CHAPTER TWO

:Meeting Circi:

"Always getting into some mischief or other." She continued. "Never following any orders..."

Rosis swallowed and came closer, hurling the stick at the cell. It hit the bars with a deafening clunk. The figure stared patiently as Jakob raced down the stares and out of the building.

"You do know how long it took Cricket to write on that paper, don't you?" She asked. "Do you not care, little boy?"

"Um..." Rosis shifted a thick layer of dust from the floor.

"What's your name?"

He stared into the murky eyes beyond the cell. "My name's Rosis..."

She blinked. "That's a beautiful name..."

"Thank you..."

"Can you come closer, please?" She continued.

Rosis nodded, walking closer to the cell and sitting cross legged. There was the quiet padding of paws across the floorboards as the figure came closer. She wore a black dress with a frilly white collar, and her hair was a vibrant auburn. With a gentle smile, she sat in front of Rosis.

"I don't get many visitors... In fact, you'll be my first, Rosis..."

"Oh..." He stared up into her eyes. "What's your name?"

"You can call me Circi..."

Rosis smiled back at her. "That's a beautiful name."

"Thank you..." Circi nodded with a slight laugh. "You seem like a lovely young Rapo, Rosis. But what are you doing up here...?"

"Well..." He frowned. "I wanted to know what was up here..."

"Hmm... You have an inquisitive mind, and an adventurous soul... Two things that could be fatal together, but could also turn like clockwork..." Circi sighed. "You remind me of someone I used to know..."

Rosis tilted his head. "Like who...?"

"Oh, no-one..."

He sensed her sadness and wanted to change the subject. "Do you know who Wilfre is? I've been trying to find out but no-one will tell me..."

Circi blinked in surprise. "You don't know who Wilfre is?"

"Nope..."

"I should let you learn with time..." She looked away. "But if you wish to know the truth..."

Rosis nodded frantically.

"Very well..." Circi sighed. "I shall tell you... Wilfre was the last person to steal the Book of Life, the book where the Creator drew everything we know of today. He thought he could draw better than the Creator, so he planned out his own creation. Unfortunately, Wilfre's creations didn't come out quite how he wanted. Instead, he had created Shadow Creatures, they are purely made from the ink from the Creator's pen... Soon enough, he became corrupted, the Shadow became apart of him. From that point forward, Wilfre became the enemy of our village..." She scowled. "And silly me... I fell in love with him... He was my idol, I tried to do anything to speak to him... But I was unsuccessful. When I heard that the Creation Hero killed him, I came here, to the Raposa Village. I became the deputy mayor, but I had other plans too, I wanted to find the Items of Power, the only things allowing us Raposa to draw well in the Book of Life... Once I had them, I tried to draw Wilfre back to life, but I couldn't remember what he looked like! I tried and tried again, constantly rubbing out my mistakes... But little did I know, that I had done something wrong. With every mistake I made, I built something terrible, and finally, the Shadow Monster was alive... It tore apart our village, and when it was defeated, I was imprisoned here..."

Rosis nodded sadly. "I understand now..."

"Rosis..." Circi began. "You remind me of Wilfre... You are so much alike. Your eyes are exactly the same colour... A vibrant purple... I always loved that colour..." She sighed. "Even your personality is the same. Wilfre was always curious, just like you, Rosis..."

There was a creak of loose floorboards as Cricket and Jakob emerged from the stairs. Cricket scowled and pulled Rosis back by the arm.

"Rosis, I thought I told you not to come up here!" He snapped and dragged the boy behind him, so that he could face the lady Raposa in the cell. "Circi, what have you brainwashed him with?! What did you tell him?"

Circi laughed, but so quietly, it might as well have been a cough. "Oh, it was simple... And nothing sinister at that, Cricket..." She sighed as Cricket's glare caught hers. "Fine. I told him who Wilfre was... No harm done..."

"No harm done?!" He bellowed. "This boy is far too young to be told these scary stories of yours! What's more, Rapokids are easily influenced by scheming minds such as your own. As I am sure you are aware..."

Circi nodded. "I know, but I didn't tell him too much. All I said was that Wilfre stole the Book of Life."

"I heard you talking for quite a while, Circi." Cricket pointed out. "You must've said something more than that." He turned to Rosis, who was sat quietly on the floor. "Rosis, you must understand that Wilfre is not a good Raposa. If it wasn't for the Creation Hero, our entire world would have been destroyed because of him! I know your only young, but you have to take into account what has happened before your time..."

"Wilfre is too a good Raposa!" Circi snapped and pressed her face against the cell bars, the chain that coiled itself around her leg rattled impatiently. "Sure he's done a few bad things in his life, but he's good really... At heart he's good..."

Cricket smirked. "Hmm..." He turned to Rosis and Jakob. "Now, let's go outside and discuss the consequences for medalling with my paperwork..." He gestured to the fallen pile of files that was half across the floor. Cricket ushered the Raposa away as Rosis looked back at his new friend.

"Come backtonight, darling..." Circi mouthed to him. "Cricket is on night duty, you can sneak in without being noticed."

CHAPTER THREE

:The Night Time Visitor:

Rosis sat outside of the village hall, pondering about what Circi had said. He looked up into the oily sunset, wishing that Cricket would not return from his night time duty early. Or worse, Unagi... If he returned to the police station, Rosis would be doomed for a lifetime of punishment. As the last drop of golden light bathed the fields in a sun bleached blanket, Rosis snuck away from the Eternal Flame, and began his walk to the station.

The jail loomed overhead, Circi smiled at him through the barred window of the station, gesturing for him to come inside. The Rapoboy crept through the slightly open door, and padded across the floorboards and up the winding staircase for the second time, meeting Circi at her metal cell at the back of the room.

"Hi, Circi..." Rosis smiled innocently.

"Hi..." Came the answer.

He came closer to the cell and looked up at her. "Is there anything that I could give you? You don't sound very well..."

Circi gave a weak laugh. "Hah... Maybe, there is something I would like..."

Rosis stared at her expectantly.

She smiled. "Cricket left this evening, but forgot to give me water with my lunch... If you could pass me the flask on the table over there, I will be very greatful..."

"Ok..." With a step to the left, he caught the old leather flask from Cricket's desk and spun back to hand it to Circi. "Here you go!"

"Thank you..." She opened the lid and took a sip, before laying it on the table gently. "Now... Is there anything I can do for you in return?"

"Is there anything you can tell me about my Mum and Dad...? I never knew them, Mari said they died when I was a little kitten, she took me in and looked after me. But no one will tell me what happened to them... All they said was that they were murdered by a Rapo who was very bad. A dark shadowy figure with white eyes..."

"I'm sorry..." Circi sighed. "But I don't know... Is there anything else?"

"Hmm..." Rosis routed through his memories. "I want to know more about Wilfre..."

Circi sighed. "I'm afraid there's nothing more to say about him, my boy..." She looked away. "Oh, how I long to see him again..."

"Wait, no..." Rosis shook his head. "There's something else I want... I want to bring Wilfre back to life for you..."

Her eyes widened. "Oh, how I'd love that! But... I am afraid you're too young. I don't want you getting hurt out there in that big wide world, I don't think I could ever forgive myself if anything ever happened to you..."

"Oh..."

"But, maybe..." Circi thought for a second. "You could help me when you're older, when I think you are ready..."

"But how will I know when you think I'm ready?" Rosis asked.

"Hmm..." She unclipped the large red gem from her ear and handed it to him through the prison bars. "When you are ready, the red gem will glow bright... When that does happen, return here. But do not return until it does. I don't want a lil Rapo like you running around the village at night."

Rosis slotted the gem into the pocket of his jumper.

"But you must leave now, Rosis..." Circi whispered. "I think Cricket will return early from his night shift, and if you are caught here—"

"I understand..." Rosis nodded and raced away.