Kaia writes a rune for protection on the back of the necklace and leaves it with the human man after the storm passes. There'd been a touch of familiar magic in the howling wind, and she wonders if Jazlee's storm had been intentional. It wouldn't be surprising if it wasn't; their magic's been so unstable lately, but magic is what they are, and if there's something wrong with it, then that means there's something wrong with them.

Could that mean that Jazlee's been hearing voices too?

Thinking thoughts that don't make sense but unable to remember why?

Dreaming of something just out of reach?

But… Jazlee hasn't said anything-

You haven't either.

This time she accepts what the voice says. Because Kaia needs answers, now more than ever. She had hoped her second walk on land could help her find them, but it had left her with more questions that'd been buried under fear and anxiety.

And if she's truly being honest with herself, she's also been hiding from everything too. Ignoring the voice, refusing to think about the dreams, accepting when she can't remember. She's been treating all of these like they're questions, but maybe they're the answers she's looking for.

She waits for Jazlee at their spot, but she never shows that night.

Or the next.

Or the one after that.

And before she knows it, Kaia hasn't seen Jazlee for more than two weeks.