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<blockquote data-quote="Drusilia Nailo" data-source="post: 545381" data-attributes="member: 2062">The children tried to push the manhole lid up, but they couldn't do it.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Kilat looked pale in the lantern light.&nbsp; &quot;I don't know of any other way out,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;I think we're stuck down here until someone finds us.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Drusilia stared at him, wide-eyed.&nbsp; &quot;What are we going to do?&nbsp; No one is going to look for us down here... we'll starve.&nbsp; We'll get eaten by some sewer monster!&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Both of them looked around nervously.&nbsp; &quot;Maybe we should go back to my room.&nbsp; We can at least hide in there,&quot; said Kilat.&nbsp; &nbsp; Drusilia nodded, and they went back.&nbsp; She felt fear gnawing at her stomach.&nbsp; Papa would be so worried!&nbsp; He would also be very angry at her.&nbsp; But that might not be a problem, at least for her, if she died down here.&nbsp; Maybe that would be better...&nbsp; &nbsp; They sat down on the ground, and started to play again.&nbsp; Drusilia's heart wasn't into it, though, and the attempts at play fell flat.&nbsp; They watched glumly as the lantern burned the last of its fuel and flickered out.&nbsp; They were left in complete darkness.&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;I'm cold,&quot; whispered Drusilia.&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Me too,&quot; said Kilat.&nbsp; &quot;Here, wrap up in a blanket.&quot;&nbsp; He draped one of the blankets over Drusilia's shoulders, and one over his own.&nbsp; They huddled together, and sat in the dark, shivering.&nbsp; They sat there for a very long time.&nbsp; Finally, Kilat said, &quot;Maybe you'd better trance.&nbsp; I'll keep watch, and make sure that no one hurts you.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Drusilia nodded, leaning back against the wall.&nbsp; &quot;Tell me when you want a rest too.&nbsp; I can keep guard then.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; The next morning, two very subdued children crept back to the ladder where they had come down.&nbsp; The manhole was still in place.&nbsp; However, there was a little bit of light, coming from the holes in it.&nbsp; It was just enough light that Drusilia could see Kennic leaning against the ladder.&nbsp; &quot;You,&quot; he said to her, &quot;Are in very big trouble.&quot;Kennic escorted Drusilia back to the house, after Kilat scuttled off to face his own parents.&nbsp; He didn't say a word to her the entire time, but she thought that she detected a hint of amusement in his gaze.&nbsp; At the door, he gave her a half-mocking bow.&nbsp; &quot;I will leave you now,&quot; he told her.&nbsp; &nbsp; Great.&nbsp; She got to face Papa on her own.&nbsp; She crept into the house, and approached his study.&nbsp; He was sitting in his chair, a book opened in front of him.&nbsp; He looked up.&nbsp; &quot;Ah, Drusilia.&nbsp; Did you enjoy your adventure with your little friend?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Drusilia blinked at him.&nbsp; &quot;You knew?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Papa smiled, leaning back in his chair.&nbsp; &quot;I know many things about you, because you're my daughter and it's my business to know about you.&quot;&nbsp; He studied her for a moment, closing the book that he was reading.&nbsp; &quot;Do you like this young boy?&nbsp; Do you think that he'll be a good friend to you?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Drusilia nodded, rapidly, suddenly nervous that he wasn't going to let her play with Kilat any more, because he'd kept her out all night.He nodded.&nbsp; &quot;Good.&nbsp; Everyone needs a friend.&nbsp; You smell like the sewer, though.&nbsp; Go and take a bath, and then come back.&nbsp; There's someone that I want to meet at the marketplace.&nbsp; Maybe we can find some apples there for you.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Drusilia could barely believe her good fortune.&nbsp; Apples were a rarity in Freeport, as there weren't many apple trees on the island.&nbsp;&nbsp; And Papa wasn't even angry with her!&nbsp; She couldn't wait to tell her new friend&nbsp; Kilat. She doubted that he'd fared as well as she had.&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;And Drusilia,&quot; said Papa, getting her attention once more.&nbsp; &quot;Against Kennic's counsel, I am not going to punish you for this stunt.&nbsp;&nbsp; Do not make me sorry for it.&nbsp; Now, go.&nbsp; I have work to do.&quot;</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Drusilia Nailo, post: 545381, member: 2062"] The children tried to push the manhole lid up, but they couldn't do it. Kilat looked pale in the lantern light. "I don't know of any other way out," he said. "I think we're stuck down here until someone finds us." Drusilia stared at him, wide-eyed. "What are we going to do? No one is going to look for us down here... we'll starve. We'll get eaten by some sewer monster!" Both of them looked around nervously. "Maybe we should go back to my room. We can at least hide in there," said Kilat. Drusilia nodded, and they went back. She felt fear gnawing at her stomach. Papa would be so worried! He would also be very angry at her. But that might not be a problem, at least for her, if she died down here. Maybe that would be better... They sat down on the ground, and started to play again. Drusilia's heart wasn't into it, though, and the attempts at play fell flat. They watched glumly as the lantern burned the last of its fuel and flickered out. They were left in complete darkness. "I'm cold," whispered Drusilia. "Me too," said Kilat. "Here, wrap up in a blanket." He draped one of the blankets over Drusilia's shoulders, and one over his own. They huddled together, and sat in the dark, shivering. They sat there for a very long time. Finally, Kilat said, "Maybe you'd better trance. I'll keep watch, and make sure that no one hurts you." Drusilia nodded, leaning back against the wall. "Tell me when you want a rest too. I can keep guard then." The next morning, two very subdued children crept back to the ladder where they had come down. The manhole was still in place. However, there was a little bit of light, coming from the holes in it. It was just enough light that Drusilia could see Kennic leaning against the ladder. "You," he said to her, "Are in very big trouble." Kennic escorted Drusilia back to the house, after Kilat scuttled off to face his own parents. He didn't say a word to her the entire time, but she thought that she detected a hint of amusement in his gaze. At the door, he gave her a half-mocking bow. "I will leave you now," he told her. Great. She got to face Papa on her own. She crept into the house, and approached his study. He was sitting in his chair, a book opened in front of him. He looked up. "Ah, Drusilia. Did you enjoy your adventure with your little friend?" Drusilia blinked at him. "You knew?" Papa smiled, leaning back in his chair. "I know many things about you, because you're my daughter and it's my business to know about you." He studied her for a moment, closing the book that he was reading. "Do you like this young boy? Do you think that he'll be a good friend to you?" Drusilia nodded, rapidly, suddenly nervous that he wasn't going to let her play with Kilat any more, because he'd kept her out all night. He nodded. "Good. Everyone needs a friend. You smell like the sewer, though. Go and take a bath, and then come back. There's someone that I want to meet at the marketplace. Maybe we can find some apples there for you." Drusilia could barely believe her good fortune. Apples were a rarity in Freeport, as there weren't many apple trees on the island. And Papa wasn't even angry with her! She couldn't wait to tell her new friend Kilat. She doubted that he'd fared as well as she had. "And Drusilia," said Papa, getting her attention once more. "Against Kennic's counsel, I am not going to punish you for this stunt. Do not make me sorry for it. Now, go. I have work to do." [/QUOTE]

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