The westering sunlight slipped through the cracks of the thatched hut and fell soundlessly among them. There stood the leaders of the two groups—and also a father and son who had only just recognized each other and were now clinging together, weeping bitterly.
The Dog-kin warriors stared blankly as their young chief bawled, snot and tears streaming down his face, while he shouted incoherent "ah, ah" sounds. Even the village's original Dog-kin captain ran over to watch, taking in this rare scene of kin being reunited.
The crewmen of the fleet sat collapsed on the ground, happy for the old captain and happy for themselves as well. Priest Mekat's lips lifted; after quietly thinking for a while, his smile grew even brighter. In the corner, Dark Snake and Didi watched the scene before them, their faces filled with excitement and joy, yet also with an indescribable gloom and sorrow.
"Dad! It's been seven years! Even if I'd killed the heavens themselves, I never thought I'd see you again!"
The tattoo-faced Chipawa cried and laughed at once, shouting in wild excitement.
"You're actually not dead! You're actually not dead! Ah! Do you know? I made you a grave, dug it on the mountain by Warrior Lake, and I dug graves for Mom and my little sister too... All these years, I thought about it day and night, even dreamed about avenging you!"
".I... I never thought it either!... I always thought you were already dead... eaten by wild dogs on the battlefield, with not even a corpse left to find!..."
The old militiaman's aged tears streamed down his face. His words tumbled out in a muddle, and he looked even worse off than Chipawa. He was dizzy and dazed, as if drunk, as if floating in the sky. At this moment,