There are important things going on around the farm. Extremely important. Devastatingly important. Life-changing important ( Read more... )

There is a small group huddled over by the bunker, obviously deeply involved in serious work. In this case, the serious work is also known as 'art class ( Read more... )

There are three people sitting out on the grass by the farm house.

Three people and a cake.

Three people and a cake, and some presents.

Three people, a cake, some presents and party equipment.

One of the paper blowers is already on fire.

Say this about the Frays: They can throw a party.

Jo's out, disappeared somewhere. Dean's actually pretty OK with that, because seeing Jo want to do things, want to go places? More than just 'OK ( Read more... )

You know how if you repeat a word often enough in your head, it loses all meaning and starts sounding like nonsense? You know the word has a definition and it should mean something to you but at that moment, there's nothing to it. It's blank and empty and just there ( Read more... )

The trip back from Chicago to the farm is just as slow, and even more low on fuel - but the moods in the cars are very different from the trip there.

In Katara's case, it's a good change - she can't stop beaming at everyone, hugging and kissing and more hugging, eating real food and breathing real air and feeling the snow on her face for the ( Read more... )

It's not been as long as you think, honestly!

Toph's been crouching at the edge of Lake Michigan, apparently pensive and not doing much, excpet suddenly, in the middle of the morning:

"I got it!"

In a field by a lake so big it looks like an ocean, a short blind girl is very close to finding a coffin ( Read more... )

It's the second day by the lake. Yesterday's flurry of activity has died down completely - there's nothing left for anyone to do except wait for Toph, who's been working tirelessly but hasn't yet found the coffin ( Read more... )

Chicago: still crumbled, still broken. Expedition Katara skirted it without needing to consult.

They've found a quiet field, sloping gently down to the shores of the lake. It's dry enough to set up camp again, all of them thankful to be finally out of the cars.

Katara is sitting by the water's edge, watching movement in the water, quiet and ( Read more... )