"Thanks," he replied to her compliment. He genuinely was happy that she enjoyed it, even if he was critical of it. He took a few more spoon fulls, still wishing he had put in less sage, but Madison was happy with it so he would tolerate the mistake. He mulled over her other question for a long time, wondering how much he should tell her. It was horribly depressing. But she had already shared so much of her past. It would be rude for him not to be honest with his own. "Yeah. The kids went first. Then the mom. The dad just... wasted away. Didn't have anything else to live for I guess. I don't blame him really." Arc paused for a long moment, his eyes welling with tears as he imagined that horrible memory. No one in their right mind would want to relive that nightmare.<br/><br/>"The kids were sick. Don't know what it was, but it was painful. They cried every day. Almost constantly. They were young, didn't do anything to anyone." His voice began to crack, causing Arc to clear his throat to steady himself again. "The mom went just after. Cut herself on a rusted plow and got lock-jaw. After that, the dad, Mr. Bennett, just quit eating. He quit working. Then, he just quit living. I helped them dig the graves before he passed, but the dogs just dug them up. I just had to leave 'em."<br/><br/>By that time, Arc had almost finished his soup, but still he held the spoon over the bowl as if there were still something to eat in there.