canned fruit, and the like. Just for one night, then we can leave."

Cinel laid alone, thinking and waiting for sleep to take him ...


"I'm getting worried," said Mon-Ama Curo to Rio Morrie. "They should have been here three days ago."

Rio looked up from his game that he was playing. It was a curious strategy game, originally meant for multipual players, yet a one player version somehow emerged. Rio found this version highly useful and almost nessiary amongst a throng of kill joys.

"Well, what do you think about it?" asked Mon-Ama impatiently when Rio said nothing.

He looked immensly surprised at being asked for his opinion. He was generally considered only useful for fights.

"Well, I dunno," he began uncertainly. "I mean Cinel and Priestist aren't exactly easy to catch are they? Priestist being a master of everything," he added cheerfully, but Mon-Ama swore at it.

"He is nothing to us really, Morrie. I'm just worried about Cinel."

"Then consider him useful in being Cinel's bodygaurd," laughed Rio. "Anyway, he is our leader."

"Why though?" Mon-Ama spat the question. "He is a good fighter and a master a secretcy and all that, but aren't those traits of a solder, not a leader? Why do you follow him and not Cinel, or even Hiro."

"We don't follow Hiro because he is an idiot," answered Rio. "As for Cinel ... I dunno. He seems like an impressive leader. It is just he is too ... closed."

"So is Priestist," persisted Mon-Ama. "He won't tell us a damn thing about his past."

"Neither will you," Rio shot back. "Nor will I, nor Hiro, nor definatly Kerry. None of us know a damn thing about one another's past. Except for myself and Kerry and that is because we are ciblings."

Mon-Ama would not back down however. "Just tell me why you follow him."

Rio sat up comepletly and frowned. "You know, I don't thing there is a reason. All I know is that I know that I am safe when I am near him. Oh, Cinel makes me feel happy," he added, seeing Mon-Ama open her mouth again, "but Priestist makes me feel safe. Now if you ask another question I'm going to force you to play me."

Furious, Mon-Ama spun on her heel and began walking around the lake. She stopped after a few minutes and stared at the water. Then she jumped in.