Fendros stood up and laughed along. "Instead, Colours, you'll just have to be satisfied with being a hero yourself. You may have done some dubious smuggling in the past, but smuggling your entire clan out of harms way deserves you just as much- if not more praise than us."

After that, Fendros toured to the rest of Ra'kalesh's pack with the children to bid farewells.

Tzirret's first response to Ma'tanza breaking out in tears was to hold her face close to his neck and try not to start sobbing himself. However, S'nishi's paw made him pull back for a moment. He did not expect to have S'nishi scrape her rough tongue across his head, so he recoiled slightly and held his mouth and eyes shut. He even had to take a step back to regain balance. Nonetheless, when he wiped his eyes and took a gasping breath, he began to laugh along with everyone else. The inside of his pert ears went momentarily red in embarrassment, but he was not so anxious any more that he assumed anything less than good nature.

There was barely time for Tzirret to wipe his face and give S'nishi a pat between the eyes when Ma'tanza hugged him again. He held on tightly this time, rocking from side to side. His mood was elevated by the little joke, but his heart was still so heavy that it was threatening to tear his diaphragm. "Tzirret promises," he said more confidently, turning his head to kiss Ma'tanza next to her ear. "As long as Ma'tanza promises to be happy as well."

"Hey, Tzirret," Gallus' voice sounded out behind him, not stern and intimidating, but laid back, like it used to be.

Tzirret did not let Ma'tanza go, but his ear did turn and he looked across to Gallus curiously.

"I know this is hard for you to say goodbye, but do you mind if I have a quick word with your friends before we leave?" Gallus' smile turned into a grin and he gestured to Ra'kalesh's pack. It was perhaps not a coincidence that La'khay was the particular person Gallus had his hand towards. "Besides, there are others that want to say goodbye to you. I swear, by my honour, you can have another goodbye kiss after I'm done."

For a few seconds, Tzirret looked a little confused at Gallus. He gave a glance to La'khay and La'tahne, and with a frown, slowly pulled back from Ma'tanza. "Is that okay?" he asked her.

Meanwhile, La'khay and La'tahne were themselves approached by Sabine with Peiter in tow. Their painting had been loaded onto one of the carriages already, but Sabine wasn't going to let La'khay get away without a goodbye hug. Sabine spoke while holding La'khay and La'tahne in one hug, an arm around each of them. "You helped me. I will not forget either of you."

Janius and Kaleeth had perhaps fewer personal episodes with the clan they were leaving compared to Sabine, Peiter, and Tzirret although Jo'rashaad and S'ajira were not the only people that gave them favours. After thanking the couple once again for caring for Newt and Rhazii, as well as wishing Ciinriel well, Janius approached Ra'kalesh and took him by the shoulders. "Now, Ra'kalesh, I know the two of us didn't have time to become masters like you, but we appreciate the lessons in your arts." Janius' smile pursed and his eyes flicked down. "And your sacrifice was...more than anyone asked for. So, thank you. Maybe we will see you and your pride again sometime."