Writing Inktober 2021

*Day Twenty-three- Leak

 "My name is Natalie." She told the boy that inquired. "And this is John and Agatha."

Agatha was feeling around the area indiscreetly. She felt something in one of the girls of the other group.

"What are your names?" John inquired.

"I am Farley." the leader said.

The rest went around introducing themselves. Their names were Keith, Kala, Dominique, Makena, and Zeke.

----------------------------------------

After we introduced ourselves, Keith motions for us to talk in private. We gather around the fire deeper into the forest, after asking the others to stay put. We huddle around as Zeke rotates the deer.

"Do you think we can trust them?" Farley asks.

"How about, how in the world did they get here?!" I say.

"Well, you and Mac were sitting over there, did you see something?" Zeke asks.

"No, I don't think so." I say, "we were talking and not really paying attention to what was in front of us."

"They may be able to help with our problem." Keith says, "they have some form of power for sure."

"Will they be willing to help us?" Farley counters.

"The best option there would be to ask them." Makena says.

"They could lie." Keith reminds her.

We fall into a small silence. Kala had been helping Zeke with the fire and dinner, so it was surprisingly surprising when Zeke spoke again, "Kala, what is it?"

We all look at her.

"Kala?" Keith asks.

"I don't know." She sounds uncertain. She makes an uncertain, confused, soft grunting noise, "I just feel like we can trust them. Something is telling me that we can trust them."

"Really? That doesn't seem like you." Farley observes.

"Trust me on this team. We also don't exactly have the time to waste." Kala says.

We look at each other and come to a conclusion off shared looks. We will give them a chance. Kala is trustworthy, so let's do this. Keith sends me in with one of my favorite gadgets. I guess I have become the communicator/greeter when we talk and/or meet people. It wasn't something I am originally good at, but after doing it so long I have managed to become quite efficient at it. I am also sent in because of the gadget I have. Simply, it is a lie detector.

---------------------------------------

The girl named Dominique came up to the teleporters. She had this odd gadget in her hand.

"Okay. We have discussed. My team and I sincerely hope that you were not eavesdropping. Since you are here, and there is nothing we can do about it, it is only just that you are welcomed. If you are willing while you are here, we would be grateful for your help. We do have a question, though. Are you trustworthy? Like, can we trust you to help us and not turn on us?"

At this point John noticed that Dominique had pointed her gadget toward them. "We are good people, Dominique." John said.

"We want to do good. If you are also truly good people," Natalie said, "then yes, you can trust us."

Agatha sensing a deeper problem added on, "we can be your allies."

The device in Dominique's hand did not go off and she smiled at that. We turned to her team and gave them the assurance of safety. After that Farley invited them over to their meal. The trio polity declined though as they ate before they left.

At one point while most of them were quietly eating or staring into the fire, Agatha caught Kala staring at her, John, and Natalie. Kala looked like she was trying to figure out something. The two ended up in a minor staring contest, but they were just observing each other, trying to find an answer. Agatha started swaying.

"Woah!" Zeke said, catching Agatha just before she fell. He had been sitting beside her.

"Agatha, are you okay?" Natalie asked.

"I am not sure. Dear, you know who I am and my family."

"Yeeessss?" John was confused.

"Ever since we got here I have been sensing something was off." Agatha started.

"Did I contribute to this?" Natalie interrupted nervously.

"No, I do not think so, child. I got the feeling off one of the ladies here. It was like I sensed a leak." Agatha said softly.

"Someone was leaking?" Makena asked.

"Who?" Natalie asked. But before she could answer she remembered seeing Kala and Agatha staring at each other. Natalie looked up slowly in realization at Kala. "oh."

"What?" Kala asked. "Did I do something?"

"Was someone leaking something?" Keith repeated Makena's question.

"No," John took pity on their confusion, "magic." He said even as it felt wrong.

"Magic?!" Farley asked incredulously.

Dominique's mouth was open and everyone was silent.