The Spirits Animals Cult Story Remastered

It's Not Time That Heals

NOTE: This story was written by Meilin (Tabby_Sohee0310)

"Stop!" The girl flailed around on the sheets, and Meilin sat back on her haunches in exasperation.

Worthy and Tasha had half-carried, half-dragged a panicked Shadow to Meilin's room about an hour earlier, loudly interrupting a serene session of philosophy reading.

What's wrong with her? She had demanded to Worthy. The boy had helplessly shrugged, taking off his mask to wipe his forehead. She had snatched the cat mask from his fingers. Conor and I told you to stop wearing that! she had snapped. You don't need to hide who you are. You've saved us again and again. Shadow needs you, too. When Worthy had tried to sit down next to Shadow, Meilin had shown him to the door. If you don't know anything else, leave.

Now, Meilin regretted her outburst - it was true that Worthy didn't need to feel ashamed of himself anymore, but she could really use some help. Shadow had done nothing but lie in silence for the past hour, becoming defensive whenever Meilin asked about something and then not allowing her to touch her.

"Why?" Meilin demanded, putting one hand on her forehead. "Why won't you tell me what's wrong? Where do you hurt?"

Shadow's face remained sallow. "There's no need," she said, turning away. "Time heals everything. Just leave me alone."

Meilin pursed her lips. "Well, maybe I can get Worthy, and the two of you can-"

"No!" Shadow snapped. "Just leave me alone." Remorse flashed across her face, and she opened her mouth to say something else but seemed to decide against it.

Walking backward, Meilin's hand closed around the doorknob, and she let herself out of the room to take a breath.

"Some kind of war happening in there?" A voice made her jump, and her fists flew out in front of her before she could regain her reflexes.

Rollan blinked. "Woah, there! We don't need two patients, now, do we?" He was perched on a bench across the hall.

Meilin sighed, the tension leaving her. She dropped herself down on the bench next to him. "We're all worried about her- and it's not often she doesn't want Worthy to see her. I don't get it. She doesn't want my help. She doesn't need my help."

Rollan was silent for a moment, considering this. "I don't think it's your help she needs."

Meilin turned her head to glare at him. "What on Erdas, Rollan? I don't want to hear it."

"Maybe," he continued, unfazed. "Shadow needs you. Not your help, not your words."

The girl paused for a second.

"She doesn't want Worthy to see her. She especially doesn't want him to see her in the state she's in right now. She doesn't want to talk," he went on. "But she does want her friends. She wants relief. And the kind of help you're trying to give isn't what's going to help her."

"Alright," Meilin grouched. She pulled her chest up, fixing her posture. "That was surprisingly deep coming from you. You might be smarter than you're letting on."

"Yeah!" he said. "Not enough people mention it. And that's why you shouldn't call me Featherbrain anymore."

"No!" Meilin exclaimed. "That's never going to stop."

For some reason, he suddenly put his head on her shoulder. Meilin's heart jumped like a startled rabbit. What the Tellun is wrong with me?

"Meilin, there's a lot of things that aren't ever going to stop," he said.