A Greeting Of Old Friends
31 July, 1988 The Next Morning
“Get up you freaks. You’ve got work to do.” A voice screeches into the ear of the two boys waking them from their fitful sleep. Neither boy felt like they had slept particularly well and as such were now very tired.
Both boys slowly got up entangling themselves from one another slowly. Neither boy looked the other in the eye. Both got up and slowly dressed into their oversized baggy clothes.
Harry did not know what to say to his brother after his reaction to last night's revelation. His brother did not believe him. He could not believe that his brother thought he would make day dreams of their parents. He knew he did not or else the strange pale man would not have been there.
“Are you going to say anything?” Jacob breaks their awkward silence
Harry merely remains silent not wanting to say anything to his brother. Jacob attempts to speak again only for Petunia to slam open their door causing both of them to jump at the noise it makes.
“What are you two doing! Get to work!” She hisses at them
“Yes aunt Petunia.” replies Harry while Jacob remains silent.
Both immediately leave the room to head to the kitchen. Harry goes over to the stove to finish the breakfast that Petunia had already started while Jacob begins his morning routine of taking out the trash from yesterday.
Eventually both finish their morning chores and watch as their family devours it in front of them. Both were made to do extra today because it was their birthday. The breakfast that Harry made was twice the size that it normality was not that it was anymore difficult for the overweight man and child to eat, if anything they appear to be more ravenous than usual. Both of the boys watch blankly as not even the barest of food, no grease or smudge is left on the plate for the two to eat.
The rest of the family leave and the two boys begin cleaning up the kitchen as Petunia makes sure that they don't try to take any food on the day in which they are not allowed food.
After cleaning the kitchen in silence Petunia takes Harry to the bathroom so that he can have a cold shower before he goes to school. After three minutes shiver wrecking water is Harry able to dry himself and head to his room.
As he enters his room he sees Petunia bringing his brother up so that he can shower. Harry enters their room without looking back to his brother. He gets changed into the least offending and rule breaking clothes that he has. He leaves the room to see Petunia.
“Go wait for your wretched brother outside.” she tells him
“Yes aunt Petunia.” replies Harry as he leaves to do as hse orders. He gets outside in time to see Vernon Driving the car down the street and, considering that Dudley is not bothering him, Dudley is with him.
Harry merely sighs and heads for the sidewalk and sits down on it placing his backpack in his lap. Closes his eyes and rests for a moment thinking melancholically about his brother. He does not want to fight his brother over his dream. It is not that important. Harry’s thoughts are interrupted by the sound of the front door being slammed closed. He turns around to see his brother walking towards him. Harry begins to open his mouth when Jacob raises his hand gesturing for Harry to stop.
“Give me a moment.” He says as he walks into the back garden.
He goes to the bush closest to the window to the kitchen and starts searching around for something. He spends about a minute arms, face and chest deep inside Petunia beloved bushed making ‘umm’ noises until finally after a cry of ‘finally’ he emerges holding a packet of crisps, some bread and an apple.
Harry's eyes widen as he sees all the food that his brother holds. Jacob walks up to Harry and gives him the apple shoving softly into his chest until finally Harry reacts and grapes the apple.
“So . . . are we going to get going or not? You know that horse face will start yelling like a banshee out of hell.”
Harry just stares dumbly at Jacob wondering what the hell just happened.
“Close your mouth, you are gonna catch flies.” snickers Jacob.
Harry breaks out of his stupour and follows his brother as they walk to school. He slowly brings the apple to his mouth and takes a large bite of the apple enjoying as the sweet juice fills his mouth. He enjoys the crunch of the apple getting slowly and slowly lost in the flavour.
“I’m sorry.”
Harry focuses his attention back to his brother with Jacob in front of him not facing him.
“I didn't mean to hurt you last night. I . . . I-I just wanted you to understand that irrelevant of anything you’re my brother.”
Harry just stares at Jacob’s back processing what he said.
“It hurt me when you wouldn’t listen to me.” Harry finally replies
Jacob turns around to look at his brother, “It is our parent’s fault that we are here. No wait.” He says as Harry attempts to interrupt him “Whether or not they are good people, their deaths caused us to land here with them.” He spits out the word ‘them’.
“But it is not their fault they died.” Harry pleads Engently hoping to convey this belief to Jacob.
“But if they didn't die then we wouldn’t be here.” Jacob replies firmly.
“You can't know that.” Harry nearly screams.
Jacob turns away from Harry and continues to walk to their school “I am sorry, little brother, but I have to disagree. Lets just not talk about this. Clearly we won't get anywhere.”
Harry just shuts up thinking it better than arguing any further. Harry and Jacob make it to school just in time to see Dudley and his gang of vipers bullying another child. Jacob attempts to go to the child’s aid only for Harry to grip his arm tightly. Jacob turns to look his brother in the eye before speaking.
“Are you really going to stop me because you're mad at me?” Jacobs spits at his brother not thinking straight.
Harry, feeling hurt, softly murmurs “No, b-but even if you go over there, Dudley will call the teacher and blame it on you and then you get home and aunt Petunia will punish you.”
Jacob looks at Harry trying to process his words while still feeling like he should wretch his arm out of Harry’s grip and go and beat up Dudley. Jacob pauses in this thought realising two things. One Harry is right and there is not much and two he feels slightly horrified that he thought hurting his little brother no matter how little was an appropriate response. Jacob takes a breath and calms down.
“You’re right.” Jacob concedes.
Harry just grins and nods his head towards the school “We should probably get to class or we are going to be late.”
Jacob just nods, still feeling frustrated.
Harry goes through his day at school learning the basics of math with all the other kids. Harry, Jacob and Dudley are all in the same class much to the frustration, Jacob, and dismay, Harry, of the brothers.
However as the day goes by Harry can't stop feeling like something momentous is going to happen today. It feels as if he is super charged and is unable to sit down and just take a break. He spends each moment in class slowing moving around on his chair as if he has ants in his pants. The movement becomes so obvious that the teacher barks at Harry to stop moving around or he will get in trouble. Harry unable to follow the command is left behind by himself while all the other kids head out to play.
Jacob attempted to stay only for the teacher to drag him out of the classroom by his ear. Harry still can't seem to sit still and the day gets worse and worse until the last period of the day where suddenly the feeling stops building and just feels like it is humming as if saying very soon.
Harry spends the last period just staring at the clock at the front of the classroom high up on the wall. Harry just watches slowly as the minute hand of the clock slowly inch by inch moves towards 12 on clock. Harry’s hearing focuses on the ticking of the second hand. Harry is oblivious to the teacher calling on him to answer a question. He is oblivious to Jacob sending him concerned looks.
No sooner is Harry out of his chair then than the ringing of the school bell. Harry is already packed up and standing next to his brother's seat while his brother is putting away his very limited stationary. Jacob eyes him warily as he stands up picking up his backpack. No sooner is he up then he is dragged away by Harry.
"Where are you dragging me? You know I have working feet right?" questions Jacob jokingly.
The answer comes to Harry without it being Harry's own thought "We are going to the grove. Something interesting is going to happen today."
Jacob gives him a look "And this requires you to drag me?" he says arching his eyebrow.
Harry turns back to Jacob with a pouted lip and a heartbroken expression. The expression saying please won’t you just listen to me.
Jacob attempts to avert his gaze from Harry only for Harry to move around him to keep his gaze on him. Jacob after some time answers "Fine."
Harry smiles and continues to drag him outside of the school. Harry drags him all the way through town to get to the park near where they live. After walking for some time we arrive at the grove. Like always nothing is there. Harry releases Jacob and both move around to explore their grove.
"Okay so what is this super interesting thing that is going to happen?" Questions Jacob.
"I don't know what it is. I just know that something is going to happen." Harry smiles.
Jaco turns and glares at Harry. "Well I am going to tend to my garden. You go and do whatever it is you want to do." with that he sharply turns his back to Harry and goes to his garden.
Harry continues going around their little grove eventually landing in front of the stone archway. The stone archway is about two stories high and all around the archway, the ground has nothing growing around it. It is just dirt. The archway is covered in markings going all the way up to the top. The markings don’t look like anything, mostly just squiggles as if someone was trying to write something down on the archway.
Harry freezes for a moment when he sees some of the markings light up black and white for a moment. Harry blinks his eyes only to see that nothing is lit up. Harry frowns and slowly begins walking closer to the archway until one of his hands are nearly touching the markings.
As his hands get closer the feeling that had been lightly buzzing is now roaring to life all Harry can hear is the roaring in his ears, but he is too transfixed on touching the markings to hear the noise.
His hand finally touches one of the markings and everything falls silent. The markings now lay still with no colours shining. The world lays silent around Harry. Nothing makes any sound.
"Hello . . . My little . . . reaper." Harry spins around quickly only to let out a scream as he sees a rotting corpse wearing a black cloak. When looking at the figure Harry can see some of its rotting flesh but the flesh only covers about half of the body leaving the stomach gone and only the spine visible as well as the arms and leg bones being shown. The figure is swathed in a black cloak that looks to be made out of shadows itself. The figure now stands just in front of Harry slowly stretching its arm towards him as if to grab him.
Jacob hearing Harry’s scream turns around and sees the cloaked figure stretching to reach Harry. Jacob gives a full sprinted charge towards the creature intent on knocking it over from behind only for him to go through the cloaked figure and ram into Harry. Both brothers crash into the floor in a tangle of limbs. They struggle and try to get up and run only to pause when we hear laughter. Both still laying on the floor tied up look up to see a pale man where the creature once stood.
"hahahaha, I haven't laughed that hard in a very long time." he says with a small grin. After he had recovered from his laughter he looks us in the eye "Well, hello little champions''
The brothers now untangled stand together with Harry behind Jacob while Jacob guards him with his arm stretched wide as if to say nothing will get passed him to his brother. The brothers continue to stare silently at the man, Jacob glaring furiously and Harry both frightened and confused.
The man merely scoffs "Oh come on. It can't be that confusing. Sit down." he gives a wave of his hand and the earth beneath the brothers and he raises up to create three stone cylinders for them to sit on. He sits on his chair and waits for them to do the same.
Slowly the brothers relax their stance and glance towards each other, Harry does not know what to do. Jacob takes charge and slowly brings himself and his brother to their seats. Jacob sits Harry down before he does the same for himself. The group sit in silence with Jacob and Harry warily watching the man while said man plays with his fingers in his lap.
The man eventually seems to become bored and focuses his attention on the brothers. He cracks a smile at their caution "Well come on. You can speak. What, do the dead got your tongue." he says amused.
Jacob just glares at the man refusing to say anything. Harry feels like he is missing something. The buzzing feeling is completely gone. Harry takes a deep breath to calm his panicked mind. He needs to think not run away screaming.
The man gives the brothers an appraising look until he eventually settles on Harry “I am slightly shocked that you don't remember me, but it was your subconscious so perhaps you don’t.” the man gives a sigh “well that makes it slightly harder.”
Harry thinks back if he has ever seen this man, wondering what he means by his subconscious. Harry’s face begins to frown as he just can't seem to realise who this man is, but suddenly he remembers. His dreams. The pale man from his dreams is standing here in front of them and real. Harry has a shocked look on his face with his mouth agape.
Jacob looks at his brother slightly worried at the look on his brother’s face. He slowly pokes him to try and get his attention so that he can know what is going on.
Due to Jacobs prodding Harry focuses and blurts out “Your the man from my dreams.”
"The man from your dreams?" questions Jacob shocked and confused.
Harry turns to his brother “I was what I was trying to tell you this morning when you wouldn't listen.”
Jacob just scoffs “You said nothing about a strange dead not dead guy.”
Now it is Harry's turn to glare “I tried to but you wouldn't let me say anything after you said what you wanted to say.”
Jacob's face becomes slightly sheepish realising he did do that by also wondering about how was he supposed to know that his brother can somehow make his dream people real. This thought strikes Jacob and he wonders if maybe his brother also has powers like him.
Harry quirks a small grin happy to see his brother finally realised that he was not lying. Harry turns his attention back onto the pale man who is amused at the discussion “You are the man from my dreams, yes?”
Jacob comes back into the conversation also looking for an answer to the question hoping that his brother is special like him.
The pale man gives a small smile and nods “Yes I am the man from your dreams my little reaper.”
"So Harry is special like me also?" questions Jacob happily.
Harry spins back to his brother “Special like you?”
Jacob points to the pale man “You created him from your dreams like I healed you when you were sick.” he reveals.
Harry’s back straightens as he tries to work through the information he was just given. His brother healed him, healed him how?
While Harry is freaking out the pale man nods to Jacobs question “Yes you and your brother are special. Both of you have powers many others in this world do not have.”
Jacob smiles happy now that he does not have to hide part of himself from his brother. “So then why are you here?”
“I am here so that my sister and I can explain to you what you are.” answers the man “First before I ask anything what do you know of your parents?”
“They were drunks who died in a car crash, which meant we were stuck with our abusive relatives.” deadpans Jacob.
Harry finally breaks out of his downward spiral of thoughts only to hear his brother’s words and frown. He thinks that could have been said better. Harry turns to see the man reaction only jump in fright at the expression of deep anger on the man’s face.
The man pushes himself off of his chair, his fist curling “They died how?” questions the man softly. It was so soft he was almost unable to hear the hissed words.
Jacob still not realising what he is doing continues “We were told they were drunks who died in a car crash leaving us with these scars.” He points to the ones on their faces.
The air starts to become frigid and frost begins to spread around the man slowly creeping outward covering all that they can. The man slowly and deliberately attempts to calm himself to no avail.
He speaks slowly “Who said they died in a car crash?”
Jacob now realising that he might have done something wrong sits down quickly adn squeaks out “horse face and walrus.”
The pauses processing his answer “Yes the horse faced two timing . . .”
The man starts pacing around back and forth spewing more and more insults and the time passes. He seems to get lost in his insult until a woman's voice breaks the situation.
"Do calm brother. You are not some uncouth man. Do get a hold of yourself." A beautiful lady walks calmly and assuredly into the grove. As she walks flowers start to sprout and bloom along the path she walks and around her when she eventually stops in front of the group.
"Ahh sister. How lovely of you to grace us with your presence." speaks the man after he had finally calmed himself down.
The woman merely smiles “You needed help brother before you scared the souls out of them.”
The man blushes “That was one time, thank you very much and if we are on the times we messed up I think we should look at how you turned the amazon desert into the amazon rainforest.” he gives her a pointed look.
The woman does not seem put out at all “Enough chidings brother we have work to do.”
He gives a sigh and looks down to the ground and murmurs under his breath “No fair, I never get to win.” He looks back to the both brothers “Well you both are wrong. Your parents didn't die in a car crash. They died defending you paying the ultimate sacrifice.”
Harry is elated at this news, happy that his parents are not horrible people. Happy to know that they cared about him and his brother. Harry’s face holds one of the biggest smiles he has ever had.
Jacob merely raises an eyebrow at this information not really trusting it and not really caring all that much about it.
Harry braves his first question “Can you tell us what happened sir?”
"It is a sad tale, are you sure you want to hear it." is the man’s answer.
Harry nods. The man then looks to Jacob silently asking for his permission. Jacob just rolls his eyes not really caring but nods because he can see that his brother wants to know.
“First you two must understand that you are not humans but are instead wican or wizards.” both of the brothers nod. “In the world of wizards, the more powerful the parents generally the more powerful the wizard will be. Unfortunately this premiss . . .” He pauses seeing the brothers confused looks “Uhh idea, because of this idea wizards and witches begane only marrying those who were deemed pureblood. Pureblood being someone who can claim that both their parents and their parents’ parents are all magical.” He takes a breath before continuing.
“This pureblooded nonsense has been going on a long time but most recently there was a war.” Jacob sits up straight in interest at how this story is progressing “A ‘dark lord’ had risen who called himself Voldemort. He rallied the purebloods who believed that purebloods are superior. Thus Voldemort and his band of servants called death eaters began systematically killing those who were against him. Your parents joined a group known as the order of the phoenix. This group fought against Voldemort and your parents fought Voldemort personally three times and survived.” Jacob and Harry both nod saying that they understand so far.
“Eventually you two were needing to be born and your parents went into hiding so that they could raise you in relative peace. Some of their closest companions however refused to leave the war and as such stayed as close as they could to the war without being too involved in it. One night however Voldemort came to your home and broke in. He began dueling your father while your father ran up the stairs to your nursery where after bargaining with me she paid the ultimate sacrifice and saved having made you my sworn servants.”
Jacobs face scowls at the uttering of the word servants “Sworn what now-” but before he can continue Harry’s own questions sounds. “Why help us?”
Jacob focuses his attention to the man’s answer “It is complicated. First one of your ancestors was my first and last ever servant. Thus I had combined some of my power with their bloodline thus your bloodline. Second is that this is the first time since then that someone in the family can become my servant and when you were both born your mother had done some of my rituals to bless you and connect you to me.”
"Why didn't you save mom?" Harry asks.
He gives Harry a sad look. "Your mother was only married to your bloodline and wasn't swore to me. As such I could not help. It was out of my realm of influence and as such I was unable to do anything." Harry looks down to the floor and processes the man's words.
"So why are you here now and what is this about us being servants?" growls Jacob.
The man winces “Unfortunately the term does not translate well and as such becomes the word servant and we are here to introduce ourselves and begin training you. You have become our servants and as such will gain powers far beyond that of other mortals and wiccans. You need to be prepared to face the trials that will be given to you.”
"So are you here to give us a trial?" questions Jacob unhappily.
The lady interrupts with a laugh and a placating smile "Oh no dear children. We are here to greet and to have you acknowledge us as your patrons. You are too young to be given a trial." she speaks
"And who said we have to agree to this." asks Jacob.
Both answer at the same time “It is too late already.”
Jacob stands up ready to march on them but the lady comes forward and stretches her hands towards him. Strange colourful mist erupts from her hands and hits Jacob in the face. After a moment the mist disappears and Jacob looks calm and slightly distressed.
“What did you do?”
“Just some calming mist, nothing to worry about.”
The man speaks "your bloodline is connected to us and your mother bathed you in our energies thus binding you to us. This isn't a binding ritual. This is us coming here and acknowledging it."
The grove is silent at the man’s proclamation "Why do I feel like you are not lying?" Jacob questions.
The lady answers “Beings like us are unable to lie to our own servants and there is an instinctual bond which allows us to know whether we lie or hide secrets.”
Harry suddenly stands up “We have been rude you don't even know our names.” Harry blushes “Hi, I’m Harry.” He gives a small wave.
Jacob remains silent.
The man says "I was fond of the Greeks and they named me Thanatos, but simply put I am death itself."
The lady picks up where Death left off "The Greeks didn't really have a name for me but the closest name would be Gaia. I am life itself."
Jacob growls out almost silent “Jacob.”
Gaia sighs placing a hand against her cheek “Perhaps we should give a different name to you instead of servants. Mmh, oh what about champions.” she smiles.
Jacob nods his head, saying that it is acceptable.
“Now with you being our champions more specifically Harry being mine and Jacob being Gaia’s. Now with you being our champions you will have access to some of our powers. More importantly you two are naturally born to do our sacred arts.” Thanatos finishes with a flourish of his arms.
“Sacred arts?” questions Harry.
“As death’s champion Harry your magical core has changed so that it is perfect for casting necromantic spells while Jacobs has changed so that it is perfect for druidic spells.”
Now Jacob is confused “Druidic? Necromantic?”
Thanatos releases a sigh and mutters “I forgot they know nothing about magic. There is going to be so much teaching.” He shakes himself out of his negative thoughts. “Most wiccans can only cast basic light and dark magic. Some who are well learned can cast some of the esoteric arts and those who are born lucky can cast sacred arts.”
“What are sacred arts?” question Harry again.
“Sacred arts are arts that are branches of magic which require the power of another being. The being now dubbed a patron gives some of their power to the world so that it can be manipulated or they can directly make a contract with a mortal and give a specific mortal some of their power.”
Both brothers are even more confused than ever from Thanatos’s explanation of magic branches and patrons. Before the boys can get anymore lost in Thanatos’s poor answer, Gaia interrupts their thoughts from spiraling.
“There will be a time later where we can speak in depth of magic and its sacred arts. There are other things we must discuss first and now before the sun sets and you are late to get to your aunt and uncle.”
Both Harry and Jacob look to the sky to see it has passed midday and the sun is starting it’s descent for sunset. They see they only have an hour or two left before they need to get back home and cook dinner so Petunia is not mad. Harry looks back to Gaia.
“So what do we need to know?”
“First before you can use any of your powers from us properly, you will need to go through your first trials. These trials can be held at any time, so when you have practiced enough with us and feel ready then you can take your trials.” she takes in a breath “Second is that as you grow stronger so too will you have to face the challenges of this world.”
Both brothers have a blank face.
“As our champions you are our physical force in this world. If there is something that needs to be dealt with in this world that is under my domain then it will become Jacobs job to deal with it. An example is that once Jacob is strong enough he will have to help regrow and regenerate the magical and non magical forest of the world.” Jacob does not feel opposed to that idea. “It will be his job to protect life in this world and defend it from outside forces who would do irreversible harm . . .”
While Gaia continues speaking Harry get s lost in his thoughts over what it would mean to be death's champion. If life’s champion protects life the does that mean Harry must protect death and if Jacob is to create life then does that mean that Harry must create death, Harry suddenly freezes at this horrifying thought. Does he need to kill people now? But he does not want to kill people is Harry’s only thought. The downward spiral of his thoughts is interrupted when a hand shakes him. Harry looks up to see that Thanatos is crouching before him with Jacob peeking over his right shoulder while Gaia stands behind Thanatos’ left side. Harry focuses his eyes to Thanatos’ face only to be met with worried eyes. Thanatos’ hand reaches up to wipe a stray tear off of Harry's face, Harry only releasing afterward that he is crying.
“What’s wrong little reaper?”
Harry sniffles “I-I-I d-don’t w-want t-to k-kill people.” Thanatos’ expression only holds confusion.
“Why would you think you need to kill people my little reaper?” Thanatos begins to rub calming circles into Harry arms.
“I-I’m d-death’s cham-champion s-so aren’t I m-meant t-to cr-create d-death.”
Thanatos finally realises where Harry thoughts have gone and is quick to bring the boy into a hug resting his cheek on top of the boy’s head. “You won’t have to kill people to be my champion.”
Harry pulls back slightly to look Thanatos in the eye “I won’t”
“You won't.” Thanatos resures.
Harry spends the next few minutes just enjoying the hug and comfort being provided by Thanatos. After the first minute of hugging does Gaia join in the hug and after another three minutes in which she stares at Jacob, he too joins the hug.
“So then what is my job?” question Harry after he has calmed down.
“That would require explaining the reason for my and my sister’s existence.” Thanatos pasues to look to the sky, judging how long they have. “It will just have to do.”
“When someone dies they are collected by one of my reapers. The reaper brings the soul of the deceased. The soul is assigned to one of the areas in my realm where their soul is balanced against what they did in their mortal life. The universe requires a constant balance. Once balanced the souls are sent to Gaia where they are remade and born again. This is the process of death.”
Harry nods his head “I get that but then how does it work with me?”
“As I said earlier souls are placed in an area so that they can become balanced but no one in my realm makes a soul balanced. It is up to the soul itself to survive its trials but sometimes the souls refuse to stay in the realm and escape through all the protections I have in place, however souls are not meant to leave my realm and upon leaving they become . . . many different things. Most become a revenant, those are the lucky ones. Others can become monsters which have yet to exist. Your job once you are prepared would be to collect these erant souls and return them to my realm so they can be balanced.”
Harry's throat becomes dry. “I have to hunt the living dead all alone.”
“Not alone.” Everyone turns at Jacob's words towards him.
“I help to protect life and you protect life from the dead so we can work together.” Jacob says self assured.
“I thought you didn't want to do this.” points out Harry.
Jacob just turns his back to everyone and mumbles “Well it’s alright and it’s better than just staying with horseface and walrus.”
Harry just nods and looks to the sky to see it is nearly sunset. “So when do we get to train?”
“You can after school everyday.” replies Thanatos.
Harry just shakes his head “We can't. Today we got away with not being home because we did it this morning but other days we won't be so lucky.”
Thanatos just chuckles and Harry frowns feeling like he is being laughed at “We won't be training here. You each will train in our realms where time works differently.”
Harry’s frown clears up into an expression of understanding “Okay that makes way more sense, but what about weekends?”
“Come here after you finish your chores for the day, we will know and come and pick you up so you can learn.” says Gaia.
“So should we come tomorrow or not?” queries Jacob.
Thanatos and Gaia reply simultaneously “Come tomorrow.”
Jacob nods “Good see you then, got to drag him home now before he tries to stay.” he says gesturing to Harry who just splutters.
Jacob starts dragging Harry to the Dursleys like how he dragged Jacob to the grove. Harry looks backward to Thanatos and Gaia and gives a wave with his free arm. They both respond in kind.
Harry and Jacob arrive at the Dursleys just in time to make dinner. They once again stand in their corner and watch their relatives devour the food they made. They at least have scraps that night and head to bed feeling like nothing can go wrong.