Sakura answered, trying to keep from bouncing. A day just exploring! It had been a long time!“Ready, Laura,” Whips answered. While Whips would slow them down to some extent in long walks, the fact that they were looking for watery areas made it important to bring their amphibious member.“I wanna come!” Hitomi said, dangerously close to whining.“Hitomi.” Akira’s voice was quiet, but the warning tone in it was enough to make Sakura wince even though she knew it wasn’t directed at her.“I wanna go with them!” Hitomi insisted stubbornly. “Tired of just staying here all the time!”“We discussed this, Hitomi. We’re going to a new area of this continent, and it could be dangerous.”“But—”“Hitomi.”This time the youngest Kimei stopped, though it looked like the effort to stop talking would make her explode.Akira nodded. “Just in time. But good listening. Your mother and I have made the decision, and you are not going to argue out of it. If you keep making a fuss, I’ll give you more chores and no Jewelbug for three nights.”Hitomi bit her lip and looked down, angry but still quiet.“Good.
