"Wake up dear, you've survived." Acacia's soft old voice came.

Primrose lifted her head, and her eyes fluttered with the light that reached her eyes.

"I've survived." Primrose said in an estatic tone. "Now, I MUST go find a way to reach that bug."

"But, how in the world will you? Theres no way in Albia....except.." Alfie stopped, turning his head to face the round yellow patchwork object in the garden "The Balloon COB!"

"Of course!" grinned Primrose "How dumb was I not to realise that! I'm going to go up there right away, and find a way to deactivate that bug."

"Dear, don't go now. You haven't eaten in ages" Acacia said "Besides, you might get caught in another rain storm!"

Primrose looked upon the graying Acacia and Alfie. How kind they had been to her in this short time she'd gotten to know them. So this is what it was like to have parents. She also thought of Gypsy, her sister. Even though Gypsy had been horrible to her before she'd gone, she still missed her. Her only blood relative to speak of. The two of them had been the only Purple Mountain norns in that Albia. Yes, she even missed her. She had to do this. If she did, perhaps Alfie and Acacia would still be able to have at least one child, and maybe Gypsy and the other norns would realise that Primrose wasn't crazy. There was no doubt in her mind about the importance of this mission. She walked up to Alfie and Acacia, hugged them both and spoke softly.

"I have to do it, for the good of everyone. I'll never forget you two. Besides, I've always wondered what happens after death."

She walked away from them, and climbed in the balloon COB. She waved goodbye and sailed up past everything. Past the birds that fly, past the cable car and twisted branches of the grendel tree, just in time to hear a thunder clap, and see the clouds grow heavy and black with rain.