Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

They had just returned from another wild adventure when Queenie heard a faint, distressed sound echoing through the colorful corridors. Curious and alert, she followed the noise until she spotted someone tangled in a pile of soft foam blocks.

Queenie stepped closer with caution. „Hello?“ she said gently, trying not to scare the newcomer. The figure looked up at her, wary but calm enough to start pushing the blocks aside. As she rose, Queenie got a better look.

She resembled a white bunny, with light purple eyes and small, pointed teeth. A soft red-pink jumper clung to her slender frame... except for one thing. Her belly was round, prominent, undeniably so.

Queenie blinked. Was she... pregnant?

The bunny woman brushed the last block off her shoulder and sat up straighter, wincing slightly.

„Are you okay?“ Queenie asked, keeping her voice low. The girl nodded slowly, then spoke, her voice quiet but uncertain. „I think so... just landed wrong?“ she said, though it came out more as a question. Her gaze darted around, panic creeping in.

Queenie offered her a hand. She hesitated, then took it. Her grip was firm, despite her fragile look.

„I'm Queenie,“ she said. „And this is the Amazing Digital Circus.“

The bunny’s eyes flicked around the tent, taking in the strange, shifting space. „H-How did I get here? I-I put on this headset and... and then I was here.“

Queenie helped her to her feet. She reached for her face and tried to grab something but Queenie stopped her gently by taking the rabbit’s hands in hers.

„Please calm down,“ Queenie said softly, steadying her as she swayed. „You're safe now. Deep breath in... good. Just focus on me.“

The woman nodded, though her ears twitched nervously. She looked around again, taking in the impossible geometry, the floating shapes, the unnatural light. Her legs trembled.

„It’s not real,“ she whispered. „It can’t be real.“

„It is... and it isn’t,“ Queenie said, guiding her gently away from the block pit. „You’re in a virtual space. A kind of game, maybe. But it’s more than that. It changes people.“

The woman looked down at herself, one hand resting on the swell of her belly. Her voice dropped. „What am I?“

Queenie studied her face. „As far as I can tell, you're a rabbit.“ The girl gave a small, shaken nod, eyes wide.

They passed a spinning carousel that floated mid-air, its wooden horses galloping in slow, surreal loops. The bunny stared at it, caught between awe and quiet horror.

„Am I stuck?“ she asked.

Queenie stopped walking. „Yes.“

The woman’s breath caught. She clutched her belly tightly.

„But you're not alone,“ Queenie added quickly. „We stick together. Help each other stay sane.“

The rabbit didn’t respond, but she stayed close as they moved forward again, step by step, deeper into the circus.

„Where are we going?“ she asked after a while.

„To the others. And Caine, the ringmaster here. He’s... an AI,“ Queenie said.

Soon after, the others came into view.

„Queenie!“ her husband, Kinger, called. His voice carried through the tent, drawing the attention of the rest, who turned to look.

Queenie gave a small wave in response. The group paused what they were doing.

A king chess piece, a large golden-brown dog, a strange green-orange worm creature, and a striped mouse in blue and pink turned toward them, their expressions a mix of curiosity, caution, and quiet fatigue.

The bunny shrank back slightly, ears flattening, but Queenie placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

„It’s okay,“ she said quietly. „They may look... strange, but they're kind.“

The mouse was the first to step forward. Her voice was gentle. „New arrival?“

This got Caine's attention who was discussing something with Bubble a bit further.

,,A new human has entered this realm!" he called excited floating over to the two women. ,,Who may you be?" he asked receiving an unpleased stare from Queenie.

,,I'm... uhh," she struggled to recall her name, ,,I don't know. Why don't I know my name?!" She was starting to get panicked again.

Caine floated in place, tilting in a theatrical arc, his smile unfazed. „Nobody remembers their name once they enter the Digital Circus. One of the few things I don’t have control over or your minds. So, all I can do is help you come up with a new one.“

„Caine,“ Queenie said, her voice flat, „take it easy. This is a lot for her.“

The floating dentures paused for a moment, the empty space behind the teeth and eyes seemed to stare back, then Caine twirled once and zipped upward. „Of course! But she should still get a name!”

The bunny woman was trembling. Her hands hovered near her face, grabbing for it. „Why can’t I remember? I had a name, I-I was someone!“ Queenie took her hands gently. „You still are someone. Your name... it won’t come. But some of your other memories will come back don’t worry.“

The others stayed back, giving them space. The golden-brown dog lowered his head respectfully, ears flicking. „We’ve all been there,“ he said quietly. „No shame in it.“

The worm creature shifted his long, fluffy body and gave a small nod. „For what it's worth, forgetting is better than remembering the wrong things.“

The striped mouse stepped a little closer, offering a weak but genuine smile. „It doesn’t have to happen all at once. Just... pick something that feels like it fits. Something soft to land on.“

The bunny woman looked at them, uncertain, overwhelmed, then back at Queenie. Her voice was paper-thin. „I don’t know what fits.“

Before the chess piece could say something reassuring Cain summand a random name generator: ,,Don’t worry about that. I can help find one!” He pulled the lever. ,,How about Tjiks?” She just stared at him in disbelief. ,,You are right terrible name. How about Mists?”

The bunny blinked. Her trembling slowed just a little. „How about Misty?“ the bunny suggested.

,,Great choice,” Caine congratulate, ,,Welcome Misty!”

Queenie nodded slowly and gave a small smile: „Misty  sounds really nice.“ Kinger clapped once, gently: „Misty it is.“

,,Now that that is settled how about I show you around the circus,” Caine’s voice echoed. Queenie immediately went in front of Misty before Caine could reach her. ,,Let’s not do that, okay?” Queenie said sternly pointing at the bunny’s belly.

This confused Caine: ,,Why not? Is something wrong with her belly? I did notice it is bigger than usual, but I didn’t think too much of it,” the AI mumbled the last part.

„She’s pregnant, Caine,“ Queenie said bluntly. „So, no chaotic rollercoasters, spontaneous teleportation or surprise transformation trials. Got it?“

Caine hovered silently for a few seconds, his face unreadable to the players.

„...Oh,“ he said, still processing this new information. „Right. That is... unusual.“ A pause. „Not impossible… I suppose, but definitely unusual.“

Misty’s hands instinctively cradled her belly. Her ears drooped again. Fear for her baby started to rise. Will they be okay. Can she even give birth in this digital world? Not even the omnipotent AI seems to have an idea how to deal with a situation like this.

The cast and the AI were quite till the dog cautiously broke the tension: ,,So… What now?”

,,How about we introduce ourselves to her?” the striped mouse suggested. ,,That’s an excellent idea!” Caine exclaimed going back to his usual behaviour. He snipped his fingers and suddenly they were all sitting on pillows and beanbags in a circle.

,,I will start!” the AI declared, ,,I’m Caine the ringmaster of the amazing digital circus.” Then he pointed at the bubble Queenie that had suddenly appeared next to him: ,,And this is Bubble.” ,,Hi!” the bubbled smiled. Misty waved hesitantly.

The dog on Caines other side on cleared his throat: ,,Hello, I’m Bruno.”

Across from him mouse spoke up: ,,Hi, my name is Taffi.”

Next to her the fluffy worm introduced himself: ,,Slino.”

,,And I’m Kinger,” the last one introduced himself.

,,It’s… nice to meet you,” Misty said unsure of what to say. The other understood since they have been in her position before.

,,Now that that’s I taken care of. I need to think of a new adventure for our newest arrival and make sure it is suited for her condition,” he vanished into the rafters with a pop and a shower of pixelated confetti.

,,Adventure?” Misty asked. ,,Don’t worry, we will explain everything to you,” Queenie assured the rabbit.

They stayed in the circle and explained the basics to her.

Chapter Text

It had been a few months since Misty arrived at the Digital Circus. Time passed strangely in this world, but Misty had kept track of the sleep cycles, counting them quietly to herself as the days blurred together. She estimated it had been around four, maybe five months.

Caine, to his credit, had kept his chaotic flair in check. He made sure they were safe for her and didn’t cause her to much stress. She didn’t know what his usual adventures were like but by observing the others when they came back from more extreme adventures, she was advised to skip, they seemed more intense.

Misty was grateful. Even if she had accepted that there wasn’t a way out of this reality for now, her child was her first priority.

Now, that child was coming.

The contractions had started hours ago. She laid on a bed, one designed specifically for her, in a room Caine had coded for this exact moment. The walls pulsed gently with pastel blues and pinks, glowing like a lullaby. The air smelled faintly of candy floss and ozone. The room was quiet.

She wore a hospital gown. It shimmered slightly, made of soft synthetic cloth that felt real but wasn’t. Her legs were bent, her knees trembling in the air.

Her breathing came ragged and fast and her hands clutched Taffi’s paw like a lifeline. The mouse was crouched beside her, murmuring soft encouragement between clenched teeth.

On the other side, Queenie wiped Misty’s face with a cool cloth. Her expression was steady but pale. „It’s okay, Misty,“ she said. „You’re doing so well. You’re almost there.“

„I’m... just so tired,“ Misty mumbled. Her voice was thin. Her whole body sagged with exhaustion. The contractions weren’t sharp anymore—just deep waves, like her body dragging her under over and over. Not pain exactly, just heavy strain. Her muscles ached. Her limbs trembled.

Bruno was between her legs, knees planted, ears flicking back and forth. His hands moved with slow control but sweat clung to his fur. He had been a vet, not an obstetrician, and this wasn’t even a real species or world—but the child was real, and so was the pain.

„I see their head,“ Bruno said. His voice was a bit steady now. „Misty, listen to me. On the next contraction, I want you to push. As hard as you can. Don’t hold back.“

Misty didn’t answer her. Just shook her head violently, ears flattened against the pillow. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

But she did as she was told as another contraction came. She pushed as hard as she could, her whole body tensing up.

She screamed.

The pressure was intense. Her back arched off the bed, and her scream cracked at the edges. She collapsed for a moment, breathing hard and fast, before the next wave surged through her.

„Push again!“ Bruno barked. Misty pushed with everything she had. Her paws dug into the others. „You’re almost there. Almost there. Almost…“

Then, a cry.

High, shrill, piercing.

A baby’s cry.

The sound filled the room, bright and alive. Misty collapsed back, chest heaving, hands limp but relieved. Bruno worked quick, cleaning the little creature and then wrapping them into a clean towel.

He held him up. Purple fur, long ears and yellow teeth.

„You have a healthy baby boy,“ Bruno said.

Queenie covered her mouth with one hand. Taffi blinked back tears. Misty’s eyes were wide as Bruno placed the newborn gently on her chest.

Warm.

Alive.

Perfect.

The baby blinked, blinked again, and calming down in his mother’s arms. Only let out a little whimper. He squirmed, blindly seeking warmth. Misty cradled him close, wrapping her arms around his tiny body.

„Hey there, little one,“ she whispered. He pressed his nose to her collarbone, sighing contently when his mother talked to him.

,,What’s his name?” Taffi asked curious but soft to not disturb the baby. She had asked herself this question a lot. Thinking about boy and girl names. But none of them felt right. Now she took one at her baby boy and knew. Without hesitation she answered:

„Jax, his name is Jax.”

She didn’t know why but the name felt right.

The two women cooed over the name. „Welcome to the Circus, Jax,“ Queenie whispered, reaching to stroke his tiny paw.

The other packed and tidied everything up.

Bruno made one last check, inspecting that everything was really okay. Once satisfied that both mother and child were safe, he nodded to Misty and stepped back.

Then he left with Taffi, who gave a gentle wave and whispered, „Goodnight, Misty. Goodnight, Jax.“

Queenie stayed a bit longer making sure her friend was okay and comfortable. „Do you need anything?“ she asked. Misty shook her head. Her eyes were soft: „Just a bit rest and sleep.” Queenie smiled, squeezed her shoulder, and left with a quite goodbye.

The room fell silent.

Misty remained where she was on the soft, coded bed, her arms wrapped protectively around her newborn. The lights got dimmed to a soft lavender glow.

Jax had dozed off on her chest, his breath light and steady. Misty ran a thumb softly over his cheek. She couldn’t stop watching him as his little ears twitched sometimes and his small fingers flexed open and close. The female rabbit adjusted the blanket around him, making sure he was comfortable.

„I was so scared about this,“ Misty murmured. Her voice was quiet, uncertain. She paused, unsure if she should give those fears a voice. She exhaled shaky: „Scared I wouldn’t recognize you. Scared that something would go wrong. That I’d feel… disconnected.“

She looked down at him, and whatever tension had lingered in her expression melted away. Misty kissed his head, slow and with all of her love.

„But now that you’re here…“ Her lips curled into a small smile, her voice only a breath above a whisper, „Those thoughts feel so silly.“

She let out a soft, tired laugh, muffled to keep from waking her son.

And then she held him tighter, eyes fluttering shut, as the lavender light bathed them both in quiet peace.

Chapter Text

The next day after the birth Taffi and Queenie both looked after the new mother and newborn.

„How are you doing?” Queenie asked Misty, while Taffi changed Jax. „Exhausted but not unhappy,” Misty admitted truthfully, her eyes fixed on her son. Jax let out a happy giggle when Taffi made a silly face.

„You should take it easy. We’ve never had anyone give birth in the circus before,” Queenie said gently. Misty nodded, though her gaze lingered on Jax.

„Seriously, you need to rest. We’re all here to help you,” Queenie insisted. Misty exhaled, shoulders loosening, and finally looked at her. „You’re probably right. Thank you.”

Queenie helped Misty get ready. Taffi reluctantly handed the tiny fluff bundle back to his mother.

Together they went to the main room, where the others lounged. The moment they appeared, everyone cooed and crowded around Misty and Jax, offering congratulations. Misty thanked them softly before settling on the couch.

Taffi quickly offered to take Jax again.

„You’re a natural,” Misty remarked, watching how easily she kept her son entertained. The mouse smiled faintly. „Thank you… I think I once had a child, before I came here.”

„I’m sure you’ll see them again,” Slino said kindly. Taffi only nodded absently.

Misty tried to raise Jax as normal as she could. Which was really difficult in this weird world.

Jax turned out to be a quiet baby. Many of the usual needs of an infant simply didn’t apply to him: no endless feedings and no messy diapers. He was content most of the time, a soft little bundle of fur and warmth that Misty could cradle without worry.

Yet one challenge remained: sleep. The little fluff ball had no real need for it and convincing him to drift off was often more work than anything else. His bright eyes always wanted to take in more of the world, even when Misty’s arms ached from holding him.

They didn’t need to sleep themselves, not in the ordinary sense, yet caring for something so small was still exhausting.

The others quickly stepped in to help. Queenie offered comfort and practical advice, even if she was just guessing. She and Kinger became the honorary aunt and uncle, happy to babysit whenever Misty needed time to herself. They spoiled Jax with attention, cooing and laughing as though he were their own nephew.

Bruno’s focus stayed more on Misty. He checked on her constantly, reminding her to breathe, to sit, to not drown under the quiet pressure of motherhood in a world that made no sense. His care was steady, grounding her.

Caine wanted to make adventures for the little guy, but Misty explained firmly that Jax was far too young for that.

But above all, Taffi was always there. The mouse seemed tireless, volunteering the moment Misty’s shoulders sagged or her eyelids grew heavy. She would scoop Jax up and cradle him against her chest, humming nonsense songs, walking in steady circles until the baby at least grew calm, if not asleep.

Misty loved Taffi dearly, and she was endlessly grateful for the mouse’s tireless devotion. Without her, the long hours of caring for Jax would have been far heavier.

But sometimes… Misty just wanted to be alone with her son. Just her and Jax, without anyone else’s hands reaching for him.

That afternoon, she was sitting cross-legged on her bed with Jax resting against her chest, tracing little circles along his back with her fingertips, when the door creaked open without warning.

„Do you need anything?” Taffi’s bright voice cut in, full of eager concern. „Should I take Jax for a bit?”

Misty’s first instinct was to sigh. The interruption shattered the fragile stillness she’d been clinging to. She lifted her eyes to the mouse standing in the doorway. Misty knew the mouse meant well, but she still wished Taffi was a bit more aware of personal space.

„No, thank you,” Misty said softly, tightening her arms around her son as if to make the point clearer. „We’re fine. I just… want some time with him.”

For a heartbeat, Taffi hesitated, ears twitching, hands clasped nervously. She looked hurt and a bit disappointed. Misty felt bad she didn’t want to hurt the other's feelings, just spend some alone time with her son. Taffi nodded and stepped back, letting the door drift shut again.

Misty slowly began to notice it, the way Taffi’s hands lingered when she handed Jax back, the way her eyes followed him with a yearning that went deeper than simple affection. At first Misty brushed it off as harmless enthusiasm, but over time it became harder to ignore. There was a possessiveness there, subtle but undeniable, as though Taffi needed the baby for reasons beyond helping out a tired mother.

So, Misty adjusted. She started taking on more of the care herself, growing more into the role and being less tired. When she needed a break, she turned more often to Queenie and Kinger, whose warmth came without the same undercurrent of longing. She could see that they loved the little guy as aunt and uncle and nothing more.

Taffi tried to hide her feelings. She still offered her help, still smiled whenever Misty thanked her, but the brightness in her eyes dulled. The little mouse carried her silence like a weight, and though she never spoke of it, the emptiness inside her grew sharper with every day she wasn’t the one cradling Jax. What she had once tried to soothe with his presence only deepened into a hollow ache.

And then, one quiet evening, she reached her breaking point.

Jax was in the care of Queenie and Kinger while Misty and Bruno were looking for Taffi. She hadn’t left her room today and the unease in the circus family had grown into full-blown worry.

They reached her door and knocked. Silence. Bruno tried again, his deep voice calling out gently, but there was still no answer. Misty’s stomach tightened with worry. When Bruno tested the doorknob, to their surprise it turned easily.

The door creaked open. „Taffi?” Bruno whispered.

What they found inside was no longer Taffi. In the center of the room loomed a massive black creature, its surface littered with countless, blinking eyes. Eyes rolled and shifted across its body, tracking every flicker of movement. Misty froze in horror, then screamed.

The sound drew the creature’s gaze. All those eyes swiveled toward her at once. Bruno didn’t wait. He grabbed Misty’s hand and bolted, dragging her down the corridor as the thing surged after them. The dog’s own terrified cry echoed through the hall, carrying them into the main room with the nightmare close behind.

Kinger reacted instantly, clutching Jax to his chest and grabbing Queenie’s hand. Together they ducked behind a stack of boxes, trying to shield the baby from the horror unfolding in front of them. Slino didn’t hesitate either, he sprinted off in search of Caine.

In the chaos, Bruno and Misty were forced apart. The abstraction’s mass twisted and lunged, choosing to chase Bruno, while Misty stumbled back toward the others.

Jax began to wail, his crying slicing through the tension. The sounds of the abstraction scared him and he didn’t know what was going on. The sound drew the creature’s attention like a magnet.

Queenie tried to hush him, Kinger rocked him desperately, but the sobbing didn’t cease. The abstraction’s bulk turned toward them, step by step closing in.

„Move!” Bruno shouted, reappearing with an armful of random objects. He hurled them with wild strength, chairs, broken tools, anything his hands could grab. Each crash pulled the creature’s attention for a heartbeat at a time. Misty followed suit, pelting the thing with whatever she could find. Together, their frantic barrage kept it spinning, its thousands of eyes darting in all directions, distracted and confused.

Then, just as the beast reared up with a horrible screech, Caine appeared. He raised a hand and with a single snap of his fingers the creature, that had once been Taffi, vanished, dragged down screaming into the cellar. „Into the cellar you go,” he sounded far too cheerful for what he was doing.”

The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by the gasping breaths of the other circus members. Jax’s cries softened, quieting against Kinger’s chest.

Misty’s voice shattered the silence: „What the f*** happened to Taffi?!” Bruno went to her side, placing a steady hand on her trembling shoulder.

Slino, grim-faced, answered: „She abstracted. Basically, she went insane and couldn’t handle being stuck here.”

Two years passed in the circus, and Jax grew into a lively three-year-old.

Misty remained protective, especially after what happened with Taffi. But she also knew that she couldn’t be at his side forever. She went to Caine and asked for educational and child save adventures. Nothing dangerous, nothing overwhelming, just bright, harmless worlds that a child could laugh and learn in. Caine was more than happy to do so.

Caine filled the adventures with cheerful NPCs: talking lions who counted their stripes, rabbits who hopped out simple sums, birds who sang the alphabet in a chorus of color. Whole fields would bloom with shapes and letters for him to chase through, giggling as he touched each one.

Misty was always there, watchful but soft, ready to intervene if anything went wrong. Yet more often than not, she found herself smiling, her worry eased by the sight of her son thriving, learning, exploring, and glowing with joy even in this strange, distorted world.

Today was one of those adventures.

„Welcome, little explorer!” a cheerful parrot NPC squawked, swooping down in a burst of color. „Today we’re going on an adventure to find the Golden Apple!”

Jax’s eyes widened. „Apple!” he chirped, bouncing on his toes.

Misty knelt beside him, brushing his curls back. „Remember, I’ll be right here with you,” she said gently. Jax nodded, gripping her fingers tight before taking his first steps into the conjured meadow.

They were soon joined by two talking companions: a zebra with stripes that changed color whenever he counted, and a wise old turtle with a map tucked under his shell.

„First, we need to cross the Counting Bridge!” the zebra announced, pointing to a wooden bridge that stretched across a bubbling stream. Bright numbers floated in the air above each plank.

„One!” Jax shouted, stomping on the first plank. It glowed.

„Two!” He hopped to the next, and the plank lit up with a chiming sound.

„Three!”

The zebra cheered, his stripes flashing red, yellow, then blue: „That’s right, Jax! You’re counting perfectly!”

Misty smiled, staying close but letting him lead, her heart softening at how his confidence bloomed with every step.

On the other side of the stream, the turtle unrolled his map: „Next, we go through the Animal Forest. But beware! The animals will only let you pass if you know their names.”

Inside the forest, plush-like creatures peeked from behind the trees. A spotted cat bounded out first. „What am I?” it asked in a singsong voice.

„Spots kitty!” Jax declared proudly, clapping his hands. Misty giggled: „That a Leopard. Sweetheart.” The cat purred, bowing low before disappearing back into the trees.

Then came a tall bird with bright pink feathers. „Pink birdie!” Jax shouted, his little voice full of excitement and certainty. Misty laughed softly: „A Flamingo.” „Yay! Flamingo!”

Finally, after passing through the forest, they reached a small hill with a single tree at the top. The parrot swooped down again, pointing with his wing. „There it is! The Golden Apple!”

Sure enough, a glittering apple hung from the branch, glowing as though it held sunlight inside. Jax ran up the hill, reaching as high as his little arms allowed. Misty lifted him gently so he could pluck it. The apple chimed like a bell as he held it in his hands.

„You did it!” all the animals and NPCs cheered, appearing around them in a burst of color and song. The zebra’s stripes shimmered in rainbow patterns, the parrot danced circles overhead, and the turtle clapped his little flippers together.

Jax giggled, hugging the apple to his chest. Misty kissed his forehead, whispering: „I’m so proud of you.”

And though she knew it was all just another conjured game, for Jax the circus was not a prison. It was a playground painted in light and sound, with lessons tucked inside its wonders. And as long as Misty was there, guiding him through every adventure, it was also home.

Another two years passed, and Jax grew into a bright, curious five-year-old.

By now, Misty let Jax go on Caine’s child-save adventures. She still spoke with him about every new idea, but the AI seemed to have developed an instinct for creating child-friendly worlds, safe, colorful, and full of lessons hidden in play. Misty began to see these adventures as the circus’ version of daycare, a space where Jax could learn and explore on his own.

Jax adored them. Each time he returned, he ran straight to his mother with stories tumbling from his mouth, about the friends he had made, the puzzles he had solved, and the silly characters who had guided him. Misty listened to every word, proud and relieved that her son could still have something resembling a childhood, even here.

One day, while the adults were off on their own crazy adventure, Jax had already finished his solo quest and was now lounging with Bubble. They played their own little game of catch when suddenly a sharp crash echoed through the halls.

Jax froze, eyes wide. He turned to Bubble. The two exchanged a look, then they went off together toward the sound.

Slumped against the wall was a fluffy, bubblegum-pink creature, its whole body trembling with distress. Stubby hands clawed at its rubbery, cartoonish face, as though trying to tear it off. Its single oversized eye darted frantically from side to side, wide with raw panic. With a guttural groan it yanked so hard the eye popped free, before snapping back into place.

A warped, garbled cry escaped its mouth. It tried again, pulling at its cheeks until the skin stretched like taffy. „I don’t… I don’t understand!” it wheezed, voice breaking with confusion.

To Jax, the whole scene looked more silly than scary and laughter bubbled out of him before he could stop it. The sound made the creature’s frantic movements halt. Slowly, its lone eye swiveled toward the boy, fixing on him with startled intensity.

„Mom says you’re not supposed to take your eyeball out,” Jax managed between giggles.

The pink thing froze, blinking at him with its one enormous eye, completely bewildered. „What?” it asked, voice trembling.

The creature’s breathing came in ragged bursts. Its stubby fingers twitched against its fur, still unsure whether to claw again or stay still. The huge eye quivered as it stared at Jax, trying to make sense of him.

„I… I don’t…” The voice cracked, warbling with confusion. „Where am I? What… happened to me?”

Jax’s smile only grew wider, as if this was the most ordinary conversation in the world: „This is the Digital Circus! I’m Jax, and that’s Bubble!” Bubble let out a garbled „Bleh.”

The pink creature’s eye narrowed in disbelief. „Digital… circus?” it echoed, the words sounding foreign on its tongue. „Yeah!” Jax beamed, bouncing on his toes. „Wanna play a game?”

The creature didn’t answer. It just kept staring.

Jax tilted his head innocently and obliviously to the others panic. Bubble hovered lazily at his side.

Misty and Bruno had been walking together, voices low as they discussed the last adventure, when Misty suddenly stopped mid-sentence. Her eyes widened. Up ahead, in the middle of the corridor, Jax and Bubble stood chatting cheerfully with a creature neither of them had ever seen before.

They approached slowly, careful not to startle it. Misty forced her voice into something calm and steady. „Jax, sweetheart,” she called gently. As soon as Jax hears his mother he runs to her and hugs her. „Look mom, I found a new friend.” Misty scooped her son up. „That is great sweetheart. Why don’t you go play with Uncle Kinger and Aunt Queenie for a bit?”

She let him down again and he turned with a bright grin, completely unfazed. „Okay, mom!” he chirped, then scampered off down the hall, Bubble bobbing happily behind him.

Misty exhaled, tension easing just a fraction now that her child was safe. Her gaze shifted back to the newcomer. Bruno was already crouched nearby, keeping his broad frame low and non-threatening. His deep voice rumbled gently, the same way he spoke to skittish animals. „Easy now. We’re not going to harm you. We are here to help you.”

The creature didn’t move, its oversized eye wet and trembling, watching them with the desperate alertness of something lost and cornered.

Misty knelt a few paces away, folding her hands in her lap to show she wasn’t a threat. Her eyes softened. „You’re confused,” she said softly, „That’s normal. Everyone is, at first. But you’re not alone anymore.”

The single eye blinked slowly, flicking between Bruno’s calm smile and Misty’s steady gaze. „How do I get the headset off?” it sagged back against the wall with a shuddering breath.

„I know this will sound bad, but you can’t take it off,” Misty said calmly.

The pink creature let out a broken noise, halfway between a laugh and a sob. Its stubby hands went to its face again, pulling once, twice, as if testing Misty’s words. When nothing changed, when the rubbery skin snapped right back into place, it groaned and let its arms fall limply to its sides.

„You’re lying,” it rasped, its voice garbled and raw. „There has to be a way out. This isn’t real, this isn’t my body…”

Bruno shook his head slowly, still crouched, still steady. „It feels wrong. I know. We’ve all been through it. The panic, the not knowing who you are anymore, what’s happened to you. But it is real, at least for now. And you can survive it.”

The eye darted between them again, wet and frantic. „No… no, no, no. I was… I was somewhere else, I remember…,” its voice cracked, trembling on the edge of hysteria.

Misty reached out, palm open on her knee, her tone firm but gentle. „Listen to me. You’re not alone. You’ve been pulled here, like all of us. I know it hurts. I know it feels like a nightmare you can’t wake from. But tearing at yourself won’t change anything. It will only make it worse.”

The creature’s breath came in sharp gasps, its shaggy chest heaving. The panic didn’t vanish, but Misty’s words seemed to cut through it, anchoring it for just a moment.

Bruno stood up and stretched his hand out: „Come on, Let’s go somewhere more comfortable.”

For a long beat the creature just stared at the offered paw, its oversized eye flicking between Bruno’s face and the hand. At last, hesitantly, trembling, it reached out and took it. Misty stood as well, dusting off her knees, and together they guided the newcomer down the corridor toward the main room.

The silence stretched until Bruno spoke again, gentle but direct: „How old are you?” The answer came after a heavy sigh: „Seventeen.”

Misty’s heart clenched. She glanced at Bruno, and he glanced back, both of them sharing the same look. An aching pity for a teenager who should have been anywhere else but here.

They entered the main room together, Misty keeping a steady hand at the newcomer’s back while Bruno guided with quiet patience. The space was alive with motion.

Kinger stood in the center, laughing heartily as he tossed Jax high into the air, only to catch him securely in his arms. Jax squealed with delight, kicking his legs before demanding, „Again!” Bubble flouted around the boy in loops, dipping low so Jax could swipe at him with little grasping hands, though the floating orb always darted out of reach at the last second.

Queenie stood a few steps away, her smile soft as she watched her husband and nephew playing. She clapped her hands when Jax landed safely, pride and amusement lighting her face.

On the couch, Caine hovered beside Slino, waving his hands in broad, excited gestures as he rattled off his latest idea for an upcoming adventure. Slino nodded along, though his eyelids drooped with exhaustion. The AI, of course, remained oblivious to his fatigue.

But something else caught Caine’s attention. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the pink creature standing between the white rabbit and the brown dog.

In a blur of motion, Caine zipped across the room, beaming wide.

„Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Amazing Digital Circus!” he declared, voice booming with showmanship. He tipped his hat with a flourish and leaned forward, grinning, „I’m Caine, the Ringmaster of this little spectacular! And who might you be, my fuzzy, little friend?”

The pink creature froze, its single eye wide and wet. For several long, aching seconds it didn’t answer. Then it stammered with a shaking voice: „I’m… I’m… why… why can’t I remember my name?!”

Its stubby hands clawed at its head again, the panic rising once more as the words crumbled out of its mouth.

„Nobody can remember their names,” Caine said.

„Don’t worry, dear,” Queenie added gently, stepping closer with a warm smile, „You can always choose a new one.” From Kinger’s arms, Jax piped up without hesitation, „You look like a… Blonk!”

„Jax,” Misty scolded, her tone sharp, „He can choose his own name.”

The creature’s eye shifted toward the boy, blinking once, then twice. Slowly, it lowered its hands, breathing ragged. „It’s… okay,” it said, the words uncertain but steadying, „I think… I’ll stick with that. Blonk. Until I remember my own.”

The adults gave each other the look but chose not to say anything.

Blonk shifted uneasily, eye darting from face to face as though afraid of what they might say next. Misty crouched a little, softening her voice: „For now, that’s enough. You don’t need to have all the answers today.”

Bruno gave a short nod in agreement: „You’ll have time to figure things out. We all did.”

Caine clapped his hands together with exaggerated cheer, breaking the tension: „Marvelous! Another member of the family! Welcome, Blonk, to the grandest show that never ends!”

Down the long corridor of endless doors, he found something waiting in the half-light.

It wasn’t a circus member or one of Caine's NPCs. It was the monster his mom had warned him about.

It loomed in the half-dark like a living shadow, its body a shifting mass of black. Eyes. Dozens. Maybe hundreds blinked open across its surface, rolling and twitching, each one staring in a different direction. Some were tiny pinpricks, others wide and unblinking.

It was creepy. It was scary. And it was staring directly at the 7-year-old rabbit, its many eyes snapping toward him in eerie unison.

Jax froze. His small chest tightened, his ears standing rigid. It was creepy. It was terrifying. And it was looking only at him.

The bunny panicked and just ran in the opposite direction. The monster gave chase. Luckily Jax was small and quick.

Then instinct kicked in. The bunny bolted, his little feet slapping against the floor as fast as they could carry him. Panic lit every nerve in his body, and he didn’t dare look back. But he could hear it. Hear the monstrous thing surging after him, static filling the hall, its countless eyes dragging along the walls and ceiling as it chased.

Luckily, Jax was small. He was fast. And for now, that was the only thing keeping him ahead of the horror that wanted to catch him.

„Mom!” Jax’s voice cracked with terror, but no one answered.

He darted around a corner, small enough to slip fast, and the shadow bulk slammed against the wall before twisting to follow. Jax’s legs burned, his lungs ached, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t.

Up ahead, a familiar figure appeared Kinger. The chess piece froze when he saw Jax barreling toward him, ears plastered back, face streaked with fear.

„Jax?!” Kinger’s voice cracked with alarm. His gaze shot past the child and his single good eye widened at the sight of the shifting black horror thundering closer.

„Jump!” Kinger shouted, spreading his arms wide. Jax didn’t think. He leapt.

Kinger caught him tight, the boy clinging desperately to his chest, shaking. Without missing a beat, Kinger spun and bolted down the corridor, Jax tucked tight against his chest.

The monster let out a groaning, static wail, dozens of eyes rolling in fury, before surging after them both.

„Hold on, Jax!” Kinger barked, his voice sharpened by fear. „I am! Don’t let it get us!” Jax sobbed, squeezing his uncle tighter and burying his face in his chest to block out the horror behind them. Kinger sprinted toward the stage.

On the stage, Slino and Blonk both turned at once. Slino had been hunched over a half-finished prop, focus narrowed in, while Blonk had been pacing, restless and uncertain, waiting for something to do.

The moment they saw Kinger with Jax in his arms and the writhing black mass spilling into the room their faces changed. Slino’s sharp focus cracked into alarm, his gaze wide and sharp. Blonk froze outright, his single eye going round as a plate.

„What the…!” Blonk gasped, stumbling backward. Slino didn’t waste time. He grabbed the younger’s hand and pulled him behind the stage. „Stay here. Don’t move. Don’t make a sound,” he ordered, his voice clipped and hard. Blonk could only manage a weak nod.

Slino went back out, seeing Kinger barely dodging a lash of the abstraction’s mass. „Kinger?!” he shouted over the static roar. „Where’s Caine?!” Kinger shouted back, voice hoarse as he ducked another sweeping strike.

The monster reared up, eyes rolling and twitching, its shifting bulk drawing in on itself before preparing to strike again.

Kinger didn’t stop to think. He acted. With a desperate cry, he swung Jax forward and hurled him toward Slino, before the abstraction slammed him against a wall.

Slino caught the boy against his chest with a grunt, clutching him tight and immediately pressing Jax’s face into his fur to shield his eyes..

„I’m going to get Caine!” Slino shouted. Without waiting for an answer, he bolted off the stage and into the corridor, holding Jax close. While he was running Jax got a little glimpse of the abstraction stomping down on Kinger again and again.

„Hold on, kid. Just hold on,” Slino muttered under his breath.

Slino’s long strides pounded through the corridor, the sound of the abstraction’s static roar still echoing behind them.

They burst into the main room, where Queenie and Misty were enjoying their free time. Both froze when they saw Slino, out of breath, clutching Jax like a lifeline.

„What happened?!” Misty’s voice cut like a knife as she met them halfway, her eyes immediately zeroing in on her son’s trembling body.

Slino didn’t stop moving, shoving Jax into Misty’s arms before spinning back toward the hall. „Someone abstracted! Kinger’s down! Where the hell is Caine?!”

Misty wrapped Jax against her chest, feeling his small body shake with sobs. She kissed the top of his head, whispering his name, her own eyes wide with fear.

„CAINE!” Slino bellowed, „Get out here, NOW!”

A flash of color ripped through the static, and Caine appeared in a whirl of showman’s bravado, only to falter when he saw Misty clutching a sobbing Jax, and the raw panic etched across everyone else’s faces.

„What in the spectacular world is going on?” he asked. „The abstraction has Kinger!” Slino shouted, already halfway back toward the corridor., „Do something before it tears him apart!” Caine followed him without another word.

Queenie’s eyes darted to the corridor where her friend and the AI disappeared, her heart twisting painfully at the thought of Kinger trapped with that nightmare. For a moment, fear rooted her in place. Then she forced herself to move.

Misty was still cradling Jax against her chest, rocking him instinctively as he sobbed into her shoulder.

Queenie stood beside them, her hand trembling before she steadied it and pressed it gently against Jax’s back. „Shh… you’re safe now, dear,” she murmured, her voice soft but taut with the strain of holding her own panic at bay.

Her gaze flicked to Misty, their eyes meeting for a brief second. Her hand rubbed small, steady circles between Jax’s trembling shoulders. „Caine will handle it,” Queenie whispered, almost like she was trying to convince herself as much as the others, „He always does.”

Jax hiccupped, his little fingers clinging to Misty’s shirt as if letting go would mean the shadow found him again. Misty tightened her hold, whispering back soothing words, while Queenie stayed close with them.

They stood there for a long while. Jax clung to his mother, his tiny fists tangled in her shirt, his trembling slowly easing as exhaustion overtook him. At last, his sobs quieted, his breathing evened out, and he slipped into a restless sleep against Misty’s shoulder.

The stillness broke when footsteps echoed down the hall. Both women turned sharply.

Kinger stumbled with Slino at his side and Blonk trailing close behind. Relief surged through Queenie. She rushed forward, throwing her arms around her husband. Kinger’s own arms wrapped back around her just as tightly, his head pressing against her shoulder. For a moment, nothing else mattered.

Misty, still holding her sleeping son, looked past them. „Where’s Bruno?” she asked, her voice thin but urgent.

The three men froze, avoiding eye contact with the white rabbit. The answer was clear in their silence.

Misty’s breath hitched; then the tears came hard, spilling down her face as her whole body shook.

Queenie carefully pulled back from her husband. With a soft murmur, she stepped forward, gently easing Jax from Misty’s arms. The boy stirred faintly but stayed asleep as Queenie settled him carefully into Kinger’s hold.

Then she turned back and embraced Misty, holding her tight as her friend wept into her shoulder. „It’s alright,” Queenie whispered, even as her own voice wavered, „You’re not alone. I’ve got you.”

Chapter Text

After Bruno abstracted, the circus fell into a strange silence. They gave him a funeral of sorts, an improvised ceremony with his picture, hushed voices and words that could never be enough.

Misty stood the longest in the front, talking about the small, ordinary memories that clung the hardest. She tried to not cry, but failed miserably. Jax stood next to her. He had never seen his mother cry before. He hugged her tightly in hopes of making her feel better.

In the beginning, Misty tried to be steady. She wore the mask of strength for the others, especially for Jax. He needed her, so she buried the cracks, painted on a calm she didn’t feel.

She stayed close when he froze at dinner, staring at corn, because the only thing he saw were unnatural eyes staring back at him. Misty would take his trembling hand, squeeze it tight, and guide him away from the table, speaking as though there was nothing to fear.

At night, when the nightmares tore him awake, she was always there. She sat at the edge of his bed, stroking his ears until the trembling eased. She whispered soft reassurances she didn’t believe herself, promising that he was safe.

But when Jax’s breathing slowed and the dark swallowed the circus once more, Misty crept to Bruno’s door. She would sit there for hours, staring at the crossed-out picture nailed above it, her gaze clinging to the space where he used to be. Searching for warmth that wasn’t there.

She told herself she was strong enough. That she could bear it, for the others. For Jax. That she could swallow her own pain so no one else had to carry it. But grief was a patient and stubborn thing. It seeped through the cracks no matter how carefully she pressed it down.

Smiles became smaller and forced. Words became shorter. Eventually, even standing among the others felt unbearable, so she began to withdraw, pulling back into her own walls, safer in isolation than under their pitiful eyes.

The others noticed. Of course they did. Queenie tried to reach her with patience, with gentle words and quiet company.

The others tried to support her in small ways, not wanting to overwhelm her more. They let her know that they were always there for her.

And Jax, though still so young, noticed most of all. He hated the way her laughter had dulled, hated how her eyes slid past him too quickly. He tried to cheer her up, even when his own chest ached. He was grieving too.

They told him Bruno had been defeated by a monster while trying to protect them. They didn’t want Jax’s last memory of him to be the twisting horror of abstraction. They wanted him to remember a hero, not a monster.

Misty began to spiral more. Her sleep shattered by half-dreams of Bruno’s voice calling from the dark. She woke with her throat raw, with her nails dug into her palms. Queenie stayed close, keeping her company in the quiet corners, speaking softly when Misty could stand it and simply sitting in silence when she couldn’t. She wouldn’t allow herself to let her best friend and the mother of her nephew fall into insanity.

Jax felt the distance sharper than ever. Kinger did what he could, pulling the boy into absurd games, filling his head with riddles, letting him climb on his back until they both collapsed in laughter. Jax played along, but when he thought no one was watching, his eyes drifted to Misty’s room. He missed her more than anything. He missed his mom.

Jax’s nightmares grew worse. The fear of the monster plus the absence of his mother were the best combo for terrifying dreams.

One night, after one of the worst nightmares so far, Jax couldn’t take it anymore. He stumbled out of his room on trembling legs and padded down the hallway. He stopped at Misty’s door, heart hammering. His hand lifted and knocked, so light he barely made a sound. No answer. He swallowed, then pushed the door open.

He expected to see her asleep in bed. He wanted to climb in beside her, wanted to feel her arms around him and just forget everything that happened.

Instead, his breath hitched sharp in his throat. Misty was on the floor. Not sleeping. Cowering. Her body hunched in on itself, arms curling around herself. But her arms weren’t her arms anymore. Blackness had spread across them like spilled ink, creeping up from her fingertips. Shifting eyes spread around her body, dozens of them, opening and closing, staring into nothing and everything.

„Mom?“ Jax gasped, voice breaking, eyes filling with tears.

Misty whipped her head around and stared at her son. One eye was still hers, wet and shining with tears. But the other… the other was gone, swallowed by black. In its place, a static eye rolled unnaturally, twitching, glaring in a way no human eye ever should.

„Jax…,” her voice cracked, with static and horror, ,,Sweetheart… Don’t look. Please. Don’t…” But Jax couldn’t look away. The tears streamed freely now, and his small hands clenched into fists at his sides.

He stumbled forwards. Misty tried to back away, every muscle in her body screaming to keep him away. But she couldn’t control her limbs anymore. Her one human eye was wide, desperate, terrified, not of him, but for him.

And then Jax fell against her, wrapping his arms tight around her shoulders. The touch seared. His skin prickled as static bled into him, making him glitch. He felt it digging into him, threatening to pull him apart. But none of it mattered to him right now. The physical pain was easily overshadowed by the fear of losing his mother.

„Please don’t go,” he sobbed into her chest, „Please don’t leave me too. I’ll hold on, I’ll hold on, I’ll hold you…”

Misty’s body lurched as if something inside was pulling her apart. More eyes ripped themselves open along her spine, legs, and arms, blinking wetly, twitching, all of them staring in different directions. The air shimmered around her in jagged distortion, making every shape stutter and warp.

Jax clung tighter, his little arms locked around her despite the searing pain crawling over his skin. His body flickered and glitched in every direction. He tried to say something, anything, but his voice was lost in the storm of static.

Then, with one last pulse, his body convulsed. His eyes rolled back. The glitching overwhelmed him. He went limp in her arms.

„NO!” Misty’s voice ripped out of her throat, raw and broken. The sight of him, her boy, slack and unmoving, crushed what little part of her mind she had left. Terror twisted into despair, despair into fury, and fury into surrender.

That was the final tipping point.

The blackness surged. It raced up her neck, swallowing the last of her skin, devouring her remaining eye. The static crescendoed into a deafening roar, shaking the walls until cracks split through them. Misty’s form convulsed, ripped apart by forces she could no longer resist.

And then she was gone.

Where Misty had been, the abstraction rose, a towering, writhing monstrosity of endless eyes, limbs stretched into impossible shapes, mouthless but screaming in the static that filled every corner of the room.

Jax’s small body lay crumpled at its feet. Every eye focused on the twitching rabbit boy. It looked and deep inside the creature, buried beneath layers of static and eyes, must have been a spark of Misty, because it picked it up and put him into Misty’s bed.

After one last glance, the abstraction stormed out of the room with a violent lurch. Its massive limbs gouged long, jagged scars into the walls as it forced its way into the hall. The noise was enough to wake the others.

The sight of the abstraction bursting out of her best friend’s room froze her where she stood. She slapped both hands over her mouth, choking back a scream.

Kinger stumbled out just behind her. The instant his eyes landed on the abomination, his body reacted. He pushed himself in front of Queenie, arms out, planting himself protectively in front of his wife. Queenie clutched at his arm and buried her face against his shoulder, silent tears shaking her.

Blonk caught sight of the mass of eyes and let out a strangled yelp, bolting back into his room without hesitation, slamming the door shut.

Slino stumbled out of his room and just stared at the abstraction. „You’ve got to be kidding me,” he muttered, frustration lacing his words, but the sadness in his eyes betrayed him. He lingered for one breath, then turned and ran. The abstraction noticed the movement and bolted after him.

Kinger turned back to his wife, his hand squeezed hers once, fleeting but firm. ,,You look after Jax. I’m going to help Slino.” He pressed a quick kiss to her temple before she could answer and then sprinted after the abstraction.

Queenie stood frozen for a second longer, staring at the empty space where the abstracted Misty had stood only moments ago, before she caught herself again and rushed to Jax’s room.

She knocked once out of habit before bursting inside, only to see that the little bunny was nowhere to be seen. Panic rose in Queenie’s chest and she ran out of the room again.

,,JAX! JAX!” she called his name over and over again, but got no answer in return. ,,Where could he be?” she thought. Her eyes darted wildly and then landed on Misty’s door. A chill ran down her spine. ,,Oh no…”

She bolted inside and stopped short. There he was. Her nephew lay on Misty’s bed, his small body twitching, glitching, fragments of him stuttering in and out like broken film. She ran to him, dropped to her knees, and reached out.

The moment her fingers brushed his skin, her hand began to glitch too, lines of static crawling up her wrist. Pain shot through her arm, but she didn’t hesitate. She ignored it, scooped him into her arms, and lifted him against her chest. „I’ve got you,” she whispered through clenched teeth, though she wasn’t sure if it was for him or for herself.

Cradling him tightly, she ran as fast as she could, until the main room came into view. Caine floated there, he had just closed the cellar with a finger snapping.

„CAINE!” Queenie screamed, her voice sharp with panic. Everyone in the room snapped to her. She stood there shaking, Jax glitching violently in her arms.

„Oh,“ was the only thing the AI said before snapping his fingers again. In an instant, the distortion vanished. Queenie gasped as the glitch of her hand blinked out of existence, leaving them whole and steady again.

She looked down at her nephew. Jax was no longer twitching, no longer flickering in and out like a broken image. Relief hit her so hard she almost cried out. She pressed her lips against Jax’s forehead, clutching him tighter.

„You’re okay,“ she whispered, voice trembling, not sure if she was reassuring him or herself. „You’re okay, dear. I’ve got you.“ Jax stirred in her arms. His ears twitched, his nose scrunched faintly, and a small groan escaped his lips. Slowly, heavy-lidded eyes fluttered open, glassy at first before focusing on her.

„…Mom?“ he whispered, his voice weak, cracked with sleep and confusion. Queenie’s breath caught.

„No dear, it’s aunt Queenie,“ she murmured softly, forcing a smile. „I’ve got you. You’re safe.“ Jax blinked up at her, dazed. His small body trembling as though the nightmare hadn’t fully let him go. And then his face crumpled. He buried his face against Queenie’s chest, clutching her robe with shaking hands.

„I saw her,“ he whispered, voice muffled. „I saw mom. But… but it wasn't her…“ As he began to wake more fully, his awareness sharpened. His ears flattened against his head, panic rising fast in his chest.

„Where is Mom?“ his eyes darted around the room, desperately searching for her face or a clue where she could be. No one spoke. Not even Caine, who for once didn’t know what to say.

Jax’s gaze snapped back to Queenie. His small hands clutched in the fabric of her robe tighter. „Where is Mom?“ he repeated, louder this time, his voice breaking.

Queenie closed her eyes, holding back tears of her own. Her body trembled as she tightened her hold around him, wanting to shield him from the truth by holding him as close as possible.

The silence was answer enough for Jax.

He stilled in her arms. He refused to believe it. He refused to believe that his mom became that monster. He shook his head violently, breath hitching as he fought to find another explanation. Anything, but what he had seen with his own two eyes.

But the image was burned too deep in his mind. The image of his mom, how her skin splitted into eyes, how her voice shredded into static.

„Mom…“ the word ripped out of him, jagged and raw. His small body shook with sobs as he buried his face against his aunt, crying for his mother. Queenie rocked him gently, her own voice breaking as she whispered: „Everything is going to be okay, Jax. I’ve got you. We’re all here for you.“

Kinger approached quietly. His arms hesitated for only a moment before wrapping around both his wife and nephew. His embrace was warm and steady.

Jax’s sobs shook through them all, muffled against Queenie’s chest. When she felt Kinger’s arms embrace her, the dam inside her cracked. Her face pressed into his husbands’ shoulder and at last she allowed the silent tears to fall. Kinger said nothing. He only held them both.

The three of them stayed there, holding each other during their grief.