Oswin Tunnelway's Arc

Chapter 10 of 10

Nobody moved. Oswin's body lay crumpled in the dirt where Grendel had lowered it, the badger's blade still wet. Caius stood frozen with the open pack at his feet, staring at the note Foxface held. Dawn light made the red mushrooms on Oswin's skin look almost translucent. Foxface walked to Caius and pressed the note into his hand without speaking. He unfolded it slowly, his fingers shaking. The words were simple—whatever he did, he did the right thing. Absolution written in Oswin's careful script. Caius read it twice, then folded it again and tucked it into his pocket. He picked up the pack, shouldered it, and walked past the ruined church without looking back at the body. The others watched him cross the clearing until he stood alone at the forest edge, staring at the tunnel entrance to Nor visible through the trees. Grendel wiped his blade clean and resheathed it. He looked at Hazel, then at Foxface. "We can't stay here," he said quietly. Foxface nodded but didn't move. Hazel knelt beside Oswin's body, touching one of the glowing mushrooms with a fingertip. "He was trying to reach the cure," she said. "We're standing right outside it." She stood and turned toward the tunnel. "If we leave now, he died for nothing." Caius heard her from across the clearing. He didn't turn around, but his shoulders straightened. "The tunnel's there," he said, his voice carrying. "I'm going through." He started walking. Grendel gathered his bow and followed. Foxface hesitated, glanced once more at Oswin's body, then moved after them. Hazel came last, leaving the sanctuary behind. They reached the highway tunnel entrance together, the darkness ahead still leaking red from underground pipes. Caius stepped inside first. The others followed him into Nor.