Artemis extended a hand. Billie did not take it.
"How can this trussed up fool help us?" Billie snatched the file and looked over it eagerly. "This is…Neptune…" She caressed the photo, a large wolf sniffing a red scarf. Billie turned, eyes shining. "He really is looking for me!"
Billie grabbed and hugged Artemis, leaving Kuri looking jealous. Artemis smiled in victory as Kuri looked his way.
"So is it true?" Artemis asked Billie when she released him. "Neptune is your familiar?" He looked at Kuri. "A hellhound?"
"Don't get so eager Fowl." Kuri groused. "There's no profit in this for you. Familiars only obey their masters. And they love their masters."
"Love?" A thought struck Artemis. "You don't mean…"
Kuri smirked. Billie just looked sad.
"Without his collar, Neptune doesn't know what he's doing…" Billie looked at the two. "Those ignorant fools will kill him!"
Kuri grabbed her by the waist before she could tear off after the mob.
"It won't do any good to reason with them." Artemis pointed out. "Mob mentality and all that."
The two looked at him incredulously.
Artemis rubbed his hands together. "How shall we catch the hellhound? Thoughts?"
Artemis and Kuri looked at Billie.
Billie sighed. "I know, I know. I'll be the bait."
"Y-You mustn't—"
Billie sighed. "I think I always knew it would come to this." She put the collar around her neck. "Neptune will come if I call." Her face was set. "I will save him."