Sweeping up the last of the soot, I wondered how the monkey family would fare without Lellip here soon.

Nebl was back on his feet, seemingly fine as far as I could tell, but neither Pram or Drandle helped much if it all in the smithy. That meant Nebl would be on his own in here, and it was honestly too much for a single person. Even one as stout and strong as him.

But none of them seemed too worried about it. In fact, we'd already be on our way back north if not for the wagon being unfinished still.

Our original plan had been to go buy a wagon or two once we got here, since not only did Merit have a bunch of stuff so did Lellip… but Nebl had obviously thought ahead and was already handling it. A large wagon, one that would need at least two horses to pull, was being built in the workshop across from the furnaces. It was nearly done; Nebl was just finishing up the covering wrap. It was kind of weird to see an unfinished wagon cover, since it was just a bunch of hoops and bows of wood that were getting wrapped with linen. Nebl for some reason was adding leather to it, which was why it wasn't done just yet.

No matter. We still had several weeks before the official end of winter, so Randle wasn't in danger just yet. Plus I kind of liked staying here, since it gave me time to both spend time with little Copper and do stuff like this.

Tapping the broom against the ground, and causing a small cloud of ash and dirt to form, I smiled softly as I stood up straight and looked around at my work.

The floor was clean again. For now.

It was something Vim would have done. Or well, Vim likely would have helped Nebl finish the wagon, but I couldn't do that. Not just because I didn't really know how to do it, but also because Lellip was the one helping him. No one had said it, not outright, but I knew what it was.

It was, potentially, one of the last times they would work together. So to them it was special. And likely why they were taking longer than they needed to.

How could I fault them for that? And even more so, how could I possibly think about intruding in such a special moment…?

"Turning into Vim, are you?"

I blinked and turned, and watched Merit enter the smithy as she glanced around.

"Hm?" I wondered what she meant. Did she mean my little attempt to help out? I had just thought it was what Vim would have done too, I guess.

"Getting so dirty all the time," Merit said with a gesture at me.

Oh. I glanced down and smirked, and couldn't do anything but sheepishly nod. Yes, I now had a bunch of soot and ash all over me. The fact she was comparing me to Vim, not because I was doing little odd things around the place but instead because I was getting dirty made me kind of happy for some reason.

"I can only spend so much time with Copper, else I'll want to take her with me when we leave," I said.

"Hm… I myself have never cared much for children," Merit said as I went to put the broom away.

"Why's that?" I asked. I had noticed she had been prickly with Mono and Tundra, but I had just assumed it was because she had not liked their personalities. Not because they had been children.

"I mean… look at me, Renn," Merit mumbled.

"Hm…?" I turned and did so, wondering what she was saying. Was the answer in her expression…? Her clothes or…? Oh… "Wait…" I frowned as I realized, what I assumed, was the meaning of her statement.

She nodded, a little stiffly. "They can't see past my appearance. It's one thing to be mistaken for a kid on first impressions, but to do it again and again? Children can't comprehend it," she said.

I crossed my arms as I thought of the way Tundra and Mono had treated her after first meeting her. I had been there for most of their interactions, and…

"Is that true though?" I asked. Tundra and Mono had indeed treated Merit kind of oddly, but I had felt that had simply been because of their personalities. Mono liked pain and annoying people, and Merit was a perfect target for such a thing. And Tundra just simply liked, and was friendly, with anyone who she saw as strong and with a backbone. Merit, although tiny, was mighty. So that too made sense.

"You think I'd not be bothered by it if it wasn't…?" Merit asked, sounding a little annoyed I didn't believe her.

I nodded. "I suppose… but surely Copper doesn't have such a problem with you, does she? She's too young to even notice such a thing!" I said.

"You obviously haven't spent much time with children, have you Renn? Babies can tell, yes. Enough about this, I have a question for you," Merit said, reminding me of Vim in the way he changed topics forcefully.

Allowing it, I nodded gently and waited for her question. Should we go sit down somewhere? There were some chairs near the other side of the room, by the cold furnaces and forges.

Merit didn't seem to mind us both just stand here, near the soot pile, as she gestured at me. "This home we're to build up north. Is it going to be in the forest? With Lilly and her family?" she asked.

Oh? "No…? Randle and Angie plan to build an orphanage. One for humans. Vim suggested the town that Lilly's son, Branches, has been living in. It's a newer town, growing wealthy thanks to a gold mine or something. It is near the Owl's Nest though," I said.

Merit nodded, as if knowingly. "And who will be the leader of this location? Randle? You?"

I smirked at that. "Does it matter…?"

For a tiny moment she didn't say anything, and then she sighed. "Yes, Renn. It does. For now we'll shelve that topic, but know if it ends up being Randle I'll be annoyed," she said.

"Okay…? But technically I'll not be amongst the orphanage, you know?" I said, wondering if I'd even talked to her about this yet or not.

"Huh? You won't be?" Merit frowned as she looked up at me, as if now more focused on our conversation than she had been moments before.

I nodded. "I plan to make something of an inn. For our people. Members only, not for random people, if I can get away with it. It might be with the orphanage, in the same place or even building, but I plan for it to be its own thing," I said. I felt a little giddy talking about it, since I hadn't even told Lilly or anyone else this idea yet. Only Vim knew.

Merit's tiny mouth frowned deeply for a moment, and then she smiled at me. "You mean for your little cupid station."

"Cupid station?" I asked. What'd that mean?

"Your love-nest. For people to meet and become mates. Like Lellip and Branches are doing," she explained.

I smirked and nodded. "Yeah!"

Merit sighed at me and shook her head. "And Vim's okay with this?"

"Vim would be okay with anything I do, you know that," I said.

She groaned at me.

"What! You know it's true!" I said, a little worried over her reaction. She looked as if she was regretting coming with us!

"It is. Fine. So you'll be the same location, but with a different focus. Honestly I'm glad to hear it; I was a little worried about the whole orphanage thing. I was worried I was going to have to pretend to be a student, or an orphan, from now on," she said with a sad smile.

Oh! That was why she was asking! "Please, Merit. I'd never make you do something you don't want to. And I'd sic Vim on anyone who tried to, as well," I said.

Her sad smile turned into a real one as she nodded. "Thanks, Renn. But still, the way you're talking about it is as if you really don't know what we're doing or how we're going to do it… I'm to assume you've only talked about this a few times with Vim?" she asked.

"Well… yeah? You know he doesn't like talking about stuff like this," I said.

Merit sighed at me. "Actually when it comes to building a new location, he's one of the best to have at your disposal. Not just the whole building aspect, but the examining and planning. I highly suggest we let Vim pick the spot, and not Randle or anyone else, and let him deal with whatever authority that owns the town," she said.

Ah… I nodded at my friend's wise words, and realized I was now speaking to Queen Merit. The one who knew full well the costs and headache that came with such things. "Are you saying we should wait for Vim to return and join us up north, before we even begin? What about Randle's banishment?" I asked.

"He can do what we will. Just sit and wait. From what I understand it's not like the kids are going to be homeless, right? He just wants to open a new orphanage and church? So what if it's a few months late? He can snivel but he'll get over it," Merit said.

And there was typical Merit. Or well, maybe that was also Queen Merit too. Supposedly she had been rather feisty. "To be honest I'm not really sure how it's going to go. I assume we're not taking any children with us, but…" I said with a shrug. No one had told me if we'd be taking any of the kids in Telmik with us or not.

"Hopefully not. This means we'll need humans too, you know? I'm used to living amongst them, but what of the rest? What of Lellip?" Merit asked.

"Well… I had assumed Lellip would be living with Lilly, what with Branches and all," I said.

Merit frowned and shook her head. "Lilly believes in children going out on their own after a point. She'll let them be near, and visit any time they wish, but she doesn't like her children sticking around once older," Merit said.

"Wait really…?" I asked. That was news to me. So she didn't just have her children leave her nest as to grow and see the world, but because she actually didn't want them there in the first place? Really?

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

She nodded and sighed. "There's a chance Lilly has changed, of course, after all these years… but yes. Back then she had been rather obstinate about it. Not really sure why, but that's just how she is I guess," Merit said.

Hm… "Well, I'm sure Lellip would be fine, right? Not only is Branches living amongst humans, and has for years, Lellip's dealt with them too. She's mingled with the residents of the nearby town, the one that works the mine," I said. I didn't bring up the fact that she had fallen for one of the men, since I wasn't sure if that was something Lellip wanted others to know about or not.

And even if she wasn't capable, I'd figure it out. Somehow.

Merit hummed a bit in thought as she tilted her head, closing her eyes as she did. I smirked as I watched her ponder deeply, and I wondered why she was suddenly worrying over such things. With the wagon we'd be traveling with, and likely more wagons once we picked up Randle and Angie, it was likely going to take us weeks to get back up north. We had plenty time to talk and plan for this, I figured.

Odds are Vim would be back before we even got to the town up north, I'd bet.

"By the way, I overheard you and Vim say that Berri and her family would be joining us too, is that right?" Merit then asked as she re-opened her eyes.

My tail squirmed a bit as I nodded. "Yes. In fact I plan to send Vim to go get them as soon as possible, once able," I said. I trusted Merit, a lot, but I didn't want to bring up the reason for the narwhal family needing to be rushed in their relocation just yet. Though, I do wonder when Merit had overheard us talking about them…

Merit nodded as she then scratched at her chin, a little absentmindedly. "And Nebl plans to join us too, once they're sure the kids work out. Is there anyone else? How many others are we thinking might join us?" Merit asked.

Smiling softly my ear shifted a little, since I heard someone walking our way. Judging by the sounds of the footsteps it was Lilly. She wore thick and heavy boots. "Well, I expect a few others to show up. Oplar plans to make an office with us, though I don't think she means to live their full-time. Tundra of course wanted to join us, but who knows what she'll do once the time comes to decide…" I spoke as I thought of those who I knew for sure had already voiced such things, and then my smile grew a little as I remembered even more. "Mapple, too. She asked me and Vim if she could join us too, after she retired," I added.

Merit shifted as her eyes narrowed, yet before she could walk in Lilly entered the smithy. "What are you two scheming now?" Lilly asked loudly as she headed our way.

My small friend turned around and pointed at me. "She's going to get us killed, Lilly," Merit said.

"What?" I and Lilly both said, shocked.

"She plans to bring idiots. The whole lot of them, with us up north," Merit said with an exasperated huff.

Ah. She was just annoyed over the names I'd listed.

Lilly relaxed too, laughing as she stepped up next to us. "You have no idea, Merit. But I mean… we're taking you too, so what do you expect?"

"I expect at least a modicum of intelligence! Did you know Mapple plans to join us?" Merit asked, sounding a little angry as she did.

Wonder what modicum means.

The owl shifted, looking slightly startled. "Mapple…? The heretic?" Lilly asked, glancing at me as if for confirmation.

I nodded with a frown. "She asked if she could come, after she retires," I said. And heretic? Really? Funny coming from her, even if true.

"Well… I mean, Randle will be there too. Whether we like it or not those like him will come, Merit," Lilly said with a shake of her head, as if she had already resigned herself to her fate.

"Easy for you to say. You'll be nearby, but in the safety of your tree. I'll be stuck dead center of it all," Merit said.

"I'll let you have a stack of hay in the barn, if you'd like to visit occasionally, so don't mope!" Lilly said with a smirk.

Merit's eyes narrowed. "Vim already offered me an aquarium, so I need not your magnanimous charity," Merit said.

"Wha…? Had he really?" Lilly flinched, and looked at me again as if she wanted me to deny it and say it wasn't true.

But I couldn't, since I both had no idea if he had said such a thing or what it even was. "Aquarium?" I asked.

The two had been about to tease each other more, but they hesitated and then looked to me. Merit smiled gently at me and pointed at herself. "A large tank to house fish and other aquatic life. Usually made in a way to allow people to see and watch said life swim and stuff," she explained.

"Think of a giant window made into a huge bowl, that lets you see into it with ease. Imagine putting a pond into a bowl of glass," Lilly said further.

My ears twitched as my eyes widened and I nodded. "Fish can survive like that?" I asked, shocked to hear it so. Didn't they always die in barrels not long after being put into them? I'd seen more than my fair share of such instances!

"They can, if properly set up and managed. Though this one just needs mud and gunk," Lilly said with a smirk as she gestured at Merit with a thumb.

"And she only needs a few branches. Doesn't even need to be on them, just sitting under them is enough for her," Merit countered.

I smirked at the two. "I like lying in snow. Just a small pile is more than enough," I said, to join the fun.

The two seemed to hesitate again, and I felt a little conscious because of it. Why were they suddenly looking at me as if I'd just said something weird…?

Maybe it was too early for me to join in their teasing. I'll make sure to not try to force it, then… maybe I needed a few more years and…

"The scary part is Vim would be okay with it too. We might want to keep an eye on them, less they drift too far from humanity," Merit said with a sigh.

I blinked as Lilly nodded gravely, as if we were suddenly talking about something deeply serious. "Especially once she gives birth. Odds are the kit will be strong, but nothing like them if my children are anything to go by. Vim especially won't pay enough attention," she added.

Smirking wildly at them, I realized they had just included me in their teasing! "I'm not so bad as that!" I said happily. Really! I'd not let my baby freeze to death, no matter how much like me or Vim she'll be!

"That's what they always say. I'll have you know half my siblings were eaten by fish because my parents never paid attention to them," Merit said.

Lilly snickered as I tried to tell if she was kidding or not. It didn't seem she was. "You probably only survived because of how nasty you taste," Lilly said.

"And you only survived thanks to a fat panda. Who's worse?" Merit asked back.

My ears perked up, a little shocked to have heard Merit say such a thing. Lilly had indeed been saved when young, by Celine and Vim, but how did she take such a thing…?

Apprehensively waiting to see Lilly's reaction, I almost didn't hear my name being called. I turned, as did Merit and Lilly as they both noticed my attention get focused elsewhere.

My ears fluttered as they moved, and I frowned as I wondered if I had misheard… but then I heard it again. "Renn!" Lellip shouted.

"Lellip's calling for me," I said. She didn't sound stressed or worried, but it did sound like she was searching for me. Her voice sounded like it was coming from near the house.

"Go see what she wants then," Lilly said.

I nodded and stepped past the two, heading for the door. As I did Merit sighed.

"Did you hear her before that shout just now?" Merit asked quietly.

"Not at all," Lilly answered as I reached the exit, and paused before it.

Glancing back at the two, I frowned at them as they went to whispering about… what they considered at least, my extreme sense of hearing.

I mean, it was. Even I admitted it was a little too good now. But was it really that shocking? My hearing had been good in the first place, supposedly, so it wasn't as if it was a wild difference between before I'd taken the heart and after…

Leaving the smithy, I sighed at myself and found Lellip in the distance. She noticed me after a few moments and we headed for one another.

"You okay, Lellip?" I asked as I neared her. She of course looked fine, she even had a huge smile on her face, but I wanted to make sure.

"Huh? Yeah? My mother wanted to know if you'd like some of those sunflower seeds. She just made the last batch, the way Vim had taught her to," Lellip asked with a point to the house.

I frowned at her. "Huh…? There was some left?" I asked. Hadn't we made all that had been left? Before leaving last time?

She nodded. "The flowers we had tried to plant didn't make it. They wilted not long after you left. We gathered up the seeds from them, figured may as well not let them go to waste. We also planted some too, but we doubt they'll sprout and all… so," Lellip said with a shrug.

Ah… I see. So the sunflowers we had tried to plant hadn't survived. That was too bad… "I'd love to have some, yes. Is there enough for Merit and Lilly too?" I asked.

"Of course there is? Just wanted to offer some to you first, you're the one who brought them after all," Lellip said as she smiled.

Well… Vim had, really… "It's too bad they didn't survive. I'm sorry," I apologized as we headed for the smithy, to let Merit and Lilly know. They hadn't left it yet, likely either still whispering about my changes or were now bickering back and forth again.

"The trees are dying too. Probably the soil or something," Lellip said.

Although I nodded, I wasn't sure if that was the case. Vim had said they'd likely not grow, even though we'd taken them from a nearby mountain. Odds are it had been a mixture of things; Vim should have given them more information about how to properly tend to them.

I loved the man, but he was so indifferent sometimes. Too indifferent. As if he didn't even realize what he was doing half the time. Others would say it was because he was so old, but I knew it was because he was simply tired. Tired of it all.

It was why he still wanted to step down as protector, even though he no longer had a justified reason to do so. I wasn't sure yet how I was going to handle that, but… well… I'd have to. One way or another.

Because even if Vim wanted to step down and leave the Society, I didn't. I'd not abandon them. No matter how bad of a headache they became, no matter how annoying or ungrateful… they were still my people. And I owed them a great debt.

Their existence gave me friends and family. I needed to repay that. And I planned to do so over my, now longer, life.

And it will start with a small home up north… and a little bit of a wife's manipulation. To keep her husband in check, and keep him from drifting too far off the correct path. To keep the protector, the protector.

Hopefully my daughter arrived soon, because I expected her to be the main factor in that plan.

Vim probably hasn't realized it, but he seemed very excited over her. It had been him who had thought of her name, long before I had even considered such a thing. For him to have already thought long and hard about such a thing proved just how much he liked the idea. Even if he'd not admit it aloud.

I was confident I could sway Vim a little, here and there… but there were limits. Very real ones. His love for me only bent his rules so far. And sadly it wasn't as far as I'd like to admit.

But a daughter…?

I had proof all around me how powerful such a thing was.

Nebl had been willing to sacrifice himself for his granddaughter's love. Through a human, of all things.

Lilly was willing to let others, notably those like Randle who she didn't get along with at all, to set up a home near her nest. In hopes of rebuilding her relationship with her children.

Berri was willing to leave their adorable little home, and all its safety and importance, just in the off-chance her daughter needed help.

Landi had built a whole nation, and risked so much more, just for the chance to have a child. The mere idea of one pushed her to such lengths.

Frett had gotten herself involved with a terrible man, for much the same reasons as Landi.

Roslyn and her people had done terrible things, and gone through terrible things, just to feed their children.

And that was just of those I personally knew. Nearly everyone in the Society had such a story. Either of great sacrifice, or in choosing their entire lives and lifestyles, to either support their children or grant them life. So, so many, had structured their whole worlds around their children. And for good reason.

Even I had done similar back then, for the kids. Lujic and Ginny. I had dedicated decades to them, and they hadn't even been my own.

Maybe, just maybe… Vim would be the same. Odds are he would be, since deep down he was a good man. One willing to protect something like this Society for hundreds of years, and only now just finally growing annoyed over it.

That man will not be like my siblings, or my father. Vim will be the father I've never known could exist. It was impossible to expect anything less of him, based off his personality and his ethos as he called it.

She'll be what I, and the Society, needs. To keep him with us. With them.

Come soon, Nory. It might take both of us to keep this whole thing together. And even together we'll likely still struggle and need help.

But we'll do it.

We'll stand tall

Together. As a family.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.