Returning to his workshop from the castle, Zahnrad muses that he should set up a bed in it since he has so many things to fix now. When his musings elicit a reply from the rafters, he discovers that his workshop has been invaded by Emmet Oggton's war-painted little sister, Pepper, as part of her Otter Scout training.

Zahn tries to get across to the girl how dangerous the shop is, which just gets her thinking it should be worth more scout-points. The Kadie decides to make the best of Pepper's presence, and sets her to find a piece of wood for the new gearbox he plans to make for Dr. Pike's sparker.

Before work can start though, he is interrupted by a visit from Parsley Chalk, the shyer and more polite of the Chalk twins. Parsley tells him about her and her sister's missing clothes from when they used the bathing spring, and Zahn says he hasn't heard anything about it.

Parsley warns him that Clover is upset, and might cause a ruckus. Also that her sister has been going down into the forbidden catacombs of the Lapi warren, and sometimes comes back acting oddly.

There are a few mistaken impressions that Parsley has about Zahn and Amy, and she offers to help Zahn 'practice' if he decides to become Amelia's boyfriend.