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(Howl of anger)

What magic should I use here... It feels like no matter what I go for, it'll hurt Kay—

Please, help me keep her still! I'll calm her down!

Easy for you to say, but she's being a real terror without a leash!

Senshi, do we still have any of that popcorn left over?

Aye.

Try throwing some of it for her to eat!

Got it!

Before he even finishes speaking, Senshi reaches into his sack for a ball of popcorn and lobs it at Ceobe.

Ceobe stares at it as if entranced, her anger placated.

I knew it! She's looking for something to eat!

Maybe something she ate on her journey upset her stomach and made her this way!

Since when do people turn into monsters when they get a stomachache?

Dr. Kal'tsit once told me that Kay comes from a special bloodline, so that might actually be possible.

Are you serious?!

Save the talk for later! Let's get her under control while she's distracted!

You, with the sword! You, with the pot on your back! You two look strong; let's hold her down together.

Right!

The three of them sneak behind Ceobe while she happily munches on popcorn. With all their might, they each grab one of her legs firmly.

(Unhappy howling)

Now, Amiya!

Got it!

Come back to us, Kay.

Don't be scared. You're safe at home right now.

(Pained howl)

Amazing... I've never seen magic like that before.

Look, Kay's back!

Oh, thank goodness!

Kay! are you alright?

Hmm...? Wha... what happened...?

It's like I was... dreaming!

Dreaming?!

Yeah...

Ceobe looks around her. The once neat-and-tidy room is now in utter shambles. Her hand is still curled around half a broken toy.

I'm sorry... Vulcan told me if I do something bad, I have to say sorry, and it looks like I did something bad...

I was real hungry in my dream, and my tummy kept rumbling... and then...

And then...?

And then I grew lots of heads, and I wanted to eat a whole bunch of things!

All I had to do was eat until I was full, then I'd be real happy, and I'd come back here!

(Whispers) Matterhorn, where's Vulcan? Has she noticed anything about Kay recently?

(Whispers) I'll go ask her once we're done here.

(Whispers) So, what should we do with her now?

...*rumble*...

Oh? Hungry again?

Yep!

I wanna eat lots and lots!

I was full in my dream, but now I'm hungry again!

Hmm...

Kay, do you know of a monster with three heads?

Of course I know!

What do you know about it?

It doesn't just have three heads, it's got a thousand!

Every time I wanna eat lots and lots, I grow ten, a hundred... no, a thousand heads! That's why I can never get enough!

I've got a thousand heads!

You what?!

Well, as long as my tummy's full, I won't become like how I was just now!

Well then! I'll cook you up a proper meal right away!

We'll make an exception to the 'no snacks before a meal' rule. We do need to bring her in for a medical exam, though.

Now, friends from afar, why don't you take a stroll around Rhodes Island? This might be a bit much to ask, but I was hoping you could show off your cooking skills once more at mealtime.

S-Sure, thanks...

As for the other reason you sought us out...

We might need some time to know your circumstances before we can figure out how to get you home.

Oh... So, what do we do now?

I wouldn't worry too much. The Doctor and Dr. Kal'tsit might be able to find a way.

Really?!

Yes. Whatever the case, you did help Kay, and your situation is... rather peculiar.

If you like, you can stay on Rhodes Island for a while.

As our representative, allow me to welcome you all aboard.

More newbies? Which department are they under?

Weird, can't tell what race they are. They hiding their tails or something?

I saw a young lady carrying a whole lot of crops just now. Mind showing me your farms here?

Farms... Do you mean Horticulture and Hydroponics, that kind of thing? Follow me.

You guys got an inn here?

Oh, so you're a Durin! C'mon, it's this way.

Do you... do you have anywhere I could take a proper bath and comb my hair?

Of course, dear, the dorms have all you need. Just follow me!

Oh, such long rabbit ears! I wasn't able to get a good look at their capillary distribution last time. What a shame...

Wow, they can adjust the position of their tails to maintain their balance. Ingenious...

Hmm... Some clearly have feathers, but they have no wings. Can they fly?

Ah, this place really is heaven...

Oh, isn't he one of the new operators they were talking about? He looks a bit lost, standing in the middle of the corridor like that. Do you think he's too embarrassed to ask for directions?

Maybe he's a bit shy. Why don't we start the conversation?

Hello! Do you happen to be—

(Whispers) Do these birdmen lay eggs? If they're unfertilized, then can I see how one tastes? With this many people on board, surely I can get a few...

(Whispers) Can goatman hair be knitted into sweaters? The ones I saw earlier had bare arms though, doesn't seem like they grow wool. A shame...

(Whispers) But what I really want to know is, if a catman and a dogman have a child, would they be a cat or a dog? Or maybe they're half-cat half-dog? ...Maybe the top is a cat and the bottom is a dog? Or maybe it's split left and right instead?

(Whispers) ...What if it's with a birdman? Would they lay an egg that hatches into a cat? Hmm...

Yeah...

Uh...

(Collectively step back)

Oh, hello.

(Collectively take another step back)

Can I ask you a question...

(Collectively take yet another step back)

What's going on here?

Do you lay eggs?

Me? I certainly do not.;She certainly does not.;He wasn't asking you, Mon3tr. No need to come out.

Hmm? Oh! Sorry, I was asking those bird—err, Liberi... Huh? Where'd they go?

Why's everyone standing so far away from me?

Hmm?