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."

an old married couple, though I'd never dare say that out loud. Elverly might actually bite my head off if I did. "It's good to see you, Lisa," the Grand Sage says, turning to me

the safest place for me

step away from new mates. Wolves don't have the same

Desperate to change the subject, I nod

you working on? Looks like some kind

Grand Sage's face lights up. "Indeed it is. I'm developing a communication device.

genuinely curious. "Like a

lack of supplies." We're refugees, after all. It's

11:34

<

Would a Watch

you

in our camp can utilize or sense magic. We

what that means. "Right. Gnomes

gnomes have always been

lean against the table, fascinated. "So, how does that work with werewolves? I mean,

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

to look at his sketches. They're intricate, full of symbols I don't understand and diagrams that make my head spin. "So, how exactly would

again, tapping it against the paper. "The basic principle is to create a network of energy that can carry messages across distances. Think of it like your human radio

magical ability from the user. It would be like using a flashlight. The electricity makes it work, but you

on."

familiar the gnome is with our human world and its inventions, but I suppose that's why he works

certain materials to construct the devices, and they're not easy to come by in our current situation. And then there's the matter of testing