d? Ulger asked, pointing at Miranda.
	Shes our only way home, Ulger, Tarrin told her.  If we leave her behind, its a one-way trip.
	Damn, he grunted.
	Tarrin rather liked having more guests.  It meant more cooking, but it just seemed right that there were sounds and smells in the house, even if those voices and scents werent the same.  Mist, on the other hand, wasnt all that thrilled with it when she returned home with Eron.
	Why are they here? she demanded openly, in front of them, when they got back.
	Well be leaving soon, he answered.  They got here early so we could make sure we have everything organized and ready.  He looked to Eron. How did it go?
	It went well enough, father, he answered, cuddling Sandy as the desert foxed licked under his chin.  Im an adult now.  Mother already threw me out of the house, he said with a laugh.  Im just here to get my things together.
	You need to go see the world, cub, she told him tersely.  See what life has to offer for you.
	Well, I think we can throw him out tomorrow, Tarrin said.  I think he needs one more home dinner and a good nights sleep before he hits the road.
	As you decide, my mate, she said demurely.
	Does she heel? Ulger asked with a smirk.
	Mist raised a single finger, which Ulger fixed his eyes upon, then it flashed forward with blazing speed.  Ulger staggered back, both hands to his face, as blood started seeping out from between his fingers.  Karas hammer! Ulger gasped.  I never saw it coming!  Then, for some weird reason, he laughed.  Thats quite a trick, Mistress Mist, he said, taking his hands from a long gash that ran from temple to temple over his eyebrows.
	Teasing Mist is not a healthy pastime, Ulger, Dolanna chided as she approached to heal the cut.
	I noticed, but the danger makes it fun, Ulger said with a little chuckle.
	Well, that explains all the scars, Mist said evenly.
	Ulger was a solid, dependable man, good in a fight, and he had an amiable personality, but Tarrin realized that he also had this unnerving habit of saying the absolutely wrong thing at the right time.  Making Ulger keep his mouth shut just went up several places on Tarrins list of needful things during this expedition.
	Tarrin enjoyed his last home meal with his son before he went out and explored the world.  There was no telling how long Eron would be gone, where he would go, or what he would do, but that was the point of it.  He was taking Sandy with him, which made Fireflash sulk for losing his playmate, spending most of dinner lying on Tarrins shoulder.
	Well, almost enjoyed it.
	Tarrin! Allyns voice came through the amulet around his neck, sounding quite breathless.  Tarrin!  TARRIN!
	What? he asked, taking hold of his amulet.
	Allia is going into labor!  Shes early!  Come quickly!
	The table was nearly overturned as everyone around it suddenly jumped up, every voice calling every which way, but it was Dolannas strong voice that got everything under control.  Zak, Ulger, gather our things!  Eron, go get your grandparents immediately!  Tarrin, notify the others right now!  Mist, Miranda, help me clean up this food so it does not rot while we are gone!  Let us make haste everyone!
	Under Dolannas direction, everything was very quickly and efficiently arranged for a hasty departure.  Azakar and Ulger collected up what everyone would need as Eron fetched his grandparents, and the females cleaned up the dining table and kitchen to prepare it for extended disuse.  Tarrin used his amulet to very quickly and very hastily make contact with everyone that needed to be there, to tell them to stop what they were doing right now and immediately move to find their nearest dashar friend to Teleport them to the Tower or get ready to have him pick them up, then find Jenna once they were there for those in Suld, who would be Teleporting them to Mala Myrr.
	In the haste and urgency of it, he failed to make contact with Phandebrass and Kimmie.  It was night-time, and they were probably exhausted from their traveling, so he passed them over for now.  He had to get everyone to Mala Myrr, then hed try again.
	Quickly, everything was arranged, and they were on their way.  First they had to go to Suld to drop off the horses with the Knights, so someone could care for them.  They didnt join with the group at Suld, however, as Tarrin simply Teleported them directly to Mala Myrr as soon as the horses were being led away, dropped off the others, then jumped over to Amazar and collected up Camara and Koran Tal and his god-daughter, Shal Tal.  That was the only trip he had to make, for everyone else was either in Suld or had his or her own way to reach Mala Myrr.  That allowed him to go straight to Allia, as the others looked around and marveled at how cold it got in the desert at night, for here it was night, an hour after sunset, where it had been close to sunset in Aldreth and Suld.
	She was most certainly in labor.  She was covered in sweat, completely nude, sitting in a Wikuni folding canvas chair that rested on a thick bearskin rug hed given her several years ago in one of the few buildings near the arena whose doors were sized for larger folk, which may have been some kind of trade consulate or something.  Selani didnt believe in lying down during labor, walking or sitting as she was doing now, and shed have her baby squatting, never leaving her feet.  The Amazons did it the exact same way, and it wasnt the first time that Tarrin noticed subtle similarities between different races on Sennadar.  There were a few similarities between the Ungardt and the Selani, and the Selani and the Amazons, and also the Amazons and the Ungardt.  But in this case, Tarrin thought it was a simple coincidence of circumstance in this case, for the Selani had very little furniture, being nomads, while the Amazons actively disliked furniture cluttering up their living space.  Neither race used a bed, and both races prized individual strength, so it seemed logical that both races would develop birthing customs that had nothing to do with lying down.  Kallan and Kaila were with her, as was her husband Allyn, her mother holding one hand and her husband the other as they helped her through the painful ordeal. Judging from how Allyn was wincing, she was putting quite a grip on them.  He nodded quickly to Kallan, then got a bright smile from Kaila, who looked quite the handsome woman without all her hideous scars.  Not long after Tarrin left the desert, FaraNae had relented and allowed the tribe shaman to heal Kaila of her injuries, for she had deemed that Kallan had learned his lesson.  She was well and whole now, and she was beautiful.
	Where have you been! Allia said in a harsh shout, and it immediately made Tarrin laugh.  She gave him a truly ugly look, glaring at him, but he only laughed again.
	Its the labor talking, my friend, Kaila told him with a wink.  She is actually quite happy to see you.
	I know, he chuckled, stepping up and putting a massive paw on his sisters shoulder gently.  She was panting, looking drained and weary, but she did manage to give him a weak smile.  She got up and started walking forward as the labor pain eased
	This child decided to come early, and now it seems to have changed its mind, she complained.
	I told you, daughter, labor can last a while, Kaila said.  Its not the baby.  Its your body getting ready to give birth.  So if you want to complain or blame someone, blame you.
	Allia laughed weakly.  Not when I have someone to blame who cant defend itself.
	Youve been staying around Sarraya too much, Tarrin said with a sly smile.
	Are the others here? she asked.
	On the way, she answered.  Jenna will have everyone but Sarraya and Sapphire here any minute.  Theyre getting here on their own.
	Sarraya getting here on her own? Allia asked between wheezes.
	She said she would.  Ill believe it when I see it, he laughed.
	Keritanima hastily joined them minutes later, and it completed their family.  They would be right there for the birth, taking part in it, for they were the people closest to Allia, and Selani custom required those closest to the mother to be there when she brought a new life into the world.  They took turns helping Allia walk around, holding her hands, supporting her in concerned silence as she struggled through the pains of labor.  Nobody talked; indeed, nobody had the need.  For such things, a look or a touch spoke much more than any word could ever express, as they were all united in their love for one another, a unity that went deeper than any word ever invented in any language could ever express.  No matter how they changed, no matter what happened, no matter what, there would always be Tarrin, Keritanima, and Allia.  Family, unity, connected by bonds which could never be broken, and it would remain so until the end of time.
	The labor went on well into the night, and the ruins of Mala Myrr became more and more crowded, and with some of the most exotic and unique beings in all of Sennadar.  Allias tribe, who had been staying in the general area, quickly arrived when Scouts sent back word that Allias time had come, driving their flocks of sukk with them into the city.  Sapphire arrived with her entire clutch, and seven blue dragons looked down upon those waiting by the building where Allia resided as Sapphire assumed her human form and simply barged through them and joined those within to see Allia, then, content she was well and the birth would go without complications, she returned outside to await the birth so as not to disrupt the family intimacy withinnot to mention the fact that Sapphire still terrified Allias parents.  Druids from the desert quietly arrived not long after Triana appeared with Jesmind and Jasana, but Triana inexplicably left once again.  A large contingent of Aeradalla swooped in and landed by the arena, led by King Andos and Queen Ariana, also joining the gathering crowd of well-wishers.  They even received the Empress of Arak and her brood of Cambisi, as Shiika pushed her way into the waiting group to see Allias impending child.  And though they couldnt see them, FaraNae, Niami, Karas, Ahiriya, and Neme looked down upon the city in breathless anticipation, waiting for the miracle of childbirth along with the mortals.  And since Tarrin was there, the passive eyes of nearly every god were also looking down upon this event, for they always watched him, always kept track of him.  Never before had the city of Mala Myrr, either in its prime or in its ruined state, seen such an odd mixture of races and beings, but it had never hosted an event quite as important as this one.  A city most famous for the loss of the race who built it now was the scene for the creation of life rather than its destruction, and if a city could have a soul, than that soul would be rejoicing in the miracle taking place within its borders after so many centuries left only with emptiness and the memory of the terrible tragedy which had taken place there.
	About midnight, Tarrin sensed that the labor was over, and the birth process was beginning.  They helped Allia as much as they could, though it was almost entirely a personal affair dealing with the mother.  The best they could do was hold her hands and support her as she endured the pain, but then again, enduring pain was a skill in which Allia was exceptional.
	It was nearly anti-climatic, in a way.  All those hours of labor built up to a climax that started to end nearly as soon as Allia settled into her birthing position, for the baby started coming as soon as she was settled over a clean fiber mat.  Kaila served as midwife for her daughter, helping deliver the baby whose head had appeared.  A head full of shock white hair, just like its mother, Tarrin noticed.  In true style for Allia, the birthing was fast, efficient, and without an ounce of wasted effort.  It seemed that seconds after the babys head crowned, it was birthed, laying on the mat as Kaila cleaned it with a soft cloth, then cut the umbilical cord with a wicked-looking knife.  Allia remained in her position to pass the afterbirth, but the look on her face was reverent, and there was a glow about her that could only come when a woman truly realized that she was finally a mother.
	Well now, Kaila said with a smile, turning the baby over on its back.  It seems that we have a boy here, my daughter.  You should try harder next time.
	Allia laughed weakly.  Ill love him despite that flaw, mother, she answered.
	The afterbirth was passed quickly, and then Allia was bundled up in a robe, sitting on a canvas-seat chair that cleverly folded up, with her infant son in her arms.  Allyn looked almost silly with his adoration of his son, and Keritanima and Tarrin looked down at their new nephew with gentle eyes.  He had Allias sharp-faced features, but the soft eyes of his father, and he slept contentedly after the ordeal of being brought forth into the world.  I think he needs a name, Allia, Keritanima told her.
	His name is Kor, she proclaimed, tenderly stroking her infant sons face.  And he is our son.
	Kor was passed to his grandmother, who kissed his forehead, then to his grandfather, who stroked his head full of white hair tenderly.  Then Kallan carefully handed the child to Tarrin, a child who could comfortably fit within the palm of his paw.  The huge Were-cat took the tiny baby in his paws and smiled down at him, touching him with the tip of a finger that was nearly as large as the baby.  It was times like this that Tarrin was most keenly aware of his great size, for he stood head and shoulders above the Selani.  He was used to that, but seeing this tiny infant, tiny because he was born early and seeming like but a toy in the paws of the powerful Were-cat, reminded him once again of the vast difference in size between him and most other people.  Paws that could tie a steel swordblade in a knot handled the infant with the most exquisite tenderness, however, and then he passed the precious bundle to Keritanima, as Fireflash jumped from his shoulder to Keritanimas to continue his inspection of the infant.  She cuddled the child in the crook of her arm and smiled that toothy grin down at him.  Hello there, nephew, she said gently.  Boy, do I ever have plans to spoil you rotten.
	I think you should let the others in to see him now, daughter, before we have a riot, Kallan said, who was standing by the door, looking out.  They know the birth is complete.  I dont know how they know, but they do.  It almost looks as if theyre forming up to assault the door.
	Its those damn Were-cats, Keritanima laughed.  They always know.  You cant keep secrets from them.
	We keep you honest, sister.
	Itll take more than that, she winked at him.
	The doors were thrown open, and Allia let those waiting come in to see her new son.  Not everyone could fit into the building at once, so they came in in groups, often wildly mismatched groups, to marvel over Allias newborn.  Each group was mixed with people Tarrin knew and people he did not, be them Aeradalla, members of Allias tribe, or the Druids who had gathered to celebrate the event.  Rallix brought little Faalken in to meet his new cousin with the first group, which also held Sapphire, Dar, Tiella, and their two children, and the sober little tiger Wikuni touched Kor gently and noticed how small he was.  Shiika managed to barge in with the next group, along with Sarraya and Jula and Dolanna, and she immediately promised a gift for the newborn.  Ulger, Azakar, Haley, and Ariana and Andos were among the third group to file through, and Camara and Koran Tal brought a loud and indignant Shal in with the fourth, apologizing about Shals cranky demeanor, for it was well past her bedtime.  Eron and Jasana were with Mist and Jesmind in the fifth group, and though not a word was said, several very flat and hostile looks were passed between Jasanas parents, which made her sigh in exasperation and firmly set herself between them, much as she used to do when Tarrin had first returned to Aldreth to find Jesmind and Jasana inhabiting his parents farmhouse.  Though it took nearly an hour, everyone gathered managed to come in and see Kor, but after the last Selani filed out, and Allia took the baby outside to present to the six blue dragons incapable of taking a human shape to come in and see her child, Tarrin noticed three very blaring absences.   In all the excitement, he hadnt noticed it until after all was said and done.
	Phandebrass, Kimmie, and Triana had not come in to see the baby.
	It took but a moment to sweep the region with Sorcery to determine that they were not there. Odds were, if Triana wasnt here, she was probably bringing them, so he decided to start with her.  He sent a message into the All for her, which was almost immediately answered.
	Thats why Im not there, cub, she answered.  Two rides ago, I lost my sense of Kimmie.  I know she didnt die, I can still vaguely get an impression of her, but I cant pinpoint her location.  Somethings actively blocking my touch on her.
	Why didnt you tell me? he demanded immediately.
	I didnt think it that important, she answered.  She was going to investigate an area of high magic, and an area of high magic could possibly do whats being done to block my sense of her.  I had a similar problem when you and Kimmie were behind that Ward at ShaKari.  Twenty days didnt seem like an outrageous amount of time for them to spend there, cub.  You know how Phandebrass is, and Kimmie wouldnt try to dissuade him unless Allia was about to give birth.  I didnt think much of it until now, when I realized they werent here and that you hadnt contacted them.  There was a pause.  Meet me at your house.  I need your Sorcery.
	Ill be right there, mother, he called into the Weave, then he looked to Allia.  I have to go, sister, he said with obvious reluctance.  We cant find Kimmie and Phandebrass.  Triana needs my help to find them.
	Ill go with you, father, Jula said seriously.  Kimmie and Jula were very close friends, and it was only natural to him that she would want to help.
	Youre welcome along, he nodded.
	Im a tad annoyed that youre leaving so soon, my brother, but I understand why.  Find them quickly and return to us, Allia told him, cradling her tiny infant to her breast to nurse him.
	Ill find them, alright.  And when I do, Im going to throttle Phandebrass, he growled.  I just know this is his fault somehow.
	Kimmie sometimes loses her good sense when shes around that crackpot, Jula agreed.
	Lets go, daughter.  The faster we find them, the faster I can strangle Phandebrass and get them back here.
	Or at least one of them, Keritanima said with a toothy grin.
	Tarrin used Sorcery to return them to his house, in his landing point in the library, and Triana was waiting for them just outside the archway.  She wasted absolutely no time.  Well start from where I last had a good sense of their location, she said immediately.  In the Skydancer Mountains.
	Tarrin nodded.  Can you get us there?
	She snorted and gave him a flat look.
	Alright, alright, lets go, he said in a mollifying tone.
	Jula gave him an amused look.
	You do it too.
	I know, its just funny seeing you do it, she said with a sly smile.
	Hes not stupid, Triana said with authority, waving them to come to her sides.
	Jula looked very much the child when she joined the two towering Were-cats, but the impression of them lasted but a second, as Triana used the Druidic spell that Tarrin had created to Teleport them nearly five hundred longspans to the north and east.  Jula gasped and flinched as they appeared within a blinding spray of snow driven by a stiff wind; it was very early into winter, and though it had been very warm down in Aldreth, the mountains were already filling up with snow.  Where did the snow go? Jula called over the loud wind, looking down at the perfect circle of bare rock beneath their feet.
	Sorry, cub, but its melting in your library, Triana told him, raising her voice over the wind.  I tinkered with your spell a little to reduce the chance of fatal accidents.
	Well worry about cleaning it up when we find Kimmie, he answered her.  What do you need me to do?
	Use that spell that tracks scents, she answered.  I dont have the time to whip up a spell to do that, and I know Kimmie passed through here.  Oh, and call up one of your Elementals, I dont want to wade through snow!
	Both Jula and Tarrin set their wills against the Weave and wove the spell of Air and Divine which would summon forth their Elementals.  Two distinct swirls of air with glowing eyes appeared before them.  Jula, you ride yours, and mine will carry mother.  I can get along fine myself, he said absently as he brought forth his wings of fire, flaring them out and then willing himself into the air, then he instructed his Elemental through their mental communion to carry Triana.  After the two Elementals surrounded the females and lifted them off the ground, Tarrin wove the spell that Keritanima had created, the spell that made a scent track visible, and he pumped a tremendous amount of power into it.  He knew Kimmies scent intimately, but he was trying to raise a scent that was twenty days old and covered with snow.  He almost began to sweat with effort as he bridged up into High Sorcery and amplified the spell by several degrees when it failed to raise a visible scent, until he finally started getting a visible reaction.  He altered the spell slightly so that glow became nearly incandescent, bright enough to illuminate the snow over it, creating a hauntingly beautiful glowing line under the snow that extended up into a sheer, narrow pass between two peaks, glowing through the dark, windy night to lead the way.
	Good work, cub, now lets follow it!
	You realize that if theyve had twenty days to get ahead of us, we might be trailing along behind them for days? Jula called.
	Do you have a better idea, cub? Triana asked her sharply.
	As a matter of fact, I do, she answered.  I can follow the spells effect through the Weave to where it ends, and it has to end where Kimmie is.  Shes probably staring at the glowing line behind her right now, she told them.  I can use its terminus as a lock and tell you how far away it is.
	Distances are distorted in the weave, cub, he reminded her.
	Ive been studying that, father, she answered.  Im a lot better at dealing with the inside of the Weave than you are, because youve been too busy to practice.  I can find out exactly how far away she is, right to the finger.
	The cub has a good idea, Triana announced.  Lets do it her way.
	Tarrin had to agree.  Julas Elemental put her down, and she quickly sat down in the circle of cleared rock.  May I have a strand please, father? she asked.  Tarrin nodded, and used his power to create new strands to spin forth a new strand that passed directly through his adopted daughter.  She nodded and bowed her head, closing her eyes, and he felt her consciousness quickly and effortlessly leave her body and enter the Weave.
	How long will it take her? Triana asked over the wind.
	Knowing Jula, probably seconds, he answered.  Shes very good.
	Shes quite a girl, Triana admitted with a slight smile.
	Seconds was a fair estimation.  Within a minute of closing her eyes, she opened them again, her face uncertain and upset.  I found the end of her trail.  I projected out so I could see, but it was pitch black.  I think I was projecting into a solid object.  Im a little worried, father, she said seriously.  I sensed around, but I didnt feel anybody, living or dead.  Kimmies scent ends there, but shes not there.
	How far? Triana asked immediately.
	Only about thirty longspans just west of north, she answered.
	Lets go see what happened, she ordered.  Cub, get this thing moving!
	Thirty longspans was just a short hop when one flew through the bitterly cold mountain night, a cold that none of them really felt, for all three had ways to insulate themselves from the cold, and  Air Elementals were immune to temperature.  The wind kicked up clouds of snow as the three figures hurtled through the winter night, but night-sighted Were-cats easily navigated between peaks and along valleys as Jula led them to where she had found the end of Kimmies trail.
	After about twenty minutes, they arrived.  It was a very narrow box canyon, and Jula had been right about being in a solid object, for there were signs that there had been an early avalanche that had covered the bottom of the narrow gorge.  Tarrin looked around and had a nagging sense that the place looked a little familiar, but he was more concerned about what had happened to his former mate than he was at the vague sense that this place was familiar.
	Cub, get rid of that snow, Triana ordered, and Tarrin nodded as his wings suddenly flared with bright light as he reached for High Sorcery.  He used a simple weave of Water, but on a massive scale, affecting several tons of icy snow and causing it to move, pushing it out towards a canyon into which the box canyon opened.  The snow slid away with a strange squealing sound as compacted snow turned to ice scraped against a floor of solid rock, ripping away frozen mud with it as he pulled away.
	It took nearly three minutes to clear the snow, but when it was gone, Tarrins nagging sense that he knew this place hit him like a hammer.  He did know this place, because hed been there!   Jula and Triana were looking down at the floor of the canyon, but they were looking where the glowing trail of Kimmies scent ended, right at the foot of an ancient stone ring filled with glowing, swirling bluish energy.
	This was the canyon that held the gate.  And Tarrin realized immediately that theyd found it, but the avalanche had forced them to flee through it!
	A gate! Triana said with a gasp.  Kimmie went through that gate!  No wonder I cant sense her the way I should, shes in another dimension!
	She could be anywhere! Jula said, putting her paw to her stomach, looking a bit sick.  Why did she go through it?
	The avalanche, cub, Triana said grimly.  They came in here, but there was an avalanche.  Odds are, they ran through the gate to save their necks.  I wont blame her for that.
	Are you sure?
	Cub, Kimmie would never do something that insane unless her life depended on it, Tarrin said in solemn tones.  He was pretty sure that that was what happened.  Phandebrass might have come here with the ulterior motive of going through the gate, but Kimmie would never have done so willingly, not unless her life depended on it.  It troubled Tarrin a little that Phandebrass might have discovered the location of the gate on his own and used subterfuge to get Kimmie to come along.  It was just a bit too much of a coincidence that the path Phandebrass had chosen just happened to go right by the gate they would use to reach that other world to begin their search for the lost children of the Goddess and the Dwarves.  Despite that concern, he was more worried now about them because they did go through the gate.  If they were but two steps ahead of an avalanche, theyno, there were bodies, no dead horses.  They had managed to get through with everything that they had with them, so at least they had supplies.  He just hoped that they were smart enough to just sit down on the other side of that gate and wait for them to get there.
	Like it or not, Kimmie was stuck on this journey now.  They couldnt get home until Miranda arrived, because Miranda was their only way home.
	It made Tarrin furious, but not in a way that made him lose himself to rage.  The idea that Phandebrass couldnt wait just one more month, just had to run out and do it himself, made him angry, but now he had involved Kimmie in it, and quite against her will.  No matter that this had been an accident
	Or was it?  Could Phandebrass had intentionally set off that avalanche to force Kimmie to go with him?  The idea seemed a bit outlandish, because Phandebrass truly cared for his pupil, and he knew the kind of savage retribution he would get from Tarrin if that indeed was what happened.
	No.  Hed give Phandebrass the benefit of the doubt for now.  What happened had to be an accident.  But accident or not, now Kimmie was trapped in that other dimension, she was trapped over there with no way home until they arrived, separated from her children, isolated and alone in a way shed never been isolated before.  In that other world, she didnt know anyone, didnt know the geography, the history, didnt even know what was edible and what was not.  She and Phandebrass were in great danger.  Between them, he figured that they could take care of themselves, with their magic and the fact that Kimmie was a Were-cat.  If the Goddess was wrong and they had their full powers in that other world, then very little was going to hurt Kimmie, or even have the chance.  She could protect Phandebrass, from himself if needs be, and the need would definitely be there from time to time.  Protect him until Tarrin could get there and wring his neck for dragging Kimmie along with him.
	Dont worry too much, cub, Tarrin said quietly.  This is the gate were going to use.  Kimmie and Phandebrass went to where were going.  So shes not lost forever.  When we get on the other side, well have to find them.  Tarrin was quiet a long moment.  Ill need a damn good tracker to pick up a month old trail.  Mist would never let Eron come, I dont want to bring an outside female like Shirazi if Mists coming, and I dont think either me or Haley would be up to it.  I think Ill need Forge.
	That Hellhound?  Why? Triana asked.
	He may be a Hellhound, but hes still a dog, and hes got a nose on him better than anyone elses, except maybe Erons or Shirazis, he told her.  Id rather have him along than try to do it myself.
	Ah, yes, you said that you cant depend on the fact that you can use magic on the other side, Triana said with a nod.
	Kimmie wouldnt wander, Tarrin, Jula said.  She has to know that wed find out what happened and come get her.
	I know, but there might not be enough on the other side to hold them over for a month, cub.  That gate might lead to a barren desert, or a mountain range.  W