Itty bitty update incoming.
CHAPTER STATS
Word Count (excluding A/N): 1040
Date Updated: 7-9-15
Current Review Count: 910
The dark clouds circled in the sky, preparing to open up and berate the ground below. The air outside was hot and wet. Winds pushed it all around, never staying in one direction long. The low rumble of thunder sounded in the distance, echoing off of the nearby mountains.
Claire pushed her blonde hair out of her face as her last sheep made in into the barn. She sighed, looking up at the dark expanse above her. A raindrop landed on her forehead. She took in a deep breath, smelling the musty, humid mixture of earth below and storm above. More raindrops began to fall onto her, mixing with the warm tears that seemed to have become a permanent feature on her face. She looked down and slowly made her way inside.
"The storm started yet?"
Claire looked up at her husband, wondering how he could ask such a normal question in a time like this. "It's raining now."
Gray looked up at her at the sound of her hollow voice. He pursed his lips and came over, putting his arms around her shoulders. "Claire, what's wrong?"
"What do you mean, what's wrong?" Claire snapped up at him, her eyes narrowing as fresh tears threatened to spill. "Our baby's still out there."
"But—"
"No," Claire cut him off, "I'm done being optimistic. This has been such an active storm season—what if her farm has been hit by them? What if she was caught out in one? How do we protect her?"
"Claire," Gray said, letting out a sigh that held more grief than a man his age should know. "You're worrying yourself crazy. Chelsea will be fine. She knows what to do in storms."
"Don't tell me that you aren't worried," Claire said, the bite in her voice ebbing into vacancy.
"I'm not," he said, frowning. "I'm worried sick. You know that. But we can only do so much, Claire."
"She can't be far, Gray," Claire breathed, her voice shaky. "If Vaughn came out to Forget-Me-Not…"
"Do you want to go find her?" Gray asked. "Do you want to leave the farm? We've talked about this, Claire. We can't leave the animals. We can't afford to miss a harvest."
"There has to be some way," she said, but her voice betrayed her resolve. She sounded completely defeated."
Gray watched his wife crumple into a chair and slump into her tears. He had watched her crumple for months. This last year had been hell for him as a father, but it wasn't just that. Both of the women he loved with all his heart were gone. He'd been watching Claire fade from her happy, bubbly, laughing self into a shell of who she once was. With every day their baby was gone, his wife was going missing, too.
As he wrapped his arms around the broken farmer, he swore that he'd get his girls back—both of them.
"Gray, you know if we knew anything, we'd tell you."
"Zack, you ship everything for the island. You have to know something. What about that animal trader—Vaughn. Do you know anything about any animal companies? Maybe one linked to the city?"
Zack reached his hand behind his head, scratching in thought. His muscles almost prevented him from raising his arm high enough. "I'll ask around again. But we don't do business with animal traders. Barley's ranch, Forget-Me-Not, and you and Claire have always sustained us."
"Alright," Gray sighed, scowling. "Let me know if you hear anything. Thanks."
Gray left Zack's house and stepped onto the hot sand of the beach. With one long glance out over the ocean—she was out there somewhere—he walked into Kai's restaurant.
"Gray! It's been a while. Baked corn?"
"No, Kai. I have a favor to ask."
The tanned man tilted his head inquisitively. "This is new. I never thought I'd hear that from you."
"Desperate times call for desperate measures."
"Desperate? What is it?" Kai asked, leaning forward. His playful demeanor disappeared.
"You travelled around a lot, right? Before you and Popuri settled down?" Gray asked, not because he didn't know, but because he needed an easy way to broach the subject.
"Yeah," Kai nodded. "Why?"
"I'm looking for leads. We're going to find Chelsea."
Kai took in a deep breath, nodding. "Look, I'll tell you whatever I know and help however I can, but I don't think it'll be much. I've been here for almost a decade now. Things have changed a lot since I was last out there."
"I'll take anything."
"Alright. Do you have anything yet?"
Gray slumped down onto a stool at the bar, leaning back. "We know that, wherever she is, a travelling animal trader visits. He's probably part of a company. He would stop in Forget-Me-Not."
"How do you know?" Kai asked.
"Chelsea writes to us occasionally. Never a return address. She mentions him a lot," he hesitated. "Actually, her last letter…"
"Yeah?"
"She thinks he was on a ship that went down in a storm."
Kai's eyes widened. "Jeez."
"Claire talked to him once, in Forget-Me-Not," Gray said, sighing deeply. "Ever since that last letter, everything's gotten worse. Claire's falling apart."
"Listen, man," Kai said, "I'll see if I can call up some old friends around my old stomping grounds. See if anyone knows anything. I know a guy in Flowerbud who might help. Have you gone to Forget-Me-Not to ask around yet?"
Gray shook his head. "I can't get out there without spending too much time. I'll offer to go for Claire next time and I'll ask around. But that's not for another week or so."
"I'm sorry, man," Kai said, shaking his head. "I can't imagine what this is like."
"In a few months you will," Gray said. "When's Popuri due? Beginning of Winter? Once you see that kid, everything is going to change."
Kai nodded. Looking around, he fidgeted with his bandana until he just took it off altogether. Looking down at in his hands, he said quietly. "I'm scared as hell, Gray. Seeing what you and Claire are going through. I don't know if we can do it."
"It's worth it," Gray said, not missing a beat. "You'll see."
I need fanfiction back in my life. The boyfriend is still great (waiting on that ring... I'm looking at you, Matt). School is okay. Work is happening. Fanfiction is missing. Working on it.
I love you guys. Thanks for your encouragement and your love and your support. I'm trying. (:
(LOL you wait almost a year after the kiss and THERE'S NO VAUGHN OR CHELSEA. Sorry. I'm cruel. I'll try to get some more out with the two darlings. TBH I'm afraid to touch them because I'm afraid I'll mess them up. But hey I'm the author so I make the rules (?))
Thanks for your reviews!