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The snow stuck to Adonijah's clothes as they walked, and before long, his white hair and nearly white clothing rendered him almost invisible in the snow-filled world they were walking through. Still, he made sure that Feng and Naida did not fall behind. He knew they would get lost without him. They rarely left the clearing where the house was, let alone left the valley itself.

When they finally reached the house, it seemed they were expected.

Aliya had been watching at the window for their return, having been worried about her friends, but most especially about her son. For all of the times he had disappeared for hours on end, he had never disappeared overnight, and especially not on a night when it had snowed so heavily ... nor had he ever seemed so depressed as he had the day before.

"Adonijah!" she cried, bursting out the front door and just about smothering him in a hug. "You're safe!"

Adonijah cringed a bit, but then he slowly put his arms around his mother's back and relaxed into her embrace. "I'm sorry, Mother," he murmured quietly, sensing, as he did with the animals, just how upset she was.

Tears began to trickle down Aliya's cheeks. "I'm just glad you're all right," she whispered in his ear, still hugging him tightly. Then she looked over at Feng and Naida. "And you two?" she asked them softly, her expression still worried. "Are you all right?"

Aliya blinked at Naida's question, but after a moment she began to giggle. It wasn't just that Naida's question had been cute, or funny ... it was the relief at knowing that her son and her friends were all right, that they were safe, and that they were back. The laughter welled up inside of her, and she felt better - and yet more tired - than she had felt in a very long time.

"Well, there's no ice on the river," she giggled at the two, "so you can go on if you'd like. Whenever you're ready you can come on into the house ... and I think Ryu was worried about you, too, so you might want to hurry."

She released Adonojah slowly and brushed her knuckles gently across his rosy cheek. "And you," she smiled warmly. "You need a bath as well ... come inside."

And she directed him towards the door, which was still open, having been forgotten in her eagerness to greet her son and friends.

Aliya brought Adonijah inside, and the first thing that she did was find Ryu. He would be glad to know that his sister and niece were safely back again.

"Ryu?" she asked, nudging Adonijah into the kitchen and following after him.

Aliya nodded happily at Ryu. "Feng and Naida are a bit muddy, so they're taking a quick bath in the river," she explained, "but then they'll be in for some breakfast. They spent the night with Adonijah ... where?"

Adonijah fidgeted uncomfortably. "Out," he said quietly. "Somewhere."

Aliya looked at her son through narrowed eyes, wanting more information.

"It was safe," Adonijah agreed quietly. "But even if I told you where it is you would not be able to find it."

Aliya looked defeated at their words, and she sighed and shook her head slowly. "Then at least tell me if you're going to go off again," she told her son firmly, "so that I don't have to worry so much."

"I'm sorry, Mother," the boy murmured, eyes downcast. "I'll try not to worry you like that again."

Aliya sighed and gave him a gentle push. "Go on and get some fresh clothes on and then come and get something to eat."

As Adonijah headed off to his bedroom, Aliya moved to sit on a chair near Ryu. Her relief was evident on her face, and for the first time since the day before, a smile crossed her features.

"It is," Aliya agreed readily. "I just wish I knew where he had gone ... or what had made him leave like that. Amdir said he seemed thoughtful after the funeral ... and I suppose that's to be expected, but what was he thinking about? I'm just curious, I suppose ... and worried."

After all, who could say when he would wander off to think about something else, and whether or not (or when) he would come back again.

Then she realized something else.

"He seemed pretty chatty," she mused, now completely confused. "I don't think he's ever spoken in your presence before ..."

"Hopefully," Aliya murmured softly, her eyes filled with worry once more. It was nice that he was finally talking in front of people other than his family and Rose ... but at the same time, it was such a change that Aliya couldn't help but find it a little startling.

Suddenly Adwin entered the room, a tiny ball of gray fluff cradled tenderly in his hands.

"Adonijah's back?" he said, though it was more a comment than a question. "Where was he?"

Aliya shrugged. "No idea."