We shall not cease from exploring.

And the end of all our exploring will be

To arrive where we started

And know the place for the first time

-Thomas E. Eliot

Emma

It's hard with both Burns and Blake gone. I know there are other people here, I'm just not as close with them.

Will and Kelsey try to cheer me up and I work alongside Sophie a lot, but I still miss Burns. It's been a few days. It was just going to be a short trip.

I should have just gone with them. What if something happened?

"I'm sure they will be back soon," Sophie offers me a smile, but it is a hesitant one. She worries too. After all, her father is also out there.

"Yeah," I say, trying to convince myself, "they'll be safe."

I take another shirt from the rack and fold it before placing it in the basket at my feet.

"Burns will make sure they won't be discovered by Souls," Sophie says, "and Blake will keep Burns safe. He won't let anything happen to him. Not just for you, but because Burns is his friend."

I glance at her. "You really like Blake, don't you?"

Her cheeks turn red and she avoids my eyes.

"You don't have to be embarrassed about it," I tell her, "Blake's a good guy. He is... reliable." I pause to think on my next words. "He was very popular in school, but he wasn't a jackass, you know. He liked to flirt, but he wasn't a player." I remember that night at the star tower when Blake saved me from that annoying Andrew.

Sophie's face is still red as she fold up the next shirt. "I've liked him since he and Rachel came here. At first I thought they were together, but they were just friends. When he found out I liked him, he was really nice about it. He said I should wait a bit so I could see what a moron he really was and that I would sure change my mind then."

"But you didn't," I say, already knowing the answer.

"No," Sophie answers, "I didn't. And then you came. And I knew I wouldn't stand a chance."

"That's nonsense," I say awkwardly.

Sophie looks at me now and smiles sadly. "Come on, Emma, it was pretty obvious he liked you."

I look down. "It wasn't like that," I say, "and I love Burns."

"I know," Sophie says softly. She smiles gently. "And Blake knows it too. He's accepting it."

I shake my head. "Blake wasn't in love with me."

Sophie bites her lip. "Maybe," she relents, "but he cared. There was always something sad about him, but that changed when you came here."

I sigh. "We've known each other for a long time."

She laughs softly. "I know. He told me."

I stiffen. I can only imagine what he has told her, but knowing Blake it can't be good.

She smiles. "It's not that bad, Emma."

"Well at least he talks with you," I say, "that must mean something. I've seen him with you lately. You seem to be getting along well."

Sophie blushes. "We're getting there."

Our chat is interrupted by running footsteps drawing near. Sophie and I both tense when Finn rounds the corner and almost collides with us.

"Finn!" Sophie gasps, "what's wrong?"

"They're back!" Finn grins at us, "they've found more people!"

We abandon the laundry and run past Finn towards the main tunnel. Burns is the first one I spot. He seems to be looking for someone. "Burns!" I call and he turns around. When he sees me, he smiles warmly and he catches me in his arms when I collide with him.

His arms hold me close. "Emma," he mutters with a sigh.

"What took you guys so long?" I ask, "it was just going to be a short raid."

"I'm sorry," Burns says, "we had car trouble and we needed to hide. And then we met them." He turns us slightly with his arms still around me and I stare into five curious faces.

"Uhmm... hi," I say awkwardly.

"This is Jared and Melanie, Ian and Wanderer, And Jamie," Burns introduces them, "guys, this is Emma."

The one introduced as Jared smirks. "Yes, we figured that."

"Wanderer is like me," Burns continues, "she used to share Melanie's body, but she brought her back."

I look from Wanderer to Melanie and back. The silver behind Wanderer's eyes is quite obvious in the dark tunnel. I'm not even that shocked by Burns' revelation. He brought me back after all, but we never shared a body. Sky would never have given me back voluntarily. I'm curious about Wanderer's reasons for doing that. Since she has a body of her own, it must be quite the story.

Wanderer smiles at me shyly. "It is nice to meet you, Emma."

"Yes," I shake off the confusion, "it is nice to meet you too."

"You have to forgive Emma," Blake smirks next to us, "she can be a bit slow."

I whirl around and slap his chest. "Shut up Blake!"

He gasps and grabs my wrists when I try to hit him again. "Did I mention aggressive?" he yelps.

Wanderer looks at me shocked and her eyes are wide, but the others look at our struggle amused.

"Don't think of it as fighting, Wanda," Melanie says, "they're like two puppies that are roughhousing."

"Puppy?!" Blake asks incredulously, "she's more like a feral cat."

"I don't know, Blake," I say innocently, "you do remind me of a puppy with floppy ears and a sloppy tongue."

He quirks an eyebrow and his lips are pulled into a devious smirk. I stiffen and try to free myself from his grip, but it's already too late. He leans in and licks his tongue across my cheek.

I push him away and wipe my cheek with my sleeve. "Gross Blake!"

He chuckles, but gasps when a hand slaps the back of his head.

"Behave Blake," Nate says, "we have guests." But there's an amused smile on his face. He turns to our visitors. "Sorry about that. They can be a bit juvenile. I swear, sometimes it's like I run a daycare."

"That's alright," Jared says, "we have that at our place too."

"Come," Nate says and he directs us all to the kitchen.

Ian whistles when we enter. "Nice," he compliments.

I look at Burns. "Where are the others?" I haven't seen Rob and Tom yet."

"They're storing our goods," Burns answers, "they'll join us soon. Don't worry. We're all here."

We spread around across the kitchen. Burns and I sit with our visitors. It doesn't take long for Finn to join our table. He's wearing new clothes with the tags still attached. I smile at it and lean over to remove them. He doesn't even notice. His eyes are on Wanderer. "Blake says you're been to almost every planet," he says, "is that true?"

Wanderer's cheeks turn red and she looks startled for a moment, but she nods. "Yes, that's true."

"Then you know what a Dragon looks like? Holden and Emma both say they don't have wings, but the Dragons in Sophie's books have wings, and they're not Souls, but you are a Soul. Do you know about the other planets too? Emma can only make pictures of the Dragons and the Mist Planet and Fire World, but that's because Burns lived there. But she says it's not accurate, because she hasn't seen it for herself. But you would know. Then we can have pictures of the other planets too."

Wanderer blinks at his stream of words but Melanie laughs softly. "He reminds me of someone."

Across from her, Jamie crosses his arms. "I was nothing like that."

"Yes you were," Ian smirks.

"I'm sure Wanderer will tell you all about the planets later," I tell Finn.

Finn smiles brightly. "Okay," he says and he darts off again.

"Sorry about that," I tell Wanderer.

"It is fine," Wanderer says softly, "I don't mind telling him."

We spend the next hour talking. Nate tells everyone how they stumbled on Jeb's group and Wanderer and Melanie tell their story.

Of course, everyone already knows the story of me and Burns, but Wanderer's story is slightly different. The others listen with wide eyes and open mouths when Wanderer tells about her trek through the desert to bring Melanie back to Jamie and Jared, how she slowly gained the group's trust, and how she decided to give Melanie back.

I'm glad they decided to find her a new body, one where she can be alone. She deserves it. And when I look at her and Ian, I can't help but smile and I lean closer into Burns' embrace.

Philip, James and Will then take Jared to our filter system to see if maybe they can use a similar system in the caves, and to exchange ideas. Melanie goes with them. They say they'll check the greenery as well.

Blake comes to offer Jamie a tour of our place. The boy seems unsure at first. Only after both Wanderer and Ian tell him it is fine, he gives in, curiosity winning out.

The others have gone back to their daily chores. Our guests are no longer a novelty and there is work to be done.

Burns and I stay behind with Wanderer and Ian.

"I'm glad the others stumbled on your group," I say, "it is good to know Burns isn't the only one. He gave up so much."

Burns presses my hand. "I would do it again if it meant I could keep you all safe."

"I heard you are an artist, Emma," Wanderer says shyly.

It's my turn to blush. "I don't know about that."

"Everyone loves your drawings, Emma," Burns says.

"Would you mind showing us?" Wanderer asks.

I clear my throat. "Well, here's one of them." I nod at the table.

Wanderer and Ian look down at the painted table top. Wanderer frowns confused. "I don't know this one." She bites her lip and takes another look at the reds and greys. She looks up. "Is it a Fire Taster?"

Burns smiles and nods. "Yes."

"No wonder I didn't recognize it," Wanderer says, "I haven't been to that world."

"There's an Ice City in the storage room," Burns tells her, "but there are Earth drawings too. Our game room is a forest."

"I can't believe you drew pictures of the other planets the Souls visited," Ian comments, though he doesn't seem upset. He sounds rather amazed.

I shrug. "Why not? I like drawing and it's a way of giving something back to Burns. I can only do the planets he and Sky visited though."

"Wanda's been to a lot of them," Ian says, "I'm sure she can tell you all about them."

I smile. "That would be nice."