Jay Posey - Morningside Fall

Cass leaned over and kissed the top of his head. “The world’s full of trouble, son, whether we bring it or not. But we should do what good’s in our power, however little it may seem.”

Wren said, “I wish Chapel was here.”

“Me too. I would’ve liked to have met him.”

“I’m going to guh, to guh, go for a walk,” Painter said, standing.

Cass looked at him, unsure if he was joking or not. “We’re going on a pretty long walk here in just a few minutes, Painter. You can’t wait?”

He shook his head. “Just need to be alone for a ffff-few minutes. Clear my head.” He started off towards the courtyard.

“Don’t go far,” Cass said.

“I won’t.”

She watched as Painter descended the stairs and stopped at the base for a moment, looking left and right. Then he turned left and disappeared from view. He’d been awfully quiet since they left Morningside. Not that he’d ever been much of a talker. But he seemed acutely anxious. Maybe once they got somewhere safe, he’d settle down and be able to relax. It wasn’t easy for any of them, but Painter probably least of all. He’d been a Morningsider his whole life, even if most of it had been outside the wall.

Wren leaned forward on the table, and rested his head on his crossed arms. Cass rubbed his back in a slow, even motion, as she used to do when he had trouble sleeping. They sat together in silence for a time, each lost in their own thoughts. Outside the simple building, the sky was growing darker, with the afternoon sun hidden behind a blanket of heavy grey clouds, and a steady breeze that carried with it the scent of coming rain. After several minutes, Mouse climbed the few steps and stood at the entrance.

“We’re about ready,” he said.

“OK, we’ll be right there,” Cass answered.

“Where’s Painter?”

“Should be around nearby. Said he needed a little alone time to clear his head.”

Mouse frowned a little at that. “Alright. I’ll find him.” He started back down the stairs.

“He went off to the left.”

“Check.”

Wren had apparently dozed off. His mouth was open and the sleeve of his coat had a dark spot where it was wet with drool. Cass gently woke him. He sat up slowly and smacked his lips, and then wiped his mouth with his hand. It seemed to take him a moment to remember where he was.

“Time to go?” Wren said.

“Yeah.”

He nodded and got to his feet. “I hope they have a place for us to sleep.”

“Me too, baby.”

They gathered their things and went to join the others, hand in hand. A cluster of people had formed in the courtyard, off in the direction of the small crop field, a mix of the two teams. Several of Lil’s people had bulky bags on their backs, filled no doubt with whatever still-useful things they could collect from their former home. Most of Gamble’s team were there already, though Wick, Mouse, and Painter weren’t there yet.

“Have you seen Mouse?” Gamble asked as Cass and Wren approached.

“Yeah, he went to get Painter.”

Gamble furrowed her brow. “Where’d Painter go?”

“Just around the courtyard, I think,” Cass said. “I told him not to go far.”

Gamble sucked her teeth and made a little clicking noise. The wind gusted and a few small drops of rain spattered down. The last of Lil’s people walked up to join the group.

“Are we almost ready?” Lil asked.

“Almost,” Gamble said. “Missing a couple of mine.”

“We’ll need to leave very soon,” Lil said. She glanced up at the ever-darkening sky. “The Weir may be out earlier tonight.”

“Understood.”

They all waited in impatient silence for another minute or two. Some of Lil’s group shifted their packs and exchanged glances. The message was obvious.

“Did he say where he was going?” Gamble asked Cass.

“No,” Cass said. “I just assumed he’d stay in the courtyard. I told him not to wander off.”

“I should’ve left someone with you,” Gamble said to herself. And then she started to message, “Mouse, Gamble…” but Mouse appeared from around behind a building, and she called out, “Any luck?”

Mouse shook his head, obviously frustrated. Raindrops started falling; it was light but steady. Gamble mumbled a curse.

“Why don’t you go ahead and get started?” Gamble said to Lil. “No reason for you to get caught out in the open on our account.”

“We’ll help you look,” Lil answered, but Gamble waved her off.

“No, ma’am,” she said. “If we all get scattered, we’ll lose even more time trying to get everybody back together. Get underway. We’ll catch up.”

“But you don’t know the way,” said Lil.

“I’ll stay with them,” Elan said. Lil gave him a concerned look, but he just nodded. “Go ahead. We’ll be fine.”

“I hate to leave you,” Lil said. She was looking at Elan when she said it, but then she scanned Cass and Wren and the rest of them, too.

“We’ll just be a few minutes behind,” Cass said. The rain started to pick up enough that those with hoods started pulling them up. Lil wavered a moment more, and then nodded.

“Elan can pim me if you need us to come back.”

“Thanks,” Gamble said. “See you in a few.”

Lil nodded and then motioned to her people, who started off towards the west from where they’d first appeared. Gamble immediately rattled off orders: “Swoop, Able, Sky, start searching. I’ll help in a second.” The three men dropped their packs at their feet and fanned out in different directions. “Finn, see if you can sniff out a signal, let me know if you get any hits.”

“Will do.”

“Mouse, mind the cargo, and you ,” Gamble said as she waved a hand over Cass and Wren, “wait right here.” Then she looked up slightly and said, “Wick, we’ve got a delay. Lil and her people are moving out, we’ll have to catch up… Painter’s missing… No, sit tight. I’ll update you in a few.”

Cass almost offered to help look, but she remembered her earlier conversation with Gamble and decided to keep her mouth shut. Gamble had it under control. Cass just nodded. Gamble gave Mouse a quick nod and then went to join the others in the search. Finn sat down on the ground cross-legged, and his eyes went unfocused.

“I’m sorry,” Cass said. “I shouldn’t have let him wander off alone.”

“It’s not your fault,” Mouse said. “He’s old enough to know better.”

The voices of the other team members echoed through the ruined village as they called Painter’s name. But there was never an answer.

“I hope he’s OK,” said Wren.

Mouse got down on one knee in front of Wren, and was still about six inches taller. “I’m sure he’s fine, buddy,” he answered. “Just rattled, probably.”

“He doesn’t seem like himself,” Wren said.

Mouse nodded. “It’s been hard going. Not everyone’s as tough as you and your mom.”

Wren dropped his gaze to the ground, always embarrassed by praise. Mouse smiled and clapped him gently on the shoulder, and then got back to his feet.

“I don’t think you’d remember me,” Elan said. “But I remember you.” Wren looked up at him. “You played with my son, Ephraim.”

Wren nodded, and he opened his mouth to ask a question, but then closed it again, uncertain. Elan anticipated the question anyway.

“He’s safe, at the refuge. I was fortunate.” He smiled, but tears welled up in his eyes. After a moment he inhaled quickly and cleared his throat. “You’ve been in Morningside?” Elan asked.

Wren nodded.

“That’s a long way to travel just for a visit.”

Wren looked up at Cass then.

“We haven’t always been cityfolk,” she answered. “It can get overwhelming.”