"Hey, hey. You still with us, Mels?"

"It's a miracle this wound she sustained only hit her side. The patch job is clearly rushed, but done properly."

"That's a relief. Come on, Mels, sleepy time's over."

Melissa flinched as rays of light filled her vision. She tried to raise her arm, but was too exhausted to keep it up. "Where…Where am I?" She squinted at the dark blobs hovering over her. "Who…?"

Her vision soon adjusted, allowing the dark figures of Lucient and Sid to come through. They smiled once her eyes opened. "Oh good, you're okay," Sid said.

Melissa glared in confusion. "S-Sid? Lucient? When did I…ugh…"

Lucient propped Melissa up against the walls of the wagon. "Godfrey picked you up, said he found you passed out in the middle of the road."

Sid crossed her arms. "And that you took out the bounty hunter we were looking for. That right?"

Melissa struggled to keep her eyes open, still drowsy from the fight. "I…yeah, I think so. He is the gunman." Lucient raised his canteen to her lips and helped her drink.

Sid nodded. "Then he's the authority's problem now. I'm sure once they examine his gun and the bullets used in the attack, they'll have him convicted."

Melissa finished her water, then grunted. "No…"

"No?" Sid raised her brow. "Is something wrong?"

"Partner. He has…a partner."

"A partner? Are you sure?"

She nodded slowly. "He did not say it outright, but…I know he has one."

Lucient narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "Come to think of it, based off what we know, that would explain where those explosives came from. There's no way he managed to sneak those in without us noticing."

Sid glared. "But there was barely any space between when both buildings exploded. If he does have a partner, they must be very stealthy and fast."

"If that's the case, it's best we get out of here as soon as possible."

"Right." Sid pulled herself up, careful not to put pressure on her bandaged leg.

Melissa frowned when she saw it. "Sid, your leg…"

Sid looked down, then grinned. "What, this? Nothing to worry your pretty little head over. We Drilbur are super tough. It'll take more than a little bullet to put me out of commission." She laughed sheepishly. "Sorry if this doesn't paint the best picture of me. I promise, I'm stronger and more careful than I appear. I didn't get into the Nature Spirits for nothing after all."

Melissa smiled. "I believe you."

"Maybe I'll show you what I'm capable of one day." Sid jumped out of the wagon and went to reattach Godfrey's harness.

Melissa sighed and rested her head back against the wagon walls. "I feel like I could sleep for six weeks."

Lucient sat beside her, forelegs crossed. "Speaking of capability, Godfrey also told us the gunman was knocked out cold in a pile of barrels." He smirked. "That wouldn't happen to be your handiwork, right?"

Melissa cradled her fist. "Heh. Yeah, it was."

Lucient patted her on the head. "I didn't know you had it in you. Look at you, moving up the ladder. Maybe one day you'll actually catch up with the rest of us. Still, not bad for your first fight."

Melissa sighed. "I would not call the injuries I sustained a strong indication of my growth. I got by only because I exploited my opponent's weakness. Even then, getting that far took a whole lot out of me."

Lucient smiled. "Eh, we've all been there. True, I never got into a high stake fight like you, but I had to push myself when it counted. You're still kicking and breathing, so that has to count for something."

Melissa blew some fur from over her eyes, then smiled. "I suppose I can revel in my victory a little." She frowned, suddenly recalling something. "Oh. That reminds me, actually."

"What?"

"This definitely was an ambush. They drew us out to find a lead back to me. I kept my mouth shut, obviously, but they were determined to execute us if we did not speak, at least if that Gligar's actions are any indication."

Sid finished attaching Godfrey back to the wagon and hopped in to join the conversation. "They must really want that bounty. Did you get anything else on the guy? You said he might have a partner."

Melissa shrugged. "That is as much as I know, sorry. I did not have the luxury to ask personal questions."

Sid hummed under her breath. "I see. Did you at least catch a name?"

"Amos. He calls himself Amos of the Blind Luck."

"Feel like I've heard that name somewhere before." Sid tapped her cheek for a moment, then gasped. "Oh, that's it! Amos the Sand Devil!"

Melissa raised her brow. "N-No, it was 'Blind Luck'."

"No, no, he was known as the Sand Devil some time ago. He's a notorious sharpshooter who lives around these parts. I think he might have grown up here in Grimebrook. Fitting if you ask me."

Lucient pushed his spectacles up. "What do you know about him?"

"I don't keep track of our archives, but I'm familiar with Amos. He's thirty-one years old and has a known reputation for going after women."

"That explains so much," Melissa grumbled. Her eyes widened. "Wait, thirty-one?!"

Sid ignored her cry and continued, "Actually, he used to be a respectable mercenary over a decade ago. Rumor has it, Amos got stiffed with a bill while trying to court a woman. When he went to confront her, someone associated with her jumped him and smashed a bottle in his face. Whatever was in it permanently damaged his eyes. It might have been a potion. He was effectively blind in the middle of the day. Could've been worse, actually, but no one knows what happened to him after that. He just sort of disappeared for a week. After that, the woman and her friend were found dead on the streets."

Melissa grimaced. "Yeesh."

"Ever since, he sort of fell out of public over the last decade." Sid crossed her arms and leaned back on the wagon walls. "Maybe the bounty money piqued his interest or something."

Melissa frowned, then looked down at her feet. "Is that what happened to him? I almost feel bad for him."

Lucient shook his head. "Don't. As sad as it is, stuff like this happens all the time. If I had to guess, that woman was probably just some entitled snob hoping to make off with a free meal. A lot of crooks out here are born from incidents like that. They're not uncommon."

"Still…"

"Apologies to be interrupting," Godfrey interrupted. "But…should we escape before the alleged friend tries to be…I mean, tries to end what he has starting?"

Sid glared. "Right. Godfrey, get a move on."

"Aye!" Godfrey reared his legs up, then took off running out of the town. Lucient kept Melissa stable as to not aggravate and reopen her wound.

Sid pulled her uniform, revealing the white shirt underneath, and folded it. "Melissa, lay down and rest your head on this. We need to keep you stable until we get home. Shade will have you patched up, so try to get some rest."

"Thanks…" Melissa carefully lay down and rested her head on the folded uniform. She closed her eyes for a moment, but opened them when she sensed something placed next to her. She tilted her head and yelped at the scary looking bucket staring back at her. "Eep!"

Sid smiled. "Rusty will keep you company. Trust me, he tells the best jokes to ease the atmosphere. Ain't that right, Rusty?" The bucket did not reply, yet Sid broke out into laughter. "Haha! You still got it, you old tin can!" She clapped the back of the bucket, then walked to the front of the wagon.

Melissa gulped, then glanced nervously at the bucket. "Uh…hi, Rusty."

"Hello~."

"AAAHHH!" Melissa nearly jumped out of her skin and kicked the bucket away, but immediately pouted when she heard Lucient laughing nearby. She growled, completely red-faced. "Lucient, you scared me!"

Lucient calmed his laughter and wiped a tear from his eye. "I can tell jokes, too, you know."

Melissa groaned, pulling her uniform over her face and turning onto her good side. "I am going to bed…"

"Sweet dreams." She heard Lucient leave to the other end of the wagon.

She sighed and pulled the uniform off her face. She pouted at the bucket staring at her. "I feel like you are the only one who does not tease me, Rusty." A bump in the road caused the bucket to fall onto its side. "Well said."

They say total darkness was when was truly blind to the world. Amos would disagree with that notion, as his whole world was blinded in a domineering veil of illumination that sought to kill him. He lived in that total darkness, yet what was darkness but lack of sight? Darkness to him was what light was to everyone else: sight. Light was his total darkness, and he never felt more alone in it.

It had been ten or so minutes since the Buneary firmly demonstrated her burning resolve by ramming her fist across his face. He had been out cold for five minutes by his count, but his body was unresponsive. He had wood digging into his skin, making the slightest movement feel like a slide made of barbed wire. Strangely, only his face was the least injured of everything else, even if it stung like crazy.

Amos' eyes felt uncomfortably dry, forced to look up at the sky and subject himself to the illuminated darkness he despised for the last ten years. Here he was, broken and worthless, and no one to play a sad, pitiful song for him.

He bared his teeth. "Harlow…that damn bitch. I swear, I'll—" A shade suddenly hung over his head, blocking the infernal light from his eyes. "Wha…?" He blinked twice, trying to adjust his vision, then sneered at the pair of blue eyes staring back at him. "Marsaili."

The Wigglytuff wore a condescending grin while holding a parasol over his face. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. You had everything under control, Amos? Is this part of your brilliant plan, too? I must say, you're bolder than I. Takes a real man to let himself get his lights knocked out by a girl, huh?"

"Hush!" Amos growled. "I would've had them if you did your job correctly."

Marsaili blinked, feigning stupidity. "Who, me? What did I do? You told me to drop those bombs off in the buildings and lure them out."

"You were supposed to stuff them in their pockets, not roll them across the ground!"

Marsaili smiled dumbly and poked her cheek. "Oh? Was that what I was supposed to do? Golly, silly me. I guess I'm just a stupid female who can't do anything right, huh?"

Amos huffed and looked away. "Pissed as ever, I see."

"Consider it karma for all those little quips you keep making under your breath."

"I wouldn't have needed you if we just done this in the middle of the night, where I'm actually useful."

Marsaili smiled sweetly. "Oh Amos, dear child, you must have a bad concussion there. You're starting to believe you're competent." She jumped back and avoided his snapping pincers, grinning wider as the wood splinters dug harder into his back.

"Agh!" Amos held still, cringing and tensing his body up. "Why…are you even here? Go chase the Foresters down."

"Oh, I will…in due time." Marsaili crouched down, playfully swaying the parasol around. "I need a little information on that Buneary, though. Sounds to me she gave you a hard time. What? You can't even fight pathetic babies like her?"

Amos glared. "That…was no crybaby I fought."

"Oh? Then what was she?"

Amos bared his teeth. "I don't know what it was about her, but she comes off to me as…some chaotic force."

"I don't follow."

"She read me like a book and countered all my attacks even when she was at a disadvantage. That chick is beyond anyone I've hunted. I never struggled so much to take down a target before." Amos glared. "And she kept flipflopping between being scared and brave, almost unnaturally. I think that chick is secretly strong."

Marsaili grinned. "Oh, now I know you're just trying to compensate for that pathetic loss."

"It's true!" Amos yelled, involuntarily digging into the splinters again. "Ow! Ugh, I'm serious. What if she's one of those elite Foresters working undercover? Or maybe she's actually more than a Forester? I'm telling you, she's not any normal Buneary."

"Tsk, tsk. Amos, do you expect me to believe such trite? I've been observing the fight from a distance. Just accept you got your ass kicked and I won't humiliate you as badly."

Amos growled. "She was toying with me, I know it. I heard what she said. She said she'll raised havoc to all the kingdoms, just like with Verde."

Marsaili narrowed her eyes. "Like Verde? What did she mean by that?"

"Hell if I know."

Marsaili glanced off to the side. "Hmm, I wonder…" She closed the parasol, flooding Amos' vision again with sunlight. She ignored his helpless cries as she looked to the saloon across the street. "If your stupid theory about her secretly holding back has merit, that…Harlow, was it? That Harlow chick might be hiding something." Marsaili glared. "Maybe she's the one who kidnapped the princess. What other havoc could she have caused on her own?"

"Marsaili, you bitch!" Amos yelled, covering his burning eyes.

Marsaili smirked and reopened the parasol. "Oops. My bad."

Amos huffed, wiping his tearing eyes. "Whatever. Just help me so we can chase after them." His eyes widened as Marsaili jammed the parasol into the sand, keeping it in place, and walked away. "Uh, Marsaili? You, uh…getting a doctor for me or something?"

Marsaili stopped, then grinned over her shoulder. "Don't worry, Amos. I'll be sure to inform Althalos of your unfortunate capture. Be wary, the meals they serve in prison have an acquired taste."

"What the hell are you talking about?!" Amos shouted.

"Freeze!" Amos stiffened as a Noctowl and a couple mercenaries approached the downed Gligar and Wigglytuff. The Noctowl flapped over them and declared, "So, you're the one who has been terrorizing my town?"

Amos gasped before immediately snarling at Marsaili. "You ratted me out, Marsaili?!"

She just shrugged. "Well, I'm not going to carrying your limp body around. You'll love prison, I'm sure."

"You rotten bitch, I'll—"

"Been nice knowing you, Amos! And thanks for your share of the bounty!" Marsaili started to walk away again, but was held up by the two mercenaries.

"Not so fast," the Noctowl constable said with a stern glare. "We have a bounty for your arrest as well, Pearl Bullet Marsaili. Don't think we don't recognize you."

Marsaili sighed. "Oh darn, little ol' me? How crude." She grinned at the constable. "Go suck a lemon."

The constable landed, shook her head, and ordered, "Men, don't let her escape!"

The mercenaries lunged at Marsaili, but she ducked and let them crash into each other. The second they recovered and tried to grab her, she had already disappeared. "What the—" one mercenary mumbled.

"Where did she go? She was here a second ago," the other stated.

The constable glared at Amos. "Where is she?"

Amos scoffed. "I'm not saying anything. I rather she get her ass brutalized by those thieves than get off easy in prison." Amos bared his teeth, snarling. But I swear, Marsaili, the next time I see you, I'm going to effing kill you!

After their three day ride back to Fort Lucus, Melissa was transferred to the medical hut to have her injuries properly examined. It took some time, but Shade had just enough medical appearance to treat a gun wound. Once he was finished, he left Melissa to sleep.

He collapsed into his chair and took a breather. "Man, I'm tired."

"How is she?" Shade turned to Jason, Blitz, and Sid, who leaned on a wooden staff provided for her.

Shade sighed. "If Melissa didn't treat the wound as she did, it might have gotten infected on the way back. Fortunately, she kept it clean for me to work with."

Jason sighed. "That's a relief."

"She must've been fighting for her life," Blitz commented. "I'm surprised she held out on her own, much less won."

"Guess her lessons are paying off," Jason noted. "I'll have to ask her for the details when she comes to later." Jason glanced at Sid. "How's Lucient doing?"

Sid saluted. "Perfectly unharmed, sir. Also, our provider is fine, too. He's currently hospitalized, but still alive."

"Right. Better make it up to him when he's released. Have you found anything on our gunman?"

Sid nodded. "Yes sir. Melissa confirmed him as Amos the Sand Devil, or rather Amos of the Blind Luck."

"Amos, huh?" Blitz tapped his chin. "Haven't heard about him since I was a kid. I'm guessing he was after Melissa's bounty."

"Seems like it. Just be glad he was the one who went after her. With his poor vision and Melissa's lacking public image, he didn't put two and two together of her identity." Sid sighed. "Still, we don't have confirmation on his supposed partner."

Jason glared. "A partner, huh? Amos is working with someone? I may have to get Marie to look into our archives and dig up some information on his activities." He turned to Shade and bowed. "Keep a close eye on her. Once she's ready to leave, tell her to meet me in my hut."

Shade yawned. "Sure thing."

Jason left the hut with Blitz and Sid in tow. Jason stuffed his hands inside his pockets. "We may have to send out some Foresters to check in on our other providers just to be safe. I don't want any more people getting hurt over this bounty."

"Do you suppose Amos might be connected to a gang?" Blitz brought up. "Old info said he did mercenary work solo."

Sid shrugged. "If he does have a partner, he might be connected with a gang then. Which one, though? I'm not sure."

Jason glared. "If we can lure the partner out to us, we can pry the answers from them."

"It's worth a try, but who to send?"

"We don't know the full strength of the enemy. It might be best to assign the Nature Spirits to deal with this." Jason rubbed his chin. "I'll mull it over for the day. Can't be too careful when dealing with Freaks."

Melissa slept soundly in the medical hut, still under the effects of the medicine Shade fed her. Her body was numb and relaxed. If she were awake, she would hardly be able to move an arm. It didn't matter, though, for all she desired was this blissful sleep after a long, hard fought battle.

"Wakey-wakey!"

Melissa startled awake as something slammed down on her bed. "AH! Do not hurt me!" She immediately calmed down and looked at the tray in her lap. Her mouth watered at the delicious sight of pancakes, berry bacon, and crème puffs with a glass of juice on the side.

"Our eyes are up here, cutie~."

Melissa shook herself from her trance and faced her surprise guests: Marie, Basil, Pandora, and, more surprisingly, Lambert. "Oh, hello," Melissa greeted with a smile.

Marie grinned. "We heard what happened. My, my, you just love ending up in the medical hut, do you? You really do belong here."

Melissa blushed and turned away. "H-Hush."

Pandora jumped onto the bed. "You gave me a heart attack when I saw you carried back here. How can you do that to your future overlord? You're my favorite minion!"

"I thought I was your favorite," Marie teased. She snaked her arms around Pandora. "Oh, or do I get a more personal role?"

Pandora shoved her off. "Not interested."

Basil stepped up to Melissa's bedside. "In all seriousness, prietene, we're proud of you. Rumors are spreading that you singlehandedly knocked out a bounty hunter. Everyone's talking about it."

Melissa rubbed the back of her head, feeling embarrassed. "Oh, really? Hehe, it was nothing."

Marie grinned. "You have a habit of drawing attention to yourself. I'm jealous~."

Basil gestured to Lambert. "So, we asked Lambo here to cook you up something special as a reward. Congrats, your very first fight."

The Grumpig snorted with a big smirk. "I can't help but wonder if this is your elaborate attempt for special meals."

Melissa yelped and held her hands up in defense. "N-No, not at all, I—" Lambert's laughter cut her off.

"I'm messing with you. I appreciate anyone who enjoys my cooking. Make sure not to leave any scraps. Being wasteful is a sin in my eyes."

Melissa sighed in relief, then giggled. "What a coincidence, that is my belief, too." She picked up her berry bacon and nibbled happily on it.

Pandora lay down beside Melissa and asked, "Any lingering doubts that you can't keep up with everyone?"

Melissa smiled. "Well, I am probably not as good as everyone else, but I do believe I have my own charm in battle." She blushed embarrassingly. "Though, I did try to defuse the situation without fighting, like using…seduction." Her face reddened deeper as the group broke out into laughter. "H-Hey, it was an honest attempt!"

Basil shook his head, snickering through his teeth. "Sorry prietene, but you aren't the seductive type."

"Oh, don't be quick to judge, Basil." Melissa yelped as Marie slid onto the bed and snuggled up to her. "Go on, try to seduce me~," the wily Mawile purred.

"Bad Marie!" Pandora bit her hood and dragged her off the bed. "No seducing my minion!"

Marie groaned, snapping her second mouth's teeth at the Growlithe. "You just love to ruin my fun, Fluff Butt." Marie snuggled up to Basil. "You wouldn't reject me, right, Basil?" she asked, tracing her finger across his chest.

Basil smirked. "I wouldn't mind having tea with you, my dear."

"I'll take what I can get~."

Lambert laughed and patted Melissa on the head. "Eh, field work takes time. I'm much happier working in the kitchen. You'll get it down in no time."

Melissa smiled. "Thanks, Lambert."

Marie smiled as well and faced the Buneary. "Seriously, I'm glad you're safe. Please don't make this a repeat trip. I'd hate for anything to happen to you."

Melissa traced her finger over her heart. "I promise to be more careful in the future."

"I'll hold you to it."

Pandora grinned. "Once you get out, want to help me test out some new inventions?"

Melissa laughed nervously. "I will, uh…give it some thought." She paused for a moment to yawn. "I should eat and get some more rest. I am still exhausted."

Basil nodded. "Of course. Get some sleep, prietene."

"We'll check on you later," Marie said.

Melissa waved and watched the group leave. Once they were gone, she picked up her utensils and cut into her pancakes. She smiled warmly at the tray. "Heh. I complain about the teasing, but…I wish I had friends like this growing up." She took a bite and chewed happily on the fluffy meal. "So good~!"

Far, far from Verde territory lay a bleak town sitting at the base of a tall, foreboding mountain, penetrating a white veil of mist in the sky. A light snowfall sprinkled over the town as the citizens went about their day, bundled for the cold. Some stood out by fires, children raced through the streets, and business owners carried out their daily tasks.

A few kids laughed as they kicked a ball down the street with the leading Snubbull in current possession of the ball. "Try and get it!" he taunted.

A Zigzagoon quickened his pace and tackled the Snubbull, knocking the ball out of his possession. "Fly ball!"

A Cranidos started to chase it. "I got it, I got it!" He leaped into the air and headbutted it back to his friends. However, he put too much force into the return hit as it bounced right past the two and flew in the opposite direction down the street.

To their horror, it collided into a large, cloaked figure that past down an interjecting street. It bounced off their head and limped dribbled at their feet. The blow knocked the hood they wore off, revealing them as a Dusknoir.

His sinister red eye immediately targeted the three kids, who stiffened fearfully. He glanced between them and the ball sitting in front of him. After a minute of staring, he picked up the ball and floated over to the petrified children.

Snubbull dropped to his knees and clasped his hands together. "Ah, we're sorry, mister! We didn't mean to hit you! Please don't break our ball!"

"We're sorry!" the other two cried.

The Dusknoir stopped in front of them, holding the ball over their heads with the scariest look they've ever seen. They felt the intense aura of dread coming off around him, making the snow look like hot coals compared to him. They bowed their heads and whimpered cowardly.

After a tense moment of silence, the Dusknoir bent down and handed the ball to them. Snubbull lifted his head and blinked at it. "Huh?"

The Dusknoir extended his other hand and gently patted the bulldog's head. "Be more careful where you kick your toys around. You wouldn't want to make the wrong person angry and lose this."

The friends looked stunned at each other before Snubbull graciously took the ball back. "Y-Yes, mister! I understand! We're very sorry!" The boys bowed their heads again.

The Dusknoir shook his head. "Perhaps you should play just outside the city limits. You won't hurt anyone out there."

"Okay! Thank you, mister!" The kids laughed and ran off with their ball.

"Don't stray too far!" he called out before they left earshot. He sighed and tucked his arms under his cloak. "Kids…"

"You're too kind, Althalos." The Dusknoir turned to the Throh and Sawsbuck accompanying him. "I would've taught those kids a swift lesson for their misconduct," Throh stated sternly.

Sawsbuck shivered. "It's honestly unsanitary. Do you know how germy kids are? That ball must've been carrying at least ten different plagues from contact between them."

Althalos sighed. "Frank, Terrick, they're kids. Let them be kids while they still can. There's no telling when war will break out around Algus. Best they stay young when they have the chance."

Frank the Throh rolled his eyes. "I'm just saying, discipline would do them some good."

Althalos shook his head and faced Terrick. "Anyway, back down to business. You said you managed to get us a new supplier?"

The Sawsbuck gritted his teeth for a moment, then shrugged. "Err, sort of. Unfortunately, I couldn't find anyone who could both reproduce our cargo and transport it at the same time. I had to make do and hire two different sets of people."

Althalos sighed. "That right? Well, can't be picky with the details. Are the alchemists any good?"

Terrick nodded. "They should. They're supposed to be highly versed in the craft."

"And our transport team?"

"Well, not a team. I found a merchant who guaranteed she could get the products from there to here without drawing suspicion. Though, she haggled for a hefty salary."

"And you accepted?"

"I would've denied, but she was too good to pass up. I crunched the numbers, evaluated her skill, and decided it was worth the investment."

Althalos nodded. "I'll take you on your word then. We're meeting her here, right?"

"Yes sir. She should be here any minute now—"

"What up!" The group turned their eyes to the sky as a Pelipper swooped down and landed in front of them. She wore a red cloak that draped over her body. She saluted with a wry grin. "Reporting for duty, boss!"

Althalos crossed his arms. "You're our new transporter?"

"That's what the germaphobe over there said!" she stated cheekily.

Terrick blushed brightly. "I am not a germaphobe! All I did was comment on your terrible table manners when we discussed the position!"

The Pelipper rolled her eyes. "Uh huh, whatever you say."

Frank huffed. "Enough. Can you carry out the task efficiently or not?"

The Pelipper smirked. "You want efficient? I smuggled all types of rare goodies in my time as a merchant. You won't find anyone better than me. Hell, set me up with the right connections and I can cut the cost of your little production with those alchemists you're working with."

Althalos shook his head. "You are to stick to what you're hired for, nothing more."

"Whatever you say. So, I can't help but wonder what it is you want me to transport. Must be something juicy," she said with a curious grin.

Frank glared. "No. That information is strictly forbidden. You are tasked to transport the goods from the alchemists to our base stationed here. No peeking or prying into the cargo. Breach of trust and I will personally eliminate you."

The Pelipper raised her wings. "Yeesh, no need to be dramatic. As long as I get paid, I'll keep my curiosity in check."

Althalos reached inside his cloak. "Then here's a little incentive." He threw out a small sack to her. "Fifty gold bits. Complete the transport quickly and efficiently and you'll see a higher pay raise in the future."

She poured the bits out and counted them out. "You guys must really want this cargo safe." After confirming the bits were real and accounted for, she placed them back in the sack and pocketed it. "Have no fear, I got this under control."

Althalos nodded. "Thank you for your cooperation, Miss…?"

The Pelipper bowed. "No need for the 'miss'. Call me JoJo," she greeted with a mischievous twinkle in her star-shaped pupils.