A ghost told me to meet you

The neutral expression turns to horror as Fern watches the firefly wolf snap his jaws through the air and gather the floating bugs in his mouth. Turning his head, the wolf spit the fireflies to the side and grumbled his disgust at them. Okay… maybe he is a real wolf. Shaking her head, the gray lady uses the movement to slip her mask back into place before looking back at him. When he offers his name, Fern dips her head slightly.

Rudyard’s next words have Fern’s heart soaring. All those weeks spent searching for Resin, for safety, have finally come to an end. Happiness spreads through her chest, making her dizzy and giddy with relief. A smile appears and a genuine laugh bubbles up as Rudyard talks of the fireflies. Maybe now she can rest comfortably, not having to keep one eye open all the time. She wants to dance and sing her thanks to the lightning bugs around her.

So, when Rudyard looks around and asks if Resin is still here, Fern turns her gaze to the trees around her, searching for the woman Meadow had told her so many stories about. As the moments tick by and Rudyard calls out mournfully for his mother, a cold wedge of fear lodges its self in her gut. No, no, no! Not like this. It wasn’t supposed to end like this. Resin was going to take her in and protect her. Anger coils in her chest as hot bitter tears sting her eyes.

Rudyard calls his love to his mother and Fern’s world crumbles. Everything that she had been searching for, every hope and dream she had, dies in that moment. Back legs give out and Fern sits heavily on the rocky ground. Blood pounds in her ears as Rudyard tells her that he misses Resin. A sad smile appears as the tears roll down her cheeks.

Blurry eyes watch the gray man’s mouth move but she cannot hear his words. Blood thunders in her ears as her breathes start coming in rapid succession. Muzzle lowers toward the ground as Fern closes her eyes trying to block out the world. Lost. I am lost and all alone. What am I going to do now? Fear squeezes her heart and, for moment, Fern thinks she might explode.

The wind caresses the fur on her cheek, lifting a tear away. ‘This is not the end.’ Really? Because it feels like it, mom. Taking a slow, deep, shaky breath, Fern tries to regain her hold on the world. After a few more deep breathes, Fern is able to open her eyes to look at Rudyard. When Fern finally speaks, her voice quivers with emotion, “Resin… is dead? How did... she die? When... did it happen?”

Fuck. Her head is really starting to hurt. The blue bugs still dance in the air and their lights seem to mock her. Fern wants to lash out and swat at them but her butt feels heavy. Anxiety attacks always make her feel tired afterward but another question is nagging her. Had she accidently sat on some of the fireflies?