Chapter Text
Wirt’s mom had finally decided it was time to give the boys a new environment. With the help of Greg’s dad, the parents packed up the family and moved several states away. They both hoped that the change of scenery would get their kids a little more willing to open up. Wirt had turned away every therapist he was offered and Greg flat out refused to talk to any therapist. So, hopefully the change did the boys some good.
Currently, Wirt was pacing nervously in the office of his new school, waiting for his student guide. He’d been away from his little brother for less than an hour and was already beginning to worry and fret. In his own mind, Wirt doesn’t hear the footsteps that approach him, only looking up when a soft voice speaks.
“Wirt? Hello, I’m Auburn, your student guide.”
Wirt turns around and moves away from the boy who spoke. This boy, Auburn, was very clearly not human. He had antlers. Antlers that reminded Wirt too much of the Beast for his liking.
The smile that Auburn had on his face quickly faded into a frown, “Oh, uh, sorry. Is it the antlers? They forgot to tell you, didn’t they? Sorry, I know it can be unnerving. I was born like this. Other than the antlers and deer ears, I’m normal. Promise.”
Wirt hadn’t even noticed the deer ears in his panic. He looks more intensely at the antlers, “They aren’t branches?”
Auburn’s smile returned, albeit nervously, “No, no. They’re real antlers and ears.” He flicks his ears to prove it, “You can touch them if you want to.”
Wirt was still very wary of his student guide, “No thanks. What did you say your name was again?”
“Auburn. Auburn Woods,” he replies, giving Wirt what he hopes is an encouraging smile.
Unfortunately, Wirt is not encouraged, “And where are you from?”
“This town. Born and raised.” Auburn keeps his voice light, trying his absolute best to act friendly.
Wirt on the other hand, shoves his hands deep into his hoodie pocket, “I guess you show me around the school, huh?”
“That’s right. I’m the poster boy for a model student, apparently. I think they just use me as a mascot honestly.” He shrugs, “It’s a decent school, a couple of bullies here and there but nothing too huge.”
“Great,” Wirt mumbles, looking down at his feet.
Auburn gestures towards the hallway, “Ready for the grand tour?” Wirt just shrugs, but follows Auburn out to where the lockers are. The lockers have all sorts of different colors and designs on them. “You’re allowed to paint the outside of your locker as long as it isn’t inappropriate for school. You’ll have to either use your own stuff or get on the art teacher’s good side. It’s not that hard though, Mrs. Sugar is super cool.”
They continue on the tour, with Auburn showing Wirt the classrooms of the teachers he has, where all the bathrooms are, and finally, where the auditorium is. “This is where band is held but it’s locked because the teacher is on leave.”
Wirt sighs and huffs under his breath, “No band, great.”
Auburn offers Wirt another encouraging smile, “It’ll be back next Monday, just try to relax.”
“To relax would be an open invitation to the world.”
Auburn looks over at Wirt, concerned, “What was that?”
“Nothing. Forget it.”
This does not ease the concern, “Are you sure?”
Wirt snaps back, “I said forget it.”
Auburn holds his hands up slightly, “Okay, okay. I’m a band nerd too so I’ll let you know when Mr. Evergreen is back. You should be able to place pretty quickly.”
Wirt shuffles his feet, “Yeah, okay.”
At this, Auburn finally gives up trying to be cheery, “Do you want to go back to the office and get a different guide?”
“Yes.”
Auburn nods and starts walking back towards the office, “I get it. Honestly, I don’t know why they always put me with the new kids. It always makes them think the school is full of freaks.”
Wirt looks away, he feels a little guilty now so he decides to try and reassure Auburn. “Look, I’m sure you’re a nice guy. This might sound crazy, but I have bad experiences with people with branch-like things on their heads.”
Auburn scoffs at that, “Look, kid. You don’t have to play that card. I get it. I’m weird. You don’t like me. End of story.”
Wirt mumbles, “And this is exactly why I don’t tell people.”
“C’mon. Let’s just get you another guide.”
When they get to the office, Auburn goes to the receptionist, “Hey, Lauren? Can we get a different guide for Wirt here?”
“The antlers again?”
“Yeah no shit. And can you set me up with a meeting with Mr. Penner? I’m really sick of this whole sticking me with the new kids thing.”
Lauren smiles apologetically, “I got it, don’t worry.” She gets to work on finding another student to call down.
Auburn slumps into a seat away from Wirt and crosses his legs. “No hard feelings, kid. It’s been a long time coming. I’ll stay until they get you someone else though.”
“Yeah. Whatever suits you…”
Auburn grumbles quietly, “Wish I was asleep….”
“I wish I was dead.” Wirt immediately clams up once he realizes he said that out loud instead of in his mind.
Auburn laughs quietly at that, looking over at Wirt, “Me too, pal. Then I’d get to go home.”
Wirt can't help but be curious, “What do you mean?”
“It’s…. Complicated.”
A new woman, presumably a counselor, comes from a door behind the desk, “Oh please don’t go on about that fairy tale again, Auburn. The Unknown doesn’t exist.”
Wirt looks at Auburn apprehensively, “You know about the Unknown?”
Auburn’s ears go flat against his head as he turns to Wirt, “What?”
“The woods, Pottsfield, The Dark Lantern, the schoolhouse-”
“The woodsman, Quincy’s tea company, the frogs,” Auburn stands up, staring at Wirt. “The remains of the edelwood trees. How… how do you?”
Wirt looks away, “I've been there. My little brother almost became an edelwood. The beast is why I don’t like branch-like things on people’s heads.”
“What’s the Bea-”
Before Auburn can finish his question, the counselor cuts in, “That’s enough boys. Auburn, either continue the tour or return to class.”
Auburn looks at Wirt, “Tell Lauren I’m staying as Wirt’s guide. We just had a misunderstanding.” With that they leave.
Wirt tries bringing up the Unknown a couple of times but gets shut down by Auburn. Auburn locates a custodian and asks permission to be let into the auditorium with the explanation that Wirt will be in band. The custodian agrees and unlocks the door for them. Once inside Auburn seems to relax a little.
“Sorry for practically dragging you here. But the halls have surprisingly high tech cameras. I’m pretty sure the reason is that there’s a cult in this town. But if you’re caught on camera talking about it, you get expelled. The audio doesn’t carry in here like it does in the hall though.”
Wirt looks panicked, “A cult?”
“Yeah, I don’t know much but it goes deep. But enough about that, how the actual FUCK do you know about the Unknown? And what’s this Beast you mentioned? I’ve never heard of that!”
“I told you, I’ve been there. My little brother Greg and I were… we were drowning and went there. How haven’t you heard of the Beast? He’s the one who turned lost souls into the edelwood trees.”
“No one talks about how the edelwood trees came to exist and I’ve never heard anyone mention any beast,” Auburn says, going to sit on the edge of the stage. “I just know what they’re called and that they’re unsettling to be near. I touched one once and-” Auburn shudders “- it wasn’t pleasant.”
“Those trees are lost souls that died in the woods.”
Auburn looks at Wirt, “And my antlers remind you of this Beast?”
Wirt hesitantly nods, “Pretty close. And after the Beast almost turned my brother into an edelwood tree and nearly tricked me into wandering the woods for eternity…. Yeah, it wasn’t exactly the most pleasant experience.”
Auburn sighs, “I’m sorry, I had no idea. I’ve tried asking Auntie and the Mill family about the trees but no one ever gives me a straight answer. And no one knows why I started showing up either.”
“If you see Beatrice, ask her again and say I told you to.” Wirt pauses for a moment, “Wait… you can travel back and forth?”
Auburn gives a half shrug, “Kind of. I only get to visit when I’m asleep. So far that’s the extent of what me or anyone else I’ve talked to there knows about it. But it’s my home and they accept me as one of their own.”
“Why do you say it’s your home?”
“Oh, uh, it just feels more like a home to me. I wish I could take Leo with me. I couldn’t ever bring myself to leave him alone forever.”
Wirt sits next to Auburn on the stage, “I made some good friends there but going back is nearly impossible. Who’s Leo?”
“My little brother. He turned 8 just a few months ago. He loves hearing about home but I wish I could show him everything. I wish I could take him away from this world. With all the pollution, stupid ass government people, cults, bullies. I mean, shit man, the stuff they feed us and the useless bs they fill our heads with… It’s ridiculous.”
Wirt chuckles a bit, “I get where you’re coming from. Greg is 7.”
“Maybe they’re in the same class. That would be cool. But the Unknown is so much better. No one judges you for stupid crap. They judge you on if you’re a good person, which is what really matters. Everything is so much more peaceful there.”
Wirt hums sadly, “I just remember being scared out of my mind. I remember yelling at Greg a lot, wanting to die, being terrified of the Beast, and what might happen to me.”
Auburn smiles gently, “It’s not like that, really. At least, not anymore. Everyone works together to help other people. Anytime there’s conflict, it gets resolved pretty quick.”
Wirt looks at his hands, fidgeting with his fingers, “I wish I could see it again. But the only way to do that is.. Well, to almost die.” Wirt looks ashamed as he says this.
Auburn looks at him, “Have you tried to get back?” Wirt looks away, letting his silence answer the question. “I see… Well, I’ve never tried bringing anyone with me. I don’t know how I would. Maybe sleeping near someone? Or holding them in my sleep…. I’m not sure but since you’ve been there before I don’t see why it would be any issue to try and bring you back.” Auburn hears Wirt mumble but doesn’t catch the words, “What? Sorry, I didn’t hear that.”
Wirt takes a deep breath and admits, “I did get back once. I was in a coma for 3 weeks. But I was just laying in the woods. I couldn’t move.”
Auburn looks at him with worry, “Oh, well…. How about we try this.” He pulls out his phone. “We swap numbers. You talk to your parents to see if you can come over and study or something and spend the night. We can try to get you back without hurting you.”
Wirt hesitates but hands his phone over, taking Auburn’s. He puts in his number and just puts his name as the contact. When Auburn hands the phone back, Wirt sees the contact name is Auburn with a maple leaf on either side of the name.
“Alright, anywhere else you want to go before school lets out? Or any other questions you have rattling in your brain?”
Wirt nods, “If my brother needed me, could I get to him?”
“From here? Yeah, the elementary school is right around the corner.”
“I mean, would they come get me? I’m kind of the only person who can calm him down.”
“Not without accommodations, no. Leo has an accommodation for that because of his anxiety and claustrophobia. So if there’s any issues, his teacher has my phone number and I can run over.”
Wirt nods, “I’ll talk to Mom about that…”
“I will say one good thing about these schools is that they’re really good with special needs accommodations.”
“Thanks. I’ll talk to my mom tonight.” Wirt stands up and stretches. He catches Auburn looking at him, “What?”
Auburn goes to answer when his phone rings. He checks the caller id and swears, “It’s Leo’s teacher. I think they were doing a shooter drill today. Fuck.” He answers with a simple, “On my way,” before hanging up and grabbing Wirt, “Come on!” Wirt runs to follow him, knowing that somewhere in that elementary school, his own brother is freaking out too.