Excerpt
Unbelievably, the McCaskills, the Laikem and the Tunkati joined together and left Gam for a time and she could not fathom the reason behind it. Paravol knew they would return because Kaska was not one to abandon FATE and it was truly unusual to see the Laikem depart when their signature chemicals claimed the land. Yet, when Chakepyx finally appeared near Shemakuvinal's chuva, even though the female was gone and the brood safely away, the klyf were suddenly accosted by the Laikem's new friends and defeated thoroughly. That was the most inspiring sight in centuries for her.

The ways of life can be strange, certainly unforeseen. It is said that what goes around, comes around, whatever that means. It is clear that chance, in its myriad of unpredictable forms, often brings about the means by which the beginning of a circle's journey returns to finish it. So it was that Paravol languished helplessly when Chakepyx released the giant ice particles from space to harass his opponents. One of them came down on the beach and neatly severed her crystal prison in two parts. She sprawled out of the aged cup and lay in the sand for three days before moving or even daring to believe her luck.