“Are you hungry as well?” the Wolf King asked her.
“I can wait until the next meal,” Kuba answered, and he nodded, then crossed his arms.
“I’m starting to think that there’s no real reason why the cooks are giving out lesser portions. I’m even starting to doubt that the portion-giving is even faulty. I’ve been to the kitchen myself, and everything is in good shape. I was the one who bought everything we got from town, and everything’s there alright. Have you noticed anything out of place?”
Kuba couldn’t just tell him that she had figured out most of everything already. As usual, it was too soon.
“There’s nothing wrong with the portions, and I’ve taken a look at everyone. The truth is, I believe someone is bewitching your people. I don’t know why, but -- well, as a matter of fact, I know -- well, I know someone is doing that. It’s not just a guess.”
They stared at each other for a while, and they both looked equally dumbfounded.
“I suppose that would make sense,” the king tried.
“It could have been the opposite, too. Someone could have bewitched you to think the food supplies were high, but I looked into it, and I don’t think that’s the case,” Kuba went on.
The king looked down and started to thumb-wrestle himself. He won.
“How do you know?” he ended up asking.
“It made sense. Nothing else did.”
The king sighed.
“At least, there are no animals or insects in our caves, which is good.”
Kuba nodded.
“Oh! We were supposed to have a meeting, weren’t we?” she suddenly realised.
“That’s tomorrow,” the king soothed.
“I’ve been here for a day and a half,” Kuba added, uncertain. “I came here the day before -- wait -- ah -- I can’t remember. I was on top of that tower, then I went to sleep, of course. And now, I’m here.”
The king looked at her and frowned. His eyes seemed compassionate.
“Do you perhaps need a list of all that has happened since you arrived?”
“I would. I’ve been here for too long, and I can’t remember most of anything. I mean, I can, but dates and hours and meetings are hard for me to remember,” Kuba admitted, and she wiped her eyes.
“Well, you came here and stopped the fight. It was raining outside, so you came back inside to have a meeting with Golden Wolf, Pumpkin Patch, and Red Salsa (whose name I keep forgetting, but we digress). You met Boolo at mealtime and helped him do his business. I was also there. Then you went to sleep, and Boolo went to give you a card. I saw him running with it. Then there was today. Do you remember today?”
Kuba shook her head.
“Mostly, but not enough. All the things you mentioned feel like isolated incidents, and not a full day.”
She paused, trying to figure out if she ought to ask if he wanted to see her more often or something. And do things together. The idea made her smile, but as usual, she didn’t know if it was the right time.
“Do you have any siblings?” she asked, before deciding that this wasn’t proper at all. “Boolo and Peebo seem close.”
“They do, don’t they?” the king smiled. “They’re precious, adorable things. Cheeks perfect for squishing.”
She grinned back.
“Mishia -- she’s one of our younglings -- she told me last night that she was scared of baking, for whatever reason,” the king let out. “It's confusing me. It's never been a problem before. Not that she's ever tried before, but we have no rules against it, and the storage is full of ingredients. I think she was afraid of wasting them. Could you look into it?"
Kuba nodded. She had gotten distracted halfway through it and started thinking about other things, but that didn't do anything. Time was slow for her anyway, so she had a lot of time to think between sentences.
At that moment, Sheeno ran down the stairs and tackled Boolo. When Boolo started to look very unhappy about it, Sheeno started to regret it, and so Kuba helpfully rewinded it for him. Sheeno thus ran down the stairs, considered tackling Boolo, then decided not to. He tiptoed to him and kissed his little hair.
"Kiss for Boolo!" Sheeno let out happily. "But he stinks. Boolo! You stinkkkk."
Boolo wiggled in his sleep.
"I don't want to marry him. He's a baby," Sheeno uselessly specified as the noise of many little feet came through the door. "Oh no! It's all of everyone."
Sheeno hid under the table. The table was invaded by little coats and little mittens anyway.
"Noooo! I don't wanna see them," Sheeno whined, and he held onto Kuba's leg.
Book Violet arrived and gently woke up Boolo. Boolo wiggled again.
"Mmmmuh," he declared.
"Boolo smells like rotten carrots," Sheeno said from under the table. "It's very important."
"Oh no!" Book Violet laughed. "I think he smells like strawberries."
"Yogurt," Boolo added.
"It's not yogurt, honey, it's shampoo."
"But I want strawberry yogurt sometimes," Boolo protested.
"We'll get you some," Book Violet smiled.
"Yayyyy!" Boolo exclaimed, and he hugged her. "Kiss for mamaaa!"
"I put your drawing in your coat pocket, okay?" the king interrupted.
"Yumyumyummm. I want to sleep," Boolo whined.
The king giggled, then prepared to stand up. He turned back to Kuba, who almost fainted.
"I mean," he said intelligently, and she turned red.
She had no idea what to answer, but she felt compelled to, so after a few seconds, she did.
"Of course," she let out, also very intelligently.
She tried to stand up, but Sheeno whined.
"Ehhhhhh," he explained.
Kuba picked him up. All the children were ridiculously chubby, which threw away the idea of them not getting enough food.
"Do you want to take a nap?" Kuba asked.
"No. I want to see mama!" Sheeno explained proudly, because he was a very proud boy.
"Alright! Let's go see her."
She put Sheeno down, looked back at the king apologetically (he didn't seem to care), and held his hand for him to show her the way.
"Mama!" Sheeno called happily.
Beeno appeared out of nowhere and picked him up. Sheeno looked at him.
"Mama!"
"Idiot," Beeno laughed, then he panicked. "Well, no, I'm joking. He's my brother. I'll get him back."
"Noo. I don't wanna. But it's okay! Goodbye!" Sheeno waved.
"Goodbye!" Kuba smiled.
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