"Are you a Luna?" asked another little girl.

"Not anymore," I replied with a sad smile. "But now I go to packs that need help and teach Lunas and Alphas to be stronger."

"So like, the Luna of Lunas," replied the oldest thoughtfully.

"I mean, I guess? I never thought of it that way."

"What kind of things do you teach them?" asked another girl as she fidgeted with her crown.

"Pack leadership, etiquette, rules. Sometimes how to pay their bills or save money," I replied, reaching out to straighten her crown gently. "Boring stuff, but I do get to meet all kinds of nice people."

"Is that what you're doing here?"

"Somewhat, I came to make sure the Alpha and Luna wanted the help and that it was something we could help with." Mae climbed into my lap with a big yawn and snuggled in. She was out like a light in less than a minute.

"She never does that," marveled a little girl wearing a dress with a muddy hem and dirt caked fingers. "Not since Mommy..."

Something in my chest pinched. Loss recognized loss, even when it came from a muddy six-year-old whispering into the dark.

"Did dad catch you, Eva?" interjected Giselle, wrinkling her nose at the girl's muddy clothing and her filthy hands and feet. "You're filthy."

Well there's some kind of trauma there... I thought, keeping my mouth shut and letting them interact.

The little mud puppy blew a raspberry. "No," she retorted sassily, hands on her hips. "I'm the gingerbread man!" With a giggle, she half marched, half danced around the group, singing, "Can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!"

Mae stirred in my lap, murmuring something unintelligible before sighing and burrowing in closer. Her little hand found the edge of my dress and held on tight.

"She really likes you," Eva whispered, as though saying it too loudly might break the moment.

"Yeah," Giselle added, her fingers still working through the last of a braid. "You make it feel... safe."

I blinked. Of all the things I expected to be today, "safe" wasn't on the list. Soggy? Yes. Mortified? Absolutely. But safe?

I brushed Mae's damp curls off her forehead and smiled at the older girls. "That's very sweet of you."

Giselle shrugged, but there was a note of seriousness in her eyes now. "Not a lot of grownups talk to us like we're real people. Or let us braid their hair."

"Or don't get mad when we're messy," Eva added, glancing down at her muddy feet.

"Well, I've been known to cause my fair share of messes," I said with a wink. "Seems fair."

The fire crackled beside us, casting long shadows across the grass. Someone across the clearing laughed, and music started up again—a soft guitar, followed by a warm baritone singing. They were just far enough away to hear what sounded like words and phrases but far enough away that it didn't feel like an interruption.

For a moment, I let myself breathe.

Let myself imagine what it would be like to be part of something again.

To belong.

But I knew better than to hope too hard.

Some doors didn't open twice.

And some things, once lost, stayed that way.

A wide yawn cracked across Eva's muddy face, her eyelids drooping as she leaned against her sister.

"Alright," I murmured, brushing a daisy petal from Mae's hair. "I think it's time we call it a night."

"Not until Eva has a bath," Giselle said firmly, wrinkling her nose. "She smells like frog butt."

"Ribbit," Eva croaked, absolutely unbothered.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's Note:

Accidentally made Allison the reluctant queen of soggy chaos and small children with daisies.

Regret nothing. Would torment her again.

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