Concern (Guntz)
"Klonoa?" I called out.
It was the morning after Lolo's funeral. Though Klonoa confidently memorialized his best friend, something about his demeanor just… didn't sit right with me. I mean, I was around his age when I saw my pops die, and if his mind was like mine back then, then for all I know, he's just putting on a front to avoid worrying anyone.
That's why I wanted to find his home, and ask if he made up his mind about tagging along on my next few jobs, as we discussed over the radio. Of course, I wanted to give him the night to recollect his thoughts, but I figured if he wanted to take his emotions out on someone… to take his mind off his friend's demise… then he could take them out on other bad guys.
Though, when I arrived at Breezegale's birch district, not a single resident was outside, save for a kangaroo in red boxing gear – one of Klonoa's friends. His head was down, and he looked as though he was about to cry.
"Chipple, right?" I asked him, concerned.
He nodded silently.
"You haven't seen Klonoa by any chance, have you? I wanted to ask him something – follow up on a conversation we had the other day."
The kangaroo remained silent. After a few moments, he pointed one of his boxing gloves towards Blossom Pass. I thought I could see a tear creep out from under his headgear.
"Th-thanks…" I told him, heading in that direction.
Before I got out of earshot, he shouted "You can't save him, ya know!"
My mane rustled… can't save him? Did he mean Klonoa's mood? I know I probably won't see him as upbeat as he once was again, but… well, after he noted he was considering joining Lolo…
I crossed into the pass, its large Sakura tree coming into my focus. During this, I couldn't help but wonder… has he considered it again since our conversation? When did he consider it first?
Was it before I left Bell Hill, after giving him my radio? 'Cause I remember before I left, I caught him staring blankly at the pass – his attention seemingly locked on that tree. Though, he didn't seem like the kind of kid who would willingly ha-
My thoughts were cut off as I walked right into something. I took a few steps back, rubbing my head… and found myself right in front of the Sakura tree, its branches reaching over me.
Once my headache subsided, one of the taller branches – or, rather, something dangling from them – caught my attention.
It was a small boy with long, drooping ears.
And he was hanging from a rope… by his neck! My mane flared up.
"K…Klonoa!?" I called out again, horrified. I quickly drew one of my pistols and shot the rope, sending the boy plummeting to the ground; I just barely caught him.
"No…" His face bore a chillingly blank look, and his fur, though normally black, was now a sickly grey… how long had he been up there!? The sensation in my mane seemed to spread through the rest of my body.
"No…! Klonoa!?" I pressed my ear to his chest, listening to see if he was still breathing, or if his heart was still beating. Nothing…
My vision clouded… I could feel tears quickly forming in my eyes…
"KLONOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
"KLONOA!" I woke up shouting, panting on top of my new hoverbike, the Red Clan II. My fur was drenched in sweat, soaking my jacket and gloves.
Christ, it was just a nightmare… I thought to myself. Thank Claire…
I looked around… I was parked a few miles north of the birch district, the red, dawn sun reflecting off the village's many windmills.
And to my left was a small, dog-like boy with yellow and orange fur, wearing a red scarf. He looked startled, and had a tired look in his green, gem-like eyes.
"You too, huh?" he asked.
"M-me too what?" I asked back.
"You had an anxiety-induced nightmare too, right?"
"Y-yeah, something like that. Popka, right?"
"The one and only." he tried to boast.
"Right… anyway, what brought you over here?"
"Couldn't sleep – I kept seeing Lolo's corpse in my dreams, third night in a row now. Thought I'd try an evening jog to wear myself out… fall asleep easier… you were the last thing I saw before I conked out.
"So, what about you? What was your nightmare about?"
"Well, I dreamt Klon-" I hesitated. "Actually, is it alright if I ask you a personal question first?"
"Shoot."
"I'm just wondering… how do I put this… since we came back, have you ever… have you ever considered… joining Lolo?"
Popka shot me a confused look. "N-not really… I mean, I miss her, but I… I don't think I can do much for her in the afterlife…"
His look turned into one of concern. "Why? You don't think Klonoa's considerin' it, do ya?"
"No need for me to. The night after we came back, we talked over radio and… he asked if I ever considered joining my pops, after Janga killed him. I told him I might've considered it a few times, back when I was his age, and…"
"So, he is considerin' it?" He looked horrified. "Was that what your nightmare was about!?"
"Yeah… see that Sakura tree over there?" I pointed towards Blossom Pass. "I dreamt that he hanged himself from it."
"Well, shit…" Popka responded, dejected. "And he looked so confident at the funeral, too…"
"Right. That's actually why I wanted to meet up with him…" I explained my offer and reasoning to him.
"Good." he said, clutching his scarf. "'Cause it was already hard enough losing Lolo… I don't wanna have ta lose Klonoa, too…"
"Me either. You think he's still at home?"
"Probably not; he said he planned on visiting Lolo this morning… I imagine he's at the Claire Temple by now."
"Thanks." Just as I re-oriented myself on my bike, Popka hopped on.
"You don't mind if I tag along, do ya?" he asked. "I figured I should leave my own thoughts for her."
"Not at all." I remarked, slipping on my goggles and starting the engine. "But… that talk about Klonoa's, erm, "considerations"… is it alright if we keep it to ourselves? As far as he's aware, I'm the only one who knows about them, and if he finds out I told someone else without consulting him, well…"
"Got it; my lips are sealed."
"Thanks, Popka." We headed off.
