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Cairon, the far famed Master of the healers art grew weary with each step he took through the Great Grassy Ocean. To onlookers he grew pale and thin. His once full and thick beard was wiry and fragile. his great luminous eyes sunk deeper into their sockets as loss of hope for a future loomed upon him.

His illness 'he' believed was due to his state of mind. He no longer wanted to live. He felt as though he had no reason to stay alive. His mission had been to find Atreyu, the 'Great' Warrior. He had done this , to find that Atreyu was only a boy.

When he had informed the before mentioned Atreyu of his mission from the Empress, Atreyu had galloped away on his horse as his destiny beckoned him to venture out to be a part of the Great Quest.

Here Cairon's mission and purpose ended. What good was the Great Healer Cairon; reknowned for performing great miracles throughout Fantastica? He could not cure the Childlike Empress and his World. This 'boy' who the Empress professed to have the key to Fantastica's salvation, Cairon had his reservations about. Yet- he trusted the Childlike Empress and deeply respected her (as all in fantastica do). His respect and worship of the Empress over-rided his almost constant logical stae of mind. However, inside he was crying out , "A child! A child! How can a 'child' save our World?" It was this that made him grow weary. For once he could not control the situation. He felt completely helpless.

It was not to cairon's awarenes, but as he stepped further away from the Plains People of the Great Grassy Ocean (where he had left Fantastica's professed hero, Atreyu) he was stepping closer and closer towards the Maze of Haze. He may have stopped himself from going further had he raised his head and noticed the mist infront of him, but his head was low in submission and defeat. As evening grew closer so did the haze (that grows in darkness).

Cairon looked around him for somewhere to rest and collapsed in a heap upon some limestone rocks. When Cairon awoke he was awakened to an ear piercing screaming noise. From what direction he wasn't sure. It was everywhere and nowhere in particular. The Centaur raised his head and listened intently. Yet his confusion continued. Before cairon stood a great wall. Not of stone or brick, but of woven icycles, fine and almost resembling a spider's web. On close inspection Cairon found what was making the sound. These woven icycles 'screamed' when the wind blew through them. Suddenly Cairon realised where he was...

"The Maze of Haze!" He exclaimed. He knew the name, but had never seen it. Turning around he found himself enclosed in a box built from four walls of the haze.

"How illogical. No door?" He exclaimed in disbelief. "Not possible", he declared flaring his nostrils and stamping his hooves.

The wind blew harder and the screaming suddenly became louder. Cairon grew quiet, contemplating what he must do.

The screaming was not one sound but a mixture of various voices. If cairon had listened carefully he may have realised one small voice scareming "TRUST ME".

COPYRIGHT PINKCLOUD 2001