hearing the well-worn argument, “she didn’t belong to me either except in that she was my sister and my family. Ryanne chose to leave; you were the one who scared her so badly she felt she had to disappear to do it.” He hesitated, “If it helps at all, she’s happy, and she’s safe.” Then he turned and broke into a jog with Gavin racing behind him.
As they reached the end of their group, Ash slowed to match the pace of the others, “Feel better?” Gavin asked.
“As well as could be expected, considering the circumstance,” Ash replied. He eyed the mules, “Do you want to walk, or would you like to ride on one of the mules for a while?”
“I’m good for right now,” Gavin said, “but I’ll let you know if I’m tired.”
“Fair enough,” Ash said.
The journey to the plains was long, but they were all in high spirits and willing to get along, although Ash suspected that the attitude might fade when they came to realize just how different their future lives would be. Gavin said that it would take a little longer because they were under the Goddess’s peace. Peace to get their lives working, and then it would be time for the Fox Clan to learn what it meant to be Vanora’s Foxes.
Ash remembered those words as they began their descent to the plains they would now call home, and he wondered what Gavin had meant. Certainly the fox had been closed mouth on the subject of what the Clans were like to everyone.
“Ash,” Korey called suddenly, “look!”
Ash jogged up the line of travelers to stand beside his father. Four people stood before them on the road, two of them had birds on their shoulders while the other two were flanked by a doe and a stag. “Looks like we’re expected,” Ash said. He glanced down at Gavin, and then stepped forward, “Good afternoon,” he said.
“Are you Vanora’s Foxes?” One of the deer called back.
Ash grinned, “Well, we’re certainly not her weasels.”
“Play nice,” Korey said.
“We’re foxes,” Gavin said, “nice is what we make it.”
The Stag and his partner stepped forward, resolving to be a man in his early twenties with brown hair that nearly matched his companion, dressed in a sleeveless top and fitted pants. “I’m Ryder, Avatar of the Stag Clan, my partner is Avaline, and the Hawks are Owen and Tesni.”
“Ash,” Ash replied politely.
“Welcome home Ash,” Ryder said, then looked behind him, “and welcome home Fox Clan.”
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