The next morning, Kaela awoke and prepared to see what more she could find out. 

She already had valuable information, one, that most of the Dowath were hibernating. Two, that the Ponu feared the scavengers. Three, they were not a cohesive unit moving as one, like she had been led to believe. 

As she was thinking of this, she felt a presence nearby. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Francesca standing behind her. It startled her so badly that it made her jump.

"What are you doing?" she shouted. 

"Come on," Francesca said, "I'm not that scary, am I? Or better yet, we're not that scary, are we?" She giggles, "since everyone says we look alike."

"You know what the really funny thing is to me? I am already a twin. My sister Charlotte and me." She looks down, "Although I don't know if she survived the vault."

"Anyhow, I have some good news," she says excitedly.

"We're to be introduced to the Dowath today! The Dowath King! Then I have a really special surprise for you."

"Just great," Kaela thinks. The less I get to be around the Dowath, the better, she thinks. Now, she's about to be presented to them.

Later that morning, Marcela brings the two pink-clad women to stand in front of the Dowath King. He looks at them, their resemblance, and for a moment, he seems confused. 

He then places a hand on Francesca's head and then a hand on Kaela's head and welcomes them. 

Marcela translates as he speaks.

"For too long, our kind hunted your kind. Some of our brethren still do. We made a break with them. We want to make amends to your people. This cave is a home for your people. You are safe here. Consider yourselves members of our tribe. 

With that, they were done being welcomed into the cave. 

Francesca hugged Kaela and then said, "That other surprise I mentioned, we're going to fly". The words seemed absurd, What do you mean by fly, she thought. Francesca continued,

"I mentioned to Marcela that there is lots of equipment in the Vault I came from. She is taking me there to do a quick search. Dowath are flying us there. Oh, and I convinced her to take you too."

The thought was unnerving. The idea of actually flying was a terror. The idea of flying with one of the monsters was a nightmare. 

Outside, three Dowath approached the women. 

"This is Drookan," Marcela began, "He will take you, Kaela. You seemed a little bit anxious with this being your first flight. Drookan is both a scholar and a gentleman. He will take good care of you. Drookan speaks in a language Marcela seems to understand.  She comments that "He says that his wild, reckless side is saved for celebrations on 'Dowath Freedom Day'". Kaela only looks on; they have names and different personalities. "Pretty soon, you'll be able to understand them, after they have been around you for a while. We don't understand why either, something to do with our shared Geeryo origin. Right now, however, if you talk to them, they can understand you even if you can't understand them." 

Marcela continued, "We have a special harness we'll be using. Also, here, place one of these in your ear. It's a new prototype communication device Lana came up with. We'll test them out up in the air."

The other Dowath took off each with a Ponu. Drookan waited until Kaela was on his back, secured and then took off with a whoosh. The ground beneath her got further and further away. She clung to the monster with everything she had, afraid to open her eyes. "No no no no no!" she says. After a while, Drookan leveled off. Kaela opened her eyes again, but then shut them as she saw the sprawling landscape below her.

Marcela's voice came through the device, "Everyone good?". Francesca could not contain her excitement. Kaela opened her eyes and could see a big smile on her face. "Yes! This is awesome!" Francesca exclaimed. "Yes...yes...I am ok," Kaela said meekly, shakily. 

"Watch out for our girl there, Drookan. She's a little nervous," Marcela says. 

Francesa, however, is having the time of her life. She leans her head against the back of the Dowath she is riding, "Aren't you a big, strong, handsome fella, why a sweet little Ponu like me feels so safe in your protection" She giggles. Marcela chimes in, "Be careful there, Francesca, the Dowath I'm riding is his mate. I don't want to be tossed from her as she moves over there to deal with you". They laugh. 

Thankfully for Kaela, the rest of the trip to the Vault and the search inside it goes rather uneventful. The same could not be said for the trip back.

On the way back, Francesca notices below them a scavenger caravan. "There they go. Did I tell you that they chased me all the way from my Vault? They wanted to capture and imprison me. For 3 days, I ran through the woods escaping that...waste.  In fact, that could even be the same group. Marcela, you say they can understand us? Ok, time for me to have a little fun," She says something inaudible to the Dowath she's riding. A grin comes across its face. Suddenly, it dives straight for the Scavenger caravan. 

"Francesca, don't! No!" Marcela screams, then she yells at her Dowath to follow, which it does. 

Kaela and Drookan simply remain fixed, both looking on. Drookan says something that she cannot understand, but "feels" like he is saying that he can not believe she is doing this. Kaela says for him to stay where he is. They both look on at what happens. 

Francesca and her Dowath dive straight at the frightened scavengers. Men, women and children scream and run for cover. The caravan stops. The Dowath pulls up at the last moment. A moment later, Marcela and her Dowath, while in pursuit, fly over as well. The scavenger grab their guns and attempt to aim at them, but it's too late. They are too high in the air now. 

Over the device, Marcela says, "Francesca, don't ever do that again! That was reckless... but I have to admit, that was some kind of rush." They both giggle. Kaela looks down at the frightened scavengers and fumes.

Back in the cave, they land. Kaela begins to walk away. Trying, for the sake of the mission and her cover, to keep her anger in check. "Everything ok for you Kaela? I  hope it was not too much fun," Marcela says. That was it. "Fun!?! You self-righteous, hypocritical, smug ass. Those were people back there, scared people!". Francesca chimes in, "They were only scavengers, Kaela". Kaela looks at her with disdain, "Right, only scavengers". Marcela looks regretful as she can see Kaela's anger building. 

"You can take your arrogance and shove it, Francesca". 

Kaela looks around and sees a crowd of Ponu have gathered, looking at the confrontation, a couple of Dowath approach. She thinks of Kragon telling her that one day her temper would get her into trouble. Perhaps today is the day.