66 Finding Luna

Macha roamed around the different levels of the waterways for hours. Her eyelids were heavy because she stayed up all night. Judging by the sun, it was well into the afternoon. Macha started her search on the third level because it was Luna's favorite, but now she wandered around on the second floor. Each level attracted different types of people. The first level would sometimes have lovers who wanted to be with one another, the second level was usually deserted aside from unsavory people, and the third level had artists who painted portraits on the wall.

Macha trod softly while she wandered around the second level. Luna warned her that sometimes unsavory people inhabited the second level of the waterways. When Macha explored the area with Luna, she never worried. Being alone was a different story. A few times Macha heard drug deals going on or came across a drug-addled person lying in an alcove. She would wait in the shadows for the people to pass or hurry past before being detected.

One thing that bothered Macha about the second level was the stench. The people who took their drugs on this level did not care where they relieved themselves. She took care to avoid stepping on any puddles or dark mounds.

As Macha continued her search, she saw the tip of a blanket around a corner. A thick gray wool blanket with blue stripes lay on the floor, the same type they issued the people in her guild for missions. Macha rushed towards it and found Luna sleeping peacefully. Luna's appearance looked rumpled and empty bottles of wine rested around her. A black sigil surrounded Luna, and she had painted it on the alcove floor. Macha sighed with relief and a few tears formed at the corner of her eyes. "Stupid Luna," she mouthed with a smile. Macha sat down on the blanket beside her friend to keep watch.

While the hours passed Macha pondered about what drove Luna to run away. Macha had run away once in her youth, but it was to grieve over her mother's death. Her home had still been filled with memories of her mother and she did not want to be there anymore. Macha smirked at her attempt at running away. She only got as far as the park. She was young and got distracted by the candy van that sold manapuas. Her father had found her eating a baked manapua by the side of the road.

A few hours later, Luna woke up. Her eyes fluttered open, and she sensed someone next to her. Luna turned her head in alarm and found Macha watching her. "Macha," she breathed with surprise. Luna put up many wards to prevent people from tracking her and to keep people from entering her alcove if they meant her harm. She did not expect Macha to be sitting beside her.

Macha's body was heavy with fatigue. She had been high-strung because they were alone. Now that Luna woke up, the tension in her shoulders released. Macha shook her head and slapped her cheeks to wake up. With a concerned voice, she asked, "Luna, why didn't you come home? What's wrong?" She reached over and opened a tin of hardtacks. Macha had been hungry for a while but did not want to open the tin because it would wake Luna.

Luna sat up next to Macha and played with her feet. "Sorry. I just needed some time to think." She had her long lashes lowered and a serious look set on her face. Many days passed, and she did not get very far into her thoughts on Krystof. Luna fretted over Krystof for the past few days. At this point, she wondered if talking with Macha might help.

Macha had never seen her friend like this. Luna was one of the happiest people she could remember. She leaned into Luna and reminded her, "If you ever need someone to talk to, you have me." Macha did not want to pressure Luna but wanted her to understand that whatever worried her, she did not have to face it alone. Those were words she wished her friends and family told her while growing up.

Luna leaned her head on Macha's. "Thanks." She grabbed a hardtack and broke it in half, "It's just that Krystof kissed me and told me he likes me." Luna had a fear of relationships since her date with Liam. A few years ago she went on a date with Liam when he was still in the guild and it ended with him raping her. Since that attack, she tried to avoid romance and focused on the guild.

The news of Krystof's confession relieved Macha. She worried something terrible happened. Krystof was a nice guy who got along with Luna better than anyone else she knew. The only problem Macha could foresee was if Luna did not perceive him as alluring. Trying to mask her surprise she asked, "How does that make you feel?"

Luna shrugged her shoulders. "Krystof is from a good family, a family friend, gets along with me, handsome, and has always been nice to me." She did not find a reason why his background would impede a relationship with her. Luna also knew that Krystof would receive her mother's approval.

The question did not seem to stick. Macha did not want Luna to list Krystof's qualifications, she wanted to hear what Luna thought of him. She tried again, emphasizing each word slowly. "But how does he make you feel?"

Luna sighed and shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know. I never thought of him like that before." The kiss changed the way she saw Krystof. That night, they spent the evening dancing under the stars and they took a break by a fountain. The light sound of water splashing was relaxing, and they used the cold stone to cool their hands. Luna had mentioned offhandedly how they needed to go dancing more often because she gained some weight. Krystof smiled playfully and looked into her eyes. He had put a gloved hand under her chin to inspect her. The look in Krystof's eyes changed as he tilted her chin towards him. His blue eyes seemed to shine like diamonds and were a deep blue like the sea. He had full lips and when they touched hers, she felt like she was flying across the sky. Luna could not remember being so wild and free since her childhood.

Recalling the kiss, Luna blushed, "The kiss went," she paused, "well, and I like being around him, but what if it doesn't work out? It would be awkward for everyone." Luna understood Krystof was one of their best friends. She also was aware that he dated women like he changed his clothes. She did not want it to become uncomfortable if things did not work out.

Macha nodded. She understood these concerns. "True, but do you think I should date Tyr?" The concerns Luna faced were the same ones that Macha worried about as well. She did not consider the problem as complicated. Luna had pushed her to date Tyr with no concern for their friendship, so to Macha, it did not matter either.

Luna turned to face Macha. She realized her worries were similar to Macha's. Shaking a finger in the air she smiled, "Yes, I see what you're saying. I'm just worried that it won't work out. Krystof and I have not dated anyone seriously before. We are both free spirits." She believed her brother and Macha were more likely to workout than she and Krystof. Both seemed to like stability and Tyr dated Fenrir for a long time, despite her being a terrible person.

Macha smiled. "True, you both are two peas in a pod. I don't see why you can't go on being friends before lovers though. Just let things happen as they do. After all, shouldn't the person you love also be your best friend?" After saying that, Macha realized that maybe she over-thought her own relationship with Tyr. They could be friends and lovers, she did not have to worry about how fast or slow they went.

A sudden rush of guilt ate away at her conscience for pushing the kiss on Tyr. She was still angry at him for keeping Luna's issue a secret but talking with Luna helped readjust her perspective on intimacy. Macha frowned and remembered how Tyr did not trust her to help in Luna's search.

Luna hugged Macha. "Are you sure you're only thirty-one? How can this child be giving me advice?" Macha's words helped Luna realize she was over-thinking things. If it did not work out with Krystof, they were still friends. She remembered Macha's first boyfriend broke up with her, but Macha said they remained friends. "Thanks, Macha. I need to let Krystof know that I feel attracted to him too."

Macha smiled and remembered the liqueur she bought for Luna. Macha wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, "I have something for you. You can share it with Krystof when we get back to the apartments. Hopefully, your talk will go well." She pulled out the Fern Flower liqueur and handed it to her friend.

A smile beamed on Luna's face and she laughed. "Thanks! Who knows, maybe it will go exceedingly well," she emphasized the word well and shook her head. Macha was terrible. Luna thought her poor brother was probably defiled by her early into their relationship.

Luna's smile faded. "Macha, do you think Tyr will yell at me when we get back?" Her brother rarely got too angry at her, but when he did, he was terrifying. A chill ran down her spine at the thought of his constant yelling and scoldings.

Macha's lips tightened. "He better not. He isn't innocent either. I'm pretty pissed at him right now." She doubted Tyr would be angry at Luna, but if he yelled at her, Macha swore she would defend her friend.

"Why are you angry with Tyr?" Luna worried because the two never fought before. They always seemed so relaxed with one another. She moved to hold Macha's hands.

Macha looked away, she felt odd complaining to Tyr's sister. "He kept your disappearance a secret from me. I would have helped look for you sooner. It hurts that he didn't share something so important with me." She perceived his secrecy as a lack of trust and respect for her as a friend.

Luna's eyes widened with understanding. She gave Macha's hands a little squeeze. "You know him. He isn't used to sharing his thoughts and feelings. Try not to be so hard on him when you tell him, please?" Macha came from a much more open culture than they grew up in. Their family never talked about feelings or problems while growing up and she could see how Macha would be slighted, but also understood why her brother chose to not tell Macha immediately.

There was a short pause in their conversation. Macha digested what Luna requested. "I know what you say is the truth, but I'm still frustrated. Something bad could have happened to you. We're all friends above anything else and that's something a friend should have shared. I promise I won't yell at him, but I need to let him understand that it's not all right."

A passing shower of rain caused echoes of droplets to sing along the waterways. Luna knew she should have left a note to her brother so he would not have worried. "Sorry for causing you so much worry. I won't run off without leaving a note from now on. I wasn't thinking clearly." She hoped Macha and Tyr could talk out their differences.