Same Day, 1 a.m.
Udonna walked through Rootcore, cleaning up the last of the books and things left out over the day. The battle had ended only two hours earlier and the rangers had each gone to their own homes to sleep for the night. After recently finding out Nick was Bowen, he had moved in with her at Rootcore and he was sleeping soundly in his room, spread out on the covers, too tired to crawl under them. She smiled at the thought of him, her son. A strange noise came from the balcony that overlooked the forest. She slipped her head out the door and saw a figure sitting on the swing, the same one Chip and Vida had sat on when Vida had become a vampire, triggering Udonna to get the ingredients to save her. She squinted at the figure, who was hugging their knees on the swing, leaning against the armrest, head tilted backward.
"Davina?" She asked softly, recognizing the girl who sat huddled on the bench. She looked up from where she'd placed her head between her knees and smiled weakly.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." She said softly. Udonna smiled and walked over and sat on the swing after Davina swung her legs off the edge.
"Why are you here so late? Shouldn't you get home?" She asked the teenager who shrugged her shoulders, leaning back.
"I can't live there anymore. Not without her." She said quietly, her voice cracking.
"You miss your sister don't you." Udonna said, not asking, but stating the fact. Davina sighed and stood.
"I cannot stay in the palace with my mother any longer. I have to escape her." She said starting to pace. Udonna watched the girl pace angrily and smiled at her, standing up and touching her shoulder. Davina stopped and faced the older woman.
"You can always stay here." Udonna said softly. Davina smiled gratefully, nodded, and she followed her into the main room on her way to her new room.