can’t.”
They looked at each other and realized they would not agree. The group would split up, and the Snow Peak community was no more.
Rupert walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Good luck out there. We’ll be thinking of you.” He looked to Charlotte, Vince, and Izzy. “All of you.”
Fred hopped off Rupert’s shoulder and onto Alan’s. She gently caressed her face against his. A final goodbye. He stroked her tiny head. “I’ll miss you too, girl.” She fluttered over to Vince and did the same thing.
“I’ll miss all of you,” Vince said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve felt like part of a community. It was nice. Despite everything that happened to us, I’m glad it was with this group. You make good company. Good friends.”
“And who knows?” Alan said. “Maybe we’ll come back. Maybe you’re right, and the City sucks. And if it doesn’t, and we end up staying, we can come back to visit. It’s really not that far.”
Ella sniffled and smiled. “That would be nice.”
Alan mirrored her smile, and then looked at Vince and Charlotte. “Shall we?” They both nodded and gathered their bags.
Ella and Rupert walked with them to the edge of the woods, where they hugged and made their final goodbyes. Rupert supplied them with food for the trip. Alan raised his hand and waved. “Don’t get too cozy without us.” And with that, the four of them turned around and entered the woods, leading back to the snow plains. Back to the cave. Back to the boat. Back to the City.
TEN
TRISH LOOKED OUT at the square, surveying the surrounding area. The place was big and spacious, with lots of room for a stage and large audience. Birds flew across the clear blue sky, and a cool breeze ruffled her hair. She turned to Warren, who was busy posting fliers on the wall. “I like it. This is a good place for the ceremony.”
“I told you,” Warren said, breaking off a strip of adhesive and sticking it to the wall. “My buddies did a good job. They found this place for dirt cheap.”
“How did they manage that?”
“The guy volunteered the square for us to use. He said he liked what we’re doing. He believes the ceremony is good for all of us. They tried to offer him at least some money, but he refused. It just goes to show you how much this event means to people. All we need to do is rent the stage and speakers, and we’re set.”
“Do you really think people will come?”
He nodded. “I’m certain people will come. You’ve seen all of the people on the streets. They’re all from the Spire. A ceremony like this will be important to all of them. They’ve lost loved ones, their homes, and they’ve lost Mr. Greene. This ceremony will honor all of those and bring hope for the future.” He glanced around the square. “Honestly, I don’t know if this place will be big enough.”
“Are you kidding me? This place is huge.”
“And so is our audience. If all goes well, I hope to fill this entire venue. If this place is too small, that would be the best problem in the world. It means we have more support than I expected, and more people to take back the Spire. That’s why we’re putting up these fliers. We want as many people to know as possible. Here, help me put them up.” He split his pile in half and handed one of them to Trish.
She studied the one on top and read the large text.
REMEMBER THE FALLEN
Join us in honoring the lost souls of friends and loved ones. There will be a special dedication to VICTOR GREENE, the man who helped us all. Hear inspiring words from speaker TRISH BEAUMONT, who worked closely with Mr. Greene before his untimely passing.
She followed Warren’s lead, sticking strips of adhesive to the wall. “This will get the word out, but what if Simon sees them? Are you worried he’ll try to stop the ceremony?”
“It’s something I’ve thought about, and no, I’m not worried. Similar memorial events have been popping
They looked at each other and realized they would not agree. The group would split up, and the Snow Peak community was no more.
Rupert walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Good luck out there. We’ll be thinking of you.” He looked to Charlotte, Vince, and Izzy. “All of you.”
Fred hopped off Rupert’s shoulder and onto Alan’s. She gently caressed her face against his. A final goodbye. He stroked her tiny head. “I’ll miss you too, girl.” She fluttered over to Vince and did the same thing.
“I’ll miss all of you,” Vince said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve felt like part of a community. It was nice. Despite everything that happened to us, I’m glad it was with this group. You make good company. Good friends.”
“And who knows?” Alan said. “Maybe we’ll come back. Maybe you’re right, and the City sucks. And if it doesn’t, and we end up staying, we can come back to visit. It’s really not that far.”
Ella sniffled and smiled. “That would be nice.”
Alan mirrored her smile, and then looked at Vince and Charlotte. “Shall we?” They both nodded and gathered their bags.
Ella and Rupert walked with them to the edge of the woods, where they hugged and made their final goodbyes. Rupert supplied them with food for the trip. Alan raised his hand and waved. “Don’t get too cozy without us.” And with that, the four of them turned around and entered the woods, leading back to the snow plains. Back to the cave. Back to the boat. Back to the City.
TEN
TRISH LOOKED OUT at the square, surveying the surrounding area. The place was big and spacious, with lots of room for a stage and large audience. Birds flew across the clear blue sky, and a cool breeze ruffled her hair. She turned to Warren, who was busy posting fliers on the wall. “I like it. This is a good place for the ceremony.”
“I told you,” Warren said, breaking off a strip of adhesive and sticking it to the wall. “My buddies did a good job. They found this place for dirt cheap.”
“How did they manage that?”
“The guy volunteered the square for us to use. He said he liked what we’re doing. He believes the ceremony is good for all of us. They tried to offer him at least some money, but he refused. It just goes to show you how much this event means to people. All we need to do is rent the stage and speakers, and we’re set.”
“Do you really think people will come?”
He nodded. “I’m certain people will come. You’ve seen all of the people on the streets. They’re all from the Spire. A ceremony like this will be important to all of them. They’ve lost loved ones, their homes, and they’ve lost Mr. Greene. This ceremony will honor all of those and bring hope for the future.” He glanced around the square. “Honestly, I don’t know if this place will be big enough.”
“Are you kidding me? This place is huge.”
“And so is our audience. If all goes well, I hope to fill this entire venue. If this place is too small, that would be the best problem in the world. It means we have more support than I expected, and more people to take back the Spire. That’s why we’re putting up these fliers. We want as many people to know as possible. Here, help me put them up.” He split his pile in half and handed one of them to Trish.
She studied the one on top and read the large text.
REMEMBER THE FALLEN
Join us in honoring the lost souls of friends and loved ones. There will be a special dedication to VICTOR GREENE, the man who helped us all. Hear inspiring words from speaker TRISH BEAUMONT, who worked closely with Mr. Greene before his untimely passing.
She followed Warren’s lead, sticking strips of adhesive to the wall. “This will get the word out, but what if Simon sees them? Are you worried he’ll try to stop the ceremony?”
“It’s something I’ve thought about, and no, I’m not worried. Similar memorial events have been popping
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