[ the storm that floods trench hits like a truck. it brews, blows, the winds shriek angry and fierce across shores and inner land. during the mess, and leading into a full week, falco grice has gone missing. then his omen, and somewhere after the seventh, confetti too, seems to vanish. the boy has not left humanity and returned to squid; his network username is online and functional— it was left home, and he doesn’t answer. even through perle, falco refuses to hear whatever he’s received.

his mind is scrambled. his body feels abnormal to control over such a long period, and it still baffles his state into a further spiraling confusion when the thoughts return to one conclusion: he cannot remove himself. he has nothing to remove. the vessel he is used to maneuvering like a puppet doesn’t exist, he is the wires, strings and heart. he’s alone in a large enough cave wedged between the rocks of the farther shore. it’s mostly dark, and clammy all the time. the winds that roar outside seem to yell at him like furious ghosts. he’s beyond hungry with his new, shed-sized stomach, and is only kept warm by the abundance of feathers he has trapping the heat in.

he does not leave the caves in this weather and state, neither is he in any condition to squeeze into a home when three of his talons barely fit through human-sized doors. there is someone who leaves for him, to fetch as much food as possible: confetti sadly doesn’t understand the concept of trade, and takes what he sees and what he finds. he steals without meaning to steal, stuffing a bag hurriedly with an assortment of salvaged fruits, wet potatoes and fish, then flitting away on his rapidly beating fairy wings with the weight of his produce hanging beneath him.

the fairy seems to be in a hurry; he doesn’t stop for familiar faces. well, he does! a momentary blip of hesitation it is, before he decides that his mission to hoard food is more important. can an egg-thing look concerned? well, he’s very fast for the weight he’s carrying, diligent and focused like a worker bee. if you’re fast enough, you might be able to follow him.

he’s headed straight for the rocks. ]