Lunar Heart, Shadow Bound ✓ [when the moon lies]

Ch.28: Glow in the Dark

Note: Slightly longer chapter because there's a song in here.

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Moments later, the smoke cleared. A winding white path stretched before them into a foggy grassland. Thereanbold bent over, heaving a sigh.

"That was close!" He straightened his back. "Hope Alsinda doesn't ask me later." He gave a light chuckle. "She's pretty intense."

"I'll say." Daero said with a wry smile. But Pinti couldn't share the moment. Kirlan's anger had shaken her to the core. But she didn't know! And the last two years of his life, she couldn't even begin to imagine.

"Hey, you okay?" Daero turned to her.

"He was my best friend, b-but I know he wasn't there. I know what happened." She gritted her teeth and looked out at a barren land stretching behind. She could just make out the city's light sparkling on the horizon. "I know I wouldn't have missed him. I would never do that."

"He's just confused," Daero said in a soft voice, resting his paw on her shoulder. "It's okay."

"It's not okay!" She bristled. Kirlan now thought of her as someone that would leave a fellow Kathula behind. What did he think now, seeing her roaming free while he was in chains? "Maybe it is my fault." She dropped her gaze because she knew it was a weak claim.

Daero gripped her shoulders. "Look at me!"

She met his gaze, half obscured behind his long bangs.

"It's not your fault. He just needs someone to blame. He doesn't really believe it. If he and you were good friends, he would know you wouldn't let this happen to him. When this is all over, we'll go get him. You and I. And you can talk to him. He'll forgi—"

"It's too late." Pinti shook her head. That anger in his eyes was real and raw. How could their relationship ever be repaired?

Daero's paws shifted from her shoulders down to her paws. "It's not too late," He squeezed, "He will understand one day. Of course, it will take time. But it'll happen." He offered a smile and patted her shoulder. He seemed so sure.

Before she could think of something to say, Thereanbold shoved a cookie into her face. Pinti blinked at him, startled.

He gave a warm smile and said, "Look, I don't know the whole story, but I do know that a cookie makes everything better."

Pinti took the cookie. It was sweet and strangely soothing. Her chest tightened. The sorrow was familiar. It swelled in her throat and burned her nose. She could feel the hot tears coming into her eyes. At the same time, determination swelled strong in her heart as a beacon pointing her towards the next task at paw. She didn't want Kirlan to think she was just running away. She had to get to the scepter and kill Edglings on behalf of Kirlan. It wasn't her fault. It was theirs'.

Be strong. Be brave. Don't cry, don't feel. Pinti shoved the sorrow to the back of her mind. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the tears out of her eyes until they were once again dry.

Daero lay a paw on her shoulder. "Hey—"

"I'm fine," she said and gave a faint smile. "The cookie was good. So, where to now?"

Thereanbold nodded. "Well, we're at the outskirts of Fiddlemont. That path leads to Vrebrinfeld Lowlands. Fog never lifts there. This is where I must leave you off."

Daero blinked, surprised. "Here? You're not coming with us through the lowlands?"

"No, no, I'm much too old for too much adventure, although," He held his finger up to silence Daero, "it is tempting." He held out a scaly hand to Daero and shook it.