Supporting Pieces

Carol froze.

Lilac stood quietly with her hand on her hip. She regarded them patiently from above. The anger that had terrified Carol was gone from her voice, but she spoke firmly. Carol knew that she expected an answer. Torque got to his feet a little too quickly.

"Oh, we were just talking about-"

"I ran away from home."

Carol burst. The words escaped her mouth with a yelp. She shot to her feet so fast she almost overbalanced. Slowly, she replayed what she'd just said through her mind. A horrible bolt of dread shot through her. She braced for the explosion to come.

It didn't.

Lilac's reaction built slowly. She went still. Pure, undiluted shock froze her every muscle. It spread across her face. She stared at Carol in shock for a few seconds. Then, her face fell. Lilac studied Carol with a strange, sad, wistful expression. She seemed so tired. Carol felt like she'd been seen for the first time. Her anxiety began to fade away. She knew instantly that Lilac understood. Lilac wasn't going to scream. She wasn't going to shout. She stepped forward…

…and pulled Carol into the gentlest hug she'd ever had in her life.

Lilac was warm. Her heat radiated through Carol and drove the chill of the forest away. A gloved hand gently cradled the back of Carol's head. A second cradled her shoulders. Carol lay her head against Lilac's cheek. She could feel the rise and fall of her chest. She'd needed this. All the stress and terror from the last three days evaporated in an instant. Lilac chased the demons away. Carol finally believed Torque. It was over. She was understood.

Everything was going to be ok.

Lilac held her there for ten full seconds, the longest Carol had ever been held. She wasn't used to this sort of stuff. She instinctively began to break away, but Lilac clung to her.

"Not yet." she whispered. "Just a few more minutes. Please."

Her voice was full of grief. Carol finally realized what was going on.

I'm not going to leave you. she promised silently.

She lay silent in Lilac's arms. She could feel her pulse. Carol went limp. A tear escaped her left eye and ran down her cheek. Lilac held onto her like she was the most precious thing in the world. To Lilac she was the most precious thing in the world. Carol finally knew that.

I love you…

"All this time…" Lilac whispered. "All this time I thought I was protecting you."

Three years ago, in a valley to the south…

It was raining. Two children huddled round the base of a tree. They fought to keep warm. A young dragon barely into adolescence cradled a tiny wildcat under her arm. She was trying to shield her from the cold. She was losing the battle. Carol shivered violently.

"I-Is this rain ever going t-to l-l-let up?" Carol asked.

She stuttered through the cold. Her teeth chattered together.

"I-I don't know," Lilac answered fearfully. "W-we may have to put up with this f-for the night."

Carol miserably lay her head against Lilac's side. She tried to sleep. Her attempt lasted only a few seconds. Lilac used her own head to nudge Carol's up again.

"Y-you need to stay awake. We can't s-sleep like this."

"W-why?" Carol complained.

Lilac fell silent for a few moments. Carol could tell she was trying to find the words. She already sort of understood, but it was a hard concept to get your head around. Death sounded big when you were nine.

"B-because… if you go to s-sleep right n-n-now… you m-might not…"

Lilac's sentence was cut off. She whimpered with the cold. Carol fearfully tucked herself deeper under Lilac's arm.

"O-ok. I w-won't g-go t-t-to sleep. I pr-pr-promise."

Neither of them said anything for a few moments. They tried to keep as close together as possible. The rain had soaked through their blankets and garments hours ago. Their bags were drenched too. The food Lilac had pilfered from the Scarves' pantry was probably ruined. So was their change of clothes. Carol had had her motorcycle and for a time they'd used it to keep warm. It had run out of fuel. Lilac hadn't brought any petrol with them.

They had nothing. They were out in a storm in the middle of the wilderness, far away from warmth and safety. They had no money, they had no home and they had no food. They had no prospects for earning such things. Worse, Carol didn't even know why they were out here in the first place. A desperate Lilac had woken her by the shoulders. She'd told her they had to leave immediately. They had to leave before Spade got back.

Carol hadn't had any time to grab even a few essential items. Lilac had assured her that she'd taken care of that. It was clear now she hadn't. Before Carol had known what was going on they'd snuck out of the base in the dead of night. They'd fled away through the sewers, on through the streets and out through the front gate of Shang Tu. Lilac hadn't stopped until they were miles away from the city. They'd then wandered through the forest as a cold Spring rainstorm broke.

"L-Lilac?"

Lilac didn't respond.

"LILAC!" Carol screamed.

"Huh?"

Lilac jolted awake. Carol's shivering got worse. She shook from fear more than cold.

"You t-t-told me not to go to sleep." she moaned.

"Oh… right…" Lilac said. "Sorry." her voice was almost a whisper. She sounded disoriented. Carol pushed her slightly. She tried to give her a shake.

"Lilac?"

"Yes?"

"Why? W-why are we out here?"

Lilac stayed silent. She hid her head in her knees. That wasn't an answer to why they were in a strange valley far away from their home. It wasn't an answer to why they were freezing to death. Carol had had enough.

"I want to go home…" she whimpered.

"We can't." Lilac responded bluntly.

Carol's head jolted round.

"W-why?!" she asked angrily.

You're supposed to be my friend! Why are you doing this?

"I-I mean I can't."

Carol was silent. She didn't understand.

"I-I'm done with the Scarves, Carol. Y-you can go b-b-back. I-If you really want to. I-I'll take you b-b-back in the m-m-morning. B-but…"

Lilac's voice failed her again. Carol stayed quiet. She didn't know what to say. What would make things better?

We can't stay like this, Carol thought. We need to find a cave or something. This tree isn't enough. We're going to freeze!

Lilac's voice finally cut through her thoughts.

"I don't want to be a killer."

"What?"

"What?" Carol asked.

Lilac had spoken quietly. For the first time, she'd spoken angrily. She continued.

"S-Spade wanted me to do something. W-w-wanted me to h-h-help him set someone u-up. H-he said he trusted me to d-d-do it, and that it was r-r-really important."

"D-did you m-m-mess up?" Carol asked sympathetically.

Lilac fell silent again. Carol wouldn't take that for an answer.

"Lilac..." she insisted.

"I-I c-c-couldn't do it." Lilac whispered.

An uncomfortable silence passed. Carol patiently waited. Lilac continued quietly.

"I-instead I tried to stop him from…"

"Fr-from what?" Carol asked. "Lilac!" Urgency pushed some of the cold away.

"He was g-g-going to k-k-kill someone." Lilac whispered.

Carol fell silent. Her small features twisted in shock.

"Wh-why would Spade-"

"I d-d-don't know, Carol." Lilac answered.

There was a dangerous edge to her voice. Carol judged that this wasn't an angle she wanted to press. The two children sat in miserable, cold silence. The cold rain continued to fall. Carol gave Lilac a sideways glance. She studied her expression. She studied how it changed. Carol saw fear and misery, then determination. Lilac seemed to be coming to a decision?

Then she saw loneliness. Carol saw so much loneliness. Her heart broke. In that moment Lilac seemed like the loneliest person in the world.

"Y-you don't have to c-come with me," Lilac began again. Her voice was a whisper, and she was close to tears. "S-Spade doesn't have a pr-pr-problem with you. If you want, y-you can-"

A little hand on her right shoulder froze her up.

"No." Carol whispered.

She was certain. Lilac visibly relaxed. She shifted guiltily, but warm relief escaped her like an open valve. She wouldn't be alone. Carol would make sure of that.

"We'll m-m-make this work," she continued. "s-s-somehow," she sneezed violently. "But f-first of all we've g-g-got to get out of this rain!"

She paused.

"N-now is there a cave n-n-nearby?" She asked.

If they stayed there, they were going to freeze to death. Nothing Carol said would have mattered. They both looked around desperately for something that could save their lives. The dark forest revealed little. Neither of them wanted to just wander off in a random direction.

Then they found it.

Carol saw it first. It was nestled in one of the trees. Her sharp night vision lit it up like a display of fireworks.

"Lilac… look."

It was little more than a shack. The planks were crudely nailed together amongst the branches. However, it had a roof, and it was still standing. The treehouse had probably been abandoned for years. It didn't look like it had been much when it was fully maintained. Whoever had owned it had just saved the lives of two children. They'd just saved the galaxy. Carol and Lilac got up in wordless wonder. They could hardly believe their luck. They staggered towards the safety of the treehouse. There was no ladder.

I can climb up with my claws, Carol thought to herself. but Lilac...

"How are you g-going to get up there?" She asked despondently.

Lilac stared up at the obstacle for a second. She gritted her teeth.

"Lilac?!" Carol asked fearfully as the dragon backed up.

"Watch this." Lilac boasted.

She jumped. Carol expected her to just land back down on the ground.

What are you doing?

Her question was soon answered. Lilac curled up into a ball in mid-air. Carol started.

Is she hovering? How is she hovering? Surely she's just going to-

Whooosh!

Carol gaped. Somehow, Lilac had flown all the way up to the entrance of the treehouse. She'd taken flight. That was impossible. Dragons didn't fly! Carol was fairly sure they didn't. She had been fairly sure. She began to doubt reality. She wasn't the only one astounded. Lilac had surprised herself. She staggered on the platform. The landing had unbalanced her. She windmilled her arms. For a horrible moment Carol thought she was going to fall back down. Then she stabilized herself. Lilac turned to face Carol, her eyes wide. She breathed heavily.

"Th-that was amazing!" Carol cried.

Lilac recovered with customary quickness.

"C-come on up!" she insisted. "I-I've been w-w-working on that for a w-while!"

Without a moment's hesitation Carol clambered up after her best friend. They scrambled inside the treehouse and out of the rain. Huddled inside the bare walls they held each other as close as they could. They waited out the violent rainstorm.

Alone.

They had nothing. The warm, familiar world of the Scarves, the long, winding streets of Shang Tu's poorer districts, the markets, rich with the scent of food and safety… they were gone now. That wasn't their world anymore. They'd already been rejected by society. Now they'd been pushed out of its underclass as well. Carol and Lilac would have to live wild. They weren't a part of civilisation anymore.

Instead they'd prey on that civilization, a fitting punishment for throwing them away. They still had each other, and they would survive that first terrible night. Everything would become easier now. Together they'd make improvements and turn this forsaken place into a home. Everything would slowly get better.

Until a ship crash landed in the valley three years later…

"You were the one protecting me." Lilac said with a broken voice. "You followed me into the valley, even though you didn't want to go. You saved me every time that snake man attacked. You tried to warn me I was going into danger, but I wouldn't listen. And you still came after me… even after I abandoned you at the lake…"

She trailed off. Carol's blood ran cold. She pushed out of Lilac's arms. Lilac cried out as she forced her way free, but she kept pushing. She didn't stop until Lilac's arms were on her shoulders.

"What are you talking about?!" Carol cried. "I'm the one who abandoned you! I ran away! You saw me!"

They stared at each other. Both girls breathed heavily. Lilac's face was awash with guilt and surprise. Carol was on the brink of panic.

"That wasn't your fault." Lilac gasped. "You were right. Brevon was leading us straight into a trap, and I was too selfish to care that I was leading you both right into it!"

She stared at her feet. Carol trembled. She didn't know what to say. She wanted to make this better. Lilac looked up before she could say anything. A line of tears ran down her left cheek.

"Carol you saved my life, and Milla's too! If you'd followed me into the base…"

Lilac broke eye contact and stared at the ground. She stooped over slightly. Carol watched, paralysed, as her best friend battled with her emotions. Lilac suddenly cried out as if in pain. Carol felt a hand drop from her left shoulder. A wave of sympathy jolted her into action as Lilac stooped dangerously. She grabbed Lilac by the arm and shoulder and pulled her upright.

"Hey!" she said sternly. "Look at me!"

She was shaking like mad. Lilac's behavior frightened her, but she suddenly felt intense anger. How could her friend feel so horrible about herself after everything she'd done? Lilac glanced up for just a second. It was enough. Carol captured her with a glare. She would put this right.

"We weren't Lilac," she said grimly. "Ok? We weren't."

"You could've been," Lilac countered. "because-"

"We weren't."

Carol cut her off. She gripped Lilac's arm and shoulder so tightly it was probably painful. She released her a bit, but she'd got the point across. Lilac stared. The horrid guilt seemed to retreat. Sadness and regret were all that remained.

"I wanted to keep you safe." Lilac said quietly.

"I know," Carol cried, her voice breaking. "I know… but that's not how this works! We're in this together. We always have been! I thought…" She hesitated. "…I thought you knew that." she ended sadly.

It had always been an uneasy grey area. Carol was Lilac's friend, but she was also three years younger. She supported Lilac, but she also looked up to her as an idol. They were equal fighters and thieves, but Lilac did all the planning. Were they true partners, or was Carol Lilac's dependent? The question had never been properly settled until now. Carol finally asserted herself. She had to.

It showed. Lilac looked at her differently. She scrutinized Carol carefully for a few seconds, as if completely reassessing her. Carol stared right back. She didn't give an inch… and something magical happened. She gained back her pride. By acknowledging her as an equal… by admitting her own painful faults, Lilac handed Carol back everything the last three days had steadily worn away. The scars were still there, but Carol felt whole again. If Brevon had landed again, she would have been ready for round two. She stood tall.

It had cost Lilac dearly. She looked away. Crimson shame washed over her cheeks.

"I thought I was protecting you," Lilac croaked. "when I took you from the Scarves."

Her voice began to rise. Carol gripped Lilac helplessly as tears coursed down the dragon's cheeks.

"But the truth is I needed help!" Lilac cried. "I was the one who needed a friend! Back at the Scarves you had food, you had shelter and you had people to look after you! You even had parents you could have gone back to!"

"Instead you chose a cabin in the woods, and a loser like me…"

She trailed off. Lilac hung her head.

"You think you're the loser?" Carol growled, indignant. "Just because you try to do the right thing? Just because you care about people even if they're not your friends or family?! Because you actually try?!" Carol's voice rose to a roar. "Lilac, you make me a better person just by being around!"

She fell silent. Lilac stared at Carol. She'd gone frighteningly rigid. Then she screwed up her eyes and looked away. There was one more thing she needed to say. Carol knew what it was. She watched anxiously as Lilac marshalled the last reserves of her strength. Lilac looked Carol in the face one last time. She told her…

"Carol, you have to go home."

It wasn't a negotiation. Lilac's voice was broken yet so stern. Carol's eyes went wide. She anxiously studied the tired, drawn expression on her best friend's face. A tidal wave of dread and grief broke through her. Lilac wanted to send her away. That hurt her more than anything else could, but she was also awed. After everything Lilac had been through she still tried to do the right thing. She had the nerve to demand Carol do the right thing. She needed to. It was her last gasp to make sure Carol was ok. Carol wanted to argue, but she couldn't find the grounds. She didn't have the right. What was she supposed to say? She had no good reasons for running away in the first place.

They must be worried sick.

Then it was gone. Lilac's strength was spent. Carol saw the beginnings of her collapse. She saw the tremors. She watched Lilac's violet eyes begin to close. Lilac was about to be completely crushed. She'd pushed away the last thing holding her up. Carol said the only thing that could save her. Like a second knight in a chess game she returned the support.

"Then you're coming with me!" she cried.

The words struck Lilac's ears like a thunderclap. She flinched violently. She stared at Carol, speechless. The words sunk in. Lilac's mind began to process the immense implications. She looked away. Her cheeks burned bright red. She began to tremble. Carol tried to intervene. She tried to draw Lilac into a hug, but it was too late. Lilac suddenly dropped to her knees.

She screamed.

Lilac's anguished cry rang out throughout the clearing. Carol's blood turned to ice. She watched, terrified, as Lilac shook violently upon the ground. Her tears splashed down onto the grass. She clutched it as if she might fall into the sky. Great, racking gasps escaped her lungs. She breathed in and out violently.

Carol froze. Lilac's pure distress overwhelmed her. At the same time, the sudden change of altitude made her harder to approach.

I don't know what to do. We need help. She needs help!

It arrived. Suddenly Torque and Gong were at their sides. Carol had been so focused on Lilac that she'd completely forgot they existed. They'd been there the entire time. For the first time in Carol's life the adults helped. They took charge in moments.

"Lilac!"

Torque got down on his knees. He took Lilac's right hand and gripped her around the shoulder. Carol instinctively followed his lead. She kneeled down and gripped Lilac's left. Gong kept his distance, but he still knelt down nearby. He studied Lilac carefully, trying to stay near enough to support her without being invasive.

"Lilac?!" Carol croaked with terror. She shook almost as badly. A tear ran down her cheek.

What's happening to you?

"It's a stress reaction." Torque said hastily. "She's having a panic attack. She's ok. You're ok Lilac. You're ok. Just let it out. You're going to be fine…"

Torque talked constantly to her. He continued to reassure her. Carol watched in terror as Lilac cried out in distress. Her horrid cries died slowly down to moans and whimpers. Carol's panic followed. Her horror ebbed away to leave only burning anxiety. Lilac finally fell silent. Her violent tremors declined to light shaking. The episode passed slowly but surely. Lilac slowly came back. She slowly found her way back to them. Eventually she went still. Every muscle in her body relaxed. Torque lay her down gently upon the ground.

They all crowded around her. Three scared faces stared down at Lilac.

"Lilac please be ok," Carol cried. "I'm sorry."

Lilac's terror slowly cleared. She refocused. Her eyes flittered from face to worried face. They alighted on Carol's petrified expression. Neither of them spoke for some time.

"I'm sorry." Lilac said weakly. "I just… do you mean it? Is this really going to work?"

She stared at Carol nervously.

"It has to." Carol insisted. "I'm not going home without you! I love you Lilac! I always will... I always did…"

Carol faded away. Lilac stared. Her eyes were wet and red with tears.

"Are you sure about this?" She asked quietly.

The question was very final. Carol nodded. She'd agree to anything if it meant Lilac would be ok. Going home had terrified her for years, but she'd face that fear. She'd do it for Lilac. Lilac accepted her promise silently. She looked away and stared at the sky.

"I always wanted this." she said quietly. "I just wanted to be normal. I just wanted someone to love me for me. I always had to earn it."

She couldn't keep a note of bitterness out of her voice. She trailed off for a second. Then she looked at Carol.

"It was staring me in the face the whole time, wasn't it?"

Carol couldn't speak, so Lilac spoke for her.

"I love you."

Silence fell over the gathering. It was a very long time before anyone moved.

Eventually they had to go. Torque and Carol helped Lilac back to her feet. It was touch and go. Lilac was still extremely shaken.

"We need to get back to Milla," Torque said gravely. "We spent too much time here."

"I'm sorry." Lilac said guiltily.

"Don't be." Gong said gently. "We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. It's been one heck of a night. You've been extremely brave. You both have." His eyes met Carol's for a second.

Torque and Carol let Lilac's arms go. She took a moment to get her bearings. She sighed heavily.

"Listen, Carol?" she said anxiously.

"Hmm?"

"There's something I need to tell you when we get back. Something important."

She sounded guilty. Carol raised an eyebrow.

"Can't you tell me now?" she asked quietly.

You could have cut the tension with a knife. No one wanted more secrets now, especially if they were skeletons. Neither Carol nor Lilac noticed, but Torque and Gong flashed one another glances. This was dangerous. Lilac shook her head.

"I'll tell you when we get back Carol. I promise. Just… please," she begged. "Not right now. Ok?"

Carol regarded her sternly for a few moments. She could tell that this was something big. It was probably important. Lilac had been hiding something. After everything that had passed it was an ominous sign. For some reason her red scarf felt rather tight around her neck. She loosened it unconsciously. However, she relented.

"Ok Lilac," she said quietly. "We'll talk once we get back to the ship."

Lilac smiled weakly. Carol looked away, uncertain. She didn't know what was going on. She certainly didn't like it. However, Lilac had only just got back on her feet. Nothing short of a threat to her life could have made Carol confront her about it. Anyway, Milla came first.

"Come on." Torque said quietly. "We need to move."

Lilac gave Carol a last anxious glance before she set off towards the edge of the clearing. Torque followed after her.

"Well done." he whispered as he passed Carol.

Gong left last. He'd been awfully silent. He gave Carol one last look before setting off down the road. Carol followed last. Lilac's last promise lay heavy on her mind. What was the secret? Why couldn't Lilac just say what it was? Carol had been honest. She'd opened her heart. It didn't sit well. Worried and hurt, Carol turned away. She began to catch up with the others.