#odyssey

Janice nods. "Your Saining was interrupted, Thistle. That wasn't right - you should get to celebrate in all fullness."

"I didn't even get that cake."

The sun has sunk below the horizon, though color still is splashed across the sky. "I guess we didn't get that storm after all." Art says.

...only for the sky to open, and a gentle rain to start falling. A warm, cleansing rain.

"Hey, Thistle?" Gwen says gently

Thistle laughs. "Timing, Star-boy."

"Yeah?"

"remember when you first doubted your craft, your art skills, your vision, but I told you that they were amazing, and you would one day craft wonders that would change the world? "

A gentle smile

The smile grows Trimphant "I furkin Told you so!" And the grin is huge and she looks heavenward "i've been holding that in for almost a YEAR!"

"OY!"

Art laughs!

The selkie and Trina's family - they look puzzled!

"Oh, your sculpture!" Art hurries over. "We should get it out of the rain!"

"We definitely should" Gwen moves to help, the weight of a petty told you so finally off her back

He stops, getting a closer look at it finally. "Oh. Oh, wow."

Somehow, the droplets of water flowing over the glistening glazed clay makes it look even more... something.

Selkies are splitting off now, heading home - the challenge over. Dayana hurries off with an apology, being DRAGGED by Grog - who does NOT like the wet.

"i told you so but wow, your art told everyone else" Humbler now as the rain makes it shine even more

Little Muirghein Brighid laughs and waves her hands, gleeful in the warm droplets, but still, Janice tucks her out of the rainfall.

"I think it should be okay? It's fired..."

"Mother?" Janice asks, tentatively, and Saoirse responds with a nod, she still knows how to take charge. "Come, you will stay with me. Get out of the wet - and someone grab that boy before he gets out to sea." Frankie is retrieved.

Saoirse looks to the Trio. "Much is yet to be decided. But in clarity that was denied you earlier - you are welcome here, Thistle, and your friends, for the length of your stay."

"You are Champions all, and returned my family to me." She adds, then follows as they move to get the children in out of the rain.

"Th-.." A yawn interrupts her next thought, two days of hellbent Creation catching up to her.

"Cool."

"Your call, Thistle. It's your work." She leaves it if requested and then bows to Saorise only to see Thistle nearly crumble. She offers her friend herself to lean on on one side. Art can get the other

Art moves to Thistle's side. "Gwen, do you think you can carry that inside?" The Dog Pugmill and Cart has fled.

"Or... should we leave it here?"

"Inside is good."

"I'll get it, you help thistle" She tells Art

A grateful smile to Gwen - she's the only one who could lift the thing.

Gwen does. It's heavy, even for her, but she craddles it with care

"I want..." Another yawn. "CAKE."

Art wraps an arm around Thistle. To help support her.

"You were fantastic, you know. I missed the unveiling... but what you made? It speaks for itself."

"You gotta tell me how you got them here... furkin' A, A plus, didn't see THAT coming." Oh yes, her exhaustion is catching up to her, she's yammering.

"Well... I called them. And they took a plane." He holds her up, she can lean on him if needed.

"A plane! Brilliant!" And she plants a kiss on his cheek.

"It didn't seem right for you to fight for family, without your family." He says, and then turns red. But she can't see that, not in the dark! But the arm around her does give a soft squeeze. "You are exhausted. Citrine is going to fuss."

"I want a party, dammit." YAWN.

"An' a big fat cake."

"You'll get it. Anything you want. The world is yours." He says, lightly, a bit giddy himself. "Tomorrow."

"Okay."

"Couldn't have done this without you."

She can practically hear the grin on his face. "Of course not. I wouldn't have let you."

"Nope! Stubborn idjit!"

They've reached the door, family chatter from within! "You might not get to sleep right away after all." True enough, they are both drawn into conversation with those in the Chieftess's house. Thistle may fall asleep on her feet.

However, when she wakens the next morning in a bed, she knows that it was not, after all, just a dream.

(Scene!)