Daylan and Thalia shared wary looks as they waited for their children to come home. It was already an hour later than Bes and Caw normally returned, almost two since they expected Leta, Ellery, Bliss and Frieda.

“Do you think the quakes have made the ground unstable?” Daylan asked his wife, knuckles white against his hands.

“They could have. Or knocked down some trees, disturbing the path. There’s been three of them so far – one which was probably when the eldest reached Frieda’s school.” She said, watching out through the window.

“What if they got caught up in one and hurt or worse? We still don’t know what happened to the girl all those years ago.” He asked.

“Then we would have been called. Just give them a bit longer – Ellery wanted to visit the Peters. They could have lost track of time.”

“And the boys?”

“Darling, there isn’t a thing they can hide from us. We both know they were up to no good today.”

He nodded, her words were probably right and better to focus on then the idea of the children getting hurt.

“I’ve got to get dinner started. Call for me if you see them.” She said, heading into the kitchen.

Almost as soon as she had passed the doorway, their doorbell rang out.

Daylan confidently strode over to the door, affixing a smile onto his face and shaking his hands in an attempt to return some colour into them.

“Hey dad.” Ellery said quietly, carefully balancing Frieda against his chest. She was asleep.

“We got caught up at the Peters place.” Said Leta, Bliss entering behind her.

Not five minutes later, Bes and Caw showed up, looking entirely too smug about being late.

Daylan was careful not reveal his relief that they had come home safe.

Another quake rippled through the building as Thalia called that dinner was ready, softer than the ones before it.