[ring ring ring candle call

at some day, some point to be decided later, shh]

Hello?

Hello, Mau! It's me. I thought I would see how you're doing.

Shirayuki! It's great to see you.

It's good to see you too. Have you been managing all right?

Pretty well. I'm glad we packed warm clothes, though. How are things with you?

They're--pretty good. We have two new teammates, Sage and Marigold, so the treehouse doesn't seem as empty anymore. Everyone has been preparing for a strike against the Darkness too, so it's been busy.

Sounds like it. What brought that on? Has it been attacking more?

Sort of. It's been very quiet, except it seems that Beauty's prince has been trying to reach out to us and the Darkness has been pushing against that. It seems we're going to rescue him.

No doubt he needs it. Be careful, yes?

I will be. I'm not exactly going to be jumping into a fight, after all. But I can at least be there in case someone gets hurt. I haven't taken much stock lately, but I really don't know how many healers we have left, magical or otherwise. I would be too worried to let everyone run off on their own.

Yes. I know. They might need you.

...will you call me again, though? When it's done? I want to know how it goes, and that everyone is all right.

I'll make sure to. Would you like to meet the new people as well?

Yes, for certain. Then when I come back, they won't be so confused about me.

Ah, yeah. I wonder if we got everyone to call at the same time, you'd all be able to hear each other, and we could go around and introduce everyone. It might be a lot, though.

It would be fun to try.

I wouldn't want to bother them if they're busy.

Nor I. But if people want to... it would be nice.

...I'll ask, how's that? It feels like it's been so long since everyone was together. Doing something like that would be nice.

That sounds great. Thank, Shirayuki.

...I've been taking lots of pictures, like you asked. Sometimes they don't come out, but...

--You have? I'd still love to see them!

Now, or when I can visit?

When you can visit. I'll wait. It'll be more fun to catch up like that, right?

I think so too. I'll look forward to it.

Me too. It might be a few days, so you'll have to bear with me.