In the Midst of the Lonely Sea of Loneliness (2)

From the moment the sun peeked over the horizon to just before 10 O'clock, the Igiby children were bouncing around the house, eagerly awaiting the time that their guardians would finally take them to the Dragon Day festival. They were running around the house, playing 'Florid vs. Fangs' when they nearly ran into their grandparents.

"Oy!" Podo shouted. "You kids slow down! Ya nearly took our yer grandma!"

"It's okay, Podo." Wendolyn patted Podo's arm in an affectionate manner. "They're just excited about the festival. Did you grab my crochet work from my rocking chair?"

"How could I forget?" Podo grumbled to himself quietly, setting aside his anger to hand his wife the three colorful crocheted vests she asked for.

Wendolyn smiled at him before turning back to the children, who had all pause when Podo yelled at them. "Come here! All of you. I made something special for each of you."

"What is it, grandma?" Leeli asked as she neared curiously.

"Awww... We don't have to dress up today, do we?" Tink complained. "I won't be able to run this year if it's anything like last year..."

Janner nudged Tink. "Tink!"

"What?" Tink looked at Janner. "It's not my fault she made us pants last year-"

The loud "ahem" from their grandpa Podo created silence among the children once again.

Wendolyn laughed nervously. "I know the pants idea didn't quite work last time... but I hope this year I can make it up to you." She took the first vest and gave it to Leeli.

Leeli's vest was light blue with a hood and two big pockets on each side, both having white daisies crocheted into it.

"Wow!" Leeli took the vest and held it up in front of her to look at it. "I love it, grandma!" She said, quickly giving Wendolyn a hug and trying the vest on.

Wendolyn chuckled. "You're welcome, my dear." She looked over at her grandsons. "Kalmar, I have your vest." She held it out to him as well.

Tink's vest was in a similar style as Leeli's but it was burgundy red instead of blue with yellow stripes running through it instead of flowers.

"It has a hood?!" Tink exclaimed with excitement as he took his vest and immediately pulled it on with the hood over his eyes. "Now I'm the Florid Sword!"

"Kalmar." Podo shook his head. "Not so loud, my boy. Fangs could be near."

"Yes, sir..." Tink's smile faded a little but he still remained content with this gift. "Thanks, grandma... It's much better than the pants..."

"And Janner..." Wendolyn handed the final vest to the eldest, with a big smile on her face.

Janner's vest was in the same style as his siblings but it was a dark forest green with crocheted leaves on the pockets. It was the leaves that intrigued Janner the most.

"Wow... Are these leaves from the Glipwood oak? They're so accurate!" Janner exclaimed excitedly. "Thank you, grandma!"

"You're welcome, dear." Wendolyn grinned.

As he put the vest on, Janner realized in all their excitement, someone was missing. "Wait... Is Uncle Artham still sleeping? I haven't seen him today..."

Podo and Wendolyn shared glances, remembering all the times Artham had up and disappeared for days at a time doing who-knows-what. The two grandparents had hoped he hadn't decided to do this on one of the most important times of day for the kids. (Well, that was technically true for Wendolyn but Podo already expressed his dislike of Dragon Day previously for reasons only his wife knew. )

"Aye. He's usually up by now. I'll check on him." Podo grumbled before heading upstairs to the bedrooms.

With his familiar thump-click-thump-click footsteps, Podo approached Artham's bedroom door and knocked. "Artham? The kids are waiting for ya to take them to the festival. Are you ready?"

There was no answer.

"... That Wingfeather better not have flown the coop on us again." Podo grumbled to himself as he jiggled the doorknob.

"Artham!" Podo bellowed upon realizing the door was locked.

A tumble was heard from inside the room was heard followed by swift footsteps and the door being flung open.

Artham stood in the doorway with an uneasy stance, his hair unkempt and his eyes looking tired. "Is it time already?"

"You overslept. Ya didn't stay up too late did you?" Podo asked, one bushy eyebrow resting heavily on his eye. "I told ya to be ready for the kids today."

Artham facepalmed and ran his hand back through his hair. "Right, I know... Just... Give me a few minutes and I'll be right down."

Podo gave Artham a suspicious look before just nodding and heading back down the stairs. He met Janner's expectant eyes on the way down and nodded.

"He's comin'. Just overslept."

Janner breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good... I-I mean... That he's coming."

"Yes! Uncle Artham is coming!" Tink beamed. "Maybe he'll let us eat just as much sweets as last year."

"Didn't you... throw up last year because of that?" Janner asked, cringing at his own memories of the event.

"You will absolutely not be eating all those sweets again, Kalmar Igiby!" Wendolyn put her hands on her hips in a motherly manner. "You were sick like a dog for three days and nights. It's a wonder why Art didn't stop you on your smorgasbord to begin with."

"I think Uncle Artham was a little distracted that day..." Janner sighed, commenting on his grandmother's pondering of his uncle's behavior. "Hopefully he's more focused this year..."

Tink shrugged. "But it was worth it."

"Ewww no, Tink..." Leeli cringed. "That was so gross! Please don't do that again..."

"Okay, okay... Maybe I won't eat so much this year." Tink positively responded to his sister's pleading. "But remind me when we get there that I said that..."

"Arf arf!" A spotted dog barked as it scratched the front door to be let out.

Leeli giggled when she saw her puppy looking back at her with his big brown eyes. "Looks like Nugget is ready to go too."

"Why don't we all get loaded up in the wagon while we wait for your uncle?" Wendolyn asked as she neared the front door and opened it, allowing Nugget to run outside. "He shouldn't be long, knowing him..."

"Okay!" All three children replied before piling through the door in a race for the wagon.

Podo click-clunked his way over to Wendolyn and sighed. "I think that Wingfeather was up all night again. It's the third night in a row he's done it. I think he's gonna make a break for it one of these days to join that flower sword."

"Hush now, Podo Helmer." Wendolyn put her finger to his lips. "That man has struggled adjusting to this way of living since we first arrived... I think he still feels guilt about what happened to his brother and our... Our Nia. You must try to go more easy on him if you don't want him running off. Lecturing gets nowhere with him, remember?"

"You talk about him like he's some baby. He's a grown man, Wendy." Podo said grumpily before softening his tone when Wendolyn gave him a hard look. "Aight, fine. But you can't say I'm not tryin' here."

"You are tryin'. Tryin' me patience." Wendolyn smooched Podo's cheek. "But I love you. Try a little harder to be easier, okay?"

"Yes, Dear." Podo replied begrudgingly. "... I love you too."

"Now, please make sure Ol' Danny is ready while I get the... contribution to the fang empire." Wendolyn said, referring the dreadful meal she had made for the fangs to bribe them to stay off their backs. "It smells stronger than a frazzle dove's stench."

Podo obliged and went off to secure Danny the horse to the wagon in preparation for their trip into town.

As for Wendolyn, she retreated inside for a trunk of the filth to bribe the fangs with and started to lug it outside when Artham came practically flying down the stairs.

"Oh!" He quickly stopped when he saw Wendolyn struggling to carry the trunk. "Do you need help with that?"

"Artham!" Wendolyn grinned. "Yes, I'd appreciate that, son. Pardon the smell..."

Artham carefully took the trunk from her and held his breath when he smelt the stench. "It's not so bad." He obviously fibbed with a struggling smile. "Hopefully it's strong enough for the fangs."

Wendolyn laughed and shook her head. "Oh, Artham..."

And the two of them made their way out of the house and to the wagon.