Ever since the incident with the Cat Kingdom Baron hasn't smiled (not really). It was hard, but if you looked close enough (you could see the cracks where he wondered) you could tell that something wasn't right.
But only if you looked.
Oh, he still acted right. (but that was all it was) He still helped others, made tea (that didn't taste right. ever.) and gave the world's best advice.
But something was off.
It seemed sometimes like he was on autopilot (everything passing him by) and not quite all there….
And sometimes (oh, yes, only sometimes) he disappeared for days.
They worried for him (always had, Baron had never looked after himself properly. too busy helping others) because he was worse then ever now, running himself ragged looking for people that needed someone.
(anything, anyone, any cause, would do)
It was in his eyes (aching and tired and somehow faded), they always seemed to be searching for something.
It was in the light show and how it suddenly was(n't dancing across the Refuge's windows –all glittershine-) not there.
But most of all, the tea didn't taste (of sunlight, hope, and that unshakeable faith that things would always be fine in the end) right.
Who knew that one human (you know the one, Haru.) could cause so much trouble?
Because she never visits us (we're sure she has her reasons. we just wish we knew them).
And we miss her, really, we do (if she was here, maybe the tea would taste right again).
But Baron's the worst.
He usually is.