[quote]The fox's ear twitched, and she turned her head with round brown eyes searching him, confused. "Well, right, we'd all like to go home little friend."[/quote]

If that was meant to comfort Arthur in some way it failed. He hugged himself wishing he had Tyrone. Tyrone always made him comfortable. The fact that he was not the only one lost made him even sadder. He wondered just how many others were lost.

[quote]"Where's home fer you? What's home like? We can't really help you get someplace we don't know what or where it is."[/quote]

Arthur sniffed and wiped his face. He glanced back and forth between the fox and the ground at his feet. "Home is in New Hampshire at Mommy's place. We have a nice house on a hill at the end of my street. Mommy must miss me really bad. I'm always with her. The other Mommies don't like my Mommy. I don't know why. She loves me and takes care of me and keeps me safe. She gave me Tyrone for my birthday! He's a dinosaur. I like dinosaurs. They're cool. I want to be a dinosaur when I grow up, so I'm not scared of anything anymore."

He shut his mouth and blushed embarrassed at his excitement.

[quote]Her ears twitched again thoughtfully -- and finally with a small hop she skittered to the edge of the tower and peeked over it toward the water. "You arrived down there, right? In the lab. Did you see a cat?" She grinned a little and turned again to face him.[/quote]

Arthur winced and nodded. He murmured. "I don't like cats."

[quote]"Sshh, sshh. I can help you go home -- but there's only one way that I know. Will you listen? Will ya take what I say seriously now?" Her voice fell to a hush, secretive and trusting. "There's a lady in a gold dress, inside the tower. She can send you home."[/quote]

Hope erupted in Arthur's heart. There was a way out? Then worry instantly washed it away. "What if she doesn't want to help?"