She crooned to herself softly. Time. It was almost Time. She scratched and tapped at the Edge of the World. She instinctively knew that this was merely a border, a line to be crossed into a Greater World. And it was almost Time to see that new world. And the soft, muffled voices from Without.

She blinked curiously as someone tapped from Without upon her world. She crooned louder, pleased. Either it was the soft, pleasant voice that read her "hine-line" and taught her about the words she heard in her head or it was the deep, rumbling voice that was "CLAN", was "Family". The deep voice that had been with her since the Time of Shaking. It was that voice she was most connected to.

"Are you ready to come out, little one?"

She listened. She was not `little one.' She was Deety. Deety, the Name she had chosen for herself while listening to the pleasant voice tell her about Jeb, about Dora, about Sharpy and Deety and O'goat and Nanny. Still, she was happy. The Time was here. She crooned louder and tapped more on the Edge of the World. This excited the pleasant one... Ama? Yes, Ama.

Then there was a loud *bang* from Without. For a second, Deety thought another Time of Shaking had come but then she heard the deep rumbling voice. It excited her. It was Time. And she would see the One. She scraped and clawed at the Edge of World, crooning loudly. And then *crack*! The first fissure. The Path was Chosen. The Time was now!

Deety knew that she must escape the confines of her World. Without was now her World and the One was there. She push and clawed at the tiny hole, blinking at the Light that streamed in. It startled her for a moment. She paused, not want to Venture into that unfamiliar Brightness.

Then, the One spoke. "Come, little one, you can do it. Come on." It encouraged her, made her stronger. She continued to croon as she slowly broke away the Border. Now was the Time of Hurry. The predators were out there. She must escape from Within. With a tremendous shove, shebroke away a large section of the Border and saw the One for the first time.

Dark eyes peered down at her. He was so big! But Deety *knew* this was the One who would shelter her, care for her, protect her... love her. She crooned louder to him a greeting, for she had not yet learned how to form the Words in her head. She watched him for a moment as she regained her strength. "Greetings little one. I have long awaited you."

"She's beautiful." Ama said and leaned closer. "C'mon, you can do it." Deety turned her dark eyes on Ama for the first time. She was of Light. Beautiful. Yet, instinctively, beautiful could also mean danger.

Deety clawed and punched at the Border, the shell.... more than half of it was gone. She reached out towards the One with a tiny clawed hand. He reached to her. She grasped a finger and held on tightly... then she *pulled* on it, pulling herself out of Within. The One bobbled a little but kept a firm handhold for Deety. She pulled herself from the remains of the shell and slipped to the rug in a wet thump.

Deety looked around. Everything was so different!! So different. The World was Huge to her and Bright. She looked at the One and struggled to her feet on wobbly legs. It took her a couple of tries. The One smiled at her as she made her way to him. She was wet and cold and wasn't sure she liked this. Then the One picked her up and cuddled her close to his warm body. This, she liked. Warmth. Love. Shelter. She crooned her pleasure to him.

"Welcome to the world, little one." He rumbled.

Well, it was time he called her by her chosen name. She spoke up in a soft, sweet voice. "D-T." The One and Ama looked at each other. "D-T." She repeated patiently, content upon the One's lap.

"You are Deety?" The One asked. Deety smiled brightly at the One, crooning happily. But, just as she knew it was right to tell the One who she was, she knew she should know the Name of the One.

She patted herself. "D-T." Then she patted the One. "D-T?" It was the best she could do. You can only learn so fast. Then she looked at the Bright one and asked the same thing just to be sure. "D-T?"

The One and Ama looked at each other. "Ah, yes. I am Lazarus." Said the One.

"I am Amy." Said Ama.

Deety nodded, happy that they understood. "A-me." She looked at the One and tried to say his Name. "La...rs." She frowned. It was hard. She couldn't make her mouth do what she wanted it to. She tried again. "Laz' rs!" She frowned again.

Amy moved closer, smiling. "Amy" (she touched herself), "Deety." (She touched me), "Daddy." (she touched the One.)

"Da-ddy?" It was a lot easier to say than that other name. The One, Daddy, seemed a little off balance. Amy whispered something to him and he smiled broadly "Daddy." Deety patted him again, soothingly. She cuddled close to him, looking at him with wide, dark, trusting eyes. He cuddled her to him. She could feel his wonder/happiness. And she knew that all was Right, as it should be.

Yes, this was Daddy, the One who will take care of everything until she could take care of herself. She crooned a happy song of Life to him, loving him with all that she was.