The group gathered along the widened deck of the Emberwake, lanternlight swaying gently above them. The river moved slowly beside the hull, its quiet rhythm filling the brief silence that followed the Debt Collector's departure.
Kingfisher leaned against the rail, arms folded.
Sir Wilkinson stood nearby, his metal arm resting against the new plating.
Winch's massive mechanical frame crouched beside the mast, optics glowing faintly as she listened.
Isobel remained closest to the gangplank, her eyes drifting once toward the dark line of trees the Debt Collector had disappeared into before returning to the group.
Liora spoke first.
"We entered through the outer supply corridor on the western side of the castle."
Her voice was calm and precise, as if reading a report rather than recounting a near-death infiltration.
"The patrol rotations were thinner than expected."
Springtrap raised a finger.
"That part was my fault."
Several heads turned.
Springtrap grinned.
"Two guards encountered sudden and extremely educational structural failures."
Sir Wilkinson didn't react.
Liora continued.
"The disruption created enough confusion for us to move through the interior corridors without immediate pursuit."
Springtrap leaned forward slightly, clearly enjoying the retelling.
"Kingfisher's toys helped."
She tapped the small metal case still clipped to her belt.
"Pressure triggers. Wire anchors. One little acoustic surprise two corridors over."
Isobel frowned slightly.
"That was the screaming."
Springtrap nodded cheerfully.
"Correct."
Liora crossed her arms.
"While Springtrap ensured the castle stopped paying attention to us, we reached the interior sections."
"Kitchen level," Springtrap added.
"Very efficient layout. Terrible security philosophy."
Kingfisher sighed faintly.
Liora ignored the comment.
"We located Lomor and Roald shortly after."
Isobel's posture straightened.
"They're both alive?"
"Yes."
Relief flickered across her face before she masked it.
Springtrap tilted her head.
"They weren't alone though."
She glanced toward Isobel.
"That armored woman I mentioned."
"Velanora," Isobel said.
Springtrap snapped her fingers.
"Yes. That one."
"She helped them escape," Liora said.
Sir Wilkinson's brow lowered slightly.
"She turned on Nux?"
"Not openly," Liora replied. "But she created the opportunity."
Springtrap shrugged.
"Also looked like she could crush a door with her elbow, which I personally respect."
Winch's mechanical head tilted.
"Did Roald sustain additional injuries?"
"No," Liora said. "He was stable when we left."
Springtrap stretched her arms lazily.
"Which means the only thing left for them to do…"
She pointed toward the distant silhouette of the castle rising above the horizon.
"…is walk out."
Kingfisher's gaze followed her gesture.
The fortress stood dark against the fading sky.
Sir Wilkinson finally spoke.
"Roald knows the plan."
Liora nodded.
"He'll find his way back."
The river continued its quiet movement against the Emberwake's reinforced hull.
And for the first time since dusk—
They waited.
Dark had settled fully over the river by the time two figures emerged from the tree line.
Boots crunched softly against frost-stiff grass.
Roald stepped out first.
Lomor followed a few paces behind him.
They stopped.
Both of them stared.
The Emberwake loomed along the shore, lanterns swaying along its widened deck. The reinforced hull caught the faint glow of the lights, new plating and machinery casting long mechanical shadows over the water.
Roald blinked.
Once.
Twice.
"…What."
Lomor said nothing.
His eyes slowly traced the length of the ship.
The extended deck.
The heavier mast.
The reinforced plating.
The mechanisms lining the hull.
"…What," Roald repeated, softer this time.
Lomor folded his arms.
"Did we walk to the wrong river."
Roald shook his head slowly.
"No, that's definitely Emberwake."
He pointed.
"That's the dent from when Springtrap dropped a wrench through the hull."
Springtrap's voice drifted faintly from the deck.
"I told you that was structural testing."
Roald squinted up at the ship again.
"…Why does it look like it wants to bite someone now?"
Lomor exhaled through his nose.
"Looks bigger too."
Roald walked a few steps closer, craning his neck upward.
"I think it is."
He leaned sideways, trying to judge the deck height.
"…How many people can that thing even hold now?"
Lomor shrugged.
"More than the four it used to."
Roald rubbed the back of his neck.
"Did we miss a war while we were gone?"
Lomor chuckled quietly.
Roald looked over at him.
"You're laughing."
"Tiev will definitely ascend to the heavens when he sees this."
Roald frowned.
"That's not true."
Lomor raised an eyebrow.
Roald thought about it.
"…Okay, that's extremely true."
They kept walking.
The lanternlight from the deck reached them now.
Roald kicked a small stone along the riverbank.
"You think Ma would like it?"
"The boat?"
Roald nodded.
"Yeah."
Lomor considered it.
"She'd say it's excessive."
Roald grinned.
"And then ask if it goes faster."
"That too."
Roald laughed quietly.
They walked a few more steps.
"You think Da would approve?"
Lomor smirked faintly.
"He'd pretend he doesn't."
Roald nodded knowingly.
"Then secretly help add more armor."
"Definitely."
Roald looked back up at the ship again.
"…Honeyburrow feels very small compared to this."
Lomor glanced down at him.
"That's because Honeyburrow doesn't try to invade castles."
Roald shrugged.
"Yet."
From inside the Emberwake, voices had gone quiet.
Then—
"Did you hear that?" Isobel said.
Bootsteps shifted above deck.
Liora leaned over the railing first.
Her eyes scanned the shore.
Then she exhaled.
"They're back."
Springtrap appeared beside her immediately.
"Oh good."
She cupped her hands around her mouth.
"Took you long enough!"
Roald looked up.
"WE GOT DISTRACTED BY YOUR WAR BOAT!"
Lomor rubbed his forehead.
"You're yelling at the person who built traps inside the castle."
Springtrap leaned over the rail, grinning.
"Worth it though, right?"
Roald pointed at the hull.
"Why does it look like it eats smaller boats?"
Kingfisher stepped into view behind her.
"Improved survivability."
Roald squinted.
"That's not an answer."
The gangplank dropped with a heavy thud.
Roald and Lomor climbed aboard.
The reunion was immediate.
Isobel reached Roald first, grabbing his shoulders.
"You're late."
Roald blinked.
"…Hello to you too."
But she didn't let go right away.
Behind them, Winch's massive mechanical frame shifted forward.
The metal construct lowered slightly.
"Roald has returned," she said.
Her tone held unmistakable relief.
Roald looked up at the towering machine.
"Hi Winch."
"Winch is pleased you survived."
Sir Wilkinson watched the exchange from a few steps away.
Isobel stepped back finally.
Sir Wilkinson's gaze moved briefly toward Winch.
Isobel noticed it.
Their eyes met.
For a moment—
Both of them allowed the smallest hint of a smile.
Then, almost at the same time—
They looked away again.
As if nothing had happened.
Beyond the reach of the lanterns—
The trees stood black and still.
Cold wind moved through the branches with a soft, dry whisper.
In the dark between two trunks—
A figure waited.
Unmoving.
The river carried the crew's laughter across the water.
Lanternlight rocked along the hull of the Emberwake.
Gold light.
Warm.
Alive.
The figure did not step closer.
Did not shift.
Only watched.
A gloved hand rested against the bark of the tree.
Still as stone.
Patient.
The eyes beneath the shadow traced the deck slowly.
One face.
Then another.
Counting.
Learning.
Waiting.
The lanternlight never touched the trees.
And on the deck—
No one looked back.