Chapter 140: Return

By the time Wolfrine came into view, Anaria was ready to stop walking. The journey had not been difficult, but the long hours on the path had left her tired, and she was glad to see the familiar shelters beyond the trees.

Before they reached the house, one of the older wolf beastmen greeted Rylan and asked whether he wanted the workers to wait until the next morning. Rylan told him to let everyone finish their current tasks and bring any urgent concerns to him before sunset. There was no need to keep people waiting just because he had only now returned. Anaria listened as they spoke, pleased that the settlement could keep moving without depending on one person to oversee every small thing. Rylan was responsible for its direction, but the people who lived there knew their work and carried it out without needing constant reminders each day.

Rylan was recognized before they reached the first shelters. A few wolf beastmen called out to him, and he paused to hear a guard’s quick report. Nothing serious had happened while he was away. The workers had kept up with their duties, and the watch had seen no unusual movement near the outer paths.

"Bring the full report to me later," Rylan instructed. "I want to hear about the stores and the repairs that were due this week."

A pair of servants came out to meet them. One took the bags from Kenai, while the other offered to carry the gifts Anaria had brought back. Anaria thanked them and kept the smaller bundle she had been holding against her chest.

Inside, the house was clean and orderly. The servants had kept it that way while they were gone, and one of them immediately took the bags to the storage area. Anaria set her bundle on a low wooden table and opened it. Along with a few useful items and food wrapped in leaves, there was a small wooden toy the children from the temporary settlement had made for Ana. Its edges were smooth, and someone had marked a little face on it.

"Keep the food from the journey separate for now," she told them. "I’ll decide what we should use first."

Ana was resting after the journey, tucked into her bedding near the warm side of the room. She stirred when she heard their voices but did not fully wake. Kenai checked on her, adjusted the covering around her legs, and let her settle again.

Rylan stayed long enough to wash the dust from his hands before a servant brought word that two of the settlement’s workers were waiting to speak with him. He listened, then turned to Anaria.

"I need to deal with a few things. I’ll be back for the evening meal."

"Go ahead. I’ll check on things here."

He gave her shoulder a brief squeeze before leaving to attend to his responsibilities as Wolfrine’s leader. Kai also had work waiting. After drinking some water and exchanging a few words with Kenai, he headed out to check on the workers he had been helping. Anaria changed into a comfortable hide dress and tied her hair back from her face before telling Kenai she would walk around Wolfrine and check how things were going before heading outside alone.

"She’s been trying to stand more often," he told her. "I want to see whether she’ll try again when she wakes."

"Don’t let her fall on anything hard."

"I won’t. Her bedding is already spread out."

Anaria gave him a grateful smile, then stepped outside.

Wolfrine was busy, but there was no sense of disorder. Beastmen moved between the shelters carrying tools and supplies. A few were repairing a section of fencing, while others worked near the food stores. The familiar sounds of voices, footsteps, and tools made the settlement feel steady after the days they had spent away.

Anaria started with the nearest shelters. She checked the walls and roofs, looking for loose coverings or signs that the recent weather had caused damage. One shelter needed a fresh layer of leaves along the edge of its roof, and she pointed it out to the beastman working nearby. He said he would take care of it before nightfall.

She continued toward the storage area. The baskets and wooden containers were arranged properly, and the food had been kept dry. She asked the workers whether they had noticed any spoilage or shortages. They told her the stores were holding up well, though they would need to collect more roots and fruit soon.

"Make a note of what is running low," she said. "It’s better to gather it before the supplies become a problem."

The worker nodded and promised to speak with the others responsible for gathering food.

At the water source, Anaria found two beastmen clearing leaves and dirt from around the edge. The water was flowing as it should, and the path leading to it was firm enough to use without slipping. She stayed for a short while, watching them finish the work, then reminded them to keep the area clear so waste would not collect near the water.

She also passed the work area, where several beastmen were repairing tools and sorting wood and plant fibre. The supplies looked sufficient for the moment, though one worker mentioned that they would need more fibre soon. Anaria asked him to tell Rylan before the shortage became urgent. She did not make the decision herself; it was something Rylan could consider alongside the other needs of the settlement.

By the time she finished her round, she was satisfied with what she had seen. There were ordinary tasks to keep up with, as there always would be, but nothing seemed neglected. Wolfrine had continued functioning while they were away, and the people had kept to their responsibilities.

When Anaria returned home, the smell of food was beginning to spread through the house. The servants had started preparing the evening meal, using some of the ingredients already stored there. Anaria washed her hands with water from a clay vessel and went to see Ana.

Kenai was sitting on the bedding with Ana in front of him. The little girl was awake now, and the wooden toy lay beside her. She had managed to get both hands around it, though she seemed more interested in turning it over than in playing with it properly.

"How did she do?" Anaria asked quietly.

Kenai smiled. "She tried to stand."

Anaria sat down beside them. "Already?"

"She was holding on to the wooden support. She pulled herself up, stayed there for a moment, then lost her balance and sat down on the bedding." He touched Ana’s cheek lightly. "She looked surprised, but she tried again."

Ana had begun shifting her weight forward as if she knew they were talking about her. Kenai placed the toy within reach and stayed close while she reached for the sturdy low frame beside the bedding. Her fingers curled around it. She pulled, paused, and slowly pushed herself upright.

For a few seconds, she stood with her knees trembling. Anaria held her breath, ready to catch her, but Kenai’s hands were already close without holding her too tightly. Ana swayed, lowered herself awkwardly, and landed on the soft bedding.

She made a small sound of frustration.

"That’s all right," Kenai murmured. "You can try again."

Ana looked at the frame, then at the toy beside her. Her attention wandered, and she reached for the toy instead. Anaria laughed softly and picked it up for her.

"Maybe standing is enough practice for today."

Kenai agreed. "She’ll keep trying when she’s ready."

Anaria watched Ana grip the wooden animal and tap it against the bedding. It was a simple gift, but knowing the children had thought of her made it feel special. She set it close enough for Ana to reach whenever she wanted it.

Rylan returned first, looking tired but no longer distracted by the matters waiting for him. Anaria gave him a brief account of what she had noticed during her walk, including the loose roof covering and the need for more plant fibre. He said he would speak with the workers the next day. Kai came back soon after and shared a short update on the work he had checked before washing up.

The servants brought the food to the table, and the four of them ate together while Ana rested nearby with Kenai keeping an eye on her. They spoke about the journey, the people they had left behind, and the tasks waiting for them the next day.

Ana had grown sleepy. Kenai lifted her carefully and settled her into her bedding, placing the little wooden toy nearby. Anaria drew the covering over her and watched as her daughter’s eyes slowly closed.

For now, Anaria was content to sit beside her family and enjoy the quiet of being home.

At least, she won’t worry about settlement or corruption matter for the main time.