9

Zoe looks a little taken aback but recovers with a nod.

"We'll have to chat more in a minute," she tells you, "but I just want to run these flowers over to Dina—she's the head of the Town Council, and I'd rather stay on her good side."

"You've been running around all day!" Maxie cuts in, astonished. "Why don't I take those, and you can catch Huknock up on everything that's been going on in the last ten years?"

Before Zoe can protest, Maxie pulls the flowers out of her hands and rushes off towards the stage.

There's a short pause.

"Well—where does Maxie get all that energy?" Zoe wonders aloud with a small laugh. "You know, they spend all day training dogs, and then after that they still want to look after everyone else."

Smiling affectionately, she seems a little more relaxed—though you can't help but feel that she isn't quite at ease. Maybe Maxie is just the more extroverted of the two of them.

"So, Huknock, you're really back in town?" she asks after a moment, turning towards you. "It has been a long time. Did you just move in today?"

"Yep. I got back to the house this evening."

"The house?" Zoe blinks, taken aback. "You mean your grandma's old house?"

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