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Othello woke up, opening his eyes and noticing the sun just beginning to peak over the horizen. He moved in such a way that would not wake up Kayla, and began to walk home, but before he left, Othello removed his jacket and laid it over her. Smiling, he ran down to the house to get ready.

After Othello had washed and dressed, his family ate their last meal with him. When they finished eating, they all helped him carry his gear to the center of the village, where the carriage had been parked over the past few days. Because it was still early in the morning, virtually no one was awake and moving, giving Othello a peculiar feeling. Although it felt strange, the feeling was one of excitement and adventure, not forboding. So Othello took a deep breath of fresh air, and started up the overlook, where everyone to be in the caravan was meeting.

When Othello reached the top, he noticed the Yuke sitting there quietly. Othello almost thought him to be sleeping he was so still, but the Yuke's head turned toward him.

"How are you?" asked the Yuke with a metallic ring added to his voice.

"Ok, I suppose," replied Othello, "I'm nervous..."

"Quite understandable. The unknown often makes the mind worry, for when we do not know something, we realized that we are weak in that area."

"Wow, that makes a lot of sense... You sure are wise!"

"Being observant leads to gaining wisdom, that is all there is to it." said the Yuke in a calm voice. "By the way, my name is Jehosaphat. It is a pleasure to meet you," he said, extending his hand towards Othello.

"Mine's Othello, and it's good to meet you too." he answered, accepting Jehosaphat's gesture of friendship. Othello was suprised at the touch of the soft down covering a Yuke's visible body. "Why are you here so early?" he asked.

"I find the airs of the early morning to be quite invigorating and refreshing. It helps me to clear my mind of distractions." answered Jehosaphat, thoughtful as ever, as he returned to his trance-like state that was interrupted by Othello's arrival.

"Hiya!" shouted Kayla, bubbly as ever as she reached the two. This sudden noise disrupted Jehosaphat's train of thought yet again. Realizing what she had done, Kayla tried to apologize, but Jehosaphat simply replied,

"Do not worry Kayla, it is nigh time that we begin anyway. I wonder where the others are?"

Just then, a small voice cried out from the bottom of the hill, "Wait for me!"

The three turned to see Megan running up the foot of the overlook. When she reached the top, she was breathing heavily. Resting her hands on her knees, she tried to explain, but the group payed her no heed.

"No worries! It's no biggie that you're late; the village elder isn't even here yet," replied Kayla, trying to comfort the worn-out girl.

"Yeah, I wonder where he is..." said Othello, looking down towards the village. His vision was still a bit blurred, for he had not totally woken up yet.

"He comes," claimed Jehosaphat, his Yuke vision picking out a small moving being just starting up the hill of the overlook through the black eye-holes of his brass helmet. The figure moved up the steep incline faster then expected for an old man. As he approached, they realized that it was not the village elder at all, but Rafael instead.

"Ah! When is Raoul going to get here?!?" shouted Megan in an exasperated tone. "I want to start this adventure..."

"He will arrive when he means to," said Jehosaphat coolly.

"Meh... you're right. I'm just anxious, that's all," she replied, sitting down with a heavy sigh.

"Are you all prepared?" asked a soft, elderly voice full of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Both girls gasped and Othello jumped at the sudden and unexpected appearance of the new voice, but Jehosaphat and Rafael turned toward it calmly. The group provided a feeble, "Yes..."

"Well, allow me to teach you of the purpose of your journey..." began Raoul, with a long-winded yet marvelous tale of the history of the world, miasma, the tribes, and the crystal caravan. After a captivating hour or so, Raoul ended his story, and looked at the young, eager soon-to-be travellers, with warm glowing eyes. He smiled under his large grey mustache and beard, for he knew this particular group of young men and women would grow strong together, suffering through hardships, carrying each other through. Knowing these teens to be the best that the village had in years, he sent them off waving and bidding them farewell with a wizenend hand and a caring face.

With all their gear and equipment loaded and packed in the covered wagon, the caravanners said their tearful goodbyes with each of their families. When they were finally over and ready to leave, they assumed their travelling positions. Jehosaphat at the reins of the papaomus, and Rafael sitting beside him; Kayla and Megan sitting comfortably inside, and Othello sitting on the back of the carriage, his legs dangling over the edge.

Jehosaphat snapped the reins, and the papaomus began to walk slowly, pulling the caravan out of the village, under Makanda's gate and over its bridge, into the world outside.

And thus began their journey.