The village bell had long fallen silent, but Theo's mother still heard its echo in her bones. She hadn't slept. She hadn't eaten. Her hands twisted together, raw from wringing and clutching her shawl through every hour of waiting. Elmsworth had grown hushed after days of searching, hope thinning, whispers swelling. But she refused to give in. Every time she stepped into the square, she lifted her eyes to the dark curtain of trees, her heart begging for the shape of her boy to appear.
Now, as the sun dipped low and shadows stretched across the cobblestones, a ripple of voices carried from the tree line. Heads turned. A figure stumbled into view, supporting another. And then, like a small streak of light, Theo broke free from the edge of the forest and ran, waving both arms.
"Ma!" His voice cracked with exhaustion, but it was filled with joy.
Theo's mother gasped so hard her knees buckled. She pushed through the gathering crowd, skirts dragging, tears already blinding her sight. When her arms wrapped around her son, she collapsed to her knees, clutching him as though the earth itself might snatch him away again.
"My boy, Theo, my sweet boy! What have you done to me? Do you know, do you know what you've put me through?" Her voice quivered, scolding through sobs, raining kisses across his hair, his cheeks.
Theo hugged her tight, trembling. "I'm sorry, Ma… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. Ethan,...Ethan kept me safe."
At that name, the crowd's focus shifted. Ethan stood behind, pale and hollow-eyed, leaning on a taller man who none recognized. His clothes were torn, his foot limped, but his gaze was steady.
Cole.
The villagers surged forward, murmurs flying, who was this stranger? How had he come from the forest? Hana and Mira were in Hana's shop when someone shouted the news through the streets. They dropped what they were doing, Mira tugging Hana along, both nearly breathless when they emerged into the crowd.
And there Mira saw them and nudged Hana, Theo in his mother's arms, Ethan with Cole at his side. Hana's chest tightened so hard she thought she'd crumble right there. Mira caught her hand, whispering, "They made it back, Hana. Both of them."
The words filled Hana with relief so sharp it hurt. She tilted her face toward the sound of the voices, toward Ethan.
Cole lifted his chin as villagers pressed around. "I'm Cole Lowe," he said, voice sharp as steel. "Ethan's brother. I went after him when you failed to bring him home."
A hush spread.
Mira's brows knit. "You knew where to look?"
Cole's eyes flicked to Ethan, then back to her. "I knew he'd leave signs. He's stubborn, but not careless. I followed what he left behind."
Jonas muttered from the edge of the crowd, arms folded. "Or you just got lucky."
Cole's head snapped toward him, his presence towering. "Lucky?" His tone cut like a blade. "I fought coyotes with my bare hands out there. I bled to find my brother. Don't mistake that for luck."
Jonas tried to hold his stare, but Cole stepped forward once, dangerous calm in his eyes. "Say another word, and I'll remind you what real men do when family's in danger."
The crowd shifted uneasily. Jonas muttered into his chest, stepping back, his friends tugging at his arms.
"Enough," Mira snapped, though her relief softened her face. "This is a day for thanks, not fights."
The villagers' tension eased into cheers. They clapped Theo's back, offered Ethan nods of respect, pressed Cole's hand. But amid the relief, Ethan drifted to the side, leaning against the wall of a nearby building. He stood in shadow, away from the light of praise.
Avery wove through the crowd, clutching a book to her chest, cheeks flushed. "Ethan!?" she called, bright-eyed and breathless,
"Ethan!" she called, running up with Oliver trailing behind. "We thought, everyone thought" She stopped short, tears shining in her eyes. Then she rushed forward and hugged him tightly. "You came back. I knew you would."
Ethan stiffened for a moment, then softened, patting her back gently. "Its ok"
Avery looked up at him with fierce determination. "You can't leave us again. Promise me."
But Ethan didn't answer. His silence hung heavy between them.
"Theo's safe because of you. You,...you're like the heroes in the stories my teacher reads us."
Ethan bent slightly to meet her earnest gaze. "Heroes don't limp, Avery." His voice was soft, tired.
She frowned. "Maybe they do. Maybe they limp, and they hurt, and people still cheer for them. You're my hero."
Her words struck deeper than she knew. Ethan managed a smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Thank you, Avery."
Moments after, Cole appeared beside him, studying him carefully. "You're quiet," he said.
Ethan's lips curled faintly. "They cheer now. Tomorrow they'll find something else to say."
"You're thinking of leaving," Cole said bluntly.
Ethan's jaw tightened. "Maybe it's time. I'm tired, Cole. Tired of feeling like every breath I take here is borrowed."
Cole crossed his arms. "That why you think I came? To drag you home with me?"
Ethan glanced at him. "Why did you come?"
"Because,I wanted to make things right with you, last time we saw eachother we fought and I regretted that everday" Cole replied without hesitation. "I know we grew apart after Pop died and we couldn't see eye to eye. And despite everything despite our fights, the years apart, you're my brother. And I just want to apologise and i came to a realisation that I don't want to turn my back on family."
Ethan looked down. "I forgive you, even though I wasnt truly upset, I knew we had different views and different plans and I came to terms with that, and I messed up here, Cole. With the villagers. With Hana. She doesn't see me like she used to."
Cole followed his gaze across the square, landing on Hana's still figure near Mira. "Then fix it," Cole said flatly. "If you care about her, don't crawl into your shell. Fight for her."
The night deepened, and Elmsworth transformed into a celebration. Lanterns swung overhead, tables scraped across cobblestones, children ran wild. Bread, stew, and laughter spilled into the square.
Theo sat on a stool, retelling his adventure to a circle of wide-eyed boys. His arms flailed dramatically, his voice climbing as he described Ethan pulling him from the water. "He was so strong! He saved me. You should've seen it,..he saved me."
The children cheered. The crowd joined, clapping, laughing, relief washing over them all.
But Ethan stayed in the shadows. The cheer sounded distant to him, muffled by the weight of his own thoughts.
Cole caught him again, dragging him to sit on the edge of the square near a shuttered stall. Instead of silence, Cole forced words. "Tell me the truth, Ethan. Do you want to leave because of the village—or because you're afraid?"
Ethan looked at his brother, then down at his scarred hands. "Maybe both,....I don't know anymore. All I know is I don't want to keep dragging people into my storms."
Cole's eyes softened, though his voice stayed firm. "You're stronger than you think. Stop running from your place in this world."
Later that night, when the crowd had thinned and lanterns dimmed, Ethan pushed himself from the wall and walked toward Hana's shop. Not inside, just enough to stand close.
Hana had just reached her shop. Mira had bid her goodnight and gone her way, leaving her alone in the hush of the evening.
Hana's hand was on the shop door, the worn wood cool beneath her fingers. The night was hushed, the last embers of the village celebration fading into silence. She exhaled, steadying herself, when Ethan's voice cut through the quiet.
"Hana."
She froze. Her heart stuttered. Slowly, she turned, her face tilted toward the sound. Ethan stood just behind her, shadows brushing his features, his eyes dark and unreadable.
"We need to talk," he said softly.
She turned toward his voice, lips parting. "Ethan, you shouldn't be here," she whispered. "You should be resting."
He shook his head. "Not until we talk."
Her throat tightened. "There's nothing left to say."
"Yes, there is "I need to tell you something."he said
Her breath stilled.
"I'm leaving," he said finally. "For good."
The words cracked through the air.
She flinched, whispering, "No. You can't mean that."
"I do. I've brought nothing but trouble here. To you. To everyone. I can't keep dragging you through it. I just… I'm sorry, Hana. For all of it." Ethan said, stepping closer.
"You tried to push me away before, but… I need to know. Was it the truth? Did you really want me gone?"
Her breath hitched and her throat tightened . She clenched her fists at her sides, trembling. "Ethan, I… I thought it was for the best. I thought I was protecting you. But all I did was hurt you. And I hate myself for it."
Words spilling before she could stop them.
"I'm the one who should be sorry. I told you to leave that day. I thought… I thought pushing you away would protect you. Protect me. But I was wrong. I regret it, Ethan. Every word."
He shook his head, his voice rough. "Regret doesn't change what's broken."
Her steps inched closer, her voice trembling. "It can. If you let it. You don't have to go. Not now. Not when you've come back, when you've proved yourself again and again. Stay. Please. Don't make me lose you because of my mistake."
Ethan's chest rose and fell. He wanted to believe her. To stay. But the weight pressed too deep.
The silence stretched, broken only by their uneven breaths.
The firelight from a lantern between them flickered across their faces. His decision lingered, sharp, unyielding.
And yet her hand reached, hovering near his, as though one touch could keep him anchored to Elmsworth.
Ethan's gaze softened, but his silence pressed her forward. The words tumbled from her in a rush, broken and desperate.
"Please don't leave," she pleaded, her voice cracking. "Don't walk away, not like this. I can', I'm sorry for everything I said, I was scared, I didn't mean it. I thought I was strong enough, but I'm not. Ethan… I love you! I don't want to lose you!"
The words hung in the air, raw and trembling.
Ethan blinked, stunned. His voice was barely a whisper. "What? …Did you just say....."
Hana's hand flew to her mouth, panic flushing her cheeks. "It's all my fault," she choked out, shaking her head. "I pushed you away, I doubted you, I should have believed in you. Please… forgive me."
"No, Hana," Ethan pressed gently, stepping close, his voice low, urgent. "Not that. What did you say before?"
Her breath trembled. She lowered her hand, her lips parting. Tears clung to her lashes as she finally forced herself to repeat it, steady and true.
"I love you, Ethan."
The world seemed to still. His chest rose with a sharp breath, his heart thundering. He reached out slowly, almost reverently, his fingers brushing her arm as if to anchor himself to this moment.
"Hana…" His voice cracked with something fragile and unguarded. "I love you too. More than I ever thought I could."
Her breath broke into a soft sob, relief and disbelief tangling together. And in that narrow space before her shop door, with the village quiet around them, the air itself seemed to glow with the weight of what had finally been spoken.