As I push the sled from behind to ease the burden off of the Jagerjacks as the children sit huddled together, doing their best to warm their bodies up, each still bearing a subtle trembling still visible to onlookers. Each child refuses to speak, to acknowledge their trauma.

Keeping my eyes forward eager to return them to their loved ones, knowing the only way they will ever be able to move forward, is to be surrounded by others. Occasionally glancing down observing the faces of them, trying to gauge their mental status, unsure of how long it will take for each of them to move on from what happened.

As each of their faces, bears an emptiness lingering over their heads. I want nothing more than to offer them my words, ensuring them that things will get better with time, but I am just a stranger to them who happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Digging my feet into the snow, arching my back pushing the sled as my shoulder leaves a bloodied trail in our wake, as I push through the pain, keeping me lucid, focused on my task at hand.

As the silhouette of the village of Freyview, heads started turning, becoming anxious and restless in their movements, as the sky lit up with all gradients of colours; blue, red, green, orange. Natural curtains of light shimmering amongst the darkness of the sky, dancing, weaving amongst the stars, observing the events of Krottorus unfold below.

As the sled grinds to a halt, the distant screaming, growing louder by the second as a large mob rushes towards, the disrupted thudding of at least a dozen villagers, all rushing clambering atop of one another, each desperately pushing each other aside. The parents wrap their arms around the children, squeezing the remaining life out of them. Sapphire and Warren included.

“My baby”

“I’m never letting you go”

“I’m so sorry, we looked everywhere for you”. Each of the parents cried out, holding their heads closely tucked into their chest, each of them scared to let go as tears and whimpers echoed throughout the land, but not of sadness, of pleasure and relief overflowing from within too much to keep bottled up.

This is what I’ve been missing. looking around at all the people and their joy, so infectious I find myself with a subtle grin, my heart a flutter at the sight, but it doesn’t feel like joy, my heart stings too much for it to be such a thing though, like a subtle needle pricking it repeatedly.

Quickly realising that my job was done, there was no reason for me to stay in this village any longer, not wanting to interrupt a perfect moment between everybody else, pushing the sled, sneaking away from the crowd, removing the harnesses from the Jagerjacks. Hanging them up one by one on the mounted hooks screwed to the outside wall, allowing them to graze the grass lying between the snow. Readying myself to take my leave and carry on my travels.

As I turn my back away from the town facing back towards the only path leaving out of town, towards a small dock where a small boat waits for me to return south to the mainland. “Leaving so soon?” A voice shouts from behind, from the direction of the constant chattering and cheering “Without this”. As I looked over my shoulder to see Damian stood holding my journal in the air. Stood with a stern face written across his face as he tosses it to the ground at my feet in his disapproval at my choice to leave, without notice.

“My job is done, your family is whole again, as are the others. I have no reason to stay.” I argue back, my voice stern in my justification for my actions.

“Do you really think you can just sneak away after everything you’ve done for us?”

“I can’t stay here… It’ll hurt too much” I continue to argue, adamant in my decision to leave, refusing to budge for any reason. Picking up my journal off of the ground wiping away the lingering snow that clings to the leather cover.

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“What do you mean?, what happened exactly?” he asked his tone to change to a softer, more concerned tone putting aside his own feelings working hard to understand my own.

“I was told I had children… a family…” Taking a deep breath, choking on the words accepting the reality of the situation. “That family is gone, and I don’t think i’ll ever be able to regain anything like it”

“So why not stay with us, we can’t replace the family you once had but surely that doesn’t mean you have to be alone… That’d just be punishing yourself.” Damian responded, waving his hands around trying to convince me to stay with his family, clearly expressing his concerns.

“I can’t…”

“Why not?” Damian interrupts, cutting me off demanding a valid justification, his voice clearly demonstrating his concern for my well being.

“I’m forty-three years old, I shouldn’t be lodging in another home. I should be taking care of myself.”

“Bull, I don’t buy it. There's something else. I can see it… Just tell me.”

Taking another deep breath preparing myself as my eye starts to water as a pool forms in the base of my eyelid, knowing full well what I'm about to say is going to hurt not only him but myself “If I stay with you, all I will see is a reminder of what I lost… what I can never have and eventually grow bitter and resentful…” my voice shaking at the emotional pain of saying the harsh truth… the only truth that he will believe, looking down avoiding his face, whatever facial expression he must be wearing; pity, confusion, anger, understanding.

A sudden warmth overflowing my body, my eyes widening from his reaction, not one I was expecting in the slightest as he wrapped his arms around my waist offering me a simple pat on my good shoulder. Hesitant for a moment, raising my arms up to waist holding them inches away, hovering in the air unsure whether to replicate, almost forgetting what it felt like to feel the warmth and comfort of another soul. The subtle warmth and softness from his skin, the calmed breaths against my ear. “I don’t want to become a resentful old man” I cry on his shoulder, clenching his coat in my fist, not wanting to let go of the only person I could consider a friend. I feel him pull away from me, resting his hand on my shoulder.

“You always have a place here… you know that right?” A smile visible across his face in his reassurance, the voice rang genuine with no other motives lying.

“You're really leaving?” I hear Sasha’s voice coming from behind, disguised amongst the crying and whimpering coming from her. Startled for a second knowing the scene that was about to unfold. Dammit, I wanted to avoid this. Gritting my teeth in my frustration, unable to avoid her, quickly my plan to leave discreetly backfired on me completely.

As she rushes towards me barging her way past Damian, frantically smaking my entire body with her small hands. Each smack doesn’t carry enough weight to leave a mark, she’s just lashing out releasing her frustration, her actions are filled with anger but caught in her gaze, her eyes display only sorrow. “You can’t leave, you can’t” She demands screaming in her despair as Damian tries his best to pull her off of me.

“It’s ok, i’ll handle this” I say to Damian, wafting her hands to the side, stopping her constant swatting, distracting my train of thought, whilst trying to grab her attention, ensuring she’ll listen to what I say.

“I need you to listen to me, It was only ever my plan to stay for a short while, till i’m all better, but that doesn’t mean you're never going to see me again” I say crouching down, talking to her on her level, maintaining eye contact with her.

“You’re gonna come back?” She replies sniffing her nose, wiping it clean on her pyjama shirt sleeve turning it a darker shade of purple.

“Of course I am. I made you a promise didn’t I” I say quietly wiping away the remaining tears left trickling down her cheek. “I gotta bring you some honey.” I recall offering a smile, recalling the night of laughter and discussion that started. “Now, show me that smile” , poking her jokingly.

Finally she cracks a smile, her mood brightening “Do you really have to go?”

“I do, but first. I have something for you” Removing my rune necklace, handing it over to Sasha placing it firmly in her hand. “Whenever you need me, think of my name and I’ll come running, when you’re scared hold it close and it’ll give you strength.”

“I’ll treasure it forever.” She says as Damian and Sapphire place their hands on Sasha’s shoulders, each sending me off with a smile. As Sapphire mouths the words thank you silently without uttering a noise.

Turning my back, making way out on the only path out of town