Another Way

Chapter 42: Faith

The long path between Moonview and its cemetery gave Sue plenty of time to calm down after her chat earlier. Even more helpful than time, though, was Solstice's psychic assistance. Not in any mental way, either. The touch of the older Forest Guardian's magic took a hefty chunk of weight off Sue's legs, pushing their aching away enough to let the person they belonged to lift her daughter into her arms. Joy's presence did the rest; her deep breaths, toothy smiles, and curious looks at the rest of the group lit up Sue's face every time.

Solstice, for her part, got a long stick to wave around. Emulating Sundance's gesturing was fun for about eight seconds before using the impromptu wand to play with Comet took center stage instead.

Did her tattoos always light up when she was psychicing?

Sue would've guessed that the Moon Child was sufficiently used to his mom's psychics to not find glowing, floating objects worth any attention at all anymore, but judging by how loud his squeaks were whenever Solstice's pale blue glow whizzed past him, she was clearly incorrect.

And each time Comet laughed his little heart out, Jasper was there to add more fuel to the fire. His black hair tickled the infant's sides and tummy, making Comet kick and squirm in his arms. For a few peaceful minutes, Comet's laughs were the only sounds filling the sunset-clad sky and the darkening woods around them; a good luck charm warding against what lurked in the dark.

Whether they'd protect them against what hunted the creatures that lurked in the dark, Sue could only hope.

Eventually, however, Comet had enough, huffing and swatting Jasper's teases away more forcefully, before reaching out for his mom. The gesture was understood, and the payloads of one child and one stick were swapped around. The furry night kin had even less of an idea than his ex-wife what to do with the item, but Sue's question distracted him from that looming unknown.

Because the worries coiling in her mind would only let themselves be delayed, never forgotten. "So, there's something I've been thinking about for a bit."

Joy, Solstice, Comet, and Jasper all looked up at Sue at the same time; the former got a forehead kiss for her efforts. "Wh-what would that be?" Jasper asked, dumbfounded.

Something very timely, considering where we're going. Too timely, perhaps.

Sue sighed. "I guess it's just. What do you two think of the Plague? Where it came from, I mean." Doubts set in the instant the final word left her mouth, making her look away in embarrassed doubt. "S-sorry if it's bad timing, just haven't been able to stop thinking about that for a while."

The timing was inarguably crass, though any emotions the other two felt afterwards weren't aimed at Sue. "Truthfully, I don't know. I don't think I want to know, either," Solstice whispered, holding Comet closer.

"I think it came from where all the illnesses do—the rot in the ground," Jasper weighed in. "All the decay and stagnation accumulates in the soil, and too much close contact with it will inevitably spread it onto us." His lecturing pose and unexpectedly calm tone of voice made Sue do a double take, but they didn't last. The long fur covering his hands clenched tight, and the stick he was holding let out a painful croak amidst the background of steady steps.

"Heh. I don't think Sue meant it in that way," Solstice responded with the saddest smile Sue had ever seen. "Did you, Sue?"

There wasn't any reason to beat around the bush anymore. "No, no I didn't, no. It's just that Solanum threatened that—"

"She won't do anything," Jasper forced out through gritted fangs. "Empty threats and bullying is all she's ever done." He relaxed his voice upon seeing how much Sue and Joy were taken aback at hearing it raised, and continued. "A-apologies. I-I mean what I said, though. The more you even consider their words, the more power they have over you."