Tangled

Unshift 311

Unshift 311

311 Lisa: Would a Watch Work?

LISA

"You've gotten fat. Elverly greets me, in that traditionally hateful way of hers.

Does the fact that I missed her toxic tongue mark me as abnormal? Probably. But I hug her anyway, smiling when her body doesn't tense, even as she grumbles at me for touching her without permission.

The rest of the night with Kellan was nothing but awkward silence. Being away from him is a blessing right now. I just keep thinking about how he smelled-yeah. No. Not thinking about that. "I'll ask next time. How have you been?"

Elverly's snort could mean anything really, but I choose to interpret it as I've missed you too.

Maybe I'm psychotic. Or delusional. But I'm pretty sure that's what she means.

"Their food is terrible," she mutters. "Not a cook among them."

"They are refugees from war," says the Grand Sage, sounding rather resigned. "It isn't as though they would gather the kitchen before escaping."

"Food is important, the old gnome woman snaps. "Eating well is an important part of recovery."

""Yes, yes."

reminds me of an old married couple, though I'd never dare say that out loud. Elverly might

safest place for me while Ava and Lucas are...

step away from new mates. Wolves don't have the same deep-seated urges for privacy

cheeks burn at the implication. Desperate to change the subject, I nod towards the papers

Looks like some kind

"Indeed it is. I'm developing a communication device. Something smaller and more

lean in, genuinely curious. "Like a magical

right now, and I'm trying to address that. But I'm working with limited options due to our lack of supplies." We're refugees,

11:34

<

Would a Watch

you mean

fully. "Not everyone in our camp can utilize or sense magic. We need

Yes. Obviously that's what that means. "Right. Gnomes

gnomes have always

lean against the table, fascinated. "So, how does that work with

question," the Grand Sage says, his eyes lighting up. "Werewolves do indeed have a form of innate magic that allows them to shift. But that doesn't necessarily translate to an ability to manipulate other forms of magic. It's a bit like how some humans might have extraordinary physical abilities but no talent for, say, mathematics. They

his sketches. They're intricate, full of symbols I don't understand and diagrams that make my head

principle is to create a network of energy that can carry

magical ability from

on."

its inventions, but I suppose that's why he works on magical technology, trying to blend the two things. "That makes sense.

in our current situation. And then there's the matter of