The plan was simple enough.

This much crossed John's mind as he passed through Thorn City. It was well after sundown and only shady company would be found on the streets at this hour. Even the bars were closed by now leaving the drunkards to stagger home or fall down alone somewhere in a dark alley. Sunrise likely wasn't too far off at this rate. A quick man, however, could still steal a wink of sleep. The older man was more interested in seeing how Caleb fared though. He was certain that the young man was fine, but there was still a part of him that felt like he owed him something. John Nieve Junior certainly didn't like owing favors either. It worked well enough that the boy was staying at his mother's house anyway. He could swing by, check on Caleb, grab Kayden, and take her safely home before the coup even began. 

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[i]"But Daaaaaaddyyyy. . . I want to stay 'til tomorrow for grandpa's memorial. ."[/i] A familiar voice was lost somewhere beneath the thick veil of sleep. The dream began pleasant enough. It started with Caleb climbing a tree with his friends from the Red Twig Orphanage, Annette and Pierre. They would sometimes hide among the leaves to throw sunflower seeds to the birds. Instead of tossing them to the birds, however, he was throwing sunflower seeds at Edward who was still in his golden horse form. [i]"Please, daddy? I want to stay for the memorial. . I promise that I'll be a good girl for Lala and grandma. ."[/i]

[i]"It would be better if you didn't, Kayden. . ."[/i] The dream took a disturbing twist then. Branches suddenly snapped beneath the children and they were sent plummeting downward. Laughter was replaced by the screams of Caleb's friends which also included the panicked voice of Jake. Edward, meanwhile, had been replaced with the vision of armed lizardmen. Their claws were dipped in a deep crimson and they seemed ready to strike against their falling prey. The boy had opened his own mouth to scream for help though only air came out. Instead of falling with his two friends, however, the leaves were holding and shaking him instead. [i]"Hey, Caleb. Calm down there. It's okay."[/i]

"Huh. ." Eyes slowly fluttered open. A heavy haze hung over Caleb hinting that he had likely been asleep for a few hours. The world was a groggy mess though he could make out the silhouette of someone outlined by a hallway light. ". . Rainbow? Is that you?" 

"It's John. Rainbow is asleep in the other room, I think. Looks like Roger put you in my old room, huh? Figures. He probably knew that I'd come by to check on you." Or it was completely coincidental. The two didn't exactly see eye-to-eye and John was certain that the skeleton doctor held a grudge against him. To keep him in consideration was unlikely. Even still, there was a part of the older man that was grateful. "I'm glad to see that you're still kicking though. What you did earlier was stupid, but brave. You have my thanks for that. I'll probably be gone for most of today though once I'm free again, we'll stop by Barrow's Smithy to get that silver sword for you. It's the least that I can do after you saved my skin."

"Really?" There was a yawn from the tired boy. He could see Kayden standing in the hallway with a pouting expression on her face. This much was accompanied by a low-pitched whine possibly hinting towards a future temper tantrum. She seemed like a well-behaved kid though was likely cranky from the lack of sleep. Being woken up did that to anyway, after all. "Thank you."

"No need for thanks. I just don't like to owe people favors." John's shadow inched closer to the door. "Come on now, Kayden. I'll let you stay for tonight as long as you're well-behaved and promise me that you'll stay inside all day tomorrow. Let's leave Caleb to sleep for now."