[They lean into his arms without resistance. Arche is free from her cuddly prison for now, as Kiwi just goes limp, putting their dead weight into Will's shoulder as their own shoulders shake.

Did anyone really say that? Nobody they could think of. They just loved the way people's eyes lit up when they helped. It was better than standing by watching everything fall apart. It was better than letting hurting people like Marcus take his pain out on others. It was better than their own mother pretending not to hear them unless they declared everything was beautiful and wonderful. It was better than helplessly shouting to the wind how they hated it in Chismest - and they didn't use the h-word lightly. If they could just be happy, and make others happy, everything else would be fine.]

It's all I know...it's why I became a bard. All I ever wanted was to make the world happy. If I can't do that...who am I, Will?