Feeling refreshed, though slightly rested, Cer prepares for the trip by gathering and organizing supplies in front of the house while waiting for Kala to return. Wearing gray casual work pants, a white button-up collar shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and a gray vest marked by a demon shriver sigil embroidered onto the back, Cer zips up a sleeveless hoodie embroidered with The Apiary sigil to cover the gray vest underneath.

Reaching above the door, Cer pulls down a wooden box, the size of two shoe boxes. The box has a demon shriver sigil etched into it. With hesitation, Cer takes the box outside with the rest of the supplies.

For a brief moment, the thought of putting the box back into the house, safely hidden away, crosses Cer’s mind. I need you to keep me safe. You need me to find peace. I hope this is a good idea, and carrying you won’t cause me any trouble.

Sighing, Cer reluctantly throws the box onto Cer’s back like a shoulder strapped bag.“I hope nobody can sense or see your energy or aura,” Cer says quietly to the box.

Turning to the house, Cer calls out, “Punkin…. Baba is coming. I’ll have to go soon”.

“Ohhh, okaaaaaay… Don’t forget the honey,” Punkin responds sadly, knowing that Cer is leaving and also feeling excited that she gets time to play with Kala.

“Right…can’t forget that.” Cer says aloud while picking up a small box containing vials of honey. Running cold fingers over the box to examine the seals and the engraving of a cat on the box, Cer wonders, “Why would Kala use this box for such a small amount of honey to be delivered”

Unable to come up with any satisfying answers, Cer continues to pack, tying the small honey box to the larger wooden box on Cer’s back and notices a familiar mystic energy approaching the house.

Approaching quickly, with a big smile on her face, Kala scoots Cer away from the house towards the path the the forest to the West, “Off you go, you big oaf! Make sure you visit Kali for some supplies and guidance.”

Sensing Punkin’s energy reaching for one last hug, Cer turns and kneels down to embrace Punkin before getting back up and beginning the journey down the western path to the forest.

“Thank you for being such a good drone. Do try to spend some time with her before you leave, syou haven’t SEEN her in a long time,” Kala jokes as she quickly shouts a request for Cer to inquire about a visitor in their home and some other items that Kali has stored for Kala.

Without turning back, Cer nods and continues walking towards the lushly dense forest with a blind cane in hand, shaped like a large narrow metal toothpick.

Punkin and Kala watch admiringly, as Cer walks the path slowly towards the Western Woods, with the figure of Cer shrinking the further Cer goes.

Suddenly Punkin furrows her eyebrows with concern, as she softly whispers “I think daddy is going to get lost.”

Smiling, Kala responds gently, “Who, Cer? Your father won’t get lost. Your father will just take the long way if your father can’t find the way home.”

As they both continue to watch the figure of Cer disappear into the edge of the forest, Kala offers reassuring words to Punkin, “Being lost is okay. We can always find what is lost. And sometimes we are not lost, we just need to take the long way home.”

-Break-

As Cer navigates the forest, occasionally stumbling over the unbeaten and slightly uneven path covered with fallen twigs, branches, and rocks, the mystic energy of a figure swaying back and forth in the distance appears to grow with each of Cer’s nearing steps.

Approaching the house, Cer smiles with relief at the figure. “Kalypso, I would say it is a pleasure to see you again, but that would be inaccurate. It is, however, a pleasure to be in your company.”

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Smiling, Kali brushes the bangs of her pink and lavender hair to the side while continuing to knit and rock back and forth in her chair. Tapping the floorboards softly with her feet, Kali subtly provides guidance so Cer can avoid stumbling on her porch steps.

Speaking without looking up from her knitting, Kali returns the greeting to Cer, “It’s been awhile hasn’t it Cer? We’ve missed you around here.”

Turning to a second source of energy sitting near Kali, Cer nods and smiles, “I’ve missed you and Cherub too.”

Cherub (a fat cat) blinks and purrs.

“Kala said you had some supplies you were holding for her,” Cer says as Cer’s attention is redirected back to Kali.

Without hesitation, Kali reaches out to hand Cer a wrapped bundle of beeswax signal candles with The Apiary insignia on them, and responds “Of course, Kala made these and left them here in case anyone needed them. She also probably wants you to deliver them wherever you go- one per populace.”

Tapping on a wooden beam behind her with a knitting needle, Kali amusingly says, “Also, we posted a new sign up for visitors. It’s special, I believe you should be able to see it.”

Surprised, Cer examines lines of energy concentrated behind Kali that form the outline of a sleeping bear with the words “Ursa Dormis Hospitality '' under the bear, “How did you do that? I can see the image and words?”

“Oh a bit of magic, honey, tears, and some herbs. It is actually a sign with a pink bear, but I outlined it with a special paint I mixed with magic so you can see it. I thought you’d like it.” Kali responds proudly.

Jokingly, Cer scoffs, “It would have helped if you painted every rock, twig, and branch on the path here from the farm; it would have saved me a lot of trouble.”

Kali scoffs and chides Cer in return, “What would have been the fun in that? How was your trip, or should I say, tripping?”

As they both chuckle at Kali’s lame pun, Kali points to the box on Cer’s back with curiosity, “Going on a hunt?”

“Oh, that is just in case I come across any trouble. I am just delivering honey and seeing how I can help our friends in The Mecca. Kala said they are requesting to see me. You think you can help me cross the desolate destitute?”

“Getting you there is not the problem. It’s getting you back that’ll be the issue. Try lighting a candle once you are ready to come back and see if Kala can perceive the signal from all the way over here. She said she had a new formula for the candles that makes them stronger”

Puzzled, Cer asks, “Then…how did Kala get back then?”

Kali giggles and responds “How does she do anything? You should have asked her. I don't ever leave this place so I wouldn’t know. Who else will look after all you reckless people?”

Turning back to the forest and adjusting the box to feel more comfortable, Cer takes a deep breath and exhales, “Then I guess I’ll just have to go and find out how to get back once I’m there. Can you get me there quickly?”

Kali smiles and winks at Cherub as she speaks “You do not have to ask twice… Cherub…”

Cherub yawns and a black mirror portal appears in front of them.

Leaning over to Cherub, Kali states sternly, “Make sure it’s The Mecca and not Manchineel”

Cherub purrs.

Turning to Cer, Kali smiles and says “You are all set to go. Please send our friends my love”

Turning around to approach Kali, Cer softly mentions “Also, Kala said we had a visitor… any idea how it found us or got in?”

Shrugging, Kali responds, “No idea how it found us, but my guess is that it followed Kala. It was no ordinary visitor. It looked and acted like a legion of Morrighan; It was quite big but easy enough to handle. It did have quite an appetite. Held thousands of lost and forgotten souls but Cherub took care of it.”

With growing curiosity, Cer asks “Where did cherub send them?”

Responding with a matter-of-fact tone, Kali informs Cer, “They were sent to the sorters to get the spirits and souls back to where they came from. Still, I don’t know why they were even here though. Maybe ask our friends in The Mecca if they know anything. Also, I don’t know if Kala mentioned it, but the legion called her Baba Yaga. So I wondered if it was a demon at all. No demon calls her that and survives to speak or spread that name. It was also devouring souls so it couldn’t be a monster, creature, or beast. If The Mecca doesn’t know, then pay a visit to the library when you return. There is no time for a library visit now if our friends need you in The Mecca. I don’t think our matter with this visitor is urgent, and Haeven is in my care, so get to it and come home safely.”

Kissing Kali on the forehead, Cer whispers, “Thank you for everything Kali, I know to never doubt your protection spells. You are the strongest when it comes to barriers and protection.”

Smirking at Cer’s flattery, Kali responds “2nd strongest… I miss her. She taught me well and she trusted me with you and Pupu. I will always do my part to the best of my ability.”

“You were always such a good and studious girl before becoming a great witch,” Cer reinforces her with conviction.

Ceasing to knit, Kali nudges Cer “You can go now- I’ve opened the bubble”

As Cer steps into the portal and disappears, the black mirror dissipates.

Sighing, Kali begins to knit again. At that moment, a brief glint of light in the sky reflects the sun as a small opening of a barely visible bubble barrier closes.

Nobody will enter Haeven’s bubble ever again without my permission…I will keep my promise. I will not fail you again.