21. Harvest Festival (Contest)
By the time the Harvest Festival Cook-off had come around anyone who didn't already know of his return was whispering with only a vague sense of secrecy as he stood briefly by his entry. He ignored them. The only approval he was interesting in gaining was from Yolanda; head of the judges. Before the tasting began he'd already walked away, by the long winding path back to the lake. It was nightfall when his doorbell rang.
"Well," she said with a wry smile forming. "There's something there, but you still have a way to go."
She presented him the winnings.