The Sentinels Boarfish

Why not?

I just told ya!

The boy was facing her fully when he said this. He didn’t understand why she hadn’t heard him the first time and he wasn’t fond of repeating himself.

What Towhee said next had blunted his frustration. Swordfish gazed at her and took in a quaking breath of air through his nose. The boy felt the quivering in his legs, the lightness of his head. All that time and he’d been convinced that the bear had taken them all. He’d been away so long and had believed in their death so often that it had become truth.

They’re perfectly safe and happy-

Perfectly safe and happy…

Swordfish clenched his teeth to keep himself from crying. There was a burning in the back of his throat, scorching like wildfire on dry leaves. What was he supposed to do? If they were happy, he did not want to tarnish it. On his flesh he carried the memories of a monster. In his eyes he carried hatred for it.

Just- Just tell me where they are. An’ when I’ve done this work I’ll-

Swordfish fell silent.