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Occasionally you would see more tunnels crop up, always going in the same direction. Away from Iron Mountain.
Steele broke the silence. "...do you know what moles eat?"
The question surprised you, but you were glad to know the answer to it. "Bugs. Lots of bugs. Sometimes they'll have veggies, too... usually when they're desp'rate or panickin'." You recalled the lettuce. "I don't think you need t' worry about him." You motioned to Steele's mole.
Steele murmured. "It isn't worry, Buchanan. I am responsible for this animal, now, and I need to know how to keep it in order. It's like..." He paused to think... "...people, Buchanan, they need many things. Food, shelter, company, and the assurance that all is right in the world."
"Animals... you claim that these creatures are simply strange animals. I cannot call myself an expert on animals like I can call myself an expert on humans. Animals are your domain, are they not?" Steele turned to you and asked. You couldn't answer before he continued.
"I simply need to know where I can start to learn. I can give this animal shelter, I can give it company. I am, elsewise, lost."
One of the only remaining children in Redding cried out. A small child, no older than a year. Its wails were distant but nonetheless powerful. Steele chuckled. "I would probably have an easier time calming that baby than I would any of your animals, Buchanan."
You noticed that you'd stopped petting Mary, as she protested quietly and rubbed your palm again. Unfortunately for her, your fingers seemed about as still as the rest of you.
Steele had ceased as well. Both of you found yourselves staring in the direction the wayward moles had gone.
"...well, you aren't completely lost." You started. "Your plan went... pretty well, ah'd say."
A brief stretch of silence. Steele's reply was quiet. "People do like their shows."
The businessman flinched as his mole clambered atop him, coming to sit in Steele's lap and look up at his face. You saw his expression flash between concern and confusion before he carefully brought the mole back to the ground and got to his feet. "It's getting late. We need to leave early tomorrow, and I must be getting to bed. You, too. I cannot be staying up when it's so dark."
He left the four of you, heading right back to the inn, his mole somewhat startled by the older man's departure, chasing after him once Steele was out of sight.
You followed suit.
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>Falling asleep was easy. The moment you hit your bed you were out like a light, as you had been yesterday, without any kind of dream interrupting your deep slumber.
>It took far too long for you to fall asleep. It was hard to keep your eyes shut after such an energetic day. With every creak of wood or slight rumble of the ground you were awoken, thinking of the moles, wondering about Steele. Once you'd finally found sleep, you were thrust into the middle of a dream.