<TIAMAT> *It's the day after Kender's rescue, around midmorning, and sunlight is once again streaming through the windows, this time accompanied by the happy sounds of birds chirping. The infirmary room where Kender is is quiet, for the most part, but in one of the adjoining rooms, one can make out Whisper and Jarod talking -- or, rather aruging. They're trying to keep it quiet, but they're both getting frustrated with each other.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: We have to tell someone, Whisper...Clyde, or--

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: NO, Jarod. This is my affair now. I'll deal with it on my own. Teal isn't even here, anyway--

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: That's not the point! There you go again, thinking you have to do everything on your own--

<TIAMAT> *Whisper scowls. "This IS something I have to do on my own! Gulzak took him because of ME--

<JETMODE> *Kender is listening to all this with a sort of grim amusement.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod makes a frustrated noise. "Fine. Whatever. Go ahead and do what you want, but don't come to us when you get in trouble. *he can be heard leaving the room through another exit. Whisper sighs and slinks back into the room where Kender's resting, rubbing her forehead and not noticing he's awake.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *politely* He's right, you know.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper starts, glancing up sharply. "Kender! You're awake -- ... you heard that?

<JETMODE> *Kender nods. "Every word."

<JETMODE> *He pauses. "I agree with you on one point, though." A peculiar expression steals over his face -- peculiar for Kender, anyway. "I don't want to go to Clyde or Teal."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper, who had been looking away, casts him a sideways glance. "Kender, I-- *but before she can finish, the door creaks open and Cassie pokes her head in. She gives a delighted squeal when she sees Kender. "Kender, you're awake! *and she rushes in, beaming broadly.

<JETMODE> *Kender breaks into a smile. "Hi Cassie."

<JETMODE> *Cinno squirms in Cassie's grip and howls.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie trots over to Kender's bed, struggling to hold the cat. "Cinno -- wait -- hold on --

<JETMODE> *Cinno gives a final wriggle and leaps free, landing on Kender's chest and telling him in no uncertain terms what he thinks of his absence. Kender grins and pets him. "Yeah, I missed you too, buddy."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper smiles a bit, and Cassie grins. "We were SO WORRIED about you, Kender! Weren't we, Whisper? I was so scared, especially when Jarod did that telepathy thing, and then Clyde showed up at my place in the middle of the night and told us Whisper was in trouble--

<TIAMAT> *Whisper shoots her a slightly nasty look. She didn't want Kender to know about that.

<JETMODE> *Kender gives Whisper a puzzled look, but before he can ask, Jukka clears her throat from the doorway.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper and Cassie turn toward the door as Jarod appears behind Jukka, pushing Jukka in gently. "Go on, then, he's not going to bite!"

<JETMODE> *Jukka laughs and trots inside, extending her hand to Kender, who takes it with a puzzled look. "My name is Jukka -- I was supposed to meet you the night of the attack, but I suppose things got a little out of hand."

<JETMODE> *Kender grins at her and nods. "It's a pleasure to meet you now, anyway."

<JETMODE> *Jukka nods, bows slightly, and releases his hand, stepping back.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod comes up behind her -- he and Whisper exchange dark looks -- but he grins at Kender. "Jukka's a friend of mine -- she helped us ... find you, Kender."

<JETMODE> <Kender> Oh.. thank you.

<JETMODE> *Jukka smiles and shakes her head. "It was no problem."

<TIAMAT> *Jarod, slightly concerned: How're you feeling?

<JETMODE> <Kender> Much better -- they say I can go back to my room soon, but I shouldn't do anything strenuous for a while.

<JETMODE> *Cinno mrrs and kneads his stomach.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie: But at least you're okay! *she grins in relief.

<JETMODE> *Kender nods in agreement.

<TIAMAT> *There's a pause -- Jarod glances at Whisper, who glares slightly, then he turns back to Kender, clearing his throat. "Ah, Kender...before you woke up, Whisper and I were...discussing what to do about Gulzak. I thought it best to go to Baron Teal, but--

<TIAMAT> *Whisper, shortly: He's still missing.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *blankly* He's missing?

<TIAMAT> *Jarod nods. "Since about ... well ... the same time you disappeared on us, actually. No one's heard from him since the night the undead attacked."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper's gone suddenly quiet, as if thinking.

<JETMODE> <Kender> How strange ... has anyone else disappeared?

<TIAMAT> *Cassie's tail twitches. Jarod thinks for a moment, then shakes his head. "No, I don't think so. I mean, there was a lot of confusion directly after the attack, but it's all mostly cleared up by now.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: .. Wait.

<JETMODE> *Kender looks at her curiously.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod and Cassie glance over at her, Cassie's ears flicking inquisitively.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper shakes her head. "It occured to me that we haven't heard about Genoa since all this came up. I wonder what happened to her after the attack?

<JETMODE> <Kender> *puzzled* But.. she is in prison, right?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: Yeah, but a lot of the cells got broken into during the attack. Or so I've heard..

<TIAMAT> *Jarod nods slowly. "The guards had to track down a lot of prisoners who got loose that night. But I never heard anything about Genoa.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *smiles* And she seems like the type who'd take advantage of a jail break.

<JETMODE> *Jukka is listening with interest, as she's never met Genoa.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod snorts. Whisper sighs. "That's true...we should go check on her. But...

<JETMODE> <Jukka> We can, if you want to stay here. *smiles*

<TIAMAT> *Whisper smiles back. "Yes, I -- thank you.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod snorts again. "I wanted to go find Clyde and ask him about Teal, anyway ..

<JETMODE> *Jukka smiles and takes his arm. "Then it's settled!"

<JETMODE> *Kender eyes the gesture, but he doesn't say anything.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie looks a little apologetic. "I'd like to go with you -- or stay with you, Kender -- but I've got go catch up on my lessons. It's been crazy, the past week...*she sighs a little.

<JETMODE> <Kender> It's all right. *grins* I understand.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod smiles back at Jukka -- he's gotten pretty used to her doing that, so he doesn't really think anything of it. He glances back at Kender with a grin. "You gonna be okay without us?

<JETMODE> <Kender> *cheerfully* I'm sure I'll survive. You two have fun. *impish grin*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod gives him a funny look. "Er...yeah, we will. You too. *grins* Don't get in too much trouble with your girlfriend, you hear?"

<TIAMAT> *Cassie stifles a giggle and Whisper reddens slightly.

<JETMODE> *Kender turns a guffaw into a coughing fit. "S-sure, Jarod. You just get lost." He's still trying not to laugh.

<JETMODE> *Jukka gives Kender a severe look.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod gives him another funny look. "Yeah ... take care of yourself, okay? *he waves back as he starts for the door.

<JETMODE> *Jukka rolls her eyes as they walk out of the room.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie's got her paws clamped over her muzzle, trying hard not to burst into giggles. She finally settles down after Jarod leaves. "Well! I better get going, too. Take care, Kender! *she hugs him a little awkwardly and scampers out.

<JETMODE> <Kender> See ya, Cassie!

<TIAMAT> *The infirmary goes quiet again after everyone's gone, and Whisper settles down in her chair next to Kender's bed, staring quietly out the window.

<TIAMAT> *After a moment, Roary pokes his head through the door, looking at Kender in mock-severity. "Animals aren't supposed to be in the infirmary, you know."

<JETMODE> *Cinno's ears prick, and he hisses at Roary.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *grins* You want to come take him out?

<TIAMAT> *Roary quails a little. "I was kidding, kidding, really!"

<JETMODE> *Cinno settles back down, mrring pleasantly.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod and Jukka make their way down to the ground floor, Jarod still looking perplexed. He shakes his head a bit. "Sometimes ... *sigh* Well, at least he's all right."

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *a little drily* Indeed.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod glances at her. "Aw, he's a good guy, really!

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *smiles at him* I know! How could he have so many good friends if he wasn't?

<TIAMAT> *Jarod chuckles a little bit. "Heh...yeah..."

<JETMODE> *A guard stops them at the same place as last time, looking even more panicked than the first one they talked to. "Sorry, you can't go in there."

<TIAMAT> *Jarod haults and sighs a bit in frustration. "I take it Baron Teal still hasn't been found."

<JETMODE> <guard> *weakly* You know about that?

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Yes, we do. *concerned* Haven't you found anything as to what happened to him?

<JETMODE> *The guard shakes his head. "There hasn't been a sign of him at all.. we haven't even been able to narrow down a location."

<TIAMAT> *Jarod mutters something about Clyde going out of his mind, then clears his throat, looking a little uncomfortable. "We also wanted to ask about the...er...condition of one of your prisoners...

<JETMODE> <guard> *nods* We can't let you in, but we can probably do that much.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod looks a little relieved, both at the fact that the guard can at least give them information and that he won't have to actually go visit Genoa. "Genoa Rivermarch. She's a ... ... *long pause* friend of ours.

<JETMODE> *The guard blinks at him. "Genoa? Rivermarch?" His voice is a little strange, as if he hasn't heard this name in quite some time.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod gives him a quizzical look. "Yes, Genoa Rivermarch. She was ... in solitary confinement."

<JETMODE> <guard> Y-yes. Um. I'll .. I'll be right back. *he turns and bolts*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod starts to say something in protest, but the guard is gone before he can get it out. Jarod glances at Jukka in bewilderment.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> How.. very strange.

<JETMODE> *The guard bursts into Teal's office -- even if it isn't Teal in there right now -- a look of pure, unadulterated panic on his face.

<TIAMAT> *Clyde starts and nearly falls out of the chair he was sitting in -- he's a wreck, trying to give orders to all the troops, organize a search for the Baron, get rid of the last of the undead and keep Teal's disappearance quiet. He looks extremely harried and exhausted. "What -- what is it?"

<JETMODE> <guard> Clyde -- we've -- we've got a problem. You remember that Rivermarch girl?

<TIAMAT> *Clyde gives the guard an extremely nervous look. "The...the one who summoned the dragon?"

<JETMODE> *The guard nods a little frantically. "D-did anybody check her cell, you know? Because there's someone here asking about her, and --"

<TIAMAT> *Clyde, a little blankly: ... Um ... you'd ... you'd better go check. Right now.

<JETMODE> <guard> J-just me?!

<TIAMAT> *Clyde: What, am I supposed to come with you!? *avoids the guard's eye.

<JETMODE> <guard> C-come on, Clyde, you know what she's like!

<TIAMAT> *Clyde: .. Uh ... right ... *he swallows, nods, and stands, double-checking that he has his rapier with him as he makes for the door, looking a little shaken.

<JETMODE> *The guard follows him out, babbling. "I r-really hope she didn't starve to death or anything -- I mean, not that I'd mind if she did, but we're not supposed to starve people, and and even if she's not oh god, she's gonna be pissed --"

<TIAMAT> *Clyde: Shut up. Just shut up. *he's walking rather mechanically toward solitary.

<JETMODE> *The guard subsides, shuddering.

<JETMODE> *At the end of the hall, they find the cell door blown in and Genoa gone without a trace.

<TIAMAT> *Clyde stares into the cell blankly, mouth hanging open.

<JETMODE> <guard> Ooohnononono -- sh-she got out!? And and we didn't catch her!? B-but -- where could she be?!

<TIAMAT> *Clyde: I...I dunno...we...we gotta... *he trails off, shaking his head slightly and holding it in his hands. Clyde's had a really rough week.

<JETMODE> <guard> B-but -- but Teal's gone, too, and we don't know where he is -- could she have -- oh god or -- maybe -- but --

<TIAMAT> *Clyde looks at the guard in horror. "D-don't say that! Don't! *he pushes past the guard and starts for the steps. "We ... we have to concentrate on finding the Baron. Finding him is our main concern...

<JETMODE> <guard> But..

<TIAMAT> *Clyde pauses at the base of the steps. "Tell whoever was asking about her...that they can't see her. I mean...she was supposed to be in solitary anyway, right? *he glances around nervously.

<JETMODE> <guard> B-but they wanted to know how she's doing!

<TIAMAT> *Clyde, getting panicky: Tell them...tell them she's fine! Or...I don't know! Make something up! *he rushes up the steps and makes hurriedly back toward Teal's office.

<JETMODE> *The guard stares after him in absolute misery, then makes his way back up to Jarod and Jukka, an absolute cloud of gloom.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod senses the guard's air of doom as he approaches.

<JETMODE> *Jukka merely looks at him inquisitively.

<JETMODE> <guard> *refuses to meet their eyes* Uh.. she's uh.. fine.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod raises an eyebrow in suspicion. "Are you...sure?"

<JETMODE> *The guard nods vigorously. "Sh-she's so fine she threw the bucket at the door!" He tries to be convincing, as she HAS done that on occasion.

<JETMODE> *Jukka gives him a skeptical look.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod stares a bit, then hmphs. "Well, that sounds like something she might do ...

<JETMODE> <Jukka> You would know better than I would ...

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: .. Right ... well ... thanks for your help.

<JETMODE> *The guard looks hopeful. Maybe they bought it. Maybe they're leaving.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: .. Come on, Jukka. *he turns and starts for the stairs.

<JETMODE> *The guard waves happily after them.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod pauses after they're out of earshot of the guard. ".. I wonder what happened to her."

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *heaves a sigh* It can't be good, with the way he was babbling.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod shakes his head. "Well, I'm not about to go prying around the solitary wing and getting in trouble for it ..

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *merrily* At least not today.

<TIAMAT> *He gives her a skeptical look as he starts up the steps.