"So, first question!" Mabel called out, before she faltered. "Um... I really should have written these down... The flowers! What do the flowers do? Why does everyone want them?"

Father Arlen looked genuinely confused. "What flowers?"

"The flowers that we stole of you!" Mabel cried, already sounding annoyed. "The red one!"

Arlen shook his head sadly. "I'm afraid you'll have to be more specific-."

Kipo shook him, enjoying the look of panic that crossed him face.

"We KNOW you know what we're talking about!" Mabel yelled at him. Then, in a warning tone, she said: "Don't forget what'll happen if you don't talk..."

Carefully, Kipo arranged herself so she was hanging the back of Arlen's shirt on one claw. He got the hint pretty quickly, and his eyes widened. Mabel smirked.

"Ready to talk now?" she asked, and Arlen glowered.

"If you don't know already, that means Hu-Amenos doesn't want you to know,"

"We're PAST what that guy wants and doesn't want!" Mabel shouted at him, furious. Mabel looked like she was going to jump out there and knock Arlen out again, so Kipo held him out further away. Arlen squeaked. "Just tell us what we want to know!"

"He'll kill me!" Arlen snapped, but now an edge of panic laced him voice. Mabel scoffed at him.

"Um, WE'LL kill you?!" she pointed out, and it was such a believable lie that Kipo found herself taken aback, too.

Conflicting emotions passed along Arlen's face, and he glanced uncertainly down at the lava below him. Kipo made sure there were no bridges in the way when she held him over it, so he knew just what was waiting for him down below.

Eventually, Arlen gave up, going limp. "Alright, I'll tell you. But none of this can get out to Amenos."

Mabel shrugged. "We can agree to that."

Arlen did not look like he believed her in the slightest. "Those flowers you took are called many things nowadays, but before all of this happened, they were called Wish Flowers, and that was for one very simple reason: they granted wishes."

Kipo blinked, so startled that she nearly dropped Arlen. He clutched at her claws, suddenly going white.

"Hey, keep it steady!" he shouted at her. "This is what you wanted, right?"

Taking a deep breath, Kipo managed to hold her claws still, or still enough for Arlen to be mostly satisfied.

"Yes, they all grant wishes, but not all of them have the same power," Arlen told them. "For some of them, the only thing they can grant is: 'I wish my eye colour was this', or 'I wish I was a centimeter or two taller', and even combined, the most they could do is change one thing to another. But others... others more powerful... they could do pretty much anything."

"...I....I..." Mabel looked stunned. Kipo couldn't blame her, she was having difficulty coming to terms with this new information as well. "I... what?"

From below, Coraline called out: "Hey! How does that even work?! Why should we believe this, it sounds totally made up!"

"Believe it or not, it's the TRUTH!" Arlen snapped at her. "And... well, it's been so long that I no longer can quite remember how it works. I haven't used one in, well, years. Centuries, even."

"What?!" Mabel blurted out. "How old are you?"

Arlen looked suddenly miserable. "It doesn't matter. Amenos promised me a beautiful land and home, granted that I obey him and only him, and that I survive until that time arrives."

Mabel and Kipo glanced at each other, both suddenly uncertain. Whatever Kipo thought Arlen would tell them before, it definitely wasn't this. And now he suddenly seemed eager to talk, telling them things they hadn't even asked about.

"O-Okay," Mabel said nervously. "Tell us more about Hurricane, or Amenos. What's his deal?"

Arlen scowled. "I admit, you know a lot more than I had thought."

"He's your God, right?" Mabel pressed.

"He's made himself out to be that way, but..." Arlen paused. "He's... he used to be a friend. Before all this happened. Now he has his own agenda."

"Before all this happened..." Mabel repeated softly. "Before WHAT happened?"

"Before our world was remade into this," Arlen told them. Kipo had to wonder why he suddenly was so happy to have them know all of this. "You all were brought here for a purpose, you know. To feed our world. To bring us that much closer to our promised land."

"By Hurricane?" Mabel asked, tilting her head.

Arlen frowned. "By the earth itself."

Finally, Tulip spoke up, finally asking the question that had been circling Kipo's head.

"Hey..." she shouted up to him. "Why are you telling us all this?"

Father Arlen stared at her, an impassive look on his face. "...Because I'm not worried. You won't get out of this place. I got a fright when the others nearly did, but in the end, they couldn't do it. That was the closest anyone has gotten to getting out, but I'm sure it was the first, and last. You all aren't even close."

Kipo leaned forward, an anger burning bright in her stomach, but before she could do anything she regretted, Mabel did the much smarter thing.

"How did they do it?" she shouted out to him. "How did they escape?"

"They didn't!" Arlen snapped. "And I don't know... I didn't see it."

Kipo glared at him, and Arlen shrugged, chuckling to himself.

"I only got one of them, I'm afraid," Arlen told them. "The rest got away, to that castle that no longer exists."

Mabel's head snapped up. "What castle?"

"The only at the end of the mountain range, by the sea," Arlen said, before he suddenly brightened. "Say... I actually do know a way off this world."

Mabel blinked. "You do?"

"It's right near the castle, actually," Arlen said, and though his face was blank, Kipo could already tell he had something up his sleeve, if he wasn't just straight up lying. "You just walk in a straight line, and you'll find it. Your escape if there... along with your Purpose."

Mabel frowned. "Our purpose?"

"Your reason for being here," Arlen explained. He smirked. "You can't miss it."

Arlen let them leave the village easily after that, apparently thinking that it more important they reach this place than punishing them, but Kipo could tell it was a hard choice for him. He watched them go, and when Kipo turned back, she could see the fury in his eyes. Arlen clearly hated them for what they did, but Kipo didn't really care. She couldn't really say she regretted it, because in the end, no one got seriously hurt, and Arlen got a little of his pride taken away.

But, despite the fact that she hated this place and never wanted to return there, Kipo paused as soon as they were out of sight, turning back toward the little town.

Her friends clearly noticed, and paused as well.

"Kipo?" Kai asked. "Something wrong?"

"I don't really trust him," Kipo told them. "I think he was lying to us."

Coraline frowned, tilting her head at Kipo in a bewildered way. "Wasn't that obvious?"

"Well, yeah, but..." Kipo paused, hesitating for a second. "I'm just going to go back for a second. Not to threaten him, but just to spy on him, and see what I can find when no one else is looking."

"Okay, cool," Mabel agreed easily, while Coraline still looked dubious. "And I'll come too!"

Kipo winced, wondering how to say this gently. "Er, actually, Mabel, I-er... You're a little loud, so maybe not."

Mabel gasped. "Huh? I can be plenty sneaky! I snuck into a movie theatre once!"

"I... that's great, but remember, it'll probably be worse if you're caught than the rest of us," Kipo told her, shaking her head. "I think it'd be best if Coraline went, actually."

Coraline raised an eyebrow. "Why me?"

Kipo shrugged. "You look pretty sneaky."

'Besides, you're small and easy to carry if we need to make a quick escape,' Kipo added in her mind, but she didn't tell Coraline that.

The others agreed easily, seeing Kipo's reasoning. Even Coraline was on her side for once, but Kipo figured that Coraline wasn't trying to be contrary, she was just looking out for them. However... they did need to take risks, so even though Coraline seemed to want to play it safe and not do the (probably stupid) things they were doing, it probably wouldn't help out in the long run.

Still, Kipo was worried. Coraline had a point as well, and soon, one of these risks may hurt more than it helps...

Luz spoke up, interrupting Kipo's thoughts.

"So, when do you think you'll be back?" she asked. "Should we wait for you here?"

"No, you keep going," Kipo told them. She gave them a smile. "We'll catch up."

A flicker of confusion passed over Luz's face before she realized what Kipo meant. "Oh. OH! Okay. Good luck!"

"Be safe," Tulip told the, glancing back over her shoulder at the town uncertainly. Kai, Fei Fei and Mabel (who still looked somewhat disgruntled) waved, giving their respective goodbyes before the five of them turned, walking the other way, towards this supposed castle. Kipo tried to watch them go, but the small evergreen forest and the blowing wind slowly covered them up, and the little group had disappeared.

Kipo turned to Coraline, still feeling that familiar fear of 'is this the wrong choice?'. Kipo elected to ignore it, turning to Coraline with a smile.

"Shall we?"

Coraline nodded, and Kipo couldn't see any of her own fear reflected in Coraline's face. Coraline, at least, wasn't worried. That was good, and Kipo felt herself steadily relaxing.

Coraline carefully avoided the windows as she moved, diligently staying out of the light, and Kipo followed her example. They circled the house, looking for a way in, or at least a way to take a look inside. But, as what probably should have been obvious, the house was sealed tight from the outside elements.

After the second pass, Coraline all but gave up, sliding to the cold snow with a growl, her arms crossed tight. Kipo knelt to her, almost ready to give up herself, but before she could relay that to Coraline in a whisper, she paused, her eyes picking up something above her that was not wind, and definitely not snow.

It only took a quick look up for Kipo to jump into action, taking Coraline's coat arm in her grasp and pulling her to the side, around to a side of the house that had no windows.

Luckily, Coraline got what Kipo was trying to do pretty quickly, getting to her feet and hurriedly followed her, her feet slipping out from under her as she followed Kipo around the corner of the house. They got there just in time.

Kipo heard wingbeats as they circled around the roof of the house once, gradually getting lower, until they got to the roof of the cabin. Kipo held her breath, but the bird (the really, REALLY big bird) didn't come near them. It swooped down the side of the house, and landed on something solid. The window ledge, Kipo guessed.

Beside her, Coraline was still looking around wildly for the danger, trying to spot whatever Kipo had hid them from. Kipo tugged on her friend's sleeve, and quickly led her to the front of to the corner of the building. She peeked out around it, and felt Coraline do the same.

As soon as Kipo caught sight of the bird she had heard, her breath caught in her throat. If it was going to be any bird, of COURSE it'd be him... but Kipo still couldn't believe her eyes.

Hurricane. In bird form. His brilliant red feathers ruffled, making him look like he was a bird of fire from the light in the window as he rapped on the glass with a sharp beak. He looked like he was nearly about to shatter it with the tip of his beak with how impatiently he was knocking. Kipo's eyes trailed down his body, which was almost as tall as Coraline was, and probably just below Kipo's shoulder, to his claws, that hooked on the ledge of the building and allowed him to stand. Kipo gulped. Talons like that looked like it could kill someone with one strike.

Terrifying. That's what Hurricane was in this form. Straight up terrifying.

Suddenly, the window opened, and Kipo heard Father Arlen speak, sounding almost joyful.

"Ah, Amenos! You're here, thank god..." Father Arlen said, but Hurricane waved a wing impatiently.

"Just a minute, Father, I'm on a time limit," Hurricane told him, sounding harried. He didn't sound benevolent and Godly, he just sounded as he did when he was Gale, but Arlen acted like Hurricane's voice was like the most beautiful music he ever heard.

"What is it?" Arlen asked just as Hurricane opened his mouth (beak?) to tell him. "What do you need?"

"I need the flowers," Hurricane explained when Arlen was finished. "I know-."

"Flowers?" Arlen repeated. "Why, of course! There's some in the church, and we have more in the storage unit-."

"Yes, yes, I'll be taking those, but I need some specific ones," Hurricane interrupted. "I know you killed at least one of those kids that came by, do you still have his flower?"

Arlen paused. Kipo couldn't see his face, so she didn't know what he was thinking, but when he next spoke, it was slowly and carefully. "No... it returned to the land."

"It did?" Hurricane snarled, a quick flash of frustration crossing his face before he smothered it. "That's good. That's what was supposed to happen."

"That's right."

"And the flowers from the kid you caught previously?"

"Also returned to the land."

Hurricane paused, seeming to think that over. Suddenly, a smile crossed his face, the corners of his beak turning up. "That's good. Father, that's very good. I admit I've been worried about you and your... continued existence, but you've proved me wrong time and time again. Through the centuries, you've been loyal, you've been hardworking... why, I couldn't ask for a better pastor."

"Ah... thank you, Anemos," Father Arlen replied, sounding bashful. "You're too kind."

"No, no, I can't be kind enough," Hurricane corrected. "However... there is one more thing a need you to do for me. For the land?"

"What? What is it?"

Hurricane hesitated, but only for a moment. "Father, I-we-need your flower."

"..." Father Arlen didn't talk for a long time. "My... My flower? You want me to kill myself? How-Why-? I did everything for you! I slaved for you for centuries! All for you!"

Kipo's mouth fell open. Before her, Coraline gasped, but Hurricane didn't seem to hear it.

"No, Arlen, you did it for your 'promised future'," Hurricane argued, and Arlen spluttered, trying to argue, but Hurricane shook his head. "No, don't deny it, Arlen, you know it's true. But I'm not angry, your hard work over the centuries are not less important because of your motives. And you'll get your promised land, believe me. We need your flower for now... but when we reach a time when your promise land is reached... we'll use another to bring you back."

Father Arlen's voice was small when he spoke next. "You promise me?"

"Of course." Hurricane's voice was so sincere Kipo almost believed him.

Finally, Arlen agreed. "Okay. I... I can't thank you enough, Anemos."

"Your prior work is thanks enough," Hurricane told him smoothly. "Now rest until it's time for you to reawaken."

"Of course, of course, I shouldn't have argued," Arlen blabbered, his voice getting quieter as he moved from the window. "I have some pills, and it'll be quick. You do not have to wait long, Anemos, so-."

Arlen cut himself off, and Kipo heard him drink something. She winced. From the window, Hurricane watched, face blank.

"Not long, not long now, no, not long..." Arlen continued talking for a couple long, agonising moments that felt like hours. But soon, his voice trailed off, getting quieter and quieter until finally, he fell silent. Only then did Hurricane move again, flying in through the window and disappearing for a couple seconds until he came back, carrying something in one of his talons. A wish flower, Kipo realized.

Hurricane glared down at it, unsatisfied. "Of course. Still not enough power... Those kids don't know what they screwed up."

Huffing with his apparent disappointment, Hurricane spread his wings, lifting off and flying into the night. Kipo and Coraline watched him go for a long time before they glanced at each other with matching looks of horror. Arlen was not someone either of them cared about, but... what was that?

Coraline moved first, moving around her and into the window. Kipo watcher her face goes pale as she followed her, but that didn't stop Kipo from looking in herself.

Father Arlen was at his desk with a small container perched on it, clearly visible from the window. Right by desk was a fire that was flickering as wind from the window blew into the room. Arlen's face was down, looking at his desk, and his shoulders were slumped. His mouth hung open, slacked, and his eyes were clearly vacant. He looked... he was clearly dead.