Keeper of the Lost Cities Moonlark

Chapter Twenty: Keefe

Run, that's all Keefe could think about as he scooped up Sophie, bedsheet and all, and ran towards Splendor Plains. He could only think about getting one foot in front of the other as he made his descent down the small hill. As he was running he watched as her face twisted in agony then relaxed or heard her when she made small whimpers. Sure, he was covered in puke, cold, and muddy. But Sophie's body heat was enough to keep him going.

Run.

Whimper.

Run.

Whimper.

Run.

Whimper.

Run.

Throws up on him again.

Great.

Almost there, a few more steps and he would be there. He saw the glittering lights, the fancy double doors, all the crystals. "Hang in there Foster." he whispered as he burst through the doors to Splendor Plains. He was dripping wet, making big puddles of water on the floor as he peeked into Sophie's room. Weirdly no one was there. He decided to lay her down on the bed even though she was slightly wet, tucking her in tightly to keep her warm. As he walked out, he thought he heard a few soft snores.

"Elwin? Hey, I'm back!" Keefe called up the stairs. No reply. So he made his ascend up the marble spiral stairs with diamonds glittering on the railing. Wet footprints trailed behind him.

When he made his way to the hallway on the second floor to his left, he looked at himself in the window. His hair had somehow gotten leaves and sticks in it. His pants were covered in more leaves, drenched with water, and mud. For his casual shirt he was wearing, well, it got the same treatment as his pants. He looked away, combing his fingers through his hair once again. Suddenly Livvy appeared at the doorway at the end of the hallway. "Keefe? I thought Elwin sent you to Havenfield. And what happened to you?"

Keefe's mouth started to get dry as he explained the important details including how Sophie had read Elwin's mind, snuck out, and had fainted trying to remember him. Livvy started to get worry lines on her forehead with each thing.

"Where is she?" Livvy asked trying to keep her cool, but some of her worry had seeped out.

"I took her to her room, she's downstairs. I think she's still unconscious."

Livvy breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you Keefe. How about you come downstairs with me and help me take care of Sophie?"

"Sure."

As soon as they entered her room, they came to see that Sophie had vomited once again. "Uh, Keefe, if you don't mind, could you lay Sophie down on that chair over there while I get new blankets and take that bucket over too so she doesn't throw up on herself again?" Livvy asked, pointing to a bucket sitting on an end table in the left corner of the room. He lumbered over, got the bucket, then set it down near the left leg of the cushiony chair that was right next to it. It was so big it could probably count as a bed. When he turned around he saw Livvy already taking the pillows off the bed since they had also unfortunately been in the splash zone.

As he looked at Sophie he saw the same familiar green face that meant she was about to- too late, he looked up to see Livvy had gotten caught in the crossfire. "Keefe, could you hand me that elixir over there on that tray that's on the end table? It should make Sophie stop throwing up so much, at this point it's only making her weaker." she said clenching her teeth, probably to make sure the throw up didn't get in her mouth.

Keefe quickly snatched up the green liquid with yellow chunks in it and handed it to the now smelly physician. "So where's Elwin anyway?" Keefe asked.

"He's sleeping, we've been taking shifts and he was up all night last night and for most of the day. Usually we try to get a 15 minute power nap, but he was so determined to make the perfect elixir for Sophie. He succeeded, but he's exhausted." Livvy explained as she parted Sophie's lips and poured the medicine in her mouth.

Instantly she gagged, but her face loosened and relaxed. Her pale green complexion faded back to normal and she started snoring softly.

"Woah, what's in that stuff?" Keefe asked curiously.

"It's best if you don't know." Livvy warned.

"I guess it's best if I trust you on that one." Keefe said, scooping up Sophie and carefully making his way over to the big lounge chair carefully.

"Here, I think we have an extra blanket and pillow in here somewhere." She said rummaging around in some cabinets. "Ha! I knew it." She exclaimed as she held them up as if they were trophies. "Here you go Keefe. I'm gonna go get cleaned up upstairs. You should too. The bathroom is right over there." Livvy pointed to a door that was a yard away from the lounge chair.

"Thanks." Keefe mumbled, wondering how his hair looked now that he had brushed through it a few times with his fingers out of stress. He watched as the Black Swan's physician made her way out the door, closing it gently before he heard her footsteps dashing up the stairs.

"Well, I guess it's you and me now Foster. Let's just get you situated so I can get cleaned up and I won't look so much like... this." He sighed, picking up a blanket and tucking it around her.