Gabriel awoke like normal with the sun creeping through the windows. There was a little difference though. It had little cat-like ears growing from the top of it's head and a long brown semi fluffy tail. Tobias was laying directly on top of him, purring away happily in his sleep.
Ethreal sat about a foot away reading from the purple bound novel with the covers pulled up over her knees, wearing nothing but a smile. She would look up over to the side from time to time watching what she had come to call "her boys" as the cuddled in the early morning light.
Gabriel cracked his eyes open and looked at the little elf woman with a smile. He winked at her as he gently lowered the petite cat-boy to the mattress and took a deep breath. Tobias rested comfortably next to him as he turned his head to look back over at Ethreal.
"So, what are we doing today?" he asked with a smile.
"We need to go back home and try to get you back to your world" she answered softly.
"Oh, ok" Gabriel replied with a hint of sadness in his voice.
"You can always come back. I hope you do" Eth reassured him gently.
"I will, promise" Gabriel said, "I like it here, and I'll be back," he paused. "You could come see me too, if you wanted."
Ethreal seemed to blush slightly as she replied, "I think I'd like that, I just don't know. If I can't make this a two way thing I don't want to get stranded on your side."
Gabriel nodded in reply as Tobias shifted slightly against him starting slowly come to wakefulness. Gabriek ruffled his hair as he woke up, "morning little guy, did you sleep good?"
"Yeah, you two are comfy" the cat-boy said with a playful smirk on his cute face.
They slowly rose and ate breakfast. A short time later, bathed and dressed they met downstairs in the bar room. They were quiet, no one wanting to speak first.
"I hate goodbyes" Tobias mumbled a little sheepishly.
"It's not a goodbye, I'm not going anywhere and Gabriel will be back," Ethreal reassured the little cat-boy.
"Yeah, I'm coming back. I wouldn't just disappear. I'll see you again. And maybe once we get a portal or whatever figured out and get it stable or whatever, you guy can come see me" Gabriel added.
"Oh, that could be fun. I haven't left the forest since I was a kid!" Tobias said, his ears perking up and tail swishing with excitement.
They took turns hugging their goodbyes before Gabriel and Eth left the tavern to climb back up onto the carriage. Gabriel lifted the little elf onto the seat before climbing up himself and they set off. The slow bumping movement of the carriage lulling them into a quiet relaxation as they went along.
Gabriel was surprised when Ethreal wiggled her way up under his arm and snuggled into him, "I'm going to miss you," her voice trailed off.
"I'm coming back. But, I'll miss you too" Gabriel answered reaching over to stroke her kind elfin face.
He was completely blown away by how kind these people had been to him, of how accepting and loving they had been of him. In the week or so that he had been here, he had begun to feel at home in a way that he had rarely felt back in his world. He knew he had to go home, but he didn't really want to. He wanted to stay with Ethreal and Tobias, and with the vines he thought naughtily. That was an experience he would never forget, and one that he needed to have again, or a few more times for that matter.
They rode together mostly in silence, chatting here and there but mostly basking in each other's presence. The time passed quickly, like the trip home always does. And before they knew it, the little cottage came into view.
With most of the day gone, Ethreal looked at Gabriel for a moment as if deep in thought.
"I think we'll attempt the ritual tomorrow, but in the meantime we need to do a little ground work. I need to start getting some things together inside. Could you help me by getting a ring together out here?" Ethreal asked.
"Sure, what do you mean a ring?" Gabriel asked sheepishly, worried about asking a silly question.
"Oh, just a ring. Get these stones over there and mark out a ring in the meadow over there" Ethreal pointed to an area of the meadow that didn't seem to have anything but grass growing in it, "it needs to be about this wide."
The little elf spread her arms to show the diameter she wanted. Gabriel nodded his understanding and as she scampered off to the house to he set to work moving the stones. Before long Gabriel had a ring of stones laid out according to what Ethreal had asked.