No one said anything. The road was quiet and empty; no one travelled it before harvest time, and that wasn't for another two weeks. Wilfred and his brothers plodded along, none of them willing to spark a conversation. Garten had been silent and almost docile since his encounter with their father; and he remained that way. Alyss had bound his arm in a splint and told him that if she caught him removing it, she'd give him a thrashing he'd remember. Wilfred doubted there was any reason to worry. Garten knew when too much was too much; and he wasn't stupid.

Lucy was the only one of them who tried to keep a cheerful spirit. She asked them to sing with her, and when they refused, began to sing by herself. It was a sad song, something about a miner, and Alyss eventually said,

"Oh Lucy, sing something cheerful, won't you? We've all had enough dreary tales for today." Lucy complied.

"Gales may blow

The winds all rise-

I can't see anything 'side grey skies,

And the willows are all bending away….

Well, here's to tomorrow,

And here's to today,

Because this stormy weather

Won't blow past the bay.

So, anchor your boat,

Set it solidly in place,

Hang up your coat

And c'mon home,

We won't turn you away.

Put away your sword

Hang up the bow,

The war is over

And the water's nice and low….

Come home

Come home

Come home…."

"Don't sing songs about a home we don't have." Garten snapped.

"Maybe you," She retorted, "Could try a different attitude. In case you didn't notice we still have each other. That's something and more than a lot of rabbits can say." Garten rolled his eyes. Lucy narrowed her own. "Ingratitude is the seed of all contempt." She quoted. Garten ignored her.

"Leave him alone," Wilfred told her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "He's in a mood."

"He's always in a mood." Lucy muttered. Wilfred shrugged.

"We're stuck with him; we might as well learn to ignore them." This entire time Alyss had been staring sadly up at the darkening sky, as if willing time to turn back. It wasn't working. Maybe she was praying-Wilfred didn't know. All he knew was that the sky was clearer away from the city.

It took them twelve days to reach Nick Hollow on foot. It was especially hard on Lucy, who already had mobility issues. They had to break several times because she simply couldn't keep going. The way-side inns were empty, which was a good thing, but Wilfred didn't like the strange looks they were getting from some of the inn-tenders. It wasn't common to see a mother and four children travelling alone through wild territory. Yes, Nick Hollow was considered wild. There was a small outpost up there, a place called Half-wind, but other than that and a few inns, Nick Hollow was the only village in a twenty-mile radius.

"Where are we going?" Lucy asked for the third or fourth time.

"To Nick Hollow, to stay with my parents." Alyss responded, not exasperated in the slightest.

"I hope that they're better than Grandfather." Garten said cynically.

"They are. You'll like them."

"Will I?" Garten muttered.

"Be quiet." Wilfred told him. Suddenly their mother stopped. They were standing in front of a white-washed fence. Beyond this paling there was a huge Elm tree. Larger than any Wilfred had ever seen. It was quite obviously hollow, and in the windows set into the trunk Wilfred could see figures moving about. There was a spacious front porch and, on the steps, leading to the door sat a little, white-furred doe no more than seven or eight years. She was reading, but suddenly looked up. On her feet in a moment, she called,

"Who be you?" What a strange accent. Wilfred thought.

"Alyss." Their mother hesitated, "Alyss Mayfield." She didn't use father's name. The little doe stood thoughtfully on one leg for a moment, then said,

"You be me auntie?" She pronounced it 'Ant-ee'.

"Yes." The little doe turned, book tucked under arm, and hurried into the house. A moment later a face appeared at the door, tugged on by the little doe. She was obviously the younger's mother; she bore the same white fur and appearance. The elder stood stock still the moment she met eyes with Wilfred's mother. Her lips mouthed the name 'Alyss' and a moment later she was down the steps, the gate was unlocked, and she was crying and hugging Alyss. And Alyss was crying too.

"We never thought you'd be comein' home." She sobbed. "Not after…." She paused, unable to finish.

"Told you I would, someday." Alyss responded. "Swore it to you, didn't I, Charity?" That must have been the other doe's name. Charity. Wilfred liked that name.

"Ma, Pa! Alyss's Home!" Home. The word sounded foreign even though Wilfred used it all the time. Home. We use that word too flippantly. "Home to stay!" The little doe moved forward. She had such strange blue eyes. Blue eyes that neither Wilfred nor anyone else he had ever met had.

"My name be Hope." She said, smiling. "Welcome to 'Hollow."