The Hidden Deep by Christa J. Kinde

Mister Ranger. Why?”
    Koji’s fingers brushed the back of her hand, and he whispered, “His name is Abner.”
    Prissie wandered along the fringes of the chattering group, eager to steer clear of Margery’s group. She wasn’t in the mood for any of Elise’s sly remarks today. Sunderland’s learning center was filled with interesting things — mounted insects, old bird nests, animal pelts, deer antlers, porcupine quills, and even a few glass cases containing live animals. Since she’d been here so many times either for classes or with her younger brothers, Prissie had seen it all before.
    Koji had wandered off at some point, and she spotted him in front of the relief map of the park. The Observer was talking animatedly to one of the rangers, a young man with high cheekbones and long black hair neatly parted and gathered into a glossy plait down the center of his back. Glancing at her watch, she sighed. In fifteen more minutes, they needed to meet at the entrance to the main cave. “Might as well get a head start,” she muttered.
    Without a backward glance, she aimed for the side door, which opened onto the short trail leading down to the caves. The way was overhung by pines and ash, and a few stray leaves and needles littered the path. She hunched her shoulders as a short burst of chill air sent a shiver through the trees and down her back. Rain was in the forecast, and the gray skies looked like lead. “I hope it doesn’t storm,” she said to a sugar maple. “Then all your pretty leaves will be gone.”
    “Torn away by wind and rain,” agreed a pleasant voice.
    She whirled to find a familiar figure standing nearby, his hands in his pockets as he leaned against a trail marker. “Oh, it’s you! You startled me, Adin!” she exclaimed. “Why are you here?”
    “To see
you
, of course.”
    “Oh,” Prissie managed, pleased to be attended by the handsome angel once more.
    “Actually, I don’t have much time, but I needed to speak with you.”
    “About what?” she inquired, picking up on his sense of urgency.
    “I’m curious how far you’re willing to go in order to help your friends.”
    Prissie shook her head. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
    “It’s simple. Here, let me show you.” He slipped around behind her and pointed over her shoulder. In a sing-song voice, he inquired, “Do you see what I see?”
    At first, Prissie didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary, but then a flash of brightness caught her eye. The small spark spiraled upward in lazy circles, then darted purposefully through the cave mouth. “It went inside?” she whispered.
    “Into the darkness,” Adin confirmed. “Odd behavior for a yahavim, don’t you think?”
    Prissie thought back to what she’d learned about the tiny manna-makers. “They need light to survive.” Peeping into her companion’s face, she asked, “Isn’t it dangerous for one to go underground?”
    “Perhaps,” answered Adin as he took a step back. “Maybe you should follow.”
    Biting her lip, she stared at the huge, black opening. “Doyou really think so?” she asked uncertainly, but when she turned around again, he was already gone.
    For several long moments, Prissie wallowed in indecision, but the thought of one of the little fairylike angels in trouble gave her the courage to start forward. “I’m coming,” she said, whispering her promise. Nothing bad could happen. After all, wherever she might go, Tamaes would be there as well.
    The soft sparkle of the yahavim flitted further along the main tunnel, then disappeared into a side passage that was barred by a simple chain. Prissie hurried to follow, until a voice called, “You’re going the wrong way, Miss Priss.” Ransom loafed just inside the entrance, looking bored.
    “What do you care?” she snapped.
    He pushed away from the wall and ambled over. “That’s one of the spelunking paths, so it’s not lit.”
    Prissie poked her head around the corner. She could still see the