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My darling son,

I know I have given you my thanks a dozen times over, but thank you again, for your support and your love. And simply for being at my side the whole day long. My heart is still aflutter from the love I received from all of you. That day will remain with me in picture perfect clarity for the rest of my life.

It may have been the first wedding you attended but hardly the last! You will be able to experience weddings and so much more, I have no doubt.

Oh! Cursive? Casey, I would be so utterly delighted to teach you to write as I do. Can we make plans this week? I will set up a lesson plan immediately! We will need parchment and pens and plenty of scratch paper. Perhaps a notebook even, for practice! Or a chalkboard...

Soon. :) Let us get through these next few birthdays first and then we will celebrate.

I love you, my Casey. And I am endlessly proud of you. Always.

Forever and Always,
Mom

Dear Mom,

A wedding should be memorable, right? Something so good you never forget! But if you really want picture perfect clarity, I have lots of photos :) I'll be printing them out, so if you know anyone who has photos as well, send them to me! I want to put them all together.

I wonder who else would get married. I bet Leo and Peter will one day, but they're probably a few years off from that. I don't know other adults well enough for more, I don't think. But I'd love to see more! Weddings are nice. Everyone looked so happy that day.

Cursive is the word! Thank you. I'm a little late, but I think I can get everything except scratch paper (because I don't know what that is) and a chalkboard (because I don't know if I can get one that is travel sized??). Maybe we could meet up on a non-school day before you open the shop? We can go shopping, have a first lesson, and I can practice in the corner while you work. :) How about Monday?

Love you, love you,
Casey

My darling,

Oh please, my Casey. I would be so grateful to see all of your photos! Though I adore the photographs I have of our previous wedding, for Knickolas' sake, I would like to put the past behind us, and focus instead of our present. And our future. Which means a lot of reorganizing my current photo albums. :) So your help would be much appreciated.

Peter and Leo have some time to wait, but there are quite a few couples in Folkmore who are either planning for their weddings or are quite close to being engaged. I hope that we won't have to wait very long for the next one. :) Truthfully, as fun as my own was, it will be a relief to simply attend and party!

Forgive me, dear, I only mean some extra paper for practicing on, normally one of lesser quality than the paper we write these letters with. As for the chalkboard, leave it to me. I will find us something we can use! As for Monday, I accept. :) I won't go as easy as I do during our owlbear lessons though, so you better come prepared!

I love you endlessly, my son,
Mom

[This letter is written in... cursive! A very clumsy, careful, and slow cursive, which probably makes it easier to read but also weirdly mechanical-looking. He's still practicing.]

Dear Mom,

I needed a new project! (Not really but I'm doing it anyway. Bumped to the top of the list! Only the best for the best mom.) If you need help reorganizing the rest, just let me know. For now, leave the wedding photos to me. <3

More weddings would be amazing, yes! If you hear about one that's kind of open like yours, I'd love to see it. We sure have a lot of parties in this world, huh? Between our own and Thirteen's. It's amazing we still have energy for dancing and stuff. My closet is getting stuffed full of fancy clothes.

We should plan a party for you, just to get a feel for how much work it is, and how much you do for everyone. I know it wouldn't be a match for your work, but I'm curious to see if we could pull it off. Between all of us, I'm sure we could make something fun for you!

...This is hard :( but it's good to learn :) I'll keep practicing.

Love you,
Casey

Casey, my son,

Well! What an eventful weekend it has been! I will not lie, Peter's disappearance, no matter how brief it may have been, shook me to the very core for those awful few days he was gone. But I am so beyond grateful he's returned, even with the new terrible hurt he carries.

I don't know what we might have done if he hadn't come back to us... Or what we might do if one of you other boys ends up leaving without a word.

But I did not begin writing this letter just to air my lingering worries.

Thank you, Casey. For thinking of me in the midst of that mess. For wanting to celebrate such an important piece of me. It does not matter that we found one another so late into our lives, being your mother is the very best thing I've ever done with my life. So thank you. Always. I will continue to do my very best for you and the other boys.

I will admit, the idea of you boys throwing a party without my assistant tickles me greatly! But knowing myself, I doubt I could just sit by and simply watch. Perhaps some time, one day in the future.

Also my darling, please look back at the first few pages of your cursive training notebook and see how much improvement you've made already! I think you may be surprised!

See you soon, my wonderful son,
Mom

Dear Mom,

I think Peter is going to need a lot of reassurance for a while. I'm sure you've got it covered, but I didn't want to miss saying something just in case… are there other ways to create bonds between people? Like the fae bond, something that could get in the way of people vanishing. I don't know. Maybe it's stupid to think we'd find anything stronger than Thirteen, but it's worth trying, right?

You can air your worries though! Any time. I have the same ones… I don't know what I'd do if Thirteen sent you away from us. We'd try to get you back of course! But I don't have any kind of power for that. Maybe Donnie would figure out dimension portals after all. I'd try to help him with that.

I know it wasn't the same as a full party but I'm glad we could share that moment. It meant so much to me, to help you feel seen the way you helped me. I'll always be happy that you're my mom. Don't ever stop! (I know you won't. But don't!)

One day we'll throw you a surprise party and you won't have a choice >:) You'll just have to be pampered and partied at with no interference.

Looking forward to Hunter's first birthday with us! I'll come early to help wrap our gift <3

Love you always,
Casey

My little cub,

Sometimes I find myself stuck between protecting you as your mother and the honesty of the bond we've built together. But I will be truthful with you, Casey. I may not know the full extent of Thirteen's power, but from what we have experienced ourselves, I don't believe there's anything in this realm more powerful than her.

But I wouldn't want my hesitance to stop us from looking. You're right. When it comes to you boys, it is always worth it, a hundred times over.

As much as I don't like to think of us being separated, I do believe that our Donnie would fix it in the end. I can not even begin to understand how, but I know he would.

And for what it is worth, I will never stop being your mother. :) Always. No matter what.

The day that you boys throw me a party, I can already say will be another one of the best days of my life. Just another perfect memory to hold to my heart forever.

I love you, my darling. I hope that you never doubt just how deep that love for you goes.

Yours forever,
Mom

[This letter arrives crumpled, with the first half smudged and legible but rough.]

Dear Mom,

This trial sucks :( I'm so tired of being soggy. I got the rain to stop for now but I have to keep banishing myself to the balcony to avoid getting all the electronics wet. At least the actual weather isn't bad.

Anyway you're probably right about Thirteen being stronger. But I still want to search, too. Maybe I'll talk to Master Draxum. (Later, though. He really needs to rest, he's been non-stop since he got here.)

I hope we can remember this world if we end up going home early. I don't ever want to forget you're my mom. But we'll still be connected forever, right? That's how we can find each other someday. I'll keep hoping for that, no matter what.

I have a question for you! I'm thinking of asking on the network too, but your opinion is the most important. What colouration is the best for a cat? I'm done programming my school project so_______

[There's a streak of fuzzy ink across the page, like he was startled out of the last word. Then, a little more clear:]

stupid cloud! ruined my letter!

I love you goodbye :(
-Casey

[This letter comes attached with a bundle of waterproof paper, just in case of rain. ;)]

My sweetest, soggiest son,

I hope you have been feeling better since our adventure in letting off steam! Please, you know that if you ever feel that raincloud coming on, just come over and we can sit in my garden. Watering the plants will be soothing and I never mind the rain if I get to spend time with my most darling boy.

Pray, is Master Draxum well? I know he has been quite busy since his arrival to Folkmore, but the way you phrase it makes me worry. Truth be told, I never expected that the two of us would get along so well, but I can hardly imagine a time where he wasn't a part of our family. It warms my heart that you and Hunter like him as well. :)

You both are the most wonderful sons.

Anyway, to speak to your next worry, I will only say this: No matter what happens, I will always be your mother, Casey Jones, no matter the distance or dimension that separate us. And more than that, I will find you again. You have my word. Nothing will keep me from finding you, as many times as I must.

Oh! The best cat colouration? Well, I believe every feline is beautiful it their own way! But if I must pick, I quite enjoy orange cats with white bellies or the gray striped ones with spotted bellies. Both are so very darling, don't you think? What's your favorite, dear?

Don't you dare, Casey Jones! A little rainfall hasn't ruined a thing. I will cherish this letter just as much as I have every single one that you've ever sent. I love you endlessly, my little cub.

Always with love,
Mom

Dear Mom,

I love you endlessly too :) I hope you liked your surprise. And hopefully better late than never. Our love isn't late, just... not as timely as we'd like sometimes.

I do feel a lot better, mostly because that weather is gone now! But you helped a lot at the time, just like always. Thanks for always being there. You're the best ever!

About Draxum, if he hasn't told you already, he'd better tell you soon. I'm gonna text him a bunch of grumpy emoji until he caves. If he HAS told you, though, try not to judge him too harshly. He was a villain not that long ago, but he's a good guy deep down. Sorry, this is vague. I hate being stuck in the middle, but I'm also glad to be someone thought of as trustworthy, for confiding and stuff... I don't like that this keeps happening, though, and I end up being the one to prod someone into sharing with the people who ought to know. Are you angry? I'll understand if you're angry. I'm really sorry.

I'm really happy you'll always find me, though. It's reassuring. The idea of being from different worlds is less scary, when I think about that.

Orange or grey stripes are cute too. I got a lot of suggestions for cat colours. Lots of black, lots of calico. Master Draxum recommended tie-dye, do you know how to do that? The results look really cool. I kind of want to try it. Barring that, I like the look of a torbie cat.

I'm glad you cherish my letters but I'm MORE glad that this one isn't rained on. Hopefully the next trial is less damp. But at least I can kind of talk as your little cub now :P

Love you forever,
Casey

Casey my darling boy,

I can not believe that you boys went behind my back and planned the most wondrous, beautiful party for me! It means the world that you and Peter and darling Hunter went out of your way just to bring so much joy into my heart. Thank you, endlessly. I have never once had a party in my honor outside of the two weddings that I both coordinated and hosted myself. So for this special event in particular, I will never forget how much that day meant to me.

And please, you never have to thank me for helping you weather any storm, my darling. Big or small, I am right here for you through it all. Just as I trust you will be there for me in return. Such a thing might have been impossible for me to pen once upon a time, but now it comes so simply. Our relationship has grown so much and I could not be happier.

As for the matter of Draxum, we have spoken, yes, and of his own volition. I did not approach him first or bully him on this matter in the slightest. He only came to me when he was ready and I'm so very grateful for it, though it does trouble this old heart of mine to hear how he's suffered. I worry for him deeply, for this and the rest of what he's been through. I can only hope that him coming to me with this means he will trust me easier in the future. He should feel safe reaching out, not terrified of getting his hands slapped.

As for you, my Casey, I am not angry with you. Now or ever. I feel as if that would be utterly impossible. It does make me sad, to hear you've been trapped in the middle of so many secrets as of late, but I know that is only because of the trust built up between you and everyone else. Just please. I only ask that you don't carry the rest of the world's burdens along with your own. Not alone.

Since the weather is beginning to turn, we should play with tie-dye this weekend. Plan to come over and I'll have everything prepared for us. Bring along whoever you think might have fun. The more, the merrier.

You are always my little cursing cub ♥
Mom

Dear Mama-san :)

I'm so glad the party went well. It really taught us how much work you put into it, and how good at them you are! You make it look so effortless, but it took longer and required way more steps than we thought going in. It must be the mark of a true professional, for you to host so many and make them go off without a single hitch. I really admire you more than ever!

(It wasn't TOO much work, to clarify. It was so worth it to celebrate you!)

I'm glad things worked out with Draxum. And I really will try not to carry too much, going forward... try being the key word. Sometimes I get kinda in over my head. But it's because I love my family! So I don't entirely feel guilty for it. Just a little bit... I think what bothers me more is other people having to support me when I struggle by taking on too much. Even if I probably shouldn't worry about that either, because family helps me the way I want to help family...

Ah, whatever! Everyone speak up if you need help. Including me. Life would be so much easier if we stopped hiding things. And if we stopped being kind of hypocritical about it.

I still have a million complicated thoughts in my head right now, with everything going on. New people coming, others going... I'm so glad you're still here. If I'm around more than usual, it's because seeing your face calms me down more than I know how to say.

Love you always,
Casey

[Today's letter is enclosed in an envelope with a few cat punny stickers all over.]

Casey!

Every single time you call me Mama-san, I fear my heart will go out! It is just so very darling and I can hear it in your sweet voice so perfectly in my head!

You flatter me so much, my love. Don't forget that I've done hundreds if not thousands of parties over the course of my life. Of course the first one would seem like much more work, but you all did such an amazing job, do not sell yourself short. My effortlessness is simply due to excess practice. If I put you in charge of every party from here on out, I imagine you would become a master in no time.

(I will not, haha! I only meant it as a hypothetical. :) )

I find myself agreeing most ardently! How many problems would be so easily resolved by simply speaking up?!

That includes you, my darling, but I'm not saying that to shame you, simply as a reminder. I am all too aware of how strange things are for you right now, and we all want to be there for you, though maybe I would like it just a touch more than the others. :) I'm proud of you, Casey Jones. You are the brave beyond your young years. Things are going to turn out alright, whatever happens we will be right there with you. I will be right there with you. And you will always be my little cub.

My darling boy, I love you endlessly, forever and ever,
Rue (Your mama-san)

Edited 2024-07-10 04:28 (UTC)

Dear Mom,

Sorry this one's so delayed. I don't even have a good excuse, this trial isn't that bad. Just weird. I've got no complaints, but I kind of want to throw some cards in Thoth's office that are covered in a million question marks when I go back to school.

Do you have a favourite party you've organized? (Besides your wedding, I think that's too easy an answer!) You definitely shouldn't put me in charge of them (unless you want to celebrate a small disaster) but if you need help going forward, I'd like to learn more.

Speaking of celebrating! We're not that far away from the day we met :) It may not be as exciting as the anniversary of the adoption, but if you're free, I'd love to go out and do something with you. Or even stay in and have an "us" day.

It's kind of funny, looking back at how worried I was about everything when this month started. Family stuff, like with Cassandra, it all kind of blurred together and I kept wondering what I'm supposed to do, how I'm supposed to say what needs saying. Now, things are so much better, I'm excited about the future. Just like always, I did feel safer knowing I always had somewhere to go. If she didn't want me or didn't like the idea of being a mom, or even knowing me once she learned of that connection, I'd always have you. I'm glad you think I'm brave, and I don't disagree, but I'm so grateful that I can take my time and hide a little when I need to, with your support. I'm so glad to be your little cub, always!

I was wondering. If she wants me to call her as a mother, not her name, would you share it with her? Should we find some other version for her to use? Or would you want to be Mama-san for real? I'm cool with whatever. We're making it up as we go anyway. But how you feel is important to me!

Love you, love you, love you,
Casey (Junior!)

Dear Casey,

It is no worries at all, little one. These letters are never an obligation. I'm happy enough to be written at all, you never need to fret over getting them done. Not ever.

If you are quite serious in learning, my darling, I would be so happy to teach you, but only if you are truly interested! I won't want to waste your precious time with my silly talk of party planning otherwise. As for a favorite event outside of my own Wedding, it will always be the Bloom. More than anything I wish I could share the magic of it and the Feywild with you and the other boys. Truly, it would be unlike anything you've ever experienced. What I can do is just a mere fraction of the Feywild's beauty. I feel the true Bloom at it's peak would blow all of you away.

I miss it, of course, but never enough to return.

And of course, my darling. As if I ever need any excuse to celebrate the two of us. What would make you most happy to do? I'm up for either a day on the town or a day in, whichever you prefer. I'll make either as special as you deserve.

And as long as you wish to be, you'll always remain my little cub, no matter how old you get or how tall you grow. That will never change. But I'm so grateful it has been easier than all of us expected and that you are feeling more confident in building your relationship with her. You ARE brave, and that doesn't change just because you need time to reassess your feelings or to think things through. That only goes back to that message of giving ourselves grace that we are both attempting this year. Take your time always. Relationships worth making won't pressure you for more than you're ready to give.

Ah, I don't want to be selfish, so please do whatever would make you most happy. But I fear I would be quite hurt to not be called your mom anymore. You were the first to ever call me mom and that is so deeply special to me. However, if that is what would make you both happy, I would take whatever name you would give me. I won't stand in the way of your mother, of course. That wouldn't be at all fair of me.

I love you always and forever my darling son,
Mom

Edited 2024-07-31 07:59 (UTC)

Dear Mom,

I don't think it's a waste! It's important to you, and you always seem so happy doing it. It might be a good thing for me to learn. It might not end up being MY big passion, but that doesn't mean it can't be fun for me too. I'd like to try at least once, and I can tell you how I feel after, how about that? :)

Maybe we should do a Bloom, or something like it, one day. It might not be exactly like the Feywild, but we could do our own version. A Folkmore Bloom. It's still a very pretty place, right?

I like the idea of going out, but also staying in and relaxing. Maybe I can come over and we'll decide on the spot? I think that suits us best. Or we could go out and do something in the evening, maybe. As long as your husband doesn't mind if I steal you all day :P (I know he won't.)

Please don't ever think I want you to be anything less than my mom! That isn't what I meant at all. The word is just a word, you'll always be Mom as long as you want to be. I was asking because you seemed to like Mama-san, I didn't know if it was better or easier or what. If you want to stay as Mom then you're Mom forever. It's okay to be selfish about that sort of thing! (Or, don't call it selfish. It's 100% fine to want what you want, especially when it's something you already have. I would never dream of taking it away from you.)

I haven't actually called Cassandra Mom yet, either. I don't know how she'd feel about it. Just one more thing I can't figure out how to ask yet. There's still so much I haven't said. It doesn't matter in the end, though. If I can have two moms, I can have two Moms, you know?

Love you forever,
Casey

My Casey,

It is so strange to see our previous conversation from Before and to realize that such simpler times were but a week earlier. All of it is precious to me, of course, everything we discuss means such a great deal to me, but I find myself struggling with just how to address it.

Maybe a fresh start would be best.

Tell me about how things have been with your mother. I'm so grateful they are going well - and I will not tease you to say I said as much - but I would love to hear just what you've both been up to together. How are you feeling about things with her? Is everything better than you imagined?

My apologies that this letter is so short in comparison to the rest. Since Knickolas left, I find the words just haven't come as easy. I hardly know what else to say. Come over soon, please? We'll watch something fun and drink cocoa together.

I love you more than anything,
Mom

Dear Mom,

Being home again and writing a letter after staying at your place for so long feels a little strange. It's nice to be here, but I miss you too! I'll be visiting more going forward, so don't worry. There's still a few weeks before the next year of school starts, I have lots of free time.

Things are going really well with my other mom! Did I tell you, she took me flying when I had that kid-version illusion going on? We went right up to the clouds. It was amazing. I don't know how to describe how it felt, believing she was the one who raised me, and having her back from the dead for those few hours. I don't think my kid self could have been happier than that. Even if it was brief and I know the truth now, I really can't see it as anything but a gift. I'm a little sad, but I'm glad for it. And April told her about my timeline, that she died. I didn't have to. You were right about all of it. I was kind of guilty at first, but April wasn't angry. And I feel lighter for it.

Besides our anniversary (which was awesome), writing this made me realize, we've now been writing back and forth like this for over a year! Your first letter to me was dated August 13th. Every single one of these letters is a treasure to me. Thank you for always writing me back, seeing one of your fancy envelopes in my mailbox makes the whole day better.

Always yours,
Casey

My most handsome son,

(Please don't tell Leo! Or Donnie!)

I know I only just saw you yesterday, but after so much time spent together, I find that I am missing your company as well. What a blessing that I have BINX and Ciel to keep me company, so that I don't have to keep dragging you poor boys all of the way out into Willow every single day. I'll miss the lazy days of summer, but I'm excited for you to get back into school and have fun learning with other teenagers.

I'm so grateful for April, but there was no doubt in my heart that someone in the family would take that weight off of your shoulders. I'm glad things have been so well for the two of you, it's what you both deserve, a second chance. Together. My heart is so joyful for both of you.

Oh! It has been over a year now! I can hardly believe it. It feels both shorter and longer at the same time, doesn't it? But a full year of letters! You hardly need the practice anymore, but I would be so happy to keep writing to you for the rest of our lives, even when we are back in New York and living under the same roof. This is a tradition we must keep up always.

Thank you for everything, my Casey.

I love you endlessly, my little cub,
Mom

To my beautiful owlbear mama-san,

(You can't hold me to that! You hand me the greatest weapon to razz them in a dumb brother fight and then say I can't tell them? So cruel, Mother!)

School's starting soon, so Hunter and I will be back to regular visits to Gram or your shop after school. Don't miss us too much, because we'll be around a lot more in the next week. It's a good thing you never get sick of us :)

I was wondering. Did you want to borrow Queen for a while? I know it's not the same, but maybe having a cat in the house would help you feel better. of course it's not a replacement for any of us visiting! That'll still happen. But just in case, maybe it'd be nice to have her around. We have a full apartment here, so I won't mind if she's with you.

I'm really glad, too. I'm so lucky to have everyone. I'm going to spend more time with my other mom and get to know her, too. There's so much to learn! So many questions I want to ask. I don't know where to begin. I have a lot of thinking to do, but also a lot of talking. I just have to make sure I do more of one than the other. Don't want to overthink and miss my chance.

You don't have to worry about not writing any letters. I'll always write back! No matter how long it might take or if I run out of things to say, I'll figure something out. I don't want to stop, and I can always use more practice! Look, my cursive isn't as pretty as yours. So I still have more to learn!

Thank YOU, always. Love you forever,
Casey

My darling,

Oh! My heart always jumps when you call me mama-san. Being your mother will always be the most important title I've ever held, but there's something so cute about mama-san, it makes me feel all silly inside in the best of ways.

Never ever. Nothing could ever make me sick of any of your visits, but it will be good for me to actually work during the day instead of just spending the time with my sweet boys. I promise to get everything I need done during the day so after school will be our time. :)

Do you really not mind? Would she? I think the company might be helpful, especially in the evening hours, but I don't want to take her from her home if she'd prefer to remain with you. Perhaps it really is time for me to look at the shelters for a friend to adopt and bring home, just so things are a bit more lively again at the cottage.

I have no doubt that you will navigate this new relationship just as I've watched you navigate through every other one - with your full, accepting, generous heart. Everything will be fine, my love. As you've said, don't overthink things. Just follow your feelings, like you always have. They will rarely steer you wrong.

As for your writing, I will have to show bring some of your first letters to the shop to show you just how improved it has truly become! You would not believe the difference a year of letter writing would make! But I'm so proud of you for sticking with it always and there is no doubt in my heart that one day your writing will outshine even my own! Just you wait and see.

Love you always,
Mom

Dear Mom,

It feels weird to be back here. Kind of scary, too. I keep thinking it might flood again, or I might hear voices, or everyone will get whisked away like before. I keep checking to make sure Hunter's still here. I know you don't mind, but if I come by the shop or your house more often for a while, that's why. (Everything needs fixing anyway, so I can at least lend an extra pair of hands.)

I hope we can stay here and have a peaceful time for a long while. I never want to be left behind like that again. I guess a part of me is glad that it was me and not someone used to survival situations, since it was so dangerous. I super didn't miss that life though. I'm really grateful that we're all together and alive.

Everything we talked about before this happened feels so far away, now. I still wanted to send a letter right away, though, since it'd been so long. I missed it a lot. I didn't want to send you one while we were in Amrita since I know you like to keep them. I wasn't sure what would happen once Thirteen let us go.

I'm sorry for worrying everyone. Even if it's not my fault (at least not that Thirteen's implied), still. I wish you didn't have to go through all of that either!

Sorry this letter is so short, too. Having some trouble getting words together. My head's not all there yet. Just need some more time to get over it.

I love you, I love you, I love you,
Casey

My Casey,

I can not deny that it worries this old heart of mine to be back after what we and Folkmore itself have endured, but I believe it must be safe now, or Thirteen would not have let us return. That trial, for as long as it persisted, is finally over, and we have the chance to return to some kind of normalcy again.

Well, as normal as our lives have ever been.

As usual, if you or Hunter ever need me, say the word and I will be there. And of course you can come stay with me at the shop, anytime that you like. You know I love your company, and especially in this time of rebuild, we need to lean on the ones that we love and trust the most, which would be you a hundred times over.

If I have the chance, I will ask Thirteen directly why she picked you and Peter and Raphael to stay behind. It's cruel, if it was truly on purpose and not just an accident, but I want to make it known to her that I will not stand for it again. Being separated from you, even for such a short time, was terrifying. Next time, she had better leave all of us behind or take us all to safety together.

There's no need to apologize, my darling. It was fully out of your control. If anything, I should be apologizing to you that I was not able to come and sweep you back up as immediately as I wanted to. I know April and the others were looking for you, but I felt so hopeless being unable to do anything but stay back and wait. I'm so sorry, Casey. I hope you can forgive me.

We should think ahead to the holidays. Perhaps you would like to help me plan for a holiday party in December this year?

I love you forever and always, my little cub. Please come over anytime.

Love,
Mom

Dear Mom,

Things are starting to feel stable again. I'm trying not to worry, because it won't help anything, but some days are harder than others. If things are going back to normal, doesn't that mean the usual schedule will come back, too? So we wouldn't be too far off from the next trial. Scary to think about. We'll just have to do our best, I guess. And hopefully this time stick together.

Is the shop back to normal or does it still need work? I'm happy to help out. I don't feel bad about taking shelter there (I know you'd rather we be safe) but I didn't like that it'd flooded. If it needs more fixing, I'm here for it.

I want to know what Thirteen would say, but at the same time, I'm afraid of the answer. This is her world, and I usually love it here. If she doesn't like me or has something against me, or I did something wrong... I don't know. I guess it's better to know, so maybe there's a way to avoid what happened in the future. But it scares me. I'm not usually scared of this place.

I don't want you to apologize, Mom, you didn't do anything wrong. I'm grateful that you were safe in Amrita that whole time. I was in such a panic looking for everyone, because we had no answers. As soon as I found out that most of us were safe, I was able to focus on surviving and looking for the ones who were left. If you need to hear it, then I forgive you, but I really believe that there's nothing to forgive.

I'd love to help you with a party. I can't think of a better way to learn than from a mistrex :) Please teach me everything I need to know! I'll support you.

Love you always. I'll be visiting again soon,
Casey

My boy ♡

You and I have been thinking along the same lines, I see. I had the same thought earlier today, that because of the extended duration of the last trial, the next must be just around the corner. But after such a devastating one, won't Thirteen give us a break next? Something less impactful and not at all dangerous? I can only hope so, for all of our sakes.

The shop is perfectly put together again, just a few things out of place. The beautiful mural that Michelangelo made still remains untouched, and that is the most important part to me. The rest? It can be remade. My important memories and my more important people, they are safe and that is all that matters.

I wonder if she picked those that she did for a different purpose completely. Not out of anger or cruelty or a sense to hurt, but because she saw it would contribute to reaching your full potential. Maybe she saw something else within you, your strength and unwavering determination. I can't say I agree if that's really her truth, but it does seem less cruel.

Either way, I'm grateful to put that whole experience behind us and to focus on the future, which includes our holiday party. I'll connect with you soon and we'll start the preparations. There's so much to do!

Please be well, my darling. I love you endlessly, every single day.

Your mother,
Mom :p

P.S. I have more stringed cheese at the shop!

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