It had been four years since Mau left the peace and security of the small town of Middleston. Four years since Mau had bought that peace and security for the people of Middleston with her blood, sweat, and toil, by single-handedly wiping out the goblin den that had lain hidden and dormant until the goblins within felt bold and daring enough to start attacking the town.

"She should be sixteen now." Mother thought aloud as she sat by the small grave behind the house. Mother fidgeted, her fingers playing with the hem of her blouse as she bit her lip.

"Mother, I worry for her." She said, resting her hand on the headstone with a sigh.

Grandmother didn't talk much anymore but she was still as good a listener as she always ways.

"She told me something once. Before she went to kill the goblins. Something I've kept quiet and secret for her ever since then. That she was reborn specifically to kill the Demon Lord." Mother murmured to the grave. "I could tell, when she told me, that she wasn't lying or making it up." The cat-woman sighed, brushing an errant lock of dark hair out of her eyes.

"But I know she's strong. I knew that when she came back from the goblin den. I knew that before she left for the den. I just knew she would come back. ... Like how I know she'll come back once she finishes her quest... Journey... Mission?" The woman faltered.

"But that doesn't mean I'm not worried..." She huffed. "Every night I think about it. What did she do today? What has she faced? What hardships will she encounter. Is she alright? Is she hurt? I know she'll be okay, but I still can't help but let those horrid intrusive thoughts gnaw at me."

Mother's time with Grandmother was interrupted, however, by a knock at the cabin door. Mother's ears twitched at the distant and low series of familiar thumps that told her Thrain was at the door. Mother pursed her lips as she paid her last respects to the grave, running her fingers over the rectangular headstone before she eyed the small pot of flowers she had rested atop the stone.

Time slowed down. Mother could feel her heart racing in her chest as she reached for the pot, fingertips gently brushing over the hardened and baked clay.

All it would take was one little push. A nudge, really, and the flowers would go tumbling to the ground...

The sound of the knocking at the door continued, and it pulled Mother out of her feline fugue state with a soft breath.

"We'll talk again, soon, mother." She said as she picked herself up off the grass and dusted off her dress.

"I'm coming." She called out as she made her way around the tiny cabin and peeked around the corner of the house. Just as she had expected, Thrain was at the door.

"I'm sorry Master Thrain, I didn't keep you waiting long, did I? I was chatting with my mother." She said.

The old dwarf shook his head, craggy and bearded face breaking into a warm smile.

"Nay, nay. Just got here. And I thought that might have been the case. You didn't push over the flowers you left for her, again, did you?" He asked playfully. "It's good to see you, Miu."

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Stepping out from around the corner of the cabin Mother nodded and motioned for Thrain to sit in one of the wooden chairs by the door. "Please, relax, I'll make some tea for us. What brings you to my neck of the woods?"

"I think I'll take you up on that." The old dwarf said, climbing into the indicated seat and leaning back into it.

While Thrain settled in, Mother opened the door to the cozy little house and stepped inside.

"I'll be just a moment with that tea." She said, placing a pot of water over the fire crackling in the hearth to start boiling.

It was just a few moments later that she returned with a small tray and two piping hot mugs, and settled herself into the chair next to the old dwarf.

"I came out here because I thought you should know." Thrain started to speak as he took the mug that was offered to him. "I've been hearing rumors out from the direction of Dorn. Haven't been down there to check in on 'em myself but... There was something' about a catgirl Demi-human stopping the plans of a lich tryin' to take over the whole city."

Mother blinked as she cradled her own mug in her hands.

"You don't think..." She said.

"I do think it. I'm sure of it in fact. Who else could it have been?" He answered her.

"A lich, though... Aren't they..."

"Aye," Thrain nodded, "hideously powerful undead."

Mother could feel the blood draining from her face. She knew Mau would face hardship and adversity, but hearing about her daughter's exploits was something else entirely.

Logically, she knew the Demon Lord was supposed to have powerful minions, but the thought of even being within a mile of a lich made Mother go pale.

Mother took a steeling sip of her tea, it instantly relaxed her and she heaved a tiny sigh

Thrain took a sip as well and made a funny face through his beard. "Odd tea you've made, Miu." He said while watching her sink into her seat a bit more heavily.

"Catnip." she said, explaining everything in one word.

"Ah." Thrain said, taking another sip, "makes sense."

That was when the old dwarf pursed his lips into a thin line. What he had to say next wasn't going to be easy.

"Miu, I'll be leaving Middleston." Thrain said solemnly. This made Mother glance upwards from her mug with a blink.

"You're leaving, too?" She said, ears drooping.

Thrain nodded.

"The Demon Lord is amassing an army. Slowly but surely. The dwarven kingdom is gearing up to be ready for when that army marches. The mountain king himself requested I come out of retirement." He said.

Mother took another sip of her tea and sighed. "That's big news. I'm sorry you're being called back to arms."

"Aye, well, someone has to. Mau can't fight an army on her own, if she's really aiming to take on the Demon Lord."

Mother blinked. She hadn't told anyone about what Mau had told her, ever before, and a slow frown crept its way across her face.

"How do you know that's what she's aiming for?" Mother asked cautiously.

Thrain's laugh echoed with his good nature as he took another swig of the warm tea. It didn't do a thing for him but he didn't want to be a bad guest.

"Girl like Mau? She's got destiny written all over her, anyone with half a brain cell can sniff it out. She's destined for great things, and if she left wanting to be an adventurer, the loftiest goal she could have would be to bring down the lord of darkness himself." He chuckled. "Best we can do... Is pray for her and support her from the back lines as best we can."

Slowly Thrain sat himself up with a grunt as he drained the last of his tea. The heat didn't bother him, he was a dwarf born in the hot pits of the Iron Mountain. The heat of the forges was his womb for his formative years and a hot drink had little effect on his palate.

"Thrain." Mother said as she sat herself up, fighting off the relaxing effects of the tea, "Just don't die."

"Everyone's gotta die sometime, ma'am." He said. "Whether 's my time to go out on the field of battle again or warm and cozy in my bed is up for old Thuvros to decide. But I'd love to see you and Mau again, before that happens." He said as he started making his way down the path back to town.

With a weak mewl of goodbye, Mother sunk into her seat again, tail flitting lazily.

She would wait. She would wait as long as she had to for her daughter's return. She would wait and pray and hope. Because deep down she knew... One day, Mau would come back.