The journey home took longer than expected. Winter had truly settled, and the roads were difficult. Snow made travel slow, and they had to shelter for two days during a particularly harsh storm at a small waystation.
But Aria did not mind the delay. It gave her time to process everything that had happened at the working group, to think through implementation strategies, and to prepare for returning to Moonvalley with new responsibilities and protocols.
"You are doing that thing again," Liora observed on their tenth day of travel as they sat around a fire in yet another waystation common room.
"What thing?" Aria asked.
"Planning seven steps ahead instead of being present in the moment," Liora said. "I can practically see the wheels turning in your head. You are mentally reorganizing the training center to accommodate the new continental standards."
"Was I that obvious?" Aria asked.
