The next shock to hit her was her home. It’s roof was badly damaged, and the windows were broken. Why hadn’t mother or father closed the shutters when the storm came up?

     She didn’t linger long, since she was worried about both the man in the skiff and her egg. Aislin ran at top speed down the hill, and was promptly noticed by several of the gathered people, who cried out either in surprise of joy, she didn’t have time to notice.

     “Mother! Father!” she called out, dodging this way and that through the throng. She finally caught sight of her mother again, looking around frantically for the source of her calls, and is swept up in a tight hug. Mother showers her with tears, and she can’t keep the tears from her eyes either, sorry that she’d worried mother so much.

     She could tell the people standing around didn’t know what to do now, so she pulled away from mother when the tears had slowed a bit and she looked about to be angry now.

     “Mother, there was a shipwreck near the island,” she said to stall the scolding she knew she’d be getting. “There was only one survivor, I brought him back but I can’t get him out of the skiff,” she said quickly.

     Mother’s eyes widened and she looked up, collecting herself. “Charl, Fallier, could you come with us? Bring along a blanket or two,” mother said, taking charge immediately. The two men she’d selected nodded curtly and disappeared for a moment, returning with two blankets that had magically appeared from the crowd.

     Aise was relieved. Not only had mother forgotten to be angry with her for the moment, but she’d taken charge of the situation. When mother asked her to lead the way she nodded and set off at a trot towards the lean-to, bypassing the cabin by a safe distance. It was bad enough that her parents knew where it was and might find the egg, she didn’t want a stranger to stumble upon it accidentally as well.

     On the way, mother instructed the men to cut long branches to use as poles in the stretcher they’d fashion. Aise thought that was a good idea.

     About half way there, however, Aislin began to feel dizzy. She hadn’t eaten since yesterday morning, before taking her parents to meet uncle J, and the recent stress and exertion was beginning to take it’s toll. Mother apparently noticed, for she lifted Aise and carried her the rest of the way to the skiff, with the little girl pointing out directions. When they finally reached it, she laid her head against her mother’s shoulder and allowed herself to relax for the first time that day.

     She didn’t think she’d fall asleep so quickly, but the next thing she knew she was opening her eyes to darkness. After a moment of panic she realized she was in her bed at home.

     Her stomach grumbled loudly and she sat up, wincing at sore, overused muscles. She could hear mother and father talking downstairs, and was relieved that they didn’t sound angry. She could also smell dinner, and that made her tummy complain again. Aise slipped out of bed and tiptoed to the doorway leading from her room to the hall and then downstairs to the family room.

     She stood still and listened a while, then opened her door and made her way to the stairs, and then down to where her parents sat by the fire.

     Father was the first to see her, since he was in his chair facing the stairs. “Good morning sleepy-head,” he said softly, beckoning her over. She went and sat on his lap and he hugged her. “You alright?” he asked.

     Aislin nodded, still expecting the angry scolding they must have in store for her. She looked across to mother, who sat in her chair sewing a patch on one of father’s shirts.

     “We were very worried about you,” father said, and Aise knew that it was coming soon.

     “You shouldn’t have gone out into the storm like that,” mother added sternly “You could have gotten hurt, or even drown. Then what would we do?”

     “I know,” Aise said timidly “I’m sorry,” She ducked her head and waited for the rest of the reprimand. And was surprised when none came. Instead, mother changed the subject.

     “We’re so proud of you for saving that man, though.” She said, looking up from her work.

     Father added “He was lucky to have survived that. We found his ship, there’s no way he should have been alive.”

     Aislin thought about that long and hard, remembering the state of the wreck and the way her little egg and that man were the only two to have survived. She hugged father’s arms about her tightly.

     Mother smiled, satisfied, and asked “Are you hungry? There’s some nice hot stew on the stove if you want some.”

     Aise nodded so hard she got dizzy again, and both mother and father laughed. “Alright,” mother said, setting her needle and patchwork aside to get the girl a bowl of stew.

     While she waited, Aise turned to face father curiously, giggling when he tickled her nose with his mustache. “Where did they take him?” she asked.

     “The man from the ship? He’s at the doctors house. Doc and his wife are taking care of him.” Father smiled “Don’t worry honey,” he said reassuringly “I’m sure he’ll be just fine.”

     Relieved, Aislin nodded and slipped off father’s knee when mother called from the kitchen that her dinner was ready. She perched on her chair at the table and dug into dinner ravenously, finishing off that bowl, and then most of a second before feeling full.

     It wasn’t until mother had sent her up to bed again that she felt that little tickle on her mind again. The egg must be awake, she decided, and then cried out slightly and toppled over, falling against her bed from a sudden wave of disorientation. Where am I? she thought frantically, what’s wrong with the ground?! Aise shook her head and her thoughts cleared for a moment, before she was sent reeling from another wave of dizziness.