#(so does nettie tbh agdgdg she is…. so sad……..)

[hearthtales]

“Why is it called Sundown?” A voice that had no place there — a strand of another memory slipping into the dream. Feld sensed Samhain’s subconscious struggling against the illusion, fighting to remember reality. Thrill shivered through the creature. It had been so long since someone fought so much.

But… it was too late.

Feld shoved the stray memory back down, into the depths of forgetfulness where it belonged. It secured the final barrier around the dream, closing the last few gaps through which Samhain could’ve escaped slumber and awakened back in his bed.

Now, the time had arrived for the creature to take its leave and return to the inn to savor the feast.

—

“We’ve got all the time in the world,” the girl reassured Sam with a smile. “Maybe, you could try one more time now…” She brought his hand to the tree trunk again, her own hand staying against his. Her voice hushed as though sharing a secret meant only for the two of them. “Close your eyes… and listen very closely, so you can feel it speak…”

This time, when Sam closed his eyes, a slight shudder passed through the dream. A shift, as Feld vanished and Samhain’s mind filled the empty space beside him purely with the Liore from his memory.

When he opened his eyes and met her gaze, he’d find that her eyes were as green as he remembered them.

The dream continued onward.

—

Night passed. The sun rose. At the dining table laden with breakfast foods, Nettie sat alone.

The moment she’d seen Maude that morning, Nettie had flooded her with questions about Samhain, her eyes bright with hopefulness. Had he stayed the night? Was he still packing? Could she say goodbye one more time before he left? Could they maybe make one more flower crown together?

“He’s already gone,” the innkeeper had told her quietly, her expression unreadable. “I’m sorry.”

And the child’s hope had fled.

Now, she sat at the table, taking small, sad bites of toast with jam. Each swallow ached past the lump in her throat. Samhain’s instructions lingered in her mind — when the child finished her breakfast, she made sure to wipe her sticky fingers carefully on her napkin to keep from staining any books.

Maude was busy with chores. Bran was sketching in the yard, and Nettie knew he preferred being alone for this. Arthur had gone into the forest with Gruff.

So, Nettie wandered through the inn, aimless and alone, trailing her fingers over walls and books on shelves, humming faintly to keep herself company in the stillness. Eventually, she plopped down on the floor outside Samhain’s room and stared at the closed door. Part of her expected it to open any second to reveal Samhain hadn’t left at all. Simply another magic trick. The cold silence weighed on her. Nettie swallowed and rubbed her stinging eyes.

Oh, if only Samhain’s kitty friend were here. Surely she could brighten the day with kitty stories.

Samhain’s kitty friend.

With a gasp, Nettie fumbled at the chain around her neck. The tiny daisies clinked together softly as she opened the locket and stared at the scrying mirror in anticipation. What did she need to say? “Kitty,” she whispered. No, that wasn’t right. Ah, her name! She took a breath to steady the excitement bubbling up inside her, and tentatively said, “Nightshade?”

“It’s alright,” Liore cooed, her voice cutting through all sound and muddled thought. “Don’t worry...” Liore never needed to do much to calm him down. Maybe it was her gentleness soothing him to the core, or maybe she was trying a bit of magick as he felt something trickle from her fingertips through to his skin. Whatever it was, it was working. He tried hard to focus on her words, one after the other, in between deep, steady breaths.

“—We can rest there, yeah? I’m sure you’ll feel like yourself again soon.”

"A-aye.. All right.." said Sam, smiling weakly. But seeing Liore smile back at him gave him a little strength, enough to keep going at least. She led him by the hand and slowly but surely, they reached the giant, twisted tree.

When her hand slipped out of his, Sam wasn't as desperate to reach for her again. Instead, he watched with amusement as she ran and and laughed and twirled, her black, wavy, tresses swaying and bouncing as she did so. They were deep in their own, private neck of the woods where no one else dared ventured. Here, they were safe to be themselves; to be together. Here, they were free.

He watched her, content to see her so happy and without worry. He watched as the gnawing ache resurfaced and clawed at his insides. “Sammy!” she called out to him. “Come listen with me!”

He could ignore the gnawing for a little longer.

—

"So... how do I do this?"

She giggled, standing behind him and guiding his outstretched hand with hers. “First, close yer eyes. An' then focus on everything that you're feeling with your body an' settle it down. You're not goin' to hear with your ears or see with your eyes. You have to sense the tree with your heart. Your spirit. Shut it all out, an' focus on the quiet.”

He did as he was told. Slowly but surely, he pinpointed his focus on the energy of the tree in front of him. He shut everything else out. The birdsong; the rustling leaves; even Liore's own voice. He focused until he could hear nothing but his own heartbeat. And when Liore pressed his hand onto the bark—

"Why is it called Sundown?" asked a chipper voice, with sparkling eyes as green as a summer meadow and fur as black as night.

"W-wha-" Sam exclaimed, eyes shooting open and turning to Liore beside him. "W-what did you say?"

“Ah didn't say anything, Sammy.” At first she looked puzzled but then gasped with sudden realization. “Maybe you did hear it! The tree! You must've heard its voice! Mathair always did say yer affinity was strong! Why? What did you hear?”

"Ah.." He wanted to say something but the words escaped him now. What did it say? It was there a moment ago, and somehow it felt very important. He was upset that he lost it so easily. "Ah.. don't remember. Ah'm sorry, Liore.."

“It's all right, Sammy, there's no need t'be upset,” she assured, standing in front of him now and cupping his face so that he could look up and into her eyes and encouraging smile. “We can always try again. We've got all the time in the world~”