His parents turned a bit pale when he told them about burning Torrian to the ground, and Jenna stared at him in shock. "It was the only way," he said, looking into the fire. "There were too many of them, and they knew the plan. They would have killed us all."

"You burned Torrian? The entire city?" Eron asked in shock.

"Right out to the walls," he said in a grim voice.

"What about the people?" Elke asked.

"They survived," he told her immediately. "They were protected from the fire. They lost everything they own, and I mean everything, but they survived. I left Arren enough gold to rebuild the city and pay every citizen back for what I destroyed. It was the least I could do after that."

"Are you sure there was no other way, son?" Elke asked.

"Mother, you taught me the rules of war yourself," he said defensively. "They outnumbered us at least five to one. They had catapults, they held the city wall, and they knew our plan. Tell me how the battle would have come out if I'd have allowed them to fight it."

Elke was silent, and then nodded her head.

There was a polite rap at the door, and then it opened. Four older women wearing servant's dresses entered, each carrying a very large tray holding assorted meats, breads, and pastries. It was the food that Triana had arranged to be brought. Tarrin's stomach jumped at the smells coming from those trays, and he almost stood up to take them from the women as they entered the room. They set the trays down on the table and curtsied, a bit intimidated by the strange company within the room, and then quietly filed out. Tarrin didn't wait for the others, he sank down to sit on the floor in front of that table and reached right for the roasted beef.

Tarrin's parents and sister very nearly had to fight the seven Were-cats over the food on the table. Tarrin and those that had travelled with him were starving, having not eaten since that morning, and it was the five of them that dominated the food. Triana nibbled more than anything else, and Jula didn't look to be very hungry, but Jenna was hungry, and she wasn't afraid to challenge her non-human brother over just who had possession of what. She very nearly tried to take things out of his paw, but Triana smacked her hand away quickly and forcefully. "Don't!" she said adamantly, glaring at the young woman.

"What's wrong?" Jenna asked in surprise, rubbing her hand as Jenna's parents glared a little at the Were-cat matriarch.

"You forget just what he is, girl," Triana said in a powerful tone. "If you eat food that's been in his paws, you're in danger. He's had those paws around his mouth."

Jenna paled when Triana's warning struck home. Tarrin's condition was contagious to humans, in its own way, but it was easy for some to forget that. Even him. He hadn't even considered that, and it seemed that Jenna hadn't either. "I completely forgot," she gasped, pulling her hands away from the table.

"Never forget," Triana told her bluntly. "I'm too old to train another turned youngling."

Tarrin blew out his breath. The very thought of accidentally turning his sister turned his stomach, and he didn't even want to think about it.

"I think you'd better leave all that food alone, girl," Elke told her forcefully. "If you're hungry, we'll go down to the kitchen and get you something."

"I think that's a good idea," she said emphatically, sliding back up to sit on the couch again. "But I seem to have lost my appetite for some reason."

"I guess it's a good thing that she feels so comfortable around us," Triana said gruffly. "As do you two."

"He's our son, Triana. We'll accept him and those around him, no matter what he looks like."

Triana nodded simply, then stood up. "Are you finished, Thean?" she asked directly.

"Let me take some off one of the trays, Triana," he replied, quickly gathering up some food on one of the trays, then picking it up. "We can eat it later," he told her.

"That's alright with me," she told him. "I'm going, cubs. I'll see you in the morning, and we'll catch up some more."

"Goodnight, mother," Jesmind told her.

"Sleep well, mother," Tarrin mirrored, waggling the end of his tail in her direction, since both his paws were occupied.

"Uh, where do I sleep, Triana?" Kimmie asked.

"There's several empty apartments up here, Kimmie. Just go find one. I seriously doubt that anyone would dare try to throw you out," Triana said with a stony smile.

"An apartment like this, all to myself?" Kimmie asked in surprise. "That would be wonderful!"

"Not all to yourself," Triana stated. She pointed at Jula. "This one stays with you. I'm going to be busy with Thean, and I doubt that Jesmind would appreciate having Jula in her home just now. The cub is yours for the next few days."

Jula sighed, but knew better than to say anything. She simply nodded in understanding.

"The apartment to the right after you go down the passageway is occupied, but the one to the left is empty."

"Who's in that one?" she asked curiously.

"We are," Triana said pointedly. "We're taking over this floor. That way we can defend each other better, just in case."

"There's no more need for defending ourselves, Triana," Eron told her.

"I didn't live to get this old by letting my guard down, Eron," she told him bluntly. "I'll feel safe when I'm long gone from this cloying place. Not a moment sooner." She looked to the door absently. "I suggest you go find another apartment on this floor and claim it," she told them. "I'll help you move your things up here."

"No, that's quite alright, Triana," Eron smiled. "We don't have all that much. It won't take but a few minutes to move things."

"It'll give my husband some exercise," Elke said critically, jabbing him in the belly. "Come on, Jenna. Let's go get you some dinner before we move things."

"Alright. See you later, Tarrin. Bye Jasana," she said, waving at the little girl.

"Bye Aunt Jenna," she replied between bites.

Jenna laughed at that. "Aunt Jenna. That makes me feel like an old maid."

"Watch your mouth!" Elke snapped.

"Yes, Grandmother," Jenna said in a teasing voice, then quickly got up and danced out of reach of her mother.

"You're not too old to spank, little girl," Elke growled at her daughter.

"But you'll have to catch me first, mother," Jenna laughed. "And as old as you are, you may not be able to do it."

Jenna laughed, but that laugh turned into a squeal as Elke jumped up from the couch and showed her daughter just how lively she could be. Elke nearly caught her as she scrambled to open the door, and they all heard the pair run out into the hallway. Eron watched them go and chuckled lightly, standing up. "Jenna's been getting pretty impertinent lately. It must be the company," he winked at Tarrin. "I think your mother enjoys it, actually. Jenna's mild nature always seemed to rub her raw."

"Ungardt don't like people who don't stand up to others," Tarrin explained easily. "Now that Jenna's starting to show mother how strong she is, it's natural for her to like it. You know how mother loves to fight, be it with weapons or words."

"I figured as much. Well, I'd better go find them before I go down the stairs and find them wrestling down at the bottom," he chuckled.

"Jenna wouldn't wrestle mother. She knows she'd lose. Jenna would cheat."

"What a thing to say about your sister!" Kimmie said with a grin. "I take it it's true?"

"Very true," Eron sighed. That made Kimmie laugh. "I'll see you tomorrow, son," he said. "Sorry for not shaking your hand or giving you a hug, but I think I'll take Triana's warning seriously."

"It's alright, father. Have a good night."

"Goodnight, Jesmind, Jasana," Eron said, waving at his granddaughter fondly.

"Night grampa," Jasana smiled back at him. That made Eron beam slightly, and he put his hands in his pockets and meandered out the door, whistling to himself. It still struck him odd to see his father walking without a limp.