"Can this melt people?"<br/><br/>Alvira chuckled softly at the idea.  It seemed preposterous but just maybe...<br/>Anyway, Alvira didn't quite know.  She had used it to kill violent plants before  but surely that was a different story.<br/><br/>"I wanna learn how you make these too, when we come back! Promise me now!"<br/>Alvira nodded vigorously.  Should they survive the adventure to come, then she could do no less for the brave heroes.  She made a mental note to find more of the material for crafting purposes.<br/><br/>"Can you keep an eye out for my family? I'm...not entirely sure who is alive and who is dead anymore...but surely one must remain. Tell him I'll be back, okay?"<br/>Alvira took one last look at Celris memorizing her fur patterns.  It was unlikely, but should any of them stumble upon her shack she would be more then happy to tell them of Celris' return to the Dry Lands.<br/><br/>"Of course Celris, should I see them, I will be sure to tell them about you.  Good-Bye!"<br/><br/>********<br/><br/>Crane stared at the machine, stunned.  For hours he had flown over the The Barren, avoiding the constant rain of flames and stone.  The wind and heat had been tough on him, knocking him to the ground more than once.  It was not until he reached the tip of the crater of Mt. Hephaestus did he learn the true meaning of Shelune's power.  There in the center of the bubbling lava pit was a massive bronze cauldron.  Humongous chains suspended the pot over the lava below heating it continuously.<br/>From a curved lip on the pot, a constant stream of mercury cascaded downwards into the pits below.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">What a strange device...</span>thought Crane, as he tried to decipher it's purpose.  Befuddled, he watched as hundreds of Highbreed flew overhead, carrying buckets of the substance.  Where they were going, he did not know.<br/><br/>Crane hoped that Alvira had entered the dream for his companions.  Without the dreams they wouldn't ever see what was right in front of them the whole time.  For the first time in many years Crane bowed his head and closed his eyes in prayer.  He knew his father would hear his prayers, but a response was often put off.  There was little his father could do these days, his power drained.  Crane had come to the conclusion that the titans were weakening at last.  Their days were indeed numbered.  Soon the world would be his, but when that happened.... What would he do?