The main character, Shature, experiences the final demise of Atlantis, the fabled "lost continent". After her "death", she journeys through many of the sub-planes of the fourth dimension in search of her new home. This excerpt begins just before Atlantis sinks into the ocean.
 

The tremors grew, but so did her Inner Light. Shature starred at the blank stonewall before her. In her mind she could see the waters rushing towards her. She knew her three friends were having the same vision. It was the vision they had all seen many times. Shature envisioned the oncoming waters as bringing, not death, but instead reunion with her spirit and with her destiny. Her physical body was being so rocked and buffeted that Shature had to tie herself to her altar so that she would not be dashed against the walls of the small room. This done, she returned to her meditation.

As soon as Shature returned her focus inward, the light returned. Now the light was accompanied by a tone. With every rumble of the earth, the light grew stronger and the tone louder until she was blinded by the light and deafened by the tone. She could no longer see the room around her or even the vision of the wall. She could no longer hear the earth tremble or the waters roar as they actually broke through the stonewall. Shature could see only the light. She could hear only the tone. She had no feelings and no thoughts. Her emotions had become extinct. Her thoughts were unnecessary. All that was left was this blinding golden light and its powerful accompanying tone.

The light drew Shature's mind and the tone called her heart until they engulfed her. She stepped into the light and surrendered to the tone. When she took that step, she found that she was not alone. Before her stood a beaming golden being-her Higher Self. Shature stepped forward and the feeling of Unconditional Love embraced her. Shature welcomed the long awaited union. Her Soul was filled.

When at last she looked around, she saw her three friends, also embraced by their Higher Selves. All four of them had returned to the cusp of the fifth dimension after their sojourn as a human on Earth. Shature drifted towards them and they stood in a circle. Within their circle was a vortex of Light that traveled from this threshold of the fifth dimension, through the fourth dimension, and down onto the troubled earth. The small group did not think, nor did they feel. They focused only on balance-balance to hold the Earth in its gravitational field.

They realized at that moment that all over the Earth there were other groups of four also serving the same purpose. Some of the groups were on the earth and some of them had surrendered their physical shells to the onrushing waters. Working together these groups formed a magnetic net of light that protected the Earth from complete destruction.

The net was an infusion of the physical and spiritual elements-Spirit and Matter-joined as ONE! From the center of the vortex was a bridge filled with all the colors of the rainbow. Across that bridge came those who believed that death was not an end, but instead a new beginning. Leaving behind their physical forms to the grasps of the onrushing waters, they calmly climbed the bridge to spirit.

They left their fear and sadness behind in their empty vehicles. These emotions would have blurred their vision of the bridge. They pushed aside their anger at others and at themselves because it would have trapped them in their dying physical forms. Love alone shone in their hearts and minds. All around the planet, even in areas where the physical vehicle was safe, brave and loving souls realized that this was the close of an age. With this knowledge they decided to take the opportunity to free themselves from the wheel of birth and death. Because they had faced their darkness and done combat with it, they were able to own their light and see its staircase to a higher dimension.

The Earth would take a long time to recover from this cataclysm, and many courageous souls had chosen to stay behind to help with its reconstruction. But others took this chance to raise their vibrations and continue their existence on the higher planes of reality. Shature and her three friends had made the sacrifice to surrender their lives in service to their spiritual destiny. They, and the others who had given their lives in service, could choose to reincarnate in a safe area on the physical planet, serve in the troubled Astral Planes of the Earth, or stay in the higher Mental Planes to continue their spiritual awakening. Ramor and Vicor, two of Shature's three friends, chose to reincarnate, as they believed their leadership qualities would be needed. Vicor was even allowed to enter the yet unborn child of his mate. Ramor reincarnated in Egypt, again to be a Priest. Shature, and her third friend Lateen, chose to stay in the highest Mental Planes, upon the cusp of the fifth dimension.

Shature was sure of her decision as she joined with her Higher Self above the troubled Astral Planes of Earth. She was sure of her decision as she embraced her Higher Self in higher worlds. She knew that she would be happy and content. She knew, or rather, she hoped she would find peace. But, she still heard the cries of the newly dead from Atlantis. She still felt their need. Many, many had died in the cataclysm, and most of them did not even know that they were dead. They would keep reliving their horrible death over and over. Their terror was tangible. Because they had not faced their darkness, because they had not embraced their light, they could not see the bridge.

They could not control their fear and sadness that kept their souls in a constant state of upheaval. They also could not control their anger. Therefore, a part of their consciousness was roaming through the ruined memories of their wasted homeland while another part of them relived the deluge again and again. In other words, they were in the Lower Astral Plane-their Hell. Shature knew that she could help them. Many of them knew her or knew of her. Some of them were evil and cruel. She would leave them to their fate. They would not listen to her anyway because they would rather hold on to the terrifying memory of their lost power than face the humility of their present state.

Some of newly, however, were merely led astray. The final years of Atlantis were a terrible time. Many people had no way to see the light because they were surrounded by darkness. These were the people that were calling. If someone that she knew was calling for help, how could she turn her back and walk into the Fields of Glory?

She turned to look upon her Higher Self. Yes, she saw that it understood. Could she bring this higher part of her total self with her into the Lower Astral? While she lived in the physical world she had felt split them into two separate entities, her true higher self and the person who lived in her limited human form. Could this higher portion of herself go with her into the lower planes?

"Yes," whispered her Higher Self into her Soul. "I can go with you, and I shall also stay here." Of course, Shature thought, her Higher Self was not bound by the limitations of her physical self. She could wrap her essence in her higher body of light and use it for the protection she would need in the planes of the newly dead.

"I shall also be here," spoke her Higher Self. "You may not be able to remember my vibration for long whilst in the midst of the Lower Astral Plane. Therefore, I will send you a lifeline of my Unconditional Love. Shature remembered how much the love of her Higher Self had helped her on Atlantis. Her Higher Self often helped her to be objective and to see the true meaning of life's challenges. Yes, she would hold onto the "feel" of her Higher Self while she lowered her vibration to troubled Astral Plane of Earth.

Shature had learned to raise and lower her vibration to travel through the different dimensions when she was in Atlantis. Her primary essence, however, had remained in her physical form so that she could keep her physical form alive. Only on special occasions, when others were protecting her body, had she lifted the life spark into the higher planes. Now, her primary essence was free of all physical limitation and she would be able to move throughout the different planes of the fourth dimension with a greater sense of awareness and intimacy. She would return alone. Alone, she would continue her destiny. Alone, yet in shared consciousness with her Higher Self. Alone, yet at one with the knowledge and memory of her own true completeness.

As Shature returned her vibration to the troubled Astral Plane around Earth, she found that there was much to do. To her surprise, the other three of her group was also there. The spiritual net, which had been formed, had stopped the Earth from going off its axis and spinning to its disaster. However, the poles had changed and the Earth's axis had tilted. There was widespread destruction upon the Earth. Mankind was nearly wiped out, but Nature would replenish Herself. Mother Earth was resilient and could replace the old and dead parts of Her with new parts of unsurpassed beauty and wonder.

Even among the turmoil and suffering of this plane, Shature could see the planet from a new perspective. She could see Earth as a whole and, therefore, she realized that it was alive. This Earth, that she had hated because it wasn't her beloved Venus, was a living creature. It was not just a mass of rocks and water, but a living entity. She had been a small speck upon its surface like a flea upon a goat. This entity, this Earth, had seen that it was time to shake Herself free of that which was destructive to Her survival.

Shature learned a new respect and love for the being called Earth. Shature also saw how her negativity had contributed to the condition that she had come to correct. As she moved down into these lower planes to free and assist others, she realized that she must first free and assist herself. She had to face all the negativity, which she had contributed to the troubled world and free it from Earth's aura before she could be of assistance to anyone else. From this point of perspective, she realized how small and unimportant her problems had been within the grand scale of evolution. In the physical world, all that was born would grow to maturity and would eventually fall to its death. Now, the evolutionary cycle that had its peak in Atlantis had come to a close.

Many had learned their appropriate lessons and had been able to move to a higher plane of existence. Unfortunately, many had also lost much of their evolutionary growth and fallen into destruction. As is so at the end of every great civilization, the darkness and light had become extremely polarized. The light had grown to a peak of excellence that allowed the creation of the bridge to a higher consciousness, but the darkness had many eons to grow in its force as well. As always, evil had wasted its home in its own greed and hunger for power. In between these two poles, were many confused and frightened souls who did not even know that they were dead.

Shature moved among the newly dead trying to get their attention, but her vibration was still above their perception. Would she have to lower her consciousness even more in order to assist them? She was glad she was aware of her Higher Self at the threshold of the fifth dimension so that she would not again become entrapped in these lower worlds. She held on to the portion of its body that she had wrapped around her and connected its lifeline into her heart.

"I am here, my One," her Higher Self reassured her. "Just as you are there and can experience me, I can be here and can experience you. Remember that whatever you face, you are not alone. I am with you always."

With these loving words echoing in her mind, Shature lowered her vibration more and more in order to be visible to the lost ones.

"Shature," she heard a voice, "You must save us. Disaster will soon strike."

"It has struck! Don't you remember? You are dead!" she told them.

"How can you lie to us so? We are awake and together. How can we be dead?"

Most of them turned from her in anger when she told them the truth, but a few were beginning to remember. She could not help the ones who would not face the truth, but gradually a small group gathered about her who was able to face their current status. They were all frightened and angry.

"How could this have happened? Why did our leaders not warn us or try to divert this disaster?"

"They would not listen, just as they will not listen now. Their denial will hold them in this awful place. But your acceptance of the truth will allow you to raise to a higher vibration where you can learn the lessons of your past life and move on."

The Bridge of Light was still in place except that it was deteriorating quickly from the lowest vibration up. The doubt, fear, and anger of Earth's Lower Astral Plane were gradually forcing it to recoil itself back into the higher dimensions. Those who would move up must do so soon or they would lose this cosmic moment and would have to find their way up alone. Shature was glad that she had her Higher Self's lifeline to guide her Home when her work was done.

At last she was convinced that all those who would listen to her had found their way to the bridge and Shature could feel her own connection to her Higher Self diminishing. She joined the others who had volunteered to help the newly dead and they raised their vibration above the planes of death and suffering. She wondered how many eons it would take the souls who would not listen to turn towards the truth.

When Shature gratefully returned to her Higher Self, she was concerned at the worried look upon its face.

"What is wrong?" she asked.

"Your Earth mate and son are in trouble. Their boat did not leave soon enough and the seas are very treacherous. Vicor and Ramor are trying to guide them, but their joint energies are not enough for the frightened passengers of the boat to hear them. Your son is very attuned to the higher vibrations. Perhaps if you joined the others, he could hear you."

Again I must return, she thought. How could she not? She had known human love and the joys of being a mother. There was no question in her mind. It was their destiny to start a new colony and she must assist them. She lowered her frequency rate. Again, using her Higher Self as a lifeline, she lowered her vibration to the Emotional Sub-plane of the astral realm where Vicor and Ramor awaited her. From this vibration, they could see the physical Earth, but they were above the suffering of the Lower Astral Sub-plane. Shature joined them in calling her son. There was a land mass very near with high peaks, but those on the boat could easily miss it in the stormy seas. A tidal wave would hit them soon. They had traveled far enough from Atlantis to be safe from its submersion, but not far enough to be safe from the ensuing tidal wave that would soon overtake them.

The three beings of the higher planes called Shature's son, Vidann, because he was the most receptive of all those on the boat. However, no matter how urgent their call, he not appear to hear them. Then Shature realized that their concern was only adding to Vidann's fear, which actually made him less receptive. Therefore, they stopped for a moment and each one summoned all the love they could and focused it towards Vidann.

"Follow love," they called, "FOLLOW LOVE!"

Suddenly, he looked in their direction. There was almost a look of recognition upon his face. In unison, the three directed Vidann's attention towards the distant land. He ran to the Captain and pointed in that direction. The three upon the higher planes focused their love towards the sea around the boat. Their loving vibration served to diminish the wave action at the same time that it directed the boat to the land. They willed the wind and water to move the vessel toward the nearest safe shore. As the ship pulled into a small harbor, the three focused their thoughts again to Vidann.

"Leave the ship at once and move to high ground."

The boy looked confused. Why did he not feel safe? He moved away from the others on the ship and focused his mind.

"Mother," Shature heard him say. He felt her! He could hear her call. The three repeated their message again, "Leave the boat at once and seek higher ground!"

He focused his eyes as if he heard and he ran to the Captain again.

"We must leave at once and go to high ground!"

At first the Captain would not listen, but then he remembered that it was the boy who had found the land.

"You have saved us once, my lad. I will trust your instincts again."

"Hurry, hurry," cried the boy. "We have very little time!"

In a flurry of activity, the Captain loaded the boarding boats. They took only what they could carry. As the boats reached the shore, the passengers immediately disembarked and followed the boy, who was still listening to the calls of love from the higher planes. Some passengers refused to leave the ship, and some refused to leave the shore just to follow the instincts of a boy, but most of them trusted the lad. Or perhaps, they too could hear the call.

The climb up the mountain was difficult and slow, as the ascent was quite steep, but at last they found a large cave at its peak. Just as the last climber reached the safety of the high cave, they heard a roar that sounded like the eruption of a volcano. Off to the southwest (or whatever direction it was, now that the sun seemed to move in a different trajectory than before), they saw an immense wave. Were they high enough, was the question in everyone's mind.

"Quick," yelled the Captain. "To the back of the cave. We will build a barricade so that if the water enters we will not be pulled out in the backwash."

"The boy has led us astray," cried some in fear. "We would have been safer on the ship."

"No," yelled the Captain. "We would have been capsized or dashed upon the shore. The very voices that warned us to leave our homeland have led us here and we must listen to them through whoever can hear. Now, do not waste time. We must build the barricade."

They worked as one person raising a wall to partially close off the cave. As they finished the barrier, they could hear the onrushing waters. They huddled themselves together at the very back of the cave and used a rope to bind person to person. The peak of the wave entered the cave but did not have the force to break down all their barricade. They clung together and were able to stay in the cave even as the waters rushed back out. They stayed bound together for what seemed like forever before they dared to move towards the front of the cave.

"It is safe," said the boy.

Vidann had been correct. Now everyone was willing to trust him, and one by one, they untied themselves and removed a portion of the barricade to look out. The water line was much higher than before and what once had been a mountain was now a small hill. They could see nothing of the small harbor, their ship, or of those who would not come with them. They were alone in a place they did not know, with no means of leaving and only their wits to help them survive.

"We must give thanks," some of them said and they all joined again into one close unit. This time they joined, not in fear, but in thanksgiving.

The three upon the higher planes could feel the gratitude of those below. Vicor could feel the pull of his new body, the fruit of his union with his earthly mate. He would stay nearby, as a guide until it was time for his rebirth. Ramor was also being pulled to his new life in Egypt. Shature did not want to again enter a physical form, but she also felt she could not return to the higher planes and leave her family in their present state. She wondered if she could continue to reside at this vibration.

Again, Shature was alone.

She had her family and friends on the third dimension, but they would have to meditate and raise their consciousness in order to perceive her. Shature suspected that only Vidann would be able to accomplish that task. She did not wish to live in the Lower Astral Plane and be what those on Earth would perceive as a ghost. She needed to find a safe place in the fourth dimension where she could still hear her son's call. Her son and Jatain were busy with the task of finding a home and surviving and probably would not need her for a while. Shature decided to find herself a home as well.

The form that she now wore was neither the androgynous light body of her fifth dimensional life on Venus nor the female third dimensional physical body. Her body was in human form and still female, but it was more ethereal than it had been on Earth. She still identified herself as Shature because she was tied to friends and family of that life. She was also tied to her Higher Self and could call to it just like Vidann could call her.

As Shature reflected on her body, she also reflected on her environment. When she had been busy with Ramor and Vicor assisting their family and friends from Atlantis she had hardly noticed where she was. They saw Vidann and the others through a dense mist. As she looked around her now, she saw that same mist. If she focused her attention, she could see Earth, but no matter how much she focused, all she could see about her was the mist. The light of this plane was constant and without any evident source. She could not measure time because there was no sun or moon to rise or set. She could not measure distance because there weren't any landmarks or stars. She wondered how she would proceed in finding a home here.

Shature had learned from her training in Atlantis that in order travel in the fourth dimension she needed to have an intention of a destination. She thought about where she would like to be. She wanted a place that was safe and peaceful with people around her who were not limited by the third dimension and who were able to understand who she was and where she came from. Shature closed her eyes and focused on her desire. She had learned that her thoughts would initiate the intention and her feelings would give it power. She wanted her new home to be filled with love so she sent out her intention with the feeling of love. When she opened her eyes she could sense the physical world but could not see it, and the world around was clearer. In the distances she saw what appeared to be a groove of trees. She desired the experience of the trees and felt herself moving toward them in a floating fashion.

As she approached the grove she could see a group of small beings who where lovingly caressing the trees. They were about the size of her hand and had small round faces with pointed features and sharp, clear eyes. But, when they touched the tree, their third eye shown so brightly that she could not see of their faces through the beautiful, multicolored radiation of light. Their body was like a gossamer gown that fluttered as they flew among the trees. There was just a hint of arms and their hands could not be seen through the beautiful light that radiated from them. Their legs were more like one leg that looked like a root on the beings near the ground and looked like a tail feather on the beings higher up the tree. As she looked more closely, she could see that they had the ability to change shape. At one moment they looked like a leaf or a branch and in the next moment they returned to their gossamer gown.

"Are you physical?" she asked as she caught the attention of the group. With their thoughts instead of their voices, they registered confusion.

"What is physical?" they questioned in one mind.

Shature realized that she would have to change her approach. This world was definitely not physical. There was still no sun, and she could clearly see the aura that radiated around every living thing-including her.

"My name is Shature," she said. "What are you called?"

"Ohhh," they laughed in unison. "We are called the Changers."

The Changers seemed to be of a group consciousness and spoke telepathically as a unit.

"What are you doing?" asked Shature, happy to have someone to talk to.

"We are assisting this tree to grow new leaves. Everyone here is known by the task they perform. We assist in the change of the seasons. What are you doing?"

"I am looking for a home," said Shature with more loneliness in her voice than she had intended.

The Changers circled her and began to touch her much like they had touched the trees. She felt their touches like little starbursts of love and light. What wonderful creatures they were. As they continued to work on her, Shature felt the old feelings of fear and anger that she had felt on Atlantis rise to surface, but only for a moment. The Changers seemed to pull these feelings out of her like a poultice. She could see her aura grow brighter and brighter until it encompassed all the Changers. Memories of Venus, her Higher Self, Vidann and her other loved ones on Atlantis filled her heart.

"You feel better now," exclaimed the Changers breaking her reverie.

Shature opened her eyes that she had not realized she had closed.

"Yes, I do. Thank you very much."

The Changers moved away from her and formed a small huddle as if they were having a conference. They then broke formation and hovered just before her face in a floating, bobbing motion. These must be members of the fairy folk, thought Shature.

"Yes we are," they said responding to her thoughts. "You are now in the Land of Faerie. If you wish to follow us, we can take you to our Queen. She will know how to help you."

"Please do. This is a amazing place. I think that I could be happy here."

"Then follow us."

They formed a V shape like a flock of birds and led Shature through the grove of trees and deeper into the woods. Shature followed them in a running movement that was so effortless that it felt almost like she was flying as well. She could feel the radiation of each tree that she passed and the birds inhabiting them seemed as conscious of her as she was of them. When she asked them about this, the Changers looked again in confusion.

"The winged ones assist us. They are our friends. And in return, we assist them," was their reply.

What a wonderful place thought Shature. All life seemed to work in cooperation with each other and everywhere she saw great beauty. As her small group traveled through the woods she saw more Changers who sent out melodious beeping sounds in salutation. Her group of Changers returned the greeting with their chirps and beeping. From this plane she could still contact and help her loved ones on the physical plane, but she was not bound by their physical limitations. Shature wondered if she could contact her Higher Self and instantly felt its reassuring emanations in response. Yes, this is a place in which she could remain, at least for now.

At last, they came upon a clearing in the forest. There were small huts arranged in a circular fashion. Many adults and a few children were going about their chores, talking, or playing. The environment was filled with joy and peace. As she moved into the clearing, the inhabitants of this small village stopped and stared at her. They registered curiosity, but no fear or malice, as the entire group followed her at a distance toward the largest hut in the village. One of the Changers disappeared into the hut. An attractive young woman emerged from it and beckoned Shature to enter.

As she entered the hut, Shature was surprised to see how spacious it appeared from the inside. In the center of the hut was a small fire. On the other side of the fire was a familiar woman sitting in a large wooden chair. The Changer who had entered the hut was perched on her shoulder. Although small in stature like all the other women in the village, she held herself in such a regal fashion that Shature was sure she was their Queen.

"Sit," spoke a voice as clear as a ringing bell as she invited Shature to sit in a similar chair on the other side of the fire.

"I am Tamara. Welcome to my humble home. I hear the Changers found you among the trees. You are human, are you not?"

"Yes, I was human, but I'm not exactly sure what I am now."

"You are still within the human evolution, my dear. We occasionally have humans in their physical shells visit us. If they are receptive, they can see us. However, you are presently without that earthly body. For what reason have you come here?"

"I did not wish to return to my physical form, but I also could not bear to leave my loved ones whom I feel need me at this time."

"Would that be the group that just came ashore?"

"How do you know of them?" Shature questioned.

"My dear, space doesn't limit our vision here. Nor does time. In fact, I was somewhat expecting you. We have 'seers' here, like Lynette," said Tamara as she pointed to the one who invited Shature into the hut. "We are aware of the troubles on Atlantis and watched as your group and others formed the light net to stabilize the planet and the Bridge of Light to the higher dimensions. We owe you all a great debt. In saving the planet, you have saved us as well. You may not have been aware of it, but you inspired us to join you in your meditations and in the creation of the net and the bridge. I feel like I know you even though we have just met. "

"You too seem familiar. Are you the Queen of Faerie?"

"Yes I am and I sense that you would like to stay here with us. You are, of course, welcome. If you would like, Lynette will take you to a hut that we have prepared for you in case you came here. We are joyous that you have.

"We can talk more after you are settled. I believe you will be with us for a while."

"I would like that very much!"

Tamara rose and seemed to look into Shature's soul. Shature felt an engulfing sense of love and acceptance.

"Welcome to Faerie. It is your home for as long as you wish."

Shature stood as well and thanked Tamara for her welcome.

With joy in her heart, Shature followed Lynette to her new home. She could feel her Higher Self from the higher worlds and wished that she could communicate with it. To her surprise, she heard its voice as if it were next to her.

"We are whole, my One. We are complete. You are at the hand of the long arm of God/Goddess and I live within its heart. Just as I can look upon you, you can look upon me. No time or space shall separate us as we reside together in Spirit!"

Shature felt calm and serene as she followed Lynette. Her Higher Self's words reassured her. She knew that she had made the right decision. Soon they arrived at the place that would be Shature's residence. It was in a small hut that appeared to be made large leaves piled in the shape of a dome. Upon entering the dome, she found that it was transparent from the inside even though it was opaque from the outside. She felt instantly at home.

Shature thought that she would like a vase of flowers. Then, at her request, a lovely vase of her favorite flowers from Venus appeared upon a crystal table. She thought of candles and a violet candle in a crystal holder appeared next to the flowers. Her altar was complete. She then thought of a low, soft chair and found one just behind her.

As soon as she filled her thoughts with a desire, it became manifest. Yes, she would like it here. If there were dark forces on this plane, she could feel that she was in a protected location. She could contact her Higher Self with ease and was awaiting her next adventure. She was happy and peaceful.

The woods around her hut were filled with life. There were creatures that she remembered from Atlantis and others that looked more like they should be on Venus. As she looked at her form, she saw that it was much like it was in her Earth life. Her hands were intricately formed, but she could see a small vortex on each of her fingertips and a large one in the palm of each hand. The one on the right hand spun clockwise and the vortex on the left hand spun counter-clockwise.

When Shature moved her hands in front of her, she saw that they left a trail of fine glistening dust. As she moved them up and down her body began to rise above the ground. She decided that she would go outside to explore. As soon as she left the hut she was drawn into the surrounding forest. She moved among the trees in a floating motion that she was quickly becoming accustomed to. As she floated, she moved her hands again and soon rose higher and higher above the ground. To her surprise, she discovered she could fly. She flew around the trees and up to the top of the forest canopy. She remembered that before she had met the Changers she had actually been flying. However, she had been so intent on her mission to find a home that she had not realize what she was doing..

It was so wonderful to fly. All the creatures of Faerie could communicate with her and welcomed her to their home. But, then she wondered how her son and Jatain were doing and began to worry. Instantly, she found herself falling. She became afraid and then she fell faster and faster. She could see the ground rising up to meet her. The fear caught her throat and she started to scream. Then suddenly, she heard a voice from deep within.

"Remember Love, my one!" It was her Higher Self.

Just as she was about to crash to the ground, she remembered LOVE. The feeling of Love caught her like a net and set her gently onto the cool forest floor. The birds and other creatures ran to reassure her.