When Pheda awoke the next morning, she was in her own bed, in her own house. She yawned, stretched, then remembered the events of the day before. A grin spread over her face, and she practically ran from her room.
Everlynh was sitting at the table just outside the kitchen, a steaming bowl of grits sitting before her, and an identical bowl across from her. Pheda took her seat, and snatched her spoon.
Everlynh, though, set down her utensil on the table, and was silent for a few moments. "Um. . . Miss Kint?"
Pheda looked up, her mouth full of grits, and her bowl nearly empty already. "Hmm?"
She swallowed quickly. "Yes, Everlynh?"
"Where are you going?"
"How did you know I" - Everlynh nodded at the empty bowl - "Oh," Pheda said. She dropped her spoon inside the dish, and met the girl's eyes. "Do you really need to know?"
"I'm just curious," Everlynh said softly, squirming a little. "I didn't mean to offend you."
Pheda's heart melted, and she sighed. "Oh, child. I'm not offended, I'm just. . . oh, it's hard to explain. You see, several years ago, New Berk was attacked by a group of raiders. They stole away many, and few families were left unbroken. Ever since they left, I've been searching for them - the Missing, they're called. For almost all of the time between then and now, Honest - my Night Light friend - and I have found nothing. Then we found Nuffink, by some miracle, and a few months later, you. And yesterday, well, we found something that could be of great importance. It's in code, though."
'Pheda,' whispered a voice in her mind. 'Pheda, are you coming?'
Yes, Pheda answered. Just a little held up. I'll be right there. She refocused on Everlynh. "Okay, I'm sorry, but I need to go now. I'll try to explain the whole thing to you later."
Without waiting for an answer, Pheda left.
On my way right now, Honest, she said as soon as she was outside.
Within moments, she received an answer. 'Okay. Good. Zephyr and I are waiting at the house. See ya there.'
Pheda nodded, and jogged faster.
0.o.0.o.0.o.0.o.0.o.0
Everlynh watched, crestfallen, as Miss Kint rushed off. She slumped against the back of her chair. It's like no one cares about me. No one at all.
Mrs. Envel stuck her head out of the kitchen, and upon seeing the girl, came all the way out. Seemingly reading the child's mind, she said, "Oh, Ever, it's not what you think. Miss Kint is simply a very busy woman."
Everlynh pushed away her bowl of grits. Suddenly, she wasn't hungry anymore. Without saying a word, she got up, and left the table, moving quickly away, down the hall, to her bedroom. Mrs. Envel sighed as she watched her go.
Everlynh sat down hard onto her bed, and closed her eyes as her mind struggled to puzzle out Miss Kint's words. Her wispy hair hung about her face, stubbornly resisting all attempts at putting it into some kind of order. When she couldn't come up with anything, she groaned, opening her eyes, then scowling as she pushed hairs from her range of vision.
"Oh come on," she muttered to herself. "Think, Ever. Think."
Another minute, and she let out a growl of exasperation. "Oh, it's HOPELESS!"
She shook her head. "I'll have to wait for Miss Kint. No, I can't. She'll just run out of time again. I'll go find her. Right now."
Everlynh brightened considerably at the prospect. She jumped to her feet. "Yes. That's what I'll do."