[Rose]

Tsuki looked up from the ground with a professional, and yet gentle, smile and motioned to the empty spot in front of them. “How’s it going, Puffin?” Funny, that.. nickname. Puffin had never figured she'd be on the receiving end of her auncle's scrutiny.

Usually, Puffin would have told them she was fine. That she was sleeping, eating, and relaxing just like she was supposed to. That she was living out the days after her ordeal in normalcy.

But lying hadn’t gotten her anywhere, so maybe it was time that she told the truth. She sank to the ground and looked her auncle in the eye. “I’ve been talking to my mother as a coping mechanism for the stress, the kidnapping, the . . . everything.”

Tsuki nodded, leaning back on their haunches. “That sounds pretty normal.”

Puffin puffed out a breath; a humorless laugh. “Yeah, except she’s been dead for moons.” The young molly paused, breath catching. She hated admitting this. That she'd been imagining her mother's presence for moons. “Think you can help me?” She dug her claws into the ground and waited for their answer, mind numb. It made her feel vulnerable. To tell someone that she'd been imagining her mother for moons, only because her mind refused to acknowledge Pansypetal's death.

Tsuki smiled. It was soft and sad and tender. “Yes,” they said. “I think I can help you.”

- The Abandoned
Pristinepaw
/ Puffin