Moonstone Crystal has always had her life figured out. A loving family, wonderful friends, and a well-trod, well-loved path into her future. But when her beloved Saffron flees a heartless home, jealousy and anger lead to all of her plans vanishing along with her sight, and she must find a new way to live.
Cricket: You two stay right there!
Cricket: What was the rule? Don’t wander off alone.
Saffron: But we weren’t alone! We have each other, and–
Cricket: Wandered off the path without the group. Saffron, this is no place to get lost in.
Cricket: That thicket leads into the Deep Woods. It’s not safe back there, for anyone.
Saffron: But why?
Cricket: A whole lot of wildlife lives back there, and we’d be going into their home. It’s not nice, or fair.
Cricket: Now, come on. It’s time for dinner.
Saffron: Fine…
Moonstone: …Saf…
That night…
Saffron: …ugh. Nope. Can’t sleep.
Moonstone: …Saf?
Saffron: Go back to bed, Moony.
Moonstone: …You’re going back to the thicket, aren’t you?
Saffron: Why. You going to stop me?
Moonstone: …I’m coming with you. Let me get dressed, okay?
Saffron: Okay. …Thanks.
Moonstone: Someone’s gotta keep an eye on you.
Moonstone: Shouldn’t we take flashlights or something?
Saffron: Nah.
Saffron: We’ve got the moon.
Saffron: See? Plenty of moonlight!
Moonstone: Uh-huh…*gulp*
Saffron: You scared, Moony?
Moonstone: …A little.
Saffron: You can hold my hand, if you wanna.
Moonstone: I’m okay. Thanks. …Saf…
Saffron: I don’t wanna talk about it!
Moonstone: You’re gonna have to! You can’t keep running away.
Saffron: Sure I can.
Saffron: Talking’s not gonna fix it, anyway.
Moonstone: But it might help you feel better…
Saffron: I’m fine, Moony. Come on.
Moonstone: …’kay.
Saffron: Which way was it…
Moonstone: Over here.
Saffron: How did you–
Moonstone: The trees look the same.
Saffron: …Right, okay, let’s go.
Moonstone: Saf–
Saffron: Don’t be a fraidyberry! Come on!
Saffron: Bet it’s really cool on the other side.
Moonstone: Saffron…ugh, okay, wait up!
Saffron: See! Cool!
Moonstone: It’s just more forest, Saf!
Saffron: Sure, but its forest no one’s seen before!
Moonstone: Saf–Saffron, will you just stop? Please?
Saffron: …Moony, I don’t–
Moonstone: I know. I just…can we take a minute? Please? I’m tired.
Saffron: okay, okay. Here.
Moonstone: …it is pretty cool. You can’t see all these stars back home.
Saffron: I know, right?
Saffron: See that one? That’s the rabbit, and–and that one’s the dragon!
Moonstone: I can see it!
*branch breaks*
Moonstone: What was that?
Saffron: Probably the bigfooted monster.
Moonstone: Saf!
Saffron: Let’s move so it can’t catch up!
Moonstone: Saf…
Saffron: Race you to the falls!
Moonstone: …okay, enough running. Saf, tell me what’s going on!
Saffron: It’s nothing–
Moonstone: It’s not nothing!
Moonstone: We’re gonna stay right here until you tell me.
Saffron: The others will wake up…
Moonstone: Then you’d better start talking.
Saffron: …Citrus is leaving.
Moonstone: What do you mean leaving–like, going to her friends?
Saffron: I mean like moving away and leaving me behind.
Moonstone: Oh, Saf…did you ask to go with her?
Saffron: I did…she said she didn’t want to “put me through that”. *sniff* She doesn’t want me either.
Moonstone: Saf I’m sure she didn’t mean it like that…
Saffron: It doesn’t matter how she meant it she’s still leaving! And now I’ll be alone with them…
Moonstone: You know you can come and stay with us, right?
Saffron: …really?
Moonstone: Of course! Mama loves you, and so do I. You’re another sister or something.
Saffron: …I…I’d like that. If I could stay, I mean…
Moonstone: Of course you could!
Saffron: Heh…I probably should have said something earlier, huh?
Moonstone: Oh, yeah, for sure. Before we ran all the way out here and have to go all the way back!
Saffron: …Yeah. Let’s get back.
Saffron: …okay, yeah, this is a little spooky.
Moonstone: Wanna hold hands?
Saffron: Please.
Some time later…
Saffron: Made it…
Moonstone: Great…*yawn* Time for bed.
Saffron: Moony?
Moonstone: Yeah?
Saffron: Thanks. For everything.
Moonstone: You’re my best friend, Saf. I’m always gonna be here for you.
Saffron: Even when I drag you into the woods at night?
Moonstone: Even when you’re being silly.
Moonstone: Now come on. Let’s get to bed before they notice we were gone!
Saffron: I’ll be back. Someday, I’ll come back here.
At summer’s end…
Moonstone: Saf? Not again…
Horizon: Better hurry. We’re all supposed to be on stage for this.
Moonstone: I know, I know.
Moonstone: Saf?
Saffron: They’re not here. They didn’t even show up.
Moonstone: Saf–whoa!
Saffron: Promise you won’t leave me! Promise we’re always gonna be together!
Moonstone: I promise. We’ll always be together, Saffron. I won’t ever leave you.
Saffron: I promise, too.
Cricket: And now, I proudly present to you, the Sugar Scouts and the River Sprite.
Saffron: Come on. We gotta get up there.
Moonstone: Right behind you.
Saffron: I’m home! …Mom? Dad? Ci?
Saffron: Citrus? …oh.
Saffron: *sniff*
*excited chatter*
Horizon: We’re home!
Some years later…
Spinel: You have everything you need, right? I can still make a run to the store.
Moonstone: We’re fine, Mom. We’ve been packed for weeks.
Luna: Speak for yourselves. I don’t have to go anywhere. The house all to myself? Yes please.
Horizon: Don’t get too comfy. We’ll be back before you know it.
Luna: Oh, I am counting the days.
Opal: Come on, girls, be nice. You’ll miss one another more than you realize sooner or later.
Moonstone: Eh, maybe. But we’d better get going or we’ll be late to class.
Spinel: Call when you get to your hotel, alright? I want to know my girls made it safely there.
Horizon: We will.
Luna: We’re headed out–don’t throw out your back, Gran!
Aurora: Oh, hush, I’m fine. Have a good day.
Firefly: And a safe trip. I expect a call, girls!
Moonstone: Two whole months of freedom, ball games, and seeing the world. I can’t wait.
Horizon: Me either. Waffle Creek’s got the best mall–I wanna hit that up before we leave.
Horizon: We’ll bring you souvenirs, Lu.
Luna: Just one snow globe would be great, thanks.
Moonstone: Deal.
Saf: Guys! Over here!
Moonstone: Saf!
Moonstone: Please tell me you got your forms in order?
Saffron: One and done.
Saffron: I may have had to forge Mom’s signature, but I am so coming with you guys.
Moonstone: Great!
Saffron: All packed and everything.
Luna: Just maybe don’t mention the forged signatures to Miss River.
River: Now, I know our Pirates are going to be very busy in the coming weeks, but I still expect you to do the coursework and turn it in on time. Coach Celestial has the tablet you’ll need to submit the work.
Nebula: What, they have to do homework, too? Man, now I don’t feel so bad about not making the cut. Ow!
Horizon: Careful, cousin.
Sky: Schoolwork on trains, planes, and hotels. Greaaaat.
Luna: I won’t miss the snoring, at least.
Water: Tell me about it.
Moonstone: We’ll have to check the local libraries, too…
Saffron: Oh, come on. Same work, different building. We’ll be fine.
Horizon: Well, somebody’s confident.
Horizon: Think we’ve got time to grab that travel dictionary Gran was talking about?
Moonstone: Maybe? I think we can just look stuff up on our phones…
River: Remember: five pages by Friday! Ah–Saffron, hang back a second.
Saffron: Yes, Miss River?
River: Saffron, is everything alright at home? I’ve been looking at your grades lately and–
Saffron: It’s fine! Just…having some trouble sleeping so I’m kinda…distracted?
River: Was that a question or a statement? *sigh* Saffron, final placement exams are coming up, and athletic placement is a heavy crowd. Just remember that higher grades give you a better chance.
Saffron: I know, Miss River. I’ll work on it.
River: Okay. Have a safe trip, and have fun.
Moonstone: Everything cool?
Saffron: Yep. Let’s go.
Celestial: So, bags packed? Everything you need in them?
Sky: Dad, come on. We’re going to Waffle Creek, not freaking Selvadorada. We can just buy anything we missed.
Saffron: Speak for yourself!
Saffron: But yeah, I’m packed.
Moonstone: Same. Hori and I have been packed for a week.
Celestial: Good! Better than this one, who packed in a rush this morning.
Sky: Dad!
Horizon: What’s the matter? You can just buy anything you forgot.
Sky: Hey…
Celestial: Okay, okay, button it up. We’ve got a bus to catch!
Radio, off-screen: Gooooooooood morning, Sugar Springs! The Interdivisional High School Championship has reached its final stages! With only three matches left until the Championship, all eyes are on Waffle Creek today! The Waffle Creek Bunnies versus our very own Sugar Springs Pirates! Personally I can’t stand all that pink, but I’m sure our kids will tough it out.
Lilac: What the–
Saffron: Go, Moony!
Moonstone: Hup!
*buzzer rings*
Announcer: It’s in! The Sugar Springs Pirates have won the Quarter Finals of the Interdivisional Championship by 5 to 3! Congratulations, ye scurvy dogs!
Sky: How long were they saving that joke?
Celestial: Probably longer than I’ve been alive.
Saffron: You were amazing!
Moonstone: It was just a dunk–I couldn’t have made it without your assist pass.
Saffron: Yeah, okay, I helped out a bit there.
Moonstone: More than a bit. Hori and I couldn’t do this without you.
Saffron: Nah, you two kick butt out there. Still, glad I could help.
Saffron: It is so worth getting grounded when we get home.
Moonstone; Yeah. I bet it is.
Announcer: And Horizon Crystal has the ball–she’s headed for the net!
Moonstone: Go, Hori!
Saffron: I don’t think so!
Announcer: She leaps–
Announcer: She shoots---
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