Chapter Two Hundred and Six - Home Again, Home Again

Chapter Two Hundred and Six - Home Again, Home Again

Chapter Two Hundred and Six - Home Again, Home Again

The first sign I saw that we were nearing Hopsalot, was the Beaver Cleavers bright balloon hovering over the little town.

We huffed and puffed our way up a final hill, and in so doing, got to see the whole town out ahead of us. Tree-house homes and little burrows, open fields where neat little gardens were soaking up morning sunshine and the little gurgling river that swished and swashed through the village, never going in a straight line when it could instead meander around hills and through little creeks and under arched stone bridges with trellis-covered sides.

I raised a hand and cupped it over my forehead to shield my eyes from the sun. I could make out buns, most with bright white shirts and with adorable little overalls on, some caring for their gardens while the little ones ran around and chased each other over hills, their long bunny ears bouncing with every step. The older buns were usually sitting on the porches before their burrow homes, rocking on finely crafted chairs and smoking from reed pipes.

Were here! I called back to the others.

Behind me were my best friends. Awen still had bandages around her waist from where shed gotten hurt the night before, and Amaryllis looked a bit miffed at having to walk through the forest so much. The branches and leaves tended to get caught in her feathers, much to her very loud annoyance.

Bastion came up behind them, looking like a very small knight in shining armour. He smiled at me, relaxed as a sylph paladin could be. His wings fluttered behind him as he skipped off a boulder.

Then there were the buns. Momma in her half-plate, and Carrot whod removed her gauntlets and had them tied by her waist so that they clanged and banged with every step. Buster took up the very rear of the group, the huge bun stomping along with his big hammer slung onto his shoulder.

Peter was... somewhere. He was the sneaky sort, so it wasnt too surprising that I couldnt spot him. Hed show up if anything needed our attention, I was sure.

Carrot bounced up and came to a stop at the top of the hill, right next to me. Her ears wiggled with poorly suppressed excitement, and her grin was as wide as a grin could be. Home! she declared.

Home! I said right back.

Hopsalot wasnt my home, of course, but the Beaver certainly was. I could only-just make out a few figures on the airships deck, some of them with long bun-ears.

Momma caught up to us with the others and took in a deep breath. Ah, there was a time, once, where I would leave for months on end. Wanderlust dragging me this way and that. Now I can hardly leave for more than a day or two without fearing that everything will crumble apart without me there.

I giggled. Im sure its not so bad, I said.

Some of the buns in Hopsalot spotted our party, because within moments a whole crowd of little buns had gathered by the edge of the village. They stared at us, some of them holding up their ears away from their eyes while others hesitated and only peeked our way from behind bushes and little picket fences.

When we came over, their hesitation broke and soon we were swarmed by a whole gaggle of buns.

Carrot darted ahead, picked one little bun up by the armpits, and spun her around a couple of times before squeezing them tight. Im back! she said while the little bun tried really hard to return the hug, even though her arms were too short to wrap around Carrots sides.

I felt Awen and Amaryllis shuffle up behind me, using me as an ablative layer against all the bouncing and smiling buns. Hello! I said.

Their reply was a cacophony of questions that I couldnt possibly answer all at once. From asking if wed fought big monsters, to wondering if they could visit the airship again, to very generous offers to join them in playing extreme hopscotch.

Ah, Im sorry everybun. But my friends and I need to follow Momma for a bit! Well have some time to play after that, Im sure!

Momma was kneeling down, hugging buns that needed hugs, patting buns that needed pats, and sometimes pinching fat, chubby cheeks, much to the dismay of the buns whose faces she pinched.

It took a bit for the sea of little buns to recede and for us to be able to head deeper into the town. Buster was entirely covered in buns, who seemed to have confused the big man for a jungle-gym of sorts. Peter, of course, was nowhere to be seen. He didnt seem the sort to take kindly to being pestered by little buns.

Momma shooed some of them along, and Carrot saved the day by sacrificing herself a moment later with a declaration of, Who wants to play tag?

The screaming horde bounced after Carrot, a whole bunch of ears wobbling as they chased her.

Aww, I said.

Do you need anything for your return trip? Momma asked.

I considered it. I dont think so? Some supplies wouldnt go amiss. Our voyage has already gone on for a lot longer than we expected.

We didnt get as much fuel in Needleford as we could have, Awen said. But I dont think we can get any here.

"Im afraid that Hopsalot doesnt have much use for that sort of thing, Momma agreed. What about food and such?

Were fine there, Amaryllis said. Thank you.

Bastion bowed at the waist. I wish to thank you as well, maam, he said. Your hospitality has been wonderful, and your prompt action has likely done much to keep your little town safe.

Thats just a mothers job, Momma said. Come, Ill give you all a quick hug for the trip back.

I crashed into Momma, because really, her hugs were the best. Then it was the others turn, though Bastion politely declined, and Amaryllis made noises as if she wanted to decline while eagerly accepting the hug.

Im going to miss Hopsalot, I said. And I was only here for less than a day. I let my shoulders droop a bit, and my gaze wandered over the town. It was just so chaotically peaceful. The big homes built into trees, the doors stuck into the sides of hills, the little streets, paved in carefully laid cobbles. The river sang a gurgling song, accompanied by the wind whispering over grassy hills.

Then a whole bunch of little ones appeared, all of them scrambling over Carrot who took a tumble and rolled down a hill to the tune of merry screams.

I would offer to let you stay, Momma said when she looked away from the spectacle. None of the little buns looked to be hurt from the flop down the hill. But I suspect that youre at that point in your life where adventure has its hooks in you, and where youd want nothing more than to meddle. It might be best for everyone here if you only came back when youre a little older, and a little calmer.

Im not a meddler, I defended myself.

Amaryllis snorted.

Is this mock Broccoli day? I asked.

Its always mock Broccoli day, Amaryllis said. She nodded to Momma. Well probably fly back over here again, on the way North.

Then stop by for tea, Momma said. No matter the hour.

Amaryllis nodded, then moved over to a ladder that someone had left dangling off the Beavers side. Come on, Broccoli, youre holding us back!

Oh, right, okay, I said. I jumped to Momma, gave her a last hug, got my head rubbed for my troubles, then darted back to the Beaver.

When we climbed aboard, we found a few curious buns on deck, with Clive sitting on one of the steps leading to the aft castle and explaining things. Howard the fishman was nearby too, wringing his webbed fingers as he approached.

Ill make sure we dont have any uninvited guests aboard, Amaryllis said. You deal with Howard here.

I nodded and skipped over to the fishman. Heya, I said.

Hello Captain Bunch, he said. How did it go?

It went well enough, I said. We know how to fix your dungeon now, but I think we ought to hurry back. It gets harder and harder to fix things as time goes on. We dont want to be too late, I said.

Howards shoulders loosened and he gave me a fishy smile. Oh, thank the fathomless depths, he said.

Dont worry Howard, my friends and I will have everything back to how it ought to be in a jiffy!

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