Shortly after boarding the airship, Kaela retreats beneath decks, and finds her way into a dark, underused supply closet tucked away off of a stateroom. Closing the door behind her, she slumps to the ground and drops her head into her hands.

Envoy slips belowdecks shortly afterward, and walks down the companionway whispering Kaela's name…

Kaela doesn't move. She's upset with Envoy, and is busy crying, anyway.

Envoy whispers, "Kaela?" at every door. She isn't sure exactly why the kitten is so agitated, and that in turn disturbs her.

Kaela shifts her position slightly, dislodging a mop that had been standing at one side of the closet. It clatters against the floor noisily.

Envoy's ears perk at the sound, and she decides to investigate… even though she figures it's just the rocking of the ship causing something to shift. She enters the room where she thinks the sound came from, and notices the closet door.

Kaela squeezes her eyes shut, and edges a little further into a corner.

Envoy sits down outside the door, and whispers, "If you're in there, Kaela, I'll be waiting outside. Just tap or scratch if you want to talk… "

Kaela pauses for a few minutes. Finally, she moves over and hesitantly taps her blunt claws at the edge of the door.

Envoy opens the door a crack, and peeks inside.

Envoy says, "Are you alright now?"

Kaela swallows a little bit, looking up at Envoy. The light glimmers over her tearstreaked cheekfur. She shakes her head, snuffling softly.

Envoy opens her arms to the kit, and smiles.

Kaela reaches up towards Envoy, but doesn't move from her spot in the closet.

Envoy crawls into the closet, and hugs Kaela. "I'm sorry things have gone so hard lately."

Kaela presses in close against Envoy, sniffing. She moves one free hand out where Envoy can see it, and labriously works her way through a phrase in formal sign. "Why wouldn't you help me?"

Envoy kneads the scruff of Kaela's neck. "I thought your request was rash, and dangerous to yourself and your family."

Envoy says, "And you were angry."

Kaela cries quietly. "Everything's falling apart… everyone knows about the city now… we'll… never have a safe place to go… unless Jezebel wins… and then it'll all just happen again… "

Envoy says, "Jezebel won't win. You'll have the city, after all, and the twelve times twelve shamans."

Envoy says, "People will only follow Jezebel out of fear. Many believe in you for who you are."

Kaela shakes her head. "Everyone knows I'm here… I'll have to go back… and they'll all know the city is safe… "

Envoy says, "Nobody knows where this ship is going. The City is quarantined, after all."

Kaela signs, "But everyone on the ship… "

Envoy says, "They don't seek the City itself, only information about a legendary island they want to find."

Envoy fingers the tag around Kaela's neck. "You aren't even really a slave anymore."

Kaela rubs at her nosepad for a bit. "I can't stay, can I? I mean… after taking care of Jezebel… "

Envoy snugs Kaela more, "You seek out wiser minds at the City, so you don't have to be so burdened with things until you are ready to take your place. To stay or return will be your decision."

Kaela nods a little bit, just snuggled in close. After a little while she signs, "You don't think… Jezebel would hurt Mama, would she?"

Envoy pauses and considers. "She shouldn't have reason to. She may have taken her only to upset you, or to try and keep you from going back to the City of Hands."

Envoy says, "Whatever her reason, it shows that she fears you, I think."

Kaela nods a few times. "I'll stop her," she promises.

Envoy scritches behind Kaela's ears. "I think that Janus will try to kill Jezebel if he can."

Kaela wrinkles her nosepad a bit. "I don't trust him."

Envoy says, "He holds his own goals above all else, and that at least makes him predictable."

Envoy says, "There are secrets within the City that can make anyone wealthy and powerful."

Kaela nods a few times. "That's why I'm worried… with so many knowing about them… " She shrugs softly. "It would be best if we just vanished," she signs.

Envoy says, "Others would be sent to find out what happened to us then. Don't worry, I think I am the only one that can use the Map Chamber correctly… and I answer to you on how that information will be used."

Kaela nods slowly. "an… can I fix things, without everyone else knowing?"

Envoy tilts her head to see Kaela's face better, "I don't understand what you mean."

Kaela amends the question. "Can we make everyone else think the City is still… " But she pauses, then smiles a little bit. "I guess I could make them think whatever I wanted them to think, with the Twelve-times-Twelve… "

Envoy says, "The City will be under quarantine for at least another century, just because of the Map Chamber."

Kaela nods slowly. "That should be enough time… "

Envoy says, "I wish I were wiser, so I could counsel you better. But I am younger than you, and only have other people's memories instead of true experience. But I am always clear-headed, if that will help."

Kaela nods a little bit, snuggled in close. "Thank you," she signs.

Envoy looks out of the closet. "This stateroom seems unoccupied. Do you want to stay here, or share one with Azhtar?"

Kaela looks up at Envoy, signing, "Can I stay with you?"

Envoy says, "I will stay with you, if you want. I don't sleep much, and can watch the door."

Kaela smiles a little bit. "Thank you," she signs, gently snuggling back in and closing her eyes.

Envoy leans back against the bulkhead, and wraps her wings around herself and Kaela. After a while, she begins to purr.

Kaela purrs faintly as well, lulled by Envoy's gentle thrumming and drifting to sleep.

Envoy smiles again, and reviews the astronomy charts she memorized in the Temple library while her Princess sleeps.