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 The familiar road to the Mesaliko reservation stirred mixed emotions in Liz... this is where Max discovered the map in the cave and it was where he first realized he needed to "step back" from their newly awakened relationship... now it was where they would supposedly find something important.
As they got out of the car, Max sees the shadow of someone in the house. Liz sees it too, looking at Max questioningly, she hesitates getting out of the car. Riverdog, sensing that something was wrong, reassures them, "It is all right, this is someone who can only help and will be able to answer many of your questions. You have trusted me in the past, please don't think I would do you or your child any harm." Then he reaches over the top of the car to lovingly pat Liz's hand and offer her a reassuring smile.
Liz glances at the others; Max shakes his head and smiles. As he touches her hand, the flashes begin again... friggin' Eddie, the cave, saving Michael's life and her fear that it could happen to him. It was then that he really began to truly realize what she has been through... that by saving her life that day, her whole world was completely turned around. And the amazing thing is that no matter what they had been through and what was yet to come they would take it on together.
"Please come in, there is someone who anxiously wants to meet you." Riverdog turns to go slowly up the stairs. Kyle and Jim go ahead of Max and Liz, partly to show them that it is safe and partly to give them a few moments of privacy.
"We can leave now if you want... if you're not sure?" Max looks at Liz, waiting for an answer. He really wants, no, needs to see just who this person is, but if it would cause her any more pain he would leave even if meant never knowing.
"No, I feel this is something we need to do, our daughter's life might depend on it." She takes his hand and walks up the stairs.
 In Riverdog's house, the lingering scent of sweetgrass and sage filled the room. This causes Riverdog to smile to think she would follow the traditions of her "people" to cleanse the room of all bad things was the best way to start. As the door opened, all eyes turned to Max and Liz, making her feel a little claustrophobic. It is then that everyone notices that they are not alone in the room.
She seemed to step out of nowhere, and then her presence filled the room. Suddenly, Max inhales deeply -
"I know you!! Why and how do I know you? I've never seen you before in my life!"
"You know me, yes, but not in this form... I am the sister of your Antarian Mother, my essence was sent by her on your escape ship to some day be mixed with human DNA to act as your teacher. Nasedo did one good thing, he depended on Riverdog's people to help develop my new life. The only thing is, I think he expected them to fail, that his plan wouldn't be interrupted. I was sent to be raised on another reservation, for my safety.
"Why did they send you away? I thought they trusted him." Max's head was running full speed with more questions than he even knew could exist.
"The shaman had a vision, I was older then, we decided to send her to be with my wife's people." Riverdog answered.
"I know there is so much to tell you, but now is not the time. We have much to do, we must protect the new Princess." In her beauty there was much strength, Jim and Kyle began to suddenly realize how the room began to glow. They didn't think the others saw it, they were so deep in concentration of every word she said.
The baby began to stir in Liz's arms, she held her a little closer, not knowing if it was to reassure the baby or herself.
"May I?" She asks as she holds out her hands to take the baby. "Oh, where are my manners, let me introduce myself, my name is Zia. I'm here to help you and You.” she says as she points at the Valenti men.
"Us? I think we can handle a little baby." Jim answers with a grin on his face.
"Well, I think you can handle a baby, it's the matter of a chair and a pair of falling pants I was referring to." With that remark, everyone laughed, breaking the thick tension in the room. "Now I must begin.
Max, I need to perform a special protection ritual on the baby. She won't be hurt, she will barely be touched, but this must be done to protect her."
Zia lovingly picks up the baby and lays her on the couch. From a deer hide bag she removes a stone, similar to the healing stone they had once used.
"What is her name?"
"Claudia Ava” whispers Liz
Zia begins to smile at the first name, but looks questioningly at Max about the middle name. "I knew Claudia she was a wonderful woman... "
"You knew my Grandmother? How?"
"When I was young living on the reservation, she sought me out, she knew my story. We became fast friends, even though I was quite young at the time. You are so much like her... here see, I have this picture of when we were together." She reaches in her bag to pull out an old snapshot, it was turning brown and had become somewhat dog-eared from the many years of being lovingly looked at. Liz took the picture, it was one she had never seen before and to her amazement, she saw a slightly older version of herself looking back.
"Oh my God... " was all she could say and passed around the picture for everyone else to see.
"Now, for the middle name... " Zia looks to Max for an answer.
"Ava was one of the other hybrids, the ones from New York, if it wasn't for her I wouldn't be alive right now... she risked everything to help me." He hoped that she understood, it wasn't for the other world, but as a thank you for a friend that entered their life and saved his.
The answer satisfied Zia, now she began the ceremony. She ran her hands, almost touching the baby, slowly over her. A faint blue glow began to appear, then a low hum, barely audible by the group. From the stone came the orb sign... it slowly hovered over her, spreading the blue glow to completely envelope her. After about a minute, the stone levitated and divided into five pieces, forming the v symbol, then they fell around her.
"It is done; she now is completely protected until she comes into her powers."
"Her powers? But she's human, like her brother... " Max didn't know what to make of this new information.
"The lack of powers, and the ability to appear completely human is another cover, something to protect them from their enemies. They will start to come into their powers between the ages of three and four, by then they will no longer be under suspicion of being anything but human."
The room went quiet... looks began to be passed between the Valentis and Max and Liz... suddenly all that was heard was Liz as she inhaled saying "Oh my God" again. She looked at each one of them, stopping at Max, reading his mind, and the only thing they could whisper in unison was...
"Zan... "
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