With seven groggy children in the wagon I checked out of the inn early. It'd take probably a week to get from here back to Huot assuming ideal circumstances so the sooner we left, the sooner we'd arrive. Knowing the summer rains and storms it would likely take a bit longer, but I'd see what could be done.

Everyone had with them a bag of effects and we stopped by their house once before departing to ensure the proper notices were up and everything was locked down tight. They took some of the money from the sum their father left them to pay well in advance for the time they'd be gone. Fortunately Vergas was a pleasant and small place so the housing costs per month weren't terribly expensive.

After being in Huot for so long it was nice to be in a town with more diversity. Vergas, in a way, reminded me a lot of Wuori, my hometown, and it was a breath of fresh air to me. The kids seemed to agree, probably part of why they chose to settle here and not even farther north.

I sat up front on the wagon to guide the animals back home. It was a pretty monotonous job but Riv kept me company. I could hear the other kids in the wagon pass time with small talk, stories from home, observations about the outside, and other little things. Surprisingly there was very little tension coming from them, at least so far. When it would get quiet while I worked alone I'd poke my head past the tarp and peer inside to see the usual pairs and groups napping with or on each other: Riv and Harley, Sura and Connor, Xhias and Xhianei, and Saffron usually slept right behind where I sat.

I'd try to go through towns as often as possible to get things like food or stay at inns. While I could deal with the hard ground or wooden wagon for my trip up to Vergas I didn't want to put them through that. Two rooms were plenty and most inns had at least that much available. Sura, Connor, Xhias, and Xhianei would take one room while Riv, Harley, Saffron, and myself would take the other. Rooms usually had two beds and two per bed was easy enough.

...Though I'd usually wake with the other three in my bed anyway. Saffron's back would be up against mine while Riv would somehow get his back against my front with Harley in front of him in the same manner. I could tell Riv was having a hard time thinking and feeling through how to deal with all of this and, even at the age of twenty-one, he was still seeking some kind of comfort or help to push through it. I didn't mind this; it was a lot to chew. As he slept I'd run my fingers through his long hair to help keep him relaxed just like his father and I did such a long time ago. Even in his sleep those round ears of his would recline and his breathing would slow. Though he was a fair amount taller than me he'd still situate himself below me, enough that I could nudge and rest my snout on his head as we all slept.

Saffron's back would be planted firmly against mine the whole night. She was always such a perceptive, watchful kid and I know she took it incredibly hard when everything happened at home. While she did stick very closely to the other kids there was a very special fondness she reserved for their father and I, so that big incident was horribly jarring. I did wonder if she'd try to disguise herself again once we returned to the town, but I think she understood that she wouldn't need to anymore. At times she'd roll over with her front against my back and, in her sleep, would cling to me when she thought I was getting up. Poor kid was probably just as confused as Riv which, given her more logical and cool-headed nature, was quite strange to see.

I'd do what I could to reassure everyone as the days and nights passed. A few nicer nights we stayed outside, telling stories and eating around a nice fire. Sura and Saffron would tell me about their time spent in the Stipa ruins and how they stumbled upon Xhias and Xhianei. Sura had said she felt bad about telling the two not to go back to Huot, but I told her that doing so was probably the best advice she could have given-- there was a lot going on and some pretty hectic things that happened a short time after their departure and the last thing either of us would want is for any of the kids to get caught up in that ordeal. She didn't quite understand, but with a sure glance she could tell that it was something to come when we'd all arrive back to the foster home.

Xhianei seemed quite fascinated by me and had taken to sitting close and interacting with me pretty early on. Her brother was a bit harder to coax and I could sort of tell why: Those eyes of his were pretty unusual and no doubt he was bothered by how I might feel about him. With enough harassment from his sister he'd eventually relent and come closer. It wasn't long before I'd have both leaning on me as they ate their campfire dinners.

I was sure that the small man back at the foster home would love to see what became of these two. He'd been so worried all this time.

After a few days Riv would start approaching me instead of just sitting next to me. While the others slept in the wagon he'd peel Harley off of him for a short time to come sit up with me. At first he wouldn't say much, maybe some small talk, but as he continued he'd get progressively closer. Whether or not he thought I would notice, I did, and would put my arm around my nervous son. He'd lean his head against mine as I steered the cart and I'd gently rub his arm to help him relax.

He was very bothered by how this would go. After trying to keep himself angry about it for so long, lying to himself all this time to reaffirm why he did what he did, now that he was outed he had no idea what to do or how to feel. After all, it's easy to say that someone did a bad thing and deserved the punishment, but he was so caught up in his anger over the incident tangled with his fear from what caused it that his mind just shorted that night. He felt scared and betrayed while also understanding that this matter, just like the one he faced himself, was uncharacteristic and seemed to be prompted by something. Their father, as much as Riv might try to convince himself otherwise for his convenience, would never willingly try to hurt them. When put in a situation where he had to follow disciplinary measures -- ones not set by himself, unbeknownst to the children -- he did anything he could to get them out of it or ease the matter.

I was glad I was there to convince Riv to go easier on his father come that last confrontation. Riv knew deep down that there was more to this, but without that "why" he had no idea how to react. Maybe now, three years later, that "why" would finally help relax the remaining tensions and anger he carried and put to rest the guilt he still had to this day.

I told Riv his father never once blamed him for what happened, that he harbored no animosity or ill-will over it-- and I was being honest. But this was something that was best coming straight from the source and that Riv and the other children were willing to come along meant that they, too, wanted the same closure.

"You doin' okay, Riv?" I quietly asked.

"...Yeah," he responded.

"Are you sure?" I asked again. "It's, well, a bit late to turn the cart around by now. We'll be there tomorrow."

"...I'm sure."

"Is there anything I can do for you to make this easier?"

"...I just don't want him to hate me."

I squeezed him against my side.

"I assure ya that such a thing's never even crossed his mind," I said. "I know you're worried, but he understands why it happened just like how you understand why everything else happened. You know it wasn't deliberate but it was still bad and scary, and likewise he knows that you only did what you knew to do to protect someone you love."

"...Even the things I said before we left?"

"Even the things ya said before ya left. You knew back then things weren't adding up so I'm sure in your three-year absence you've done plenty of reflectin' back on that, looking for things that went wrong. You know there's more to this whole thing but you don't know what it might be, just like you know that there's no way he'd'a done something like that for the reason ya said. You were angry, Riv, and so shielded from the greater story. Neither of us blame you for those things, or for the conclusion you came to that day."

"He didn't..."

"No, honey, he didn't," I said, running my fingers through his sideburns, "and he'd never once think to do such a thing. Please give him a chance."

Poor kid just tensed up. That ordeal was awful and terrifying for everyone involved and trying to get everyone to close the matter wouldn't be any small feat. There were years to pore through, so many things none of them knew, seemingly little things gradually snowballing into much bigger, much worse problems. I'd hoped, though, that with everyone being older now and given some time to really reflect on everything this whole thing might be a bit easier to sort out. Harley was rather chipper and excited to see her adoptive father again, at least so far stating that she didn't hold against him what took place and that she had a feeling there was more to it.

She was right.

Bits and pieces of stories would trickle through the tarp. What started as chewing on some of the worse matters, like his irritable snaps, would soon turn to be about altercations their father faced for them, or little things he'd try to do for them to show he loved them, to show he cared. Once or twice it was brought up how strange it was that he was so willing to try to ease and pacify their issues when they arose when the staff of the house couldn't possibly be more hands-off or callous-- from running out of groceries to the constant cycling of hand-me-down clothing, to rarely supplying anything for their respective hobbies. Slowly but surely they, too, had noticed that something wasn't adding up, and I think this was the case even back then.

Come one morning we were in familiar territory and it wasn't much longer before we could see the town of Huot along the horizon. A few hours later we'd finally pull into the town limits and I could station the wagon and animals back to their service location. They were happy enough with the condition of everything that they let me off a little easy with the payment and even more so when they saw just who all I'd brought along. I think Riv recognized Tamani, one of the ramiotrans that babysat him in his younger years, as the two of them exchanged pleasantries. From not far away several others from the carpentry shop and Ulimi from the grocery shop came out to see for themselves the group of kids that fled three years ago. I don't think the kids expected to be remembered, let alone cared about, by anyone.

Slowly a few other people would join them, then a few more from there. It wasn't too long before a small crowd had gathered to see the stimulus that led to a much-needed wave of change and one these kids had no idea about. Riv was especially taken aback, all of this being so different from the horrible town he once knew-- a place where he couldn't even go into town without awful harassment and dirty looks.

After a short time we all walked down that familiar street to the far north end of town, up to a large building that had barely changed since their departure. They stopped for a moment to collect themselves before following me further, my leading them down the cobblestone path and up to the simple cement porch. It was business hours so I opened the door freely and stepped inside just as a familiar man was about to step into the hallway corridor. The noise of the door opening and my feet against the wood stopped him, but the sound of several more feet just behind me had his ears falling aside and head slowly turning.

Just on the other side of the lobby stood the family he'd lost and worked tirelessly to find again over the past three years.

The family he'd tried so hard to hold together as much as his constraints could allow.

And, of course, the family he hurt in his overworked exhaustion and fits of fear-- a horrible guilt that still sat heavy upon his tired shoulders even now.

Honestly he expected me to come back empty-handed with only the money out of my hands, not to come back with the only thing he longed for anymore. I hate to say it, but I did, too. For everyone's sakes, I was so glad to be wrong.

They all stepped out from behind me as I closed the door, and even from here I could see their father's eyes getting wet through their gloomy fog. The tension was silent and awkward, everyone seemingly frozen in place without a clue where to go from here. For a time the only sound I could hear was the ticking of a clock.

After a moment Connor stepped forward, parting from Sura's side, and walked up to the small man just across the lobby. He motioned from below to come closer, their father hesitantly bending down a bit as the little boy wrapped his arms around him. Something in the man's head seemed to crack and soon his arms would reciprocate the gesture, feeling something he never thought he'd experience again. He brought that long, fluffy tail around the little boy as his body tensed and he tried so hard not to break down.

"Please don't be sad, Father," Connor quietly said. "We're here again. Aren't you happy?"

"...This is probably the happiest I've ever been, Connor," their father replied. "I'm sorry, I...didn't mean to cause a scene. I just...I-I never thought I would see all of you again, and it's...overwhelming."

Connor rubbed his snout against his father's cheek, doing what he could think to keep the man calm just like the man did with him several years prior. After a minute he'd stand back up and try to regain some modicum of composure as the small boy returned to Sura. Sura gently pet through Connor's hair once he did.

"...I apologize for that, children," he said, just loud enough to be audible. "I'm sure you'd rather not be here, but...I'm so...so glad you are."

He scanned the small crowd in his lobby, a small sea of concerned eyes all staring back at him. He seemed to stop longer at Harley and Riv, a few tears leaving his eyes as he did. From here I could see him shaking as he reached one arm to dig his nails into the other, never liking showing his emotions around others and especially not his children. He turned back around to face the wall, no longer able to look at them directly, and took a deep breath.

"...I-I'm so sorry for what all happened," he sniffled, rubbing his now-sore arm. "I truly never meant...to hurt any of you. I know you may not believe me, but...the last thing I would ever want is to lay a hand on you, for any reason."

"There's...a lot you kids don't know about, like I said, so I'll be helping your father here fill in some necessary gaps he wasn't aware of," I said, stepping my way over to the smaller man and his section of wall. "He has most of the information, though, so he'll be doing most of the talking. Understand?"

I looked back to the kids and they collectively nodded their heads-- even Riv, whose expression was still quite nervous, but intent. As the one who was here for most of his life I'm sure he was probably even more interested than the rest.

I rubbed their father's back to try to calm him, his tail dropped to the floor and quivering. It was hard to see anyone like this, especially a grown man, but maybe this would indicate on its own the severity of the situation-- both for them and for him. After a moment he finally found some words, and the ones I'm sure his children had been waiting for, for a very long time.

"...Children," he started, sniffing and turning his head just enough to see back to them.

"...It's time you know...the full story."

***