AfterAishaleft，Megginnremaiedthere,notknowingwhattodo．Shekeptonthinkingofthenoveleventsoftheday．Whatastrangeanduniquepceshehadeto！Itringtimeinautumn,withextravagantflowers，floatingshadowsandfaceswhichdriftedaway．Whatastrahiswas！Yearafteryear，flowersbloomeduhenurtureofthespringbreeze，andmonthaftermonth，menstruationcame，abiologicalfunthatartofanaturalcycle．WearealllivinginthebosomofMotherNature．Ifthemonthlycyclestopped，wouldtimestaystill?Probablynot，shethought．Yearafteryear，thespringbreezewouldblowjustasithadalwaysdonefromthebeginningoftime．Ifthemonthlyperiodstopped，thentimewouldstopandwomenwouldnotage．Theywouldremainyoungaifustheywerenow．Perhapstimeflowedintwodires．Whatastrahiswas!Shefeltdrowsy,scarcelyabletokeephereyelidsopen;soshedecidedshewouldnotthinkofitanymore．Walkingtotheotherroom,sheydownoinvitingbedandbeingfatiguedfelsleep．
Inthefaintlightofthegloaming，Megginnwasawakenbyasoftnudge．Sheopenedhersleepyeyesandsawalovelyfacesmilingather．
"Irememberyou,”shesmiledback."YouareDorna.”
"Right．eoup!It’stimeforyourweleparty．We’reallwaitingfuestofhonor!"Megginnsprangoutofbedawoleftthesuitehandinhandintheduskytwilight．Thebuildingwasanimitationoftheaesepadlifewentonasitdidintheoldendays，withoutelectricity．Themainhallwashuge．magnifit，solemnandforbiddingandmadeohoughonewasbatheaimesthousandsofyearsago．Theseveremajestyoftheatmospherewassuffog，soifitweren’tforthesoftsprihatpermeatedtheairwiththefragranceofflowersandtherefreshingaromaofgrass，Megginnwouldhavefeltasifshewereiombofafeudalemperor．Butsoftasthespringbreezewas，itimpregnatedanimmenseinvisiblestrength．Yearafteryear，springbreezeblewoh，awakeningtheflontswhichbudded，grewandwithered，justastimesedalltrathesandsoftime，includinghumancivilization．
Thetwoofthemwalkedalongthewindingpathsamidstbloomingflowersanddroopingwillowstilltheycametotheclearingbythesideoftheke．DornasawYokoandDeannapyingierandimmediatelydashedtojoininthefun，leavingMegginntochatwiththeothers.Hergenialfriendlyattitudemadehereasilyacceptedbythebeauties，mostofwhomfeltalieheproudandforbiddingIleen，whoalwayskeptaloof．Thebrilliant，rosycloudihadlongbeenswallowedbythedarknessofnight，buttherfirewithitsdangfmeslituptheclearing．AishagatheredeveryonearoundthefireandformallyweledYoko，MaraandMegginntotheKingdom，amidstenthusiasticappuse．Onlythesnake-hairedbeauty，Medusaseemediive，herattentiondistractedbysomeslightmovementbehirees，aavigintwatchovertheareaoutsidetherahefire．ItwasLaverimidatedbytheunbelievablesebeforeher，shedidnotdaretoeforward．Toher，thegroupofbeautiesseemedtodesdfromheaventogathertogetheratthisspecificspotoh．Medusashoutedsternly，
"Who’sthere?eforward!"AlleyesteredonthedireshewasfagandsawthetimidformofLaverneeoutofhidingfrombehindatreelikeafrightenedgirlwhohadmisbehaved．
"AreyouLaverne?"askedAishakindly．"KingDimitrisaidyoumightbeing，butIdidn’texpectyousosoon．eonhere．You’rejustiojointheweleparty.”
"Yes，I’mLaverne"saidshe，asshewalkedclosertothecirclearoundthefire．Everyonecppedinweleandquicklymaderoomforhertositdown．
"Thisiswonderful!"saidAisha．"Ournumberisgrowing．Lifewouldbemerrierandmoreiingthanever.”Aseveryoleddown,Marabeganpyiar．Musicfloatedintheopenairandwinebroughtaddedcolortothealreadybeautifulplexionsmademoreradiantbytheflickeringbeamsoffme．Yoko,DornaandDeannahadbeefastfriends,andYokohadputhercityworriesandsorrowbehindher,enjoyinglifeandhappinessassheneverhadbefore．Mara’stennimblefingers,likehundredsofbraremblinginthewind,broughtforthmusicwhichdirectedeveryoions，nowsadandsorrowfulsilengthelight-heartedughterandchatter,nowurainedasagushingtorrent．
WhiteFairytransformedfromaerlily，satfarfromthebzingfire．Sheabsentedfromeating,butdrankalotofwine,givinghernormallypaleplexionarosytinge．NaughtygirlDornachatteredonwithmorethanherusualvivacity，seemingtobeslightlyintoxicated，nowandthelingforawhileinAisha’sp．Laverhemostreewer,iedbythegroup,haddiscardedherclothes,thehypocritiandatedbyadissemblingsociety,auronature,asnakedasonthedayshecametothisearth．Shehadlostherfamilyiy,onlytojoinanevenrgerandhappierone．Reassuredafteriingeveryfadfindingthemallkindaogetalongwith，sheywiththisnewhaven．Mara’stenmagigersbroughtforthspontaneousmusic．Shelivediwehtury，inasocietywhosesteel-likeessandckoffriendlinessandhumantouchhadmadeherfeellifewasunbearableaenceimpossible．ButhereinKingDimitri’sKingdom,withthebzingfire,apace，beautifulnaturalserysofamiliarandfortable,shefousuitablenicheforherself．Sheswitchedtoanoldpopurfolksongeveryoneknewandsanginapahebeautiesjoinedin．Thebeautifulfemalechoruswasthemostwondroussoundintheworld．
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