"We are now landing. Welcome to Mestre, Italy. Please remain seated, and remember to take all your belongings," the announcer said on the loudspeaker.

Eyes popping open, the chimera rubbed the lids. Ah, he was back home already? Man, he slept through the whole movie! Well, oh well, he had seen that animation at least a dozen times at this point, it's not like he missed anything. Removing his luggage from the top, he took out his phone. Text messages from his brother telling him to come to the entrance, they're waiting for him, he almost let out a sea of tears. He thought everyone worked today, but he supposed he thought wrong.

Dragging his luggage through the area, the hyena turned his head towards the right and left. Why did he still feel like there were scary eyes glued to him? He didn't know. But, he shook his head. No, he was imagining it. Maybe he was walking too loud! Right, that's all it was, he needed to stop being so nervous, right, it would be fine. He knew his tail attracted too much attention sometimes.

Seeing a sign off in the distance labelled Siorc, the young adult sprinted towards the finish line. After six years, he was finally home. Finally back where he belonged in good old Italy. He could hardly believe the time had finally arrived. Spotting a dark sky through the windows in the corner, he reached for his phone. Ah, right, it was seven hours later over here.

"Welcome home, kid," a deep, base voice said. "Heard you got valedictorian. Proud of you." Holding the sign up in the corner had been a tall adult man with short pine green hair pulled into a high ponytail. Blue violet eyes highlighted by intense dark circles, his face had been decorated with countless large hyena spots. Seeing such, the food enthusiast almost looked away. Pira never concealed his spots? How did he not get embarrassed by that? But, he supposed at his ripe old age of almost twenty five, he shouldn't care about such things anymore.

"Siorc, I'm so glad your back!" a high pitched voice cried. "Mom's cooking still sucks, but since you're back, she doesn't have to be in the kitchen anymore and burn everything she touches!"

Standing in the corner with a messenger back on the side of her waist had been a young adult hyena chimera woman with long curly emerald green hair pulled into a left swept ponytail. Green eyes to match, she adorned a mouse belly shirt. He had heard Hase hadn't been doing so well in her performing arts college, did she switch majors by now? For some reason, she almost never texted him.

"Yeah, Siorc, for the past few years, foods sucked so hard!" another high pitched voice cried. "We're so glad you're back!"

Smiling next to Hase had been a short young adult woman with light purple hair that went down to about her chest. Violet eyes to match, her hyena spots had been covered by boatloads of makeup. Bright yellow summer dress practically flowing on the outside breeze, he almost did a double take. It would seem Leah's journey to womanhood has been going quite well. At least, from the looks of it.

"Dear, I wouldn't say that, mom tries her best," a tenor but charmingly feminine voice said. "But, your cooking always hit the spot."

Standing with their fingers in hand heart pose had been a slightly taller adult feminine individual with light violet hair pulled into a low bun. Blue hairpin stuck to the back of it, their light green eyes had been decorated with glittering mascara. Lavender dress with ribbon straps, the chimera put on a smile. He sees Natalie's journey to womanhood had been going great as well.

"I dunno, like, she's trying," an alto voice said. "Barely, but she's trying. More than what I can say for pops. He doesn't even cook."

Scratching his head in the corner had been a rather tall adult blending masculinity and femininity together in a sandwich. Spiky radioactive green hair that went down to about his chin with some loose spiky portions going over his shoulders, his pupils matched almost exactly. Man, Strix never changed. He almost never saw him. He recalled when he was little when Hase asked why don't they all see him during the day. He recalled how shocked his little pea brain was learning about nocturnality. He supposed he was lucky to see him right now, it was after dark after all. Dumb and obnoxious yellow vest with polka sleeves sticking out, he almost wanted to slap a palm on his face. And, same fashion sense he had six years ago when he left for the comedian academy, or whatever he called it.

"I mean, can ya blame th' guy, he works seven days a week!" an alto, but gruff voice cried. "But, eh, it's good Siorc came back. We all tried learning to cook, but we all suck at it."

Talking with his hands in the corner had been a short adult feminine, excuse him, manly looking person with long light green hair pulled into a low ponytail. Red earring tassels, his emerald eyes looked like they were done with this world. Adorning a pitch black band shirt with a crying sun on it, he always wondered how Varg never got tired of listening to Samsara. Eh, whatever, it is what it is. Deigr and Coiote nowhere to be seen, he reached for the tablet.

[Where are Deigr and Coiote?] Slow sliding text across his tablet said.

"I dunno, they're out with their boyfriends," Varg said, shaking his head then shrugging. "We told them you were comin' home, but they told us that they're not cancellin'." He sighed. "Dunno. Maybe they'll be home tomorrow, or the next day."

Boyfriends mentioned, the hyena shrugged. He remembered the late summer he left for America those two were trying over and over to start a family. Had that still been difficult? Well, oh well, they were in their late thirties now, he hardly had any connection with those two. He should have known they wouldn't come. Oh, well, some things never changed, did they?

"Well, let's go home, kiddo," Pira said. "Don't worry, we didn't rent your room out to anyone while you were gone. Though, Deigr and Coiote might have tried that a few times with one of their many boyfriends. But, we locked your door so they couldn't."

Hearing such, the food enthusiast let out a groan. Deigr and Coiote were the same as always, huh? How tiresome. Maybe it was better they hadn't come to see him. They should just hurry up and get married already and move out. But, he kept such thoughts to himself. Not like he'd ever say that out loud. Walking off towards the minivan, he seated himself in the back. How he missed this big old hummer.

Face practically glued to the window, the chimera could not help but feel a tang of pain at some of the sights before him. The small comic book store he used to go to after school was a printing press now? Man, it was the twenty first century, who even did that anymore? Hip and popping restaurants replaced with multiple other stores as well, he became crestfallen. So much had changed since he was last here. Where did all the nice restaurants go?

"Yeah, so, a lot of the eateries we went to closed a couple years go," Strix said. "Dunno why, they said something about a curse. Like, some gigantic steak monster came by one day and threatened to kill? But, the owner was a bit on the loopy side."

[Are there any new restaurants that were built while I was gone?] Slow sliding text across his tablet asked.

"Well, plenty, yeah," Strix said. "You gonna try them out while you're looking for work?"

[Of course I am. I have to try them all!] Slow sliding text across his tablet cried.

"Atta boy, that's the spirit," Varg said. "We think you might like the Georgian eatery that opened up last year."

"And, recently, a few halal places opened up in Venice," Hase said. "My friends and I go there sometimes after school."

"And, a bubble tea place, too," Leah said. "I bet you want to check it out!"

Siblings telling him one after another multiple new restaurants that opened up across Italy, the hyena let out a sigh. There had been so many new places to try! But, he couldn't help but think about that story Strix talked about a few minutes ago. Thinking about it for a moment, he put his fingers on his chin.

Strix, he said that a few restaurants closed because of some steak monster. What was that about? Did they see some sort of food ghost, or something? But, he shook his head. Ah, no, ghosts weren't real and neither were monsters. Maybe they were just seeing things. Right, of course, some people see things that aren't there. He knew that. Nothing to worry about. Chatter continuing, a set of hands had been raised upward.

"Alright, everyone, let's all calm down a bit," Natalie said in a gentle tone. "Siorc just had a long flight. We can catch him up on everything in the morning."

Chattering quieting down, the chimera kept gazing out the window. Park covered with litter, the food enthusiast let out a groan. As expected, absolutely no one cared enough to clean it up. Maybe during his free time he should do it. But, he supposed for now, it could wait until he's settled back in here. Few other places he hardly recognized, he could feel nostalgia die. So much had changed in six years, hadn't it?

Brakes screeching as the minivan entered the driveway, the hyena broke into a sweat. Same old loud brakes too, huh? Some things never change. How much longer did this old rust bucket have? He supposed, give or take, around a year or two maybe. How many years old was this car now? Twenty five years old? Man, they had this thing since he was in his mother's womb! Happy carthday to hummer! Reaching for his tablet, he scribbled away.

[Is mom home?] Slow sliding text across his tablet asked.

"No, she's on another one of her excursions again," Pira said. "Mom's been busy looking into some history that's apparently been erased to time. We don't know when she'll return. Probably in the next few days."

History excursion mentioned, the young adult shook his head. While some things changed, other things remained the same. No wonder mother never learned how to cook well, she was always hopping around chasing history. But, it's not like that's any different than how things already were.

"And, dad's currently in Athens," Strix added. "We don't know when he'll be back, either."

Shrugging, the young adult unbuckled his seatbelt. He sees his father was the same as always, too. But, that was historian parents, he supposed. They were always away somewhere looking into the past. Nothing was any different than it was six years back. Same old terrible cooks, same old parents always going off on an adventure. He was an adult, anyway, he could take care of himself. It's not like he truly needed anyone's guidance at this point in his life.

Closing the door behind him, the college graduate cracked his knuckles. And, now, the moment he had been waiting for. How different did his home look since the last time he came here? Front door opening as the garage closed up shop, he braced himself. He bet that Deigr had the walls painted neon green, here goes!

House looking the same as it always did, but with a few more awards here and there, the chimera shrugged. Well, at least Deigr didn't make the house hideous like she threatened to so many times when he was younger. Siblings all dispersing into their own rooms, the key to his own had been plopped into the palm of his hand.

Twisting the key into the lock, the food enthusiast took a deep breath as he wheeled his luggage forward. First time in his abode since leaving, no one took his skirts, did they? If Deigr stole his lacy, frilly black skirts, she will pay. Plopping the container onto his bed, he made a run for his drawers, in an instant.

Skirts looking untouched, a sigh of relief flowed through the chimera. Thank goodness Deigr and Coiote didn't take them. They always told him skirts didn't look good on him. Which, they were wrong about, of course. Clothes folded up and put away one after another, he let out a yawn. Man, this change in time was making him so incredibly sleepy, what gives?

Hairpins and earrings box put aside, the chimera rubbed his eyes. Maybe he should finish unpacking in the morning instead. But, he shook his head. No, no, if he didn't do it now, he'd never get it done! Various manga books plopped onto the shelf, he let out a somber sigh. He supposed the one good thing about America was their big collection of anime and manga to gawk at. The Italian selection could never compare. But, hopefully, that'd changed in the past six years.

Everything soon put away, the food enthusiast let out another yawn. Maybe it was time to hit the hay. Napping queen pajamas plopped upon him, the young adult removed the hairpins and earrings. Crawling into his bed for the first time in what felt like a million years, he could feel himself about to doze off, but as he was about to head for dream land, he swore he could hear something rather eerie.

"You'll pay," an eerie voice cried out.

Eyes closed, the hyena broke into a sweat as the world of dreams dragged him back in. He'll pay? Pay for what? But, he shrugged such off. Ah, Varg was listening to his hip hop music too loud again, wasn't he? Some things never changed, and never would. Maybe he should have come to expect that by now, huh? Drifting off, he caught some zzzs.