Preparations have been underway for the Crystal Breeze to return to Rephidim before going back along its trading route. Meanwhile, the students have been given free reign over the inn and its facilities. This particular morning is filled with a certain anticipation, everyone is going home.

Silhouette seems more quiet than usual, while Skiree has been her average bouncy self – Until she was called to Latania's room for some unknown reason. Several hours have gone by and she has yet to be seen again. As the young shadow mage, Rory returns from breakfast he sees that she is still gone. Although her bags are packed. Mister Porky is conspicuously absent from his normal resting place.

Rory frowns worriedly. "Skiree?" he calls out, though she's nowhere in sight, trusting in bat ears to pick up his voice if they're anywhere nearby. He looks around. "Has anybody seen Skiree?"

No Answer. Silhouette rises out from the shadow of the bed. "She came in and packed her bags… and then left. I was sleeping at the time so I didn't notice very much."

Rory says, "I'm worried, Silhouette. I don't think Latania likes her very much. Can you help me look for her?"

Silhouette nods. "Where should we go to look?"

Rory says, "Where? Wherever … wherever you'd find a bat who likes candy, I guess. Well, she has to eat sometime. Perhaps you can keep watch on the bar. I'll … " He gulps, considering the most direct option. "I'll see if Mage Latania is busy."

A fist sized bug lands on the ledge of the window outside. It peers inside and then zips off in search of breakfast.

Rory staggers back. "My! They come BIG here! I had sort of expected the bugs would be smaller this far north… "

Silhouette looks out the door nervously. "There's so many people downstairs… " She's never been all that good with crowds.

Rory nods. "Okay. You … look around in places where there aren't too many people. Maybe the attic … and make sure she doesn't come back here when I'm gone without me knowing. I'll … I'll stop talking and just start looking. Thank you." He waves to his friend and heads out the door.

Latania currently is residing in a penthouse upstairs, she's been absent for most of the past few days on a shopping excursion… but is back now.

The unicorn clip-clops up the stairs, seeking out the door to Latania's quarters.

The Cervani's door is slightly open, soft humming can be heard from inside.

Rory knocks on the door. "Mage Latania? I'm sorry to bother you… "

"Yes?" Comes the voice inside. "Come in… just don't touch anything."

Rory takes a deep breath, sucking in his gut, trying to slip in through the door without touching the door or the doorway, as if he were stepping through a deadly trap in an archaeological site, some long forgotten and forbidden temple containing lost treasures … and a nasty monster who might bite his head off if he does anything wrong.

The penthouse is grotesquely decadent. Something you'd expect to be used on visiting royalty. The room is festooned with zolk, and there is actually carpet underfoot. The air has a pungent aroma of some gaudy perfume, and packages sit piled up on every table and chair in the room. Latania herself sits on the bed, a novel of some sort rests in her hands.

Rory's curiosity gets the better of him, and he tries to peek at the title.

"Captive Heart" Is the name of the novel. The cover has an inked picture of a Cervani doe swooning in the arms of dark Lion-kattha pirate.

Latania lays her book down. "Now then, I'm a very busy woman. And you should be packing to leave right now. What do you want?"

Rory fidgets, then says, "Where is Skiree? I haven't seen her for a while, and I'm worried about her."

"She received a message from Ashod last night. I delivered it to her this morning and have not seen her since I dismissed her." the doe replies.

Rory's jaw drops. "She left … without saying goodbye?"

Latania removes a pair of spectacles from her nose. "She has not gone anywhere yet to my knowledge."

Rory says, "Oh? Well … " He looks around, as if he had a chance of spotting her playing 'Hide and Go Squeak' in this very room. "I'm sorry, Mage Latania. I was just worried. I'll leave you alone now."

The Cervani picks up her book and begins reading again, "Mind you don't slam the door on your way out."

Rory nods and carefully slips out of the room the same way as he came in, breathing a sigh at escaping from the Pit of Very Dangerous Things, though without the Treasure of the Ancients or anything neat like that.

A pair of students, a Rath'ani and an Aquilan walk past Rory. They chat quietly to one another.

Rory frets, then dares to interject, "Have you seen Skiree? A small brown Eeee, about this tall, loves candy, an Apprentice Scryer?"

"Didn't we see an Eee downstairs?" The raccoon asks his companion. The Aquilan rubs his cheek with a wing-hand, and then shrugs.

Rory nods. "Thank you. I'll go check." He rushes back down the stairs. "Skiree?"

Still no answer. The sounds of patrons from the bar below filter up.

Rory keeps heading down the stairs, determinedly looking about for any sign of the bat, asking everyone he passes if they've seen a particular little apprentice.

The Aeonan finds himself on the bottom floor. There's not as much of a 'crowd' as Silhouette seemed to fear. Just a couple of Vartans finishing off their breakfast and some Jupani playing cards at a table. In the back of the room, the Grakar pit sits closed until evening in the back of the room. Two little brown triangular shapes peek out from around the other side of the railing of the pit.

Rory gets a hopeful look on his face. He heads over toward the pit. "Skiree? Is that you?"

Skiree sits quietly, hugging her stuffed toy tightly to her chest. She nods and wipes her cheek against her little stuffed pig. Its fur is matted with tears.

Rory rushes over and drops down beside the bat, reaching over to put a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder. "What's wrong? I've been worried about you."

The bat sniffles. "I'm gonna have to go home." She looks into her toy's little bead eyes, avoiding the eyes of her friend.

Rory says, "Home? Of course. We're all going home soon. The trip's about over."

Skiree shakes her head back and forth rapidly, a tear spatters against Rory's nose. "No we're not." She sobs. "I'm going to Ashod… they're making me go back to my stupid Master's lake until the war's over."

"Ashdod?" Rory blinks. "But … that's so far away. And … the war? What war?"

The bat starts sniffling again and crushes her face into the stuffed pig. "Babel has gone to a stupid war against Rephydim. The airship can't go home… and since I'm from Babel… " she squeezes her toy, which lets out a loud squeak.

Rory's lip trembles a bit, then he impulsively sweeps the bat into a hug. "I'll miss you, Skiree!" he says, voice wavering.

Mister Porky squeaks as he gets mashed between the two children. "I wish I didn't have to go. The master's lake doesn't even work anymore." She clings to the Aeonan. "I wish we were air mages… then we could send messages to each other."

Rory furrows his brow. "But … I could send YOU messages. You're a Scryer, right? So you can get messages. And I … maybe I could send you shadows. But it'd be really hard. Ashdod is so far away… And I've never been to your master's lake." He frowns at the improbable feat of accomplishing such a ritual, let alone on any regular basis.

Skiree's ears droop. "I'm not very good. I can only find candy… but maybe I kin get better."

Rory snugs the bat. "Of course. You'll get better. We'll both get better. That's why we're both students and not full-fledged mages yet."

Skiree sinks back into tears. She just clings onto Rory's cloak and sobs. "I don' wanna go… "

Rory hugs Skiree, rocking her back and forth. "But why not? Isn't that your home? I mean … wouldn't you be happy there?" He frowns, not exactly one to try to convince Skiree to go away.

"I guess so." the bat sniffs. "But all I'm gonna do down there is play ghost s'more… and there's nobody my own age." She sighs, "You're gonna get to stay on the airship when it goes to Lamu… Mistress Latania tol' me so."

Rory blinks. "Lamu?!? Lamu? How … what … why … ?"

"I dunno." Skiree squeaks softly. "I didn't ask." She hugs her toy again. Obviously the bat had other things on her mind at the time.

Rory frowns. "I don't know what to do. You're going to Ashdod, I'm going to Lamu … It isn't fair!"

A shadowy form appears behind Skiree. "I wasn't able to fin-… Oh! You found her."

Rory looks up to Silhouette. "There's really a war going on. Skiree is being sent back home to Ashdod until it's over. … And, we're being sent to Lamu." He frowns.

Silhouette nods. "We'll miss you, Skiree." she signs. Skiree doesn't respond, she's never been very good at handsign anyhow.

Rory says, "Silhouette says that we'll miss you, Skiree. And she's right. I'm really glad to have you for a friend. We'll find some way to get in touch. Somehow."

Skiree wipes off her cheek and blows her nose on the hem of her robe. "I guess I'd better finish packing. Have you finished yet?"

Rory says, "Yes. I travel light. I don't own much." He smiles, looking faintly embarrassed.

"Could you help me?" Skiree asks, looking down at her toes. Her tone suggests that she really doesn't need much help, but she obviously doesn't want to leave Rory just yet.

Rory nods. "Certainly. Silhouette and I will be happy to help. That's what friends are for." He stands up, offering Skiree a hand.

The day goes by much too quickly. Packing is intermingled with more bouts of tears from Skiree, but finally the day is played out. Skiree and Rory step outside with their respective baggage as the students gather outside of the Inn.

Rory looks to Skiree. "You'll be okay, right?"

Latania walks amidst the students as several of the shiphands drag her baggage (which has doubled in mass) behind her.

Skiree nods, then bites her lip as she ponders something. "Could you do something for me while you're gone?"

Rory turns toward Skiree. "What can I do?"

The bat hands her stuffed pig to Rory. "Take care of Mister Porky for me?"

Latania rubs her cheek. "Some of you have been privately given word by me from your families, who will be taking you home until the problems in Rephidim are over." Some of the students, including Skiree, nod and grumble.

Rory looks over the stuffed pig. "B-but … Why can't you take him with you? I've never taken care of a … Bromthen forest hog before." He blinks incredulously.

"I've never been good at Scrying." Skiree says. "But I've always been able to find Mister Porky. Maybe if you have him, I kin find you too."

Rory smiles. "I'll take good care of him." He gives the bat another hug. "You just take care of yourself, too, okay?"

Latania continues. "Those of you whom I have not spoken with… I have had to make a hard decision. Babel is at War with Rephidim and it is no longer safe for ships to fly there. I have decided that the remaining students shall stay with me. The Crystal Breeze has been kind enough to offer us passage on their ship in exchange for any services we may be able to offer until we can return safely home."

Skiree nods, and then reaches out and hugs Rory again, giving both the Aeonan and the toy a kiss on their respective noses.

Rory's ears shoot up and blush fiercely. He reflexively grimaces and rubs at his nose with one hand.

Skiree looks off toward one of the airships. "I'd better go. I'll miss you, Rory!"

Rory recovers from wiping his muzzle, waving with a floppy sleeve. "We'll miss you, too, Skiree!" He gulps, wondering if this is the last time he'll ever see his friend. "Have … have fun!" That's the best he can think of to offer to the little brown Eeee.

Rory holds up Mister Porky … and makes the stuffed Bromthen "wave" one of his hooves at Skiree.

Skiree's eyes tear up again, and she quietly waves back. Then runs off to join a group of Eee in the distance.

Rory slowly lowers Mister Porky, whispering to the air, "You … have fun." His ears droop, and he turns away, walking back toward Silhouette.

Mister Porky squeaks softly again. Silhouette quietly walks alongside her friend as they join the group of waiting airshipmen. Lamu awaits.