(Untitled)

[smallestopener]

It's time. It's finally time to go home. Ingress and Megwyn stand in front of an old stone wall some ways from the main road to Haven. The wall is screened by trees, thus making Tom and Door's sudden appearance less noticeable for anyone who might be passing by

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[young_tmriddle]

Tom expects another session of pleading for more time in Valdemar, but he and Door will be firm this time. A month is quite long enough.

He raises his eyebrows in surprise to see her bag packed and waiting at Megwyn's feet. He raises them even more when she runs, throwing her arms around Door's waist. He glances at Megwyn, and then back to Ingress, before meeting Door's eyes. This reception was not what either of them expected.

[smallestopener]

"Yes, please. Can we go right away?" She hugs her again and then turns to Tom, not letting go of Door yet.

"And you need to fix the spell so Galatea can come back and forth," she charges Tom. "You have to. Or I have to learn how to open here all by myself. You can teach me, right, Door?"

[young_tmriddle]

Tom's expression becomes even more concerned. "I shall, little one, as best I can."

Did something happen to her? Did she get hurt?

[smallestopener]

"Good," she says, finally releasing her grip on her big sister. She squeezes Tom's hand as Megwyn steps carefully forward. Ingress scurries to collect her bag, and then returns, pressing one hand on Megwyn's flank, and reaching for Door's with her other.

"Okay, let's go."

[not_a_horse]

She'd hung back a bit at first before pacing forward to take her place at her Chosen's side.

The Companion is very carefully not catching the eye of either Tom or Door, and is in fact remaining as unobtrusive as it is possible for her to be.

[young_tmriddle]

Tom steps behind the ladies, and places a hand over Ingress' hand, squeezing it. She looks up at him, smiling, but there is sadness in her eyes that he didn't expect to see.

He is extremely worried and willing to move heaven and earth (literally) to make whatever is wrong right again. Hopefully it's a small thing. Perhaps she is merely homesick. There will be ice cream in the House of Arch today, that's one thing for certain.

"Well then, shall we?" He and Door prepare to Open their way back to the Underside.

[smallestopener]

Ingress sighs happily and closes her eyes. When she opens them again, she'll be home, safe and loved with her family and friends.

And then things will be better. They have to be.