Stars shine bright in the night sky, crisp cold air slipping through pin needles of evergreen trees. It was mostly quiet, save for a few nocturnal creatures, making their presence known to those who would listen.
The SoulBloom Feast was coming to an end, and Grimm finally felt comfortable enough to start making his nightly rounds, hoping to get ahold of a core from a lone Pacapillar, if not at least some leftover food left near the market stalls. However, his pace slowed down as he neared the Tree of Souls, its blue glow slowly fading as it got closer to the end of the festival. A voice caught the monster's attention, and he slowly peered around the tree to see who might be over there.
The small stone-like paca sat at the bottom of the large, ever-growing tree of souls. The breeze chilled the fall air with the winds of the coming colder months. Faith had shown up at dusk while most pacas were still cleaning up after the festival. He took his spot as the crowd slowly thinned, leaving no one left but him. Patiently waiting for a moment alone with those souls of the passed believed to be held in the great tree. As the woods around him became quiet, with only the sounds of the smaller creatures that lived within, they let out a soft sigh. "I've come to visit every year, but it's never easier." His soft words drifted along the wind as he looked to stare into the fading glow. That glow had gotten brighter over his many, many years of living near the tree. Shining with the new souls that joined the old. "There is never a day you're not on my mind." Faith spoke again softly. Even when thinking he'd prepared, the single-eyed paca never knew what to say. There were so many he'd lost. What does one say to those who have passed?
Faith took a moment to decide his words carefully. Even knowing that no one else would hear them, they wanted to speak true. "I suppose..." He paused, staring into the tree. "I've been fine. Met many a paca, as usual." He went quiet again. It was always so hard to gather his thoughts when it came to the tree. They always ended up just talking about the year's event since the last time Faith spoke with the tree. "My dear friend, Grimm, gained a snekket companion. A rowdy thing." A soft smile graced their face as they continued. "Definitely a good sign for him." His smile faded as he continued. "I'd hate for him to be alone... like you were." His words ended in almost a whisper. Their eye began to well with sadness and regret at the thought.
"I'm not going anywhere if it can be helped," Grimm's voice cut through, a low rumble. He took a few more steps from around the tree to let himself be fully seen under the blue glow of the tree. His form towered over Faith as he approached, "Is now a bad time?" The monster asked, his voice coming out much softer than it typically does.
Faith jumped at the voice of the monster as he approached through the snow. The soft crunch was almost soundless with his blades. "Grimm," they spoke, a bit surprised while looking up at him, "um... No, no. It's not a bad time." They stated, a little flustered that someone was listening to him speak to the tree. Turning their attention back to the tree. Sitting in silence for a moment before asking, "Out for your evening walk?" Faith already knew the answer but was trying not to focus on the sadness beginning to settle in his heart.
"It's finally not overcrowded with standards… no offense," Grimm replied as he continued to walk up to the small pacapillar with a floating head. "Skye has Dagger right now, so I figured I could finally come out and breathe…"
The large monster let his body drop next to the other, a thud and puff of snow uprooting from the ground due to the action. He kept his smaller set of pincers folded next to him while his larger sets stayed propped up in the event he needed to stand at a moment's notice. There was still more silence before Grimm spoke once more, "Missing someone?" He asked as he looked at the other. He was finally close enough to see the melancholy expression upon their features.
Faith flinched slightly with the puff of snow that flew up and now settled along his back. Taking in Grimm's words. He took no offense as he knew how Grimm viewed most, standard or not. But his question brought a melancholy smile to their face. "I suppose it's no secret with where I sit." The smile slowly fell to a sadder expression as he stared back into the tree. Falling into silence as he gathered his words. Faith had never truly spoken of those he missed in depth with anyone else. Just like with the tree, what was he to say?
"I miss many," was all he said. It was true; there were many he missed. Old friends, travelers, students, like-minded researchers... family. The thought of her passing seemed to well up in him more than expected. They turned their face to the snow on the ground as they closed their eye. Tears prick at the corners, threatening to pour over. "I... I should've done more for her." His voice was shaking as he failed not to cry. Tears finally rolled down their cheeks in silence.
Grimm stayed silent as the stone Pacapillar spoke. He felt slightly awkward, hardly ever seeing Faith break down like this. Quietly, he brings his tail up and rests it upon Faith's back, attempting to shield him from the cold wind cutting through the silence. He wasn't one to often provide comfort, but he was trying.
Faith opened their eye as he felt the monster's tail drape over him. Moving his nubs to lay them over Grimm's tail. Feeling the comfort his friend was attempting to provide, enveloped in his tail like a blanket meant to keep one warm. In this comfort, he felt ready to speak of her to another for the first time in a very long time. "My mother always supported me through my studies. Yet I left her on her own when she became old." A small moment of silence drifted around them. Faith allowed himself to lean into grimms comforting tail. "I regret not being there for her... but at least I know I can do better by others." A small smile graced their lips as they wiped away what tears were still on their face. Snow began to fall softly as he looked up at Grimm to give him a genuine smile. "Thank you. I know my grief should not be put on others, but I appreciate your listening ear." He looked back to the tree, expression much less melancholy. The smile never left him as they sat in silence for the rest of the evening.
