---
Fizz floated closer, peering at John's face. "Why are you panicking?"
John stared back. "It's inside the void."
Fizz blinked. "Yes."
John's voice went tighter. "If my mana drops to zero while it hatches, it can drift."
Fizz's ears slowly lowered.
His humor drained away like water leaving a cracked cup.
He understood.
"Well," Fizz said carefully, "that is… not ideal."
John's mouth flattened. "No."
Fizz tapped his chin with a paw like he was thinking very hard, which was always funny because he looked like a small orange ball trying to imitate a scholar.
Then he snapped his paw up. "Snacks."
John stared. "What."
Fizz's eyes went wide and serious. "We need snacks."
John's voice sharpened, despite himself. "Fizz."
Fizz lifted both paws. "No, listen. This is important. Snacks calm the mother."
John's eyes narrowed. "I am not the mother."
