"Yes, if you count a week ago as lately," said Rae flatly, "but he didn't talk to me, I was just hanging about. I overheard that the Witch may be on the move again," she frowned, "I hope nothing bad happens to us. She still has that stone wand, right? The one that turns people into mere statues," Rae stopped to look down sadly and sniff back a tear, "it happened to my friend Otto, an otter would you belive."