The third and final book of the "Change of Nowhere" series
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It's been 10 years since Elk's death, and the twins are growing up fast. Still trying to get used to things, they still believe their father is doing his best to come back, but they'...
Elk walks slowly to the twins, and they look up at him and Aldara reaches her hand to him and he lets her touch his cheek. Her eyes water and she gets closer, "Is this really happening?... You're really back?" Elk smiles at her, and he looks at Divoky, touching his cheek as well, "It's really me. I'm here now..." Divoky takes a deep breath, trying to stay calm, but he bursts into tears, "DAD!" He hugs him, and Aldara wraps her arms around her father, and all three of them tumble to the ground, crying tears of joy. Elk laughs, tears falling down his face, holding them close, "I missed you two so much..."
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The twins smile at him, and he gets a good look at them, "You both have grown so much...." He ruffles Divoky's hair, "Look at you. Getting your antlers." He hugs them both tight, "Mmph!" Adalie smiles at them, before she almost collapsed to the ground, and Divoky gasps, "MOM!" The three get up and catch her, setting her down on the bed. She pants, catching her breath, "I'm okay. I'm okay. Just...I just need some rest." "Should I get a nurse?" Aldara moves her mother's hair out her face, Adalie shaking her head, "It's fine." Elk gets up, "I could get some water for you." He goes outside to get to the well, and he looks around the village, not much had changed.
Elk gets to the well and gets the bucket down, and once it gets filled with water, he starts pulling it back up, then senses someone was watching and he looks around, jumping when he saw Josiah staring at him, "AH! Oh, Josiah...uhh..." He felt the centaur touch his shoulder, making sure he wasn't seeing things and his eyes widen, "Elk? OH MY GOODNESS!" He pulls the elktaur into a tight bear hug, "LOOK AT YOU! Oh man the village hasn't been the same with you gone!" Elk wheezes, "Great to see you too. Maybe not try to break my back?" Josiah releases him, chuckling, "Sorry. The family just missed you. EMILIA! Come here!" She peeks from the window, gasping, "ELK!" She runs to him and hugs him, "You're alive!" Her eyes widen, "Is Adalie okay? Did she pass out?" Elk nods, "She's okay. Just laying down."
Emilia sighs in relief and she giggles, "Oh, it's so good to see your face again. Gosh, you've missed a lot..." Elk looks back at the cottage, seeing the kids through the window, "I know..." Josiah looks at him and sighs, "But hey, they never lost hope. Eve Adalie didn't want to give up. She never met another centaur after she lost you... She stayed loyal to you even though you were gone." Emilia nods, "Elk, there was no other centaur that could be any better than you in Adalie's eyes. You were the only one she wanted." Elk smiled when she said that, his heart fluttering, "She still loved me..." He shakes his head, remembering the water and pulls the bucket up. Emilia chuckles and gets a cup, "Here."
He fills the cup and they go to the cottage and Elk gives Adalie the water, running his fingers through her hair and gently kisses her forehead, a giggle leaving her mouth, "Still tickles." Josiah laughs, "Nice beard, Elk." He strokes his own, and Elk chuckles and Adalie kisses his nose, and lays her head down on the pillow and the twins give Elk another hug and he smiles, "I know I said it already, but I missed you all so much... I'm so sorry it took so long.... I'm sorry I broke my promise." Divoky shakes his head, "No dad, you didn't break your promise. You were trying to save us, and that griffintaur hurt you..." Aldara nods, "She hurt all of us..." Elk wipes the tears forming in his eyes, smiling and he holds them close in a warm embrace.
