Golden Sun (c) Camelot

People would always compare fathers and sons, and mothers and daughters. But no one in Isaac's memory had ever pointed out how much mothers and sons could be so very much alike.

Matthew was leaving, his only son, just like Isaac himself had over thirty years ago. And on the day that Isaac had left, he remembered, with painful clarity, how he'd waited there alone - despite the crowd around him - at Vale's gate. How Garet's younger brother was eventually the one to run up and give him the message from "Aunty Dora" to her only son, the death knell of the idea that his mother would see him off into the world.

He'd understood, when he'd stopped to think about it. She'd already lost Kyle, in the storm – even if he had been alive the whole time – and now she was about to lose him, the only family she had left.

He was able to understand, but that hadn't made it any less painful, knowing she wasn't there to say goodbye.

So why was it he couldn't face Matthew?

It was going to be a short journey, perhaps a month at most. A challenge, perhaps, but nothing beyond their abilities, especially with Kraden there to guide them. They would be back before long.

That was what he told himself, over and over as he tied the message to the homing pigeon's leg and released it into the sky. But he didn't need Ivan standing over his shoulder telling prophecies of doom to know that it wouldn't be that simple. The Mourning Moon was coming soon – there was too much strange activity with these vortexes. They were running on a tight schedule, and that's when things were most likely to go wrong.

But what else could he do? It was too late. They were already leaving – he could see them from his vantage point, crossing the bridge, heading down the road to Patcher's Place and beyond, and he could already feel a pang of regret, that he hadn't been there to wave goodbye.

Because, in truth, regardless how this journey went, he had no idea when he would see Matthew again.

His mouth twitched into a wry smile. He could understand how Dora felt a little better now.