Callie nodded.

"we will certainly need to do so." She agreed.

---

The next day, Callie was sitting on the deck near one of the railing, chatting with Sara, when she noticed the lookalike come onto the deck. She also saw the one person who was seriously coming off as being a stalker by this point. She told sara to hold on and shtup, but not in so many words, as she watched the two. In the bright light, she wasn't properly reaslising that there was an oceanic shade of blue streak to his hair, was focusing more on his face.

She knew him, knew that face, but for the life of her, she couldn't pinpoint how, why, or where.

♫They say it's not the kids, the parents are the problem // Then if you taught the kids to parent that's the problem solved then!♫

The one he'd addressed didn't even seem to pay any heed, continued just enjoying the sun and waved him away. When he hadn't left quickly, someone who was essentially a bodyguard stepped up to urge him away. They would get physical if need be.

Callie, meanwhile, was just watching the scene, her brain was firing things faster than she could actually keep up with them. She knew the response, and she didn't know HOW she knew the response.

She also didn't know who that was, but knew that she knew him.

With a cry, she just grabbed her head, doubling over a bit to rest her elbows on her knees.

"Callie?" Sara asked, her voice concerned.

"I'm ok, Sara." Callie answered. "Just... supremely frustra---" She didn't finish as her head shot up, and she stared at the one with the blue streak.

"Kai!" She exclaimed with a wave, hoping he'd look over and see her.

♫They say it's not the kids, the parents are the problem // Then if you taught the kids to parent that's the problem solved then!♫

Callie just waved.

"Restiiv brunv tiivsalensh*." She greeted ebfore freezing, looking to have a massive headache for a few seconds.

"Ah!" She cried out in pain as it got even worse. Sara looked concerned before looking to Kai.

"You're hurting her!" She exclaimed in her own language, fear to her voice.

[*Hey there, you old fish]

♫They say it's not the kids, the parents are the problem // Then if you taught the kids to parent that's the problem solved then!♫

Callie was silent for a moment before looking to Kai.

"I..." She started, shaking her head and looking to Sara.

"It's ok.... Really, it's ok." She assured her before looking back to Kai.

"..... A lot of holes have just been filled in my head, and I don't know what the trigger was, specifically, but... just.... yeah. I'll be all right."

♫They say it's not the kids, the parents are the problem // Then if you taught the kids to parent that's the problem solved then!♫

As he said that, Callie froze.

"..... How...." She started before shaking her head.

"I... How the hell did you SURVIVE!?"

♫They say it's not the kids, the parents are the problem // Then if you taught the kids to parent that's the problem solved then!♫

"Ora...cle...?" Callie asked before snapping her fingers.

"Treffel, I'm guessing." She commented.

"You actually come out close to me, if I'm right." She paused a moment, sighing lightly.

"I ended up making a friend while here, thanks to someone who saved my ass. Woke up in his bed." She added before looking around. "On that note... wonder where he is." She muttered.

♫They say it's not the kids, the parents are the problem // Then if you taught the kids to parent that's the problem solved then!♫

"He's ..... hunted." Callie commented, dancing around the topic.

"Quite in tune with nature, as well." She added, hoping he'd realise what she meant before pausing.

"Also, this is Sara." She added, introducing him to the child she was sitting with. Sara just waved, but didn't say anything.

"She's uneasy around new people."

♫They say it's not the kids, the parents are the problem // Then if you taught the kids to parent that's the problem solved then!♫

Callie paused.

"Jump languages." She said simply.

"she doesn't really know English." She added.

"I didn't..." Sara answered, in her own language.

"Came with a friend.' She added after a few seconds, but not giving more information. She didn't know how much he wanted.

♫They say it's not the kids, the parents are the problem // Then if you taught the kids to parent that's the problem solved then!♫

".... certain birds here." Sara told him, alluding to how she could speak with phoenixes, one of the rarest birds in that world.

"But... why... why aren't you living in the water?" she then asked.

"Because of me." Callie answered with a light sigh.

"we've been friends since we were little, and he was visiting me for a birthday dinner." She told the child.

"... and then things happened."

♫They say it's not the kids, the parents are the problem // Then if you taught the kids to parent that's the problem solved then!♫

"I..." Sara started before sighing.

"Karivyn and I were told that there were three others like me that we needed to meet on this ship." She stated.

"And... I think I found 'em. Or they found me, I guess." She added.

"Now what, though?" Callie asked. "As Adym and I were kinda sorta, in essence, told the same. But... now what? When we get to the other shore, what the hell is going to happen next?" She knew that no one had the answer, but it was a valid and fair question.

♫They say it's not the kids, the parents are the problem // Then if you taught the kids to parent that's the problem solved then!♫