The next morning, Aileen and Lilah destroyed their little tropical tent. They packed up what little they would keep - For Aileen, her tapestry, and for Lilah, a small piece of a palm frond; she kept a little piece from everywhere we stayed. They also covered the remains of the base with thick vines and wide leaves. You never knew what could be lurking in the wild of Knoll, and they wouldn’t take any chances. Squirtle squeaked, confused that they were ruining their home.
“We don’t live anywhere, Squirtle,” Aileen told him sadly. “Our village was destroyed.”
Lilah snorted as she rolled the uneaten grapefruits back into her patchwork sack. “By that, you mean you destroyed it,” she corrected.
“You’re the one who set it on fire!”
“Yeah, then you washed it all into the sea!”
“We both lost control, Lilah! Don’t blame me!”
“Well, I’ll blame you if IT’S YOUR FAULT!”
Lilah stormed out into the tropical forest. Aileen hurried after her, worried about what would happen if they split up. They couldn’t let anything drive a wedge between them.
But Aileen lost her in the thick forest. Aileen screamed her name, but Lilah wouldn’t return.
“Who are you calling for?”
Aileen yelped and turned around, finding a woman with thick curly brown hair covering her eyes. Then Aileen yelped again, realizing that she didn’t have eyes.
“Wha-who-who-” Aileen stuttered.
“Shh.” The woman pressed a finger to her lips. “I’m Shade.”
“That’s a weird name.”
“It’s a code name. But I’ve never had anything else.”
“I’m calling for my sister,” Aileen said. She didn't know why she told her that. Her mind just kinda told her to do it without her consent.
“A sister,” Shade mused. “Interesting. Never tried siblings before.”
“Uhhh, what are you planning to do to me?” Aileen said, taking a step back. But Shade wasn’t listening to her. “Of course, they would have to know… And I don’t have the minimum of three…”
“Will you please just explain what is happening!!” Aileen shouted, frustrated. Who was this weird person!?
“I am Shade…”
“Um, you said that.”
“I am the only member left of the Octo-Frog Cult-” Shade stopped, and clapped a hand to her mouth. That was clearly a piece of information she wasn’t planning on sharing.
“Well then. I suppose you may be able to join. So young… but it might work. Another perspective. The Octo-Frog Cult is-” but a burst of fire cut her off.
“Get away from my sister, you creepy tall person!!” Lilah burst into the clearing, a sphere of fire hovering over each palm.
Shade sighed, as if bored. “Such a waste of energy.” Lilah froze, somehow not even a strand of her hair blowing in the damp wind. Then a fierce cold pierced my mind. Aileen tried to cry out but couldn’t move. Shade had somehow frozen our minds.
“Let’s try this again.” Shade paced in a tight circle. “I am Shade. I am the only remaining member of the OctoFrog cult, a cult trying to summon the almighty god OctoFrog. I can recruit you. You will have a home, food, and a place to sleep every night. Also, OctoFrog Summoning!” She raised her hand as if looking for a high five, but Lilah and Aileen were still frozen in place.
“Right. Oop. Sorry.” with a wave of her hand, Shade unfroze us. “How did you do that?” Lilah breathed.
“When you’ve lived as long as I have with mind powers, you’ve got a few self-defense tricks up your sleeve.” Then she suddenly smiled. “Of course, not necessarily self-defense…”
“Well, I think I speak for both of us when I say we will absolutely join!” Lilah said, grinning.
“Wait, a moment. Shouldn’t there be a catch? Things like this always have a catch,” Aileen frowned.
“Ah, don’t be so sulky. This is the best opportunity we’ve had in years!”
Shade didn’t have eyes, but Aileen had the unsettling feeling that she was staring at her. “Smart. Considering. Not impulsive. Yes, I think that you, Aileen, will do well as the Lord of our cult.”
“AAH! HOW DO YOU KNOW MY NAME” Aileen covered her ears like that might help.
“I might not have eyes, but I see and know everything.”
“Well, that’s creepy,” Lilah decided. “Also, um, what’s this about no eyes?”
Shade flipped up her thick bangs, and Lilah screamed. “Um. Okay. That happened,” she mumbled.
“Back up a second.” Aileen held up her hands in a slow-down sign. “You said something about me being a lord? Hate to break it to you, but I’m a girl. I can’t be a lord. Try lady.”
“Bah, sometimes I think this world has come so far, then I come across moments like these…” Shade shook her head and sighed. “Says who that you can’t be a Lord?”
“Uh, I guess that’s true-ish…” Aileen said.
“Keep in mind: capital, L Lord.”
“Ah. That clears things up,” Lilah said, smirking. Aileen rubbed my pendant, thinking.
“I guess I’ll be this Lord. I can’t leave my sister.”
“Then come along! Base Camp is this way.” We followed our new acquaintance into the forest.
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