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Shyama took Dustfinger's hand and began to work her way back to village. "I don't even know how we're supposed to do this. I've never conducted a rescue before."

Dustfinger pulled his hand out of her. "You could probably do it by yourself." He said sourly.

"I don't have any idea at all." Shyama sighed. "That's why I need you. I need you to think of something."

"We're only two people." he said, just as sourly as before.

"So? Basta's just one person." She pointed out.

"What about the rest of the village?" he pointed out right back at her. "He could have others back him up."

"Oh. So what if we get other people?"

"Like who?"

"My sisters." She said brightly. "Ceridwen and Eidel"

"Where are they and what will they be able to do?" he asked, still cross.

She shrugged. "We'll outnumber Basta more, at least."

He frowned. "But where are they?"

She echoed his frown. "I don't know."

But because this story is being told by such awesome people, we can do stuff like this:

Ceridwen and Eidel walked up. "Woah." Ceridwen, the older of the pair, woahed. "Fancy seeing you here in an abandoned village."

Eidel nodded. "Hollo, Dusty. Hollo, Shyama, hi Gwinny." She reached up to pet Gwin.

Dustfinger took a step back. "He bites." He said shortly. "And how do you know us? How do any of you know who we are?"

Shyama shrugged. "We read a book about you. That's pretty much it."

"A….book?" Dustfinger said.

Ceridwen smiled. "Well….. Um. Hey, where's Anthea, Shyama? I thought she went with you. And where's Mo?"

"I haven't found him yet." Shyama sighed sadly. "Maybe I should have looked for him instead of Dustfinger."

"Excuse me?" Dustfinger frowned.

"I wonder if he's around." Shyama continued. "He could help too."

"Help?" Ceridwen echoed.

"Anthea's in trouble; Basta appears to have kidnapped her." Shyama said, being rather annoyed.

"ANTHEA IS IN TROUBLE?!?!" Ceridwen cried. "Why the heck didn't you say so?! This is urgent, we must go to her aid!" And she began to pull them all off to the rescue because she is strong because she eats shell soup, Spary Maun says so.

Eidel's jaw dropped. "Wha- what WHAT!?!" Her cheeks went pale.

"Yep. Basta wants her to sing for him." Shyama said distastefully.

Dustfinger frowned at this piece of information.

"Come on!" Ceridwen said. "Which way are they? I can't believe you! You take it so mildly! Basta is a villain!"

"And what's your plan?" Shyama said calmly. "I was doing something about it, with Dustfinger's help."

"Yes. I'll help." Dustfinger said, letting out a breath. "I wouldn't wish anyone to be stuck with Basta."

"My plan…" Ceridwen said. "Is to just overrun Basta and save Anthea. That's all there is to it."

"Hmmm…I don't know." Eidel. "It seems too easy. No, we could come up with another plan or at least something with more…action. Ceridwen, you're…I don't know."

Dustfinger let out an exasperated sigh. "I'll go down there and create a diversion with fire, so we'll have a moment when Basta's not paying attention to your friend, and then you can take her away."

Shyama looked at him admiringly. "I knew you would help."

With that, they headed in the direction Anthea's screams had come from, which seemed to be about 15 minutes ago.

"Wait." Ceridwen stopped. "We could disguise Gwin as a black cat or something…..and pretend to curse Basta or something. And with your fire, Dustfinger, I think we have plenty of ways to free Anthea."

Eidel smiled. "That's cool."

Shyama smiled too. "Perfect."

Dustfinger frowned, spoiling their smile-fest. "Gwin won't like that. How is he supposed to look like a black cat?"

"It doesn't have to be Gwin." Shyama said. "We could use a mop, for all it matters. Watch us be amazing. We'll do it."

Dustfinger doubted.

So all four of them went down to the village and crouched behind an empty house to observe Anthea's and Basta's situation.

"He's really creepy." Shyama whispered, frowning.

"That's why we're trying to get her away from him." Dustfinger whispered back, pulling out his box of matches.

"Okay, Dusty, do your stuff." Ceridwen giggled.