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Like the opening of the city, the disappearing of the sky was gradual. It was beautiful to watch the sun leave parting shades of pink purple and orange across the sky, less so when the companions realized that the sun was leaving. There was panic, there were anxieties and almost hysteria as everyone had one common question.
“Where did it go?”
The walled city’s inhabitants now plunged into darkness once more were scrambling for answers. Asking anyone they could growing so uneasy in this new dark that they seemingly never thought to look up to the sky and those who did were met with startling pure black, no stars dotting the sky as the ceiling had before then. As it was word got around quickly in this place, who knew that information traveled so quickly from the slums to Midtown or maybe they all simply had the same idea.
They all collectively understood that the city was still open but couldn’t quite understand why the sky was no longer alight. The outsiders had everyone gather to ask such questions but even they didn’t have all of the answers and eventually had to tap out. They also had their own family to comfort in this time evident by how Doc and Seamus were staying close attempting to offer any comfort they could.
It seemed the companions had just reached the light and now they were deprived of it once again.
.0.
Momo sat in his apartment, he had chosen to stay for the time being rather than leaving the walled city partly for the sake of everything he knew and partly because deep down he hoped the cat and their little drone would return after they opened the city. He always had a slight glimmer of hope beforehand and especially in the hours after the city was opened when Clementine returned certainly the little one couldn’t be too far behind.
He had been right of course, evident by the cat snoozing on the table. Momo had welcomed the cat, dubbed Mao back with open arms and for the few hours they had before the sunset mourned B12 with them. It was clear that Mao cared with the slight lethargy they had expressed. Momo of course was worried though he was able to find some food which cheered Mao up slightly.
Now as the darkness laid heavy around the city Momo was a bit too distracted by his own growing unease to notice Mao waking and stretching before jumping off the table and trotting over to the balcony where they jumped up hawked and looked up at the sky.
At first Momo safely a pit of dread, this cat had just lost their best friend and now the light of the sky was gone too, the poor thing would surely be devastated it would only be a matter of time before he saw the sad look in their eyes again for sure.
Mao looked back at Momo and cocked their head to the side seemingly questioning Momo’s expression as he braces to see the saddened look but felt his thoughts go into overdrive as none came. How was the cat being so calm about all of this?
He watched as the cat turned to look back up at the sky and felt compelled to walk out and do the same.
It became appareant that when it was light out that looking up at the sky in its endless blue and white was something Momo decided that he loved doing. The first sight of the sun’s glow had him and the other residents of the slums mesmerized as the darkness they grew not to question became a backdrop into the light.
Walking out to join Mao Momo took a look up at the sky, and immediately came face to face with the sight of the clouds that had covered the sky giving way to the full moon. It was beautiful, nothing like he had ever seen before. He felt relief wash over him as he saw the dim blue light cast itself across the rooftops, it wasn’t truly dark after all and he felt the tension and unease fade away as Mao chirped at him returning their gaze to the sky for a moment before jumping down off the balcony and making their way down to the town square of the slums, almost as if they sensed what was going on.
One by one each of the companions started to understand what was going on, one by one each started to look up at the sky and see the moon shining in full as if it were happy to see their unfamiliar faces. Momo watched as he made his way down to the square to group up with Clementine, Doc and Seamus the three of them comforted similarly by the sight of the moon and watching as Mao went around batting at the legs of other companions and watching them look up to see it.
It was beautiful, just a moment for them after so much had happened and if there were consequences to be had in the form of traveling to midtown later on then so be it. This was their moment happily watching the color start to return to the sky as the moon became to bid farewell and Mao came to sit comfortably by Momo once again.
The sunrise was a true soectical to behold, it was almost as if the world knew there were new souls to show off to, to give its best. The purples pinks reds and oranges returned more vibrant than before the clouds offering variances of the colors as if the sky itself were a painting and as they watched the sun rise once again the sight of a rainbow shown through the lighting up sky.
Mao sat seemingly pleased with themself for getting the companions attention and coccasionally glancing up at the sky, Momo knew they were a cat and consequentially knew that Mao probably didn’t share his thought process and if they did they couldn’t communicate ur well by any means. There was a certain look on the cat’s face though and in the moment he let himself believe that they both understood that B12 would’ve loved this.
He stuck with the peace that spread across the slums, not like the overjoyed celebratory peace that was a consequence of the sky being revealed nor like the mundane peace that came with life in the slums. This was new, something different. Something that Momo decided was welcome.
.0.
In the time after the first sunset Momo, Mao and Clementine made the journey through Antvillage and into midtown to show everyone the sunrise, to experience the surroundings without the imminent threat of zurks and to see what the city truly looked like in the light and not just cloaked in the darkness of a ceiling and its neons. They truly let themselves enjoy the time they spent together and when they returned to the slums once again Momo didn’t mind the nagging thought of wanting to stay as much as he could’ve. Rather he took to helping the others clean up and to securing a stable source of food and water for Mao. He liked to think that the look he got when he gave Mao food and water was a thank you.
Life went on, it went on with the light and without it. The night became welcome when everyone understood what it was and life became easy and peaceful. Who knew a cat and a drone would show the world’s last souls what the sky had to offer?