Tonight was the first full moon Casca had been fully conscious for since her return and she found herself restless for seemingly no reason. It had started in the morning, just a tingling feeling that turned into full blown excitement come sunset. She was waiting for something, but for what, she had no idea.

She was bringing firewood back to the camp, though perhaps she had been away for too long as the twilight was quickly slipping into night. It was then that she caught sight of something strange. A boy, barely more than a toddler and naked, was standing in the moonlight staring at her. He didn't appear to be scared or hurt, and her brand, however dampened, didn't so much as twinge in his presence. It took all of her will power not to rush forward and embrace the boy. Just the sight of him stirred something in her chest, and deeper too, the pit of her gut. Her womb? Impossible...

"Who are you?" She asked, walking closer to the boy, still trying to be cautious in case this was some sort of trap. "Are you okay?"

At the sound of her voice the boy ran forward with a smile on his face, hugging her knees tightly. This surprised Casca who took off her cloak to wrap around the boy. "It's chilly." She reasoned and hugged the boy back. "Why're you out here? Do you have any parents nearby?"

The boy simply hugged her tighter, still not saying a word. He may not be old enough to speak, she thought, or traumatized beyond it. She glanced around. Even with the moonlight it was pretty dark and no one should be in the woods for miles. Casca couldn't stay and look for this kid's parents, it was simply too dangerous, at least for how she was now. Not to mention how Guts and the others worried so much as it was. Yes, best to get back to the group, perhaps Farnese and Schierke could find where he came from with magic.

She stood up from her crouch and said, "I'm gonna take you back to my group, okay? They're not that far away."

The boy motionsed for her to pick him up and she obliged. It was colder than she realized, probably because they were so far into the mountains. She'd have to make Guts share his cloak with her tonight, Casca mused, holding the boys a little closer. Oddly, he wasn't shivering and Casca hoped it was because he was warm and not because of some other issue.

The trip back to camp was quick and the fire was a welcome sight. Serpico was cooking something, while Farnese practiced small charms with Schierke critiquing her. Isidro waited impatiently for dinner with Puck and Isma who were throwing small rocks trying to get them stuck in Guts' cloak. Guts sat against a tree, eyes- eye closed in what seemed to be sleep, but Casca knew better. Sleeping was easier for him now, but he was still awfully paranoid, something that had saved their lives on more than one occasion. All eyes turned to her when they realized she wasn't alone.

"Casca." Farnese asked, "Who's that?"

Casca looked at the boy, who was staring at them with big brown eyes. "I don't know." She replied honestly. "I found him while I was… I forgot the the fire wood!" She slapped her forehead.

"You just, found him?" Isidro asked skeptically.

"Yes."

"Just naked in the middle of the woods?" Farnese questioned further.

"I know it's weird. I don't think he's a monster or anything, just a little boy."

"Casca do you remember that boy we told you about, the one we thought was perhaps sent by the flowerstorm king?"

"You don't mean this-" Casca looked at the boy in her arms again. He didn't look like a fairy. He had dark eyes and dark hair that looked at if it had never been cut. He had seemed quite pale when she first saw him, but now that they had more than just moonlight he seemed a shade darker. He seemed very human, and yet-

"He seems older now." Isidro said, "Maybe three years really did pass."

"But if he isn't connected to the Dannan who is he?" Schierke asked.

"A light." A gruff voice said.

Casca turned to look at Guts. He still hadn't moved, but now was more obviously awake. "I never said anything about it before because I didn't quite understand it, but a few times when I lost control of the Berserker Armor this- this light showed up. And both times this boy was with us."

"But he was with Casca the entire time, and he doesn't seem to be a fairy."

"A fairy wouldn't have that kind of power." Puck said, "We certainly don't."

"And illusion or trick, but not that kind of power. That's a witch channeling a god or elven royalty level." Ivalera added.

"Never said I got what was going on, just that it must be connected somehow."

Schierke nodded thoughtfully, "They must be. If only we'd brought it up to Dannan."

"It wasn't like there was much time. They kicked us out pretty quick." Isidro commented. "It was pretty rude on their part. Even the Merrows dropped us at the first chance they got."

"Don't you bad talk my ma!" Isma exclaimed, "Besides, with three years to gain power, Griffith could almost locate Guts and Casca, and through them, Elfhelm, which is one of the few threats to his power."

"No I get that, it just…" Isidro drifted off. He looked at the boy. On a different note he said, "If he is older now, maybe he can talk."

Casca shrugged and addressed the boy again, "Who are you?"

The boy stared back. There was something in his face that seemed familiar, but she couldn't quite place it. "Don't be afraid, we won't hurt you." She then found him looking at Guts against his tree. "Not even him. I promise." But the boy did seem afraid, no, if anything he seemed happy.

Serpico's cry of, "The soup's burning!" Pulled everyone away from the odd child. With that dinner was on. Luckily the soup wasn't all that burned, just on the bottom. Casca set down the boy to go through her bag to find a shirt to clothe him. She held the shirt out to him, but when all he did was stare at it, she tugged it over his head. Casca tried to be gentle, but she never had had to dress someone else, so she could tell there was a little discomfort when she pulled his hair from out of the shirt.

Then picking up two bowls she filled them and walked over to Guts, the boy following her. She handed Guts his bowl and sat next to him, trying to glean some of his warmth, however much that damned armor sapped it. The boy sat on her lap which surprised her, but since she figured she'd be the one to feed him she didn't mind. Guts gripped the bowl in his metal hand and ate quickly while watching her.

"What?" She asked after a few minutes of eating and feeding the boy in silence.

"Hmm?"

"You keep looking at me weird." Casca paused, "Well, weirder than normal."

"Oh." He seemed to be processing something. He set down the bowl. "It's just weird. I don't know."

"What is it Guts?" She pressed.

"That boy, I never noticed before, but now that he's older- I don't know, he just, he looks strangely familiar."

"I thought that too!" Casca said.

"And he must have some sort of magic, but right now he seems just like some human brat, except none of this scares him. It's weird."

"Because he must know how much you like kids." Casca teased, laying her head on Guts' shoulder. His armor did it's best at deterring her. "Ugh, I'm taking off your paldron."

"What's your deal?"

"I'm cold."

"And? Go closer to the fire."

"You're a jerk." But Casca laughed, "You like cuddling more than I do."

"Casca."

"Hey, if I'm not warm, how will I keep this kid warm?"

Guts didn't respond and let Casca remove the armor. The boy found the armor very interesting and clamored onto Guts.

"What are you doing kid?" He said in surprise. The kid reached out to grab one of the knives on his belt, which lead to Guts grabbing the boy's hand. "Don't touch that." He scolded. The boy blinked once and then became fascinated by Guts hand. Casca watched from her spot beside them, ready to intervene if needed.

Some sort of silent communication passed between Guts and the boy, as the boy touched Guts' much larger hand with his. It was so normal, so peaceful, Casca could almost imagine nothing had changed. That she and Guts had had their child and the past few years hadn't happened.

"Why don't you just talk?" Guts asked the boy, drawing Casca out of her daydream. "They think you're old enough." When he didn't respond, Guts continued, "Maybe you're dumb." He thought for a moment, "No. You're not. I don't remember when I started talking, not that I do that much. Talk that is. At least according to others, and to Casca. I just don't have much to say. Do you just have nothing to say?"

The boy looked up from where he was playing with Guts' hand.

"Guts," Casca asked, "When did you last see the baby."

Drawn out of his revely, Guts grew somber, "What's this about?"

"Just tell me."

Guts sighed and took his hand away from the boy, who decided to play with his coak. "I don't know, a while ago? I think I already told you."

"Tell me again."

"Around the time of Griffith's rebirth, I think. Casca you have to understand I don't exactly know what-"

"And you haven't seen him since presumably because he was absorbed by Griffith's physical form somehow. And then this boy started showing up?"

"Casca-"

"And him seeming so familiar, the way I'm drawn to him-"

"-It doesn't make sense. None of it."

Casca patted the boys soft hair, "Nothing makes sense anymore."

"You're right about that. Just how is this possible. Should we ask the others?"

"Do you want to?"

"Schierke may know something, maybe even Puck or Ivalera, but this seems out of their expertise. And what would that even make him, human?"

"I don't know Guts. Griffith isn't human anymore and he was absorbed, but he isn't Griffith."

"If he is somehow connected to Griffith, why would he allow this?"

"He could be spying on us." A scary look passed over Guts' eye.

"No." Casca said firmly, "He's not. Besides, you said he cut ties with us, that he doesn't care."

"And he has a great track record of being honest about that."

"You think he was lying."

"The sacrifice wasn't complete. We're still here, maybe some small part of him is still human."

"Could we really make that much of a difference?"

"I don't know." Guts deflated, "Me underestimating my worth to him started this whole mess, I may be overestimating now."

"He loved you. I told you back then and it still stands; you are the closest Griffith ever let someone get. If he still had attachments it's most definitely to you."

"Geez, woman, is this your way of comforting me?"

Casca laughed quietly, "Because you are so good at comforting. Do you need me to kiss it better?"

Shifting his eye up to the rest of the group. "Maybe later."

Casca had forgotten they weren't exactly alone. While her and Guts weren't exactly shy with their affection, kissing was generally saved for what little private time they had, mostly because it would inevitably lead to other things. "Look at the boy." She noted hushly. The boy had finally conked out, rolled up in Guts' cloak.

"Ah, why'd he do that?" Guts said.

"Be gentle." Casca said, carefully lifting the boy to lay on her. "He's real cute."

Guts didn't respond, just looked at the the two of them. He leaned over to kiss her forehead before settling in for the night.

"Will he be gone in the morning?"

"Most likely."

"Guts, do you really think he could be-"

"It was your idea. I don't know."

"We'll talk about this later."

He remained silent, which Casca took as a yes. She held the boy close and cuddled closer to Guts. For the first time in a long time, Casca felt complete.