When I awoke the next morning, the hollow was dark and I was curled in Blue Eyes' warm embrace. My back pressed close, I could feel his chest expand and deflate as he breathed. Judging by the lack of light, dawn wouldn't come for a little while yet. So I carefully began to turn my body over, but my movement caused Blue Eyes to stir. He didn't wake, but he rolled over onto his back, taking me with him. I had no complaints as I adjusted myself and hugged his hard torso, laying my head on the juncture of his shoulder. Feeling warm and comfortable, I drifted back to sleep.

XxXxX

"Wake up! Come on, up, up!"

I groaned and felt the ape beside me turn back to his side, clutching me to his chest with his own unhappy huff at the disturbance.

"Mother, Father," Sage whined. "It's morning, we need to go."

And then realization dawned on me.

Riding lessons.

Blue Eyes attempted to mumble something, but in his tired, mostly asleep state, all that came out was a slightly strangled sounding moan of sad annoyance.

"Babe," I groaned groggily, half heartedly shaking my husband with a hand on his unscarred pectoral. "Get up, we needta teach them how to ride horses."

"Ssshh, if we go back to sleep, they will too." He replied, his husky morning voice causing sending a routine pleasant feeling to my head.

I blinked away the sleep the sound encouraged and propped myself up on an elbow. I ducked down to kiss the area underneath his jawline. "We promised."

Blue Eyes reached up a hand and cupped my cheek, cracking his drowsy eyes open, and made a dramatic display of leaning over and loudly whispering. "Are you sure?"

I grinned and nodded. "Yes."

"Really?"

"Father, you promised!" River cut in, crawling up onto the large chimp's broad chest.

Blue Eyes looked at River and arched a brow, contemplating the concept. Then he shrugged and nodded. "So I did."

"Can we go now?" Sage asked, before she and her brother pressed themselves close to each other's sides and lifted their hands under their chins, each of them with their fingers laced in a begging manner.

"Please?" They dragged out the word, long and hopeful and pleading as they tried to appeal to us.

Blue Eyes and I exchanged a glance, and then turned back to our children. "Alright. We'll get ready to go after breakfast."

They squealed with happiness and shrieked as they threw themselves at us, hugging us tightly in a display of gratitude and excitement. I gave an affectionate hum as I hugged Sage back before they both dashed out of the hollow, saying something about seeing us soon. I heaved a big sigh and dropped back down onto my back, the hammock swinging underneath me.

"You know she's gonna ask for Zira." I sighed.

"I know. You know Zira best, do you think she'll be safe on her?" Blue Eyes signed.

"I know that Zira wouldn't intentionally hurt either of them. But she has so much energy. I don't know if I can rely on her not to dash off or try to take the reins herself." I replied. "But at the same time, she's a smart horse, and she's always been gentle with them both. She's surprised me that way before, but I don't know if I want to take the risk."

"Maybe it's not a good idea then." He answered.

"Yeah. She's gonna be unhappy with it." I sighed tiredly.

"She can deal with it." Blue Eyes replied, saying just what I had been thinking.

With that, we got up and I got dressed, wearing a homemade top and a pair of jeans Ellie had donated. I'd really gotten the hang of making clothes out of natural materials, and I quite liked the results I got. Ellie still brought me things every now and then when she found something my size that she thought I'd like. She did pretty well in that respect.

After a quick grooming session, and Blue Eyes' bedhead was under control, we went out into the sunlight. It was fairly early, and apes were tucking down to eat. A soft breeze blew, bringing the scent of roasting meat our way. We sat down after acquiring our food, and we'd just starting to eat when Ash and Dana joined us. We'd seen them yesterday, while we were still looking for Lana and Cornelia so River could meet his maternal grandmother.

The reunion had been childish to say the least. All of us had ended up lighting up with joy when we realized who we were looking at, though I had to say Dana and I were probably worse than Ash and Blue Eyes. She and I had thrown ourselves at each other, babbling about how happy we were to see each other, hugging and waddling around in each other's arms and kissing each other's cheeks.

Our husbands tried to be more nonchalant about it, but they were obviously ecstatic to see each other and hugged tightly before they brought their foreheads together. They talked animatedly as Dana and I carried out our affectionate reunion. Then we'd swapped and hugged again, none of us losing any enthusiasm. To say we were a bit of a tight knit group was an accurate statement.

"Hey guys." I greeted. "Where's Zinny?"

"With Emory. I think the twins are with them, too." Dana answered.

"You'd think they'd be inhaling their food. We told them we'd start their riding lessons after breakfast." I commented.

"They probably already have, if they've taken after their favorite uncle." Ash said and signed. (ITALICS)

"Ash, don't you jinx us." I replied, bringing a piece of lettuce to my mouth. "I don't need my little ones eating like teenagers just yet, and knowing Blue, River will have an appetite great enough to eat the whole buffet table."

"Growing boy's gotta eat." Ash replied with a smirk.

"Is that why you eat so much?" Dana said, grinning at her husband.

Ash mumbled something I was pretty sure were along the lines of "you never seem to complain when it's you I'm eating..."

Judging by Dana's amused-disguised-as-mortified snort, I wasn't too far off target. I smirked and continued to eat while enjoying my friends' company. Sage and River quickly found us though, hopping around and asking over and over about whether or not we were done eating.

"Okay, okay, hold on." I waved a hand for calm.

"Go see Lisa and tell her what we're doing, she'll give you what we need." Blue Eyes signed. "Go."

The children rushed off, nearly knocking down several apes and a human or two as they raced toward the paddocks where they'd be more than likely find Ash's sister.

"Good luck." Ash grunted.

"We'll need it." Blue Eyes sighed.

I smiled, remembering a similar conversation between him and Caesar, the day after the twins were born. We quickly finished our food and started toward the paddocks, bidding goodbye to our friends. We made it to the paddock, and I quickly gave a whistle, one I only used to beckon Zira and Konrad to me. (I was also training them to answer to a birdcall whistle like some Native Americans once did, but they were still getting the hang of that.) I was about to whistle again when I noticed the herd parting, and two large animals came trotting out of the ranks. What caught my eye was the fact that the two horses were walking side by side, their flanks brushing at every other step as they came toward us.

I arched a brow and a wide smile stretched my face. "Zira, look at you. You're actually letting him touch you?" My happy coo was coupled with some good pats on her broad neck and a scratch under her chin.

"And what about you, my big, handsome boy? Finally tamed her fire, huh? How'd you do it?" I added, turned to Konrad as he began nosing around my head, grabbing locks of my hair in his large lips.

Keeping one hand under Zira's chin, scratching to keep her happy, I hugged Konrad's huge face, pressing my nose and forehead to the broad bridge of his blazed snout. "Huh? How'd you do it?" I repeated, purely in an attempt to let them both know I was happy to see them.

I'd visited them yesterday, and while Konrad seemed eager to see me, Zira gave me the cold shoulder. It had taken a lot of bribing to get her to allow me to even touch her, but once she did, I didn't let up on the chin scratching. She didn't seem to think it was too much trouble to forgive me, so long as I didn't stop running my fingers under her chin. I felt bad that she seemed to have taken my impromptu trip without her so personally. Though I'd be lying if I said that I didn't find it endearing.

I paused when I heard Blue Eyes grumbling under his breath. In response, I turned my face to look at him and hummed, silently asking for him to repeat himself.

"Thought I was your big handsome boy." He grumbled almost dejectedly.

My lips immediately hooked upward in a smile. "You're my big handsome bear boy."

Before he could give a mock scoff, I silenced him with a peck to the mouth. Zira snorted and motored her lips, then shook out her mane. She finished the little display with her neck arched and her ears bent back in disapproval.

"Why do you dislike him so much? He's not that bad." I murmured to the gorgeous silver mare, perplexed at her common reaction whenever I gave Blue Eyes any form of positive attention in her presence.

"I have a theory." A familiar voice spoke up before Blue Eyes could ask what I meant by 'not that bad.'

Once Lisa and I greeted each other, and she and Blue Eyes had exchanged the disdainful at best acknowledgements of each other that was entailed in their recent uprising of sibling rivalry, she lifted her hands and started signing.

"She can see how much you love him. Zira is jealous." She signed, referring to the chimp beside me.

"But she's always been like this. Since before I realized I have feelings for him." I replied, stroking Zira's neck and rubbing Konrad's large cheek.

"Everyone realized before you two idiots did." She replied humorously. "Zira might have been the first to see the connection."

"We told the twins to go to you. Where are they?" Blue Eyes interrupted, drawing my attention to the absence of our children.

"What did I ever do to deserve a dirty sneak attack like that?" Lisa mocked a glare. "I passed them on to Thade. They should show up any moment."

And just like that, as if her words were a summons, the laughter of my children reached my ears, accompanied by Thade's gruff huffing. I turned to see him walking up with two blankets in his arms, as well as some saddlebags slung over his shoulders. Sage and River were doing their part to make walking difficult for him as he made his way towards us, imping as they signed.

A smile tugged at my lips when I seen Lisa's over-satisfied grin at the sight of her struggling husband. While Blue Eyes was quick to help relieve Thade's workload. I did my part as well, and called my children away. They were quick to find entertainment in greeting Zira and Konrad. I kept an eye on them as Lisa and I began conversing with our hands.

"Do you have any preferred horses for them?" Lisa asked.

"Sage wants to take Zira, but it's too unpredictable. I wish I could but..." I frowned and gave a small shrug.

"I understand." Lisa nodded.

"Do you have any recommendations? I've been so busy worrying about whether or not to take my Zira with us that I forgot to think about who we should take."

The green-eyed female paused to think about the question. "I've got a docile stallion and an older mare that are good for teaching children. Though they're both Clydesdales. If you want smaller then there are a pony and another mare that are also suited for beginners."

I nodded. "Can we get them all in a corral? See who takes to the each of them best?"

"Yeah, I'll round them up now."

I thanked her, she turned, and before she left, she let Thade know what she was doing.

The short-fused chimp nodded and left with a short farewell to Blue Eyes and a nod to me, his armful slung over the rail of the pasture. I leaned against the fence and called my daughter's name. When I met her unique eyes, I beckoned her over with a finger. When she got to me, she climbed up and sat down on the fence so she could be level with my face.

"So can we take Zira?" She signed, getting right to the point.

I shook my head with a sigh. "Not this time."

Her face lit up with dismay. "But why?"

"She is too strong-willed. She's not suited for beginners, this is your first lesson." I answered. "I need to make sure you know how to handle a horse before I let either of you on her back."

"But you got to learn on her!" She cried indignantly.

"I had to. Zira bullied any other horse I tried to learn on, she was beating up innocent horses, she wouldn't allow me to ride anyone else." I did my best to keep my voice calm, it wouldn't fare well for this conversation if my voice rose. "It's why I haven't ridden Konrad. Zira messes with him enough, I don't want him to get hurt. Just as I don't want you or your brother to get hurt."

Sage opened her mouth for a no doubt haughty reply but I held up a hand for silence. "You will ride her one day. I promise. But not while you're inexperienced. I've asked Lisa to bring her choices for you two, so learn quickly and soon you'll be riding Zira through the fields for hours. Alright, my woya?" I lowered my voice from the stern tone I'd taken up to a gentle coo.

The young chimp didn't look happy, her eyes were downcast as she thought over my words carefully. Soon she sucked in a sigh and nodded. "Alright."

"Thank you for understanding, babe." I held back a sigh.

She nodded, her gaze downcast, a forlorn air about her.

As the conversation concluded, the dull thud of hooves on earth caught our attention. Lisa and another orangutan I knew led two horses each to the coral I'd previously segregated Zira to. The orangutan led a traditionally colored Clydesdale stallion and a big, dark brown mare with white stockings and a thick blaze up her face. Lisa led a pony and a graceful mare with one white sock on her front left hoof.

The pairs were placed in the corral, and Lisa turned and beckoned the twins. "Come here, you two."

Sage and River were quickly at her side, Blue Eyes and I following behind them. The twins climbed up the fence and stood with their arms tucked loosely around the top beam to hang on as they gazed at the horses.

"Spend your time with them, see who you like." Lisa instructed. "Don't pick one because you think it's pretty, you need to like the horse itself, it's the horse you'll be riding, not their coat color. Understand?"

They nodded obediently.

"Good. I'll be around there, take all the time you need." The chimp said, and when she heard the agreeing replies she bid the family goodbye and walked off to her pointed out destination.

It was needless to say that Sage was incredibly reluctant, and she initially showed disinterest in the horses standing and sniffing for their attention. River, however, seemed happy to go about greeting them all and getting to know them. Blue Eyes and I sat back and hung out on the sidelines, keeping a watchful eye on the horses and children alike.

The stallion Lisa spoke of was quickly becoming favored by River, for he kept reaching out with his lips to grapple at the young boy's ear. He would jerk his head away, but he never moved from his perch, which told me he didn't mind much. As I was watching my son interact with a possible new partner, Blue Eyes nudged me with his elbow and pointed to Sage.

It seemed the pony was winning her over, and had managed to make her smile.

In the end, River chose the Clydesdale stallion called Donner, and Sage, the pony with the name Embarr. I was pleased to see that Sage's displeasure seemed forgotten, and helped Blue Eyes load the saddles and such onto the chosen mounts. Then we hopped atop our own horses, and pulled one child up to sit in front of us. Both whined in exasperation.

"Why can't we get on them?" They gestured to their new companions.

"Because we're taking you to the field where you'll learn."

"You can ride them when we get there."

And with that, we were off, leading Donner and Embarr by the reins. As we made our way through the village, children ran and laughed around all four horses' hooves, and I was pleased to see the two newcomers didn't startle easily. We made it through the gates and traveled down the worn path, taking the well-trodden trail toward our valley. We'd decided to call it Valley Fall, since the waterfall in the caverns was a very sentimental spot for my little family, though the children didn't know it.

After carefully helping the horses pick their way down the rocky slope, the twins were allowed to run through the grass to the boulder Blue Eyes picked out. While they waited impatiently, my husband and I were quick to let Zira and Cloud, Blue Eyes' horse, roam freely while walking Donner and Embarr to the children.

"Okay guys, ground rules." I said as we reached them.

"We know you're excited, but you need to be patient." Blue Eyes continued silently. "If you rush, you and the horses could get hurt, so keep your energy in check, okay?"

Sage began to bob her head rapidly up and down, but River quickly slapped a hand on top of his sister's head and gave her a stern look before flipping a more casual grin to us.

"We understand." He gestured.

And so training began. It was slow going at first, but soon enough, the children calmed themselves enough to throw themselves into focus. Sage was excelling, but River had discovered he wasn't as confidant as he thought he was. He feared falling, and when inertia made him move back whenever he took the horse out of a standstill he startled.

Blue Eyes quickly took the situation into his own hands, sending me away to supervise Sage so he could have some time alone with our son.

I didn't know what my husband said, but River's unease began to slowly fade away.

When we were sure the twins had memorized how to read their mounts and had gotten a good hold on guiding and staying on, we called it a day.

While they complained about how they wanted to stay and learn more, Blue Eyes and I both knew it was best to give them small lessons day by day. Giving them too much information at once wouldn't be beneficiary, no matter how much they denied feeling overwhelmed. We both felt that they'd retain their lessons easier this way.

The children were allowed to ride alongside us on Embarr and Donner during the return trip, with the exception of getting them out of the valley and into the forest again. But once we'd reached the base of the mountain, the children quickly hopped back into place atop their withers.

The journey back home felt light. Blue Eyes and I basked in our children's excitement as they went on and on about how they couldn't wait to master the skill and start joining us on our outings. While that was still a ways off, both of us encouraged the twins' enthusiasm.

However, nothing good could last too long, could it?

As we entered the village, a sudden feeling made my stomach lurch. A moment later, I locked eyes with my brother from his place atop a rock with a book in his hand. He stood up at the sight of us and quickly made his way towards over with purpose in his step. He'd been waiting for us, I realized.

"Is something wrong, Alex?" I frowned.

"Ah, we should talk..." His dark eyes flicked over my family. The sinking feeling in my gut worsened.

I blinked when Alex responded to River's gesturing, assuring the child there was nothing for him to worry about. I picked up Sage and sent her to Blue Eyes, the little girl pressed herself to her father's back. I could see her worry and confusion in the way she twined her fingers into Blue Eyes' fur.

"Will you put Zira away for me?" Was all I said to my husband before I slid off the horse's back and began leading Alexander away.

When the vegetation swished closed behind us in Home Tree's hollow, I turned on my brother with arms crossed over my chest. "What's going on?"

"Dad took Lana to Dax's grave." He replied.

I paused as I processed the information. A dampened sense of calm took over, quelling the initial wave of anxiety that washed over me. Dad was right to tell her, and I knew I should have been the one to let my mother know. But it seemed my father had worked up the nerve before I could.

She would be so heartbroken. I didn't know how I'd be able to help her.

I licked my lips. "How long ago?"

"They're probably just getting there. I don't know if Dad told her beforehand."

"Great." I sighed.

"He said you shouldn't have to say it again," Alex said. "Before he left."

"What do you mean?"

"You told Dax what Drake said about Lana being dead, right? Dad didn't want you to have to do that again."

I sighed. "I should have, though. She thought he would be here waiting for her-" the words suddenly hitched in my throat.

The feeling of being ambushed came along with the rogue wave of emotion. I blinked quickly, moisture wavering thickly on my lashes. My teeth found my lip as my arms wrapped around myself.

"Hey, Rain..." Alex murmured, stepping forward with his arms raised in offering.

I moved forward and took comfort in my brother's embrace. I didn't let it last long though, and wrenched myself away from him before the tears could wash whatever will was holding me together.

"It's gonna be okay," Alexander tried.

"She's gonna be so heartbroken!" I breathed. "I can't imagine how I would feel if it were me and River. Oh, God, Alex, I don't know what to do!"

The dam broke slowly as the words kept flowing, and Alexander quickly hugged me again, leading me to sit down beside the cold hearth.

"It's gonna be okay, alright, look." He rubbed up and down my biceps soothingly. "I know how it must have been like for you and Dax when you heard Lana was gone, but all of us are here for her now.

"We're gonna help her get through this, okay? As a family."

I sniffed and tried to stop the quiet tears as my shoulders shook. "It won't stop the pain..."

"She won't go through it alone. This is gonna be hard but we'll do it. Can't be any harder than patching up a bullet wound, right? Taking it out and disinfecting will hurt the most, some soreness, but slowly it'll go away."

I knew Alexander was trying to make me feel better, and in a way, it was working. But I couldn't get over how selfish I felt for not telling her as soon as I got the chance. Dragging it out would only make it last longer, wouldn't it? It wouldn't save her any heartache in the end.

But still, I nodded as my arms embraced my torso. "Do you think she'll be mad I didn't tell her when I could have?"

"I'm sure she'll understand." He put a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

I took a breath and wiped my cheeks, blinking rapidly. "Okay..." I mouthed.

"Where's Leo?" I asked.

"Harley's trying to show him around, I think."

With one last sigh, I reigned in my composure. "I should...go talk to him. Will you come with me?"

"Yeah, of course. Hey, what do you think of, y'know, his...imaginary friend?" He added as he held the curtain of vegetation aside for me.

A microscopic shrug. "To be honest, I kind've feel like it's Dax."

"Yeah, me too. Do you think it is?"

"Do you?" I glanced at him.

"I'm not sure I believe in stuff like that."

I licked my lips. "I think I do. Leo is our little brother, after all. Dax would want to watch over him and Mom while they were in a place like that. Maybe that's why Leone is so unaffected by everything."

"Yeah..." He sounded unsure.

I would grow to regret my last statement. For suddenly the wail of a human child pierced the crisp air, followed by a barrage of ape cajoling.

Alex and I barely even glanced at each other before we dashed to the source of the clamor. We found Leone crouched on the ground, his body tucked tightly into itself, making himself as small as possible. Even as we approached I could see his entire body shaking with fear, could hear the horrible, muffled moans coming from somewhere behind the knees.

Harley was crouched maybe two feet from the boy, fear-grinning and hooting as he tried to edge closer. Armando was on the scene as well, crouched with one knee planted on the ground.

"What happened?" I demanded as my brother and I slowed to a stop in the semi circle of apes watching. Some were eyeing Armando distrustfully, swaying on their knuckles as they watched his every move.

"The boy took a fall." Armando answered. "I was trying to make sure he was alright when he screamed."

I looked to a familiar gorilla and gestured. When the big ape nodded, confirming what Armando said, I looked to the child.

"Leo? Leo, what's the matter?"

He flinched hard and let out a terrified whimper as soon as my hand brushed his shoulder. He managed to tense up even more and jerked away so violently he almost toppled over.

"How did you try to help him?" Alex asked, moving to stand beside Armando. The man rose to his feet and looked helplessly at the younger man.

"I got down and tried to help him back to his feet. I wasn't rough with the child."

"We don't think you were. Did you see where his eyes might have gone when you tried to help him up?" I asked.

Harley knuckled his way over to me and pawed at my leg for my attention. "What's wrong with him?" (ITALICS)

"I don't know." I let him climb into my arms.

"Ah, my shoulders, perhaps..." Armando replied uncertainly.

After a quick scan of his clothing, Alexander made a suggestion. "Your name tag, maybe?"

On his sweater was a worn but well-kept red and white ID badge sporting the hospital it belonged to and Armando's name above a bar code.

Dr. Armando Montalbán

"Why would a name tag have made him react like this?" Armando frowned, glancing down at his tag.

"Well, it does look a bit similar to the ones those doctors wore. Right, Rain?" Alexander added, glancing at me from where I was still trying to calm Leo, who'd quieted into silent sobs. "Didn't Dr. Milo's look sort of like this?"

I gave the tag another glance, but I was unable to find much to recognize. "I'm not sure. I didn't pay much attention to his tags, I don't remember."

"I do. Leo easily could've mistaken it for an OSIRIS badge."

I glanced at my shivering little brother, teeth worrying at my lip. The thought of the pain and fear the poor boy must be going through caused my heart to twinge sympathetically.

"He must be having a flashback." I mused.

I set Harley down and pointed him to where his mother watched from the crowd. As the bonobo child knuckled away, I edged closer to my brother.

"Leone, sweetie, calm down. You're safe." I murmured, but when nothing changed I wondered if he could hear me.

So I changed tactics and repeated myself in Cherokee. That (ITALICS) got a reaction from the child. He froze and after some soft coaxing in the language, he peeked up over his knees through dark, tear soaked bangs.

"Little brother, come here." I opened my arms.

A sniff and a shuddered breath, and Leo loosened enough to throw himself into my arms as quickly as he could. I wrapped him up and cupped the back of his head. He began to cry and sob uncontrollably again, and I knew I'd get no answers from him until he finally calmed. I stood up slowly, making sure the boy was secure and comfortable in my hold.

"I think we'll have to wait for a bit. I'm going to take him to get some rest." I said, then turned to the apes still lingering.

"Will he be okay?" An orangutan child signed, brows and mouth pursed in confusion and concern.

"He'll be fine, little one." I gestured, then addressed the whole group. "Please forgive the disturbance."

With a nod in goodbye, I turned with my little brother and made my way back to Home Tree.

On the short walk back, I pondered the repercussions of Leo's beginning in life. His fit was not unlike many I'd seen before since that fateful battle in San Francisco two years ago. The event had traumatized many, leaving a good sized fraction of all the apes involved in the fighting with varying stages of post-traumatic stress syndrome.

Drums were not something taken lightly anymore, for the loud sounds could trigger many and send them into episodes of panic and fear. Even Blue Eyes suffered from it, and he often still had nightmares and woke the whole family up screaming. Many a night, he'd even woken Caesar and Cornelia in their penthouse roost forty feet above us and sent them barreling down to see what the problem was.

On some nights where he didn't scream he would thrash about in his sleep, nearly knocking me flat out of our hammock. It had concerned both of us enough that he would sleep on the extra moss bed to make sure he didn't jostle the newborn twins or myself.

Now, if drums were going to be used, the whole village knew beforehand so those who didn't want to be around had time to leave the village and get out of earshot. On a bad day, my husband would be among them.

I wondered how bad Leo's experiences in that horrible facility must have been. Surely they would have taken into thought that he was just a baby, just a toddler? A sick feeling in my stomach and the trembling in Leo's body made me doubt they'd been very considerate of his age if something as small as a identification badge could set him off.

I shushed Leo and murmured in Cherokee when his crying began anew inside the hollow. I got him out of his shoes and slid onto my hammock, wrapped him tightly with a warm fur blanket and began to rock slowly. Leo quickly fell asleep to a back rub and a lullaby our mother used to sing to me when I was small.

My tired sigh lifted and lowered his body like a lazy log at sea. This is going to be a lot harder than we'd hoped, I mused

XxXxX

Woya - dove

XxXxX

I LIIIIIIIIVE!

I know what you guys are thinking. It's been two years. We thought you were dead.

Well I'm not, and I'm happy to report, I'm back. I apologize from the bottom of my heart for such a long wait, I never meant to let it take this long. I hope everyone's been doing well and had a good holiday season. I can't promise regular updates, seeing as I'm in my last stretch of high school and graduate in June, 2018. But I'm for sure going to be focusing on writing again, I will finish this story if it kills me.

So who else saw War? That shit crushed me and I am still recovering. What did you guys think of it? I cried a lot and I'm still crying inside. They did that. How dare they. How could they. Rest assured, I love all of you and these characters too much to go all wftpota on you, or as I call it, wtf-pota.

Cheers, I would LOVE to hear what you guys have to say about this chapter, pls share your thoughts. Comments and reviews really do help writers and authors way more than one might think. A simple "whoa that happened" or "wait what why" can produce multiple paragraphs at once. It's some weird sorcery shit,but I promise it works lol

Missed you guys, so glad to be back! See you hopefully soon lol 3