Rebirth

Chapter 15: Collision (Lang & Avalon)

The next house Maya and Avalon visited was comparably cleaner and more organized than the last one. The floor seemed to have just been swept. The furniture was located in painfully logical places along with a ticking clock that hung perfectly centered on its wall. And there was a smell that Avalon only picked up on upon entering—potpourri. The scent was obvious and nearly overwhelming in Avalon's opinion. In fact, it began to make him a little dizzy.

"Welcome, welcome, Maya, a pleasant old woman said as they entered, "I'm glad you came today. Oh, and who is this man you have with you?"

"This is Avalon. He'll be staying for a while with me. Don't worry, Mrs. Henry, he's harmless."

Avalon begged to differ, but he didn't say so.

"Is that right," Mrs. Henry commented as she turned to him, "It's a pleasure to meet you sir. Do you have a last name or do you prefer just being called Avalon?"

"Avalon is fine," he said, "I don't really care about names—or at least I don't care about mine so much."

"Oh—and a nice, strong voice as well. You don't mind if I call you Mr. Avalon, do you?"

"You can if you want," Avalon replied unconcerned completely about the whole thing.

"Good," Mrs. Henry said pleasantly (a little too pleasantly much to Maya's discomfort).

"Come, sit down, I'm not doing anything special today," Mrs. Henry invited to her guests.

"Mrs. Henry, we only came to check up on you—you know the 'regular visit'. If there's nothing we need to help you with—

"Oh, no, there is something you could help me with. Keep me company for a little while, won't you? I really do have nothing to do around here—I've cleaned the whole place over and over again. It does get dreadfully boring around here.

"I guess we could stay for a little bit," Maya said, "Is that alright with you, Avalon?"

"I'm in no rush to go back out into that freezing weather," Avalon responded.

"Oh, you poor thing," Mrs. Henry said with all the drama in the world, "You must be cold let me make you something hot," Mrs. Henry offered.

"I don't want to inconvenience you—

"It's fine, it's fine—I don't mind making you something."

"Well, if you insist," Avalon said taking the offer.

"Oh good. I make the best hot chocolate in the world—you judge for yourself. Maya, I almost forgot, do you want some to?"

"No thanks."

"Well, alright. Make yourself comfortable. I'll be right back."

The old lady scuffled off into the kitchen and left Avalon and Maya alone. They made their way into the living room and Avalon and Maya chose seats that were opposite each other.

"You know, Avalon, you didn't have to accept her offer—we're only here to help out."

"I see nothing wrong with accepting something someone offered. Besides, wouldn't it have been rude to decline altogether?"

"No, it would show that we're here of our own free will and we don't need payment of any kind."

"But you saw her, Maya. She's bored; she wanted something to do anyway."

"Don't make a habit of accepting people's offers. Around here, people are very hospitable so they always will offer something, but it's an unspoken rule that you're not supposed to accept it all the time."

Avalon remembered that they had been offered nothing at the last house they had visited, but Avalon didn't feel any urgent need to point this out.

"I'll try to remember that then," Avalon responded simply.

"You have to remember that. I don't want you taking advantage of people's hospitality."

"Understood," Avalon said simply to appease Maya's growing concern. "Do you smell that?" he asked offhandedly.

"Smell what?"

"The scent of melting chocolate."

"I don't smell anything—you have a better nose than me."

"A shame really. Well, you'll smell it soon enough."

"Yeah, okay," Maya said uninterested, "It won't make much difference to me if I do."

"You don't like chocolate?"

"No, I do, but I only like it sparingly. Something tells me that that's not the case with you."

"It's not."

Maya made a mental note of this fact for future use. Such information was helpful if she ever wanted to bribe him into doing something.

Avalon sat back in his couch comfortable—it was a far cry from sitting cross-legged on the floor all the time. Perhaps Maya should invest in some actual furniture for her house. He continued to smell the warm, sweet smells coming from the kitchen—exactly as he remembered a mug of hot chocolate should smell.

"We won't stay for long," Maya warned Avalon who seemed to be getting too comfortable.

"Well, hopefully we won't leave to abruptly."

"What's 'abruptly'?"

"Leaving when we could stay a little longer."

"What's 'a little longer'?"

"Whatever it wants to be," Avalon retorted growing weary of her questions.

Before Maya could question any further, Mrs. Henry stepped in with two steaming cups of hot chocolate placed on a small saucer and with a small spoon placed in them. Then Maya did smell the chocolate's aroma. To her surprise, it really was a disarmingly sweet scent.

"Now be careful, the cups are really hot," Mrs. Henry warned.

She sat the cup on the small table beside Avalon's couch then she herself sat on the long couch that was closest to Avalon.

"So?" Mrs. Henry asked as she watched him sip some of it, "What do you think?"

"Just as delicious as it smells. It's so rich and…" Avalon was searching for a better word than 'good', "Buttery," he finally said.

"Buttery?" Maya asked, not liking the choice of word, "What does that mean exactly?"

Avalon looked at her exasperatedly, "You've tasted butter before, correct?"

"Yeah…"

"Like that, but melted and warm and…sweet."

"Well," said Mrs. Henry with a satisfied smile, "I did put butter in the chocolate—it's a bit of a secret ingredient."

She stirred her steamy cup for a little bit and then sipped from the spoon, "Wow, I really out-did myself this time. Now don't you think this is the best hot chocolate?"

"Better than what I can make," Avalon agreed, "But now that I know your 'secret' ingredient…"

"Oh, but you don't know how I add it or how much."

"Maybe not, but I can always experiment."

"And ruin so much good chocolate? Don't waste your time. I'm always free."

"That sounds suspiciously like an invitation to come here whenever I want," Avalon said taking another long sip directly from the hot cup. No one noticed this, but Maya did. A regular person would not be able to drink so quickly and directly without scorching some taste buds.

"It is. It would be nice to have you around."

"Oh, would it—but you hardly know me. What if I turn out to be terrible company?"

"I'm sure you won't. You're not now."

"You sound sure of yourself."

"I have a nose for such things. Besides, Maya trusts you enough to be traveling with her, right?"

It was almost as if Maya wasn't there anymore.

"I guess she does."

"See what I mean?"

"I suppose," Avalon said taking another long sip. He was nearly finished with the entire thing.

"Since my husband died, it's been well…quiet."

"Your husband, did he die recently?"

"Too recently or maybe it was a while ago—I can never tell the difference. You know what I mean?"

"Yes, I do actually."

"Mrs. Henry, I'm sorry for your loss," Maya said sincerely.

"Don't be. It wasn't your fault. You weren't around then."

The cup was no longer scorching and Avalon finished the rest of the liquid contents well before Mrs. Henry who still used the spoon.

"He loved my hot chocolate too," Mrs. Henry continued, "So it has to be the best, right?"

"Well, your husband had good taste."

"Thank you. That really means a lot."

Now Maya could see that Avalon was thoroughly finished as he finally set the empty cup back on the saucer.

"It's only true."

"At least to you. Some people simply hate it."

"That's their problem, if they can't appreciate good hot chocolate."

Mrs. Henry now was practically shining with restored pride.

"I have some more in the kitchen, still warm."

"Um, I'm sorry, Mrs. Henry, we really must go. We have other people to check on," Maya said deciding that they should go.

"Leaving so soon?" Mrs. Henry said a little hurt.

"Actually, Maya was leaving now. I want to stay a little longer."

"How long is a 'little longer'? I thought you were going to help me."

"I'll catch up with you, Maya. I'm not exactly jumping up to go back out into the cold."

"You and your aversion to anything cold—

"I do like ice cream."

"You know what I mean. You can't stay here and we're leaving."

"No, you're leaving."

"Fine. Overstay your welcome if you insist on it. Goodbye Mrs. Henry. Kick him out if you ever feel the need."

"Oh, it's quite alright with me if he stays a little longer."

Maya sighed exasperatedly, "Alright. Well, I'll see you guys later."

They waited until the door closed before they continued their conversation.

"She seemed a bit worked up," Mrs. Henry observed, "She's usually so calm and peaceful."

"And quite demanding."

"Demanding?"

"She wants something of me, but I'm not quite sure what it is."

"Well, if you stick around, you're sure to find out."

"I hope it's nothing too drastic. Perhaps it's payment for free lodging."

"Maya isn't like that."

"I wouldn't know really."

"Then take it from me. I'll be right back."

Mrs. Henry took up his empty cup and shuffled back into the kitchen to fill it. This time, the wait wasn't as long and again she was carefully placing a hot cup on the saucer. Avalon lifted the cup immediately despite its heat.

"It's nice to have a man around sometimes. Maya has at least two at a time," Mrs. Henry said.

"Is Kazan…her father?" He thought he might try this question on someone besides Maya herself just to see if the answer was the same.

"Oh, heaven's no, he's just taken it upon himself to look after her."

"She's a little too old for that, isn't she?"

"A girl always needs looking after—even me. But, you see, her parents died long ago when she was only five in a freak accident."

"What kind of freak accident?"

"Kazan claims there was an explosion of sorts in the Forest Maze where it happened.

"The forest near here?"

"Yeah. There was a thunder storm too and lots of lightening. One of the strikes must have struck a tree too near to the ground."

"I see."

"And Kazan has been taking care of her ever since. I guess old habits die hard."

"Well, it's like you said—a girl needs looking after."

"Yes, they do. Do you like looking after girls?"

"Only if they can make hot chocolate as good as this," Avalon said with the first grin Mrs. Henry had seen on his face—she thought it made him look far more handsome.

"I guess I'm in luck."

"You most certainly are. Or…perhaps I have a problem with you living all by yourself."

"For the most part, I can take of myself."

"I can see that. I've never seen a cleaner place."

"That's just me being bored."

"Are you still bored?"

"Not even close."

"Well, I'm usually no fun to be around."

"I'm too old really, for fun. How old are you anyways?"

"Can you keep a secret?"

"Sure, if your age is such a mystery."

"Fifty-seven."

"I knew you were somewhere around there. But you know, you can't fool an old woman. You asked me to keep it a secret for a reason. You must have told other people different answers."

"You're quite perceptive. More perceptive than Maya who believed me instantly."

"Now she's just a young woman—she hasn't been around the block at all."

"You mean she's a virgin?" Avalon asked in surprise.

"This is a small town—too small for someone so young. There's no one even near her age here and she's really not into older guys or younger ones. It's no wonder she believed you so quickly."

"Well, to be honest, I told her twenty-seven specifically because it was near her age group. I told you fifty-seven because it was near yours."

"You have a thing for seven."

"Yes, it's such an ambiguous number. It's so close to the next ten, but also not too far away from the other five."

"Aw, I see. You know, if I were to give a guess, I'd say you were in your thirties."

"A very accurate guess."

"And you could still be fibbing even now—leading me down the wrong path."

"Well, I didn't influence your guess—I only agreed with it."

"That's my point. I guess the world will never know your true age."

"I don't exactly know it either. I was born an orphan so I was simply given a birthdate by the one who took me in."

"You were an orphan? Why that's exactly like Maya's situation."

"Not exactly. I wasn't old enough to ever remember who my parents were—I only remember being an orphan. Maya has memories of hers—so I would think it's a little harder on her."

"You don't ever wonder who they were," Mrs. Henry asked.

Avalon took a sip of the hot chocolate before he answered. "I wonder only sometimes—whenever people talk of their families."

"You mean you still don't have one? What about the one who took care of you?"

"I don't consider her 'family'. Over the years, I've been quite a loner. I don't especially think that I need one."

"I suppose not. I'd say I'm doing quite fine on my own—my husband passed away and my children long gone."

"Your children are dead also?"

"No, no, as in they got bored and moved on to bigger better things."

"Aw."

"Sometimes I like living alone—it's pleasant, but there's some disadvantages."

"Sometimes there are."

Avalon took this moment then to drink from the cup again which was already getting low. "I'm convinced now that I only had a mother."

"Are you now? And what led you to that conclusion?"

"It was a dream, I think, and I heard this voice who claimed fervently that she was my mother."

"And you believe this…voice?"

"I know it sounds strange, but I've thought about it and it made sense—it's the only thing that makes sense."

"Some dreams are more true than others. I remember I had a dream about my husband dying—days later it happened. He had a heart attack."

"Seems like there was no way around that."

"There wasn't. Before Maya came along, there was no one around who knew too much about medicine or healing."

"It must have been his time."

"I hope that's the case—I hate to think there was something I could have done."

Avalon had once again emptied his cup and Mrs. Henry noticed this. She asked if he wanted another cup, but this time he declined, though adding that his declination had nothing to do with a sudden dislike for her hot chocolate. Despite her fears that he would then leave, he stayed awhile longer—and they talked forever. Mrs. Henry simply wanted to hear his voice for it reminded her so much of her husband's. Avalon found her easy to talk to and he felt as if he could tell her anything. He was still careful around her, however, neglecting to tell her of Igohl or what exactly he had been up to in the past—he feared that such things would scare her away and he didn't want that to happen. In time, perhaps he might relate such things to her, but not now, not so early.

Mrs. Henry sensed that there were things that Avalon kept from her, but she wasn't one to pry. As for his age, she liked to imagine that he was close to her age—61—but she couldn't be sure. His face seemed so smooth yet his hair seemed so old.

"Mrs. Henry, I suppose this is the part where you say that I've overstayed my welcome—it is drawing close to night."

"Oh, no, stay longer. I don't mind."

"I know you don't, but let me reassure you—I'll be back tomorrow."

"Well, alright, Maya must be getting worried about you."

"I hope she won't be too angry about this."

"You don't have to worry about anything like that."

Avalon stood up then, "You're probably right."

"You have a good evening, Mr. Avalon—come back anytime," Mrs. Henry said as he walked to the door.

"I will," Avalon said back before he officially exited.

As soon as he stepped outside, he was met with a brisk breeze and seemingly sub-zero temperature—he was glad for the boots he wore and the two thick sweaters he wore. Yet children played comfortably outside rolling in the three inches of constant snow on the ground and laughing without a care in the world. Avalon looked on incredulously—was he really the only one affected so much by the coldness? Even Kazan walked outside with short sleeves and Maya neglected to wear any gloves.

"Hey, mister, come help us!" cried a little boy that had ventured out towards him.

"I was just about to go inside," Avalon answered as he stepped closer to the child.

"Aw, but we need your help—the adults always want to stay inside!"

"That's probably because we have better things to do than catch our deaths staying outside."

Now two more children came forth as they heard Avalon's last comment. They all burst out laughing in response and Avalon was baffled by their reaction. Wasn't it true that one could catch hypothermia by staying in the cold too long?

"You're new around here," one girl said with a giggle, "The new ones always say stuff like that."

"It's not so bad out here," the same boy from before said.

"Yeah," chimed in a second boy.

"I really have to go," Avalon repeated.

"C'mon, help us, please. It'll be fun," the girl said.

One boy who was braver than the other trudged even closer towards Avalon until he could reach out and grab his hand, but he snatched his hand away when he felt how cold they really were—they were like icicles.

"Wow, you're really cold!" the boy said looking up at him with an amazed expression. He was still shaking his hand from the shock. "Here, I have some gloves you could use."

"They probably won't fit," Avalon said before the boy could pull them out.

"Oh, they will. Here."

Avalon eyed them critically and then took them up when he realized that they were large enough. "Now, what is a little boy doing with such big gloves in his pocket?"

"It's for the big snowman, my friends and I plan to make."

"A big snowman. Good luck pulling that off."

"We could pull it off—if we had your help. Please. Pleeeeze," the boy began to beg.

"How long is this going to take—I really do need to go in."

"Not long," the boy promised.

"Right, tell me anything, kid."

"So you're helping?"

"Let's get this over with."

And so against Avalon's better judgment, he stayed and helped them. He had never made a snowman before and this became apparent to the children when he tried to make legs first. The children were happy to teach him the art of making a snowman—in fact it was almost as fun teaching him as it was actually building it. The bottom part of the snowman was incredibly large and already larger than the children themselves. Of course, this was where Avalon's help came in. while the children could roll a nice big snowball, Avalon had to lift it up onto the other snowball they had made—a fairly easy task for Avalon despite the fact that he was picking up snow. He was grateful for the loaned gloved otherwise his poor freezing hands would have surely fallen off.

The children rejoiced when they finally finished of the basic form of the snowman. Avalon then noticed an assortment of items on the snow near the close by hut. There were buttons, a carrot, sticks, some large olives, and a pile rocks. Avalon looked at the children questioningly as they gathered around the supplies.

"Now for the finishing touches," the first boy announced to Avalon.

"The sticks are his arms, the buttons are for the jacket, the carrot's the nose, the olives are the eyes, and the rocks are for the mouth."

Of course, Avalon was the only one who could reach the head and the midsection, but Avalon at the children's insistence lifted up the children one by one so they could place an item on the snowman. In this way, their work was done. Avalon stood back a few moments to admire their work—it was quite an achievement to Avalon who thought the snow was completely formless and useless. The children danced playfully around their creation as they laughed and cheered at their work. The wind picked up a little then as if reminding Avalon of his need to get indoors.

"Alright, kids, I really need to go."

"Aww!" they all said at once much to Avalon's surprise, "Please stay."

"I think I've stayed long enough. Maybe later."

"Alright, see ya!" the children chorused as he turned away towards a stone hut he hadn't visited yet.

And then the wind began to pick up more. Avalon shuttered involuntarily and then tried to walk faster, but something seemed to be impeding him. Was it the snow? Then he heard warning shouts from the children. Avalon turned to them, but they were frantically pointing at something entirely different.

"Good, God," Avalon managed to say before the increasing winds stole his words away.

Two translucent black shrouded beings glided slowly over the snow covered field towards him. Avalon stepped back instinctively, but his progress was mysterious hindered. The only conclusion Avalon could make was that it was the shrouded beings who were making it impossible for him to run. Strong winds whistled past Avalon, but obviously did not affect the dark apparitions whose cloak-like garments remained still. There was no head that Avalon could discern. In fact, they barely had a shape at all and threatened to fold and contort into something else altogether.

The children were still shouting for Avalon to move as the beings advanced upon him to no avail. Avalon's eyes turned to them and ordered them to run, go inside, but they did no such thing—no one was willing to abandon their new found grown-up friend. One small boy did run—the braver one—but towards the hut where Maya was currently in. the boy knew at the very least that Avalon would get hurt. If he did, then Maya could save him instantly.

The small boy, Peter, knocked on the door frenetically until it was answered by none other than Maya who had offered to answer the door.

"Maya, come quick, this man who helped us build a snowman is gonna' get hurt."

"Alright, I'll be right with you. Let me tell the others inside that I'll be leaving."

"No!" Peter cried grabbing her hand, "I don't mean to be rude, but he needs you NOW!"

"Okay, okay, lead the way."

Maya stepped outside and closed the door. Then Peter took off at an astonishing speed dragging Maya with him. In the village of Yuno, the huts formed a half circle around a large field. There were two rows on the half circle which stopped where the forest began. Maya had been in a hut that was in the outer circle so she had not seen what was taking place in the field beyond—Peter quickly brought her up-to-date.

By the time they got there, the shrouded formless figures were already gone. Instead, the scene had charged to two kids crowding around a still body. Maya knew almost instinctively who it was that was on the ground as she ran quicker still towards the activity.

She looked down when she finally got there—it was Avalon. His dimming golden eyes stared lifelessly into the darkening skies.

"Stand back," Maya said at last.

The three children were crying now sensing that he was dead or somewhere close to it. They huddled closely together. Maya checked his pulse and shook her head slowly. She tried to restrain herself from crying, but her eyes were already burning and she could hold them back no longer. Her vision grew watery as moisture began to build up.

"What happened," Maya finally asked to the children. She tried, but failed to keep her voice from quivering.

"These black ghosts. Th-they just came out of nowhere," the girl spoke up, "They kept gliding and gliding, closer and closer and they…and they…"

"They what?" Maya implored.

"Went through him," the second boy spoke up, "And he seemed hurt…but they kept doing it over and over and over…and he fell."

"He couldn't defend herself," Maya said quietly, "There was no way he could have defended himself, but once upon a time…"

Maya knowing that it was hopeless, raised her hand over Avalon and a blue mist began to flow over the still body. The children watched mystified.

Unbeknownst to the four grieving people were light footsteps emerging from the Forest Maze. At first, the footsteps were languid, but then after a moment, its pace quickened until it came to a stop directly behind the group and directly behind Maya who knelt before Avalon's body.

"Maya?" the voice from the footsteps ventured.

Maya looked up startled and turned to the newcomer. The three children looked up as well.

"Lang?" Maya asked in a soft, surprised voice, "What are you—" then she leaped up and hugged him.

Lang was expecting such a reaction and held her in a friendly embrace.

"It's been so long! And you look so different now."

"I know, but so do you. I almost didn't recognize you."

Maya released him and stood back to better evaluate. He wasn't the "boy" she had met eleven years ago—he was a man and for the lack of shaving almost unrecognizable. Those uncertain yet cautious eyes were instead assertive and quite serious. They glinted uncannily with a crimson light, but it was gone as soon as it appeared and she wondered if she was just seeing things. He wore more clothes than before. Maya would always see him wearing an open, short jacket with no shirt underneath—(she was glad he had decided to change this). And his shoulder length hair was a far cry from his shorter hair in the past.

Lang looked over Maya as well. Her hair was still long and strawberry blonde just as he had remembered it, but now it was tied into a neat, solitary braid that stopped near her mid back. Her eyes were still a clear green color and her preference for thick clothing had not changed at all. But her face made her near unrecognizable to Lang; this was what had changed the most. Her childish, round face was replaced with an oval-like face with much more defined features such as her high cheek bones, almond shaped eyes, and slightly large mouth. The changes had taken him by surprise when she first turned around to him.

"I…must tend to someone right now. We'll have a more proper greeting inside," Maya said to him after she had finished noting his features.

"I'm sorry; was I interrupting something important?"

Maya closed her eyes sadly. "I wish you had come sooner."

Then Peter gave a shout when he saw one of Avalon's hands make a quick movement. Maya turned instinctively.

"I saw him move!" Peter exclaimed.

Maya shook her head still, "It was completely involuntary."

"Wait a minute, who is this man?" Lang asked finally getting a view of the still form, "It couldn't be."

"Lang, please, you should go inside," Maya said standing and blocking his view.

"Maya, do you realize who this man is? Move, let me see him."

Despite Maya's defiance, she was moved aside quite easily. She watched as a horrified expression blossomed on Lang's face.

"Please, don't jump to conclusions. Let me explain," Maya pleaded in vain.

"There's nothing to explain," Lang said back with a frightening edge to his tone. "He should be dead—long dead."

Avalon's hand made a sudden movement again and Peter pointed in amazement. Everyone looked at Lang as they heard the "zing" of a sword being unsheathed. Maya bent down to feel Avalon's pulse again for good measure, but then she was pleasantly surprised—there was a pulse.

"No, Lang, stand down. He's of no harm to anyone," Maya declared staring at his scissor sharp blade.

"He would kill us all if given the chance!"

"No!" the children shouted defiantly, "Don't hurt him!"

Lang stared at the children in disbelief. "You kids know not what you speak of."

A groan escaped Avalon's mouth as he tried to move in an actual attempt. His eyebrows crinkled in discomfort and his mouth upturned in his usual despondent expression.

"I can't let him live!" Lang cried angrily.

Lang pushed Maya and the children away without much effort and instantly had Judgment Day pointed directly at Avalon's neck. Maya cringed at Lang's fierce expression and then again as the point of the sword pierced the other's skin.

"How did you survive?" Lang asked angrily through his teeth, "Answer me. How did you survive?"

But Avalon was still struggling to open his eyes—he recognized Lang's voice like a reoccurring nightmare.

"L-ang," Avalon managed from a mouth that could barely move.

And then his eyes opened though slowly. Those golden eyes set Lang off even more. They were the most distinguishable physical trait about Avalon and Lang associated them with death and evil.

"You will answer me," Lang threatened him, "You will!"

Maya shrunk back even more when Lang pierced even deeper. Now Maya could see fresh trails of blood crawling down Avalon's neck.

"Please, stop this! Can't you see he's too weak to answer now! Lang! Stop!"

Peter leaped to his feet at that moment and ran directly behind Lang and began to tug at the man.

"Leave him alone! Leave him alone," Peter yelled tearfully, "Don't kill him…please don't kill him!" Peter sniffed.

Lang turned his head to the meddlesome child. "What kid? You don't know anything about this man—not at all!"

"Yes I do!" Peter wailed, "He's my friend…I mean, he helped me build a snowman. He's not like all the other adults who ignore us and go inside…He played with us. Isn't that right? Susie, Max?"

They all nodded affirmatively, "He seems like a nice man," Susie spoke up.

"And he's fun to order around," Max said.

"What?" Lang asked confused, "How can this be?"

Another trail of blood snaked down Avalon's neck. Lang looked down at him with a puzzled expression, but by then he had passed out.

"He's different," Maya said standing up from where she had fallen when Lang had pushed her. "Please, give him another chance."

Lang looked up finally to Maya's pleading eyes then he turned to the tearful children. With a sigh, he retracted his blade from Avalon's throat.

"Life is full of surprises," Lang said shaking his head, "Or maybe we are all fools."

Lang sheathed his blade reluctantly. Maya ran to the wounded man immediately to heal him, but Lang couldn't watch.

"He's lucky to still be alive," Maya said quietly.

The three nodded in agreement.

"Lang, could you help me carry him inside?"

Lang turned to her with a frown; but eventually assisted her—Avalon was quite heavy. The children tailed the silent proceeding. Not once did Avalon make a sound and Lang began to imagine that he really was dead; that soon he'd just be a rotting corpse. It was cold outside; maybe Avalon could catch hypothermia.

"Alright, kids, it's time for you all to go home."

"But we want to stay," Peter said defiantly.

"It's dark, Peter, your Mom's already worried. Now you can visit tomorrow if you like."

"Alright," Peter said sadly, "Let's go everybody."

Susie and Max followed Peter back into the field and then they went their separate ways.

"Does Kazan still live with you?" Lang asked.

"Yes he does—why?"

"I'll explain later."

"I'm guessing this wasn't just a social visit."

"I'm afraid not, Maya."

"Now help me get him through this door before he catches a cold too."

They had stopped to talk, but now continued with their possession through the front door.