Chapter Thirteen – Finicky Finny

Leaving the grotto behind, Ash led the travelers to a vacation spot his family liked to go to. Once there, they would rest, he explained, since so many exciting and sometimes terrifying things happened recently.

Ash spent most of the walk talking with Finny, getting to know his new friend. To the amusement of the adults, Ash began a sort of 20 Questions game with Finny.

"What's your favorite color?"

"I don't have one."

"What's your favorite cupcake flavor?"

"What's a cupcake?"

"What kind of games do you like?"

"I usually play 'skipping rocks,' where I skip rocks across the water at home."

"What kind of food do you like to eat?"

"Whatever I can eat."

"Do you have rainbow magic too?"

"No."

"Have you ever gone hiking before?"

"No."

"Do you like candy? I'll share mine."

"I don't like candy." (She said this after spitting out the peppermint he gave her)

Ash liked to make friends. He got that from his mother. He also got his mother's patience. But Finny's rather indifferent behavior steadily wore on his nerves.

"Don't you have anything to eat that isn't sweet?" Finny complained.

"We're rainbow trolls. Sweet stuff is kind of our jam." Harper said.

"What's jam?" Finny droned.

"Child, what on earth have you eaten in your entire life?" Sir Tandeth asked.

"Whatever is found in the forest." Finny shrugged.

"And your parents never told you about anything else? Never tried to make anything else?" Iris asked.

"No." Finny shrugged again.

"Hey look, we're here!" Ash said loudly. Everyone looked ahead, and jaws dropped, even Finny's. They had arrived at a beautiful lake, complete with a small sandy beach and the lovely view of the mountains behind it. A small cabin was nestled amongst the tree roots by the water.

"This is beautiful." Iris breathed.

'The family camping spot.' Prowlus smiled broadly. 'It's been a while since we came here.'

"I figured this would be a great place for rest and relaxation." Ash said. "I'm really anxious about my colors, but I don't want to run you guys ragged. So let's take a day or two to chill."

"Thanks, Ash." Harper said. "I'll start a fire and make lunch!"

"I'm going swimming!" Gris started pulling off his shirt.

"Ditto!" Ash called. He, Gris, Prowlus, and Steve jumped into the water. Two seconds later, they were all screeching about how cold it was. Three seconds after that, they were playing and splashing and laughing raucously. Harper got to work preparing the food and gathering utensils from the cabin, and Iris made a fire. Eclipse materialized beside Harper to offer advice on turning their rations into a good soup. Sir Tandeth marched around the camp, keeping an eye on everyone.

Finny crouched down on the sand and stared at the boys playing the water. She didn't take her eyes off them, analyzing their smiles and the light that shined in their eyes. They were having fun with each other. Gris was careful to not step on the trolls, and let them jump off his shoulders to dive into the water. Finny never did this with her parents or even Frosty. She tried to play with them, but they were never interested. From that, she learned that you couldn't have fun with others, unless that other was exactly like you. None of these creatures, troll or otherwise, were like her. Sure, they had similarities, but is that enough to have fun with them?

Ash noticed Finny, crouched on the beach and sitting in such a way that made her look like a crab. He waved to her. "Come on in, Finny! It's really nice!"

Finny shook her head. "No."

"Then I'll come over there, if you want." Ash said.

"I don't care." Finny shrugged.

What else is new? Ash frowned. He swam over to the shore and walked up to Finny. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Finny said.

"I know you probably miss your parents, but I'm sure they're fine."

"I'm sure they are, too."

"And they'll meet us at my home."

"I know."

"Okay, then why are you just sitting here?"

Finny shrugged. Ash was about to ask something else, but Harper called everyone around for food. Finny stood and walked towards the fire without looking back at Ash. Grumbling a little, Ash followed.

Finny waited for Harper to spoon herself a bowl, and then she reached for the ladle. "Here, let me." Harper spooned some of the soup into another bowl and handed it to Finny.

"I could've done that myself." Finny said as Harper handed her a spoon.

"I know. I'm just being nice." Harper shrugged. "I'm already here, anyway."

Finny watched Harper divide up the soup for everyone, and she sat down to eat. She sniffed the soup, and then tentatively took a sip. She took another sip. Then she put the bowl to her lips and drank the soup gluttonously. Ash watched in amazement, wondering if this was the first time Finny ever had soup.

"This isn't too bad." Iris agreed. "Better than what I cook."

"We'll teach you the recipe!" Ash offered. "My dad wrote the book on cooking with stuff you find in the forest. I'll share some recipes with you, if you like."

"Sure." Iris shrugged. "That'd be nice."

"Just in case you decide you won't come home with us." Ash said. "If you're going to stay out here, you ought to eat better."

Iris swallowed a mouthful of soup. "You think I'd be welcome in your village? I'm not exactly welcome anywhere."

"I don't see why." Ash shrugged.

"Did your great-grandmother not tell you her side of my story?" Iris scoffed. "I'm not a person worthy of a home or friends or kindness."

"Of course you are." Ash said. "Everyone is welcome in the Troll Tree. If you're okay with bergens being our neighbors, you'll fit in just fine."

Iris stared at him skeptically. "How can you be so sure?"

"No one should be alone if they can avoid it." Ash continued to eat, speaking as though what he said were obvious. "You don't have to be alone if you don't want to."

Iris stared at him. "Um, thanks." She wasn't sure how she felt about this. Why would Ash be so kind to her? They hardly met a few days ago, and yet he acted like they had been friends their entire lives combined. His little song had been endearing, but Iris never thought he'd be so hell-bent on being friends.

Finny finished her soup and belched loudly. She dropped the bowl and spoon on the ground and stood up to walk towards the lake.

"Um, Finny?" Harper piped up. "I'm going to wash those later. Would you please put your bowl and spoon in the pot?"

"Just let the bugs clean them. They'll eat up the extra food and then we can use the bowl again." Finny shrugged.

"Ew." Ash grimaced. "You eat from a bowl a bug licked?"

"Is that wrong?" Finny asked.

'It is not hygienic.' Prowlus said.

"That's what Mom and Dad do." Finny shrugged.

Ash sighed. I know living in the wilderness is tough, but couldn't Icestorm and Erika have at least tried to live normally?

Finny looked to Ash. "Is something wrong?"

"No." Ash finished his bowl and placed his and Finny's dishes in the empty pot.

"I think there is something wrong. Or else you wouldn't be asking me so many questions." Finny said.

"As if you care." Ash scoffed, pulling out his mother's scrapbook.

Finny tilted her head like a confused puppy, and she walked off to sit on the sand by the water. She hugged her knees to her chest, staring into the water. After a minute, she began rocking. Although, judging by the vacant look on her face, she wasn't even aware of it.

"That wasn't very nice." Gris said to Ash.

"You can't say you're okay with how she's acting." Ash said. "She's being really selfish and rude. She's been like that since the day we met her."

"You mean three days ago?" Iris asked.

"Ash, it sounds like she was raised differently." Eclipse said. "I can't imagine what it was like for Erika and Icestorm to become parents at a rather young age, and to raise a child in the wilderness. Phoenix did not get the same life you were blessed with."

Ash kept flipping through the book. "I hear you. I just wish I could get into her head."

Everyone else nodded in agreement. Finny did strike them all as a strange child. She spoke almost like an adult, yet seemed to have the mindset of a toddler. She talked and understood like adults do. But she also tended to think only of her own needs, like a child who hadn't learned to share. She remained on everyone's mind as they split off to do different things. Gris took a nap under a tree. Sir Tandeth mounted Steve and did a patrol around the campsite. Prowlus and Harper cleaned the dishes and then went on a flight on Ebony. With Finny still on the beach, Iris was left alone with Ash.

The thought crossed Iris's mind that this would be an ideal time to kill Ash. He was only a few feet away, so close to her and so far away from everyone else. She could already imagine grabbing his throat in her hands and squeezing the life out of him. But she was still too close to the others. Sir Tandeth, especially, would be on her in a flash if she tried to hurt Ash. She didn't even have anything sharp on hand to cut him. She'd have to think of a new plan.

Ash noticed Iris staring at him, and he smiled. She looked away, and he chuckled. "You wanna see? This is one of my mom's scrapbooks."

"That's nice." Iris shrugged, drawing in the dirt with a stick.

Ash tucked the scrapbook away and walked over to Iris. He looked at her drawing and marveled at the clean sketch of a dragon. "Cool!"

"It's nothing." Iris said.

"No, no! It's awesome! I didn't know you could draw!" Ash picked up a stick. "Can I draw with you?"

Iris stared at the boy for a moment. She analyzed his sincere smile and bright, pleading eyes. "Uh...if you want you…"

Ash immediately plopped down next to Iris and began drawing in the dirt. Iris continued her doodling, not even noticing the gentle smile forming on her lips.

That night, everyone returned from their activities to help prepare dinner. Prowlus made a mini bonfire for everyone to sit around while they ate.

Finny watched Ash closely as Harper handed him a bowl of food from the frying pan. "Thank you, Harper." Ash said politely. He joined Prowlus to eat.

Finny walked up to Harper and accepted a bowl of food. "Thank you, Harper." She said almost robotically.

Harper did a double take. "What did you say?"

"I said 'thank you.'" Finny said. "That's what you're supposed to say, right?"

"When someone does something nice for you, yes." Harper looked pleased. "And you're very welcome."

Finny looked down at her food. "So I did it right?"

Harper's smile became a look of confusion. "Um, yes."

Finny bobbed her head, sat down, and began eating. Everyone exchanged confused looks but resumed eating and chatting. It wasn't long before dinner was finished, and funny stories were shared.

Except for Harper. She continued to intermittently stare at Finny all through dinner. When Finny finished her food, she started rocking back and forth again. Harper cleared her throat. "Uh, Finny? Why are you rocking like that?"

Finny looked down, apparently just noticing her actions. "'Cause it feels good?"

Prowlus noticed Harper's expression became a mix of concern and recognition. 'What's wrong, painted love?' He signed to her.

Harper signaled for him to wait a moment. "Finny, did your parents ever hold you? Hug you?"

Finny thought for a moment. "Sometimes."

"Did they ever kiss you? Tell you how much they loved you?"

"They really only kissed each other; and I don't think I want them kissing me like they kiss each other."

"What about tucking you in goodnight? Playing games with you? Singing with you? Teaching you to dance?"

Finny stared at Harper with complete innocence. "Is that what you're supposed to do?"

Harper looked heartbroken, and Ash was even more confused. "Harper? What is it?"

Before she could answer, Eclipse gasped with wide eyes. She stood abruptly and looked off into the distance.

"Is something coming?" Gris gulped.

"Rosiepuff. Branch." Eclipse breathed.

Ash tensed at the mention of his family. "What? What about them?"

"Stay here!" Eclipse instantly turned into a glowing orb of light, shooting away like a comet.

"What's happening?" Iris asked.

"You think something happened at home?" Gris asked worriedly.

Ash quickly pulled out his mirror for communicating with his family. He activated the spell as fast as he could, praying one of his family would pick up. Two rings later, his mother's face appeared in the reflective glass. The background behind her appeared dark and chaotic.

"Hi sweetheart!" Poppy had to shout to be heard. "This isn't really a great time!"

"Eclipse just left us. Said something about Dad and Grandma." Ash said hurriedly. "Is everyone okay?"

"A big storm just hit us!" Poppy shouted. "We're fine! We just—"

Suddenly, something hit the mirror out of Poppy's hand, and the image disappeared to leave only Ash's terrified face.

"A storm?" Iris repeated. "Not that same one that hit us, I hope."

"What if they're in trouble?" Ash whimpered. "What if Eclipse went there because Dad and Grandma are in trouble? What if they need help? What if—"

"So what're you gonna do about it?" Finny asked.

Ash looked to her. "What?"

"What are you going to do?" Finny asked again.

"Well, I want to help them, but we're so far away."

"So are we going there?"

"We'll never get there in time to help them. Eclipse is a ghost. She can just pop up anywhere in the blink of an eye."

"So what do we do?"

"I don't know!"

"Why are you shouting?"

Ash suddenly exploded angrily at her. "Because I'm scared for my family! That's why! I'm scared something might happen even with Eclipse there to help! I'm also really mad at you because you are the least-caring person I've ever met! You're just so….so…."

"Apathetic?" Sir Tandeth offered.

"Yeah! Whatever that means!" Ash kept shouting. "You're just so ridiculously uncaring about everything and everyone around you! How can you care so little about everything? Can't you understand how I feel? Don't you feel any empathy for me? Don't you care at all?"

Finny stared at Ash for a moment, and then looked to the fire. She was silent for a long time, thinking. Finally, she said, "I don't think I know how to care."

Ash's anger melted, and he sat beside Finny. "What do you mean?"

"Mom and Dad were always doing their own thing. I had to learn how to do things on my own." Finny explained. "I do things by myself, and do whatever I want. But you guys? You do things for each other, and not just to make yourself happy. I wish I cared about stuff like you do, but I just don't. I don't really know why."

"That's not your fault, Finny." Harper said. "You were not raised the way we were in our homes. I'm not one to judge another couple's parenting styles, but you were not raised properly. Your parents did not show enough care and love towards you, so you act like this because it's all you've ever known."

Finny noticed she was rocking again, and she stopped herself. She stared at the ground. "I want to care. I think I need a few lessons." She glanced around to the other members of the traveling party. "Can you teach me?"

Ash hugged her. "Sure. We can try."

Finny felt different. This hug felt different. It was so full of love and kindness, and she leaned into it unconsciously.