lesson after lesson

Inala didn't like this. She didn't like any of this. The way they were both acting. Especially Chip, at first. Her immediate thought was he'd started drinking again. Caving to the stress of their plans and moving the clan out to sea. She frowned, but didn't budge when he asked to go somewhere private.

Air it for the clan, Xochipilli, she responded, voice firm. They deserved to know if he was back in the bottle again, after all. Not that many would be paying much heed to the trio at this stage - those nearby seemed to still be enjoying themselves and relishing in the freedom of a break they'd been offered.

But then her world crashed in just a few words. Cara being the one to say it threw her mind into a spiral of what was happening. He'd reached for her hand, but the pain of worry as to what was happening caused her to jerk away in response. Then talk, she demanded, trying to keep her composure.

Maybe it wasn't worse than the relapse of their keeper. Maybe Chip was letting his first shoulder the burden that should have been his to bear. Only answers from either of them would confirm or crash her suspicions.