“I wasn’t sure I had the right place,” I smile as I speak, watching both the man and the woman study me. The woman’s eyes flick to my sisters and my young cousins. I wait for the man’s judgement. He is as I pictured him -- golden skin, golden eyes with flecks of green, dark wavy hair, and full lips. I hear Erin’s sharp intake of breath as she leans around me and gets her first look at him. Her hand grips my arm, and I nod slightly. She has seen my paintings of him, and her eyes move around the clearing, finally recognizing it.

“You knew we were coming?” His accent hints at his heritage more. I nod before looking at Erin and jerking my head. She scrambles to go get it.

It seems like hours before she returns. Lighting crashes in the distance, and I know our time is short. The woman’s eyes widen as she sees what Erin holds. “Nestor.” Her voice is timid and shy as she glances at him. The painting show us here, him with a fox by his side. I wink at her as he steps forward.

“Your traveler blood called to me. Your people always have.” I nod at his words. I know the legend of the God that has helped us for thousands of years.

“I am Remy.” I hold out my hand, and he grins as he takes it. “Cora is my friend.” The woman turns her gaze back to me, interest filling her eyes. “I have painted her my whole life. The first day I saw her in the Quarter, something settled in me. My purpose complete, I watched her and painted what she needs to know.”

“Did she warn you to leave the city?” Nestor asks. I shake my head, tapping my temple.

I look at Shelta and nod, and she and Erin turn away, heading to the caravan on the trailer. They disappear inside.

“I must hurry. I’m sure you know time is running short.” I point at the mountains. “We must get high into them before nightfall.” His brows draw down. Maybe they don’t know. I say nothing, as it is not my place to tell them. I turn as I hear my sisters coming up behind us. They’re struggling with the box, and I move to take it from them. I sit it at his feet, straightening I look at him before nodding. I know this is as it is meant to be. I can’t stop my face from turning toward the south, my city, my home, my family, and I clench my teeth. Shelta and Erin slide their hands into mine, and I look at them. Tears stream down their cheeks, and I swallow, pulling them close. We will be all that remains. I hug them to me for long minutes before I move back.

“Go get them ready to leave,” I whisper to them, and they squeeze my hands one last time before going to get the others back into the trucks. I watch for a moment before turning back to Nestor. Reaching inside my jacket, I pull out the letter. Looking at the envelope and her name on it, I sigh deeply before holding it out to him.

He takes it, glancing down before looking back at me.

“I need you to give it and these to her… after…,” I point to the box of paintings. “I hope they can explain. I hope they bring her peace.” I look back down the road in the direction we had came. “Tell her I wish…” My eyes close, and I feel a tear slide out. “I wish I could have told her everything from the beginning.”

“Tell her what?” I look at the woman. She is beautiful, her features slightly foxish even in this form, and a small smile curves my mouth.

“That I’ve loved her all my life.” I shrug at the futility of it all and raise my eyes to the sky. It is darkening more. Clouds are boiling above us now. “My time is up. I MUST keep them safe.” I spin on my heel and race to the truck, climbing in even as he shouts my name.

We pull away, and I watch them grow smaller in the rear view mirror before he bends, picking up the box. They vanish a second later, and I release the breath I was holding. It is done. A tiny hand wraps around mine, and I smile down at Rye through my tears. His moss green eyes are filled with a wisdom he shouldn’t have at six. He will be the next to see, but I wonder if he will paint as I do.