seven devils all around you, seven devils in your house

[singmod]

JUNE 2024 EVENT

PART ONE — A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME: The Darkwalker claims another victim, and that is only the beginning of troubles for the Interlopers as they face a month of endless night and green gloom.

PART TWO — POLAR SUN: As June continues, Interlopers are faced with food insecurity as wildlife flees; tensions grow as they face hunger and the Darkwalker's continued influence. On the day of the Summer Solstice, the tension finally breaks and violent chaos descends upon Interlopers.

PART THREE — REPRIEVE: The end is in sight, and an ally comes to the Interloper’s aid.

A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME

WHEN: June 1st, then onwards.
WHERE: Milton area; Lakeside area (Carter Hydrodam).
CONTENT WARNINGS: death of playable character; supernatural death; mention of dead body; themes of death; supernatural beings; themes of terror; themes of peril.

The evening is quiet and still. May draws to a close and while the sun does not completely set, it dips low enough for the sky to grow a little darkdim with twilight. The midnight sun is almost upon the Northern Territories, the air is warmer than it has ever felt — even if it remains chilly. If this is summer, it is but a gentle brush of reprieve against the unyielding winter. The Interlopers wind down for the night, many turn to their beds to sleep, others sit awake and ponder their existence in this world. They think of home, of loved ones, of their predicament here in this place. The Forest Talkers, the strange beasts and monsters they’ve encountered.

The moon wanes in the skies, nestled amongst the stars. For those still awake to notice, they can see it: slowly, one by one, the stars begin to go out. Then the moon's light is swallowed whole, and a blanket of green gloom descends upon the Northern Territories.

The sky is dark and green and terrible. Many of those will recognise it, what this means and what will come. Others will not understand it, not know what it is that awaits them all.

They will soon find out: the Darkwalker comes.

Under a green sky, a cold fear washes over you — squeezing the breath from your lungs. Interlopers will find themselves overcome with that fear, and everything in their bodies and minds tells them to run. To flee. And so you run, heading for cover. Curtains will be drawn, some may hide under beds, within closets or wardrobes. Some desperately attempt to conceal themselves, make themselves small, unseen. Some Interlopers, in that fear, may rush to friends or loved ones to hide with them, others may simply cower alone — crawling and whimpering away from the night. The fear is irrational, unable to be overcome — even by the bravest or most stoic of Interlopers.

For those within Milton, it is further away but is by no means less potent: Interlopers will find themselves frozen with the constant loom of the Darkwalker’s arrival — even if it does not come to Milton. Those within Lakeside, however, will feel the true force of this presence: more like a knife edge — painfully gripping your heart as it draws close.

The Darkwalker howls: indescribable, unnatural, demonic. Low moans and groans. It comes from the east, the faint booms of footsteps in the distance growing ever nearer. It is coming, once more. It's coming for one of you. And still, you are powerless, unable to do anything. And it is an agony, awaiting its arrival. You cry, you whimper, you cower. Curling up for some shred of comfort, and finding none.

For those in Lakeside, through the fear, they may be able to note the path: a straight line from the east towards Carter Hydrodam. It seems to go on forever, building into a crescendo. Your heart beats so hard you fear it may burst from your chest, as if you might die of fright.

There is an almighty sound; the Darkwalker devours and even with the distance you can hear it. The sound of gnashing teeth, and… laughter. There is no scream, no bright light in the sky — Enola is silent this time. There is only that laughter, echoing off into the night.

The skies do not return to normal. The green gloom hangs in the air. It is done, but it is not yet over. While the overwhelming fear dissolves away, but a kind of… dread remains on the air — almost palpable.


The Darkwalker has devoured another. Braver souls who go out to investigate into Lakeside will find just who has been devoured once they reach the Hydrodam — although it may be a day or two before they will find the body in the medical bay.

At least it is cold enough that the rot does not fully set in — but death will certainly be here.

And this is but the beginning of the Interloper’s troubles.

POLAR SUN

WHEN: The month of June, up to Midsummer’s Eve + Summer Solstice.
WHERE: Milton area; Lakeside area.
CONTENT WARNINGS: themes of survival; food scarcity/food insecurity; supernatural weather; altered mental states; mental manipulation; themes of violence; potential character injury; potential character death; potential NPC death.

In the coming weeks and days, and weeks, the green gloom lingers. From the Darkwalker’s attack, there is no sun. No day, no night. No stars or moon or sun. No Auroras. Just the gloom and biting cold. Life becomes increasingly hard on Interlopers: higher expenditure on fuel — fires and lanterns are imperative to keep the darkness and the cold at bay.

With the green gloom in the air, the wildlife becomes more scarce — as if it has been frightened away into the deeper parts of the wilds. It will be harder to bring in fresh meat in both Milton and Lakeside, and Interlopers will find that they will have to rely on whatever stores they have — and perhaps even rationing for a while.

And it’s not the only thing frightened. Even with the debilitating fear that comes with the Darkwalker’s attack gone, there is still a kind of fear that lingers on the air that slowly eats away at the Interloper’s resolve over time.

Interlopers will find themselves anxious, on edge. Some will be prone to anger in their fear, others prone to fits of melancholy: tearfulness and sorrow. Between the cold, the lack of fresh game and the fear on the air — it’s no wonder spirits are low. Bickering and minor upsets between Interlopers are likely.

They call it the midnight sun, the polar day. It's opposite is the polar night. This is neither and both. On the day of midsummer's eve, that fear on the air is even more palpable. The air feels a little stifling at times, as if the pressure is all off — often quite oppressive, a strange kind of tension. There is something brewing, a low burning thing that begins from the moment Interlopers wake — heavy and sharp in their chest.

’So, Interloper. What will you do now?’ A voice sneers in your ear. The very same voice that has haunted Interlopers since the very beginning. The Darkwalker finally speaks after all these weeks of gloom since its most recent attack. ’When all is gone, when even the sun does not rise? What will you do then?’

A nervousness sits within you as you remember the Darkwalker’s words. What will you do if the sun does not rise? If the darkness is all that is left? If the food runs out? Your wonderings will continue to gnaw away within you. The darkness is hollowing.

’Will you lean on others, like you have always tried to do?’ the voice continues. ’What bonds you hold with them, the ones with those around you. But how strong are they, truly? Can you trust them? Will it matter when your belly is empty and your heart is low? Perhaps it is time to see.

’Never forget, Interloper. I am the Rot. And I will rot within you.’

As the day progresses into the Solstice, that tension lingers in the air, and the wonderings within you continue to wear at you. You find yourself becoming more and more agitated as time goes on. Those feelings that have been brewing for some time now have started to grow close to boiling. You may snap at others, grow restless, become enraged at the tiniest of things — the upsets wildly out of proportion for the smallest slights or issues.

You find your thoughts wandering, too. Perhaps it is to someone you know in this place, or perhaps it is to someone previously unknown to you. Maybe you have an issue with this person, or perhaps the voice’s influence extends further — not only adding to your agitations but creating them, too. A slight, a grudge, a bias.

You feel a bitter gnawing within you. The nightmarish green gloom above you persists and everything bubbles up from within. From the dark, the anger within you become too much. The tension finally snaps.

For some, it might come out as a vicious argument where you air your grievances, or finally let slip the things you’ve been holding close to your chest. A verbal beat down, incredibly hurtful in nature. For others, things may be drawn to getting physical. A literal beat down where your fists grow bruised and bloody, or perhaps even worse. Whatever it is, you want to do damage to someone else — there is darkness here, and so many things come out in the dark, don’t they?

Like a ripple, all around you: all hell breaks loose. Chaos erupts, and the air is filled with violence.

Let’s hope you might stop, or someone else stops you, before someone gets killed.

REPRIEVE

WHEN: Circa three days after the Summer Solstice.
WHERE: Milton.
CONTENT WARNINGS: blood.

All things must come to an end, even the most violent of deadly storms. In the midst of the seemingly endless violence of the night, you find yourself outside. Maybe you're fleeing from another Interloper, maybe you're desperately trying to reach someone you care for, maybe you're simply trying to find somewhere new to hide. Interlopers are hunting one another, blood lies on the snow, bodies too — some breathing, some not.

Perhaps it is a trick of the light. Perhaps it's the Darkwalker’s influence still warping your already frayed mind. Or it's the blood in your eyes, your battered and bruised body struggling to get through it all.

In the gloom, you see it. See her.

A woman, dressed in furs, stones and shells glimmering on her chest like armour, stands in the snow before you. Thin and pale, eyes sunken. Her chest heaves with each breath as she looks around with wide eyes. Her hands are bare and bloody. It drips slowly from her fingers. Is it her blood? Or someone else's? You cannot tell, but you cannot mistake how thick it coats her skin.

Her head turns to look at you. You are stunned, but not frightened. Even through the gloom, after a moment or two, her eyes widen in recognition: she knows you.

Slowly and silent, other than her noisy breathing, she draws close to you. Maybe in turn you draw close to her, closing the distance between you. Up close, her eyes are blue, and sad. You cannot mistake the sorrow in them. She is tired, weary. Her hair is dark, worn loose and long. For some, you feel as if you've seen her before, but you can't quite place her face.

Softly, she says your name.

For some, there may be no recognition. This woman is a stranger, who knows your name somehow. She has been silent the past couple of months, after all.

For others, hearing her speak brings a sudden, jarring realisation: this is Enola.

She’s here. Enola. All this time, she’s whispered to you in dreams, in static, in the very air itself.

She raises one hand, dark and dripping in the green light. Lightly, her fingers brush against your chest. You don’t feel the pressure of them, don’t feel the odd heat of blood — only the weight of her stare as she holds your gaze. It’s a long moment of peace in amongst the chaos.

You feel her exhaustion, a tiredness that sinks into your very bones. Apologies, too. You have never known anything like it. But there’s something else too, something that takes a moment or two to put your finger on. Defiance. A renewal. Something shifts in the air, a growing tension, different from the kind that’s been held on the air throughout the month. It’s the coming of a storm, the rolling clouds, the growing rumble of thunder before the first lightning strike.

Enola nods, her expression grave. She pulls away and turns from you — her head lifting towards the skies as she walks. Her arms raise, bloodied hands twisting and tensing before her. They curl, almost into fists, and she makes a gesture: the slow tearing of something huge and invisible before her — a shriek spilling from her lips. A battle-cry, a last stand, a wail of agony. It echoes.

The sky cracks and splits open before you, dazzling light and colours blinding your vision into pure white. The world tilts too hard below your feet, and you don’t remember passing out.

When you awaken, Enola is gone. The skies are clear and blue, the sun is high in the sky. As you pick yourself up from the snow, in the harsh light of the polar day, blood has never looked so red. The horrors of the night laid bare. Interlopers are dead, but the Darkwalker’s influence is gone. For now.

In the wake of Midsummer, all Interlopers can do is try reconcile. Bury the dead, rebuild, lick wounds. But that feeling in the air still remains — that different, new kind of tension that has come with Enola’s appearance. The first of the lightning bolts has struck, but more are coming.

FAQs

A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME

1. Alexander Hilbert has been devoured by the Darkwalker. His remains can be found in the Hydrodam. The following note has been left by Kates concerning his death: ‘Sveta gets possession of his research notes + blood samples + creepy lab journal because it's all in Russian, lmao.’

2. Information on the Darkwalker’s attack can be found here.

3. Usually, after the Darkwalker attacks, the sky would return to normal. This won’t happen. Instead, the usual atmospheric changes that occur during Darkwalker attacks will remain in place as June continues..


POLAR SUN

1. For an idea how the setting appears for June, it's like what you see in the game during the Escape The Darkwalker Challenge. Inside, there'll be a degree of green shades to rooms etc via what comes through windows but with it being lit up via fires and light sources, the gloom will be chased back.


2. Characters are free to use this event to kill NPC Interlopers. Methuselah and Young Bill are off the table, as are two marked NPC Interlopers. Please let Mods know if you intend on doing this for record keeping!

3. These acts of violence can be physical or verbal altercations, players are encouraged to work with the prompt however they'd like! However, anything potentially world-altering (ie. building destruction) must be first discussed with mods.

4. Interlopers under the Darkwalker's influence can be stopped in a number of ways. Showing genuine care and compassion in the face of violence is one way. Knocking an Interloper out is another way. Sometimes killing an Interloper may be needed, or simply restraining them and keeping them locked up somewhere so they can't hurt anyone else until the night is over would also work.

5. Talismans made by Heartman back in March with a Ward Sigil against the Darkwalker will come into effect during this prompt. It's been an ongoing process, with new Interlopers being offered them from their arrival. Players are free to choose what kind of talisman they received, or if they chose to get one at all. Their effectiveness is dependent on the type of blood used on the talisman.

— Animal Blood: Interlopers carrying talismans using blood from animals found in the world, such as deer, rabbits or wolves will find themselves more susceptible to the Darkwalker’s influence and disposition towards violence. They will be much harder to break out of the hold over them, and become almost frenzied state.
— Monster Blood: Interlopers carrying talismans using blood from any creatures or monsters that Interlopers have encountered in their time in the Northern Territories, such as the Serpent from December’s TDM will find there are no negative nor positive effects. The talisman is essentially useless. and Interlopers will fall under the Darkwalker's influence.
— Interloper Blood: Interlopers carrying talismans using blood for Interlopers will be offered protection/resistance from the Darkwalker’s influence and disposition towards violence. They may be slightly affected but will have their wits about them more compared to others. If the blood came from an Interloper with an Aurora Feat — this protection/resistance will be largely increased, an the Interloper may even feel braver, less affected by the fear in the atmosphere.
— No Talisman: Similar to the Monster Blood Talisman, Interlopers will be affected typically by the Darkwalker's influence in due course.

There are no additional affects with an Interloper using their own blood, just if they have an Aurora Feat or not.

6. Animals owned by Interlopers will be more frightened and will want to hide away in the build up — they will be disturbed by the world. Mostly lying down and whining/restlessness. They may display some signs of aggression on occasion, but not to the same degree of humans.

7. Forest Talkers are hidden away and will not be able to be reached during the Solstice.

REPRIEVE

1. Enola can only be met alone, but she will appear to all Interlopers in Milton.

2. Enola will be nowhere to be found afterwards, there are no tracks to be followed. She has simply vanished.

PLOTTING POST

Comments

one.

[pacificator]

[ She'd hated to leave Jopson, considering the shape he's in, but she'd heard what happened, and she can't— she has to see Kate, to find Little. Thomas is comfortable, recovering, when she leaves, and she swears to him she'll be back early the next day. He'll be all right. She hopes he'll be all right.

That was before the woman in furs, and her hand on Wynonna's chest. It was before the moment of pure peace that she wants to sink into, that brings tears springing to her eyes. It was before the scream.

And then, in the sudden wash of daylight, she finds a trail. Shuffled steps from someone trying to run through the snow. And up ahead, a familiar gleam of dark blonde hair. ]

Kate!

[ She's running now, too, heart thundering in her chest, fear buzzing under her skin. ]

Kate, stop!

[castitas]

[ She has to find her, she can't be gone again. All this time she's been here, around them as nothing more than a voice and then she's there. The first of them. Enola's one of them — and she tore the sky open just like that.

Kate doesn't heard Wynonna, not at first — not with the ringing in her ears, a scream echoing. Not with the rasps of breath and the cotton wool like feeling that wraps itself around her face and neck. She staggers onwards, following tracks that don't exist.

Until she slips and lands in the snow — coughing and wheezing painfully as the landing winds her. She tries to get back up again but... nope, she's down.

Finally, she register's Wynonna's voice. She pushes herself up to sit, head turning back towards her — bloodied lip, bruised jaw and neck, and the blossom of a swollen black eye. Kate stares, one eye wide and the other barely open: stunned and then uncertain of the woman — is it really over? ]

[pacificator]

[ She comes skidding onto her knees, sending a small wave of snow brushing up over Kate's leg and hand, already reaching with shaking hands to gently catch the girl's shoulders, her head. ]

Yeah, it's over. It's over.

[ God, she hopes it's over, but she doesn't... she doesn't feel that anger anymore, the rage swelling, waiting to burst unchecked from her chest. Her fingers are light as she checks Kate over, and they tremble. This is the second time in only a few weeks when she's gone down on her knees in the snow, reaching for someone she cares about because they're hurt. ]

Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere else? Anywhere new? Did you twist your ankle?

[castitas]

[ There's a shudder inhale, a tiny little sound that's almost like a sob and she reaches for Wynonna in return — moving to hug her. She opens her mouth, tries to speak — but there's nothing that comes out other than a strained wheeze of 'Wynonna'. Her mouth shuts tight, and she winces through it.

Her head shakes in reply. No. It... kinda applies to all four questions, really. She's not hurt any more than she already is, but she... she doesn't think she's okay. After a long moment, Kate pulls back a little and turns her head to look ahead, as if trying to motion that way. The way she was trying to go. ]

She's here. [ The words come through mentally, hushed in volume. ] Enola. I saw her.

[pacificator]

[ She puts her arms around Kate, curling a hand protectively over the back of the girl's head. ]

It's okay. It's okay, don't talk, don't try to talk.

[ It's not okay, all she can think of is Waverly's bruised throat after Malcolm strung her up, and Wynonna squeezes her eyes shut tight, breathing fast and shaky before she pulls back to look Kate in her poor bruised face. ]

I know, I saw her too. But she's gone, Kate, and we gotta, we gotta get you back, okay?

[ She swallows hard, taking in the puffy black eye, the bruised throat, the split lip, and she catches Kate's head quickly in her hands, leans up to kiss her forehead, the one part of her that doesn't seem hurt. ]

Come on, baby girl. I've got you.

[castitas]

[ Kate's shaking her head at that, her mouth upturned. She can't be gone, when she was just here. Like, she's gotta still be here. If she managed to make the sky right again, if she stopped whatever stuff the Darkwalker did to them — they've gotta find her. ]

But she can't be gone, we've gotta find her. She's one of us. [ That's what Methuselah said, after all. Enola's the First Interloper. And if she can do something like that—

she stops, inhaling softly. Oh. And her inner voice goes quiet for a long moment: Come on, baby girl. I've got you. Kate sits there, stunned, her expression shifting from that stun into some kind of muted, tearfulness — genuinely touched by the gesture. She doesn't know what to say.

... They've gotta get back.

Finally, she nods. And after another few, long moments she finally starts to move to get back onto her feet again. ]

We... we have to find her, though. Okay? She helped us.

[pacificator]

We will. I'll come back out here and look for her myself.

[ She'll track the woman down for days if she has to; anything it takes to get Kate to come back with her now, whatever it takes. The girl shifts and Wynonna gets to her feet, still a little sore herself, and grabs Kate's hand to help her up. She dusts Kate off, brushing snow from her clothes before it can melt and make her wet as well as cold. ]

Can you walk okay? We'll go slow. You can lean on me, I've got you. God, you had me worried, kiddo.

[castitas]

[ It's enough to placate her for now, to get her to come back. She manages to get to her feet alright — a little shy at all the fussing. Her balance feels a little off from the weird sensations in her head from the pain and lacking full eyesight, but she's standing.

As for walking? She nods: she thinks she'll be okay. There's a brief pause as she considers herself, and then gently reaches out to take Wynonna's hand. ]

... I'm sorry. [ Wynonna was worried. Honestly, Wynonna's never struck her as the type to worry about all that much — certainly that's not the impression she's ever gotten. If Wynonna worries, then she keeps it pretty hidden. But to openly say it? ] I don't know what I was thinking, I just— I just ran after her.

I know I should have just... stayed inside after... well—

[ That. ]

[pacificator]

Don't sweat it.

[ But she lets Kate take her hand, her head on a swivel as she keeps an eye on the woods around them. It's bright daylight again, and that strange oppressive feeling seems to have lifted, but she's still jumpy as hell. ]

Let's just get you back before any of your fan club notices you decided to take a walk in the woods, huh?

[ She keeps her right free... just in case. But nothing jumps out at them from the woods; no wolves, no men, no demons. ]

Besides, I needed to get my steps in today, anyway.

[castitas]

I don't— I don't have a fan club. [ Kate grimaces a little at that. It sounds so silly like that. A fan club. Like, for real? That's... that's just—

And then she remembers what Mikel told her, through the throbbing pain of her jaw and the blood in her mouth as she crawled in the snow to get away from him.

She slows to a stop as the realisation sinks in, the horror of it creeping in at the edges of her. Kate inhales, her breaths trembling. She shakes her head. Oh, God. Was he right? He... he was right, wasn't he? ]

He said it wasn't fair. [ She looks to Wynonna briefly before her gaze lowers to the ground. ] They're always looking out for you. Maybe they'll stop worrying about you and worry about the rest of us with you gone.

[pacificator]

[ Kate stops, which tugs Wynonna gently to a halt, which sets alarm bells ringing in her head again. They need to get back inside, Kate's in no shape to be out wandering around the woods. Maybe the green glow and that oppressive feeling of anger has lifted, but all that means is the people here are their normal levels of aggressive and dangerous. She's not putting anything past any of them. Who knows what the fuck Chloe might do, if she came across Kate in the woods? She might decide it's better to clean up her mess permanently.

It doesn't help to know that guy, Mikel, probably wouldn't have said anything like that aloud with the influence of the Darkwalker acting on him. If that's true of Mikel, then it's true of Elias, and it just means she murdered a man out of his mind. A man who might have come back to his senses, if he'd lived. ]

That's bullshit. Little's been killing himself trying to keep everyone here safe. The doctors haven't been playing favorites. Heartman made talismans for whoever wanted one.

If he didn't have a Victorian boat guy hovering around him, that was his own fault. It's not like there aren't plenty around to choose from.

[castitas]

[ They're... good points, actually. And Kate's still for a moment, head dipping as she considers them. Lieutenant Little does so much for everyone, always patrolling, always making sure everyone's okay. The doctors helps out everyone, and the talismans are there for everyone.

But... there's always a 'but'. Maybe Mikel had a point, too. ]

... Everyone's always looking out for me. [ Her lips are a thin line, brow furrowing in her fretfulness. ] Like, I'm not... ungrateful, everyone's been so kind but—

[ Looks up, emphasising with her eyes. ]

Maybe he... did have a point.

[pacificator]

Hey. [ She reaches up with her free hand to carefully brush some of Kate's hair, all in disarray from her fall, off her forehead, missing Waverly so much it hurts.

Waverly would know what to do. She'd know what to say. She'd have been able to de-escalate the fights that have broken out all over the place, and people would listen to her without her having to say: ] Listen to me.

[ She holds Kate's glance with her own steady and stubborn. ] The only point he had was that people care about you. That doesn't mean they don't care about anyone else.

[ But there's something else to it, maybe, and she has to admit that she'd feel a lot better if Kate wasn't so helpless. ]

But if you want, I can teach you some things so you can protect yourself, too.

[castitas]

[ It's weird, being fussed over like this. It's not really something people do to her, more like she might fuss over her own sisters. But certainly never any friends would do something like this. It's not as if she really has much in the way of friends back home. But it's... kind of nice, too.

But she's listening, tentatively looking up with an upturned brow. It takes her a few moments for it to really click, and although she's silent in reply — there's a gentle exhale of breath and her gaze lowers back to the ground. Oh.

And she's mulling it over, not really sure what to even say. Her chest aches in a strange way. Until: ]

... Constable Fraser gave me a flare gun. [ For use in emergencies, and she'd had a whole talk about it. She could use it if she was in trouble, that way she could get help. Kate's mental voice is sheepish, a little frustrated: ]

... I— I pulled it on Chloe. I wasn't thinking but— it wasso stupid. I don't think I'm exactly cut out for that kind of thing.

[ Quick discovery: she sucks at it. ]

[pacificator]

[ Her forehead crinkles as Kate's words sift into her head: flare gun, the Mountie. Chloe had said something about that. They're lucky the gun didn't go off and burn the whole Community Hall down, along with everyone inside. ]

You don't need to be a gunslinger to know how to handle a gun.

[ And with the world they're in, it's almost a necessary skill. Who knows when Kate might need to be able to handle a firearm without hurting herself or someone else? ]

And I can teach you how to get out of an attack, too.

[castitas]

... Isn't someone who knows how to handle a gun basically a gunslinger anyways? [ In which case... that's totally not her. And part of her isn't even mad about that, because like— not all people are like that. She's not like Wynonna, or Ruby. Or even like Chloe. She cringes a little.

But the second part of what she says makes her pause, her mouth opening and closing a little. There's a shudder, her skin crawling to even think about it. ]

I didn't know what to do. I just— I tried. He.. he came out nowhere and I tried to get away, but I just— [ Her throat feels tight and tender. She shakes her head. ] If Lieutenant Little hadn't— I know he can't always be there every second.

[ She might not be so lucky next time. ]

[pacificator]

Sure, if you also think anyone who can open a band-aid is a doctor.

[ It grates at her, that they've stopped moving; it's still not safe, and it's cold even with the newly bright sunshine filtering down through the trees. Kate mentioning Little only makes her more impatient to get the girl back inside and safe; it's what he'd need her to do, and she still needs to go looking for him.

Wynonna puts an arm around the younger woman and starts them moving once more, slow but decisive. ]

He would if he could. But he can't always be there, and neither can I or Irving or the Mountie, so I'd feel a lot better if I knew you knew how to get away, in case anything like that ever happens again.

[castitas]

... Yeah, okay. I get your point. [ Like she knows some basic stuff in terms of first aid, but she's in no way a Doctor. Not even a nurse. ]

I'm gonna warn you now: I'm gonna suck so hard at any of this. [ But okay, she's... kind of getting of board with this. Somewhat. Wynonna has a really good point about it all, but Kate's not entirely sure she's actually gonna be able to do any of that. ] ... Maybe it'll be okay. If Enola stopped this, maybe she can do this again. Or... or stop it getting this bad again?

[ She doesn't know why she took so long. They've had weeks without the sun. What changed? And with a little startle, she's moving again — trekking carefully back into town. It reminds her that they're both actually outside again, and Kate realises. ]

He's gonna be like... mad or something with me running off.

[ Running after Enola: also so dumb. ]

[pacificator]

If my baby sister can do it, you can do it.

[ She doesn't say anything about things being okay. They won't be. Maybe they'll be some new flavor of terrible, but they'll still be terrible, and right now Kate's like one of those bunnies she loves so much: sweet and cute and utterly helpless to defend herself.

Well, it doesn't have to stay that way.

But Kate's last point deserves a scoff and a roll of the eyes, and that's what it gets. ]

That guy's gotten mad at me exactly one time since I met him, despite all the shit I've pulled. I think you'll be fine.

[castitas]

Waverly's an Earp. Of course she can do it.

[ It's meant with affection. From what she knows about her, Wynonna and Waverly might be totally different people. Not like how Wynonna and Willa were: two peas in a pod. But Waverly's still an Earp, she's Wynonna's sister.

Kate might not be an Earp, but... she has Wynonna in her life.

Maybe it might actually work out, somehow. ]

I dunno. He got mad when he got worried. [ Someone who gets angry when they're upset. Something like that. She's certainly never seen him like how he was when Wynonna turned up to their cabin in Lakeside with a gun shot wound. ] Or, okay. Maybe not mad. But like, super upset. Like... worried.

[ There's a pointed look: you know how he gets. ]

I've probably freaked him out, at least.

[pacificator]

She sure is.

[ Everything is too raw and she's too tired; it comes out in a mix of emotions: pride and affection, of course, but also something more complicated, wry and a little resigned. ]

She's the best of us. She always has been.

[ What Kate says next doesn't make things any less complex; she's still a little awkward about everything that happened with her and Little, that fight and the apologies that came long after, how they didn't speak to each other for a whole month, and the wry edge to her tone doesn't go anywhere at all. ]

Yeah, well. That was different.

[ She glances over at Kate as she hustles the girl along, slower than she'd like, but at least managing a steady pace. ]

Tell you what: when I see him, I'll clear it up for you, okay?

[castitas]

... If I ever meet her, I'm gonna tell her about how much of a hypeman you've been about her.

[ Or hypewoman. There's something a tiny bit light-hearted in it, even if her mental voice cracks a little around the words. Too tired, too weary to really joke. But it's sincere, too. Kate's never heard a single thing that's bad about Waverly — and she gets it. Sisters are hard, sometimes. Even when they still love each other a whole lot. Maybe not in the same ways: Wynonna and Kate and different people with different lives. But... yeah.

There's a tiny frown at that. That was different. Different how? ]

You did something dumb. I did something dumb. [ Both in ways running into danger. ] You're his friend. You get mad at your friends sometimes when you're worried. That... kind of comes with the territory sometimes. I think.

[ Not like she'd really know. She's hardly an expert of having friends, here.

Kate knows that the Lieutenant holds a certain... duty of care over people in Milton. But... Wynonna's his friend, isn't she? Maybe not in the same way she and Mr Jopson are friends, but friends. He's asked her for help with things, like when he asked Wynonna to stay with Kate. Like sure, she doesn't know everything but like — well, she doesn't know.

... Maybe it is different. Even Kate isn't quite sure how to really place her own relationship with the Lieutenant. There's a kind of friendship there too but... it's something else. Something more complex than that. He's always just... been there for her. Looking out for her. Treated her kindly, saved her. A Godsend. Someone she trusts and respects most out of everyone. She's been blessed to know him. ]

... For real? You'd do that?

[pacificator]

Yeah.

[ It's the only clear answer she's got; everything else is tied up in a bunch of stuff she doesn't know how to parse. They are friends and she knows he does worry, is probably worried right now for herself as well as for Kate.

And she— needs to see for herself that he's okay, too. Anything could have happened in the last few hours, someone else might have gone after him. He might be lost in the woods. She has no idea.

But none of that is anything she can say aloud; she'd only worry Kate. Wynonna affects a little of her blasé disinterest, as her gut tightens and tangles and squeezes again, as her thoughts worry at her like a dog. ]

I've got your back, kiddo. He can always yell at me again if he needs to yell at someone. I'm a way better target.

[castitas]

If we can get out of this without any yelling at all, I'd call it a win. [ That's honestly the preferable route. No yelling at any of them. And... really, part of her feels like they're all going to be too tired to do any. Not after... all of this.

Kate's quiet for a short while. Just concentrating on walking as they get closer and closer to town. The sky is back to normal, sure. But everything else..? ]

Can— can you make sure he's okay, too? [ There's a little pause, as if she's trying to put the words together. ] Everything's... been a lot. For him, too. I don't... really know how he's doing right now.

[pacificator]

Don't worry. He's next on my list.

[ Her voice is grim in her worry, her jaw tight as she escorts Kate through the trees and back toward the safety — however dubious — of the Community Hall. She doesn't really know how Little's doing right now, either, but she can make an educated guess and say: probably not great, considering the situation, which is a shit sandwich.

It gnaws at her, the need to find him, to know for herself if he's made it through in one piece or if some other new horrible thing has happened to him while she's been caught between places, but she does her best to keep it from her expression, to keep it from Kate. ]

Good thing we're talking again, huh? Or that would be really awkward.