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"Funny."
Bert stares straight ahead as they pull around to leave the parking lot. However, one of the security guards from earlier waves them down as they are about to exit. He runs up to the driver's side window as Jack leans out of it.
"Hey, guys. I think we found her. You want to file a report now?"
Looking back, all four men can see his partner escorting Katrin Byeli from the station. She seems rather disoriented and holds one hand at her forehead.
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It takes but a moment for Yui to gather what the guard meant. But then Yui sees his Queen. He rolls out of the car seeing it was braked and sprints to her side.
"She is disoriented, where did you find her?" He all but demands of the guards.
And then Yui realizes the hole they are in. "Kay! Kay! Its Yui. Guys she may not have taken her meds. She is bipolar. Kay we're here. We are here to take you home." If the guards (or Katrine) allow it, Yui takes her side to allow her to lean on him so he might lead her back to Jake's poor car.
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"We found he by the automatic ticket machines. I think she hit her head. You sure you got this? We can still call the police if you want to press charges."
As Yui leads her to the car, Bert gets out and offers the front passenger seat to his Queen. Katrin simply murmurs to Yui in some confusion.
"Yui... thank you, yes. I would like to go home now, please."
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Yui help Katrine into the front, and pauses looking up at the guards. "No, I don't think that is necessary. Last thing we need is more paper work. But thank you guys for finding her."
Yui slides into the back next to Bert and Leo. "Head for Treasured Jack. Katrine needs to go home." Her wish, his command.
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Jack gives a friendly wave to the guards as Katrin gets into the front seat next to him.
"Thanks guys... we got it from here."
Nodding to Yui in the rearview, the good doctor pulls out of the parking lot as he glances over at the Winter Queen.
"I can take you wherever you want to go, Queen Byeli. Are you all right? Is there anything you need? You must be hungry."
Squeezed in between the little Beast and the unusually quiet Darkling, Bert leans forward from where he sits in the backseat. As he does so, the blue tint fades from his skin and his facial features realign themselves. His face appears vaguely familiar, as if they have all seen it somewhere before. Those who had been at the Winter Festival will recognize the Ogre who had impersonated Katrin. Harvey, Sun Banisher of the Winter Court.
"No. We still go to the Four Seasons. My Queen... you have been gone for over a month. I have evidence that it was King Liebowitz. We must stop him before he kills us all."
Katrin simply blinks in confusion. Glancing from Harvey to each of the other Winter Courtiers, her gaze finally rests on Doctor Jack.
"I hit my head."
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Reaching to tentatively touch Katrin's flawlessly manicured hand, Jack leaves a small red stain on her pale knuckles as he gifts her with the warm breath of Spring. The other Lost notice the fresh scent of wet grass has filled the car.
"Спасибо, доктор. A month? How... what is the date, today?"
Katrin's expression hardens as Harvey informs his queen of the current date.
"How could he... Yes, we must go to the hotel, please. Quickly, Doctor."
Nodding to the Queen of Sorrow, Jack starts driving toward the Four Seasons as the Sun Banisher explains everything that had happened since Katrin's disappearance.
Gift of Warm Breath
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Yui gasps as Bert loses all his hair, his form replaced with Harvey. And then things make sense. "Dude, you could have just.." But now is nott the time. Yui suddenly wonders where his blue buddy is.
As Harvey informs the Queen, Yui sits in thought. Fate's course is worrying at best.
"The others are there, I assume to confront HAL. My Queen. One thing puzzles me. Neil claimed this Fairweather was Gentry. Why did you speak with him? What does he stand to gain?"
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Katrin shakes her head dismissively.
"We have yet to discern Mr. Fairweather's true nature, yes? We must not believe every rumor that we hear, but must try to sift thought the grains of hearsay and idle gossip until we find the gleam of indisputable fact on the matter."
She glances out the window before she continues.
"Mr. Fairweather has agreed to sell the Empty Orchestra. He also wishes to see it once more in the hands of the Freehold. However, the Autumn King does not trust our agreement with Mr. Fairweather, and I believe that he now seeks to actively put an end to our association with him."
The quiet that follows in the wake of Katrin's explanation is only broken by the concerned voice of Doctor Jack.
"So... where is Bert?"
No one in the car knows the answer to this question, so they drive the rest of the way to the Four Seasons in silence.
Please continue in The Wrath of Winter.
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