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The rest of the night passed quietly, and I handed my watch over to Draco. I slept restlessly, my dreams were full of darkness. Those eyes glared at me, and I knew that the creature was very angry. I had resisted, and I had fired at him.

So thus I wasn't entirely surprised when I woke. I was only slightly surprised, and then realised that what had happened had to be the creature's work.

Where I was I had no idea. What I was standing on was stone, and around me was all just darkness. My watch said it was seven in the morning, I could tell because it had a built in light that could be activated.I brought out my torch, and flicked it on. The ground around me was all black stone, but there were no walls, and no ceiling. It was just an empty, desolate plain. There was no sound, save for that which I made.

And a voice. A lizard like voice. Salbar.

"Alduin, come over here!"

I made to follow the voice, and then stopped. I flashed my torch around in the direction the voice was coming from, and saw nothing. Then my torch winked out, as though switched off by a supernatural force. I tried to switch it back on, but it was dead. Then the voice rang out again.

"Come on, Alduin. We need you over here!"

It was Salbar's voice, the pitch was perfect, but it couldn't be Salbar. He wasn't half as much a conversationalist as this voice. Then a messianic voice echoed in the tone of another lizard, and I heard Cassandri's voice.

"By the way, Alduin, do not trust the voice you cannot see."

This was some kind of ploy, I knew that much. I drew my pistol, looking around, waiting for the sound. I set the gun to three, and heard the voice speak again.

"Alduin, am I going to be left waiting?"

I fired directly at the sound. There was a pause, and a different voice came, much more like the evil creature that had confronted me last night.

"Very well, you will not come willingly, I will force you."

"I'm only half stupid, demon." I shouted."Where's the real Salbar, and my other friends?"

"They are here."

"I'm not falling for that one either."

"Fine.I am supreme here, you will be reunited, for however brief a period of time."

There was a bang, and all my friends rearrived. I could only just see them in the gloom, and Draco turned.

"Ah Alduin, Simba, where did you spring from?"

"The demon's brought us here, where ever here is." Salbar spoke, his voice slow and steady. I spoke.

"Weapons out, he's trying to kill us."

I got a bright idea, and changed into my Lightning form. I sat there, listening for sound, and I switched on a new gizmo. Two four hundred watt search lights erupted from my wing tips, illuminating the ground in front of me. It was smooth, and there was no haze.

I ignited the engine as the others drew electric lights and pistols. I roared forward, my view blissfully clear, and I took off, skimming into the air. The world around me was black, I couldn't see anything, save for the lights of my friends.

"Where's the old devil hiding?" I spoke. I circled a few times, and then heard the voice.

"Time's up. I hope you were praying."

There was a dark flash of light, and a huge demon, much like that of the Balrog from Lord of the Rings appeared beside me. I wheeled, switching off my lights, missing the shoulder of the beast. It was a good sixty metres high, and I saw in it's massive hands, illuminated by it's own flame, a flail, a huge hand hold of iron, with a three chains linked to three two metre balls covered in small spikes.

"NOT good." I shouted, banking away. There was a whirling noise, and Draco dived out of the way as the flail struck the ground beside him. There was a deafening crash, a roar from the demon, and then Simba and Draco started firing pulses at him. Salbar charged with his dual swords, and I saw him hacking at the demon's feet. The good news is that he couldn't use his weapon against the lizard, for risk of hurting his own foot. Then I turned, and spoke.

"Incoming!Heat seekers, fire! Machine guns, fire! Rockets, away!"

There was a series of shudderings as each little missile erupted away on a jet of flame. My machine guns chattered, the muzzle of the guns flashing each time a bullet was fired. The demon was struck with each missile, and he recoiled, swinging his chain around. I pulled up, dropping my bombs as I did, and felt the chain whirl underneath me. The bombs impacted against the scaly carapace of the demon, and he roared again.

I banked a few times as Draco and Simba were firing their blasters, at nine setting of course, and Salbar was screaming curses at the demon, scoring deep wounds on the demon. It howled, and stamped at Salbar. He dived out of the way. I landed hard, coasting to a halt, and then changed. I got out a bottle of Lift, I felt drained after the attack, and chugged it down. Then I drew my rocket launcher. I had eleven shells, and I fired the first off as the demon turned to look at me.There was a massive explosion, and the demon stumbled backwards. I reloaded, and fired again. It roared, taking the second one.

I fired the third, and then dived out of the way as the flail came whirling down, pulverizing the ground which I had just vacated. I fired my fourth rocket, and the demon stumbled again. I was hitting him in the chest, and I saw that I was hurting him, but I was going to run out of shells before I did major damage. My breath beat hard, and I felt very weary. Javid was firing his sniper rifle as fast as he could, and the Teflon coated bullets struck the demon's forehead time and time again. Simba and Draco were firing their blasters, and I knew they couldn't do much else.

The battle continued as I expended my last shells. Again the flail came down, and again I dived sideways as the balls crushed into the ground. Then I drew my rifle, and started firing it in one hand, pulse blaster in the other. Of course this meant I ended up firing my pulse blaster only, because the rifle needed to be reloaded each time I fired. So three pulse blasters, it soon became four as Javid ran out of sniper ammo, and Salbar, who was still bravely hacking at the demon from underneath.

Then Salbar got kicked. He flew directly into Javid and Simba, and the three of them were thrown backwards. I turned my torch to them, and we stopped briefly. The demon rumbled with laughter.

Salbar grabbed his bag, sitting up, and reaching into the bag. A bright, but not super bright, twenty sided diamond, absolutely perfect in make, shone out. Draco and myself looked at it in awe, and even the demon seemed temporarily transfixed.

Then Javid had an idea.

"All lights, quick!"

I changed, shining my high beams at the diamond from my Lightning. Draco shone his torch, and blew a jet of flame. Javid and Simba both drew torches, and the diamond was the focus point of everything.It glittered for a second, and then I saw it sparkle.

"Close your eyes!" I shouted, doing so.

Even through the steel panels blocking out light, my world went super nova white.There were cries of surprise, and a roar of horror from the demon. I could hear it retreating, the burning light searing it's darkness.Then there was a final roar, and there was a bang, like that of a teleport.

The light died away. I risked opening my eyes. We were standing in the forest, and around us were the usual morning sounds.The forest was waking, and I heard the chirp of a bird, calling. I then looked at my friends. Draco was looking around, Simba was still covering his eyes, and Javid like wise. Salbar was standing there, his diamond gem in his hands, his eyes open, and I had a sinking feeling in my stomach.

I ran over to him.The diamond was it's original brightness, and I spoke.

"Salbar, are you alright?"

"I am fine, Alduin, but I cannot see anything."

"You might have been temporarily blinded by the light of your diamond. I've got your bag here, we'll put it in there, keep it safe."

"Where is it?"

"Just underneath your hands."

Salbar lowered the diamond into the bag, and then took the bag, clipping it to his belt.

He turned to look at what he was doing, but I knew that he had had his eyes open as the diamond had let go the burst of light, and his retinae had been scorched. Salbar had sacrificed his eyesight to save the world. Simba blinked.

"What happened?"

"Simba, Salbar's been blinded. Tell me Arachno knows a way of fixing blindness."

"Of course, Alduin. Salbar, turn to me. Just a bit more, now stand still."

He drew a pocket torch, shining it into the lizard's eyes.

"Oh, that would have hurt. Salbar, you can hear me?"

"Yes Simba, I have been blinded by the light, I know.Who is Arachno?"

"He is a surgeon."Simba replied gently."He will be able to return your eyesight to you."

"Where is he?"

"He's on Central."

"I'm not going yet."Salbar shook his head."I need to tell Cassandri the evil has been returned. It has gone, the light was unbearable to the touch to it, and it will not come back."

I smiled."Then, Salbar, sheath your swords, and I will lead you."

We picked up all our weapons, and as Draco and Javid rushed ahead, Simba and myself led the blind lizard down the path. He spoke.

"It is so strange, knowing your eyes are open, but seeing nothing."

"That was a beautiful diamond, Salbar."I said, changing the subject tactfully."Where did you find it?"

"It was at the bottom of a deep cave. There was a monstrous Ghan, almost twice my height, and a group of us had been sent to destroy it. Only I came back from that mission, but we had killed it together, and as my last companion died upon my lap, he told me he had seen a gem in the deep.He then said."Think of us as you hold it."It reminds me that although things may be hopeless, and the darkness unending, there is always friendship."

"Well said." Simba said quietly.

"Do you know,"I said, cheerfully,"That that sentence was the most I have ever heard you say? Sorry to break the mystical moment, but that needs to be said."

The lizard laughed, and he smiled.

"Some things need to be said." he said simply, and then lapsed into quiet again. we guided him along, and then met a convoy coming the other way. A group of warriors were rushing behind Draco and Javid.We were swamped, and they clamoured around us, asking Salbar questions.

"Silence!" a voice called, and there was Cassandri, walking towards us, a picture of health. He observed Salbar, still being held by us.

"Salbar, you defeated it."

"We defeated it."the lizard replied dismissively. Cassandri looked at the lizard's eyes.

"Completely bleached, I'm afraid."

Salbar smiled again.

"Don't worry, Alduin says he knows a magician who can restore my sight."

"A magician indeed who can do such." Cassandri looked at me in query. I nodded, smiling.

"Arachno has fixed me with an air filter, he has healed my countless broken bones, healed my burning skin, and he has performed delicate operations on a thousand different races.He shall restore Salbar's sight."

"Where is this doctor of medicine?"

"Back on the city we came from." Simba said." Salbar said he wished to visit there, and visit he shall, although he won't actually see any of it for until the operation has finished."

"I see."Cassandri spoke,"Salbar wishes to join you.I look far into time and space, and I can see that Salbar's spirit belongs with yours. Very well, I wish you all the best of luck on your journeys. Don't forget to visit, Salbar, we want to know everything." Cassandri smiled, and got a smile back.

"I won't, Elder."

I took Salbar's hand firmly in my right hand, and Simba took Draco's and Javid's. Then we teleported.

We arrived at Central, in one of the endless corridors, and as I looked around, I noticed there was something different. It was faint, but I seemed to recognise the corridor. It was as though invisible signs were pointing to destinations, and I led Salbar down corridors. Draco smiled.

"So Alduin knows the way.Good."

We spent five minutes walking the corridors, and I opened the door to Arachno's room. He was reading a book, and as he looked up, I spoke.

"Good afternoon, Arachno. We have a slight problem here."

Arachno got to his feet and clicked over to the operating table as I helped Salbar onto it. He sat there, listening. I helped him off with the dual swords, because I told him he would have to spend sometime lying down. Arachno spoke.

"So what has happened to him?"

"His eyes were scorched by a blinding light, and I was told that you are the only person who can fix blindness."

Arachno sighed." Whatever Simba told you, it is not true. I can restore sight, but there are more than just me who can do it.What's your name, friend?"

"My name is Salbar, Arachno. What are you going to do?"

"I am going to ask you to drink something.It may taste a bit strange, and then you will feel yourself falling to sleep.When you wake up, you will be able to see again."

"You make it sound so easy." Salbar smiled. Arachno laughed.

"It is delicate, and time consuming."

"What are you, by the way? Draco is reptilian, Simba is what Alduin calls a lion, and he calls himself human. Are there so many races?"

"Yes there are..." Arachno began, but I interrupted, realising a possible problem.

Arachno, in all respects, looks something like a Ghan Vrie. If Arachno mentioned he was a spider, Salbar could get panicky.I spoke quickly.

"Salbar, anything we could say to describe him would only give you the wrong impression. You need to see him to believe."

"I see, don't get nosy." Salbar smiled weakly.

Arachno gave him a drink of purple liquid, and I held Salbar around the shoulders as he drunk.

"God it tastes foul." he said, and then gave a small moan. His weight fall back on my hands, and I lowered him gently onto the bed.

Me, Simba, Javid and Draco shuffled out of the room, leaving Arachno to his work. Javid leaned against the wall.

"All those in favour of letting him join our group, say aye."

All four of us raised our hands. Simba then spoke.

"Providing no more join.A team of five is suggested as the largest of the best functioning groups.Two can't do a lot, six there is far too many people. The Hunted trips were an exception but that's so the Hunted get used to exploring with a more experienced group."

"True, we were running out of things for people to do." Draco agreed."But Salbar seems like an ideal fifth person.You saw his capabilities. Fearsome fighter, keen explorer, logical, brave, and he can run at the speed of sound."

"That's an ability with a sting in the tail.If used too much, it will kill him."

We went down to the food store to chat. Devlin was discussing to another dragon about his planet, and we joined their group. I still wanted to see Draco and Devlin's planet, but this was probably not the best of times to ask. Silverine turned up, and we explained to him about Salbar, and Silverine was immediately warm to the idea.

Three hours passed, and we went back to outside Arachno's surgical theatre. Thirty minutes after that, while we were playing a thinking game, Arachno came out.

"His eyesight has been remedied."

There was a mass expulsion of breath.Arachno then spoke again.

"He should wake fairly soon."

We went in, and waited. Arachno's guess was again perfect. Not two minutes later, Salbar's eyes flickered open.

"Oh my god." he said, and I came forward. Arachno was directly behind me, and Salbar focussed at me.

"Alduin..."he said, looking somewhat stunned. Then it happened. He saw Arachno over my shoulder, and grabbed the sword on the bed beside in him in his right hand. I was already swinging my own hand down, slapping the sword from the lizard's surprised grasp.

"Hold fire, Salbar. It's not a Ghan Vrie."

Salbar looked in even more disbelief. Arachno came forward.

"My name is Arachno, Salbar."

He extended a spider like hand, and Salbar shook it, although he was still eyeing Arachno in fear. I spared the tedious details, and explained the facts to Salbar.After a minute of gentle explanation, Salbar looked at the spider creature, and bowed his head.

"Thank you, Arachno."

"Not at all, Salbar. I am used to healing all sorts of hurts." Arachno accepted the compliment, and Salbar stood.

"So, this is Central?"

"Yes. Shall we show you around?" Draco suggested, with a smile.

We went through the various places, and Salbar said little, although I could tell he was committing all of it to memory.Then we went to the food store, and everyone welcomed us cheerfully. We pulled up a large table, and were swamped by several creatures. Dev sat beside an awkward Salbar, Valmeero stood beside me, and Brendan and, oh my god, ALEX was beside Draco.

"Alex, you've joined us!"I said, punching the air into happiness. Alex laughed.

"I have. Silverine said he wanted someone intelligent on the team, and I said well if Alduin was the current standard, it can't be too hard."

Cue cry of outrage from me, and then we all burst out laughing at Alex's line. Salbar looked deeply uncomfortable among this close group, and I spoke.

"Gentlemen, and Time, I know you're behind me, this is Salbar, he is our newest member of the group."

"Your group?" Valmeero asked.

"Indeed."

"That's high praise for him right there." Brendan smiled.

"Yes, the best group here." Draco chuckled.

"Lineshooter!" Grant called, and Thomas shook his head.

"Don't believe him, Salbar, he'll kill you!" Devlin replied, slapping Salbar gently on the back. Salbar looked slightly down, and I noticed he was getting fairly shy of all this attention.

"Guys, enough. Draco, tell everyone what we did, while I take Salbar around our quarters." I interrupted. Salbar looked relieved as I got up, and I led the lizard out.

"We're a close knit family, here, Salbar, but I guess it's a bit imposing for you." I said, as we walked.

"Sort of,just all those people looking at me, and all that." he replied, breathing deeply.

"That's O.K., we have many who are the same. Winslo, the white bunny you saw in there, before he was as shy as the days are long.It's perfectly alright."I led him back to our quarters. The glowers had gone to some special detail, for my room, which originally had one double bunk now had three beds in it. The group were encouraged to sleep in the same rooms, to bond together, and I noticed Draco's room just had the two bunks, the original Simba and Draco.I did notice that a mattress had been set out, obviously for Devlin. The common room now had a somewhat larger table, and several dishes had been added for the reptilian. None were actually named, but the glowers thought of everything.

The bathroom was the same,except we supplied our own toiletries. Salbar looked in much surprise at the shower, he was not used to such technology. I invited him to have a shower, which he did so, slightly eager to try this new method. He stripped down, and got into the shower. He found out about the temperature, and started turning it until he found the right heat for him. Steam arose, and I leaned back, sitting on the sink.

"Enjoying yourself, Salbar?"

"It's like nothing I've ever experienced." he said back, as the steam rose around him,"Alduin, did you mention you had it off with Draco earlier?"

"Yes, I did."I admitted,"do you like him then?"

"I like all of you.But you allow each other to have sex?"

"Of course. One night, I had it off with three foxes and a dragon. We don't have barriers around sex."

"I see."

"Are you missing out, or something?"I asked politely,"I would love to have it off with you."

There was a slight pause as Salbar stopped rubbing himself with the soap.I laughed.

"Just don't say um. If you want a longer period to answer that question, can I ask what you were carving when we turned up?"

"Can I say um to that question?"

"If you want." I chuckled.

"Open my backpack.I'm afraid I might have got the face wrong."

With this last apology, I opened his backpack, and pulled out the wooden item. It was an almost perfect replica of myself. Minus rifle and other weapons of course, but surprisingly accurate in detail. The entire thing was about five inches high, and it stood quite easily on it's two legs. Salbar was quite the craftsman.

I put it back in the bag quickly, to make sure it didn't get damp from all the steam, and started stripping down. Salbar looked curiously at my sudden enthusiasm to have a shower.

"I do hope I got it right." he said.

"I think,"I said firmly," that it was done perfectly. Can I keep it?"

"Of course. I was going to give it to you anyway."

"Good. Then I also think I should give you something." As I took my boxers off, I opened the shower door, and stepped in. Salbar made room, and then looked very surprised as I enveloped him in a bear hug, kissing him.

"I love it." I said. Salbar smiled.

"At least it's appreciated.What are you doing?"

I knelt down, and licked his member with my tongue.His cock rose and lengthened under my gentle efforts, helped by the mist of warm water, until it was about a foot in length.Once I was happy he was ready, and he had leaned against the back wall of the shower, I got up, and lowered myself onto his cock. He sighed as I slipped over him, and he penetrated my ass deeply. I was facing away from him, and I felt him place his hands around my hips, gently, but firmly.I rose gently a few more times, and then I stopped moving, so Salbar could thrust at his rate.

His rate was about Devlin's natural rate, slow but deep.I sighed gently as he thrust back and forth, his cock gently working my ass. He moved forward, leaning over me, and then tightly holding my chest, and I felt his chest across my back. I could feel his heart beating in excitement, as he thrust slightly faster. The water from the shower rained across him, and ran down onto me in torrents, and I felt the back of my head and neck receive quantities of water falling from Salbar.

Salbar spoke as he thrust, and I could hear him breathing deeply in the middle of his sentence.

"I do hope I'm working with you when we explore."

I smiled." You are, Salbar.You will explore with us.We all really wanted you in our group."

"You all spoke about me?"

"While you were being operated on, Salbar, we unanimously voted you into our group. You have such brilliant abilities, we invite you in."

"I would be glad to."

"Now finish in me." I commanded." You have such a taste for sexual activity. Have you done it before?"

"A few times. Both being recipient and giver." Salbar, and started thrusting harder. I sighed.

"Well you can give it to me as much as you want." I managed a small chuckle, and Salbar accepted the invitation, and fucked me hard. True he wasn't in Draco's league, but he pounded me hard, until finally he thrust as deep as he could go, and ejaculated. His ejaculation filled my ass with cum, and he withdrew, panting slightly. I turned around, and Salbar opened his legs in readiness. But before I could, I heard a knock at the door. I called.

"Who is it?"

"It's Javid. What are you doing?"

"Salbar."

"Hey no fair. I want to join in."

He came in, and locked the door.Seeing our held position, he stripped quickly down, and entered the shower. It was getting slightly tight in there, but that wasn't a problem, it just meant it was that more intimate.My dripping ass was hanging there, and Javid smiled.

Then he thrust his expectant cock into me. Slightly larger than Salbar's, he started fucking me at a fast rate. I sighed once in pleasure, and then likewise thrust my own into Salbar's ass. He gave a small cry of surprise, and as I thrust, he worked his own dick with his hand.

We fucked one another for a few minutes, and then I was aware of Javid's cock. The bottom of it was beginning to swell up, and develop into a knot, like Logan's (or so Alex had confided), and many other canine creatures I had heard about.As Javid came to a slight halt, the knot outside my ass, although held hard against it, he panted.

"God, this feels good."

"In answer to your next question, you can put it in me. That knot looks very good." I smiled at Javid, and he, in return, grabbed me tight around the waist, and pushed hard. I felt my ass slowly being forced apart by the large knot, and I closed my eyes and moaned. Then it was in, and both me and Javid let out a sigh. Then he began fucking me with slow, small but deep strokes, his knot never leaving my ass. The lips of my ass began to close naturally, and I felt him closely against my back as he was gently coaxed deeper by this. Salbar had temporarily stopped, but I started again with a vengeance.

Needless to say, I ejaculated first. Javid's strong hands caressing my chest, Salbar's scaly legs wrapped around my own as he willed me to fuck him deeper, and I cummed into him with a cry of delight. Salbar went next, his own semen arcing into the air and landing back on himself, where the water from the shower washed it away.Then Javid let go. A torrent of cum filled my ass, and huge amounts of excess flooded out my ass and down my legs.

We untangled ourselves, and me and Salbar sat down on the floor of the shower. There was no room for Javid, so he sat down on me. My cock went all the way up into him, but we weren't having sex just yet.We were still recovering.Salbar spoke in slight exhaustion.

"So, when do we do exploring?"

"Well,"Draco said, as he walked straight in," scouts normally go away for two to three days per week, and then have the rest of the week to themselves.We do it during the weekend, Alduin works during the week, and it's often once a fortnight between planets. Scouting can be quite often hard work."

As Javid slowly rose up and down on me, Draco sat down outside the shower.

"Do you know something?"

"What?"

"You are aware of that tentacle creature we met on Alduin's first planet?"

"Yes."

"We caught a few." Draco winked.I smiled.

"They were a bit over enthusiastic, Javid. They fucked us for hours on end." I said, as a way of explaining."So what's happened to them?"

"We made communication with them. They do enjoy sex, just for the sheer fun of it, and they like to get those they are having it off with as well."

"Interesting, and not really different from our original thoughts. They just didn't want us to fight back."

"Yes. They had no idea we were so fragile, so they threw us a lot harder than they otherwise would have."

"Oh how nice. Where are they?"

"Well, Silverine taught them a few things in his spare time, and they live on Central."

"Really, I ought to meet them."I smiled.

"That shouldn't be too hard. There's one behind this shower." Draco grinned evilly.

Slight pause, broken by the drumming of water.

"You're kidding."

"Nope, that's why you'd best come out, to make an introduction.But they obey our wishes, so if you're dying to breathe, just ask them to stop, and they will."

We piled out of the shower.Draco stripped down, just as Devlin and Simba entered.

"Nice, can we join in?" Devlin said.

"If you want?" Draco grinned evilly. They stripped down, unawares, and then Draco touched a panel in the wall.

The shower slid down wards, to be replaced with a floor. The wall behind the shower opened halfway, and darkness lay beyond.A long tentacle, almost as thick as a man's arm snaked out, and Draco touched it, closing his eyes. His face was smiling. He was talking to it. Then he opened his eyes, and spoke.

"They can be talked to if you touch them and concentrate."

"I wasn't exactly thinking hard, was I?" I said, laughing.

"Well, you were being raped by them at the time." Simba admitted, chuckling.

Then tentacles, each about the same as the last, by the groups, came from the dark hole. They came in groups of eight.Devlin was looking slightly apprehensive at this new development, as was Salbar and Javid, but I stroked a pair that came over to me, and gently slid across my body.

"How many does each have?"

"About sixty in total. It does seem a lot, but they use them for many various reasons, and it is quite dextrous. You should see one of these trying to play the organ."

"There's probably one for each note on the keyboard then." I laughed.

The tentacles rose, and eight went to each of us. I gently took two coming near me, and pulled them around my chest. Two went for my arms, two for my legs.As they took a strong grip, I felt myself lift into the air. Salbar was looking reasonably terrified at this point, watching the tentacles worm their way across him, and Simba was a bit nervous, remembering the last time, but the two dragons and the wolf were quite happy to take part, Draco was already lying on the ground, legs outstretched. Javid and Salbar were back to back, so the tentacles looped around the pair of them, holding them arm to arm, back to back, leg to leg.

Then the fun part began. Salbar and Javid got the honours.Two tentacles came up, and started gently fucking the lizard and the wolf in the mouth.They hung their suspended, and I noticed Javid's eyes close in sexual ecstasy. Then two wormed their way towards me, and I started paying attention to my own position...

After they had had their wicked way with us (about an hour and a half), we had a very nice meal, and then I said I had to go. Retrieving Salbar's craft-work I put it gently in my bag and teleported me and my gear back to Earth. Gareth was sleeping, and I gently tiptoed to my drawer of things I had collected, and delicately placed the statuette to one side of the drawer. I closed it, and set about playing a quiet game of patience. After this weekend's chaotic time, I think I needed to slow down.