Chapter 1
The Portal's Destination

   Trace looked around her. She had landed in a small grassy field with tall pine trees surounding it. She looked around in amazement. This planet looked just like hers. More tears started falling down her cheeks again as she thought of Sandra and her lost home. Her daughter wrapped her arms around her. "I have to be strong," she thought even though she had no idea how she would be. She saw some lights and headed toward them. "There is life near light" she thought.
   She saw what looked like an old toikon. The creature looked just like her. Trace thought in vain to herself that it was one of her species. She walked up to it and stared at it. The creature looked at her as if she were crazy. Trace tryed to talk with it telepathicly, but the creature did not respond. Trace's eyes widened in fear. She could not speak with her using her mind. Trace started to walk backwards. The human then tried speaking to Trace. Trace turned and ran. Just as she started to run, she tripped over a rock and fell. Trace fell covered her face as tears came down it. The old woman wrapped her arms around her and spoke again this time softly. Trace looked warily into the concerned,loving eyes. The woman held out her hand to Trace. At that moment, Trace made the decision to make the leap of faith of trusting the old creature. The old toikon-looking creature smilied kindly at Trace and her daughter and lead them into her house. It had them sit on some seats while she went to acquire something. In a few minutes, she returned with flashcards with odd symbols. She began to teach Trace.
   After about four years, Trace had learned enough English to fare well on her own. She had also learned about society to manage somewhat by herself. Trace and her daughter thanked the old woman and left. She went through immigration services and she and her daughter became citizens of the country. She started a bookshop. It was very hard for her working because she had to control her power. All Trace could think about during this time was that her daughter should not to go through what she had gone though... to not know what she was...Trace's planet had a scrict policy of not going to other planets with life similiar to them. Trace knew that she was exiled from her home forever. They probably would not let Rockana return either. So why should she know......