33

When you catch up with Carys this time, she's sitting once again inside the back porch, waiting for you to let her out. Wherever she's going with that notebook, she looks very determined to get there.

"Take care, okay?" you tell her, though you already know she can look after herself just fine. Before you open the door, however, you add: "And tell Grandma…"

Carys cocks her head to the side, and you almost imagine you can see a questioning look in her dark eye. You haven't often seen her looking uncertain, but you think she seems a little confused by what you said.

With that, you let the door swing open—and Carys soars off into the night, her black wings sweeping past the bright rim of the moon.

Once you're sure she's gone, you look down at Arctus by your feet, wondering if seeing her friend leave will have made her homesick again. Arctus meets your eyes at the same time, but although she gives you a slightly questioning look, she doesn't seem upset. Smiling at her, you give her head a quick pet and shut the back door. The slight chill from outside has only made you think of your bed.

Back in the house, you make sure everything is in order as you start getting ready to head upstairs for the night.

It's only when you pass the kitchen table, however, that you spot your grandma's laptop—and in a sudden flash, you remember the thing you were writing earlier, which you sent off right before you were distracted by Arctus running away. With everything that happened afterwards, you forgot all about it, and you realize now that you never checked for any response.

Thinking that you might as well see if you got a reply, you switch on the laptop.

You don't think you could have been more stunned if the laptop had started talking to you.

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