A Wild Halcyonite Appears

Jude didn't know. Not really. He could imagine though. Someone had died. They all were at risk. Things weren't good, and as relieved as Jude was seeing at least one new familiar face, to Clarence it was all fresh and new. Jude reached over, across the Dash, and pulled Clarence into the second hug of the day. It was a lot for Jude, who didn't normally do a lot of physical contact, but it was... well, it was a day.

Clarence was there. He was alive, and intact. And others were alive as well.

In a lot of ways, sending the letter had been giving up. Sending the letter had been his one last hurrah, his one last chance. After he'd sent it, he could wash his hands of it. He could say that he'd done all he could and try to move on.

Jude had broken down when he'd first come. Not right away. He'd had a few days of strength, of putting on a brave face and pushing through. Then he'd broken down. Then he'd curled against Angelo--not himself, but an older, braver, stronger version of himself--and let it all out.

He tried to do the same for Clarence. He pulled Clarence against him, letting him cry against his shoulder.

"You did a good job," Jude said quietly. "You're here. And you're saving people. You're saving all those people. You're a hero, and when this is done, you can just... sit down and be normal. You can have a normal life here. You can go to school, and do teenager things, and just... not have to worry. You and everyone else."

Hours before he'd appeared. He could imagine it. Could imagine how terrifying it must have been, to see it so long before all of them. To try and warn people. And to have none of them believe him.

Jude just hugged Clarence against him, letting him cry it out. He'd need time to push through it, time to get back under control. Once he did, they could go to the plaza. They could talk to the god there.

They could save everyone. Or at least everyone that was left.