cascade | kotlc

12. Here We Go Again

--- Sophie POV ---

"There you are!" Keefe called from outside the pterodactyl enclosure.

Grady was brushing the teeth of a bright orange male and Keefe was leaning agains the bars watching. June was sitting cross-legged on the ground, spinning her slightly-extended hilt, which looked more like a dagger, on her finger and across her hands. The shade on her face made her look like an assassin, which Sophie had to admit was a great look on her.

"Grady's been keeping me busy while you were gone," Keefe explained.

"I can see that. Sorry. I told you I'd be home later."

"Yeah, well, my dad started into one of his lectures on the importance of me living up to my potential. Anything's better than that. Plus, it gave me a chance to play with Glitter Butt."

June smiled. "Silveny peed on him. He insists on calling her Glitter Butt now."

"Wait -- you've been playing with Silveny?"

"Yeah. For some reason the alicorn likes him, though clearly its taste isn't very good. We were feeding her, and Silveny was nuzzling me like usual. she still likes me more than you, by the way" -- June cast Keefe a smug smile -- "but she also cmae up and nuzzled Keefe. And then she turned around and peed on him, which actually had nothing to do with me, though trust me, I wish I could learn how to get Silveny to pee."

"I had to change," Keefe grumbled. "Thank god your sister's clothes aren't all dresses." Sophie surveyed him. He was wearing June's classic white tunic, and he was wearing khaki shorts.

"For reference, those shorts I stole from Fitz," June told her.

"Anyways, Glitter Butt likes me-"

"Her name's not Glitter Butt."

"It should be. She likes it better."

"She does not."

"Wanna bet?"

"I wouldn't do it, Sophie," Grady warned her. "She really likes Keefe. Almost as much as she likes June. Which is great for us. She's finally accepting another person."

But... did it have to be Keefe?

Sophie rushed to Silveny's enclosure, and as soon as the gleaming horse spotted her, the transmissions began. Friend! Fly! Free! Trust! Fly! June! Keefe!

"See? I told you she likes me."

"You don't know that. How did she even learn your names?"

June shrugged. "I don't know. I'm more concerned you haven't told her our names yet. Have you even told her your own?"

Sophie facepalmed. I'm Sophie.

Sophie! June! Keefe! June! Keefe!

"You can't know she likes you."

"I can, actually. She's like you. I can feel her emotions without touching her, just like I can with yours. I didn't notice it the last time I was around her because I assumed what I was feeling came from you. But now I can tell the difference," Keefe said.

June! Keefe!

"Hey, Glitter Butt, did you miss us?"

Keefe! June! Keefe! June! Keefe!

"She loves us," June said, smiling at the winged horse.

"How can she transmit to you?" Sophie demanded.