A goblin carried only what they needed on their back. Everything else would remain as a memory in their heart. Many times, Little Ant had watched as they had buried their dead by the side of the road they lived on and after a time of mourning, they would keep going. Every step they took afterwards would be to honor their deceased kinsmen.

Even Old Badger was no different and Little Ant suspected this would have been how grandmother would have wanted it.

That didn’t mean they couldn’t honor her more than most. No goblins burial mound was built with more care and tears than Old Badger’s. How many goblins could say that a god, a lord, and a hero had helped to dig their eternal resting place?

After Old Badger had been laid down to her final rest, Little Ant had spent her time with her tribe telling them the tale of her adventure with their grandmother. She had eaten and slept with her parents. Comforted the children who feared this new world without Old Badger. Cassio and Nuncio had done their part too but the fox prince… his pain was his own and he mourned in solitude.

Little Ant didn’t fault him. It was custom that a dead goblin’s husband be given his space. She knew where he would be if she needed him and after three days… she did.

It was by Old Badger’s grave that Little Ant found the fox prince.

He was sitting cross-legged in his human form in front of grandmother’s burial mound in a private moment with the deceased. She didn’t approach him until she was sure he wasn’t crying. Everyone deserved the privacy of mourning. Once she was sure that his eyes were dry, Little Ant made her presence known.

“Prince.”

The fox prince glanced at her over his shoulder and while his blue eyes weren’t as radiant as usual, the fire hadn’t gone out from them. The smile he gave her was tired but genuine.

“Little Ant. Are we leaving?”

“Not yet. I just… wondered how you’re feeling?” Little Ant asked.

The fox prince shrugged.

“Well… my leg was ripped off so… I’ve been better.”

Little Ant grinned with embarrassment.

“Guess that was a dumb question.” Little Ant said.

“There are no dumb questions. Only dumb answers.”

“Really?”

After thinking it over, the prince shook his head.

“No. There are questions that are… so very dumb. If it’s any consolation, that was not one of them.” The fox prince said and grinned: “And thanks. You’re the first one to have the balls to ask me that. Everyone else acts like I am made of glass.”

The long, brown fingers caressed the stones making up Old Badger’s grave.

“It’s not like I haven’t been through worse.” The fox prince said.

It felt like her throat was full of hay and it brought tears to her eyes all over again, but Little Ant forced herself to swallow and dried her eyes.

“Mind if I sit here?” Little Ant asked.

The fox prince patted the spot next to him.

“Never.”

Sitting was a relief. Even after Bee had rubbed her back and spread ointments on it, her skin was a canvas of bruises from Pietro throwing her against the wall. She sat next to him by the grave and she could feel an invisible connection between them. The kind only a shared adventure could forge.

“Little Ant… I am sorry. First Sparrow and now… her.” The fox prince said.

Little Ant winced and shook her head.

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“They… they’ve just gone ahead of me. I will meet them again one day in the Green Lands.” Little Ant said and then looked shyly at the fox prince: “… right?”

The fox prince sighed.

“I… Little Ant… I don’t know…”

The young goblin nodded.

“Fair enough. Then I guess… I will have to pray that the Green Lands are real and that I will meet them there.”

The fox prince thought it over before nodding.

“I can pray to that.”

Little Ant closed her eyes and pressed her palms together to pray that the Quiet Path would one day reunite her with lost loved ones in the Green Lands. She did not peek to see if the fox prince followed suit. Once she was done, they sat in silence for a moment.

“She really loved you, you know?” Little Ant said.

The sun reflected light off the tears in his eyes and the fox prince turned his head.

“… I know.” The fox price said with a cracking voice: “That… that’s the one thing I could be sure of and… her too. I loved her too.”

He rubbed his eyes and wiped his nose.

“No matter what happens… I always will.”

“Prince?” Little Ant said.

“… yeah?”

“Do you need a hug?”

The fox prince looked at her surprised before nodding.

“… yes. I do.”

She hugged him and he hugged her. It was a strange thing to think about. That even gods would need comforting. But there was also something… empowering about that. The idea that she could have something to offer to a god. That such a simple gesture could make someone that powerful feel better when everything seemed grey and lost.

When they finally let each other go, the fox prince looked tired but no longer worn down. Nothing sleep couldn’t fix.

“What are you going to do now?” Little Ant asked.

The fox prince glanced at his missing foot.

“Call in a few favors and see if someone can build me a new leg. After that… help Nuncio get his business in order.” The fox prince said and looked at her: “What about you? Staying with the tribe?”

“I… yeah. For a bit but…”

“But the tribe is suddenly feeling pretty small?” The fox prince said.

Little Ant nodded.

“It is. I can’t help but wonder… what else is out there. I want to see… as much as I can. Like… Elysa.”

“Old Badger was the same.” The fox prince said and smiled: “I don’t think The Wyrding is big enough to contain either of you.”

“Guess I’ll have to find out if you’re right.” Little Ant said.

“Guess you do. I…”

It was at that moment that Cassio called out for his friend to tell him that they were ready to leave. The fox prince just shook his head exasperated.

“That man… has no timing.” The fox prince said.

“Agreed.” Little Ant said and reached inside her coat: “I… uh… wanted to… I mean… I think you should have this. As a memory.”

Little Ant took out Old Badger’s pipe and offered it to the fox prince.

“It’s light enough to carry with you.” Little Ant said.

For a moment Little Ant thought the fox prince would start crying again but instead he smiled and kissed the top of her head.

“Thank you and… I have something for you too.” The fox prince said and looked at Old Badger’s grave: “Something I wanted her to be here for.”

Little Ant waited and the fox prince cleared his throat. When he looked at her, she could see the great black fox drawn over his human features. The blue eyes burned with a divine flame.

“Daring Ant, I name you Fox Friend. From this day forward you have the blessing of the Wild and the Fox Clan to protect you.”

A ball of snot was choking her throat.

“Daring… Ant?”

The fox prince smiled.

“It suits you better than Little.”

Daring Ant stared at him stunned and then snorted.

“I… yes. I could get used to it.”

“It will become of you. Now… if you’re ever near the mansion, drop by. We will have tea. In the garden. I know you don’t care for indoors.”

Daring Ant nodded.

“I’d like that… grandfather.”

The fox prince’s blue eyes widened, and Daring Ant wondered if the honorary title of her tribe had ever been bestowed upon skin-changer nobility. The fox prince put his hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

“Me too, Dare.”

It was time to leave, and Dare helped the fox prince up. After one final look at Old Badger’s grave, the fox prince started limping back to camp while leaning on Dare for support.

“Grandfather?” Dare said.

“Yes?”

“If… I run into Elysa, what should I say or do?”

The fox prince thought it over.

“Another good question. I’d say… that since you’re a gentleman adventurer now, you will do the right thing.”

“Sounds tough.” Dare said.

“Most things worth doing are.” The fox prince said.

On their way to the camp, they passed by Nuncio’s car that was now lying dead under the trees and animals were already measuring it up as a potential nest for their families. Dare wondered if it would one day become a place of pilgrimage for goblins. A new holy site. The horseless carriage that Nuncio the Black Rider had used to crush a master vampire and bring their wounded god to safety.

Dare smiled when they left the car behind.

While the tribe had been mourning and licking their wounds, Cassio and Nuncio had set up a wagon filled with blankets and pillows for the fox prince and Nuncio’s mother to travel in. The Bear Clan rescued from the vampire’s clutches had agreed to pull the cart while the rest of their kinsmen acted as an honorary guard. To make up for the excesses of their dead prince.

Just after a few days of freedom, Nuncio’s mother was looking healthier, and Dare could see her still having good years ahead of her. Dare hugged her and could feel some meat around the brittle bones now.

“Goodbye, lady Capello.” Dare said.

“… Danielle… call me Danielle.” Nuncio’s mother said.

Dare smiled at her.

“Then you can call me, Daring Ant. Dare for short.” Dare said.

Danielle smiled at her, and Dare could see the beauty she might one day again be.

“I will, Dare.”

Cassio’s smile made his rough features look softer.

“I was thinking you looked taller.” Cassio said.

Dare smiled and then gave Nuncio a goodbye hug.

“Come visit us sometimes.” Nuncio said.

“I will.” Dare said.

“You promise?” Nuncio asked.

“By the Quiet.”

Nuncio nodded.

“Blessing of the Balefire upon you, Dare.” Nuncio said.

“And blessing of the Quiet upon you.” Dare said.

Rest of the tribe came to say their goodbyes and Cassio shook Bee’s hand. Like one would with an equal.

“From this day forward, House Rossi will protect the Hillside Tribe alongside His Savage Highness.” Cassio said.

“A high honor, lord Lionheart. If you ever need help, we will aid you however we can.” Bee said.

“Believe me, master Bee. The honor is mine.” Cassio said.

Many thanks and farewells were exchanged, and the children of the tribe offered Nuncio flowers they had picked just for him. Nuncio accepted them with a shy smile while the goblin girls blushed and giggled.

When the skin-changer bears pulling the wagon grumbled impatiently, a single look from Cassio silenced them.

Once they were ready to go, Nuncio and Cassio helped Danielle and the fox prince into the cart. They lied on the pillows and made themselves as comfortable as they could for the journey ahead. Dare had no doubt it would be a safe one when the Bear Clan was watching over them and even if they weren’t… Who would be stupid enough to bother such a group of heroes?

“It might be a bumpy ride but… bear with it.” Nuncio said to his mother.

“The pretty company will make it bearable.” The fox prince said.

Danielle giggled hearing that.

“Nuncio… your friend is a shameless flirt.”

“Yeah. He is.” Nuncio agreed.

“Maybe… he can use the journey to tell me about The Wyrding… and if Elysa could be happy there.” Danielle said.

“Anything you want to know.” The fox prince said.

Cassio told the bears to get moving and the cart started heading back to Garuccia and Dare waved them goodbye.

“Until next time.”