cascade | kotlc

5. Slightly Complicated Things

 Dex didn't show up in the cafeteria during lunch, and Keefe was stuck in detention. The rest of the group sat with Sophie at their usual table in the corner, but Jensi was still peppering Biana with questions, and Marella was still sulking. She wanted to be left alone, and June respected that. Still, she was worried about her friend.

June absentmindedly twirled Glistensteel on her finger, letting the hilt spin and dance as it circled. Fitz wasn't here yet.

If the Black Swan really did have a leak... but that couldn't be possible, could it? It seemed improbable, but again, everything that happened with Sophie was exceedingly improbable -- impossible, even, but it happened.

The only people at the cave were Mr. Forkle, the dwarf, Keefe, Sophie, and herself when the rebels caught them. That was strange. Mr. Forkle didn't seem like the person to leak their location, especially after what he'd told her about the goals of the Black Swan. The dwarf would have no reason to.

But that left nobody.

And the leak had to have only recently happened, or else they would've been able to attack earlier. Nothing had changed.

What if it was on themselves?

That can't be right. Sandor had checked all of their clothes, even put his own trackers in them. They certainly couldn't countain any other trackers.

Keefe?

Maybe. But there was nothing different about the things he was wearing... and Sandor would've definitely checked him. It had to be something undetectable... something that was only recently placed...

"This is when I miss transmitting to you," Fitz said, startling her as he sat next to her and across from Sophie. He gave June a light kiss, pulling her from her thoughts as she leaned onto him. "Then I could ask you what's wrong and you might actually tell me."

"This is my sister. She's on a whole new level of secretive." Fitz's hand slid onto her shoulder, playing with her hair. It felt nice.

"I could help, you know," Fitz said quietly.

"Not with this."

"She's sulking about the Black Swan," June told him. "They're being mean to her, and because my sister's so naive and adorable, she won't let us help."

"Come on, at least let me try," Fitz pressed her. "You let Keefe help."

"Not by choice."

"So what if I don't give you a choice?" June nudged him a little, demanding his attention. He'd stopped twirling her hair.

Sophie leaned back in her chair. "No way you could ever be that annoying."

"Try me."

"I-"

"Ugh, check out the loser table," a snooty voice interrupted behind them, followed by an ugly laugh.

June's hands curled into fist as a tall, bony girl plopped into the empty seat next to her. Pressurized air started to form, and she had to calm herself down to prevent herself from accidentally brutally injuring Stina.

"You do not have permission to sit there," Sandor snapped, stepping out of his hiding place in the shadows.

"I can handle Stina, Sandor." Sophie turned to glare at the girl beside her. "What do you want?"

"Oh, I don't know." Stina turned to Fitz, who was curling June's hair again, with a sly smile. "I'm not interrupting something, am I?"

"Yeah, actually you are," Fitz told her. "I was talking to my girlfriend and friend."