"Well, Hawk, we can help with that," Jasmine said. They were sitting in a sunny cafeteria; Hawk was working his way through a plate of gravy-covered potatoes and chicken and steamed broccoli, though he did it sort of hunched over the plate with his wings resting on the table on either side of him. "If you'd like to stay in Enodia, we can have a volunteer home ready for you by this afternoon. Our volunteers are all safe, friendly people. They offer spaces in their homes until people like you can get back on your feet. But, of course," Jasmine added gently, "if you have somewhere else to be, you're certainly free to go."

Hawk shot her a look, and then glanced down again, tilting his head to one side as he thought it over.

"I have been tryin' t'get here for most of a year now," he said finally. "I got nowhere else to be. But I got a question for ya," he added, looking at Jasmine again.



"That building right there," Jasmine said. "Go right on in and ask."

The building she indicated was visible from the front doors of the hospital--it was just an unassuming red brick building with long glass windows. A white flag with a cross on it fluttered at the corner of it. In the lengthening afternoon light, a tanuki sat on the window ledge, smoking; a long-limbed horse-like figure and a barefoot creature with a long tail were rounding its corner.

"And here--" Jasmine handed Hawk a red folder, which he opened, peering at the papers organized neatly inside. "Directions to your volunteer home. A bus ticket, a map, and your temporary ID card--we likely won't be able to get your records from Key Isle. And--"