Epilogue - Ashes and Rain

That night, something different fell from the sky as ash caught in the wind spread across Outpost.  Every home and building would carry forward a piece of Selena and Kipper's with it, until the rain eventually washed it clean again.  Such is the nature of rain.  

Watching over the town, hunched over the same rooftop Jacques had once danced upon freely, was a brooding Rainy Rabbit.  Kindel would shift his view to check on the crew below, making sure they were still safe, and then returned to stare into the flames he had created; as if cycling between his heaven and hell.

"They still think you're in there, ya know." Meatball's squeaky tone interrupted his thoughts, but didn't surprise him.  Kindel had suspected he wasn't alone on the roof, and the Mousefolk was obviously quite observant.  Better Meatball than someone else.

 

"Yes.  I was rather hoping you all would think that."

 

Meatball sat next to him and stared straight into the flames.  "That's a pretty crazy plan.  What if you didn't make it out in time?  Or was that original plan?"

 

"Things don't always go the way we plan, do they?"

 

"Was blowing the place up always a part of the plan?"  Kindel made a hissing noise through his teeth.  Meatball continued.  "Why are we on the roof anyway?  Everyone else is down there."

 

"So that we get rained on first, of course."

 

Meatball, either being too young, too wise, or both, seemed to understand this just fine.  "Got it.  So we're the brave ones."

 

And Kindel, in his numbness, anguish, ambivalence, and whatever else, laughed.  The kid was going to drive him crazy.  "Yeah.  Exactly.  Maybe we're the Angel Marbles.  We gotta go do good or something, right?"

 

"Nah, the Angel Marbles are down there.  We gotta be something else."

 

"We."  Kindel played along.  "Where did the 'Rainy Rabbit' story come from?"

 

"I dunno, I always thought it was something Luca made up to keep us hopeful.  Like there was someone watching over us.  I liked it though."

 

"Good.  Because starting today, the Rainy Rabbit is real.  And folks are going to know someone is watching over them.  Maybe they'll be hopeful too."

 

"The Rainy Rabbit and Meatball!"

 

"That's not what I said."

 

"You said we." Meatball stretched his paws to the sky dramatically.  "Besides, the Angel Marbles are down there.  I'm not sitting around waiting for things to happen.  I want to make things better.  That's the Rainy Rabbit way."

 

Kindel scooped the young Mousefolk up under one arm and together watched both the wreckage and hope beneath them.  "Perhaps.  But on one condition.  I knew both Selena and Kipper when they first came to Outpost - back before the rain even started.  No one starts out a villain, Meatball.  Today is over.  Tomorrow we are going to help them start over because we don't want this to happen again.  That is the Rainy Rabbit way."

 

Meatball hopped back down, nearly losing his footing on wet ash when he did.  "Deal.  You have everything you need here?"  

 

Kindel - the Rainy Rabbit - pulled his cloak around his face, and as he inhaled he imagined he could still catch a certain fragrance coming back from the fabric to remind him of its former owner.  He carried it for her memories, but it had made new memories now.  He would have to keep her memories safe inside himself instead.  That was okay, though, as the longing that had long drowned him was showing the first sprouts of hope again. 

 

"Everything.  Let's go, 'Soggy Meatball.'"

 

"Snort.  Perfect."

 

***** End *****

 

The Rainy Rabbit and [Adjective] Meatball will return!