Twenty years later, in the very same house on a night much like that one many years ago, the air was still and silent. Suddenly, a knock echoed from the door. A hooded figure stood outside.

"Who's there?" a voice called from within.

The hooded figure replied, "Aiden!"

The door creaked open, and the person inside smiled in surprise, He looked like zepher, but he was 5’4. "Aiden! It's been so long! Come in, come in. Let me make us some tea." The two hugged briefly. The hallway was warmly lit, with an old axe hanging on the wall, paintings scattered about, and an ancient rifle mounted as a relic.

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As they walked through, Aiden glanced at the axe and asked, "So, Jayden, is the handle mahogany? Maybe oak?"

Jayden shook his head. "Nah, it's blackthorn. Grandpa gave it to me, actually. You just missed him. Why don’t you head to the sitting room? If you're going to listen to the radio, open channel 154—it’s the news station. Oh wait, why are you here?, i thought you were spending summer with your girlfr-"

Before Jayden could finish, a crow fluttered from a nearby room and landed on Jayden’s shoulder. “Isaac, not now,” Jayden muttered, nudging the bird away.

"Right this way," Jayden said, leading Aiden into the sitting room. "Here we are! Go ahead and get comfortable. I’ll make the tea. What would you like? Oolong? or red?"

Aiden smiled. "Just oolong.

Jayden came back with a tray of cookies, pastries, and tea. “So, why are you here, Aiden? I thought you were spending the summer with your girlfriend,” Jayden asked.

Aiden hesitated before replying, “Oh, I’m here on Dad's behalf, actually”