Twig walked down the streets of Undertown, head bussing with the instructions Cloud Wolf had given him. The only problem was that Twig had never been in Undertown before and was lost.

Well, he wasn't lost. Not really. He just had no idea where he was.

Soon he was talking to himself. People stared at him, as if he was crazy.

"Don't worry Twig. Just go up to someone and ask for help."

He went up to a cloddertrog and asked nervously "Excuse me, do you know where I can find the boom-docks"

The cloddertrog looked round "What do you want?" he roared.

"I.. Umm" Twig spluttered.

"Spit it out, before I crush you!!" he roared.

"Oh never mind" said Twig and walked stiffly.

And he kept on walking. And walking. And walking until he could not go another step.

He slumped down at the side of the street.

After a few minutes a woman crouched down beside him.

"Anything wrong?" she asked

Twig looked up. In front of him was a young woman, in her thirties with thick black hair.

But the eyes!

Twig was sure he had saw them before…

They were a piercing green, like the finest marsh gems money could buy.

"Yes. Everything's wrong. I'm new to Undertown and I can't find my way around," Twig said helplessly.

She looked him straight in the eye.

"Well, I could help you. Where do you need to go?"

"The boom-docks. But I can't ask for help. That would be selfish."

"Well I'm going somewhere close to the boom-docks but I always get knock over so I need a young, strong man like yourself. So I'll help you if you help me. My name is Maris by the way. And who might you be.

Twig smiled and said "Hello Maris. I am Twig

Twig returned to the Stormchaser safely, thanks to Maris.

Cloud Wolf was at the helm and, by the sound of his voice, was angry, frustrated and worried.

"Twig!! Where in Earth and Sky have you been? I've been waiting ages. And what have you taken with you?

Maris walked up to the helm and said boldly "I am Maris Verginix nee Pallitax. My father was the Most High Academe about twenty years ago."

Cloud Wolf stared at her and, after about a minute, he spluttered out "Maris?!"