Hero had the talisman, albeit still all in pieces, tied securely and protected in its shell, and it wasn't going anywhere - for now. The whole ordeal made him wonder about his own mother - what she was doing, how she was doing. The last time he saw her, she was in the middle of one of her episodes. She was usually lucid, but at times, she would just fall into that dark abyss and not come out for days...weeks...months... no one knew.Hero set the shell aside to eat.
And when he turned back, it was gone!
Immediately, he thought to the caiman that always followed him. "Adventure! Adventure, you bring it back! I know you must have it!" Hero hollered around the swamp, lunging into the water here and there - probably looking slightly insane.
The golden eyes peeked out at him, and Hero lunged again. "I mean it, this time, Adventure!" Granted, none of his threats resulted in anything, they rolled off that thick hide as easily as water.
