A week had past and there was no success in finding evidence that led in a clear path to the culprit. Another fire had been started but thankfully only scorched the forest a few meters from the town. Kira had helped put out the fire and returned home, slamming the front door shut. Sel folded his arms over his chest and tapped his now healed foot on the soft cream colored carpet. "Any luck?" 

"On evidence? Nah," Kira sighed and shrugged off his jacket. Tyr padded over and took it gingerly. "Are you alright, mate? You look tired." 

"Yeah, running with darn near 80 pounds on my back can take the spunk outta you." 

Sel sat down next to a Kraim-shaped burrito blanket on the couch. Sel took a pillow from the couch and swung it down onto the peaceful burrito, which wiggled and groaned in protest. 

"Oi, don't you mess up my pillow, Bast," Tyr said with a smirk and walked back to his room along with Kira. 

When they had left the room, Sel murmured quietly to the Kraim-burrito, "Let's go out and check on the fire." 

They went down to the site of scorching to find their father, glaring into the bare and blackened birch trees. "Hey, Pa, what are you doing?" He shoved a shiny case into his pocket and his brows rose on his forehead. 

"Oh, Selly, Kray! I was just looking for evidence." 

"We were too," Sel said, his hand firmly gripping Kraim who was still half asleep. "Is that a lighter?" 

"Yeah, I found it over yonder," Pa said, gesturing in a general direction. "It's the same type that Doc found embedded in your foot." 

"Can I see it?" 

"Nonono," Pa placed a hand over his pocket as if Sel would take it by force. "It's rusty and bent up all." Sel nodded slowly. He had seen the glint of the metal just moments before, so why would his father lie about rust? 

"Did you start the fire?" 

"Wh-- That's a preposterous idea! Where'd you get to thinkin' like that, boy?! Why would I burn down my own house? Our home?" His voice was starting to rise. Sel had never seen his father this upset. 

Kraim began to sniffle quietly and Sel tilted his head towards the younger brother. 

"What is it?" 

"Sel... You know how we were with Tyr and Kira... and Alkai and Harbnet... and Shino that one night...?" 

"Yeah," Sel responded. "And how we made a big camp fire--" He paused to yawn, then continued. "--to stargaze like the characters from Night In The Woods?" 

"You what?? You were out with friends burning fodder at what time of night??" Pa's eyes were blazing. "I was hoping this lighter wasn't mine! You took my pocket lighter to make a campfire in a dry, wooded area??" 

"Let him finish. You can punish us when he's done." Kraim's eyes threatened to drop a tear as he yawned again. "Well... I forgot to put out the fire... It was really cold... Then you called me from in the bushes and we rushed home..." 

Sel's eyes widened. "You knew," he whispered. "And you said nothing?" Kraim sleepily nodded. A lump formed in his throat so he could hardly breathe. "I would've thought Shino since she could run away so fast and she was secretly a pyromaniac or Kira because he knew exactly where the fire was and since he was on some kind of medication or Harbnet for just being a pain in the tail or Pa for lying about the rust on the lighter and for the house insurance..." 

"Or Tyr because he smokes," Kraim said softly. Pa shook his head and crossed his large forearms. "I suppose I can forgive you since it was an accident but I won't let you near my lighter." 

Kraim's ears rotated and he looked with confusion toward Kraim. "But who was burning all the other fires?" 

"I think it was that Mustang who burned his own house to make it look like a serial arsonist was out to get people..." 

And so, the Mustang was caught for burning other buildings to get his home insurance money. Pa, Mum, Sel and Kraim reconstructed a new house out of brick in the forest near where the first had burnt. By now, the grown had green sprouts on the ground and radiated life. Sel and Kraim weren't allowed lighter privileges for two years and were now given a strict curfew at 10:00 PM.

THE END