After realizing what the Lowat tribe had done to Tair, Malak knew he had to do sothing. But he was at a loss—for several reasons. The most important one was naturally that he couldn’t leave Sosora’s side.
She needed him now more than ever. He was going to be there when she woke up. She would need soone to lean on, and Malak was going to be that soone.
Of course, he knew how much getting Tair back ant to Sosora. If Malak could have achieved that while she was unconscious or at least made good progress, he would have done it.
He wasn’t doing it because he didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t exactly wander out of the forest and search blindly for any traces of Tair.
A mber of the tribes shouldn’t be able to hide well in any of the kingdoms. If he had the ans and connections, finding Tair would be like finding a smoking ember in a pile of rocks.
But he wasn’t a human. He didn’t have any connections outside the forest. There was nothing he could do, even if he knew that the Lowat tribe had moved Tair outside the forest. He didn’t have any evidence, either, only a suspicion.
And it was a useless suspicion.
Officially, the Lowat tribe had nothing to do with Tair’s disappearance. Officially, not even the Lowat warrior, the seed of his suspicion, had anything to do with Tair’s disappearance.
Only the ones already on their side would believe Malak. It was good, but useless at the sa ti.
Malak frowned. He might not have any connections outside the forest, but maybe Monkey did. It was worth a shot. If Monkey didn’t, he should at least know soone who did.
Malak looked at the weak hand resting in the palm of his own. He glanced at Sosora’s pale face. He would have to leave her for a mont in order to make contact with—
Two quick knocks on Sosora’s door interrupted Malak’s train of thought. Before he could answer, Mijko entered.
"Hey there, Malak. How is she doing?" Mijko asked in a low voice so as not to disturb Sosora. Mijko felt a little guilty and apologetic. If she had been with them, things wouldn’t have gone down the way they did. But it was Monkey’s fault for keeping her busy, so she didn’t feel that bad.
Malak just shrugged. Mijko should have already heard the prognosis.
The Lowat warrior’s blade had ruined her eyes. Unless she found a new pair, she would never see again.
"I need to talk to Monkey." Malak didn’t want to waste more ti. Since Tair was in one of the kingdoms, there was no telling how long they had before they lost him.
Mijko froze. The re ntion of Monkey was enough to send shivers down her spine.
"W-what do you need him for?"
"I’ve figured out where Tair might be."
Mijko’s eyes widened. Just like that? Did Sosora losing her eyes give Malak the gift of allsight?
"Where?"
"One of the two kingdoms."
Mijko blinked. It was a surprising revelation. But...
"That’s not very specific."
"That’s why I wanted to talk to Monkey. I was hoping he would know how to find out where Tair is more specifically."
Mijko frowned slightly.
"You don’t need Monkey for that," She said as she sat down on the other side of Sosora.
"I don’t?"
"Mm. Don’t you rember the two humans who stopped by to visit Nick? I don’t know about the girl, but Squawks is familiar with several of the guards on the outskirts of the forest."
"..." Malak couldn’t believe he had forgotten about that part. Of course, the two humans knew soone. Otherwise, it should have been impossible for them to enter the forest in the first place, even if they could sneak through the territories undetected.
The outskirts and the wariness toward the three countries was much greater than the alertness within the forest, after all.
"Can Captain Squaks help us?"
Mijko crossed her arms for a mont and tilted her head as she considered it.
"It’s...possible. He’s a tricky guy, but as long as he’s motivated, he’ll get a mountain to move on its own."
"Great. Can you contact him?"
"No."
"..."
"But I know soone who can."
"Perfect."
"What do I say?"
***
A day later, outside Nick’s house. He was sitting on the porch when he noticed a group of people step out from the forest and into his clearing.
Captain Squawks held out his hand with his palm up.
"I was promised your heart. Please hand it over," He said. He couldn’t have been more straightforward.
Lily smacked the back of his head.
"That’s no way to talk to people!" She chastised.
"What? I said ’Please’!" Squawks insisted.
Nick sighed. He had not missed these two. He turned to Mijko and the tall man with narrow eyes beside them. He didn’t know who the man was or from which tribe he ca. But he was probably here for a reason.
However, soone was missing.
’Where’s Sosora?’ Nick glanced around to see if she was just behind them or still in the forest. He didn’t see her.
But before he could ask why she didn’t have to bear with Squawks and Lily, he first had to figure out why they were here.
"Didn’t we agree last ti that I wasn’t going to give you guys my heart?" He asked blankly.
"Maybe so. My mory is fuzzy," Squawks answered. His hand was still outstretched, waiting for Nick’s heart. Lily smacked it away and turned to Nick.
"To be exact, we were promised what we wanted if we returned here. Captain thinks it’s your heart. I think it’s great fortune."
"You were promised? By who?" Nick asked with a frown.
"By Malak," Mijko answered.
Nick raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, soone’s going to have to fill in on what’s going on. I’m lost."
"Oh, I can!" Squawks volunteered. Everyone looked at him.
"Or maybe not..."
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