AN: This is the third and last part in the Sky Kings series. It follows an original character as she raises two rathalos hatchlings and deals with her own personal issues. If you haven't read the others yet I do recommend starting with A Mother's Love the first story in the Sky Kings series. If you've already read the other two parts however, then thank you for continuing with this one!
Chapter 1: Voyage
All things considered it had been a relatively peaceful trip so far. No monster attacks, no bad storms, no sicknesses, not even food problems as they set out for the open sea. It was so peaceful in fact that Kurohana was starting to get incredibly restless.
"I almost wish something would happen just so it would give us something interesting to do," Kurohana muttered as she stared out across the water.
"Plenty of work the captain could put you on if he hears you saying that," Shirakawa pointed out.
"I don't think counting water and food supplies or mending nets counts as 'interesting,'" Kurohana muttered to her brother. Obake, her malfestio, was busy preening his feathers and Baburu was curled up for a nap after swimming alongside the massive ship for a while. Only Akairo was out and about and he was currently gliding in circles above the ship, using the wind to carry him along.
At least the calm was giving Kurohana more time to take more notes about Akairo. She had expected to fill part of a journal maybe but instead she found herself with one complete and half of another filled up with more discoveries made every day.
He had learned, or been taught, how to skim above the water to catch and eat fish while flying. He knew how to swim, dive, and take off from the water as well. The first time he dove into the sea it sent the whole ship into a panic. Then he came up with a large squirming fish in his talons and took off again in a spurt of fire and steam that had the researchers on board scrambling to write down and discuss.
Akairo loved hearing stories from the researchers and wouldn't hesitate to catch passing sea life for them to examine more closely before tossing them back in the water. They were having a field day talking to him. He clearly and verbally understood different colors on a range far better then humans or wyverians which confirmed several controversial research studies. He not only liked looking at the stars he recognized different patterns and knew how to use them to navigate. It seemed partly innate knowledge and partly taught to him by someone else. That had sent the research group into such a frenzy that Kurohana retreated to her stuffy room just for some peace and quiet. Even now she could hear them arguing about it near the front of the ship.
"You can practically hear the research books being published over there," Kuroahana said with a nod toward the group of wyverians. Shirakawa chuckled and examined a shirt he was helping to fix. Apparently a good tailor had been badly needed on this ship for a while but wasn't considered a priority. So he had been more then happy to step in and help, if only to keep himself occupied.
"Akairo is a special rathalos. What we're learning from this is going to change a lot of perspectives on flying wyverns and how intelligent they really are," Shirakawa pointed out. He grabbed some black thread and slid it through a sewing needle before continuing. "We often tend to think of monsters on a scale of how dangerous they are and not much beyond that. Hopefully those of us who work with them every day can help change that," he added thoughtfully.
Kurohana hummed in agreement and looked up at Akairo who was now hovering in the air looking down at something. She watched him for a few seconds and then glanced over at Obake who had stopped preening and was also staring off over the edge of the ship. Even Baburu had looked up and was now staring warily out across the water.
"Shiro... I think something's out there," Kurohana said nudging her brother with an elbow. He paused in the middle of a repair and looked out over the water with a frown.
"I'm not sure I..." Shirakawa began only to hesitate and sucked in a breath. Far above them in the crows nest a sailor shouted in alarm.
"Sea monster! Sea monster off the starboard side! Half again as long as the ship!" she called out. Captain Zhan ran over to the railing and peered out as a massive tail rose up and slammed down onto the water. A loud roar shook the planks beneath their feet as its head lashed back and forth tossing up water.
"Is it heading towards us?" Captain Zhan shouted up to the sailor.
"No sir! Its acting as if its caught in something dragging at it from below the surface! It seems to be trying to throw it off!" she responded.
Akairo was flying again making low passes over the thrashing monster to get a closer look. Kurohana flinched as it thrashed again but it was mostly underwater still and just threw water and waves around that Akairo easily avoided. He circled around one more time before heading back to the ship hovering by the edge instead of landing.
"Big, big water monster. Big horns caught in net and broken boat. Can't see, can't get off. Angry, angry. Will destroy ship to try and pull net off," Akairo said in warning.
"Can you tell us anything more about this monster? What does it look like?" Captain Zhan asked. After some initial suspicion he had come to trust that Akairo was not only as intelligent as the researchers thought but then some.
"Big pale, pale gold horns. White fur on neck. Two water wings, long body, split tail," Akairo explained. He paused for a second and tilted his head. "Funny lights underneath. Glow blue when resting and red when angry," he added.
Captain Zhan frowned and looked over at a wyverian woman who had come over to stand beside him. The researcher looked young, but Kurohana knew how deceiving looks could be among wyverian individuals.
"That sounds an awful lot like a ceadeus if you ask me. This area is a heavily used fishing lane. Trawlers run the migration routes and process the fish on board before heading back to port," she explained.
"And those trawlers go awfully deep. Deep enough that a ceadeus wandering around near the surface to try and catch some migrating fish might find itself caught in the nets. Unfortunately from the sound of it their thrashing tore the ship apart and it swam off with the net still on its horns," Captain Zhan said. He stroked his beard and looked up at Akairo who was still hovering there.
"Want help. Not fair to leave them suffering. Get net off, go free. Not harm other boats," Akairo stated.
"He brings up a good point. It would cost us time. Hours or most of the day even but it would not only save the creature but stop it from potentially threatening other ships. It unlikely to dive deep again until its gotten that net off. It will get caught on something otherwise," the researcher pointed out. Akairo seemed satisfied with that wheeled around to go back to where the ceadeus was now still and resting again underwater.
"Obake has blades on its wings that can help cut away the net far faster then we will and Akairo's flames can help burn or at least singe them as well to get them off. Should something go wrong both of them can provide assistance if someone needs to be pulled out quickly," Captain Zhan decided. "However it would help to have at least a couple brave souls in the water as well who are willing to try and cut away the nets by its mouth and beard," he added.
There was a very noticeable silence as everyone turned to look at Shirakawa. The only one among them who had the most hands on experience raising and working with water monsters. He noticed their staring and grimaced deeply.
"Ohhhh I was afraid of this."
Amai stretched out her toes into the sand and took a deep breath of sea air and food stalls. The ship had docked at an island along a prominent trade route to restock their supplies and give everyone a chance to stretch their legs. It was just for two days. One for work the other to relax. They were all to be back on the ship no later then midnight so they could set sail tomorrow at sunrise.
Raiden, her zinogre, was greatly enjoying being off the ship. There was a special room for him to sleep in and a reinforced upper deck generally meant for flying monsters that he could go up and stay on as well. But that wasn't nearly the same as getting to stretch out his legs on a beach. The first thing they had done was go for a run. It wasn't a huge island but it was big enough that Amai didn't want to run into trouble so she had stuck to a few laps around the main port market instead.
The island had its own fair share of monsters and dangerous sea creatures, but it didn't have any large land predators. Many of the native islanders and a few from ships in port had come out to watch Raiden as he and Amai went on a run around the market. More then a few food stalls had offered Amai free meat or cooked fish for Raiden using his enthusiastic hunger for the tasty food as marketing to draw in curious onlookers. Now he was sleeping contentedly in the shade. Even Teresa's mood had noticeably improved. She was still struggling with depression due to the lost of Jade, her rathian partner, and likely would for a while but Amai could see the improvement in her slowly but surely.
Amai had suggested Teresa write a letter to Jade with all the things she wanted to say and do but wouldn't be able to now. After holding onto the finished letter for a few days she had finally quietly confessed that she was ready. Ready to let go and move on. Still she cried for hours after the letter was burned symbolically along with a pressed flower that Teresa had kept from when she first found Jade.
It was still clearly a struggle some days, but Teresa was trying and Amai did what she could to make it easier. Being here on the island was the first time in weeks that Amai had seen Teresa smile and laugh again.
"Its not as hard as I thought it would be. Being here just relaxing," Teresa said from her spot in the sand next to Amai. "Ever since I burned the letter I've been working harder to stay in the moment... emotionally I mean. Not let my mind slip back into what if she were here, or what would Jade think of this. But I feel like today is the first time since she died that I've actually succeeded. I walked around the markets looking at things to buy and mail back home to family and it was just me enjoying everything. It was only a few hours but... that's a lot more progress then I've had until now," she admitted.
"You'll always miss her but it will get easier if you work at it," Amai assured her. Teresa gave her a smile, a genuine smile.
"I know. People always say that time heals but they leave out how much work you have to put in for that to happen. But today? Right here on this beach? I'm actually ok. I want to enjoy this feeling for a while before I inevitably wake up depressed again," Teresa said lifting her drink. It was a fruity alcohol poured and mixed into a coconut with a bamboo straw stuck in it to drink out of.
"I'll drink to that," Amai agreed and grabbed her own drink. It was not only delicious but surprisingly cool. Teresa was on her fourth one spread out across the day and hadn't blinked an eye yet but she was from a place where getting a drink without alcohol was far harder then getting one with it.
Amai meanwhile was already contemplating whether it had been wise to get a second one. Teresa may be feeling good but it was just making Amai really sleepy. Her tribe drank rarely and only on special occasions. She had never really developed a taste for the variety of harsh spirits back home but this fruity concoction was delicious. Teresa looked over and grinned at Amai as she stifled a yawn.
"One of those drinkers are you? Come on lets finish these up over by Raiden. At least if you fall asleep there I'll know your safe and sound," Teresa said urging her to get up. Amai climbed to her feet and followed her friend up to the treeline a few meters away where Raiden was sleeping in the shade. They sat down next to him and Amai found herself yawning again.
"I'm not tired I just need a short nap is all," Amai said stubbornly when she caught Teresa staring at her.
"Whatever you need to tell yourself," Teresa said as Amai settled back against Raiden's side. She looked up and watched the clouds drift by through breaks in the leaves overhead.
"Do you think we'll find Shurika?" Amai asked quietly.
"You mean the abyssal lagiacrus we're searching for? Hard to say," Teresa admitted. "My dad always called me realistic, my mom just says I'm a pessimist so keep that in mind when I say this," she warned. Taking a long sip of her drink she leaned forward and stared out over the ocean.
"If they wanted Shurika dead and sold on a black market somewhere then they would have killed her and dressed her carcass right there near the river. Plenty of other monsters to come along and deal with the leftovers and eat the evidence. It would have taken time but far less time then trying to capture her and make their way down river. Even on the water transporting a monster of any kind, much less one her size, always slows you down," Teresa said analyzing the situation. While Amai was already well acquainted with killing and preparing beasts for food she still appreciated that Teresa didn't try to downplay the reality of the situation.
"So for them to go through all this trouble they must want her alive. If they wanted parts to sell then killing her and sending the items down river would have been more efficient. Not to mention it would have been far less complicated hiding bundles of monster parts then an entire angry lagiacrus," Amai said. She dropped her head and sighed to herself.
"Its not a matter of whether Shurika is alive the problem is how much longer she's going to stay that way. Transporting monsters requires special care and attention. No matter how valuable she is sickness and disease could easily get to her if they aren't being careful enough. I mean I already knew that but..." Amai stopped and Teresa looked over with a grim smile.
"But its still reassuring to hear someone else confirm it right?" she pointed out. "One way or another we'll find her. You keep the faith and leave the worrying to me," Teresa said bumping Amai with her shoulder. She started to say something in response but was cut off by another yawn. Teresa laughed and grabbed her drink before Amai could drop it.
"You take a nap here with Raiden while I go do tourist stuff with some of the crew. I'll be back when you wake up, promise. This is the last bit of rest we're going to get. Tomorrow its back to work," Teresa told her. Amai mumbled a thank you and closed her eyes letting the warm sun and the cool ocean breeze lull her to sleep.
"This is not at all what I signed up for," Shiro complained as he squeezed the water out of his long white hair. He had braided it like his sister's black hair but all that was doing was trapping more salt and sea water.
"At least you'll have a story to tell Amai when we see her again," Kurohana pointed out. Shiro knew his sister was likely just manipulating him but still.
"You really think she'd be impressed?" Shiro couldn't help but ask. It had been a long time since he had seen his girlfriend. Letters were nice but he was looking forward to seeing her in person sooner rather then later. Kurohana lifted her eyes from where Akairo was hovering over the ceadeus pulling up the netting so Obake could slice through it with his wings.
"Not only helping a ceadeus but getting in the water with it to cut a net away? Sure this kind of thing is part of the job description but even so I'm sure she'll love hearing about how brave you were," Kurohana said. He ignored the teasing lilt to her voice and peered back over the water.
"Thanks to Akairo and Obake in the sky along with Baburu and me in the water directing them its actually going a lot faster then we anticipated. Shouldn't be more then another hour. Ceadeus could actually go free now that we've removed the net trapping its jaw shut but there is still some wrapped around the horns," Shiro said leaning on the railing. A nearby sailor handed him some lightly grilled and seasoned fish wrapped in flat bread.
"How are you holding up?" Kurohana asked with genuine concern this time as he started to devour the wrap. Shiro shrugged and focused on chewing and eating a bit more first. Once half of it was gone he answered.
"Mostly I'm happy for all the exercise I've been getting. Both voluntary and involuntary. There's no way I would have lasted as long as I have without it. Not even with Baburu's help. Right now I'm tired but not enough that I need to stop for more then a minute or so to rest," Shiro explained.
He was fully aware of the fact that he was a spoiled rich kid, now a spoiled rich adult. He could wield a weapon in a pinch but neither he nor his sister were hunters like Amai or Teresa. His parents had enforced many things but exercise had never been one of them and unfortunately he got his trouble building muscle from his mom's side of the family. Kurohana meanwhile took after their dad and it showed.
"Why aren't you out there? You're the one who goes for a training session with Obake and comes back looking like you've been throwing a great sword around your whole life," Shiro said accusingly. Indeed, Kurohana had gained so much muscle just helping out around the ship that she had to ask him to tailor all her clothes so they would fit better. She looked over and gave him a lazy smirk.
"We can't all be perfect you know," Kurohana drawled. Shiro snorted and took the last few bites of his meal. "At least if you get into trouble Amai is strong enough to carry you off to safety on the back of her zinogre" she added making him choke. He finally coughed and swallowed properly allowing him to glare at the satisfied look on her face. He couldn't exactly disagree with that though. Amai had always been more fit and could certainly run circles around him.
"I'm pretty sure Amai took one look at me when we first met and immediately sized me up as a rich lord's son who had it easy most of his life. I may look pretty but she's certainly not with me for my ability to pretend like I'm some rugged, macho man," Shiro said wiping the crumbs off his hands.
"Self improvement is one thing, but no one wants a person who constantly tries to be someone they aren't. What you are though is a kind man who knows his limitations and who tries his best to save people and dangerous monsters. Now hurry up a storm is incoming," Kurohana said slapping him on the back.
"That actually sounded... wait really?" Shiro stopped and immediately looked up at the clouds suspiciously.
"Captain hasn't been wrong yet. Not a bad one, just rain and choppy seas, but enough that you don't want to still be messing about in the water," Kurohana told him.
"Better get back out there then. Tell the Captain it should be a bit less then an hour until we're finished. Hopefully. Ceadeus has been cooperative so far but that was mostly because they were so worn out from trying to free themselves. Now that more of the net is off our monster is starting to get fidgety and is clearly eager to get moving, probably hungry too," Shiro said. He tied his braid back up so it would stay out of the way and not get caught and then slipped the goggles back up over his eyes.
"You think some food would help? The sailors have been catching fish and pulling up seaweed while we're anchored. Might help keep ceadeus relaxed if they had something to nibble on," Kurohana suggested.
"Certainly worth a try. You catch up with the captain and I'll see if Obake and Akairo can help me hurry this up a little," Shiro told her. After checking over the wetsuit he had been loaned he dived back over the side and let Baburu tow him back over to where the ceadeus was. A small boat rowed alongside them as they approached ceadeus again.
Before Shiro could push off the boat one of the sailors stopped him. He lifted up a hefty pole with a double hook at the end and a curved blade beneath it. Not quite a weapon but certainly close enough if an emergency called for it.
"Captain managed to find this down in the equipment room. Not pretty but still sharp as a razor. Made for cutting tough ship ropes in an emergency when you can't waste time undoing knots or sawing through them. Only had to use it once and hopefully never again," the sailor told him. "This will make short work of whatever ropes are left although you might take off a few patches of the beasts beard. Hook the line, pull it up a bit and then slide the blade against it. Keeps you from cutting anything you shouldn't," they offered. So that's where Captain Zhan had disappeared to during this whole ordeal. Shiro accepted it and tested its weight and heft.
"Thanks this should definitely come in handy," he said gratefully.
"Its wyverian made with weapon decorations and charms along the hilt to enhance the sharpness so don't lose it!" he said in warning.
"Must have cost a lot of zenny," Shiro pointed out but the sailor just laughed and waved him away.
"Nah, it was free. Captain got it in a game of cards from some big shot who couldn't keep his mouth shut. Its more a point of pride then anything," he said with a grin. Shiro promised to keep it safe.
He whistled and Baburu swam over next to him. Shiro adjusted the breathing mask he had specifically for swimming with his partner and checked that the airweed packed into it was still good to go. Once he had a firm grip on his partner's fur Baburu dove swiftly swimming down and under the ceadeus chin. This one was clearly still young. The horns hadn't started to push down over its eyes yet but even so it was still incredibly big. Easily big enough to capsize or destroy an unsuspecting boat.
Shiro pushed off Baburu and used the tool just as the sailor had told him. Hook a line wrapped around the horn and then press the blade against it. With barely any effort the fishing line quickly frayed and then split apart. Impressed Shiro found the lines he needed and made sure work of them. He motioned Baburu to go in and the mizutsune darted forward, grabbing the fishing line and pulling it clear. He shot up to the surface to hand it off to a boat waiting nearby to gather the netting and came back.
Baburu made a lazy circle around Shiro, expelling a bubble that wavered and then drifted to him before popping and infusing his mask with fresh air. It was a technique that allowed mizutsune to make deep dives or journeys. Back home the rivers could drop sharply into deep, unexpected ravines or merged into underwater cave systems that were easy to get lost in. By combining this natural ability with the oxygen storing properties of airweed, Shiro had designed a breathing mask much better then the usual cumbersome tanks one had to carry around.
Shiro took a few breaths first before going back to work. With this new tool it went much faster with Baburu occasionally managing to nudge the ceadeus back up towards the surface so Akairo and Obake could continue helping out again as well. Shiro was getting ready to hook another line and begin cutting away the final lengths of net when ceadus suddenly surged forward and up, jaws snapping. Startled he swam up as one horn cut through the water underneath him. Turning around he saw fish being tossed into the water from one of the nearby boats. So that's what it was.
Thankfully the ceadeus quickly realized that if they waited then more fish would come miraculously down from the surface towards them. Shiro sighed in relief and after his rapidly beating heart had slowed down he went back to pulling and slicing fishing line off while the ceadeus lazily swung its head back and forth catching fish.
Aside from a snort or two it ignored them in favor of the fish being thrown. Ceadeus was closer to the surface now allowing Akairo to help by grabbing the loose parts of the net with his feet and pull it up so Obake could slice through it with his wings. With them working on one side and Shiro on the other with Baburu dragging the cut pieces away it went a lot more quickly.
Finally Shiro hooked the last piece, wrapped around the horn and caught on a tooth. Carefully he tugged it earning a snort from the ceadeus as its head drifted over to look at him better. Baburu was hovering behind him, ready to jump in and get Shiro out of harms way in a hurry if necessary.
Easy now, Shiro thought as he pulled on the netting again just enough to slide the blade under it. A few quick movements and it was drifting free. Baburu cautiously swam in to tug it away before darting back to Shiro. He grabbed one of Baburu's head fins gently and hung on as they headed a safer distance away. Looking back Shiro watched as the ceadeus let out a deep groan and turned its head back and forth, twisting this way and that to make sure the fishing net was really all gone.
Baburu turned and headed up to the surface where the boats were waiting. By now they were used to the mizutsune randomly popping his head up and didn't startle when he appeared now. Shiro took his goggles and breathing mask off as Baburu handed the last piece of fishing net off.
"All finished. Our friend should be free to go now," Shiro said only to hear a roar behind him. Twisting around he saw Akairo hovering over the water seemingly calling to the ceadeus who rumbled and tossed its head out of the water. Akairo turned and circled the boat that had been tossing fish before calling to ceadus again and heading off to the southeast. After a moment of hesitation the ceadeus turned to follow, its large body sending waves out that jostled the boats as it went by.
"What's that rathalos got in his head now?" one of the sailors asked. Shiro was wondering the same thing. One sailor however was frowning and staring off towards the pair as Akairo led it away.
"Wasn't that where we saw the fish swarm gathering earlier?" the sailor asked looking back to the others.
"Is it? Could be. We'll let the researchers figure it out. We need to get back on board the ship," another reminded them. Still as Baburu swam back to the ship Shiro couldn't help but turn and look. Both had faded into the distance somewhat but it seemed like Akairo had stopped and was circling something. The ship had lowered a ramp in back, allowing Baburu to safely climb aboard while the boats were reattached to the sides of the massive ship and hauled up out of the water. Once Shiro was back on deck he went to the railing where a few of the wyverian researchers were gathered and excitedly talking to each other.
"Just as Hassin reported!"
"He led the ceadeus right there!"
"We have to make note of this right away!"
"Totally unprecedented!"
Shiro side eyed them before looking at his sister curiously for an explanation.
"Akairo lead the ceadeus right to a swarm of fish that was spotted earlier and now its feeding to get its strength back up. Apparently today's events are a huge moment proving the theory that' cross species empathy' is possible in more then just a tiny number of monsters," Kurohana explained. "Not just understanding that another monster is suffering but understanding what that suffering is like and being motivated to do something to help... its a big deal," she added.
They watched as the ceadeus breached the water jaws snapping shut around a mouthful of fish before it went crashing back down again.
"Beautiful sight to see isn't it? A monster in their natural habitat, not hurting anyone but just going about their business. Until humans come along that is," Shiro said wryly. Kurohana didn't answer, her eyes were fixed on Akairo.
"He really is special isn't he?" she said. Only this time she sounded more thoughtful then skeptical.
"He was raised by a special person," Shiro answered. Kurohana hummed and continued watching him.
"I've been suspicious of him for a while now but at every turn he keeps proving me wrong. Its so easy to think of rathalos as just big, angry wyverns who rule the skies like kings jealously guarding their territory. Its easy to generalize them and miss everything else. Only see how they can hurt us or benefit us and nothing in between. Maybe that's what cost the ancient civilization and brought on the Great Dragon War," Kurohana considered.
"Then lets hope that we can learn to do better. Guild Scouts aren't just here to save people but monsters as well. I know mom and dad were skeptical, especially without us being hunters, but I'm glad we came," Shiro told her. She nodded in agreement.
"Come on, lets help get that fishing net bundled up and put out of the way. The Captain will want to be on the way again soon," Kurohana reminded him.
"Yeah I'm coming," Shiro said but he stood there for a few minutes longer watching as Akairo scared fish together so the ceadeus would have an easier time grabbing them.
Shurika hissed as she felt the ropes loosen around her head and upper neck.
"No worries girl its me again," a familiar voice told her. Now able to turn her head, Shurika turned and saw the same brown skinned human who had been looking out for her so far. She didn't know his name and hadn't bothered to remember it. He may be helpful but she still didn't trust him entirely.
He had snuck off a few times to make contact with the Guild, sending and receiving message birds. But the messages had stopped now that they were farther out to sea. Shurika could smell the saltwater through the windows they opened for her but she remained trapped here inside the ship. Tied down and captured.
"Sorry its been a while since I came by. Captain had me on other duties and I couldn't refuse without making them suspicious. Seems you've been giving them a hard enough time that they decided to put me back on. Can't say I'm complaining but the ship doctor has had his hands full with bite marks and electric burns," he said as he slid chunks of meat towards her to eat.
"Convinced them that catching fresh fish would keep you healthier on the trip so we caught some big ones and sliced them up for you. Hope you aren't picky," he said sliding another piece across the floor for her to grab. Shurika didn't particularly care for sharq meat, it was a bit too bitter but at least it was food and they weren't starving her. Too valuable to get damaged apparently.
"One more week... uh... seven more suns and we'll be at Reaper's Coast. Secret cave hollow instead of the usual port though. There you'll be offloaded and I'll be able to get another message out an hopefully meet with a Guild contact. We'll be bringing on new crew so I'm hoping to sneak them in. Once we know for sure where you're heading we'll be able to make concrete plans to break you out and get you home," he explained.
Shurika considered that. She would wait and see what this new Guild member had in mind, but she wasn't going to depend on them to get her out. If she saw a chance to break free, especially while they were still near the water then she was taking it. They had replaced her bonds with ones that absorbed and channeled electricity away from her. She wasn't sure where it went but it didn't matter. They weren't taking any chances. A few minutes of freedom to eat and stretch her limbs every day was all she got before being tied down again.
"We'll get you free. I promise. One way or another," the man vowed. Shurika snorted and gave him a cool look. They'd just have to wait and see about that.
