"Hlao" is Pipkin's name in Lapine. Literally, it means a little depression where dew collects (so sayeth Mr Adams), and the diminutive "Hlao-roo" is used as a friendly term because he's so small -- "Hello, little Pipkin" sort of thing. =:) As I think you know, I'm a big fan of Pipkin, so it was important to me to give him a role in the story.

Much the same goes with Hazel's character as I said for the earlier chapter. It would be so unlike him just to give up, especially after all he'd been through. So he had to stay... but as you say, at this point there wasn't much he could do to change things. As for the cliff-hanger... it rather presented itself! =;)

Thank you for the comments once again; I really do enjoy reading them. =:)