The sun was setting as we arrived at our border. We were met by two guards who, after seeing who we were, continued their patrol. We had run more or less nonstop since midnight and were tired, so now we took the rest of the trip home at a slower pace. Soon we were crossing through the trees in the forest and I felt it smelled fresher than usual, as if someone had cleaned the air of everything! The moon stood over the house and welcomed us home. Pete, Anitha and Melinda stood outside and welcomed us home. I looked for Maria but Anitha put a hand on my head, "She went to bed early!" I went straight to the kitchen and changed to my human body. I washed myself over the sink and then put on the clothes that Pete had found for me. The others had sat down at the long dining table in the kitchen a
