Inside Zahnrad's Cabin.
The inside is no more normal than the outside. The inside is much like that of an airship cabin, complete with hammock bed. One wall is lined with a bookcase that's crammed full of documents as well as books on mechanics and machines it's also apparently all in alphabetical order. A chest to the side is piled high with various gears, sprockets, springs, bars, and unnamed thingies. A drafting table sits in the corner, with a design of a complex new waterwheel with some sort of strange, multi-geared connection to the power axle. However, along the edges of the plans are doodles of various airship designs, propellers, and wing-types. There is also a small stack of papers sitting on a side table with sketches of Eeee wings and various notes. On the edge is written 'Wing Structure. Subject: Reisender, Alptraum. Male Eeee."

The rest of the evening at the Blacktail's went on without incident. Zahn and his father cornered Erik and discussed a few more particulars about the poodle's grand vision. Later on, Andre went and talked with Achilles, but about what … who knows. Eventually, the party broke up and Amelia and Zahn headed back to the dam. With a bit of blushing and a few scares that he might pass out, Zahn manages to help Amelia out of her dress without damaging it at all. Tired, the two ended up going to bed soon thereafter. Morning comes all too quickly for the two, though, as light seeps through the shutters. At least neither had too much to drink so their heads aren't throbbing as consciousness returns. Hanging neatly beside the bed is Amelia's fancy green dress.

Amelia stretches as she wakes, then rolls on top of Zahn to see if he'll wake up as well.

"Ackpth!" goes Zahn as he suddenly finds a Kadie laying on top of him. He almost throws her off … until it registers who it is. Yawning, he says, "Good morning to you too."

Bumping noses, Amy asks, "You know what I'm in the mood for right now?"

"Uh, given you didn't even put on your pajamas last night after we got the dress off you," Zahnrad says, then swallows. He lingers there for a minute, then finishes with a grin, "Probably breakfast. I know you well enough by now, I think."

"Yup!" Amy says, and climbs over Zahn to get out of the bed. As she goes looking for some regular work-clothes, she asks, "Do we get it up in the kitchen, or call through your miracle tubes for it? And if it's like cereal, does it actually come out through the tube?"

"I keep some dry goods over in one of the drawers in case I need a snack while working," Zahnrad says and points towards one of the cluttered dressers. "There should be some nuts and figs in there. And oh, I put your spare clothes away in the bottom drawer. I was just keeping junk in it anyway, so I cleared it out for you." With a groan, the Kadie finally sits up and stretches out. "Or we can just walk down to the kitchen and get something. Nothing goes through the tubes, sorry."

Finding her clothes, Amy pulls them on and says, "Well, the kitchen sounds best then. Don't you usually eat with your family?"

"Depends. It's hit or miss if we actually get together. Usually one of us is busy, still sleeping because we stayed up all night, or in a grumpy mood," Zahnrad explains and then muffles a yawn. He gets up and groggily pulls on his clothing. "I've got a lot of work to do today. Do you have anything you're doing?"

"Helping Gunther deal with… slugs," Amy says, her tail shuddering

"Oh, right, that. They're just trying to test you, you know," Zahn says as he goes over and hugs Amelia from behind. "It's not a challenge unless you're dealing with something you really, really, dislike. I'm sure you'll do fine."

"I'll show 'em," Amelia says, grinning. "I'll make it so the slugs never come back!"

"That would be a good thing, yes. As slimy as they are, they don't really help out greasing the gearing," Zahnrad notes, "My grandfather tried that as an experiment." The Kadie continues to hold onto Amelia, then says, "Did I tell you your father asked if you had gotten me to chase you yet? Can't remember if I mentioned that."

"What did you tell him?" Amy asks, one eyebrow raised.

"The truth. I told him no. But I also admitted I wouldn't know if you had tried," Zahnrad admits as he lets her go and goes to the door.

"What do you mean you wouldn't know?" Amy demands as she follows Zahn outside. "You'd know, believe me!"

"I don't know that!" Zahnrad says defensively as the two head down to the main area and into the dining hall. "It's not like I have any real experience, you know!"

"Some things just come naturally," Amelia claims, then looks around to see if anyone else is there already.

Gunther is already there and apparently has had breakfast. He also apparently was still tired because he's sleeping, face down, in his bowl. Occasionally, he lets out a loud snort then mutters.

"I guess Gunther is feeling bowled over," Zahnrad comments.

"What was he up to all night… ack!" Amy says, and swats Zahn with her tail for the pun.

"Oof! I have no idea. Maybe chasing otters or working on his otter suit," Zahnrad suggests. Then he whispers to Amelia, "And you realize also why they paired you with him, right?"

"Because I'm trying to win him over?" Amelia asks, hopefully.

"Right first time," Zahnrad says with a grin and a nod. The door to the kitchen swings open and Elsa walks through. "Oh, Zahn, Amelia, you two are already up? I figured you would both be tired after last night," she says as she walks over to the sleeping Gunther.

"We fell asleep as soon as Zahn got me out of my dress," Amelia explains, and sniffs to see if she smells anything cooking.

"Ah, so then you two didn't … well, we had expected, anyway," Elsa says with a small nod as she reaches out to Gunther. Quickly, she taps him on a shoulder.

Gunther jerks upright. "I'M AWAKE!" he yells, "Point me at them and I'll take on the horde single handed! I'll bite their kneecaps off … I'll … oh, hello Zahn. No horde?"

"Just me I'm afraid," Amy says to Gunther, and tugs on his tail from behind.

"No horde. Amelia," Zahnrad grunts at his brother, then grins. "Though she can be as dangerous as a horde."

The tugging of his tail makes Gunther screech and leap straight upward. The claws on his fingers and toes dig into the ceiling and he hangs upside down, glaring at Amelia. He chitters at her rapidly.

"Gunther, manners. Do not attack your potential sister-in-law," Elsa notes calmly, as if Gunther going spastic was a normal occurrence. "Did you two wish breakfast? I have some oatmeal on the stove."

"Wow, those're some good reflexes, Gunther!" Amelia says, grinning. "You'll need to be less high strung though if you're going to hang out with the otters. And I'd love some oatmeal, Elsa – as long as it isn't fried."

"Who would fry oatmeal?" Elsa asks, looking a bit confused. Shaking her head, the older Kadie walks back through the kitchen door.

"I can think of one person," Zahn says with a smirk.

"Do you have a stick or something for getting him down off of the ceiling?" Amelia whispers to Zahn while looking up at Gunther.

"Who says I want to hang out with otters?!" Gunther counters as he releases the ceiling, flips, and lands on his feet. "Have you been spying on me?"

"Nah, he comes down on his own," Zahn notes.

The kitchen door swings open and Elsa comes back through carrying two steaming bowls of oatmeal. Humming to herself, she sets them on the table for Amelia and Zahn. "Gunther," she says, "Today you are working with Amelia on the dam to clear out the slug problem."

"Come down, Gunther!" Amy yells up at the younger Kadie. "I'll teach you some witchcraft after we get rid of the slugs."

"With her?" Gunther says as he eyes Amelia. The Kadie then gets a big grin on his face, noting, "Ooo, yeah, I can try out my new invention… "

"Ut-oh," Zahnrad mutters as he goes to his seat and settles down. "This ought to be good for a laugh. Pity I'm in the shop all day… "

"What's wrong with working with me?" Amelia asks, putting her hands on her hips. "Didn't you have fun the other day with the bandits?"

Gunther twitches since he's caught in a trap. The Kadie apparently doesn't want to admit he had fun. "Well, okay," he says after finally deflating, "maybe you can be fun to work with. At least I get to try out my slug gun."

Zahnrad groans and places his hands over his face.

"Should I ask what a slug gun is?" Amelia whispers to Zahn out of the side of her mouth.

"I'm sure you'll find out even if you don't ask," Zahnrad whispers between his hands.

"What is the one thing slugs are known for?" Gunther asks Amelia, grinning maniacally.

"Chewing up leaves," Amelia says.

"Aside from that," Gunther says.

"Being slimy," the girl notes next.

"Exactly" Gunther says and points to the ceiling. "And that makes them slippery. Know what happens if they're in a tube and you blast compressed air in one end?"

"What's compressed air?" Amy asks first.

"Uh. Well, what happens if you shake a bottle of wine then push on the cork?" Gunther asks, trying to take a different tact.

"Uh… nothing," Amelia says. "You have to pull on a cork for a bottle of wine."

"That depends on the cork," Gunther says with a sigh. "Wow, you don't know anything! Basically, a slug gun shoots slugs at people! Their slime makes them slide really well in a tube and an air pump provides more than enough force to launch em! They make a great splat sound when they hit a wall."

"And I still expect you to scrape them off the side of my shop, Gunther," Zahnrad reminds the younger Kadie and waves his spoon at him.

"How is that supposed to help clean them out though?" Amelia asks, exasperated. "You need something that sucks them up, not spits them out."

"My point is I have a use for the ones we remove," Gunther argues. "A fun one."

Zahn reaches over and tugs Amelia's tail. "Your breakfast is getting cold," he tells her.

Amelia blinks and grabs her spoon. Before digging into the oatmeal though, she tells Gunther, "If you shoot me with a slug, you will regret it for a long long time."

"Why do you think I would do that?" Gunther asks, looking rather offended.

"Because I'll be there?" Amelia suggests.

"Hmph," Gunther mutters. "See?" he then says to Zahn, "She doesn't like me."

"Hey, that's not true!" Amelia says defensively. "I just don't like being hit with slugs."

"Have you ever been hit with a slug?" Zahn asks.

"I've had them fall on me," Amelia points out.

"Fair enough," Zahn agrees.

"And you've got cereal in your nose still, Gunther," Amelia points out.

Elsa, who has been relatively quiet through this, says, "Now, I do expect you two to work together. No fighting."

Gunther reaches up and pushes one nostril closed. The Kadie then blows hard out the other one and launches said cereal into the air. It bounces off the top of Zahn's head.

"Gunther and I don't fight," Amelia states, and eats her oatmeal.

Zahnrad drops his spoon into his now clean bowl and sighs at Gunther. "I really wonder about you some days," he tells his brother.

"Only some days? I'm losing my touch," Gunther says with a huge, bucktoothed, grin.

Leaning towards Elsa, Amelia asks the woman, "Was Zahn really Gunther's sponsor?"

"Aside from cleaning the gearing, I want the both of you to inspect the inner hallways of the dam," Elsa explains as she gathers Gunther and Zahn's finished bowls. "I believe Amelia has been in them before. I know you have, Gunther. We need to move some of the old lumber and crates in there and check behind them for cracks."

To Amelia, Elsa nods, saying, "Yes, he was. Why do you ask?"

"Um, did they snipe at each other like this the whole time back then?" Amy asks.

"Yes. But it was never meant in seriousness. I think it is how males relate and bond," Elsa says with a small shrug and a smile. Louder, she says, "Neither would ever admit they actually care about each other."

In unison, Gunther and Zahn go, "Bleah!"

"So the more Gunther insults me, the more he really likes me?" Amelia ponders, grinning to Gunther.

Gunther crosses his arms and snorts in reply.

Amy finishes her oatmeal, and says, "Well, are you ready to get to work, Gunther? You do want to learn some witch secrets today, don't you?"

"I do not expect the work to take you past noon. I know that you have other responsibilities with the militia and your family," Elsa says as heads back towards the kitchen. "Also, I will need to know what nights your father is free. I wish to invite him and any of your bothers who wish to come to dinner some night."

"I've been ready for hours," Gunther asserts and puffs out his chest. "And yes, I do; but I will not wear a dress. I am not like Morgan!"

"This sort of witchcraft involves digging in the dirt," Amelia points out. "Dresses are not necessary."

"Well, that's good then," Gunther says, "I'll see you later, Zahn. I promise I will return her with minimal damage."

Amy gets up as well, and returns her bowl and spoon to the kitchen for washing. On the way back out, she bends to give Zahn a kiss on his cheek, and whispers to him, "Gee, how did your folks find out about my dislike of slugs in the first place, I wonder?"

"I'm more worried that she might damage you, you little troll," Zahn retorts to Gunther. To Amelia, he says, "I think they remember from the time you helped me back home during that storm. They asked me what happened and I think I babbled." He grins sheepishly.

"Mmm-hmm," Amelia says, and pats Zahn on the shoulder. "Let's go, Gunther."

---

The Mint Dam
The dam is an impressive structure that almost looks out of place when compared to the relatively backwater town of Stonebarrow. It's existed for generations and is currently under management through a joint effort of the Akwavi and Kadie clans (notably the Wingnuts). It spans a good sixty feet and is composed of earth and timber. The top is lined with three equally spaced waterwheels. One of the wheels powers the various Wingnut workshops that reside near the base of the dam. Another wheel powers the various mills that produce paper and other such items requiring milling, such as flour. The third wheel is for general use and powers many various places in the nearby town that require mechanical power. A menagerie of gearing, drive axles, and catwalks also line the top of the dam, interconnecting the wheels and providing service access to them.

The walk to the dam only takes about ten minutes. Along the way, Gunther fetches his 'slug gun'. It looks like a tube with a bucket and a hand-held pump glued to it. The Kadie rests it on his shoulder as they walk. "So, when are you taking him away?" he finally asks Amelia.

"Be good today, Gunther, and maybe I'll see about getting you a fur tattoo," Amelia says. "And I'm not taking Zahn anywhere."

"A fur tattoo? What would I do with one?" Gunther asks. "And you're not? I figured you were trying to pull him into the Blacktail clan."

"Don't be silly," Amy says. "Zahn would never leave the dam and his workshop, even if he does build a flying machine."

"Although he probably could help out Roy with a few things," Amelia then mutters under her breath.

"That's not how he talks. He doesn't like being stuck in a small backwater town," Gunther says as the two approach the lower section of the dam. "Or are you trying to say he's not good enough for your clan?" he asks, eying Amelia.

"He's too important to take him away from the dam," Amy says. "He'll like it here better in time, I'm sure. Even if he does visit other places."

"I'm more important than he is," Gunther insists. "So, you mentioned something about some witch-way of dealing with slugs? Is that before or after their removal? If after, I'll go get the gloves, brooms, buckets, and helmets."

"For after," Amy says. "We also need to find the route they use to get into the dam."

"All right," Gunther says, then scurries up the ramp and into one of the small maintenance sheds on the dam. He returns after a few minutes carrying a couple of buckets and a pile of materials which are probably gloves and aprons draped over some helmets.

"Oh good, aprons!" Amelia says, grabbing one up. "Where do the slugs gather?"

Gunther pulls on the gloves then one of the aprons. "Usually up around the waterwheels where it is the most damp. Often just inside the boxes that enclose some of the gearing," he explains. "Some can get as big as your hand."

"Okay, I've met those slugs," Amelia says. "At least it isn't raining."

"Come on, let's get this done and the inner passage checked out," Gunther says and leads Amelia up the walkway and towards the far waterwheel. "They mostly show up around the wheels nearest to shore. We'll start there."

"You'd better open the boxes," Amelia says. "Um, I'm not good with … latches."

"It's not like they're going to jump out and try to suck your face off or eat off all your hair," Gunther says with a grin. The Kadie goes to the large box near the waterwheel. This close, the wheel is rather loud as it creaks and groans under the strain of the flow of water over its paddles.

"You should invent a way to make the wheels quieter," Amelia suggests, and gets her bucket and broom ready for combat.

"Yeah, well, it usually doesn't matter," Gunther says. The young Kadie throws open a few of the latches, then steps back. The front of the box swings open and hits a post with a dull thud. There's a rather gross squishing sound as a mass of slugs fall out and splat onto the walkway. Gunther was right, they are as big as a hand. Before they can slime off, Gunther starts sweeping them up into a bucket. Now and then he even just picks one up with a gloved hand and tosses it in.

Amelia does her best to hold down her oatmeal, and starts sweeping slugs. She silently hopes they burn the brooms afterwards. "What do you do with them after we've filled the buckets?" she asks Gunther.

"Usually just cart them off into the woods and dump them. Once in a while we give them to the otters. Not sure what they like to do with them; never really felt like asking, either," Gunther notes as he cheerfully sweeps. "Be careful not to step in any of their slime trails," he warns.

Amy looks down at her feet, and wiggles her toes. "Uh, I'll know if I step in one," she says, and starts filling her bucket while trying not to actually look. "So, they probably come onto the dam from the shore… "

"Yep! The trails are easy enough to find. Well, until it rains anyway. That washes it off," Gunther says. Whistling now, he sticks his arm into the box and starts fishing out slugs with a hand. For a moment he looks as if he's going to toss one to Amelia … then thinks better of it and drops it into his bucket.

Eyestalks stretch up and peer out of Amelia's bucket. She can even feel one brush against her gloved hand on the bucket's handle…

"That's con-" Amy starts to say, then has to set her bucket down and shudder for a moment. "Er, convenient. Do you have any spades?"

"No, but I have a pair of clubs," Gunther says, then breaks into a fit of giggles.

"What are you laughing about?" Amelia asks in confusion. "Spades are tiny hand-held shovels. Maybe you've got trowels instead?"

"Spades, clubs, hearts, you know, playing cards," Gunther says as he manages to collect himself. "Or hm, maybe you don't," he says and peers at Amelia. "We definitely have trowels. Need it for masonry stuff."

"Those can work then, just need to dig some shallow holes in the dirt," Amelia says.

"But … we're not Lapis," Gunther points out as he chucks another slimeball into the bucket. "And how did the dinner go? Did your father beat up Zahn any? Threaten? Torture? I didn't see any marks… "

"No, they… they apparently got along," Amelia says, looking worried by the notion.

"Ah, so he's trying to lure Zahn into feeling calm before he kills him," Gunther says and nods sagely. "So, why don't you guard the slugs and I'll go get the trowels?"

Amy eyes the buckets of slugs, then swallows and nods. "Okay, just don't take too long."

Hundreds of eyestalks eye Amelia back. With the way they sway, it's almost like they're trying to hypnotize her… Gunther grins and darts off.

"Don't try to look 'cute' at me," Amelia growls. "It's off to the woods for you."

As if in response, the slugs do try to make some sort of sad slug eyes at Amelia. Or maybe she's just imagining it due to some unresolved guilt. Thankfully she doesn't have to dwell on it long as Gunther returns with two triangular masonry trowels.

"Okay, let's see where they're breaking through your perimeter," Amelia says to Gunther before picking up her bucket. "And let's dump these guys in the woods."

Gunther grabs up his bucket and heads back across the walkway. Instead of going to the Wingnut side, he heads towards the Millers. As he walks, he swings the bucket of slugs back and forth, coming dangerously close to flinging a few out as he goes.

"Don't spill any," Amelia warns, taking extra care to not swing her bucket.

"It's not like they can hurt you," Gunther notes as the two head into the nearby forest. After a short walk, he says, "This is good enough." And with that, the Kadie jerks the bucket forward and heaves a large slimy mass into the undergrowth.

Amelia isn't so enthusiastic about spraying slugs through the air, and just tilts her bucket onto the ground and taps on the back of it.

Splut goes the mass of slugs from her bucket. The slimy creatures start slithering off in random directions.

"Ugh, we need to wash out the buckets so I can use them for the witchy part," Amelia says.

Out of the corner of Amelia's eye, she can see several of the slugs heading right for her left foot. Meanwhile, Gunther says, "We can rinse them out in the reservoir."

Amy jumps backwards to escape the slugs, then heads for the shore before they can gang up on her.

Laughing, Gunther follows after Amelia. It doesn't take the two long before they've reached the reservoir. Gunther kneels by the water and starts rinsing out his bucket. With a sigh, he looks out across the lake.

"Something on your mind?" Amelia asks while she works to clean her own bucket.

"Just looking for someone," Gunther notes absently.

"Just one someone?" Amelia asks with a grin. "Nene or Bebe?"

"Okay, someones," Gunther admits, coughs, then grumbles. He suddenly becomes a lot more interested in cleaning out his bucket.

"Think they're spying on you?" Amy asks, then takes her trowel and starts to dig up one of the mint plants that line the shore.

Gunther watches Amelia for a bit. "I wish they would," he mutters to himself, "At least then I might get to see them."

"You saw them just the other day," Amy points out. "And got to carry all their… stuff."

"That was a long time ago," Gunther asserts, "Plus, I couldn't see over the stuff!"

"Oh my, you've got a real crush on them don't you?" Amelia asks as she fills her bucket with uprooted mint plants.

"I do not!" Gunther asserts and grumbles. "Why are you digging up mint? Making candy later?"

"Witchcraft," Amelia says, and starts back towards the dam. "And you do so. Umm, your mom has explained to you about why boys and girls are different, right?"

"Uh, no?" Gunther answers. "But it's obvious, so what does she have to explain? Girls are more … bumpy."

"Mmmm, maybe you should ask her more about that," Amelia says, then examines the path leading to the dam itself for slug trails.

It takes a few minutes, but Amelia finds the current slug trail that leads up to the underside of the walkway. It's a thin white path along the ground and nearby moss. "So, how does mint fit into witchcraft?" Gunther asks.

"It has magic properties," Amelia explains, and starts digging along the edge of the walkway. "We'll replant it along the walkway, and the slugs won't cross the line."

Gunther crouches down so he can watch Amelia dig. "Are you sure this will do anything? I mean, sure it'll make the walkway smell better but … " Gunther says, chittering a bit.

"Slugs don't eat mint," Amy explains. "They don't like it. So they won't go past it either if we plant them closely enough together." She takes one of the uprooted plants from her bucket and sets it into the new hole, then fills the dirt back in.

"Oh, okay," Gunther says, sounding a bit unsure. Still, he starts to help now by digging holes for Amelia to follow along and plant the mint in. "So, are you and Zahn going to have lots of kids?" he asks absently.

"Dunno. Are you impatient for nieces and nephews?" Amelia asks with a grin. "You should plant mint around the bases of your trees too."

"Ack, no!" Gunther asserts, "I was just wondering how much time there was left."

"Time for what?" Amelia asks, looking at Gunther now.

"Before he won't have any time for us," Gunther says.

"Hmmph," Amelia huffs. "You know, I'll be one of you too, right? And besides, it's a long way off yet."

"You're not like us, though," Gunther points out as he keeps digging. "You do things in weird ways."

"It's no wonder you miss the otters though; you don't have anyone your own age to play with here," Amy says gently. "I just do things differently. Different is good – that's how you learn new things."

"Heh, like planting mint to stop slugs?" Gunther asks and sits back once enough holes have been dug along the trail.

"And teaching you how to handle a spear better," Amy says. "Still might get you some real training when you're a little older, and your parents approve."

"Hah, good luck with that!" Gunther says, "They'll probably expect me to work more with Zahn or Dieter on things here. Not Deirdre, though; she hates me."

"Deirdre… has some issues to work out is all," Amelia says. "I think she'll like you fine in time. Or she might end up with the Blacktails herself."

"Heh, now that would be a shock, given the opinions she's expressed," Gunther says, laughing and rocking back and forth. He then abruptly stops and hmms. "Though, she has been going over to that one's forge a lot."

"I should have Zahn go help Roy with things," Amy says. "You'd probably want to see the maintenance on the big weapons, I'd bet," she adds, winking to Gunther.

"Well, yeah, of course I would!" Gunther agrees. He looks to the ground and asks, "How much mint do you have to plant? We've still got some things to check out in the maintenance tunnels."

"Well, we can finish this later," Amelia says, since her bucket is empty anyway. "This will block off the path they've been using at least."

"Okay, let's get this junk put away and do the check in the tunnels. It'll be a pain moving some of the junk down there; it's been there for years," Gunther notes as he gets up and drops his trowel into his bucket.

"Hmmmm, how many years?" Amelia asks.

"Maybe ten, fifteen? Something like that," Gunther guesses, "Why?"

"Uh, just curious," Amelia mutters. So, she thinks, it may not have been cleaned out since Stephan drowned…

"Anyway, just go into the control room and I'll take this stuff back," Gunther says as he grabs stuff from Amelia. "See you in a few minutes!" The Kadie darts off across the dam walkway.

Amelia makes her way to the control room, and then kneels down to open up the trap door. "Anyone down there?" she calls into the tunnel.

The only reply to Amelia's call is a small musty wind that greets her nose. Silent as a tomb might be an appropriate description.

The Kadie wonders if it would be best to have Gunther stay up here while she passes things to him, just in case.

Gunther comes through the control room door. The only things he's kept are his gloves. "So, shall we get to work? Want me to go down first? I know some people get nervous going into the tunnels," he says.

"Actually, I thought you could stay up here," Amelia says. "I can hand things up to you until I find something we both need to work on together."

"Don't trust me? I didn't bing any slugs to slip down your shirt, honest," Gunther says and holds up his hands to show he doesn't have anything. Still, he sits down on the floor and says, "But if you really want to go alone, okay."

"I just don't want to have to make a lot of trips, and it's easier for one to move around down there than two," Amy says, and jumps down into the tunnel.

"Or you're just trying to show off!" Gunther calls after Amelia. The tunnels seem much like the way she remembers them, dank and wet with the occasional dripping sounds in the distance. At least this time there is no voice calling for help. "Don't forget the lamps are on the wall. Flint is in the base," comes Gunther's voice from above.

"Thanks," Amelia calls, and tries to get a few lamps lit.

The light doesn't really make the place any more cheery. In the gloom the Kadie can make out the shapes of old crates and such along the walls. With the level of dust and slime that has collected on them; they certainly haven't been moved in a long while.

Amelia goes up to the first crate, and gives it a little shake first to see if it doesn't fall apart before it can be moved.

It seems solid enough, albeit a bit wet.

Next, the Kadie tries to pull it away from the wall. "Should we open up the crates down here?" she calls to Gunther. "The crate itself isn't in the best of condition."

Gunther's head peers down from the access hatch. "If you want. We're just supposed to clear and look for any obvious structural problems," he says.

Something brushes along the lower part of Amelia's back.

"And leave it all down hEEEEEEEEEEEE!" she yeeps, and spins around to look for what touched her.

"What, what!?" Gunther calls out as his head appears through the hatch. There's nothing behind Amelia.

"Something touched my back," Amelia says, and feels the spot for dampness, in case there's a drip overhead.

A line along Amelia's back feels slightly colder, but there is no dampness. In the gloom, some of the cobwebs ahead ripple and move as if being brushed aside.

"I guess it was nothing," Amelia says, then whispers, "Stephan, if that's you … well your youngest brother is right outside, the one who doesn't even remember you."

There's no answer.

Amy goes back to pulling the crate away from the wall.

The crate makes some pretty horrible scraping sounds as its pulled back from the wall. Behind it is a thick layer of dirt.

"Ugh, maybe you'd better come down here after all, Gunther," Amy calls. "You can check the walls after I move stuff away."

"Okay, be right down," Gunther says and starts down the ladder. In the distance Amelia can suddenly hear a quiet ticking or tapping sound.

"I'll light more of the lamps," Amy says as an excuse to move further down towards the sounds. She does light the lamps along the way though.

"Okay. Ugh, we should have kept the brooms," Gunther grumbles as he sees the pile of dirt. With a grimace, he sweeps it to the side to check the floor and wall beneath.

Amy keeps her ears perked for any more unusual sounds, especially as she nears the spot she first met Stephan's ghost.

As Amelia moves down the tunnel, the ticking sound gets louder and the air grows colder. Even inside the lanterns, the flame flickers and moves around as if being blown by an unseen wind.

Once she reaches the spot she remembers, Amelia hugs herself for warmth and tries to locate the source of the sound.

The acoustics of the tunnel do not help much with finding the sound. Amelia finds herself looking for several minutes trying to locate the odd ticking. But finally she sees something hanging from a string. It's swaying as if in a breeze and lightly tapping against the wall. Back down the hallway, Gunther calls out, "Is everything okay, Amelia?"

"Yeah, be right back," Amy calls, then looks closer at the object while reaching to grab the string.

At the end of the string hands a smallish circular disk … no, gear. It's perhaps an inch and a half across and looks to be carved from obsidian or some other glassy sort of stone. The surface of it is covered with detailed scrollwork depicting intricate gears.

Amy looks up along the string to see what it's connected to.

The string just seems like it was caught on a rough piece of wood from one of the support beams.

Amelia gives the string a tug to try and break it loose.

The string pulls loose easily and Amelia finds herself holding the odd gear. Around her the 'wind' suddenly picks up for a few moments and the firelight in the lanterns dim briefly.

"Where you wearing this, Stephan?" Amy asks quietly. "Brush my tail once for no, twice for yes."

No answer, at least not immediately. Perhaps it's Amelia's imagination, but in the next few seconds, she could swear she feels something touch her tail twice.

"A necklace?" she asks next.

Again some time passes before Amelia feels something; this time it's only one faint touch.

Thinking, Amy asks, "Is it a key?"

This time there are two touches. The quiet is broken by the sound of approaching feet. "Amelia? Are you okay? Who are you talking to?" comes Gunther's voice.

"Oh, Gunther!" Amelia says. "Uh, just… thought I felt a breeze here is all." She tucks the 'key' into her shirt.

"Oh. That happens sometimes. Temperature differentials in the walls cause that when the hatch is opened. It's nothing to worry about," Gunther says, "You had me worried."

"Worried?" Amy asks. "You were worried about me?"

"Yeah. You wandered off and it's a bit creepy down here. I always feel like I'm being watched when I'm in here," Gunther notes.

"Well, you probably are," Amy says before really thinking about it. "Did you get that dirt cleared away enough to check the wall?

"Yeah, that section is fine. We need to go along the entire length and check it, though. Might as well get those old crates out of here too; they're just rotting anyway," Gunther says as he looks past Amelia and down the tunnel to the end wall. "If you don't want to help with removing the crates, that's fine. It wasn't part of your task anyway."

"No, let's get it done while we're both here," Amy says, smiling to Gunther.

"All right. Are you sure you're okay? I swear I heard you talking like someone else was down here," Gunther says and peers at Amelia oddly.

"I was just trying to spook you out," Amy says, and musses up the top of Gunther's head. Better you think that for now, until you're ready to meet a ghost, she thinks.