Even In The Grave, All Is Not Lost

The Cold Hand of Destiny

'Caught in the thought of that time

When everything was fine, everything was mine

Everything was fine, everything was mine. . .'

- All the King's Horses by Karmina

. . .

Adria was born the year of Luna's Conclave, as though she was intended to be some kind of consolation from the universe.

(she was)

"My mother said it was a good omen. That I must have an important destiny," Adria said as they went about cleaning and gutting the fish that had been brought in that morning. At seven, she was still a little clumsy with a knife but growing more confident every day.

Luna's lips pursed. "I'm not sure I'd call a Conclave that."

Nor was she particularly pleased by the notion of Adria having a destiny - of any kind. In her experience, destinies were fickle beasts liable to eat you alive.

Adria's face fell and regret swarmed her heart.

"But I'm sure she was right, my love." Luna smiled, touching a hand to her cheek, mouth curving higher as she squirmed away from her slimy hold. "Of course you're meant for great things."

She'd healed Luna's heart, after all.

There was nothing short of a miracle in that.

Adria pursed her lips. "I'm not sure I would like to be meant for great things. That sounds like a lot of work. But I would not mind being meant for some things." She looked up at Luna curiously. "What about you?"

"I don't want to be meant for anything at all." In fact, the idea that she could be was a nauseating one. "But," Luna took a breath, "if I must be meant for something, then I would like it to be for this moment. Here with you."

Adria scrunched up her face. "Gutting fish?"

A smile broke her face. "Preferably, yes."

She shook her head, returning to her task. "Derrick is right. You're a little weird."

Luna laughed. "Too weird for your important company?"

"No. Weird people need friends too." Adria nodded to herself, set on her path. "I will be your less weird friend to balance out your weirdness."

Luna's cheeks hurt as she fought down a smile. "How very generous of you."

She nodded. "Yes. It is."

"When did Derrick say this?" Luna might just give him a face full of fish slime later for the cheek.

"All the time. He says it all the time. He says, 'Luna. . . she's a little weird' whenever you do something odd. Which is often."

Luna snorted. "Oh, is it?"

Adria, however, took the question very seriously. "Yes." She shrugged. "But we don't mind that about you."

"Well, perhaps I am normal and it is everyone else who is weird."

Adria gave this the proper consideration it deserved. "No. You're weird."

Luna laughed, setting down her knife and reaching for her. The girl's eyes widened and she ducked out of the way.

"Can't I get a hug?"

"No, you're slimy!"

As though Adria hadn't chased after her with slimy hands a thousand times herself, seeking to contaminate all that she could touch.