To Rhial

27

Tells

Adam dusted his giant mitts off, having quickly dug a firepit in our little clearing next to the road. Brenden built the fire while we waited for the other two to return. He had a peeved off look on his face, like he was thinking, but things weren't clicking.

He stopped building and cracked his knuckles. "Did you guys know about her? That she's a fireblood?"

I shook my head, but Adam turned from grabbing something in the wagon. "We didn't know enough to be able to spot it. Mother Yearly, or whatever her name was, said some weird stuff, but that's kind of been how every conversation here has went."

Brenden overexcitedly shot up and pointed at Adam. "Yes! That's exactly it! I have no idea what the fuck is going on anymore! People are talking to us like we know shit, but we don't know shit."

I chuckled. "Speak for yourself, smoothbrain."

"Bullshit, you're definitely in the same confused boat as us."

I made an incorrect buzzer sound and crossed my arms. "Can't be confused if you're not paying attention to anything."

His brows furrowed and his eyes squinted. He was deep in thought, recalling the distant memories of the past week. "Have you talked to anyone?"

"Yeah. Just don't overthink it lol."

Adam put a whole rotten bulb of fruit in his mouth, wincing while he chewed and spoke. "I couldn't understand half of the shit Mother Yemen was saying. She sounded like my babushka with a somehow thicker accent."

"Don't diss Santa's number one elf. She puts in work."

"I thought Brenden was Santa's top guy?"

"I'm already so tired of these elf jokes," Brenden whined.

I shared a glance with Adam and we both grinned.

He slapped Brenden on the back. "Don't worry Buddy, we'll get you back to the north pole."

"I'll take my chances getting dropped off at the north pole if it means I get to go back to Earth."

I stroked my chin intelligently. "No, he's definitely a south pole elf."

"I'm not a fucking elf! I'm a nyadin or whatever Geren called 'em."

I whispered to Adam. "He's an angry elf."

Brenden took a deep breath and then broke into a short burst of laughter. "I'm telling Santa on you guys. You're going straight onto the naughty list."

"Erm, actually," Adam corrected, "Santa's not even real."

I turned to Adam with a look of genuine distraught on my face. "What do you mean he's not real?"

Brenden stared at Adam in sheer betrayal. "Are you a fucking Santa denier? Dude, I thought you were cool. And then you go and do this?"

"You guys aren't being serious, right?" Adam glanced between Brenden and I.

Damn, didn't think I was being that convincing.

Just then, the treeline stirred as Desmond and Vetia emerged.

Adam whipped around with an awkward smile. "You guys don't think Santa is real, right?"

Desmond's expression became a mix of confusion and disdain. "Well yeah, I've seen him."

"Bullshit."

"You keep telling yourself that, bud."

Vetia heaved as they both dropped the gutted animal next to the fire pit. "The presents literally say 'from Santa.'"