The Fox and The Forest (EDITING)

Robotic Fish (1.7)

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Why did Flynn know where the Purifiers collected? Why did he suddenly talk as if he was one of them? Why hadn't he explained before?

These questions plagued Tom as he desperately tried to grasp onto Flynn's friendly disposition. The longer the silence stretched between Flynn and he, the more that image of Flynn faltered like the flicking orange tongue of a candle in the wind.

Perceiving Tom's questioning gaze and tensed body, Flynn caught on to how bad the situation must've appeared. "Oh right!" he exclaimed. "I mustn't have told you two did I?" He appeared as though he was going to explain but the nervous voices still echoed from beneath Tom, reminding him of the distance he could fall into doubt. "I've been working for the Purifiers."

"What?" Both Kate and Tom said loudly, momentarily forgetting themselves.

"It's true. When I finally got back home, I searched everywhere for you. And I became desperate," he said honestly, scratching the back of his head. "I thought- maybe they've joined the Purifiers. Turns out you hadn't after all , and once I found you weren't there I decided that I'd keep checking in with the new batch of trainees. In case you ever did join. This time- you had! I've never been so happy to see someone," he said, grinning awkwardly. He looked unsure whether to be ashamed or not.

Luckily for him, Tom's trepidation dissipated. His shoulders settled back into their usual position as the once broken wings of a robin would. For Flynn had being working to try and find them.

Tom wanted to apologise, fearing he had hurt Flynn by supposing the worst in him. But instead he said:

"It's a good thing that you did so. Otherwise we might never have seen you."

"This is perfect!" Kate responded to Flynn. "You can show us around," she squealed with so much excitement that she could've exploded right there and then. "So, tell us- what it's like?"

"Really, Kate?" Tom rolled his eyes, trying to pretend that he wasn't interested in finding out about the Purifiers himself. The more curious he was. The harder he thought it would be for him to go back into hiding.

"Once a Sourpuss. Always a Sourpuss," Kate said to Tom in a snide tone.

"Well..." Flynn began, paying no mind to their bickering. Tom didn't notice himself leaning forwards, closer towards Flynn in order to hear him better. "The water's pretty grim..." he continued. The other two gazed at him expectantly. Kate nodded, a signal for him to go on and Flynn took the hint. "I like to imagine it's similar to assorted vomit- you'll never know what you'll find in there- but there's a lot of it," he said, winking ironically.

Tom held his hand across his mouth, looking as though he might not have to wait until they got to Lake Descent to see a sickly substance before him. The bubbling acid sensation in his stomach boiled not only from the grim thought of the Lake's waters, but from the recurrent images that invaded his mind and all seemed connected in some way.

"And? What about the metal suits?" Kate inquired. As she spoke, Tom looked at her in disbelief.

"Those giant beasts are pretty handy in the lake," Flynn said in appreciation. As he described them he did his best impression of a robot, making sure to click his joints in all the right places. His eyes even mirrored their expressionless faces. It really was a splendid impression and would've been convincing, but being Flynn meant that nothing was more important than laughter to you. So he froze in position, then began walking about 10 times slower than the rest of the group, in robot motions.

Behind him people were piling up- many looking as though they would topple over like newly born children learning to walk.

"I'm a robot ok. Don't disturb my flow!" Flynn announced to the many trainees who started grumbling abuse at him. Only Tom and Kate seemed to find it amusing.