Nellie whirled. 

The panic that followed was deafening. All around them, the rides and music had come to a stop. Parents grabbed their kids and hurried them to the parking lot. Teens and students meanwhile, huddled over their phones to catch the news alert as others rushed to find the nearest television set. 

The walled city of Maelstrom, like most places on Mach, had planned Meteora celebrations for its people. And as such, thousands had gathered downtown to welcome the meteors with concerts, food, amusement rides, and much more. But at one point, when a large portion of the crowd was passing through the business corridor, a sudden series of winds had swept through the streets and launched nearly a hundred people into the air.

Twelve died on impact. 

The others were rushed and admitted to the nearest hospitals, if not for broken bones then for the deep lacerations received from the squalls. Jahil Epsilon, the governor of fort Maelstrom, had already given a statement – celebrations were canceled and the Rosid Rangers were to be deployed for added security. News outlets had reached out to Tennkū and the Eden’s Rosid for additional comment but their reporters were still waiting for a response.

No one had been able to identify a culprit. Even now, those interviewed could only point to the Crown Building on Battalia road, a towering skyscraper with a fountain out front, when asked where the attacks had originated. But no matter how many reports came out, Nellie wouldn’t accept that a wind musae could be behind the attack. There had to be an explanation. Tennkū valued peace under the Eden's Rosid more than anyone. Before the peace, during the Shadow Epochs, the Tennkā had been hunted and enslaved, coveted for their unique connection to the Instruments. The Meteoras had only ever made those enemies stronger, keeping countless generations in the same cycle of war, violence, and exploitation. 

“Nellie!”

Why would Tennkū, after a millennia of working for prosperity and harmony with all Machians, risk upsetting the fragile equilibrium of treaties and agreements that kept the world from breaking out into war?

“Nellie, come on!”

She blinked, snapping out of her daze.

“We have to get out of here!” Arashi. It was Arashi calling for her. The others were on their feet at the sound of the Tennkā woman’s voice, flocking towards their mother like baby chicks. And Raul, before anything else, was sure to hand Tei the stuffed prize.

The ten-year-old took it in his arms and donned a full-faced grin, as if the rest of the night held nothing more for him.

“We should wait at Muncheese's,” said Max. With so many people running to their cars at the same time, it was going to be a while before anyone made it out from downtown. “At least until traffic clears.”

Raul nodded. “Good idea.”

They weren't in imminent danger, Fort Maelstrom was ten hours north of Comet Hill, but Arashi still felt immensely relieved to be heading indoors to an atmosphere that was safe and familiar. With a hand on his back, she urged Tei to follow his brothers towards the parlor on the far side of the square. 

“Alright.” Nellie grabbed Yuève and took off without waiting for a reply or questions from anyone. “Meet you there in a bit!”

“Wha– Nellie!” 

The two girls pushed their way against the crowd, climbing the hill back up the way they’d come, until they were back in the park where they had eaten and watched the dancers earlier. It was empty now, with the food trucks gone and the strands of fairy lights all unplugged, but the lawn was still aglow with clouds of a gentle mint green luminance. 

“Fireflies,” Yuè gasped. 

Nellie made for the northeastern end of the park, where a flight of stairs led to a second landing further down the hill. An old graffiti-riddled elm tree sat there overlooking the shore of Cinder Sky Sound. Its ripened autumn leaves seemed almost translucent in the mix of moonlight and lantern bugs, veiling the tree's limbs in a brush of soft, willowy colors. 

“I didn't know they came out this late into the year,” said Nellie, taking a seat under the hush of the elm. “They must've been waiting for the fair to go away.”

“They're beautiful.”

Yuève was still on her feet, beside Nellie, watching the many canals that circumvented the hills of downtown spill into the waters of Cinder Sky Sound. It had been her habit since childhood, observing the boats and different relationships that her neighbors had with the town's waterways. She seemed stuck in that moment, as if she needed to hold on to it forever. As if she wasn't ready to face what would come next. A brisk wind blew, and the skirt of her costume shifted in the breeze, dancing with the leaves of the elm and other trees in the park. 

“You were great today,” Nellie said. “In the play, as Heloise.”

Yuève rolled her eyes, but in the end, allowed herself a small grin. “Thanks.”

Nellie nodded and drew her legs close to her chest, hugging her knees as a firefly hovered by and flashed its lazy luminance in her eyes. “I hate to say it, but she got to me… 

“Gabi.”

The lightning bug executed a series of pirouettes, trying its best to flash its light in sync with the other fireflies. Some of its peers noticed the additional frenzied flashes, but when they drifted by to investigate, the original lightning bug had already gone dark, dissolved into the night. “When I was up there, in the light booth, I started to doubt if things would go right. Gabi had me worried that Jalen wouldn’t remember his lines and that Ozzy wouldn’t listen to Heather. But as the show went on, I saw everyone enjoying themselves, having fun with each and every scene, as if they could finally be the kids they wanted to be without that pressure to live up to Gabi’s standards.” 

Nellie smiled, and the gentleness of the expression reached her eyes when she continued, “It was cool. By the end of the first act it was like I’d watched the seeds of our efforts taking bloom.” 

“I think mom feels the same way tonight,” Yuève said after a moment. “Between the play, Max's project and now Meteora, it's easy to forget just how proud mom must be of us. Especially after having spent so many years taking care of five kids who did nothing but run around driving her crazy.” Yuè paused and Nellie turned to face her, tired of stealing sideways glances and missing the brief flashes of wistful cheer on her friend’s otherwise destitute roster. 

“And I love that mom’s actually having a good time out here,” she continued. “Celebrating with us even though she's Tennkā and is used to the Instruments. She’s trying so hard to make sure things are perfect, and I know it's for our sake, but they're not perfect. Look how easily Gabi almost ruined things.” Yuève flared her nostrils and swung her arms in frustration. “Ugh!”

Nellie ducked her head sympathetically, at a loss for words. 

“Worst part is…” Yuè spoke behind gritted teeth, arms crossed. “This all had to end like it always does. Mom pushes me and pushes me, and only backs off when I blow up at her.”

Seconds passed, and the wind blew a salty breeze through the trees. 

“Well,” Nellie said, “I am glad that your mom brought the camera.” Yuève raised a brow at this, but let her go on. “Reem is worth rewatching, mainly because of you, Yuè. You had a palpable presence on that stage, and every scene demanded your attention – like the badass princess you are.”

“You need to stop.” Yuè snorted, and unbalanced the freckled girl with a playful kick to the shoulder. “I hardly rehearsed, or did anything compared to you.”

Nellie caught herself before falling, agrin the entire time. It was true though. Mable had done a fine job as Armani Reem, but without Gabi there, nobody on stage could compare to the grace and confidence that Yuè presented when dressed as Heloise. When she turned back to face Yuève however, Nellie found her deep in thought, donning the same detached expression she wore when she was looking out towards the water. “How did you know? To pull me away from the others?”

“I didn’t,” Nellie replied admittedly. “It's like you said. This day has been so hectic that even Reem seems far away now. I got stuck thinking about that and when the Maelstrom news broke I started to worry that all of today would end up feeling the same way, distant, or lost in the past.” She hesitated. “I guess that makes me a little like Arashi. I needed us to have a moment to look back on, something we’d never forget, especially since you had this air of self-loathing over you and I didn't like it–”

“So what?” Yuève snapped, glaring at her. “Do you think I liked it?”

 “Yuè…” Nellie’s eyes widened, shocked, but she quickly lowered her gaze, ashamed to have upset her dearest friend. “I’m trying to help.”

“I know,” Yuève sighed, uncurling her fists. She took a seat next to Nellie and shuffled close before leaning her cloud of dark hair against Nellie’s shoulder. “That’s why this was nice. Coming out here with you didn’t feel like I was being helped.” 

Nellie reached an arm around her and they remained like that for some time, no more than five minutes really, just long enough for the two girls to grow dependent on one another's comfort and warmth. Yuève jumped up all of the sudden, energy pouring though her like a jolt of caffeine, and the world around Nellie became bitterly chill with her departure. “But okay,” said Yuè, feigning reluctance . “If you must know… 

“I was in a funk thanks to Sarah. I hyped things up with y'all because I guess I did feel a little hurt when I was alone at the game.” She paused and brushed a handful of hair back into place. “But it did feel good to lose myself imagining how well things could go if Sarah did come to the fair and we hit it off tonight. It would've been like the cherry on top to an already incredible day. Love and the meteors.” Yuève gave a single chuckle at this, as if the thought couldn’t be more pathetic. “But then she lied to me. She didn't get stung at all. Of course the horseshoe crab was a lie. The guys all called me out for it and, ugh, I've felt like such a fucking idiot since.”

“It’s fine dude,” Nellie said. “You were taking a chance, and isn't that what tonight is about? With the Meteors? Aren't we all taking a leap of faith? So what if it didn't work out. You’re allowed to feel frustrated, even if the world doesn't seem to care. At least you can say you took the chance.”

“It’s not about the world though,” said Yuè. “It’s about us, our family. This night is something we’ve looked forward to for so long and I ruined it, if not by fighting with mom then because of this whole debacle with Sarah. I wanted this to be a good memory but I tried to have too much and now I keep beating myself up while everyone pats me on the back, expecting me to be okay and cheerful and to go along with their antics.”

Nellie flashed a coy smile, “You didn’t laugh at my witch joke.”

“No,” said Yuè matter-of-factly, “I didn’t. I felt trapped. Asphyxiated because I was ashamed and had so many feelings to go through but I couldn’t do anything because everyone was having a good time and I didn’t want to be a problem for the shower.” She paused, taking a moment to breathe and play with the grass beneath her fingers. “This was good though, coming to this park. It’s been forever since we’ve been, I can’t believe you remembered it was down here.”

“I’m sorry, Yuè. You’re right. I was trying too hard to assure you that things were okay so you wouldn’t be upset instead of listening and letting you express yourself. You’re strong, confident, and can dish out comebacks better than anyone, but it’s not like those qualities will ever encompass all of who you are.

“Your spirit is bountiful and so much more beautiful than some meteor shower or anything else in this world. There will never be a moment or reason important enough for you to have to hide or hold back the person you are inside. Rage and all. Okay?”

Yuève pulled Nellie into another quick embrace, as if to say thank you for caring, thank you for making me feel valid and for being the bestest friend anyone could have. When they parted, there was a fierce look in Yuè's large eyes. Was it concern? Or pride maybe. “You’ve got an answer for everything today, don’t you?” 

At that, a modest sense of relief fluttered in Nellie’s heart. The feeling kept growing and growing, threatening to overwhelm her with emotion and tears; but with it came the deep, murky shadows of anxiety. They lurked in the back of her head, like a snake waiting in the tall grass, nourished by the increased activity of her mind and emotions. 

She did her best to push the feeling aside, as if this could abate the creeping dread, and in response, forced a wry grin for Yuève. 

“Yeah, just about.”