Learning to Love Time Loops Without Going Insane

Cal found no other larger squirrels in the search, but he did find several caches of weapons and food. He guessed they really were preparing for war with the Gryalth. If only they hadn’t been enslaving the other groves to do so, he could have gotten behind the effort. Now, he was stuck with deciding what to do with them.

“So I don’t really know what we should do with them. We don’t have the infrastructure here for prisons, and we have no real contact back with Earth to ship them back there. I’d also prefer not just to execute them. Any ideas?” Cal was speaking to Onelder, Stan, and Ethel. Frank had been recruited for further wall reinforcement with Albert.

“I’m going to try and make contact with Tiffany. Ultimately, it should be the squirrels' decisions on what to do with their oppressors. Personally, though, I vote for imprisonment. A surprising number of enemies have turned useful so far.” Ethel finished speaking and began her walk to the nearest shore.

“I have a feeling we just found ourselves involved in a squirrel war.” Stan laughed slightly, despite the very real situation.

“We have a decade to figure this all out at most and figure out how the hell to get ourselves back to Earth, preferably without cutting the loop short. That probably gives us plenty of time to scour the depths of Pluto, broker a peace treaty, and infiltrate a hostile alien base, right?” Cal wasn’t expecting an answer to his question. He was reasonably sure they could do the first two things, assuming the Gryalth didn’t invade the underground in force. He still wasn’t sure what they would do about the above-ground base when the time came. He pushed the worries aside. There was plenty of time for those thoughts later. Ethel had returned with a large crab in tow.

“Tiffany says the giant squirrels are a new development, at least since the last time he had been here. He’s passed word to the squirrels that we wish to speak to any elders that remain, and apparently, there are still several. They are being gathered and brought to us. Can someone find Albert? I would like to offer them a nice meal after we finish talking.” Ethel was glancing back and forth, looking for the Capybara.

“I’ve got it. I wanted to check in on Jen anyway.” Stan said before jogging off towards the way they had all come in.

Several ancient-looking squirrels were carried over by their comrades. Most of them looked to be barely clinging to life. Cal was legitimately concerned they wouldn’t survive the conversation, let alone the day.

“Tiffany, tell the elders to bring themselves close to me. I’m going to do my best to heal them, but as far as we are from my realm of power, I’m not sure how effective it will be.” Ethel instructed the crab.

“Wait, since when can you heal people, Ethel?” Cal had no idea she could do that.

“I can’t. I can accelerate the natural healing of animals somewhat. It’s mostly from the energy that radiates in my realm, but my body has started building up stores of it, and my core has started to generate a tiny amount of the mana directly,” she answered.

Cal watched as the elderly squirrels were gently laid down in front of her, and she carefully touched each one exactly once on the head. He saw a trickle of mana leave her finger at each touch and flow into the frail, tiny bodies. Each time, the squirrel looked just slightly healthier.

He spotted Albert returning with Stan and quickly cut them off before they interrupted the healing. “Albert, Ethel is helping the squirrel elders. I think all we can do for them is to get a good meal ready when she’s finished. I’m betting Ethel will be starving as well.”

“Understood. Can you go grab me some of the berries they like to eat? I should have plenty of materials to whip up Plutonian pancakes,” The capybara smiled wide as he named his future meal creation.

“Dad, can you handle that? I want to stay here and watch what Ethel is doing. She’s determined I need to learn more, so I figure I should probably do just that.” Cal asked his father.

“Yep.” Cal hadn’t expected otherwise from his father.

“Onelder. Copy exactly what I just did, now, and be just as gentle as I was.” Ethel barked an order at the Cyclopean.

“Yeah yeah, I hope yer right about this being a good idea. How do we really know which side of the squirrel war was the correct one?” Despite his question, he leaned down and began replicating exactly what Ethel had done. Cal was glad to see her threats and minor acts of violence had paid off in keeping Onelder in line.

“Ah, thank you, Tiffany. I’m glad that the healing is working. Good news gentlemen, it looks like our rudimentary skills at healing are paying off. Their elders are more aware of the world than they have been in months. Apparently, the larger squirrels had refused food for anyone who wouldn’t work, so the elderly were subsiding on as little food as could be spared. My opinion in imprisoning them is quickly shifting towards execution.” At Ethel’s words, one of the elders, the one that looked the most recovered, started frantically chirping.

“Hm, yes, little one. I understand. I will inform them all. The elder wishes for mercy. He understands that they were treated horribly, but he doesn’t fully believe it to be the larger ones' faults.” Tiffany relayed the message aloud to the three.

“Really? Why not? They seemed pretty in control of their actions.” Cal was reasonably sure they weren’t under the Gryalth’s control, at least. There was more squeaking as Tiffany and Ethel silently communicated back.

“Well, I don’t like his answer. So it looks like one of the mana pools down here has a corrupting influence on those who bathe in it. It was strongly forbidden to do so, and they believe that most of the larger squirrels were forced into it against their will.” Ethel translated.

“By who?” Cal asked in return.

“The keyword of what I just said was most.” Ethel gave him a glare for not grasping the information she had given him.