Stargazer

Part XI: Silhouette

Unlike Beginning and the twins, this new figure before me emitted no light from her skin or hair. Her features were completely masked by shadow, but I could tell from her dark outline that she was tall and thin, with short hair that went only slightly past her ears. She seemed nothing like the starchildren I knew.

"That's a little better now, isn't it?" she asked, moving her hands as she spoke. The new rocky mass orbiting Dwarf Red that had been blocking Beginning's star had moved out of the way, releasing the light I so needed behind it. I rubbed my hands under my eyes and sighed, exhausted from my own frantic outburst. I wondered what I must look like to this new figure. Do creators normally have emotional and existential crises in front of their creations? I thought, feeling almost embarrassed. Then again, I wasn't sure if she even was one of my creations.

"You're not a starchild," I said, looking over the girl's silhouette once more. She couldn't be; I hadn't made any new stars since the twins, and I certainly didn't see any popping out of nowhere. Perhaps I was hallucinating this entire event.

The girl folded her arms over her chest. "No, I suppose I'm not," she responded dully. I imagined her pouting, and I suddenly felt guilty.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. It's just--you weren't named by me. I don't understand how you exist, or who you are. Every one of my creations so far had to be named before they could speak to me in human form like this. I'm just confused." There was a long silence. "Do you know who I am?" I asked.

"Stargazer," the girl responded, as if she were reciting something she'd memorized long ago. "You're Stargazer, the one who walked on Big Red and made life sprout out of him with a single purposeful touch. You made my grandmother star in the beginning, and now Big Red made me from his own remains." She shook her head and let her arms loose at her sides. "That's right, isn't it?"

Her explanation only confused me further. "Big Red made you?"

The silhouette nodded. "The system is in motion now. Soon it will be in motion for everything. You made my grandmother star, so she made Big Red and named him herself. Big Red did the same with me a few moments ago, for your sake." She paused. I was starting to notice a strange pattern in the way she moved her arms as she spoke. "Except I don't know my name. Red can't speak like you and I can, of course, so if he had a name in mind for me, I guess I don't know it."

"But what are you?" I asked.

"A moon spirit."

A moon spirit?

"Turn into the light," I said, drifting to one side of her. "I want to see you."

She turned wordlessly to face me, one side of her still covered by shadow. It was as if her body was cleanly divided at her midline--only her right side was visible to me. She reflected Beginning's light weakly, making the moon spirit's skin look as pale as the bleached pink chunk of rock orbiting Dwarf Red. Her hair was a bloody crimson.

I looked closely at her face. Her nose was crooked, and her one blue eye was bloated strangely, as if it were foreign to her body. Her thin lips were turned upwards as she tried to smile at me. Her effort only made me sad.

I couldn't peel my eyes off her face long enough to focus on forming words. She was the one who broke the silence after turning herself away from me.

"I was made of bits and pieces of a broken world, Stargazer," she explained, sounding almost resentful. "We can't all be starchildren. Still, I have my purpose, and I'm going to stick to it no matter what. Especially once the darkness comes."

"I'm sorry. I've just never seen a moon spirit," I said quickly, not wishing at all to hurt the figure who would've been the latest addition to Beginning's solar family. The starchild would not have been pleased with me. "You said you were made for my sake. What are you here for?" I asked, trying desperately to direct attention away from my rude behavior.

She held up a hand and sighed. "I can protect what's left of Big Red. My presence keeps him safe, almost like how Beginning's presence used to support him. I'll see to his safe passage to the twins."

"You--you will? How?"

"It's what I exist to do. Moon spirits are protectors, just like how starchildren are nurturers. Dwarf Red needs me, so I'm here, and I'll bring him to his new stars."

"But when Beginning is gone--"

"I'll keep him safe, Stargazer. Don't worry." She smiled. In every way, she seemed sincere. She was Beginning's grandchild. There was no way I couldn't trust her.

Tears welled in my eyes again. At that moment, I wasn't sure if I was scared or relieved.

"Go, Stargazer. Go say your goodbyes to the grandmother star. Dwarf Red is safe with me." The moon spirit paused and swallowed, making a face that looked as if she had a bad taste in her mouth, but she tried to hide it for me. "We'll meet you at the twins."

"The twins," I repeated. "I--thank you. I don't know how I could ever express to you enough how grateful I am. Beginning would be so, so proud of you. She would think you're as beautiful as Big Red, and I--I think that, too," I said, starting to cry. I can go see Beginning, I thought. I can say goodbye. I can be there at the end, just like I was there at the beginning.

"Go," she said again. "You don't have much time. Tell Beginning that Red is safe, and tell her that we'll miss her."

"I will. Thank you--spirit, what should I call you?"

"I don't need a name, Stargazer. I'm just Dwarf Red's protector."

I shook my head. "Nonsense. When we meet again, I'll give you a proper name, out of my respect for you. For now, thank you, Protector."

----

Oof, more Beginning next chapter. Buckle up, friends--it's going to get intense. 

Thanks so much for reading part XI of Stargazer! I super appreciate all of your continued support, and I can't wait to hear what you think of this chapter. Please consider clicking the star if you liked this chapter, and your comments and critiques are always much appreciated!

I have a bit of drama planned for our new character here--it'll be a fun time (for me, mwahahaha), so das Question für die Part (that's the question for the part, for all you non-German-speaking individuals) (I'm kidding, German speakers, please don't sue me I love your language): What are your predictions for the future of Dwarf Red's moon spirit? What's her deal, and what's going to happen when she reaches the twins? Tell me what you think down below!