cascade | kotlc

16. Keefe Finds Mr. Snuggles

 June was the last to leave the room. She entered the main room and found Mr. Forkle and Calla whispering.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"Probably nothing," Calla said, but the strain in her voice was too noticeable.

Her forehead creased. "Where's Lur, Miya, and Sior?"

"That's... the problem," Mr. Forkle said, clearing his throat. "I was unable to find them, so I'm sending Calla to make a more thorough search."

"Won't she be exposed to the plague?" Sophie asked.

"I'm more concerned about the plague being exposed to them," June muttered. "This is bad."

"I won't surface unless the roots assure me it is safe," Calla promised. "And I'm sure they'll be okay. They're incredibly resilient."

"I'm sure they are."

Keefe's eyes darkened. "If anything happened to them because they were searching for my mother--"

"The two would have nothing to do with each other," Calla promised.

When Keefe started to argue, Calla made her way to his side. Sophie couldn't hear what Calla whispered to him, but his whole expression softened.

June sighed and sank into a beanbag. "This plague is turning into an outbreak. This is very bad, especially if it's staged by the Neverseen. Think about it. The Lost Cities basically require the gnome's help at this point."

"It is quite mortifying," Calla agreed. "But we must hope."

"I'm afraid that's all we have left," June told her.

"I'll be home soon," she said, nodding to Sophie. "Try not to worry."

"Here," Physic said, handing them each a small green vial. "This will help you de-stress."

Sophie sniffed the elixir. "This doesn't have limbium in it, right?"

"Nope -- I learned my lesson last time."

June stiffened. "Last time? As in, Sophie human allergy time?"

She adjusted her mask. "Oh, you know. The time we healed her abilities, and we got you that vial. The vial we gave you did contain limbium, by the way, but yes, I made both those two serums with Mr. Forkle. Looks like we missed something with that scar on your sister's hand."

"Next time you lie, you should make eye contact," June told her.

Physic smiled slightly. "I'm not very good at that."

I know what you're thinking, Mr. Forkle transmitted. Yes, she was there during Sophie's human allergy. You are correct. And I need to train all our members in lying techniques.

June smirked at him.

Further discussion was interrupted by Dex shuffling past. He headed straight ofr his room, but Sophie wouldn't let him go that easily, and June caught up too.

The floor of his room was strewn with gadgets and tools and things that could only be described as doodads. Dex kicked some aside to clear a path, mumbling, "You don't have to check on me. You should check on Fitz."

"I know I don't have to. I want to. Besides, how many times have you checked on me?" Sophie asked him.

"Yeah, but this is different." He picked up what looked like a dismantled melder and started tweaking the wires.