Wintry White

     So she sneaked out quite easily, given her small size, and the fact the children were more entertained with their games... except... she wasn't counting on Lina, who noticed her go outside.

     The young Yellow Kyrii stealthily followed the child from afar, and saw her going towards the forest. White advanced a little further, while Lina hid behind a pile of logs. Then, she heard the child ask,

     "Papa?"

     At this, a shadowy figure slowly came from the forest. It was a tall, scarred Grey Kyrii with a black coat and brown eyes.

     "Papa!", White beamed as she ran up to hug him. The Grey Kyrii embraced her warmly, tears in his eyes. "H-hey, my baby."

     Lina watched this, and felt joy surge in her heart at seeing the two of them so happy. She figured, that must've been the reason the child had wandered off from her home...

     But then-

     "Hey! You! Over there!", that was Noel, who had followed Lina outside. "What are you doing with her?!" The Grey Kyrii froze in place, holding his daughter tightly.

     "Noel!", yelled Lina. "Don't scare him! He's her dad!"

     "Her Dad?!", inquired Noel. Lina nodded, and the Zafara turned his gaze to the two Kyriis. The little White was sobbing, hugging the older Kyrii tightly.

     "You, mister", asked Lina as he approached him. "What's your name?"

     The Kyrii tried to scamper away, but Lina added, "And if you try to run away, please, don't."

     "C-Callan."

     "Hello, Callan. I'm Lina! This is Noel. We won't hurt you." He looked at her, trembling of fear, but Lina added, "We promise."

     "Noel? White?"

     And that was Wendy, who approached them. At seeing Callan, she stopped. "You? What are you doing here?", she inquired angrily.

     "He's White's father", Noel explained. Wendy looked surprised. "You know him?"

     "He's a Shadow Prowler", Wendy said.

     "N-not anymore", Callan stuttered. "I-I put that life behind me."

     The Wocky crossed her arms. "I'm not sure I believe you."

     "Why else would I have these scars? Y-you seriously think I'd do this to myself?", he said, grimacing from the pain. "P-please. I-I-" But as he was speaking, he collapsed to the ground.

     "Papa!", cried White.

     Wendy approached to examine him closely. "He's still breathing. Quick, you two, get help", he ordered Noel and Lina, and the two obeyed.

     "Agh..."

     "Papa!"

     "Wh-White?"

     The village medics had tended to Callan's wounds, and he was lying on a bed. His daughter was hugging him tightly. She hadn't left his side all the time he had been unconscious. He was still dumbfounded by the whole ordeal, yet his first reaction was to pull his daughter closer and kiss her. "Oh, my baby... how have I missed you..."

     "I missed you too, papa! But why did you run away the other day?", she asked innocently.

     "I-I-" He sighed.

     "I-I g-got scared, my baby. A-and I didn't want to scare you..." He caressed her face. "I-I'm sorry if I c-caused you any trouble... b-but... I-I needed to see you."

     Outside, the medics were speaking with Wendy and another winged Neopet, a Yurble, the city leader.

     "What should we do? It's her father, after all...", said Wendy. "She has never been this happy, ever since her mother died a few months ago..."

     "But he's a criminal!", exclaimed the Yurble.

     "But he could've changed! He looks genuinely repentant. And, from what I see, he took quite a beating for leaving the faction..."

     The leader scoffed, "You, always believing in the goodness of people. Not everyone's good, you know. Things aren't black and white."

     She glared at him. "I believed in your goodness a long time ago, when I loved you. Yet I don't bring it up in your face on every occasion because I've forgiven you." The Yurble swallowed, and looked down, ashamed.

     Lina was listening from behind the door leading to the room they were in. Then she felt someone touch her head lightly. It was Jazan.

     "Eavesdropping again, are we?", he asked.

     "I-" She sighed. "Yeah, sorry. But I just want to know what will happen to White and her dad."

     The red Kyrii looked at her with empathy. "Me too. But... let's wait over there, shall we?" So both Kyrii walked away from the door, and sat by the stairs of the porch, along with Nabile and and Amil.

     Half an hour of deliberation between the Neopets inside had passed, and so, the door was opened. The family turned in their direction, looking at them intently.

     "So? What have you decided?", inquired Jazan, worried.

     Wendy announced, "Well, since she has no other living relative to take care of her, and since he has turned his life around, well... he's keeping her!", she beamed.

     "Oh, that's wonderful!", exclaimed Nabile. "But... you seem a bit concerned?"

     The Wocky frowned. "He's homeless. And jobless. We can't keep him here, he'll have to go once he recovers..." She sighed. "I... we... don't know what to do."

     "I do", said Jazan. "I know- No, I'm friends with King Kieran. I think- no, I know he'd be more than happy to help him and little White..."

     The other group looked at each other. "Well, that's wonderful!", exclaimed Wendy.

     "Do you have a courier or something of the sort?", asked Jazan.

     "Yes, we do..."

     "Good, then I will send a mail to the palace and ask the king for help", the Kyrii added. "How long would Callan take to recover?"

     "I think he'd be good to leave in two days", answered one of the medics.

     The Kyrii nodded. "Great. We were planning to return home in two days as well, so we can stop by the palace. Is the courier fast despite the wintry gales, though?"

     "Yes, well, that's the advantage of being able to fly", said Wendy and she showed her wings, smiling.

     "Very well then... it's getting late. We're going back to our cabin now, but we'll return tomorrow", said Jazan.

     "Alright then, see you tomorrow", replied Wendy, and waved along with the others.

     Later, in the cabin...

     Lina was sitting on her side of the bed, looking worried.

     "Neopoint for your thoughts?", asked Amil.

     "Huh?", replied Lina. "No, nothing..." The Eyrie smiled mischievously. "What?", asked the Kyrii, slightly annoyed.

     "You're worried about the Zafara, Noel."

     "Yes, I mean... what is he going to do without White? He's his best friend. I don't know... I wonder if Callan could take him in... if he'd be willing to..."

     Amil shrugged. "Yeah, maybe, he seems like a good enough person. White probably told him about Noel already..."

     "Yeah..." Lina noticed Amil was still smiling. "What is it, you dummy? Why are you smiling like that?!", Lina whined.

     "You like that guy, don't ya?"

     Lina flushed scarlet. "What?! NO!!"

     "Oh! You do!", teased Amil.

     "N-no I don't!"

     "You do-o", repeated her brother in a singsong voice.

     "Amil!", yelled Lina.

     "What's going on?", asked Jazan, as he came in along with Nabile.

     "Uuh, nothing. What took you two so long?", asked Lina, trying to change the subject.

     "They were probably K-I-S-S-I-N-G, like you and Noel!", whispered Amil.

     "AMI!!", shouted Lina furiously, red as a tomato. Jazan and Nabile blushed too, as the young Eyrie was right.

     "W-wait, what was that about Lina kissing Noel...?", asked Jazan, dumbfounded.

     "A lie!", said Lina, still blushing. "I haven't kissed nobody! H-he's just teasing me because-"

     "Because you have a crush on Noel?", asked Amil.

     Lina stuttered, "Wha-a- I didn't mean-"

     "You did!"

     "I didn't!"

     "You di-id!"

     Lina then had an idea to turn things around. "You also have a crush on that one Pteri girl, Riley. You think she'd like seeing you treat me like this? Very mature to tease your little sister, Amil. Wow."

     Amil flushed. "I-I- uh- she- n-no- b-but-"

     "Ooo, boy has a cru-ush", Lina teased.

     "I-I- aah- LINA!!", he shouted angrily, embarrassed.

     As they argued, Nabile said to Jazan, "They will tear each other into pieces."

     "Yep", replied the Kyrii.

     "What do you say we... go outside again?", the Ixi offered, batting her eyelashes at her husband.

     Jazan tugged her by the hand and both went out the door, saying "Yes, let's go."

     Two days later

     The Neopets returned to the village so as to rendezvous with Callan and his daughter, White. And also, much to their surprise...

     "Hey, Lina."

     Noel was accompanying the two.

     "Oh, hello, Noel!", greeted Lina.

     "Yes, hello, Noel", teased Amil. Lina elbowed him, blushing.

     "Are you...?"

     "Yes."

     The Yellow Kyrii beamed. "Oh, that's wonderful! I'm glad he was willing to take you in too, I was worried as to how you'd fare without White."

     "Oh, so you were worried about me, huh?", the Zafara teased. "How very sweet, miss Lina." The Kyrii blushed awkwardly. "All thanks to you, though", he added sincerely.

     "Aw, it was nothing...", she replied. Callan cleared his throat.

     "Thank you, Lina", he said. "A-and also thanks to y-your family... y-you... you saved my dear baby. I can't thank you enough. Thank you." The Kyrii girl smiled sweetly in response. "So, are we leaving now?", he asked.

     "Yes", replied Jazan. "Are you sure you're feeling well to travel? What about your wounds?"

     "They still hurt, b-but I'm alright, Your Highness. Thank you."

     "No need to thank me. Let's go, then."

     They walked down the snowy road, talking among themselves.

     At one point, Jazan approached Callan. He greeted him, and smiled at the little White and Noel. "She's beautiful", he said softly, referring to the White Kyrii girl. "I'm happy for you. You must be proud."

     "Thank you... I am", Callan replied.

     "You seem sad, though... might I inquire as to why?", the Red Kyrii asked.

     The Grey Kyrii swallowed, "Um..." He turned to Noel. "N-Noel, could you and White go with the others for a second?" Noel obliged, and he took White by the hand and went with the other group.

     "Alright... tell me?"

     Callan sighed sadly. "I-I... I want to be a good example for my daughter. But at the same time, I fear my past actions... could hinder me from doing so... I-I've done... awful things... I don't want White to grow up b-being known as the daughter of a former thief."

     Jazan looked at him with empathy. "I understand you."

     "You do?"

     "Callan, you're talking to the king of regrets here." Jazan sighed. "I know what it's like, feeling remorse every waking moment for your wrongdoings... but also... that's a good sign, it means you're not a bad person. After all, you left your faction, despite the consequences of doing so, and came to look for your daughter... and... look at her". Both Kyrii looked at White. "She looks so happy to have you back." Callan smiled at her fondly.

     Jazan added, "You're a good father, Callan. She needs you by her side. So... should you look back at the mistakes you've made in the past, look for lessons you can apply now and that you can teach White... and Noel. I know it's easier said than done, but trust me on this. And, from one father to another - be strong, they need you to be."

     "Thank you, Your Highness", Callan said, tears in his eyes.

     "Jazan, please", replied the Kyrii. Callan went in to hug him, and Jazan patted his back awkwardly, him not being used to that much spontaneous affection. "Alright, Callan... let's go to where the others are."

     So they rejoined the group, and kept on making their way through the wintry white road that led to the kingdom's capital city... where Callan's family's new life was to begin.

     The End.