Berganashio - Chapter 18

The journey to the caverns of Mem was taking a lot longer than the fairies anticipated. Many of the fairies complained because they were running out of food and water.

Sister totter fidgeted in the wooden cart that was being pulled by her father. "I feel sad," she randomly declared.

Jovie asked, "Why is that?"

"Because I caused this whole situation..."

Jovie swayed a bit. "Sometimes in life we make mistakes and then it causes other things to happen that impact others. But then sometimes what seems so awful and terrible at first... actually ends up turning in to a good situation after all. Does that make any sense?"

"No." Brother totter answered for his sister.

Sister totter frowned at her brother. "She wasn't asking you!"

Jovie smiled. "In other words, perchance we were supposed to end up in the caverns anyhow. It could be a better home…” she added positively.

"Yeah, the arrows won't burn us to pieces!" Brother totter gesticulated with his paws as if they were arrows themselves.

"Are the caves dark and cold and uninviting..." Sister totter wondered aloud.

"We will find out," Papa totter looked back at them.

"But no matter what we're together!" Jovie beamed.

Sister totter peeked above the wagon edge. "Yes, but I don't like them..." She pointed ahead to where the fairy children were. "They were not nice to me and they say we smell bad. Or, maybe they just meant him." She pointed at her brother. He ignored her but maintained a smirk on his face. He spun the wheel on his toy train.

Jovie reassured her. "You smell just fine. Sometimes others can be rather cruel and unkind. Just shrug it off and be you."

A fairy from the front of the line called loudly back to the others. "We're nearing the caverns!"

"Finally!" Brother totter jumped up and saw the front of the large caverns of Mem.

Jovie sighed. "Yes, at last... the caverns of Mem!"

Papa totter looked inquisitive. "Why are they called the caverns of Mem?" He asked Jovie.

"Because Mem means forty and there are a series of forty caves all linked together."

"Ahh. I see." He braced himself for the rest of the pulling of the wagon.

The caves were very dark but incredible. The icicle-shaped formations were mesmerizing. Pinholes of light shone through the top in some places but yet it was still very dark. They proceeded onward further and deeper into the caverns. Suddenly, they saw tiny little lights shimmering on one of the sides of the cave.

"The fireflies are here!" Paper totter exclaimed in surprise. All the fairies marveled and were glad to see the fireflies again.

Sister totter's eyes light up with shock. She covered her mouth and remembered how the fireflies had left in the first place. She whispered to herself, "I must be quiet."

Brother totter looked at his sister. "This is your second chance... don't blow it again!"

She blushed. "I'm so glad they're here," she said and looked at the fireflies which looked like stars.

The fairies navigated around the stalagmites as good as they could with their wagons. They moved closer to the wall of fireflies and made camp for the night.

Jovie left for a meeting that she was summoned to with some of the other fairies. The totters were not invited so they stayed in a tent that they helped set up. Jovie entered the tent and sat down. She faced the three totters. "Some of the fairies were so thirsty that they drank some of the water in the stagnant pool in the cave. Unfortunately, it made them very sick to their stomachs because it was so bitter."

Papa totter grimaced. "What does the queen want to do now then?"

Jovie looked away for a second. "Two things. She wants you to try drinking the water to see if you can stomach it and then if you can she wants you to swim and see if you can find fresh water or a waterfall of some kind that isn't stagnant."

"We have to have water." Papa totter nodded. He went over to try the water without another thought.

Sister totter furrowed her brow. "I hope he doesn't get sick too."

Papa totter came back and sat back down in the tent with the others, waiting. They waited quite sometime and he seemed to feel just fine.

"I'll fly back to inform the queen," and with that, Jovie disappeared again.

When Jovie came back, she tiredly stated, "The queen wants you to search for better water tomorrow, first thing in the morning. She said that I could fly above the water, while you swim in the water."

Papa totter tried to smile. "I suppose we will have another busy day tomorrow then."

With that, the four of them nestled in for the night and fell fast asleep. Sister totter snuggled closely to Jovie who contentedly slept and dreamed of finding waterfalls.

Read chapter 19 via the link below: