(Hey, all. Yes, I still live. Been hard at work but what with the Corona, I'm currently unable to work. And as depression sets in as well as anxiety, I've decided to leave my apartment, sit in my car in an empty parking lot near some trees, and write via my phone. I have quite a few chapters in notebooks but it will take time to get them all on here, especially since I've been away for so long and recently moved.

But anyway, before we get this show on the road, stay safe, wash your hands, maintain a social distance of 6-10 feet from people, DO NOT PANIC, and please please please make sure you leave enough toilet paper and hand sanitizer for other people! Common courtesy! Enjoy!)

Chapter 6- Separation

Two days had passed and with one more strange addition that reminded her of Black, Eden wasn't sure what was going to happen. During a performance where Wendy had hurt herself and Black had to do a trapeze act with Suit, a bespectacled newbie who seemed almost like a demon but had an intense hatred for his tent mate, Black. The act was...odd but still amazing. The crowd liked it well enough.

However, it was after the show that bad things seemed to occur. All of Snake's snakes that protected the first string tents had been tied and put in a trunk in Snake's tent...at least, that's what they said. But none of them knew who did it. Smile was in the medical tent, sick due to an illness he'd had since he was young-Freckles/Doll was very concerned. But...

Clover eyes watched Beast walk away from Joker, wearing his scarf and smelling of fear and sorrow. She knew something was wrong but looked away when she saw Black approach her fellow first-stringer. She would have protected her...friend but there were more things to worry about. The other members were acting odd as well, all except her human. If Snake had been behaving strangely, she would have asked him about it. But she did agree not to interfere with Smile and Black's investigation.

However, by the next morning, all of the new recruits were gone and the first string members were leaving her and Snake in charge. She bit her lip. Instinct was warning her, twisting her insides into tiny knots. Her human confronted her and she gently hugged him, whispering her plan to follow their friends to see what was going on.

Snake seemed reluctant to let her go. His hands tightened around her slender waist and he moved his face closer to her fragrant locks. Emily and Victor hissed teasing words at the pair which caused the shy male to release her. She then moved away with a small smile on her lips and mirth sparkling in her clover eyes.

"Oscar can come with me... since he is sleeping. If I am unable to return with the others..." Her happiness completely vanished. She didn't like this conversation but it was best to discuss all possibilities. "...will you come find us? Oscar and I will wait for you." She had heard many of the other performers talking about moving to the next town since the first-stringers had gone ahead to scout. However, her instincts told her otherwise.

"We will go to you...if you do not come back to us..." Snake promised, his friends also hissing their affirmations. His pale cheeks were light pink, a small frown on his face. He didn't want to split up but he knew that if their friends were in trouble, he would want to help them. And if he stopped Eden from going, she would go later that night when the trail was cold and the winter air was even colder.

A sudden warmth on his cheek snapped Snake out of his thoughts. His yellow eyes blinked as he registered a similar warmth on his lips, and Eden's face was much closer, her eyes shut. She was kissing him. But it soon as it clicked, she pulled away, tilting her head.

"We will be together soon, love.i just hope nothing too terrible will happen..." She turned to follow the trail. However, something took hold of her wrist. She looked back to see his hand encircling her wrist and blinked up at him. He removed his scarf and gently wrapped it around her shoulders.

"Stay warm...and safe... says me..." he whispered, brushing a soft kiss against the apple of her cheek before jolting back and walking away. Eden noticed his cowlick was straight up in the air and she giggled, turning to go after their coworkers, minus Joker and Doll.

Eden had lost sight of those she followed but knew she was on the right track. The branches whispered to her about a group of strangely serious humans meandering this way and that through the woods. After traveling quite some distance, the whispers began about a large house that often sounded loud. That part made no sense until she exited the thick forest and entered a lawn that was...strange. The grass was short... the bushes were cut into shapes instead of growing naturally. Even the trees were tamed in a way that made her feel uncomfortable. But what was worse was the scent of gunpowder. It made her gag and tuck her face into Snake's scarf. His scent calmed her as she wandered about the lawn, looking for anyone who looked familiar.

A loud crash caused her to jump before racing towards the disturbance. She spotted the bald hulking figure if Jumbo, standing over a small boy with light hair crumpled against a wall. Blood leaked out of his head where the wall showed damage. Her fellow circus worker turned to face the Earth maiden, surprise reflecting in both of their eyes.

"Jumbo... why did you...?" Her voice was soft, confused. The big man had no injuries and he easily overpowered the thin boy...who was getting up and appearing to be only mildly annoyed at the bleeding.

Eden jumped at the much louder crash when the strange boy forced the bald man into the wall, causing extensive damage. Blood was everywhere, The wall crumbled around him. Jumbo shouted out for Peter and Wendy to run and another forceful blow ended the injured circus performer's life. She looked into the boy's turquoise eyes and sighed. "I am sorry. I do not know what is going on but I will not interfere. Defend yourselves... I will wait here."

He seemed reluctant to leave the intruder who hadn't done anything to him but the descent of the two youthful trapeze artists caused him to move onto the more dangerous duo.

Eden looked down at Oscar from between her breasts and sighed. "They will do what they must. If our comrades attack, these people have the right to defend. We must honor such decisions...and wait for the smoke to-" A gunshot broke the rather violent night noises, followed by more shots. The Earth child flinched with ever gunpowder-laden boom. She glared up at the sounds before seeing the gun pointed at her. It was only a second before it exploded and tore through her chest, sending her to the ground. Her conscious faded as red blood stained her human's scarf, the frantic hissing of Oscar falling on deaf ears.