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It turns out that there was really not much point to making a schedule. Kas and Helen visit the witch clan whenever Helen feels like it, and stay as long as she wants, and go when she wants to be somewhere else, and it all adds up to plenty more time spent with the clan than away.
After the aquarium jaunt with Ranata, it's a little more than a month before they visit the clan again.
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truthwright
Prolonged hugs ensue.
carillons
A lot of hug.
And a lot of crying.
And then... Helen doesn't know what then.
Her tummy grumbles. Well, that's a suggestion.
And a lot of crying.
And then... Helen doesn't know what then.
Her tummy grumbles. Well, that's a suggestion.
"Let's go to Charlie's house," murmurs Ranata, "or - no - should stay on clan grounds - let's get some food into you, at any rate."
The clan grounds are culinarily self-sustaining, and presently they have scared up some chicken and vegetables.
The clan grounds are culinarily self-sustaining, and presently they have scared up some chicken and vegetables.
carillons
Helen eats the chicken and also the vegetables, and she leans on Ranata, and she shivers. Kalavar turns into a mouse and perches on her foot.
"It'll be okay," Castarilan tells Kalavar.
Long hummingbird beaks are not very good for nuzzling, but Castarilan does his best to be comforting anyway. "You'll be fine. We'll take care of you."
carillons
"Will Kas be fine?" cries Kalavar, huddling mousily against Castarilan.
"Oh, sweetie," says Ranata. "We'll try the other clans' cursebreakers. Rinda doesn't know everything."
Hugs.
"I can call Charlie and he can come here," she offers.
"I can call Charlie and he can come here," she offers.
Ranata has a phone; she calls Charlie.
"He'll be here in an hour," she reports.
"He'll be here in an hour," she reports.
Hugs.
After the promised hour, Charlie finds them. He sits on Helen's other side and puts his arm around her; his daemon snuffles at Kalavar.
After the promised hour, Charlie finds them. He sits on Helen's other side and puts his arm around her; his daemon snuffles at Kalavar.
carillons
Kalavar turns into a chinchilla and huddles up to Kesathi; Helen sits between her grandparents and closes her eyes and sniffles periodically, and if she's not crying she only just barely isn't.
"Y'know," says Charlie, "if you can't break the curse - then - well, I died, once, got out easy because I was - special to Isabella."
Ranata makes a hmm sound.
carillons
"Is it okay being dead?" sniffles Helen. "Is it better than being frozen?"
"Oh, it's not bad there at all," says Charlie. "I didn't stay long but - it's not bad, better than being frozen. And Kas was special to Isabella, too."
carillons
"Then..."
The thought of killing Kas is terribly frightening. But the thought of Kas just staying frozen forever is also terribly frightening.
Helen falls silent.
The thought of killing Kas is terribly frightening. But the thought of Kas just staying frozen forever is also terribly frightening.
Helen falls silent.
Charlie pets Helen's hair.
carillons
Helen hugs him and sighs.
"Everything is scary and I don't know what to do," she says.
"Everything is scary and I don't know what to do," she says.
"It'll be okay, honey," Charlie says.
"Nobody's ever perfectly sure," Charlie says. "That's one of the hardest things there is. But that doesn't mean it won't be okay."