To hear the narration and learn how I put the episode together, check out this video:
*****
There was a tension in the air, as if the calm wasn't occurring, as if the activity of days hadn't ceased. Tomorrow would bring... but I'm getting ahead of myself.
What mattered, at least in this moment, was a final good-bye, of sorts, from one friend to another. Which is why Mistress Sweetwater was sitting in front of her writing desk, thinking, composing, but never really starting. Until at last she shrugged and just started:
Dear Pip,
It's been a crazy few days here in my version of the Here Yet Not Here. I know that sometimes what happens in my world can echo into yours, or maybe it's the other way round, or maybe something happens somewhere else and we experience echoes of that. And in this moment I realize that if I wanted to get all philosophical, I should've let MouseEye write this! Anyway - I just hope your experience has been less chaotic than mine has been!
I should add that some of the crazy is from the mayor of High Rannoc! It turns out that he and his wife are malicious and magic-wielders - they actually got the Head Mistress of the Herbology School to "collect" people - she'd gotten to the point of abducting people and putting them into a long-term sleep! My friends and I managed to set things back to a more normal way, but in the process it broke me of my desire to be the village witch anymore.
The timing is awkward, what with the Flower Festival approaching and Bess (more about her in a minute) having promised to play in the local tavern. But between the trauma she experienced (she wasn't hurt, but it was all emotionally draining) and the overwhelming gratitude of the people we rescued (there were so many people!), we've received gifts aplenty. Which, when added to my small sack of coins, will keep us in money for a good long while. And even given that, we can both make money wherever we choose to go - she as a bard and me as a witch.
We've packed the things I've collected into Bess's wagon and into Vapour Trail's copious storage space. I did make a suggestion that we pack Bess' wagon into Vapour Trail but Bess blanched at that! So... it's the slow but steady method of rolling along roads instead of flying over them that will get us from place to place. I'm looking forward to slow travel, curing sniffly noses, and maybe even a wart or two! (I still can't believe that I thought all I'd ever face was warts on various-odd body parts!)
It went remarkably well. Everyone - the bees, Fen, Pop, ...everyone! wants to be a part of whatever Bess and I either discover for ourselves or create. I'm so honoured they want to be a part of this new adventure.
I got your last note, and the teenage Pillar Mushrooms. They are also safely ready to travel!
Also in your last note you said that the chocolates you sent were the last ever made by the master chocolatier Wonky Willy. We all really enjoyed them - with some of us gorging and others savouring. I'll let you guess which naughty characters ate like there will never be any more. Because, as we now know, there won't be any more!
I'm rambling. Sorry!
The goodbyes have been hard. I'm going to miss Bob and Roger and Fussy and... well - everyone! Human and not. I feel like I was making a difference in their lives just as they've made a huge difference in mine.
Someone I'm not saying goodbye to is Bess. She's... words just can't express how I feel about her. We've only known each other for a couple of weeks, and usually we were experiencing something extraordinary at the time (like meeting Nut, the Star Dragon). But I know her heart. It's pure and supportive and courageous (but I don't think she'd admit to that last one!). We both know that we don't really know many details that make up our own individual experiences and histories, but it's the discovery of those details that I think will be a source of intimacy, of partnership, of living life together.
I don't suppose anyone ever said directly that witches aren't supposed to be sappy, but I am!
Ooh! Speaking of... I found out my parentage and... I'm half-human. My mom's a dryad. It... things make more sense now, mostly in small respects, but when you add them all up (don't forget to carry the seven!), it's a lot.
I know there's a lot more I could say, but I also need to close this up, send it off, and hope you receive it with the same goodwill that I've embedded within each word. (I should add that Bess has this idea to breed Pop O'Locks and to have music infused inside of them so you could have a song or tale at the ready. It's nothing more than a wild idea, but if there's one thing I've learned from my experience is that even wild ideas aren't necessarily nearly as wild as might be perceived at first. So... keep you eyes and ears peeled!)
Thank you, Best Bestie, for your gifts, your kindnesses, your wisdom. (MouseEye says I should specifically mention cookies. And something about not using dragon fire to bake them. I don't know what that's about but I do hope you are ok!)
Hopefully, between my knowledge of the Here Yet Not Here and my newfound ability to travel along plant root systems, I'll be able to send more notes or even perhaps visit one day!
For now though, we're going to travel to my childhood home so that Bess can meet my parents and I can learn more about what it means to have Dryad blood. And maybe, just maybe, I can learn to pronounce my given name using my human mouth! (It's a tongue twister in tree form, so I don't hold out much hope, but it'll be fun to try!)
Love you, Best Bestie!
Sweet
Folding the letter with care, she set it where the Here Yet Not Here portal exists, knowing it'll be delivered to Pip's cottage.
With the second-to-last self-imposed obligation completed, she knelt before the cold hearth, hands in her lap, and thought of me. The sensation of so many feelings flowing to me: thanks, appreciation, respect, sorrow, and a host more, moved me deeply. I gave her my blessing, my love, and my understanding. It was hard, watching my best student leave, but I also knew she was ready to make her mark upon the wider world.
Once our communion was complete, she found Bess, her lover, compatriot, soulmate, kissed her, then said the words she'd been fighting against but which I knew were coming: "I'd like to go now. Even a kilometre or two along the road. It's too painful to stay."
I too had some final things to do. I was able to watch as the town of High Rannoc prepared to celebrate the coming festival, perhaps more fully than it had in a very long time; having been saved by a set of unlikely heroes from a fate... perhaps not worse than death, but being put into a prolonged slumber would, in many ways, be the same as a fate equal to death.
Speaking of - I shifted focus to the fate of the mayor and his wife. While I disliked the actions they had taken and would certainly have disliked even more the growing elaborate and confident maledictions, curses, and other evil works, still I felt pity for their current state. And, I suppose to make that make sense, I have to add that they are currently both in a chamber Sweet never visited, watched by the self-titled Count, as the two fight each other. One is to be a sacrifice to the demon Askew for services rendered (a demon who works on credit. Who ever would have thought!) while the 'survivor' will be turned into a vampire and made the primary subject for the Count's experiments to reverse his magically-imposed vampirism.
And then it was time for me to make my last calls, to say goodbye to one and all I've met and known for the countless years I've been here.
I can feel the promise of the presence of my next student, my next apprentice, far off in a distant land. It's a journey I look forward to, an adventure I can't wait to commence, an excitement I haven't experienced for a very long time.
Never let it be said that it's only Baba Yaga's Hut that can stand on its own two legs and make its way to a new home.
To hear the narration and learn how I put the episode together, check out this video:
*****
I called for Vapour Trail. This time I got an acknowledgment. In the minutes between call and arrival, I gathered the other reagents that I could carry, pulled out Slow and draped her over my neck, then waited a few seconds before the broom arrived in her glowing glory.
And then I remembered the ability to configure Pop as I needed. So I did. Cunk, after watching in disbelief as the light tower formed into a cargo elevator of sorts, allowing for huge mushroom cap transport, turned to me, slowly. "You witch? Ha! Yes! But not only." He then conspiratorially got in close (and I held my breath as best as I could). "Cunk friend. You remember. Cunk friend." He patted me on the shoulder (hard enough to bruise but not so hard as to knock me off my feet), got the mushrooms loaded, watched as Bess and I got situated, then waved as we flew off.
It wasn't far to the cottage. "Bess, what was that you were saying in the boat?"
"It can wait until this round of crazy is over and we can talk without interruption. What I want to know is what's the plan for curing your patient?"
I told her.
"Seriously? Oh my goodness, you are serious. No. You aren't doing that alone. I'm coming with."
"But Bess! What are you going to do?"
"Look, there are things you are brilliant at. But in this one, you're going to need help from someone who's brilliant with a different skill set. And that's me."
We'd landed, our familiars had come over and seemed to want our collective attention, but we discussed the plan - no longer simply my plan, but our plan - until we each agreed. Neither of us was completely happy with it, but it was the best we could devise given the situation.
"Sounds complicated." That was MouseEye.
"Foolish, if you ask me. Which no one did." And that was Marvin.
"It's ok, you two. There's no need to be a part of it. You can sit this one out."
"Must I?" was the automatic reply. And then, I think, he realized just what he'd said.
"Well, if you want to be a part of it, that'd be great."
I don't know why, in the middle of all this, I found amusement in watching MouseEye's face wrestle with backing out or continuing on.
"Well... ok. Besides, you'll need me to watch."
"Ok, fine. Leave me behind. Again." Marvin, of course.
A few words of encouragement from Bess later had all four of us taking part in this cure mission.
The potion took a minute to put together. That was the easy part. The anticipated hard part was going to be getting our unwitting patient to drink it.
That's the point of contention that's been causing so much stress and anxiety. We knew (or strongly surmised) that Mrs. Ruffage, in catching Dragon Sickness and gathering students, possibly even just people in general, was somehow sedating them; it was highly unlikely that a large group of people would be unable to force their way to freedom. We could only assume that entering the building was a one-way trip. Unless, of course, we could effect a cure. Which is why it wasn't the potion itself that was the important part but instead the presentation of the potion that was; we had to make sure she drank it. Otherwise, things could get dicey. Bess, bless her, figured that because she was better at steering people to do things, and in particular people acting like a dragon, that she should be involved. I think too, she figured having another set of hands could be useful. MouseEye was another set of eyes and ears (yes, he's also an unreliable agent in all this, but still...). And Marvin... self-titled Smartest Creature on Earth. I had no idea how a talking donkey would be received but it was worth trying. Maybe the sheer confusion he'd introduce would help.
With the potion in a vial and ready to be administered, the four of us walked to High Rannoc. On the way, Bess started mumbling to herself, even trying out a tune.
"What's that?" I had to ask.
"Hmmm...? Oh... just focusing on what we're doing in the moment and trying to not think about all the ways this could go wrong."
"Oh."
"Yeah. So... right now I've got something like this:
We're off to see the teacher
The magical teacher who's cursed
We hear she is a wiz of a witch
If ever a witch there was"
"You're able to think in songs at a time like this? Amazing!"
"You cope your way. I cope mine."
The laughter that followed was a bit forced and died off quickly. But the interaction was long and absorbing enough to get us to the High Rannoc gates. That were closed.
Camped outside the gates were a couple of travelling merchants. They appeared to have settled in, with a fire going, horses grazing, and tents set up. One merchant looked up.
"Ho there! The gates are closed!"
Just on the edge of hearing, Marvin muttered, "Captain Obvious to the rescue. What's next? 'You looking to go into town?'"
"You looking to go into town?"
"It hurts being right all the time."
As Bess shushed the donkey, I responded. "How long have you been camped out here?"
"Oh, not long. A couple of hours, maybe. Tried getting someone's attention to find out about the gates, but..." He shrugged to finish his statement.
We stared at the gates. I so wanted to just rip rotting boards off the rotting wall but that was more a thought towards my anxiety than a helpful plan. I knew it'd be simple to fly over the wall and open the gate. But... what if that was the point? What if it was a trap? Or what if I was grossly overthinking this?"
"MouseEye?", I asked, knowing the probable answer.
"Mmmhmm?"
Surprise number one - no, wait - this was bigger than a mere number could express - the mouse was still within earshot and willing to answer. "Can you check to see if it's safe on the other side of the gate?"
"Thinking about traps?"
"In this moment, that's all I can think about."
"Okay."
Surprise number... never mind numbering them; MouseEye was actually taking a look when I asked. I was shocked. Relieved! And shocked.
"It's clear", he said a moment later.
With that reassurance, I summoned Vapour Trail. I figured I could load up us four, get into town, and then... I wasn't sure what. At the last minute before the broom arrived, I gave the potion to Bess. "I have a feeling she's going to be focusing on me. So I hope that will give you space to dose her." Bess gulped but then nodded and accepted the vial.
Although I could've had Vapour Trail land in front of us, I decided it'd be better to have it fly into the palm of my hand with a satisfying smack. The merchants' eyes went white with surprise. "I believe there is danger lurking on the other side of these walls. My friends and I are going to deal with it. When the danger is over, we'll get the gates open for you."
Now it was their turn to mutely nod.
I just wished I was half as confident as I sounded.
It would have been a quick hop over the High Rannoc wall. And, in hindsight, I guess it was. At the same time, as we sailed into the air and cleared the boundary between inside and outside, I found myself seeing a third option - flying into the sky and never coming back. Which, to be honest, hit me. I'd never considered leaving this place but perhaps in some way, shape, or form, I was starting to think in terms of being elsewhere.
But thinking through that thought would have to wait - there was something seriously wrong in town. It couldn't simply be a case of one person's Dragon Sickness.
I landed us in front of the Hightower residence. I figured that since I'd told Francie that I'd alert Madam Hightower that I was about to go to the Herbology School, I should do just that.
No one came to the front door when I knocked. Same at the back entrance. But it was unlocked. I let myself in... and found no one. This wasn't good.
I told Bess what I'd found. Or, hadn't found.
"That's not good."
"I know, right?"
"So what's the plan now? Does it change?"
"I think we're all going to have to be really careful. I'm just not sure what's going to happen."
We stood in silence for a minute. Then Bess said, "You know, if it weren't for the fact that it seems like the whole town could be... abducted, I guess is the right word... I'd be thinking about leaving this place. For now, anyway. And maybe getting some help."
"I hear you. I just don't know who we could enlist in this. And even if I was to seek help, it could take longer than some of those people have left. I mean... we don't know exactly what's happening in the school."
We shared resigned shrugs. And then started to walk towards the school building. We'd find out soon enough just how bad things were.
On the way, I found myself wondering who I could ask for help were I to seek help. The Count and Igor might be willing. I even had Richard's debt of appreciation for the cure I gave him a few weeks ago. The Sphinx might be willing, as might the Noble Elf in Glimmerwood Grove. Even Cunk, perhaps even his brethren, could help. But for each of them, I found a reason why it was impractical.
With each step closer to the school, the reasoning 'we're running out of time' loomed larger. Until we were standing in front of the rather unimpressive unimposing building.
As I approached the door, it opened, revealing the smiling face of the mayor's wife. Now, when I say 'smiling', it wasn't a good smile. Instead, it was self-satisfied, gloating, scary.
What had I walked into?
"Well, hello, Mistress Sweetwater. And you brought friends! Delightful. All of you will make your way inside. Just follow the blubbering cries of Francie. She'll be so happy to see you."
Now... I hadn't considered this. Not that this was at all foreseeable. Not even MouseEye saw it coming - he was on my shoulder when we were confronted. Drat. I did hear Bess direct Marvin in, as if he were an ordinary donkey. And we also heard Francie start calling out, panicked, asking us to not do anything heroic.
I made my way to the room where Francie was. Behind her, holding a knife to her throat, was Mrs. Ruffage. And next to her was the mayor. In his hands was a doll.
"Well, isn't this cozy?", said the mayor with a smile that mirrored his wife's. Mrs. Ruffage, meanwhile, had a crazed look in her eyes. "Cozy? Oh, yes. Oh, I've been wanting for you, my dear. I've a collection of treasures, but not every gem is a jewel. You, dear, are a jewel and will be the prize of my trove."
Meanwhile, Bess and Marvin crammed in behind me, followed by the mayor's wife. Cozy? Not anymore. It was stuffed!
"You look confused. Allow me to explain it to you." This was the mayor, Oliver Chutney. "You see, no one likes you. I'd hoped you'd leave with the rumours swirling about me and you. But no, you stayed. Bought a broom, even. By the way, where is it?" He directed that at his wife.
"It's outside." That was his wife.
He looked annoyed. "You brought in a mule but didn't think it important to secure a magical broom?"
"Donkey.", I said.
"Mule. Donkey! Ass!! I don't care!!!"
"It's just that..."
"Silence, Sweet! Or should I say, Abigail?"
And there it was. The name I'd been advised to hide, and which of course the school knew. And so did the mayor. Who now had a long needle pointed at the doll's head. "Do you know what this is, Abigail? It's a kewpie doll. In an age where everyone insists on having more and more flash in their magic, I far prefer the tried and true. Allow me to show you." In went the pin into the doll's head. And I... didn't feel a thing.
Oliver, meanwhile, just grinned. "Oooo... a tough one, eh? You and me and dolly make three. I'm going to..."
"No! I'm going to place her in my collection with the others. You shall not harm my precious treasure."
The mayor's wife, meanwhile, had grabbed at Marvin to try to drag him out. And that's when things got really interesting.
Marvin refused to budge no matter how hard she tried to move him. She made the mistake of getting behind Marvin and trying to grab his back legs. Instead, she got kicked in the chest and was launched out of the room. Hearing that, I summoned Vapour Trail, which flew into the room and started to swat Oliver's head with her bristles.
Within all that, I heard Bess exclaim in surprise, then felt Sarah being pulled out of my pocket by MouseEye. Mrs. Ruffage's eyes went wide in greedy excitement. She grabbed hold of my wand... and stopped moving. MouseEye shot me a look that meant I should grab hold of the wand and enter her space.
I opened my eyes. I was standing in front of the lone tree on the hill. The glowing form of Sarah stood beside me. Looking confused, holding her head, and spinning in circles, was Mrs. Ruffage. I walked over to her.
"Mrs. Ruffage? You're safe. You're..."
"In your wand. Yes. And I, at least for now, have my mind back. I have a feeling your friends are administering a potion to cure me. Dragon Sickness, if I'm not mistaken."
"Yes, ma'am."
"I think I know how they infected me with it. A book, of all things. I started reading it and all of a sudden collecting treasure was all important. But not just any treasure - people. I had the school making sleeping draughts for days."
"A book? You mean they're responsible for attacking Count von Rannoc?"
"Sorry? Who's that, dear?"
"The vampiric necromancer living in Hero's Hollow?"
"Oh, him. Is that his name? I've only ever been interested in gathering a bit of venom from him from time to time. His curious assistant..."
"Igor."
"Really? Igor... hmmm... anyway, he collects it for me as needed."
Sarah took the following pause to interject. "You must depart. Things are reaching their conclusion."
I opened my eyes. Bess had somehow maneuvered herself to Mrs. Ruffage's side and stood there holding an empty vial. Oliver was curled up in a corner as the broom continued to beat him with bristles. MouseEye was sitting on the doll on the other side of the room. Francie had forced herself into a corner and was trying to shrink herself even smaller. And Marvin... he was standing over and keeping a watchful eye on a very still wife.
Mrs. Ruffage began trying to move. Bess, bless her, tried to look threatening.
"Bess, it's ok. The potion's working."
Bess backed off, a little uncertain. Mrs. Ruffage looked her in the eye. "The potion is working. Thank you. And now it's time to revive the town and the early-arrivals for the festival revels. Let me recommend we see to the senior staff first."
As she began to compose herself, Marvin asked, "I want to lie down on her. I know it'd be inappropriate, but I'm hoping someone, anyone, will say I'm wrong. Not that I ever am, but in this case I'll hold onto a glimmer of hope." When, after a few seconds of awkward silence had passed, he said, "Figures."
It was as if the room began to exhale: Mrs. Ruffage set off to begin helping all those she'd trapped, Francie declared she needed to be by Madam Hightower's side when she came to, and Bess and Marvin moved the now groaning Mrs. Chutney to where someone could see to her likely broken ribs safely. With a word from me, Vapour Trail stopped beating the mayor, who cried out in relief.
Seeing the opportunity, I crouched in front of him. "Why didn't your magic doll work?"
He looked from me to a very aggressive broom menacing him (there's something unnerving about a magical object that's just beaten you senseless while it hasn't broken a sweat. Not that it's possible for a broom to sweat, but when you're used to equating exertion with perspiration, not seeing the latter gives every indication it's still ready and willing to do the former), he complied and answered. "I don't know. It's always worked in the past. Even your predecessor succumbed eventually. Oh, she was tough but...". And then he shrugged.
I needed... space. Clarity. Answers. The truth. The world was unhinged, spinning, zooming past as I careened down the suddenly twisting hallway and heaving floor. Because... that name, the one I'd attached to for all my life (but for the last few months) was now not only disassociated from me (I really had come to embody 'Mistress Sweetwater'), but also just plain wrong. A lie. I didn't know who I was. I had to go, to move, to fly...
Vapour Trail was in my open hand, vibrating, potent, impatiently waiting. I climbed on to her bristles, not wanting anything except the feel of icy air blowing me to smithereens: cleansing, purifying, annihilating.
I launched, the air screaming from the ferocious ascent. I'd never dared to fly so fast, so carelessly, incautiously. Clouds dissolved as I jetted through them. I think I was aiming at the sun itself.
Through tear-streaming eyes, I saw MouseEye perched on the broom's handle, sitting, smiling, whiskers twitching. Bastard - I can never stay angry in the face of twitching whiskers. But I wasn't about to release this any time soon.
"What do you want?", I shrieked.
By all rights, his answer should've been swallowed by the roaring wind, but I heard him as clearly as if we were talking in the cottage. "I'm proud of you, Mistress Sweetwater. And that I'm happy I stayed at the Familiar Summoning ceremony. Everyone else missed out."
"Oh yeah? But who the hell am I?"
"Exactly who you are. No more, no less. Names don't matter."
"Oh yeah? What do you know?"
He just kept smiling. "I know you call me a name that is now mine but wasn't before. And you used to be called a name that wasn't fully you. That's probably why the doll didn't work."
"But...!"
We both stayed silent, thinking. At least, I was.
"May I assume you're going to let Count von Rannoc know about the source of the trapped book?"
"Absolutely."
"Then may I suggest we go there now? Perhaps a necromancer will have insights we don't."
The Count? The Hollow? Why not! Besides... it was freezing up here!
By the time we arrived, I'd calmed down a bit. I wasn't seeing red anymore - it was more like a dusky pink. Still red-ish, but not so vivid. Also, the sun had set, meaning the count should be up and around and available to see me.
I walked into the Count's rooms (I'd been tempted to fly in but MouseEye cautioned that all it would take was one bad turn and things could get... difficult), swept passed Igor, and into the Count's study. He was reading a book, looked up at me, over to Igor who'd followed me in, shook his head subtly, then closed the book and regarded me.
"Igor, tea please." He then sat back. "The tale playing across your face is bursting to be vocalized. But do take a minute to compose yourself. Only when you are ready should you begin. And, I beg you, from the beginning."
Sip, breathe, talk.
The Count help up a hand. "Twice more. Then begin."
Sip. Breathe.
Sip.
Breathe.
Talk.
I told him everything. The Dragon Sickness, The mayor and his wife. The book. The doll. The failed magical attack and the supposed problem.
I paused. He looked thoughtful. Then, "Igor."
"Yeth, Marthter?"
"I believe we're going to have the mayor and his wife for dinner tonight. Do make sure everything's in readiness."
"Indeed? Excthellent, Marthter!"
The count viewed me again. "So a curse requiring your name failed? That is interesting."
And this is where Sensibility, which had been consigned to a small locked cupboard in the dark recesses of my mind, finally broke free, shouting as it approached, that having a vampiric necromancer help in this regard was about a stupid a thing as anyone could ever do.
My face must have fallen in the moment, because Richard smiled, pleasantly. There wasn't a hint of rapacious wolf or crazed bat in his demeanour. "Yes, you've just realized what you've asked and of whom you've asked it. I currently owe you two debts - the one just now, informing me who was responsible for the cursed book in the first place, and that of curing the curse inflicted on me. I shan't hurt you nor act against you. What I will do, however, is consult Askew. Come."
We ended up in a room dominated by an elaborate series of chalked circles, symbols, candles, and I want to say there was more in there but I can't clearly recall now. Bidding me stand next to him, he spoke and chanted and made elaborate gestures and... then it was over.
"I should have guessed.", he said.
"Should have guessed what? And weren't you going to call Askew for help?"
"I did. It's done. You have no memory of it because, in a sense, it didn't happen within this space and time. But I do have an answer."
"Ok?"
"Let's go back to my study. It may take a minute to explain."
So we did. And it did. And... wow.
"So... what you're saying is, and I am still in disbelief, that my father is a woodcutter..."
He nodded.
"...and my mother is a dryad?"
He nodded again. "And isn't it fitting your chosen pseudonym is 'Sweetwater'. For what is sap, the precious fluid of trees? Sugar water. Or, in your case, Sweetwater."
"But... I chose it without thinking! I had to pick something and..."
"...and you unconsciously honoured your heritage."
Once again, everything began to swim. Reality was determined, and I mean dead-set, on making sure no rock was left unturned in remaking my life experience. My life! My... Everything!
Richard looked compassionate. "It's a lot. You've been through a lot. The question is... What are you going to do with what you now know?"
"I..." That stopped me. So many things had happened. So many things. I needed... I needed a hug. A discussion. A plan. I needed Bess. "I'm going to go back to High Rannoc, help with what I can, go to the cottage, and talk and think and maybe not decide anything but definitely process everything."
"A fine answer. Now, not to be rude, but I do have dinner plans that I eagerly wish to see through to fruition."
Numbly, slowly, I made my way out. To Vapour Trail. To High Rannoc. To seemingly all its residents. Hugs. Heart-filled thanks. Tears. Apologies. Explanations. Catharsis repeated over and over again.
Bess. She found me. I slumped against her, or she against me against her.
Not 'against'. Never 'against'. Just 'we'. She and me. Side by side. Together. Safe. Always.
We got onto Vapour Trail. Called to MouseEye and Marvin, who also boarded. "Take us home."
