Firestone Hot Springs vegetable man, where are you?

though panic had been his first instinct upon finding the willows empty, cam hadn't the slightest idea of how to handle this outburst. he stood, rooted still and silent in place, watching the boy cry with an impassive expression. once the tears had ceased just enough for him to speak again, he did so, voice flat and morose.

they are gone, cam replied. i dunno where they went. sorry. he shifted uncomfortably, ears swiveling as if looking for a distraction around him that wasn't there. he'd reached a stony acceptance of his family's disappearance; like with mummy's death, there was nothing else to be done.

but the boy hadn't answered his other questions, and he fixed him with a stare increased in intensity. where're you staying? he repeated, trying to cut through the misery.