Mutt's empty hand curls into a fist. "I'm not gonna just forget them! They're my friends! And they're not gonna forget me either, right?" They look to Legion and Even desperately.
"NO, we won't-" "Never-" "Good." The Queen smiles, and Even and Legion vanish with a crack of displaced air. "...you know what you want to work for. The two of you have one week. Then you're going home." The Queen straightens. "Use your time wisely, both of you."
Mutt stares at the air where Legion and Even had just been, trying to choke back a sob. What are they going to do now? They're alone again...except for Nul, but he's brand new! He can't help!
"Take care of each other," the Queen orders. "One week, Mutt. Do your best. You both are depending on you."
Nul reaches out and touches Mutt's arm. They pull the knife out the rest of the way automatically, but stop before they cut him. "Hey, Mutt. It's going to be okay. Come on, let's go."
Mutt nods more confidently and slips a hand into Nul's, pulling him away from the Queen and towards their room.
Mutt sinks into depression, lurking around and hiding in the corners of their room, or Legion and Even's, until the room is closed up and a box of their departed friends' things is left in their room. Nul isn't sure how to deal with it, but supports their sibling as much as they can while learning, reaching out to others to try and learn. Mutt has to drag them to safety at least twice, realizing how much more vulnerable they both are without Legion and Even... but the two are able to work together. After all, all they have is each other.
At the end of the week, they both wake, shivering, with bags piled in the snow next to them, under a beautiful ceiling of trees...
Nul sits up and looks around, but all he sees are trees and snow, and Mutt. How did they get here? Where is here? He stands up to see if he can get a better look at their surroundings.
Mutt reaches for their knife immediately, relaxing only once they've got it firmly in their grip. They check for the rest of their knives with their other hand, and then pull one of the bags open.
It's dark outside, lit only by the light of the moon and the stars... but they can hear the strains of music from not too far off. Mutt, it twigs a memory, of being small and warm and sitting with people whose faces are fuzzy and hard to remember, of... Of home. Of the home you had before you had... Legion and Even. Wait. Where are they? Nul's mind is fuzzy, putting words to things and with only one strong, secure anchor of knowledge and familiarity present, of Mutt being as close to family as they could know.
There's something wrong with Arie's parents. They don't seem to understand Mica is gone. They wave her off when she tries to talk to them about it. Her little brother believes her, but they don't listen to him, either. It's Christmas Eve, and they're all singing carols, while her stomach feels sick and she wants to throw up. She's lost her brother all over again, and... and maybe it's her fault for not trying to stop him from leaving.
Nul and Mutt emerge from the woods and keep walking towards the music. There's a handful of houses up ahead, and most are shining bright and colorful against the darkness.
"That one," Mutt points. It's the closest to them, and something seems familiar about it. Could it be...?
