The next part in the saga. I hope everyone enjoys it!
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Chapter 7: Happy Homecomings and Sad LeavetakingsA week later, on the tenth of September by the old reckoning, a small boat appeared on the horizon, floating on the still-turbulent waters of the river. It was a rough-looking craft, made by hollowing out an old log with axes and knives. There were two small benches that crossed inside to provide structure and seating, and two paddles cut and smoothed, that dipped freely in the water.
Inside the rough canoe sat the easily recognizable figure of Mausi in the back seat, while in the front sat the stranger they'd seen in the pool. She seemed small, much younger than Mausi for certain, and looked more like a fox then a wolf. Her ruby-red fur covered most of her body, including her face and hands, but the tips of everything, her fingers and ears and the very end of her hair, was frosted white.
Jake looked curiously at her as he flew high overhead, swooping low and revealing himself as he called out a greeting.
"Welcome home Mausi! Welcome home Tom and Stacy! Welcome to you as well stranger!
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Chapter 5: RebuildingThe early days went smoothly, much to Jake's surprise. They unfroze the members of her staff that Volgelson selected as being indispensable to their efforts, as well as twenty soldiers for security. There were the usual problems about the fact of the millennia having passed by while they were asleep, but after being introduced to their guests one by one, they soon believed. Some became despondent, lethargic, and emotionally fragile in the face of such news. Others attacked their duties with the fervor of men wanting to lose themselves in work.
Serena proved the biggest help. In her guise as "The Lady", she walked amongst the soldiers and spoke to them about past and present. Her power calmed the excited and soothed the hurt to such a degree that cheer and laughter rang out again through the halls of the city.
A couple of the soldiers volunteered that they were the son and daughter of farm folks (though of different parentage and states). They were immediately reassigned to Rachel's far