Selina had been pleasantly surprised to meet Jeremy and Travis and to learn that there were 45 more people left alive in the mountains. This was good news, good news indeed. Initial reports hadn't given her much hope that there would be sufficient towns folk and dragons left in order for them to survive in their own community. Conditions were much worse than she expected but this was only a first impression. First impressions can be deceiving.

It only took a few hours to feed the two of them and gather supplies to take up to the caves. Selina felt that the food Darrabar took with them was a bit excessive, however, when some of the others didn't wish to return she was glad that stores could be left behind so they wouldn't have to go hungry. This lack of trust was not something she understood, but she was not one for whom it was necessary to enforce her will on others. She could and would only suggest a course, she would never attempt to force a course of action on any other living being. It was against everything her father taught her to do so. Still, she was surprised at the animosity shown by Jacob against her and Darrabar. His words "Go back to live in Layton's Rage? I don't think so" rang loudly in her head. Nothing they, any of them, could say or do swayed this Jacob nor any of his supporters. Once it was decided. Who would return and who would stay behind it was a matter of collecting what poor belongings remained to these people and returning down the mountain.

They made the trip in almost total silence. Some with hope in their hearts and others with fear, palpable fear written on their faces. She wished it was not so. That someone could be this frightened was almost more than Selina could bear. Lost in her own thoughts, she wasn't aware that they had arrived until the voice of Travis stirred her from her reverie.

"We can't leave them up there alone" Travis said. "Selina, Jer, they aren't equipped for survival, don't you see?"

"Leave them alone to think things through, they must realize that we are offering them safety and comfort" answered Selina.

"I agree, Travis. We will wait a few days and then go back up to talk to them, and if you don't mind Selina, Travis and I will go without you. Maybe they'll listen to us if there are no strangers around. We don't know that much about you and in time we may be able to convince them that things are different. If they are different, that will show and actions speak much louder than words." answered Jeremy.

Selina said nothing just nodded her head, and smiled. She was appalled at conditions here in Layton's Rage. Nothing would ever have prepared her for the filth and squalor these people and dragons had endured. No crops planted, no eggs ready to hatch, nothing with which to feed these people. She wasn't sure how long the stores she brought with her would last, nor whether she could count on any more supplies from Fenton's Earth. She had directed Darrabar to leave everything they brought with them when they went to the caves to rescue these people. Some of them looked as if they hadn't eaten in days.

There was another worry, those ten who would not return. Used wisely there was enough food for the ten to survive on...for a month. She was concerned, but needed to see what could be done in town before turning her attention to the ones they left behind in the caves.

By her count there were 6 dragons and 35 people left who were original inhabitants of Layton's Rage. She knew of nothing in her own life that would allow her to truly understand what happened here. It was beyond her knowledge and that of any of the inhabitants of Fenton's Earth. Way beyond, and it did not surprise her that this Jacob and his followers would not know that things really will be different now. She needed to familiarize herself with the true conditions here and see what can be done to change things. Housing to be repaired or replaced, food to be provided. Crops to be planted and some form of government to be established. All with no time to spare.

"Gentlemen, there is much I must do before we can convince Jacob and his friends to return. It would be good if you were to return to your homes here. Set your houses in order. If anything is needed, we will provide as much as we can for you. Once you have resettled we need to meet to plan the best way to bring about a rebirth of Layton's Rage. A new direction perhaps? Possibly even a new name if you think it wise. If there are any problems in the meantime, please let Darrabar know and we will take care of it. I will need to know if anyone is familiar with the care of the dragons eggs, it would be good to set the nursery up as quickly as possible. However, we all must first see to housing and food." Selina took her departure from the group, leaving them to drift off towards the homes they thought they'd never be able to return to.

There was so much work to do that thoughts of Jacob and their other friends were driven temporarily from their minds. Fortunately most of their homes had sustained little damage, but they did need cleaning and some minor repairs. For all but Travis it felt good to be in a home again. The kitchen fires could be lit to ward of the dampness, and once the cleaning was done the scent of fresh pine permeated the air. Everyone was busy, and their silent moods began to lighten. All became so engrossed in the feel of being home that no one noticed when Travis slipped away. No one noticed when Travis decided to go back up the mountain to talk to Jacob. No thought of Jacob nor Travis crossed their minds until Travis came running back with the news that he'd been up the mountain to the caves and found that Jacob and the others were gone. He was very certain that nothing had happened to them, this was something they must have decided as soon as they left because everything was gone. Nothing was left behind and there was no trace of which way they could have gone.