FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

CHAPTER 20

End of the Road

The minutes had never seemed so long to the small rodent as he rest on the floor with his back up against the bed, his knees pulled up with his hands resting on them and his head resting on his hands. He'd been through so much; the canine occupation, the tributes, Allon's attack, night after sleepless night in those filthy cells. Now, though, the mouse couldn't seem to witness the passing of time. He'd observed the sun going down, but it took so long and he's waited for what seemed like days for Allon to return. He was in pain, emotional and physical, and it was the unknown factor that was driving him mad. He needed to know where his family was, if they were OK, if they made it to the city, but he wouldn't know until the lord arrived back and it seemed to him like that moment would never come.

Jarai sat in a chair by Dubois' bed, eating some grapes and pork chops with a chalice of wine. Dubois sat on the bed next to Rishi, looking down at the forlorn rodent with sympathy and sadness. Jarai let out a sigh of discontent as he leaned forward. "Rishi, you have to eat something, or at the very least have something to drink. You can have some wine or ale if you want. It'll help you relax, take the edge off a bit." But Rishi remained silent and Jarai just stared back at Dubois, unsure of what to do.

Dubois looked back at Rishi. "Hey, you wanna lie down on the bed? It's a lot more comfortable than the floor, I assure you. There's nothing we can do right now, so you might as well try and get some rest. The time'll go by faster." Once again, Rishi remained unmoved, his face buried in his hands and slumped on the floor like a child that just had all his toys taken away from him.

Both felines had tried continuously to get Rishi to talk, to eat, to sleep, but they failed at every turn. The mouse was distraught beyond words and could not be riled by anyone, by force or by friendliness. As neither Jarai nor Dubois had any intention of trying to force Rishi to eat or rest, all they could do was sit and keep the rodent company, a rather boring assignment, but one they followed respectfully.

Not long after that, though it seemed like hours to all occupants of Dubois' bedchamber, the door swung open and the felines looked up anxiously. As they saw their lord step through the door frame, they stood at attention, but their expressions changed when they spotted the bloody wound on his shoulder.

"Roland!" exclaimed Jarai.

At the mention of the cougar's first name, Rishi's head shot up, his eyes wide with anticipation for news of his wife and children.

"What happened?" asked the lynx, but Allon just waved him down.

"I'm alright, Jarai. It's nothing."

Amarro came up behind, looking impatient. "Roland, the doctor needs to look at you now. You can discuss this with Rishi after he's patched you up."

"The doctor can wait," the cougar responded. "I need to do this now."

"But Roland, you're still bleeding. We have to get-"

Allon turned violently and grabbed Amarro by his armor breastplate. "I'm doing this now, Amarro. No more argument."

Amarro was taken aback by the lord's outburst, but nodded in understanding, though he retained a restive expression. Allon turned back around and stared at Rishi, the rodent having gotten to his feet and now staring at the cougar with much trepidation at the sight of a gaping wound on the lord's jerkin. Thoughts of similar wounds inflicted on his wife and, even worse, children now passed through the rodent's mind.

"Allon, what- what happened?" the mouse asked, his voice cracking.

Allon looked back, trying to look as though nothing was wrong. "We had a little bit of trouble on the road. Nothing too serious."

"My wife?" he asked shakily, prepared to sob should bad news come his way. "My kids? What happened to them?"

Allon held up a paw to comfort the mouse. "They're fine, Rishi. They're all a bit shaken up, but they're all alright. I sent them home to get some rest. You can see them in a moment." A wave of relief washed over Rishi, a few tears trickling down his face, but nothing more, his sadness relieved and his weeps abated. "At some point during their travels, your daughter got left behind and your wife went after her. She came across some bandits, but we came upon them just in time to keep her from getting hurt. We found your daughter shortly after. They were frightened, but unharmed. We decided to bring them back here where we knew they'd be safe."

"Wait, what about Dex and Jimson and Danson?"

"They were still on the cart when your wife went to find your daughter. They made it to the checkpoint fine. They were startled and worried, but we brought them back as well. You're wife will tell you more about that in a bit, but just know that they're all fine. They're safe, they're not hurt, and you will seem them again."

Rishi fell back onto the bed, rubbing the tears from his cheek and sniffling a little, breathing a huge sigh of relief as one hurdle had been crossed. But Rishi was not completely relaxed yet. "OK... so now what?" Allon perked his ears up and was ready to speak, but Rishi continued. "I mean, Sam left me. She didn't say anything, she just took the kids and she left me behind. I tried to fix this, I tried to make it better, but I was too late. And she was attacked and she would've been killed if not for..." he looked up into Allon's eyes. "If not for you." A faint smile crept into the side of his muzzle. "I thank you, Lord Allon, for saving my family. But even though she's safe, that doesn't mean she wants to have anything to do with me. And if she did want me back and we tried to leave together, we don't have any money left to pay for the trip. We'd have to walk and after what happened there's no way she'll want to do that and there's no way I could let her either. I want to make it right, but if I'm still coming here, giving my tributes in this fashion, she'll never come back to me." There was a short pause. "She left me. She was willing to leave me. If she did it before, she'll do it again and- and... ... ... she doesn't love me anymore." Tears began to form in Rishi's eyes again as the sadness crept back into him. "What am I gonna do? How can I repair this relationship? How can I get her back? I don't know what to do. It's all falling apart."

Allon looked on at the rodent with sadness and depression. His tail drooped low and he sulked in low spirits. He turned to the cheetah and the lynx beside him. "Dubois, Jarai, could you step outside, please?"

The two felines nodded and moved one after the other past the door frame and stood just outside the room, the door remaining open. Amarro and Kish stood there as well, watching with anticipation, as well as worry, for the way the events would unfold. Rishi had his face in his paws, a few tears having escaped and soaked into the fur, but he kept some composure and hadn't begun sobbing.

"Rishi," he said softly and the mouse responded by lifting his head slowly, heartbreak in his eyes. "You don't have to thank me for what I did. I know you're grateful and I appreciate it, but I don't deserve your gratitude. And whatever you're thinking, do not blame your wife for this. She deserves no ill will for what she did nor should you hold her accountable. I am the one responsible for this. Your wife would never have stolen from you or tried to leave with the kids behind your back if it weren't for me. You told me yourself that these tributes were tearing apart your relationship. These tributes would not have happened if not for me. I'm the one that forced you to continue when you did have another choice. I'm the one who kept you from changing your offerings to something more reasonable. I'm the one at fault, not Sam. If you are to blame anyone, it should be me." Rishi ruminated on the lord's words. He wasn't going to argue with him, but he found some comfort in the fact that Allon was finally willing to admit to his part played in these tumultuous events.

"I know it isn't much of a consolation, but I'm sorry Rishi. I'm sorry I allowed it to get this far. You said today that you were done, you were ending the tributes and you were ready to leave to try and save your family. But after what happened, I can't let you just walk out of here and not do anything to help. Sam has already risked her life once going out on the roads as she did and I can't let you or her risk your lives and the rest of your family again. It isn't right. This is my responsibility and it's my job to ensure that you and your family are safe. Therefore... rather than sitting idly by and letting you wander the streets of Identine at the mercy of every wild animal and anthro, I... I will help you." Allon was looking downtrodden and his voice was low and soft. Rishi was feeling skeptical, but also hopeful about what the lord had in mind.

"You don't have to worry about paying your way to Gellikor. I will allow you free travel to the city and in addition I will return every coin your wife took from you to pay for their trip. You don't owe me anything for this. You are free, Rishi. You can now tell your wife, let her know that you can leave together, risk free and without anymore obligations. It may take some time, but you can begin to repair your relationship. I must admit Rishi, despite everything that's happened, I have enjoyed our time together and I wish things had turned out differently, but it is time for you and your family to leave. I will not be responsible any longer for tearing apart a happy family. I can only begin to make up to you what I've done and this is the least I could do. I just hope-" he began to speak, but stopped himself, looking on with sullen eyes and regret in his features. He paused as Rishi waited for the cougar to finish his thoughts, but he never did. "Goodbye, Rishi." The lord then turned and walked towards his bedchamber. "Amarro, you may call for the doctor now."

"Yes, my lord, and thank you," he said before glancing in Rishi's direction and giving him a smile and a nod before turning back towards the entrance.

Jarai, Dubois, and Kish remained and smiled down at the rodent. "Congratulation, Rishi," said Dubois stepping back into his room. "Now you can start a new life in a big city. You've got a whole bunch of new opportunities waiting for you up north."

As the felines continued to smile excitedly for the rodent, Rishi, contrarily, was not. Instead, he was puzzled, furrowing his brow in confusion as a slew of questions filled his mind. Thinking over the events of the last two years and the lord's actions over the last several hours, it didn't add up to the mouse. In desperation for answers, he quickly stood up and ran out of the room, running past the cheetah and the lynx who had to move to keep from being run into by the mouse. They all looked on in befuddlement.

Rishi stopped in the middle of the hall facing Allon, who was standing outside his bedroom, one paw on the handle, but making no movement. His head hung low, his face turned downward and his eyes closed. Rishi stood tall, mere feet from the lord, and spoke loud. "Lord Allon, I don't understand this."

The cougar lifted his head, but he didn't turn around. "What don't you understand, Rishi?" He spoke very quietly, hardly audible save for the way the great hall carried his voice.

"Sam hurt me, not you. She betrayed me. You had no part in this. She means nothing to you. Why would you risk your life to save her?"

Allon seemed surprised at what Rishi suggested and he turned his face towards the mouse. Now, Rishi could see a small wet stain where Allon was crying and it helped to feed Rishi's confusion. "Nothing?" Allon asked. "You think Sam means nothing to me?"

"Well, why should she? She's never been in favor of you or your men. She's never shown the respect expected of high ranking officials. And you took me into my bed without even considering the ramifications it would have on our relationship."

"But Rishi," started kish, "remember that he offered to take you into his bed in order to allow you a chance to stay in the city. The choice to accept was yours."

"But that's beside the point, Kish," Allon answered. "I did originally take you because I was interested only in your body, but that was a long time ago. Things changed. I wronged you and that drove your wife apart. As I said, that was on me. I was responsible for Sam leaving you here and it was my responsibility to make things right, by her and by you." He tried to smile, but the sadness in the cougar's face remained.

"But that still doesn't explain it," Rishi replied. "Look at you. You got injured protecting my wife and daughter, you could've died. You're the lord of the Darreen Plains and you laid your life on the line for my family, people you barely know. No one does that out of a strict obligation, even if they did something wrong. Why? Why did you do this for them?" Allon let out a sigh and turned away from Rishi. It was then that the mouse was beginning to see past the cougar's facade. "Did you do it for me?" No answer. "What is this? What am I to you? You bring me into your bed, you force me to stay when I try to get out, practically breaking me without a care, and then all of a sudden you treat me like a fragile vase. Now, when I tell you I'm leaving, you become depressed, selfless, and giving. You threaten my wife and children and now you put their lives above your own. How am I supposed to take this, Allon?" Allon took a deep breath as if to speak, but once again found he could not. "Allon, I have done everything you've asked of me and more. I've always kept up my end of our agreement, I think I deserve to know; what exactly am I to you?" A long pause. "Allon... please tell me."

The desperate cries of the mouse below moved Allon to the point that he felt obligated to reveal his feelings. After a long pause, he let out a long, shaky sigh and nodded. "You're right, Rishi. You do deserve to know." Rishi relaxed a bit as Allon began to explain his feelings, his voice low and somber. "I've had strong feelings towards you for some time now, Rishi. I've felt an attraction for you for a while and I've always wanted to say something, but it was never appropriate, seeing as how I am the lord of Darreen and you are my subject, not mention you're married with kids and were never interested in a relationship with men. But my feelings never changed. I admit, when I first offered to accept your body as a tribute, my mind was focused solely on sex and I had no attraction to you other than that. However, as time went on, we spent so much time together, I began to feel closer to you, like a bond was starting to form between us. After what you told me about what happened with the Ferochens, I felt what I thought was pity at first, but soon realized was actually a desire to protect you. I knew I could never have you the way I wanted, so I just had to make due with having you during the tributes. But it got harder and harder as time went on to the point that I could barely think of anything other than you.

"And then... and then..." he sighed. "I made many mistakes in my life, committed wrongful acts for which I needed to repent, but what I did to you was the most sinful thing I've ever done in my life. When you tried to offer me something other than your body, I lost myself. I became something so hateful and so disgusting that I will never be able to live it down as long as I breathe. I could say I'm sorry a thousand times every day for the rest of my life, but it would never be enough. Your family was in danger and I know that if something happened to them, it would be my fault. I had to protect them, even if it cost me my life. There isn't anything I could do that would make up for what I've done to you, but it's at least a start. I could never live with myself if I allowed you or your family to come to harm after what I'd done. That's why I went myself. Because I couldn't bare what it would do to you should anything happen to your family."

The cougar's words left Rishi lost and bewildered. "Attraction? You were attracted to me?"

"Obsessed would be a better word. I truly could not get you out of my head. I wanted you all to myself every day and every night and I allowed that selfish desire to take control of my actions. You didn't deserve that. From the very beginning, you deserved so much better, but I just couldn't let you go. I wasn't strong enough. I'm sorry, Rishi. I know I can never repay you or your family for all the hardship I caused."

Rishi stood dumbfounded, the words echoing in his head, trying to make sense of it all. After a moment, he came to a decision that he should not be trying to make sense of it. He remembered all the horrible things Allon did to him and the results that came from it and that sent him into an angered state. He clenched up his fists and stared at Allon's feet as he began to shake with tempered rage. "No, you can't say that."

Allon stared back with confusion. "What do you mean?" Rishi said nothing, continuing to stare at Allon's feet. "Rishi, if you're worried about me getting angry, I assure you you will not be harmed by me or my men." Rishi looked up into the cougar's eyes, glaring at him indignantly, but as the moment went by, the mouse still remained silent. Allon sighed and addressed his men. "Amarro... Kish... Jarai... Dubois... I want you to act as Rishi's guard." The four felines moved into position with Amarro and Kish on either side of Rishi and Jarai and Dubois standing behind. "Whatever Master Rishi has to say, he is free to say it and will not be harmed in any way because of it. Whatever insults he directs at me, however he chooses to berate me, even if he makes threats against my life, he will be free to do so without fear of reprimand. Understood?"

"Yes, sire!" they all responded.

"Furthermore, if I make any attempt to hurt Rishi or make any aggressive moves towards him, you are ordered to stop me by any means necessary, which includes attacking me, striking me, subduing me, whatever you have to do to stop me. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sire!" they said without hesitation.

Allon looked down at Rishi with sympathy, the rodent looking vexed. "Now, Rishi, say whatever you want. Don't hold back. Whatever's on your mind, you are free to get it off your chest and unload-"

"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!!!" The mouse stomped his foot down and yelled at the top of his lungs for the High Court and everyone surrounding it to hear. All five felines were completely taken by surprise, the mouse's outburst an unexpected shock for the entire feline Royal Court. The four guards even took a step away from Rishi as his muzzle produced a sound at decibels quite uncomfortable for their sensitive ears. Rishi's fear had not diminished from the lord's words of encouragement, but his inhibitions were lowered to the point that he no longer cared whether or not he wound up hurt or was hurting anyone else, least of all Allon.

"You were attracted to me? You wanted to protect me? Bullshit! How can you say that to me after what you did? I was a good person, a good subject. I did what was asked of me. You gave me the option of giving you my body in exchange for my home and I let you have it. I didn't like it, I didn't want to do it, but I did, for the sake of my family. I did everything you asked of me, I got used to it. Ever since the beginning my wife hated it, but I went against her wishes, I did what I could to keep my family safe. I never felt cheated, never felt like I was being taken advantage of. My farm was failing and I should've left, but I didn't. I stayed and I would've paid the price. The fact that you gave me an alternative I could work with meant that I could stay and I was thankful for that. But what you did to me, you had no right. I did what I was supposed to do and I had every right to change my offering, to end our evenings in your bed. You say you were selfish? You're goddamn right you were being selfish... and weak. You didn't know right from wrong and because of that I've been scarred for life, both physically and mentally. Those scars, those memories, the pain and anguish I felt, that'll never go away, no matter what you do or how much you apologize. You can try to make up for it, but it's one more chapter in the hell of a life that I've had to live.

"That'll never change... and neither will what happened today. I don't blame my wife for what she did. Of course I blame you. You couldn't realize what you were doing was wrong until now, but it's too late. My wife was driven into the arms of another man, away from me, and then left without a word, stealing my money and my kids. None of that would've happened if you had just allowed me to give you some fucking bread and wine. You know what you are? You're just a selfish bastard. You're no lord, you're just a child who wants his toy and will do anything to get it, even if he has to abuse his status."

Allon's head sunk low, every part of his body sulking in pitiable resentment. "I know, Rishi. You're right."

"No, don't you dare do that. Don't you dare expect pity from me. Don't you expect my forgiveness."

"I'm not, Rishi. I'm just... ... ... I'm sorry."

The tears welling up in Rishi's eyes began to fall as his voice softened and he was no longer yelling. "How can I? How could I ever forgive you? What good would it do? Whether I do or don't, the damage is done. A rift has formed between me and Sam and I'm not sure I'm ever gonna be able to repair it. I know there's nothing you can do to make things right, even if you spent the rest of your life trying. You had your chance to do the right thing, but you were thinking of no one but yourself, what you wanted. You've ruined my life. How can I forgive you now?"

Allon said nothing, letting his head droop and his eyes remain focused on the floor. A single tear left his eye as he allowed the mouse to verbally abuse him, accepting his guilt and the despising remarks from the mouse. Rishi continued to stare the Cougar down, despite his 2 and a half foot size disadvantage, as his anger abated. The words that spewed forth from his mouth were honest and forthright, much to his displeasure. Despite everything the cougar had done to him, his personal character made him feel guilty for saying such unsavory things. Even though he held a great deal of resentment towards Allon for what he did to him and he held the cougar responsible for Sam and his daughter getting attacked, everything he felt had not yet been laid out on the proverbial table.

"But... you did save my wife and daughter. Despite being responsible for her leaving, you didn't have to go, you didn't have to help her... or me. You laid your life on the line for them and if I couldn't admit that I was grateful, then... ... ... then I'd be no better a man than you." Allon looked up, seeming to brighten up at the rodent's words, despite the insulting nature directed at him. "If it weren't for you, Samantha wouldn't be alive, my daughter might not be alive. Despite what she did to me, I don't want to live in a world where my Sam and my kids do not exist. I don't even want to imagine a world like that. Because of you, they're still alive and... and I- Because of you, I can find some comfort in my life."

Allon gave a bit of a long pause before he grinned weakly. "Thank you, Rishi." Rishi turned away, unable to look the cougar in the eyes as he nodded. "When do you intend to leave?"

Rishi shook his head. "I don't know yet. I need to speak with Samantha first. I won't know until I do."

Rishi looked back up at Allon and he back at Rishi. They exchanged glances, staring at each other, thoughts shared without words being spoken. Rishi look back with emptiness and apathy while Allon looked back with regret and despair. Rishi sighed and turned to leave.

"Rishi," he stopped and looked back at the cougar. "You said you were afraid to answer me before, but now I hope you don't feel that way. I truly wanna know the answer. I already know the answer, but I feel I need to hear you say it. Do you hate me?"

Rishi looked back with mild shock at the question, even though it was something that had been on his mind the entire evening. The royal guards looked back with a similar expression, with an additional look of pity, towards their lord. They then stared back at Rishi, awaiting his answer. Rishi breathed a little heavier for a moment, weighing the decision to speak his mind and ultimately gulping before speaking up.

"I'm sorry, Allon... ... ... but I'm still afraid to answer that question."

Allon looked back completely confused. Rishi turned to leave and Allon called to him. "Rishi, you have nothing to worry about. Please, just tell me."

"I can't."

"Rishi, you don't understand. I nee-"

"No, it's you that doesn't understand." Allon stopped in his tracks. "You've always told me to be honest with you, that I shouldn't hide my feelings. Fine, but I'm afraid to do that now because of what it might mean for me." Allon still looked confused. "I'm sorry. I have to go."

Rishi turned and sprinted for the door as Allon rushed forward. "Rishi, wait!" The four guards stepped in his way, holding their arms up to stop him. Allon looked at each of them, ready to chastise them, but held back as he recognized they were following his order. The cougar watched as the mouse ran down the stairs for the door.

"My lord," Amarro began, "I know you have a lot on your mind, but you're still bleeding. We need to get that wound closed up."

Allon looked on with despondent eyes, desperation and helplessness plastered on his face. Rishi reached the door and spent no delay opening it and racing out. Allon knew at that moment that was last time he would see the rodent and the only one at fault was himself. He took a deep, shaky breath, losing his composure, and fought to keep from breaking down into sobs in front of his men. He nodded. "Alright, Amarro. Send him in."

The lion turned and went for the door as Allon stood there and stared at the front entrance for a moment before slowly turning around and walking towards his bedroom. He opened the door and sauntered inside, leaving the door open with Kish, Jarai, and Dubois standing there watching their lord walk away depressed with nothing any of them could do about it. None of them said it, but they all knew what each was thinking: why in the world did Rishi refuse to answer the question? What was he afraid of? He called the lord selfish, a bastard, and a child. Allon even gave him permission to threaten him. What could he say that would hurt Allon any more?

******

Tony pulled back on the reins, bringing the horses pulling the cart to a halt just outside Rishi's home. Tony's murine passenger turned towards his house, torchlight from lanterns and candles illuminating the inside could be seen through the windows. He stared sullenly at the place he'd called home for so many years, the countless happy memories and the many, many not so good memories weighing his mind down. He gave an audible sigh as he rested on the seat next to the cougar, taking his time before making his way to his family.

Tony watched him, the mouse's pain evident and the uncertainty of how to proceed given the complex situation made Tony just as curious to see how Rishi planned on trying to solve the issue. "So what are you gonna say?" he asked the rodent.

Rishi paused a moment before shaking his head lightly. "I don't know, but I have to fix this. I have to find some way of repairing this relationship. If I can't, then it's over between us and I honestly don't know where to go from there."

Tony sympathized with Rishi as he patted him on the back. "Well, I'm sure you'll think of something. Just remember, Sam feels terrible about what she did and she really wants to make it up to you. She's been through a lot so I think if you go in, be reasonable, and tell her that you wanna work things out, I'm sure she'll be very receptive."

Rishi smiled back at the friendly feline. "Thank you. That's actually very helpful."

Tony smiled back. "You're welcome. Good luck to you."

Rishi nodded and slowly dismounted the cart, staring with trepidation at the last place in the world he had that he found some solace in. That seemed like a dream now as his entire world was crumbling around him and there was little comfort to be found anywhere. He took a step, but then stopped as he quickly turned around and looked back at Tony. "Thank you, Tony, for taking care of my wife. I haven't had many people I could rely on, but I've felt that I could rely on you. So thank you for what you've done for me."

"You're welcome, Rishi." They gave each other friendly smiles before Rishi turned around walked to the gate as Tony watched for a moment, a look of sadness upon his face, then started off back towards the High Court.

Rishi walked slowly, dreading the upcoming conversation he would soon be having with his wife, but at the same time eager to see her and his kids and reassure himself that they were safe and well. He wished there were more he could do to thank the cougar guard for his generosity over the years and after listening to him explain what happened on the road, he felt he owed him a debt. He kept his wife comforted while they searched for his daughter, oversaw the safe return of his boys, and stayed to insure that Rishi was escorted personally back to reunite with his family. He was the only member of the Felis Army he could think of that had supported him and shown sympathy for him since early on. No one else showed the same level of compassion, even among Darreen natives, and he belonged to the same species as the Lord that kept him on a leash for so long. The air was cool, but not cold, and a gentle breeze kept the air from feeling stale. The sky was clear and bright lights twinkled over the Plains, brightening up the roads and giving beauty to the emotionally overcast lands.

Rishi reached the gate and opened it carefully, avoiding making too much noise that could alarm his family. He wanted to surprise them as he walked in the door, he didn't want to make a public scene out in the open. His fears might have been unwarranted as there was no one out on the roads at that hour, but nevertheless he wanted his reunion to be private. He walked slowly, his heart beat pumping harder in his chest as he got closer to the door. He took into accounts everyone's description of the events that transpired after Sam headed out onto the open road and they were all supportive and compassionate. That gave the mouse some comfort, but knowing the stakes for what his next conversation with his wife were kept him on a knife's edge.

He finally reached the door and paused, taking a few deeps breaths and attempting to calm himself as best he could. Once his nerves were at a tolerable level, he reached for the handle and slowly pushed open the door, a loud creak announcing his entrance. He stepped inside and saw his entire family huddled together on the couch in the living room, Samantha in the center with both Tessa and Dex on either side hugging her. The twins were in a crib off to the side and sitting in a seat nearby was Priesto. Once they caught sight of him, Tessa and Dex picked themselves up and bolted over to their father. Even though he was prepared for this, Rishi figured he wouldn't be able to hold himself together and his eyes overflowed with tears of relief as his children rushed towards him. He bent down and received them both in his arms, crying as his children held him tighter than they ever had before. He picked them both off their feet and held them to his chest.

"Oooh, my babies. Oh, are you OK?"

"Yes," they both responded, tearing up at seeing their father again. The thought of never seeing him again had passed through both of their minds once their mother took them passed the northern gates of the Plains. "I missed you so much daddy," Tessa said and Dex repeated her words immediately after.

"I know, I know. I missed you too. It's OK, though. Daddy's here. Everything's gonna be OK."

While the kids were anxious to meet their father again, Sam could barely look him in the eyes, ashamed of what she had done. She watched the emotional sight a moment before she had to turn away, embarrassed to be seen by her husband. Priesto leaned forward and patted her on the knee, attempting to comfort her, but it did little good to assuage her guilt. After a long, drawn out moment with Rishi holding his children, he finally took notice of Sam and saw the look of regret and pain in her eyes. He put Tessa and Dex down and walked over to her, crouching down and looking back at her with care and sympathy. He placed a paw on her lap and smiled at her.

"Sam, are you OK?"

She nodded and faintly responded, "Yes. Thank you."

Rishi just smiled at her a moment before standing up again and turning to Priesto, holding a paw out to him. "Thank you, Priesto, for keeping them company."

They shook paws and Priesto smiled back. "You're welcome. Uh, before I forget, I should tell you that Greg came by shortly after they got back." The mention of the rabbit's name brought about a sense of anger in the mouse. "He wanted to speak to Sam, but I told him it wasn't a good time. He seemed obstinate, but I refused. He did say he wanted to speak to you too, but I told him you weren't here. He said to give you a message, that he was sorry for what he did and for keeping Sam's location a secret... and for not telling you what she was planning. He said that he feels like this could've been avoided if he'd just come clean from the start."

As much as Rishi wanted to put this on the rabbit, Rishi knew that was not a cogent argument. "I think all of us could've done more to prevent this from happening." Sam listened to Rishi's words and lowered her head in shame.

"Well, I guess I should excuse myself. I'm sure you guys want to be alone." Priesto stood to leave, but Rishi held out his paws.

"Um, actually, could you do me one more favor? Could you stay and look after the kids a little longer. I'd like to speak with my wife in private. There are some things we need to discuss." Sam looked away disturbed, almost frightened by the prospect of discussing matters with her husband.

Priesto looked towards the female mouse with concern. "Rishi, they've had rough day. Just let it go for now, you can talk about it tomorrow-"

"No, Priesto, it's OK," Sam interjected nervously. "I don't want to talk about this anymore than you do Priesto and I'm sure my husband doesn't want to talk about this either, but we do need to talk and... honestly I just want to get this over with." Sam stood up, still unable to look her husband in the eyes. Rishi smiled lovingly at her, but to Sam it was pretty much just a show for the kids.

Tessa and Dex ran up to Rishi again, hugging his leg. Rishi reached down and patted them both on the head. "Kids, I need to you stay here with Priesto for a moment. Your mommy and I are going outside to talk."

Dex gripped tighter and Tessa shook her head. "No, no, no. You just got back. I don't want you to leave."

"Honey, we're just gonna be outside. You'll be able to see us from the windows."

Tessa looked up at her father. "Promise?"

Rishi smiled brightly at his daughter. "I promise."

She let go, but Rishi had to pry Dex off of his leg to get him off and when Rishi refused to let him cling to him any longer, the young mouse climbed up onto the couch and buried his face in the cushions and began to sob. Rishi and Sam looked at the young rodent, their hearts tearing at the sight, but for Rishi this was a matter that couldn't wait to be settled. He turned away and led his wife out the door. "Priesto, could you-"

"Don't worry, I'll take care of 'im," the rat said sitting on the couch next to the wailing mousling and rubbing his back. Tessa went to climb into Priesto's lap and held onto him closely, staring out the window to watch for her parents.

Rishi shut the door behind himself as he made a gesture to Samantha to the front of the house. "Let's go over there. That way, they can see us through the window."

Sam nodded and turned to make her way over to the fence in front of the house. When she reached it, she turned and looked inside to see her daughter sitting on the couch with Priesto, Dex still burying his face in the cushions. Rishi came into view and as he did, Sam turned away, checking the street in all directions to insure that no one was around to hear them. Rishi looked back in and smiled at his daughter, waving at her and the rat. Priesto gave a casual wave in return while Tessa responded with an almost unsure wave, never taking her eyes away from the window.

After a moment, Sam became restless, expecting the worst and ready for her husband to begin yelling at her and lecturing her for what she did. "Oh, Rishi, I am so sorry," she said with her back to her husband, her voice beginning to crack. Rishi was walking over to her. "I never meant for this to happen. I could only imagine how you-"

When she turned around, Rishi surprised her throwing his arms around her in a tight and warm embrace, holding her close and lovingly. She lost all comprehension as her husband displayed his affection for her, much to her bewilderment. After the initial shock wore off, she allowed herself to hug back, her heart racing.

"Rishi, I'm sorry. I am sorry for leaving you."

"Shhh," was all Rishi said as he held her and Sam stopped talking, smiling as she hugged her love warmly. "Are you really alright? I don't want you to hide anything from me. All you really OK?"

"Yes, Rishi, I'm alright."

Rishi let out a contented sigh and released her, holding her hands as he looked back at her. "I'm glad to hear that. When I heard that you left... I was so worried. I was worried because... I thought our marriage was over, worried that something might happen to you. And when I'd been told that you'd been attacked, I... ... ... I was just so grateful to know that you were safe."

Sam smiled. "Well... you can thank Lord Allon for that."

"I did." They held each other's paws for a moment, just enjoying each other's company.

"I never thought I'd be so happy to see that cougar's face again, but after meeting that dirty fox and horse, seeing him show up with all his men was a welcome sight."

Rishi furrowed his brow as she mentioned the first details of what happened. "So it was a fox and a horse that attacked you?"

"Mm-hm."

He nodded as he was starting to get the full story. "So... what happened to you out there, Sam."

Sam stared back in confusion. "Oh, no one told you about it?"

"I got the basic story. I was told that after you left, Tessa got left behind somehow and you went back for her and were attacked by bandits. Then Allon showed up to protect you and our daughter. That's all I know. How in the world did Tessa get left behind?"

Sam's expression changed to one of regret as she released Rishi's paws and started meandering about, moving her hands about uncontrollably. Rishi watched in confusion and sadness awaiting his wife's reply. "It... it was my fault, Rishi. Last night, after our... our fight, I went to my old nanny's place and I didn't sleep at all. I stayed up all night wondering what I was doing, if I should stay or if I should go and in the morning, I made my choice - my very, very wrong choice to leave. So I came back here early, watched you and waited to see if you would leave. When you did, I went in and grabbed the money from the cupboard. I know it was wrong Rishi, but I was desperate to get out and I couldn't take living like this anymore."

She was sounding desperate to explain herself, but Rishi just held up his paws to calm her down. "Honey, don't worry about that now. I just want to know what happened out on the road."

Sam took a moment to calm herself, a few tears forming in her eyes. "Well, after we left, I got so tired that I passed out and I was apparently out like a log because the kids tried to wake and even one of the soldiers tried to wake me, but I didn't even stir. They stopped along the way so that people could relieve themselves and the kids got off with them. Tessa told me that she went off further than anyone to do her business and she saw the rocks and hills and decided to stay and play a little bit. You know how our daughter is. She loves to climb. Well, when she didn't hear anyone else, she went back to the road and realized we'd all left without her. She stayed on the road and waited for us to realize that she was gone, but when we didn't turn around, she decided to sit next to the nearby boulders. A while after that, some bandits showed up and ran after her. She ran away and hid in the hills. She was just so frightened."

"Was that about the time Allon and his men showed up?"

"Yes. It was a little bit after I showed up. I woke up about an hour after they'd left Tessa behind and I tried to get the driver to turn around, but he wouldn't. Said he didn't want to risk everyone else's lives. So I went back alone. When I got there, Tessa wasn't around, but a... dirty, vile fox and his horse friend showed up. They wanted money, but I didn't have any and so-" She paused, unsure how to proceed, but figuring that Rishi deserved to know what happened. "They grabbed me... ... ... tore off my dress... ... ... and they were gonna... ... ... rape me." The tears started flowing from her eyes and Rishi looked on with sympathy as he stepped forward and pulled her into another hug, which she gladly accepted. "Rishi, those creatures... they were the most foul things I'd ever met. They smelled like they'd been rolling around in filth their entire lives. Having them touch me made me sick to my stomach, but the thought of having them-" She couldn't finish it and Rishi didn't want her to.

"Ssh, it's OK. You don't have to say it."

"But it's worse than that. There were more and they went after our daughter. They were gonna take her away, sell her. They were gonna... ... ... our daughter... ... ... our Tess." She broke down again, unable to finish her thoughts as they were just too disturbing to conceive.

Rishi released Sam from the hug and held her paws in his again. "It's OK, Sam. She's safe now, you're safe now, and-" He broke from his thoughts and furrowed his brow as another confusing thought entered his mind. "Wait, Allon said something about the boys still being with the caravan. Is that what happened? Did you leave them on the cart?" Sam looked back, stunned by the questions and petrified at the thought of what the revelation might do to her husband. "What happened? Did someone agree to look after them while you were gone?"

"Rishi... please understand... I admit I made a huge mistake leaving, and I made an even bigger mistake leaving our daughter behind. But... I couldn't... I couldn't just leave her behind. Our boys would be safe. I couldn't have lived with myself if I just left her behind."

"Sam, what happened to our boys?"

Sam took a long pause, Rishi patiently awaiting an answer. After a moment, Sam took a deep, shaky breath before speaking again. "I left them with the soldiers. I told them... ... ... I told them... that if... I don't return before sunrise the next morning... ... ... to send them to a- to an... orphanage."

Rishi was shocked and for a moment, his sympathy for his wife began to wane as a tinge of resentment filled his veins. "An orphanage? Sam, you were going to risk sending our boys to an orphanage?" The anger was present in his tone and Sam felt her guilt building up again.

"Rishi, I know. I know!"

She broke down again and threw his paws aside, turning around and leaning against the fence, one hand gripping it for balance while the other was held to her face, clenched in a fist as she cried into it. She cried a moment, remaining silent as Rishi allowed himself to push aside his feelings of antipathy and remember the stressful events that his wife and children just experienced. His resentment subsided and his sympathy returned, but he remained steadfast, waiting for his wife to return to a state of calm. Samantha continued to cry into her palm, letting her emotions out little by little, but staying strong and collected enough to soldier through this spiritually demanding conversation.

"When they... that fox and that horse... when they were going to... violate me, all I could think about, over everything else, was how you were right all along about everything - about how leaving out on the road without an escort was dangerous and we weren't ready for it. I should've listened, but I didn't, and now... ... ... I was almost raped, our daughter was almost kidnapped and sold into slavery, and our boys could've wound up without a mother or father. All because I didn't want to listen to you. On the way back and as I sat in the house waiting for you to come home, I couldn't stop saying it to myself. 'Rishi was right.' The oddest thing of all, though, is that the thing I have to be most grateful for, the thing I am most happy for right now, is that Lord Allon, the man who was practically stealing my husband away from me, the man who I've come to loathe and begrudge, came to my rescue. If it hadn't been for him, I would've been broken, our boys would be living alone and frightened, and our daughter would be forced into s-"

Sam broke off once again, the horrific thoughts preventing her from speaking them. After taking a moment to let a few more tears fall, she collected herself again. "This was all my fault, Rishi. Everything that happened today is my fault. I put our children at unnecessary risk. I put them in danger to satisfy my own selfish needs." She turned around to face her husband. "Rishi, you should be yelling at me, insulting me, not hugging me or comforting me. You should be mad at me for running out on you, for almost losing our kids."

Rishi stepped up closer to her. "Sam, this is not all on you, OK. You had every right to be mad and wanting to leave. This whole situation has gone on way too long. If it's anyone's fault, it's Allon's for driving you to do what you did in the first place." Sam just stared at him and after a few seconds, she shook her head. "It is, Sam."

"No."

"Yes, Sam. You don't have to blame yourself."

"No, Rishi, no. Now you know I have no love for Lord Allon for what he's done to you and what he did to our marriage, but no. What happened today was on me. This was my decision. I'm the one who stole your money, I'm the one who left when I wasn't ready, I'm the one who fell asleep and left our daughter behind. Believe me, I want nothing more than to blame that feline for all that's happened today, but I can't. He's not to blame, I am. The only thing I have to say about his lordship is that I'm glad he showed up. That man took an arrow in the shoulder to protect our little girl. He saved her from a life of slavery, something that I almost got her into. I could never hate him for that or blame him for getting us into it when he got us out of it." Rishi looked away, finding himself and his wife on the opposite sides of the fence, with him rebuking Allon and her defending him. "I was surprised, though, that the lord himself would show up to make sure we were safe. Normally, someone of his stature would have sent just a small troop in his stead to do the job. I mean, does he honestly care that much about you that he would risk his own life to protect your wife and daughter?"

The question caught Rishi off guard and he was wondering if Samantha was genuine in her expecting an honest answer out of him. To be honest, even though he never said so directly, it was something Rishi had considered when Allon explained his attraction for him. He knew what Samantha meant to him and he knew what his kids meant to him and the cougar felt a need to insure their safety not just for the sake of personal responsibility, but out of concern for his favorite mouse. However, it was a hard thing for him to swallow and he wasn't about to give Sam such a complicated answer.

"He told me that he felt obligated to go, that after all the stuff he'd done to me, to our relationship, to cause it to come apart, he felt it was his responsibility to go personally."

"Our relationship? Wait, Rishi, what are you talking about?"

Rishi looked down at the ground, making circles in the dirt as he told her his plans. "I was going to quit." Sam looked dumbfounded by her husbands revelation. "After you left, I went looking for you, hoping to work things out, but when I couldn't find you, I realized that I needed to do something to salvage our relationship and the only thing I felt I could do was to end my tributes to the lord."

Sam stood silent, surprised that her husband was willing to finally relent to her wishes, wishes that she realized too late were not the most favorable. "You mean, after all this time, after all that's happened, you were going to quit... for me?"

Rishi nodded. "I told him that we were having problems in our relationship, that these tributes were tearing us apart and if I continued on performing them for him and his men, it would destroy our marriage. So, I was ending it. At first, I was worried that Allon wouldn't take too kindly to my deciding to leave. After all, he hasn't exactly been the most understanding person when it comes to my wanting to end our sexual encounters. But, true to his word, he was willing to let me go. He was saddened by my choice and obviously didn't want me to leave, but he wasn't going to stop me. And I would have left without a second thought. I was going to find you and the kids, pack up everything we could carry, and leave as soon as we could, just like you wanted."

Sam shook her head. "But it would have been the wrong choice. I get that now. You were right to wait. The roads are far too dangerous and I barely had enough to get us to the city. If we had all gone together, we never would've made it the whole way with the caravan and we'd wind up walking the rest of the way, putting ourselves and our children in danger. You were right to wait, to stay and try to earn more money." She paused, the regret seeping back into her expression. "And I was wrong for not being more supportive... for not being there for you when you needed me." Rishi smiled and placed a paw on her cheek. Sam chuckled lightly. "Of course, it doesn't matter now because I spent all our money trying to get out of here and... now we're back to nothing."

She turned around in a huff, aggravated with herself, walking over to the fence and leaning back against it. "So, what are we gonna do now? More importantly, what does Lord Allon expect of you now that we have to stay here for a lot longer? And honey, no matter what, I will support whatever decision you make."

Rishi delayed for a moment. "Well, the good news is that he doesn't expect anything of me." Sam looked confused, but curious. "He's not making me pay for what you decided to do. He recognizes that I've paid my dues and is willing to grant my wish to end our tributes. He's offered to give us, all of us, a free ride to the city." Sam beamed with excitement. "In addition to that, he says he will refund all the money that you spent trying to head north."

"Oh my God!" Sam exclaimed overjoyed. "Rishi, that's amazing!" She grinned from ear to ear, thrilled at the news, but when Rishi failed to show the same level of enthusiasm, her own excitement began to wane. "I- it is, isn't it?"

Rishi kept his eyes averted, fearing the next part of their discussion. He finally looked her in the eyes and let out a long sigh. "Samantha, we need to talk about you and me."

All the joy in Sam's face washed away, disappointed that such a long-awaited and momentous occasion was so short-lived. However, she knew this moment would come when they had to discuss such a painful topic. "Damn! I was hoping we could just... I don't know, forget everything that's happened between us and just... start fresh in the city."

"I wish I could Sam, I really do, but I don't think I can. Could you?" Sam stared back at her husband, the look she gave him enough to answer the question. "Could you forget all the nights I refused to mate with you because I was too tired from sleeping with other men, feline men? Could forget every week where I would come home smelling of sex and male musk? Could you... could you forget having slept with another man just to get back at me?"

"Rishi, that's not fair. I did not sleep with him because of some pointless and petty feeling of jealousy." Sam sounded incensed by her husbands insinuation.

"I'm sorry, Samantha. I shouldn't have said that."

"No, honey, it's... it's not your fault. I was just lonely. I needed-"

"But you see my point, don't you? You understand what I'm trying to say?" Sam stared back and said nothing, her feelings of depression surfacing to a more obvious state. "I don't want to leave you and I don't want you to leave. That wouldn't make me happy. Seeing you punished, made to suffer for anything you or I did is not what I want. But you did leave. You tried to cut me out. You were willing to leave me behind to get away from-" He paused, thinking hard on how to get his thoughts across, but not coming up with anything good. "Alright, I'm just gonna come out and ask what I want to ask. I hope you know, this is not easy for me, but I think it needs to be said. Do you still love me?"

Sam smiled back. "Of course I still love you."

"As a husband, as the man who, not too long ago, you would do anything for, the man who wanted to share a bed with you until the day he died. In that way, do you still love me?"

Sam stalled, the question seeming to strike a nerve and unable to answer it without giving away her apprehension. Finally, she gave Rishi an exasperated look. "Do you really think you need to ask me that?"

"We need to be honest with each other, Sam. We need to stop lying and just tell each other how we feel." Sam gave Rishi a look that indicated her reservation towards her husband's suggestion, their past an indication that this has never been an easy task. Rishi sighed and continued with a softer tone than usual. "I guess... if I'm going to preach it, I'll have to exemplify it first." Sam leaned back against the fence as she listened to her husband.

"Last night, you asked me, several times, if I enjoyed my time spent with Allon and his men. I felt insulted by the question, but not because you could believe that it might be true. I was insulted because I thought that it might be true. After you left, I thought on it a while, thinking back on every evening I spent in bed with those felines. In that entire time, I never once allowed myself to be pleasured by it, to allow myself to succumb to the primitive, subconscious desires that might dwell within, but not because I didn't have them and not because I didn't want to. I did it because of you, because if I had given in, allowed myself to find sexual gratification of my own from those large cats, then I feel I would have truly cheated on you. If not for you, then I would've given in completely. I would've given my everything to Allon and the guards, succumbing to the pleasures that they provided. I wanted to, I've wanted to for some time, but the thought of you made me feel so guilty inside that I just had to stop myself. So... the truth is, I did enjoy it. Never fully, but I did enjoy it."

There was a long moment when neither mouse said anything. Sam stared at Rishi with a lack of surprise and Rishi stared back, guilty and ashamed. Rishi lifted his head back and stared at the sky, the weight of having admitted his desire to get off while having sex with male felines barely giving the mouse any sense of relief. For Sam, the revelation was hardly a surprise as her husband didn't exactly hide it during their argument. She stared down at the ground, eyeing her own feet which stayed as still as stone while she tried to figure out how to respond to her husband's confession. She never got the chance to, though, as Rishi decided he needed to bring it back to the question at hand. He hated the question, hated asking it, but he needed to know the answer and he needed to know now before he was able to move forward.

"Sam, I'm sorry. I know it's a lot to take in, but I need to know. Please, just be honest with me. Do you still love me?"

Sam paused, staring into her husband's eyes, hesitating for some time before finally responding. "I do love you, Rishi, but in love you, I... I... I just don't know." She got off the fence and paced around in place for a moment as Rishi lowered his head and sulked. "I'm sorry, Rishi. I really just don't know. I'm tired. We've been struggling for so long that I just want it to end it all. It's been four years since the canines invaded and since then it's been one long struggle after another just to survive. First, we struggled to keep the farm alive, then you struggled to pleasure the Royal Court, and I struggled to keep our relationship alive. I'm suffering, Rishi. I know you are too, but I just don't want to deal with this anymore. I want it to be over. I want a normal life again. I want things to go back to the way they were back when we first got married. Our lives were simple. We were simple farmers with plans for kids and trade was easy and prosperous. That's the life I want to have again. It may take some time for us to get there, but if we move to the city, we can have it back. We have that chance now."

"Are you sure about that?"

Sam sighed and rolled her eyes. "Why do you have to be such a pessimist?"

"I'm sorry, Sam, but I have to be honest. We've never lived in a city before and we know nothing about city life. We don't know how to sell our products at market and we don't know any other trades that could help us support ourselves."

"Maybe not, but we can figure it out. And in the city, our kids have a chance to be educated by people who know how to educate 'em."

"That's true, but we still have the issue of finding a way to pay for their instructors and that'll be hard enough while also finding ways to pay for a home, taxes, keeping up a market stall, and buying any other necessities." Sam buried her face in her paws and rubbed her eyes in exasperation. "I'm sorry, Sam, but it's the truth. No matter where we are or what we're doing, the struggle will never end the way we're going."

"Urg, I hate the way you complicate everything." Rishi started to speak again, but Sam interrupted. "Rishi... but what I hate most of all is the fact you're right. We're never going to get out of this hole we're in and moving away is only gonna make things harder." She sighed and paused, putting her paws on her waist and looking longingly at her husband. "What do you think we should do?"

Rishi stepped towards his wife until he was only inches away from her. "I know I've said this over and over again and you're probably sick of hearing it, but I mean it when I say that everything I've ever done has been for you and the kids. And going forward, everything I do, from here on out, will be your sake. I have a choice to make and that choice, going forward, depends on you and what you decide."

Sam nodded understandingly. "OK."

Rishi took a deep breath. "In all honesty, do you think you could ever love me the way you used to?"

Sam looked deep into her husband's eyes, longing to say yes and to go back to the life she once had with him, but the words never came. "I don't know, Rishi." Rishi's heart sunk and he looked away, forlorn. "I'm sorry. After everything that's happened, our lives have changed for good. We can move to the city, try to work things out, but... I... I don't know if I'll ever be able to view you as the man I once loved."

Rishi became full on depressed, his wife's words stabbing him like a knife to his heart. He looked back at her, looking deep into her eyes, trying to find the spark that once ignited the passion for each other, but he didn't see it. What he saw was a stranger, someone he thought he knew, but he doesn't anymore and he was certain she felt the same way. He sighed and rubbed his head, exhausted and disappointed, but now confident about what he has to do next.

"I know what you mean, Sam. I'm tired too. Tired of struggling, wondering day-by-day how we're gonna get by. Tired of suffering needlessly and getting nothing out of it. Tired of feeling like I have no choices in life. I feel weak, Sam. I know I've never been very strong and never really been able to protect you or the kids the way a husband should, but I feel more worthless and helpless than I ever have. I'm tired of it and I would do anything... anything to end it."

Sam smiled sympathetically as she put her paw to his cheek, rubbing it. He reached up and grabbed it, holding it in his paw as he closed his eyes and enjoyed the touch once more. They stood like that for some time, basking in a moment of peace, before Rishi broke it off and took her paw off his face.

"You should go inside," he said to her. "Be with the kids. Comfort them. Make sure they're OK."

"You're not coming in with me?"

Rishi shook his head. "There's something I need to do first. I'll be back later. It might be late, but I will be back. I promise."

Sam stared back at her husband, wanting to argue to get him to stay, but conceding to his decision and forcing a weak smile. She pulled him into a hug and he reciprocated, holding her tight, breathing heavily into her ear. She pulled away after a few seconds and reluctantly turned and walked back inside. He watched her the whole way until she was inside, seeing Tessa through the window climb off the couch and walk over to her. Dex was sitting regular on the couch now, but he was staring down, his chin pressed against his chest. Rishi wasn't certain what Tessa and Sam were discussing, but it probably had something to do with him. Tessa looked sad as she turned to espy her father still standing outside, not coming to her rescue to keep her safe from more bandits.

It broke his heart to see her like that, longing for her father and not jumping at the chance to hold her and tell her everything will be alright. In his heart, Rishi wanted nothing more than to run inside and hold Tessa and Dex and Jimson and Danson and Samantha and never ever let go again, but he couldn't. The events leading up to this moment have taken their toll on him and his wife and walking back in that house would only continue the endless struggle and pointless suffering they've all endured. He needed to end it and there was only one way the mouse knew to do that. So, with one final glance of pity towards his sad, frightened daughter, he turned and walked away.