#rivervale_lodge

"Can't hurt nobody."

"How can Adam be a bad guy? He's our f-friend." Snuffling. "He burnt them. He tried to burn Jack and Tovedad all up."

"Dad....." Adam starts.

"That wasn't Adam. It was a bad guy wearing a disguise."

Torin nods "The real Adam was a prisoner but he's free now"

"He even smelt like Adam. If I can't trust my nose I don't know who to trust."

"It was a very good disguise. I know. But I am glad you hid and stayed safe."

Jack staggers next to Connor

"That was AWFUL" he says outloud

Kyle looks at his son, "It's okay, Adam. You're okay, so we'll be okay."

And another voice outside "Adam?Where is..." And Brenda races on her hooves nearly crashing into her son and husband "Baby , let me look at you? Oh god I know you hate hwen Ifuss but ever there was a time.."

tears born of fear for her son flow freely

"I'm Ok ! Mom, I'm ok!!"

"Torin, do you still need more healing?"

"I don't know if one cookie is enough..."

"Save it" Torin says "Makes a good story"

"Dad.." Tove looks him over "if you wont' listen to your daughter or your grand daughter, I am not above sicing your date on you"

"Fine fine.. I'll get top off, but later"

Mrs. Thomas says "You're okay? I hear your BODY got stolen by a crazy wizard bum who tried to reave the balefire"

"I tried to warn everyone....."

"You did.. and I'm sorry son, I thought it was another pooka prank like you warned me about and.." Mr Thomas shakes his head

"S'ok, dad. Really. I know how it sounded when I was saying it."

"Oh Adam, how did you even get out of something like that?" Brenda fusses "I mean.. if no one helped you.." Then her eyes turn to Zane "Ah. I see."

"Actually," Zane says "Piper did at least as much as i did.. and before that Adam was like totally handling on his own as best he could"

Adam backs away. "Or, you know.... I did it on my own."

He sits.

Zane looks confused "Kind of waht I meant.. you had it handled even before we showed up"

"Well, its aamzing you did" Kyle says

"Piper. Piper?" He looks around.

"I didn't see her on my way in, " Brenda says "But I'm sure she's fine"

DAGMAR continues to be made something of a fuss over with Tove and Jaymes despite that she's fine.

"Zane, can you find Piper? Please?"

He struggles to his feet.

"Yeah..sure.." Zane nods "Just..stay with your family okay?"

"I'm fine."

Tove says "Yes yes... but we're going to make a fuss anyway"

....He might use Kyle's frame to get to his feet....

Jaymes grunts and nods at THAT

And yes, long before this Adam's dad would have helped him up

Adam mumbles something to Kyle.

He mutters back

"Honestly, I didn't do a lot."

"Certainly didn't get in any danger. So."

Torin grins "There waws a will worker, a rune caster involved. Everyoen mgiht have been in danger, but that means everyone is a hero for having survived it" he strokes Connor's hair and gives Jack a squeeze

"...Lily ran, do we know where she went?"

"I think to her father" Torin says

"It's okay, son. She'll be back" Kyle says

Adam makes a noise; acknowledgment and dismissal all in one. He looks around the sparring yard in the darkness. It seems... summed up?

It seems as if things are ... well, in severe clean up mode, but yes.

Zane hasn't returned with Piper yet.