Page 52 of Suncatcher

“You said you made two mistakes that night. What else would you’ve done? You were just a kid too, Ma.”

Sheriff Oak pulled away. “One who just helped slaughter a mother. I wasn’t innocent. I regret not having the guts to kill it. Instead, I just left it to the wilds.”

Pearl didn’t know what words would help, so she made some tea. She brought a bottle of bourbon back to the table too. Sheriff Oak hadn’t moved, her gaze unfocused on the pendant.

“It’s messing with my head, Pea,” she whispered. “This goyle acting strange, hanging around, the trouble with Faltsprings, now this showing back up after all this time.” She finally looked at Pearl. “Who gave it to you?”

Pearl shook her head. “I already told you.”

“No, you didn’t. And I wanna know why.”

“What’re you afraid of? That this kid survived, remembered, and is back now for revenge? That sounds ridiculous. You know that, right?”

“It seems like more than a coincidence. And I don’t like that you’re keeping secrets.”

Pearl studied the dust on her boots as she drank her strong tea.

“I can feel you pulling away from me,” her mother breathed. “I don’t wanna lose you too.”

Pain lanced through Pearl’s chest at the unexpected admission. “I’m right here. And not going anywhere.” Pearl stood. “Do you wanna keep it?” She gestured toward the necklace but Sheriff Oak shook her head. So Pearl pocketed it. After a moment of hesitation, she leaned down and gave her mother a quick, tight hug. “See you in the morning.”

16

Like the Light

Driz’s heart hadn’t stopped thrumming for two whole nights, and it danced at the sight of Pearl waiting for her in the ravine.

“Hey,” Pearl said, hardly startling at all when Driz dropped in front of her.

“I want to show you something,” Driz blurted, too excited to wait.

Pearl tilted her head. “Alright.”

“Are you willing to fly again?”

Pearl responded by wrapping herself around Driz’s front. Driz held her close, reveling in the shift of her shoulder blade beneath her palm. As Pearl shimmied higher, Driz’s mind stuttered, fixed on the sensation, before she remembered what she was doing and launched into the air.

The flight wasn’t far, and Driz was both disappointed that she couldn’t hold Pearl longer and eager for her to see.

She landed near the edge of the canyon wall, laying Pearl gently on the bed of drying grass she had dug last night from the lower lands. Pearl sat up, taking in the sight.

The canyon dropped away sharply, and in the basin below, the glowing had started.

“This time of year, they are always here,” Driz explained, pointing down.

Fireflies hummed lazily, flickering in and out of sight, like warmer, busier versions of the stars that spread above. Then the firefoxes appeared. Dim shapes rustled and a few lights blinked out as teeth snapped them up. And their fur began to glow.

Five firefoxes wrestled and scampered along the bank, oblivious to the eyes above them. The shy creatures knew they were safe here. The more bugs they ate, the brighter they glowed themselves, until the shine of their coats reflected off the walls of the canyon.

Pearl watched them, and Driz watched Pearl. Driz didn’t know what to give her, except the most beautiful parts of her world.

“I know you like light,” Driz whispered. “So I thought you might like to see.”

The warm glow illuminated the side of Pearl’s face as she looked at her. A faint smile touched her lips and she nodded. “I do.”

Driz’s heart beat faster and her wings twitched happily.

“I actually brought you something too,” Pearl said, pulling out a pouch and handing it over.