Nightfall had come to the City of Calico. The men that had been working diligently in an effort to recover lost people and lifeless bodies, retired to the palace to rest, eat and recover from the disaster. Husbands ran to their wives and children and embraced them with love and thankfulness, thankful that they were alive and well, thankful that they could still feel the warmth of their touches and the melodic sound of their beating hearts. But, some of the men returned to broken families. Mothers, daughters, sons and others that had not survived, were not there to meet their eyes. But, though their families had been broken, the ones that had survived, were still with them to meet them with love and solidarity. Yet, there were others, still, that arrived to the palace, but had no one to run to, no one to hug with loving arms. There were others who had lost everything dear to them and instead of being welcomed by love and joy, they were met with only sadness, despair and profound loneliness.

Artemis, the emperor, had returned to the palace after a day of sorting out finances, resources and able bodies to aid in the restoration of Calico City. He had been successful in his effort and supplies, provisions and volunteers were scheduled to arrive the following day. He was received with kind words and mournful tears of his people. He spoke to them softly and kindly and assured them that their city was going to be rebuilt and that though they had lost much, they would prevail through this tragedy.

At his words, many people told him that they had already been assured as much by the First Prince, Alder, Artemis’ eldest son. He was pleased to hear that their fears and concerns had been assuaged by the young prince and took pride in their praise of the boy. He inquired about the location of his son, then left the palace vestibule on an errand to seek him out. He was told that the prince was in his room with his mother, Avalon, so that was where he started off to.

Artemis arrived at Alder’s door and was surprised to see a sentry standing beside it, with a gaggle of people sobbing either with tears of joy, but mostly, tears of sorrow, the latter being comforted by various individuals offering them solace and empathy. Those that cried with joy were holding their lost children, joyously restored to them. Those that were with sadness, held no one. The sentry briefly explained what was happening to the emperor and with a nod of his head, acknowledging he had understood what was being said to him, before opening the door and stepping in.

---

✧ PREVIOUS PAGE ✧ FIRST PAGE ✧NEXT PAGE✧