Another Way

Chapter 38: Moonshade

Sue wasn't sure if she should be here.

The wannabe convoy of several children at various levels of concern was tailed by a pair of adults. Jasper's confidence contrasted Sue's lack thereof, especially without Lilly to provide constant reassurance. The Forest Guardian had asked her not to follow them for a reason—as emotional as she herself could get at times, the leafy dancer felt everything much more intensely. Not exactly the preferable quantity when interacting with Heather, especially if she already wasn't feeling well.

Then again, even if most of Sue's feelings were subdued, they were still so much more intense than the mental silence emanating from the towering night kin beside her. With Thistle and Spark present, she would at least not be the sole source of emotional disturbance, but her better judgment couldn't help but point out that she should've just stayed behind with Lilly. Repeatedly.

Alas, too late for that now. Mostly because she had no idea how to get from where they already were back to the clearing, and getting lost in the nearby woods for the fourth time since she'd arrived here would be... suboptimal. Primarily for her sanity, followed by her continued structural integrity.

Jasper spoke up as their group slowed down, the absence of any translation turning his voice utterly bestial. Grunts, snarls, growls; the sounds reminded Sue of sound effects for orcs or other 'evil' creatures in fantasy movies. Just some audio filler, normally coming in between the swishes of the heroic protagonist's sword slashes as he carved down legions of nameless, monstrous mooks in his fight against whoever or whatever the big bad was.

But, of course, they weren't just sounds—they were words. Words that everyone beside her understood, and—judging by the response that came soon after—were supposed to be a question. Thistle slowed down but didn't vocalize physically, leaving her side of the conversation even less understandable for Sue. If the circumstances had been any less tense, Sue would've chimed in to let Thistle know she hadn't extended a link towards her, but it wasn't necessary here. She was just along for the ride; the last thing she wanted was to interrupt the important things going on.

Especially since her senses had plenty to feast on even without Thistle's words—namely, how she walked. It was one thing to watch the hatted psychic support herself entirely on the braids on the back of her head; it was another altogether to watch her walk on them. Her 'real' body dangled limply underneath the brim of her hat with every step, tossed around in a way Sue wasn't sure whether to describe as amusing or harrowing. Guess that depended on how much moving like that hurt her, and whether her spine went all the way into the hat or not.

And whether she had a spine to begin with.

The conversation between Thistle and Jasper didn't last long, ending after just a couple of questions. Whatever was said, it straightened Jasper out even more, while Thistle ended up sticking closer to her friends and Sue, worry radiating from her like the world's least helpful night light.

Sue wanted to collapse underground at this thought of all things finally attracting Thistle's attention, interrupting her mental murk with an instant of bafflement—followed by an embarrassed realization. "^Oh, sorry, Sue! Didn't know you couldn't understand us!^"

Just don't force me to make an entire circus of myself by having to explain what a night light is and I'll be all good, Thistle.

"It's alright," Sue answered, dragging the attention of the rest of the group towards herself. The kids scrambled just close enough to avoid getting inadvertently kicked, while Jasper gave her a brief, approving nod, upping his pace until he fronted the group. Sue's role was clear now—child magnet, something she didn't mind getting volunteered for over and over again. "Though I didn't hear what you and Jasper talked about."