The party of heroes carefully follows the slick cliff-side trail up and away from the falls.  Soon back on firm ground, surrounded by trees.  The walk up is far more difficult than it was coming down as several members of the party feel it most heavily in their lungs and the burn in their older legs.

For several hours Inas leads the group back through deer trails, mercifully the trail is mostly heading slightly down.

Astral flits from person to person, asking an endless list of questions.  She has all the curiosity of a small child, while at the same an daunting intelligence.  She apparently was born fluent in a dozen languages, while at the same time, having a childlike innocence of how things work in the world about her.  She asks about your families, what you do, what you are good at, if you are married, have children, where you got that scar, just about anything.  And she implores Saliq to show her some illusions, for Folke to sing a song and play a tune, for Inas to tell her about this plant, that tree, for Marissa to tell her tales of the sea and how to steer a ship, and Rath to tell her about all the religious tokens he wears and what it feels like to heal someone, and who is Rose?   It good that she flies from person to person, for cute as she is, she is also somewhat exhausting.  When she finally settles behind Marissa's hair and goes to sleep, everyone, even grim Inas, can't help but smiling.

As night falls, the party sets up camps and takes turns on watch.  Sleep comes easy under a clear cool sky.   In the morning, everyone feels refreshed.

Several days go by in such peaceful, natural travel, and by the third day, the party begins to be able visually to see their comrades are becoming younger.  Whatever curse of magic of the passages of Woe and Sorrow has, it is not permanent and begins to wear off.  In the ten days it takes to return to the outskirts of Stormhaven, everyone has returned to their normal ages.

Just outside the city, for fear of what might face Astral within the city walls, it is decided to skirt Stormhaven and make directly for the swamp that borders the great city.  Following the river, it splits to the west before part heading into Stormhaven, the westward flowing part, called the Elsir River, cuts through the Foundry.  This shambling part of the city lies outside the main walls and with reason, the smell.  It is a dark place, full of those who work hard and long hours, tanneries, butchers, clothing makers with vats of dies, the smell of animals, blood, dyes, chemicals, boil thick in the air here.  But it is a place to pass through unnoticed.  Slipping round the north of the city, the party again skirts past the Glades, with all their strange customs and superstitions and make their way directly to an abandoned pier.  Finding a small skiff is not a problem and soon the party is deep within the Witchlight Marshes.

Eventually, the cabin of Elexi comes into view through the thick mists.  Inas once again proves you just cannot confuse a master Ranger in the wilds.   There are lights inside the house, and a bit of smoke comes from the chimney, but all is quiet.  No one seems to be moving around inside or out of the home.

"He must know we're coming," Rath offered in a low voice. He was wary, less trusting of this warlock than the others were. "Who wants to knock?" If any volunteers, Rath would accompany them, vigilant against all threats.

"I'll knock," Saliq suggested, before glancing at the hut, expression thoughtful. "It might not be a bad idea to make are little dragon friend invisible... at least for the moment. Until we are sure."