The Longing in Outpost

    Chive was staring out the window.   The dishes he held were still occasionally dripping from an attempt at washing.  He'd given up on them at some point.  Looking in the direction of Selena and Kipper's, he considered the history of bad ideas, and thought this would be pretty high on the list .  Mind you, if you're going to fake your own death, blowing everything up is a rather clear-cut way to do it.  The trick is not blowing yourself up by accident. The other trick is keeping your head in the right place long enough that you don't succumb to your own darkness and do it on purpose.  Magnolia was stretching in her chair on the other end of the table, straightening her dress again and again.  She worked her mouth around, finding it unwilling to speak the words she was thinking.  "Do you think he -" *****   "Are you happy?  You scared out all of our business.  An' it's not as if new customers are a dime a dozen...

       "It's nearly time.  Are you ready?" Kindel made a face as his concentration broke once again.  Sewing wasn't something he'd done a lot of, and as his gatehouse was being kept as dark as possible right now, it was more of a barrier than he'd planned on.   Keeping it dark meant, in theory, no one would think Kindel was currently in there.    And he certainly didn't need them seeing what he was up to.     It was a little strange to think he wouldn't be returning, though.  Luca had agreed to take over care of watching the belongings as he had, but it still was unsettling turning this over to someone else.  It had given him purpose all this time.  He would need to find a new one.   Mrs. Trufflebottom tapped her footpaw against the floor, breaking him out of his thoughts,  "All of the useful salt has been moved out, and all of the other salt is where you wanted it.  Now is the time....