Jace forced himself to wait until Evaliena’s steps stopped, echoing through the hall back upstairs. Topaz had nothing to input and just stated. “I’m going to sleep in my new home… Wake me up when you need me.” The small yellow canid winked and puffed out of existence. Jace watched as the wisps of Topaz’s energy collected themselves into the Yellow crystal resting in his lap. He fumbled the crystal around his hand, then put it into a small pouch. It was large and flat, hewn into a rough shape with marks left by some kind of holder.

“What are you waiting for?” Evaliena shouted from the end of the hall. “I’m not leaving you down there.” Jace got himself up fast and dusted off. Running up the hall. As he caught up to the vixen, Evaliena added with crossed arms. “I suggest you start the stock for tonight’s meal.”

Jace nodded, and the pair climbed the stairs in silence. Evaliena was quick to head up to her room. leaving Jace in the living area on his own. He kept his quiet and headed to the pantry. He ran his finger across the various containers and chests. What ingredients to pick? Something more thick and comforting?... He shifted and prepared a pot of water to hang next to the hearth. It’s welcoming fire crackling at a low burn.

It wasn’t long until he was preparing; seasoning meat and cutting a selection of hearty root vegetables. And it wasn’t much more time until he was sitting and waiting for the pot get to a rolling boil with the ingredients bobbing and bubbling around. That inviting, savoury smell permeated the room.

He sat back and waited. He reached for the pouch with Topaz’s gemstone inside and carefully rolled it around the palm of his hand. Observing the swirl of silvery runes that roiled around just beneath the surface. The pulsing movement was much slower than before, like someone sleeping, dreaming.

“I wonder what she’s dreaming about,” Jace muttered to himself in the quiet. Front door down stairs creaked open. And he could hear the characteristic ruffle of fur shaking out snow. His ears tilted toward the sound as those haggard stepped climbed up to the living area. He could tell it was Cedar from the potent scent of pipe weed that arrived before the old fox did.

“Something smells wonderful.” Cedar spoke as he crested the stairs. “Oh, Ashwood, tending the pot this time?” Jace nodded as he tucked the bauble away. Cedar narrowed his gaze. “No point in trying to hide something like that around me, boy.”

Jace shrugged. “Evaliena gave it to me.”

Cedar walked over to his favoured chair and sat down. He pulled out his pipe and lit up the end, taking a few puffs. He leant his head against the top of the chair. “So What Happened?”

Jace assumed Cedar quickly sensed out Evaliena’s presence. Jace tried to think out how he was going to explain what happened without revealing too much… He couldn’t. “I… She…” he took a breath. “Sandal told me about her past and her relationship with the spirit in this gem.” He held up the pouch. And spoke about his experience down stairs where the shroud generator is.

Jace occasionally stirred the pot while Cedar looked thoughtfully in his chair. The old cedar spoke softly with a sigh. “Nothing I did not already know.” Jace tilted his head in interest. “You know me and Sandal go back a far bit. It will take time for her to get over this melancholy.”

“You knew about Topaz’s imprisonment this entire time and did nothing about it?” Jace quietly accused the old fox.

“I didn’t know Topaz was made from parts from Sandal’s sister. It just makes this all the more… complicated… and tragic.” Cedar bit at his pipe. Rolling it across, taking the stem out of his mouth to tap out hard its used up contents. “Yes, I do know who she really is. Everyone here knows, to some extent. We just respect that she isn’t ‘that’ individual anymore.”

“What was she called before?” Jace asked innocuously.

“All you’ll get is the many-tailed witch. A fairy tale told to youngsters if they don’t behave.” Cedar replied flatly, rocking in his chair. Maybe the information about Evaliena’s original name was dangerous, Jace thought to himself quietly. Cedar shifted topics. “So, what is today’s meal?”

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Jace’s cooking received compliments from everyone who attended supper that night. He could be proud of that. However, there was a quiet hanging around the four sitting next to the hearth. Evaliena did not come down to join them. Baysil wasn’t happy at all with the circumstances, knowing that she and Jace’s mentor were having a difficult time. The two older Reynards did their best to assuage the mood. But Evaliena’s absence hung like a depressing pall.

Jace wanted to take a bowl of his stew up to Evaliena. “While that’s a kind gesture, I don’t think she needs it right now,” Burr warned

Baysil wasn’t having any of it. “I’m going up there before it gets any worse.” She proceeded to get off the rug covered floor and headed up.

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“Then, you were warned.” Burr shrugged, and Cedar scoffed a bit. They were right. In a way, Evaliena is ancient compared to the pair of them. The things she’s suffered and the things she has witnessed. She still does have family, however loose the connection. Where are they now? Thoughts for later, Jace wondered as he filled a bowl with a portion of the leftover casserole. He hefted the bowl carefully and carried it up the stairs with him. His hands weren’t large enough to hold the bowl with one.

Baysil waited for Jace to reach her next to the door to Evaliena’s room. He was sure Baysil could feel the weight of Evaliena’s presence because he was definitely feeling it try to burn a hole through the back of his head. Jace gave Baysil a sure smile, and she pushed over the wooden door.

She was staring at the pair of them, those sapphire eyes blazing from under the massive tail of her glamoured form. “Just leave me be.” Her voice was low and menacing.

Baysil froze in place and her ears folded to the sides of her head, despite the brave expression on her face. Jace started walking forward with the bowl in his hands. Maybe the beast laying before him won’t turn him inside out, he hoped.. “I thought you might have wanted some stew.” he spoke in a tactful and sensitive way.

“You’re confident.” Evaliena spoke dryly as Jace carefully placed the bowl down in front of Evaliena’s bed. “You’re playing a dangerous game. Pup…”

Jace sat down, with one knee up and an arm rested atop of it. “I know.” Jace replied. “I’m just returning the favour.” At least Jace thought he was. Baysil looked like she’d bolt from the tension in the air. The chestnut furred vixen walked over and sat beside them. There was silence for a while.

“You owe me an explanation, Sandal.” Baysil asked softly.

Evaliena let out a loud sigh and shuffled up to the bowl. “You will get it, eventually.” She sniffed and started eating. Deciding it was worth a shot. Jace changed into his glamour and rested himself up carefully to the yellow vixen’s side. “Tsk…” Evaliena shook her head.

“You took me in when you had no obligation. I would feel guilty if I didn’t…”

“Enough of that, pup.” Evaliena softened up. Baysil joined in as well and took up Evaliena’s other side. Jace knew Baysil’s story. She had no one to teach her, and Evaliena offered. “Not you too… Girl.” Evaliena groaned.

“You still need to finish my training.” Baysil quipped. “And you taught me how to appreciate food and so much more.”

Evaliena grumbled. “Are we seriously doing this?” She sounded incredulous. “Maybe I should be dramatic more often if I get this kind of treatment.” Jace then gave Evaliena a light slap on the shoulder. He heard a low if pained chuckle. “Maybe I should show my tapestry…”

“I’ve been curious…” Baysil sounded intrigued. “But I’ve refrained from asking for so long because I know it’s painful to bring up…”

“I’ve remembered something my mentor told me so long ago. Don’t be sad because it’s over. Be happy that it happened.” Evaliena’s voice croaked slightly as she finished her meal. She tucked herself in and pulled both younger Reynards close.

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Evaliena had pulled a dark lacquered tube from her Lemis. She pulled the leather cap off and pulled a bolt of cloth from inside. The smell that hit Jace noise was a collect of old worn fabric and individuals he has not met. She rolled the bolt out. There were two distinct tones of fabric as the sheet extended. Jace immediately recognised what he was looking at as the small abstractly stitched faces of many Reynards were revealed as the bolt rolled on by. Two… Three… Four steps?!

“Wow. you managed to keep track of them all?” Baysil spoke excitedly. Her hand scrolled across the individual faces. “Sixteen?! Sixteen children?!”

“Not one after the other. Some were twins, most had gaps between them.” Evaliena explained. Some of the heads were smaller than the others and had no lines of string below them. Jace wasn’t going to speculate on what that meant. But he was awestruck that she kept track despite being so… isolated. Jace wondered how she managed it.

“There’s no way you’ve gone and tracked down each individual one of your descendants…” Baysil accused. Evaliena just gave the pair a smile. Jace kept scanning the tapestry… At a glance, anyone would think they were all the same. Some had different fur tones and others had different mane styling and eye colours. He looked down the length of the tapestry and saw a collection of heads, many of which weren’t Reynards, completely disconnected from the tree extending from Evaliena and her fiery orange mate.

Jace pointed to them. “Who are they?” Then he noticed his and Baysil’s heads stitched below the collection.

“Every single apprentice and student I’ve ever trained personally.” Evaliena spoke with cheerful remiss. Evaliena must have a list written down somewhere, Jace thought, as he could not have mentally kept track of everyone on this tapestry. So he asked.

“Do you have names for all of them?” He tilted his head and leant against Evaliena’s shoulder.

“Ooh. That’s not really important.” Evaliena shrugged the question off. “You’ll know if you run into any of them.” She wrapped her arm across the back of Jace. “If you run into any of them--” She let out a tired yawn. “Everyone’s pretty spread out… Ancestors, I’m tired.”

“Would you mind either of us staying?” Baysil asked tenderly.

Evaliena leant her head back and thought about it. “I could just throw you out of here… But it looks like the two of you won’t be giving me a choice. Fine, stay for the night, this once.”

Evaliena seemed happier to Jace for that. His thought, however, turned to the bauble that rested in a pouch just out of reach. Was Topaz really asleep? Or just watching? He didn’t know.