Young Justice: Solstice

Thirty-Three

Beast Boy's shifting ability came in very handy. According to him, bloodhounds had the best sense of smile. I was never the best at biology, so I trusted him.

"-Once, I even found clues that Batman had missed!" Gar exclaimed. 

I smiled at him. The sky had turned red, as though the sun refused to set completely in the demon world, and the forest had dried up and turned to a rocky desert long ago. All of us were tired and worried. Poor sweet Gar, the youngest of us all, couldn't even coax a smile from Superboy, who walked between Miss Martian and Artemis. Mal, Karen, and I listened attentively to keep him encouraged. Gar's bloodhound nose was the only link we had to wherever our friends had gone, as the trail Tigress had pointed out almost immediately vanished. Each demon seemed to  have a teleporting ability, at least close to or within their own world.

"We'll find them," I whispered to Rocket, who shook with every step, worrying for Zatanna.

"It's bizarre, though," Beast Boy continued rambling, "the demon's scents are almost mixed with our own, but I'm still locked on to AL's scent. It's impossible to mistake that saltwater anywhere!" 

"And that should lead us to him, Cassie, Zee, and my parents," I shuddered with a sigh. I didn't know what was worse, seeing my parents again and introducing them to my boyfriend, or facing an army of demons.

"I gotta say, Kir, you're being really strong about all this," Karen caught up to me, sitting on my shoulder in bumblebee form, "I've seen a lot of people buckle under far less pressure."

I smiled weakly, "Strong isn't the word I'd use. I'm just doing what I can. As they say in all the epics, fate is going to have its way regardless."

"I always hated Oedipus," Mal grumbled.

"Change is the only permanent thing in life. All we control is how we deal with it," I glanced over my shoulder and frowned back at Miss Martian and Artemis, who almost seemed to be flirting with Superboy. I winced. Miss Martian's grumpy levels hadn't changed, so it was impossible to tell if she noticed, but Superboy acknowledged Tigress, however annoyed he was.

"If only I could get Miss Martian to change her attitude towards me. She seems to hate me," I grumbled.

"Don't worry about M'gann, Kir. It's not you, it's- well, actually it's a lot of things," Mal corrected himself, patting my other shoulder, "You're still really new to her."

"That's what Kaldur said," I sighed, "But it's been months now, I thought we could at least be able to talk civilly. What did you guys have to say to her to convince her to help with the search?"

"Actually, she volunteered," Raquel said. I felt guilty at my earlier judgement.

"But you are right, Kiran," Karen declared, tiny arms folded primly, "I know M'gann M'orzz, and she hasn't been acting like herself lately."

"Artemis!" Superboy cried.

The five of us spun around. Artemis was dashing off the main path and Superboy looked almost angry, his hands wiping something off his mouth.

"She kissed me!" He said, sounding more astonished than mad. Miss Martian just stood there, staring at the ground. 

"She was going on about how she was scared, and asking me to protect her or something weird like that, and then she kissed me!"

I glanced at Karen, "Sounds like Artemis isn't acting like herself either."

"I'll get her," Superboy tried to wave us on, but Karen and I started after him.

"The trail's gonna get cold!" Beast Boy barked.

"We'll catch up!" I promised over my shoulder.

"-Don't understand," Superboy was saying, facing Artemis, who draped herself against the dead end they'd found. "What about Wally, what about M'gann?"