Chapter Text
How much longer did Bluebell have to wait? There wasn’t any sign of anyone or anything. She did hear a sea of birds take flight not too long ago, but it had been completely silent since. Could something had happened? Oh no, they didn’t make a plan if she was gone for too long. How did they forget to make a plan?
“Bluebell!”
Myrtle? Why is he out here?
“Bluebell, the game is off! Elm and Kale saw a manticore tail exoskeleton!”
She was gone in a heartbeat. As she neared where Myrtle’s voice was coming from, she heard several others. They were filled with panic and barely had any strength in them.
“Finally! Is Dahlia with you?” she heard Myrtle ask.
The boys looked around, and Ragweed kept his gaze low.
“Where is Dahlia?” Myrtle repeated.
“What happened?” Bluebell emerged, her voice shrilled.
Ragweed fell to the ground. “You and her… really like sneaking up on people!”
“We’re sorry…” Juniper started.
“All that manticore stuff, she was right!” Cedar blurted.
“Shut up,” Ragweed hissed. “It’s nothing. We’re fine. Everything’s fine. Have a good evening!” He stormed off without another word.
“You saw something, didn’t you!” Bluebell’s body felt numb. “No, no, no, no, no…”
“We have to report this, right?” Cedar wondered.
Myrtle watched on as Bluebell stuttered like a broken record. He reached out to her. “We should go…”
“Don’t touch me! She’ll be fine, she has to be! Any minute she’ll appear from those trees.”
Cedar and Juniper turned to each other with doubt. They just left her, but Myrtle stayed behind. He knew there was no way Bluebell was going to leave her spot.
Time felt like it was at a standstill. Bluebell was pacing back and forth and back and forth like clockwork. Though a soft shuffle at first, it would quickly shift into a rapid and anxious rhythm. Impressions were being left behind where she stepped, making the soft springy grass unable to rebound thanks to the constant pressure. Please, please, please, please, pl–
There were footsteps.
Bluebell whipped her body around. Tears trickled from her eyes.
“Hey, Bell…” Dahlia said, and she found herself locked in a tight and teary embrace. “I’m okay, I’m okay.”
Glaring through watery eyes, Bluebell sniffled. “You are never, NEVER, doing that again.”
“I know.” She stepped back for a moment. “God! That idiot… what was he thinking? He seemed comfortable, too. Just how many times have he been out here?”
“More than you’d like to know.”
“And this was his first time seeing anything? You are so lucky nobody’s six feet under.” She shook her head and was in Bluebell’s embrace once again. Her grip was almost suffocating as if she were afraid Dahlia would disappear the moment she let go.
Dahlia pushed her back slightly with a smile, seeing Flowering Thorn around Bluebell’s shoulder. “Thanks for taking care of it for me.”
“It wasn’t a problem…” She handed it back to Dahlia.
The girls locked arms, and they were on their way back to the village. It took a few minutes, but upon reaching the treeline, they were met with familiar faces. However, none of them belonged to their classmates. In fact, they were nowhere to be seen. It wouldn’t be surprising if they were sent home after Elm and Kale returned. All that remained were the frustrated and relieved presence of Dahlia’s family and members of the hunting party, including its leader. It wasn’t too surprising since they also helped manage creature incidents.
Fennel rushed toward his daughter. He pulled her toward him and started inspecting her briefly. His attention locked onto her bandaged hands and held them gently. They were shaking. “You sure know how to make us worry.”
“But I’m okay, really! These were from something else, and it’s kinda a long story,” Dahlia said with a chuckle, showing off the bandages. She lowered them and approached the hunting party leader. “Here, I grabbed this before I left.” She pulled out an item from her pocket and handed it over.
“What about the other flag?” the leader asked.
“Bell, you don’t happen to have our flag, do you?”
She shook her head. “Why do–” That was when she saw it. The flimsy fabric hanging from a small stick-sized pole. She was imagining it, wasn’t she? As Dahlia was starting to explain where she put her flag, Bluebell came closer for a better look of the object. It was real. It was Ragweed’s flag. “I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU! After all that complaining about Ragweed, you pull this?!”
“Okay, hold on. This had nothing to do with winning, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Then why did you get his flag?”
“Survival 101, the last thing you ever want to do is underestimate a manticore’s sense of smell. Ragweed’s scent was on that flag, and that could’ve risked angering it, which may or may not have been a mother… As much as I hate Ragweed and his friends, I don’t want them to get mauled.”
“I’m sorry, did you say a mother?”
“All the more reason to take the flag.”
“No, all the more reason to get out of there and wait for someone else!”
“It would’ve taken too long. Not worth the risk.”
“Where did you get that idea? Was it from one of your mom’s stories?”
“So what it was?”
“You can’t be serious… They’re bedtime stories, Lia! Nothing but fiction, tales to make it easier to sleep! That’s all they are!”
***
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“They’re real. Every single story was a real mission she went on.”
“So you think it’s perfectly fine because ‘oh hey, it worked for her so nothing to worry about’? She wasn’t immortal, so neither are you!”
Bluebell’s hands shot over her mouth.
Chicory stepped forward between the girls. “Look, if it were any other creature, I’m sure she would’ve left.” He cast a brief glance at Fennel. “But this? Not an option. Dad was the one who taught us to never leave anything behind. I know Lili made the right call, and if it were me instead of her, I would’ve made the same one.”
“We can continue this later.” Fennel plucked the flag from Bluebell’s hand. “For now, the chief is expecting to hear from both of you. Bluebell, your parents should be arriving soon.”
Slowly, Bluebell raised her head. “What?” No sound came out. She thought her parents already left.
“And Dahlia, do you think you could mark where you put it on a map when we get to the townhall? The hunting party will take it from there.”
She nodded slightly and started to walk ahead with Chicory. Fennel waited for them to pass, waiting next to Bluebell. “Come on, we’ll wait at the town hall.” Remaining silent, she was guided forward by Fennel, and Chicory walked right behind, standing between the girls. The hunting party members trailed behind but made sure to give the group space. In a way, it felt like they had too much space. The village was a ghost town. Though small with only a population of a few hundred, the lack of activity was unsettling. Animals stood restless in their pens, doors appeared bolted, and not a single soul was in sight.
They soon neared the heart of the village, and the town hall loomed ahead. It was only one story tall but was a mansion compared to the surrounding two-story cottages. They drew closer and spotted a figure storming away from the building. It was Miss Castor. Her eyes flashed toward Dahlia before sharply turning and marching off in a different direction.
For a moment, Dahlia’s pace slowed. She took a slow breath, steadied herself, and started forward once more toward the hall’s wooden entrance. Its double doors creaked open, revealing an open room with bright lanterns lining the walls and several rows of benches across the floor. A desk stood on the opposite end of the room where the secretary sat. She glanced up, guilt all over her face as she made eye contact with Chicory, and wrote down something on a piece of paper.
Ragweed’s friends were gathered at the benches by the corner, their usual smirks replaced by tight, uneasy frowns. There was a sound of faint muffled voices echoing from an office down a corridor to the right, and Ragweed’s voice was among them. After a short time, the creaking of a door rang through the building and out came the boy in question alongside his parents and the chief. Ragweed’s mom in particular sent a nasty glare in Dahlia and her family’s direction.
“Sir, Dahlia and Bluebell just arrived,” the secretary whispered.
“Good,” the chief replied. “Dahlia Grier, please come with me.”
“I’ll stay with Bluebell. Mind if we wait outside?” Chicory asked while looking over to the chief.
“Yes, and please let my secretary know when her parents arrive.”
As Dahlia and Fennel joined the chief, Ragweed caught a glimpse of the flag in one of the hunting party member’s hand. “Is that-” he mouthed. Before he could finish the thought, the door to the chief’s office was closed. Ragweed’s gaze shot to Bluebell. His mother made him look down, and Bluebell and Chicory were gone. The two sat on the front steps, and minutes would tick by. The cool evening breeze was starting to settle in. Soon, the sounds of wheels turning and hooves racing hummed in the distance. A wagon was quickly approaching.
“My precious baby!”
“Lobelia, be careful!”
The woman hopped off the wagon with a broom in hand and soared faster than a person could run, and Chicory took this moment to return inside.
“It’s really them…” Bluebell muttered.
It only took a couple of seconds before Bluebell was wrapped in her mom’s embrace, and her dad parked the wagon right next ot them. “Are you hurt at all? Scratches? Bruises? Cuts? Scrapes? Strains? Sprains? Insect bites?” Lobelia finally released the bear hug and started aggressively checking for any sort of injury. When she failed to find a single one, relief flooded over her. “Isn’t this great, Peri? Our baby’s okay!”
Periwinkle came down and joined his family. “Thank the stars…”
“You had us scared half to death. What would I have done if something happened to you?” She began to squeeze again. “But at least you’re safe now, and we’re right here. That’s what matters.”
Bluebell’s thoughts were all scattered. Her parents were supposed to be gone for the next week-and-a-half. The wagon carried a particularly large shipment of orders this time around, so making sure they got to their destination had be be more important. At least, that was what Bluebell thought. She wanted to enjoy this moment with all her might, but she couldn’t help but feel guilty.
Before it had the chance to fester, the door opened behind them. Fennel was looking out from it, and Dahlia lingered right behind him. She and Bluebell avoided each other’s gaze.
“Chief Lupin is ready to see you,” Fennel informed.
Lobelia brushed Bluebell’s face and stood up. “This’ll be over before you know it.”
The chief sifted through different papers from previous meetings. Everyone was holding their breaths. Bluebell was staring at the desk with bangs draped over her face. Her parents were sitting stiffly beside her. All they could do was watch Bluebell’s discomfort as the chief collected his thoughts. Grumbling slightly, he leaned back. “So that’s everything… What a mess.” There was a hiss in his voice as it crackled with disbelief. “To think I just took their word that everything was under control…”
The room held its breath. Lobelia mother reached out and rested a hand lightly on Bluebell’s shoulder.
“Mr and Mrs. Leigh, Bluebell, this is my own fault for not being involved from the start, and I promise to do everything within my power to make up for it.”
Soft smiles were on her and Periwinkle’s faces as they rose from the seats. Bluebell slowly followed behind and looked back to the chief. “Thank you,” she mouthed. A tired frown quickly returned to her face, though as she turned back around. Everyone started making their way to the door when muffled voices rang out, startling everyone inside.
In the main gathering hall, the boys and their parents were standing by Dahlia and her family. Most of them had already apologized while others still seemed to be in shock. Then there was Ragweed and his mother, who had started bickering with the other parents. Fennel and Chicory were standing in front of Dahlia, keeping her from having to look at the woman.
“My son will NOT apologize. Not to her.”
Elm’s father stood up from one of the benches. “You can’t be serious. After everything that happened? He’s the one who started all of this.”
“Don’t twist things. He was provoked! That girl humiliated in in front of anyone. Any boy would’ve reacted the same.”
“That’s nonsense,” Kale’s mother chimed in.
Myrtle’s mother joined in as well. “He’s been picking fights since the day you got here. Everyone knows it.”
“Oh please,” Ragweed’s mother let out a bitter laugh. “Your boys followed him out there willingly. Don’t you dare pretend they didn’t.”
“That’s real funny. I know my son, and he understands there are rules for a reason. He’s not the type to break them so easily.”
“Sure. Keep telling yourself that.”
“You’re getting on my nerves. Do you have any idea how they could have been hurt? How much danger they were in?”
Ragweed’s mother’s tone sharpened. “You’re all making a mountain out of nothing. Just look at them. They’re fine.”
“Only because my sister chose to look out for them.” Chicory started coming forward. “You know, after the way she’s been treated, she really had no reason to. She could have done nothing instead.”
“I’ve had enough of this.”
Several people started to shout at once, accusations shooting back and forth as disbelief, anger, and exhaustion all collided.
“You do not get to walk away this time.”
“You should’ve stopped him!”
“They could’ve been mauled!”
“We are not defending him anymore.”
“You knew where they were going?”
“You’re just as guilty for looking the other way!”
The chief had been standing off to the side next to the front desk. He was silent, arms crossed. While this was fun at first, it overstayed its welcome. “That’s enough.” The command in his voice cut through the chaos instantly. Looking between everyone, he took a slow breath.
“We had a system, and it’s worked before. I don’t see why it wouldn’t work now,” Ragweed’s mother continued. “If people would let him be–”
“Let him be? If he’d gone one hill further any of the times he went out there, he and the others would’ve been corpses by morning. You don’t let a child test their luck with a manticore.”
“If that’s how the town sees it, we can leave.”
“Do as you wish, but so you know, I’ll send word to every village between here and the coast to make sure this doesn’t happen again. I assure you they won’t be as kind.”
A cold silence fell upon the room. The other parents looked away, some ashamed and others furious. Ragweed’s mother’s face twisted with outrage but said nothing. She turned and stormed toward the door, her boots striking the wooden floor. The door swung open with a bang and slammed shut behind her
The chief turned to the remaining people. “Go home. Get your children home. Everyone will meet here tomorrow morning. No excuses, no delays. I don’t care if you have to work in the fields or shops to open. This meeting will be attended. I’ll see you at sunrise.”
With that, everyone was dismissed. There wasn’t as much as a single peep as they left the building. Among the last to exit were Bluebell and Dahlia's families. The two girls barely looked at each other. In fact, Bluebell seemed to be avoiding meeting with Dahlia's eyes completely. She couldn't face her. Not yet.
“See you tomorrow…” The words escaped Dahlia’s lips as she passed.