2.

They walked in silence for the moment. Softly lit by the glow of the cave moss sprawled across the walls, Miloh watched Al’s broad shoulders and head as they were haloed against the backlight. She was lost in thought again, and Miloh knew she was worried about the news Bard had passed on, nonchalant as it was.

Miloh reached out one callused hand and gently gripped Al’s shoulder, stopping her from going forward. Al didn’t turn around as Miloh kneaded her fingers into the tense muscles and said, “What’s going through your head, coyote?”

The only answer was a sigh until a moment passed and Al quietly said,                “ Doesn’t it worry you?”

Miloh raised her other hand and set it on Al’s free shoulder, “Them getting closer?”

Glancing over her shoulder, Al’s teeth flashed white as a harsh bark of laughter left her. “What else could I be speaking about?”

Miloh didn’t reply, instead opting to press her fingers into Al’s tightened shoulders.

The blue light of the walls illuminated Al as she sighed. “It’s just… What happens if they find the Farm? What happens to Jo? To Bard? All of the people who chose this place to be there new home, and what will come of it? Will they be forced to leave like we had to at the beginning of this mess?”

Miloh couldn’t say that her questions were unfounded. Or even that she hadn’t thought of them. It’d hurt to have to abandon the Farm and everything’s that been built.

She kneaded her hands into the muscle of Al’s shoulder and said, “ If that happens, we— they will rebuild. It’ll suck bad, but we can do it again if we’ve done it once. The Farm's not the only place out there.”

Al jerked out of Miloh’s grip and whirled to face her, “I know that! But does it not bother you? The idea of losing everything?” Her eyes flashed with a sadness Miloh had seen many times, especially when looking in the mirror.

She let slip a wry grin as she said, “Yeah, but it’ll be bearable knowing that you’re there with me.”

The whites of Al’s eyes were bright in the darkness as she blinked once, twice. Then she started laughing.

Miloh put a hand to her heart in mock hurt, “Al, are you laughing at me?”

Still giggling she waved a hand in her direction, “ I— haha, sorry, I just. That was cheesy.” Wiping a tear away she smiled and just said,“Thank you, Miloh.”

Turning away she continued walking down the passage without another word, her shoulders high and noticeably less tense. Miloh could only stare for a moment, before letting a relieved smile play across her face, and then following behind.