The dining hall was fairly sparse this evening as Mayar surveyed the large, cavernous space. Then again, it was also pretty late. It was was after midnight, after all, and most of the other Lunites had long since eaten and headed off to bed. Yet here she sat, staring down at her own barely-touched plate of mushrooms and root vegetables, alongside a peanut butter sandwich that had only two bites taken out of it.
It had been kind of fun, enjoying all of the new food items that had been added to the Lunite palates since the integration into Seabrook society. There were all kinds of new flavors and textures in Seabrook restaurants and grocery stores that the Lunites had never had the chance to experience before now.
Mayar's personal favorites were the many carbonated drinks, which came in a staggering variety of flavors. They tended to make her belch when she drank them, however.
As it always did, her short spirals of white hair hung down in sheets across her face, partially obscuring her vision.
Mayar had cut her hair short three months ago in mourning, after the Shore Day tragedy. It had only just begun to grow out again in the past few weeks, when she, Qamar and Aruna had all cut their locks off again in response to the death of Qamar's mom.
At this rate, Mayar would have short hair for the rest of her life. Honestly, she could not have cared less about the length of her hair. She would gladly have gone bald, if it would bring back her soulmate and little sister.
You are sulking again. Qamar said with a soft smile as he plopped down onto the seat next to her. She felt the smallest of smiles cross her own face, as she felt his happiness wash over her. He had clearly just been with Bucky, his human soulmate.
I am not sulking. She lied in response, which was a silly thing to do. Of course he could hear the truth, as could any other Lunite nearby.
Right. He said with a light nod, reaching out to grab a large mushroom from her plate and grimacing as he took a bite.
"That's freezing." He commented aloud with a crinkled nose. His voice warbled pleasantly in the accy6rent all Lunites adopted when speaking out loud rather than telepathically. "How long have you been sitting here?"
"A while." Mayar admitted with a short shrug, absent-mindedly pushing the cold vegetables around the plate with her finger. "Aruna had to fill in watching the children tonight, and I finished all of my homework for the weekend already."
Qamar nodded. "Well, want to go for a walk? I don't think I can go to sleep yet, and the snow outside the Crater is beautiful!"
Mayar smiled a bit wider this time. She might be miserable, but she couldn't help but be happy for Qamar and his new-found happiness with his partner. It was like a light had come on inside Qamar, now that he had met his soulmate. Even if they weren't officially together. Yet.
"Sure." Mayar replied, standing and grabbing up her officially abandoned meal. She turned and dumped the plate's contents into a nearby compost bin.
Together, the two Lunites held hands as they walked together through the great common room, making a quick pit-stop to grab up Mayar's heavy woolen cloak and leather moccasins.
Even a few of the generally barefooted Lunites were wearing shoes on this cold night.
As they made their way up the narrow stairway that led to the entrance of the Crater, Mayar squeezed Qamar's hand.
So, she said conversationally. How's Bucky?
She watched with some amusement as Qamar's cheeks flushed periwinkle.
Fine. He said nonchalantly, as his face filled with color and his white hair glowed with happiness and embarrassment. He's fine.
Uh-huh. She said as a small, lopsided grin made its way across her lips.
Although she knew it wasn't very nice of her, Mayar couldn't help but tease her best friend about his somewhat confusing relationship with the human cheerleader. It as one of the few things that brought a genuine smile to her face, these days.
So. When are you finally going to tell him how you feel about him, hmm?
They reached the entrance, a cragged formation of tall lunar rocks that formed the entryway to the Crater. Mayar shivered and bit her lip in response to the bitterly cold wind that shuffled her hair about in a white halo of disarray.
This would definitely be a short walk.
Qamar looked away from her as they walked, out into the swirling snow and black night.
"I… don't know." He sighed, defeated. Snow was already beginning to stick to his short, curly spirals of hair, as they strode out of the rock formation and towards the trees that surrounded them,
Mayar squeezed his hand sympathetically.
"You know he loves you too." She said, patting the top of his hand with her free one.
"It's just… too soon." Qamar argued, shaking his head. Snowflakes went flying with the small motion as the snow around them crunched underfoot. Tall, snow-covered trees now stood sentinel around them as they walked.
Mayar's heart gave a painful little tug, making both of them flinch in response to their shared grief. They had, indeed, experienced a great deal of sadness and loss in the past three months.
Oh, Qamar. Mayar said, in a voice laced with both sadness and kind intentions. Just because we're all going through a difficult time right now, doesn't mean you have to be miserable all of the time. You deserve to be happy. So does Bucky, for that matter.
Qamar looked down at her, his white eyebrows drawing down into a frown.
I know, but… to be honest, I'm still not exactly sure what he'll do if I tell him that we're soulmates, destined by fate to be together. He's the most annoyingly dramatic being I know.
Qamar flares his hands out dramatically, and Mayar stifles a laugh at his imitation of Bucky's jazz hands.
That's a fair point. She conceded, trying to picture how the conversation would go and wincing as she thought of the human boy's potential melodrama. In her mind, she watched as an imaginary Bucky freaked out, flipping a table or pulling a Z-Alarm. Qamar winced too, even as the corners of his mouth twisted up into a slight grin.
But Qamar, Mayar added insistently, stopping and taking both of his hands. You will have to tell him eventually. Don't waste too much time waiting for the perfect moment. I mean, I'd give anything to have a few more imperfect moments with Wyatt.
They were both quiet for a moment, and Mayar blinked away blue tears that suddenly threatened to spill out of her bright green eyes. Snowflakes fluttered across her face and landed in her unruly hair. She was mostly warm in the thick winter cloak, but her hands and face were already numb with cold.
Mayar… Qamar trailed off, wanting to comfort her but not knowing how. She listened to his thoughts as he tried to sort out the right thing to say. But to be honest, she didn't want to talk about Wyatt right now. She wished she hadn't even brought him up.
Mayar took in a deep breath, doing her best to think positive thoughts. She had made it almost a week without crying; she wasn't going to break her stride now. Even if she had spent the last four hours moping in the dining hall.
"Hey," she huffed out, her breath visible in the bitter, wintry air around them. "Enough sad stuff. You and Bucky are good together, Qamar. You love each other. The rest will work itself out, right?"
"Right." He agreed, though she could hear the hesitance in his thoughts.
"I'm not saying tell him tomorrow." She continued, "But you should tell him soon. It'll just be harder the longer you wait."
Qamar's face suddenly tightened, eyes narrowing and staring out ahead of them into the trees.
"What's that?"
"Don't change the subject, dear friend." Mayar said "I'm just saying that—"
Shh. Qamar cut in, raising a hand to silence her. With his other hand, he pointed outwards towards the forest.
What is that? He asked again, and this time she saw it.
In the distance, two people-sized shapes were slowly making their way towards the crater. Mayar gulped and felt her eyes widen. Instinctively, she cast out her telepathic senses, trying to determine who was approaching them.
But whatever the two figures were, she couldn't hear a thing from them. No thoughts or emotions were discernable at all. It was like trying to listen to music underwater. She couldn't make anything sensible out of it.
I can't hear them either. Qamar said in response to her thoughts. He was frozen in a rigid posture, gripping her hands a little too tightly. He didn't want to admit it, but he was a little freaked out.
Well, that made two of them.
As they watched, one of the figures stumbled forward, and the other figure reached out, trying to pull the other up. They were both covered in snow, making the hair on their heads appear silver. But under the snow and ice, they seemed to be wearing clothes meant for much warmer weather.
Whatever they were, they looked like they needed help.
What would Starlight have done? She asked herself. Run to safety, or try to assist the two strangers? Of course, Mayar already knew the answer.
Come on! She gasped, moving into action and pulling Qamar along behind her.
Umm, He said, clearly not wanting to get closer.
"They might be lost or need help!" Mayar insisted.
As they rushed forward to meet the two figures, the snow and ice only increased around them. This snowstorm was quickly turning into a blizzard. It made it difficult to see the two strangers in front of them, even as they approached.
The two silver-haired figures had their heads ducked down against the wind and snow, and they were shivering violently as they clung to one another. It looked like they were barely holding each other upright.
"Oh!" Mayar gasped as the taller one reached out to her, falling forward into the snow with a hand still outstretched. "Oh my stars!"
She instantly pulled of her cloak, wrapping it protectively around the figure on the ground. Qamar was already doing the same with his own cloak, draping the other mystery person with it to shelter them from the unforgiving weather.
"We need to get them inside!" She gasped, already beginning to shiver from the cold herself. She didn't even look at their faces. It didn't matter. They needed help, and they'd have time later to figure out who they were and why she and Qamar couldn't hear their thoughts.
"Right." Qamar nodded, instantly picking up the slighter figure and wrapping the cloak in close around them.
Mayar reached down and gingerly scooped up the taller figure on the ground, who seemed to be unconscious. It was a bit awkward with them being so much larger than her, but she managed.
Thank the moon for Lunite strength.
Together, Mayar and Qamar sprinted the short distance back to the Crater entrance, calling for help as they ran. They were greeted at the entrance by a few others who had heard them shouting and felt their distress. They descended the stone stairs quickly, the millions of moonstone shards in the walls glittering in the pale light of their illuminated hair.
"We need a healer!" Mayar yelped, as multiple Lunites hefted the partially frozen figures out of her and Qamar's arms and began rushing into the main cavern. They both followed behind anxiously, unsure how best to help.
Go get some blankets from your room. Qamar suggested as they passed by the entryway to Mayar's room. I'll see if I can find some dry clothes for them.
He rushed across the hall and down another corridor, towards his own home. Mayar ran, rushing into her room. As soon as she entered the door, she was grabbing up the multiple blankets strewn about the little space. As she reached her palate on the floor, she hesitated. The blanket, woven in shades of purple and blue, had been a gift from Willow, after Shore day. It was Wyatt's blanket.
Her hand hovered over it briefly. This blanket was on of the few items that was truly precious to her. She didn't want it to get damaged. Once again, she paused to consider what Starlight or Wyatt would have wanted her to do.
Mayar grabbed up the blanket, and three others, and rushed back out into the main hall.
A small crowd had formed around the two strangers, and she couldn't see a thing. But what gave her pause was the sensation of absolute shock and bewilderment radiating from the other Lunites. She didn't pay attention to their reasons, though, as she pushed her way through the little crowd. Why were they all just standing there, when these people clearly needed help?
As she broke through the line of gawkers, she finally had a moment to get a good look at the two people they had carried in.
"Oh!" Mayar gasped, dropping the bundle of blankets she was holding. Wyatt''s blanket fluttered to the floor, landing in the hard packed dust. But she didn't even notice she'd dropped them.
Laying there, shivering and huddled into a tiny ball, was her friend, Eliza. And lying prone on the floor next to her was…
"Wyatt." She gasped out in a soft, broken voice.
He stirred at her voice, turning to face her and briefly opening his deep brown eyes. His expression looked confused. Then, as he seemed to recognize her, a look of uninhibited joy spread across his too-pale face. He tried to move towards her, but was overcome with a wave of uncontrollable shaking.
She bent and picked up his blanket, hurriedly tossing it over him and another across Eliza's lap.
Neither of them had said a word. Maybe they were in shock, and that was why she couldn't hear their thoughts.
"Shhh," Mayar said in a shaking voice. She could feel tears streaming down her cheeks as she lifted a shaking hand to gently touch his face. Their hair, she could now see, wasn't discolored at all, but had somehow been transformed into a shimmering silver. She brushed her hand against his skin. He was so cold.
But he was alive. He reached out a hand as well, pressing his freezing palm against her cheek, and she reveled in the feel of Wyatt touching her. His eyes closed, seemingly without his permission, and his hand relaxed onto her shoulder. Mayar quickly laid down next to him, trying to warm his body with her own. She wasn't sure if he'd fallen asleep or passed out.
She was barely aware of the commotion going on around her, as others moved in to help Eliza. She could only seem to focus on Wyatt.
He was here. He was really here.
"Hey!" A loud, commanding voice shouted from the bottom of the stone steps. Glancing up, Mayar could see the black boots and furs clothing of two Werewolves.
"Listen up, Lunites!" Willa was shouting out towards the gathering crowd as Wynter stood beside her. "There's a Z-alarm going off in town right now, and a possible rogue zombie on the loose!"
A few people gasped, but most of them just stared at the packleader with looks of shock. No one knew how to respond, especially given the current circumstances.
Oh, dear. This situation was about to get even crazier than it already had been.
"Willa," Mayar called gently, knowing the wolf would hear her. "Come here. You need to see…" Mayar's voice trailed off. She honestly had no idea how to finish that sentence.
She turned to look back at the sleeping Wyatt, raising her free hand to brush snow and ice from his glittering hair. The sound of boots scraping against the ground grew louder as Willa and Wynter approached the little crowd. The other Lunites seemed to part automatically, making a path for them to walk directly into the center of the group.
"What are you—" Willa started to speak but abruptly cut off her statement with a short choking sound.
"Holy Moonstone." Wynter gasped, her hands flying up to cover her face in shock.
Eliza was sitting up, still wrapped in Qamar's cloak, and her already frozen form seemed to turn to stone as she saw Willa. Eliza opened her mouth as if to speak, but no sound came out.
Willa stared, alternating between looking at Eliza and looking at Wyatt. Her mate and her little brother, apparently back from the dead. Mayar watched as the werewolf moved forward as though in a trance, until she reached Eliza's side.
The packleader kneeled down before her, reaching out to touch a lock of Eliza's hair. Then, she leaned forward, gently kissing her mate on her undoubtedly cold lips. Eliza reached out, silently pulling Willa into a tight hug as the wolf began to cry softly.
Mayar blinked away even more tears, turning her focus back to Wyatt. She took in his dramatically altered appearance. His pointy ears were gone, and his hair was silver. His skin had a strange, almost opalescent sheen to it, though that may just have been the cold.
Whatever he was, he definitely wasn't a werewolf anymore. And judging from Eliza's equally different appearance, she was no longer a zombie.
What had happened to them?
At the moment, Mayar just didn't care. There would be time to sort out this confusing night later. For now, she was content to lay here on the dusty floor, with her soulmate resting at her side.