'Felipe, there's quite interesting news, my friend!', Zorro yelled as the boy welcomed him back to the masked hero's cave.
The boy helped the man disrobe form the black hero attire and becoming timid Diego once again, as he listened attentively to the story of the new adventure Diego had had as the masked hero.
As they walked out of the fireplace door and out of the house Diego told him about this Indian who apparently was clever enough to be able to track Zorro down. Diego was a little worried, but he didn't show it. Felipe was quite the worrier himself, and he needed to feel safe and secure. It was probably due to what the boy had been through and Diego was quite patient with him in this regard. He also felt guilty. He knew Felipe had to worry sick each time he left the cave dressed as Zorro. Each time he had returned so far, Felipe had been waiting for him. Even the countless times he had had to ride late at night, and he had tip toed passed the child's bedroom not to wake him up, he had been welcomed back by a very sleepy Felipe fussing about in the cave. How could he blame him? Loosing your parents once was terrible, he couldn't imagine how Felipe would fare if he himself died too. For this reason he always tried to minimize the risks and to laugh about them. He didn't believe in lying to children , though, so when Felipe asked ' Do you think this Gray Wing might follow your tracks here from town?' He told the truth.
'Yes, I believe he could follow Zorro's tracks here from town. – he paused to add drama- If there were tracks to follow.'
He kept walking as he silently chuckled. He loved to play with the boy he thought of as his son. He knew Felipe had stopped walking and he could imagine the puzzled look the boy most probably had on his face. He heard the child's steps as he hurried to catch up with him, and when the boy did, he wrapped his arm around his shoulders, as he burst into a laugh!
Felipe sighed. He hated it when Diego treated him like a small child. He was nearly fifteen years old, after all, just about 10 months, now, according to the age everyone had agreed he was at when he was found. The caballero stopped laughing and started explaining.
'You know that Don Pizarro lets his sheep graze at the outskirts of the pueblo? Well, I'll make sure they're scared enough to actually enter the pueblo.' Felipe grinned. Diego could read eagerness on his face. 'Care to help?', he asked, knowing too well the answer.
