Vigneshvijaykk

Nobody really stirred for a while. Maho, Venera, their children and Coconut all remained quiet. Jasmine and the others had left some time ago, and so had Trekker and Rabbit.

Maho finally broke the silence.

“Son, is this necessary?”

“Maybe. I know how this looks. But think about it. A random woman enters your village—sorry, town—and the chief’s sons start getting killed, one after another. The woman’s family appears, and then they all want to leave immediately. They aren’t willing to let her stay and help with the investigation. I’m sure any parent, any chief, would feel responsible for maintaining some control over the situation. I understand that this is unpleasant, but I don’t think it’s unnecessary.”

Maho did not rush to respond. He remained thoughtful for a while.

They were still sitting outside around the fire. Luna lay a little behind the others, resting on her back and looking at the sky. The full moon shone brightly above them.

“We are treating you well. We want your help. Is that really too much to ask?” Coco said.

“You are not asking, Coco. You people are forcing us,” Venera replied.

“We would rather it remained a request you didn’t refuse. But I think we are well past that stage now.”

“Do you really think Luna is going to ‘help’ you now?” Sol asked sharply.

“I’m not so sure,” Coco said.

Luna did not participate in the discussion. Her eyes remained fixed on the moon as she lay with her arms beneath her head.

“Let me take you to the safe space. It’s comfortable, but sealed from the outside world. It was built for emergencies. You can stay there for now.”

“How long is ‘now’?” Maho asked.

“Until we figure out what happened to my brothers, I think.”

“And if we never reach that point?” Venera asked.

“We will,” Luna said, still staring at the moon.

“Are you serious, Luna? Are you going to help them despite everything?”

“We don’t have a choice. Besides, you know how much I love mysteries. I’ll be fine.”

She sat up.

“Come on, Coco. Let’s get this over with. We need to start planning our search. I don’t want to rest until we solve this.”

Venera shook her head in disappointment, and they all began walking.

**

Coconut did not react much to Luna’s sudden burst of determination. He walked quietly beside her and guided the family to the safe space.

Luna and Coco allowed them to settle inside, and Coco asked two of his older brothers to watch the shelter.

“Let’s go and meet Rabbit. I don’t think I can sleep tonight. I’m not sure any of us can,” Luna said.

Coco nodded quietly, and they went to Rabbit’s hut.

She was already there with Trekker, and the two of them appeared to be having a heated argument. They stopped when they saw Luna and Coconut enter.

They all sat in a circle, and an awkward silence followed.

Coco cleared his throat and looked at Luna.

“Luna, what are you trying to do here?”

She turned toward him and studied his face, wondering what he meant. He waited for an answer, while she waited for him to explain himself.

Realising Luna would not respond until Coconut clarified his question, Rabbit intervened.

“What is on your mind, Coco? What happened?”

He turned to Rabbit.

“Well, after the two of you left, her mother and father spoke to me. They were bitter about everything. Then Luna suddenly decided to play the hero and convinced them she would solve the mystery. After that, she ordered me to get the whole shelter business over with and declared that she wouldn’t rest until the mystery was solved.”

He looked back at Luna.

“I want to know what she is trying to do. What does all this mean?”

The others could tell that Coco was confronting her, but none of them fully understood the accusation yet.

“Coco, I think it would be better if you simply shared your thoughts. This interrogation tone is not going to work with me,” Luna said coldly.

“All right, Your Highness. Let me spell it out for you. Your parents killed our brothers. Whether or not they did it with cruel intentions, we have still lost lives.”

His voice rose.

“The urgency with which your family was preparing to leave tells me they don’t anticipate any danger on the journey back to Palm Grove. Clearly, there is no external threat, and you know that too. You’re only buying time and trying to lure us into believing there is more to this.”

Coco almost yelled as he poured out his thoughts.

Rabbit sighed.

“Coco, that is… quite hasty. You are jumping to conclusions.”

Trekker remained quiet, waiting for Luna to respond.

“Why would I suggest that my family might have killed your brother back in the cave?” Luna asked. “I had no reason to do that if I intended to lie to all of you.”

“Maybe you thought you could later use it as evidence of your integrity, like you are doing now,” Coco replied, almost excited that he had an answer ready.

“And what about Orchid? Lily’s brother? What do you think happened to him?” Luna asked.

“He is probably lying dead somewhere. Who knows?”

“Hey!” Rabbit interrupted. “Don’t say that. He could still be alive, and we might save him in time if we focus on doing what we can instead of throwing around conclusions.”

“Fine. It looks as though you already have all the answers you need. Take me to the shelter too. I’ll join my family, and you can keep all of us prisoner for as long as you like. Mystery solved,” Luna said dryly.

“Trekker, say something. This idiot is making me worried,” Rabbit appealed.

“Rabbit, tell me this. Why do you trust Luna so much?” Trekker asked.

Rabbit shook her head in disbelief.

“Not this, Trekker. Not now, please. You don’t believe what Coco believes.”

“True. I don’t. But I have my reasons for believing her. What are yours?”

Rabbit looked at Luna, then gave Trekker a strained, sarcastic smile.

“Your own reasons, huh? What are you two, lovers now?”

Luna stared sharply at Rabbit, and Rabbit immediately calmed down.

The brothers noticed the exchange.

“I can leave if you siblings would prefer to be alone. I really don’t have much to say.”

Luna looked at Coconut.

“I agree that my parents could still have killed your brothers. I’m not denying that possibility completely. But there is danger out there, and I know it myself. In all likelihood, your friend Orchid may still be alive, and we could save him. But if that isn’t what matters most to you right now, I understand.”

She stood.

“Sit,” Trekker said.

Luna sighed.

“No. If this conversation is going to continue like—”

“Please sit,” he said again.

She sat down.

“All of you, listen. I know you each have your own secrets. I’m not here to pry them open. I can figure them out myself if they matter enough.”

He looked around the circle.

“What I want from the three of you is not necessarily honesty. I want cooperation. I know my mother well enough to understand that she is not merely upset about the past. She is deeply worried about the future. Something in the way she spoke to Maho and Venera told me that she doesn’t believe they are the real threat.”

He paused.

“Something major is happening. Life as we know it in Maple Grove is changing. I regret not reading much. I have lived as though Maple Grove were the entire world. But that’s all right. What I don’t know, I can learn from all of you. And perhaps I can use something called common sense, unlike some people.”

He looked pointedly at Coco.

“One thing I know for certain is that we cannot handle any of this if we don’t trust one another.”

He turned fully toward Coconut.

“And trust, Coco, isn’t believing someone only when all the evidence is already in your hands. Trust is allowing people the dignity to hold things back without immediately seeing them as a threat. I trust Luna, and I recommend that you do too.”

He sighed.

“Luna, let’s leave Coco alone for now. He’s agitated. Rabbit is overwhelmed too. For the next two days, help me understand Palm Grove and Pearl City. We should also explore the area around the cave and the river’s source for clues. When we know enough, people will listen.”

Coco hesitated before speaking.

“You still didn’t answer Rabbit’s question… about you and Luna.”

A smile appeared on his face.

Trekker was not comfortable with it.

“Can we drop this, Coco? You know I’m in no position to fall in love.”

He turned toward Luna.

“Forgive my siblings for their indecency.”

None of them responded.

“Maybe it would be better if we didn’t both stay in my hut. Rabbit could take you in,” Trekker suggested.

“Not necessary. I don’t want to bother anyone. I’ll join my family.”

Trekker sighed.

“That isn’t what I meant. I was only afraid you might prefer that.”

“You don’t have to speak for me, Trekker. Do you want my help? Fine. But save the ordering around for your siblings. I’m not your little sister,” Luna said sharply.

“I don’t think he sees you as a sister,” Coco said with a chuckle.

Luna lost her temper at that. She stormed out, and Trekker looked helplessly at Coco.

“I don’t like her,” Coco said with a shrug.

Trekker followed Luna and caught up with her.

“Please wait, Luna. Just for a moment,” he called as he ran after her.

Within moments, she had already moved far ahead.

She slowed when she heard his voice and waited impatiently.

“What now?” she asked when he reached her.

“I didn’t mean to… order you around. I wanted to show you that I wouldn’t stand by and watch you being treated badly. That is all. I brought you into this village. You are my guest.”

“Listen, Trekker. I don’t know what makes them think we are in love. Maybe you are. I’m not. I’m already battling a hundred things that are wrong with my life. I don’t want another problem in the name of your love.”

Trekker nodded and looked away.

“Understood.”

They stood in silence for a moment.

“Can we go back to my place now?” he asked.

“Sure. Whatever. I don’t care where I sleep,” she mumbled as they walked toward his hut.

After a while, Trekker broke the silence.

“Have you ever been to Pearl City?”

“We can discuss that tomorrow,” she said, walking faster. He didn’t try to catch up with her. We walked slowly wondering where his life was headed amidst all of this chaos!