keeper of the lost cities one-shot collection

《Chapter 42, Keefe's pov》 •MAJOR SPOILERS•

I'm not the best with grammar--because I was under educated--so please, if you see a mistake, let me know and I'll fix it!! But other than that, I hope you enjoy this! :) - Theo

The days after he got back to the lost cities were... a lot to say the least.

Keefe had been training with Grady for days, trying to figure out the basics of how his new ability worked, and drawing until his finger screamed for him to stop.

Foster had visited him once, they'd had a rather awkward conversation, and then she'd run off, and he hadn't seen her for almost three days.

He kept trying to figure out what he'd said, or done, that had made her so upset, but he couldn't figure it out.

His legs ached as he and Silveny tumbled out of the void, landing in the soft grass of Havenfield's pastures.

He'd been determined to search the void for anything his mom might have hidden, since she was a conjurer. But he hadn't found anything of any importance.

And his legs now hated him for sitting on the Silveny's back so long, which was not as soft as he'd hoped.

And now, he realized, he was face-to-face with Foster.

And he'd just startled her awake from a nap.

"Is everything okay?" He asked. 

She nodded. "I was just... waiting for you--and I was starting to think you weren't coming back." 

A pang of guilt struck Keefe in the heart. 

How long had she been waiting?

He reached for the edge of his cape, twirling it in his fingers awkwardly.

 "Sorry. I wanted to see what would happen if I had Silveny fly me around in the void while I talked in my mom's voice. I thought maybe if I managed to say at least a couple of the right words while I was in there, whatever she hid would come crashing toward me."

"Did it work?" Foster asked in that adorably hopeful tone she always used.

"Not particularly." Keefe admitted. "And in case you were wondering, the void never gets any more exciting. It's just darkness and more darkness--and oh, hey, more darkness! I'm sure Tammy Boy would love it, but man, I'm glad to see color again." 

The joke felt good, and he couldn't stop his eyes from flashing to her red tunic.

But he reminded himself that she could see him.

And when his eyes moved back to study her face, he swore he saw her blush.

"You could've taken me with you, you know. Or left me another note telling me where you went." She seemed to realize the way the words sounded right when they left her mouth. 

And they made them both froze.

He'd tried super hard to forget about that note.

It was one of the most sensitive subjects for him nowadays.

but now, she was bringing it up. And the air between them felt heavy. He bit his lower lip, trying to decide what to do now.

he felt fidgety--and he could tell she felt the same.

"Do you want to go for a walk?" She asked suddenly. And Keefe was relieved. He didn't know how much longer he'd be able to stand there. 

So, he agreed, noticing how she looked almost as relieved as he did.

"Are we heading anywhere in particular?" Keefe asked her.

"Not really." She admitted. "I just need to move. I've been stuck in one place for way too long."