Interstellar

Chapter 12

[Ashtynn's POV]

The sun begins to set as Polaris and I make our way back to the townhouse. Tiny orbs glow around the star boy, emitting light around us in the almost dark forest. Unfortunately, I had followed Polaris as he scampered through the forest, and once I had caught up with him I realized that we were lost.

"Polaris, you dumbass," I had said.

"My apologies! I did not mean to get us lost," Polaris replied, expressing his regret and sincere remorse. I pat his head and told him that everything was going to be okay.

The forest was dark and forbidding at night, but there was peace in its sullen ambiance. My eyes flickered over the thick, dark trunks of the trees that rose steadily into the sky, its branches interlocking with its neighbors like giant arms linked together, protecting their home. The trees were densely packed together, leaving enough space for us to maneuver through. I pressed my palm against its rough bark, and breathed in the scent of the forest. Nature is quite soothing after dusk.

Polaris must have felt the same way, for it didn't seem like he had an ounce of fear in him, even with all the darkness and ominous noises of the forest. Instead, he seemed to be enjoying himself. He hasn't been outside past 8 o' clock before, so this is a new experience for Polaris.

The star boy suddenly places his hand on my shoulder. "Hey, there's a path over there."

I squint my eyes to adjust to the darkness. "O-oh yeah, wanna follow it?"

"It might be our only way out of here."

I nod, yawning into one of my hands. Polaris tilts his head, concern written all over his head. I raise an eyebrow. "What?"

"Are you tired?"

I shrug. "Yeah, I guess."

Polaris walks in front of me and squats. I blush and step back a bit. "Polaris, what are you doing?"

"Well you said you were tired, so I thought I'd give you a pippy-back ride."

I snickered. "It's a piggy-back ride, Polaris."

"Oh, okay. Get on my back."

"I'm kinda heavy..."

"Doubt it."

"If you say so."

I lean myself against Polaris' back as his arms wrapped around my thighs. I wrapped my arms around his neck, stabilizing myself so that I didn't fall off his back. He lifts himself up with no problem. Polaris began to emit a glowing, golden light, so bright that I had to squint a bit. I had seen him do this before—he used it when he was healing my lacerations from the incident months ago.

"Is this your 'nova', Polaris?"

"Yes, it is."

The star boy starts jogging at a slow pace, and begins to pick up speed until he's going faster than a car. The cool wind presses against my face, causing my eyes to water. I yawn and lean my head onto Polaris' shoulder. I began to doze off, and the last thing I remember was Polaris looking at me from the corner of his eye and smiling.

｡.☆.*｡

I woke up from a peaceful night to the glowing and radiant sun peaking above the horizon out of my window. It extended its vivid light across the deep crimson sky. Its dazzling and inviting rays flowed through the window, providing warmth to my body. Slowly, the fatigue from last's night journey was seeping out of me as the welcoming rays trickled in to replacing my unrest—it relaxed my body.

Eventually, I got out of bed and stumbled down to the living room as my drowsiness had still not left me. I rubbed the sleepiness out of my eyes as I waved to an energetic Polaris and a sluggish older brother. Keegan gave me a nice, warm cup of green tea before I sat down on the couch next to Polaris.

He's currently sitting criss-cross-apple-sauce with a bowl of cereal. His eyes were still sleepy, as he continuously rubbed them every minute or so. But the star boy finished his breakfast nonetheless. Once he realized the bowl was empty, Polaris stretched over and placed it on the coffee table in front of him and watched TV.

Today has probably been the only normal in a couple months—no drama, no weird, transcendence from Polaris, nothing. Just a couple of people taking in the simplicity of a Saturday morning.