Era1 Universe: The Global Appetizer Course

How does your character react to losing something they're attached to?

"Has anyone seen Rosy?" Zuli asked, looking around the small kitchen space and realizing everyone was there for a meal except for the smallest member of the family.

Goldie looked around and realized the same thing. "I thought she was with you."

Zuli shook her head.

Laz raised a hand. "I haven't seen her all afternoon."

There was a moment of long silence before everyone hopped up and set about looking for the baby.

Lappy sat in her highchair and blepped. All alone. She wiggled her little feetsies.

Goldie returned to her office and looked around. Rosy wasn't there. Which was odd. The little gem often wound up here if she wasn't specifically brought here. Her next thought was the girl's bedroom and off she went in a hurry, meeting Zuli coming out of the room. "I take it she's not in there?"

"N-no. I'm sorry Gold."

There had to be a logical explanation for this. Lappy liked to wander off. She liked to play and get lost in playing. Rosy on the other hand was content most days to sit quietly and listen to the conversation going on around her.

"How about the garden?" Goldie asked. She started off outside, not sure how the little baby would've gotten herself outside but as many gems came and went throughout the day perhaps she snuck out then.

Laz was already in the garden searching for the little pink dewdrop.

"Any luck?" Zuli asked, hiking up the bottom of her dress so it didn't get muddy.

"None," Laz softly fretted, "not even a single trace of her. No footprints. No toys. Nothing!"

"We'll find her," Goldie reassured. Of course she was worried about her baby but she understood that getting worked up wouldn't help anyone think clearly.

The trio searched the garden extensively before meeting back on the patio.

Laz's gaze fell on the ocean. Worry began to creep in. "What if she got swept out to sea?"

Goldie patted Laz's shoulder. "I don't believe Rosy would go and do that. She tends to stick close by. I'm sure she's just napping somewhere and we have to figure out where."

"Perhaps," Laz hummed, "we could put Lappy on the floor and ask her to go find Rosy?"

The two elders looked at one another then smiled.

Zuli ruffed Laz's hair. "Now that's some excellent thinking, my dear."

Laz led the way back inside and took Lappy from her highchair. She held the little wiggly child. "Lappy? Do you know where Rosy is? Can you find her?" She then set the toddler loose to go fetch the baby.

Lappy steadied herself on her little feet and toddled off with determination. Everyone followed her all the way to the entrance of the estate.

At the base of the stairs that led to a secondary living space for the family was Rosy, lying on her side, sucking on her thumb, clearly having been crying her wee little heart out.

"Rosy?" Goldie asked warmly, coming over and kneeling. She gently stroked the little girl's head.

Rosy sniffled and big tears rolled down her chubby little cheeks.

"What's wrong baby girl?" Zuli softly asked, kneeling beside Goldie.

Rosy uttered something softly. She wasn't one for talking very much.