"Uhh, yeah, it's me. I think I kinda got turned around a little," Caleb said sheepishly, intentionally avoiding the question. "But it's good I landed here. I'm almost out of--"

SMACK!

The woman slapped Caleb upside the head, glaring down at him. "Merciful fate, boy! We thought you were dead! Just taking off like that, and just look at that sorry dingy you set sail in!" She stared aghast at the makeshift canoe, bobbing gently in the waves beside the grimy dock. "It's a wonder the sea didn't snap it right in half!" 

Caleb flinched at the scolding. It certainly wasn't the hero's welcome he was hoping for. Sure, he hadn't completed his quest, but it seemed like he was the only person in the village trying to do something about this plague. He looked defiantly up at the woman, but her stern gray eyes battered whatever fighting spirit he had left into the deepest corner of his soul. "Sorry, Miss Ardia," he said, rubbing the back of his head. 

"Sorry indeed! Now come along!" Miss Ardia grabbed his hand and dragged him back to the village like a dog on a leash. Her grip was as firm as ever, yet somehow, her vice-like grasp never hurt any of the children. Her graying brown hair was tied up into a tight little bun and the creases in her face exuded disapproval. A few years ago, Caleb would have been scared. But now, he could only laugh. "And just what is so funny, Crowsnest?" 

"Nothing," he said, shaking his head. "It's just good to hear you yelling at me again. You know out in the Big Ocean I only had Flower to talk to, and those were kinda one-sided conversations." 

"Oh, we'll talk about you setting sail all on your own in good time. But for now..." Miss Ardia plucked a strand of seaweed out of his hair. "Get yourself cleaned up. You smell like low tide." And as she finished her sentence, they approached the Red Twig Orphanage.