Tobias and Rex sounded older now, and Tobias' happy nature was slowly being stomped on. He sounded less and less relived to see her after every morning. He insisted she stay in the closet all the time, still bringing her food and water despite not knowing if she was even eating.

"Maybe if you were a Bunchling like us, you might be able to come too." He shut the door.

"I must be a Bunchling too." She had formed a thought, taking herself by surprise. It had been almost three years since she had first met Tobias, and that was the first time she had ever thought something. "I need to find a way out of here."

She moved to the door, and applied pressure to it as a way to try and open it. It didn't budge. She moved back to her cushion, defeated.

"I'll just wait for Tobias to return...But what do I do until then?"

The passage of time seemed much slower than it had been before, now that she was alone with her thoughts. She paced around the closet, knocking something over.

She waited, in silence, until the door opened again. Tobias touched her gently.

"I'm back. The elder had died recently, and now Rex is in charge. He's been acting strange recently as well, and I think it may be your doing."

"Rex is upset? My doing? What did I do to upset him?"

He sighed. "He's been able to use magic lately, dark magic. And it was only after his hand healed. He's impressive, for certain, but it's not right. The Bunchlings have never been able to use magic before, and this might tear the Bunchlings apart. Do you want to know what he called our little group now?"

"What is it? Please, I must know!"

"I guess you can't really answer. Or even hear me."

"Tobias? I can hear you. I'm answering you. Tobias, are you alright?"

He snickered weakly. "But I'll tell you anyways, just in case. He called us the Elder Bunch. Strange, hm?"

"I don't think it's strange. I find it to be quite clever. Because he is the elder now, and it's his bunch of Bunchlings. It's clever wordplay, I think."

"But I need to head to bed. Rex is still suspicious of me, and if he finds you in here, I'm going to be punished. Goodnight, my dear."

He tapped his head to her. He'd explained that motion to her before, it was his way of showing her affection. He hadn't done it in a long time, and she was washed anew with happiness knowing that he still cared for her.

"You still need a name. I'm sure something will come to me, eventually." He shut the door, leaving her alone with her thoughts once again.

"I need to help Tobias be happy again. He's not himself anymore."

She nudged the door, it opening. She made her way to Tobias. He pushed her back into the closet.

"I'm sorry, but you can't come out anymore." He slammed the door shut.

"Tobias...?"