Here we go! Catching up with the rest of the crew!
After warning the exiled village and having them evacuate into various tunnels, Okia led Lody and Char on. Angea had to stay behind, she could not stray further from her tree without serious consequences. She threatened the kids within an inch of their lives if she didn't see them well and soon- "You will look after yourselves and each other, or by the stars, I will spend the rest of my life putting bugs in your beds."
"We'll be good, Angea." Okia promised. "But only if you look after yourself too."
Bibi was still out cold, but Okia refused to put her down. Time was short, she kept saying, they couldn't stop. Lody wasn't sure how long they trekked through the dirt and the dark. Char had fallen asleep on her shoulder, his flames spluttering a multitude of colours dimly.
"Is he OK?" Lody asked. Okia glanced back, standing on tip toe to see her brother's head.
"He's just getting his head round what happened. Sleep is the best way for him to do it."
"Is that a thing for imps?"
"Generally just fire imps, especially when they're younger. Depends on what's happened." She turned forward again, punching forward. The tunnel expanded onwards, the rocks from in front flying back to fill the way they had just come. Lody felt a tug on her hair, heard Char mumble in his sleep. Seeing her brother's fingers entwined in a lock of Lody's hair, she grimaced. "Oh, sorry. We love fluffy stuff."
"I know, Bibi told me. I don't mind." She shrugged her free shoulder. "Will, um… will Bibi be OK?"
"I don't know." Okia sighed. "She's been… she's been Deprived." Her voice cracked. She cleared her throat, picked up the pace a little.
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault."
"But the Marks-"
"Everyone gets their Marks. We can't help who it goes to."
They walked on. Char slept for most of it, burrowing his hands in Lody's hair like a comfort blanket. Even the noise of his sister's excavations wouldn't wake him. At Lody's surprise, Okia half-laughed. "He can sleep through anything. You holding up OK?"
"I'm not used to walking for so long." Lody admitted. Her legs felt like logs, her arms were beginning to ache with the weight of the child. She wanted to ask how Okia was faring with Bibi, nearly offered to swap, though she doubted she'd take Bibi's weight without collapsing. Okia had stopped before she could, examining the ceiling.
"Not much further." She said, smiling grimly. "We're on the outskirts of the town."
"How will you find your uncle?"
"He's pretty well known in the town. Mama said he's a really powerful earth imp. I've always wanted to meet him, but… I just wish it was under better circumstances." They finished the walk in silence, the last stretch uphill to reach ground level. Okia's tunnel opened into a pass under a bridge. She set Bibi down, sitting her up against the wall. "Stay here, I'll go and find him. I'll be as quick as I can." Lody nodded, sinking to sit next to Bibi. She lay Char in her lap, patting him on the back. Okia nodded once and ran off.
Lody looked at Bibi. Her beautiful blue marks were fading. Along her arms, they were as black as the night sky. Dark grey up her neck, it was beginning to affect her face too. Lody had been too scared to ask what happened if they all went black.
She tucked her arm around Bibi's shoulders, resting the imp's head on her shoulder.
"Please hurry, Okia."
Okia had never seen so many earth imps in one place before, nor had she been in a town this big. Her village contained maybe less than thirty people. She saw thirty people around one table, throwing cards and dice at each other.
"Fresh fish, get your fresh fish here!" The market sprawled to her left, caught between two rows of houses and shops. Okia hurried over. "Young lady, you look like you need a salmon!"
"Um, maybe later. I'm looking for Erseus. Do you know where I could find him please?"
"Ah, you know Ers, eh?"
"I don't have time for details, sorry. Where is he?"
"His home is down this street, take the right at the end by the fountain and it's the one with the blue door."
"Thank you!" Okia beamed, turning away.
"Make sure you buy some salmon next time!" The merchant yelled after her. Okia waved, weaving through the crowds as quickly as she could. It was too crowded, she decided. Too many people refused to budge, but she eventually made it to the end of the street.
"Fountain." She spotted, looking right. Four houses down, there was the blue door. A dark haired boy, about her age, sat on the steps, reading, a grey streak in his hair glinting silver, like his marks, in the sunlight. Okia ran over. "Hey!" She called. The boy startled to his feet, grey eyes panicked, slamming his book shut. Okia stumbled to a halt before him, one foot on the bottom step, taking a moment to catch her breath. "Is Erseus in?" The boy said nothing, backing up the last step and pushing the door open.
"Dad?" He called over his shoulder. "Dad!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming. What's up, Vie?" A tall, lean earth imp came out, smiling and patting his son on the head. He had the same dark hair, the same grey streak. Okia perked up seeing his eyes- sea green. He noticed her then, smiling dimming slightly with confusion. "Hello." He said.
"Tio Erseus?" She asked. His eyes widened.
"Wait… you're… you're Okia. Right?" She nodded. "Vie, go in." He gently ushered his son indoors. He pulled the door shut, coming down the steps to lay a hand on her shoulder. "Does Isa know you're here?"
"Mama said to come and find if she and Papi weren't around."
"Weren't around?" He repeated quietly. "What's happened?" Okia shook her head.
"I need to get back to Bibi and Char."
"I'll come with you, lead on."
It was easier getting back through the market with Erseus at her side. The crowd parted for him, smiling and waving, saying hello's. Erseus was just as friendly back, apologising for rushing off. They made it back to the tunnel in a third of the time it took her to get to him. He stopped short upon seeing Lody. "Um, Okia, why-?" Okia began to explain, kneeling at her sister's side, shaking her shoulder gently. Char woke up halfway through, immediately bursting into tears and calling for his parents. Lody tried to soothe him, but panicked when his hair became complete fire, a nauseous green.
"Char, it's alright." Okia hopped over to him, still in a crouch. "It'll be alright." She promised. "Look who I found." Char, thick tears dribbling down his cheeks, found Erseus. "Mama's brother. Remember, she told us about him?"
"Rock Man?" He asked, sniffing. Erseus laughed.
"Rock Man?"
"That's how Char remembers you, sorry."
"No, I love it!" Erseus approached, sitting beside Bibi. Char's fire dimmed a little, turning a curious orange. He sat quietly in his sister's arms while their uncle sighed and checked Bibi over. "Right, I'm going to have to take you back to mine. I know a healer, maybe he's got some ideas."
"What about Lody? We can't walk a fairy through town."
"No more walking." Lody pleaded. "I can't feel my legs."
"She could shrink down, I guess. Maybe hide in a pocket or something?"
"Rude." Lody wrinkled her nose at him.
"Got any better ideas?"
"Mm… not really." She sighed. "Fine, but I don't approve of this." With a burst of disgruntled pink sparkles, she shrank into her glowing orb form. Okia opened one side of her jacket and the orb disappeared into an inside pocket. Erseus shed his jacket, draping it around Bibi, shaking his head.
"I can tell your Isa's kids- really short."
"Excuse me, life or death situation."
"Sorry." He shook his head again, picking Bibi up on his back. Okia helped loop her sister's arms around his neck. Char stuck his foot out, batting the sole of his shoe on Erseus's arm. "Um… what's he doing?"
"Sorry, fire imps like to fight people touching their stuff. Except, he's six, so he's not sure how he's supposed to fight you." Erseus laughed.
"Little man, I'm here to help." Char pouted distrustfully. "We'll work on it."