Swift and the Sword - Inktober 2017 (COMPLETE!)

Epilogue - Found

Chapter 30: Found

The laughter of children filled the air. People bustled about with their daily lives, some shopping, other socializing, and others simply enjoying the rush of life. And in the middle of it all hung the timeless statues for the heroes of the town standing in all its glory. Kids and tourists awed as it's glory as townsmen smiled upon the memory of their heros and the peace they had found following their right.

Two cloaked figures took a seat at their regular table at a popular bakery that stood before the statue. Hoods covered their heads as they watched the scene before them, smiling at the children that giggled past them playing their games of Swift and Swords.

"Remember when we were like that?" One muttered as he followed the familiar kids until they faded out of sight.

"Of course. I was the champion of our duel! How could I ever forget such an honourable victory?" His companion exclaimed, exaggeratedly as she rested her chin upon her hand.

Chuckling, the male rolled his eyes as he gestured to a server "ever so humble aren't we?"

"Humbleness went out of the window when that thing was placed us" the woman replied, lightly, with a chuckle of her own, before she turned to the familiar waitress with a smile and requested their regulars.

"Mommy! Mommy! Who are those people in the statute?" A child asked, not far from the two, where she rested upon the fountain edge before said statute.

"Those are the heroes this town had found dear," The mother said as she carefully unpacked their lunch.

The two focused upon them with soft smiled, and the child's eagerness as she asked her mothers for their story.

"Well, Let's see, the story of the heroes... well it to start with, you should know it is a story of one who fought out of the shadow, of one who believed strongly in the good of humanity, of one who howled with both pain and strength, of one who sought to be powerful enough to protect his friends, and of one who turned a man into a mouse!"

"A mouse!" the child exclaimed with childish glee and awe "why a mouse?"

"Well, why don't I start from the beginning....

The two listened to the recreation of the tale they lived through with both pride and amusement.

"They forgot something important" the male mused as he took another sip of his coffee, watching his partner in crime over the top of his cup as she smiled fondly at the little children.

"What?" she questioned, her eyes not straying from them.

"The romantic kiss the heroine gave the hero as he went off to fight for her," he said dramatically, with exaggeration.

The female paused. Once his words had settled in she whipped around the face him, her cheek really red.

"Barnes!" She exclaimed, reaching out to swat his shoulder.

The male, Barnes, simply chuckled.

"What? it's true!"

"What's true, daddy?" Came a small voice from behind them.

Barnes turned to look at the child who glanced up to the two innocently, with ice cream coating her lips and a wild look in her eyes.

The two shared a look.

Quickly, the male took her in his arms, as whipped her mouth as he asked "Petal, where are your gramps?"

"Gramps?" The child said, smiling widely. "Somewhere in bakers avenue. Sensei was scolding Grandpa Spade for feeding me ice cream and I got bored, so I came to find you! Shadow said you would be here today"

"Really Jack? Ice cream of all things?" the woman muttered as she stood up, petting Petals hair before stating "I shall go and fi-"

"There they are!" A female voice cut her off, as three pairs of heavy footsteps headed towards them.

"Petal!" The three screamed as one lifted the girl from her father's lap and into his arms with a little bit of magic "what were you thinking disappearing on us like that?"

"And what were you thinking losing her like that?" another voice came to them, harsh and sharp. Tensing, the magician slowly turned to the angry mother who looked to him with a glare that could rival that of his own alpha brothers.

"Ah... well, you see Swift" He said, lost for words.

"The same goes for you two," Swift said, turning to the other two at the scene who had the decency to look down guiltily.

"Sorry Swift.." the shadow teen muttered as the alpha wolf repeated the apology in agreement before adding, sternly, as he shifted his own gaze to his brother "but some people don't learn from one sugar hype"

"Don't blame me!" the magician whined "blame the eyes! It's all in the puppy eyes! You should not have given them to her Swift!"

Barnes sighed, reaching up to take his child again, who happily went to him.

"Well, we can't do anything now that it's happened. All That matters is that she is safe now. So why don't we head home? Sear is planning on visiting tonight with the chief of the Monoki tribe, remember? Best to actually be there when they arrive"

"Yes, lets!" the magician said, ever too quickly, very familiar with the anger behind the heroine's eyes, as he shuffled ahead of the group.

With a sigh, the others followed.

"Why are you so alright with this, You should be as angry about this as I am" Swift muttered as she walked in a matched pace to her husband "You should not let them go so easily"

"Who says I'm letting them go so easily?" Barnes said with a Cheshire grin smile.

"What do you mean?" Swift replied, mimicking his smile as their daughter looked between them with interest.

"I mean, I think I already know who's on bedtime duty tonight"

Realisation hit the heroine, who relaxed with the knowledge as their daughter went back to playing with her father's hair, not interested in anything related to 'bedtime'

Swift chuckled.

"Excellent. Just excellent"