0:00

You can't go home again,

0:02

they say, but that does not stop

0:05

you. It is rare for you

0:07

to have a day off arrested

0:09

from the burdens of the ever busy

0:11

present. But for old times

0:13

sake, you think, you might as well

0:15

visit the old hunting grounds the

0:18

home in which you were hunted.

0:21

You are surprised to find that the building

0:23

is blackened by fire and

0:25

the roof sunken in. The

0:27

door is cracked apart. The windows

0:30

from which you use to watch the winter

0:32

snowfall are blackened by so

0:34

were not shattered completely. Time

0:37

has been almost as kind to the house

0:39

as it has been to its one time

0:41

inhabitants. The floorboards

0:43

are reduced to ash. The furniture

0:46

fallen through into the basement below.

0:49

The wallpaper gone as if tingling

0:51

for the rest. and your piano is

0:54

only a memory. You

0:56

call out to see if any of the old ghosts

0:58

still look in the shadows, but

1:00

you are the only specter now,

1:03

a phantom in your own childhood,

1:06

your words alone echo

1:08

back. Hello from the

1:10

how Right

1:39

now, I sit amidst a family

1:41

of flamingos. They are

1:43

dead. They are stay.

1:46

And like myself, they are watching

1:48

a man of scales and fins and

1:50

mass drudge down the road, scanning

1:53

the forest four threats as he makes

1:55

his way towards a little house on

1:57

the far shore where a light is

1:59

on in the hallway

1:59

and the smell of dinner done

2:02

wafts from the kitchen window. The

2:05

theme of tonight's episode is

2:07

homecoming.

2:19

Rikud believed in love at first

2:22

sight, but he was seeing now that he'd

2:24

lost the opportunity. Then

2:26

again, maybe he was a creature devoid

2:28

of love. Maybe it was what

2:30

he called his vicious attraction. The

2:33

need that lurked deep in his spirit

2:35

it. If it sparkled in the sunlight,

2:38

he wanted it. If it was gold,

2:40

he had to have it. And if it gave

2:42

him attention and made him feel

2:44

lovable, helped him to forget

2:46

for a moment the depths to which he

2:48

had sunk, then he could not

2:51

live without it. If this

2:53

is love, it feels like being underwater,

2:56

he thought. A breathless almost

2:58

drowning is love possession.

3:01

Am I a thief? Perhaps

3:03

I crave what I will never be given

3:06

freely. He looked

3:08

up from his dire thoughts to find himself

3:10

in front of a house. The only one

3:12

nearby where rumors of new ghosts

3:14

within kept old visitors at

3:17

bay. A ripped screen over

3:19

the front door had been patched with

3:21

threat. flickering light warmed

3:23

to the curtains, he could see the hot bands

3:25

of flame through a wall, a

3:28

wood stove. And inside

3:30

as a massive heat that raccoon knew

3:32

immediately was a whisper

3:34

of a man. Rakau could

3:36

almost have stopped breathing. He

3:39

was unharmed, turning around in the

3:41

kitchen, working on something that

3:43

smelled like roast fish. Rakau

3:45

reached a hand of webbed claws out

3:47

to the door and thought for a

3:49

moment. He has built

3:51

a life here. Ritu thought.

3:53

As he said he would, Perhaps

3:56

it would be simpler if I did not

3:58

knock, returned to dwell

4:00

in the bog, forgot that

4:02

for a year was something more

4:04

than a hungry animal in the silt.

4:07

Maybe Barb still needs watchdogs.

4:10

Nolan would forget about me in

4:13

time, perhaps he already

4:15

has. A

4:17

bubble of panic burst from his lake

4:19

of sinus him and raccoon

4:21

knocked with his moss knuckled hand wrapped

4:23

on the door frame. There

4:25

was a pause, a clattering of

4:27

a dish set down. Nolan

4:30

stepped carefully into the hall, peered

4:32

towards the door. What

4:34

have I done? Rickoo thought.

4:36

if I am going to run, this is

4:38

my last chance. But

4:40

Ruckoo stood on the decaying porch

4:43

and Nolan drew near and the door

4:45

swung open with a shutter. No

4:48

one's heat glowed in the doorway and a

4:50

bitter regret spearriku's heart

4:52

like a harpoon. Rakau

4:54

opened his mouth but was frozen like

4:56

a winter lake, could not find any

4:58

words to fit this moment. The

5:00

wind rushed in his fins. I

5:04

was beginning to think he

5:06

wouldn't come at all, said

5:08

Nolan, face hot. And

5:10

to be honest, I wasn't

5:12

sure if I wanted you to. Rakuten

5:16

nodded but could not bring himself to

5:18

look away. you have

5:20

found a home for yourself.

5:23

He stuttered.

5:24

Good.

5:26

It's a work in progress. Nolan

5:28

said, would be a little

5:30

faster if it hadn't gotten

5:32

scorched by a flaming bird

5:34

messenger that someone sent after

5:37

me. So

5:39

it did find you. Ruckoo

5:41

nodded and looked up. Are

5:45

you alright? You

5:48

care about that now? Nolan

5:50

said and crossed his arms. I

5:52

said I wanted to live down

5:54

where there are other people. It's

5:56

not unreasonable. I

5:58

offered for you to come with me and you

6:00

said no. I can respect

6:02

that at least. But

6:03

then you set someone to drag me

6:06

back up the mountain to you.

6:09

I did. Riku

6:11

said and swallowed. felt

6:14

his facial fins flex some concern.

6:18

And after I asked them

6:20

to find you, I sat

6:22

for most of an hour in

6:24

Walt's cabin,

6:26

but I could not stay.

6:28

I hoped I would reach you before

6:31

the Omen did, but Even

6:33

for me, you are not easy

6:35

to find. Is

6:38

that why you're here then? Nolan

6:40

said. to

6:42

drag me back yourself?

6:45

No. Ruckoo said

6:48

no winter had killed him as much as

6:50

that question. he wavered on the poor

6:52

steps. I

6:53

am here for two

6:55

reasons to

6:57

make sure that you are alright.

7:00

and to say that I am sorry

7:04

for sending the omen. Yes.

7:06

But

7:07

more than that,

7:08

for treating you like any

7:11

other ill gotten gain

7:12

from the buyer.

7:14

The

7:14

things I have taken from pockets

7:17

I hold close in my horn

7:20

and bury so that no one else

7:22

can treasure them. And

7:24

I have felt the same

7:26

for you. But

7:29

you are not dead metal or

7:31

broken clockwork. I

7:34

am sorry that I did

7:36

not go with you.

7:39

It would have made things easier. No

7:42

one said. If you'd been

7:44

there, I met

7:46

people. A junk collector,

7:48

and a witch, and a personnel

7:51

filled with fireflies, I

7:54

wouldn't have felt safer. The

7:57

last few weeks have been the

7:59

worst of my life. Rickoo

8:02

said, had ran his claws against

8:04

the fins of his cheeks. Worse

8:06

than my early days still growing,

8:09

worse than the years spent working for

8:11

Barb. I

8:13

have missed you. You

8:16

are the only person to blame for

8:18

that. Nolan said and

8:20

leaned in the door frame. I

8:22

know. Said Rirku and

8:24

looked up might have met Nolan's

8:27

eyes. and

8:29

I regret that it has happened

8:31

this way between us. It

8:33

was good

8:34

for a time.

8:36

Very good.

8:40

Nolan started up and turned in the hall

8:42

for a moment. I think

8:44

the fish is done, he said,

8:46

and stepped out of the hall for the kitchen.

8:48

and called out. You should come inside.

8:50

We could talk about this over

8:52

dinner. Rickoo

8:54

was paralyzed again. as

8:56

if lightning had struck the lake surface.

8:59

It was offered this

9:01

time how easy it would be to step

9:03

up those desiccated stairs

9:05

and into that candle at home

9:07

Nolan had made, but

9:09

Annette held him back. An

9:11

anchor chain tangled around

9:13

his fins. it would not be the

9:15

right thing to do. He

9:17

did not deserve it. Not

9:19

after he had tried to ruin all of

9:21

this, for what? to

9:23

win an argument for

9:25

his own pride. If

9:27

I step into this house Raku

9:29

thought, I will only destroy

9:31

it. I did

9:34

not intend to stay long. Ruckoo

9:37

called and stepped down from the

9:39

porch stairs. The kitchen

9:41

window lifted open a little more and

9:43

Nolan peered out. I

9:44

hope this goes

9:47

well for you, Nolan. I

9:50

truly do. I

9:53

believe whatever you look for it,

9:55

you will find a

9:57

good life. I will

9:59

not be a part

9:59

of it.

10:01

I am a monster

10:04

and it is not because of

10:06

my guilt or fins or

10:08

claws. It

10:10

is who I am to

10:12

others. He

10:14

ground his razor teeth

10:16

and stepped quickly away from the porch,

10:18

walked from the house. Ruckoo,

10:22

Nolan called. Where

10:24

are you going? I

10:27

am glad you are alright, Nolan.

10:29

Likyu said loudly and felt

10:31

he was choking. Goodbye.

10:36

His eyes were irritated and he

10:38

erupted them. but then again he was not

10:40

usually out of the water so

10:42

long. The forest trail wound

10:44

away from the lakeside lot and

10:46

passed a cluster of plastic flamingos in

10:48

the underground. He could see

10:50

the main road ahead. And from

10:52

there, where would he go?

10:55

He would seek to lake. Far

10:57

enough from Nolan that he would not have

10:59

to worry about disturbing the man's

11:02

peace, and he would make a new

11:04

burrow for the winter and fill it with

11:06

reminders that he was only fit to

11:08

be alone. There was a

11:10

thud then, a weight that knocked him

11:12

off his feet. He looks down

11:14

to find Nolan with his arms

11:16

around Ruckoo's neck. Don't

11:18

go. Nolan said

11:20

panting for air. I

11:24

must. Riku said,

11:26

try to shift him gently away.

11:29

I put you in

11:31

danger.

11:31

I still

11:35

want you here. Nolan

11:37

said, catching his breath. You

11:39

can't

11:42

be my whole world, ruckoo,

11:46

but you're one of my favorite parts

11:48

of it.

11:49

I I made

11:50

a bed for you in the underwater

11:53

room. Dinner is

11:55

for two. You

11:57

did something awful, but

12:00

I'm I'm not a

12:02

saint either. And I've

12:04

said goodbye to almost every

12:07

person I've ever cared

12:09

about when they even knew

12:11

I existed. I

12:13

don't know how we go forward from

12:15

here, but I know

12:17

that I don't want to say goodbye

12:20

to you.

12:22

I do

12:25

not deserve to stay here with

12:27

you, Nolan. Ruckoo said

12:29

quietly.

12:31

No. You don't.

12:34

Nolan said with a sigh and moved

12:36

off the crew as he sat up.

12:39

but nobody deserves anything.

12:42

And I think if you find

12:44

something you like in life,

12:46

you keep it. You don't

12:48

have to be good enough or something.

12:51

If you feel like you could belong

12:53

here, then stay with me.

12:56

And if you really don't care anymore,

12:58

then leave. I

12:59

do care. Ruckoo

13:02

said and sat forward with

13:04

concern flared his fins Of

13:06

course, I care, but I

13:08

have made it a reputable mistake.

13:12

Absolutely,

13:12

you have. Nolan said

13:15

and got to his feet and cracked his

13:17

back. That happens

13:20

once in a while, I think,

13:22

Dinner is getting cold.

13:26

Nolan turned and began walking back for

13:28

the house. Rakoust asked for a

13:30

moment blared at the flamingos.

13:32

They stared back with mud battered

13:34

eyes. You saw

13:36

none of this Rakku

13:39

growled and stood up, dusted

13:41

off his fins and followed

13:43

Nolan towards the house on the edge of the

13:45

lake and held close

13:47

a feeling like

13:51

happiness.

14:02

high over the forest canopy

14:05

watching. The Ravens are

14:07

gone now, and no one

14:09

knows that we are here.

14:12

The wind shifts in great

14:14

currents, washes over the

14:16

trees below, spruce

14:18

and pine, birch, and

14:20

willows. Swighing and welcome.

14:22

From here, one would barely notice

14:24

the speck of the old Duckworth

14:26

House on the lake. or miles

14:28

away, Scout Post two, where they

14:30

are putting up banners and

14:32

flags, stringing together scraps

14:34

of fabric and flowers. From

14:37

here, one cannot hear the

14:39

activity of clothes

14:41

and friends being mended. Lights

14:43

repaired and kitchen fires

14:45

nurtured. to ablaze.

14:48

Up here, it is almost quiet.

14:50

Save for one sound growing

14:52

louder by the moment, disrupting

14:54

the songs of sharp wing

14:56

crickets and great toads. It

14:58

is a catastrophic roar of a

15:00

helicopter far past

15:02

its prime. black and

15:04

spray painted and red murals.

15:07

Chief among them, the word, stone

15:09

maids, and the crowd of hands

15:11

clamoring for change. We

15:13

go now to one who has been on a helicopter

15:16

for the first time.

15:29

A

15:36

helicopter is a terrible way to

15:38

fly, thought Olivier. The

15:40

wind rushing in your ears as you lift

15:42

yourself into the air with hurricane

15:44

winds is loud, but

15:46

the beat of rotors overhead for hours

15:48

at the time is unbearable. The

15:51

sound still echoed in her ears

15:53

as she disembarked into the

15:55

clearing. Entire states had

15:57

passed beneath her feet while she

15:59

slept. Montana and North

16:01

Dakota and Minnesota, distant

16:03

mountains passing beneath the tiny

16:05

windows of the chopper. every

16:07

part of her ached from the ride.

16:10

Behind her, Giigiri helped Danielle to

16:12

get down from the helicopter door

16:15

and Percy wrapped in silver

16:17

held her other hand. It was

16:19

strange to have the ghosts so

16:21

present. And if the metal face

16:23

was a little uncanny, Olivier

16:25

wasn't going to say anything,

16:27

Percy seemed happy. The

16:30

riots were both stretched and

16:32

grunting dramatically. And for a moment

16:34

Olivier was hard pressed to tell which

16:36

was which. And beyond the

16:38

original members of their road trip,

16:40

there were four adults. Marco

16:42

and Brooklyn who talked in hushed

16:44

giggly whispers to each other and

16:46

apparently were directly responsible for

16:48

a great amount of their comfort over the last

16:50

many months, and a woman

16:52

named Cindy who flew helicopters

16:54

and didn't offer personal details.

16:57

and worse for wear, but still

16:59

standing, Valerie made stone.

17:01

The flight had been largely

17:03

quiet because it was impossible to

17:06

hear thing inside of the helicopter. But

17:08

also Olivier had been

17:10

exhausted, and it was enough to bask in the

17:12

fact that they had all escaped successfully.

17:15

and now she walked in fresh air

17:17

and deep black pine trees again.

17:19

When did I start to think

17:21

of this wretched forest as a

17:23

home she wondered? Welcome

17:26

home, everyone. Riot Crowe,

17:28

as Danielle settled into her chair.

17:30

The wheels were maybe not the best for

17:32

the forest floor. Percy deposited

17:35

Nimbus into her lap where the

17:37

cat stayed and purred. It's

17:39

strange being down here.

17:42

Brooklyn said shouldering a bag as

17:44

Cindy handed out luggage. Not

17:47

from behind a screen in

17:49

box Polaris, This

17:51

forest wasn't like this when we went

17:53

into the bunker. Valerie

17:55

added glancing around at the tree

17:58

line. Well, ecological disaster

18:00

will do that for you. Marco

18:02

quipped hands on his hips. His

18:04

botulus corporation graze were too

18:06

drab for his smile. Nothing

18:09

to joke about, frown,

18:11

Cindy, and shudder, and shoulders are

18:13

black backpack. This places the end

18:15

of the human race if left to

18:17

its own devices? Does it

18:19

have to be? Said diggary,

18:21

and they looked up from I

18:25

am not sure what category

18:27

I belong to. I have

18:29

been a friend of valories

18:31

and a wife of

18:34

Cindy's, but I am

18:36

also new, connected

18:39

in some way to this place.

18:41

but I live among you

18:43

without trouble. Rizana had

18:46

one goal and she would have

18:48

done anything for it. said Cindy looking

18:50

grave. It was to end

18:52

this so that people can survive

18:55

living people. And if this forest

18:57

keeps spreading, they will not.

18:59

You have to remember that deep down somewhere.

19:02

Dignity looked down at the

19:04

blanket of black needles beneath

19:06

their feet. I

19:08

believe I do. Hey,

19:11

said Percy stepping up beside

19:14

Dickary, metal shoes crunching in the

19:16

underbrush. There will be

19:18

time to worry about this

19:20

later. Let's just get back to the Scott

19:22

Post. Okay? Please.

19:25

Said Danielle, as Dickary helped to guide her

19:27

chairs through the tango of weeds and

19:30

low shrubs. After carrying you off

19:32

for like three crazy rescues,

19:34

I'm ready for a rest. Olivia

19:37

kicked up into the air, The

19:39

weather was familiar here, the

19:41

sky she had grown up beneath,

19:43

the storms she had first learned to

19:45

speak to. The wind carried her

19:47

high over the trees, enough to

19:49

scout out the road to the scout post

19:51

with all its little flags and

19:53

tied branches. This

19:56

way, Olivier pointed and called

19:58

down. The group began to trundle

20:00

through the underbrush and she

20:02

descended again. leave stirring in her wake

20:04

because she caught up with riots towards the

20:06

back of the crowd. Sorry

20:08

if I bore out your shoulder

20:10

on the way here. Olivier

20:12

said quietly. I didn't

20:14

even realize I fell asleep until

20:17

we were landing. It's

20:19

okay. Riot said and pulled on

20:21

her sword. She had the belt looped around her

20:24

shoulder. I'm

20:25

glad you got some rest after

20:28

that. horrible place.

20:31

I do

20:33

feel better. Olivier said and glanced

20:35

up to the rest of the group ahead.

20:38

Is everything okay with

20:40

you and other riot? I'm

20:45

not sure. Ryan said and

20:47

watched the identical girl ahead of

20:49

her. Ryan came in a little closer

20:51

to Olivier, talked in a

20:53

confidential whisper. I

20:55

was so angry at her for,

20:57

like, existing. And

21:00

maybe I still should be because she

21:02

totally ratted us out to

21:04

vodka. but I don't know.

21:07

What do you think, Ollie?

21:09

I Olivier

21:13

side. Maybe I'm

21:15

biased, but when I was in Downing

21:17

Hill, they made me

21:19

want to be there so

21:21

bad. It was the only kind

21:23

of attention, love, I

21:26

guess, that I knew. And

21:28

you know more than anyone

21:30

that I did awful things to try and get that

21:33

back. And once it was

21:35

gone for good, I felt like

21:37

I didn't know who I

21:39

was anymore. like

21:41

everything I thought I was going to be

21:43

was gone with it. And

21:46

when I look at her right now,

21:48

that's kind of what I

21:50

see. But you're

21:53

fine now, said riot.

21:56

Maybe a little stuck up sometimes, but

21:58

not trying to kidnap

21:59

me,

22:00

and you've got so much that's cool

22:03

about you. Olivier

22:05

blushed and looked down. Why

22:07

it was quiet for a few minutes inside?

22:11

She said,

22:13

I really need

22:13

to stop making nice with the people who

22:16

try to kill me. She

22:18

jogged ahead a few paces to catch

22:20

up with other riot. Hey,

22:23

riot said, Olivier couldn't help but

22:25

listen in following a few paces

22:27

behind. I

22:29

just wanted to say I'm

22:32

sorry for all the

22:34

possessive stuff earlier.

22:36

You don't have to

22:38

be other riot. You

22:41

can be also riot if

22:43

you want. Thanks. Set

22:46

her reflection that length stepping over

22:48

a fallen chunk towards the road.

22:51

I appreciate the

22:53

sentiment. You know? But

22:56

no offense.

22:59

I

22:59

don't want to be you.

23:02

I'm not you.

23:04

I'm just made of the same

23:07

stuff. I want to

23:09

be something of my

23:11

own. I don't know yet

23:13

what

23:14

that is. That's

23:16

okay too. Said riot and

23:19

nodded. That's

23:19

good.

23:21

But because

23:24

these people are going to ask, and

23:26

frankly, I'm still not sure how

23:28

to explain how you exist.

23:31

Do you want to just be sisters?

23:34

Also riot

23:36

stopped and Olivier and riot held

23:38

up as well. Watch the group

23:40

walk ahead a few moments.

23:43

Jeez. You've got to

23:46

stop making me cry. said

23:48

also riot and rubbed at her

23:50

face.

23:51

Yeah. I I

23:53

can live with sisters.

23:55

Also riot

23:58

took a few paces to catch up with Valerie,

24:00

and riot fell behind

24:03

beside Olivier. Well,

24:05

she muttered. Happy?

24:07

I didn't ask

24:10

you to do that. Elovea

24:12

shrugged.

24:13

That's all you. In

24:15

so many ways,

24:17

Riot said, and with the last step,

24:19

they cleared the last of the brush and

24:22

arrived on the road to the scout post. was

24:24

a muddied path of the northern artery

24:27

winding through the woods towards a large

24:29

clearing, but what occupied the

24:31

clearing was not familiar to

24:33

her. The scout post was once a

24:35

haphazard fortress of sheet

24:37

metal and raw lumber parked in the

24:39

middle of a clearing of tree stumps

24:41

and makeshift gardens. but

24:43

now a building encompassed

24:45

almost the whole clearing with

24:47

walls grown of a great thicket of tree

24:49

roots occasional patches of windows

24:51

or metal sealed together by

24:53

the arboreal wall. The

24:56

Scoutpost doors were set in a new

24:58

frame of twisted branches

25:00

and the lookout towers loomed high

25:02

over the tallest pines.

25:04

What happened here? Said

25:06

riot and blinked. It wasn't

25:09

like this one we left it. Was it?

25:12

I have

25:15

no idea. said Olivier.

25:17

It definitely wasn't.

25:21

This is your home sweet

25:23

home. said Cindy, as the group came to halt

25:25

a few paces from the great doors.

25:28

Not exactly, said

25:30

Riot and held her sword close.

25:32

she could not help but be reminded of the wall

25:34

of trees that had once surrounded the house

25:37

of the instrumentalist. Deggery

25:39

Are you sure you should? Olivier

25:42

began, but the revenant was already at the

25:44

door and gave it a knock with their

25:46

knife edged hand. A

25:48

moment of stillness passed. And

25:50

then the door swung open and

25:52

Burn was on the other side with her arm

25:54

in a sling and violet sat

25:56

in a rock can chair beside her. And the scout

25:58

post beyond was full of faces that

26:01

Olivier knew, Revidence and

26:03

scouts and children, and they

26:05

are smelled of soup and fresh

26:07

flowers and banner strong across the vast

26:09

central courtyard red.

26:12

Welcome home.

26:19

there Did you

26:21

feel that dreamer?

26:23

That

26:24

is the moment where one

26:26

or another of Lady Ethel Mallory's

26:29

broadcasts grow loud and

26:31

interrupt my narrative. and I wait for disruption

26:33

to quiet so that I may continue,

26:36

but there is

26:38

none. The dreaming

26:41

transmissions are dead for there is no

26:43

one to order their schedule.

26:45

It is strange to

26:47

have this silence. It has become

26:50

such a part of the routine

26:52

after all. Almost every

26:54

night I have spoken to you, she has

26:56

chimed in to irritate me.

26:59

Do not think by reflecting

27:01

on the absence that I am complaining.

27:03

The night has finally

27:05

come when I do not have to hear

27:08

her. bladdergon about cost benefit analyses

27:11

and profit margins and

27:13

lifetime value that

27:15

alone is a cause for celebration

27:17

We return

27:20

now to Olivier Song.

27:28

Olivier had never been to a

27:30

party. There were little

27:32

celebrations in Downing Hill,

27:35

of course, at the end of the school

27:37

term, typically quite tired

27:39

and formal things quickly

27:41

escaped. A friend might bring you

27:43

a gift on your birth day. Friday would

27:45

hurt someone Olivier disliked for

27:47

instance. But after that,

27:49

even after the death of the

27:51

instrumentalist, celebrations were

27:53

fraught with mourning and a somber

27:55

remembrance of the many lives that

27:57

Solomon reads so violently dismembered.

28:00

So it was in a

28:02

sense her first real party,

28:04

and there was much to celebrate

28:06

beneath its banners. the commemoration

28:09

of Scout Post two. Olivia was

28:11

still a little unclear on what had

28:13

happened, except that they had repelled

28:16

an attack from Port Freedom and the Froglands in the

28:18

same night, and they somehow

28:20

upset the forest. And Jonah

28:22

Duckworth, whose terrible visage

28:24

Olivier was familiar with,

28:26

was involved. No matter what the

28:28

specifics were, it was true that

28:30

the scout post was bigger, with more

28:32

space for gardens and more rooms

28:35

for guests. its walls and

28:37

towers taller, and this

28:39

construction was largely a bark that seemed

28:41

to grown from the forest floor

28:43

itself. like the roots of some bathtub

28:45

and ancient tree.

28:48

We'd like to propose a

28:50

toast, Violet said, standing

28:52

with some difficulty in front of the bonfire,

28:55

and Byrne glanced around the gathered

28:57

crowd, which hushed quickly.

28:58

to our brand's new

29:01

Scott Post too. And we

29:03

are happy to welcome some new

29:05

members to our Scott Post family.

29:07

Please straight them kindly, as we were

29:09

all newcomers at one time or another,

29:12

Riot's mother, Valerie

29:14

Madstone, and her

29:16

sister. Yes.

29:17

yeah Buck

29:18

silver here has

29:20

escaped from Ford Freedom

29:22

and Daniel and

29:25

Marc Co and Brooklyn have come all the

29:27

way from California. We've

29:29

traveled miles to be here together.

29:32

We fought off people who wished to

29:34

destroy us, and we've made a very

29:36

good soup. Enjoy the

29:39

night. Vilot returned

29:41

to a bench by the tables of food,

29:43

and the crowd began to filter into

29:45

groups of conversation and increasingly

29:48

began to dance. The yogurt that

29:50

had once thrown a car at

29:52

Olivier sat in a far corner eating

29:54

whole squashes. Nimbus

29:56

kept to the upper walkways avoiding

29:58

the dogs that the giant had

30:00

brought. A sandy haired boy

30:02

darted through the crowd with a toy

30:04

drum under one arm. Percy

30:07

kept close to DiGori, the light of

30:09

the fire glinting in his silver

30:11

face. DiGori was

30:13

deluged by the other so together

30:15

creations that had once haunted

30:17

Solomon's lawn. Some seemed to

30:19

carry more stitches than Olivier

30:22

remembered. In the firelight, one could almost

30:24

mistake them for human, a far

30:26

cry from the uniformed scarecrows

30:28

Olivier had first met.

30:31

Zelda watched from her chair

30:33

beyond the dancers, the firelight

30:35

glowing in her eyes. Olivia

30:37

felt a familiar pang of guilt for once

30:39

trying to steal her away, for

30:42

what Olivier wondered, for

30:45

nothing. Solomon would not have so much

30:47

as thanked to be, And for all that

30:49

Downing Hill had represented in

30:51

Olivier's thoughts, was it really

30:53

worth ruining a life the way

30:55

Olivier had tried to do?

30:58

Beside her was Jonah talking a

31:00

loud conversation, Olivier

31:02

avoided his green tinge to glance

31:04

just in case he could read thoughts.

31:07

Demand in the chair beside Jonah seemed to

31:09

have some changes of his own,

31:11

an arm grown of the same black

31:13

bark as the Skoutpost walls.

31:15

German shepherd laying like lions

31:17

at his feet. Riot stayed

31:19

close to her mother the first

31:21

hour or so and also Riot

31:24

disappeared entirely. Olivier

31:26

could not blame her. She needed space

31:28

to process things too.

31:30

As the Moon rose over the scout

31:32

post celebration, Olivier could

31:34

not help but wonder, was

31:37

Friday still out there?

31:38

Was she all right?

31:40

Perhaps without Olivier around,

31:42

she'd opened up, made other

31:45

friends. Olivier hoped so

31:47

rather than her being alone at Downing

31:49

Hill with only faceless librarians

31:52

and scatterbrained archivists for

31:54

a company. Hey, Ryan

31:56

said suddenly close to

31:58

Olivier's ear and she jumped. Ryan

32:01

laughed. Someone's letting their

32:03

guard down, Maybe

32:05

a little more than I used to.

32:07

Olivier said, then crossed her

32:10

arms.

32:10

How's your mom? Well,

32:13

she's complaining a lot about the helicopter

32:16

seats being uncomfortable and that the

32:18

RV lotion got blown

32:20

up. but I told her it was better than being in a dreaming

32:23

pod. It does suck that the

32:25

RV is gone, said

32:27

Olivier. Wyatt extended a bowl

32:29

of soup And Olivier accepted

32:31

it. Seemed like it

32:33

had a lot of old memories for

32:35

her. Do you have

32:37

a spoon? It had memories

32:39

for me too. Ryan had said, and

32:41

drank from the bowl like a cup and

32:43

smacked her lips. There

32:46

was stuff in there that I wanted to

32:48

save, a guitar

32:50

from Walt. I don't know why I

32:52

packed it. I didn't get a chance

32:54

to play. his tools and

32:56

stuff, and some of my scout

32:58

post things, and

33:00

all your books, it's

33:02

it okay.

33:03

okay Olivier

33:04

said and reluctantly took a sip of

33:06

the soup. It fell wrong without utensils.

33:10

I read all of them. I

33:12

don't know if it's a constellation or not, but

33:15

the

33:15

RV was

33:15

getting robbed by the counts folks when

33:18

it was blown up. So

33:20

who knows where our

33:22

stuff is? But it

33:24

is just stuff. Ryan had

33:26

said as if reminding herself.

33:29

Nobody died. And we've

33:31

rescued my mom and

33:34

Danielle and even

33:36

people who weren't planning on rescuing.

33:38

So I'm thankful for that.

33:41

And I've got my sword and the

33:43

almanac. Those count the

33:45

most for me. and

33:47

the Almanac's done. Right?

33:49

Said Olivia. Right? I've sat down

33:51

beside her on a picnic blanket. What

33:54

will you draw now?

33:57

Well, I'll have to start a volume

33:59

too,

33:59

obviously. Said

34:00

riot, and gulped down the last

34:03

of her soup without chewing. She

34:04

watched the crowd twist and lunge

34:07

in time with the music. We

34:09

should dance, Wyatt,

34:12

announced. It's square dancing. I

34:14

only know how to walt. Olivier said,

34:16

but by the time she finished speaking,

34:18

riot had dragged her to

34:22

her feet and was pulling her into the crowd. The instructions

34:24

for the next dance were given,

34:26

confusing and counterintuitive,

34:28

and Olivier could not get her feet in the

34:32

right places. and was no more the wiser

34:34

by the time the explanation was done and the dent was about to start.

34:38

Ollie, Ryan

34:40

whispered. Stop being in your

34:42

head so much. Just

34:44

follow my lead. Just

34:46

like falling Olivier

34:48

thought. There's

34:49

no controlling how you fall. She tumbled from

34:51

one scout post face to the

34:53

next, a whirlwind of hands and

34:55

trades and spins, but

34:58

by the end of verse she was back to holding riots, sweaty

35:01

hands in hers. Olivier

35:03

laughed and did not worry about the

35:05

wildness of her hair,

35:08

the wrinkles in her collar, the occasional trip over

35:10

the corner of her cloak.

35:12

And in time, the music slowed.

35:15

and Riot had a hand on

35:17

her hip, and Olivier's hand was

35:19

on Riot's shoulder, and they turned

35:21

in the firelight beneath the moon

35:23

carried by a wind ushered by

35:25

pitch black pines. Ryah's

35:27

face was closer than usual,

35:29

but Olivier was already familiar

35:31

with the reflect of her gray blue eyes and

35:33

each acne spot and freckle.

35:36

She pressed her face up

35:37

to riot and

35:40

kissed her. and

35:40

was met with one in return and many more

35:42

before the fire dwindled. I'm

35:46

falling, Olivier

35:48

Thoth. and I'm free to

35:50

fall.

35:56

I

35:58

am not

36:03

supposed to

36:06

have a home. If this agrees you, then you

36:08

do not understand what

36:10

I am. I am

36:12

supposed to

36:14

be impartial for one must

36:16

be in order to narrate an

36:18

impartial universe. It is

36:20

a delicate thing when you are a hurricane

36:22

who has taken to watching butter

36:24

flies. I am not telling you a story. I

36:26

am telling you the story.

36:29

I am the voice,

36:31

but ironically enough for

36:34

me, not the vision. Light has

36:36

no home. It is everywhere

36:39

except the shadow. Dream

36:41

is also everywhere except the

36:44

waking. They are neither

36:46

tools for love or hate. For

36:48

temptation or

36:50

salvation. They only are and are nowhere and

36:52

everywhere at once, and their

36:54

influence is scarcely remembered

36:57

by the dawn. So

37:00

too is my mentors as

37:02

dreaming all that is for

37:04

it is his domain to begin

37:07

with. And as a student gifted with

37:09

it, I must not misuse

37:11

my power. I may

37:14

orate but

37:16

not affect may speak, but lay no head or

37:18

claw or needle upon the

37:20

tapestry as it is

37:22

woven. And

37:24

yet,

37:26

have come far with these little

37:28

people. And I see

37:30

goodness and love and all

37:33

that I have longed for in them.

37:36

And in the embrace of these

37:38

pines, I am held by the

37:40

memory of their maker. I

37:42

am ruined.

37:44

My purpose corrupted, and

37:46

I will lay my needle and

37:49

add a stitch here are

37:51

not there, put eyes

37:54

into the backing where no one can

37:56

see them. I will

37:58

keep fire and worm and

38:00

moth from their Canvas,

38:02

and we will see together whose

38:04

portrait is being created.

38:06

We go now

38:09

to a portrait.

38:18

Marzuk said

38:25

an old woman and also

38:28

Riot froze. Her bowl was

38:30

empty and the stew of boiled

38:32

meat and celery and potato

38:34

and carrot was better than all the packaged meals she'd eaten at

38:36

box and drama, but she

38:38

hesitated. There were so many

38:40

new people

38:42

to meet more than she'd ever been surrounded by, didn't

38:44

want to come across as greedy.

38:48

Take it.

38:50

said the woman. She had a kind wrinkled face, but

38:52

a sharpness in her eyes, and

38:54

flowers in her hair. I'm

38:57

sorry, I didn't say your name at

38:59

the speech, but your mother mentioned

39:02

it was

39:04

under consideration. Something like that. Also riot

39:06

sat beside the woman on the bench

39:08

held the bowl in her lap.

39:10

Dancers were beginning by the fire ahead

39:12

of them.

39:14

She's not my mother. She

39:17

said quietly. Not

39:20

really. not really It's

39:23

complicated, but I don't

39:25

really belong with

39:28

anyone. Oh, I'm sure Valerie

39:30

wouldn't agree.

39:32

said the woman. I'm sure she wouldn't

39:34

either, said also riot,

39:36

but it's the truth. The

39:40

woman was quiet for a moment,

39:42

and riot had a few spoonfuls of

39:44

her soup and shivered. The

39:46

breeze was much colder here than the placid halls

39:49

of a dreaming box. Well,

39:52

while you think about your name,

39:55

I'm Violet. It's nice to have you

39:57

here. It occurred to arrive that she'd never

39:59

heard

39:59

those words quite in

40:02

that order. And as Violet

40:04

spoke, she put a coat around

40:06

Wyatt's shoulders. Wyatt

40:07

might have objected, but the coat

40:09

was warm, and she pulled it

40:11

around her shoulders gratefully. Thank you.

40:13

She said, I hope it's not

40:15

a bother. It seems like there's

40:17

already so many

40:20

people to take care of here.

40:22

When you take care of each other, it's a

40:24

violet. Everyone has

40:28

a place Everyone contributes in their own

40:30

way. Some people peel

40:32

vegetables, some cook, some

40:35

forage, some teach. each Some

40:38

people fill our lives with arts and music.

40:41

That's virtual there on the

40:43

fiddle, a real talent. What

40:47

if you're not good for anything? Said

40:49

also, riot. If everything

40:52

you're for

40:54

is already taken. Hasn't

40:56

happened yet? Violet

40:58

Sniff. Everyone

41:02

has something And if you're not

41:04

sure what it is, we'll give you the

41:06

chance to try things

41:08

out. Riot found a place

41:10

eventually working with Walt. I never knew

41:11

I liked gardening until my fifties,

41:14

you know? People would follow

41:15

surprises. I'm sure

41:17

you're good at something.

41:19

more than anyone else in the scout post, but

41:22

it's alright

41:22

to take some time to

41:24

find where you fit. I

41:26

wish you were my mom. Ryan

41:30

said and then looked down and her

41:32

cheeks burned as she realized she'd

41:34

set it out

41:35

loud. Sorry.

41:38

that came out wrong. I never got

41:40

the chance to

41:41

have a daughter, Violet said,

41:43

and smiled briefly.

41:46

I think about what she'd

41:48

be like from time to time.

41:52

Sometimes a Lucille, sometimes

41:55

a clementine. But if she was like you,

41:57

I'd be happy. Keep your

42:00

chin

42:00

up and enjoy the

42:02

night.

42:03

And if you need anything, anything at

42:06

all, you let

42:07

me know. Do

42:10

you

42:10

want your co pack? Also,

42:13

Ryan said, Hang on to it

42:15

for me. Violet said.

42:18

Riot nodded politely and finished

42:20

her soup and escapes through

42:22

the crowd so she could be embarrassed some

42:24

place without people. There

42:26

were parapits, walkways at the

42:28

tops of the walls, but they seemed to

42:30

be home to clusters of

42:32

stargazers or romantic couples.

42:34

She looked up higher. The lookout

42:36

nest seemed empty.

42:38

She approached the tallest and began to climb a sheer ladder of

42:40

wooden rums and not a drop that

42:42

stretched up a tree trunk into

42:44

the night sky. She might have

42:48

been six feet up by the time she pulled herself through a

42:50

trap door and into the lookout's

42:52

nest, and then my twin picked

42:54

up around

42:56

her. She was thankful that she had the jacket now and nestled

42:58

inside of it. It was a sunny

43:00

yellow with embroidered patches on the shoulders

43:04

and back. Peeking over

43:06

the edge, she could see the dentures far

43:08

below. The people who had carried

43:10

her away from box Atlas scattered

43:12

in the crowd. beyond was a

43:15

new view, though. And she felt as

43:17

though the host of pines beyond the

43:19

scout post wall was watching

43:22

her. Two can play at that game she thought.

43:24

There was a thud then as

43:26

a huge dark shape descended

43:29

from the sky came over the guardrail

43:31

onto the lookout platform with her. It arrived in an

43:34

instant and also riot

43:36

darted back. looked

43:38

up to find a girl staring at her from the edge

43:40

of the platform. She had dark

43:42

skin and the firelight reflected

43:45

in her round glasses. and

43:47

brown eyes washed her

43:50

expectedly.

43:51

Hello? Said

43:54

also riot. and looked around. The girl had practically fallen

43:56

onto the platform, but there was only

43:58

a broom in her hands and no

44:00

helicopter or drone to

44:02

be seen. you don't

44:04

exactly look happy to

44:06

see me. The other girl

44:08

remarked, a flicker of confusion

44:10

on her face. I'm

44:12

sorry.

44:14

I didn't oh,

44:16

Ryan stuttered.

44:18

I think

44:18

I might have made a

44:21

mistake. said the girl pushing back her fluffy hair

44:23

in exasperation. They're out

44:26

of control and

44:28

they're giving me a chance now, a real chance

44:31

to help mom and dad, but it's a

44:34

carrot on a string.

44:36

Right? I'm not stupid. They

44:38

won't give me things

44:40

unless I prove how much of a good soldier I can be

44:42

and the other girl trailed

44:44

off. Right.

44:48

Are

44:48

you okay?

44:52

That's

44:52

not me.

44:54

Said

44:55

also rioted slowly. I'm

44:58

sorry. I I wish I

45:01

was.

45:01

I'm not

45:06

riot. what

45:06

do you mean? The girl said and shook her

45:09

head in confusion. Is

45:12

this like a you're

45:14

changing your name thing

45:16

or a You don't

45:18

want to see me thing. Neither said

45:23

also riot and raised her

45:26

hands. I look like

45:28

her. I am literally

45:30

just not who you're looking for.

45:33

I I mean, she's

45:35

down there. look Look.

45:38

Also riot leaned over the edge

45:40

and pointed. picked out riot in the crowd

45:43

below, dancing with Olivier in slow

45:45

circles. She felt the flying girl

45:47

lean over as well. far

45:49

below them riot and Olivier

45:52

kissed and continued to do so as

45:54

they danced.

45:56

Oh,

45:56

said the

45:57

stranger. I'm

46:00

sorry, said also riot.

46:05

the you could go

46:06

down and tell her

46:08

whatever it is or

46:10

I could give her a message.

46:14

No. It's

46:16

it's okay. Set the

46:18

girl at the glasses. Also

46:20

riots smelled something distinct for

46:22

a moment. like wet

46:24

animal. Are you sure?

46:26

Said riot. The stranger set

46:28

her broom in the air beyond the platform,

46:31

and with casual grace leaped onto

46:33

it. Can you do me a favor?

46:35

The stranger called back over

46:38

her shoulder. anything said also

46:40

rioted and kicked herself

46:42

internally. Don't tell her

46:44

I came by. The stranger

46:48

said, It'll just be easier that

46:50

way. Also riot began to

46:52

speak, but the stranger's brooms

46:54

seemed to wrestle

46:56

and crack and then she

46:58

was gone, sailing far past

47:00

the moonlight into the

47:02

darkness. Also riot

47:04

shook her head and washed until the girl

47:06

was gun and turned her gaze down to the party below. She

47:08

was a world away from

47:11

the botular corporation a

47:14

world away from Lady Ethel Malory, from

47:16

her father, from Melanie's warm

47:19

smiles, from Anderson Faust,

47:21

and his probing needles. She

47:24

was a world away from riot mate stone

47:26

up here, a world

47:28

of her own. Whose

47:31

world is she wondered. Maybe

47:34

clement

47:34

times she thought.

47:37

Maybe mine.

47:49

Home

47:52

home coming comings,

47:55

long majority Long the

47:57

road, long the path that winds

47:59

and

47:59

winds harsh the fires and the

48:02

suns and the winds,

48:04

cruel the

48:06

thickets and the grasping claws of winter and

48:08

the teeth of the beasts beyond

48:10

the road. But kind

48:12

are the strangers. at

48:15

the ocean breeze and the signs that

48:17

guide your way through strange

48:20

towns lead you with uncertain

48:22

steps back past

48:24

every milestone you begin to recognize the

48:26

landscape, until the streets are as

48:28

familiar as old friends,

48:30

until the numbers of

48:32

the houses come to the one

48:34

you know by heart.

48:36

It will still be the same when

48:38

you walk in again and slow off

48:40

your bags and your boots. but

48:43

it will not feel like it. Everything is where you left

48:44

it, but the feeling persists

48:47

that something is different. That

48:50

thing is you for you never return home

48:52

unchanged by the world beyond

48:55

it. Until you

48:56

step in through the front door,

48:59

I am your loyal host, Nicky Nick,

49:02

waiting like a key beneath the

49:04

doormat for your

49:06

return to the

49:09

hala woods.

49:14

Hello from the hallowitz is written and produced

49:17

by William a woman. Hello.

49:19

That's me. If you

49:21

enjoyed this show, please don't forget

49:23

to follow it and share it with a friend. The

49:26

bonus story that goes with this episode

49:28

is called what to pack, and it's

49:30

available on the show's patreon at

49:32

patreon dot com slash hallow

49:34

woods. Because we operate without ads

49:36

or sponsors, our supporters are all

49:38

that keeps this show going. Plus,

49:40

supporters get weekly bonus stories behind the

49:42

scenes content exclusive merch, and even more. Merchandise and

49:44

episode transcripts are available at hello

49:46

from the hallowitz dot

49:48

com. You're can even find us

49:50

on social media at at the hallow

49:52

woods. Music is used under license

49:54

from artless dot com,

49:56

our

49:56

opening team is forest overture by

49:58

Heska Raz, and the closing theme is farewell by

49:59

Malva Sittman and

50:02

Matan Efrat. Until

50:04

next time dreamers, I avoid going to any school dances for

50:06

a little while. You never know when

50:08

a classmate will develop psychic powers and

50:11

set the place on fire. and

50:13

that would really derail

50:16

your

50:16

education.