Storm Chaser // JJ Maybank

74

Now that we know JJ and Sarah are alive we've got to come up with a plan to find the crown and Groff.

"I think next time we take a trip, we should maybe plan ahead," John B jokes.

"We can stay in a hotel next time," Sarah offers.

"And a shower," Kie adds.

"Yeah, I smell awful," Sarah agrees.

"I smelled myself today," John B says.

Sarah laughs. "You weren't the only one who smelled you."

"Hey, uh, you know what's a good name for a baby?" JJ asks. "JJ. Goes both ways, actually. If it's a girl, if it's a boy."

"What baby?" Pope asks.

"Um... Yeah," John B starts.

"That's right. You guys don't know," Sarah says.

It hits Pope and Cleo at once.

"No way," Cleo remarks.

Sarah nods her head. "Mm-hmm."

Cleo laughs. "A Poguelet?"

Pope points to Sarah. "You?"

"Yes!" Sarah shouts.

Pope hugs John B. "You're gonna be a freaking dad!"

John B smiles. "I'm gonna be a dad."

"You're so ill-equipped for that!" Pope teases.

"I know, but that's okay," John B says.

"I mean, you know, we'll help you out a lot," Pope offers.

"A little baby..." Cleo says. "Congrats."

In the morning we start the trek to Essaouira.

"All right, all is not lost, right?" JJ says. "Like, we got a bead on Groff, and he can lead us to the crown. And listen, I know I've had a little bit of a wobble the last couple days. I just wanna say, I... I'm back. And I feel good."

"Just, when we get there, can you be careful?" I tell him. "That was too close, JJ. Way too close."

We finally make it to a walled city.

"There it is. My calculations were correct," Pope says. "That's Essaouira."

"All right. So the plan is, locate the wharf and find Groff, okay?" JJ tells all of us. "That's all we gotta do."

Essaouira is a bustling port city. I don't think any of us realized that. I was thinking small coastal town, not a trading center.

"That might be a little harder than I thought," JJ admits.

"You think?" Pope remarks.

"Let's go," JJ tells us. "Let's go, come on." We try to push our way through the crowd. "Come on, stick together. No, no, no."

JJ is holding tight onto my hand. The last thing I need is to get separated from our friends.

"Can we stay as a group?" Pope asks.

"I'm trying," Cleo assures him.

"Try to stay as a group," Pope repeats.

"Yo, we gotta get out of these alleys," JJ says. "I don't know where I'm going." We stop and spot a statue straight down the alley. "That might be something. Come on."

We make it to the statue of the dude with a sword. He looks pretty important.

"Yeah, I knew it," JJ says.