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At lunch the mage, the mushroom lover and the dinosaur decided to go see their friend and new mayor of cabertown, Ravs for a few sandwiches and beer. Zoey was telling the group about the card that she had made for her mother and said how she was going to get a video link up so that she can talk to her family in person. Rythian had no idea how she was going to do it though. They had little resources and he didn't think that her family would have a computer but, he didn't tell her that and neither did Ravs.

Teep and Ravs played the lever game for most of the visit whilst Zoey continued to go into detail about her Mothers day card and Rythian just listened, a smile hidden behind is mask. Eventually, the three had to leave the bar/town hall and return to their base. They thanked Ravs for the food and beer, wished him good luck with the small desert town and made their way back to their home on the outskirts of the town.

When they got back to the base, Teep took his post at the top of his watch tower and waited for any mobs that came too close to their base, whilst Zoey ran over to the chests that held all of their supplies and started to go through them, throwing random bits and pieces on the floor as she went. Rythian just smiled and made his way over to his research table, his hands deep in his pockets.

“Rythian?” The mage turned around to see Zoey standing with various machines in her hands, including a computer monitor. He sighed and went over to help her before she broke something. “I have a question.” He turned to face her.

“What is it?” Zoey's gaze dropped to the floor and she started to kick the sand with her left foot, something she did when she was nervous. He sighed and said “What ever it is, you know you can tell me.” Desperation crept in to his voice. The last time she was like this was when she told him about the giant science lab that she had hidden underneath 'King Barry' and that had ended with Zoey leaving. He didn't want he to leave again. He didn't want to be alone again.

“It doesn't matter, it was a stupid question.” She tuned away and started to climb the small sand hill where she put all of her machines and science related stuff. Now he was worried. Why didn't she want to ask him her question? What could be so bad about it? Did it have something to do with him? Or Lalna? Or Sjin?

“Zoey” She placed the machines she had been holding on the sandy floor and looked at him. “You can't just say you have a question to ask me and then not ask it.” He slightly raised his voice, worry etched in to every word.

She just sighed and smiled. “I was just going to ask you how you knew it was Mothers day.” A slight blush appeared on his cheeks. He mentally and physically hit himself for being so stupid, of COURSE she hadn't gone over to see Lalna or Sjin. They didn't even know what direction the crater of blackrock was, let alone Sipsco or Lalna's castle. “What do you think I was going to ask you?” She slightly giggled.

Rythian placed the machines he had taken off of Zoey in the same place she had put the other machines and sighed. “Honestly, I don't know myself.” They both smiled and made their way to the small fire in the centre of their home.

It had gotten dark quick and they could already hear Teep firing at the approaching mobs. “So” Zoey sat down on one of the logs that the three used as seats. “How DID you know it was mothers day?” Rythian swallowed the bile that was rising in his throat.

“Er... well... you see...” He rubbed the back of his head with his right hand. He had to think of a suitable lie quickly, otherwise Zoey would just get more curious as to why he was dodging the question. Then, it hit him. “ I was looking through one of the supply chests when I saw an old calender that my mother gave me and when I looked at today's date it said that it was mothers day.” He looked at Zoey. She had her arms crossed over her chest and the look that she was giving him screamed unamused.

“Why are you lieing?” Rythian visibly flinched at the hurt in Zoey's voice. He didn't want to lie to her but he didn't want to tell her the truth either. He sighed. This must have been the way she had felt about her lab under blackrock. She had wanted to tell him but she had been too scared about what he would do when he found out so she had kept quiet, but she had told him eventually. Now it was time for him to return the favour.

“Zoey, I'm sorry I lied to you.” She continued to look at him with hurt and curiosity in her eyes. “But the reason why I lied is because...because...” The mage took a deep, shaky breath and spoke. “It's because today is the most dangerous day for me. Every mothers day, my mother increases the number of endermen looking for me and, sometimes, she even LEAVES the end to look for me herself. She is hell-bent on finding me and forcing me to return to the end ageist my wishes and I don't want you to get mixed up in all this. I don't want you to get hurt again because of me.”

The two sat in silence for a while. Not even Teep was making a sound. Then, Zoey smiled and said, “Well then, why don't you try and talk to her? I'm sure she'll understand.” Rythian tried to laugh but it came out as more of a wheezy cough. Zoey saw this and quickly thought of something else. “Or, you could just go to The End through a portal to see her and then, when you want to, you could leave through the portal again, just like if you want to leave the Nether.” Rythian sighed and started to massage his temples with his right hand.

“Zoey, that's not how a portal to The End works. If I went there and I wanted to leave, I would have to ask the Ender dragon DERECTLY if I can leave and I dough she'll let me. Right now, hiding is the best option.” Zoey made a huffing sound, rested her chin on her knuckles and stared into the fire. Rythian new that she was trying to help but, in this situation, there wasn't anything either of them could do. “I appreciate you trying to help though.” That got her to smile.

“Rythian, I have another question to ask.” She continued to stare at the fire. “How is your mother able to get so many enderman to go after you?” He knew that she would ask this but he was unsure if he should tell her. He sighed and decided that is was time for them to know.

“Tee, you might as well come over here and listen as well.” Their reptilian friend was reluctant to leave his post but was also curious as to what the mage would say, so Teep jumped off the sandstone wall and sat down next to Zoey. “OK” Rythian sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “I'm going to tell you who my mother is but, you two have to promise to not freak out.”

The red head and the dino both nodded. “Alright then, here it goes.”