Abandoned by her mother at an early age, Citrine has always been loved by her family and she loves them all the more in return. But even that love can't fill the hole inside of her, and chasing after her past only leads to more heartbreak.
Citrine: What? It’s not like…I mean, there’s plenty to do in Alam, and the Belo, it’s fine.
Fern: ….are you trying to convince me or yourself?
Citrine: Don’t. Moony’s the one thinking about Psych, don’t you start.
Fern: Hey, I’m just worried.
Citrine: Well, don’t be. I’m fine. It’s fine.
Peppermint: Cit…
Citrine: It’s fine.
Pyro: …Citrine, Pep, come with me a minute.
-
Pyro: You know you can tell me anything. Is there a reason you’re both unsure of this trip?
Citrine: …
Peppermint: It’s…complicated.
Peppermint: Aunt Amber died in the Belomisia, so Uncle Cal’s kinda…not happy about this, and the Museum director is…well, she’s…
Citrine: …my donor mother. Who I haven’t seen or heard from since I was two.
Pyro: Ah. I see. Well then.
Peppermint: It’s…kind of a mess all around, but. I mean, the trip sounds really fun, it just?
Citrine: There’s baggage.
Peppermint: A lot of baggage.
Pyro: I can see that, too. *sigh* Well, you know you can choose to sit this out and it won’t affect your grades whatsoever.
Pyro: And, there is the other matter of still not having your permission slips. I will need those if you’re coming with us.
Citrine: Ha…Dad’ll never sign them.
Peppermint: We haven’t asked him. He’d just freak out.
Citrine: Can Pop do it?
Pyro: Nova could, but something tells me that won’t stop Calcite from getting upset. You two should talk to him.
Peppermint: Mr. Pyro…*sigh* It won’t go well.
Citrine: Dad’s been terrified of the Belo since Ma died down there. The idea of sending his kids down there? He’ll never go for it.
Pyro: You’d be surprised. I’ll get you a copy of the itinerary and my research. Maybe having it vetted will ease his mind a bit.
Peppermint: D’you think…?
Citrine: Maaaaaaybe? I dunno…
Citrine: We can try, I guess.
Peppermint: And if we can’t get them signed, we stay here?
Pyro: That’s the long and short of it, yep
Pyro: I’ll need those signed by the end of the week. Talk with your Dads, see what you can work out.
Citrine: And get homework if we don’t?
Pyro: *laugh* Got it in one. Alright, go on. Off with you both. I’ll see you tomorrow.
Citrine/Peppermint: See you tomorrow, Mr. Pyro.
Moonflower: Ugh….Mom needs me to come home right the heck now…what have the trips gotten into?
Lucky Penny: You want some help?
Moonflower: Please!
Eternal Glow: How can three kids get into so much trouble?
Moonflower: Don’t ask me!
Fern: …you’re lagging behind again, sunshine. Everything okay?
Citrine: Y-yeah. Fine.
Fern: …
Citrine: Don’t look at me like that.
Fern: What, like I don’t like my bestie lying to me? ‘cause I don’t.
Citrine: Fern…
Fern: This about your Mom?
Citrine: …one of them. D’you…can you spare a little time? I…I don’t wanna be alone right now.
Fern: …Of course.
Fern: When’s the last time you came through to visit?
Citrine: Ah, geez….her birthday. Dad insisted we come say hello before we went out for dinner.
Fern: On his–oh, right, twins. Heh, I keep forgetting…I’m so used to your Dad on his own I forget he was a brother before.
Citrine: …I think we all do. Mom’s been dead for so long, it’s almost like she never existed at all, and I…
Citrine: I hate thinking about it like that. *sigh* …Hi, Mom. I brought a friend with me. This is Fern.
Fern: Nice to meet you, Miss C. You mind if we sit a bit? …yeah, thought so.
Fern: ….Cit, I’ve gotta ask…do you really want to go to Selva?
Citrine: …No. Not really.
Fern: So…are you going to?
Citrine: *sigh* Yes.
Citrine: I want to look my Ma in the eye and ask why she didn’t want me.
Fern: …are you sure you should? I mean…once you know that, you can’t unknow it, you know?
Citrine: I have to know.
Citrine: I have to know what was wrong with me that she’d just abandon me, Fern. I need to know.
Fern: Okay. …I’m sorry I can’t be there with you.
Citrine: It’s okay. I know this thing’s important to your family.
Fern: Wish it wasn’t. Nobody’s asked if I want the thing, you know? They just decide for me.
Citrine: …your Mom and Dad really don’t say no to your Uncle, do they.
Fern: *snort* Nope. Never have, never will. He’s head of the family, so. *sigh* The dys in dysfunctional, huh.
Citrine: Tell me about it. …I could come with you instead?
Fern: Oh, sunshine, I wish you could. But it really is a family thing, and Uncle Mantis would never let a stranger come alone.
Citrine: Ugh…
Citrine: What’s so special about this secret? No one’s said a peep in three years…it’s got something to do with those tattoos, doesn’t it? And what’s got your Dad and Uncle out of town all the time?
Fern: ….you know I can’t tell you that.
Fern: Not yet, anyway. But…if I go through with this, and it works…I can tell you when I come back.
Citrine: When, huh?
Fern: ‘course. I’m not leaving my bestie.
Citrine: ….yeah. You’re not getting rid of me that easily.
Citrine: So when’re you leaving?
Fern: Same day you are. We’re taking the train straight to Glimmerbrook…but I think it’s after your flight leaves.
Citrine: Oh good! You can see us off, then.
Fern: Are you kidding? I’d literally fight Uncle Mantis for that, even if we had to take the overnight train to do it.
Citrine: *laugh* Fern!
Citrine: Don’t fight your scary uncle for something like that. We could say goodbye the day before, you know.
Fern: I know! But I still want to see you and the others off, so I will!
Fern: And I’ll fight anyone for you, sunshine.
Citrine: Ah-ah! Keep saying things like that and I’ll take you up on it.
Fern: Well, good. Because I would. I mean it.
Fern: I’d fight your Ma, too, if you wanted me to.
Citrine: *chuckle* Well, thank you. But I can handle her. Probably.
Fern: Okay. But if you can’t…well, save me a cheek to punch, kay?
Citrine: Deal. See you tomorrow?
Fern: See you tomorrow. And, hey, if you need me to come fiight your Dad…
Citrine: *laugh* No, not Daddy. Wish me luck.
Fern: Good luck. …*sigh* Good hunting, Citrine. Good hunting.
Citrine: You sure about this?
Peppermint: I mean, yeah? I practiced in front of the mirror for an hour, so.
Citrine: Pep, I can do this myself…
Peppermint: We’re in this together, sis.
Citrine: …yeah, we are.
Nova: Oh-hey, guys! Come to join the party?
Peppermint: Ah, no, Uncle. We need to talk to you two.
Citrine: The school trip’s ready to go, we just need our slips signed.
Nova: Oh? Where to?
Citrine: …Alam.
Nova: …oh.
Peppermint: We’ve got the route and the schedule right here, a-and a list of stuff Mr. Blast’s getting for all of us, and the guide’s credentials and–
Calcite: It’s Solana, isn’t it.
Citrine: …yes.
Calcite: No.
Peppermint: Uncle–
Calcite: No. I’m not signing those.
Citrine: Dad–
Calcite: I am not signing those. I won’t have her kill you both, too.
Peppermint: Uncle–
Nova: Cal, you don’t mean that.
Citrine: …he thinks…he thinks Mom got Ma killed?
Nova: *sigh* It’s all a tangled mess, baby. Don’t take it personally, Pep, Cal’s just…
Peppermint: No, I get it…if I was in his shoes I’d do the same thing.
Citrine: Dad?
Calcite: …your Mom and I used to come up here all the time. To talk without worrying your Grams.
Citrine: Nice place. Just, uh–ow ow ow
Citrine: It’s really hot! Can we talk on the couch or something, please?
Calcte: *sigh* …yeah. Yeah, okay.
Citrine: .Dad…d’you really think Solana got Ma killed? You said it was an accident…
Calcite: ….it was. Solana just took her there, but it could have been any other guide…*sigh* no, Citrine, Solana didn’t kill Amber, I just.
Calcite: I promised you I wouldn’t keep your culture from you. But the thought of you going down there alone…
Citrine: It scares you.
Calcite: *snort* It terrifies me.
Citrine: Dad…I won’t be alone. Pep’s going, and Penny, and EG, and Moonflower and Mr. Blast…and we’re not going in the Temples, either. It’s really just a…long hike and two weeks in a tourist town.
Calcite: …I know. I’m sorry, Citrine. My acting like this…
Citrine: Dad, I get it. If I lost Pep the way you lost Mom, I…
Citrine: I don’t know what I’d do. …I don’t have to go, you know. If…if it’s too much, if you can’t–
Calcite: Don’t.
Calcite: Selva, the Belo…it’s your culture, your heritage. I won’t take that from you just because it scares me. It’s not about me, Citrine.
Citrine: It is if I say it is!
Citrine: Look, I…*sigh* I need to see Solana. I need to talk to her, ask her some things, but. If it’s too much…Dad, I love you. You and Pop. You’re my family. Not her. If it’s too much, I…I can deal with not knowing.
Calcite: Citrine…
Calcite: You would really give up this chance…just because I don’t want you to go?
Citrine: I would. A-and it’s not like this is my only chance, right? Maybe it’ll be…easier when I’m older?
Calcite: *quiet laugh* Not really, baby. But thank you for offering. I…tell me something. Are you afraid of what could happen?
Citrine: With Solana?
Calcite: In general. Selva is still a wild place.
Citrine: I’m not afraid of going to Selvadorada, Dad. It’s just another place–heck, some places in town are more dangerous if you’re not careful.
Calcite: …and you will be. Careful.
Citrine: I promise. No running off, no dangerous risks. Stick to the path, stay with the group. I’m not…I’m not going like Mom did.
Calcite: Oh, kiddo…when did you get so good at reading me.
Citrine: Well, you did raise me…
Calcite; …yes…yes we did. *sigh* okay. Okay. I’ll sign those papers.
Citrine: Dad, wait–you really–you don’t have to if you’re–I don’t have to–
Calcite: Baby. We can’t live our lives ruled by fear of what could be. We have to face what scares us.
Calcite: Even if it’s hard. Especially when its hard. If we don’t…if we stay afraid and never deal with it…that’s no way to live, Citrine.
Citrine: I know, but…
Calcite: Do you want to go. Yes or no.
Citrine: ….yes.
Calcite: That’s all that matters. Come on. We can face this together.
Calcite: …okay. Two whole weeks in the middle of nowhere, full of mosquitos. Can think of better summer trips, but…
Nova: But they’re double signed. You’re good to go.
Peppermint: Thanks, Uncle. We know it’s a lot to ask, but…
Citrine: We’ll be fine.
Calcite: You two aren’t getting off this easy.
Peppermint: What do you mean?
Calcite: They’ve got cell towers down there now. I want daily check-ins, and call me when you land.
Citrine: We can do that!
Citrine: Heck, we can call you every day!
Nova: *snort* Your data plans aren’t that good, kids. Just a text check-in will be fine. Let us know you haven’t been eaten by spiders.
Peppermint: …please don’t tell me those are that big, too.
Citrine: Well…
Peppermint: Nope! Don’t wanna hear it!
*kids wander away, chatting*
Nova: This is still bothering you.
Calcite: It’s always going to bother me.
Nova: Cal….it’s not too late to go with them, you know. Take some time off, get a ticket…
Calcite: No. I mean, I know it’s not, but….they have to live their lives without me holding them back, and this is a part of that.
Calcite: I just…wasn’t expecting them to grow up so fast, you know?
Nova: Yeah, babe, I know. Feels like yesterday we found Solana on the porch, and then Corona…*sigh* But you’re right. They’re not babies anymore…even if they’ll always be our babies.
Calcite: ….I don’t know how to do this. How to…let them go be their own people without always worrying about their safety. …or how to let go at all.
Nova: Who says we have to? Cal, letting someone find out about their past, or explore the world, doesn’t mean they’ll never come back. Not always, anyway.
Calcite: It’s that when it does–
Both: –scares me.
Calcite: You too?
Nova: Me too. More than I know how to say. But…Mom told me once, the best thing you can do for a child is to be at their back. Support them, but don’t stifle. She said it was easier said than done, but she wasn’t wrong, either. We’ve taught them the best we can. Now…
Nova: Now they have to learn the rest for themselves.
Calcite: ….I know. Amber and I did, too, but. *sigh* Watcher, it’s not easy.
Nova: No. No, it is not.
Nova: They’ll be okay, babe.
Calcite: You can’t know that.
Nova: No, but I can believe it. That’s enough for now.
The next morning…
Fern: So you’re going?
Citrine: Dad and Pop both signed the papers. No take-backs now!
Fern: And…how does that make you feel?
Citrine: Like I’m getting psyched by my bestie–I’m fine, Fern. Really.
Fern: Oh, sure. Just asking.
Fern: ….are you okay with this? Really?
Citrine: *sigh* No. But need and being okay are two different things right now.
Fern: Citrine…
Citrine: It’s fine. I’ll be fine. I just. I need answers, Fern. This is the only way to get them.
Fern: Because only Solana has the answers. Because there’s plenty of museums and university libraries and whatnot if you’re after Selva and–
Citrine: ha! If I was after Selva I’d be taking out an internship with Miss Canela, not–well, this. No, it’s Solana, you’re right.
Fern: I figured. Just–be careful?
Citrine: I’m always careful.
Fern: Physically, yeah, but…sunshine, this is a door you can’t close behind you. Once you ask, you can’t…well, unask.
Fern: And whatever she tells you…it may be worse than not knowing. I don’t want that to hurt you.
Citrine: *scoff* Fern, I was abandoned by my only surviving biological parent when I was two. Not much is going to hurt more than that!
Fern: No, but…*sigh* Just be careful.
Fern: I’m not going to be there to help you. If you need back-up…
Citrine: Hey, the others are going to be there. It won’t be the same, but we can handle ourselves. You’re the one I’m worried about. Alone in the mountains of Glimmerbrook, with only your crazy uncle for help?
Fern: Eh, he’s not…that bad. And don’t change the subject
Citrine: …*sigh* I’ll be okay, Fern, really. I’ll go, talk to her, and then put all of this behind me. Somehow.
Fern: …and…if you can’t? If she wants a relationship or something?
Citrine: …then I’ll figure it out. Just…I cant live my life not knowing. Not anymore.
Citrine: Whether it’s good or bad, I need to know. Whatever happens after…I’ll deal with it. Somehow.
Fern: …okay. Okay.
Fern: …if it’ll make you feel any better, I’m not gonna be roughing it for the summer. We’re going…somewhere where there’s a roof and running water. Really, I’ll be fine.
Citrine: You’re just scared of what’s going to happen up there.
Fern: Well–yeah. It’s a big…rite of passage, I guess you could say. I don’t wanna fail it.
Citrine: Rite of passage…going somewhere and not coming back the same. *laugh* Look at us…sixteen and everything’s changing.
Fern: That’s life, sunshine. Nothing stays the same forever.
Citrine: Don’t go all “wise philosopher” on me, that’s Moony’s job.
Fern: *laugh* I’m just saying! Things change, life changes. We change. We’re supposed to.
Citrine: Yeah, but…not everything, right? Even with…whatever you’re gonna do, we’ll still be friends when you come back…right?
Fern: Of course. That’ll never change.
Citrine: Oh good!Now I can stop worrying!
Fern: Heh…trust me, Sunshine. That’s one thing you’ll never have to worry about.
Later…
Spring: There you are. Fern, you need to finish packing!
Fern: Yeah, yeah. I’ll…see you later, Citrine.
Citrine: See you later. Don’t forget your undies this time.
Fern: Pff, one time! One time!
Spring: Citrine. Good to see you again. Tell your fathers that recipe worked out just wonderfully, will you?
Citrine: You bet. Um…Mrs. Strike? D’you know when you’ll be back in town?
Spring: That depends on how it takes Fern to…well. You understand what I mean?
Citrine: I do. End of the summer?
Spring: More likely than not. Run on home now. You wouldn’t want to be late for school.
Citrine: Right…thanks, Mrs. Strike.
*muffled arguing*
Spring: You have got to be kidding…
-
Mantis: Are you out of your mind? Why in the world would we tell anyone about this?
Fern: Because they have a right to know! If this thing’s as bad as everyone’s saying, they need to get ready!
Leaf: Fern, it’s not even out yet. No one has to know!
Mantis: Not to mention the panic it’d cause.
Mantis: The source of all Darkness and Evil in the worlds, breaking free of his containment? There’d be riots in the streets!
Fern: But people could prepare! They could learn how to fight back–even just a little!
Spring: Fern, sweetie, there’s no time to train everyone….
Fern: I’m not talking about training, I’m talking about–about knowing how to hold onto one another, about how not to give into the Dark–Dad, come on! That’s not Hunter stuff, that’s just basics!
Leaf: Fern…honey, there’s still not enough time. Not to mention there aren’t enough Hunters in the entire world to teach all the civilians out there.
Fern: You have to be kidding–put the lessons up on Simstube, or something!
Mantis: And announce that we exist? That everything that’s ever gone bump in the night exists? *snort* Now that’d be a panic.
Spring: *sigh* Mantis, please.
Mantis: You don’t just get to rip the wool off of everyone’s eyes without consequences. No, this has to stay a secret.
Leaf: I’m sorry, sweetheart. This stays with us.
Fern: This is such a bunch of–
Spring: Fern.
Mantis: You know the laws, Fern. The Council has given them to us for a reason, and we keep the laws. Plain and simple.
Fern: For you, maybe, but things aren’t like they were back then! If we don’t change, we’ll be taken out. Things are different now and if Master Chronos can’t see that–
Mantis: Mind your tone! Master Chronos has forgotten more than we’ll ever know. Whatever reasons he has, they’re the right ones.
Fern: ….
Fern: Fine. Fine! You know what, forget I even asked. You’re all so stuck in your ways you can’t see that change has to happen! The Hunters are so stuck in their ways that they can’t–
Spring: Fern, honey. Let it go.
Fern: UGH! FINE!
*door opens, slams closed*
Leaf: …she’s not entirely wrong. If more people knew, we could get more recruits, more help.
Mantis; …we don’t have the time to train them, either.
Spring: And we won’t have the time if things go south. Has Lady Delphine tracked the source?
Leaf: No. Only that the seal is…cracking, she said. Leaking. Shadow won’t be the only one trying to get it undone.
Spring: Great. So, he gets stronger and we lose more and more time. Master Terra must be so pleased.
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