The Lost Stone Ring

On My Way Home

"I was only gone a few hours Juri." He pulls back from his vice like hug and looks at me confused.

"You were gone a year and a month Mika." My eyes widen comically and I'm dizzy all of a sudden. "Mika?" Juri catches me as I collapse. I mean he had told me already that it had been over a year, but sometimes it takes my brain a while to catch up. No wonder he is so huggy. He is my guardian or whatever he was probably afraid that he had failed in his job to keep me safe when I was gone for so long. But still!

"It's ok. She's probably never missed much time before." I hear mom tell my friend.

"Only a few minutes here and there as far as I know." Juri answers her as he sets me down and hands me some water. I take it and drink it slowly. "Mika, we need to get out of here. Can you walk?" I take a deep breath and close my eyes for a moment before nodding and letting him help me stand up.

"Are you ok sweetie?" I smile at my mom and nod.

"Yeah. You?"

"Practically perfect." I smile wider and walk to one side of her and wrap my arm around her waist. "I'm fine dear."

"It's been twelve years mom."

"Thirteen." Juri corrects me.

"Right, thirteen years. Let me help you."

"Alright dear. Shall we go?" I nod and follow Juri as he leads us towards the edge of the forest.

"What time is it Juri?" I ask looking around at the dark surroundings.

"Five minutes after sunrise." He answers. "If we don't stop for too long we should reach the edge of the forest by twilight and set up camp there. I nod and look at mom who smiles reassuringly at me. It is so odd to see her, to have her back in my life, but here she is, next to me; I can see her, touch her. I never thought I would get that opportunity again. Now if only I could have my daddy too my little family would be complete!

Upon reaching the edge of the forest Juri sets up camp quickly while I begin to cook dinner from things out of my pack while my mom rests in the tent once it is up. Lunch had been a quick stop with bread and cheese sandwiches, with some smoky almonds, and sweet red grapes. After a quick rest we had been back to walking reaching the edge of the forest at twilight just as Juri had said we would.

"We are all clear at the moment Mika. There is nothing out there but animals, some fae, mostly mundane. All of them are more scared of us than we are of them."

"Thanks Juri."

"Anytime." He takes a seat next to me on a log I had brought close to the fire. "How is the Queen?"

"Good. She's resting. I don't know how long it will take her to get her strength back."

"That I can't tell you. She was down there a long time and near to death. It could be a few weeks, a few months, or never. There is no way to know for sure."

"I know. It's just, I finally have her back! I want her to be like she was, how I remember her. It's selfish, but I only know her as the mother of a toddler, not as a queen, and certainly not as a person. I want to get to know her, I want her to be healthy."

"And you will get to know her. I believe that once we return to Overhill you won't be able to get away from her."

"Sounds amazing." I tell him with a smile.

"It will be, for a while anyway. I, more than any of your other friends, know how much of a strain family can be on a person. If you need help, or to talk, I will always listen, and I will try and give you advice."