Northstar Vale There’s So[M]ething Going on and It’s Happening Now

She never heard the approaching paw steps as a boy rushed to her side quickly followed by a woman. For a moment she thought the woman who moved in front of her was her mom, vision still too blurred to make out the details of her face. It was only her voice that gave her away, she knew her name, but it wasn't Reiko.

The boy curled around her, his tongue pressed to her cheek in an attempt to rid the cursed water that streamed from her eyes with no end. It was a nice gesture, but she felt all too numb to it. She didn't want this boy's kindness, she wanted her mom's. She wanted to be held close as Reiko sang her lullabies and taught her of the stars.

As things would be, Hiromi's words practically went in one ear then out the other. Something about going? She wasn't sure she could move let alone walk. Her body grew heavy with grief strong enough to permanently affix her to the ground where she sat. The Princess opened her mouth, perhaps to speak, though all that came out was something garbled with another wail, MauhHHHHHMEHHH!!!