The Woods, Sunday Night

[endsthegame]

For two full days, as the dead wandered the island, the stone had merely been a stone. With the sun sinking behind the horizon on Sunday, that changed. Its light pulsed softly, growing in intensity each time, until it summoned the mist back from the edges of the clearing.

And so were the dead drawn back to the stone, its call gentle but insistent: come home.

[[ for your teary goodbyes. ]]

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[flora_evolved]

The call to return to the woods was strong and it was expected and Zhaan was prepared for it. She led Stark, who followed reluctantly and clutched tightly to her hand, to the clearing.

"We have a little longer," she told him. "We needn't rush."

[stykera]

Stark was less prepared for this. He'd known it was coming, of course. That knowledge had been on his mind the entire weekend no matter how hard he tried to simply enjoy the time they had been given.

"It's never enough time." It could never be enough time. They could have had lifetimes and he would have wanted more.

[flora_evolved]

"It could never be enough," Zhaan agreed as she turned to face him. "But it is what we have been given and I accept it gladly."

[stykera]

"I don't want you to go. I...don't want to be left, again." His face was growing more miserable with each passing moment. This hurt.

[flora_evolved]

"Oh, my Stark." Zhaan shook her head slightly, reaching out with her free hand to caress his cheek. "Always so afraid to let go."

[stykera]

"I'm not good at it. And I don't want to be," Stark admitted, leaning into her touch. "Even with practice. It doesn't get easier."

[flora_evolved]

"You would not be you if you found this easy," Zhaan told him, leaning forward so their foreheads touched. "But I hope you will find some peace."

"I think, perhaps, you've already begun to? You seem happier here than when last I saw you."

[stykera]

"I am happier." It was easy enough to admit that. The last time she'd visited he'd been adrift in the universe.

"I just wish..."

[flora_evolved]

"I know. But wishing will not change our fates. I will return to my Goddess and you to this new life. We are where She has willed us to be."

[stykera]

"I love you," Stark said finally. "Always."

That was the truth and the heart of the matter.

[flora_evolved]

"And I you." Death hadn't changed that. Death wouldn't change that. Stark, of all people, should understand that.

"Be at peace, my love. I am."

[stykera]

"I'm trying," Stark whispered. "I am."

This weekend threatened that internal peace. He still wouldn't give it up for anything.

[flora_evolved]

"I know," Zhaan answered softly. "I would make this easier if I could. You should find the girl. She cares for you." That much had been clear in their short interaction. "And you, I think, for her."

Stark started to protest but she shushed him, resting her fingertips on his lips.

"I would not begrudge you happiness. Your love for me is never in question."

[stykera]

He kissed her fingers softly.

"Thank you."

What else was there to say to that?

[flora_evolved]

"It's time to go," Zhaan said, voice tinged with regret. "Be well. Be happy. Live."

[stykera]

"I'm trying," he promised once more.

"Will you...could you come again?"

[flora_evolved]

"If She wills it, I will come," Zhaan promised in return.

She kissed him then, very gently, before pulling away. She knew he wouldn't let go on his own. That was not his nature. "Peace, my love."

[stykera]

He watched her go, unmoving, and stayed there a long moment after she was lost to his sight once more.

His cheek was wet when Stark finally turned to leave.

"It was a gift," he whispered to himself as he walked out of the woods. He would accept that, eventually. For now it hurt and he wanted to dull that hurt.

[alwaysonguard]

Dwight had a feeling they would have ended up back at the stone that night at some point. This was his first time going through this particular island weirdness but from what he had gathered this would end the same way it had stared.

And so he and Lizzie were in the woods, just at the edge of the clearing. They were seated on a fallen tree, close beside each other, Lizzie's head resting on his shoulder as he pulled her close.

He tried so many times to speak, to say something, but any words he tried to say died in his throat, and so he sat there quietly for now.

[livingdream]

"I'm glad you are happy, Daddy" Lizzie said looking up at him. "It's not Haven but I like it. And you seem happy. That makes me happy."

Lizzie nuzzled closer and wrapped her arms around him tightly.

[alwaysonguard]

Was he happy? For the most part yes, he was. And while it had been a wonderful gift seeing Lizzie, especially when he never thought he would be able to again... it was also a stark reminder than there once again would be that hole left in his heart when she left.

"I'm always happy with you here with me" he said with a soft smile. "And we still have tonight, so how about we break into those cookies we brought with us?" he asked.

[livingdream]

Lizzie smiled and picked up the baggie of cookies. Earlier that day the two of them had spent time doing one of their favorite lazy day activities- baking cookies. And while they had made a dent in them there still quite a few left.

Lizzie opened the bag and reached in and pulled out the two odd ball cookies out of the bag handing one to Dwight and taking the other herself.

"Peanut butter ones first. Yuck," She said wrinkling her nose slightly.

[alwaysonguard]

Dwight looked at the cookies and then over at Lizzie and gave her a slight smile.

"Why do we make and then eat cookies we don't like? Maybe we shouldn't eat the yucky ones this time?" he asked softly.

"But we have to eat the yucky ones. That's how we've always done it, Daddy."

"But why, Lizzie?"

[livingdream]

"Because that's how we always do it" she said matter of factly. "We have to eat the yucky one... because that is just how life is. Sometimes life hands you a bad cookie. Like when you got hurt in the army, or... when mom left us. It's just how life is. You can't change it- just make the best of it."

[alwaysonguard]

"But if we hang in there....things will get better, and the good cookies will come" Dwight said with a sad smile.

"Right" Lizzie said with a grin. "Like how we still have each other!"

"Like how we still have each other..." Dwight said simply, feeling a tightness in his throat and his chest that he could barely swallow down.

[shadywinemom]

This entire endeavour had not gone at all like Shadow Weaver had expected, so she was alone as she headed back towards the stone.

[grayskollar]

"Shadow Weaver?"

Adora wasn't sure this was the best idea, but after a long, awkward talk with Catra last night, it was something she had to do.

[shadywinemom]

"Adora?"

Adora actively seeking her out was perhaps the most unexpected turn this weekend could've taken.

[grayskollar]

Before Shadow Weaver could say anything else, Adora held up a hand. "I'm not here for you, I'm here for me."

[shadywinemom]

"I was under the impression you didn't want anything to do with me."

Were you actively trying to ruin this, Shadow Weaver?

[grayskollar]

She certainly wasn't helping.

"I don't, but this isn't about what I want, or it's not the only thing I-" Adora broke off and breathed in slowly, this had seemed a lit easier when she was talking with Catra.

She squared her shoulders. "I don't forgive you."

[shadywinemom]

"You came all the way out here just to tell me that?"

Now Shadow Weaver was just confused, and vaguely concerned. That kind of deliberate and casual cruelty was not like Adora.

[grayskollar]

Maybe if Shadow Weaver would actually let her finish talking. This would be so much easier with Catra here...or maybe it wouldn't.

"I don't forgive you," she said, again. "I don't know if I'm ever going to be able to, and I'm angry enough that I'm not sure I even want to. And I'm allowed to be angry. About what you did, that we, that I wasn't even worth you making the effort to try while you were still alive, that you're dead and I don't know how I feel about that.

"I'm allowed to be angry, but I don't want to stay angry. Not so long that it eats me up inside, until I'm like, well, you."

[shadywinemom]

Oh. Adora wasn't trying to be cruel. That just made the cut to the quick even sharper.

"There's little enough danger of that happening," she said. "You've told me what you don't want, Adora, so what is it that you do?"

[grayskollar]

Well, those were words Adora never thought she'd hear from her.

"I guess I just want a memory of you that isn't terrible." She didn't even expect good, just not-bad. "One where I'm older than four."

You could only hold onto learning to tie your boots for so long.

[shadywinemom]

Adora was disturbingly adept at guilt trips, given Shadow Weaver was certain that wasn't what she was attempting.

"You're wrong," she said, reaching for Adora's hand. "You were worth the effort, you and Catra both, and I was too incapable of admitting fault to make that effort."

[grayskollar]

Adora didn't even care if Shadow Weaver was being sincere right now or just telling her what she wanted to hear, because it was was what she needed to hear.

Tears started brimming in the corners of her eyes.

[shadywinemom]

She was as sincere as she was capable of being, so she wasn't even sure.

"I'm proud of you, Adora," she said. "Of the woman you've grown into despite me."

[grayskollar]

Everything was still too raw, too much for Adora to even think of hugging Shadow Weaver, and she wouldn't make herself try, but she found a weak, wobbly smile somewhere.

"Goodbye, Shadow Weaver."

[shadywinemom]

"Goodbye, Adora." Shadow Weaver could feel the light of the gate tugging ever more insistently. "Be happy, and let Catra take care of you."

And then she was gone.

[grayskollar]

Felling drained, but also oddly light, Adora turned and headed back towards the school grounds, fumbling her communicator out of her pocket.

"Hey, Catra."