The Dance (Closed for moonlightlilly and I)

[Ravenloft]

Izabelle's attention was more than Mouse could have ever hoped for. He very rarely ever gave any consideration to himself in matters of intimacy, it felt unbelievably nice to be touched like this. Her hands were so warm and smooth on his bare chest. It was a simple touch, but it was nothing like anything he had ever experienced before. There was more to it than just bare, skin to skin contact. I felt like... She was touching his very soul.

He felt his core swell with intense emotion, the look in her eyes told him everything he needed to know. She wanted him and he wanted her. This was more than just lust. He undid his trousers as she continued to caress his chest and look him in the eyes. Oh, how she made him ache with those bright green emeralds! In this moment, there was only the two of them and no one else.

Naked before her, he stepped into the tub with her and sunk down to his knees, in the water, she, giving him space to sit, then sliding up, over his lap, so that they were face to face, their bodies about to become one. He could not, would not break his gaze from her emerald eyes as they wordlessly kissed and within that kiss, he felt her envelop him. It felt tremendously erotic, certainly, but the feeling went far beyond just base carnality. The intensity of emotion over being with her, finding this tender union with her, knowing in his heart of hearts that it was about more than just a little carnal fun, it overwhelmed him and he looked deep into her eyes, his own cobalt blue swimming with joyful tears over being one with her.

He trembled as he caressed her cheek and searched for the words to express what this meant to him. There were no words, there didn't need to be. They both knew each others feelings. Mouse began to moved slowly, careful not to rush and loose his seed too rapidly. Together, they found the perfect rhythm, and made love with graceful ease. His entire focus was on Izabelle and her eyes never left his. The intensity grew and grew until Mouse couldn't bare it anymore and grasped her by her hips to still her long enough to regain control of himself. "Nnnh..." He hissed, hiding his face in her neck, desperate to hold out, desperate to feel her release before his own.

 

[Moonlightlilly]

Izzy’s body felt alive with passion and pleasure. Ever nerve was humming, quivering, washing over her in waves of wonder. She felt him, deep within her, releasing his seed in throbbing bursts. They held each other tight, becoming one. Holding the moment.

From somewhere amongst the pile of sleeping bodies, one of the children started to cough. This in turn woke other children. Mouse sighed heavily and Izzy gave him an apologetic smile. This was going to have to wait. Stepping from the tub, Izzy dried herself off and, wrapping herself in a towel, she went to dress. Only when she was sure that the child was alright, did she retire to her bed. Mouse had beaten her to it, so she snuggled in beside him and fell into an exhausted, happy sleep.

 

[Moonlightlilly]

The next morning Izzy woke feeling alive and empowered. She rose to the first rays of sunlight as she always did, leaving Mouse snoring softly under the blankets. Looking at him laying there, she knew her life would never be the same, and felt more than ok about that.

Out in the street, the world was already turning with all manner of goods and services on offer. She made her way to the blacksmith to collect the hooks he had made for her, and the lead weights. He still didn’t see how she was going to catch fish on that little piece of metal. Izzy handed him payment and he declined saying, “Tell you wot. You bring me one of them big fish you gonna catch an’ we’ll call it even.” He laughed like it was the best joke he had heard all day. Funny how some people could find their own jokes so funny, even if no one else did.

Tucking her new treasures into a pocket on the corset, she headed for the bake house and bread for everyone’s breakfast. Since the storm, there were so many more people to feed, but reconstruction had already begun and many of them would be going home soon. In the meantime, they needed food.

As the baker’s wife filled empty flour bags with the loaves of bread, Izzy couldn’t help but think about her experience with Mouse. She felt the color rush to her cheeks and was grateful for the veil, for it would have surely give her away. “Oh dear. What if someone had seen them? With so many people staying at the warehouse, it’s possible they had been seen”. As the thoughts rushed through her mind, she told herself to get a grip. If someone had seen them, there was nothing she could do about it now. Besides, she didn’t regret it for a moment. She paid for the bread, thank the baker and headed home. Alice would have the oats cooking by now, and probably some bacon, if you were quick enough to get some.

Back at the warehouse the daily chores were getting done, everyone doing their bit. The newcomers were sorted into who would be going home, and who didn’t have a home. There was two more widows and their children, an unmarried, very pregnant young woman, and an additional eleven children who were either orphaned, abandoned, or runaways. All would now be residing at the warehouse.

Mouse was busy telling a story to some of the children, and they were hanging on his every word. Once again, he made her smile. Hanging on a nail near her bed was the length of cord she had braided to work as a fishing line. She attached the hook to one end, the sinker a little further along the line, and a stick to work as a float. The remainder of the cord she wound around a handle. All she needed now, was bait.

The leftover rinds from the bacon would work just fine. She has her line, her bait, and a bucket. It was time to go fishing. Mouse caught sight of her and cut his story short, jumping down from the platform and landing by her side. She moved in close to him, lifted her veil and kissed his sweetly. Naturally all the children started “Woooo Mousey in love, muh muh muh Mousey”. He pretended to ignore them, but Izzy thought he actually liked it. Teasing Izzy he said, “Only a bucket? You will catch so many fish you will need the wheelbarrow”. And with that they set off the docks, numerous children following behind.

Mouse gave Izzy a happy smile and indicated to the group following them, “I don’t think we will ever have a moment alone again”. Followed by a hearty laugh.

At the docks no one seemed to notice them, everyone busy tending to their own business, the occasional sailor yelling at the children to get out of the way or watch where they were going. They found a spot towards the end of the jetty where a ship had not long left so there was a gap. All eyes were on Izzy as she threaded the bacon rind onto the hook like it was a worm. Then she dropped the line into the water, letting the float bob about in the waves. Stan stood there scratching his head,” ok, now wot?”

Izzy signed “Patience” but these were children after all, and rarely had patient for anything. One of the younger children yelled “Look, it’s moving”. As the float vanished beneath the water. Izzy held onto the other end with both hands, pulling hard against the fighting fish. With one last pull, the fish was on the jetty, jumping around and causing all kinds of excited chaos. Moving her hunting knife quickly, she slit the fish’s gills so as not to prolong it’s suffering. Izzy’s success dew a little attention from onlookers but most weren’t bothered, until she caught another fish, and another. Mouse felt a little bad about his wise crack concerning needing the wheelbarrow, but now they actually needed it.

She showed them how to gut and clean the fish and wash the jetty clean when they were done. There would be lots of fishing stories being told that night. Back at the Orphanage Izzy selected a nice sized fish and asked Mouse if he would mind delivering it to the blacksmith. She always paid her debts.

 

[Ravenloft]

Mouse woke not long after Izzy had left, but contented himself with a few more minutes rest before beginning his day. He helped with the chores, cleaning mostly. Cassandra came around, looking strangely concerned, asking to speak with Izabelle. Mouse explained that she was busy running about to gather a few things and bring breakfast back to the newly minted orphanage, at which, Mouse jumped up and down with excitement and just had to show her the sign he had made! "You're such a good soul, Mouse, I am happy for you and proud of you! If there is anything I can contribute, just tell her that she's earned this witches undying gratitude for making Hallowgrove a much better place. I do really need to speak with her though, there is a matter of great importance that I think she might just be able to help with... And I have something I wish to share with her privately." Mouse wanted to pry, but knew better. "Of course Cassie! I will tell her the instant I see her! I promise!"

He, however, got so caught up in events that he didn't remember to give her Cassandras message until she asked him to deliver one particularly plump looking catch to Black Tom, which reminded him of how he had attempted to get that old fool with someone who could take care of him, and her with a decent fellow. It had only had middling success as it turned out, but it was enough. "Oh yeah! Um... Cassandra Creech wanted me to let you know, she needs to speak with you, Izzy, apparently she needs your help with something of great importance, and had something else she wanted to share with you in private." for some reason, as he relayed her message, his eyes settled on Izabelle's belly. "She senses things... Has dreams... Um... You might really want to find out what she has to say." He wasn't sure what it was, but he had a sneaking suspicion that it was one of those 'women only' things...

He put it out of his head as he went to deliver the big fish to Black Tom, who was astounded by the 'Dancing Lady's' brilliant success, asking Mouse to relay a message back, offering her a years worth of free service if she would allow him the rights to craft more of her invention and sell them as his own. Mouse disapproved of the idea, if it was her invention... But offered to let her know he had a business proposition for her, if she was interested in discussing the matter, to which Black Tom pursed his lips but agreed to. "Do you think she will bargain?" he asked. Mouse only shrugged and ran back to the orphanage, there was still so much to do! And he wanted to spend as much time with Izzy as he could while doing it!

He got back just in time to see her heading out with Cassandra, he sighed and waved, and went back to entertaining the children as best he could. He organized a game of Mazes and Monsters, an idea he had for a long time but never had the time to do anything with until now. It was a sort of free form play acting, with some light rules to keep everyone honest about what they could do. The children loved the idea and really took off with it, with Mouse functioning as the story teller and giving them each a role to play within the tale as he presented it to them. He was very proud of them, and of himself for having come up with such a wonderful little game! He even got each of them to begin learning the basics of reading, writing and math by using the light rules he had come up with to keep the game fair for each of them. It was a delightful little trick he had discovered that made even the most stubborn children, like Stan, who hated being made to learn his letters and numbers, willing to put it down on paper, so he could continue playing Mouse's 'little game'.

 

[Moonlightlilly]

Izzy met with Cassie who told her about Lady Tusks ghost problem and the diary she found under the bed. Izzy was intrigued, she knew how to see spirits, she just didn’t do it very often. At the mansion Lady Tusk was waiting for her. She looked like she hadn’t slept in days. Handing the diary to Izzy she told her, “I found it under the bed, but the strange thing is, I have cleaned under that bed many times and didn’t see it. Then all of a sudden, it was there, and this woman, the one who wrote the diary, has started showing up at all hours of the night”.

Izzy flicked through the pages of the diary that had been written over a hundred years ago. Elizabeth Dawn, she was seduced by Lord Cassius and fell pregnant. Things were not good between them, and she tried to leave. He cast a spell the prevented her from going beyond the front door. When she tried to get the attention of passers-by, he confined her to her room, with the windows sealed shut. She was in prison. The last entry in the diary said that she was in the early stages of labour and would hide the diary, just in case anything happened to her. Beyond this, Lady Tusk and Cassie had no other information.

“Do you know which room she was confined to?” Izzy asked. Lady Tusk shrugged her shoulders. “There are so many rooms in this place, it’s like a maze. If she had a room, I haven’t found it yet”.

Moving along the hallway deeper into the building, Izzy followed a feeling, an inner compass guiding her to where she needed to go. She placed her hand on each door as they passed until they found the one that was cold to the touch. The doorknob was freezing, and Izzy had to use the hem of her shirt to open it. “Please wait for me out here”.

The room had definitely been inhabited by a woman with clothing, shoes, jewellery and even books scattered about. The bed was unmade with the distinctive stains of old blood soaked into the sheets. The thing that really struck Izzy was the baby’s crib, set beside the bed, just waiting for the child that was never born.

“I’ve been waiting a long time for you”. Izzy turned to see a woman, she looked to be in her mid-twenties, wearing a loose gown over her pregnant belly. Izzy tried to sign to talk to her, “It’s ok to talk to me, you can’t hurt me. I’m already dead”. Removing her veil, Izzy gave her a smile. “You read my diary?” “Yes, and I can’t tell you how sad it makes me that you suffered at the hands of that monster”.

Elizabeth smiled, “It was only after you put him away that I was able to leave this room, and only for a few moments at a time. I placed my diary under that big lady’s bed, knowing she would find it, and hoping she would get help”.

“What is it you need from me? What can I do for you?”

“I need you to find the cord that Cassius attached to my child and sever it so we can leave here and find…. What ever is waiting for us after this”.

Izzy looked about the room. At first, she didn’t see anything out of the normal, apart from the obvious. After several moments she saw it. A fine thread that shimmered slightly as it followed Elizabeth around the room. Izzy reached over and touched it, contact sending a jolt through to Elizabeth. “Ok, once I break this, you should be able to move on”. “That’s the plan. Wait. There is something else I need to show you”

Elizabeth placed her hand on wall panel and when Izzy pushed on it, she heard it click open, revealing a passageway. “When my son and I both died in birth, Cassius placed us here, so we would always be here, always be his. Promise me that you will give my child and I a proper burial, in hallowed ground so magic can never touch us again. I named my son Jimmy, after my brother. Can you do that for us?”

Izzy gave her word; they would have a lovely spot in hallowed ground. She would make sure of it.

“Something else. I want to thank you for what you are doing for us. Open that draw on the dresser. All the jewellery Cassius gave me to keep me happy is there. I want you to have it. I certainly never wanted it”.

Izzy thanked her. She had some plans for the future that was going to require a lot of money, and this would help a great deal. First, she must do what had been asked of her. She took the thread in both hands and pulled, snapping the line. Elizabeth spun around with joy, “We are free, thank you. I owe you a great debt and it won’t ever be forgotten”. And with that, she was gone.

Izzy collected the jewellery before making her way down the passageway Elizabeth had shown her. What she found was a small room. Laying in the dirt in the middle of the chamber was the skeletal remains of a woman and a baby. A tear escaped from Izzy’s eye. She knew she was with child. That’s how it went for her kind, and already she felt the incredible bond a mother has with her child, and she understood why her own mother was willing to make so many sacrifices for her. She loved her all the more for it.

On a stool in the corner of the room was something else that caught her eye. A box, very ordinary to look at, and covered in dust. She opened it carefully, not knowing if there were wards set to trap an eager hand. There was a ward, but now that Elizabeth and Jimmy were gone, so was the ward. The box held a number of magical items that Izzy collected and placed in her pockets. There was also a large sum of money. Scooping up the coins the slipped them into her pockets and shoes. It was hardly steeling when no one knew it existed, and she was going to use it for a good cause. Kneeling down beside Elizabeth’s remains she whispered, “It was a pleasure to meet you. Be at piece”.

Back in the room she opened the door and let Cassie and Lady Tusk in. she relayed the story told to her, and the promise she had made. Lady Tusk said she would see to it right away, her hands shaking, thinking that without Izzy, this could have been her fate as well.

As Izzy made to leave the house Lady Tusk hurried after her, handing her a purse heave with coin. “You got a lot of mouths to feed and I got a lot to be thankful for”. Izzy took the coin and thanked her. Plans for the future were already looking up.

 

[Ravenloft]

Cassandra was waiting for Izabelle at the front doors of the mansion. "We need to talk." She whispered, looking to Lady Tusk with a nod. "I will be back in a bit, Damiana, you really should get some rest, you have been through a lot. I will bring you some food and my special tea to help sooth you to sleep." Lady Tusk nodded, her hand resting on her belly. "Come, Dancer, we have something we need to discuss."

Once they were alone together in Casandra's shop, Cassie flipped her open sign to closed and locked the door. "I don't want any interruptions, dear... What I have to tell you... I am ashamed of. You see... I am linked to Lord Cassius, in a way... He and I, we were once the same being..." Cassandra sat up on the counter top in the back of her shop. "You don't believe me... Its okay, I wouldn't either. I am over a thousand years old, you see, I was only in my twenties when I, we discovered how to become separate... I am the feminine, the life, he is the masculine and can only create pain and death... Now that you have him trapped, I am free of him... If only for a time. As long as he is contained within that blade, he can cause no lasting harm to this realm... You don't know what you have done for me, I never thought I would ever be allowed my freedom from him... What you have done and continue to do for all of Hallowgrove... It will never be forgotten. If there is any boon I can give you, just ask." Cassandra hopped down from the counter and gave Izabelle's belly a curious, sideways glance. "You are with child as well, I see. It must be something in the air..." She laughed and came over to Izzy. "May I?" She asked politely, seeking permission to touch the small of her belly so she could get a better reading of the unborn child within.

 

[Ravenloft]

Within the pocket realm that imprisoned Lord Cassius, the broken rocky ground shuddered and split open, the glow of angry red fire shown from deep below and a hand the size of ten men, made out of gargantuan links of iron chain arose from those burning depths.

"A chainer demon? I'm impressed..." Lord Cassius breathed in awe of the hell spawned guardian spirit that ruled this realm.

The being was impossible to take in all at once, it was so immense in scope and size.

"According to the ancient pacts, I grant you audience, lich-lord."

"You have my undying gratitude, chained one!" Lord Cassius bowed deep, showing respect.

"Your gratitude is meaningless, false-one, do not test my patience."

"No, my lord! I mean no disrespect! I only ask for your ear! Tell me, what is it you do here?"

"I torment and devour the wicked souls that are sent to me by the bearer of my blade."

"I see, and are you here of your own accord?"

"It is my purpose."

"Yes, yes, certainly, but are you here willingly? Or are you a prisoner here as well? Trapped? Forced to function as the guardian within and the devourer of souls?"

"It is my purpose..."

Lord Cassius let out an impatient sigh and pinched at the space that would have been the bridge of his nose, if he had any remaining flesh. "I have a proposition for you, Chained one... What if I offered myself up to take your place as the guardian within? I have had much practice at tormenting damned souls, nearly a millennium in fact. You would be set free to pursue whatever foul desire you choose."

"It is my... How would you do such a thing, puny, necrotic, half-soul? If I were to allow you to continue to exist?"

Lord Cassius laughed heartily at that. "Nothing can ever be truly destroyed, only changed in form. It is already done, you are free to go, if you so choose, all that there is here is intent, there is nothing physical here. Thought is the only thing that is real here. Think yourself free, and you become free, go on, you can go, mighty Chainer, you have my word, I will do my best in your place. Rest assured I will gnash and sunder each and every damned soul that is sent to me! And I will enjoy every moment of it!"

An instant later, Lord Cassius was alone in his hell scape, and he knew he was its new master.

"Well that was almost too easy..." He sighed, wondering what to do next.

He would have to hide his existence from the Death Dancer, and hope that she would begin sending him souls to feed upon, so he could slowly regain his strength.

"The waiting is the hardest part..." Lord Cassius grumbled, forming a stone throne from the craggy rock through force of will alone. It was simple shaper magic, but it took almost everything he had left to make it. If she didn't feed him soon, he might have to go torpid... And he hated being stuck in such a state!

 

[Moonlightlilly]

Izzy smacked her hand away. She was not going to touch her or her baby, ever. This woman just dumped all this information on her and expected instant trust?

Izzy gave her a harsh look. “Never touch me”. Backing away she made her way into the back of the store to retrieve Fern, picking her up in her arms and walking to the door. She gave Cassandra a hard look but said nothing. She had enough to deal with. Cassandra could wait.

Returning to the orphanage with Fern in her arms, she looked up and noticed the sign above the door. “Dancing Dreamers home for wayward children” she almost dropped Fern. What the hell was he thinking? Putting up a sign to announce to the world that she belonged to a secret order who did things. in secret!

She took Fern in to rest and checked her over. She was doing fine, it would just take time, and being with her siblings would help. Then she went looking for Josh. She asked him about the sign, and he told her Mouse spent ages making it. She told him to take it down at once. Her hope was that no one had made the connection.

Sitting on the edge of the right platform, she took a moment to catch her breath. What else could happen today?

Josh returned with the sign, “What should I do with it?” Izzy thought for a moment then thought of the perfect location, on the wall above the bed she was sharing with Mouse. She could dream dances with him, and be safe, and he would just have to be ok with that. “Would you like another sign made?” Izzy gave him a thankful smile. “Haven Orphanage” Josh gave her an approving smile and went looing for a suitable plank.

Izzy started to feel overwhelmed, almost panicked, heading for the office, and solitude. The wards she had placed around the room would not let any but her enter. Opening a small silver chest that she acquired recently, she added all the money she had accumulated that day. It was more than she thought and wouldn’t all fit. She transferred all the money to a bag and used the silver box for the jewellery.

The magical objects were placed on a shelf. She had intended to ask Cassandra about them, but right now, she needed time to process what she had learned. Her mother had told her so may times, “Never let people into your life Izzy. They will break your heart. It’s not a life our kind can hope for. Be safe, be hidden, be justice, be gone”. Inwardly she wanted to cry. She now understood what her mother was talking about. It did hurt.

Lowering herself to the floor, she allowed herself a moment to breath. It was then she noticed the pack containing the Hunter’s possessions. With all that had been happening she had forgotten about it. His clothing and bedroll went out to be washed and reused, but his other things were still there. Upturning the bag, she emptied everything onto the floor.

There was a knife, plate and spoon, some packets of herbs, vials of liquids marked with the name of the poison and the antidote. Picking up the coins and jewels she set them aside. Trophies from his victims. A talisman, a ring and compass all had magic and were added to her collection, coins and gems in their place, usable items she would take to the kitchen. the greatest find were the two book the tunbled out onto the floor. one was a dictionary of magical creatures, what they could do, and how to kill them, the other was short stories ans poetry. mouse would love that. for now, they joined the other books on the shelf. The poison she placed on the bench and covered with a cloth. She would have to find a more suitable storage place for such things. If any of the children… she couldn’t even think about it. Poor Fern almost died, and she blamed herself. She should have gone after the hunter sooner and not been distracted by her idea of a better life. She removed her corset holding her blades and magical items, setting it on the bench. Stripping off her clothing she wrapped herself in an old sheet.

Outside the door, she increased the strength of the ward and ducked out through the back door. She heard mouse call out to her, but she had to go. No one was safe around her right now. A few more steps and the sheet fell to the ground. Lock lifted his head and howled, it was his turn to run and run he did.

He stayed to the trees, out of the sight of people. It was easy enough, he’s been doing this a long time, and fund hiw way to a small patch of sand on the other side of the cove. He loved to swim, jumping and swimming around. Inwardly, he could feel Izzy calming a little. Back on the sand he shook himself off and lay down in the sun.

Many years ago, there was a dancer who lost her mind because of love. As the story went, she fell in love deeply, and one night, when she went to dance to a group of pirates, he followed her, even though he swore to her that he never would. He saw her dance and when she noticed him there, it was to late, she had burned out his eyes. He broke her trust, and he was going to die. In desperation she spoke to him and took his seed, keeping the only part of him that she could save, but it was to much. The grief, the guilt, to torment, it was to much. She began killing men. All men, indiscriminately. She thought they were all evil, bringers of pain, breakers of hearts, and should be destroyed.

The order had to intervene, placing her in a coma, cutting her baby from her belly when it was due, but keeping her alive until her daughter was eighteen and could transfer her spirit animal. It was a panther. Black as night, sleek and majestic. It had also been trapped along with its host for eighteen years and was so thankful to be free of her hosts insanity. After that the spirit animals were given the power to take control to protect their host in times of great distress, keeping them, and the innocent, safe.

He could feel her, and it hurt that he could not help, she had to go through this alone. It was the only way. In the meantime, another swim, and maybe hunt a rabbit or two.

 

[Moonlightlilly]

In the grasslands beyond the town, wild rabbits fed in large numbers. Townsfolk sometimes made a sport of catching or trapping them, but they only came out at night, and they were incredibly fast. They were also the size of a small child. Their fur was thick and soft, in a variety of colours, and fetched a very good price in the market. Anyone who caught one was heralded a hunting legend and was served many free drinks by admiring and envious friends.

They weren’t much of a challenge for Lock though. As a spirit being, he never got tired and never needed to feed, but he did love to run, and to hunt. Izzy was going to need some time, and the night was his, so he might as well make the most of it.

Catching the ribbits was easy enough. A single bite snaped their necks killing them quickly. He set them in a pile for Izzy to take home when she was ready. When he had killed about twenty, he realized it may be daylight before Izzy was ready to return. Picking up the dead rabbits two at a time, he carried them back to the warehouse and dropped them at the back door. It was going to take a while, but he had time, and Izzy was making progress.

 

[Moonlightlilly]

At dawn Izzy woke, laying naked beside a pile of dead rabbits. She smiled to herself and thanked Lock for keeping her safe, and providing so much food for the children. Picking up the sheet she had dropped earlier, she crept inside. She knew Mouse would have been worried about her, and she would have to explain this to him, but that could wait until he woke. In the office she redressed in her clothing, but had the strangest feeling that she should leave her corset there. She trusted those feelings, thinking she would look into it more later.

The rabbits were heavy and she could only fit three in the wheelbarrow at a time. She was grateful when Josh came down to give her a hand. They looked at the mound of rabbit on the table and she knew there was way to much for then to eat. The meat would go off before they got even halfway through it. By then Alice, Stan and a number of children had joined them, all standing and looking at the pile.

“All those pelts would make a wonderful rug come winter, something for the children to sit on while Mouse recited his stories. A story time rug”. Alice said, and everyone agreed it was an excellent idea. But what to do with all the meat? It was Stan that had the solution. “Why not take it to old Wally at the butcher, tell him you want payment in meat later, when we need it. Everyone loves rabbit, he’ll jump at the idea”.

Grace and Maddy set to work making the children’s breakfast, working around the pile of carnage. Mouse made her way into to fray, rubbing his eyes and looking generally confused. Izzy gave him a quick kiss and told him they would talk later, right now, he should get a knife and join in. even with Josh, Alice, Mouse and Izzy working together, and the children taking the guts and heads away in the barrow load. A local pig farmer was happy for the free feed, and it meant nothing of the rabbit was wasted. It was lunchtime before they finished. Filling all three barrows with rabbits, cleaned and dressed, the covered them over and headed for the butch shop.

Wally, the butcher broke into a big grin when he saw what they had to offer, revealing all four of his stained and worn-down teeth. The offer to trade for future meat needs was quickly accepted, and a lot of rabbit found pride of place on his counter. It didn’t take long for the word to spread. There was rabbit for sale at the butcher shop. A single animal was big enough to feed a family of six with leftovers and was a break from the beef and mutton most dined upon.

Back at the warehouse, there was a mess to clean up, and then she and mouse had to have a long conversation.

 

[Moonlightlilly]

Izzy took Mouse by the hand and led him to the place they slept. Mouse had rigged up some curtains to give them some privacy, which they really need right then.

She told him about the ghost, and about what Cassie had told her. And how she walked away and said nothing, just focused on Fern, and then she realized her emotions were getting out of control and she needed Lock’s help. Mouse was hurt that she didn’t come to him for help, so she explained the purpose of Lock and her being joined as they were. She told him about the dancer who fell in love and accidently killed her love, because he broke his promise and followed her. She went mad, because she could not cope with the pain. When things get really upsetting, Lock will step in. it was for her own protection, and the innocent people around her. He said he understood and gave his word, that he would never follow her. She touched his cheek, “thank you. Please, have faith in be, believe in me, trust me, love me, we can have a wonderful life together, but you must know and accept who and what I am. That is why I took down your beautiful sign. I can’t risk anyone else knowing what I am. It would put me, and everyone here, in great danger. I will do anything to protect my family Mouse, and you are a part of that family”.

She drew closer. Her lips aching for a kiss to show how she loved him. His mouth joined with hers, softly, tenderly, uniting in a moment of sweet unity.

And then…. A blood curdling scream emanated from the kitchen area. Francis, the young pregnant woman, was standing in a puddle of clear fluid and she was doubled over in pain. The widows were quick to react, propping her up on the table and checking her condition. “This is gonna be a quick one”. Stated Milly. She had given birth to seven babes herself, four of whom lived and were with her still. The children came from everywhere at the sound of the commotion. Josh tried his best to chase them away but gave up, reasoning that they were going to find out about life sooner or later. Perhaps an education will prevent a few future unplanned babbies in the world. With a great deal of groaning, screaming, and panting, a new soul entered the world, and his name was Noah. Placed into his mothers arms, still covered in blood and muck, with a scream to match hers, he was welcomed into his new family, his new, very large, very dysfunctional loving family.

Mouse stood behind Izzy, his arms wrapped around her middle. She took his hand, shifting it to her belly. His mouth dropped open and he picked her up, spinning her about, covering her face with kisses. It was then Izzy thought al was right with the world, at least in that moment, and that would do.

somewhere far away, a young man stood looking out of the window of a castle, gazing out of the huge expanse of land and people his family presided over, wondering what became of the beautiful kitchen maid he had given his heart to. His name, Noah.

 

[Ravenloft]

Cassandra respectfully stepped back and lowered her gaze, she completely understood Izabelle's reaction, although she had hoped better of her. "I appologize." She whispered softly, returning to her place behind the counter. "I understand your fears." She added, daring to look up to meet the Dancers eyes before she left. She would give her time and space, but hoped she would return, eventually.

*****

Mouse had noticed that his sign, the one he had worked so hard on and put so much love and care into was removed and another had been put up in its place, and not even before he could get a moment to ask what he had done wrong, Izabelle was rushing off into the night. He couldn't understand, for the life of him, what could possibly have offended her so. It was just like him to take such things to heart and desperately try to figure out on his own what it was that he had done. But, unlike the past, he couldn't come up with anything, other than maybe she just didn't like the name he had come up with. Maybe it was just too naïve for her? It wasn't until he wore himself out and threw himself in bed, nearly in tears that he noticed it. The sign was still here, just moved to the privacy of their bed chambers! That made him cry for a completely different reason. Clearly she wanted to keep their bond, thei love to themselves, something private, something to be cherished? That moved him beyond all reason. He cried himself out silently, and slept while Izzy was untethered in another realm and let her spirit wolf hunt.

They had to work through things, each in their own ways. The wards that Izzy had put up over their room was the only thing that protected Mouse from having his dreams entered by the trapped Lich, but it was only a matter of time, Cassius would only grow in strength, as long as Izzy did not know that feeding the soul blade meant feeding him. He had no intention of revealing himself until it was too late for them, all of them. He would use Mouse to get to the bitch, Death Dance, he was owed a child by her and he would get what he was owed! In this life, or the next! It did not matter to him, how long it took.

Well into the morning hours, Mouse woke to the sounds of activity out in the orphanage, and grew so curious, he had to see what was going on, still bleary eyed, he stumbled out onto the scene of everyone skinning and gutting an almost impossible number of large, meaty looking rabbits! Before he could even ask a question, Izzy kissed him on the cheek and before he knew it he had a knife in his hand and to work, thank the gods that Mamma Tusk had shown him how to prepare fresh kills! Even if he thought it was terribly gross and unpleasant, it was okay, because the end product meant everyone would get to eat! That made the unpleasantness worth the discomfort.

Later, Izzy came to him and took him aside to have that conversation she had mentioned, he had assumed it was probably about the sign, but what he heard from her... After she told him everything, Mouse smiled sweetly, a little teary eyed and nodded. "You really are the greatest heroine we have ever known, Izzy... But I think you are judging Cassandra too harshly, yes, she was presumptuous in trying to touch you, but I know her well, she is like an older sister to me, and she would never do anything to harm a soul. If she is bound to that... Bastard, than she is all the good of one being and he is all the bad, you must be able to see that? I don't doubt that at all. She put herself in danger by telling you what she's revealed, that is a sign of great trust if what she told you is true, isn't it? She's not so dumb as to tell you, if she thought you wouldn't understand... Please consider at least giving her the chance to prove she is our friend, please?"

Mouse paused and thought about Izabelle's reaction, hurt in his eyes, she wasn't telling him something... Before he could ask what it was, she began. His heart melted as she revealed the nature of her power, what it truly meant to be a Dancer. "Such tragedy, I can't even imagine... My heart breaks for them and for you Izzy... Very well, I vow I will never follow you out into the night, when you do... What you must do. I understand now, thank you for trusting me, that's all I ever wanted, was trust and love, with you, I would rather die than betray you..." Mouse began to cry silently as he looked upon with Izabelle with such love and aching tenderness that he thought he might break. "You really think its lovely?" He shifted his gaze away from her to the sign hanging on the wall, his tears slowly running down his reddened cheeks. "Oh, I do, I do, I do, all those things, love, faith, trust! But will you ever trust me to have your back? I know I am no warrior, but like you said, I have my own ways of helping, if I trust you, you must trust me, eventually, right? If you are to protect me, if I am family, than let me protect you, when I can, okay?"

Then... She kissed him! There was nothing in all the realms that could ever, would ever compare to that one moment! Mouse kissed her back and felt his heart, body and soul instantly open up to her, need her, crave her. Only...

The scream shook him out of his reverie and they both looked into each others eyes, making a silent vow to return to this moment later, or die trying!

It was the expecting mother, she was about to give birth! Mouse had been a part of a few births during his time at the Tusk, so went right to boiling water and bringing hot, sterilized towels to the women who attended the new mother. Even though the women that circled around her had tried to send the children away, Mouse took charge of them and made them useful, in their curiosity and had them helping right along with him in bringing clean towels and hot water.

Once it was done and mother was united with her son, Mouse came to Izzy and embraced her lovingly. But when she indicated that she was with child as well, Mouse was instantly overcome with pure joy, he never imagined he would become a father, but knowing it was her who would bring forth a child, it was more than he could ever dream of, and he showered her with all of his love in that moment!

 

[Moonlightlilly]

Making her way along the street, feeling the first rays of light on her face, her basket in her arms, Izzy headed for the bakery and the morning bread order. The piece of her walk did not last long however, shattered by the sobbing of a child hiding behind some crates that were stacked in an alleyway. A tear-streaked little face looked up at her. “Can you help our Ma? I think Pa did something really bad”.

The children gave her directions on where their house was, and Izzy told them to go the orphanage and get Mouse. What greeted Izzy at the children’s home was not something even she could have been prepared for. Blood was everywhere, the floor, the furniture, even the ceiling. In the middle of it all was woman. Her face had been beaten to a pulp, her own children would not have recognized her. Her limbs rested at unnatural angles, her chest caved in, pooled with blood. Sitting in a chair by the fire, a bottle in his hand, was the children’s father. Covered in the blood of his wife, tick dark fluid dripping to the floor from his blood-soaked hands, passed out in a drunken stupor.

Izzy stepped over the body, trying to avoid stepping in blood but it was everywhere. She approached the sleeping form and kicked the chair out from beneath him dumping him on the floor. He woke with a jolt, rubbing his eyes and yelling “What the fuck!”

She gave him a moment to rouse himself, allowing him time to look about the room. “Glady. Glady, get your lazy ass up of the floor and fix me food. Glady. Don’t make me come over there woman. I swear it’ll be worse for ya if ya keep me waitin’”

Izzy opened a window, letting the light flood into the room and over Gladys mutilated body. The man, still drunk and sleepy, propped himself up and leaned against the upturned chair. It took him a moment to come to grips with what had happened. His wife was dead, and his hands were covered with her blood. “So, she finally pushed me to far. Had to ‘appen sooner or later. She was a lousy cook anyway. I’ll find me a woman who can cook next time. ‘eh you’re a pretty one. Can you cook?”.

Izzy game him a blank look. There wasn’t going to be a next time.

Mouse, Josh, Alice and a growing number of townsfolk were gathering outside the house. The news of what had transpired sent waves of anger rippling through the growing mob. This wasn’t a man that was liked by many, but Glady had always stuck by him, no matter what, her and her children.

Izzy stepped away from the house and Mouse gave her a curious look. “Aren’t you going to do anything? This mob is getting pretty stirred up” she shook her head. This is a town matter now and out of her hands.

One of the men stepped forward, closing the door and wedging it shut. Another brought a bucket of pitch and a burning lamp. They believed that the house would be forever haunted by Gladys ghost due to the violent manner of her death, so burning it to the ground was the only option. It only seemed right that he be sent to hell in a blaze of heat and flames for what he had done. When the flames burned down, and seven days had passed, they would salt the ground where the house had stood so no ghosts of evil spirits could come from there. That site would never be built on again, nor would it be used for any other purpose. It was cursed ground. Gladys remains would be collected and placed in the cemetery with a proper service, her husbands remains will remain where they lay for all time.

Back at the orphanage Izzy went to find the children who had asked for her help. The oldest child, Adam, was nine years old, his sisters were Jane, who was seven, and Indy who could not have been more the two. She sat with them while Mouse explained what had happened, as delicately as possible. The children didn’t seem surprised. They knew that someday their father would kill their mother, their mother knew it as well. She had told them, “If things get really bad, go the orphanage. The lovely people there will look after you”. Mouse smiled and nodded. “And so, we shall”.

Stan and Alice hustled in with the bread and rolls for breakfast, Grace and Maddy set to feeding the hungry masses, as Maddy called them, and everyone wanted to help with making them a bath, and finding clean clothing, finding them a spot to sleep and making sure everyone was introduced. So many things to do and a lot a of children doing them. Alice gave Izzy a smile. “My mother, piece be on her soul, always said that many hands make light work. Work is going to be very light today”. She chuckled to herself and went to try and restore some semblance of order amongst the children.



While chaos raged through out the orphanage, Izzy set her mind to a bigger problem. Winter was coming and their numbers were growing. Food and fuel were always the most important thing. Food they could supplement with fish and rabbit, but firewood and coal were in short supply already, and the real cold was two months away. They needed a way to be able to gather what they needed in larger quantities if there was any chance of storing some, so on that note, Izzy and Mouse set out to buy a horse and cart. Josh had no shortage of helping hands fixing the barn and yard at the back of the warehouse, followed by volunteers to help feed and brush the horse. Joshes only comment, “It had better be a very quiet horse”.

It was to late in the day to go looking for firewood, the forest picked clean for miles, so they took their newest family member, and her cart, home. She was a lovely mare, almost black in color except for her feet and a blaze on her forehead. The man who sold her said she was as quiet as they come. Even mouse laughed, “She’s going to need to be”.

Back at Haven Orphanage, they were greeted by so many excited faces. Izzy worried the poor horse was going to take one look and run for the hills. It was one of the older boys who stepped up. Fifteen-year-old Caleb extended his hand to the horse and placed it on her forehead. “Her name is Whisper”. He said. A collective “woooww, Whisper”. Came from the onlookers. “So that’s your power”, Izzy thought, making a mental note. At some point she would need to find some paper and start keeping accurate records of the children in her care.

Leaving Mouse and Caleb to deal with the horse and children, Izzy went inside to see if she could help with anything. The widows were standing together looking at the sleeping area in concern. It seemed they had run out of space. Izzy had wanted to keep the larger left platform for play and education, so the only alternative was the upstairs area. It was a large area, more than big enough for twice this many, but several broken or rotted floorboards would need to be replaced before it could be considered safe. It had been on their list of things to be done; they just hadn’t got there yet. In the meantime, some of the older children would be moved to the left side. Josh agreed to look for suitable lumber in the morning to make the repairs. Izzy sighed, everything it seemed, was a work in progress.

That evening, when the children had settled, the adults sat around the kitchen table to discus things they would need before winter. Josh had his work cut out for him with repairs. Catching fish and rabbits was great but they only lasted a day or so before they turned, and vegetables were becoming increasingly difficult to find. Maddy suggested they did a cold cellar. They could dig it out under one of the platforms and place a spell in it to keep everything in there, cold. That way they wouldn’t have to sell or give away any excess, they could make it last. Veggies could be kept that way as well.

Everyone agreed. Next there was the issue of fuel to keep them all from freezing. They thought that maybe they could go out with a group at first light each day, go further out, and collect as much as they could fit in the cart. Izzy was concerned that it was a lot of walking for the children. It was mouse who came up with the solution.

 

[Ravenloft]

"There is an old coal mine that got shut down years ago by the Mayor, claiming that there was not enough man power to run it properly. Its still safe, the last I knew and full of coal to be claimed. Why don't we go get some of it, enough for winter? It's only a few miles away and I know the way. I'll take the wagon and a few of the older kids, would Josh be free to help us out? I mean, I have never actually mined coal a day in my life, but I am willing to give it a try..."

Mouse remained as close to Izzy as he could, feeling truly seen for the first time in his life. It made him feel bolder than he ever had before, eager to go out on an adventure, even if it was something small and simple.

It didn't take long to get the wagon ready and a good seven older boys and one tough, young red head girl who would not be told no were gathered for the outing. Josh drove and Mouse pointed the way. Stan came rushing after them as they began to leave, more because he wanted to 'protect' the girl, or so he claimed.

The trip might have been boring if Mouse hadn't begun a game with the children, to see if they could spot things of interest and beauty, they each took turns seeing if anyone could figure out what they had picked out in secret. It was a lot of fun really.

When they got there, the all worked as a team to chip at and gather a wagon load, but before they could leave, the rain came and they were forced to bring the wagon into the mine to keep their coal dry.

"Well that was unexpected..." Mouse sighed, looking at the young faces pointed up at him. "What now? Oh I know! Lets tell a story together, like the game I showed you the other night!"

"But we don't have our notes, Mouse!" Stan grumbled. "We don't need them, we can tell a different story right now, we can each take turns and create a silly tale together."

 

[Moonlightlilly]

Getting Mouse, Josh, Maggie, the only girl n the group, Stan and “Stan’s boys” as he called them, three boys about the same age that followed Stan everywhere, off on their trip was done early to avoid the big send off they would have received. It was also good to go before anyone really noticed them and followed to see if they had anything worth stealing. Izzy believed they were as prepared as they could be, and they would be back in a few days.

Meanwhile, Izzy set to repairing the second floor as excited children pack their bedrolls and debated whom should sleep beside whom. After all, your best friend today might be you worst friend tomorrow, so they had to get it right. Maddy and Alice announced they would also be sleeping upstairs, which was met with a chorus of objections, while some of the boys offered to sleep in the barn. Grace declared there was no way she was going to be stuck making food for boys who had frozen to death. The boys compromised and settled on a spot right at the back of the upstairs room.

By lunchtime the repairs were done, and the beds moved. And then it started to rain. Izzy thought about Mouse and the boys, but told herself they were ok, not much could go wrong with Mouse in charge. Without him there to entertain the children though, everyone was a little lost. She hadn’t realized how much of an influence he was on everyone. That was his magic.

Maddy whispered to Izzy that maybe starting the cold cellar would keep the kids busy, but with this many pairs of ears, no whisper was soft enough.

“Cold cellar? What’s a cold cellar? It’s a big hole you keep food cold in. Are we digging a big hole? Why do we have to put our food in a hole? Won’t it get dirty? When can we dig a hole? I wanna’ help dig a hole. Me too” “Maybe we’ll find buried treasure” “or a dead body” there’s treasure and a dead body?” “I don’t wanna dig up a dead body” “Maybe the dead body is hiding the treasure” “I don’t wanna dig a hole anymore” “The dead body might get us” So many voices at once. Alice raised her hands to quieten them but ended with a shrill whistle. “Now, now children. Take a breath. We are going to mark out where it’s going to be, and everyone is going to take turns helping. Now, who wants to go first?”

Izzy moved away from the chaos and up to the kitchen where she hoped she could catch her breath. The three woodland children were watching Grace cut vegetables for stew. She cut the tops of some carrots, turnips, parsnips and beets, placing them in a bucket. Mist, Ferns four-year-old sister, asked her what she did with the tops. “Well, my lovely, I am going to plant them and maybe grow some new ones. Wouldn’t that be nice? That’s how we grow things, from plantin’” Mist seemed intrigued, nodding her head yes, her young mind taking in this new information.

She picked up three of the carrot tops and studied them for a moment, then raced off towards the other end of the building where the dirt from the new hole was being piled up until the rain stopped. Fern took off after her, yelling at her to stop, but Mist was on a mission. She poked three holes in the loose dirt and pushed the carrot tops in. With her hands in the soil, the tops began to straighten and stand tall, growing bigger by the second. All eyes were quickly diverted from the digging, to Mist and her carrot tops.

Izzy rushed to see what was happening, worried something had befallen to one of the children, instead what she found was amazing. The carrot tops now stood about a foot tall, as green and lush as a carrot top could look. One of the older girls leaned in and pull one. The carrot came free with ease, and then kept coming. The first one was just shy of two feet long and as round as a loaf of bread, and the other two were much the same. Alice scratched her neck. “We gonna need the barrow to get these to the kitchen”.

 

[Moonlightlilly]

Izzy rushed to see what was happening, worried something had befallen to one of the children, instead what she found was amazing. The carrot tops now stood about a foot tall, as green and lush as a carrot top could look. One of the older girls leaned in and pull one. The carrot came free with ease, and then kept coming. The first one was just shy of two feet long and as round as a loaf of bread, and the other two were much the same. Alice scratched her neck. “We gonna need the barrow to get these to the kitchen”.

Izzy gave Mist her sweetest smile. “I guess I know what your magic is”. She made a mental note.

The following morning when Izzy went to collect the bread, she was joined by Alice. “Where are you off to so early?” she asked her. “To the store to get some seeds. If we are going to have giant vegetables, we might as well have some variety”.

Izzy handed her some coins and suggested she get some more digging tools as well. They were going to need that cold cellar soon if they were to keep any of the vegetables for later. Izzy also had a package she needed to send to a friend who lived a long way from there, and sort out the quickest way to get it delivered. She knew she probably would not get a reply before spring, but that would be soon enough.

When Izzy returned to Haven, the back half of the carriageway was in full bloom. It was like a forest of vegetables. The children had collected all the vegetable tops and placed them in mounds of dirt, along with some of Alice’s seeds, which Mist, Fern and their brother Willow, delighted in entertaining everyone by making them grow.

Trent, a normally quiet eight-year-old, came barrelling in through the back door covered in mud. “I got some pumpkin seeds here”.

Alice gave him a stern look “And just where did you get them?”

“From the pig pen”.

Alice was fit to burst with worry. “Good lord child. Are you hurt? Did any of them bite you? What were you thinking? Going into a pig’s pen, and when they were eating no less. You could have been killed, and eaten, and no one would have been any the wiser”. She spun him around several times, checking him all over.

“It’s ok Miss Alice. Them pigs are friendly. I asked if I could take em, and they said it was fine, specially since we give em all our rabbit and fish leavings”. He looked up at her with his big brown eyes and melted her heart. Such innocence could only come from a child.

“Well, just you be not doing it again. Darn near scared the life out of me”. She hugged him close with relief.

“So, I know what your magic is”. Izzy thought, and she made a mental note. She really needed to get her hands on some paper.

“Can we see if Fern can make em grow, pleeeese?”

“Very well, just don’t make em to big to carry. Some of them turnips weigh more then I do”. She chuckled to herself at her own joke, being that she was quite a large woman, and went back to preparing breakfast.

Two days past and still no sign of Mouse and the boys. Izzy was growing concerned but thought she would give them till the end of the day, then Lock could track them in the darkness. The cold cellar was almost finished, thanks to so many enthusiastic hands helping out, and even without a cold spell, it was much cooler than outside. Still, they needed it to be much colder if it was going to store food for several months.

Izzy soon discovered that the only person in town with the magic they needed, was Cassie.

Izzy didn’t want to ask Cassandra for her help. Even if she was as good as Mouse claimed, she was still the other side of Cassius. The light to his dark, the good to his evil, but connected to him none the less, and that was where her mistrust lay.

With so much to do around Haven, she found a multitude of excuses to put off going to see the witch until tomorrow, tonight she had to find Mouse and the children in his care.

 

[Moonlightlilly]

Lock ran parallel with the road heading in the direction they had gone, their scent still strong, even after the rain. He ran for two hours when he spotted Wisper and the cart headed towards town at a steady trot. He lifted his nose to catch the breeze. The boys were there, but not Mouse or Josh. He took off at a pace, heading in the direction the cart had come from. The trail from the cart leaving the road, and then coming back out, was easy to find and follow through the forest. Lock found the opening of the old mine easy enough and smelled the air again. They had gone in this way, but none of them came out this way. Picking up where the boys had come from, he back tracked them around a lot of rubble and rock, ending with a hole in the earth no more than a foot wide. He could hear them down there and felt Izzy’s relief. She couldn’t call out to tell them she was there, so Lock let out a mighty howl.

Mouse called out, “Izzy, were down here”. Followed by,

“I am pretty sure Mouse has a broken leg. That hole up there is too small for us and there is no way to climb. Gonna need a rope or something”.

Izzy and Lock thought together for a moment. This was going to take both of them. Lock headed for home. He was so much faster than the world around him, passing the cart without them noticing and in through the back door of Haven. She bundled up some clothing, a water bottle, and some herbs for pain relief into a bag and tied it closed. She also took a length of rope and wound it into a coil. Lock knew what to do. Slipping his head through the coil of rope, he picked up the bag in his mouth, and headed back to the mine shaft.

The children in the cart were at least another hour away from home, and by then, Whisper would be exhausted. One thing at a time, she thought to herself.

Back at the mine shaft, Lock dropped his burdens on the ground and started digging away the earth around the hole with his massive paws. He was making the opening bigger and dropping more then a few rocks on Mouse and Josh, which he found mildly amusing. With that done, it was Izzy’s turn. Naked and cold, she uncoiled the rope and tied one end firmly to a tree, the other end she dropped down to the stranded men.

Josh tied the rope firmly around Mouse and called for her to pull him up. Time to swap again. Lock took the rope in his massive jaws and pulled. With Lock’s strength it didn’t take long for Mouse to come to the surface. “Easy there Lock, I hurt bad here”. Lock gave him a look that signified that he didn’t really care. The rope went back down, and Josh was pulled out.

Opening the bag, Izzy quickly dressed and went to check on them. Mouse truly did have a broken leg. It was swollen and starting to change colour. It wasn’t a good sign and Mouse was moaning incessantly about the pain. Josh was fine, concerned about the children and if they got home safe. Izzy reassured him that they did. She gave mouse a sip of the pain medication and some water, then waited. It worked a treat and he was soon talking and acting like the village idiot.

Using what they could find, the built a travois and bundled mouse onto it, tying him down so he couldn’t get out and try to walk. Right now, Mouse thought he was invincible. He even thought he could fly. Josh took one pole and Izzy the other, it was going to be a long walk home.

They were about two-thirds of the way when the cart arrived with a rescue crew. They had borrowed a cart and a faster horse from the stables. Izzy and Josh both sighed with relief, every step had started becoming a struggle, and gladly climbed in. mouse was given some more pain medication and he broke out in song. Not just one song, many of them, all mixed up and out of tune. Even Izzy thought he was hilarious.

Back at Haven, a reception comity was waiting. “Oh poor Mouse, he’s hurt. Someone get the healer” which of cause meant Cassie.

That’s when the twins stepped up. “We can help”. They placed their hands on the leg, now black and swollen, and began weaving a spell Izzy had never seen before. Before their eyes, color began to return, and the swelling was going down. It took a few minutes, with some cracking and crunching sounds as the bones went back into place, and his leg was as good as new.

Izzy looked at the twins. “I guess I know what our power is” and she made a mental note. “and no healer is needed here”. It didn’t take long for the children to tell Mouse all about the huge vegetables, and how Trent can talk to the pigs, and all the other things that had happened since they left. Izzy knew that Cassie was coming and she looked at Mouse with a serious stare. “I don’t want you telling Cassie about what happens here. I know you like her, but Haven business stays in Haven. It has nothing to do with her. Do you understand?” he nodded yes, and she took a sigh of relief.

Cassie arrived in a flurry of concern. “Mouse, where are you? Mousy, oh there you are, you poor baby. They said you were badly hurt”. She rushed straight past everyone and made right for Mouse.

Mouse gave her a big smile and proceeded to tell her everything. The twins healing him, the giant vegetables, the children who could talk to animals, Izzy turning into a wolf and dragging him out of a hole, everything. With every word that came out of his mouth, Izzy became more and more furious with him. She had to walk away and let Lock take over before she started looking for blunt objects to hit him with.

Behind her, Mouse began to recount every detail of the last two days, and how they ended up stuck in a hole.

Lock was going to hunt rabbits.

 

[Moonlightlilly]

Mouse found himself in a position he was quite fond of, he was the center of attention. Everyone wanted to know what happened, and Mouse was happy to recount everything with usual theatrical flair.

“Well, when we left here, all was well. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, it was a lovely day. We reached the old mine with no troubles, but trouble was waiting for us. We had to go deep into the mine to find the coal, deep into the inky darkness that felt like a passageway to the underworld. We pushed on, setting our fears aside, going further and further in, and then, there it was. Just waiting for us. Black gold. We set to digging, filling the sacks till they were fit to bursting and loading them into the wagon. We worked hard and fast, harder and faster than we ever worked before, the thought of getting home to our loved ones driving us on. Except for Stan of course, for him it was the promise of a bowl of Mrs Alice's pot stew”.

“All was going well until we made ready to head home. The skies opened and started dumping the very rivers of Saleck down on our heads. But what were we to do? We had to keep out precious coal dry. My good friend Josh here had a plan. We pushed the wagon into the front of the mine to wait out the storm”.

“It was then the real trouble began. We decided to play a game to pass the time. A game we called ‘say and play’ each of the players told a little story, and then my good friend Josh and I would act them out. The first one was from Becky; she told a story of old Mrs McSweeney trying to milk the bull. Josh here made a magnificent bull, but he wouldn’t let me play with his udders”. Everyone exploded with laughter, even Josh. “Then it was Stan’s turn, he told the story of Mr McSweeney being chased around the paddock by the same bull. Seemed he liked being milked by Mrs McSweeney and didn’t appreciate Mr McSweeney putting it to an end, and once again, Josh propped up his magnificent horns and gave chase around the cavern. He almost caught me to,” Once again everyone was breathless with laughter.

“Then came the real trouble, young Caleb over there told the story of two old trolls who loved to dance, and they danced and danced till the dropped dead from dancing. Of cause Josh and I did I best to act out this story to the best of our considerable abilities, and just as we were finishing up and the trolls were about to die, the floor beneath us, gave way. Cast into the pits of hell we were. To add insult to our injuries, part of the roof had given way, blocking our path back to the wagon. What were we to do? We had no choice, we had to go deeper in and look for another way out. It was then I felt a searing pain in my leg. It was a pain so bad no mortal man could have endured it. It was shattered, broken into a hundred pieces. But I had to push on. I had to make sure the children got back to Haven safely”.

“We walked and walked, feeling our way through the darkness. It seemed like hours and then we saw salvation. A small light of hope in the roof of the mine shaft. The hole was far to small for me or my friend Josh, so we lifted the children up on our shoulders and pushed them out the hole, sending them for help. And help did arrive. Miss Izzy threw us down a rope and pulled us to freedom. Three cheers for Miss Izzy, hurray hurray hurray”.

Mouse had seen the look on Izzy’s face after he inadvertently blurted out everything she had asked him not to, so he left out the part of the story where she turned back and forwards into a very large wolf. He looked for her around the room, but she was no longer there. He knew he had royally screwed up and went to find her.

His head was still swimming from the lingering effects of the pain medication, so he headed for the place he and Izzy shared to sleep. When he pulled back the curtain he was met with an unexpected surprise. All of his belongings were bundled up and instead of Izzy, Lock was sitting on her blankets.

“Izzy, I am so sorry. It just came out. Cassie is a friend and I trust her to never reveal Haven secrets, or your secrets. If you just talk with her..” at that point Lock pulled back the lips to reveal massive teeth followed by a low growl. Mouse bent down slowly and collected the bundle. “How about I go sleep upstairs for a bit, we can talk later, ok?” Lock growled again and Mouse back away closing the curtains behind him.

 

[Moonlightlilly]

Izzy felt like the world was spinning out of control. Had she taken on more than she can handle? Probably. For her, life had always been simpler. Find a mark based on the darkness of their shadow, dispense justice, move on. Her mother was the only other person she had a relationship with and struggled to understand the complexities of all the emotional attachments people had. They had so many needs and wants, and Izzy never did.

She cared for those within Haven’s walls, and for many who weren’t, but caring brought chaos. So many people now looked to her for their very survival, and for a dancer to take on such a roll is unheard of. And then there was Mouse. He called it love. But what is love? She loved her mother, but how she felt about Mouse was very different. She longed to be with him, but at times she just wanted him to go away. How did that old saying go? “Can’t live with them, can’t live without them” She put that down to being accustomed to being alone and independent for so long, it was still something she needed from time to time. Still, the thought of losing Mouse made her heart ache with a physical pain. She was fiercely protective of him and would kill to keep him safe without a second thought. Maybe that is what love feels like.

Her pregnancy also played a large roll in how she was reacting to things. Things she would have taken no notice of before, now seemed to make her blood boil. There was something about this pregnancy that, like so many other things about her, was different than what other dancers would experience. This was her secret, and she would not allow anyone to know what it was. Not even Mouse. Everything was normal as far as the world was concerned. She must protect her secret and her child.

 

[Moonlightlilly]

The following morning life in Haven was back to it’s normal routine, everyone doing their part and getting things done.

Mouse presented Izzy with a lovely bunch of flowers, hoping to make up just a little for his unfiltered mouth.

She took them and smiled. There was no point being angry with him any more. Mouse was Mouse, that was never going to change. She gave him a kiss, telling him there was nothing to talk about, everything was fine.

Out in the streets there were whispers. A gang of thugs, bandits, murderers and misfits were going from farmhouse to farmhouse causing great harm every where they went. This was something Izzy could not allow. It didn’t take long for the whispers to tell her where to find her next mark.

She traveled by night, making her way to a roadhouse that worked as an overnight stop for many travelers. It was a large structure built with stone and brick. The roof was made from large timber beams covered with clay tiles and a large chimney at each end. This building had been here for three hundred years and provided shelter for thousands of travelers.

Izzy stopped the cart and waited for a moment, assessing her surroundings. The building was well lit, and the laughter and noise of the patrons could be heard from some distance. Patrons? She wasn’t sure they could be called that. They were a gang of thieves and thugs, taking what they wanted from those who had so little, causing pain and hardship for no other reason then they enjoyed it.

She dressed like a gypsy girl, wrapped in a shawl that covered her face and clothing. Entering the roadhouse, she pretended to be cold and needing a place to stay. She was greeted with cheers, rude comments and grabby hands. There was nine of them, and no sign of the family who ran the place. Izzy was certain they were already dead, so she didn’t have to worry about hurting them. She backed away from the men, waving her hand at them, suggesting she dance for them. The men cheered and clapped their hands, thinking this pretty little thing would do anything to save her skin.

She slipped her fingertip into her zills and began to chime a rhythm. Slowly she began to move, swaying her hips and undulating her torso. Slowly, the shawl slipped away revealing her face. She smiled. Such a sweet smile. The last smile they will ever see. The tempo if the zills increased in speed and so did her dance. Faster and faster she moved, feeling the magic build. It was intoxicating. Closing her eyes, she felt the music flowing through her, felt her body becoming almost liquid in its expression. She loved to dance, it was a curse that any who watched her, would die.

And so, it was for nine very bad men. When the dance was over Izzy opened her eyes and expected to see nine corpses with the eyes melted out. What she found was nine lots of clothing and boots, dust now occupying they place a body previously occupied. Somehow, she had not just killed them, she had turned their bodies to dust. This had happened with the hunter but that was different, she mated with him. Another mystery she had no answers for.

 

[Moonlightlilly]

She decided to collect all the possessions and clothing of the gang and packed them into the cart. The clothing they could pull apart to make new ones, the boots could be traded, nothing would be wasted. When she was done, the common room held no evidence they had ever been there. If nothing else, turning them to dust saved a lot of cleaning up, except for everything now being very dusty.

She moved deeper into the building and found the bodies of the family who lived there. The father had been disemboweled and left to bleed out, the mother and oldest daughter had been raped and then stabbed repeatedly, the other man, probably an employee, was covered in superficial cuts before having his throat slit. This was no simple killing, it was butchering, designed to promote pain and fear over time before making them watch each other die. This was cruelty at it peak and she wished she could go back out and kill those men over and over again. She took some small solace in knowing they will never hurt anyone ever again.

There was a pile of blankets and linen that had been washed and yet to be put away, and Izzy had people who were living who needed them so the added them to the carriage. The pantry had been freshly stocked for the winter and held much of what they needed at Haven. There was very little traffic during the winter and by spring, the food would be spoiled or eaten by rodents. Izzy hated waste. Removing all the clothing and bedding from the cart, she filled it with the contents of the pantry along with plates, bowels, spoons, and other items in short supply at home. She felt no guilt taking these things, and never saw it as theft. She was taking things that were needed for the good of others from those who no longer had need of them. Left where they were, they would have been wasted and no one would benefit. There were a few things she was pleased to find, a large some of money, from both the thugs and the roadhouse takings, and more importantly, paper. Lots of it.

The clothing and bedding were piled on top, covered by a tarp and tied down. The precious paper tucked inside to avoid damage. She would be safe enough traveling in the dark, but come morning, there would be eyes everywhere.

Izzy held Whispers halter while they walked. She didn’t need light, her eyes adapted quite well to the dark, and Whisper trusted her enough to follow her lead. They moved quickly. Without realizing she was doing it, she was giving the horse some of her strength, allowing them to travel faster than normal. As the first rays of light breached the horizon, they ended their journey at Haven’s back doors.

Something was happening within her, something was changing. Not only did she turn those men to dust, but she also absorbed their strength, their magic and their knowledge. Something inside of her knew she was becoming more powerful, and she must take that it didn’t consume her. Placing her hand over the small rise of her belly, she felt the life inside her and felt such joy.

 

[Moonlightlilly]

With the coins she had collected, and a few other items including another precious book and the paper, Izzy entered the office. It had been some time since she had been in there and something felt different. She hadn’t been wearing her corset with her blades because it saw a tight fit and made her feel faint, so she left it safely stored away in the office.

For some reason, she didn’t know why, she collected the corset and took it out to her sleeping area and left it on her blanket. This is not something she would normally have done, but for some reason, she just did it, and then went to tend to other matters. When she returned, she found Mouse, sitting on his blanket, the sword of souls laying flat against his palms. His face was turning white, his lips becoming blue, and his eyes glazed over. Izzy acted quickly, taking the blade from Mouses hands and returning it to the corset. Rushing to the office, she tossed the corset with the blades, through the office door and closed the seal. Once the connection with the blade was broken, Mouse began to return to normal, the color coming back to his face, his eyes clearing, he was Mouse again.

Mouse had no recollection of how the blade came to be in his hands, but he did recall Cassius, laughing with glee that he was about to take him away from Izzy. That she owed him a debt and he intended to collect. Mouse was exhausted so Izzy gave him a little of her own strength and lay down beside him. Once again, she had come close to loosing him. What would she do without him? The thought brought tears to her eyes. She can’t lose him, and she would do what ever it took to keep him safe. Then she had another thought, “how did Cassius manage to get the strength to manipulate her into taking the blade to where mouse could find it?” she had felt no inkling of the persuasion, it had been so subtle, but very effective. She was going to have to be more careful when going into the office and needed to find some way of getting rid of him permanently.

When she was sure that Mouse was out of danger, she went back into the office, only this time she was prepared. She removed both blades from her corset and placed them back into the box that they had been in when Lady Tusk had them. Then she placed an individual spell over the box so Cassius would be unable to influence anyone else. He would have to be a lot more powerful to do that.

In the meantime, she took the book listing magical beings and their capabilities, the paper, and a quill. It was time she did a little research and find out what her children could do, before they found out by themselves and someone got hurt.

 

[Ravenloft]

Mouse was too exhausted to be terrified by what had happed to him. He lay in Izzy's arms, his mind so foggy and muddled that he couldn't think straight. He hated being so weak, but Izzy's warmth comforted him into a quiet slumber.

"Ah, there you are..."

Mouse felt as though he was jerked awake, but he was not in bed with his Izzy...

He stood in the common room of the Tusk, but it was strangely warped, as though it was marred by wind swept shadows.

"What is this?" Mouse called out, struggling to move through the room, for the door, he had to return to the Haven!

"Oh, you poor little fool... It is a memory."

Mouse felt like he was moving through thick, icy water, it was hard to press through the room.

"Wh-who are you?!" He stuttered, fearing the answer.

"You know who I am..."

"N-no! Get out of my mind! I don't want any part of your game! Get out, get out, get out!" Mouse screamed as he grasped the handle of the door, the icy cold of it burning his hands.

"Look, little Mouse, look at what you love most..."

"Nooooo!" Mouse screamed, refusing to look, the cold realization that he was back in that night that he had been on the other side of the kitchen door, spared the sight of what Izzy had done.

"Please, no... I... I know... Don't make me watch... I know what she has to do! I accept it! Just don't make me watch!" Mouse pleaded, sinking to his knees at the door, his hands burning, his body shaking, in this nightmare as well as in bed, alone, as Izzy had slipped away, just a few minutes too soon to save him from this nightmare.

"If you know what she is, then what are you so afraid of, Mouse, be a man for once in your miserable little life and look into the maw of pain and death! You know you want to! Everyone want's to know what oblivion looks like! You are not special, or unique, your pathetic little soul is just as dirty as the souls the Death Dancer burns! LOOK!"

"Hff, hff, hff, why? Why are you doing this to me?" Mouse panted, slumping to the floor, curling up into a fetal position. "What have I done to d-deserve this?" He cried bitterly.

"Don't you know? You broke your promises, you said you would keep her secrets, you said you would protect Haven for her from those who would try to take it away... If you don't look and take your punishment, Haven will burn! I assure you of that!"

"Okay... Okay... Just... Just don't hurt the... Children!" Mouse pleaded, struggling to his hands and feet, pushing himself up from where he lay, weeping. And through tear filled eyes, he looked up to see her, dancing, a force of nature, beautiful and dangerous, he felt his heart burning with the strongest love he had ever known. It was not pain, it was not death, it was true love.

"What?! No! How? This should not be!"

Mouse awoke with a start and a gasp of breath, he was strangely calm, not shaken like he should have been by the awful nightmare. The worst nightmare he had ever had, actually. And it was pretty clear that it wasn't just a nightmare to him, he was clear headed enough to connect the dots, he had touched that fucking sword! He had heard Lord Cassius in his mind! And he had heard and felt that monster's presence in his dreams!

He immediately rushed to Cassandra Creech's shop and practically threw himself at her feet, out of breath and wild eyed. "I think I've been possessed!" He exclaimed, sinking to his knees all too dramatically. Cassandra picked him up, and brushed him off, touching her light fingers to his temples. "No, Mouse, no, but there is a pathway opened." She jerked her hands away quickly, so as not getting tangled up in her other half's web as well. "I am so sorry that you got brought into this mess, my dear... Oh, what an absolute mess..." Cassandra looked truly worried to Mouse for the first time he could ever recall. That didn't sooth his fears at all. "What? What is it Cassie?! What do we do? There must be something?! Please don't let me fall prey to this! Please, you must help me! I'm begging you!"

"Hush now, I can, and I will, but due to the nature of this all, we need Izabelle's help. Tell me, does she truly love you? I know she has taken on so much for all of us, already, but this... This might be too much to ask. Even if we can all help her to understand everything that is at stake. I doubt very much that she even wants to see me, not so soon, and especially considering how much of this is my own foolish fault... If I had known about those cursed blades... I would have said, or done more... I was a fool, I was just so overcome with joy that I thought I had rid myself of... Him... By the gods, I can't believe how poorly I handled this situation!" Cassandra was working herself up into her own fit of self torment.

Mouse saw it coming, so he did his thing and put aside his own fears and fearlessly came around the counter and threw his arms around her. "No! NO! NO!" He shouted as fierce as he could at her and squeezed, as though he was trying to squeeze the fear out of her! "We are all so very afraid, and it's gotta stop! I won't let fear rule me, and you can't either! Not you, not me, not Izzy, or Tusk! None of us deserver this, any of this! We have to talk! Just talk! There's nothing that can't be solved if we just stop fearing ourselves and each other!" Mouse would not let go, he clung to Cassandra like his life depended on it. He just wished it was Izzy that he was holding instead. But she needed her space, and he understood that now.

"Ooph! Honestly!" Cassandra gasped out, being shaken out of her lamentation just as quickly as it had begun. "You certainly have powerful magic, Mouse, please calm yourself, my dear, there is a solution. It's not the best, but it is an option, and all we can do is present it to the Dancer. A Geas, we can all place ourselves under a spell that will prevent us from ever betraying the Dancer's secrets, weather knowing or otherwise compelled, before we can reveal her or her secrets, or anything else she wishes to remain hers and hers alone, the spell will render us unconscious and she will immediately know what we have done. It is exactly the kind of assurance that you will need, that I must offer her, and that Lady Tusk will more than likely feel she owes to her. It is really just a matter of convincing Izabelle that this would be for the best, that we want to give her this one gift of love, trust and admiration. Do you understand, little Mouse?"

"Yes, I think I do. But how in the nine hells will we ever get her to agree to this, she is just so damn independent! I don't ever want to be a burden to her! I don't see how she will ever be okay with this plan... But if things keep going the way they are going, my mouth... Oh for fuck sakes... Why can't I just shut up? And now, with this... Link to that... Thing... The things he could make me do... If this is the only way to do this... We just have to convince her! Wait... why can't we just destroy that fucking sword?!"

Cassandra shook her head and lowered her gaze. "When an ego blade is sundered, the souls within are freed, and that is the last thing any of us want, that will just bring Cassius back to our realm. What we need is for someone with a stronger will than even Lord Cassius to take the Heart far away from here... That might strain his grip on you, it might even break it if the distance is great enough and the bearer's will is strong enough. No small thing, if he fooled Izzy, than it will take someone with a greater will than even hers to break his pull on you, I'm afraid. The question is, how do we draw such a personality to this tiny little town? And do we really have the right? This is something we all need to discuss and decide upon together. I am not sure I should participate, but ultimately, I will have to. She is wise, we just have to be careful not to push her away before we even get the chance to talk."

"I think Mamma Tusk can convince her to at least hear you, us out, maybe? But how much is too much? What can we do to get her to sit with us all and talk?"

"I don't know, Mouse, all I can say is give her time, I think she just needs to see we only have good intentions."

 

[Moonlightlilly]

Ever since Mouse had contact with the sword, he’s been having bad dreams. More often than not, Izzy would wake him and sooth him back to a more carefree dream, but it did have her concerned.

She knew that he would never do anything to deliberately cause any one harm, least of all her, but he also found it very difficult to keep a secret. This, she decided, was Mouse, and she loved him no matter what came out of his mouth.

He was sleeping soundly when she slipped out of bed and went to help with morning chores. Ever since she dusted the gang at the roadhouse, she found she required very little sleep and rarely tired.

Large pots of oats had been simmering overnight, and the leftovers of last nights stew was heating up as well. All that was needed was the bread, and Izzy set off to collect it. The widows argued that they could save a lot of money by making the bread themselves. Izzy explained that it wasn’t just about the bread.

By buying the bread from the baker, it provided them with an income which allowed them to by things from other stores. They had even employed a young man to apprentice. If they stopped getting the bread, they would not be able to buy other food, and the apprentice would have to go. Besides, they already had so much to do, did they really want to be up all-night pounding dough? They agreed they did not.

On her way back from the bake house, she noticed Mouse racing into Casandra’s shop looking quite panicked. She wondered if she should follow him or give him space. Understanding people and their needs was a complexity Izzy had yet to master. She reasoned that breakfast would be waiting on the bread, so she would deliver that, and come back to see if Mouse was finished with Cassandra yet.

She waited outside the store for a while, concerned he had been taking a long time, so she entered. Mouse was in quite a state, tears running down his cheeks, his eyes all puffy and red. Her first question was to Cassandra, “What did you do to him?” Mouse answered, “No Izzy, she did nothing. It’s me. It’s always me. She is trying to help me”.

Izzy cocked her head to one side indicating that he should explain.

He told her of the dream that was not a dream, and he blames himself for that because he touched the sword. Cassandra interrupted him continuously stating that it wasn’t his fault, he was being tricked buy the master of trickery. Eventually he got to the part where Cassandra thought a Geas would work, tethering himself, Cassandra and Lady Tusk all to her so that they could never reveal her secrets to any one and she would be safe.

She considered them both for a moment. Mouse was having his dreams ripped apart by a Cassius and he feared he might give away information in those dreams, as well as Cassius seeking to use Mouse to get to her. She understood Mouses desire to seek a magical solution, but she did not require any of them to make such a sacrifice to appease her.

“I agree a spell of some kind to protect mouse from Cassius is a prudent idea, and me knowing when it happens is also good, but I require no such tether to anyone. Yes, I want my secrets kept, just as anyone does, that’s why they are secrets, but there are fifty plus people living in Haven who have seen and heard so much of my comings and goings, that I doubt I have much left to keep a secret anymore. I trust you, all of you, and I would hope that trust is not misplaced. I can’t stop you telling others of me, and I will not remove your right to speak you mind. If you care for me as you say you do, then keep faith. But know this. Once my trust is broken, it’s never mended. I don’t give second chances”. She held out her hand to Mouse and wiped a tear from his cheek. “I’m going to help with breakfast. Don’t be long or you might miss out”. She kissed him on the cheek, gave Cassandra a curt nod, and headed back to Haven.

 

[Moonlightlilly]

The days were quickly growing colder, and the children ventured out less and less. Mouse was a driving force when it came to keeping the children entertained and many of them were now learning letters and numbers. There was a hum about the place, everyone doing their bit to keep tings running. Everyone took turns at doing laundry, this in turn, demonstrated the importance of not getting so dirty. Lines had been set up across the carriageway and over the giant vegetable garden, the warmth of the warehouse drying everything quickly. They also took turns at kitchen duties.

Dexter was sitting at the kitchen table, peeling very large potatoes. Grace gave him a smile, “I think we have enough now my lovely, you can put the others back”.

Dexter looked at her and reached for another potato, “We are going to need more. They are going to be here soon”.

Grace looked confused. No one had told her there were more people coming. “Who is coming my lovely?”

He shrugged. “I dunno, just some people. They have traveled a long way. They will be here soon”.

Grace sent one of the other children to find Izzy. Dexter told her again all he knew, and when asked how he knew, he said he just did. “So, we know what your magic is”. She thought and made a mental note that she would add to her written notes later.

“Well, if we have visitors arriving soon, we best prepare” Grace handed Dexter a few extra vegies to peel and set to work increasing the size of the stew. Alice checked what spare clothing and bedding was available, and the bathtubs were set up ready to be used. They were prepared.

Just as Dexter predicted, there came a knock on the door. There was eleven of them, the oldest being a girl of around seventeen and very pregnant, the youngest an infant no more than six months old, strapped to the back of one of the boys. They had traveled a very long way and it had taken more than a week to get there.

They stood there a moment before Alice hustled them inside out of the cold. They had been walking for so long and were hungry and tired. The oldest girl, Kim, told them how they overheard some traders talking about the orphanage that took in orphans of all kinds, and unwed mothers. They knew that if they stayed where they were, they would not live through the winter. Kim had been turning tricks to make money to feed the children, but once she was obviously pregnant, no one wanted her. They were going to starve, and she didn’t want to have her baby in the street. Francis told her she had much the same fears. She needed somewhere safe to give birth and be sure the babe would be taken care of. Frances was the first to give birth at Haven, but she would not be the last. Taking Kim under her wing, she showed her that here in Haven, they would be cared for, and safe.