The Prophecy of Water | ✔️ 🎖 [2018 Wattys Shortlister]

CHAPTER 42-A Farewell and A Welcome

Odon was lying entangled in Onyx's charcoal fur as if wrapped in a black shroud. Squinty saw no sneer on his lips, no challenge in his eyes. A stare that contained an amalgam of both surprise and sheer excitement reflected his recent sudden meeting with Death.

After having checked up both dogs and having assured themselves they were not badly injured, the trio silently proceeded into preparing two graves. It was time to say farewell. Liton was digging the holes while Squinty and Orla walked around the forest in silence, picking out big, white stones. When everything was done, Odon and Jewel were laid down into their final resting places.

Squinty stared at two piles of stones, gritting her teeth. She thought how they would not have the chance to be preserved in the Lagad Glass Dome, and how their bodies would rot underground. Then she recalled another pile of stones she elevated, not so long ago.

Roko.

Yet for her, it was as if it had happened in another time, in another life.

Orla disappeared into the forest under the pretext that she was going to go and look for some food.

Squinty knew well enough Orla wanted to be alone and both her and Liton respected Orla's wish. Squinty didn't know whether she should welcome the new member of their group with the open arms. Still, Orla seemed to trust him and Squinty decided to support Orla's judgment.

There were millions of thoughts running through her mind.

Why did Vadrifa look so uncomfortable in The Orphanage? Why the red-eyed birds? Why The Geyser? Why The Second Water War?

Nothing really made sense anymore, life and death alike.

Who did The Leader Borna really talk to? And who was The Warrior? Why did she have the same type of Etching as I did? How could she do all those things she did? How did I create ice armour out of nowhere?

Squinty had gotten pretty much used to her "disappearing act" and considered The Camouflage handy on many posterior occasions. Yet this new thing she could do ... That was unsettling.

Where did it all come from?

Without having realized it, she pulled Mr Big Ears into a closer hug, as she accommodated next to Grizzly.

Liton's voice startled her, interrupting her thoughts. "Hey, kid. Aren't you a bit too old for plush toys? I can't seem to figure you out. You ambush people with your daggers during The Light but fall asleep hugging your teddy bear and listening to a bedtime story? Talk about double personality disorder."

Grizzly let out a growling sound at that sentence as if he understood Liton was teasing his Rider.

"It's a rabbit. And you wouldn't understand," Squinty retorted, calming The War Dog with her palm.

"And what's with the creepy hair and the unintelligible whispers? Never heard of scissors, I see?"

"I could say the same about your beard. And you've never heard of clothes," she bit back at him.

"That's Weller's way of life. Easier to dig like that," Liton explained with a smile. "Our community has long given up on wearing trendsetting garments. Function over fashion, kid."

Squinty cringed at the repeated use of the word "kid". "Where I'm from, there was no community. It was every kid for themselves." Squinty changed the subject.

"What about your parents?"

"I never knew my parents."

"That is a bummer. All of the Wellers' children are cared for and ... The whole community makes sure they grow up feeling safe and protected. Funny story, really, but I have no idea who my kids are nor how many of them I have." Liton tried to cheer her up.