Epilogue – Part 2

Toriyami ushered himself downstairs, curious about the commotion outside. “Do you know what’s going on?” Emery asked as she hurried down the stairs, still in her robe, her hair wild with sleep.

Toriyami shook his head as he opened the door to the garden. “Not a clue.”

Outside, Hanaki stood like a soldier, gripping a rake as if ready for battle.

“Hanaki?” Toriyami called. “What are you doing?”

“There’s someone in the vegetables!” Hanaki exclaimed, pointing toward a ruined patch of the garden. “I couldn’t catch them, but they haven’t left. I know it.”

Emery rubbed her eyes, adjusting to the bright morning sun. She walked over and knelt by the trampled garden. The vegetables weren’t just nibbled—whole plants had been pulled up by hand.

Not an animal.

She stood, scanning the area. Behind the barn, she noticed something small and pale peeking out.

A fluffy tail.

Hanaki tensed, but Emery waved for him to get back. “And put the rake down,” she ordered.

Reluctantly, Hanaki obeyed, crossing his arms as he walked back into the shop.

Emery crouched by the barn and peered around the corner. A young rabbit beast-girl sat trembling in the dirt, dressed in little more than rags. Her large ears drooped low, and tears streaked her face.

“Hi there,” Emery said softly, reaching out her hand. “I’m Emery. What’s your name?”

The girl shook her head, shrinking back.

Emery sighed and stood. “Hanaki, go inside.”

“But—shouldn’t we call the village guard?” Hanaki protested.

Emery silenced him with a sharp glare. Hanaki grumbled, retreating into the shop.

Emery gestured for Toriyami to join her. Toriyami nodded, hurrying to her side. “It’s nice to meet you,” Emery said gently, kneeling again. “But you know, you’ve taken food from a witch’s garden.”

The rabbit girl’s eyes went wide with fear. Her body trembled. She hadn’t realized the garden belonged to a witch. If she knew, she would never have entered the garden, let alone steal the vegetable.

Toriyami bent down, his tone kind. “I see you understand us. Would you like to come inside?”

The girl shook her head violently.

Emery chuckled, standing. “I think coming inside is the least you can do, seeing as you stole from my garden.”

Without waiting for an answer, Emery turned and walked toward the shop. Leaving Toriyami with the young girl and leaving the decision—and the trust—to the girl.

Toriyami lingered. “She’s not a scary witch, you know,” he assured. “What she says won’t be as bad as you fear.”

The rabbit girl whimpered. “The boy… he wants to hurt me.”

Toriyami sighed, rubbing the back of his head. “If I promise Hanaki won’t hurt you, will you come inside to talk?”

After a long pause, the girl nodded. Toriyami smiled and held out his hand. “I’ll protect you.”

As she stood, he noticed wounds on her legs. Without a word, he lifted her into his arms and carried her inside.

“Well done, Toriyami,” Emery praised as Toriyami sat on the chair, settling the girl on his lap. Hanaki sulked in the corner, arms crossed. Once again not feeling as if his opinions on the matter were being heard. “Don’t mind him,” Emery chuckled.

She placed a plate of food and a glass of juice before the girl. The child stared at the meal with wide eyes, then began eating with both hands, devouring the food without hesitation.

Toriyami smiled, stroking her head as she calmed.

“As I was saying, you stole from a witch’s garden,” Emery repeated sat beside them.

The rabbit girl froze mid-bite. “Am I in trouble?”

“Not the way you think,” Emery replied with a soft laugh. “If you’re going to take from the garden, you’ll learn how to grow it.”

The girl blinked up at her in confusion, looking up at Toriyami for an answer.

“She means you’ll work off what you ate,” Toriyami explained. “Is that okay?”

“I… I can stay?” Her lower lip trembled. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked back to Emery.

Emery nodded. “We need more help tending the garden. Is that a fair deal?”

The girl threw herself forward, hugging Emery tightly.

Emery smiled, her heart full. As long as she kept extending her hand—just like Blaise once had—she could carry on the legacy her family had built. Not through grand speeches or council halls, but through kindness.

One outstretched hand at a time.