Nepecha didn't come home after school.

Xilonen had been working hard on a job, or she would've been if her mind wasn't wandering. Ever since taking in Nepecha, her easygoing days were at an end. The expenses of feeding another person were manageable, but Nepecha hadn't been doing well.

Every other night, she woke up with nightmares and cried. She'd just stare into the distance somberly when they worked in the shop. Xilonen encouraged her to play with the other kids, but she remained withdrawn most of the time. Nepecha wouldn't talk to her and nothing she did seemed to help.

An ember from the forge sparked onto the floor. She stamped it out, clicking her tongue in disapproval. Rookie mistakes like these were beneath her. Xilonen removed her smoldering mask, gloves, and apron, and stepped outside.

The canyon air was crisp with the afternoon. Any moment now, the kids would be coming home from school. Several filed down the bridge, chattering and running, happy to be free. A few said hellos to her.

More and more passed, but Nepecha wasn't among them. Xilonen got worried. She roller-skated to the school and found the teacher. When she asked about Nepecha, the teacher exclaimed that she saw her leave with the other kids. Perhaps, she took a different route home?

She returned home, hoping maybe Nepecha would be there. Instead, she found Aether and Paimon waiting on the bench. They held a blueprint for some device or other they probably hoped she'd build.

"Hey," she said without bothering with a hello, "have you seen Nepecha? She was supposed to come home after school."

They shook their heads.

Xilonen cursed under her breath. Aether and Paimon got up, their eyes narrowed with concern.

"Any idea where she might be?" asked Paimon.

"No," she said glumly. "She doesn't talk to me."

"Maybe she wandered off?" suggested Paimon. "We'll help you look."

They went around the tribe asking. No one had seen her, not Kachina, Cauich, or Pacal. With every person she asked, Xilonen's desperation grew. After they'd asked Cheven to no avail, Xilonen got even more worried.

Aether touched her shoulder. "Hey, we'll find her."

She couldn't share his optimism.

Pacal came down the walkway at a brisk jog. The effort left him a little winded. He straightened up and took a breath.

"I put together some search parties," he said. "Kachina's searching the Sulfurous Veins, Cauich is searching Tepeacac Rise, and Mama Coco's searching Huitztil Hills. Our courier Hoa went to ask the Scions of the Canopy and the People of the Springs if they'd seen her. In the meantime, I'll help you and Paimon search the tribe."

"I'll help," Cheven volunteered. Xilonen gave her a thankful nod.

Pacal turned to Aether. "Sorry, but we're a little shorthanded. Could you go to the Stadium of Sacred Flame and inform Mavuika?"

He headed off without a word.

They searched and searched the tribe. A few kids thought they'd seen her heading out the eastern path towards the Sulfurous Veins. Xilonen took off in that direction. She raced through the trees and Saurians, heart pounding in her ears.

She reached the fork and was about to turn right when she spotted two figures sitting on the southwestern ridge which overlooked the canopy.

One of them she recognized as Aether. Beside him, was a young girl with ears: Nepecha! Xilonen hurried over, her heart flooding with relief.

"I can't go back," Nepecha was saying. "I don't belong there."

Xilonen came to a stop. Don't belong? What could possess Nepecha to say such a thing? The hurt in Nepecha's voice stung her. She'd never heard her ward speak like this before. Something possessed Xilonen to hide behind a nearby tree and listen.

"What do you mean?" asked Aether. "The tribe's your home."

"It's Nechka's home. Not mine." She sniffed. "I have all these memories, but they aren't mine. They're hers. I do care about the tribe, but that's because of her…I'm a fake."

Xilonen became somber. Her throat panged with guilt. She should've known Nepecha was suffering deep down. The girl couldn't trust her own memories or feelings. But what did she say to a problem like that? Xilonen only knew smithery and ancient name forging. She didn't know where to even start.

There came a lull in Nepecha's sobs.

"Yeah," said Aether, "those aren't your memories. That doesn't make them meaningless."

Nepecha wiped her eyes with her wrist. "What do you mean?"

"That book Xilonen got you, 'Tequil the Brave.' The characters Tequil and Rimac aren't real. But you still love them, right?"

She nodded.

"Their adventure wasn't real, but you still think about it fondly. Don't you?"

Once again, she nodded.

"'Tequil the Brave' isn't real, sure. You've never met Tequil or Rimac, but they make you feel things, and that makes them real to you. So, it doesn't matter that it's fiction. All that matters is they matter to you."

"They…are real to me?"

"Absolutely. I think it's the same way for those memories."

Nepecha frowned. "So, you're saying maybe my memories aren't real, but… that doesn't mean they aren't real?"

"That's one way to say it," he said with a chuckle. "Maybe they aren't really yours, but that doesn't make them worthless so long as the feelings they give you are real enough."

Her tears abated as she considered the idea.

Aether continued, "The tribe feels the same way. You aren't Nechka, but their feelings for you are still real. Believe me, Xilonen talks all the time about how much she worries for you."

"She does?"

"She got the whole tribe searching for you," he said. "And they aren't looking for Nechka, they're looking for you."

"Oh," she said with a sulk. "I really made a mess of things, didn't I?"

Aether rested a gentle hand on her shoulder. His smile, gentle and warm, fixed upon Nepecha. She took his hand. Xilonen figured she ought to come out now that Nepecha made her decision. Of course, better if they didn't know just how much she'd overheard.

Cupping her hands around her mouth, she came out from hiding and called out, "Nepecha? Where are you?" She pretended to see them and hurried over. Nepecha got up, met her half-way, and hugged her. Xilonen rested her hands on Nepecha's shoulders.

"There you are," she said. "You scared me."

"I'm sorry," said Nepecha, "I shouldn't have run away."

"I'm just happy you're okay. The whole tribe's worried sick about you."

"I know. Let's go home."

Aether and Xilonen escorted young Nepecha back. Pacal gave her a stern lecture. Even so, they were all so relieved to see her okay. Nepecha apologized for being such a problem, saying she'd accept any punishment they'd give her. The tribe hardly listened. They were just glad the lost one had returned.

Aether walked them all the way back to Xilonen's forge.

"I better go find Paimon and tell her the good news," he said. "Till next time."

She wasn't sure what made her do what she did next. Xilonen went over, leaned down, and kissed his cheek. Aether went wide-eyed with surprise. Suddenly embarrassed, she averted her gaze.

"Thanks," she muttered.

"Any time," he said. Aether turned about and left down the bridge. Nepecha for some reason, wore a smirk like she found the whole thing amusing.

Inside the forge, they had a little heart-to-heart. Nepecha confessed everything that bothered her. Xilonen offered what advice she could. When she couldn't, she just promised to stand beside Nepecha and support her however possible.

She fixed dinner. Once they'd eaten, she tucked Nepecha in and turned out the lights. She settled down in her bunk, eager to finally get a good night's sleep. Long minutes passed by, but she remained wide awake. Her mind couldn't settle down.

This time though, it wasn't Nepecha or work keeping her up, no. Xilonen found herself thinking quite keenly about Aether. He'd been so kind with Nepecha, telling her exactly what she needed to hear. He had such a good heart.

And Xilonen never noticed it before, but Aether was kind of…handsome.

"Oh no," she said. "I have a crush."