I would be lying is I said I couldn't still smell the musky scent of blood and sickness under my nose. I could feel Antaeus's dying stare crawling down my spine in the shape of spindly spiders, sending shivers up and down my nerves. I had never hurt anyone before. The thought that I had spent a few moments in Bundi's eyes, standing over a dying man, holding a dagger, it made my stomach twist.

Peri had been gone for some time now, I began to suspect he was getting into mischief instead of a basket of fruit. I wished he was here, but I think I would be okay. I did however, want to get up and go a walk, maybe to clear my head. Jason was hunting with Lafayette, and I think Percy was trying her best to talk to everyone she could.

We had basically settled in, it had been almost a month. I'd had kids come up to me and ask me to heal their small bruises or cuts. It was almost like I had a job, and I really liked it. I liked touching people's souls and feeling what they're feeling, because most of the time it was happiness, or amazement. I love bringing people's happiness, when I returned home to Zoo, it was something I definitely want to pick up and maybe turn into a career.

That was the other thing, I missed my friends so badly, I missed my mom. I think Percy was beginning to miss home to, because she was trying to be a queen again. It wasn't like it worked, she was fighting against the stigma these kids had against her so fiercely, with little to show for it. I think a lot of people could tell. 

"Hello Craig," Bundi hobbled towards me, leaning on a cane.

"You're up," I observed, "are you feeling better?"

"Much, thank you very much, I actually wanted to talk to you about that." They said, and gestured for me to follow them.

I felt there was a weight on my chest as I followed them through the camp and down to the beach, which was secluded and empty except for one person, Nole, who was sitting on the beach and fishing. He looked up as we approached, and gestured to the sand next him. I nervously folded my legs to sit crisscross to the left of them. Bundi cleared their throat, and folded their hands.

"So, the healing process." They started, "you... saw something, correct?"

I nodded, and my stomach tried desperately to escape the situation by crawling up my throat.

"I was also... dreaming I suppose, during that time. I don't remember all of it, but I'm guessing we were experiencing the same thing, and we relived my time under Antaeus's rule, up until he passed."

I saw Nole's mouth twitch ever so slightly. I couldn't help but look down at Bundi's hands, and the dagger in its hilt on their hip. They followed my gaze and cursed their lips, I had no idea what they were going to say next.

"I didn't murder Antaeus."

I blinked, "what?"

"I had no part in his passing. He murdered a familiar, and subdued to the sickness curse that comes with that kind of thing, he was consumed by his own hatred. I will admit, the idea came across mine and many other's minds, but I decided against it. I became his friend in his last moments, and convinced him to hand everything over to me, because I knew I could make things better again."

Bundi looked me in the eye. "I knew I could save these people."

"Oh," I breathed, "I am so relieved."

"Uh yeah, we can tell." Nole laughed, "you've been off since it happened, it didn't even take long to put two and two together."

"Yeah, I would never hurt anyone, no matter how angry I am," Bundi rolled their eyes, and a few strands of their now streaked white hair fell in their face. "Or how much of a post-abducted fever I have."

"I've never had hair change color before," I tilted my head.

"What?" they asked.

"Your hair, it's got white in it now," I pointed out.

"Oh yeah, I just figured that was a side effect or something, that's interesting, maybe something to research." Bundi admitted, more curious than anything else.

"I think it's cute," Nole flashed at a smile at Bundi.

Bundi laid a hand on their heart, "thanks honey. Anyway, we wanted to talk to you and see if you're okay, or if you have any questions about the ordeal. We know it's a lot and it can really help to talk it out."

I shrugged, "I don't want to make you uncomfortable by bringing it up."

Bundi smiled at me genuinely, "it's okay, I've already come to terms with everything that happened so long ago. It was a bit startling coming out of nowhere like that, but I've had lots of time to move past that."

I genuinely thought about that for a few moments, "I think I'm okay."

"Feel free to come to us if something comes up," Nole assured. "We always here for you."

"I know," I shrugged it off, blushing.  "Kosmos, it's like—" 

I don't know where I was going with that, I think I was gong to mention something about my mom. I had never had two parents before. It was strange, it was... whole? I'm not sure, I just know I liked the warm feeling in my chest. Bundi and Nole shared and glanced, and Bundi patted me on the back reassuringly.

"Yeah," Bundi sighed. "We get it."

And we just sat there like that for a few moments, listening to the sound of the tiny waves crashing into the surf. Then there was a small cough behind us. I turned to see Percy, she was wearing a different dress now, and white sundress made of linen with ruffles around the shoulders. She was less intimidating and more friend-shaped. A gust blew through her hair as she stood there, fingers flexed awkwardly.

"Am I interrupting?" She asked.

Bundi glanced at me, and I shook my head. "No, you're fine," they replied.

"Oh, good." Percy walked over, folding her hands. "I've been doing a lot of thinking, and reaching out to the kids here. I would like to apologize for anything offending I might have said, this is a really good place you've built. I'm sorry it had to suffer because of my family's mistakes."

"Forgiveness is pending," Bundi raised an eyebrow.

Percy nodded, "Someday I wish to earn that forgiveness and I'm going to start by making compromises, big compromises. I want to finish what my grandmother started. I want to turn this into the safe paradise she imagined it could be."

"It's already safe, and quite the paradise."

"But imagine instead of tents all the children had their own homes or group living quarters, it could be more like a summer camp, we could build a proper school together. We—I can really help. I don't know why it took me so long to get that into my thick skull, I think the letters I've been sending back and forth with my advisors and becoming better acquaintances with you and Jason have really helped." Her eyes sparkled like light bouncing off the ocean's surface.

Bundi looked impressed, their scowl slowly melted away and was replaced with genuine interest. "You want us to be integrated back into society?"

Percy pursed her lips, then held out her hand for Bundi to shake, "I... I would love that."

Bundi stared at it for a moment, then slowly lifted up their own hand, they shook, an agreement had been made.

"I guess this means you're not technically under our custody anymore." Nole chuckled.

"Oh yeah you're free to go if you want, you can go back and tell all your royal pals that the flamin' babes are coming back, and we will use force if your deal isn't seen through." Bundi added

Percy looked a little lost, Nole glanced at his partner. "They're joking, not your best one, hun."

"My bad," Bundi apologized, but it was strangely... artificial for a moment there.

I was distracted form that brief uncomfortable moment when a familiar melodic chraw chhrraw filled the air and I saw the familiar bright red flash of Peri's under-feathers as he dipped down towards me. As he landed on my shoulder, promptly slapping me in the face with his wings, there was a rustle in the forest and Opey came trotting out with Moriah on his back.

"Hey, where have you guys been?" I asked, scratching his chin.

Peri twisted his head accordingly, "oh you know, just out exploring."

"Cool."

"Yeah," Peri started, "actually—" he stopped, midsentence. He immediately swiveled his head to stare out into the forest. "Hang on a minute."

"What is it?" I asked, feeling my heart skip a beat.

Opey's head popped up and his giant ears swiveled in the direction Peri was staring. I could hear something crashing through the bushes faintly. No, as it got closer, I could hear two sets of feet. Then the figure pushed through the brush and I recognized Jason holding up a very exhausted and bedraggled looking.... Eddie.

"I found him on the southern outskirts, he was sneaking around," Jason explained. "He also might be... sick? I don't know man."

Eddie pushed out of his arms like an angry squirrel and wobbled. His knees shook and he fell again, this time towards me. I ran forward and caught him in my arms before he could hit the sand. He struggled a little but I grabbed onto his arms as tightly as I could (which, wasn't a lot, if you were wondering how out-of-it Eddie was) to stop him from hurting someone or falling again.

"Are you okay? What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to look at his face.

Eddie looked up at me, and there was a deep-seated fire in his dark eyes, a loathing so evidently obvious I almost dropped him myself. There were a few scratches on his face and his hair was all unkempt and messy, he hadn't taken care of himself in a long time. He pushed me away once more, and slipped out of my grip.

"I hate you," he spat, then promptly passed out in my arms.