Chapter Four

Karkat had no idea what was going on at this very moment. First hands had been running through his hair then they moved to caress his jaw line, curious at the pale skin. The hands were rough from use but at the same time felt reassuring. Suddenly Karkat was pulled into a tight embrace not as crushing as what he received from his family. "I've never seen such a little miracle before," the man cracked, "How did you get all up and white like this?"

Karkat shrugged to escape the man's arms. "Let me go you blithering idiot!" He screeched only to be pulled into a tighter grasp. Karkat's face plunged into the fur that was wrapped around broad shoulders. He could smell the forest along with smoke from a fire, but there was something else there. There was no rank smell like Karkat had expected just the smell of nature. He came crashing back to reality though and continued to shove.

A haunting call resounded through the woods, and Karkat was dropped instantly. "Hey what was that for?" Karkat asked looking up at the stranger. The man was turned slightly to the woods eyes suddenly alert. "Everyone inside, now." No one moved a muscle.

"Did you not hear me get inside, NOW!" He shouted at the trio causing them to all jump and make their way up the stairs. The stranger whistled calling the horses to him which surprisingly they did. He then led them to a small stable then closed the doors locking it tightly. The three waited at the door as he bounded up to them. "Inside, inside," he whispered ushering them in. The door was shut with a loud bang followed by the clicking of a lock sliding in place. He proceeded to a large circular window and sat down on a ledge staring intensely outside.

They waited, the three had no clue for what, and finally the stranger moved away from the window. Karkat exhaled only realizing he had been holding his breath. "What the hell was all that about!" Karkat shouted causing everyone in the room to jump. The man suddenly clapped a hand over Karkat's mouth.

"Shoosh, brother don't know if it's still out there. Might as well get our silent on for a while, yea?" He kept his hand clasped over Karkat's face for a while not trusting the little guy to keep quiet. Finally after a couple of minutes he let go, "It should be fine to speak now just not loud." Karkat pushed away to join Kanaya; who had seated herself down on a small set of stairs. "What can I help you folks with today?" that deep voice inquired.

"We're looking for Gamzee Makara," Kanaya began, "Would you be Makara?" Sure enough Gamzee nodded slowly, "They one and only, Sister." He then turned and began adding more fuel to the fire. He then lighting candles and lanterns until the room was fully lit. "We have come to acquire your services."

"And that would be?"

"To travel through the Black forest you nimrod," Karkat said, "We need someone who can get us through there safely." Gamzee removed the cloak of fur, tossing it over a worn down chair he warmed his hands by the fire. "It'll take four hundred and twenty boon-coins my brother."

"But you'll do it?"

"As long as you're paying I will. Don't worry most of the money goes for supplies we're gonna need."

"Fine anything you want if you can get us through the horrid place," Karkat said. Gamzee shrugged off his long coat again discarding it on a worn chair. He wore a simple black shirt with a belt and pants. His boots went to his knees being designed to guard his lower legs from the underbrush. At his hip rested a broad saber inside a royal purple sheath, which had been burned to show a creature in the stretched leather. Its horns rose high from the goat like face, the other half of the creature was a tail much like a fish and it spiraled down the sheath. The sword moved from where Karkat had been staring being placed with utmost care above the mantel.

"We'll we must be off if we wish to be ready for tomorrow's outings," Kanaya exclaimed standing up. She moved towards the door while fixing any wrinkles in her dress. "No you guys need to stay here for the night," Gamzee commanded without even turning towards them, "The beast is still out there and if you want to say undigested I would suggest you just make yourself comfortable.

"I have a spare bedroom for the lady and you two," he pointed to Karkat and Tavros, "Can have my room." Gamzee showed Kanaya where she would be resting, he even provided her with some sleep wear; which she took gratefully while asking where he had gotten such splendid clothing. He simply smiled, "My mother. She had a thing for sewing." With a wave of a hand he shut the door softly, he proceed to show the other two males where they would be sleeping. It was off from the main living room where they had first been waiting in silence, up the small set of stair, and through a heavy door. The room was quite large, even compared to Karkat's room in the palace, it seemed to come directly from the tree but all bark had been removed. His bed was in the tree itself though Karkat was sure the hole was small compared to the tree as a whole. Fur was used as covers and blankets, to the right stood a hand carved wardrobe. Here Makara was pulling out night wear for the two men.

Gamzee handed Tavros normal night wear, but handed Karkat a regular shirt. Karkat was offended at the piece of clothing, though took it anyway since anything else would drown him. He and Tavros dressed quickly then settled down for the night. Gamzee blew the lantern out while departing from the room.

As the night passed on Karkat was woken up by Tavros rolling on top of him. He shoved the guard off quickly only pushing himself off the bed. Frustrated he stood then proceeded to storm out of the room. He briskly walked down the stairs to the center room. The fire was still flaring in fireplace and there squatted Gamzee stirring a pot. Gamzee lifted his other hand taking a bite of an apple. Karkat could see Gamzee had large canine teeth for a normal human. "Can't sleep?"

"No not with that moron rolling on top of me every single second. What about you?"

"I normally sleep during the day. Night time normally has me on edge, it's like all the miracles that the sun brings get snatched away by the moon when she rises. Makes me all sorts of uncomfortable." He finished with another bite of the apple. "Want some tea," Gamzee asked pouring some from the pot into a metal cup. Karkat approached carefully but accepted the cup. Gamzee poured himself a cup also but added a little of something from a small jar. He grimaced at the cup before choking down the contents. Pouring another cup he chugged it down gratefully as it washed away the bitter taste left on his tongue. Karkat sipped slowly more cautious of the heat then Gamzee was. Lemon with a dash of cinnamon coated his tongue as he drank. It also had just the right amount of sugar for Karkat's taste.

Karkat sat down in the old chair while sipping at the tea. His eyes closed and before he knew it he was asleep. Gamzee shook Karkat's shoulder lightly; the sun had risen hours ago along with Kanaya and Tavros. Karkat was spread out over the chair buried under a bundle of fur. He looked up groggily rubbing his eyes, "What's going on?" Karkat had never been a morning person in all the years he's been alive. He would often fight with the maids who came to wake him up by clinging to anything possible; like bedposts, door frames, and the occasionally curtain. "Rise and shine star shine, got to get up if we want to get ready for this trip if we want to be secure in our travels." Karkat glared at Gamzee before pulling the blanket over his head.

Author's note

Gah awkward transitions between what I have planned out is always awkward. Sorry for this chapter it took forever because I had no clue where I was going besides introducing Gamzee a little more. Sorry again.

Tumblr: kingholly