29. Wolf
There was a lot to be done. I wouldn’t leave Emi’s side until I knew she was out of danger, but after that, I turned to the unpleasant tasks at hand. When the Mist had lifted, most of us returned to human form. But for some of the monsters, the curse had stolen every last bit of their humanity and there was nothing left to turn back to. Some we killed. Others ran off.
As the curse faded from the bodies, they turned back the same way Leo had done. Bear and Lynx helped me bury them before I limped back to the campfire, my bruised ribs from the fight protesting the gruelling work. Emi kindly didn’t ask how many of those people I had known once.
Too many.
She looked up at me with weary eyes and indicated for me to sit beside her. It had been three days, and she still hadn’t regained her magic, but there was more color in her cheeks, and that was all I cared about.
We’d been lucky. None of my enclave family had died, although Bob was seriously injured and Emi kept fretting about not being able to help. Fawn was looking after him.
“Are you okay?” Emi’s gaze was sympathetic.
I could only nod.
“It’s okay if you’re not, you know.” She covered my hand with hers and I responded by flipping it over to lace our fingers together. We sat in silence for a time.
A frisky fox ran by us, making Emi smile. The curse had left lingering effects on all of us, some more interesting than others. For one, we could still shift, only now it was on our terms, when we wanted. I was one of the few who had no desire.
“Don’t say it, witchling. I’ve spent enough time as a wolf.” I pulled her into my lap so we could watch the others’ antics. Her body was warm in my arms, but the heat didn’t reach me. My stomach was the same cold knot it had been for days.
Unfortunately, our amnesia was another effect that lingered. The people who weren’t hurt were making plans, either to seek out their pasts or to start new lives, some of them together. Amber had offered homes in her old village on the edge of the Yellow Plain for those who didn’t want to go far just yet. Still, after so many annums together, my family was splitting apart.
I was overjoyed that they had the freedom to choose their own paths now, but a piece of me left with each group that set out. Soon, it would be Emi’s turn. I didn’t want to imagine how much of my heart would leave with my little witch when she finally had the energy to return home.
Pacing between groups, checking that everyone had what they needed, I held it all inside. When Lynx, Fawn, Bob, Bear, and Robin said they were all leaving in the morning for Amber’s village, and asked if I’d go with them, I felt the dam breaking. This would be Emi’s sign to leave too.
Taking advantage of roaming beyond the enclave walls, I found a secluded spot to watch the sun set, my heart sinking with it. When a hand grazed mine, I knew she’d found me to tell me she’d be leaving in the morning.
“Emi. You’re still here.”
“Where else would I be?”
“I figured you”d return home. Since you have a home to return to.”
“I…Yes, I suppose I do.”
Good. That was good. That was what she should do. But what should I do with half a heart when she did?