Ro

Sophie turned pale as she turned to face the owner of the voice.

Ro.

The ogre stood smirking at her and Keefe, Sophie was confused for a second when Ro lifted an eyebrow pointedly but that's when she realized how close she was standing too Keefe. With newly pinked cheeks she jumped back from him.

Keefe opened his mouth a smirk on his lips, probably about to crack a joke. But after a quick look at Ro he closed it, as if her mere presence stopped his wit.

Sophie tipped her head, studying him as he stilled, not a word and not a movement.

"Anything you want to say Hunkyhair?" Ro chipped in, sounding... threatening.

At first he didn't say a word but after he realized that Ro would probably murder him if he stayed quiet he said,

"How many amoeba's am I going to suffer through before you forgive me for leaving?"

Sophie gulped, that would not be a pleasant sight...

"Oh you'll suffer lots and lots of amoebas, but that's not all and you know it." Ro said, glancing at Sophie so distinctly that she wondered what they were talking about. She glanced back and fourth at Ro and Keefe who seemed to be having a stare off. Why did it involve her...

"Don't worry. I made Keefe promise." A tiny voice from a formerly forgotten child chirped up.

Kye.

Ro took a step back, swearing a few ogre curse words that Kye probably shouldn't hear.

"Who are you and how did I not notice you?" Ro growled, bending down to examine the girl who had raced forward.

"Um..." Sophie started, how was she supposed to explain everything to Ro? And to Kye... how was she not freaked out by the big, armed, creature in front of her?

"Kye this is Ro. She's an ogre." Keefe jumped in before Sophie could explain, a feeling of relief circled inside her as Kye nodded.

"Keefe never told me bout any Ro. But I got to see Silveny!" Kye said happily, mumbling on about alicorns.

"So you're telling me you told her about a sparkly alicorn but not an armed ogre who can make your life torture?" Ro asked menacingly and Sophie stifled a laugh as Keefe cringed.

"Yes?" He offered, answering Ro's question. Ro turned to him, a devilish smirk on her lips as she grabbed a vile of something black and icky.

"And Foster." Kye said, once again interrupting the others.

"What?" Ro asked, turning back too the girl, an interested look in her eyes.

"He told me about Foster too. Lots about her." Kye said a slight smirk laced on her lips.

"Oh did he now?" Ro asked, aiming a pointed look at Keefe as Sophie let out a snort. What did it matter if he mentioned her? He had probably told about all her other friends too.

"And who else did he talk about hm?" Ro asked, and Kye frowned, thinking on this.

"Just Foster. And the alicorn. And his mom. Mostly Foster." She confirmed, and at this Sophie's eyes widened, Keefe really hadn't told Kye about anyone else? Sure his mom too but... why did he talk so much about her?

No reason! That little voice in the back of her head insisted, but along with it was the second one. The one that seemed to scream at her for being oblivious, but... what did that even mean?

Sophie you're being crazy. She told herself, shaking her head and redirecting her thoughts to the conversation. This was no time to speculate about Keefe.

"And why is that Keefe? Didn't you want to mention you best friend Fitzy? Your buddy extraordinaire?" Ro prodded at Keefe who shrugged, a teasing smirk on Ro's lips. Something about the glint in her eyes made Sophie feel like she knew more than she was letting on.

Like Sophie was missing something everybody else knew. But that was just her paranoia... Right?

"It's cause Keefe loves Fo- Mmphh." Kye started, only to be muffled by Keefe's hand who had placed it over her mouth.

Sophie laughed as she realized Keefe's cheeks were turning pink. Forget the part where she had no idea what was going on— Keefe was blushing!

"Looking a little pink around the cheeks aren't we?" Sophie teased, and for a second she could've sworn he looked scared but than he shook his head, lifting his hand away from Kye's mouth who smiled innocently at him.

"Nahh I just wanted to follow up with the Foster style, pink cheeks is all the trend these days Foster. You should know, you started it." Keefe said with a wink at her and she rolled her eyes.

"Yeah sure." Sophie said, laughing to herself. Keefe had an answer to everything didn't he?

"On a more serious note," she said after a moment, the laughter dying down.

"How did you find us?" Sophie questioned, aiming it at Ro.

"Oh you know it was kinda easy. I reached out to your forkle buddy and what do you know he says you're staying at the boring sparkle house! Course he told me to wait a bit but than I learn you left so he sent me after you. And don't worry your pretty little head blondie, Sandor has no idea where I am." Ro said, sounding triumphant with her findings. And than paused to take a dagger out of her satchel, fingering the vile in her hands.

"Now about those amoebas-" she started, approaching Keefe, who looked particularly off guard.

"Before you do any of that how about we go back to a more secure place." Sophie said quickly, she couldn't save Keefe from Ro's punishments but she could prolong it.

"Sure blondie." Ro said, taking Keefe's hand and squeezing it so much it had too hurt.

Sophie stood, taking Kyes hand. Still processing the information Ro had given her, did that mean Mr.Forkle had known right from the beginning where she was? Why had he left them alone? Why had the approaches them the first day instead of waiting a few nights to randomly show up? And why did he send Ro to come get them?

"Foster?" Keefe asked, alarmed. He took her hand and she felt a slight surge of tingles fall down her spine. Huh. Must be a kink from his new empathy tricks.

"I'm okay, just... not sure what to think about it all." She said and Keefe offered her a reassuring smile as they twined there fingers together.

"You and me both," He said,

"You ready to go?" Sophie asked, and he nodded.

"What about my family?" Kye asked, tugging on Sophie's hand, She looked scared as she bit her lip, trembling slightly, a perplexed look on Kyes face.

Sophie paused, how could she have forgotten? Kye hadn't any idea what they were doing or where her family were. How could they be joking at a time like this? Keefe does it all the time, she reminded herself. Maybe Kye had gotten it from him? She wouldn't be too surprised.

"We are going to do all we can to find you family, and while we do you get to come live with one of us. I promise you'll have the most fun ever while we find them." Sophie said and Kye nodded. She vowed to show Kye all the beauty she could find in the lost cities, from lushberry juice to breaking into Eternalia, something about this little girl made her want to give her the world and all the more. She certainly deserved it.

"That's one thing we do have to solve though," Keefe said, interrupting her thoughts as Sophie squeezed Kyes hand.

"What's that?" She asked.

"Where is Kye going to stay?"