Chapter 34: A Possible Plan
Later on, into the night, when the party was calming down and people were beginning to clean up and go to sleep, Isobel met up with Tira and Aneza.
"How did it go?" She asked.
Tira smiled, knowing that she was talking about Julien. "My family loved him! You better watch out, someone is gonna snatch him up."
Aneza playfully shoved her. "Don't listen to her, he only has eyes for you."
"Maybe so." Isobel smiled as well. But her mind drifted to a newcomer she had seen earlier in the day. "Who is the woman with Topaz?"
Tira and Aneza exchanged looks, and Isobel could already this woman was not well liked.
Tira rolled her eyes back over to Isobel. "Her nombre is Chimera. She showed up at the same time as Topaz."
Isobel tilted her head a little. Why were there so many newcomers? Clopar, Topaz, Katia, now this Chimera…
It was too suspicious for Isobel.
"Have you heard of anyone called Clopar?"
The two girls nodded, and Aneza said, "He's reclusive, I see Topaz and Chimera with him sometimes."
Isobel's expression changed. That made her feel ill.
What is he planning? She thought to herself.
Tira noticed Isobel's expression. "You okay, chica?"
Isobel flicked her gaze back to Tira. "Yes. I have to go now."
She went off in search of her group. Ajihad and Sequoyah had told them that they were more than welcome to sleep in the village for the night.
The penguins had chosen a low tree with a good "nest" between the branches. It was plenty of room for them, and Jack even took up shelter in the branches above them. He was sleeping already.
Skipper tossed and turned a few times. He had had fun, and Talamaru was better than he expected.
As he rolled onto his back, he noticed how some of the moss on the tree glowed in the dark.
He raised his eyebrows a little, and looked over to see if Kowalski was still awake.
But the scientist was fast asleep. Skipper decided he could tell him about it in the morning.
Skipper tapped the ends of his flippers on his belly. He was thinking about the Heart of the Earth.
He wondered how close it could be. He would have to consult the papers Alistair had given him again.
This was a mission that he wanted to just get over with, because then he could stop worrying about it.
"Skipper?" Isobel had climbed up their tree and was sitting at the edge of their nest.
"Oh, hey." Skipper said quietly as he sat up. "Mikhailov and Ringtail are over there somewhere."
Isobel nodded. "Thanks. Was Talamaru what you had hoped for?"
"It's great here." Skipper told her. "The sheikh is a nicer guy than I expected, and the boys like it here too. I can see why you missed it so much."
Isobel smiled a little, but then she looked down. "Clopar might be planning something."
"What?" Skipper furrowed his brow and scooted closer to Isobel. "What makes you say that?"
"Tira and Aneza have seen Topaz and Clopar together." Isobel explained, keeping her voice low. "It could be nothing. They are both outsiders, and-"
Skipper raised his eyebrows now. "Well you and I both know Clopar doesn't chat, doll face. I'll keep a sharp eye out, and stay away from him."
Isobel nodded. "I know. But I still do not think it is anything to worry about. Topaz is serious, not evil."
Skipper sighed. "You don't know him that well, Isobel, remember?"
"I will be careful." Isobel promised as she climbed back down the tree.
Skipper was about to lay back down, but then he leaned over the edge of the tree.
"Have you ever heard of the Heart of the Earth?"
Isobel looked back up at him quizzically, and shook her head. Then she was gone. :.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.
Isobel found Mikhailov and Julien where she and her Firebird had slept a couple nights before.
She quietly laid down between both of them.
They were both fast asleep, and Isobel folded her hands beneath her head as she too tried to fall asleep.
One of her final thoughts was about what the elders had warned her uncle about when she helped the Trorix.
"Creator…or destroyer."
Super short, kind of a filler chapter, sorry about that! But hey, you got two chapters in one day. Things should pick back up next chapter.