Snorlax, Hoop and Red made weekly drives into the nearby town. They took odd jobs to afford supplies that weren't available from the woods. The small town was getting used to the three. Some rumors had started that there was some sort of cult in the woods. But not many of them seemed to bother looking for them. Not like they would find much.
Sunni took care of the animals with Blue and occasionally got them to help as well. Those who weren't doing everyday chores were trying to find a way to get Mesay back. Dox, and Anna were crowded around a map of the area. Dox had circled the key areas for reference points. Home's remnants, Help3r's abandoned lab, and various other mini circles dotted around the area. They pointed out where more of Help3r's little hideouts were. Like the one Rene had lived in when she first got there. Her and Xil had found about ten of them spread out around the desert. Some at the base of the mountain ranges. Everyone had something to do.
"I don't know guys. Maybe there isn't a pattern." Dox sighed in frustration as he fidgeted with his immobile wings.
"I'm sure there is something else we can gather from these places. We just haven't found it yet." Anna encouraged.
Dox looked up from the map as Chewie approached. "Done with the firemaking classes?"
"I'm taking a break. It's hard to teach when you can't understand a word anyone else is saying." Chewie admitted. It seemed that the injection that Help3r shot at him back at Home was some sort of anti-butterfly serum. His powers had been nullified. And like the others, he couldn't understand a word any of the butterflies were saying.
"It's just nice to be able to understand both sides of the conversation. Have you guys gotten anywhere with the map?"
"Hardly." Dox reported. "We have a lot of locations that appear to be random. The most we are getting out of Rene and Xil's outings are more clues for Rene to analyze what was in that syringe Help3r shot at you."
"Well clearly it took my abilities away." Chewie said.
"Yeah but we thought it was just Mesay who could do that. Even then it was just with a look. Not by injecting something into us." Anna added.
"So that means that Help3r found a way to create some reversal of our abilities." Chewie continued.
"Like a cure?" Dox offered.
"Help3r made a cure." Anna reiterated.
"Do you think that's what the vials were for?" Chewie asked.
"Yeah. Help3r collects samples and then makes something from that." Anna continued.
"If he did, he couldn't have had enough for everyone." Chewie theorized. "I bet that's why he took Mesay. To make more."
"Even more of a reason for us to find her as quickly as possible." Dox said.
Rene was running toward them followed by a deer. The deer morphed into Xil and the two reached the group at the same time. Rene took a second to catch her breath.
"You cheated Xil." Rene complained.
"You said I couldn't change into something I've already been." Xil smiled. "Besides we tied."
"Yeah well..." Rene was still breathing hard. "Next time you have to be a two legged creature."
"What's going on?" Dox asked.
"Rene found something in the lab." Xil stated.
Dox has become quite accustomed to translating the coded words from those who had not been Debuttered, as they called it. He thought it was a silly word. But it stuck with the group. They all had learned to translate to a degree but Dox was the best at it. Seeing as how he was the first to be debuttered he had the most experience. It made sense. In a weird sort of way.
"What did she find?" Dox asked.
"A jar with this bright blue liquid inside it." Rene responded. "It looks just like the stuff that Chewie was hit with but it's chemical component is different."
"How so?" Dox continued.
"Well the genome for the original serum that hit Chewie is a circular moasic virus. Where the RNA is coiled in a helix of repeating protein sub units. Whereas this jar has a single stranded genome. Which has a positive sense which is complimentary to the mRNA and thus must be converted to a positive sense RNA before translation of the cell." Rene spouted.
"Okay, I have no idea what she said." Dox admitted.
"They are different." Xil translated. "Meaning that they are different chemically so they probably do different things."
"A translation of the translation. That's a new one on me." Dox sighed. He turned to the others and explained what Rene found.
"Do you know what the other thing does?" Anna asked.
"Nope." Rene plainly responded. "But it may have been some initial byproduct when he was trying to make the anti-butter serum."
"So there might be all kinds of different experimental things out there?" Chewie said frustrated.
"If there is, it's hidden." Rene replied. "This is the only different one I've found."
"Well we better keep it with us. At least then it won't hurt anyone else." Chewie said. Rene handed it to Chewie and he put it in his satchel.
***
Sunni had spent the better part of the morning trying to herd cats, literally. Mesay's cats were being more ornery than normal. Every day their catmom was away it seemed to make them more restless. But Sunni had been able to keep them calm for the most part. She would have run into Envoy if she hadn't looked up at the right time.
"Woah Sunni!" Envoy hollered.
Sunni stopped and watched the cats run off. She sighed. "What do you want Envoy?"
"Well that's a hell of a greeting. How about, Hello Envoy! Wonderful day we're having!" Envoy chided.
"Seriously what do you want? Can't you see I'm busy?" Sunni insisted.
"You know why I'm here." Envoy said.
"No. I haven't seen Lucy." Sunny admitted.
"Did you call out to her this morning?" Envoy asked.
"Yes. And I haven't been able to hear her." Sunni continued. "You always had a better connection than I did. And besides, she was with you during the fight."
"I know that. I just figured with you being Dr. Doolittle that you could find her or something." Envoy argued.
"I'm not some kind of sonar for animals Envoy! I just talk to them okay?" Sunni yelled back. And she stormed off past Envoy. When she passed she took a second to clear her head. That bird was everything to Envoy. Lucy was the reminder of what he left behind. Before Roivas and Help3r. Before Home. She had gone missing for a little over a month now. And Envoy had no idea where she was. That's probably why he started asking Sunni to call out to her. Because the only other person who could understand Lucy was the one person who could talk to animals.
Sunni took a deep sigh, stopped and turned around. "I'm sorry Envoy. If I hear or see anything I'll let you know."
"Yeah, sure." Envoy snarked. And he walked off.
***
That evening the trio had come back from their trip with a treat. Snorlax had found a temp job with the Five Guys in town. It was the only eatery nearby so it was pretty popular. Snor's help was welcome and as payment he got enough food for everyone to have dinner with. When they got there it required a bit of reheating but everyone was welcome for something other than canned food.
The night brought darkness and with that, the groups fear of being attacked. Instead of using fire, Natti would make little light balls that would float around camp. Luckilly tonight the moon was full. So it was as if someone had put a giant floodlight on the forest. It made it easier to see everything including what may be out in the woods.
As everyone ate, Xil took a bag of food up to Natti. She had taken an almost permanent residence on top of a lookout tower CJ had drawn for her. It reached high up into the treetops. Just beyond the leaves. Enough room for her to lay down during the day, and keep watch at night.
"How are you doing Natti?" Xil asked.
"I'm better now. A hamburger and fries!? What a treat." Natti exclaimed.
"You can thank Snor for that." Xil answered. "So, I heard you haven't seen anything since we got here."
Natti answered with a full mouth. "Not a thing." She swallowed. "It's like we're the only ones who know or care that we are out here."
"Not even a drone or doll?" Xil continued.
"I think Help3r has his hands full. At least that's what I hear." Natti took another big bite out of the burger.
"That's what everyone is saying. If it's true, I don't think I want to know what Mesay is going though." Xil admitted.
"Me either." Natti stopped chewing and peered into the dark forest. She could see some faint light coming from a ways away. "Do you see that?" She asked Xil.
The light seemed to be making some noise as well. Sounded like a bunch of people. "Yeah, I can hear them too. Their making plenty of noise." Xil said.
"If they're locals then we need to get them away from camp. If they're dolls...." Natti said.
Xil took that as her cue and quickly shapeshifted into a hawk and flew down to the camp. She cried out and that got the attention of everyone. Any of the games or talk that had gone on instantly stopped. They all took their various positions hiding while Chula, Xil, Joie and Chewie went on to investigate.
They passed the holographic dome that concealed the camp from normal eyes and moved quietly toward the growing noise. Whatever they were, they didn't mind being loud. The noise became more apparent as voices. People's voices. Clearly they weren't dolls but that didn't mean they were friends. Chewie signaled to the others to spread out and allow the people to come to them.
As they waited, the footsteps got closer. The voices got louder. And each person was ready to attack. Chewie drew his sword and stood by behind a rock. He listened closely until they were right beside him. Then sprung out yelling. On the other side the man in the head of the group screamed and fell back. Bumping into the others and knocking two others to the side. The fourth just stood there as Chula, Joie and Xil as a wolf cornered the other exits.
"Good lord Chewie! You nearly scared the piss out of me you Celtic twit!" Tiq exclaimed.
"What?" Chewie asked.
"Tiq! you knocked us over!" Pink yelled.
"Oww...", frequency said rubbing her shoulder.
"Joie?" Andre said from the back.
He looked on and saw what looked like his girlfriend. But she was all hunched over with wild eyes. She looked like their cat. Ready to pounce. When Joie realized who was in front of her, that's exactly what she did.
Joie leaped over and into Andre's arms. It almost knocked him back. She squealed and said unintelligible things while squishing her face into his shirt. Andre hugged her back.
"Wow. I wasn't expecting this at all." He said.
"Wait. Are you all butterflies?" Chewie asked.
"I'm not." Frequency raised her hand.
"Me either" Andre hollered while still holding Joie.
"You're not?" Joie repeated.
"Joie? What are you saying?" Andre asked.
"You two won't be able to understand them. You're not butterflies yet." Chewie explained. Chula, and Xil walked closer to them. Xil transformed back into herself at the shock of the four newbies.
"What the hell?!" Tiq exclaimed again.
"She has the ability to transform into any animal. You guys have them too. You just don't know what they are yet." Chewie continued. "Come on, lets get you guys back to camp." He silently cursed himself as turned to walk back. Even debuttered he was still finding lost lambs.
When they arrived back at camp, Xil gave the all clear. Everyone emerged to see four new faces. There were many hugs and some mild confusion over basic discussion. Dox walked over to Chewie during the greetings.
"So, new people huh?" Dox offered.
"Looks like it." Chewie answered.
"I guess this means it's not over yet." Dox continued.
"Not by a long shot. But we knew that." Chewie responded. "Apparently Roivas has more in store for us. Though I'm afraid to imagine what that could be."
