June: 13 "Crying does not indicate that you are weak. Since birth, it has always been a sign that you are alive."
--Charlotte Brontë
This is set before the other chapters in June's Embers, just after Ember Falls and before Ember Rising starts. It deals with Picket's feelings after Heather was taken. I thought it would be a cool gap filler. I also thought it would be smart to write more about the series before it ended.
Oh... I just had a thought. I might put in this story (or as separate stories) more about Jewel and Kiah before they met Jo and each other….What do people think about that?
How did I do on Helmer? I tried to make him a war-hardened soldier who cares about his bucks.
To God Be The Glory!!
Jo Shanks suddenly stopped walking. Turning, he saw the door to Picket's room standing partly open. His normal cheerful smile faded as the sound that had caught his attention came again. Knocking gently on the door, the archer slipped into the room. Standing just in the doorway, Jo stared at his friend, his heart dropping. Picket's eyes were red, and his face was wet with tears. Jo moved towards him, sliding down the wall to sit next to the other rabbit. Picket was trembling, his breath coming hard and fast. Placing a hand on the other buck's shoulder, Jo sighed deeply.
"I am so sorry, Picket."
Picket lifted his head, his red-rimmed eyes meeting Jo's gaze. "I wish I could ask why she did it, but I know why." Dropping his head again, Picket whispered, "She was saving the princess."
Jo lowered his head. "That doesn't make it easier, does it?"
Picket slumped slightly to the side, leaning on him. Jo shifted to a more comfortable position, letting Picket rest against him. The other rabbit sighed, shuddering slightly. "No. No, it doesn't." The sleeve of Jo's shirt began to feel damp, and the archer closed his eyes tight as they grew wet. Jo could feel Picket slowly calming, the shuddering coming less and less often, and soon the other rabbit sat straight again. "I miss my family. The smell of my mother's cooking, the sight of my father's spectacles, baby Jack's laughter..." He trailed off, and Jo nodded silently, looking straight and blinking fast as the tears ran down his cheeks. He, too, knew what it was like to miss family. Most rabbits did.
A sudden, quiet knock on the door startled Jo, and he looked up to see Helmer looking in at them. The older, war-scarred rabbit stepped into the room, looking at them without smiling. Jo scrambled to his feet, wiping his eyes and shifting uncomfortably. He watched Helmer as the large buck's eyes narrowed slightly before he sighed. Jo could see the pain of the many years of war the rabbit had endured in the black buck's eyes. The older buck moved towards them, motioning for them to sit back down. Jo watched as the black, scarred buck sat in front of them, watching them closely before sighing deeply.
"Picket." His voice was filled with sorrow. "I am sorry. But you can't let this cripple you. You must continue to fight; do not let the sacrifice of Heather be meaningless."
Jo saw the grieving rabbit stiffen and wipe his eyes. Wiping his own eyes again, Jo looked back at his trainer, watching in shock as the black buck's eyes glinted with unshed tears. Helmer looked at him silently for a moment before leaning forward and putting a hand on his shoulder, letting the other rest on Picket's shoulder.
"Crying does not indicate that you are weak. Since birth, it has always been a sign that you are alive." Leaning back, he nodded at them. "Don't be ashamed of your tears, lads; just don't let them cripple you."