Suzette walked quickly through the small village.

She'd seen a sign for a tailor attached underneath that of another business, but forgot which one.

It only took a few minutes to find it - an advantage of small towns.

The sign with the tailor's shears was underneath one that had a mortar and pestle and a bubbling flask.

Tailoring and Alchemy? Interesting combination.

Maybe they had something stylish in a lab coat? Entering, she saw that the tailor occupied the front of the building and a hallway in back led to the alchemist.

A silver haired woman in her 50’s was running a length of wispy white silk through her hands and matching it against various types of thread, not finding a satisfying match.

Suzette waited a bit impatiently, trying not to tap her foot on the floor.

Carefully folding the white silk back up and placing it in a drawer, the seamstress turned to Suzette.

"Well, none of these is fine enough.

Perhaps in the next batch.

Enough of that.

Let's talk about what you need young lady.

Let me guess.

You'd like to get something made to replace that stunningly horrible burlap dress?"Suzette handed her the bolt of light green satin and roll of cream trim.

"Yes, please.

I'm short on cash, but I have this fabric and trim.

My new job is at the tavern and I need something better than this.""Oh, this is nice! These must have come from a dungeon treasure - very good quality.

I could make a lovely evening gown or party dress from these.

Is that what you are looking for? I will need some coin for thread and my work.""I actually need something more along the lines of a work dress.

I've been assigned to work in the tavern as a barmaid.""I see.

I can make something for you, although I hate to think of this nice fabric becoming a work uniform.

Perhaps we can do a trade? I could be quite generous with the clothes on that rack.

They are of lesser quality material, but will wear much better than this fragile fabric.

Take a look and see if a couple of them suit you.

I can alter them to what you want."Suzette looked over at the rack; it had quite a few dresses and a few shirts.

She walked over to take a look, but before she reached it she heard an intake of breathe and a small scream, "You made it back!! Oh, I felt so bad.

I'm so glad you made it.

Daddy says it's a long walk back!" She was nearly tackled to the ground by Zephyr rushing up and hugging her.

"Oh god that thing was horrible! I saw you poison it but...I just ran and ran when I saw what it did.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry I left you."Suzette tried to comfort the girl.

"It's alright.

You got away, and I walked back.

If you hadn't have run it would have just gotten both of us." The older woman was looking at her with a smile.

Suzette could see the resemblance to Zephyr in her face.

"So, you’re the brave hero that saved my little girl? You have my thanks for that.

Come, Zephyr, your friend here needs some work clothes and a new ball gown.

You can help me take her measurements."

She pulled two dresses from the rack and got a measuring tape.

"I'm Adrianna.

My husband Aliester will want to meet you as well.

You have our thanks for saving our little girl.

To start with, let’s get you measured and these dresses altered.

You'll want them loose enough to move around in but also tight enough in the bodice to accentuate those looks of yours.

I worked in a tavern myself when I was younger.

It's a lot of work and you need the right clothes for it.

And to maximize those tips."

Within half an hour Adrianna had modified one dress into something much more suitable for tavern work.

Suzette changed into it immediately and rolled up the horrible burlap outfit and put it in her pack.

When she did, she noticed the Cocoon she had found and pulled it out.

"Is this something that could be useful? The thread seems very fine and strong, but I'm not quite sure just what it is.

I found it near the river when I was gathering herbs."Adrianna was very still.

"May I? Oh yes, these have use.

These silky strands can be spun into a very fine thread.

I haven't seen its like in a long, long time.

Zephyr, please fetch your father.

I'd like to show this to him." Zephyr ran to the back of the house and Adrianna took the silk from the cocoon and then held it against the pale silk she had been holding when Suzette arrived.

It was an exact match.

Zephyr returned with her father in tow.

He was a tall man, over six foot in height - thin with long fingered hands, stained from years of crafting potions.

His bald head was dominated by a hawk-shaped nose and dark eyes that focused on the cocoon in his wife's hands.

He stared at it for a few seconds before turning to Suzette, when he again stopped to stare for a long moment.

"Oh! and aren't we thrice blessed today? The young hero that saved our daughter; a cocoon of a species long thought dead; and then proof that all things are connected." As he said this a glowing golden triangle appeared upon his forehead and both Zephyr and Adrianna turned to stare at her.

She had no doubt an identical mark on her forehead was also visible to them.

"I see that we have much to talk about my dear.

Would you like to stay for dinner?"

Rolly couldn't wait to go visit Squirmie again.

He'd taken two big buckets of offal to the recovering pet early in the morning, but was pretty sure he was hungry again.

Lucky that Squirmies really liked meat! He also took a bag of grain for Ferdinand and Betty.

They weren't as cool as a Squirmie, but having them as pets could be great, too.

Both seemed appreciative of the snack.Moving on to the little hideaway, he found the big caterpillar was indeed hungry, but he wasn't looking so good.

'Squirmie' was indeed not feeling well.

The poison from the horrible two-leg was still in his system and was slowly killing him.

He had tried and tried again to form a healing cocoon, but even this small act was beyond him.

There might be another way though.

He reached for an anchor in his pet’s thoughts and went through his memories.

It was very confusing! This two-leg had so many memories.

Even some memories of bonding with other creatures! Astounding.

How old was it?This was truly an extra-ordinary pet.

He was glad he had found it.

Squirmie is not feeling well.

He is probably dying.

He thanks you for trying to help.