A homecoming of sorts
Karaya is as I remember it, but it's different too. Everyone's overjoyed to see me - they thank me for sending the "Iganayka" to them, but behind this, I can see something else in their eyes. It's almost like a seed of doubt has been planted about my capabilities as chief. I can tell that the older ones - the ones that remember my grandfather - don't think this would have happened if he was chief.
Aila knows how I've always felt for her. She was talking about watching the sun rise with Nash in platonic way, and I made the mistake of telling her there was no platonic way to watch a sunrise .... she says that sometimes she feels the same way. Things were simpler when I was only Hugo, and not Hugo, Chief and Flame Champion.
Who am I kidding? The path I've taken up until this point has brought me many great things, the most important of which is Stallion. I would endure countless more wars if it meant I could spend the rest of my life with him .... it's frightening, feeling so strongly for someone. I'm still not completely sure of his feelings, although I know that I am slowly starting to get through to him. Just little things ... the way he'll initiate contact or the tilt of his ears when I smile at him ... I could drown in those little things about him ....
It's going to be difficult to leave Kayan and the other children here when it is time for Aila and I to return to the castle. I didn't realize how attached I became to Kayan until I saw him reunited with his parents. Not all of the children had parents to be reunited with - some were orphans. We're still working with Ruth to find families for them, but it shouldn't be hard -- there are more than enough families willing to welcome another youngster to them. It's up to Ruth to make the final decision though ... and if I know her, she's going to take her time with that decision.