Chapter 4: Don't Leave Me!
Leanbow woke up before his wife and shook her shoulder. Udonna stirred and asked, "Whatisit?"
He smiled at her and murmured, "I'm going to get some firewood."
She nodded and climbed out of bed and began getting ready to fix breakfast.
Bowen was still asleep, Leanbow observed relieved, especially after last night's nightmare.
Bowen woke up a few minutes after Leanbow had gone to gather firewood and saw only his mother. "Mom?" he asked.
"Bowen, you're up," Udonna smiled at her son.
"Where's Dad?" he pressed.
"He's gathering firewood. He'll be back soon," Udonna reassured her son.
Bowen nodded and stared in the direction of the forest, where Leanbow had gone.
Leanbow entered the clearing and Udonna swiftly took the firewood from him. "Brace yourself," she advised.
Leanbow blinked as his son launched himself into his arms. "Don't leave me," Bowen sobbed.
"I'm not leaving you—or your mother—ever again," Leanbow vowed, tightening his grip on his son.
Udonna glanced at her husband and son. Bowen nodded reluctantly and murmured, "Promise?"
Leanbow nodded. As they ate, Leanbow glanced at his son. "Why are you so scared that I'd ever leave you?" he asked, watching his son's face.
"Because you did leave me," Bowen murmured. "You both left me."
Udonna reached out and rubbed his cheek. "Oh, Bowen, we never meant for this to happen," she murmured. "I would have been thrilled for an opportunity to have raised you."
Leanbow murmured, "Your mother's right. We would have raised you. We wanted to raise you. I didn't really want to try to seal the Master away forever—I wanted to stay with you and your mother, but most of the attacks were centered on destroying our family. I wanted to hurt the Darkness like it had hurt us."
Bowen nodded and the family hugged.
