Epilogue
Mavis Murrain stepped out of the old farmhouse door, breathing in the sweet salt tang of the sea. In the distance, the waves roared softly, throwing up white froth as they lapped against the cliff face. Beneath her feet, fresh green shoots of grass were springing up again.
Life on Stronsay was slowly getting back to normal, now that the plague had passed. The horses had recovered, and the unseasonable weather had cooled, leaving the air bright and fresh. Down on the beach, some of the menfolk where already working to fill in the kelp-burning pits, digging the old ash and pebbles until it was mixed into the surrounding sand, leaving barely a trace that they had ever been there. The last time she'd looked, that short, smelly little man from the mainland had been helping them, gleefully clawing at the sand with his bare hands, like an excitable dog.
The rest of the guests had spent their time exploring the island, enjoying the fresher weather the passing storm had left. Why, with the recovery of their horses, that skinny little man and his white-haired girlfriend had taken to riding, cantering up and down the rolling grass of the island, seemingly naturals in the saddle.
Ah, the guests from the mainland. Her Thomas had been right: they had stopped the sickness, and saved her children, and for that, she was immensely grateful.
Even if most of the good silver cutlery had gone missing.
Even if Beth's games of "princesses" had taken a rather grisly turn, as of late.
Even if there were teeth-marks (some of them human) all over her crockery.
Even if she'd been woken in the middle of the night by something that sounded suspiciously like a small explosion.
Mavis sighed, leaning her head back and closing her eyes.
Only two more days. Only two more days until the boat arrived.
"Hey mum!" Alistair's came running towards her, a smile on his face.
"Hello dear." She said with a smile.
"Look what I found behind the sofa!"
Mavis looked down. Held out in Alistair's eager little hands was a fat, red stick of dynamite.
It was going to be a very long two days.
Good lord. I finished a fanfiction. (Whether it's a good fanfiction of not is another matter...)
I really enjoyed writing this, and have a few more ideas for some "Team Atlantis"-style stories.
...Next time: vampires.