They closed in on Anmerian ground. Acelynn sputtered and coughed as the gravitational pull strengthened.
"Dear, what is it?" Relda said, squatting down near Acelynn.
"Probably the sudden gravitational pull," Silas said, clinging to his sister. "And getting through the atmosphere. They're too much."
Relda placed her hand on Acelynn's head.
"When I die, will you keep taking care of Silas?" Acelynn asked.
She was weak. Her strength was evaporating.
Relda looked beyond Acelynn and Silas and made eye contact with Ozla.
"Take your sisters," she instructed. "Pack up our cottage."
Relda gave Raylay a look of pure desperation.
"Why did we let Eyan leave?" She bemoaned.
"I'll get a doctor," Raylay assured her, marching for the exit.
"Thank you," Relda said.
Looking down at her youngest daughter added, "We don't have much time."
Raylay left, and Ty followed. The other children drew closer.
"What do we do?" Rhea asked, for once not having any answers.
Relda transferred Acelynn from Silas' grasp to her own.
"Go," she said. "Your moms are waiting."
Acelynn's breaths were short and shallow. Relda released her to give her room. Acelynn collapsed. She coughed, gasped, and sputtered. And then there was nothing. The gasps faded into a hollow, horrifying quiet. Silas jolted her.
"Come on, sis, wake up!" He begged.
A distant mechanical sound alerted them someone had entered. Raylay and Ty dashed in, and a hefty orange creature followed.
"We've got a medic!" Ty announced.
Relda put Acelynn's head in her lap. She looked down at Acelynn's lifeless form.
"Too late." She said.
Above them, an overwhelming buzzing noise sounded. The touch screens honked, and they flashed a warning.
"Incoming transport."
The medic began resuscitating procedures on Acelynn. Alerts still honked from the touch device. Relda looked up long enough to make eye contact with a coal black creature.
"I'm Jak," the creature said. "I don't have time to meet all of you. But I wanted to thank you. We've met the Triune, and we received the Code Book."
"I'm sorry there had to be war first," Relda whispered.
He placed his hand against Acelynn's still lifeless head.
"You found Silas and Acelynn," Jak continued. "If it wasn't for the war, Silas and Acelynn would both be dead. Or with an abuser. The Code Book wouldn't have reached us. Dialorians would have intercepted it. No doubt."
The medic stood up and shook his head.
"I can't do anything," he said. "She's with the Triune now."