In the hall, it was much of the same. Children talking, families grouped together. They lined up, single file, and were served some warm oatmeal with one berry in each bowl. The children ate with feverish need, filling their bellies quickly. Those more accustomed to the warm food and comfort stared from other tables. Chandra was pleased none of the children seemed to notice.

“It’s just a lot of kids, Mom,” Kurzon assured her when he caught her looking around the massive dining hall. “People don’t really remember what it was like. Or try not to.”

She smiled and pushed the oatmeal around the bowl. Kam stood from his seat, making a quick apology, and approached another man in the room. She couldn’t hear their chatter, but it seemed official from the way they spoke and how low their voices kept.

It all seemed so… normal. But Chandra’s eyes looked down the table. Shane and Cally were the only ones who seemed preoccupied. For the third time, Cally asked Chandra where her mother was and Shane's voice piped up only to speak about Ashley. It reminded her so much of those first weeks on her own. Alice telling her to have hope after Kam left to find Kurzon. The agony of not knowing. The fear, the nights of no sleep and dreams filling in her doubts with nightmares.

Where Chandra had been gifted that precious morsel of hope, she knew the double edge of that blade was sharp. They need to know. She closed her eyes and could see Viola and Peter. This can’t wait.

As the meal came to a close she stood from the table, not a bite of her oatmeal eaten. She made no real show of it, but pulled Cally and Shane from the table and led them to the foyer of the hall.

The voices of the rest of the hall died behind the massive double doors, and she led them to the side where there was a bench. “I need to tell you something children, and...” Her voice faltered as she held their hands, kneeling before them.

“The kids said Mom died,” Shane said coolly, his eyes never wavered from hers. Cally began to tear up at just the thought and as Chandra stared, her hands tightening, Cally started to cry.

“I'm so sorry. Your Mother and Peter tried so hard to get back to you.” The words felt hollow against Cally's sobs.

“No… She can't be!” Cally wriggled her hand free from Chandra and shook her head.

“Peter too?” Shane's eyes were red, his face pale with shock. Chandra nodded to him and tried to pull him closer but he wouldn't move from the bench.

The front door of the hall opened and with it, the chill of the morning swept in. Shannon stepped forward with Tish just behind. Chandra hadn’t set eyes on them yet, and although she had a mountain of thanks give, she wasn’t given the chance.

Shannon stalked towards them.

“Please, I just told them about their family,” Chandra said. “I’ll keep them quiet but don’t-”

Cally pushed off the bench, and Shannon knelt down to meet her. She buried her face in his chest, sobbing hard.

“I know,” Shannon whispered and Cally cried.

Chandra watched with her own tears, trapped in a kind of shock. With a wing wave from Shannon, Shane wiped away his few tears before walking towards his sister. With one arm, Shannon scooped up Shane in with Cally.

Tish stepped up beside Chandra, her mouth just as agape.

It wasn’t long before Nita appeared, the childminder seemingly manifesting from the air. “I should probably move them on,” she suggested, looking back to the dining hall.

Chandra nodded. “I don’t think they should be alone right now.”

“I can stay with them,” Nita said. “Keep them-”

“I got this.” Shannon stood up, each hand holding one of the kids. “Lower dorms, right?”

Nita nodded but stepped forward. “I don’t mind, I can-”

“I said, I’ve got this.” Shannon’s voice was sure and strong and he started for the door without waiting for permission. “You two wanna see my favourite place here?” he said before the door closed behind him. “It’s really quiet, and a great place to hide when you want to be left alone.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“I should go with them,” Chandra said low, but she didn’t move from where she stood.

Tish, dumbfounded in a similar state shook her head. “I dunno. It’ll sound weird but, even though Shannon’s an asshole to most people, he’s good with kids. When he’s not being a dick.”

Chandra had a hard time reconciling the man from the forest with the one that took up those two children with such ease.

“Besides, he gets it, I think. Better than most do.” Tish turned to Chandra. “Did they tell you what happened out there? Shannon and Reid haven’t said a thing about it.”

Chandra shrugged. “I have no idea but they saved the kids. That’s all that matters.” The words left Chandra's lips proudly, her mind bringing up the first memories of Shannon and consciously tucking them away for good. He is not that man, she decided with a small smile.

Tish seemed to weigh what Chandra said quickly before shaking her head. “Did you eat? I’m starving.” Without waiting for Chandra to answer, Tish stepped into the dining hall.

After breakfast, Chandra, Kam, and Kurzon joined the children Nita watched over. They walked through the quad, pas the upper border dorms down towards what Shannon had called the Lower Dorms. It was a well-barricaded section of the college, down a set of cement steps that led to a small, dried-up fountain. The buildings seemed tighter, cozier than the upper dorms, and the first row of windows were barricaded.

“It wasn't so strict before,” Kam noted as they walked, just a little behind the children who tailed after Nita. “But about two months ago a group of people tried to steal some supplies. There was a small conflict, four dead and another six wounded. Some were long-standing members, others among those that came with Kurzon and it.” His voice dropped lower. “The council kicked them out and things tightened up around here. Not necessarily for the better.”

“And the children?”

“We keep them in the lower dorms because they’re the safest place. Wounded are brought here too. It can be easily sectioned off, and a few people I work with have been helping to keep additional supplies here. In case.”

Chandra looked to her husband suddenly. “In case of what?”

He did not answer the question.

“Nita teaches them in the large common room during the week.” He said it as though it was the conversation they were having all along. “On the weekends we try to find some fun activities for them. A familiar schedule is the one thing that's never changed. Sometimes I think we need it more than the kids do.” Kam held the door for Chandra as they entered, her eyes taking in every detail.

The ceilings were low, but not uncomfortably so and it had a strange coziness about it. The heaters seemed to work well compared to where she and Kam were staying, but that could have been do to the overcrowding.

“We keep them in groups of four in the rooms. We could spread them out more but it conserves heat and it’s easier to keep track of them.” Kam paused while the kids were instructed to have free time and they ran off in small groups to different rooms. “A month or so back there was one girl on her own. She was found wandering the city by herself and we didn't know she was a sleepwalker.” His voice dropped a few tones. “She fell down the stairs and wasn't found until the morning...”

Nita approached the two of them looking confident and polite, brushing her hands off on her shirt.

“Kam,” she said with a nod and he returned it. “I hope I wasn't interrupting anything.”

Chandra shook her head quickly, trying to think less about what Kam had told her.

“Good!” Nita smiled firmly. “Then I guess I should show you around the place.” Her statement was to Chandra who looked back at her confused, Kam letting out a sigh.

“I haven't quite spoken to her about it yet, Nita.”

“Spoken to me about what?” Chandra asked her husband quickly.

“Oh! I’m sorry… I'll let you two discuss it then.” Excusing herself quickly, Nita went towards the first staircase that led to little feet pattering above them on the second floor.

“Kam, what is she talking about?” Chandra asked again, her husband guiding her into a small office. It would have once looked out onto the small courtyard but was now barricaded by boards.

“Like I've been saying things have been very restrictive around here.” Kam sat her down in an old leather chair that had seen better days, taking his own seat on the matching ottoman in front of her. His hands held hers tightly as he tried to explain.

“They don't tolerate outbursts like the one you had outside of the gates. I've seen them turn people away for less. You were justified,” he countered as Chandra tried to pull her hands from him. “I'm not saying you were wrong. Not in the slightest. But they were prepared to...” His voice caught in his throat and Chandra's stern frown softened.

“In any case, you were released on the condition that you work with the children. Nita is the only one and with Kurzon's help we've been managing but now there are too many. Six more children, six more mouths to feed and bodies to watch. People expect death around here but when a child dies or becomes ill, it’s demoralizing. Painfully so. And… quite frankly I need someone I trust in here. I know it is a lot to ask of you, but-” Chandra touched her husband’s lips to stop him from speaking.”

“Of course I will help.” She pulled him close to her, his body warm as they embraced. “These are trying times, and I am here for you. I trust you.” Chandra sighed against him, relaxing into his shape. “Besides, the children will be more comfortable with someone they know.”

Kam pulled back to smile. “Good, then it's settled.”

Kurzon popped his head into the room. “Mum, do you know how to make a diaper from cloth?” The question fumbled from son with near comical tact and Chandra couldn't help but laugh.