epilogue

      Something disturbed a proximity webbing. Van closed his eyes, concentrating, finding with his mind where his black web fence was damaged. He accessed the nearest globule and looked through it to see. Would it be an attacker, or one of the crippled Lion elves he allowed to dwell in this city. He'd gotten the water running within the first week, and when  crippled and outcast lion elfs arrived, they were perfect for keeping the gardens and fruit trees.

     In his mind he inhabited the ichor, and what he saw was completely unexpected. He jumped to his feet and fought the urge to run out, but forced himself to sit back down.

     Vestis pointed. Looking toward the area indicated, Glam noticed there was an entire avenue with no black webbing. He threw down the dead stick he'd used to cut down the jet black web fence. He grinned and shrugged, "Ooops," he said, "I got a little over anxious and wasn't paying attention. Why would he leave a way in and out when he can fly?

     Saras nerves were on edge, so she was the first to notice the unnatural swelling of a nearby black orb, jumping, pointing and screeching a little. She knew she shouldn't be afraid. It was their friend who lived here, right? Nevertheless, her antics caught their attention and they were now all looking at the expanding black ball of negative energy, or to be more specific, it had stopped expanding on all sides and were now shaping into a flat plane. From out of it came a throne, and upon the throne.... a corpse?

     Van hadn't eaten in quite some time, despite the cities new residents leaving him food offerings daily. He did, indeed, appear corpse like. Everybody took a moment to recognize him, coming close to drawing weapons to defend themselves. Oolah was the one who recognized him first, having seen him in a similar, yet not quite so extreme, state.

     Van ended the floating throne and fell lightly to his feet. He walked toward them, a smile on his face. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss you all. I think of you all often. Oolah sniffed, and looked away, covering her face, But Glam stepped forward, returning Vans smile.

     "The deal was, while we take care of the horde, you take care of the source, then, and here's the important part, come home." Van hung his head a bit, not knowing what to say, but a second later was being engulfed in his friends embrace. As if there'd been an invisible signal it was now ok, he was surrounded by his friends, each greeting and hugging him. Even Rollobal was with them. The one called Sara introduced herself. "She's ma wife," added Glam to the end of it.

       Van was surprised, and it showed on his face. "Glam! he exclaimed, "but... I.... thought you were...."

     "Too old?" interupted Glam.

      "I was going to say, 'finished'," Van corrected him, "But now that you mention it...."

      "I've seen better days, true.... said Glam, but I haven't aged in over 30 years. Got up one morning and thought, 'yep, I'm through with that!" They all laughed.

     "On one of our adventures we were 'lucky' enough to have been the last to drink from a mysterious spring." added Vestis. "My people tend to have shorter lifespans then many. I was old and Glam was... well, as you see him. It was our last mission. I had only recently gained my relic and hadn't figured how to... direct it."

     "Ok, I guess." said Van. Turning to Sarah, "forgive me for my rudeness," he gave a bow then, "thank you for looking after my friend. Also, I think you have something that belongs to me. There, in that side pouch." He pointed.

     Sara looked puzzled for a moment then a look of understanding dawned on her. "That explains it," she said, digging into the pouch and producing a ring, about the size of a bracelet. It was a smooth white, reflecting many colors. "I even sold it a few times, it always found its way back."

     As he got it from her, new power surged through him. He sighed, rather then feeling any sort of elation. "Wow," he said, deadpan, "just what I need, more power."

     Vestis looked at him pitiably. "We need to have a long talk." He said, his tone sympathetic and someone weighted. "You know when I got my relic, before I was able to adjust to it, innocent people kept dying to my benefit. I almost became a king the first week I had it. A war had started, to put me there, and a religious cult had declared me their... their high priest." he finished uncomfortably. You are not alone in your misery and guilt, as a matter of fact."

     "I don't know what to say..." Van said after a pause. "I feel like such an ass. I've wanted so bad to just, go back. At times, the only thing keeping here are the outcasts." Indeed, a crowd was starting to gather, of Crippled and maimed lion elves, some on makeshift crutches, terrible scars...

      "If there weren't so many, I'd take them with you!" exclaimed Glam. "Looks like they'd be fine here without you!"

    "You've got the fountains going!" gasped Oolah, realizing what it was that was different.

     "It looks safe here now, but I've been keeping the predators at bay. Without near constant hunting, the predators will over run the area again. As for the water, I had that running in a week. You wouldn't believe the aquafer this place has, and the giant cistern is wonderful! Of course there be monsters there."

     "Well," said Glam, " We could stay here for a bit, sort of check back on occasion, it only takes a few days to get here. My farm is in good hands. In fact it's almost gotten boring for me!" He laughed.

     "A few days?!" Van exclaimed, "How?!"

     Sara spoke up, "I hold a relic. I can sense animals from great distances. I can speak to them... make requests."

     "We rode in on a giant bird!" said Glam excitedly.

    During all this time Oolah and Van had been stealing glances at one another, as though across a great chasm. Van longed to rush to her, to embrace her. But what could he say to her...? However, here she was. Here, she was looking at him, even after all the things he'd done and said to her.

      "I'll show you around" Said Van, starting down one of the broad avenues. "You can claim homes in the area the Outcasted are living in. It's one of the nicer areas, and I've repaired nearly everything." They talked as they went, mostly catching Van up on what was going on back on Glams farm. They also told him how Sara, a youthful lady in the prime of here life, how she came to arrive at the farm, and the wooing thereof by Glam. 

      They soon arrived at the cluster of houses where the lion elf outcasted has moved in to. Most were out taking care of the many gardens of the city, while others would stay here, doing what chores their disabilities allowed them, or in some extreme cases, told stories or sang. Introductions were made and in the ensuing exchange betwixt the two group, Van managed to draw Oolah to the side.

     "Why have you not eaten?" she scolded, almost immediately.

     "food has no flavor without you." He confessed.