Kay, it took a bit but here it is. Don't worry, I won't disapear. I may btake a whi.e (not 3 years though or even one or a few months, just a few weeks maybe) cause of life but I'm gonna try to get better about that too.

Chapter 7

Sepia looked into the cradle, rocking it gently. She began to sing and old Mistmantle lullaby and Tide hiccuped softly.

"Hurry, Fingal," Sepia murmured. "Please." Needle burst in.

"How is he?" she asked.

"He's…"

"Answer will you?" Needle snapped.

Sepia closed her eyes. "He's not any better." Needle had been on edge for quite a while, worried sick about poor Tide. Sepia stared into the crib, hoping that Fingal would make it back soon. Hope was all they had left.

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Fingal scrambled to where Reed was. She was sitting on a rock, scanning the area. "I found a pool over that way," he panted.

"The one surrounded by reeds?" she asked. When he nodded, she sighed. "Yeah, I already looked. No luck."

He sighed. "Is there anything near by?"

"Well…" Reed looked hesitant.

"What?" Fingal looked at her. "Reed, we can't pick and choose here."

She groaned. "Okay. It's full of otters, Fingal."

He stiffened. Last time they saw a group of otters, it ended up very bad. "We have to try," he said stubbornly.

She sighed and started away. "Okay, follow me." She loped up a hill, Fingal following. She led him through a meadow then up another hill.

Getting exasperated, Fingal asked, "How far away is it?"

"Just up here." Once at the top of the hill, she pointed. "There."

The group of otters was smaller. He saw no tents this time, which was an upside. "Okay," he said. "Let's go." He bolted down the hill, Reed following.

The otters stopped and looked up as they joined. Some of the otters had red streaks painted on their cheeks and some had blue. Curious, Fingal approached slowly. "Hi," he said. "We were just hoping for a drink…"

But they weren't looking at him. All eyes were fixed on Reed. "Kala!" one cried. An otter wit red streaks ran to her and brushed her muzzle against Reed's cheek.

"Uh…" Reed hesitated. "Hi…"

"You remember me don't you? You babysat me!" the otter said happily.

"I'm not Kala," Reed said, pulling away. "My name is Reed."

Whispers went through the crowd. "Oh," said the otter. "Oh… I'm sorry. You look just like my friend Kala…"

Reed cleared her throat. "I, uh, I don't know who Kala is…"

But Fingal did. His stomach lurched. "Kala… Kala was your mom, Reed…"

Silence filled the clearing as she stared at him. "No… My mom's Jayna… of Mistmantle…"

"No, Reed… During Husk's rampage, your mom and dad died protecting you. Jayna and Kyle took you in…"

She took several steps back. "You knew…."

"Reed… I wanted to tell you. Padra said to leave it… I wanted to tell you…"

She shook her head and bolted off.

Many eyes turned to him and the otter that had greeted Reed ran after her, leaving Fingal behind. "Don't worry boy," said an otter with blue streaks. "She'll be back."

That wasn't what was bothering him. Will she want to live in a place that lied to her or a place that her mom grew up in?

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Sorry it wasn't longer but I wanted to leave a cliff hanger, *evil laugh*. I'll add to it soon! I am writing more as I type this!!!! :D