Fendros listened, but he did not raise his eyes to meet Ahnasha's. When she insisted that they try again, he stayed quiet for a moment, and then stood up out of his chair. "I could have come back earlier," he mumbled. His futility joined his slow stroll towards the entrance of the sitting room.

"Just come along, Fendros," Llarasa urged, leading Fendros and Ahnasha through the house.

They came to find Monderyn and Calia sitting at a simple dining table in the next room. This part of the house had a far more rustic and simple decor. It could even almost be described as flat. It was clear that the sitting room was more suited for entertaining guests while the rest of the house remained austere. Monderyn and Calia were at a corner of the table beside an empty glass flask. Calia had her head bowed forward and her eyes closed, breathing carefully with tears still streaking down her cheeks.

Monderyn turned his head to look at Llarasa and narrowed his eyes at Fendros. "Why did you have to blurt that out with such a tone, Fendros?" Monderyn hissed. The tone was chiding, but had surprisingly less venom than the last time Fendros heard his voice. "Why did you have to say it at all? You knew father wasn't going to accept it!"

Still feeling guilty, Fendros' response did not sound as defensive as before. "I came here to tell the truth, Monderyn."

"Well, look at all the good that's done for us." Monderyn's eyes wandered. "Did you ever stop to consider that maybe we were better not having you come back?"

"Boys, you will silence yourselves this instant." Calia's voice cut them both off with such a presence that the crying woman that had left the room before seemed like a bad dream. Calia lifted her exhausted head to Fendros and Ahnasha, mostly looking past them. "Your father can be short tempered, but the decisions between you two should not be dictated by anger. Fendros, did you truly not return to stay?"

Fendros solemnly shook his head. "I did not, mother. I am sorry."

[hr]
Harriet's confusion waned in her expression, turning into a cold look at the floor. The reality of the situation dawned on her just as it would any other sane lycan. She stood staring for a few seconds.

"...I'll do whatever you need me to do," she said flatly. Her eyes went up to Meesei again. "I don't care if its for you, me, or every lycan there is. I'm keepin' Narsi safe. If what you say's true, I'm in."