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The sun bares down nicely on your back. It’s only mildly cloudy, meaning you’re getting plenty of sunshine today.
This is a nice change-up, as it had been a gloomy, dark fortnight. After three days into this winter storm, the novelty of rain had lost appeal.
Even with your trusty cloak on, you couldn’t surpass a shiver at the memory.
Never mind, today is pleasant. You’re eager for spring! You’ve had enough of winter, why must it be so far away?!
You sprawl out, stretching your limbs out against the gravel and mud. Gh, your spine pops in just the right way.
“You truly are a cat,” Odile remarks with the amusement that you’ve come to expect from her. “Enjoying your sunbeam, Siffrin?”
“Mmm, yeP,” you pop our “p” playfully.
“You’ll have to forgive me for not joining in. You see, I like to stay on dry ground,” she rolls out her hand for emphasis.
Hm, yeah. You’re going to be busy scrubbing out the mud tonight. It’s worth it though!
The evening proceeds like this, with you drifting in and out of slumberland. It’s peaceful.
Until it isn’t.
Bonnie’s scream rips you out of your rest, you’re on your feet before you can process what’s happened.
Bonnie, danger.
Your legs fly across the gravel, your head spinning as you search the surrounding area around the campsite. Where-?!
“I’m going to hit it! Watch!” They shout excitedly over to your right.
Ah- There they are.
“HEY!” their voice cuts off as Isabeau lifts them off the ground, their pan swung uselessly across the air.
“Nope! Sorry, Bonbon,” Isabeau holds them off from the rampage you’re certain they’d produce.
Breathe in, and out.
It’s a low-level sadness, standing roughly 30 feet from your family. They’ve already assembled into fighting positions without you. By all means, they’ve got the situation handled.
You pout. They didn’t bother waking you for a fight? Why would they exclude you? It’s not like you’re still exhausted from Craft overuse.
...Ignore that you fought Loop within an hour of learning about your restriction. But you were better NOW, and that’s what mattered!
Maybe... they only needed to see you in action. As long as you reigned in your attacks, you could prove yourself without worrying them. Win-win!
You got this!
You dash into the fight, not too late to land the killing blow!
You’re fighting
The Sadness
You’re at the House.
You need to kill it before it gets to your family.
But you’re frozen still.
You can’t m ove
It’s c l o s e r
H U R R Y!
IT’S STRUCK YOU
Hurts hurts hurts-
You’re losing blood quickly.
You need to get up, your family needs you.
You can’t die without giving it your all!
YOU NEED TO MOVE! YOU HAVE TO MOVE!
“SIFFRIN!”
.
.
.
They... defeated the enemy? They didn’t need you after all.
“Siffrin...” she speaks gently, fearful, “Did I heal you well enough?”
“Mmm... Mira...” you mumble out, tired. “I’m good now.”
She hums, sounding unsure.
No! That won’t do.
“Mira, you’ve always been the best.”
She smiles sadly, her hands lingering on your cheeks unnecessarily.
“Alright, Siffrin. If you say so.”
You do say so! And you will, no matter how many times you’d need to.
Not that, er, you want to bleed out like this again!
“What happened?” She frets over you, “It was like, you, I don’t know, froze up?!”
You’re... not sure.
It’s bright out.
You’re not at the house -why did you think you were?
Ha, who were you kidding? You knew too well why.
You had fought every day in the House, the nature of fighting was ingrained in your daily survival it was a simple fact.
“I forgot,” and it’s all you need to say.
You haven’t fought since then. Of course, you’d forget yourself, you practically walked back into those halls the moment you held your dagger up.
Stupid, so stupid.
“Siffrin...”
“I know that look!”
“Sorry...”
“Don’t say sorry, Siffrin! You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“But I failed!” You can’t help but shout out, “I was meant to be the strongest, I have to keep everyone safe!”
“Siffrin, do you think you have to fight for us?”
“Gee, buddy, do you think we’re weak?” Isabeau speaks up, coming over to you with a concerned smile.
“N-No, I didn’t say that!” Gah, why was it so hard to explain?
“Frin! We’re meant to be a team! We’re meant to protect each other, you big dummy!” Bonnie’s head says from under Isabeau’s elbow.
You know that! But...
“Then why did you leave me out of the fight?”
Everyone talks over each other all at once, making it impossible to parse out anything.
“It’s because,” Odile manages to cut it, “you were resting. We hadn’t intentionally excluded you, Siffrin.”
Oh.
That was all it was?
She runs her fingers over the bridge of her nose, muttering in Ka Baun.
“Sorry...”
“Siffrin!” Mirabelle scolds, “No more apologizing! We’re the sorry ones, we didn’t mean to make you think you weren’t one of us!”
“Yeah, Sif! You’re an essential member of our rag-tag team of misfits!” Isabeau chuckles, patting your shoulder.
Ngh... Rag-tag team...
You didn’t dare to bring up the “Family” term just yet. You hadn’t earned it, not since those perfect loops.
But!
BUT! You were one of them! They wanted you to be here, and maybe! Maybe you’ll get better at communicating, and you’ll work your way up to asking the question that made your heart flutter and ache at the same time.
Your family...
“Now, Siffrin,” Odile interrupts your mushy thoughts, “if this feelings talk has done its job well enough, I would suggest getting cleaned up?”
Before you can answer, she pulls out her trusty handkerchief.
“Yeah, Frin,” Bonnie pouts, “You got all bloodied up.”
“Ah, yeah... I’m sorry”
“SIFFRIN!”
AH!
“I said no more ‘sorries!’”
“No more blood! You’re not allowed to have any anymore!”
“Does that mean we’ll need to remove what’s left?” Isabeau teases.
“Siffrin, stay still, you’ve got some on your cheek-”
They’re not going to leave you behind.
You don’t think you’re getting out of this fuss either.
...You feel loved.