Days ago, after her minor tantrum, Saph had come to Koko and offered a tearful, mumbled apology. They'd gotten back to training, though only for thirty minutes a day. Everyone was so tense and on edge. Better to let her focus on meditation for the time being.

Now Koko was on the back of a bison. Bored. She was bored and uncomfortable and sore. That last part was a good thing, though. In the last week, she'd finally felt strong enough to get in some real exercise. Her chest still burned and the scar on her back ached constantly, relentlessly, but her energy was up and her muscles were screaming to be used.

Those same muscles were now screaming about being used, but it was a refreshing kind of pain.

"Hey, Koko…?" Saph said in a timid voice.

She's gonna have to grow out of that. "Hm?"

"Um– Korra wanted me to tell you something."

Koko sat up straight. Hearing that name with those words gave her whiplash. No one had talked about Korra as if she were alive in a very long time. "...What?"

It couldn't be anything good, judging by the fact that Saph was now staunchly avoiding eye contact and looked like she was about to cry. Again.

"It's about– how– she d-died–"

Koko nodded slowly, unsurprised. She was ready to know. Ready for some closure. But Saph didn't appear to want to continue.

"She was helping out a small, remote town with a Spirit problem," Koko prompted. "Someone stole her glider so she left on foot. That's all I know."

The story that followed gave Koko goosebumps. Amrit. It had to have been Amrit that captured her. It sounds just like him.

"Anyway," Saph continued. "He took her somewhere. Underground, I think. She said she didn't know what his power was, but that she could resist it because she was the Avatar. But she couldn't escape because there were too many combustionbenders around. And because–" Saph cut off and hesitated before continuing in a weaker voice. "Because she was weak from being…treated badly."

Tortured. She was tortured, Koko said to herself, hands clenched. The pain of her injury seemed to radiate outward through her whole body. Wind blasted against her skin like millions of tiny needles. If Amrit hadn't already been dead, she would've used every available resource to hunt him down and make sure he suffered just as much as Korra had. His death was too kind. Too quick.

"She knew she couldn't escape, so she– I'm not sure, actually. I think she didn't want to show me exactly what happened. They didn't kill her. She killed them. All of them at once. And sacrificed herself so a new Avatar could be born." Saph was visibly distressed now, hands trembling. "She– She said you'd want to know."

Push it away. Deal with it later. Koko's therapist, Tolai, always scolded her for compartmentalizing, but sometimes it was the only way to survive. "She was right." With the painful feelings locked away, the only thing that remained was curiosity. How had Amrit escaped being buried? "Did that man have a scar on his face?"

"No." Saph finally looked up at her with moist eyes. "Why?"

Hm. Maybe it wasn't him, after all. Maybe it was whoever taught him…? "I knew someone like him once." Her mind briefly filled with red. Blood dripping from Amrit's throat. "Dead now. It doesn't matter."

"I– I remember Korra talking to you. Up on the hill, I mean. I dreamed about it. You said that you had a lot of questions…?"

Sometimes repression worked. Sometimes it didn't. The fact that Saph had intruded on that private moment, even by accident, made a thread of anger slip through and wrap around Koko's throat.

"You're not her."

"I never said I was," Saph insisted, visibly hurt. She turned away and curled up in a ball as if to sleep. "Sorry I brought it up. I was just trying to help."

"I know…" Koko relented, though perhaps too quietly for her to hear. I'm sorry.

When they finally returned to the earth, Zenya wasted no time in sliding off the saddle to weep as she pressed herself into the ground. Valen wasn't sure if it was sad or funny. She'd always had a flair for the dramatic.

Near midday, she began stomping periodically. 'Danger?' she signed, pointed ahead.

She must be able to sense the buildings and people in Oldtown. 'No. Good.'

That didn't seem to reassure her much. Her movements were fully of cautious anxiety, which peaked once they were actually among the swarm of people in what looked like a chaotically busy town. She stuck to his side like a burr from the moment they set foot within its borders.

"What's going on?" Koko asked a man that they found in the center of town. "Why are there so many people here?"

Okay, so this obviously isn't normal. There's definitely not enough houses for so many people. Do most of them live underground?

The man beckoned for them to follow him inside. "Refugees. Jupa was attacked."

Valen gasped, as did the others; Zenya was the only one unaffected by the dire news. With Koko's rapid-fire questions, he could barely get a word in edgewise.

Finally, they were all inside and the man shushed them both. "There were a few casualties," he said to Koko, "but your family is fine."

"What about my family?" Saph asked, nearly screeching.

The man—who had introduced himself as Turak—regarded her as if only just noticing she existed. "Who are they?"

"Mara and Jojin, my parents. And my sister, Lia."

"Let me check my records."

There was a desk nearby, covered in orderly stacks of papers. Valen marveled at how much of it there was. In Makapu, paper was an expensive luxury that he had no need for.

"Surname?"

Saph frowned, visibly confused. "We don't–"

"It'll be Varrick," Koko interrupted.

Turak looked up at her, mouth open slightly. "What? Zhu Li had family living in Jupa?"

"It's complicated."

Turak blinked but returned to his search, which now involved earthbending the floor to reveal a complex filing system.

A look at Saph's pale, anxious face made Valen's heart ache. Poor kid. Everything she's gone through, and now this?

"Yep," Turak said finally. "Here they are: Jojin, Mara, and Lia Varrick. They were verified for residency."

"They're here?" Saph said breathlessly. "Underground?"

"Yeah."

She looked like she was about to break down in relieved tears, and Valen couldn't blame her one bit. But this was good news. Everything was okay. He turned his attention to Koko, who had a suspiciously blank expression. Spending so much time around her had taught him a lot about her moods. Oftentimes, the more she felt, the less she showed.

"I'm sorry," Turak continued, still addressing Saph, "but you're not in their file as a family member."

"She's in mine," Koko said.

His eyebrows shot up. "Really… As a dependent?"

"Yeah." She spared a glance for Saph and Shylo, who were now talking quietly together on the other side of the room. "Him, too."

"Huh. Okay, then." He shuffled through some paperwork before turning to Valen. "You're new here?"

"Yeah." Koko has custody of Saph? And Shylo? The mystery deepens.

"I'm afraid you and your daughter will have to wait out here with the other refugees. The verification process takes a little while and there's currently a backlog."

"Zenya's not going to like that," Saph chimed in, just as Valen had the exact same thought.

Koko actually caught his eye. The contact was brief but intense, as it always was. She was inscrutable. What was she thinking about? Their argument? Did she really think he was so incompetent?

"We should go," she said finally.

They went outside and were introduced to another guy, who offered to take Valen and Zenya to a hostel that had been set up for the newcomers. The moment Saph said goodbye and began to walk the other direction with Koko and Shylo, Zenya started frantically looking back and forth between her and Valen.

Her final choice hurt. Perhaps her intention was to drag Saph back so they could all stay together, but it looked a whole lot like she'd chosen her preference. 'Dad' was second string to her new friend.

"C'mon," Valen said gently as he tried, unsuccessfully, to pull her away gently. Without her bending, she seemed so much weaker. Delicate, even. He was afraid to use too much force. "Let her go."

Saph was distraught. "I'm sorry, Zenya. I have to go for a little while. We'll see each other soon, okay?"

Koko gave him a judgmental glance, which frustrated him enough to be a little more stern.

"Alright," he said. "That's enough. You can't go with her."

The words were for Koko's benefit more than anything. He grabbed Zenya's arms and forced her to come with him. When she realized he wasn't going to let go, and that Saph was now walking away sadly thanks to Koko's nudging, she gave up completely and fell to the ground, sobbing. It was embarrassing. People stopped to stare.

She's really going to hate me now. Will she ever forgive me for this?

That first evening in the farming town of Oldtown, Zenya did nothing but throw tantrums, cry, and sleep. They were assigned a room with a dozen others, beds lined up in neat rows, and she didn't leave hers except to use the outhouse.

Alongside a fat stack of paperwork, two messages were brought to Valen: one from the Beifongs, who promised to visit in the morning, and one from Raniq.

'Valen! I nearly broke down in tears when Koko told me you were here. I can't wait to see you! It sounds like we have a lot to catch up on. Unfortunately, I'm completely swamped at the moment and not sure I'm going to be able to get away for the next couple of days. I barely have enough time to write this letter. But I'll definitely come see you as soon as I can!

Love, Nani (Raniq!)

The next morning, while Valen was standing in line to get breakfast (Zenya had refused to come and was still non-responsive on her cot), someone called his name.

He whipped around to find Bolin's grinning face. The two men met with a bone-cracking hug, slapping each other's shoulders. Soon, others gathered around until Valen was buried in affection.

Tears didn't come to him easily, but they came then. The persistent heavy weight pressing him down was lifted by many loving arms.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," he kept mumbling when he realized Wei and Kian were there. Kyori's parents. Every horrible moment of what had happened to her—how he'd left her and the others alone to get supplies—rushed in. Crushing guilt and regret. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"Why?" Bolin asked, perplexed.

"Kyori–" he choked out. "I couldn't– couldn't save her. And Hunir and Zira…"

"We know," Wei said sadly. "Koko and Nani already told us. It's not your fault."

Yes, it is. But he couldn't bring himself to actually say it. To tell them the whole truth.

"We made our peace with it a long time ago, after many months of searching," Wei's wife, Kian, said. "And we're so glad to see you. We would've come last night but it was late when we found out you were here. Now where's our grandbaby? We want to meet her!"

"Yeah. Sure." With an effort, he pulled himself together. Zenya couldn't see him like this. "Follow me. Uh– She's not herself right now. I don't know how much Koko told you…"

"She told us she's…a little different," Kian said. "We don't care, of course."

"She's very upset right now. Her bending hasn't come back yet. And she won't understand who you are, so don't expect much in terms of affection. She doesn't really like to be touched."

On the way back to the hostel, he remembered something Koko had mentioned. "So I heard you all have new names now…?"

Bolin laughed. "Ah, don't worry about that. Things change."

"We'll talk about it later," Opal said in a more discreet voice. "Not here. Once you're in the city."

Inside, Valen found Zenya right where he'd left her and nodded a silent thanks to the woman he'd asked to keep an eye on her. Bolin, Opal, and their two grown children hung back so there wouldn't be too many introductions all at once; everyone else approached on Valen's heels.

"Zenya," he said, just to get her attention. When there was no reaction, he sat on the cot and tapped her shoulder.

She finally glanced up. 'Eat?'

Shit. I forgot the food. 'No.' He gestured to Wei, Kian, and their daughter Kiloa, but didn't know what to actually say. Zenya had no concept of family—of grandparents and aunts.

A quick glance was all they got. There was no recognition in her eyes. Why would there be? Their tentative smiles faltered with her complete disinterest. Were they hoping blood would call to blood and she would rush into their arms?

She looked back at him with vague confusion in her eyes. That was something, at least. She was actually paying attention. He pointed at Wei and Kian again. To his great surprise, Zenya sat up and spared another glance.

"Come a little closer," Valen suggested.

They obliged, Kian going so far as to kneel down and pick up Zenya's hand. "Hi, sweetheart," she said as tears dripped down her smiling face. "It's so nice to meet you."

Zenya pulled her hand away, visibly unsettled. She reached out with her index finger and pointed directly at one of Kian's eyes, nearly touching it.

"What does that mean?" Kian asked, frozen.

Valen frowned; this was new. "I'm…not sure."

A flurry of signs caught him by surprise:

'Blue eyes. Fire, earth, air, water, bending.'

Avatar…? Why would she think Kian is– Wait… Blue eyes… Avatar… "Oh! Oh! She means–" He cut off, realizing that he'd been on the verge of revealing a big secret. "Saph. She's asking about Saph. Mara and Jojin's girl. She has blue eyes, too." Valen was overjoyed at this breakthrough in communication. He rapidly repeated the signs as a stand-in for her name. 'Yes! Saph! Underground.' That was an easy word.

'Me see Saph?'

Not yet. He couldn't say it and instead struggled for an alternative. Not for the first time, he wished he'd tried harder to explain the concepts of time and days passing. Living in a cave, what use was there for that?

The closest sign he had at his disposal was, 'Wait.' He usually used the word when they hunted. Would she even understand that this wait would be much longer than a few minutes?

Her brows furrowed and she repeated the sign, 'Wait?'

'Yes. Wait here.'

'Wait bending?'

'Yes.' Valen smiled, relieved that she seemed to be connecting this with how her bending had eventually come back last time. Hopefully it would give her some peace.

"What are you two talking about?" Kiloa asked in the growing silence.

"She wants to see Saph. I'm trying to explain that we have to wait a few days, but… Agh. It's really hard. She doesn't know that many words."

"Can I tell her that I'm happy to meet her?" Kian asked, still knelt down. "Can you show me the signs?"

"Hm… This is 'happy', 'see', and 'you'."

Upon being greeted with words she knew, Zenya smiled shyly, still wary but obviously pleased that someone was making an effort to speak her language.

In short, halting movements, Kian reached out. Her hands came to rest on Zenya's upper arms and she leaned forward little by little. It was comically awkward, but Valen could only grin with pride, truly shocked that Zenya was allowing this contact.

"Oh, sweetheart," Kian said, her cheeks wet again. "I'm so glad you're here."

The hug didn't last long. Zenya pulled away, though she remained calm when Kian sat next to her. It seemed like a good time for the others to come, so Valen turned to beckon them over.

"Spirits, Valen," Toph joked with a playful jab. "Do you own a hairbrush?"

"What's wrong with my hair? I know it's long, but–"

"I was talking about her."

"Oh. Well, she's pretty slack about it, and it tangles up so fast."

"Kyori was the same way when she was a girl," Kian murmured.

"Careful, Valen," Wei joked. "I think my wife may steal her from you."

Ready with a retort about how he would welcome a break, Valen swallowed the words when he noticed the bands on Wei's wrists. "Hey! Can you metalbend for her? She's never met another metalbender before. It might give her a hint that there's a connection between you two."

Wei crouched down in front of Zenya and removed one of his cuffs. It began to shift into different shapes, hanging in the air between them.

Zenya's eyes lit up. 'Metalbending,' she signed to Valen.

'Yes. You, him, same.' Another idea occurred to him and he beckoned for Bolin to come closer. To Zenya, he said, 'Lava. Me, you, him, same.' It was close enough to the truth. Family wasn't just blood.

"What did you say?" Bolin asked.

"I told her you're a lavabender like we are. I think she might actually understand that we're a family," Valen managed, becoming emotional again. "I've never– We've been alone for so long. I never imagined we'd be here. All together."

There were more hugs and more tears all around, especially after they presented him with a parcel wrapped in brown paper. Inside were two framed photos.

"We figured you probably didn't have any pictures of them," Kian murmured.

Valen fell heavily onto the nearest bed, unable to stand, and clutched at the ring hidden under his shirt. The first photo was him and Kyori on their wedding day, both grinning from ear to ear. Were we ever so young? I can't believe it. Seeing her face so clearly made him realize just how many details had faded.

The other picture was from the same day, but had the whole family. His fingers traced over Zira and Hunir. She had one hand fondly placed over her swollen belly. Tiny unborn Zenya. But his eyes quickly traveled back to Kyori's face. So happy. So beautiful. This was how he wanted to remember her.

"Thank you," he said in a tight voice. "You don't– don't know what this means to me."

The Beifongs stayed for breakfast and then said, regretfully, that they had to go.

"We'll come visit again when we can," Opal promised. "Hopefully you'll get approved soon. I'm sure Zenya will love the city so much."

Unfortunately, their departure prompted another depressive episode. She was back in bed, sniffling softly. Did she think they were gone forever? How hard it must be for her to watch new friends and family leave without any assurance of seeing them again. Every goodbye was the last, as far as she knew.

But he had no time to contemplate that, or try and find a way to explain, because another visitor arrived almost immediately.

"Nik!"

The two old friends shared a firm hug that tried to account for all the missing years.

"I knew you weren't dead," Nik continued. "I always said, 'That son of a bitch is too tough and too stubborn to die.'"

"Well, you were right." But Valen's smile slipped and he admitted a hard truth that he had yet to share with anyone else. "There were times when I wanted to."

"Yeah. Same."

The abruptly despondent look in his eyes was one that Valen was familiar with. In his memory, Nik had a tendency to lapse into these moods and become fatalistic until he could see the bottom of whatever bottle he was drinking, at which point he would stumble to his bed and sleep 'til noon. But he rarely let anyone else see that side of him.

"So, uh–" he continued. "I heard about Kyori. I'm really sorry, man."

"Yeah. Me, too. But thanks."

"Well. I'm glad you're back. Barely recognized you with all that hair, by the way. You look feral." Nik flashed a roguish smile, though the darkness still lingered in his eyes. "I've been up here for a hot minute, but I saw you were with your family, and I didn't want to get my ego bruised by being shunted aside, hah. Actually, I would've come last night, but Koko failed to mention you when I saw her at the bar."

"At the bar?" Valen lifted an eyebrow. She didn't even mention me? "Do you two see each other there a lot?"

Nik laughed. "On occasion. Funnily enough, she usually leaves right after I get there."

"Don't tell me you're still tormenting her?"

"Eh." He held up his hand, thumb and forefinger half an inch apart. "But c'mon! I want to hear about you! Weeks on the road with her and three teens? How was that? Did you two drive each other crazy? I know she's got a temper."

Does he still have a thing for her? Did he ever figure out that she's not a lesbian? Well, probably not, considering how many walls she's put up.

Valen thought it best not to mention anything like that. The poor guy didn't need any false hope. Anyway, it was none of his business. "She's alright. Yeah, she has a temper, but she's patient when it matters. I think getting injured might've really messed with her head. Knocked her confidence a little."

Saying all of it out loud made some of his frustration with her melt away. Really, she hadn't said anything that bad. More than likely, she'd thought she was being helpful.

Nik frowned. "What? She got hurt? How?"

"She didn't tell you?"

"Like I said before, she barely said two words to me last night before fleeing. I only found out you were here because I went to talk to my mom about something." He sighed and gave Valen a self-deprecating smirk. "Nobody thinks of poor ol' Nik, slaving away in the factory."

Always hiding his pain behind jokes. The man hadn't changed.

"Well, it's a long story, but she got stabbed by a blue sage." Does he know about Saph? Maybe not… "There was a village nearby and she got healed, but it was a close call. And I think it's still sore."

"Shit…" Nik's brows furrowed with what looked like genuine concern, but instead of asking more about what had happened, he gestured over Valen's shoulder. "That your kid?"

"Yeah." Valen turned to regard Zenya, who was on her side, facing away from them. Maybe asleep. Probably not. They weren't exactly being quiet. "She's a little upset right now."

"Can I say hi?"

"You can try…"

"Kids love me!"

"Because they can tell that you're one of them."

They both chuckled, but Nik didn't seem to have his heart in it. And unsurprisingly, Zenya completely ignored him after a quick glance.

"Well, I'm a little hurt," he joked.

"She'll be back to her usual self once she gets her bending back and we get into the city." I hope.

The next day, Opal returned with a bag of hair care supplies and a mischievous smirk. "I thought you might want a trim now that you're not living as a wild man anymore."

Valen stroked his long, scraggly beard with a rueful laugh. "Good point. I guess it's time. I only let it grow out because I didn't want to risk being recognized in Makapu. I was pretty paranoid."

As if the Spirits were trying to make a point about something, he felt his chi surge through him while he sat in a chair and watched the hair fall to the floor. A new look, a fresh start. His bending was back and the rest of the world would right itself soon.

Zenya sat cross-legged on the bed nearby, her expression wary. Did she think she was next? She must have, because she tried to get away when Opal descended on her, brush in hand, after finishing Valen's haircut.

'No, no, no!' she signed frantically.

Valen howled with laughter but managed to snag her before she could run off. 'No cut. Brush.'

'No!'

'Yes.'

Her unhappy frown, eyes downcast, met his stern determination.

"It's okay," Opal said. "If she doesn't–"

"No. She needs her hair brushed, one way or another. I've been too lax with her for too long." Koko was right, damn it. 'Sit,' he signed.

'Hair. Beard. Bad!'

"She doesn't like my haircut," Valen said with a smirk.

"Well, I think you look very handsome, if I do say so myself. She'll get used to it."

The stalemate wore on for a few more tense seconds until Zenya finally deflated with a surly grimace and an eye roll befitting her age.

'Sit,' he ordered.

She sat.

From her bag, Opal pulled out a spray bottle to dampen Zenya's hair. Her touch was so gentle, working through the mess with patience. There were no complaints, by some miracle. Zenya let her do it and even closed her eyes as if she were actually enjoying it.

The large room was very quiet. All the beds lined up were empty, their occupants elsewhere in the town. In the peaceful silence, Valen let his thoughts drift to Koko. Because of Zenya, he hadn't spared much thought for her since arriving in Oldtown. Only when Nik brought her up.

She was just so…

Frustrating. We'll be having a nice conversation, she seems like she might actually show some vulnerability, and then takes offense to the most random comments. Or says something critical. Or downright bitchy.

His own voice echoed in his head, unbidden:

"If you think sharp words can scare me off, you've obviously forgotten I married Kyori Beifong."

I did say that, didn't I? I guess it's true. They're not so different. But they are, too. Kyori was sweet and childish and loved to mess with people for a laugh. She was smart as a whip and never missed an opportunity to tell someone they were wrong.

Koko is… What? I don't even know.

"How's Koko doing?" he asked Opal before he could stop himself. Talking was better than wallowing in bittersweet memories of Kyori. "Has her bending come back yet?"

"I don't think so. But she's keeping busy, as always. Been spending a lot of time at the gym, from what I've heard. More than usual."

"Does that mean something?"

"She tends to exercise a lot when she's stressed out."

"I'm sure she is. It's been a rough month. But I've learned that she's not especially eager to talk about what's bothering her."

"Hah. No, she is not."

"I hate to ask," Valen said slowly, "but do you know what happened to her? After the comet, I mean."

The brush hit a snag and Zenya yelped in pain. "Sorry, hun," Opal said with an apologetic pat. It took her a few seconds to answer Valen. "I do know, but it's not my story to tell."

"Yeah, I figured." Eyes trained on the dirty wooden floor, he wondered if Koko would ever tell him. Or would they remain casual acquaintances forever, only occasionally crossing paths now that she had returned to her busy life? "Whatever it is, I know it must've been bad. The blue sages took so much from her."

"And from you."

"Yeah. True."

Koko was forcefully pushed away as memories of his lost years assaulted him once again:

Married to Kyori at twenty-one, a baby on the way before they knew what was happening. They'd been planning on having more time to themselves to see the world and enjoy life as a married couple, but things hadn't worked out that way. Still, they took it in stride. Reassessed their future. He'd been nervous but excited to be a father. They'd even settled on a name. Luca.

Valen swallowed hard, trapped in the memory. That particular scar was healed but still sore. Mourning someone with no face or personality or stories to remember them by... He could only grieve the vague hopes and dreams for the future that were snatched away. Mostly, he just tried not to think about what could have been.

"I know I said it yesterday," Opal began, interrupting his thoughts, "but I'm so sorry for your loss. Losses. When Koko told us– Ah, Spirits." Her eyes glistened with held-back tears. "I know she must seem cold and stoic to you, because that's the mask she wears, but I could see how much it hurt for her to share that awful news with us."

"She doesn't seem cold to me," Valen found himself saying as Koko's face reappeared in his mind's eye. "The opposite. Hot." The word left his mouth before his brain fully registered it. "I– I mean– Shit. That's not what I meant."

Opal's amused smile wasn't helping with his awkward stammering, but at least she didn't say anything.

"Her attitude," he finally managed. "Her attitude and emotions. She's a firebender from head to toe. Maybe she hides behind a lot of walls, but she can't hide that. Especially not when she argues. Which is often."

"All done," Opal said to Zenya, whose wavy black hair shone in the light. "That wasn't so bad, huh?"

"You've got the magic touch. It's never looked that nice."

There was a distinct bittersweetness in the thought. He'd done his best. Seen to her needs. Awkwardly helped her through the challenging start of puberty. Weathered the frustrations of daily life. But here she was, experiencing a motherly touch for the first time in her memory.

Valen's strongest emotion was relief. In second place, guilt for that relief.

"I cheated a little." Opal held up the spray bottle. "It's a conditioner and de-tangler."

"I won't tell if you won't."

Rather than get up to leave, she started putting Zenya's hair in two loose braids. "This'll help keep it from tangling while she sleeps."

"I honestly can't believe she's letting you do that. I don't know if she'd let me, even if I could replicate that. Hair care has never been my forte. Obviously."

Opal cleared her throat and avoided his eyes. "I hope I'm not overstepping, but I figure it's probably been long enough for you. Maybe– Maybe now that you're here, you'll find someone new to share your life with. You shouldn't have to do it all alone."

She meant well, he knew, but he couldn't even fake a smile. "I don't think I'm ready for that." Now or ever. "Anyway, who says I can't learn to do the same stuff mothers do?"

"You can, of course. I didn't mean to upset you." She looked like she wanted to say more, but instead closed her mouth to finish the braids.

Yeah, I get it, Valen thought morosely. Nothing I do will ever fill the hole in her life where her mom should be.

A/N: So I know this might see like an abrupt place to end a fic, but it's purely to keep the timeline of the next Koko fic (Duet) lined up with the next Daughters of Mara fic. I'm afraid it still might be a while on all of that. But I'm getting there!