Finally Getting Home

**ERICKSON'S POV**

"G..g..good morning, Sir." I realized that I had still been very nervous when I heard the man stirring around inside of his tent. I didn't know if he was still going to be in his wolfman form or his human form. He hadn't seemed like he was going to be very friendly in that form. Not all of the people in the city who were in their wolf forms were nice, but I never thought that they were going to eat me.

"Good morning, Mercer." He looked and sounded like his old self and that was what finally made me relax with a sigh of relief. "I do apologize about last night. It is just that it is a bit too close to the full moon, because of that I was forced into my shift. I hope I didn't frighten you too much."

I could see in his eyes that he was apologetic about the issue. I was just glad that we could move on and get home soon. Neither Arthur nor myself slept last night at all. We were both tired and wanted to get this trip finished as soon as possible.

Not to mention, I just knew that if we could see Addie wake up, then we would both feel a lot better. That would be the boost we needed. It would be like pure energy being poured right into our bodies.

'Just hang in there, Addie, we're coming.' I thought the words to myself before I continued the conversation.

"We were a little scared, I will admit. That is not something that we are used to seeing on a regular basis. In fact, it is something that we have never witnessed. We have seen the folks in the city that were already in that state of being, but we had never seen it happen."

"Well, I guess there is a first for everything." There was a grin on Mr. Boberre's face now and I could see a slight playful look in his eyes. Thankfully, this was all done and over with now. We could move on and get back home.

The three of us sat and ate breakfast together, the tension lessening with every passing second. While we ate, Mr. Boberre wanted to talk and find out about Addie. He seemed curious as to why someone needed the Flourish potion if they were human.

"Mercer, why does your daughter need this potion specifically? Isn't there something else that could cure her?"

"No, I am afraid not. She is sick with a disease called the withering flu. The only cure for her is that potion that you have. That is the only thing that will save my daughter's life." My heart was aching just thinking about how weak I was in this situation. I couldn't save my daughter without someone else's help.

"And her life is worth saving?" I was thrown by his words, and obviously so was Arthur.

"Of course it's worth saving." I could tell that he was angered by the comment that the man had made.

"Does she have a future that wouldn't be burdened by something else? Does she have marriage prospects or is she smart enough to think for herself?"

"She's very pretty and any boy would be lucky to have her. She's smart and good at everything that she's ever done."

For some reason, I saw a light shine in the man's eyes. It was like he was happy to hear what Arthur had said.

"Good, I can see you love her very much."

Was that all just some sort of test? Was he wanting to make sure that we loved Addie? What was it all about?

I let it slide and ignored it. We had to leave and get home as soon as we could. I didn't want Addie to be stuck the way she was for much longer. So, after camp was packed away it was time for us to leave.

We rode the same way that we did yesterday. Arthur and I in the wagon and Mr. Boberre trotting along next to us. We rode in silence and just used the sounds of the world around us as music. The gentle rumbling of the wagon's wheels over the slightly uneven dirt road. The faraway chirping of the birds, the chirruping of the crickets, the croaking of the frogs, they could all be heard as we made our way back to the village.

We were almost to the village when there was some grumbling about being hungry. First it was Arthur that asked if we should stop for lunch and then Mr. Boberre had. I had told them that we were close to the village now and that Helen would be happy to make lunch for us all when we got there. And sure enough, just after I said those words, I saw the first houses in the distance.

"There, that is the village." I pointed at the houses that I saw in the distance. "There, that is the store, that large one with the dark red roof. And the house is there behind it. The two story wooden one that matches the store." As I pointed out the house, I noticed that there was someone standing on the porch. That had to be Helen. She had been waiting for us to return. I knew that she would be waiting for us. I knew that she would expect us around this time. She was always so diligent and knew our routine and schedule.