>>5297536>>5297498A fuller fire pit than normal makes no difference to Cici as she quickly runs up and hugs her mother’s waist, getting a gentle hair ruffle in return before Cassandra hoists her up into her arms.
“How was your day, sweetling?” she inquires, making a motion to Yesh, who immediately begins putting together a plate.
“It was good!” Cici responds happily. “We got to play Snakes an’ Ladders!”
“Snakes and Ladders?”
“Mhm! Me, Katy, Hannah, an’ Iris all made a board so we could play together!”
“And that’s why we were late,” Melody interjects haughtily, “and why we’re going to have to have a talk with Mr. Martin tomorrow, abou- “
Melody is cut off by Ms. Willow pinching her ear.
“Huh? About what?” Cici asks as her mother lets her down. “An’ how did you get here before me an’ Iris?”
“We flew,” she responds as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Wow! Can you teach me! I already kinda know how cuz of the bees, but- “
“For now, maybe dinner would be best,” Uncle Yesh suggests, the small lizard man appearing from the crowd with a sizeable plate filled with various meats and vegetables that makes Cici’s stomach growl.
[“Oh, thank the gods!”] The voices catch Cassandra’s frantic relief as Cici goes for the food and they depart the bracer to ask her what exactly is going on.
[“We’re planning for what’s to come,”] she answers, stern resolve replacing the earlier elation in an instant. [“I’m trying to gather as many people as possible so that we can cover all of our bases and get Cici out of harm’s way should it prove necessary. After all, we don’t know when they’ll arrive or where exactly. We’ve even discussed temporarily removing Cici from school so that I can be closer to her at any given moment.”]
> What are the voices thoughts?> [] It may be safer for Cici to stay home for the next little bit, just in case.> [] She shouldn’t be missing school and time with her friends because of this.> [] Other. Write-in. 