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The triumphant procession moved quickly toward the Gatekeeper's Headquarters. Exhausted by their ordeal and relieved to be free again, Nick in Sharly's arms and Penny in her father's fell asleep soon after the group passed Rainbow Waterfalls. Father Luvvins and Sharly were in the center of a circle of Patrol Troops who lit the night path with their hand-torches. Back at Headquarters, Mother Luvvins waited anxiously. With her were Grammie Muffins and Grampie Carmels, who had not left her. Throughout the afternoon and into the night, other friends had stopped in to offer support. Now a crowd had gathered. Suddenly, someone shouted, "They're coming! I see the lights." A hush fell on the group as Mother Luvvins ran to the gate. The silence was broken by the Gatekeeper's shout, "They're safe! Ho!" Mother Luvvins broke into a run to meet them as the crowd behind her cheered. The little ones, awakened by all the fuss, were set down on the ground. Crying, they ran straight into their mother's arms. "Mother, it was awful," Nick cried. "Horrible!" Penny sobbed. Mother Luvvins hugged them close. "My poor babies! My poor, dear babies!" Father Luvvins smiled. "Let's go home," he said. He turned to the Patrol Troops and the gathered friends. "Thank you all!" Then he walked to Sharly Pepper and hugged him. Facing the crowd, he said, "Sharly is our hero. He saved the lives of our little ones!" Sharly only bowed his head as everyone else cheered. The Gatekeeper motioned for silence. "Celebrate tomorrow," he said. "It's the end of a long, forever-like day. Now it's rest-time." Happily, the citizens of Sunrise Skies turned their steps homeward. |
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