Outbreak

Crazy

Day 45

Sabre's P.O.V.

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"So... are you going to tell me why you brought me here?"  I follow Thera through the forest, winding our way toward his house in the woods.  He's barely said a word this entire walk, too intent on getting home.

This morning, I was out in the Red Sector, helping the once-sick steves move back into their homes, and making sure the removal of the quarantine wall was going smoothly.  While I helped, I tried to throw in a few Yellow Leader references, just to see if they'd respond.  But my attempts were unsuccessful.  The steves just gave me a weird look.  The worst thing was, most of the sick steves were Yellow Steves.  How could they not remember their own leader?

I was feeling a little annoyed (and more than a little panicked), when Thera came running into the kingdom, calling for me.  He said he wanted me to come with him, but so far, he hasn't exactly told me why.

"I don't know."  he says after a long silence.  His house is finally coming into view, although it blends into the forest so well that it's hard to distinguish.  "I just figured you're the expert on weird stuff, so if anyone knows what's going on, it's probably going to be you."  I'm not sure whether or not that's a compliment, so I just nod.

"So what 'weird stuff' are you hoping I can help you with?"  I ask.  "Is it sickness related, or..."

"I don't know."  he repeats.  "I don't think so, but if it is, you probably know more about it than I do."  He lets out a sigh, opening the door and gesturing for me to enter.  "There's a village nearby where I like to trade.  It's a beautiful place, and the steves there are really nice.  I think you'd like it.  But the past couple days, they've been finding my house.  They keep asking me if I've seen their friends.  Five different steves have come so far, all looking for a missing friend."

"Are they all looking for the same steve, or-"

"That's the thing, I don't know!  I keep asking what their friend looks like, and they can't tell me.  No names, no descriptions, nothing!  It's weird, Sabre.  I was wondering if it's part of the sickness, like a hallucination or something, but isn't it strange that they're all having the same one?  And how would it have spread to the village anyway?"  I frown, deep in thought.  I know several steves left the Rainbow Kingdom before the Violet Leader finished his quarantine plan.  They might have been infected.  But the mass hallucinations?  It didn't sound right.

"I haven't heard of-"  I'm interrupted by a knock at the door.  Thera peers out of his window and grimaces.

"Here, you can ask him questions if it'll help."  he tells me, crossing over to let the visitor in.

"Hello?  Sorry for intruding, Thera, but I need to know if you've seen my friend.  Is that- oh, no.  Hi.  It's Sabre, right?"  The Orange Steve looks disappointed that I'm not his friend, but I appreciate that he's being friendly.

"Yeah.  Thera wanted me to help out with finding the missing steves."  I tell him.  "Is there any chance you could tell me more about the friend you're looking for?"

"He's- um- gone?"  His orange eyes are hazy as he tries to explain.  His voice turns slow, confused.  "And I think I need to find him."

"What color steve is he?"  I prompt.

"I- green- no- yellow?  Maybe?"  panic laces the Orange Steve's voice as he steps back, clutching his head.  "I don't know!  I don't remember!"

"Do you know when you saw him last?"  I try.