Caleb gave a small, awkward laugh. He was entirely uncertain what to make of this situation. He didn't know what this creature was, but he knew better than to mess with guards. And anything with that much muscle and a mouth made of weapons was nothing to sneeze at. "Sorry we disturbed you, sir. Come on, Edward, we should go."

Edward looked back at Caleb and tipped his head. "But I want to make friends." The young one protested in an especially heartbreaking tone of voice.

Caleb shook his head as firmly as he knew how. "We've got to find Rainbow. And get out of this-uh...wherever, or whatever, this is."

Byures gave them a toothy grin. "I suppose I could see you out of the forest district. Especially considering where you've managed to end up." Though his offer seemed kind, Caleb couldn't help but shutter. Something about the giant alligatorman made his every instinct scream for him to run away as fast as he possibly could.

Edward did not seem to have that same instinct. His face lit up and he tossed his mane. "Thank you, Hunter! This is a very interesting place you live in!"

Hunter just smiled that frightful grin of his again. Turning his back on the newcomers, he began to make his way through the trees and forests with an uncanny ease. Caleb drew in a deep breath before he started to follow. "Come on, Flower." The seagull soared back up into the air, though he stayed low enough and close enough that Caleb had no fears that he would become lost. His main concern now was for Rainbow. Would they ever see him again?

As the small triad traversed the dense pathways, Caleb set to formulating a plan. First things first, they would begin to ask around the human part of town for where Ribbon's owner's wife lived. Once they had located her, they would remain close until Rainbow and Ribbon showed up. Caleb was certain they could be reunited there, after all it had been their intended destination. Perhaps they would even arrive to find Rainbow waiting to chastise them for getting themselves lost.

The deeper they trooped into the forest, the easier Caleb found it to be to walk. He was beginning to become use to the natural floor of the forest with. He tripped over unseen roots far less often, and significantly fewer branches smacked him in the face as they snapped back into position in Hunter's wake. Edward, however, seemed to be having a much harder time of things. He stumbled every few steps now, and his breath was short and ragged. The child seemed to have used up all his energy on the maddening dash of before. Occasionally he winced or whimpered. Caleb's eyes flicked to Edward's unshod hooves. Perhaps that was the source of his pain, especially being so unused to land.

"Not much farther now," Byures stated over his shoulder, "and you should be able to see the first buildings emerging. Each little species has created their own take on what they think home should be like. Makes it easier to tell the districts apart, I suppose. I'l leave you at the border, and you can find your own way from there."

Caleb sighed gratefully. He felt like they had been walking for half the day now, and he wanted Edward to find a safe place to rest. "Thank you!"

“Caleb?” Edward snuffled at Caleb’s sleeve. They’d been walking a further twenty minutes, apparently Byures’ definition of close by being somewhat different to his own. No building tops or elegant tower spires were in view, though Caleb did find himself spending far more time staring exhaustedly down at the broken path keeping focused on placing one foot in front of the other, rather than towards the sky. The Hunter did not slow his gait, indeed he seemed utterly single-minded in achieving his destination as if nothing in all the world could hurry or stall him. His lumbering gait covered ground steadily, leaving his travelers lagging in his wake, drawing ever further behind. At Edward’s request Caleb glanced tiredly up from the never-ending trail, giving the weary young hippocampus a inquisitive glance. Edward was limping now favoring his right foreleg. His pale gold fur was smeared by dirt and dried sweat while his once watery eyes were crusted over. Mane like golden thread was tangled and burr bedraggled, giving what once was a proud, strong yearling foal, the appearance of a broken old nag. Caleb rested a hand upon Edward’s withers, feeling the muscle tense and ripple under the pressure.

“What’s wrong Edward, are you well?”

“Noooo,” came the hippocampus’ whine. The pale head sank lower, as if he were too exhausted to hold it up any higher. “I’m so, so thirsty Caleb. My mouth is dry, my brain aches, something is stabbing into my foot, and everything hurts.” He lifted his gaze, one eye fixing Caleb with a pleading desire. “I want to go back to the ocean.”

Now that Caleb thought about it Edward did seem a bit dried out, as if his body was withering away under the sun. The boy winced, scratching at a scab that had formed where a whipping branched had struck him during their wild ride. “Tell you the truth Eddy, I’m not feeling to chipper either. I could use a break and a drink of water myself. But we must find Rainbow and recover Valentino’s gift! I would hate to tell the prince of the ocean that his treasure was stolen.” Caleb did not want to admit, but the sooner he was out of the forest and away from Byures company the better. Both gave him a sense of dread, that hung in the back of his mind. Edward only whined in response, his head sinking a little lower. “But a short break wouldn’t hurt.” Caleb sighed, broken by Edward’s pathetic appearance. “Maybe Byures’ knows about a stream or pond nearby.

The aligatorman in question stopped so suddenly the youthful duo nearly crashed right into him. It was all Caleb could do to avoid stepping on his long, dragging tail.

“These things I know.” He acknowledged, twisting his long reptilian snout to appraise the two. “Away from our final destination we will march, but closer, much closer freshwater rests. I do not trust the human wells, rank and filth infused. Follow.” He turned a perfect ninety degrees and stalked off. Caleb and Edward exchanged glances but hurried to follow. At this point they were far to lost amongst the trees to ever hope finding their own way out, much less a good water source. Encouraged by the promise of water they limped behind the Hunter, eagerly awaiting the first sight. True to his promise they were not far off, and Caleb was the first to hear the blessed sounds of running water. They broke through a patch of willow trees and there before them rested a shallow forest pool, fed by a small waterfall that trickled down a patch of mossy rocks. Giving a happy cheer Edward darted forward, splashing straight into the pond’s surface. Caleb followed at a much more reserved pace, kneeling, and dipping his hands to cup a mouthful of the sweet relief into his parched mouth.

“Ew, gross, phath!” Edward emerged from his submerged position coughing and gagging, shaking droplets from his golden pelt. “Caleb don’t drink that, somethings wrong with the water!”

Caleb spat it out hurriedly. “What’s wrong? It tasted fine to me?”

“The water is well.” Byures assured them from his place of observation. The alligatorman watched Edward curiously, tilting his large head ever so slightly. “You are creature of the ocean, yes?”

“That’s right,” Edward concurred.

“There is no salt, the water is fresh.” Byures explained, his voice deep and slow, soothing the worried hippocampus. “The taste is different, but I do not think one who can breathe the air, and yet survive beneath the waves should be concerned. Drink child, the water shall do you good.”

This was enough reassurance for Caleb who drank his fill greedily. Edward hesitated, but his thirst won out and he dipped his head, sucking down the life-giving liquid by the gallon.

“Careful Eddy,” Caleb laughed, splashing some water towards his friend. “You’ll drop the level of the pool drinking like that.”

“It’s nasty,” Edward complained, his tail whipping at the pond flies that were trying to settle on his flanks. “It makes my stomachs feel queasy, but it’s better than nothing I suppose.”

They relaxed along the pool’s shore, swimming in the shallows and laughing at the different tricks Caleb could preform jumping off the rocky waterfall’s summit, spinning or twisting through the short fall before splashing into the deeper portions, scattering the small fish that resided there. All the while Byures watched, silently. So perfectly still he almost blended into the leafy green background. At one point Edward swam out to the deepest part of the pool, where his legs still managed to scrape the bottom and submerged his head, but he burst above the surface a short while later and returned to shore looking deeply concerned. Caleb lounged on the grassy bank plucking a blade of grass and twisting it between his fingers.

“What’s wrong Eddy? The water still making you feel sick?”

“Yeah, it is. But it isn’t that.” At Caleb’s insistence he explain further Edward laid down, a very odd affair for a horse but he managed it, lifting, and twisting his right forehoof as if he was trying to see beneath it. Yet despite his best efforts he could not managed to adjust his body enough to get a proper look. “Something was hurting my foot,” he admitted resigning to laying on his side. “So, I thought I might transform into a fish, because fish do not have hoofs, or legs, or feet. That should have worked, except I cannot transform. I was trapped somehow, stuck in this body. Neither my true self, nor any of the other three would appear, it was as if my magic is severed, or at least strained.” Caleb thought he saw tears emerging from Edward’s large eyes. The boy leaned forward wrapping his arms around the powerful neck of his equine friend.

“It’ll be alright Eddy,” Caleb assured his young companion. “We ran so far inland chasing after that thief, you’re probably just not used to being so far from your home. Once we find Rainbow, we will go back to the ocean, and I’m certain your powers will return.”

“You think so?”

“I guarantee it.”

“Alright,” he gave his best horsy smile he could muster, but Caleb could see the worry in his eyes. Not doubt fearing he would be forever trapped on land.

“No offense, but having legs is painful.” Edward commented after awhile. “I don’t know how you go around on land and surfaces without end.”

“Oh, right!” Caleb sprang up, motioning Edward do the same. “Let me check your hoof, maybe something is trapped there.” Edward did as he was bid, gingerly returning to his feet, still favoring his right foreleg. Caleb knelt on one knee, taking Edward’s injured leg like he’d seen farriers preform to his home village’s horses. Taking two fingers he rubbed them along the hoof wall and then the sole, brushing aside the mud and gunk that clung there. He discovered the source of Edward’s discomfort almost immediately. His fingers brushed against the base of a thorn, and Edward flinched, giving a little yelp of surprise.

“Ouch, what did you do?” He grumbled, nudging Caleb with his nose. “That stings.”

“Stop twitching and bumping me Eddy, you made me lose it. Hang on here it is. You’ve got a nasty thorn in your hoof.” Caleb rediscovered the offending barb, trying to set his fingernails around its stubborn base. It was lodged deep, and it was huge, Caleb did not know how Edward managed to walk so far without more serious complaint.

“A, thorn?”

“Yeah, a big one. I can pull it out, but it’ll hurt.”

“Will it hurt more than the hooked jaws of a giant sea monster?” The question was asked so casually it gave Caleb pause. Boy and hippocampus exchanged a glance and Caleb shook his head.

“No, I don’t think it will.”

“Then I shall manage.”

“Okay, here goes.” Securing the thorn Caleb gave a sharp tug and twist and out popped the two-inch spike followed by a little spurt of blood. Edward braced for the pain barely flinched. Whistling Caleb held the absurd barb up to the sunlight, shaking his head in amazement. “I do not understand Eddy, you were walking with a whole spear stabbing into your foot and only now mention it?”

“It wasn’t comfortable.” Edward tested his hoof on the soft loam, sighing appreciatively. The aggravating sting that had been bothering him for the better part of two hours was finally gone. “Thank you, Caleb, that’s so much better.” He moved his head around, examining the gore streaked trophy curiously. “So that is a thorn. Its rather small isn’t it, to be the culprit of so much discomfort.”

“Small!” Caleb cried aghast, knowing full well if the thorn had been in his foot, he would not have been able to walk more than a few agonizing steps. He flicked the spike away for some other unfortunate to trod upon and stood. “C’mon then, we should finish our little walk. And try to avoid stepping on any brambles this time.

“I’ll certainly try. They are less friendly than a sea urchin.” Edward concurred taking one last sip from the forest pool. “Shall we be off then, Byures?” Edward raised his head, twisting this way and that. “Hey, the Hunter is gone.”

“No he’s not, he’s right over…” Caleb began a frantic search of his own. He had noticed the alligatorman’s uncanny stillness, and ease of blending in before, but now it seemed he was well and truly gone. How could someone so large have vanished without them noticing? And why would Byures leave them alone by this pool?

Liz “The Leech” Lackadaisical had gotten away with yet another brilliant crime, she thought as she walked through the Northern Border District. The poor part of town, with its mishmash of buildings hastily built and stacked together, was always the first place to go when the Empire invaded from the north. As such, it was the perfect place to put people who were less legitimate than the merchants and citizens who sought to obey the law. This included her usual buyer, who would give her a great deal of money for her pearl. And what a great find! It was very strange to her that someone would choose to dock their boat in the most dangerous park in town instead of in the docks, but she didn’t dwell on it. Instead, she would just sell the-wait, where did the pearl go? It was in her bag two seconds ago!

“Young lady, I know this doesn’t belong to you,” an elderly lady told her as she examined the pearl she was holding in her right hand, “why not just get a real job and stop bothering people?” This old lady, despite looking to be in her 60’s, was in great shape. If not for her long gray hair and skin that was starting to sag, one might think she was much younger. Wearing a white sailor’s jacket with matching pants, this woman had no fear of the “Leech” in front of her.

Liz was furious; nobody had ever stolen from her before! “You hag! I’ll kill you for that!” she screamed as she pulled out two daggers and charged at her target. The old lady just sighed, moved slightly out of the way to dodge, and punched the lizard woman straight in the gut with her left hand. This was enough to knock her out cold; Liz would not be following up on that threat any time soon, if ever.

A black and white pointer dog with a new red ribbon around her neck ran up to the old lady. “Good girl, Ribbon,” Sara said, smiling as she petted the dog who was wagging her tail, “we need to bring this woman to the police, then you can lead the way.”

-----

As suddenly as Caleb noticed he was gone, Byures popped up from under the pool. He really was quiet when he wanted to be. “I wasn’t gone. Had to check something. There’s an aqueduct in the water. It leads to the water plant; from there you can go to your humans quickly. Hippocampus, can you make air for the boy and bird?”

“Make...air?” Edward asked, “oh, like this?” He blew his breath a bunch. The Hunter just chuckled and smiled in his usual way. “No, not like that. It’s magic. Lets air breathers breath and see in water, like us.”

“Wow, that’s so cool!” Edward squealed. “Can you teach us that?”

Byures smiled, matter-of-factly stating “you know, you two sure are lucky that I like kids. If any of the other bosses had found you, you’d be dead. And now you want me to teach you magic?”

Caleb knew he was uncomfortable for a reason. Apparently they had landed in some kind of crime forest and their guide was some sort of gang leader. Maybe Edward had inadvertently asked too much of their new friend.

“Weeeeeeell,” the alligatorman continued, “I suppose I can teach you two the spell. I can’t cast magic myself, but I’ve seen other Smugglers do it, so I know how. It’s real easy to learn.”

Caleb was relieved, but if the hippocampus was worried about the first half of what Byures said, it didn’t show. He was as happy as always, saying “cool! Thanks, Hunter!”

"No, no, no. Not like that. What are you even doing? That's completely wrong." Byures was strict with his teaching methods, but kind enough. The fixation on learning the new spell had only somewhat distracted Caleb from the fact that he was learning from a criminal. Edward never seemed to mind at all, though, and even used this time to rest a little. The black-haired boy recalled how he wanted his own horse to ride back on the Dwarven island, but not like this. The younger hippocampus was his friend and suffering from the pains of a physical body as it were. Not to mention that the fresh water was limiting his abilities on top of that. To ask to ride him like this was beyond cruelty. "Repeat this motion. . Do it exactly as I do."

"I am repeating that motion. Exactly as you are doing it too!" Magic was easy enough for Caleb to understand. For the most part anyway. He had no formal education, of course, but Eaglestown had seen more than its fair share of traveling scholars. The non-uptight ones often spent their time with the local children and teenagers. Usually this led to lessons on some of the more "basic" spells. Nothing cool or dangerous like fire, but smaller incantations that allowed mages to levitate small objects, for example. This seemed like an easy enough spell to learn yet the result had been repeated failures for the past twenty or so minutes. "Are you sure that you have the right spell?"

"I'm no mage, but yes. I absolutely have the right spell and I think that you're just missing something." The alligator-man shook his head at the younger boy with disapproval. There was a light scowl of annoyance yet he remained oddly patient. Surprisingly tame for a criminal as even Caleb had to admit. Edward, meanwhile, was failing even more spectacularly than his counterpart. Caleb had his suspicions that the hippocampus wasn't exactly trying though. "Alright then. . Let's just start from the top, okay?"



"Thank you for your help, ma'am." Thorn City was bustling as per usual and crime was expected to come along with that. Sara Nieve was far too old for such games, however, and she had no fear of petty criminals. She dealt with plenty of confrontation in her time and had even run with local organizations in the distant past. Backing down was neither in her lexicon nor her husband's though. Or late husband as seen by the fact that Ribbon had come back on her own. She could only imagine that the worst had happened to him. But who brought the dog home? That was answer that she hoped to find soon enough. "You've done a great deed to Thorn City today."

"It was my pleasure." There was something biting in the politeness of the elderly woman's smile. An entire crowd had been drawn around the commotion by now. The thieving lizardwoman was in the process of being roused from unconsciousness and dragged off by a city guard. A pearl had been hidden beneath Sara's shawl at some point during the arrest process. As much as she wanted to believe that the authorities could be trusted, she knew better. They were just as corrupt as the syndicates that had taken over at some point during her twenty years living in Thorn City. "Safe travels, Liz."

"This isn't over, you old hag." Handcuffs were dropped around the scaly thief's wrists. "I'll remember this."

"I'm sure that you will, dearie. If old age doesn't kill me first, then I promise to let you have a fair shot at me when next we meet." Another bitingly polite smile was shot in the woman's direction and Sara turned on her heels. A gentle hand was rested atop the dog's head. In response was a furiously wagging tail and a light bark of what could only be concern. "Alright, girl. Now back to the matter at hand. We've to look for your traveling companions, don't we?"

Then, from the edge of the crowd, there was a call for the dog. "Ribbon!"

...Rainbow almost couldn't believe he'd agreed to this.

"...You're sure this is...it?", he asked in the nicest possible way one could behind gritted teeth. Oh how the mighty had fallen, when a masterful thief's secret hideout was secluded to...a tree. No floating castles, no mysterious caves...just haphazard branches and what looked to be termite-infested claw-marks from a passing wildebeast. The abusive cripple released a despicable chuckle out from between his stubbled cheeks. "Eehehe - for a two-eyed kid you're looking pretty blind lad! Behold the Master." Rainbow felt the palm of his hand sinking into his forehead as the blind fool staggered up to the overgrown weed, tapping the bark with a ridiculous series of scattered, uncoordinated knocks.

"CLICK. . .RRRRRRR--K-THUNK!", like magic a series of circles suddenly slid back in from the surface, creating a set of handholds that wove their way almost ornamentally up the side of their trunk. They were small but neat, unnaturally so, and the relative ease with which his new partner in counter-theft had produced them made the alien adventurer...wary, to say the least.

A sudden caned rap of his arm jolted the green little man out of his inspired curiosity. "So certain you know it all now, ey laddie? Eee-hee-hee - well come on now, what good're those eyes if you can't make use of 'ehm! Get a move on up there, or do you just naturally prefer to gift your keepsakes to strangers?"

Rainbow restrained a low growl and rubbed his arm to soothe the pain. Pearl...first; Justified murder...soon.

Oh so very soon: He took a handhold and began to make his way, cautiously, up the side of this more-than-met-the-eye hideaway.

The old gnome just chuckled gleefully to himself. What an absolute fool.

Caleb took a deep breath. He'd try this again, and if it didn't work, he'd ask about just walking into town instead. Eddy seemed much healthier now that they'd had a chance to get some water. Half of his issue earlier had to be that thorn in his foot. Even as Caleb tried to convince himself, he couldn't ignore gut twisting knowledge that he was wrong. Something told him that the longer he had Eddy away from the ocean, and to a lesser extent away from any water at all, the deadlier it would be for him. His time with Edward on land was limited.

"I'll do it this time." Caleb insisted, his jaw tense with determination. "I know I can. I can do it. I've been doing it right, it just hasn't worked, but I'll make it work." The certain young boy closed his eyes to focus harder. His hand swept though the air in exactly the right way, his fingers moved in just the right pattern, he said precisely the right words. He released his magic. Nothing happened. Caleb had never been so frustrated with himself in his life. "Why can't I do this!?"

Hunter watched him with those ever patient eyes, as if they had all the time in the world. "Perhaps," he replied, as if it were the answer to everything, "you are simply not capable of it. Or perhaps, as I said earlier, you are doing it wrong. You are trying too hard, and you are rushing yourself. You will not be learning this spell today, or perhaps ever, if you can not learn to control your thoughts and your emotions more."

~~~~

Ribbon's tail flew at the familiar voice. She spun towards the sound wagging and barking. As the dog eagerly approached Sara's youngest grandchild, the older woman tensed. Her steely eyes scanned the crowds in anticipation. Her caution rewarded her the sight she had dreaded as much as she had expected. Her second born stood not far from where child and dog greeted each other affectionately. If Sara could, she would have no contact at all with the son she held no love for. It was only for the sake of her grandchild that she allowed any contact at all.

"Kayden," the man gave his mother an oily smile as he addressed his ten year old. "We still have much to do. Come along now."

Sara had always loved that name. Both she and her husband had told their children many tales of the Great Traveler. Sara did not doubt at all that her least loved son had picked that name specifically to hurt his mother. They did not like each other, and she suspected they never had.

"But papa," the youth protested, "Ribbon is home! That means Grandpa will be home as well! Won't it?"

Sara could have sworn that the man before her smiled even wider at the thought of his mother's displeasure. "I don't know. Why don't you ask Grandma? It appears Ribbon is with her."

“I can’t preform any of my magic either.” Edward confided, pawing at the turf underfoot. The hippocampus tossed his mane, snorting his displeasure at this realization. “It’s too far away, my powers are so weak here I cannot preform even the simplest spell. As if I am reaching with all my might, but it’s always just out of my grasp. It must be the distance from the ocean for me, with us being farther inland than I thought. Maybe your source of magic is too far away as well Caleb?”

“That wouldn’t make any sense.” Caleb argued growing ever more frustrated at his inability. He tried the movement again, positioning his hands just the way Byures taught, and uttering the incantation. To no avail. The magic simply refused to work, denying his every attempt. “I don’t even have a source of power. Or if I do, I am not sure what it is. Or how I could be separated from it here.”

“The forest district is mighty, old, and interwoven in a twisted web of ancient spells and powerful beings. Magic is a strange force in this world, complicated beyond our understanding. There is a chance it interferes, keeping you locked from your source.” Byures indicated the ancient twisted trees that surrounded them, and the shimmering air that indicated not all was as it seemed.

“So, my magic is blocked here?”

“Perhaps, perhaps not. I do not know for certain. Attempt to preform a spell you are confident you could accomplish. We might be given more insight upon the outcome.”

Caleb mulled this over, rubbing his fingers together. He knew a simple sparking spell, that almost all the Red Twig orphans were taught. A basic incantation that summoned a tiny flurry of sparks, something that could be accomplished by mundane everyday items, but handy in certain situations. Basic survival skills were a must for everyone and knowing how to produce a fire ranked near the top. Feeling his fingers beginning to produce heat from the friction Caleb clapped his hands together, reaching for the magic within. Nothing happened, no burst of yellow sparks materialized in a brilliant if short lived eruption. No matter how deep within himself Caleb searched he could not locate his magic. Byures was right, he could not access even the simplest spells. Caleb’s shoulders slumped in defeat. Sure, he had never been particularly skilled enough in magic to have aspirations of becoming a true mage, but he had always liked the reassuring feeling it provided. It was like an integral part of him was stolen, leaving an empty hole in its place. Even the normally cavalier Edward seemed taken aback by his lack of powers. No doubt being a creature of magic he was feeling the bite of its loss even worse.

The alligatorman nodded his head, as if he expected this to occur. “It seems my suspicions were well founded. No matter, an opportunity lost but no real harm done. I shall fulfill my promise and see you to the border, but no further. I cannot pass into the other districts. You will have to find your own way or locate a new guide to finish your search. Once you have unlocked your magic once again young Caleb, I urge you to reattempt this spell. You may find it useful on your journey.”

“Thank you Byures.” Edward said sincerely. “We would have been hopelessly lost in here without your help.”

The Hunter merely grunted, then in his slow ponderous way turned towards the city borders once more, his young companions following dutifully in his footsteps.

As promised, Byures took the boy and horse to the border of the forest. “From here, you should be able to find your way to the Human District,” the Hunter said, “I wish you the best of luck.”

The pair gratefully thanked their alligatorman guide and were on their way. Byures watched them to make sure they made it safely inside the Boarman District, then spoke again.

“Alright, you no-good Oceansiders, the boy is safe now. Come out and we’ll fight like men.”

“Good, good,” a human man responded, coming out of the trees with 15 other armed humans, surrounding the Hunter on all sides. “Real clever using a kid to figure out that we were blocking the magic,” he disdainfully added.

“Oh, don’t worry, I’ve never needed magic to hunt my prey,” the Hunter responded with a nasty grin.

Nine minutes later, Byures walked back towards his home in his usual way as if nothing had happened. The corpses of 16 gangsters were piled up where he was previously as a warning to the Oceanside Gang not to mess with the Smugglers again.

-----

Thorn City was an incredible sight to see. So much activity with so many different races, all existing together in apparent harmony. And just like Rainbow had said, plants and trees were everywhere. Caleb didn’t think there was a single building he saw without some kind of plant life on it. Plus, now that they were out of the forest, navigating the city was much easier. Between the signs and the helpful citizens of the city, finding their way to the Human District was fairly straightforward.

As it turned out, 182 Blossom Street was in the nicest part of the district. Homes were on lots of at least a half-acre and there were nice parks within walking distance of the house. The house itself was also of fine quality; a dignified brick home that managed to be both stately and humble at the same time. Clearly, Captain John had done very well for himself.

Caleb and Edward walked up to the front door, then the boy knocked on the door. Hopefully they would find what they were looking for there. Instead, a boy opened the door. He was maybe eight years old, with brown hair and blue eyes. This kid wore a sailor’s jacket and white pants, similar to Sara’s clothes.

“Hi there! Who are you?” this new person asked.

Caleb was taken aback, but he supposed he shouldn’t be surprised. Maybe they had the wrong address? “Uh, I’m Caleb and this is Edward. And what’s your name?”

“I’m Jake! So what are you doing here?” he asked.

“I’m looking for someone named Sara Nieve. Does she live here?” Caleb inquired in response.

“You know Grandma?”

“Well, not yet, but I know of her. We have, well, had her dog, Ribbon-”

“Oh, you’re the ones who brought her back! Thank you!” the boy happily responded. “Let me get Uncle Roger, he’ll want to meet you.”

Did he just say Roger?

Jake yelled inside the house. “UNCLE ROGER! UNCLE ROGER! COME HERE, RIBBON’S FRIENDS ARE HERE!”

Caleb heard a voice in the distance, but it was too far away to make out any of the words. But what he saw next made him quite happy; a skeleton walking towards them, wearing a stethoscope around his neck with a white doctor’s suit with matching white pants.

“Oh, how nice!” the skeleton said, “you brought Ribbon back?”

Caleb happily answered. “Yes, well us and-”

Roger looked over at Edward and interrupted the boy. “Waitwait, you, are you alright?” he asked the hippocampus.

“No, I’m not” came Edward’s reply. Caleb had been grateful for his friend enduring being away from the ocean for so long, but it did hurt him to see his friend this way.

“Let’s fix that. Jake, get your sister and tell her to turn on the hose. Then go get a bowl and the salt shaker and meet us in the backyard. You two, follow me.”

“SKYLA! SKYLA!” the eight-year old yelled as he ran in the house “UNCLE ROGER SAYS TO TURN ON THE HOSE!”

Caleb and Edward did as Roger told them, walking behind the skeleton as he opened the gate to their backyard. It was a quiet, peaceful place with a nice maple tree. What appeared to be homemade toys were scattered around as well. Soon after, they were joined by the eight-year old boy along with Skyla, a younger girl who was turning on the hose like she was asked. This girl was maybe five or six and was wearing a white dress. Her eyes were blue and her hair was brown like her brother’s, but unlike him, she was more quiet and shy; she didn’t do much more than wave at Caleb and Edward before hiding behind Roger.

Jake handed the skeleton the bowl and salt shaker; he promptly set the bowl down and grabbed the end of the hose, which now had water running, and placed it on the bowl so Edward could drink from it. Then Roger screwed the head off of the salt shaker. “Here, open your mouth and take this, you’ll feel better,” Roger said. Edward did as instructed and the skeleton poured the salt into Edward’s mouth, explaining as he did so that “this salt and water will replicate the ocean water you’re used to. Take a salt tablet a day with some water and you’ll feel like you never left the sea.”

The hippocampus indeed felt much better. “Thanks, Mister Roger! Rainbow was right, you are nice!” With that said, Edward started drinking water from the bowl.

Roger then turned his attention towards Caleb. “So, young man, you came back here with Rainbow?”

“Yes sir,” Caleb said, “thanks for helping my friend, by the way.”

“No problem!” Roger cheerfully replied. “I was surprised when John wrote about getting a Rablin in his crew, but he’s always been unpredictable.”

“Rablin?” Caleb asked. “That’s what he is?”

“Yeah, that’s what we call them, cause they look like a mix between a rabbit and a goblin. Of course, they have their own name for it, but their language isn’t used outside their island. Their mouths and tongues move, literally, in ways yours and mine can’t. Well, yours anyway; I have no tongue!” he said with a laugh. “Their eyes are all different colors too, which is cool. Oh, that reminds me, where is he?”

“I, uh, actually was hoping you’d know that. We got split up after something of ours was stolen. We don’t know where Ribbon is either,” Caleb sadly stated.

Roger’s face lit up, as he realized what was going on. “Ah, I see. You all brought Ribbon back, only to run into trouble. Ribbon, knowing you’d need help, ran here and got Sara.”

“So Ribbon’s alright?” Caleb asked.

“Of course,” Roger reassured the boy, “Sara asked me to watch the kids while she went to see what was happening. She’s tough as nails; I’m sure if we wait here, they’ll be back in no time at all. Is the rest of the crew with Rainbow?”

At this, Caleb looked uncomfortable and sad. He didn’t want to be the one to deliver the news, but there was no sense in lying about it either. “I’m sorry. Captain John and everyone else died two years ago.”

Save for the odd foodstuff or discarded newspaper...this place was surprisingly tidy. For a moment his mind flashed back to those weeks and years past, eeking out a living on the old island - the Bad Isle; being forced to hide, the hours spent talking to his own illusions and yet always having to rationalize the fact that he had been, well & truly, Alone. In the absence of civilization, he'd been forced to make his own, to establish order wherever and (usually quite frequently) whenever he could within the confines of his humble underground abode. Perhaps . . .

. . . Then, just as fleetingly as it'd come, the memory was gone - he had a job to do.

Three chests stood out to him near the backmost clump of thick, almost petrified-looking leaves that made up the rear "wall" of the room. Of them, two were plain, mirthless and unpleasant to look over...only the third and final caught his significant attention. As he drew closer, Rainbow could more easily tell that it wasn't just the relative shadow secluding this pedestalled centerpiece - no, no this was something far more special. Its finely carved timbers were coated a glossy black, secluded yet alluring, as if it had been hidden solely to be viewed and admired.

"How's the view up there, ey lad?", came the pleasantly worried tamber from down outside. Rainbow ignored him, a soft smile creeping over his face as he placed his hands on the lid and pryed.

...

...Wait. . .what . . . ?

He was . . . Stuck? A surprised Rablin flinched and tugged back, wincing in pain at a feeling like he had nearly just torn off his own palms. He tried sliding them, peeling them, rotating them off the pitch black lid, all to no avail. He tried to panick, yet his strength suddenly began to fail him. He stooped, them crumpled, then grovelled beneath a deep, exhausting weariness that slowly injected itself into him from the magic placed on the chest. It was all so soon, so fast, so unexpected - and before he knew it, even kneeling proved too difficult a position to maintain.

Reality morphed and twisted into unreality, the room became dim and hazy - some force slammed into his back, then rolled across his shoulders, before reversing across his back again as he faintly recognized the feeling of fullblown collapse. Of body, of heart...of mind...all failed him. The world became nothing but a blur, and in his final moments he could only understand two things:

His hands were free.

And He was laughing...or. . .wait . . . w h o . . .

Unintelligible, yet audible; Discordant yet coherent.

Then Darkness Came...And All Was Still.



A relaxed, calloused and bare foot tread softly past the unconscious body below. With measured steps, it carefully followed the lead of the inquisitive cane that guided it, tapping along until it was brought to a halt by the object of its desire. Slowly, tentatively, a weary hand stretched out toward the glossy black - for a moment it seemed to hesitate...

...and then with sudden defiance, pressed firmly down on the lid, and pryed.

It opened without issue - much to the devious glee of the hand's owner. The gnome beamed, briefly nodding his head in gratitude to the unfortunate pawn sprawled beneath the shadow of the tripped chest: "My thanks, two-eyed and yet oh-so-blind; perhaps I'll repay the favor someday"

He reached inside, gently creeping fingers along the velvet interior until...yes, there. A swell of deep, cold-blooded joy surged through him - after 20 years of anger, hardship, and regret, regret at being so powerless for having trusted those around him; after all these years, having trusted in the incredible foolishness of another, having undergone the hardship of making it through his forested exile, having fostered that untapped rage into mad joy and one singular goal...they were one once again.

He felt, whole running his fingers across the five black opal rings, their polished surfaces sending chills down his spine at the possibilities to come. Dreams of unbridled hate, Dreams of revenge, Dreams of unending suffering for those treacherous few who took these, his hand, and his eyes to boot? Dreams, No Longer.

Throwing aside the cane with a sharp disgust, the old gnome greedily scooped the rings into the palm of his wrinkled and veined hands. Slowly, coldly, he counted off the names of the ring leaders, one last time to the timing of each ring being slipped onto its appropriate finger. Even after all these years, they seemed to fit perfectly, as if they too had been waiting, biding their time for this very day:

Boss "Fire Eater" Kelregor.
Boss Mequet "The Gentle".
Boss Gala "Red Wood".
"The Voice Of The People", Mother Darmae "The Pure" of Thorn City.
. . .
Liz, "The Leech", Lackadaisical.

Rage like a poison coursed through his veigns at that final name. The first of the traitors...the last who would suffer The Serpent's bite. Disgusting little thief, that...That..."thing" of a v i l e little being.

He reached back again to close the lid, yet his fingers stopped just under its lip. Strange, carved remarks scrawled along the inside, surely unseen to all but himself and their creator:

"For Mother & Father - a gift from Boss Scer'Pi'Kenes. For all eternity."

Scer'Pi'Kenes couldn't...help but smile at that. In a twisted, brutal sort of way.

20 years, it really had felt like an eternity...but That Time was almost up.

Slapping the lid closed and concentrating on the power of the rings, the gnome groaned at the pain of his body fusing with the grain of the wood, of the magical energy that wove its way across his body, until the whole of his resembled the very tree he stood within. Then another grunt of pain, and slowly, excruciatingly, he began to sink, the very fibers of his being morphing with that of the floor. He sunk ankle height, then knee height, then to his waist, to his shoulders, and finally into the black below as he began the arduous process of the druidic art of elemental transit. A single phrase echoed on his mind amidst the pain:

"Rose Palace. Rose Palace. Darmae. Be So!"

Kayden and Ribbon sat in the dirt together, both heads tipped at the same angle as they looked up at Sara. Her stomach sunk slowly as she realized that at some point she would need to break the hearts of all her grandchildren. But why did she need to break Kayden's first? Her husband's favorite, their own little Great Traveler.

"Is Grandpa at home?"

Sara drew in a deep breath as she carefully thought over her options. She smiled. "I haven't seen Grandpa. Ribbon came running up to me out of the crowd."

A frown crossed her son's face and Sara thrilled to see his displeasure. He knew, she was certain that she knew, and now she had the best of him. He couldn't say that her husband was gone now without being the one to broach the subject first. And Sara knew without a doubt he wouldn't do that, not when he wanted her to be the one that everyone associated with the news. But now she could do it on her terms, not his. A triumphant smile worked across the old woman's features, a hint of a smirk directed his way. Once again she had beaten his plan.

Her son raised an eyebrow, then turned back to his own child with an arm extended in invitation. "Come Kayden. We will stop by to see Grandma and Grandpa later. We must finish our shopping before the fish goes bad." Kayden reluctantly disentangled from Ribbon and accepted the outstretched hand. Her son turned once more to face Sara. "Good bye, mother."

“I’m sorry. Captain John and everyone else died two years ago.”

At Caleb’s morose affirmation of the crew’s fate a gasp erupted from Jake. The brown-haired boy shuddered, his lips quivering, tears brimming beneath long lashes as if he struggled to hold them back. He fled, bounding through the homely garden before Roger could seize him, vanishing over the gate and scurrying away like a startled rabbit. Skyla, being much younger did not recognize the weight of Caleb’s words, giving the skeleton doctor a chance to snatch her up and pull the little girl into a tight embrace.

“Oh, dear. Oh, dear me.” Rogers muttered as reality sank in and the child began to cry. Caleb suddenly felt a lot more awkward, fiddling with his sword hilt and kicking at the lawn. It was amazing the amount of emotion the bleached skull could emote, even without proper eyes or facial features. The empty sockets were stricken by grief, and the clenched jaw bespoke unsounded sobs of his own.

“I- I’m so sorry.” Caleb said, feeling as if he might cry as well. He beat himself again and again internally. He should have broken the news first to the older members of the family and let them gently ease the younger children into the truth. “I should have known better; I was bringing news of their grandfather’s passing. I’m sure he was a good man; Rainbow spoke well of him.”

“Such a terrible loss.” Rogers shook his head sadly. “You could not have known the scope of this news, do not blame yourself Caleb. You merely brought the message, as dreadful as it is. Though to learn of their grandfather and father’s deaths. It is no easy thing.”

“W-what?” Caleb said aghast.

Rogers nodded. “Aye, Herrown was John’s son-in-law and journeyed with him. An up and coming sea captain himself supposedly, and a good man. A good husband to Mary… Oh dear who will tell Mary? She will be distraught. Always holding out hope that one day they’d both return safe and sound after all these years.” Skyla cried even harder into his shoulder as the kind skeleton patted her on the back. “I know, I know it’ll be alright Skyla.”

“Maybe we should go.” Caleb offered, looking to Edward for some sort of support. The Hippocampus shrugged, looking for all the world as awkward and heartbroken as Caleb felt.

“No, no I must insist you stay. If you would not be imposed. With Rainbow missing, you are the only one who knows the story. I’m sorry I have to ask this of you Caleb, but this family needs the closure you could provide.” Caleb who did not think he could deny Rogers anything at that moment agreed to stay. Rogers rested a thin hand on Caleb’s shoulder. “Thank you, you have done us a great service. We should get the children inside, and send summons to Sara, Mary, John junior and his daughter Kayden, and Marrathew as well. I will have the serving staff on that at once.” He looked to Edward and gave the tiniest shake of his head. “I’m sorry Edward, but a horse of your size simply will not fit comfortably within the homestead’s dimensions. You will have to remain in the garden. There is a bell you can ring to summon one of the servants if you require anything, I will instruct them to cater to your every need. Is this acceptable?”

Looking a little mystified at the concept of a bell, or servants Edward bobbed his head up and down. “Uh sure, that’s fine...”

The busy doctor glanced behind him, a pained look on his unmoving features, and a miserable sigh escaping his rigid jaw. “Caleb, I asked so much of you already. But Skyla needs my support until Mary can be brought back from her place of employment. Would you be so kind-?”

“Yeah, whatever you need.” Caleb said instantly before Rogers could finish. As long as it kept him busy. He did not want to intrude any more than he absolutely had to upon their sorrow afflicted abode. For his own sake as much as theirs.

“Could you fetch Jake?” That certainly was not the task Caleb had been expecting. He never really considered himself very artful at sympathy. Some people had the talent to make others feel better, but it was not one of Caleb’s skills. Not by any means. And what did he know of losing his father, he had never known his own parents, much less Captain John or his son-in-law Herrown. Caleb was a distinct third party in all these events, and probably not a welcome one to Jake’s personal grief or space. “The poor boy needs to be here when his mother arrives.” Rogers continued. “I would not ask if my arms were not already occupied.” He indicated the weeping child clinging to his chest.

“I – I’m not sure I would be the best…” Caleb trailed off, unable to refuse the pleading look Rogers was giving him. The skeleton doctor had been John’s friend, but he was looking to his young charges first and foremost before his own anguish, and it was only right as the bearer of this dark news that Caleb do something to ease his colossal burden. “…Alright.”

“Bless you, you’ve done so much for us already.” Caleb did not feel that way, but he nodded along with the doctor’s words. “You’ll probably find him in the boughs of the mighty Arrocmor. It stands at the southern corner of our grounds. He is quite fond of that old climbing tree, it seems the logical place to locate him in his current, mood. A good place to cry in private.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t bother him there, if that’s the case.” Caleb hesitated. “He would be better left alone.”

Rogers seemed to consider this at great length, preforming a rather odd motion with his hand. He stroked the air beneath his chin, as if he were running his fingers through a beard his face might have once possessed. An old habit from life before reanimation perhaps? “No, I would prefer he were here to meet his mother and be amongst family. Healthier that way. They will need each other. He is an obedient and well-mannered boy, for the most part, tell him I request his presence for a cup of my calming tea to help him feel better. He will follow I’m sure.”

“Oh – uh okay.” Caleb was not sure how he would feel after losing someone as important as a parent. He was fairly certain a cup of tea would do very little in making him feel better. But surely the doctor knew more on these matters than he?

Edward offered to be the transportation, and Rogers, after pointing the general direction of this Arrocmor tree retreated indoors carrying the still sobbing Skyra with him. Hippocampus and boy made a subdued pair as they traversed the significant sward that once belonged to Captain John Nieve. “Y’know Eddy.” Caleb stated, clinging to the Hippocampus’ golden mane as the proud, and freshly restored water beast trotted southward.

“Hm?”

“I somehow thought bringing them the news would give the Nieve’s happiness. Or at least I thought giving them the answers they have probably been waiting for years to receive would cheer them somehow. I guess I did not think about it the right way though.”

“Oh? Why not?” Edward asked, genuinely curious.

“Ever since I could really think about these sorts of things, I’ve always wished someone would come and tell me why. Or at least offer clarity. Answers were all I have ever longed for. Maybe it’s because I have never expected good news, or anything like that. But questions like why did they leave me at Red Twig Orphanage, or Eagletown? Who were they and who am I? They have been haunting me my entire life. Anything to fill that empty hole would be better than waiting and expecting nothing. It seemed like all the other boys who shared my story in Red Twig felt the same way. We just wanted answers, any answer really. Even if it ultimately was bad, it would be better than nothing at all. I thought my experience with loss would be everyone’s, but it wasn’t. They are heartbroken and disappointed, not at all glad or satisfied. It makes me worried how I might feel when I lose someone important, or that I won’t be able to handle the explanation of my own parent’s deaths, however they occurred. Maybe I shouldn’t want to know, maybe it should always remain a mystery, lest I feel the loss and pain the Nieves’ feel today. Does that make any sense?”

“Its all above me.” Edward admitted after carefully contemplating Caleb’s words. “I’ve never felt that sort of loss, hippocampus live such long lives, I shouldn’t have to worry about any of my family passing for quite some time. And you are going to be alright. You’re so smart and skilled with that sword of yours. And Rainbow, he’s tougher than a whale. Flower is a bird and can fly away from any danger… Nope, I don’t think I need to worry myself over losing anyone for a good long time to come.”

“So, you’re just not?”

“Yup.”

“Wow,” Caleb sighed pressing his face into the pale fur. “I wish I could be that way.”

The Arrocmor was not hard to spot. A massive tree that stretched up into the heavens, covered in large, low hanging branches. It was large enough to build a comfortable home within and still have plenty of tree to spare. It was awash amongst bright blue leaves that seemed to sing in the breeze, and soft crimson bark run smooth by generations of hands. Large plump fruit hung from its thinner upper branches, the lower more accessible ones having already been picked bare. Caleb craned his neck skyward, searching the mighty boughs carefully as Edward began the long circuit around its wide base. He spotted Jake when they were nearly a third of the way around, sitting with his back to the trunk, staring back, his face smeary as if he’d just had a good cry, but ceased at their intrusion, wiping away the evidence with dirty hands.

Giving Edward’s mane a gentle tug to have him stop Caleb hailed the arboreal mourner. “Uh, hi Jake. Um, do you mind coming down? Rogers wanted you to come back into the house for tea…” No response was forthcoming, and Jake looked away sniffing. Edward was not offering any assistance, and the one tactic Rogers gave him had flopped. Caleb wondered if he should just walk away having failed in this task. That would not do though. Slipping off Edward’s back he approached the root base of the tree. Hesitantly he laid a hand on the red bark, and almost cried out in surprise flinching his hand away. The tree seemed to thrum, as if it had a heartbeat. He pressed his palm against the wood once more, welcoming the sensation of a beating heart. The tree was alive, truly alive, and warm to the touch. It was so comforting, almost a substitute for a loving parent’s embrace. No wonder Jake had fled here. If given the chance Caleb thought, he might rest against the Arrocmor for an eternity. Pressing his fingers into he soft bark Caleb began to climb, hand over hand, springing from branch to branch with all the lithe strength of a young boy skilled in arboreal movement until at last he surmounted the middling branches, coming to a halt just beneath Jake’s own seat. The boy did not rebuff his presence, but he did not acknowledge it either, pointedly looking in a different direction, trying awfully hard not to cry.

“You know there’s no shame in tears.” Caleb echoed, thinking back to a dark and bloody night deep beneath the ground in the enemy’s lair. He set his back against bark, closing his eyes, and enjoying the rhythmic sensation that permeated from the mystical tree. Somehow it worked, driving the nightmares away, the twisted and bloody shapes that haunted him every night were swept aside, and their memories replaced by solace. “I never knew him, your dad, but Rainbow said the crew that sailed with your grandfather were good men. So that includes your father, right? I bet he would be happy to see you are safe here in Thorn. Um. Real proud of you too…” His words were having no effect. No response whether positive or negative were being initiated. If anything, Caleb felt like he was intruding upon Jake’s space. Maybe it would be best to leave, but the tree felt so soothing he wished to stay and unpack some of his own baggage. Whether for Jake’s benefit or his own he could not say.

“I never knew my parents, y’know. No one did, I was found on a doorstep freshly born with only a note bearing two words and a blanket. The couple who discovered me there did not want me. They gave me to an orphanage, in Eagletown. The matron Adria was nice, and the other children were as good a family as they could be. But it never felt like home, like home should feel like. I never had someone to hurt for, someone I felt so strongly for. Part of me has always wanted to feel the way you do today, and a part of me wants to protect myself from that pain. Seeing you hurt, it rips me apart thinking about how much you must have lost. You clearly loved them so much. I guess what I’m trying to say is I wish I could have had parents like yours. But I cannot ever feel that loss, or that love. Which is why I urge you to cherish his memory and treasure your mother too. For her sake as well as yours. Because not having that love is the worst thing in the world…” Caleb felt a small hand squeeze his shoulder and looked up to see Jake’s tear stained face staring down at him.

“I’m sorry…” Caleb whispered. “That was selfish of me, talking about my problems when-“

“That’s alright.” Jake cut across. “You’re right, I think. Mom is going to need me to step up now more than ever. Take care her, and Skyla, and my cousin Kayden too. I don’t really have a choice anymore.”

Caleb smiled, reaching up and giving Jake’s shoulder a squeeze in return. “I wasn’t lying when I said your grandfather and dad would be proud. That’s very grown up thing to realize.”

Thanks, I hope I make him proud, wherever he is.” The younger boy relinquished his grip and Caleb followed suit. “Do you know how he died? They died I mean?”

“From what Rainbow told me…” Caleb said hesitantly.

“I’d like to know.” Jake spoke with such seriousness Caleb had to check and make sure he was still talking to an eight-year-old.

Carefully, with halting words Caleb laid out the story as Rainbow had told it. Mulling over how much he needed to share, and watering down the more gruesome parts of Rainbow’s no doubt already watered-down version of events. Jake’s face never changed once during the retelling until he asked after the fate of the dwarfs, and Caleb explained their attack and his own part in ending the dwarfen menace. Jake’s face twisted into a bitter frown and he nodded appreciatively.

“Good, they deserved that.” Was all he said, before letting Caleb finish the reciting.

“-So we took their ship, and set sail towards Thorn City.” He concluded in short order. It all seemed so long ago to Caleb, but in reality, it’d only been several weeks since that night. Giving himself a little shake Caleb tried to remember how much his life had changed since being here to there, how much he’d learned and experienced and how many people he’d met. It felt almost surreal. “We should be heading back, Rogers wanted you to be there for you mom when she arrived.”

“Yes, and you’ll have to tell everyone what happened.” Jake reminded him. Together the two boys tore themselves away from the heart tree’s embrace and descended from their lofty vantage, plunging branch by branch until they joined a rather confused, but content to wait Edward amongst the spreading roots.

“Can you carry two Eddy?” Caleb asked, eyeing the golden hippocampus.

“Aye-up. No problem. You two don’t seem too heavy at least.” The sturdy equine assured them. “But don’t ask me to carry Byures as well, he wouldn’t fit.”

“Whose Byures?” Jake asked, as Caleb helped him scramble aboard before hopping up and straddling Edward’s flanks.

“A friend of ours from the Forest district.” Caleb explained. “We wouldn’t have found our way here without him.”

“I should thank him.” Jake said after a moment of thought as Edward began their slow trot back to the homestead. “You were able to shed light on something really important for me and my family. I am glad you made it here Caleb. Thank you.”

The following is from the 1680 Edition of The History of Thorn City, Chapter Nine: Thorn City Revolution, printed by the Rose Publishing House. This textbook is distributed free to all children in Thorn City.

-----

...of course, the revolution that took place in 1056 was hardly unique to the Thorn City Shore. The elven Zelenos Dynasty reemerged in the south after over a millennium of absence seven years earlier, the dwarves were trying to reestablish their dominance over the humans in the north, and various animalman groups were fighting the dragons constantly in the middle of the continent. What was different here though was that the main actors did not organize the revolt by species; they organized by class.

Even in the pre-revolution days, the druids of the area were tightly knit. Magic being forbidden to all non-dragons, they had to practice in secret. Druidic spells were only taught to people they could trust out of necessity; if anyone told the dragons what was happening, their families would be enslaved or killed. Consequently, the knowledge of druidism came to be closely tied with just a few families. Among these was the Spencer family, Treling family, and most importantly, the Rose family.

Wendell Rose, the patriarch of his family and founder of Thorn City, was a clever and patient human man. He knew that if he could convince the druid families to separate from the evil Blackscale Empire, which continues to oppress people to this day, they could use their magic to properly defend themselves. Even back then, the Thorn Ravine was a tough obstacle for any land-based foe, plus the area had many trees that would be useful for defense. But what even the other families did not know of was that Rose had been planning for this day for over 50 years. Even as a teenager, he was studious and saw what would be the downfall of the dragons: population rates. To put it simply, the humans, elves, and other races simply bred faster and were thus far more numerous than the dragons were or ever would be. Given enough time, something would happen that would cause the various dragon states to lose their grip on the world, and that would be the time to act.

Therefore, Wendell Rose had been preparing his greatest spell for over 50 years, pouring all of his magical energies and monetary savings into it. To protect Thorn City from invaders, the exact methods of the spell are only known to a select few, but the end result was the creation of the Great Oak that helps protect our great city to this day.

The act of declaring independence was the easy part; the difficult part would be staying free. Doing so involved creating brand new institutions; our Army, system of government, and more would be successfully founded and tested during this time. What helped our great city succeed was that Rose was a pragmatist; he was not trying to kill the dragons entirely,* but rather to make a space where the druids would be free to hone their craft. Thankfully, the Empire was fairly content trying to fight other species rather than fight to conquer a piece of land that wasn’t even a single percent of the continent. That isn’t to say that blood wasn’t spilled though; while Thorn City mainly fought defensive wars, the forces of the Blackscale Empire tried invading the city on several occasions...

"I bet that Byures would like you. He mentioned that he liked kids and he probably has a soft spot for brave ones like you too." The ride back to the Nieve homestead had been smooth and uneventful so far. Caleb was fine with that though. Considering everything that already happened, he was beginning to feel physically and emotionally tired. He was positive that his mana felt drained as well. Probably from practicing that single spell in the woods before. "Erm. . Do you think that your family will be alright with letting us rest once we get back?"

"Yeah!"

"Huh? You want to rest? Now?" Edward had become a surprisingly reliable friend and mount in such a short period of time. This crossed the black-haired boy's mind as the Arrocmor began to shrink in the distance. Caleb would have loved to spend the day up there with some of his friends from the orphanage like Annette and Pierre. Sometimes they'd appear in his nightmares and daydreams. He hoped that they were well. "What about Rainbow and Flower? Shouldn't we look for them instead? They might be out there all alone and afraid. . We should look for them."

"We will." Caleb flopped onto his friend's back with a yawn as if to exaggerate his own point. "After a little rest."


They were back at the Nieve household in what felt like the blink of an eye. Caleb hadn't even noticed that he dozed off at first. That was before the giggling from Edward and Jake brought him back to reality. A heavy haze hung over his mind as his eyes slowly flickered opened. By now, the hippocampus had come to a stop in front of 182 Blossom Street. The quick realization that they would have to drop the news of Herrown's demise hit Caleb in the gut like a sucker punch. He could only groan as he sat up with the hope that Roger had already told the tale before they arrived. "We're here already?"

"We sure are! And you missed that Jake just told the funniest joke! Oh, you have to tell it again, Jake!"

"Oh! Okay, okay, so. . It starts like this. ." Caleb's eyes were scanning over the horizon with Rainbow's safety on his mind, but he had to have faith that his friend and captain would come back. It would be foolish to leave where they are now anyway. Leaving now meant that Rainbow could show up while they were gone and just restart the process of looking for each other. Caleb didn't want to deal with that and he was tired, so he would just settle on telling Mary about her husband's demise (assuming Roger hadn't already spilled the details) instead. ". . You'd think that one of them would see it!"

Caleb had completely blanked out from the joke though Edward certainly hadn't. Laughter seized the hippocampus as the black-haired boy finally slid off his back. He had managed to help Jake off as well before his friend was finally able to recover himself. "I love that joke! It's so funny! I'm going to tell it to Rainbow as soon as he finds us!"

"You should." A nervous smile was shot towards the hippocampus. "We're going to head inside and break the news to Jake's mom. You should head on around to the garden. I'll bring some food out and eat with you as soon as I have a free moment. Promise."

"Oh, okay." This seemed to deflate the hippocampus a little, but Edward raised his head still. "You promise?"

"Yeah, I promise."

Caleb shifted his weight to glance again at the large clock at the end of the room. The adults (Roger) had agreed (told Caleb) that he could wait to tell the tale until both Sara and Mary were here to hear what had happened. The kindly skeleton seemed to recognize that the child had no desire to repeat the information more times than necessary. Caleb, however, had not counted upon how awkward it would be to sit and wait for the woman to arrive.

On the floor by the empty fireplace, Jake did his best to distract his little sister from her tears. She sat clutching a dolly made of rags, the body soaked with tears. Jake gave her his brightest smile. "Come on, Lala, it'll be okay. I can take care of you and mama now. I'll start selling peat moss in the town, and maybe the fletcher will take me as an apprentice. You know I'm good at finding you pretty feathers, I bet I could find some real good ones for his arrows, and he'll teach me all about making them!"

Skyla hiccuped through her tears, refusing to smile. Jake frowned a moment as he mulled over his options. He brightened as a new thought flashed through his mind. "Well what if we sing a song? I'll teach you one my friends and I sing, but you can't tell mama 'bout it 'cause it's a naughty song."

This got both Roger and Skyla's attention. Roger had an expression that looked as if he intended to be arching a long gone eyebrow. "Jake..."

Jake ignored the warning and continued forward anyway, launching into a song that Caleb recognized. "The sunny yellow cat is sitting on the stoop,
The pretty little birdy just escaped the coop,
The silly little monkey is flinging all his,
Poof there goes my coin sack, while I was out with Jack,
We spent it on the lady with the really nice,
Rack your minds for answers all you dear romancers,
So I can safely woo the king's new and pretty,
Dancing makes you oh so merry even if tunes you can not carry,
I know cause my dear wife said so and she is oh so very scary,
I mean I love my wife I've loved her all my life,
Someone get me out of here I think she's got a knife!"

Skyla managed a small watery giggle.

Caleb frowned. "Wait, you got that last verse wrong."

"No I didn't!" Jake protested indignantly.

"Did to!" Caleb sat up, starting the song over again. The last verse he looked pointedly at Jake as he finished it up, "I know cause my mama told me that it was so,
She told me on mountains, she told me high and low,
And now that I have told you, you can't say you don't know!"

Jake frowned. "It doesn't go like that."

"Does to!"

The boys were still arguing when a familiar barking interrupted their conversation. "Ribbon!" Jake and Skyla bolted for the door.

Caleb bolted after them, an eager smile on his face. "Rainbow!" He scrambled into the yard, then froze. An unfamiliar, stern looking woman stood in the front yard, her arms crossed as she surveyed the tear stained children. Caleb's stomach dropped into his stomach hard. One here. One to arrive.

Carrion bird could sense when death walked near. Like dark shadows they circled overhead, cawing in their raucous tongue, calling their brothers and sisters to the feast. Many a bird heard their morbid summons but knew better than to approach uninvited. The victim would depart this world soon enough they knew. The Corvids could smell his dying breath; they could see his feeble movements. The faltering rise and fall of his chest grew shallow, and the bolder of the Murder drew closer, settling amongst the branches waiting for death’s final victory. The unconscious form twitched and grew still, and the corvids shuffled closer. One, bolder and larger than the rest croaked, he would take the first pecks, lest a lesser bird suffer his wrath. The others squawked and grumbled but did not argue the simple truth. He would prove a formidable foe, they would wait, impatiently. The corvid, a large oily crow hopped forward, jabbing experimentally at a green foot, his razor beak leaving a line of crimson against the emerald flesh. No reaction emanated from the dying, so he strove nearer, working his way around until the creature’s delicious eyes, concealed behind only thin eyelids were in pecking range. Crowing victoriously the bold corvid drew back his head to feast and struck.

A grey and white thunderbolt ploughed into his back! Driving webbed talons tore deep into his brilliant black plumage, and an orange beak snapped at his head. Feathers flew in every direction as the two birds tussled, rolling across the loam covered floor, screeching, and calling terrible battle cries. They were evenly matched it would seem. Roughly equal in size and strength and equipped with sharpened beaks. The crow thought himself a ferocious warrior, and did not back down easily, tearing into this meddling gull who would intrude upon his meal. The other crows croaked their displeasure from the sidelines, making a thunderous racket but they dared not intervene. First pickings were sacred amongst their kind, this was their boss’s fight alone.

The bloodied duelists broke combat, settling only a few feet apart, circling and sizing the other up. Arguably the gull had taken the worst of the bout, despite her ambush. Puffing out his feathers the corvid near doubled in size, sending out squawks to prove his meanness, impressing upon this outsider she should not have dared disturb his dinner. His display of bravado would have cowed any lesser bird, but gull did not seem shaken, indeed it seemed she would remain unto the bitter end. Who was this insane fowl? So far from her coastline and piers where she belonged, and deep inside the city proper. Was she this desperate for food that she would die fighting for it? As good a meal as the dying creature promised was it worth such a brutal sacrifice? He could kill her, but at what cost to himself? The gull did not share his own doubts. Raising her wings, she launched herself forward, the mournful cry echoing throughout the tree’s interior.

Dead things were common in the forest, the crow decided. One could find plenty of slugs, or insects should one become desperate. No prize, no matter how delicious would be worth this. Turning tail, he fled, flapping away, cawing angrily before the maddened gull could engage. Circling once the gull landed astride the green creature’s chest, glancing this way and that to see if any others amongst the Murder dare test their mettle. None stepped forth. Seeing the strongest among them be driven off impressed a great deal, and they settled down discontentedly to allow this formidable stranger first rights at the feast.

Flower shuffled her feet atop Rainbow’s chest. His heart still beat, she could feel it. The rablin lived, but barely. He was dying, something lurked beneath his skin slowly killing him. His ragged breaths grew few, and far between. She could sense the Murder shuffling ever closer, nearly two dozen hungry crows growing more exasperated by the second. Why hadn’t supper begun?

She screeched as the bolder amongst them hopped within pecking range. They croaked back, twisting their beady intelligent eyes right to left, trying to understand. Wondering if it would be worth fighting for. Time was of the essence. Hopping down she pecked gently at his hands, eliciting no response. She tugged as his toes, and pecked at his nose, and even called into his ear, each attempt showing less reaction than the last. One corvid, braver or hungrier than the others inched nearer, giving his own experimental jab at Rainbow’s face. Flower retorted in kind, grasping the crow’s head by the feathers, and tearing them free with a powerful tug. The crow flailed, screaming bloody murder as his black crown splattered scarlet droplets. That was when the corvids decided then that they had had enough. As one mass of black wings they descended upon the lone gull, determined to kill this intruder and feast. They swirled about, tearing at Flower, as the helpless gull battled fiercely, giving as good as she got. But there were to many, and these crows were not going to just drive her away, they were out for death. The battle exploded into the air, and across the table scattering this and that until a small chest, empty and open was sent clattering to the floor, shattering on impact.

Rainbow’s purple eyes snapped open. He writhed in agony; his body engulfed in a swarm of angry birds. He tried swatting them away, but each contact his hands made sent spine splintering pangs throughout his entire body until he screamed for all he was worth, the birds directly above him were forgotten as black residue leak from every pore on his body. Even the crows, accustom to the scents of rotting flesh blanched at this offending stench and sight. They scattered to the four winds confused and furious at a lost opportunity.

Rainbow began to hyperventilate, his muscles spasming uncontrollably as the last of the black curse exited his body. Black ooze was replaced by putrid sweat and the agonizing pain faded into a dull ache. He whimpered trying to remember what had occurred. Everything was a haze. Memories of children, oceans, forests, and monsters swirled through his head, clouding his thoughts. He dared not move unless the pain return.

A soft bird’s call emanated from his left, and Rainbow turned his head ever so slightly, feeling the liquid murk squish beneath his head. His entire being resisted the movement, but he managed until his eyes could lock upon the flyer who had made the noise. His violet gaze came to rest on a battered seagull. It was Flower he realized, after a moment. She lay awkwardly on her side missing a great deal of feathers and looking considerably worse for wear. Not a far cry from himself in fact. One wing looked bent out of shape, and it seemed she bore a score or more wounds. How she had found him, or why she was in such a state was beyond Rainbow’s mental faculties at that moment. Licking his dry lips Rainbow stretched out a hand, his entire arm shaking from the effort. “F-f-find… Help…” He managed to say, even as the rational part of his brain still functioning told him the bird would not understand. “P-please…”

Whether his words made sense or not, the gull struggled gamely to her feet. Giving Rainbow one last seabird’s cry she limped into the air, flapping raggedly away from the suffering rablin. Searching the city for her lost friends would be arduous, especially with a sprained wing and numerous injuries, but Flower was not the kind of bird to give up easily. Of that at least, she was certain.

Sara hugged her grandkids as they ran up to her and Ribbon. Sara examined her two grandchildren before settling on the one she didn’t know standing in the distance. The dog seemed to gravitate towards all of them equally, so she probably arrived here with this boy. And this boy knew Rainbow somehow, so the three of them had arrived together. But where was Rainbow and, assuming any of them made it, where were the others?

“Young man,” Sara started to ask Caleb, “do you-“

Before she could finish her sentence though, Roger interrupted. “I have tea and cookies! Come to the backyard, we can share these with Edward.”

“Thanks, Roger!” Caleb responded, grateful for the reprieve from likely having to explain what had happened more than was necessary. He went with the kids and dog to the yard; Sara arched an eyebrow at Roger, who subtly mouthed “ask later” to the old woman.

Edward, who had been relaxing fairly contentedly, perked up when he saw Caleb and the others coming. “Hey guys!” Everyone sat fairly close together; the three kid’s backs were resting on Edward, with Ribbon laying down in front of the children. There was a picnic blanket set up with the promised tea and cookies.

“Hello, Edward,” Roger said as he arrived before sitting down and turning his attention to Sara, who remained standing up. “oh, this is Edward, and that’s Caleb. They came here from...where were you from, exactly?”

An easier question than the one Sara was going to ask, at least. “Oh, I’m from Eagletown, in the Southern-”

“The Southern Kingdom!” Roger exclaimed, “that takes me back. I haven’t been there in over 400 years.”

Edward seemed pretty unfazed by the news, but Caleb had a look of bewilderment on his face. “Four hundred years?!”

Roger stroked his invisible beard, thinking about it a little more before speaking. “Hmm, yeah, 413 if you want to be precise. I was a doctor for the King’s Knights. Did you want to hear the story?”

“Yes!” Edward squealed. Caleb simply nodded as he sat down. Jake didn’t say anything. Having heard the story before, he was watching over his sister, who in turn was paying more attention to Ribbon than to Roger.

The skeleton began his story. “Alright, so in 1268, I had just finished my studies at Thorn City University. Being 24 and restless, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do. My parents wanted me to get a prestigious job working for the University or the Roses, but that sounded so boring to me. I wanted to do something exciting!”

“And you did, right?” Edward excitedly asked.

“Oh, it was more than I had ever bargained for,” Roger responded, “but yes. I came upon a poster one day - one of the areas near the Southern Kingdom was offering sign-up bonuses for doctors who would serve with the King’s Knights. Going across the Big Ocean to some faraway land sounded good. My parents even agreed - they wanted me to come back as some big war hero. The voyage there was pretty uneventful. When I arrived, they put me to work immediately. War was brewing with the gnolls and we had to be ready. And sure enough, they invaded the Eastern Walls a week after I arrived. It was bloody, awful fighting - war always is - and my friends were falling left and right. I rushed around, man to man, trying to save as many people as I could. It wasn’t enough though - our position got overran and I was killed.”

“Oh, no!” Edward exclaimed, “how did you make it back here?”

“Well, it wasn’t easy. Next thing I knew, I was surrounded by a bunch of gnolls! They apparently turned me into what I am now so I could heal their injured comrades. It was not pleasant, but I did so for a few weeks before I was able to escape. It was a miracle, but I eventually made it to the Bleak Ocean, where a friendly hippocampus took me all the way back home.”

Edward beamed at the mention of a fellow hippocampus doing a good deed, but Caleb just had a question. “Back to Northgate?”

“No, they would’ve killed me on sight,” Roger responded. Noticing the frown on Caleb’s face, he added “maybe it’s different now, but back then the Southern Kingdom wasn’t a friendly place for undead. Gnolls were necromancers, humans were not. I went back to Thorn City, where I’ve been ever since.”

“I guess that’s fair,” Caleb said.

“I’m glad everything worked out!” Edward then added. “Thanks for the story!”

Roger glanced at the house for a moment - nope, Mary had not arrived yet - before deciding to share more information. At the very least, it would keep Caleb from worrying too much. “Ah, yes, well it did, in the end, at least. When I got back, my parents were less than pleased. They wanted me to be a war hero, not some skeleton they had to hide from their dragon-lover human friends. So they disowned me, right then and there, and I never saw them again.” At this point, Jake was paying attention. Roger had never shared that part of the story with him before.

“I’m sorry, Uncle Roger,” Jake finally spoke up, “that must’ve been hard.”

“Oh, only at first,” was the skeleton’s cheerful reply, “but I made other friends who became a family to me. The world is such a big place and the negativity can be overwhelming, but focusing on the good in life and surrounding yourself with good people is what makes life worth living. I truly believe-”

This time though, Roger was interrupted by a female voice. “Kids? Mom? Uncle? I’m home!”

“Mom!” Jake and Skyla ran for the back door where Mary was waiting for them, home from her job at the library. Caleb just stayed sitting down for a moment longer, mentally preparing himself for what would happen next.

"Mom!" Jake seemed more enthusiastic to see his mother than Skyla was. The younger of the two was taking the news much worse than her brother. That much, though, was to be expected. Losing one of your parents at that age had to be difficult. Caleb couldn't much relate as he never knew his parents to begin with, but it must've been similar to his situation. Hollow, abandoned, and a little alone is how he felt sometimes. All he could do now, though, was shoot a nervous glance towards Edward while waiting for what was to follow. "Mom, mom, mom! Come meet my new friends!"

It was almost as if Jake had already forgotten though Caleb knew that wasn't the case. He was a brave kid trying to put on an act for his emotionally strained younger sister and soon-to-be emotionally strained mother. It wasn't fair that this responsibility fell onto him just like it wasn't fair that Caleb had to share the news. And yet, here both of them were. Life wasn't fair. That's what knights were for though, right? They tried to make life just a little bit more fair and equal for everyone. "You made new friends? That's great, Jake!"

"Over here, Mary." Roger had stopped stroking his imaginary beard to wave the woman over. Mary looked to be in her early thirties, maybe, and had similar traits to both of her children. Long brown hair was tied into a ponytail that hung at the side of her head and was held by a ribbon similar to the pointer dog's. Azure blue eyes that were the same shade as the sky complimented her face along with this. "I want you to meet Edward and Caleb."

"Oh?" A back door was shut behind her. There was a quick look of confusion that faded in favor of shock and then pleasant surprise. The source? It was the pointer dog in a ribbon that was running over to the woman with a furiously wagging tail. A hand was slowly raised to the woman's gaping mouth. Caleb, meanwhile, could only feel a fist of guilt hit his stomach. "Ribbon! I take it that Dad and Herrown are finally home?!"

"Actually. . Caleb and Edward brought her home." The skeleton gestured towards the hippocampus and black-haired orphan that sat at the edge of the picnic blanket. There was hesitation in the skeleton's next words and Mary sensed it too based on how she stopped approaching them. "We have something to tell you, Mary."

That was all it took for the older woman to drop her purse onto the ground. A patchwork bag filled with books fell onto the lawn and Skyla fell forward to wrap her arms around her mother's waist with a muted sob. Jake, meanwhile, turned his focus towards scooping up the books that had fallen loose. "They won't be coming home anytime soon, Mary."



Roger was generous with retelling the story so that Caleb didn't have to. Even if he had begun to feel detached from the situation with each passing breath, he couldn't force himself to look away from Mary. Her face fell with each word and she had run off by the time that the explanation finished. She took Skyla and her mother with her yet left Jake alone. The young boy remained in the garden with a dejected expression and handful of books to keep him company. He could only stare in silence as sobs of his mother could be heard from the opposite side of the back door. "I told her that I would be strong for her. ."

"I'm sure that she likes that, Jake. She just needs some time to cry and she'll be strong for you too. Sometimes people just need to cry when they're sad and then they'll be better again, I promise." Caleb was staring at the sky when it came diving towards him. He hadn't even noticed what it was until it hit their picnic blanket and Ribbon was whimpering. His eyes immediately widened at the sight before him. This included the bloodied wrangled mess that he was certain had been his sole companion back in the Big Ocean. ". . Flower? Wait. . Flower! What happened to you?! Where's Rainbow?! R-Roger! Roger! I need your help!"

"I'm on it." The skeleton doctor was already scooping the seagull into his bony hands. "Keep an eye on Jake for me, will you?"

Caleb paced back and forth at the edge of the blanket where Roger worked. "Are you sure that Flower is going to be okay?" He asked for what had to have been the seventh time.

Ever patient Roger just smiled. "This isn't so simple a matter as fresh water poisoning," he pointed out gently. "Edward was an easy fix, just needed some pressed ocean salt. I keep a bit around considering how close we are to the sea. I do still suspect he's got a couple complaints from whatever left him those fresh scars, but that can wait. You mortals tend to focus much more upon pain and injury. The shorter your life, the more you care about being hurt. In the span of a hundred years, what's a month of limping? But if you only live a month, well, a day is a significant amount of time to be injured."

Caleb had never had magical medical matters put so plainly before. "Is that why babies cry if they prick their fingers, but we don't?"

Roger nodded. "just that! For a baby, the pain of a prick seems to be much longer in the span of things than it seems to you. I am surprised this bird can even fly, what with having a wing in this state. There must be something more important than pain happening. I'll have your Flower mended up as best I can here in a moment, and then as soon as the bird is rested, we shall see if we can't retrace the way back to what caused this mess."

Edward nuzzled Caleb gently. "Flower will be okay. Roger did a great job with me!"

Jake nodded his confirmation. "He's always patched up Lala and me! Sometimes even pap-" he choked on the last word and blinked rapidly to prevent the tears from falling. The young child forced a smile back onto his face and straightened his spine. "Roger says that lavender and chamomile can make people feel calmer. Grandma grows some out front! C'mon! Let's go make little bundles for mama and Lala to put under their pillows tonight!"

Caleb was reluctant to leave Flower, but Jake was insistent. The two boys headed around front together in silence. Jake was still trying to maintain his forced smile and Caleb was too worried about Rainbow and Flower to begin conversation. Both boys were so caught up in their own thoughts that, despite the lack of conversation, neither heard the angry conversation until they were nearly upon it.

"What are you doing here?" Sara's arms were crossed and her tone was harsh. The recent tragedy had dulled her patience for unpleasant matters and had sharpened her irritation.

Her son smiled sincerely back at her, his hand on his daughter's head. "Kay wanted to see her grandpa, and I brought gifts for the children. I had noticed that Jake and Skyla are without proper shoes. I thought to pick some up while I purchased some for my child. A man must take care of his family after all."

"We don't want your soiled gifts." Sara spat.

For a second, fury flashed across the man's face before he smoothed it back out. He bent down and kissed his daughter on the top of her head. "Go around back, Kay, my love. Grandma seems to have had a bad day. I'll speak with her. Go take your cousins their shoes. Skyla will love the pair you picked for her. The silver buttons were a good choice." Carefully he nudged Kayden in the direction that Jake and Caleb hid. He watched his daughter disappear around the corner before turning back to his mother.

"I will not allow you to bring around anything you've bought with criminal coins." Sara snarled.

"You will never speak of my activities in front of my daughter." The cold, firm words were enough to quiet even Sara's grief for a moment. "Kayden shall never know of, nor be involved with, anything that I do. And you shall never bring her attention to those matters. She is a good girl who wants to help her less fortunate cousins. Your pride may stop you from doing what it takes to keep them fed and cared for, but mine does not. My pride leads me to do what it takes to care for my family while father is away. I suppose now that he is home, you feel the children will no longer feel the soft fingers of hunger trailing through their dreams? Or do you truly believe he shall never leave us to hard times ever again?"

He scoffed and shook his head. "I am not so foolish, mother. Kayden does not know hunger, nor shall I allow my siblings children to. But she shall also never know how it is that I keep her life as good as it is. She does not need guilt tarnishing her young life." He tipped his head, a smile crossing his handsome features. "And you, you consider yourself too noble to be the one to destroy her dreams, aren't you? To tell a young girl who's mother abandoned her that the parent that cares for her, the one that loves her, is not as perfect as she thinks."

Uncertain whether they should turn and leave the adults to their conversation or press on and pretend they had not heard the incensed exchange the two boys hesitated, Caleb especially wishing he wasn’t there. Jake wore an unusually embarrassed expression, and he tugged on Caleb’s sleeve. “C’mon, we shouldn’t be here. It’s not polite to eavesdrop.”

Caleb did not resist and let himself be led to a different part of the garden. Jake was subdued as he explained how to gather and bundle the herbs. The task at hand was not difficult, relying mostly on a good eye to identify the correct plant, and whether it would survive harvesting. They would then pluck a leaf, or bit of root and add it to a small bundle and wrap it up using nettle vine. Jake even explained some of the plants, some familiar like goldenrod and yarrow, and others strange or exotic like dragonstem, and bargoro vine. Roger of course did not plant his earthly remedies in any organized manner, so the process took a fair amount of time, just searching amongst the massive garden of different flowers, bushes, and weeds. Working diligently the pair soon fashioned together several of the herbal packets, Caleb managing to complete two, and Jake who was far more experienced putting the finishing touches on his fourth. The younger boy, stepping gingerly to avoid crushing any of the precious plants underfoot stepped closer to inspect Caleb’s offerings.

“These should do. You do not need to wrap them up so tight, you want enough space between the vine to allow the juices to leak through when we crush and wet them, but not so much that any plants escape. Nicely mixed though, especially on this second one. This should be more than enough for Roger’s purposes.”

They exited the herb garden and began the march back to the rear of the house, Jake unobtrusively taking the long way around to avoid the mysterious man and Sara, if they were still there.

“So…” Caleb began, treading carefully lest he offend or embarrass his younger friend. “Was that your uncle earlier?”

“Hm? Oh, yeah. That’s Uncle John.”

“Sara didn’t seem to happy about seeing him?”

“Grandma doesn’t like his gambling.” Jake explained a little to quickly. “Says its either a roll of dice or cheating.”
“Is gambling illegal in Thorn city?” Caleb asked, and then immediately wished he could take the words back as Jake’s face turned red, and he spluttered angrily.

“No! He doesn’t do anything illegal at all and I don’t have any criminals in my family! He’s a good man, who just wants to do good by his family.” He glared daggers at the older boy, crossing his arms across his small chest. “Just drop it alright, they had a disagreement. What does it matter you anyway?”

“Nothing, sorry.” Caleb gasped a little shocked by his outburst. He decided to leave the obviously sensitive subject to rest. They rounded the corner to find the entire Nieve family gathered. Including another stranger Caleb could only assume was John and Sara’s youngest son Marrathew, a thinning man in his early twenties. A heavy atmosphere hung over the small gathering, and Caleb guessed Roger had just finished relating the news for a second time. John was standing a bit apart from the others, as if he was unwelcome but couldn’t necessarily be denied his right to grieve amongst the others. There was a thoughtful air to his mien as he watched his daughter Kayden pet a compliant Edward’s gilded mane. He glanced up as the two boys approached, a surprised but genuine smile breaking the shroud of sorrow that hung over his features.

“Ah, you must be the Caleb I’ve been hearing so much about.”

Caleb nodded, passing off his herbal bundles to Jake. The younger boy looked rather pensive, but said nothing, gathering the packets together and ambled towards Roger who was still diligently working on Flower’s numerous injuries. John stepped forward, encompassing Caleb’s hand in his own, larger calloused palm. They shook once before parting, John stepping back to examine this strange youth further.

“I would like to thank you, on behalf of all my family for bringing this news to us. We never knew what occurred, we could assume of course for the ocean is a dangerous and unpredictable force. But we might have been forever uncertain as to his fate. You have done us a great service today. And returning Ribbon to her home as well, such kindness cannot be easily repaid. But I would like to offer you anything in my power to acquire. Say the word, and I will see what I can do.”

“John, don’t make promises we cannot –“

“Mother,” John released a trouble sigh cutting Sara’s warning off. “Please, I told you I will handle everything.” He looked back to Caleb. “You need not make your request now. It can wait if you require.”

“Actually, there is something.” Caleb said, chewing thoughtfully on his lower lip. “But I meant to ask it of Doctor Roger.”

“Oh, well, erm. I cannot speak for him per say, but I will do my best to convince the good doctor to heed your desire.”

“My home, the reason why I departed on my journey originally was to find a healer who could cure the Black-Eyed-Blight. It has stricken so many of the good folk and threatens to wipe us out. If not from the disease itself, then from the quarantine the kingdom has laid upon us.”

John seemed caught off guard by this, and he glanced uncertainly towards Roger. “What do you know of the Black-Eyed-Blight?”

Roger paused in his ministrations, running two skeletal fingers across Flower’s feathered head as he searched through his four centuries of medical knowledge. Diseases, ailments, cures, and practices changed over the years, evolving with the knowledge of the afflictions themselves. “I do not recognize the name, though if its symptoms match it’s rather descriptive title it could be one of ten different plagues known more professionally under different monikers, or a new one altogether. I cannot say for certain without a detailed inspection of a victim. Of course, I will bring several texts on the known diseases with that particular symptom, and a blank one should it prove undocumented.”

“You’ll come back with me!” Caleb cried in excitement, despite the somber mood.

“I could not say no at this point.” Roger admitted, returning to his work on Flower’s wing. “Though, it would be wiser for you to remain here in Thorn, where you are less likely to become infected. I may not need be concerned with the worries of the living, but you are still vulnerable.”

“You could stay with us.” Sara offered. “Heavens knows this house is large enough to keep you, and we have a nice stable for your horse as well.”

“Hippocampus.” Edward interjected, making Kayden nearly jump out of her skin. The poor girl having not realized the beautiful golden horse she had been petting for the last half hour had been sentient enough to speak. “And I’d prefer to go back to the ocean but thank you for the offer.”

“We have a ship docked at the forest district,” Caleb explained as the members of the Nieve family who had not been aware of Edward’s uniqueness or sentience stared openly at the amused Hippocampus. “Rainbow, Flower, Edward, and I will be perfectly comfortable there, and we wouldn’t want to intrude on your hospitality. But as he said, thank you for the offer.”

“Of… Of course.” Sara said regaining her composure. “And where is Rainbow? I would have liked to see him again.”

“I don’t know.” Caleb admitted, feeling his heart sink at the loss of his friend. “He’s been missing for hours now, ever since we docked. And after the state Flower found us in, I hate to think anything bad has happened to him.”

“Not to worry.” John crossed his arms, a rather pleased expression on his face. “I have some friends who know this city like the back of their hands, and everyone in it. If they cannot find a foreign Rablin wandering the streets, no one can.”

Caleb was heartened by John’s optimism. “Can we go now?” Caleb asked, “I’m worried about him.”

“Of course,” John reassured the boy with a smile. “Mother, could you watch Kayden while we’re gone?”

“Sure, son,” Sara responded with only a hint of resentment. Turning to Caleb, she was much more pleasant. “Caleb, before you leave for home, could you bring Rainbow over here? I’d like to meet and thank him.”

Before Caleb could answer, Jake asked Caleb something too. “Actually, could I go with you? I want to thank your friend for getting you here.”

“Yes, to both,” Caleb answered as Edward got up to follow Caleb, “we’ll be back when we can. And thanks again for everything.”

“No, thank you,” Sara replied, “you’ve done a great deal for us. Please, be safe out there.” This last, she said while looking at John. Sara was reluctant to leave Jake in his care, but she had taught the child how to fight, so he could look after himself pretty well.

As the group of four left, the adult members of the family glanced at one another. There were things to discuss that the kids probably shouldn’t hear.

“Mary, it looks like you picked out some nice books today. Why don’t you take the kids inside and read to them?” Roger suggested as he finished treating Flower and set her down on the picnic blanket so she could rest.

“Oh, that sounds like a lovely idea,” Mary responded. “Kayden, Skyla, come with me,” she said as she scooped them up into her arms, “I have some great stories for you. One of them is about a druid named Jack who grows the world’s tallest plant.” Ribbon followed them, carrying the bag of books with her.

Once the kids were out of earshot, Sara spoke again. “Roger, why did you agree to go with that child? I like him too, but Lydia is still trapped! And the letter-“

“Letter?” Marrathew asked. “What letter?”

“It came yesterday by messenger bird while you were at work,” Roger replied with a depressed look on his face, “the mercenaries I hired got caught by the warden. The druid got enslaved, but the others are dead. I really thought they’d save her.”

“That’s awful! First father, now this...” Mattathew shook his head, repressing tears from his eyes.

Sara probed the skeleton further. “Roger, what are you going to do? You can’t just abandon her to slavery.”

“Of course not!” the skeleton yelled, “but Caleb did so much for us and went so far for his people. I can’t just ignore that.”

After spending a few moments deep in thought, Sara spoke with great conviction. “Alright, I’ve decided. I’ll get Lydia, then you can go to Eagletown and help that boy.”

“Sara, you can’t! I just lost two family members, I can’t lose another. And who will look after the kids?” Roger asked.

“You’re not losing anything, ‘cause I’m not going anywhere. You forget how strong I am!”

“Well, yes, but-”

“But nothing. I’m going and that’s all there is to it. You do so much for us, this is the least I can do for you. We’re family, Roger.”

“…thank you, Sara. But again, what about the kids?”

“I’d love to help, but you know how busy the city keeps me with work.” Marrathew replied.

“There’s no way I’m trusting Junior with my grandkids,” Sara added with disgust. More kindly, she continued on. “Roger, I know you want to help Caleb. I do too, but if I’m not here I’ll need someone to watch them. And John’s gone, so I can’t afford to keep the servants. I hate to ask-”

“Yeah, I can stay a little longer. Poor Caleb though, he’s already done so much and-”

“I’ll tell him. Besides, Lydia’s a good doctor too; she can help you with your work.”

After Sara said this, the three came in together for a hug.

-----

Back in the Northern Border District, the two boys and hippocampus were waiting outside of a seedy-looking bar. Apparently it wasn’t a place for kids; Caleb had to wonder what sort of information a supposedly upstanding citizen could get from a place like this. Jake would likely have taken offense to further questions about his uncle though, so the 12-year old simply stayed quiet.

Inside the dark-looking establishment, John was talking to one of his “friends” about Rainbow’s location.

“Rablin? Ne’er heard o’ no Rablin,” a drunk older-looking pantherman said. “But y’should lay low a while. Word’s the council passed a new anti-gang law. They’re coming down hard on ya folks, tell ya what. Gettin’ the army on ya and errything.”

“I appreciate the warning, but don’t worry about me,” John replied with a slick grin on his face, “I’ve got it covered.”