While Eliza was taking in her surroundings, the puppy had jumped down to the ground and was running toward the woods. Eliza realized he was missing. "Puppy! Oh puppy!," she called. Well, I'd better get him a name, she thought. "Um, Nikki! Here boy, where are you?" Then she saw him and ran after him, calling his new name. He disappeared into the woods. Eliza went after him.

     Nearly out of breath, Eliza spotted him. "There you are!," she said. "What....?" Her voice faded as she looked up and stared into the golden face of a Lion. Nikki was silent at her feet.

     He was at least eight feet tall. His coat was such a bright gold, that it made the bright woods seem dark and dull. He was....Aslan. The Great Lion. The one from the Chronicles of Narnia. He stared at Eliza with vivid green eyes. Eliza knew the place she was in was Aslan's country, his home.

     "Aslan....." Eliza breathed. She stood stock still. He nodded his great golden mane.

     He spoke. "You called to me." It was a statement, not a question. His voice was not like a man's. It was a deeper, wilder voice, a sort of heavy, golden voice.

     "Y-yeah, I-I guess I-I d-did. I-I thought it w-wouldn't work; Narnia isn't real?," stammered Eliza. She was scared down to her toes.

     Aslan said, "You see it is, Child. You have nothing to fear." He then licked her forehead with his tongue and it sent a wave of warmth all through Eliza. She felt braver. "Why did you call to me." Another statement.

     Eliza was still a little shaky, but gathered her courage. "well, because of my necklace. I've had it since before I could remember. It says 'Together in Narnia.' I want to know what it means, if my parents gave it to me--if I HAVE parents. I just want to belong." Her voice nearly cracked with emotion.

     "Daughter of Eve, it means what it says," replied Aslan.

     "You mean it's from Narnia--here?," said Eliza. Her heart started thumping wildly.

     Aslan nodded his head and said, "But more importantly, YOU are from Narnia."

     "I am?!,' exclaimed Eliza. "My family's here? Where?" Her blue eyes crackled with excitement.

     "You will find out. Come, Child." Aslan rose from his crouching position. He started for the cliff. Eliza picked up Nikki and followed.

     When they reached the cliff, they stopped. "I will send you on your way. You will find the family and the answers to your heart's questions that you seek." With that, he opened his great mouth and blew.

     For a moment, Eliza didn't realize that she and Nikki weren't on the cliff. She realized it when she turned her head and saw Aslan as only a speck of gold on the cliff. She looked down and saw nothing below her. She was floating on Aslan's breath. The sight scared her a moment, but she knew Aslan wouldn't let her fall. She sat down.  As they traveled along, Eliza and Nikki grew sleepy and fell asleep.