Kanoa's left foot slid backwards, causing dirt to skid across the forested floor. She wasn't often one to respond to intimidation and imposing behavior, however, when Jackson screamed at her a shiver went down her spine as if the hands of death were strangling her. Her eyes narrowed, turning from their mopey appearance to sharp and focused. Jackson didn't scare her, he was just a frightened teenager that didn't know how to deal with the unknown. It was what was inside of him that set her on edge. His grey voice, his ambiguous grey voice changed when he screamed. What color was it? She had never seen anything like it before, the color drew in her attention like a black hole, she felt like a deer in the headlights of an oncoming truck.
She calmed down as she realized there was no danger, Jackson had control for now and that gave her time to think about what he said... But what was there to think about? She believed what she was doing was right, and his words did not convince her otherwise.
She could feel Maxwell turn towards her, she wasn't looking forward to hearing what he had to say on the matter. She didn't make eye contact with him as he spoke, yet she still listened, albeit halfheartedly. She couldn't help it, this situation was looking and sounding too familiar... She suddenly felt like a fourteen year old again, a freshman full of obtuse ideas and far too much enthusiasm, enough to cause people to pay attention to her in much the same way drivers did traffic cones.
"I..." She started, not sure how to finish. Mary did it for her, speaking on her behalf. She watched her speak, confused at first, but then she realized what was happening, it was something she was not accustomed to. Someone was standing up for her, rather, trying to understand her. A smile attempted to creep onto her face, but she quickly wiped it away like a milk mustache. She would need to thank Mary later.
Kanoa cleared her throat, and pulled the rest of the vials from her pockets. "As Mary said, these are potions. Enough were made for all of us. I assure you, I was going to tell you pertinent information when the time called for it. These potions will allow us to breathe underwater for approximately twenty four hours. This is important because we will be heading to the nearby lake. I believe that's where the Fox spirit has taken our missing student."
Kanoa passed out the blue vials to each member of the club, making sure to tell them to be careful with it. "With the information you've all gathered, I've got a pretty clear picture of the kidnapping." She said, beginning to walk. "The spirit is a being that needs to feed on life energy, something easily gained from living things. However, the forests in the area have been scarce as of late for some reason. This caused the Fox to become desperate, and even attempted to sustain them self on the trees here." Kanoa shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. "But plants cannot provide much energy, it would be like us trying to live off of grapes. It may keep the spirit alive, but they will be weak."
Kanoa plucked a hanging leaf from a branch and twirled it in her hand. "So the Fox resorted to using magic potions to enhance it's powers, as shown by the plants on the first floor. That was circumstantial evidence, but with what August told me, I know for sure that the Fox used potions to drug and hypnotize the boy." Kanoa nodded. "Good job, not bad so far for our first case."
It wasn't long before they reached the lake, it was a large body of still blue water that reflected the sky like a mirror. It almost felt like a shame to disturb the calm surface. "There's a cave entrance in this lake, not many people know because the cave is well... rather hard to get to without the proper gear. But since we'll be breathing just fine it's no problem." Kanoa yanked the cork out of the vial in her possession and downed the azure liquid inside. Right away it took effect, she winced in minor pain and held the sides of her neck.
She lowered her hands, revealing newly formed gills. She looked back to the rest of the club. "Don't worry, it's not permanent."