A Dimension in Time

Folklore and Leitmotifs

☆♪ Chapter 17 ♪ ☆

Folklore and Leitmotifs

Hat Kid and Bow Kid weren't sure how they were going to explain the current predicament once they got to Cooking Cat's place, but they were going to try regardless. Taking the same hazelnut tiled path as before, the duo eventually made their way to Cooking Cat's humble abode. The girls knocked on the door as Cooking Cat opened it to see both Hat and Bow, their concern on full display. "Hey Cookie..." "Hi Cookie. Can we come in?" Cooking Cat's usually sweet smile fades as she ushers the girls inside. "It's good to see both of y'all, but you two never come alone. Not after the fiasco that happened in the metro. Even before that you've never gone anywhere without Dawn." Cooking Cat interrogated with a concerned tone in her voice as she sat both girls down onto the couch. "What happened? Did someone hurt you? Did something happen to Dawn?" The feline chef continued her interrogation, sitting with Hat and Bow. Hat Kid looks away, before showing her unknowing expression... an expression that wasn't sure on how they'd explain this. Bow Kid on the other hand was willing to take the initiative and explain it for Hat Kid if she had to. But it was always better if they did it together, so that's what they did.

"It's... Remember the last time we mentioned the Subcon Forest...?" Hat began, swooping her top hat off her head as she spoke. "Well, yeah. I remember y'all telling me you got your souls back. And that later you couldn't get home even after collecting more of those magical hourglasses." Hat leans into Bow's side; the mere thought of never seeing Raehan again still tore both girls apart inside. At least they could try to make this planet their home. Cooking Cat noticed the shift in Hat's body language and looked over at Bow, who was comforting her sister. "... Say: why'd you ask me about Subcon in the first place?" Bow stroked some of Hat's hair, trying not to divert her eyes away from Cooking Cat. Eventually the curly haired child let out a tired sigh. "Well... you wouldn't fully believe us if we told it to you straight without context." Cooking Cat shook her head in a light protest, but the wariness was still present in her body language. "Well you haven't told me what I wouldn't believe yet, sugar. So therefore I have no opinion on the matter. But I'd like to help and listen in any way I can. You know that I haven't done anything that's told you I don't care or wouldn't care about y'all." The ribboned child's purple magenta eyes lit up with tears.... "We went to Subcon Forest this morning. But... that's *not* the point! The forest is in danger Cookie... a-and it's the stupid Time Piece's  fault!" Bow finally explains, her voice breaking as she thought about Snatcher, about the forest, the Subconites, Camila, and Moonjumper. Their home was about to be wiped off the face of the planet, and it was all thanks to Vanessa. Cooking Cat's eyes widened, feeling anxious for the three girls who would usually adventure together. "Oh my goodness! What- what happened if y'all don't mind me askin'...?" The feline chef asked with an almost parental worry, making sure if there was something she could do when aiding the situation.

Silence overtook the two alien children... Neither were sure of how to respond to the question. Cooking Cat waited patiently, until one of the girls decided to open up about what happened. "The... The artifact was taken by Snatcher this morning." Bow started, keeping her sister close to her. "He... he took it and fled to his forest. Dawn woke up early this morning to find the aftermath with Rumbi and woke us up soon after. We fought for it, then won... but things went wrong." The ribboned child clarified, subconsciously holding her hatless sister's hand. "Promise you won't freak when we tell you." Bow sternly asked, making sure the feline chef wouldn't freak out at the news of Snatcher being his old princely self rather than a overwhelmingly powerful force of nature. A dastardly ghoul whose clawed hand could strike down any enemy with a single dotted line. A specter who was high and mighty for nearly 300 hundred years, and a ghost who was once a kind hearted and caring prince. A passionate young prince that adored his subjects, even considered some of them to be his closest and most valued friends by what context they did get from the memory rift. And a prince who died so tragically by the hands of his former lover, the ice queen Vanessa. Cooking Cat fancied an endearing look upon her features, soon placing a paw onto Bow Kid's head, her claws twirling into some of Bow Kid's tight curls. "I promise sugar. I swear it." Bow smiled, before it faded into her sigh. "Snatcher is the former prince of Subcon. The queen is Vanessa who's a ghost and an ice witch who's going to freeze the rest of Subcon now that Snatcher's human again..." Bow's hand was squeezed tighter by Hat, in an instant things were tense. They were even tenser when the hatless child let go and threw her hands up into the air, clenching at nothing but open space. "He's the prince and he's stuck as a human again and now on our ship! Moonjumper's been taking care of the forest in his absence, for now at least... But- we know that's not gonna last for long!" Hat Kid then pulled at handfuls of her own brunette bangs, breathing heavily as her rave of explaining had no end. "Vanessa had already killed and hurt the forest once and the three of us know too well she'd do it again! Even in a blind snowy rage! But now Snatcher's flames are dying out. The forest has a chance of becoming a full winter wasteland and being wiped off the face of the map. And Vanessa would HURT Snatcher IF she found out he was human again!" Hat cried out, tightening her grip on her hair and parts of her head. "She'd kill him! By Raehan she'd kill him and we-!" "Woah! Woah! Slow down." Cooking Cat's eyes widened as both girls heaved heavily by the time they'd finally let the damn break. Both girls finally let their emotions flow, the cascade of overwhelming emotions from the events that transpired over the course of a couple hours. Finally, Cooking Cat had had it, not a word was said as the girls were scooped into the feline chef's arms for any source of comfort she could offer. The feline chef slowed her breaths and took many deep breaths, as though she were silently instructing the two children to do the same and follow her lead. The heaving slowed down into exhaustion, and with the exhaustion came the solace. But the conversation was far from over.