Ra’Handa moved through the broken streets of Dayargain as people milled about, carrying goods, or working on the reconstruction. She waved at some of the city folk as they called out to her. She had become quite well known in the city since the events that almost destroyed it. People knew she and those of the Iron Lioness were the ‘Heroes of the Isles’ or some such. She beamed whenever anyone used that title, she’d become hero as she always wished she would. Blink however, had taken to avoiding the city folk and certainly cringed every time he was called a saviour. In fact, he had again taken to avoiding the city folk and his duties of helping them rebuild yet again. Ra’Handa thought about how she would give him a thumping for leaving her to work alone.

‘Oi there, Ra’Handa. Aren’t you meant to be helping the others with rebuilding,’ came the voice of Terrick. He grinned at her wickedly under the locks of red hair about his handsome face. He was covered in sweat from the heat of the day and the labour.

‘I’ll be at it as soon as I find Blink the lazy dog,’ she said returning the grin.

‘He’s been nothing but a sad sack for months now. I’d worry about him if I’d ever known him to be any other way,’ said Terrick rolling his eyes. They’d become closer since the events of that night. When Blink wasn’t helping to rebuild, or avoiding it, he was with Terrick and Dell sparring. Ra’Handa was glad that he had made new friends and was trying, though she too had noticed a sadness in him. They had spent time looking for Demera once all the dust had settled, she’d disappeared in midst of the fighting and made for Bonny. Blink had been so distracted then. He seemed to second guess everything, unsure if he should seek her out. He wouldn’t talk about what had happened.

‘Leave him alone Terrick. He’s been through a lot. We all have,’ said Dell coming up carrying planks of wood in his strong dark arms.

‘Thought you’d be up in ya shiny tower with the rest of them fighting over who’s gunna run things round here,’ said Ra’Handa jeering at him.

‘Ha! What and leave all the work to the two of you? We’d never get anything done and most of it would shoddy lopsided work,’ he laughed, and placed the wood down where one of the builders took over.

‘Bid and Nessus are still combing through the libraries in the tower. She said if I didn’t take that ridiculous armour off, she’d knock some sense into my skull,’ he said mimicking her voice.

‘Oh I’ve always preferred you with your gear off anyways,’ said Terrick playfully. Dell blushed and punched him lightly on the arm.

‘Do you two have to?’ Said Ra’Handa grimacing.

‘Don’t be green with envy Ra’Handa. There’s plenty of fine young ladies in this city for you if you’d give them a moment of your time,’ said Terrick slyly. By the way he joked and teased, Ra’Handa could see why Brigid couldn’t stand him. Although, he was painfully likeable at the same time.

‘Maybe I have given some of my time, and a little more… though it’ll be none of your business,’ she jibbed back. ‘Brigid’s right by the way. The people don’t trust you Daybreakers no more. Better you don’t be so showy,’ she said to Dell.

‘I know. But brushing away all the wrongs we did and leaving it that way doesn’t seem right. I’d rather wear the armour and do better. Fix things,’ he said.

‘I suppose that’s all we can do. Though don’t tell Brigid that,’ she said half smiling at the thought of Brigid yelling at him through the streets.

‘She always did like getting her way and setting us right. I’m surprised she hasn’t put herself forward for The Counsel,’ said Terrick.

‘They could certainly use her. All they seem to do is argue about who should be in charge now that Bornwald, Pavreck, and Jadissa and the old dead king were exposed,’ said Dell.

‘Enough of the serious talk. You wanted Blink yeah? Last I saw he was with Danu down by the docks. Ra’Handa thanked them and left them to their work.

When Ra’Handa finally came to the docks they were alive with ships and trade. It reminded her of home in Bonny when the ships would come in. She saw children playing at being heroes with wooden swords, or others trying to sneak a peek at the new arrivals. There were shouts of shipping numbers and names. There were arguments about prices and storage or whether the correct papers were in order. She eventually found Blink down by one of the empty docking areas, his feet dangling over the edge, looking out at the ocean. It was a quieter area, a place he could hide away from the prying eyes and shouts of thanks for the Heroes of the Isles. She came up behind him and saw that Danu was curled up as a ginger tabby. She purred loudly next to him and soaked in the heat of the day. On his other side was the bone and fur sword he had taken to calling Brandúlf’s Hackle.

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‘Skipping out on work again ey? I’m starting to feel like your nurse chasing you down for chores,’ she said sitting beside him.

‘Sorry Ra. I just couldn’t deal with people thanking us again today. And Danu thought we should see the sun rise,’ he said apologising. He did sound sad… he’d been this was since that night. It wasn’t the same sadness that had driven him to anger. It was more accepting, doleful, even regretful. Even so it made Ra’Handa wish she could take it all away for him.

‘She’s decided to be a cat today ey? Same as when we met,’ she said thinking back.

‘Only a little while ago. She was a gull flying out to the ocean earlier,’ he said. ‘She hates the thanks and titles more than I do. Though I suppose no one is calling me an angel or divine lady,’ he added. Danu had, had a particularly difficult time in the city since she had shown her wings. Many of the city residents thought her an angel, a being of light and protection, it was overwhelming and more than a little annoying. She’d taken to being in animal form most of the days and only changing back in the privacy of their rooms at the guild.

‘You doin’ alright mate?’ said Ra’Handa.

‘Me? Yeah, I suppose I am. I’ve just been thinking a lot,’ he said.

‘About what?’ she asked.

‘About what comes next. What kind of life I’m supposed to choose for myself,’ he said looking at the ocean.

‘What do’ya mean? We got a life here with the guild and our mates, don’t we?’ said Ra’Handa confused.

‘Not like that Ra. Terrick and Dell, they’ve got each other, and this is their home. Makes sense for them to stay and fix things. Brigid does whatever Innais says, not to mention spending all her time in that library looking for other numinian pieces. Nessus… who knows what Nessus is looking for; some knowledge lost to their people. They’ve all got a life and a purpose figured out for themselves,’ he said thoughtfully. They sat for a moment listening to the waves.

‘D’ya remember we used to sit here and do just this as younglings?’ said Ra’Handa. Blink looked at her finally. He seemed older than he had when they escaped Bonny, not in the passing of days or months, but older in experiences.

‘Yeah, I remember. We said we would find our parents and go be adventurers with them. Make a name for ourselves in the world,’ he said thinking back.

‘That was just us wishin’ we hadn’t been left behind. Like we was, special and someone else would come and save us from how things were. We ain’t like that no more. We got each other and we make our own path,’ she said.

‘I have been left behind Ra. My people are all dead,’ he said, pain in his words.

‘Yeah an’ I’ll probably never know who mine are… but they’re just your blood. They ain’t your only people,’ she said nudging him. He looked at her.

‘You’ll always be my people Ra,’ he said eyes tired and a slight curve to his smile.

‘So what’ll it be then? Marry Brigid, grow fat and have a few babies?’ she said teasing. Blink looked at her shocked, his tanned face growing crimson with embarrassment.

‘No Ra! Nothing like that. Brigid doesn’t think that way about me!’ he protested. Ra’Handa laughed hard at her old friend. Soon Blink too saw the humour of it and gave himself permission to laugh also. Danu woke from her slumber and gave a long tail twitching stretch. She sat upright regarding them. Ra’Handa thought that if a cat could pout with disapproval, then that must be what Danu did in that moment. Soon she looked away at the ocean and watched the waves with them.

‘You like her tho ey?’ Ra’Handa said when they settled.

‘Brigid? I suppose… a little. Maybe,’ he said awkwardly.

‘So then stay,’ said Ra’Handa. Blink seemed to think on it for a moment before responding.

‘That doesn’t mean she’s interested in me Ra. I’m not sure I’d be ready for all that anyway… not when there’s things I need to sort out first,’ he said seeming to make a decision about a question that had hung on him for some time.

‘And that is?’ said Ra’Handa curious, although she thought she knew the answer.

‘I’ve been running from things my whole life Ra. Running from a history I didn’t want to believe, from Horrog and Demera, from my anger, my sadness, from a hope that things could be better. I think it’s time I faced it,’ he said finally with a look of determination on his face.

‘I thought as much… I’m surprised it took this long. When do we head back to Bonny then?’ she said with a gruff sigh.

‘You’re coming?’ he said surprised. Ra’Handa gave him a comical look of insult.

‘Well I’m not hanging about here waiting for you, am I? I’m no desperate damsel to wave yer hanky at as you leave,’ she said smiling.

‘No you certainly aren’t,’ he said with a laugh. ‘Thank you, Ra,… I don’t know what I’d do without you,’ he added.

‘Or I you Blink. You’re my brother one way or another,’ she said and after a moment cleared her throat. ‘Right so… you’re not gunna be all feelings and a sorry sad sack the whole way are ya?’ she said teasing him. He laughed and punched her in the arm.

‘Are you going to get me into trouble the whole time?’ he said in response. Ra’Handa looked to the cat form of Danu.

‘You hear that Danu? I go and make his life this great big grand adventure and he asks if I’ll get him in trouble. How’s that for gratitude?’ she said. Danu with her big green cat eyes looked at her, tail swishing. ‘Oh and I suppose you’ll be coming along then,’ added Ra’Handa sarcastically. Danu gave her a wicked look and turned to Blink as if asking the question.

‘You’re always welcome to come too Danu,’ he said answering. Danu’s tail swished again and curled. She meowed in answer.