Visitor for Christmas

I should have posted this a few days ago, but I decided it was probably in my best interest to go dark for the holiday if I didn't want outside interference. As I've mentioned before, I'm a sucker for a good Christmas, even one in such a bizarre scenario as my host, myself, and Picasso.

Moth, you don't have to worry, she's been here the whole time. Sunday afternoon I was in the park in town, trying to raise money for when I leave Hope again and need to pay for my own food. I wasn't having much luck, everyone was a bit busy to want to head in to the park but I wasn't allowed on the main street because of local rules.

Out of nowhere, Picasso appeared, presumably popping out of the Path by the look of it, clutching a puppy and a broom handle. She looked like she'd been through a meat grinder or something, from how badly she was torn up. The puppy was in much better shape, and seemed pretty happy in her arms.

"Merry Christmas" She told me with a grin, holding out the dog for me to take.

I took the dog, staring at her. "You came here just to give me a Christmas present?"

She nodded and handed me the broom handle too. "I am Slendyclaws! Blood soaked tidings are here."

"You're really serious about this making friends thing, aren't you?" I asked, taking it and noticing she'd carved the word 'friend' into the wood.


"That's what I keep telling myself."

"Well, thank you, I guess. Where'd you get him?" I reached out to tentatively pet the puppy.

"Shelter," she told me, sitting down and pulling out a sewing kit. "He was gonna get the ax " She then started stitching herself up with a grimace

I paused for a long moment. "Do you want help with that?"

"Sure."

"What happened, and what can I do?"

"There are bleeding holes in me that must be closed" She handed me another needle, already threaded and ready.

I took it, swallowing hard. I know how to sew, I decided it couldn't be too different. As long as I could ignore the blood.


She waited a moment to see that I was doing alright, then continued. "Monsters in the Path... angry. They can hear the screaming. They use it to find me."

"I didn't realize there were monsters in there. I thought it was supposed to just fry your brain, not attack you."

"Different monsters. TWISTED FREAKS! Twisted shapes of man!"

 "Ugh. Why use it, then?"

 "Faster... Took me an hour to get here from florida."

"I dunno that fast travel is worth getting mauled."

"Not with that attitude it isn't"

I laughed a little. "I guess not."

We talked while we stitched her up, talking about a lot of things that don't really matter. She was in even worse shape than I'd first realized, and so I decided I wouldn't leave her alone. She couldn't survive the Path in her current shape, and I didn't like the thought of leaving her on the street after she'd come all this way just for me. So I took her back to Hope, where our host was a lot less irritated than I'd expected.

She's been here since, and it's surprisingly peaceful (So long as I keep her distracted from thinking about Duckie). I'm not sure when she's leaving, but I'll be glad for her company as long as she stays. Who says people can't change?