The blue light quickly faded into the orange glow of those fall days Abby was so familiar with. She landed with an ungraceful thud as she was thrown off the road. It took her a moment to adjust before she could really make out where she was. She'd landed on a hill, the soft green grass staining her orange robe. Fluffy white clouds stared back her from overhead, the sun setting in the west. She smelled salt in the air and on her right, she saw the tiny, white lights of a city refusing to sleep twinkling in the distance. Getting up, she felt tears run down her cheeks.

Finally, she was home.

"Love?" a small voice called. Abby looked around to see where the voice was coming from. In the distance, hidden behind a few, familiar Burla trees, she spied a pair of brown eyes, flecked with gold staring at her. Abby smiled and gathering all her strength, ran toward the boy.

"Lucy!" she yelled.

Lucy smiled and stepped out from the trees' shadow. In his lanky, human form, the clothes Margo had given him, fit perfectly. A few strands of white hair fell in front of his eyes, and over a set of dazzlingly white, and fang-less, teeth.

"That sneaky little mouse," he said as he stared at his human hands. "She did this without my consent."

Abby shrugged, feeling invigorated from her run. For the first time in a long time, she had something worth running toward. A smile so large, so grand it could have split her head in two, fell across her face. "At least she didn't turn you into a toad."

Lucy laughed and nodded. "Guess it's better than that. And," he said, placing a very regular-sized arm around Abby's waist, "I get to be with you."

Abby returned his embrace and gave him a little squeeze. Craning her head a lot less than when he was a giant cat-man, she said, "I'm glad you're here."

Abby meant every word. She wasn't alone. She had a home and she had a family. Not everything had been lost.

"So," Lucy said, as he stared out onto the Hills, "where do we go?"

Abby trembled slightly and Lucy nodded though she hadn't spoken. "Okay," he said, his voice warm and understanding.

The road had spit them out a hill or two away from where the Tells' estate had stood and it didn't take them long before Abby found herself in the middle of her mother's persimmon grove. Simon Ogretree stood miserably slouched over, his lumpy, black bark peeling, the few leaves that hung from his sad branches looking deader than before. She curtsied before the tree and sat down under it like she had hundreds of times before.

Lucy looked the tree up and down.

"What's wrong?" Abby asked.

Lucy plopped himself on the ground beside her. "It's strange is all. Simon looks a lot smaller."

Abby gave him a gentle push. "You're just bigger."

Lucy nodded.

The remains of Abby's home had been cornered off. Red lights hovered at each of its corners. The Royal Ministry, no doubt, was investigating such a large scale fire that must have wiped out nearly all the families of note in Laos and up north.

Abby grimaced. They would never find any answers to that fire, at least, not any that would make sense. And Abby certainly didn't want to hang around long enough for them to barrage her with questions. She doubted a bunch of old, crotchety men would believe a story about her cats being princes from a cat kingdom and that the fire had been started to kill them before they could reclaim the throne.

If she hadn't lived through it, she wouldn't have believed it herself.

A few stars peeked through a mound of cloud overhead. Suddenly nostalgic, suddenly overwhelmed, Abby blurted, "Can we stay here for a bit?" She took note of a tiny red star sitting in the sky beside a brilliant white one.

"Sure, love," Lucy whispered, taking her hand and clasping it in his own. "We can stay for as long as you want."

Abby and Lucy sat on the hill, underneath Sir Simon, watching the port city twinkle as night took over. A full moon, as white as alabaster, hung high in the sky, besieged on either side by stars equally as breathtaking. Tears raced down Abby's cheeks as her gaze canvassed over Laos, over the rolling hills between the city's two walls, over the few stone pillars that were all that remained of her home standing proud and protective over the now weedy patch of ground that had been Mrs. Seiver's herb garden.

Then, she looked up again, her gaze transfixed on those stars she felt so connected with, inhaled, and on her next exhalation slowly began to speak. "Mom, dad, I've been thirteen for a while now and it hasn't been easy," she said, clasping her hands tightly together. "It's kind of sucked, to be honest," she lowered her head, her tears falling faster now. "It's been so hard, I thought I wouldn't make it back. But," a small, fragile smile appeared on her face. "Here I am."

Lucy's arm wrapped around her shoulders.

Abby's lower lip trembled. "Home isn't where you are from," she said. "I realize that now. It's where the people you love are. So, I guess, my home is in the sky, wherever that red and white star are," she said, trembling. "Because that's where you are. Dad's smoking his cigarettes, and mom's shining bright, probably trying to save some other plants that are on the verge of dying. And Mimi's up there with you, lecturing dad to no end about quitting smoking." She chuckled and then she leaned in and rested her head on Lucy's shoulder. "And my home is beside me," she smiled up at Lucy. "And in Aelurus, too. And I'll never be alone, not truly. Because wherever I go, I'll be able to see the sky, lean on Lucy's shoulder, and know that Sebbi's doing his best at being a good king."

"I think I'll be okay."

Deep down, Abby knew the words weren't true, but deeper down, she knew that they would be, some day. Until then, she knew she had people, cat, mouse, and squishy human, who would slowly chip away at her sadness and fill those spots up once again with warm, happy memories.

In the stillness of the night, gazing out onto those thousands of lights that glimmered like a halo over Laos, Abby was able to finally let herself grieve. Every tear she had been unable to shed, every memory she had to shove deep inside herself to keep afloat, all burst from her seams.

She mourned for everyone. For her father, who always smelled of cigarettes and whiskey. For Mimi, her matronly maid, ear tormentor and mother. For Mrs. Seiver, Sebbi's most outspoken critic. For Poppy and Henrich Jo and sweet, Polly whose birthday wish Abby had cherished the most. For Vicrum, the abysmal crumb Abby could never flick away despite her best groin kicks.

She sobbed for each of them, head in her hands, snot dribbling over her lips, down her chin and staining her Aelurian robe. All the while, Lucy was next to her--her best and dearest friend--consoling her the way he'd always done when he had been a cat; he sat there quietly, letting his presence be a constant reminder that he was there for Abby during her darkest times, and would still be there come dawn.

Abby cried until her well of grief, so deep and entrenched inside her, dried up.

"I think," she said, slightly smiling and finding the ease of said smile a pleasant surprise. "I'm ready." Abby stood and wiped few bits of leaves off her robes. Lucy nodded and stood.

"Abby!" a familar voice shouted. Abby looked at Lucy who simultaneously shrugged and shook his head. Perplexed, Abby whirled around.

Coming up the hill, huffing and red-faced, and sporting the fluffiest mound of hair Abby'd ever seen, was none other than Vicrum Hudginns.

Abby beamed.

"Abby," Crum blurted out between pauses for breath. "You're alive. You're al--"

"So are you," Abby said, letting relief wash over her.

Crum didn't stop before her. Instead, he ran straight for her and wrapped her up in an embrace. "My dad had left the party before the fire started, and when I found him, we rushed back with the police but it," he looked down and squeezed her tighter. "It was too late and you were gone." He pushed away, so he could meet Abby's gaze. "I've been coming back every night since then. Even though everyone was pretty sure you'd just panicked and run away to a relative's home, I knew you'd come back." He smiled his dazzling, lopsided Crum smile and hugged her again. "I was beginning to worry that something might have happened to you. That--"

Abby reached up and patted the boy's hair. It felt amazing against her fingertips. She returned his embrace. "A lot's happened," she said. "But I always planned on coming home."

Lucy cleared his throat. Crum, realizing someone else had been there the entire time, stumbled backward. He looked at this new boy, eyes narrowing. "Who's this?" Crum returned to his smug self, straightening himself out so he stood as tall as Lucy.

Oh, dung!

Abby hadn't prepared a cover story for Lucy, though, she hadn't counted on meeting Crum right after she'd returned from Aelurus. Abby shifted from foot to foot and clenched the fabric of her bell sleeve in her fist.

"Abby?" Crum glared at Lucy who stood there grinning stupidly, his arm hooked around Abby's shoulders.

"Oh," Abby said, pointing at Lucy. "This is Lucian," Crum's eyebrows rose. "My cousin," Abby continued."It's just as they told you. That night I got scared after you left and ran. And soon I found myself in Moffat."

Crum hung his head and crushed a leaf under the heel of his polished, black loafers. "I knew I should never have left you alone."

Abby cocked her head. "What was that?"

Crum looked away, the tips of his ears turning a light pink. "Moffat, you say?" He turned to face her again. "How'd you get all the way out there? The Blood Plains are between here and that town."

"By train," Abby said hurriedly. "I had enough money from the birthday to get a ticket. And from Moffat, I got in contact with my cousin," she pointed toward Lucy. "Him."

Crum looked as though he were dissecting every word Abby had just hurled his way. She hoped he would buy her story.

"You went to Moffat and then, instead of contacting me, you contacted your cousin?" His blue eyes welled with hurt and Abby swallowed a lump of guilt. She hadn't thought Crum cared a bean for her, but maybe she'd been wrong.

"Sorry about that. Everything just happened so fast, and then I stayed with my cousin. He has a cottage on the edge of the Fragilli."

Crum nodded. "I see. Your cousin, who has the same name as one of your cats."

Abby gulped.

"She named her cats after my brother and me. She was quite taken with us when she was little. Absolutely adorable." Lucy pinched Abby's cheeks.

Crum grumbled. "I see. Well, I guess it makes sense. After all, the fire--" He stopped himself after taking one look at Abby's swollen, reddened face. "I'm sorry," he said instead.

Abby nodded. "It's okay. I'm okay. Really, I am." Crum didn't look convinced. "Or if I'm not now, I will be, eventually."

He nodded. "So are you staying here?" He looked down at the ground. "Or are you going back to your cousin's?"

Abby shook her head. "I don't know where I'm going."

Crum's face lit up as he looked at her. "Why not come to Ean?"

"Ean?" she said, her eyes wide.

Crum shook his head. "Yeah, Ean. My dad would be more than thrilled to see you-- he arranged for the funeral of everyone--" Crum shifted his weight and shoved his hands deep into his coat pockets. Abby did her best to smile, hoping it would be enough to goad him into continuing. "Dad could help you out, you know," Crum said. And we--" He stopped again, cheeks red.

Abby laughed. "And we could resume being awful to one another?"

Crum smiled awkwardly. "Well, yeah. I haven't called you Abbernathy in a long time."

Abby winced as he said her name. Then, glowering up at him, she said, "And I haven't kicked you in the crotch in a long time." She looked down at her shoes and grimaced. "Though, I'll need a new pair of shoes. These are far too gone."

Lucy leaned in and whispered to Abby, "Well, what do you think? I've heard Ean has lots of lovely young ladies there."

Abby shot him a glare. "Why do you care about young ladies?"

He smiled. "Look at me. To deprive such lovelies of my beauty would be a tragedy. Besides, I have to prove to Miss Lumps that I am, in fact, better than moldy cheese."

Abby snickered. "You know, in some parts of the world, moldy cheese is considered a delicacy."

Lucy raised his very prominent eyebrow. "Really, now?" His smile spread like a plague, a very handsome one, across his face. "Like in Ean?"

Abby harrumphed and smacked him upside his head. Then, she took note of Crum's worsening expression and turned away from Lucy.

"What's in your hands?" Crum asked. Abby followed his gaze downward to the black satchel Sebbi had left her with.

"Oh! I'd completely forgotten about this."

She undid the drawstring and opened it and poured its contents into her hands. A few gold coins and sparkling red stones fell out. Crum's eyes grew large.

"Is that real?"

Abby looked at him and he snorted. "Real gold and rubies? That's enough money to keep you living comfortably for years."

Lucy leaned in and sighed. "Of course, he had to go and one up me."

Among the gold and rubies, there was a smaller package wrapped up in purple silk. She undid this carefully. A beautiful black ribbon was folded inside, two crescent-shaped moons embroidered on each side. She took it and held it up. The moons shone like real moons and Abby thought it might have been some kind of magick. Then, she noticed that underneath it, scrawled in very sloppy handwriting was a note that read:

I'm sorry I scratched you all those years ago. I don't like ribbons all that much but you do, so please accept this as my long, overdue apology.

And in tinier, squashed together writing near the edge of the paper's bottom were the words:

Aelurus is but one of my homes. The time I spent with you in Laos will always be the first place my mind goes when I think of home.

Never forget this, Apothecary Tells.

Yours,

Sebastian Dinn-- Sebbi

Abby held the letter to her chest and looked lovingly at the ribbon which to her, was more precious than all the gold and all the rubies in the world.

Lucy snorted. "To be outdone by a cat who always had twigs in his ass," he grumbled, then a smile came across his face. "At least he finally apologized properly."

"Abby?" Crum said, as he watched what Abby was sure was a strange exchange. She smiled, placed the gold and rubies back in the satchel and then pocketed the ribbon and Sebbi's note.

"Sorry about that," she said. "You know," she said addressing Crum, "I think I'd like to visit Ean for a bit. See your dad."

Crum beamed. "He would like that."

"Besides," she said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Alfren is the only good Hudginns."

Crum snorted and then in a whisper said, "I'll change that opinion of yours yet."

Together, Crum, Lucy, and Abby walked the Hills. She took in every blade of grass, every candle that lit the tiny stone houses. She smiled at the large plots of tilled land that were dotted with the last of the harvest before winter came and froze the ground. Dawn spread its wide, greyish light across the land. Abby took in deep breaths and relished the smell of the Fragilli.

Before they reached Laos, they found themselves in the middle of a field. White flowers spread out as far as the eye could see. She stopped walking. In front of her, faintly, moonlight shining through them, Abby thought she could make out two towering shapes. They had pointed ears and long, luxurious tails. One was dressed in beautiful white robes while the other wore polished silver armor.

A pair of gold eyes and a pair of silver eyes landed on her and the creature, who looked so much like Sebbi and Lucy smiled at her. A breeze blew around Abby and on it, she heard the whispered words of Queen Loreilanna Dinn' Aelurus: You protected our future. Thank you.

And with that, she disappeared, Lain giving Abby a grateful nod, before too, disappearing into the horizon.

Lucy squeezed Abby's hand. "Come on, love," he said. "I heard Ean's got the finest shoesmiths this side of Mirea. How about we buy you a new pair of ivory slippers?"

Abby nodded. "I'd like that very much."

Clasping Sebbi's ribbon in one hand, her other held tightly in Lucy's, she walked towards Laos for the last time, a very peculiar and stubborn red star shining overhead, reminding Abby of the faintly glowing tip of a cigarette burning far, far away.

The End

Abbernathy Fun Fact 21: There's a sequel planned. :-)