Another Way

Chapter 31: Descent

The walk back to Sundance's dwelling was largely spent in silence, to Sue's relief. She greatly appreciated Daisy's help, the new perspective to chew through her mental murk with, but couldn't deny that having to put so much effort into just making sense of her words was draining. And that's without even mentioning all the digging through her emotions the topic of conversation demanded.

Instead, both of them got to enjoy silence and clean air. The blue rhino didn't linger for long after the yellowish sandstone of Sundance's roof came into view. Instead, she patted Sue's shoulder from behind to catch her attention and spoke, pointing at the tall building, "Sue girl! Here where want go?"

Sue's firm nod was confirmation enough. "Y-yes, that's here. Thank you for talking with me, Daisy."

"Not worry! Glad help. Need walk anyway. Safe be!" Daisy laughed. After patting Sue's back a couple more times—which Sue finally endured without losing her balance—she turned around and headed out, towards where the other builders were working.

As Sue made her way through the last stretch towards and up the stairs to Sundance's home, worries refused to leave her. Everything going on in her head had been merely subdued, far from excised, and she was acutely aware. She knew she'd have to keep talking—or at least, that she should talk to the vixen once she got back—but the thought of that still intimidated her.

And the worst thing was that she didn't know why.

Sundance hadn't been anything but helpful in all their conversations so far, be they about Moonview's history or what might be going on in her head. Sue knew she could trust her, that the vixen was likely the most capable person here for helping her process those feelings, but... that didn't make said feelings any less scary. The opposite, even. They've been perfectly content remaining quiet and digging away at her confidence in silence, and hurt now that any attention had been placed upon them. And that was just from her own surface thoughts! Sundance might not have been the most keen on using flames as a solution to all problems, but boy could she shine a light at all the bile in her head.

Sue wasn't even sure if she could be helped. She felt just about confident enough to try, but doubted said confidence would last long. Either way, that had to wait for a bit longer—she was there. She had to shield her eyes from the late afternoon sun as she made it up the last few steps, about to push on the door before her—

But then; she heard a familiar, if distressing, sound from the inside.

She brought her head to the ajar door, peeking in at what was going on as she listened to Joy's distress. To the best of her ability to make out, everyone else was feeling perfectly alright in both looks and feelings alike. Sundance was still lying on a couple pillows, drawing sketches both on the stone floor and whichever scraps of wood were lying around. Twinkle was happily accompanying her in that, and so was Comet; the latter's excitable scribbles interrupted at Joy's unrest. Spark was comfortably snuggled into her mom, woofing quietly at the metal girl. Joy was a few paces away from all of them, facing them with an uneasy expression as her maw shuddered.

As much as it hurt to see Joy scared, Sue was hesitant to step in—the last thing she wanted to do was startle her further. And yet, it looked like there wasn't another way of handling that, not with the girl only growing more and more upset by the moment. She was tired; she was confused, and more than anything she was scared—and Sundance's words weren't helping, despite the vixen's clear effort. Neither was Spark's help once the kit had tried to slowly approach the girl with concern in her woofs, only prompting louder cries from the toothy tyke.

Once Joy's shudders had turned into scared squeaks and her maw lifted from its idle position behind her, though, the Forest Guardian knew she had to do something, even if the sight and sound of those metal teeth rattling together still intimidated her. Waiting no further, Sue knocked on the door and stepped in, not even having the time to speak up before Joy was already racing towards her, whimpering as she clung to her good leg.