Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The night was finally calm, the Spiritfarer weary from a long day worth of intense afterlife business. Nobody ever said becoming the next sailor for the dead was going to be easy, after all. 

The water lapped quietly at the sides of the ship. The huge expanse of the ocean that stretched out in every direction was glittering black, reflecting the twinkle of silver stars overhead. The moon was out and glowed brightly, illuminating the path to a large island in the near distance.

Her legs ached to be on earth again. It felt like forever since she walked on solid ground, which was strange. How long had it been exactly? She couldn’t remember much aside from waking up that morning in that small boat with the cat, in front of that giant portal... 

The Spiritfarer leaned back until her spine rested against the back wall of her cabin, the rough wood chafing her skin underneath her salt-eaten white gown. She watched the stars, the countless lamps lighting the world beyond. She spotted a mythical ship in the sky, sailing along the river of the ethereal gods, and wondered if she would be up there one day.

  “Ah, there you are.” 

The voice was smooth like molten honey and tickled her ears in just the right way to send shivers down her spine. The Spiritfarer sat up, stretching sore spots along her back, and looked down at her first passenger.

Alyssa Greene was a sight for sore eyes. In her spiritual body, she took the form of a beautiful lynx. Sleek chocolate brown fur with dapples of caramel and gold swayed in the sea breeze. A bright green rose was tucked behind one of her large ears, which twitched slightly.

  “I was wondering where you went,” Alyssa said, climbing up onto the ledge. 

  “I thought you were asleep already,” Winnie said, moving over so the spirit could sit next to her. The fluffy white cat in her lap, Bones, blinked up at her, then flopped back over.

  “Not yet,” Alyssa said. She sat crisscross, staring up at the sky with glowing white eyes. “Are you nervous?”

  “Nervous?” Winnie echoed.

  “You got a big day ahead of you,” Alyssa clarified. “A lot of big days, actually. Being a Spiritfarer is tough work, I’ve heard. You’ll be dealing with a lot.”

  “...Like?”

  “Several spirits, for one,” Alyssa said. “But you’ll also have to help us cope with our deaths and fulfill our final wishes and demands and settle any quarrels before we can pass on…” She turned her head to look at Winnie and smiled. “It’s a lot.”

Winnie paled. “Oh…”

Alyssa chuckled. “I’m sure you’ll be fine, though,” she said. “You’re a smart kid. I think you can do it.”

  “Really?”

  “I mean, you were chosen for a reason, weren’t you?” Alyssa stood up and stretched. “We’ll have to find some more spirits tomorrow. Oh, and just a heads up: you may want to look the part a little bit more.”

  “Okay, when I said ‘look the part’, this isn’t what I meant.” 

Winnie blinked down at the forest green cardigan and white shirt tucked into the black pants she was wearing. “What do you mean?”

  “You look like an unpaid intern who just missed her subway to work where her boss is probably sexually abusive,” Alyssa said. “Not a Spiritfarer.”

Winnie gave the lynx a wounded expression. “I think I look perfectly professional! I wanna make a good first impression!”

Alyssa snorted lightly. “If you say so.”

The two of them crossed over a stone bridge that was swathed by big red flowers and entered fully into the island village. The smell of baking bread and cooking meat wove through the streets, and Winnie could hear the tink-tink of small hammers, the clattering of mugs, and the light echo of voices calling from inside houses. Some kind of stringed instrument greeted the sunrise with musical scales and half-played melodies.

  “So, what exactly are we looking for?” Winnie asked. She had to look up at Alyssa, as the spirit was much taller than she was.

  “Other spirits, of course,” Alyssa answered. She quirked an eyebrow down at Winnie. “Have you already forgotten your task?”

  “N-no!” Winnie squeaked. “I’m just...making sure YOU know what we’re doing!”

  “Ah,” Alyssa nodded wisely. “I see.”

They continued their trek into the village, stopping every once in a while to check out different shops. It was then, at a stall selling vegetable seeds, Winnie felt eyes burning into her back. She whipped around to see a shadow bounding towards her.

  “It’s so good to see you! I’ve been counting the days until you finally came. Though, I didn’t expect to see YOU of all people. Did you miss me at all? Do you REMEMBER me?”

The familiar voice poured into Winnie’s mind like a cup of cool water.

The spirit was clad in sunflower yellow robes, shadowing its featureless face, aside from its big white eyes, which glowed even in the sunlight. Yellow smoke wreathed from its body, dissipating into the air around it. Nothing about it screamed ‘former actor and theater teacher Trent Oliver’ but Winnie knew this was him, and not just because of the voice.

  “Oh, Alyssa! It’s so good to see you, too! It’s been a long time!” Trent babbled on, turning to the lynx, who smiled warmly at him in return.

  “Mr. Oliver,” Alyssa said. “Wow, I didn’t expect you to be here! Small world, isn’t it?”

  “Indeed it is.”

Winnie peered at the spirit. Despite his jolly tone, he had tight, tense shoulders, his head slightly pulling back, like he was anticipating a threat of some kind. Something didn’t add up.

Seeing each other again should be a happy occasion, yet something had Trent stressed out. Winnie suspected she would find out the longer she got to know Trent on her journey as a Spiritfarer.

  “Overall, I would say…I am content enough here,” Trent began. “It was weird waking up here and looking like THIS,” he held up his shadowy hands, “but I got used to it. It’s a nice village. They got some really good food here! The worst thing about it is probably Dee Dee’s tantrums, and even then she’s usually avoiding me. Oh, but another person here, too! Barry!”

Winnie perked up a little. “Wait-- Did you say Dee Dee?” she asked. “As in, Dee Dee Allen?”

  “As in, that woman is super whiny and spoiled. Then, yes.” Trent tittered.

  “What does she throw these ‘tantrums’ about?” Winnie asked.

  “She yells about ‘not being able to do her life’s work,’ and it’s been getting worse. She’s been like this for the last six months or so.”

Speak of the devil, a distant sound cut through the air--violent and thunderous. It grew louder, like bomb blasts in rapid succession, until a piercing orange light beamed through the area.

The light came from a spirit, which was as shadowy as Trent, but was slightly bigger and wore glowing orange robes. The smoke puffing off of her body could have possibly been coming from her nostrils and mouth and ears, which weren’t even present on her features, because she was practically shaking with rage.

  “Where is the Spiritfarer?” she screamed at no one in particular. Even with just blank white eyes on her black face, her fury was clear.

Trent turned to Winnie and coughed daintily.

Winnie craned her neck to look up at the spirit. She seethed with anger.

  “I have been waiting for the Spiritfarer for almost a full year and I cannot wait any longer!” the spirit bellowed on. “This place is a hellhole--a prison! I’d rather be completely dead than have to spend any longer on this island!!”

A few other spirits, normal ones that didn’t need Winnie’s aid, turned to stare, but looked away quickly when they realized exactly who was making a scene. It seemed this was a normal affair for the village.

  “Nobody listens to me! I can’t wait another year--you have to get me out of here!”

  “Okay, okay!” Winnie said. “Calm down! That’s why I’m here!”

Dee Dee’s tantrum halted. She gazed down at Winnie, blinking.

  “You…are the Spiritfarer?” She asked.

  “Yes, I am,” Winnie answered. “My name is Winnie.”

  “I know who you are,” Dee Dee said. “You just--weren’t what I was expecting.” She tilted her head. “You are very young.”

Winnie ruffled. “I’m fifteen. That’s the age I was when I died. It’s not that young.”

Dee Dee had calmed completely, now. “I see.” She cleared her throat. “Well. I am ready to leave this horrid place. Please, take me to the ship.”

Winnie looked up at Alyssa, who nodded. “Let’s go then!”

Upon arriving at the docks, where they would take the dinghy to get to the main ship, an aqua blue-robed spirit was waiting patiently for them. He introduced himself as Barry Glickman while Winnie was rowing back to the ship.

  “Not quite what I was expecting,” Dee Dee said, looking around. “But I’ll take it.”

  “Good, because you don’t have a choice,” Alyssa said. She climbed up onto the roof of the kitchen to watch. 

  “I like it,” Trent said. “If that means anything.”

  “It does,” Winnie smiled slightly. “Thank you.”

  “Well, I’m ready to get out of this body!” Barry declared. He ran to the front of the ship and spread his arms wide. A white light began to envelop his body, whisking away the robes and setting free the form that lay beneath the shadows.

Sunlight glinted off sapphire blue feathers. Wide wings ruffled in the wind. A majestic green tail swished behind feet that were hooked with curved talons. Too-human brown eyes for a peacock blinked at them all.

  “Haha!” Barry cheered, throwing his wings up. “Finally! This is much better. Even better than my human body! Look at this, I got a tail!” He fanned his huge green tail.

Winnie, Alyssa, and Trent clapped.

  “Very handsome,” Trent said, and Barry grinned at him.

  “Hphm,” Dee Dee huffed. “You’re just a bird.”

  “And what are you, your majesty?” Barry teased.

Dee Dee glared at Barry, then allowed her body to change shape. It was swarmed with light, as did Barry’s, but she was left with a blanket of tawny fur, a long tail, swiveling ears, and razor-sharp black claws.

  “Voila,” the cougar bowed. “There you go.”

  “Oooo,” Barry cooed in interest. “Pretty good! What about you, Trent?”

The yellow spirit shrugged and reverted into his full form, which turned out to be a blobby leopard gecko. He stretched out his spotted arms, then flicked his thick tail, beaming. Dee Dee snorted into her paw.

  “Woah!” Winnie gasped. “You’re a leopard gecko!”

Trent puffed out in pride. “Indeed, I am!”

  “Looking good, Mr. Oliver,” Alyssa grinned at him, though Winnie noticed a sort of longing radiating off of her. She knew she was looking for someone specific. 

Winnie watched them all begin to chat, luckily without an argument breaking out instantly. After she was assured that the conversation was tame, she walked into her cabin, where the map projector sat. She used it and the Everlight, the golden orb on her belt, to control the entire ship, though she was still working out all the mechanics. She opened up the map as Bones hopped up onto her shoulder.

Four down, a lot more to go.

  “TOUCH MY TAIL AGAIN, TRENT, AND I WILL THROW YOU OFF THIS SHIP RIGHT NOW!!!”

Winnie sucked in a breath. “This is going to be a long journey.”

Chapter Text

Sea birds were chirping when dawn bled its rose gold fingers over the horizon--

  “OH, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY INSUFFERABLE!!!”

Or, at least Winnie thought sea birds would be chirping if they hadn’t been scared off by all the yelling.

It’d been a day and the spirits had been fighting nonstop. During the night, it died down, but Winnie shouldn’t have kept her hopes up for the morning to be clear of any catastrophes. 

Stumbling out of her cabin, still dressed in her polka dot pajamas, Winnie staggered over to the group of angry spirits gathered around the guest house.

  “ME?” Barry yelped loudly. “YOU’RE THE ONE WHO KEEPS TRYING TO STICK YOUR TAIL UP MY ASS WHEN I’M TRYING TO SLEEP!”

  “Trust me, if I was aiming for it, I wouldn’t miss,” Dee Dee said, crossing her arms. “And WHY WOULD I EVEN WANT TO GO ANYWHERE NEAR YOUR REAR END IN THE FIRST PLACE?”

  “YOU TELL ME!” 

  “WELL, AT LEAST I DON’T SNORE!”

Alyssa nodded at Barry. “You do.”

  “OH, DON’T ACT LIKE YOU’RE SO INNOCENT!” Barry rounded on Alyssa. “JUST BECAUSE YOU ARRIVED FIRST DOESN’T MEAN YOU GET THE BEST SLEEPING SPOT IN THE GUEST HOUSE!”

  “I WAS HERE FIRST!” Alyssa boomed, now joining the fray. “I CLAIMED IT WAY BEFORE ANY OF YOU CAME AROUND!”

  “Oh, shut it you little worm!” Dee Dee snapped.

Alyssa whirled around to her, baring her sharp lynx teeth. “Who are you calling a worm?”

  “YOU!”

  “TRENT SHEDS HIS SCALES!!!” Barry screeched.

Trent, who had been standing around watching, just shrugged.

  “I’LL TAKE THE SHEDDING OVER YOUR TAIL SLAPPING ME IN THE FACE ANY DAY!” Dee Dee shouted.

  “THEN WHY DON’T YOU JUST MARRY TRENT IF YOU THINK HE’S THAT GREAT, THEN?” Barry shouted back.

  “MAYBE I WILL!”

  “Woah, I did not agree to that--” Trent said.

  “WHY IS EVERYBODY YELLING?!” Winnie screamed, her hands clamped tightly over her ears.

The spirits all turned their heads at once to look at her, then swarmed her.

  “Winnie!” Alyssa cried, but Dee Dee started talking faster.

  “I CANNOT LIVE LIKE THIS!” The cougar warbled. 

  “If you haven’t noticed, Dee Dee, THIS ISN’T THE HAMPTON HOUSE ANYMORE!” Alyssa roared. “YOU AREN’T ALWAYS GOING TO GET WHAT YOU WANT! YOU GOT OFF THAT ISLAND, ISN’T THAT ENOUGH?”

  “The room you have us living in, Winnie, is awful!” Barry butt in. “And cramped! And smelly! You all need a bath!”

  “Oh, WE need a bath?” Alyssa barked a laugh. “Okay, bird .”

  “What does me being a bird have anything to do with this?” Barry snapped, raising his feathers.

  “The accommodations we are living in are not very suitable,” Trent said coolly, pushing himself into the conversation. He gazed down at Winnie with amused pity in his blank white eyes. “Can you do anything about it?”

  “I, uhh--” All the spirits looked at Winnie expectantly. “Yeah, sure. What do you want?”

The spirits perked up and, all at once, began to describe their ideal living quarters. Winnie had to get them to stop and go one by one once she had a notepad out to take notes. It took a chunk out of the morning, but they all eventually finished the descriptions. Once she had them, she climbed up to her blueprint station on the outside ledge of her cabin and got to work.

Instead of sailing, the rest of the day was spent creating homes for each of the spirits. 

First Alyssa’s, who requested a lodge-esque home with a roaring fireplace, plants and photographs, and, interestingly enough, a den-like bed full of blankets and pillows, most likely reminiscent of her lynx form. 

Then Trent, who got a wooden cabin that was adequately moisturized for a reptilian, had several different types of plant life for decoration, and a hammock bed, which didn’t reflect who he was in the past at all. It was more like he chose his home decor according to his spirit form rather than who he used to be. 

Next Dee Dee, who, unsurprisingly, asked for a bed-chamber similar to one that would be found in a palace, fit with grand tapestries and decorations, a royal vanity perfect for a queen, and a huge bed.

Finally Barry, who wanted a lavish stone house with a lot more expensive decorations than Winnie was expecting, a velvet-swathed bed, and a large, mounted mirror on the wall for his own personal reasons.

By the time Winnie was done meticulously creating each house with the Everlight, it was sundown and she was absolutely exhausted. The spirits had been mainly quiet throughout the day, keeping their arguing to inside voices, or maybe Winnie had just tuned them out completely. Now, though, they were cooing over their new houses and glancing around to make sure everyone knew how cool their living quarters were. Seeing that they were appeased, Winnie trudged into her cabin, climbed up the ladder to her small loft bedroom (which was shameful compared to all the houses she had just created because the only thing that could fit up there was a bed), and collapsed into the mass of blankets, still in her pajamas. She sighed and closed her eyes, letting her tired mind and body drift off into sleep…

  “Hey, Winnie?” Barry’s voice called from the front door. “When is dinner?”

Winnie’s eyes snapped open. Bones, perched on the headboard, peered down at her, blinking his big blue eyes.

  “A Spiritfarer’s work is never done,” Winnie said, then rolled out of bed and went to make some food.

Chapter Text

  “I’m going to the island,” Winnie called as she began unhooking the dinghy. “Anyone want to come with?”

The four spirits stared at her silently.

  “Alright,” Winnie said. “Play nice, you guys.”

They muttered their agreements.

The island Winnie paddled to was named “Mosstein Cove,” lush and smelling like maple. She used her Everlight to form a saw and began cutting down several trees, needing the wood for further building on the ship. She worked until her arm muscles burned and sweat stung her eyes. She only stopped when a voice commanded her attention. 

  “Well, aren’t you a little nature destroyer?”

Turning around, Winnie saw a rather stout, maroon-robed spirit standing behind her. Although he had no features aside from his white eyes, she could hear the smile in his voice. Recognition dawned on her and her wet brow shot upwards. The spirit chuckled.

  “Hello, Winnie.”

  “Mr. Hawkins,” Winnie said. “Wow. Hello. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

  “I could say the same about you,” Mr. Hawkins said. The smile in his tone shifted into a frown. “Did you perish in the Incident, too?”

Knowing exactly what he was referring to, Winnie shook her head.

  “No. Not me.” She paused for a moment. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Hawkins.”

  “You have absolutely nothing to apologize for, Winnie,” Mr. Hawkins said, setting a shadowed hand on her shoulder. “It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault.”

Winnie nodded faintly, her gaze drifting to the floor.

  “Now,” Mr. Hawkins said. “Enough of that. I see your Everlight. You are the new Spiritfarer?”

  “Yes, sir,” Winnie confirmed.

  “I’m so proud,” Mr. Hawkins said. “My own student. The Spiritfarer.”

Winnie blushed faintly. She couldn’t help the bashful smile that came to her lips.

  “Would you like to come aboard with me?” she asked. “I already have a few others.”

  “I would love that, thank you,” Mr. Hawkins said.

After gathering up all her wood, Winnie and Bones led Mr. Hawkins back to the dinghy. Her former principal nodded his approval when he saw the ship in the distance.

Luckily, the boat was mainly silent when they arrived. Nobody was fighting or throwing a fit. They all turned their glowing eyes in interest when Winnie led Mr. Hawkins to the front to transform.

Beneath the maroon robes laid shaggy brown fur, thickly-muscled arms, and a twitching black nose. However, despite the form of a massive grizzly bear, Winnie could tell Mr. Hawkins was nothing but a teddy bear.

  “Interesting,” Mr. Hawkins said, inspecting his long claws. 

  “Tom?”

Winnie and Mr. Hawkins both looked over to see Dee Dee staring, her ears twitching, tail tip flicking. Mr. Hawkins perked up.

  “Dee Dee,” he murmured.

Winnie stepped aside for the two to reunite. Dee Dee nearly disappeared in Mr. Hawkins’s fur when they embraced. They were whispering things to each other, but Winnie didn’t want to snoop, so she turned her attention to the map to find their next location.

As she was walking to her cabin, she passed by Alyssa, and the lynx’s fur was bristled with jealousy.

The next island Winnie encountered, a quiet place named Mount Toroyama, was a complete ruckus. From the docks, she could hear high-pitched laughter and devilish snickering from the houses, and couldn’t help but exchange a nervous look with Bones, who was perched on her shoulder. A spirit with pale pink, almost white, robes came hurrying over, their eyes wide.

  “Are you the Spiritfarer?” they asked.

Winnie nodded. “I am.”

  “Oh, thank god,” the spirit said in relief. “Please, come with me. You need to get your charges off of our island before they cause even more destruction.”

With another glance at Bones, Winnie climbed out of the dinghy and followed the spirit. 

The closer they got, the louder the mayhem became, until she was finally able to see the cause of all the noise: four spirits--one in red-orange, one in hot pink, one in purple, and one in teal--sitting atop a wooden house as though it were a castle, chatting noisily with one another. Winnie was able to recognize them easily.

  “Hey!” Winnie called up to them. “You guys mind coming down from there?”

Four pairs of glowing white eyes turned down on her.

  “Who are you?” asked the spirit in hot pink.

  “And why should we listen to you?” added the spirit in red-orange.

  “I’m the Spiritfarer,” Winnie told them. “I’m here to pick you guys up.”

They all squinted at her.

  “Wait a minute…” the spirit in teal said. “I know you.”

  “Yeah,” the spirit in purple nodded. “Me too.” She looked down at Winnie. “Winnie?”

  “Yes. That’s me.”

  “Why are you the Spiritfarer?” the red-orange spirit asked. 

Winnie shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine. I just woke up in a boat one day and I’ve been searching for spirits ever since.”

  “Hmm. Suspicious.”

The teal spirit jumped down from his perch. He walked over. “Nice cat.”

Winnie lifted a hand to Bones, and her pet rubbed his head against her palm affectionately. “Thanks.” She looked up at the other three. “Come on, you guys. I promise the ship is much nicer than this place.”

They didn’t seem very convinced.

Winnie sighed. “We have food.”

That appeared to get through to them. One by one, they hopped down from the house and followed her back to the dinghy. The island’s inhabitants breathed out a collective sigh of relief as she began rowing out of the docks.

  “Aren’t you popular?” Barry said when Winnie and the spirits arrived at the ship. 

  “Just a little,” Winnie said back.

  “Are we going to have enough room?” Dee Dee asked, her arms crossed, eyeing the four new strangers suspiciously. 

  “Of course,” Winnie answered. “And if we don’t, I’ll go visit Albert and get more space.” She was referring to the shark who handled expansions and updates for the ship. He was loud and told terrible jokes, but was friendly and always willing to help her. For a price, of course.

She looked at the four new spirits as they shifted at the bow. “Go ahead. Whoever wants to go first.”

They exchanged looks. Then, the hot pink spirit stepped up and began to glow. 

She took the form of a fox with pinkish-orange fur, black paws, black-tipped ears, and a fluffy tail that swished lightly around her legs. Sharp teeth flashed in the sun as she smirked. The red-orange spirit wolf whistled.

  “How do I look?” Kaylee asked.

  “Foxy,” Nick answered, earning another toothy grin.

  “Very good,” Winnie put in. “Who’s next?”

The red-orange spirit jumped up before the other two could get the chance and was enveloped in white light. When the glowing faded, the bulky form of a hyena was left behind, amber fur that was spotted in apricot-and-black patterns swaying lightly in the breeze. He smoothed down the orange streak of pelt running down his head and back, then placed a red baseball cap on backward between his ears. His teeth looked even sharper than Kaylee’s.

  “You know, that’s unsurprising,” the teal spirit said, sizing Nick up.

  “Great,” Dee Dee rolled her eyes. “A scavenger.”

  “Did you know the females give birth out of pseudopenises?” Winnie said helpfully, making Dee Dee wrinkle her snout. 

  “Unnecessary.” 

  “Me next!” the purple spirit piped up. She transformed, taking the form of a honey-colored rabbit with purple paws, ears, tail, and fur collar around her neck.

Shelby looked at the last spirit, bouncing on her springy haunches. “Come on, Kev! You next!”

The teal spirit shrugged, then let his body become consumed in light. He was left in the form of an aquamarine axolotl with slightly lighter feather-like gills. He smiled.

  “Look at all of you,” Alyssa said, walking over. “Never thought I would see you guys again.”

  “Alyssa!” the four new spirits cheered, then threw themselves at the lynx.

Winnie stepped aside, letting the reunion happen. She walked to her cabin to get the map started. She still had more people to pick up.

Hoseki Quarry was slick with mud from a recent rainstorm. Scaling the mountain would be treacherous, Winnie knew, but she didn’t think it would be a problem when she was down in the mines. Unfortunately, she didn’t think to consider what she would do when she made it to the peak, nor did she give the loose earth a second thought, and she would have fallen to her second death if it weren’t for the shadowed hands grabbing her by the wrists. Looking up, she met the bright white eyes of the spirit keeping her from plummeting to her doom. 

  “I got you,” the spirit said, and her voice was like warm honey dripping over Winnie’s brain. “Hang on.”

With impressive strength, the spirit pulled her back, hoisting her onto solid ground. Winnie gasped, taking several deep breaths as she tried to calm herself. The spirit knelt next to her, setting a hand on her back, and her marigold robes glistened like fire in the sunlight.

  “Are you alright?”

  “Yeah,” Winnie said. She was a little muddy and her knees were scraped, but she was alive and in one piece. “Thank you.”

Though she had no mouth, the spirit was clearly smiling. “I’m glad. You need to be more careful, sweetheart. If I hadn’t been here…” She shook her head. “Well, I don’t want to think about that happening to a child.”

  “I owe you one,” Winnie said. A grin came to her lips. “Can I repay you with a place on my boat?”

The spirit perked up. She chuckled. “Lead the way.”

Winnie’s turned out to be the stunning Angie Dickinson, who took the form of an elegant, golden-furred antelope with majestic horns. Dee Dee, Trent, and Barry instantly crowded her, excited to have their Broadway gang back together. 

As Winnie watched the reunion, she felt a touch against her arm. She turned to see Alyssa standing there, looking worried. Winnie already knew what she was going to say.

  “You haven’t found her yet?”

Winnie shook her head. “No. I’m sorry.”

Alyssa clenched her claws. 

  “I’m looking for her, Alyssa.”

  “What if you missed her somewhere?”

  “I don’t think I did.”

  “But what if you did?”

Winnie sighed. “I’m going to find her.”

Alyssa stared at her silently for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. Please, just-- just bring her back to me.”

It wasn’t until two days later that Winnie came across the indigo-robed spirit playing a guitar in a verdant grove. She touched her shoulder, and softly glowing white eyes looked up at her.

  “Emma,” Winnie said. “Alyssa is waiting.”

Chapter Text

The night was warm and the ocean was quiet. The ship was stopped outside of Albert’s Shipyard for the evening after Winnie had upgraded her blueprints for more buildings. She would have sailed right through the darkness, but the boat wasn’t powered during the deep night. She guessed that had something to do with her magical orb being called the “Everlight.”

Winnie was making her rounds throughout the ship before bed. Every spirit now had their own accommodations to sleep in. As the Spiritfarer, she had to make sure they were all comfortable and all of their needs were fulfilled, no matter how mundane or absurd. She vividly remembered the instructions given to her by the former Spiritfarer, Charon, before he left her on his own ship.

She dimly wondered if basically being a glorified servant was a part of the job, though.

Winnie stopped at the first house. It was made from logs and smelled distinctly of pine. When she knocked on the door, a deep voice rumbled, “Come in.”

She stepped inside. The interior had all the decor of a cozy cabin in the woods, fit with a crackling fireplace and wooden furniture. The only thing that was off was that there was no bed. Instead, a huge pile of moss laid in the corner. Perfect for a bear, she thought, as her eyes slid over to the massive grizzly tinkering over a comically small table.

  “I can make that bigger for you, if you want,” Winnie said, leaning against the doorframe.

Mr. Hawkins looked up and smiled. He always tried to keep his deadly fangs from showing, afraid of scaring her or the other teenagers onboard, despite the many times they assured him that it was alright. 

  “Don’t worry yourself with it, Winnie,” he said.

  “Well, the offer is always on the table,” she said. “A bigger one than that.”

Mr. Hawkins laughed. Winnie peered at the desktop. It was cluttered with papers.

  “What are you doing?” she asked. “If you don’t mind me asking.”

  “Not at all,” Mr. Hawkins answered. He looked down at the mess. “I’m just writing. Collecting my thoughts. It’s still a lot to take in.”

Winnie nodded. “I know what you mean.”

Mr. Hawkins picked up a nearby rag and wiped his claws, and Winnie realized they were dripping in ink. There were a few inkwells sitting on the edge of the table, too. He had been using his talons to write, which was clever.

  “Do you want me to get you some more pencils?” Winnie asked.

  “No, I think I’m fine,” Mr. Hawkins shook his head. “They snap too easily in these massive hands.” He held out his furry paws, making Winnie giggle softly. “I would, however, appreciate some more ink. If it isn’t too much trouble.”

  “None at all,” Winnie said. “We’ll stop at Hummingberg tomorrow and see if there is any.”

Mr. Hawkins smiled. Again, no teeth. “Thank you, Winnie.” He dutifully cleaned his claws of black ink, then looked back up at her. “Did you need anything? You were knocking at my door.”

  “Oh, nothing,” Winnie said. “I was just doing my rounds, checking on everyone, making sure they’re all getting ready for bed. You should, too.”

Mr. Hawkins chuckled. “You truly are the proper Spiritfarer, aren’t you? Your parents would be proud.”

Winnie’s heart clenched when he said that, but she didn’t let it show. Instead, she nodded and said, “Thank you.”

  “Well,” Mr. Hawkins got up and stretched. “You shouldn’t let this old bear keep you. Go make sure everyone else is alright. I think I’ll turn in for the night.”

Winnie nodded again. “Goodnight, Mr. Hawkins.”

  “Goodnight, Winnie.”

Winnie stepped back out onto the deck and walked to the next house on the ground level. It was similar to Mr. Hawkins’s, looking like a peaceful little cottage that was swathed in ivy. When she entered after knocking, half of the floor was taken up by a pool that had a spout filtering into it and greenery bordering the edges. The other half looked like a normal teenage boy’s bedroom, though with more moss and vines. White eyes blinked at her from the water.

  “Sorry,” Winnie said, turning to the spirit. “Did I wake you?”

  “Nah,” Kevin said, hugging the edge of the pool. “I just turned in for bed. What do you need?”

  “Just checking on you,” Winnie told him. “Need anything?”

Kevin shook his head, sending droplets flying from his feathery gills. He stopped abruptly, however, and then said, “Actually-- something to eat would be nice. If you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all,” Winnie said. She didn’t really have a choice, but she truly didn’t feel bothered. Kevin was at least polite with his requests. “What do you want?”

  “Fruit? You don’t have to go and make a whole meal. Just something quick.”

  “Of course. I’ll be right back.”

On her way to the kitchen, Winnie swore she heard what sounded like crying coming from one of the houses. She wasn’t able to tell which one it was in the dark, but she made a mental note to check it out after. 

Returning to Kevin’s cove, she handed the axolotl a few strawberries and an apple she had picked from one of the past islands. He took them gratefully, floating on his back while he ate.

  “Thanks, Little Red,” he said, and the old nickname made Winnei get a ticklish sensation in her stomach.

  “No problem,” Winnie said back. “Need anything else?”

  “Nope,” Kevin shook his head.

  “Alright. I’m gonna go now, okay? You know where to find me if you need anything.”

  “Night, Winn!”

  “Goodnight, Kevin.”

Turning her attention to the source of the crying, Winnie began walking by each house, keeping her ears open and alert. However, it was Bones who padded up to a house that almost resembled a garage of sorts, with a regular door and a sliding metal door that could be opened and closed to let the ocean air in whenever the owner wanted. Right now, it was firmly shut, but the sound of sniffling still managed to worm out to the rest of the boat.

For a moment, Winnie just lingered outside the house. Was this really the place? This couldn’t be right.

But Bones kept looking back at her and meowed when she hesitated for a second longer. 

Yes, it was.

Winnie walked over and knocked on the door. Instantly, the sniffling from within halted. Clamoring came from inside; a moment later, the door was yanked open and an impenetrable wall of hyena was standing before her.

  “What?” Nick said. Thanks to his fur and white eyes, it was practically impossible to physically tell if he had been crying, but the slight wavering in his voice betrayed his facade. 

  “Are you okay?” Winnie asked.

Nick’s snout twitched. “Yes. Why are you asking?”

  “I heard crying,” Winnie said. “I just wanted to make sure you were alright.”

  “I wasn’t crying,” Nick snapped.

  “If you say so.”

Nick narrowed his eyes at her and bared his teeth. “You think I’m lying?”

  “Never said you were.”

  “I don’t like your attitude, fire crotch.”

Winnie exhaled heavily. She let the vulgar nickname slide as she said, “Listen, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. That’s all. I don’t wanna fight.”

  “Well, then maybe don’t get into other people’s business next time.”

Winnie opened her mouth to say something in response, but the conversation appeared to be over because Nick slammed the door in her face. She sighed. 

  “Alright then,” she muttered.

  “Winnie?”

Winnie looked to her left. Barry was poking his head outside, seeing as his house was the closest to Nick’s.

  “Yes, sir?” She still couldn’t help but use her manners with the adults, even when they were spirits.

  “Everything okay?” Barry asked.

  “Yes, sir,” Winnie answered, glancing at Nick’s door. She was surprised it was still in one piece after he had shut it so hard. “Just normal drama.” She walked over. “Do you need anything before bed?”

Barry shook his head. If he did need anything, he seemed to be keeping it to himself to avoid causing more issues after Nick’s fit.

  “Don’t worry about me,” Barry waved a wing. “Carry on. I’m just going to lay down.”

Winnie nodded. “Goodnight, Mr. Glickman.”

  “Goodnight, Winnie.”

Winnie decided to go to Trent’s house next, mainly to get the climb over with. His cabin was on stilts to replicate a treehouse, and it took ascending a ladder to get up to it. Upon knocking and receiving no answer, Winnie decided to just peek inside. There, flopped out in the hammock, one leg and his tail dangling over each side, was the leopard gecko, already fast asleep. Careful as to not disturb him, Winnie shut the door quietly and left him be.

Before she climbed back down, she noticed two figures sitting out on the bow. She walked over to them once she descended the ladder. She didn’t like the idea of sleeping when her spirits were still awake and outside. If something happened to one of them under her watch, she wouldn’t be able to forgive herself.

  “What are you two doing?” she asked as she approached the pair.

In an instant, the two of them whirled around, and moonlight reflected off of pink-orange and honey-and-purple fur. It was Kaylee and Shelby.

  “None of your business,” Kaylee snapped, flicking her bushy tail. At her side, Shelby’s stern expression seemed to say the same thing.

Winnie struggled to contain a sigh. She could have really gone without the attitude. 

  “I was just asking,” she said, holding her hands up. “No need to get all feisty.”

Kaylee raised her narrow snout up haughtily, while Shelby relaxed. Winnie realized one of Kaylee’s paws was resting over Shelby’s--but weren’t they with the boys? When Kaylee noticed that she had seen their tender gesture, she pinned her ears back and showed a fraction of her pearly white teeth in a snarl. Shelby squeezed her hands with her furry fingers, then looked up at Winnie.

  “Did you need something, Winnie?” Shelby asked.

  “Just doing my rounds,” Winnie answered. “You guys need to get to bed soon. I’m sure your rooms are a lot more comfortable than this old wooden deck.”

They both did have really nice houses.

Kaylee’s was an orange brick villa decorated in flowers, while Shelby’s was a cozy carriage house with a specially requested loom inside. However, the two of them seemed reluctant to return to their abodes, shifting on the ground as they glanced at each other.

  “Do we have to?” Shelby finally said.

Winnie opened her mouth, glancing over at the black water edging the boat, then at the pair of spirits. She said, “I suppose not.”

Kaylee and Shelby looked hopeful.

  “Alright-- you can stay up. Just please be careful. Don’t fall off the boat.”

  “Oh, thank you!” Shelby gushed, her bobtail wagging.

  “Well, the way I see it,” Kaylee said, “we don’t really need your permission. So you keep minding your business and we’ll keep minding ours.”

Winnie stared at her for a moment, then sighed. “Alright. Whatever you say. Just don’t be too loud and don’t disturb the others. And definitely do not leave this ship.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Kaylee said, already turning her attention away.

  “Thank you, Winnie,” Shelby said. “Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight.”

With that, Winnie turned and continued to the other houses. Just four more and then she could get her own rest.

After knocking on the door of the largest house, Winnie stepped inside to find Dee Dee sitting in front of the luxurious vanity, brushing her fur. She side-eyed Winnie expectantly. 

  “Be a doll, Winnie,” Dee Dee said, extending the brush. “Can you get my back?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Winnie took the brush and began combing the sleek tawny fur. It was as soft as silk beneath her fingers. She had the unbearable urge to bury her face in it, but managed to resist.

  “Don’t pull.”

  “I won’t.”

She stroked over every inch of Dee Dee’s cougar pelt until it was smooth and glossy. When she was finished, Dee Dee stood up and pivoted in front of the mirror. She nodded in approval.

  “Thank you, dove,” Dee Dee said. Her tone was curt, but she was clearly fond of Winnie’s aid. “I couldn’t go to bed with mangy fur. I would never be able to get the knots out.”

Winnie nodded.

  “Now,” Dee Dee looked her up and down. “What did you need?”

  “I’m only checking on you.”

Dee Dee’s eyebrows raised. She seemed…surprised, as though that wasn’t normal for people to do around her. 

  “Oh--” For just a brief moment, she fumbled, but then quickly regained herself, straightening up. “Thank you. But I’m fine. You may go now.”

  “Alright. Goodnight, Miss Allen.”

  “Goodnight, dearest.”

Three more.

Winnie was starting to feel the full extent of her fatigue as she walked to the next house, a condo on the upper level of the ship. Within its luxurious interior, Winnie found Angie climbing into bed. They both stopped, staring at each other.  

  “S-sorry,” Winnie stammered.

Angie chuckled. “It’s quite alright, sweetheart. What can I do for you?” 

  “I was going to ask you the same question.”

Another chuckle. “Oh, you. Always wanting to help people, even when you should be resting.”

  “It’s kinda my job.”

  “I know. But still. Give yourself a chance to be helped sometimes, too. Or let yourself rest. I don’t want you wearing yourself out.”

Winnie couldn’t help but blush at her motherly concern. She ducked her head shyly, not wanting Angie to see her pink-tinted cheeks. 

  “Alright,” she squeaked out.

  “You are so cute.”

Winnie’s face burned even redder.

  “W-well--” Winnie floundered. “If you’re all good, I’ll see you in the morning! Goodnight, Miss Dickinson!”

As she was rushing out of the house, she heard Angie laugh and say, “Goodnight, sweetheart.”

The cool air outside soothed Winnie’s red face. She gave her cheeks a quick slap, shook her head, then checked in on the last house.

Inside the warm cabin, two furry figures were curled up in the bed under the cave-like overhang. One had soft blonde fur, while the other had chocolate brown fur. The fluffy head of a lynx looked up when Winnie peeked inside.

  “Sorry,” Winnie whispered. “Did I wake you?”

  “No,” Alyssa said. “I was still awake. She, however…” She gazed lovingly down at the golden retriever laying under one of her arms, curled up against her body. “Well, she sleeps like a rock.”

Winnie smiled faintly. Ever since Emma had arrived, Alyssa’s mood had increased greatly. She was glad to see the spirit so happy, but she also got a nagging feeling of jealousy deep within her. She could never please Alyssa, even in the afterlife. 

  “Well, I was just making sure you were both comfortable,” Winnie said, ridding herself from those thoughts. It was never good when she got locked in an envious loop. “And it seems like you are.”

  “Definitely,” Alyssa confirmed, smiling. “Night, Winnie. Sleep well.”

  “You too.”

Winnie finally headed back to her cabin, exhausted. She climbed up to her loft and crawled into bed, feeling Bones nestle into her arms. She breathed out a sigh of relief.

She dreamt of a smoldering owl and vicious storms for the rest of the night. 

Chapter Text

Fruit salad for Trent, pork chops for Nick, grilled fish for Kaylee, rice pudding for Kevin, plain rice for Shelby, steamed shellfish for Alyssa, poached fruit for Barry, spaghetti for Emma, sandwich for Mr. Hawkins, stew for Angie… Why they couldn’t all eat the same thing, Winnie didn’t know, but she went over her spirits’ dinner requests as she bustled towards the kitchen, hoping she had all the ingredients to meet their demands.

Stepping into the kitchen, Winnie was met by the mixed smell of spices and a mass of fur. She and the spirit both jumped back, equally startled, before settling. She realized it was Dee Dee.

  “Miss Allen?” Winnie tilted her head. “What are you doing in here?” She had never expected the cougar of all spirits to come anywhere near the kitchen. She seemed too refined for that, yet here she was.

Dee Dee bristled slightly. “Nothing.”

  “Alright… What did you want for dinner? I haven’t gotten your order.”

  “I’ll handle it.”

  “But--”

  “I’ll handle it,” Dee Dee repeated fiercely, and Winnie stood down, glancing at her clenched claws.

  “Okay. Help yourself to whatever.”

Turning away, Winnie began rummaging through the cabinets, pulling out various ingredients and spices. She retrieved fruits from the fruit bowl, fish and meat from the freezer, vegetables from the fridge, rice and noodles and bread from the pantry, broth from the shelves, various pots and pans and utensils from the cupboard--she was going to be working for awhile. Even with the help of the Everlight, the spirits were going to be waiting for an hour or so. 

As Winnie rolled up her sleeves and washed her hands, she felt Dee Dee’s white eyes burning into her. She didn’t want to pester the spirit and risk the wrath of her claws by asking if she needed anything, but the silence between them was beginning to get awkward. She just tried to focus on the food as she cleaned the fruits and vegetables.

  “We eat a lot, don’t we?” Dee Dee said idly, breaking the tense silence.

Winnie glanced over at her. “Just a little. But it’s okay. I don’t mind cooking.” She decided not to mention how she barely got time to eat for herself, usually nibbling on shameful excuses for meals while her spirits got large dishes for themselves, but it didn’t matter. They were the ones that needed to stay comfortable, not her.

  “Hm,” Dee Dee hummed, and, for a moment, Winnie thought she saw her lack of proper eating. But then she said, “Would you like some help?”

Surprised at the offer, Winnie answered, “No, it’s okay. I’ve got it.”

  “I’m helping,” Dee Dee decided, and Winnie didn’t fight against her. 

  “Okay, then wash your paws, please, and you can start chopping the fruits and vegetables. I’ll get the meat.”

Dee Dee nodded without an argument and scrubbed her paws under the sink’s spray. It left the tawny-grey fur dark and damp, but she, surprisingly, didn’t seem to care. She picked up a large kitchen knife and began cutting the fruits and vegetables. Winnie gave her a smile before filling the various pots up with water and setting them on the stove to boil.

For a while, the two of them worked diligently in silence, only speaking to each other to ask questions or give directions. This quietness was much more relaxing than the one from before, not nearly as awkward or tense. But Winnie began to pick up on the way Dee Dee kept glancing at her, watching her--or, more specifically, watching her hands. She seemed to be waiting for her to do something bad so she could catch her in the act. Winnie knew better than to question her on this, so she kept her mouth shut.

  “I used to cook.”

Winnie looked over at the cougar, intrigued. “You did?”

Dee Dee nodded. “Shocking, isn’t it?” She chuckled, but it seemed rather dry. “I grew up poor, so I didn’t get to eat extravagant meals every day. So I started cooking my own food to make up for it. I grew rather good at it. Of course, the talent sort of went unused after I built my fame and could afford to eat in fancy restaurants. But nothing beats a home-cooked meal.”

  “Definitely,” Winnie agreed. She paused for a moment, thinking. Dee Dee never accepted food from her, rather choosing to raid the kitchen herself, usually when she thought nobody would catch her. Or Barry, Trent, or Angie would share with her. She wondered if this was why…but she felt that it was something deeper than simply wanting to cook something herself.

Curiosity nagging at her, she dared to ask, “Miss Allen?”

  “Yes?” Dee Dee glanced at her, one ear pricked.

  “What happened?”

Dee Dee understood what she meant.

For a moment, all Dee Dee did was stare at the herring she had been preparing, one large paw clenched around its length, the other scraping the countertop with sharp claws. Winnie was about to apologize and say she didn’t have to share when she spoke, “I was a fool.”

Now Winnie was even more interested. Throwing caution to the wind, she pressed, “What do you mean?”

  “After…Barry…and Trent…and Tom…my ex-husband approached me. He was sympathetic and compassionate. I actually believed him. I actually thought that he was telling the truth, that he had changed, but--” She shook her head. “He invited me over for dinner. I used to cook for him all the time, so he wanted to return to favor, hoping to cheer me up. He wasn’t very good.” She laughed slightly. “So I stepped in. For old time’s sake.”

She then went quiet. Her eyes, so lacking in basic expression, flashed with so many different emotions: rage, agony, betrayal, grief, guilt…exhaustion. Winnie set a comforting hand on her furry arm.

  “I made this-- this lasagna,” Dee Dee finally went on. “Loads of spices, with each layer having a different type of meat and cheese. It tasted amazing.” A smile came to her lips, then immediately disappeared again. “And then…my mouth started to burn. And my throat. And my chest. And my stomach. It felt like my esophagus was melting open--I think it actually was. I clawed desperately at my neck, seizing, unable to breathe. Blood started pouring out of my mouth until it was all I could taste. I can still taste it, even now. Lingering on my tongue. I reached out to Eddie, but he just-- he just stared at me. I think the worst part was that he didn’t have any expression on his face. Not terror, not pity, not amusement, not guilt, not even sadism. His face was just…blank. Unfeeling. Uncaring.”

Dee Dee skewered the fish with her claws, shredding its scales and meat in a sudden burst of rage.

  “That bastard poisoned me,” she hissed, her fur bristled and standing on end. “I don’t know why. I don’t know how long he had been planning it. I don’t even know what he used. Doesn’t matter anymore. It’s over.”

Winnie frowned. “I’m so sorry.”

Dee Dee sighed heavily. “Don’t apologize. Unless you were the mastermind behind it.” Her eyes slid over to Winnie suspiciously.

Winnie shook her head. “No. Never.” She didn’t even know if she was still alive when Dee Dee died. 

  “You can never be too sure anymore,” Dee Dee said. She looked down at the herring chunks sticking to the fur of her fingers. “You’re going to need a new fish.”

  “No worries,” Winnie said, retrieving a perch from the freezer. “But still. I’m so sorry that happened to you. You didn’t deserve that.”

Winnie swore she saw a flicker of surprise pass over Dee Dee’s face before it settled. 

  “Apologies will do little now,” Dee Dee said. “Besides. I only want to hear it from one person, but even then I wouldn’t forgive him.”

  “And you shouldn’t,” Winnie said. She paused for a moment. “Is…is this why you don’t like taking food from me?”

Dee Dee sighed. “Yes. I thought I would be fine. I thought I wouldn’t let the past consume me.” Her shoulders slumped. “But I’m just weak to what happened. I’m too afraid to eat like a normal person because I fear it happening again. Even if you don’t look like the murderous type.”

  “It doesn’t make you weak,” Winnie said. “Trauma doesn’t make anyone weak. Your reaction is normal.”

Dee Dee wrinkled her snout at the word ‘trauma.’ “If you say so.”

  “Just know, though,” Winnie went on, “that I wouldn’t do anything like that. But if it makes you more comfortable, help yourself to anything in here. You can cook whenever you want.”

Dee Dee looked her up and down, then smiled. “Thank you, dove. That means a lot.” She clapped her paws. “Now. Let’s focus on cooking before those animals out there eat you alive.”

Winnie giggled. “You’re the professional. Just tell me what to do.”

Chapter Text

The loom was overly complicated in Winnie’s humble opinion. Even with the aid of the Everlight, there were so many things to do in there. She often found her fingers getting tangled in thread or her skin being pricked by sewing needles or her fabric becoming knotted together in a huge mess. Despite it being the least physically exhausting of all her chores, she would have much preferred the garden or sawmill. But the ship was soon to approach a colder area of the sea and more blankets were a necessity, especially for Trent and Kevin, so she sucked up her annoyance and retired to the building to get to work.

  “What are you doing?”

Looking up, Winnie saw Shelby standing in the doorway, her white eyes flashing with amusement. She then looked down at the loom and the thundercloud of thread she was working on, snarled around her fingers like a messy spider web.

  “Making a coat. Can’t you tell?”

Shelby raised an eyebrow. “That’s what that is supposed to be?”

  “Yes. I think it is very stylish.”

Shelby laughed. She stepped inside and walked over, untangling Winnie’s hands with soft, nimble paws. Winnie felt the light brush of claws beneath the lavender fur, hidden but sharp, almost lurking until they got their chance to be used.

  “Here, you’re doing it all wrong. You’re pulling too tightly and making the thread uneven. Be gentle. Watch.” She demonstrated, expertly weaving yellow and blue yarn together into a perfect pattern. “See?”

Winnie blinked in awe. “Wow. You’re pretty good at that.”

Shelby chuckled. “Yeah, well. I had some time to practice.”

Winnie tilted her head. “I didn’t know you sewed.”

  “You didn’t know a lot of things about me, bluey,” Shelby said, bopping her on the nose with one of her furry fingers. She looked back down at the elaborate loom. “But yeah. I learned how to keep my parents from having to spend money on clothes.”

  “Clo-- oh.”

Shelby gave her a sad smile. “Yeah.”

They worked in silence for a moment--or, at least, Winnie tried to work. She still didn’t completely understand how the loom worked, but she did her best to follow along.

  “Does Kevin know?” Winnie eventually asked, glancing up at the rabbit.

Shelby was quiet as she laced yarn together. Then, she answered, “No.”

Winnie nodded. Her question seemed to spur Shelby into discussing the topic, and she wondered if that was why she had swung by in the first place. To get things off of her chest.

  “I was going to tell him,” Shelby said. “But then, you know, the crash happened and I didn’t ever get the chance.”

Another nod.

  “Kaylee took care of me,” Shelby went on. “She snapped at anyone who looked at me strangely for it. She skipped graduation when I couldn’t bring myself to walk across the stage looking like I did. I didn’t want everyone staring at me.” She paused, expertly lacing blue and yellow yarn together. “I felt bad for my parents, so I used old clothes to make new ones. I didn’t want them to have to spend money on me for what I did. I didn’t want to be a burden.”

Winnie listened respectfully, letting Shelby spill her thoughts and memories to her.

  “Kaylee and I became closer. I mean, we were always really close, closer than we probably should have been, but this just cemented something between us. She made the whole thing more bearable. She made me happy.” A smile graced her muzzle, then fell. “But--” She clenched her fingers, her hidden claws slightly fraying the weaving she was working on. “But it didn’t matter in the end. None of it mattered.”

Winnie set a comforting hand on her arm, lending her presence.

  “It hurt more than I was expecting,” Shelby continued. “I knew it would, but I wasn’t expecting that bad of pain. It--conquered me. I couldn’t handle it.” She looked down, her big ears drooping. “I never got to meet her. My baby. Apparently I ripped all the way down to my asshole, and that was enough to knock me out. For good. All it was for nothing.”

  “It wasn’t for nothing,” Winnie said. “And it wasn’t your fault. Nobody can predict if they’ll die during childbirth or not.”

Shelby snorted lightly. “Obviously. But I shouldn’t have gotten knocked up as a teenager.”

  “Well-- you aren’t wrong.”

  “Hey!” Shelby shoved her playfully. “You weren’t supposed to agree with me!”

  “What? Don’t you know? Abstinence is key!”

They both laughed. Shelby looked much more relaxed, less upset.

  “Thanks for listening, Winnie,” Shelby said. “It means a lot.”

  “No problem,” Winnie replied. “That’s what I’m here for. It’s kinda my job now.”

Another laugh. “Right.” Shelby looked down at the adept weaving in her paws. “Should I tell him?”

  “I think so. He deserves to know.”

Shelby took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay. Thanks again, Winnie. I’m gonna go talk to him.”

  “Good luck.”

Shelby smiled at her. “You’re the best.”

Winnie smiled back, her heart fluttering. Shame she was finally told that after she had died. Did it even really matter now?

After finishing up sewing, Winnie left the loom to find Shelby, Kevin, and Kaylee sitting on the edge of the boat, deep in conversation. She couldn’t help but listen in on what they were talking about.

  “What…what was her name?” Kevin was asking, an expression of shock and awe on his face.

  “Camilla,” Shelby told him.

  “Camilla…” Kevin murmured.

  “Camwhore for short,” Kaylee said.

  “NO—” 

Kevin looked over at Kaylee. “You took care of her?”

Kaylee nodded. “For as long as I could. Until, you know…” She flicked her bushy tail and smiled at him. “She had your eyes. And your awful sense of humor.”

Kevin grinned, fluttering his feathery gills. “Ha! That’s my girl!”

Winnie smiled and began walking to her cabin to start on their next location. However, as she was passing by, she noticed that Nick was watching the trio from afar.

His teeth were bared.