Moon's room - Moon's dream: Moon, Danni, (Salene, Mouse)

[tribal_moon]

Moon was still sleeping from earlier. Initially she slept quietly and blankly, her body taking the opportunity to recharge itself. Then, she started to dream, clearly and vividly, tossing and turning in her sleep as she did so.

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[tribal_danni]

Danni looked down at her hand in Moon's and smiled. She was nervous about telling Moon exactly how she had ended up at the Mall, how Bray had found her, but somehow having Moon hold her hand made it okay. She took a deep breath and thought carefully about how to phrase what she had to say. "When Bray found me I was hiding. I was in one of the old government buildings, one of the places where scientists had been working on a cure for the virus." Danni paused, thinking about how to tell Moon about her father, not sure if there would ever be an easy way to say what she had to say. She no longer blmaed herself for the virus, but it would never be easy to talk about.

"My worked for the government as a researcher. He worked on cures for diseases and viruses. He was really important, gave a lot of orders, made a lot of decisions. He was part of the team of scientists that decided to work on a serum to prevent old age. He was so excited about it, he thought there was so much promise in his work, till it happened, till it all went wrong."

"I found out that there was a flaw with this serum, it would work for a certain amount of time, then something inside it would mutate, it would make the person who had taken it really old. That was how the virus was born you could say. An accident happened, one of the scientists got infected and never told anyone. They didn't realise how contagious it was, how quickly it would spread through the population...." Danni paused again, feeling slightly choked up. It had been so long since she had dared mention her father's participation in how all the adults had died, and though she had thought about it many times she had rarely said the words out loud. She had forgotten how much it affected her. She quickly wiped away a tear and sniffed a little, then continued.

"There was panic everywhere, evacuations, bodies, military, I didn't really know what was going on. I knew my father was working on a cure for what had happened, but I had no idea it was his fault. He never told me unbtil he got the virus himself. He told me about the government building, he said I would be safe there, that there would be enough food and water for me and that I could look after myself. So I went there, crossbow in hand and waited. I waited for all the kids to come looking for me because of what my father had done."

"When Bray showed up I thought he was there to blame me for all that had happened. I was ready to shoot him. To kill rather than be killed. But I was wrong about Bray. In him I saw someone in so much pain, he was grieving, believing Amber to be dead, and for a moment I saw someone hurting more than I was, and I started to believe that maybe all this wasn't my fault. He asked me to go with him to the Mall Rats, so I did. I thought it was time to stop hiding."

"It's not easy, living with what my father did. But I know, though Bray and through the other Mall Rats, that what happened was not my fault. I know the outside world wouldn't be quite so understanding, so I feel lucky to have found people as understanding as the Mall Rats are. Bray was a large part of that, I owe him so much. Danni fell silent, feeling drained after what she had just spoken. She knew that Moon would not judge her, but she just hoped that she would say something, do something to prove that.

[tribal_moon]

Moon listened in silence as Danni began to talk. She could tell by the way she was speaking that it was going to be quite a story - though as it progressed, Moon could hardly believe what she was hearing. Danni's father had caused the virus?! The whole hiding-with-crossbows thing started to make more sense now. Moon couldn't imagine how scary that must have been for a young girl, alone, waiting for your own death sentence. More than ever she was amazed at how Danni seemed to have coped through it all. She would never have guessed.

By the time Danni had finished talking, Moon understood why she hadn't said anything before - it wasn't the kind of thing you just went around telling people. Moon blinked a little, taking in the information, unable to fathom what that must have been like. She looked up and saw a stray tear that had escaped Danni's eye, it hurt her just to see it. Reaching up and brushing it gently away, Moon said softly,
"I can't imagine how much that must hurt... to know that your father was only trying to do something good, but to end up with such tragic consequences." Moon thought for a moment about her own father, how unfair it was that he, a cold and heartless man, should live and die blameless - a 'victim' of the virus.

"I am glad that you don't blame yourself, that you know it isn't your fault. It isn't your father's fault either, he didn't mean for it to turn out this way." Moon didn't really know what else to say about that. She was glad that Bray had found Danni, and suddenly, Moon had a glimpse of the bigger picture, the wonder of how all these events in their lives had somehow brought these two girls together, unlikely as it might seem. Maybe it was supposed to happen this way, and if so, perhaps Moon shouldn't be fighting it...

The curious nature of this thought that had struck her made Moon smile in wonderment, as if something somewhere had just clicked into place. She sat up, leaning closer to Danni, as she asked her, "Do you believe in fate, Danni?"

[tribal_danni]

Feeling Moon brush away a tear Danni felt the urge to cry once more, feeling that with Moon she would be safe to show her emotions, but she stopped herself. Now wasn't the time. She had been here to try and comfort Moon and it wasn't fair of her to place any burden on her.

As Moon said that it wasn't Danni's father's fault something in Danni wanted to snap, but she stopped herself. There was no point in being angry about it anymore. But still, she couldn't help but feel that if her father hadn't tried to play god then none of this would have happened. However, Moon mentioned fate. It was hard to put the virus down to fate, but she had often thought that maybe things happened for a reason, in order to shape people and mould them into who they are.

"I guess I do." Danni said in answer to Moon's question. People meet each other for a reason, events happen for a reason, I guess it's what makes us who we are. I don't know if I could ever put the virus down to fate, but I do believe that fate had a hand in introducing me to you. I...." Danni wanted to say more, but looked down, unsure of where to go with that sentence. Looking down she saw the food that she had brought Moon, going cold sat on her bed side table. "Hey," she said, "You should east some breakfast. It may be a little cold, but I figure the chef should at least get to try some of what she's made." Danni gave Moon a small smile.

[tribal_moon]

Moon could sense a lot of emotion going on inside Danni, which was hardly surprising. She felt it best to stay quiet, though, reasoning that if Danni wanted to talk about it then she would. Besides, she knew that she could never really grasp the enormity of what had happened.

"...I do believe that fate had a hand in introducing me to you. I..."
Moon wondered what Danni might have said if she had finished that sentence, but then Danni drew her attention to the food.
"Oh, thank you, you are very kind," she said gratefully, leaning over and picking up the plate and fork. As she started to eat, she realised that she was actually quite hungry, and for a minute or two she ate steadily in silence, her mind solely on the taste of the food. Once she slowed down, she spoke again.
"I wonder if it rained at all. Do we need to water your herbs?"

[tribal_danni]

"I guess we should go and check on them. I want to show them to Hawk later, he's come for a visit from the Gaian camp, where Ilearnt about herbs and stuff." Danni offer by way of explanation. "I'm hoping he'll go back to the camp and tell the tribe healer and get me in his good books." Danni smiled.

"So, what were you saying about fate?"

[tribal_moon]

Moon didn't know who this Hawk person was, but being a Gaian he was likely to know a whole lot more about growing plants than she ever would. Suspecting that she'd feel a little intimidated if she was there when he inspected the herb garden, Moon decided that she'd let Danni show him by herself, she didn't need to be there too.

Having finished off her food, Moon leant over and put the plate back on the table. Danni prompting her about what she'd said about fate, well, the moment had passed and the inspired braveness that Moon had felt had left her. She smiled a little embarrassedly, shaking her head, trying hard not to blush.
"Oh, nothing. It was nothing."

Thinking quickly, Moon changed the subject back again.
"You seem to have learnt a lot from the Gaians. Are you going to join them again at some point?" Moon wondered if Danni intended to stay at the Mall. She couldn't help thinking that if she did not, Moon would feel there was little reason to stay.

[tribal_danni]

"Oh I shouldn't think so." Danni said. "I mean, they're fantastic people and brilliant friends, but I'm a city girl at heart." Danni gave a soft smile. "Don't think I could cope out in the wilderness forever, I miss things like having a real roof over my head." she joked. "I guess I'll just have to see if the Mall Rats will have me back."

Danni thought for a moment, thinking back to what Moz had said to Moon in the market yesterday. She's called her a supposed 'free spirit' and had said she was the Mall Rat's slave. Moon didn't have the Mall Rat stamp on her hand, so would that mean that she wouldn't be staying for long?

"What about you? You thought about joining the Mall Rats? I know they bicker, well, I mean we bicker, but the Mall Rats are really a good group of people. Despite their many differences they really do look out for one another. Plus, I reckon I'd miss you if you weren't around...." Feeling brave Danni's free hand joined where her other hand and Moon's were entwined and covered the top of Moons hand.

[tribal_moon]

Whilst feeling glad that Danni wanted to stay, Moon also wondered how Danni knew she was a 'city girl' - how did people know where they belonged? Moon had never felt a sense of belonging anywhere, she just... couldn't tell.

Feeling a little glow from the warm contact of Danni's hand, Moon smiled at her briefly, then turned her eyes down again as she spoke.
"Actually... Salene asked me this morning if I wanted to, um, be put up to be voted in as a Mallrat." She remembered how unsure she had felt at the time - it was only a little while ago, yet so much had changed in that time. Her foremost fear at that point had been whether she and Danni could ever look each other in the eye again, and somehow here they were, holding hands and talking. It didn't seem real, and yet...

Moon still had apprehensions about the vote, however. What if she agreed, then they voted against? She would definitely have to leave the Mall if that happened - leave this.

[tribal_danni]

Danni was very glad to hear that Moon had been asked by Salene to join the Mall Rats. But then she saw a look of apprehension and was worried for a second. Maybe Moon hadn't intended on staying this long. After all, she had only come looking for Bray in the first place, and surely seeing him with Amber would have changed any plans she might have had.

"What do you want to do Moon?" Danni asked, scared to hear that Moon wanted to leave. For a fleeting moment she thought that if Moon did go, then maybe she could go with her. But maybe Moon wanted to go alone. Danni hated the fact that she had so many doubts in her mind, she disliked her insecurity intensley, but if she wasn't entirely certain about where she stood, how could she be certain about Moon?

[tribal_moon]

At Danni's question, Moon looked up, a little surprised. She had almost expected Danni to encourage her, to tell her how great that was and how she should definitely do it. She certainly did not expect to be asked her opinion - she just wasn't used to people asking her what she wanted.

"Um, I don't know," said Moon hesitantly, "I... I've never been asked to stay anywhere before." Her joining of the Horse Traders had been somewhat deficient in free will, and other tribes she had come across had always regarded her as an outsider.

"I never really minded, that's part of being a free spirit, I suppose," she shrugged, a little defensively. She gazed thoughtfully at her hand, so warmly clasped in Danni's. In a softer voice she said,
"But then, I never really had anything to stay for, before."

[tribal_danni]

Danni wasn't entirely sure what she was hearing, was that Moon saying that Danni was a damn good reason to stay with the Mall Rats? She felt her face flush a little, feeling flattered by the remark, though still not entirely sure what to make of it. She hadn't really given Moon that much time to think, and yet here she was saying something about the way she felt about Danni. As much as Danni herself wanted something to happen between her and Moon, it would mean nothing if it was a rushed decision. She didn't want to push Moon into deciding anything too soon.

Danni looked up at Moon, and spoke. "Does this mean you've had time to think?" She asked gently. "It's okay if not, I don't expect any answers right now." Suddenly Danni felt stupid for asking. "I'm sorry, of course you haven't had long enough to think." She offered by way of an apology. Pausing a little, Danni continued and changed subject slightly. "Personally, I'd love you to stay. There many reasons for that, some are fairly obvious." Danni smiled a little and blushed again. "But I don't want you to feel like you have to stay if you'd rather be somewhere else."

[tribal_moon]

Moon saw Danni blush, the colour in her cheeks reminding her of the night before, when they were both flushed with alcohol. Her mind went over that first kiss, still causing her insides to jump at the thought - it had been such a shock!

It had only been a dozen hours or so since then - maybe less - yet it had felt like a lifetime. So much had changed, so much needed to be thought about; yet Moon was fast growing to distrust her own mind. Every single part of her being wanted to be with Danni and could not be ignored, and was countered by these negative thoughts that seemed to be losing their logic by the second. It actually was quite a mercy that Moon had not had time to think.

She willed herself to ignore the constant pessimistic commentary that ran through her head - awake or asleep - as she took a leap of faith.
"I could stay, or leave," she said, reaching up and awkwardly running her hand over Danni's arm, "as long as you were with me, it wouldn't matter."
Moon could hardly believe she was saying this, but somehow she knew it to be true. Danni had been present in every thought she had had since last night, and though it was overwhelming, it had brought something new to Moon - hope.

[tribal_danni]

Danni couldn't quite believe what she was hearing. Was this Moon's way of telling hershe wanted to be with her? Danni certainly wasn't going to take that for granted, she certainly didn't want to assume too much and ruin any chance she stood of being with Moon, but she knew enough to guess that Moon was willing to see how things would go.

"If you wanted to leave I'd go with you." Danni said, not wanting to pressure Moon into staying at the Mall. It was a place she loved, but she figured that if she was with Moon then it wouldn't matter where she lived.