Lotus had spent a half hour carefully coaxing the pine bark off of June's skin with a tool that looked more like a paint scraper than anything medical grade. Several tiny pieces of dark brown bark are now stored among the other unsettling ingredients in xyr decroded home. The witch kept going on about how valuable it is, "living bark off a child of the Earth" and so on, but June was too distracted from the pain to listen. Walking home will not be fun.
"Is that it? Are we done?" June asks impatiently, grumpy from the pain.
"Certainly. Be sure to bandage your leg upon returning to your abode."
"What about the rest of the stuff in your cauldron? Can't you make more potions with it?"
Lotus peers into the liquid. "Denial. The potential now resides within your weed killer. I will reissue once it runs empty, as long as you have something for me."
June struggles to their feet. As the pain flares just a little too much, they decide to keep their left foot off the ground entirely, unable to trust it. Leaning heavily on their crutch, they ask, "Before I go, did you happen to see my sister out in the Gravewoods? We got separated before you found me. She's a little shorter, red hair..."
Lotus' expression freezes. Deep purple and golden yellow eyes pierce June's light brown. They feel a strange sense of forboding as a cold breeze from the broken rooftop ruffles their shirt.
"...the third child," Lotus mumbles.
"Wh.. what?"
Lotus grabs June's shoulder tightly. "Beware the third child! Yes, your twin is fine, and will return safely. But beware the third child. Incarnates always lie." With that, the Witch of the Gravewoods turns around and enters a side room, shutting a squeaky door behind xem. June could still hear mumbling from the other room, but interprets that they've been dismissed.
With the potion tucked safely in their pocket, June reluctantly begins their painful trek back home.