Archive of Our Own

The biggest change Hector and the Bizzyboys had to adjust to in the Grove was the temperature. Underground, the Drain was always a consistent cool, the majority of it deep enough to not be affected by the weather on the surface. The Drain didn't feel the heat of summer, nor the cold of winter. There was only one season: damp.

The Bizzyboys arrived at the Grove in spring, and were forced to adapt quickly as the year progressed. Hector taped informational graphics on heat exhaustion to the walls of their meeting space and used a chunk of the campaign money on reusable water bottles to give out. They had his face on them, so it probably wasn't a campaign violation, especially if they managed to sell any.

Summer drew closer to its end. Hector was proud to say only one of his boys had needed hospitalization from the heat. Soon, the trees would change color as fall approached–and, in his opinion, the cool weather couldn't come sooner.

"Gods!" Vibiano exclaimed, sitting with a tall glass of lemonade and fanning themself. "I can't wait for winter. Can ya imagine seeing snow?"

Capochin rolled his eyes. "We've seen snow before, Vib."

"Not me," Hector said. "An' I sure haven't seen it fall from the sky. Here, catch."

He tossed a bottle of water across the table. Capochin reached up with one hand to catch it, then dropped it with a yelp. It landed with a solid thunk on the floor.

Hector laughed. "I froze some o' the bottles," he said, bending down to grab it and hand it over. "Stays cold longer. Yew're looking kinda flushed, Cappy."

"I'm fine, boss." Capochin ran a damp hand over his face. "Just tired."

"The boys ain't here, yew can just call me Hector." He pulled off his jacket and took a seat at the table. "It's just us and Vibi, an' yew know we don't gotta keep up a-pier-ants-is around them."

"You couldn't," Vib said. "I've known you too long."

Hector smiled at them, then turned to Capochin. "Yew should drink some water."

Capochin looked at the bottle. "This water? It's frozen."

"Won't be for long," Hector said. "Heat's got my bones meltin'."

Vib laughed. Capochin grumbled and pressed the frozen bottle against his forehead.

All their attempts at conversation died, smothered by the heat. Vib kept forgetting the fan was already on the highest setting and kept trying to turn it up. Hector had a lunch, but it had to be microwaved, and he wasn't in the mood to eat anything hot. He took a long drink from his water bottle and sighed.

Someone pounded on the door. "Boss!"

Capochin swore under his breath. "We're on break–"

Hector shushed him. "Could be urgent," he said, standing and putting his coat back on.

The Bizzyboy at the door was breathing hard and fast, sweat running down his face. Hector frowned. "Yew alright? Yew look like yew ran here all the way from–"

"Milldread," he said, panting. "Milldread's on fire!"

He swayed and nearly collapsed. Hector grabbed his arms to steady him. "Sit down! There's a fire in Milldread?"

Vibiano dragged a chair over and handed the Bizzyboy a water bottle. He held it in trembling hands. "It's bad," he said, his voice shaking. "It's real bad. Spreading fast. They don't want it t' hit Cobigail's domain, but there's not enough people, an' the help from BuzzHuzz is taking too long."

"So yew came here," Hector said. "Cappy, start gettin' people in the van."

Capochin hesitated. "Boss, we've never even seen a fire before–"

"We'll figure it out," Hector said firmly. "The Bizzyboys serve the Grove an' the gods, and it sure sounds like Cobigail needs us." To the trembling Bizzyboy, he said, "Yew did good. Now rest up and drink lots of water, okay?"

"Okay, boss." He looked up with wide eyes. "You really think we can help?"

"Of course!" Hector beamed at him. "That's why yew came here!"

The smile slid off his face as he gave a stern look to Capochin. "Cappy! Get movin'!"

Capochin nodded quickly and ran out the door.

The van could only fit so many people. Once all seats were filled and then some, Hector instructed Vib to stay back and organize the next group. "I'll send the van back for yew," he said from the driver's seat. "Make sure everyone has water!"

"Got it," they said. "Stay safe, alright?"

Hector nodded and slammed the door shut, just as Capochin jumped in the passenger's side.

"Buckle up!" Hector yelled at the backseats, and hit the gas before anyone had time to react.

Someone fell out of their seat. "He said buckle up!" Capochin snapped.

As soon as they cleared the overcast skies of the Cove, Hector saw smoke rising ahead of them. He pressed harder on the gas pedal. The van thumped over a bump in the dirt road. Two of the Bizzyboys bumped their heads together.

As they passed from the Cove across Milldread's border, they could see a red glow on the horizon. Smoke filled the sky. The surrounding vegetation had become brown and dry in the summer heat; Hector knew how easily it could catch light.

He slowed down when he saw people. In a clearing by the road, clusters of people were gathered in hastily constructed tents, clutching a few of their possessions and trying to soothe crying children. He identified a medical tent and stopped a short distance away from it. "Stay put," he said to the others as he got out. "I'll find out where we're needed."

As he approached the tent, a young man ran out to meet him. "You're here to help?" he said, surprise evident in his voice.

Hector nodded. "One of my boys said yew needed people," he said. "We've got people. Never handled a fire before, but they can follow directions. Where do yew need us?"

The man hissed air through his teeth. "I don't know," he said. "We need people, but if you don't have experience…"

His hands were shaking. Hector couldn't blame him. He looked past the man at the medical tent. "Yew have injuries?" he asked. "I can give yew my boys with first aid training."

"Right." He exhaled. "We're running low on supplies, but…"

"Tell me what yew need. I'll send my deputy to bring them here."

Capochin had gotten out of the van when Hector returned with a written list, staring at the smoke in the sky and wringing his hands. "Boss," he said, "what's the situation?"

Hector shook his head. "Dunno if he's the one in charge, but he couldn't tell me much. Medics need our help, though. Get the boys out, then bring the van back to headquarters and pick up these supplies–"

A boom shook the air. Hector whipped back around and stared wide-eyed at the distant flames, reaching into the sky like fiery fingers before they receded. Someone in the crowd screamed.

Hector put a hand on his chest and tried to calm his racing heart.

"Hector?"

He looked back at Capochin, wide eyed and waiting for orders. "Here," Hector said, handing him the list of requested supplies. "Get the van back to base, pick up these with Vibi's group, and come right back here. I'm gonna try 'n get more infer-may-tion."

"Understood," said Capochin. "Be careful, alright?"

Once his boys were out of the van, Hector waved Capochin off as the van drove away. To the gathered Bizzyboys, he said, "First rule is no one's goin' near the fire. I bet most of yew haven't seen a fire in yewr life, an' trying to butt in could get us and others killed. We'll help at a distance, got it?"

"Yes, sir!" the Bizzyboys responded.

"Good! Now raise your hand if yew've got first aid training, an' I'll take yew to the medics. Everyone else, go talk to the people here an' get an idea of what they need, alright? Stay nearby, I'll be gettin' instruction for us soon."

At the medic tent, the man was waiting with someone else when Hector returned with four Bizzyboys. They both walked up to meet him. "You're here to help," the other man said, a short grovefolk man with teal-blue skin and a large round nose. "Good! This way."

Hector left the Bizzyboys with the medics and followed the short man around the edge of the clearing. "Name's Bloom," the man said. "You're Hector, right? Ever fought a fire?"

"Nope," said Hector. "We can keep people calm, but we won't be any help stopping it."

"There ain't no stopping this fire," Bloom said grimly. "It's way past out of control. We've got to evacuate everyone an' clear the brush around Cobigail's domain so it doesn't burn."

Despite the heat, Hector felt a shiver go through him. "Where's the fire now?" he asked.

"It's eatin' up the cornfields. We have maybe an hour before it gets to the center of town. Less'n that, if the wind picks up."

Hector took a deep breath. He smelled smoke.

Bloom continued. "We need to finish the evacutation an' get everyone to the Cove. If you can do that, we can focus on Cobi. I dunno what fire can do to a god's domain, and I ain't keen on finding out."

"What about the animals?"

"Humans first, but if it's safe and we have time, we ought to rescue the animals too." Bloom shook his head. "Most of 'em were out in the fields, but the ones in town don't hafta suffer that fate."

"Understood," said Hector. "Anything else?"

"If y' can spare a few of your boys, it'd be good to have 'em keeping an eye on everyone." Bloom looked out at the crowd of people. "I don't want th' community losing anyone else."

So people had already been lost. "We'll do everything we can," Hector said firmly. "I'll let the boys know they answer t' yew, too."

Bloom nodded. "Gather 'em up and I'll take you into town."

Hector and the Bizzyboys pounded on doors, calling for everyone to evacuate. It took little convincing for the Milldread citizens to leave; they all smelled the smoke and saw that distant glow. Though the commotion, Hector maintained some sense of order, and the Bizzyboys helped people gather possessions, valuables, pets, and gave them direction to go south out of town.

People were coughing from the smoke, and some were affected worse than others; Bloom had handed out masks, but they didn't have enough for everyone. Hector went without.

Once the houses were clear, Hector did a double-check of the library. "Anyone here?" he shouted at the entrance. "Fire's coming! Yew gotta evacuate!"

Silence. Hector did a walk around the first floor, looking up at the balcony of the second floor encircling the room, and left, satisfied that it was empty.

He met Bloom at the town's altar to Cobigail. "That's the last public building clear," he said. "My boys are double checking the houses, but we think that's everyone."

"Right," said Bloom. He had a hand on the altar, running his fingers over the stone. "Some people might not leave," he said.

A familiar pit opened in his gut. "That's their choice," said Hector. "But I don't think we're leaving anyone behind, here. No one tried t' argue with me this time."

"This time?"

Hector nodded. "Not my first evacuation," he said. "Floods are different, but…" He sighed. "Yew can't waste time tryin'a force people to leave their homes, not when there's others who need yewr help."

Bloom nodded, slowly. Hector remembered the ticking clock. "But just cause we can't save everyone doesn't mean we won't try," he said. "North of town's clear. We gotta keep moving."

"Right," said Bloom. He brought his hand back to his side. "I'm sorry, I just–"

Hector patted the other man's shoulder. "It's never easy," he said. "I know."

"Boss!"

He looked up to see Capochin running towards him. "Cappy!" Hector said, and he went to meet him. "What's happening? Is something wrong?"

Capochin kept looking up at the sky. "Not yet," he said. "I dropped off the supplies, and I've got Vibiano's men with some people from the Cove, helping the evacuees."

"Great! Where's Vibi now?"

"Gettin' more supplies. I told them they could take the van."

"Good, good." Hector glanced back at Bloom. "North side of town is clear. Did yew see how the brush is around Cobi's domain?"

Bloom spoke up. "Cobigail can make sure everyone's out," he said. "I ought to talk to her, see if she's alright, see if…"

He swayed. Hector caught him as he toppled over. "Whoa! Cappy, get Bloom to the medics!"

"'m fine," Bloom said, but there was no conviction in his voice. "I've got t' be fine. There's work t' do."

"Yew won't be any help like this." Hector handed him off to Capochin. "We'll take care of it, an' yew can come back when yewr feelin' better."

Bloom stayed quiet for a moment, putting most of his weight on Capochin. Finally, he said, "Thank you, Hector. Milldread owes you a great debt."

Hector shook his head. "I'm just doin' what I came here to do. Serve the Grove an' the gods."

"C'mon," said Capochin. "We gotta get outta here." To Hector, he said, "Be careful, boss."

"Talk to Cobigail," Bloom said as Capochin helped him upright. "She knows where everyone in her community is. She'll know if someone's missing."

"Got it," Hector said. With one last look at the empty buildings, he ran towards the schoolhouse, where Cobigail's domain resided.

Cobigail's domain was darkened, the clouds gray and thick and blocking out the sky. Hector still smelled smoke. He ran towards Cobigail, but slowed down when he got closer and realized she was weeping. "Cobi?"

She looked up. "Oh, Hector!" she said, tears running down her face. "You're here to help!"

He straightened his back. "Of course!" he said. "Bloom asked me t' update you. They've got most of the brush cleared around the schoolhouse, and–"

"The evacuation!" Cobigail wrung her hands together. "Are–are they safe? Oh, gods…"

Hector hadn't ever heard a god invoke the gods, but Cobigail was the newest one, and he couldn't imagine how she felt while her town burned. "We're gettin' everyone out," he said. "We've cleared every house north of town center." He hesitated. "Bloom said yew could tell where people were. Can yew make sure we didn't miss anyone?"

Cobigail nodded, her face damp with tears. "I can," she said. "North of town center. Okay."

She closed her eyes. Hector suppressed a cough, even as the tickle in his throat made his eyes water. The smoke was doing a number on everyone.

"There's someone in the library," Cobigail said.

"The library?" Hector frowned. "I thought it was empty, I checked it! Yew sure?"

"Yes. They're a child, I think. They must have gotten separated from the others." She hiccuped. "The fire's close, I don't know if there's time!"

"So I'll hafta hurry!" Hector gave Cobigail a reassuring smile. "I'll get 'em out, Cobigail. That's what the Bizzyboys are here for."

"W-wait! Come here."

Hector obeyed. Cobigail opened her eyes and pressed her hand against his forehead, covering most of his face.

"Take my blessing," she said quietly. "May you have community in your time of need."

She took her hand away. Hector hadn't been blessed by a god before. He didn't feel any different. "Thank you, Cobi," he said. "I promise I won't let yew down."

"Thank you, Hector. Be careful."

Hector nodded, saluted, and swiftly exited her domain.

The moment he emerged from the schoolhouse, he took off running.

Ash fell over empty roads and silent buildings. The north of town was noticeably hotter. Hector wiped his sweaty palms on his sweater and slammed open the door to the library. "Hello?" he called out. "Cobi said yew were in here! Where are yew?"

No response. Hector went deeper into the library. "Hello? Kid?"

In the back, he spotted a door he hadn't noticed before. He mentally cursed himself and pulled it open, staring into the dark basement. "Yew down here?"

He heard a faint sound. A voice? A whimper? Hector descended the stairs.

A single candle barely illuminated the room. A young child with long hair huddled in a corner, staring at him with wide eyes. "Are yew hurt?" he asked, stepping closer. "Are yew–"

They flinched away from him. Hector stopped. "I'm here to get yew out," he said. "Okay? Whole town's gotta be evacuated."

They shook their head, tears running down their face. "I'm scared," they whispered.

"I know, kid. I'm scared, too." He took another slow step towards them and crouched down to their level. "We've gotta be brave together, okay? Are yew hurt anywhere?"

Slowly, hesitantly, the child uncurled and held out their arm, presenting a small scrape. Nothing serious. Hector let out a relieved sigh. "That must've hoit," he said. "We'll hafta get yew a bandage for that. Can yew stand?"

They nodded and got to their feet. Hector stood up with them and held out his hand. "C'mon, we just gotta go upstairs, and–"

Above them, there was a crash and the sound of glass shattering.

Hector took a sharp breath. The child backed away from him, looking up in fear.

"We can't stay here, kid!" Hector swallowed and held out his hand again. "Yew're gonna be okay, let's just get out of here an' get that scratch taken care of, alright?"

They shook their head. "But…"

"It's not safe!" Hector glanced at the stairs. "I can carry yew. I'll keep yew safe, I promise."

The child stared at him. Hector gave them a reassuring smile, he hoped.

Finally, they moved towards him. Hector met them in the middle and scooped them into his arms. The child was the size of adult drainfolk, but not nearly as heavy. They buried their face in his sweater, trembling.

"I've got yew," Hector said. "Let's get outta here."

Each step up felt hotter than the last. He had to slow down with the added weight. Hector reached the top of the stairs breathing hard and nearly choking on the smoke.

Around him, the library burned.

The fire had started at the opposite end from the library entrance, but spread fast. Hector could see it spreading, jumping from shelf to shelf as the books caught alight. Flames lined the floor.

Hector saw a path through the center and started running.

The child sobbed and held on tighter. "It's okay!" Hector managed to say, his chest aching. "We're almost out! We're gonna–"

He skidded to a stop. The balcony had collapsed over the entrance. Burning debris blocked the way out.

He couldn't breathe. He took fast, rapid gasps as he backed up, looking around for any other exits. Surely there was a back door, right? Some other way out, some escape–he wasn't going to die here, right?

To his left, a second piece of the balcony collapsed, taking part of the wall with it. A wave of heat washed over him. "Oh, gods," Hector found himself saying. "Oh gods, oh gods…"

In the back of his mind, a derisive voice spoke up. So much for Cobigail's blessing, huh?

He swallowed hard and fell to his knees, hunched over the child with a hand placed protectively over their head. "Cobigail," he whispered, "please. I need yew. I need someone, anyone–"

"Boss?!"

Hector snapped up, staring wide eyed at the blocked doorway. "Cappy!" he shouted, struggling to his feet. "Cappy, I'm–" He coughed hard, tried again. "I'm trapped!"

He heard Capochin shouting. "He's there! He's in there! We'll–we'll get you out, boss!"

He could have cried, had it not been so hot. Hector adjusted his grip on the child. "Doorway's blocked!" he shouted. "There's gotta be another way out, right?"

A piece of the roof crashed to the floor. Hector flinched away from it.

"Boss!" Capochin's voice came from a different direction. "Hector! This way!"

He called from where the wall had collapsed. Hector tried to move fast, but he had to slow down and pick his way across the floor, dodging flames and sparks. He saw the exit–the collapsed wall had created an opening big enough to run through, if not for the flames blocking the way. Hector shook his head. "Cappy, I don't think–"

"Hang on, boss!"

The flames sputtered. Through the haze of heat and smoke, Hector saw clumps of dirt flying and landing on the fire to smother it. Behind that, he could just barely make out Capochin, digging a shovel into the ground and throwing more dirt.

The roof groaned. Hector glanced up. They were running out of time.

"Hector!" Capochin shouted. "Get outta there!"

Hector nodded, held on tight to the rescued child, and ran forward.

The ground burned his feet through his shoes. Hector stumbled across half-extinguished debris and ashes and burst outside, breathing hard. Capochin shouted at him again, and he saw his deputy gesturing for him to follow.

As they ran, the library collapsed behind them.

They made it out of the burning town and to the evacuation area, running the whole time. Hector's head spun, and his legs ached like they were about to fall off. He didn't let go of the child he had saved, feeling them shaking and quietly coughing into his shoulder. When someone tried to take them from him, he resisted, pulling back.

"Hector!" Capochin put a hand on his arm. "We're at the medical tent. You gotta let them take care of 'em."

The medical tent? His head cleared, just enough to recognize his surroundings. He pried the kid's hands off his sweater and handed them over to the medic. He saw some of his own Bizzyboys helping the Milldread medics with other patients. He managed a smile and waved at them.

Then he turned around and tried to head back into town.

Capochin blocked his way. "Where in th' Drain do you think you're going?"

"Back t' work," Hector said. He moved to step around him. "I've got t' check the south side of town, make sure–"

"Hector, no!" Capochin grabbed both his wrists. "You need to let the docters look at you! Me an' Vibiano's group can can handle the evacuation!"

He resisted, pulling his hands away. "But there's not enough people, we need–"

"The BuzzHuzz firefighters are here!"

Hector paused. "Really?"

Capochin nodded frantically. "They–they can handle the fire, we've got enough people, you've got to sit down and rest! Okay?"

He relented. "Okay," he said, and allowed Capochin to lead him back into the tent.

His head hurt, and the heat had disoriented him. Hector sat on the ground and let the medics fuss over him, taking his vitals, treating burns he hadn't known he had until they touched them and they hurt. He tried not to let his pain show, but he was too tired to keep up a friendly smile after long.

The exhaustion caught up to him. Hector vaguely remembered asking for a place to lie down before he fell asleep.

He woke up still in the medics tent. Hector sat up with a grimace, his body aching, his chest worst of all. Most of the other patients had left the tent, the only two other than him being a Milldread youth he didn't recognize and the child he had rescued.

"Hector?" One of the medics crouched at his side, not one of his Bizzyboys. "How are you feeling?"

"Little sore," Hector said, a gross understatement. "Kinda thirsty. Do yew have water?"

The medic handed him a water bottle. He downed half of it before remembering to say, "Thanks."

"Hector!"

He lowered the water bottle and turned to Capochin. "Heya, Cappy," he said with half a smile. "Everything good out there?"

"You almost got yourself killed, you idiot!"

Hector blinked. "Well, I didn't," he said. "Yew got me out. Thanks for that, by the way."

Capochin shook his head, his hair falling in messy clumps around his face. "You could have died! Why didn't you tell anyone where you were going?!"

"I thought I'd just be in an' out. Didn't think the fire would catch up to me." Hector furrowed his brow. "How'd yew know where I was?"

"Dunno," said Capochin. "Luck. Instinct. I knew you'd be doing somethin' stupid, and I just… felt it, somehow."

Thanks, Cobi, Hector thought. He sighed. "Sorry, Cappy. I know it was stupid, but I couldn't do nothin'. Yew know that."

He looked over at the child, still asleep. He could see their chest rising and falling under a thin blanket. Capochin followed his gaze, breathing hard.

"How're they doing?" Hector asked.

The medic answered. "They'll be alright. We'll have them checked at the Cove's hospital in the morning, but we don't think there's any serious injury."

"That's good," he said. "What's the fire situation?"

Capochin spoke up. "Vibi helped evacuate the south side of town, an' BuzzHuzz's firefighters got the fire under control. Last I heard, there's a few places where it's still burning, but they saved some of the town. Cobigail's schoolhouse is fine."

"An' how's Cobi? She alright?"

"You'll hafta ask Bloom, I didn't talk t' her."

Hector nodded. "I'll hafta talk t' her, too. I gotta…"

He yawned. Capochin put a hand on his shoulder. "It's still late, boss," he said. "You need more rest."

"Naw, Cappy, I feel fine!" Hector put a grin on his face, despite pain flaring up every time he took a breath. "I rested enough, I promise. I gotta at least let the boys know I'm doin' alright. I bet Vibi's worried sick."

Capochin huffed. "You're stayin' put right here. I'll let Vibiano know how you're doing."

"But–"

On the other side of the tent, the child stirred.

The medic left Hector and went to them, hovering at their side. "Are they wakin' up?" Hector asked.

His answer came in the form of a pained whimper. "It's alright," the medic said gently. "How are you feeling? Here, drink some water…"

The child slowly sat up and took the offered bottle. They spilled some of water on themself, their hands shaking too badly to hold the bottle steady. When they had finished it, they coughed and raised their head to stare at Hector.

Hector smiled at them. "Hey, kiddo," he said. "How yew feeling? Yew got that scrape taken care of?"

They nodded, running their hand over the bandage on their arm. "Thank you," they whispered.

"Aw, shucks, kid, it wasn't no big deal. I'm just glad yew're alright."

Still trembling, the child looked at Hector's beaming face and managed a small smile back.

It took a day before Hector had recovered enough to meet with Cobigail again. He hated to admit it, but he really did need the rest. He walked through the ashy town to her schoolhouse, looking around at which buildings had been saved and which had been burned to the ground.

It was a lot of damage. Milldread could take years to recover.

Hector took a deep breath and went inside.

He had barely set foot in Cobigail's domain when four arms wrapped around him and scooped him into a tight hug. "Hector!"

Hector squeaked. "Hi, Cobi," he said.

Cobigail held him close to her chest, tears falling down her cheeks. One of them landed on him. It felt hot, though not enough to burn him, and the water shimmered, almost iridescent. Hector shifted slightly in her grip. "Uh, Cobi, I think yew can put me down now."

She lowered him to the ground. "You could've died," she said. "I was so scared! We lost so many people, but–" She sniffed. "You saved so many more. Thank you."

Hector smiled. "Hey, I'm jus' doin' what I said I'd do when I first got here, right? Serving the Grove an' the gods."

"You've done more than that, Hector. You're a hero."

His face grew hot, blushing under his fur. "Aw," he said, and couldn't think of an easy way to brush off the compliment. "I'm just…"

He trailed off. Cobigail wiped her eyes and smiled at him.

"Take it easy, Hector," she said. "You deserve a nice long rest after what you've done for us. Milldread won't ever forget it–and they'll never forget you, either."

His stomach flipped. "I, uh…"

"Besides–" Cobigail playfully poked his shoulder, tears still shining in her eyes. "You're in the running for the god election, aren't you? Maybe you'll be the Grove's next god, and we can tell future generations of Milldread the story of your heroics, together!"

Hector couldn't find the words. "Thanks, Cobigail," he said. "Still too early to know, but… I'm honored, really. I'll do my best, no matter what."

Cobigail nodded. "Remember to take care of yourself, too. You're part of that same Grove you serve, alright?"

"Right," said Hector. "I'll… I'll try."

Capochin was waiting for him just outside the schoolhouse, looking around the town. "How is she?" he asked when Hector emerged. "It looks pretty bad out here…"

"She's alright," Hector said. "Milldread will grow back strong, I'm sure of it."

He grinned down at him. Capochin gave him a small smile back.

The moment passed, and it was back to work. "It's gonna need a lot of help t' do it, though," Hector said. "I need yew to talk t' Bloom, see what him an' the rest of the town council need. We can prob'ly spare some beds for the people who don't have houses to go back to, but I dunno if we can hold the animals for very long."

"Got it, boss. What are you gonna do?"

Hector glanced back at the schoolhouse as they were walking away. "Well," he said, "I think I'm gonna do what Cobi asked of me and take a lil' nap." He patted Capochin's head. "I'll be in the van, okay? Wake me up if anythin' happens."

A bigger smile spread across Capochin's face. "Understood, boss. Have a good rest."

He couldn't rest for long, Hector knew. There would always be work to do, and Hector, as the leader of the Bizzyboys, needed to step up and do it. Milldread had a long road ahead of them.

Milldread won't ever forget you.

Hector took a long, slow breath. One god believed in him. He just needed to prove himself to the rest of the gods and the Grove that he was worthy of taking his place among them.