She sat up, groaning.
"You're finally awake."
Sadya rubbed her eyes, then they widened. "Ahhhhh! Big sis, what are you doing here?"
Nayam sat in a chair beside the bed, arms crossed. She was older than Sadya by five years, with the same brown eyes but longer hair tied back in a baker's practical bun. Flour still dusted her apron.
"I got a call from your boyfriend," Nayam said casually.
"Boyfriend?" Sadya thought very hard. Nothing registered.
Then she thought about Plemeton.
She started drooling.
"Yeah, how'd you know?" Sadya wiped her mouth.
Nayam smiled. "I don't know, maybe the drooling?"
They both laughed, sinister, sister laughs that sounded almost identical.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
"So what'd you get yourself into this time?" Nayam leaned forward.
"Hmm, I can't remember?" Sadya thought again. Then it hit her. "ROBOT!"
"Robot?"
"Yes! That's what was bringing the island down all these years, it was a robot!" Sadya stood suddenly, then nearly lost her balance.
Nayam caught her, easing her back onto the bed. "Slow down there, you silly bear. You inhaled a lot of pink smoke. It messed up your cognitive functions."
"But the island?" Sadya gripped her sister's arm.
"The island is not as low as it was yesterday."
"Yesterday?! That's how long I've been asleep?"
"Yes. Because of you, the spider drones managed to pull us up beyond the pink smoke layer." Nayam smoothed Sadya's hair. "You bought us time."
"What about the robot?"
"I don't know anything about that, Sadya. Sorry."
"It's okay. I think the others saw it." Sadya chewed her lip. "I just don't understand—why was it deliberately dragging the island down?"
"Beats me. But that must be one strong robot to pull this entire island down."
Nayam's watch beeped. She glanced at it and sighed. "Oh, it's back to the kitchen for me."
"Wait, big sis!" Sadya grabbed her hand. "Tell me you brought me your famous island cake?"
Nayam smiled, pulling a small packaged cake from her bag and dangling it.
Sadya drooled again. "I love your cake! You really are the greatest baker on the island!"
"The food would taste much better if the island was farther up." Nayam's expression darkened. "This way we could negotiate spices with other skylands. Unfortunately, nobody wants to do business with the descending island."
Sadya took the cake, her grip tightening on the package. "I promise, big sis. I will find that robot and make this island never sink again."
Nayam kissed her forehead. "I believe you, little bear. Now rest. And don't eat all that cake at once."
She left, and Sadya was alone with her thoughts and a small, perfect cake.
Through the window, she could see Gray Hawk stretching out before her, still floating, still home.
For now.