S a l e t é I I

XXII - Cerveau - Six

"What's wrong?"

"Are you hurt? Did you do something to your leg?"

"Stop fussing, I'm fine."

Klavdiya was keen to dismiss the concerns of her friends, appearing more like her usual self once she had returned to her seat. Cassia and Uliana were not about to become any less apprehensive, in any case.

"I just feel a bit woozy, that's all. I can still get around by myself."

"Woozy...?" Cassia asked, only growing more fearful, her mind filling up with what she'd heard about the problems that could occur as a result of a poor Honey intake.

The halves they'd been reduced to... Klavdiya's continued activity, with no respite despite the shortages they'd been experiencing... Was it catching up with her?

"How long have you been feeling rough?" Uliana asked, genuine care in her voice as she sat next to her friend, who became no less defensive.

"I'm not feeling rough, you know I end up like this sometimes. It's nothing new."

She could see that Uliana was somewhat afraid, and the sight of her with such an unflinching gaze was enough to get her to open up a bit more, for her sake if not for her own.

"I've been funny since yesterday. I'll be better once I've rested."

"Make sure you do keep resting, Klavdiya." Monet said, and whilst she didn't appear to be perturbed in the same way that Uliana was, the firm nature of her tone spoke volumes. The younger girl wasn't about to challenge her either, any defiance in her expression quickly withering when faced with the teenager's presence.

As Cassie's fears had come rushing in, she'd quickly started to try and reason with herself in a bid to ward off at least a few of them. If Klavdiya would have been fine after a proper drink, then that was okay, because she'd just give her a full bottle next time if they ended up having to go halves again, forgoing her own. 

At the same time, she recalled what she'd been told about Honey in general, and about how they were actually deceptively lucky, in that they each had a small stature, requiring less of the cherry pink fluids to maintain good health.

The smaller the Jouet, the less Honey for optimal wellbeing. That made sense, and yet when she applied such thinking to Klavdiya...

She didn't want to ask the question that had come to her in front of the whole group. Maybe it was just the girl in question that she was cautious of, a fear of upsetting or offending her in some way holding her back for the time being.

"We'll get a move on. The sooner we find out what's going on, the better." Monet said, Uliana quickly straightening up again, almost as if she'd taken it as an order, and the teenager's next line soon got a similar reaction out of Cassie.

"Cassia, would you be willing to accompany us? I don't wish to take Taya until we have more details."

"O-of course!"

Cassia's desire to assist was now fuelled by an urge to see Klavdiya back in the best condition possible, and whilst the older girl's question had been rather sudden, she didn't hesitate to agree. She accepted the backpack that Klavdiya wouldn't be taking, finding that if was entirely empty, and joined the others as they made their way to the exit, Uliana giving some essential instructions of her own as they went.

"Zisel, make sure she doesn't act up or anything."

"I'm not going to!" Klavdiya insisted, watching them as they left.