We all went through a mourning period after my brother’s burial. Yusef hung around to help watch over our land. I and Ma ended our period of mourning after over seven days and continued with our daily routine, which cleared up Yusef’s time so he could leave for another nature study. We still felt the pangs of grief, but we had the rest of the family and our home to look after. Pa on the other hand couldn’t bring himself to help with any of the responsibilities. He didn’t talk, he just stayed in bed, wandered around the territory, or visited Drohh’s grave where we would sometimes find him napping. Occasionally, he would tell us that he was venturing outside of our lands, but he never said for what. He would be away for days at a time before returning with unexplained bruises and cuts.

One day, Yusef found Pa badly beaten and unconscious amongst a dead group of bandits with some beast they had. He brought my father back home to nurse him back to health. Turned out Yusef was heading over to tell us about the immigration program for sending the Huwaty to Erth. Since I looked at old pictures of life on its surface during my earlier years, I’ve been interested in visiting my father’s species’ home planet. I remember when I heard news of the portal reopening, my interest in visiting became a need to move off world to begin a new life after Drohh’s death. I told my parents living as an outcast bandit couldn’t be my only option in life. I wanted to meet new people and experience new things, not live in a cycle of fear. My mother understood, but my father stayed silent and walked away. I guess what I told Pa must’ve drove him days later to that last outing. I don’t know what he was trying to prove but seeing him in bed recuperating from almost getting himself killed, enforced my decision to leave my life of banditry for the first departure off Irrdnis.

I packed my belongings and said goodbye to my pa, still unconscious, but it would have to do. I met with Yusef and my ma out in front of the dugout, where she handed me the legacy journal I’m writing in now. I said my goodbyes to my mother and Yusef assured her he’d look out for me as we started heading out to the Kingdom of Uodun, hoping to get there before the first scheduled departure in fourteen days. We reached the outskirts of the kingdom on day twelve, and after standing on an overlooking hill to take in the sights, we made our way towards our destination.

When we were just several hundred steps away from the guarded main entrance, we stopped moving forward. Yusef told me huwaty were now allowed to pass, but ordies would be turned away or killed by the guardians posted. For that, it was time for us both to part ways. After he gave me directions on where to go for immigrant registration, he must’ve read my face and figured I was still disappointed to not have one last proper talk with my father. So as a consolation, he decided to let me in on a secret I’ve always suspected. Yusef X. Zavier was never his real name, but one he gave himself when he began his new life as a naturalist. I’ve been curious and he refused to tell me, until that moment. I promised I’d never tell anyone his real name. He gave me one last batch of sketches for the trip, and we then exchanged warm wishes and goodbyes. Yusef assured me that he’d look out for my parents as I watched him ride away on his mount. When he was out of my sight, I turned back and made my way through the entrance, feeling the disdainful glares of the guards as I passed on by.