Lock stepped down to the ground and unwound his tail once Carver loosened the vines from his throat. If anything, his amusement at the whole matter gave Carver's story a bit more weight. His smile never dropped.

"Of [i]course[/i] not," he said.

Lock was tempted to cross his fingers. Carver's threat kept his hands where she could see them. While her vengeance couldn't rival Shock's, he knew the pumpkin creature picked up most of her troublemaking lessons from his older sister, and that was enough to allow him to think twice. His amusement having run its course, Lock gestured for Lillith to pick him up again. He [i]had[/i] been quite comfortable before Carver pulled him away.

"So you guys doing anything else today besides solving the mystery of the mysterious spices?"