At last, I vaguely introduce the last of our characters who will tell part of the story! Storytellers? Wevs.

Now that we've established that I am horrible at keeping to an update schedule, I just wanted to thank you for sticking with this story. Seriously though, it's March. This is the longest October night ever.

Sherrill and Arro - Infatuation

"No, this trick won't work...How on earth are you ever going to explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological phenomenon as first love?"

Loren held tightly to her hand as they walked down the village pathways. He was, she thought, ridiculously and undeniably adorable, resplendent in an orange jumper with black triangles and a large black grin sewn onto it. Marina's work, of course, with not a stitch out of place. Their children were the best dressed in the valley.

Ahead of them, Lena chattered and skipped happily with her cohorts, Merry and Hope. They were clad in green and tied together with a green sheet. When Sherrill had asked, Lena had told her, "We're peas in a pod, Mom!" in the most isn't it obvious tone.

Walking a few paces behind her, Arro wore a magician's robe, but his heart wasn't in it. He dawdled, and often didn't approach their neighbor's homes at all, staying on the path with her. With Sherrill there to watch Loren, Marina had opted out, instead choosing to help set up the coming feast.

And what a feast it would be! A combined Hallow's Eve and Crystal Rejuvenation feast was nothing to be trifled with. In all her years it had never happened. But her excitement was abated by the frown on her son's face. Marina had warned her earlier that something was troubling Arro, now she was seeing signs of it herself.

Loren took off after his sister, following her to the baker's doorway. The kindly old Clavat lady, despite attending to her duties as a village elder, always had the most delicious treats. Rumors flew every year amongst the children about possible ways to get more than one from her. Sherrill let go of his hand and immediately leaned into a hipshot stance, turning her head to see if Arro had joined them.

But no, he walked to her side and stopped, helm pointed toward the baker's. Reaching out, she lightly brushed her hand over his shoulder. "Oh, lad," she said with a helpless smile, "If I hadn't already known something was wrong, I'd know it now. You love Goodwife Hannah's fried doughnuts."

Though he did not visibly turn, she had the sudden feeling he was watching her. "Nothing's wrong, Mom," he said, and if he thought that settled things, then he didn't know his Mom.

Oh, how she hated the visor he'd taken to wearing after his fifth birthday! Time spent with Rai had taught her somewhat how to read a Yuke, but a Yuke raised by a Clavat and a Lilty and just entering his teenage years? She was more lost than a monster in a marketplace. Still, he was her son. He would not drift away from her because of a failure to reach out.

"Are you angry with me for not being home like Mama is?" she asked, wishing she had the verbal dancing skills of Raithen or little Ren. Arro shook his head no and she patted him lightly on the shoulder in sympathy. Her honest boy, if only she could ask the right questions. "Are you sad about Hao Ri?"

"Yes, but that's not why sweet things don't appeal to me at the moment."

"Then why?" she wondered.

He cast her a sidelong glance. Sure, she couldn't see his eyes, but it was all in the slight tilt of the helm, the change in attitude. "Attraction," he said after a moment, as if that explained it all. At the baffled raise of her eyebrows, he elaborated. "Infatuation. Biological imperative. Hormonal imbalance. Love, except I'm far too young for that."

Her heart both thrilled and fell. Arro, in love? Oh, certainly it was only a crush, but still, first love! How happy she was for him, yet knowing how most first loves ended, how worried. Her baby had not yet known hurt like a first broken heart. How would he cope?

But she was getting too far ahead of herself. There were more important things to discover. Fixating on him with a gimlet eye, she asked, "And who is the lucky lad or lass? Do I know them? Do they know how you feel? Do they like you in return?"

Hesitating, he looked toward where the younger children still flocked around the door. "Yerica," he replied, naming an older Yuke girl in the village. "She doesn't know, but she's kind to me, she talks to me like an equal. And," he seemed to struggle with this, "She's pretty." Poor quantitative Arro trying to describe qualities!

Sherrill opened her arms to him, silently offering a hug as the candy and treats seeking group returned, cheeks and noses dusted with powdered sugar. Lorn reached for Arro, holding out a sticky, chubby hand. Arro reached down and gravely accepted a squished doughnut. "Thanks Lor, he said.

"Welcome!" Loren chirped, seizing Sherrill's hand with his warm, slightly wet fingers. "None for you, Mom" he announced. "Goody-wife Hannah says you were bad, no reports, no doughnuts!" He chortled at the idea of his mother being bad. Everyone knew mothers were good.

"Oh, no!" she exclaimed, swooping down to lift her youngest to her hip. Planting a loud, smooching kiss to his sugar sweet face, she said, "Well, I will have to apologize like we do when we do something wrong, won't I?"

"Yes," Loren agreed, cuddling in her arms as she strode to the next house. She liked having him there, knowing exactly where he was, knowing he was safe, that the world could only hurt him over her dead body like this. She nuzzled his soft cheek, he obligingly rubbed noses with her before announcing imperiously, "Down, Mom! Want more candy!"

"All right, sweetling," she said, dipping her head for one more smooch on his cheek even as he tried to squirm away. "Love you."

But Loren was long gone, scrambled off and hot on the trail of his sister for more sugar. It was Arro who said, "Love you too, Mom."