Deathtouched – Chapter 33
Zoe stood looking at a map of the Tri-Kingdoms area laying on the table. The map had been provided by Ase, a female ferret and the Priestesses of Hermes. Several other priests and priestesses of Sanctuary were also standing, or sitting depending on their size, around the table as well. Gabriel would have been with her except that he was taking language lessons from Ase.
Zoe sighed, "The problem is that we don't know the current situation with the Three Kingdoms. I've been given to understand that Predsburg destroyed Herdsville, but did they completely obliterate the city or did they just conquer it and turn it into a slaughterhouse? Your information is about 600 years out of date and Zootopias is even worse."
"That is truth , Priestesses." Elric said sadly.
"So how do we go about getting that information, Priestesses?" Sigrid asked.
Zoe was getting frustrated while looking at the map, almost wishing it would tell her the answers.
"There are several issues. Language would normally be a problem since Gabriel told me that what he learned from the Owens' and what he heard spoken here sounded different to him. So there has been some language drift between the Three Kingdoms of 600 years ago and now. Second, fashion. All of the priests and priestesses here wear white robes with emblems embroidered on the front. In Zootopia, my raiment was a white robe with a black over mantle that had Melioes' rose symbol on the right side and the Raven symbol on the left. How the common people dress has probably changed drastically.
Not to mention, the social cues involved now. People in Zootopia don't bow, and only kneel when praying. And the government, you can't tell me that each ruler has condoned everything that their ancestor had implemented or supported. That will make sneaking into the city nigh unto impossible."
Zoe was almost ranting at this point. She didn't notice the slight chill that began filling the room, the other mammals glancing at her and beginning to edge away from her. Sighing again, Zoe looked up to ask for their opinions only to see them backing away from her.
"What?" She asked, concerned.
"You're doing it again Priestesses." Hagdal told her.
Zoe instantly knew what he was telling her since this wasn't the first time it had happened since her and Gabriel had arrived in Sanctuary. The unnatural chill that she would emit when her emotions got out of control had happened before, she just never felt it so she didn't know she was doing it.
"My apologies, brothers and sisters. It seems that I need to meditate and hopefully commune with Melinoe." Zoe said with a rueful smile.
"Of course Priestesses. We'll adjourn for today and meet again on the morrow." Elric said graciously.
XXXXXXXXX
Zoe was sitting cross legged with her eyes closed and her paws in her lap in the small hut that had been given to her and Gabriel. Gabriel was currently out and about the village trying to hold conversations with some of the inhabitants to improve his language skill.
Melinoe, Goddess of Ghosts and Fertility, My Lady. Zoe thought, trying to send the request through the ether, purposely trying to contact her goddess instead the rather haphazard way she'd find herself in her goddess' presence.
"Daughter."
Zoe's eyes snapped open to find herself back in the now familiar garden of her goddess. Impulsively, she jumped up and ran to her goddess, flinging herself in Melinoes open arms.
"I have missed you my Lady!" Zoe said as she reveled in her goddess presence.
"Daughter, it's only been a few days." Zoe could hear the laughter in Melioes' voice.
"Feels much longer." Zoe told her.
Melinoe laughed. "So what troubles you now Daughter?"
"I seem to emit a kind of spiritual chill at times and I can't control it. I was hoping that you might be able to help me out or, at least, give me a hint?" Zoe said as she looked up at her goddess with puppy dog eyes.
Melinoe laughed even harder. "Seriously Daughter?"
Zoe just looked at her with a large grin on her face.
"Well," Melinoe said thoughtfully, "it's not like you're asking for a favor regarding your difficulty in fulfilling the prophecy."
"I kinda figured that it was all up to me since I haven't been getting any nudges or feelings regarding what I'm supposed to do next."
"Very true, the small promptings of fate or hints given by way of dreams or sudden knowledge can't be given when a prophecy is involved."
Zoe sighed dejectedly. "Well, I knew it but I still kinda hoped." Then she giggled.
"Incorrigible." Melinoe said with a gentle smile.
Melinoe decided to get the conversation back to the point. "The reason you don't notice the chill you produce is because it's a part of you, part of Thanatos. The same for when your eyes glow. When you lose control of your emotions, you lose control of that power. Just remember when you first arrived in Zootopia, remember how you had what you called your 'Zen state'. You still have emotions, but you control them and not the other way around. As Thanatos, you bridge the gap between Life and Death. Find your balance Daughter."
It was like a light bulb had gone off in her head. "Oh."
Melinoe giggled. "Yes, 'oh'."
Zoe impulsively hugged her goddess and said, "I love you My Lady!"
"And I love you too, My Daughter. But, it's time for you to go now. Go with my love and my blessing Zoe Darkwater-Hopps." Melinoe said before kissing her on her raven mark.
Zoe watched as the beautiful garden faded from her sight to slowly open her eyes to the mundane world. She could hear Gabriel moving around their hut and her nose twitched to smell the delicious aroma of some sort of stew. She stood and stretched, her paws high over her head. Apparently, this caught Gabriel's attention because she felt his paws grab her from behind and pull her tight against his body, her feet several inches off the floor. She could feel his hard-on pressing into her backside.
"You're awake." Gabriel said unnecessarily. Then he added, "I've missed you!"
Zoe giggled. "It's only been a few hours, and I can feel how much you've missed me."
"I can't help it! Seeing you stretch so sexily, and that cute, fluffy tail staring at me putting all sorts of depraved things that it wants me to do to you into my mind."
"Pervert!"
"Hmmm, true."
"But, you're MY pervert!" Zoe said as she tilted her head back to face him as much as possible while she raised her right paw up and pulled his head down to hers for a kiss, to which he responded enthusiastically.
The kiss continued for several amazing seconds when Zoe felt something beginning to prod her rear passage through her pants, correctly assuming that Gabriel had grown more excited and his member had begun emerging from its sheath. As much as Zoe wanted to try anal with him, they still had no lube to assist so she reluctantly broke the kiss and insisted that they eat before anything else.
Grumbling, Gabriel set Zoe down, but not before bending over and giving her a steaming kiss, his tongue going past her tonsils. Zoe's eyes widened and her libido started going into overdrive. Gabriel broke the kiss this time and said, "Later", making Zoe growl in frustration.
Gabriel had been heating up a rather savory stew and they sat down talking about their day. Gabriel had been making great strides in learning the language but wasn't happy to learn that he'd probably have to learn another one once they left Sanctuary.
Zoe stayed sitting at the table while Gabriel insisted on doing the dishes as they continued talking.
"Too bad that you're not the mayor of Zootopia Love, then you might have some leverage with them. You know, make treaties and agreements and such." Gabriel said, half jokingly.
When he didn't hear any laughter or even a giggle, he turned to look at his fiance to see her with a wide eyed, stunned look on her face. As he watched, she banged her head against the table with a loud 'thump', followed by several smaller ones as she mumbled to herself.
Shocked, Gabriel asked in a concerned tone, "Baby?!"
Zoe stopped banging her head against the table to toss her head back so that she was facing the ceiling, her ears flopping against the backrest of the chair. She gave off a heavy sigh and said, "With everything that's been going on, I'd forgotten about the envelope in my backpack."
"Envelope?"
"Yeah, from Mayor Lionheart. It's a proclamation designating me as an Ambassador Plenipotentiary."
Gabriel stared at Zoe for a few seconds before throwing his head back and laughing heartily.
oooOOOooo
The lovers sat and enjoyed the stew, Gabriel adding several roasted chicken bits to his for the extra protein. They conversed, Gabriel using what he'd learned of the language so far. Zoe had tried to help him with his lessons, but it was soon apparent that, no matter what language was spoken, Zoe heard Zootopian. They did discover, however, that whatever language was spoken to her, her answer was in the same language, down to the idiom and accent.
Zoe did what few dishes needed to be washed, which made Gabriel feel even more secure. Here was an extremely powerful mammal doing mundane chores. Feeling a bit playful, he strode by her, his front facing her back, and rubbed against her saying, "Sorry, not a lot of room in the kitchen."
Zoe knew he was playing because the hut they were in was one large, single room. She could feel his rigid member rub along her back and she giggled. Her fiance was a rather horny representative of coyotes. Not that she would have it any other way. "With how hard you are, no wonder there's not a lot of room in here."
"Well," Gabriel responded, playing around with his future wife, "I am a buff example of a male coyote, well skilled in the arts of lovemaking."
"Oh?" Zoe said, giggling as she turned around to face her fiance. "Well skilled you say? You haven't made me scream out your name yet."
Gabriel raised his eyebrows, "Really? I've made you pass out!"
"True, True." Zoe said as she nodded her head with a grin on her face. "But you haven't made me scream out your name yet. I've screamed out Nicks…"
"Oh, so a challenge is it? Very well my lady. Tonight, the whole village will know my name and the voice of my lady that is screaming it at the top of her lungs!" Gabriel said as he grabbed his rabbit, threw her over his shoulder, and headed for their bed. Zoe tried to scream and laugh at the same time, while she half-heartedly tried to pound on his back to make him let her go. And he did, when he threw her onto the down filled mattress.
Gabriel used all of his knowledge and skills to bring his doe right to the edge, but refused to let her reach her climax, telling her "Scream my name Baby!" as she begged him to let her cum.
It was mid evening when the inhabitants of the huts closest to theirs heard the High Priestess of Melinoe, The Chosen, Seer of Apollo, and the Avatar of Death, scream "OH! OH! OH GODS, GABE! OOOOHHHHH!"
oooOOOooo
Zoe woke the next morning refreshed, sated, and sore. But sore in a good way after a very intense lovemaking session. Gabriel had played her body like a fine instrument and he was a master musician. She couldn't remember if she ended up screaming his name or not, but she did remember begging him whole-heartedly to let her cum. But like the Dom he was, he kept her on edge until he chose to let her finish. When he did, she came apart. Even now, she didn't think she could move. However, the smell of fresh biscuits and honey invaded her nostrils. She could swear that there was the scent of gravy as well.
Zoe opened her eyes and saw food dishes already on the table. It couldn't have been Gabriel since he was asleep next to her, his arm thrown over her and cupping her left breast. Her poor coyote must have worn himself out as well, refusing to knot her until he'd made her cum repeatedly. Zoe had never felt anything so intense before and could only hope to have it happen again, as well as watch when her wives and husband received the same.
That thought made her heart clench. She missed Nick, her wives, and their children so much. Faith, Grace, and Aaron had to be walking by now. All those moments she'll never get so see them accomplish.
Gabriel woke to hear soft crying noises coming from his doe. Concerned, he rose up to see the sad expression on her face and tears running down her cheek. "Baby?" He asked, worry tingeing his voice, "Are you okay? I didn't hurt you last night did I?"
"No, yes, but I wanted you to." Zoe answered, her voice shaking from her emotions. "It's not you Love. I'm just missing Nick and them, especially our kits. So many milestones they're having that I'll never be able to see. Sometimes I wish I'd never heard of 'The Chosen'."
Gabriel pulled Zoe close to him and held her tight. "I understand my Love." He said. He missed them too, just as he was missing his sister. But he did understand how much it was affecting her. So much weight to carry on such tiny, young shoulders. That's when he realized.
"Baby?"
Zoe sniffled, "Yes, my love?"
"We forgot your birthday."
Zoe laughed wetly, "Heh, Seventeen now. Doesn't feel any different from sixteen really."
He held her close for long minutes as she calmed and they just lay together, each with their own thoughts. Zoe wanting to finish her quest and see her family once more. Gabriel swearing to do all that he could to make her tasks as easy as possible.
Later, the couple sat down for a late breakfast. Zoe placed spoonfuls of fresh blueberries and cherries on her plate as well as two biscuits. Opening the covered bowl, Zoe's jaw dropped and she stared at the contents.
"Country gravy?!" She exclaimed.
Gabriel chuckled. "I showed Ayumi how to make it and told her that one of your favorite foods was biscuits with country gravy."
"Which one is Ayumi?" Zoe asked, not knowing all of the priests or priestesses that resided in the village.
"The skunk, priestess of Hestia."
"Oh yeah, I remember her now. Thank you Gabe. You're going to make us an amazing husband."
There was a knock on the door of their hut just as they were putting their dishes away. Gabriel went and opened the door to reveal Elric and Hagdal waiting outside.
"Good morning to you." Elric greeted them as Hagdal nodded.
"Good morning to you both." Gabriel replied.
"We were wondering if the two of you would like to visit some of the other villages today." Hagdal mentioned.
"I think that would be wonderful, Brothers." Zoe replied from inside the hut.
After getting ready to leave, the two lovers noticed that Elric and Hagdal had been joined by Ase. As the small group was walking through the village, Ase continued Gabe's language lessons as Zoe listened to Elric and Hagdal explain how there were several smaller villages scattered throughout the valley. As they spoke, Zoe noticed surreptitious glances cast in their directions.
"Excuse me Brothers, but I've noticed that many of the villagers sneaking glances at us as we walk by. Have we done something wrong?" Zoe asked.
Hagdal looked embarrassed and looked down at the ground while Elric answered her in a soft voice.
"Um, no Priestess. Nothing wrong mind you. It's just that one of the huts closest to your own is one in which Thyra resides."
"Thyra is the um, unofficial village crier my Lady." Hagdal threw in.
Zoe's eyes widened in shock and understanding as her paw flew to her mouth and she felt like her cheeks had caught fire. "Oh no! Thyra is the village gossip!"
"Yes, Priestess." Both said as they nodded, knowing that she understood.
They toured two of the villages, having lunch in the second before heading back to the main one they had first encountered. Dinner was usually in large groups around the central part of the village. It was during this dinner that Zoe announced her plan.
"Since we're unable to get any reliable reports of the current status of both Predburg and Ominvoria, I've decided on a plan. It's risky, but I think that it will probably be the only way to get my quest moving again."
The entire table, as well as the area around them became quiet, only faint noises coming from the tables near the edge of the village center.
"And what plan would that be Priestess?" Elric, the normal spokesmammal for the group asked.
Zoe smiled as Gabriel, who didn't know what plan she had concocted, looked at her with concern, and said, "Easy, I'm going to walk up to their door and knock, like any polite mammal would do."
Shocked, Gabriel started choking on the last bit of food he'd been chewing and downed the last of his wine to try and wash it down. Her plan was outrageously dangerous and he was going to tell her so, but not in front of the entire village.
Elric was a little more circumspect in addressing what he thought of her plan. "Is that wise, Priestess?" He wondered.
Zoe sat down, deflating a bit. "No, it isn't. But I can't think of any other way to find out the information we need. From what Gabriel and I have been able to find out prior to our coming here, Omnivora isn't the cesspool that Predburg is. Hopefully there we could find some allies. I'll be going under the flag of truce since I'm actually an Ambassador from Zootopia. I'm hoping that that will count for something. At least getting them to listen to me."
A male rabbit with dark brown fur and a black patch over one eye stood up at the end of the table. His robe showing the symbol of Athena. "I'm afraid that The Chosen has spoken of the only viable plan available to us. We children of Athena have been contemplating her task and have failed to concoct a plan that would deliver a greater degree of success than the one she has just spoken of."
One of the priests that Zoe did know stood up. Metjen, a gray wolf, and the priest of Ares said. "Agreed. It is bold, but bold will win the day. And, as those of us who follow Lord Ares understand, no plan survives first contact with the enemy."
"But Omnivoria isn't the true enemy." Pawah, a male jackal and priest of Demeter, stated.
"They were when they joined the pogrom against us, and they may still be. We just don't know." Muyet said, her voice heated. As a Daughter of Aremis she was no stranger to confrontations.
The discussion dissolved into a cacophony of conversations before Zoe stood up and yelled, "GENTLEMAMMALS!"
The table quieted. Zoe took a deep breath and continued. "Brothers, sisters, please understand that I value each of you and your opinions. But this is my quest and this is the only way I can see that it can move forward. The only thing I'm not looking forward to is braving that trail again."
The other priests and priestesses looked around at each other before they all looked at Elric, who sighed and said, "About that."
Zoe stood with her jaw dropped at the cave entrance that was guarded by two tigers, the first that Zoe and Gabriel had seen that was armed and armored.
"We were directed by the gods to build this tunnel not long after we arrived here in Sanctuary , but didn't know why." Elric explained. "At least, until you arrived that is."
Still staring down the tunnel, Zoe said, "I'll need supplies; food, water, maps. It's about a twenty-two day walk to Omnivoria, but that's not counting trying to avoid Predburg patrols."
Gabriel turned Zoe toward him and gazed at her sternly. "You are not going alone Z. Where you go, I go."
"No." Elric injected. "Where she goes, WE go. The prophecy you follow says 'lead them to a brighter future' does it not? We have held council and agreed, it is time for us to bring the gods back to the people."
"But…" Zoe started to protest, but then realized that she had to have faith in the gods that the path she was choosing would be the correct one. And, it would make more of a statement if she had a small army of priests and priestesses at her back.
Zoe took a deep breath and then said, "We're going to need a lot of supplies."
Zoe sat meditating while Gabriel took a walk around the village trying to regain his temper. When they'd returned to their hut, he had rather soundly chewed her out for her plan. Even though he couldn't dispute it when she asked if he had a better one. Gabriel had to admit that he was terrified of her putting herself and their cubs in danger. That was when Zoe had confessed that she hadn't looked yet to see if she was, indeed, pregnant. With that tossed in the mix, Gabriel told her, "Zoe, I love you, but the thought of losing you scares the life out of me. And why haven't you looked to see if we're going to be parents after all?"
"I don't know Love. There's just been so much going on, and I was kind of afraid to."
Gabriel looked exasperated and said, "I need to take a walk."
She was deep in her meditation when she heard her goddess, "Daughter." She opened her eyes and found herself in the garden. With no hesitation, she sped to her goddess and leaped into her arms.
"You are troubled Daughter, hurt in both mind and spirit."
"I miss my family, My Lady, my kits are growing and I'm missing out on so much with them. I miss my wives and my husband. And I'm worried that I'm making the right decision to push my quest forward because of my desire to see them again. I worry that I should wait and scout the areas first."
"So you are second guessing yourself because of your feelings?"
"Yes!"
"Would it help if you could see your family again before you leave Sanctuary?"
Surprised and shocked, Zoe rose up in Melinoes' lap and asked, "Lady?"
"Would you like to see your wives, husband, and children?"
"With all my heart My Lady!"
"Well, first you should look down." Melinoe said with a smile and a nod of her head.
Zoe slowly let her gaze travel down her body until she could see two small pinpoints of silver light where her womb would be. She gasped and placed her paws over her abdomen directly over them and could feel her daughter's presence.
"Oh goddess!" Zoe whispered, her voice full of love.
"So far you're following your vision Daughter. You just need to have faith. Now, as for the rest of your family, have you ever heard of Astral Projection?"
Zoe's eyes widened. She had, indeed, heard of astral projection from watching shows on TV in her prior life.
"Then, I can use Astral Projection to scout Predburg and Omnivoria!"
Melinoe shook her head. "No Daughter, I'm afraid not. The further you are from our influence, the weaker your astral form. While those two cities are closer, you have no connection to them, unlike Zootopia. You are instinctively familiar with the city, plus you have family that share a part of your soul. You just have to follow that bond back to your loved ones."
Even Zoe's astral sight was blurry with happy tears as she hugged and kissed her goddess. She looked for and found the bonds that Melinoe had mentioned and used them like a lifeline to travel the ether.
She arrived back in Zootopia at the house they had bought. Nick and Judy were eating, but Abby and the children were nowhere in sight. Looking at her wife and husband, she could see the pain and guilt Nick felt of his partner and Zoe understood her feelings a few weeks prior. She could also see the love he had for all of them, his worry for her and Gabriel, and his sadness for his kits along with the hopes to see them soon.
She could see Judy with the same emotions, including the need to help Nick get over the loss of his partner.
Zoe looked around and found the bonds to Abby and her children and followed them back west. She found herself in her favorite place there, the Nursery. Abby was there, feeding a high chair bound Faith from a small jar of baby food. Zoe's heart filled with love and she felt like it was oozing from her pores. She could see Faith's aura was very strong and wondered what that might mean for Faith and her future when it happened.
Suddenly, Faith looked up and yelled, "MAMA! MAMA!" Holding her arms up to her and staring right at her!
"MAMA! MAMA!" Faith continued to call.
"What is it Faith?" Abby asked her daughter.
"Mama flying!" Faith crowed as she pointed at Zoe.
Shaking, and near to tears, Abby called out, "Z... Zoe?"
Hearing the tone of her wifes words, Zoe knew that Abby might be thinking that she had died. Desperate, she looked around trying to find a way to allay Abby's fears. Spying the mirror on the wall, Zoe breathed on it, causing it to frost over.
Abby followed Faith's finger as it swung down and pointed to the mirror. Chills ran down her spine as she saw the mirror begin to frost over and then letters began to appear as if written by a ghostly finger.
"We're okay. Love y'all"
A flood of relief and love filled Abby so much that she almost collapsed. Crying in relief, hoping that Zoe could hear her, said, "We love you too Baby! We miss you so much!"
Confirmation that Zoe could hear her showed up on the mirror in the form of a heart with bunny ears.
Abby sat there, sobbing and laughing when Faith cried out, "Mommy bye bye!"
When she recovered, she picked up her phone and dialed Judy to let her and their husband know the good news.
Nick and Judy were just getting ready for bed when Judy's phone rang. Looking at the caller ID, she saw it was from Abby.
"Hey Abby, what's up?"
"Judes, you may not believe this, but Zoe just visited us!"
Shocked, her heart feeling like it had just been ripped from her chest, Judy just blurted out the first thing on her mind, "Y….You mean… she died?"
Nicks' head snapped to his wife, his own heart beginning to break as he strode closer to Judy. He could hear Abby's next statement over the phone.
"NO! I was feeding Faith when she suddenly started calling out 'mama' and "mama flying' and holding her arms up. Remembering how Zoe could see spirits I thought that her ghost had come back to see us. But then, I saw the mirror in the nursery frost over and the words 'we're okay, love y'all' appeared as if she was writing them! I told her we loved and missed her, and then she drew a heart with bunny ears! Zoe and Gabriel are okay!"
Both Nick and Judy sat hard on the bed, their breath leaving them at the same time.
"Thank you Abby!" Judy said, her voice rough with emotions.
"You're welcome, Love, come see us soon!"
"We will Love." Judy said and hung up. Judy let herself fall back onto the bed, followed closely by Nick as they started crying in relief.
Nick pulled Judy into his arms saying, "They're okay. Thank the gods they're okay!"
Judy nodded, placing both paws on Nicks' cheeks, "They're okay."
Zoe was so tired. For some reason, writing those words and drawing the heart with ears took a lot of energy out of her. After she was done, she moved over to where Faith was and kissed her on her forehead. Faith felt as real under her lips and any other person who could astrally project.
Knowing that Faith could both see and hear her, she said, "Mommy loves you very much Faith. I promise mommy and daddy will be home as soon as possible. Be good for your other mommy's okay? I love you!"
"Mommy bye bye" was the last thing she heard as she tiredly let herself flow back along the tether holding her astral self to her body.
Zoe snapped her eyes open and sucked in a huge lungful of air.
"Baby?" Gabriel called out, rushing over to her. "You okay?"
Zoe jumped up and threw her arms around his neck, letting her body hang a second before Gabriels' strong arms cradled her. She began rapidly kissing him all over his face and muzzle as tears of joy rained down into both of their fur. Gabriel had seen the radiantly joyful expression on her face and that the tears she was shedding were happy ones.
"Mmmm, Baby. What's all this for? Not that I'm complaining mind you." He said.
"I saw them Love! Nick and Judy and Abby and our kits. Faith could see me! I got to see them Baby! Our kits have grown SO much!"
"You… You mean, you saw them?"
"Astral projection love, I followed the bonds back to them and I could see them!"
Gabriel was both elated and saddened. Happy that all of them were okay, but sad that he couldn't see them as well.
Zoe noticed his expression, so she grabbed one of his paws, letting the other support her against his body. "But first My Love, My Coyote," she placed his paw over her stomach. "I want to introduce you to your daughters!"
Gabriels' eyes widened comically and a huge grin plastered itself on his muzzle. "Daughters?!" We're going to have daughters? Oh praise the gods!"
Zoe was grinning now as well, placing her paw over Gabriels. "Two, my Love. We're going to have twins!"
Gabriels' expression shifted to an infinitely loving one as he looked deep into Zoes' colorless orbs and said, "I love you Priestess of my heart."
He then lowered his head and kissed his doe softly on the lips, trying to pour all of his love into that simple act. Zoes' contented sigh made him feel as if he succeeded.
A/N: A bit of a filler chapter that needed to happen before the action starts again in the next chapter. I want to thank all my readers for sticking with me. I know my updates have been few and far between, but my muse seems to be waking up. I'm sure that the caffeine has been helping there.
I'm not sure which story I'll be working on next. I've been plinking away on both Serendipity, Changeling, and Fate's Chew Toy. I've also been prompted to write a story that bridges The Unplanned Detour and Project Gateway, basically expanding my epilogue and throwing in some of the playroom scenes.
Until next time, Bright Blessings!