Into the UnderCaves

The more Jaffa thinks about it, the more she wants to try. She begins to pester Tesholi, and finally, to shut her up, she allows it to be put to a vote. She explains the dangers, saying that neither of them may ever return. Perhaps she downplays the seriousness of it, for deep down she wants to be released from her obligations, and if Jaffa is there to take her place that would allow it. Then Jaffa explains the advantages of having another person with arms to help out and hints that if the trip works out, perhaps others could be taken to have their legs restored as well, some day. Tesholi protests, but that’s enough to gain the support of most of the others despite the dangers.

They take time to do a great deal of planning and special preparation. Special plants are gathered to mask their female scents, particularly Tesholi’s scent. A special body-harness is created to secure Jaffa to a SourceStone. And a modified backpack is created for Tesholi, so that she can carry more, as well as on for Jaffa that will convert from a saddlebag design to an upright backpack, so that it will still be useful for the return trip. Also, ample stores are created for those who are left behind, since the two gatherers will be gone longer than normal and there’s a chance they won’t be returning at all.

Tesholi uses the rope trick to tie the two of them together, because the journey is bound to take them much, much further into Secretive Land and Holy Ground than they have ever gone before. They encounter grave dangers, including being harried by a pack of Golden Badgers (a smaller variety than seen in the 1^st F of the KA story line); a close escape from a Giant Ant: (for they have to pass through the ants territory—but then they crawl from one of the safe passage that is too small for the ants, pass through their hive and back into another small tunnel. This arrangement was set up by the Slarn Amorians who harvest the phydmilk from the giant ants.) Also so some dangers of the earth itself: in addition to the Earth Currents, they pass through a swamp where there are quicksand sinkholes, which they avoid and occasionally little bursts of flame, which singing Jaffa enough to require a little HealStone work by Tesholi. In some ways the traveling is actually easier on the more difficult traveling ground, because Tesholi can shape the earth and have it carry them where she wants, without them even having to move. They also have to sneak past the Slarn Amorian sentries, but this is largely done by taking shortcuts, and by hiding in a clump of reeds that move in a regular, circular pattern into and out of the Cavern of Youth.

When they finally reach the cavern of youth, and find a suitable small and pure SourceStone Tesholi takes time to collect a great many of the loose HealStones lying around it. Then, Jaffa is securely gagged, so she can’t cry out and give their position away and her body is fitted with a netting-harness that is used to allow Tesholi to quickly secure her to the SourceStone. This allows for very rapid binding—and more importantly release from the stone. The immediate pain is almost unbearable, and it increases the longer Jaffa maintains contact with the stone. Without the ropes, Jaffa would not be able to willingly stay in contact with the stone. Meanwhile, Tesholi tries to marshals the energies in the right directions.

When Tesholi is successful she releases Jaffa, who is unconscious, from the stone. She tries to wake her, but can’t. The cavern—with the added strength of the SourceStone—has worked it’s magic effectively and Jaffa is reaching preteens age.[1] Tesholi rushes her from the Cavern of Youth as quickly as she can, but in her haste she draws the attention of the Slarn sentry, who give chase. They can’t match her skills, even with the unconscious Jaffa, who is now fortunately small enough to carry easily.

Tesholi goes to the Cavern of Death, and allows Jaffa to age. She isn’t aged all the way back to her previous age, but just old enough that she’s fully mature sexually.

Footnotes:

[1] This whole healing process would undo any other serious scars or injuries that Jaffa might have suffered that would reduce her beauty. Thus, Shekar could do more serious tortures to Jaffa, disfiguring her face even, or severe body modifications… since her natural form and beauty would be restored at this point in the story.