"Bano!" Gretel called to me as I neared home. She jogged to me, carrying a dead rabbit and smiling down at

Pernilla in greeting.

"Is everything alright?" I asked.

"Yes, we just didn't know where you had – who did that to your lip?"

"I visited the village. It got ugly for a second but we're fine." I kissed Pernilla's head, pushing back fears of

being attacked with her in my hands.

"You're a good mother, Bano. I don't think I've ever said so to you."

"Thank you Gretel, I can't say I didn't take some inspiration from you."

"Bano I... Things have... I..."

She looked pained. I had never seen Gretel lost for words, or with tears in her eyes. I placed a hand on her

arm and sought for her to meet my eyes.

"Gretel?"

"If, if things get bad I am leaving. But I want you to take care of James and Abigail."

I threw a free arm around her and pulled her into a hug telling her, "That's not going to happen. I didn't get

into a fight today for you to be driven out of anywhere like I have."

I took her a while but eventually she relaxed and accepted my embrace.

"You haven't said anything to Hansel – to Abigail or James?"

"No," she assured me, leaving the embrace.

"Then think no more of this."

She turned and started home and I followed. We were silent and departed at my door. She gave me a slight

nod before I went inside. I felt her pain.

"Where have you been?" Hansel asked immediately upon my entry. He scooped Parnilla from me and I looked

for Gunnar.

"The village." I looked to our table and the strange boy talking to Gunnar at it. Hansel's hand was suddenly at

my lip, and he moved into my vision of the newcomer. I moved to see him,

"Bano, what happened?"

"Attacked. Gunnar, who is your friend?"

He smiled up at me, waved and looked back to the pale, thin, red-headed boy before him. "Omar." He

explained, pointing.

"Anuk and Bambi found him in a ditch, Gretel's seen to his leg. We were waiting for you to take him home but

you were attacked?"

"Stupid woman." I explained. His face was terribly contorted with concern. I walked to the a corner of the room

and he followed. I elaborated, "Hansel, when I went to the village people were... tense. I just went to see

Edna-"

"Why?"

"To find out what the hell was going on. And I did but not from her." I looked to Omar, "That boy has been

missing and their dogs won't go beyond Edwards' territory. Whatever happened to Omar, they think the worst

and they blame Gretel."

He ran his fingers through his hair and I pressed, "What are we going to do?"

"We'll figure something out." He assured me, pulling me into an embrace. I wasn't so sure.