Clare was pretending that she had not, in fact, been crying in her sleep.

Unfortunately, Kepler didn’t get the memo.

[Are you sure you’re alright?] He nuzzled behind her ear.

She squirmed, ticklish. I don’t know why I wouldn’t be.

Kepler looked at her soulfully, purple eyes shifting to a shade darker. They had become more humanoid lately. [Crying is a sign of being hurt.]

I wasn’t. Clare turned away.

He flopped his face down onto her shoulder. [You weren’t hurt?] It was lucky he could speak mentally, moving his mouth would have created unintentional nibbling.

Clare shrugged him off. That’s right. And I wasn’t crying either.

[Liar.]

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She ignored him.

In their territory, Astrid started hunting members of the dipluran choir. They scattered, and the cave went silent. Well, almost. The Snake-worms still snapped at each other in passing, and the slimes conversed softly in their squishy language.

Still, the place felt strangely empty.

Kepler… She finally admitted, People don’t always want to talk about things.

[Why.] It was too hard-edged to be a question.

She pushed him away. Pulled her legs up to rest her chin on her knees.

He hung back a minute, anxious. [I…]

More silence. Duchess left her tree to bombard Astrid, letting the diplurans escape.

[I apologize.] He admitted. [That was wrong of me.]

She startled, turning to him. What was wrong of you?

[Don’t you already know?]

Of course not, have you done something? She was genuinely bewildered. It had filled her with guilt, to shut him out, but the thought of telling him was worse.

[Ah.] He looked thoughtful. [It’s fine if you didn’t notice, I suppose.]

Okay?

The diplurans regrouped behind the jungle gym, singing ‘We are the Champions.’ Clare chuckled. Brushed aside the remains of her memories.

Let’s work on our dungeon, then!

Kepler nodded but didn’t crowd her with affection. Instead, he pulled up the plans they’d made.

[Where should we start?]