ORIGIN

Huckleberry was silent and alone, save for Shiny who watched from some distance away. He had been ranging farther from the home every day, he had been by himself for longer and longer. Even Shiny, who was connected to his mind, had trouble figuring out was he was thinking. But it was crystal clear now. He was mourning. The tears rolling steadily down his face gave that away. And he was confused. The faint chaos in their link hinted at that. He was grasping at straws, trying to figure out what to do, what to think, what to feel.

He knew that Blackberry was going to raise Cloudberry by herself, but he didn't know how much that would hurt. He knew that by giving up the gem to her, he was giving up his right as a parent, but he didn't realize how much love he would still have them xer. So he was confused. Was he right or was he wrong? Was Mama doing good or evil?

He didn't know what to think. He couldn't talk to the others in the family. They would take Mama's side. He couldn't be close to anyone but Shiny, but it was hard for that to be his only means of support. She was, after all, still a Lesser Gembound. She didn't fully understand.

Huckleberry nearly jumped out of his skin when the larger creature landed in front of him. At the sight of Baneberry, he widened his eyes with disbelief. This wasn't her, was it? The long-lost sister he hadn't seen in cycles? The one that Mama announced to have betrayed the family? Conflicting feelings ran through his brain. The family demanded he be hostile and attack. Mama had made it clear that Baneberry was no longer a part of the family. She had explicitly said that they were to drive her away if they ever saw her again. But the side of Huckleberry that rebelled against the family values said that perhaps this was an opportunity. The opportunity to get away. Baneberry was the only Bloodberry that had ever been kicked out and survived to speak about it, even if she had no idea she had been abandoned. And still, the third part wanted to welcome Baneberry back, his beloved sister, a part of the family that was finally home.

The silence that stretched from Huckleberry's contemplation was probably a little longer then necessary but, finally, he blinked and shook his head, pulling himself back to reality. "Baneberry! You're back! I...I missed you too! We all did..." The words were out before he thought about them. Yes, the family had missed her, but Huckleberry knew that they were beyond sad about it. If Baneberry asked him to take her home, he wasn't sure how he would respond.

The little nuzzle was welcome, most welcome, and Huckleberry leaned into it, nuzzling their sister back. The confusion and despression that had been there moments ago was momentarily pushed back in favor of relief that their sister was okay and unconditional love for their larger sibling. "They're...they're all great! I think. Some of them haven't been around though and Mama thinks they've abandoned us. But everyone is good."

They felt a question of confusion in their head and the softest of weights crawl up their leg and rest on their shoulder. They glanced back and saw Shiny peering out from behind their head at Baneberry. Who is this, Huckle-friend? Is she really your sister?

"Yes, yes she is!" They looked back towards Baneberry, pride swelling in their chest. "Baneberry, this is my friend, Shiny!"

Shiny's four ears twitched a little nervously but she gave him a happy wave of her tail before disappearing behind Huckleberry's head again, a little nervous to be around such a big animal. But Huckleberry didn't notice.

It had been a long time since Baneberry was around...way too long. They were all grown up, just like they were grown up and Elderberry was grown up. But why hadn't Baneberry grown up with the family. Their eyes changed to worry and they stepped forward, concerned. "Baneberry...where have you been? We all missed you so much..."