Jarek Went upstairs to his old room. Nothing had changed. The bed sat in the middle, the chest where he kept his clothes at the foot.

A small table and chair. Exactly as he'd left it. He took off his leather armor and un buckled his sword belt laying them on the bed.

He thought about resting for a moment, but decided to heed his mother and find his sister.

"Bryon said you'd come home." a familiar voice said. Jarek turned to see a slender young man his own age standing in the doorway. He had

long blond hair tied back into a tail with a strip of leather, and wore the dark green robes of the clergy of Vantol, Lord of the Forest.

"Marcus!" Jarek said, glad to see his best friend again. The two shared a hearty hug."So you took your vows?"

"Last autumn." Marcus Wyr said."I am now a son of the woods."

"You look great, very distinguished." Jarek said."Come on, I have to find Lara."

"Easy enough," Marcus remarked."She'll be at the bakery with Seleune."

"Seleune?" Jarek's mind raced trying to remeber the name. "The girl who used to wear her hair in pig tails all the time."

"The same." Marcus replied as they walked out into the street. They headed towards the North end of the village. There was old Tom Reilgh's bakery.

Two girls sat out front talking One was auburn haired with green/blue eyes that smiled and bewitched many of the young men in town. The other was a bit taller with raven hair

dark eyes that caused the same boys to lose any trace of coherent thought and speech. The fair haired one look up as Teh two men walked over. She leapt to her feet and with a cry

of joy ran towards Jarek.

"Your home!" she exclaimed, hugging him tightly."I thought you'd never come back!"

"I missed you too Lara." Jarek smiled down at his sister. She was seventeen three years younger than him.

"Have you seen Mother?" she asked.

"Yes, we're having dinner at the tavern." Jarek replied. He was about to say more when the dark haired girl walked over to them.

"Jarek Fallon," she said smiling at him." Welcome home." Jarek stared at the girl for several moments, trying to place her name.

"Seleune." she said."You don't remember me?" Jarek's jaw dropped at the name.

"Seleune?" He said. " You..you've grown up."

The raven haired beauty laughed, sending a shiver down Jarek's spine."Is that all you have to say after three years?"

"You look...very different..I mean to say.."

Seleune palyfully slapped him in the arm. " You mean to say, you thought I was still the girl in pig tails, well you sir have no manners!"

Jarek stepped back and held up his hands in mock surrender. " My apologies good lady Seleune, I meant no disrespect to you!"

Seleune laughed again, brushing her hair back from her face. "I'll accept your apology, but only if you escort me to the summer festival."

"It would be my pleasure."

"Then it's settled." Seleune said."I have to run home now, My father isn't well. But I will see you soon Jarek Fallon." She gave his arm a gentle squeeze and walked down the road.

"Come on!" Lara said tugging on his arm."Lets go home, I want to hear all about you travels."

"Yes," Marcus said."I'd like to hear about them as well."

"Very well." Jarek said. "Lets go." They all walked back towards the house, Jarek looking back over his shoulder at the retreating figure of Seleune.