They had many adventures. Ling would not have survived without Mespar's help. Then there were times that Ling was the hero who rescued Mespar. They were a team.

The caravan had grown. They had met other travelers along the route, and had joined together for protection. What was unusual was that these other travelers were also following the star. The camels, horses and servants were richly adorned, and it seemed that these were people of wealth and influence. The two friends overheard the servants at night bragging that their masters, Balthasar and Caspar were also kings.

The caravan arrived, at last, on the outskirts of a small village named Bethlehem. While waiting for nightly dinner forage, they heard the cooks say that several servants had been sent into the town as soon as they arrived, to inquire about the lodging of a young couple with a newborn child. Soon after breakfast, when the two had just settled into their corners of the bag, they were lifted as usual. This time they didn't feel the usual jolt as they landed on the camel's back. They didn't dare scramble up to find out what was going on. There was a slow steady motion which suddenly ceased. As they felt the bag being placed on the ground they became aware of the noise around them. It was deafening. Many, many voices were speaking and shouting all around them. In a flash the two had poked open the flap and were out. There were people everywhere, shoes, sandals and boots to match all the voices they had heard, and each one threatening to crush them at any second. Mespar spied a hiding place, and with a gesture to Ling they darted there as quickly as they could. From directly above them came a new sound to join the din, a frightened and mournful wailing, a child's cry. As they caught their breath and calmed their hearts they noticed the scene around them. They were in a small room filled to bursting with people. The three royal travelers were there along with their servants and guards. Neighbors were also sliding in, anxious for news of why the nobles were visiting this humble neighborhood. The focus of this melee seemed to be the people standing above Mespar and Ling. There was a young man looking very confused and concerned, an even younger woman, (a girl really), and a tiny baby. It was under the child's cradle that the cricket and mouse now hid. The girl was trying in vain to soothe the infant, who was wailing over the babble of the crowd.

Ling wasn't sure why he did it. Maybe it was to calm his own nerves and those of his friend, a little like whistling in the dark. Or maybe it was the sight of his former master after such a long time. Perhaps it was because he felt so sorry for those three young folks above him. He wasn't sure why, but he started to sing. His song filled the little room, and drowned out all the discordant sounds. It was the sweetest song he'd ever sung. He could no longer hear the voices or the shuffling, stomping feet. He didn't notice the baby's cry, the mother's soothing sounds or the fathers confused questions. He closed his eyes, opened his heart and sang. He wasn't aware that the baby's cries had ceased, or that the voices had softened and the milling crowds had thinned to only six people. When at last he opened his eyes the scene had changed. Besides he and Mespar, still hiding under the bed, there was only the couple, the baby and the three royal masters. The baby slept. The parents were smiling, and Prince Melchior was taking something from the bag that the friends had considered home for this journey. He handed several gilded boxes to the young mother. Masters Caspar and Balthasar also presented gifts. The princes stared with awe at the sleeping child, and spoke softly to his parents. While everyone had their attention on the baby, the two friends used the opportunity to dart across the floor and into a hole they had noticed in the wall.

"Whew! That was really something. Wasn't it Ling? Who to you think these people are?"
"I think that this is where the star was leading." The cricket answered. "Did you see those gifts? That baby must be a king."
"....and you were really great." the mouse declared. "I've never heard you sing like that. It was so strange how everything got quiet and peaceful, as if they were all listening to a lullaby."
"I've never felt like that before," Ling explained. "It was as if there was nothing but the baby the song and me."
"Well, whatever it was, it sure calmed things down fast. It was like a miracle."
Ling bowed. "Thank you friend." "I'm glad you liked my song. Right now I just want a nap. All this excitement has worn me out."
"Me too. Let's rest a little while here, where it's safe, before we go back to the bag."
And so they dozed. The afternoon faded. The evening shadows grew longer. The three masters said their farewells and left. Ling and Mespar awoke in the dark. Peering out from their hole they could see that the bag and the princes were gone. They had been left behind.