Jay Posey - Morningside Fall

“Mama?” Wren asked. He was standing a little ahead of her, about to go through the gate.

Cass took a deep breath. “Coming.”

When they got inside the building, Wren’s first impression was that the walls were too close and too… heavy. It was almost like he could feel the weight of them bearing down on him, like they were squeezing the air tighter somehow. The entryway was darker than he’d been expecting, and warmer. There was a thickness to the air, and it had a faintly unpleasant smell, though Wren couldn’t place it. There were few windows, and those were high and narrow slots, reinforced by steel grating.

They were all standing in an open room without furniture, waiting, as they’d been asked to do. Well, all except for Swoop and Wick, who had dropped their gear off and then insisted on going back out to walk the grounds. Neither of them liked to be anywhere without having a solid idea of the layout. Wren didn’t know how they could keep at it. It seemed like it’d been days since any of them had gotten any real sleep.

As for him, he felt like he could fall asleep standing up if they had to wait too much longer. The idea of standing up any longer was pretty hard to face, though, too. Wren couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so completely wiped out. Mentally, physically, emotionally. He just felt totally empty. It was a strange, vibrating hollowness; like he was really nervous and maybe wanted to cry, except he’d already cried so much Wren didn’t feel like he had any tears left.

Lil finally reappeared in the corridor that led off from the entry room.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” she said. “I just wanted to make sure everyone was aware of the situation. We have several rooms prepared for you. If you’ll follow me?”

The group gathered their packs up off the floor, and Lil led them back down the corridor. They passed a few doors on either side, though most were closed. One was cracked open slightly, and Wren thought he caught a glimpse of someone peeking out as they went by. They reached an intersecting hall with branches leading left and right.

There were sounds of activity coming from the left, and a few people stood further down that direction watching them, but Lil led them off to the right. This hall was shorter and there was a cluster of six rooms at the far end, three to a side.

“We’ll put you in here, if some of you don’t mind sharing,” Lil said. “We have more space back down the other way, but I thought you’d prefer to all be together.”

“This’ll be perfect, Lil,” Cass said. “Thank you.”

Gamble quickly designated rooms for everyone, keeping Cass, Wren, and Painter in the middle rooms, with her team members on either side.

“I’ll give you time to get settled,” Lil said. “When you’re ready, come get me and I’ll show you around and make introductions. My room is there, at the end of the hall.” She gave a little nod and turned to go.

“One sec, Miss Lil,” Mouse said. He ducked into his room for a few moments and then came back out with his medical kit in hand. “I’d like to go ahead and take a look at your injured, if that’s alright.”

Lil seemed surprised. “Um, certainly,” she said. “Of course. If you feel up to it.”

“I do.”

“Alright. Come with me, I’ll take you to them.”

She took Mouse back down the hall, and the rest of the team went to their rooms to get their gear settled. Cass and Wren had the room on the left of the hall, across from Painter’s. Gamble had given him his own room, but Wren guessed somebody would be keeping a close eye on it.

“I’m gonna dump my stuff,” said Finn. “Then I’ll go make sure Swoop and Wick know where we are.”

“Yeah, check,” Gamble said. Wren thought, they sure did say check a lot.

“Come on, baby,” Cass said. “Let’s get changed into something dry.”

They went together into their room and closed the door. There wasn’t a whole lot to it. Two metal beds, one on each side of the room. But they had been made with simple blankets and pillows that looked clean. Wren remembered those blankets from the time he’d spent at the village before: light and a little scratchy, but warm. There was also a small table in the corner, but no chair. The room was lit by a single light that shone orange-yellow and sat recessed into the ceiling.

Wren dropped his pack on the bed and started taking off his coat. Cass made a little clucking sound with her tongue and walked over to grab his pack.

“That’s going to get your bed all wet,” she said, running her hand back and forth over the blanket. She took the pack and put it down on the table in the corner.

“I wasn’t going to leave it there,” Wren said.

Cass opened his pack and dug out a change of clothes for him. Wren put his coat on the table, collected his clothes, and took them back to the bed. He slipped his boots off, thankful that they’d kept the rain out. Wet socks were the worst. His shirt was mostly dry, but his pants were soaked, starting from about midway down his thigh. They were hard to take off. He sat down on the bed to wrestle with them.

“Here, hold on, hold on,” Cass said, walking towards him.

“I can do it,” Wren said. His mama reached down to grab one of the pant legs anyway. “I said I can do it!” he said again, snatching his leg away from her. She looked at him sharply, but after a moment she held up her hands and then went back to their packs.

Wren fought his feet out of the clinging pants. It was frustrating when Mama treated him like he was just a kid. Sometimes it was like she completely forgot how old he was. He wasn’t seven anymore. With a flurry, Wren kicked his feet free and his pants flopped to the ground with a wet slap. He slid into his dry pair and then put his boots back on. Cass was laying her own clothes out. Wren went to the door.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“To see Lil,” he said. Wren put his hand on the door, but didn’t open it. He shouldn’t have to ask for permission.

“OK,” she said. “Don’t go far.”

Wren slid the door open and went out into the hall, and then shut the door behind him. He wasn’t really mad at Mama. It was just… well, he didn’t really know. Wren felt out of sorts and wasn’t sure why. But after all they’d been through, Mama didn’t have to treat him like he couldn’t change his own pants.

He padded down the hall towards Lil’s room. The door was partially shut, but cracked. Wren raised his hand to knock and then caught himself. He was nervous. Maybe he should just wait for everyone else. It’d been such a long time. He had so many questions, but standing here now he wasn’t sure if it was the right time to ask them.

It didn’t matter. The door swung open and Lil gave a little start when she saw him there.

“Oh, Wren,” she said. “Is everything OK?”

Wren nodded. He wasn’t sure what to say. She’d changed her clothes, removed her sword and cloak. Now Lil looked much more like he remembered her. But more serious than before; her eyes didn’t have the same spark of life that they’d once had.

“You’ve grown,” she said, putting a hand on top of his head.

“A little.”

“It’s good to see you again.”

Lil’s words were warm, but Wren felt a gap between the two of them that he hadn’t expected. “It’s good to see you, Miss Lil.” His mouth was dry, and he couldn’t think of anything else to say.

There was a noise from inside the room, and Lil turned back to address it.

“Are you hungry, sweet one?” she said. And then, “Come here, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.” There were more shuffling noises, and Lil pushed the door open a little wider. In the middle of the room, a little girl was standing — brown-haired, brown-eyed, and a little chubby. She had some soft thing clutched to her cheek. She didn’t come any closer. “This is Wren. He stayed with us for a little while, a long time ago.” The little girl just stared, wide-eyed. “Wren, this is Thani.”