Fenn knew the way back by now — he was very good at figuring out where he stood in the world — but quietly allowed Lore to take the lead in guiding them home. The way back was much more tiring and much longer than their initial journey into the woods. Neither of them rode Daugi this time. Fenn found it better to simply to suck it up and slog through the mud alongside her, periodically brushing off any mud that froze to his feet. Daugi deserved a break.
Over tree roots, under hanging moss, and out through the thrumming field of flowers and insects they went.
By the time they reached a dirt road leading back to town, the sun had begun to set. Dark purples, reds, and oranges swirled in the sky. Wayward clouds drifted over a sparkling of stars. The little fae hesitated at the shore of the tall grass, peering down the road. Carting their way through the middle of the path was a faintly familiar figure. Fenn blinked and squinted at the broad, bearded man before them.
“Papa!â€
“Loreley!†the man cried, an oof eeking out of him as Lore dashed right into him for a hug. Face creased with concern, he stopped to consider the circles under her eyes, the gashes on her arm, and the state of her dress and hair. Fenn realized that he probably looked just as bad, if not worse. “I wondered if I’d find you out here, buttercup — should’ve been home by now. You’re looking rough around the edges. What’d you go getting yourself into?â€
After pulling out of her hug, the girl bashfully rocked on her heels. “I know you ain’t gonna like it, but we ended up out at, well, the loch. And we got so much to tell you! Fenn! Show him the bridle.â€
Shyly, he fished it out of his satchel and held it up in all it’s scummy, crusty glory for Pa to see.
The man's eyes widened from under his bushy eyebrows. “That’s ain’t — that ain’t a kelpie’s bridle — is it?â€
With a nervous smile of affirmation, the little fae shoved it back into his bag. He could stand its itchy magic-bright only for a little bit.
Pa’s mouth clamped shut as he processed this. Slowly, he looked to Loreley. She beamed innocently. Whatever previous shenanigans the girl had been up to in her young life, they’d obviously done something to dampen the man’s shock. “Well then. I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t something for the both of ya to be proud of. But next time, let me know when you got it in your fool head to do something reckless and heroic… again. And you!â€
Fenn squeaked and stood at attention as Pa’s finger jabbed squarely at him.
“Thanks for looking out for my buttercup. Foolheaded to follow along with her like that, but I can’t look at that bridle and say you don’t have a brave streak on you. Maybe now people will stop vanishing ‘round the loch; at least now that we know that kelpies still can pop up ‘round here. They were a right hazard back in the day. Sherif’s gotta be told about this.†The man sighed. “Come along. You’re having dinner with us tonight, and there ain’t a plea that could convince me otherwise. Both of ya are explaining everything you did today over bread and potato stew. Alright?â€
Dinner? Fenn brightened and nodded shamelessly. Looked like he wouldn’t have to steal a meal today. Stolen meals were good, but he was coming to the slow conclusion that meals with friends were usually better. When he had friends to share them with, at least. A resigned rumbling had started up in his stomach again, now that there wasn’t any lingering adrenaline to distract him from his hunger and his wounds. He could use some food and a nice place to nap right about now... Napping. Fuck, he needed that. The fae wandered over to lean against the side of the wagon, finally able to just sit still and catch his breath.
Pa paled and glanced over at the dark canid limping out of the grass after Fenn. The donkey attached to his cart shuffled in place nervously. “Oh. That uh… wolf. That yours?â€
“Boof,†Daugi greeted Pa quietly, yawning.
“Yep! Daugi’s sitting with us,†Loreley declared with finality as she coaxed the exhausted direwolf into the back of the cart. The girl leaned over to ruffle the donkey's mane. Somehow, it relaxed. “She’s had a rough day, fighting kelpies and carrying us places.â€
The wolf agreed. “Auf.â€
“Sure thing, buttercup. She... seems tame enough.â€
In a haze, Fenn found Loreley’s magic-bright hands pulling him up into the cart alongside her and his pet. There was a crack of the reigns, the bray of Pa’s donkey, and then movement. The creak of the wagon’s wheels and the slight sway of the cart comforted the boy somehow. He stared up at the sky, the sunset-lit clouds, only distantly aware of the burning ache in his shoulder and hand. Coarse black fur pressed up against him. His wolf was a mountainous and relieving presence; she rumbled with warmth, and with snoring.
“This adventure did not turn out how I expected. Did ya actually think we were gonna turn up anything for real? I wasn’t sure we were gonna,†Loreley whispered over to him.
A shrug was given, then a slight wince from the pain.
“I’m really sorry about your parents though. It’s just all too likely that they… well, you know. The kelpie,†she continued, though there was something foxlike about the shy grin on her face. She twiddled her hands together in thought. “Pa wouldn’t mind an extra hand around the house if you don’t have anywhere else to go. And, honestly, I’d love to have a cute little sibling around. So you’re free to stay with us, at least for a bit!â€
Fenn sat up, sighed, and rubbed the back of his neck, blushing grey from eartip to eartip. It was about time he clear some misconceptions up. He tapped the wagon’s planks underneath them. His magic was weak as he too felt, but a fluttering of frost still emanated from his touch. HAVE TO KEEP MOVING. SORRY, he scrawled in the delicate lace. And to his surprise, he really meant the apology. ABOUT THE “PARENTS†THING…
The girl grabbed his hand in her own, effectively shushing him. “Alrighty. Don’t say a word more,†she instructed him, beaming. “I already got it figured out, back in the forest. You don’t got any. You ain’t any Raiaera-elf either. I wondered if ya happened to be one of those solitary faerie folk — but you ain’t so spooky for one of them, are you? Not the abducting-naughty-children kind. So, your secret’s safe with me.â€
Fenn rubbed the back of his neck, and glanced out over the cart’s side with a sheepish turn of his ears.
Lore sighed, following his gaze. “I get it if you got some wanderlust beating in ya too. If you gotta leave, you gotta leave. But come visit me again someday, alright? Promise?â€
He nodded.
With its two tuckered-out passengers in tow and a slumbering direwolf to boot, the wagon bounced into town. A wind carried the nectar of the local flowers… and the promises of more far-off places and adventures to be had.
~ § ~ § ~ § ~
â€Tsk. Pigwidgeon, I knew you attracted trouble, but even I did not expect you to wander willingly into its open maws. When, exactly, did you grow such a spine?â€
<I haven’t. Chalk it up to impulse and spite.>