He bows his head. "Accidental or maliciously inflicted bodily damage, disease, age, magical or emotional damage to their souls or brains. If a person is sad enough, I can save them by making it so they won't die unless someone deliberately kills them."

"But only if they're sad? Are people usually sad when they're about to die?"

"Sometimes they're frightened or angry, or too sick to really know what's going on, or not feeling anything at all. Some people hold onto hope until they die."

"I suppose that makes sense. I'd have thought people would be able to be sad in a situation like that if it was as important as it sounds like, though. I guess it might be the sort of situation where so much is going wrong it's hard to do anything reliably and where lots of people make mistakes."

"Yes. It is a tragedy. And of course, upon death while being asked to try to feel sad, many people find themselves unable to."

"Do you think there's anything I can do to help?"

"Oh, would you be willing to? I know you are Riley's Sadness, but do you think you might be able to help other people feel sad if you met them?"

"Not the same way I do for Riley, I don't think, but I could point out sad stuff to them?"

He nods. "I try to do that, but I'm not always successful. What sorts of things might you tell them?"

"Um. I guess they already know they're going to die and if they're too scared to be sad reminding them wouldn't help. I could remind them of all the things they were hoping to do that they won't be able to now. Especially if there are things they won't be able to do anymore even if they survive. I could remind them of the people who their death will hurt. I could remind them of the other people who've already died the same way they're dying and how their deaths were just as bad as this one."

"Thank you. I will try using those strategies when next they seem appropriate."

He pauses, considering. "Would you be willing to come with me to the Unknown, to show me how you would do this? Time in Riley's mind would continue not to pass until you returned."

Deep breath.

"Okay."

"Thank you very much. Is there anything else you would like to do here, before we leave?"

"I think I'm ready to go."

He leads her out the back door, through the trees of the backyard, until the surrounding forest takes on a different quality, from rough-barked evergreen trees to brown and gold with flat leaves and smooth bark, and its air from warmth and humidity to dry crispness.

"Welcome to the Unknown."

Sadness continues to be nervous and a bit afraid.

"How do you find dying people?"

"I ask the trees whether they have seen any who might be lost, or who otherwise might be in danger of dying soon, and then I walk in that direction, but take shortcuts to places they are likely to be going."

Sadness nods

"Okay."

He tilts his head, listening for a few moments.

"These ones say that someone who seemed lost and possibly injured came through here about a week ago, going away from the nearest village. It may not be too late to save them. I believe we can likely reach them within a day or two walking separately, or within half a day if I carry you, if you are willing."

"I don't mind being carried."

She moves to help the arborist pick her up.

He gently scoops her up. His arms feel like they are made of wood, covered with clusters of holes and small ridges. "Please let me know if you are uncomfortable," he says as he begins to run.

"M hm."