#this moon does exist

[this-clan-does-not-exist]

Moon ???

You were surprised how fast getting back to Waterside had been. Between feeding Shine, packing your things, and the days it took to get from Colorado to Texas, it all felt like a blur.

Maye there was something wrong. Or maybe it was the stress.

You swallowed as you saw the sign; "Welcome to Waterside".

It can't have been that long since you once lived here. It can't have been long since you and Toby and Marshall played together as kids and grew up together, only for you to be the only one who really moved on.

It can't have been long since your Father died and you grew far more distant from your family. it had been expected with Toby, his disappearance tragic yet nothing to do. But your Father?

That man raised you. And then he was gone and left you behind.

When he died you had swore at your mother, calling her horrible things as she tried to get you to understand how it was natural. He'd been sick, he'd been sick for a long time. Ever since you were 12.

He hadn't had the heart to tell anyone until it was too late. He loved you and your mother too much, that's what you felt. And that's what you said. You apologized the day after, so regretful.

And then you left, and you're mother was all alone.

Your spiraling into the past you never wanted to fully remember was interrupted by Shine's meowing. She was in her carrier in the seat right next to you, and you had done your best to accommodate for her on the trip. Thank god you weren't going by foot. She probably would've hated that.

She must have noticed you weren't doing ok, and had wanted to take you out of your sudden moment of terror.

You guessed it had just. Been so long. Long enough for you to have grown up and never looked back.

Maybe things would be different. Or maybe they'd be the same.

Better to grow and move on then remain stagnant in misery.

....

..You hoped this wouldn't take too long.

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[this-clan-does-not-exist]

Moon ???? [ ..Actually.. ] [ ..Where are we? ]

You're busy looking online when you hear it.

" HUNGRY. HUNGRY."

She's been getting used to the bells more often now. A shame that Rachel isn't here to see it, she'd be cooing over Shine's growing use of them.

Honestly, you were just happy she'd finally warmed up to everything. No longer did she wince when you tried petting her, or patting on the couch to let her know it was ok to sit and cuddle.

You still wonder just what exactly she went through. You were made aware of.. everything going on ages away right next to your hometown, but even then, did that answer anything to what happened to her?

She had been scared and alone when you and Rachel took her in. Seeing your hard work pay off made your heart feel light.

Well. She wasn't going to feed herself.

It was when you got out her kibble she did something different.

"WHEN GOING."

You had been confused at first. Had she not wanted to eat?

And then you remembered. Ah, of course. She probably wanted to ask you things, using it to get your attention first. Had you really been going that deep?

Either way, you were there now. With her eyes intent and locked onto you as her tail swayed occasionally.

"We can't go yet. I have to get ready." You tried explaining. You weren't sure how to explain to your cat of all things about patience and even getting ready to go places. It wasn't as simple for her, all she needed was the pelt on her back and that was that.

And of course, she didn't quite understand.

"BUT ANN READY."

"I am. I'm just.."

"ANN SCARED?"

You wondered how it was she knew the right words to explain it, even if she herself didn't fully understand.

You weren't sure whether or not to be surprised or afraid. Then again at this point, things like this had become common since they began.

A part of you started to drift off, wondering what Rachel would think of all this. Would she think you crazy? Pity you?

No. You know better. She loves you, and she wouldn't feel that way would she?

..You think it's best to not dwell on it. Not when you have more important issues.

Maybe it's time you consider getting packed and ready. You DID tell Rachel you would be on your way sometime after she left, and well, you wouldn't want to lie now would you?

"Tell you what Shine. How about I feed you first, and then we start getting ready to leave."

"SUCCESS."

You were very lucky to have Shine. Shine was very lucky to have you.

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[this-clan-does-not-exist]

MOON ???

It hadn't been long until you arrived at your old house. It was odd, looking at the creaky floorboards of the porch and the shifting roof tiles that your Father had promised to fix one night and never did, earning the irk of your mother who made him sleep on the couch.

You hoped she would receive you well. You kept in touch often, but in recent years you'd fallen out, if only because you'd just gotten your life together.

Maybe she wouldn't. Maybe she would kick you out onto the streets with little to no care.

But your Mother loved you. Surely she wouldn't..

..It wasn't like you could turn back now.

Shine's carrier in hand, you gently knocked on the front door. At first nothing happened, and you contemplated if she was even home.

But suddenly, the door opened, your mother right in front of you. You couldn't help but cry seeing her again, how long it had been since you left her for Denver, left everything behind.

She was so proud of you, how much you had grown, even if she was a little miffed you hadn't mentioned anything of your arrival beforehand.

You didn't know how to explain all of..this mess you were in, so you simply told her you were stopping by and had business elsewhere in Waterside. You said nothing of Newt County, of that place of ghost stories and forgotten tales by the campfire. She'd probably try talking you out of it if you even mentioned a whisper or murmur of it.

So you said nothing of it. She didn't need to concern herself with it.

She was safer here than out there, close to that horrible edge of empty plains that carried a dark secret to anyone foolish enough to enter.

..Or yourself, you supposed. You wondered how you would leave once you found Toby (or what's left of him) and helped Shine, but you didn't want to overcomplicate the matter in your head.

You asked her where Dad had left his gun before he died. She was a little worried by your question, but couldn't bring herself not to answer. After all, perhaps you wanted it as a keepsake.

..You noted that to yourself for when you were done with all of this.

His gun was in the attic, in the old safe. He'd put it there knowing well enough that he'd never take it out again, and left a note on the code. You were frankly glad it stayed up here for so long, seeing as the code to the safe and the gun were just laid out for everyone to see.

..Or maybe it was just for you. He always had a way of knowing when things would happen.

You look outside the window when you reach down to open the safe. There's fog, which wasn't expected on the weather forecasts.

Oh well. You'd deal with that later.

The gun was still pristine after so long, having been a prized possession of your father. It would come in handy if you would be going to Newt County. If those....things everyone had told you about were true, the beasts, the monsters, whatever was lurking there.

Then of course, you remembered the "Cryptid".

Earlier, on a whim, you'd asked Shine about it in the car. You didn't expect an answer obviously, but her reaction had been frightened. It was likely she knew of it, and probably knew as much as everyone on that strange blog had told you.

...

..You reckoned it was time to go find it.

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