Karissa arrived with the rest of MRKV just as Autumn made the decision to make everyone leave and when they were at a safe enough distance, she was there alongside Arthur and Arturia to survive the falling debris from the explosion that resulted.
… Now she was here at the cemetery in the evening, watching as Arthur sat solemnly in front of the tombstone in his best black suit and tie. The ear-less dog faunus wore nothing but the clothes she normally wore but kept her distance throughout the whole funeral because…
Well,… There was no excuse, none that proved feasible anyway. Karissa was scared… Scared that maybe this funeral would tip her over the edge, that speaking on behalf of another person and reminiscing on how they lived would be too much for the girl.
She hated funerals, she hated goodbyes, but most of all: she hated being late. Had she’d gotten there earlier, the bomb, whatever it was would’ve been diffused and- … Maybe Autumn Rose would be alive, telling Arthur not to mope around a grave for so long.
Yet, no matter how much she detested them, Karissa made an effort to stay hidden behind the bare trunk in the Everwinter Forest right near the cliff where Autumn’s name was inscribed into the stone monolith right under Summer Rose’s name.
It took a lot of gumption to come down from that tree, taking off her jacket to cover the now sleeping Arthur before lifting his arm around her shoulder and picking up the boy. She’d have to take him back home soon or risk hypothermia.
Just as she began turning around, a winter wind passed through her, sending a shiver down her spine. Karissa tentatively looked back at the grave, her body seemingly frozen in place.
A mix of feelings stirred within her: pain, sadness, despair, nostalgia, regret, anger until finally, she accepted it… just like before… and it was the relief that came with the acceptance is what scared her.
The black haired girl said no words, that would just make it harder. Instead, she did the only thing she could do: turn and walk away…
Remaining in the past is harder.
