The next morning dawned bright and clear, with the sunlight filtering through the trees and casting a warm glow over the forest. Clara awoke to the sound of birdsong and the soft murmur of voices from the other room. She slipped out of bed quietly, careful not to wake Lily, who was still curled up under the covers, and made her way to the kitchen.
Aldric was already up, sitting at the table with Finn, who was eating a bowl of porridge. The boy looked much better than he had the day before—his cheeks had regained some color, and his eyes no longer held the same fear they had when they found him.
"Good morning," Clara greeted them with a smile as she joined them at the table.
"Morning, Mama!" Lily's cheerful voice called from behind her, and Clara turned to see her daughter padding into the room, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"Morning, my love," Clara said, lifting Lily into her arms and placing a kiss on her forehead. "Did you sleep well?"
Lily nodded, resting her head on Clara's shoulder. "Yes, Mama. Is Finn okay?"
Clara glanced at Finn, who was watching them with wide eyes. "He's doing much better, thanks to you."
Finn gave a small, shy smile, and Clara's heart warmed at the sight. It was clear that Lily's presence was comforting to him, and Clara was proud of how her daughter had handled everything.
After breakfast, Clara and Aldric prepared to take Finn back to his village. Finn had told them where he lived—a small settlement on the outskirts of the forest, not too far from their own home. Clara packed a small bag with some food and water for the journey, while Aldric made sure Finn was bundled up warmly against the morning chill.
"Ready to go?" Aldric asked, bending down to Finn's level.
Finn nodded, clutching the small bag of supplies Clara had given him. "Yes, thank you."
Lily, who had been watching quietly, suddenly spoke up. "Can I come, too?"
Clara and Aldric exchanged a glance. They had planned to take Lily with them, knowing how much she cared for Finn and wanting to show her the importance of following through on their promise to help. But they also knew it would be a long walk for a child as young as Lily.
"You can come, sweetie," Clara said, kneeling down to meet her daughter's eyes. "But it's a long walk, so you'll need to stay close to us, okay?"
Lily nodded eagerly, her excitement clear. "Okay, Mama."
The journey to Finn's village was uneventful, the forest peaceful as they made their way through the familiar paths. Clara held Lily's hand as they walked, while Aldric carried Finn on his shoulders, the boy's small frame resting comfortably against him.
It didn't take long for them to reach the edge of the forest, where the trees began to thin out and the landscape opened up into fields. In the distance, Clara could see the small cluster of houses that made up Finn's village, smoke rising from the chimneys as the morning's activities began.
As they approached, a woman came running toward them, her face filled with relief and joy. "Finn!" she cried, rushing forward to gather the boy into her arms. "Oh, my sweet boy, I've been so worried!"
"Mama!" Finn's voice was muffled against his mother's shoulder as she hugged him tightly.
Clara and Aldric hung back, giving them space to reunite. Clara could feel the woman's emotions—relief, love, and overwhelming gratitude—radiating from her, and it brought a lump to her throat.
When the woman finally pulled back, she looked up at Clara and Aldric, tears in her eyes. "Thank you," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "Thank you for bringing my son back to me. I don't know how to repay you."
"There's no need for repayment," Aldric said gently. "We're just glad we found him."
The woman looked at Lily, who was standing close to Clara, her eyes bright with curiosity. "And this must be your daughter. Thank you, little one, for helping my Finn."
Lily smiled shyly, ducking her head as she clung to Clara's leg. Clara placed a comforting hand on her daughter's back, her heart swelling with pride.
After a few more words of thanks, Clara and Aldric said their goodbyes and began the journey back home. Lily walked between them, her small hand in Clara's, while Aldric carried the now-empty bag over his shoulder.
As they entered the forest once more, the tranquility of the woods enveloped them, the familiar sounds and smells bringing a sense of peace. Clara glanced down at Lily, who was humming softly to herself, seemingly content after the day's adventure.
"You did something very special today, Lily," Clara said softly, squeezing her daughter's hand. "You helped someone who was lost and scared find their way home."
Lily looked up at her mother, her eyes shining with pride. "I just knew where to go, Mama. I felt it."
Clara smiled, her heart filled with love for her daughter. "You have a very special gift, Lily. And we're so proud of you for using it to help others."
As they walked the rest of the way home, Clara couldn't help but reflect on how much Lily had grown in just the past year. Her daughter was becoming more attuned to the world around her, more aware of the gifts she had inherited from both her parents. Clara knew that this was just the beginning of Lily's journey, and she felt a deep sense of pride and hope for the future.
When they finally reached their cabin, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the forest floor. Clara and Aldric settled Lily in for the night, tucking her into bed with the promise of another adventure tomorrow.
As Clara stood by the window, looking out at the darkening forest, Aldric came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"She's going to do great things, isn't she?" Clara whispered, her voice filled with a mix of awe and anticipation.
"Yes, she is," Aldric replied, his voice steady and full of conviction. "And we'll be here to guide her every step of the way."
With that, Clara felt a sense of peace wash over her. No matter what the future held, she knew they would face it together, as a family.