As soon as Jake, Caryn, and Andres left, Lita started walking deeper into the forest until she reached a stream. She stared at the glistening clear water for a moment before getting in. The water was waist deep and harshly cold but she didn't seem to mind as she walked uphill against the current. She then clutched the tarnished brass amulet hanging around her neck. As she closed her eyes, she said, "I am ready", and slowly submerged herself in the water. In that moment, she was gone.
Shivering under the brisk, flowing water, Lita held her breathe as long as she could until she passed out. She was awakened by the sound of laughter and fingers poking at her.
"You're back! Lita's back! She's back!" Little voices chanted, as Lita slowly opened her eyes.
"Andres! Where's Andres?" Lita asked the tiny pink creatures that woke her.
"There!" The group replied in unison, pointing at a giant white silhouette. She ran towards it and was out of breathe when she finally reached him.
"I'm not used to being this small anymore", she thought, as the giant's hand picked her up. Lita, now 6 inches tall, began to speak, "Andres, I came back as soon as they left. It's time to wake up."
Andres calmly replied, "Lita, you know you're my favorite Dwende, and I am grateful that you took care of me, but you weren't supposed to come back. You disobeyed the rules....and...you know the consequences."
"I know", Lita sadly replied, "but I'd rather suffer here in Dewal than stay in that world and be treated like a monster!"
"Say your goodbyes to the other Dwendes, then start your journey", Andres said, as he put Lita down on the fluid looking ground. "I need to go", he added, as he walked away. Andres walked towards a huge prism colored rock and stood with his back against it. Slowly, the rock enveloped his bright silhouette as he closed his eyes and was frozen in an instant.
Andres opened his eyes to see he was in the backseat of a car, with Jake on the wheel and Caryn asleep. It took a moment for him to embrace this type of existence again...he felt suffocated by the aircon, unsettled by the darkness of night, aching pain from his joints, and that growling noise in his tummy, he...was...hungry, and felt trapped in the body of this old, ailing man. He waited for the car to stop before saying a word.
Jake had been driving for hours now and was a little bit sleepy. His head was nodding back and forth as he struggled to keep his eyes open. He decided to turn on the radio and blast some music to keep him up but as soon as his eyes focused on the road again, he suddenly hit the brakes. There was a black dog in the middle of the road. It was Jamie.