The Divine Hunter

You say this is just a story we’re making up to cover our murder, but what about the kids? We aren’t gods.
We can’t just snap our fingers and make them appear out of thin air.”

“Um…” Amos was at a loss for words for a while.
When he was about to retort, Eveline shot him a dirty look, forcing him to swallow his words.

“I trust them.” She sighed.
“It’s just like Alan to do this.
The most important thing now is his funeral.
We can’t let him rot in the wilds.”

“His body’s still there.” Alan had turned back to his human form after the decapitation.
“I’ll take you guys there later.
But he wanted you guys to burn his body right there and collect his remains.
Spread his ashes in the Newi if you ever travel to Rivendell.
His wife was sent off the same way.”

The troupe members were surprised to hear that.

“Alan wouldn’t tell that to anyone,” Eveline decided.
“So now we know they aren’t lying.”

“Thanks for understanding.” Roy sighed.
“Alan’s been suffering from the curse for a long time now.
He wanted to see Sheena again, but he held on for the kids.”

***

The troupe stayed around for a couple of days to retrieve Alan’s remains.
They burned his body with normal fire and Letho’s Igni for a long time, but eventually, they managed to turn Alan’s remains into bones and ash.
They collected everything.

The caravan’s mood was gloomy as everyone mourned for their late captain for a while.
Many of the members were tearing up too.

“Right.
Alan’s probably reunited with his wife in Melitele’s kingdom now.
First things first.
What should we do about Art and Arri?”

“We take care of them, of course!” Kantilla thumped her chest.

“And we need a new captain as soon as possible.
Preferably someone charismatic!” Amos quickly voiced his opinion, only getting everyone’s glares in return.
He shut up.

“Alan said he wanted Eveline to take his place.” Everyone was surprised to hear that from Roy, but most of them accepted it.
Not Amos though, but a single vote was useless.

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Collins was huddling with Ferroz as usual.
Ferroz took a deep breath and put his hands together to plead.
“So Collins and I have been dating for years, but we can’t have any children of our own, and I’m sure you guys know why.
We’ve been thinking about that for a long time.” Then his face was flushed with excitement.
“Alan treated us like family, and we’re grateful for him.
We’ve always wanted to repay our debt, but we never had the chance.
Until now.
If it’s fine with everyone, we’d like to adopt the kids as thanks to Alan’s help.
And we’ll take care of them like they’re our kids.
In a way, they’re our dream come true.”

“Yeah!” Collins quickly backed his lover up.

“Please, everyone!” They held their hands together and bowed to everyone deeply for the longest time.

“Um…” Everyone was taken by surprise.
They never thought the gay couple was any different from other couples, but instinctively, they thought Ferroz and Collins were different from a heterosexual couple.
They couldn’t let them adopt Alan’s kids.

And so, the members were in a dilemma.
Eveline and Amos wanted to refuse, but they didn’t want to hurt them.
Roy kept quiet for a while before stepping in.
“Arri and Art are special, in a sense.
Not anyone can adopt them.
They’ve been living as a falcon and an owl for five years, so they operate differently from normal humans.
Owls are nocturnal creatures who can get really active at night.
They feed on frogs, insects, and other small creatures.
On the other hand, falcons love to dive from high up in the air.
Can you even imagine how Art would act? And besides, Alan wanted them to get adopted by the Temple of Melitele in Ellander.
It’s a good place filled with kind, gentle souls.”