[Present]
Days slipped by quietly in Canada. Robin stared at their phone more than the room around them, fingers tapping out messages to friends scattered across the world. Their voice was often soft, hesitant... sometimes not there at all. The trauma still clung to them like a shadow, making every breath feel heavier, every laugh a little forced. They weren't quite themselves anymore.
Gabriel's partner, Melissa, was kind and patient, quietly checking in on Robin and serving them warm meals. But no matter the care, Robin never fully settled. Sleeping on the couch in their father's house - of all places! - felt off. Still, Gabriel was the best dad anyone could ask for: steady, reliable, always there.
Robin had been enrolled in the Canadian SAFE program, C.A.R.E., Canadian Aid for Reintegration. Different name, same purpose. Programs like these had become a social inevitability, providing enough for rent and food. A lifeline for those trying to find solid ground.
One afternoon, a blonde girl with strong arms and a flannel shirt knocked on the door. A lumberjack with a spark in her eye and a van packed for adventure. Robin had met her through texts days ago. They clicked instantly. A road trip was in the works. Fresh air, open highways. Maybe this was a new beginning.
The day of departure came faster than Robin's father expected. At the doorstep, Gabriel wrapped his child in a hug that felt like the warmest shelter in the storm... Long, tight, and full of everything left unspoken.
"Be safe," he whispered. "And call me if you need."
Robin nodded, heart heavy but lighter somehow. They climbed into the van with the blonde, the engine humming like a promise.
Perched high in a nearby tree, a sleek black crow observed quietly. Through its eyes, a green mage's gaze scanned the scene. A Canadian agent.
"Okay," the green mage murmured, voice barely audible, "they're moving now. Let's keep an eye on this one."