When Thyst went downstairs, she found Sky laying on the couch.

"What are you doing up?" She stroked her son's head. "Even the chickens are still sleeping."

"I couldn't sleep. I didn't wanna wake everyone up."

Thyst crawled onto the couch to lay with her son.

"Mom?"

She stroked his hair. "Try to get some sleep. You have a big day ahead of you."

"Will you tell me a story?"

"If you promise to go back to sleep. Which one do you want to hear?"

Sky smiled at her. "You can pick one."

He was leaving home already. Maybe Alastair's first day on Nachima?

"A boy had just left his home for the first time. A family friend was supposed to pick him up when he got into town, but she didn't want to."

"Why?" Sky asked.

"The boy wasn't as mature as he should have been for his age. What he came to do could be dangerous. She didn't want him to get hurt."

"Yikes..."

"The boy was getting hungry, but he didn't have any money. Three strangers offered him food, but the food was bad, so he threw it up. The strangers got mad at him for being rude. The big stranger got shocked for being aggressive."

"The big oaf deserved that."

Thyst giggled. Yes, he did.

Sky snuggled up to her. "I love you, Mom."

"I love you, too." Thyst smiled as she stroked her son's head until he dozed off. He looked so cute.

***

Thyst soon joined him in dreamland, but that wasn't to be as sweet as she would have liked.

"Where were you?" Cyan shouted. "Collin got taken away and you were nowhere to be seen!"

Thyst had been caring for Sky as he'd gotten a fever, but she didn't want to tell them that. "I-I had matters to attend to." Her eyes widened. "Wait, what do you mean he was taken away?"

Cyan glared. "He got taken by the princess!"

Maggie nodded. "To think that boy was a KK. No wonder he acted so strangely when I spoke about them."

"The princess?" Thyst frowned. "Then I'll go see if he might be in the imperial prison."

Cyan glared. "Be quick about it."

Thyst nodded and warped to the prison.

A guard pointed a baton at her and shouted, "Hey, who are you?"

Thyst glared at him. "Tell me! where is the boy?"

The guard said, "What boy? No, that doesn't matter! You aren't allowed here!"

Thyst grunted and used an energy sphere to send him flying. She spun around and knocked out several guards as they rushed her together. "I simply wanted an answer. If you'd only given it to me then none of this would've happened!"

The guard groaned. "Argh, sweet Minicha, you're crazy!"

Thyst gasped as something hit her right wrist. "Argh!"

Guard Four did a fist pump. 'Yes, got her!"

Guard Three sighed. "Crazy girl. She must be one of those Key Keepers like that boy Lady Wilhelmina caught!"

Thyst glared. "Where is he?" She flung the guards back.

Guard Four held his hand out. "W-wait! L-let us talk!"

An old lady with a cane approached him. "What's with the commotion here?"

Thyst gasped. "You, you're the former queen!

The former queen narrowed her eyes. "You seem familiar." Her eyes widened. "Wait, you're the girl who was with that boy who led my son astray!"

Thyst scoffed. "Cecil did no such thing!"

The former queen took a deep breath. "Perhaps, but that doesn't change that his friendship with Sorin lead to my son's disappearance." She jumped and electrocuted Thyst.

Thyst shouted, "Gahhh!"

***

Thyst woke up, shaking.

Sky opened his eyes as his mom shook erratically. "Mommy? Are you okay?"

Thyst forced herself to smile. "I'm okay."

"Are you sure?" He gently stroked her forehead. "You're sweaty." He got up. "I'm gonna see if Dad or Lulu are up."

Thyst held her wrist. Phantom pain was the worst. What purpose did it even serve in nature?

Edgar soon came downstairs. "What happened?"

"I had to get Sky to go back to sleep."

"After that."

"I had a nightmare. I'm fine."

"Violet." Edgar forced his wife to look at him. "You worried Sky. Willie would probably go into work mode if he saw you right now."

Thyst furrowed her eyebrows. "What is he doing right now?"

"He's with Lulu. I guess she's nervous about leaving."

Thyst bit her lip. "I don't want her to leave, but I know De won't let me stop her..."

That was when Sky brought Lulu and Willie downstairs.

"Mom."

Thyst sat up. "Sorry if I scared you. I feel better."

"It looks like your wrist is acting up." Edgar turned to Lulu. "Could you make some ice for your mom?"

"Of course," Lulu replied. "Can I have something to put the ice in?"

Edgar got a bucket out of a nearby closet and filled it with water. Once he did that, Lulu put some ice cubes in the bucket.

That was when Alice came down.

"Mom, what were you planning to make for breakfast?"

"I was planning to start on it soon."

Alice looked her mom. "What were you going to make?"

"I bought a bunch of porridge."

"Alright. Let me handle that."

Alice then went into the kitchen.

Edgar put his hands on his wife's face. "Cuddle with your dog. We can take care of ourselves fine."

Vi had Chi in her arms when she came downstairs. "Morning. Chi might get fussy since he hasn't eaten breakfast yet."

"That's fine." Thyst smiled. "Come here, Chi."

Vi set Chi down next to his grandma.

"Take it easy," Edgar said. "I'll be outside."

"Is Allie in the kitchen?" Vi asked. "I'll see if she needs a hand."

"It's done, actually. But you can help with serving," Edgar said as he passed by the retired Key Keeper.

Vi nodded.

"Here!" Ed said, putting a bowl of porridge on the living room table. "Rest so you can see the kids off." He picked up Chi. "Breakfast time, little one! We made you some apple sauce."

"Unsta loves appu saus!" Chi exclaimed.

Ame chuckled. That he did.

***

Once everyone was done eating, they went to the front door. 

"Kai, Allie, and I love you." Lulu smiled at her mom. "Go take care of yourself, Mom. I know you don't like to, but you need to. We don't want the stress to make you sick."

Thyst sighed. "I love you kids. Please take care of yourselves and each other."

"We will. I promise," Allie said.

"Bye, little buddy. Take care of Grandma for your old man, okay?" Kai said, patting his son's head.

Chi nodded, causing Ame to snicker. Did he have any idea what Kai meant?

Ame's smile vanished as she watched Kai leave for a second time, in this case with his other siblings.

Ed pulled her closer. "Don't be a worrywart."

Ame pressed her head against his shoulder. "You'll keep an eye on them, right?"

"Yeah. I won't let them get hurt."

She sighed. Those were the same words she had told Hannah.

***

Thoughts? Theories? Predictions?

~Shino out!