Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Dare To Dream

Chapter 5

A Quiet Time

"And with that, you have been officially transferred from 'Team Horizons,' to 'Team..!' What a happy occasion, Miss Star!" The drawn out space after the second 'team' from Didja left both Felix and Star with a small wince on their faces.

"Felix…" Star said as she turned to him. "You should really think of an actual name for the team when you can."

At Star's suggestion the previous night, they both had come to arrange the transfer with Didja in the late morning of the day. Willow would almost certainly still be deep in sleep at this time of day without Star to rouse him awake for the day's work, so they were sure he couldn't interfere with the transfer should he have taken issue with it.

While Didja finished etching inscriptions into a paper with a talon freshly dipped in ink, Felix contently stretched his arms into the air with a shaky yawn. Taking in a lungful of air, he observed his surroundings: Full, immense clouds that floated in the sky like airborne islands of snow, drifted lazily across the sky with the chilly wind of the autumn day. Some dried leaves in the shades of gold and red littered the ground around the village, which had produced a satisfying crunch when walked over. Some of the leaves had found their way onto Didja's workspace, which he seemed to enjoy, given the neatly stacked miniscule piles of leaves he arranged on his lectern, assorting them based on their color.

"Well…" Felix stated as he peered over his shoulder to Star while dropping his arms from the stretch, and giving a tug on Star's satchel that he now wore over his shoulder, "if a name comes to mind, sure, we'll make the change. Otherwise, I think Team… is a more distinct name, should be fine to use that for a bit, right? Oh, Didja, could I have my map back?" He gave a small chuckle to his own quip.

While Didja ducked his head behind the lectern and began rummaging through papers, Star could only give him a small, unamused frown with her ears laid back and eyes narrowed. "I'd really rather not have us be known as Team Blank for our work. We should have a name that really lifts up the spirits of the folks around us, you know? We can really make a difference here! So please promise me, Felix, that we don't have to tell people we're Team Nothing for long." Didja's head resurfaced, his beak clasping the rolled map. With a small flick of his head, he threw it to Felix, who caught the map and stowed it away in the satchel.

Felix paced over to the board laden with papers, not even attempting to humor himself by trying to decipher the meaning of the footprint marks that covered each request. "I said I would think about it. Really, I will. But for now, could you come over here and pick a job for us? And try to make it something that won't get me almost killed?" Star walked over beside him, looking up to the board with attentive eyes, thoroughly examining each request.

"No promises there. But why don't you pick the job if you're worried about it? I'm fairly sure you'd have a better understanding of what you'd want than me, and you're the leader, anyhow."

"Oh, that's quite simple, Miss Star! Mister Felix can't read!" Didja chirped in while gently stacking a bloodred leaf onto a pile of similarly shaded leaves.

Felix looked away from them in a rush of embarrassment while Star sputtered out a small laugh that she failed to stifle. "I'm sorry, Felix. That just caught me off-guard. You really aren't from around here, are you?" she teased.

His face became sullen. "No, no I'm really not," he emptily replied.

Star's smile drained from her face at the realization of her own words. "Oh… oh, that's right. I really am sorry, that was made in poor taste."

"Forget it. Move past it. Just pick a job for us, something simple that we can't fail." At Felix's words, Star cleared her throat and refocused her attention onto the board. Scanning the board left to right, her ears perked up and she jumped up onto the board, planting her paws against its surface and tearing a paper off the surface with her jaw. Letting herself down, she held out her head to offer the paper to Felix. "What's this one?" he asked.

"Juss grap it frum me, pease!" Star answered through clenched teeth. Grabbing the paper from her, he held it out in front of him to keep the small amount of spit that now lined the top away from himself. "Thank you," Star said.

"No... problem," Felix replied as he held the paper loosely with one outstretched arm. "So, mind telling me what the job is for this one? Is it another escort, or a coincidental rescue, or an item retrieval? What is it?"

"It's not an escort, it's not a rescue nor would it be coincidental if we planned it, and in a sense, yes, I suppose this would be an item retrieval." While Star rattled off her response, Felix noticed Didja incessantly grasping at the air in front of him with a talon while staring intensely at the paper that Felix held. Giving the paper to Didja, the Murkrow hastily grabbed the request and laid it out in front of himself.

"Ooh, finally going to nab that sticky-fingered thief, are we?" Didja remarked as he peered over the paper. Felix looked back to Star after hearing this, and saw her jump up against the board again and pull off another paper.

"Wait a second there, what do we need two jobs for? Didn't you already get us one?" He grabbed the paper from her mouth as she approached.

"It's a two-for-one! I thought you might like it," Star stated. Felix handed the additional job to Didja.

"A two-fer?"

"That appears to be the case, mister Felix!" Didja said as he examined both of the papers in front of him. "Both requests detail the retrieval of stolen goods, and they both describe a similar perp: a slender fellow of pink and green, with some slick hair, to boot!" Felix racked his brain for any monster that fit that description that he could remember, but drew a blank.

"Right… anyways, how much would we be getting paid if we collect this bounty?"

"Client one, Missus Petal, a Lilligant and the owner of the local growing fields here, seems to be offering 50 Poké for the retrieval of the stolen goods! Some foodstuff, from the looks of it!"

"50 Poké? Star, is that a good amount?" Felix asked.

Star looked away quickly. "Well… what reward is more fulfilling than goodwill?"

"Star… Money is our biggest priority right now, not goodwill. Look for another job that'll-"

Didja quickly interjected with a flutter of his dark wings. "Patience, Mister Felix! Permit me to finish! Missus Petal is also offering an additional 550 Poké for the apprehension of the thief! There is also the matter of the other request, which offers 1,000 Poké for the retrieval of something mighty special! Genuine human tools!" Felix's breath caught at those words. He took a moment to process what he heard, looking at Didja with apprehension. He slowly lifted his arm towards Didja, weighed down by the gravity of those words.

"...What did you say?"

"Human tools! Tools and the like, from the sound of it! Sounds quite interesting, aye, mister-"

"We'll take the jobs."

Felix jumped up to just below the lectern's height and snatched the papers off its surface, giving Didja a small scare as he beated his wings in surprise and let out a shrill squawk. "Good word, mister Felix! I didn't take you as one so interested in old bits and bobs!"

"Can we keep these?" Felix held up the papers.

"But of course, mister Felix! I'll just note which jobs were taken. But do please bring those back when the work is done, yes? Makes filing away completed tasks and processing payment oh-so much easier!"

Folding and stashing the papers away into the satchel, Felix turned to Star who now held a curious expression towards his newfound initiative. "Star, do you know where we can talk to one of these clients?" The Vulpix shook her head back to attention.

"Oh, yes! Petal should be around the market about this time of day, or at the fields if she's not there. And I know you're on… the illiterate side, but I read who the client was on the other job- Caelum!"

"Ah, Caelum! Of course. Love them!" he sarcastically exclaimed. "Whose Caelum? You good friends with them or something?" Felix asked as the two began moving towards the square, Didja fervently waving 'farewell' behind them. A small smile formed across Star's face.

"In a way, yes. She's been a big help to me for a fair bit of my life now."

"Good," Felix said as they left the vicinity of the station. He rubbed the bottom of his chin with the metallic knub that was on his arm, contemplating his future course of actions. "Could we speak with her now?"

"Now? No, I'd recommend against it. For now, anyways. She is on the more aged side, so she'd be sleeping now. Or should be, hopefully. It'd be best to talk to her later in the day."

"I can wait. Now, you said you've seen Petal around the market this time of day?" Star gave a nod to his question.

"Yes, I've seen her around."

"Good. Now, let's go speak with her. We should get some information about our mark before we make a move."

—-

The morning sun had waned into an afternoon lull. The chill, brisk wind, carried with it autumn leaves that sailed across the air gracefully. They had tried to search the market square for the Lilligant, but they had found her at none of the shops. At Felix's suggestion, they agreed that Star would head to the fields to attempt a small search there, whilst Felix lingered near the shops in case Petal might appear. Idle minutes passed into drawn hours; the clear rays of the sun now entering the village in a sharp slant, golden light and chilled air both flooding the village. As Felix idly wandered aimlessly around the crude wooden buildings that surrounded him, taking care not to draw close to any creatures that were present, an interesting sight was caught in his eyes.

Riley- who was in considerably better shape than he imagined when he heard the Sylveon was treated at the clinic. He could see the Sylveon a ways ahead on the path, accompanied by that small silvery bug with purple antennas he had seen a few times before. They both had not seen him, by the looks of it. The two seemed quite engaged in some conversation that he could only just barely make out one word of- 'money.' Turning a corner around a half-assembled household of wooden logs, they disappeared out of sight.

Curious, Felix picked up his pace and hurried to the corner the duo walked around. Cautiously poking his small blue head around the corner, he could see Riley and the bug nonchalantly walking down a close dirt path that was cloaked in the fracking shadows of looming trees that were discarding their dressage for the coming winter. He peered closer to the Sylveon, and was just able to make out their subdued conversation as he leaned out from the corner.

"... that's what I'm saying, fella. Unfortunate as it is, that distortion on my way here was simultaneously unlucky and lucky," Riley said. The bug craned its flat head up to the Sylveon.

"Yeah? You haven't really explained why, though. It's real close by, so do we scavenge it or not?" the Wimpod asked. Riley looked off to the side and twitched his ears.

"More unlucky than lucky, I'm afraid. Not even worth humoring the folly that would be scavenging inside it. I wouldn't be surprised if the area was the polars or Kyurem's own stomping grounds. Nothing but a deathly blizzard in there, can't even see half-a-pace in front of you at the worst of it. Any and all oddities in there are already buried under fields of snow, so forget it."

"Do you think Cobb's crew are going to chance it?"

Riley chuckled. "'Course they will. That lout always places his bets on a good haul from these occurrences. If we're lucky, some of the crew will freeze over in that glacial wasteland, and we'll have ourselves some newly open spots that they'll be looking to fill. Once we find an in, I dare say a lucrative reward for us is all but assured, my flaky friend." The Wimpod looked away back towards the road with a content nod.

"And that 'lucky' bit?"

Riley maneuvered one of his ribbons to the pouch he wore on his waist, and sent the end of the appendage into the sack. Carefully feeling around the interior of the bag, he gave a small smirk as he retrieved a small glistening blue stone.

The ice stone Felix had found.

"I found ourselves some compensation."

Pulling himself back behind cover, Felix felt a well of anger stirring inside him. His fists tightening their grip on nothing. Taking a moment to think, he took several deep breaths to calm himself down.

"...Hey…"

He wanted that stone back. Riley did say it was worth quite a bit, but a more brazen approach to retrieve it could only end badly, he reasoned to himself.

"... Hey, Blue…"

Resting the iron-oval that resided on his wrist to underneath his chin, he began thinking of some methods where he could swindle either the stone or some money off of Riley without getting himself into far-too-much trouble. The money would be no use to him if-

"What are you doing?"

He felt a firm nudge against his ankles, knocking him out of his thoughts. Turning around, the tops of three pointed leaves were in front of him. Looking down, he saw the same small plant he had seen on his first night in Fango. Its round, plain face was looking back up to him. "Geez, Blue, are you always snooping around?" the Petilil asked. Felix looked around himself, and saw no one else around but him and the Petilil.

"Blue?" he repeated back.

"Yeah, 'Blue!' You gave me mess-all to call you when you ran out on me that night. So yeah, 'Blue.' What are you up to now, Blue? Looking to pinch something around here?"

"Oh, uh, no. Just was looking for someone around here," he stated, "I was looking for Petal. Have you seen her?" The Petilil narrowed her eyes, making an expression that was difficult to gauge without a mouth to supplement the mien.

"Petal? Yeah, I know her. I'm her." Felix looked the Petilil up and down with a small amount of exaggeration to his motions.

"No offense, but I'm pretty sure Petal is a Lilligant, not a small thing as yourself. Do you know where she is?"

"Petal? Petal!" a voice came from behind the Petilil from down the road. Looking over the top of the Petilil's three leaves, Felix could see a Lilligant hurriedly coming towards them from around the corner of a house on the opposite end of the road; when it came close, he could see that Lilligant seemed quite old: its body and leaves looked dry, and the crevices of what could only be described as wrinkles could be seen covering its body. "Petal! Excuse us, sir, I hope my daughter wasn't bothering you terribly." Felix looked back at the Petilil in front of him, which seemed to hold an expression of pride with its furrowed eyes… or irritation. He couldn't tell. The lack of a mouth made deciphering the small plant's expressions quite problematic.

"See? Told you, Blue!"

"So, you really are Petal? But I heard you would be a Lilligant?" Felix asked quizzically. The Lilligant stepped in front of her daughter, pushing the Petilil behind herself as she did so.

"Yes, this little troublemaker here is named Petal." said the Lilligant as she gently ruffled Petal's three leaves on her head, "as am I. Whereas I am the twelfth 'Petal' in our family's lineage, Petal here would be the thirteenth." The smaller Petal looked away quickly in annoyance.

"Yeah, one of many, a real winner… anyway, what do you want mom for, Blue?"

"It's about that job you- I mean she had put up on that board. I just wanted to ask a couple things before me and my…" Felix lost himself in thought for a brief moment, his gaze sliding off the Petilil onto the roadside as he brooded over how to describe his relationship with the Vulpix, "... before me and my partner go out and try to nab this thief. First, could you describe-"

"Ooh, finally!" The Petilil cut-in, "about time somebody got up to nail this guy! I've seen-"

"Petal!" the other Petal said with a leer to her daughter, silencing her. "Excuse her. Now, what were you trying to say?" Felix looked down to the Petilil.

"Actually, I think she was on the right track. Petal." Both the Lilligant and Petilil attentively looked to him. "Oh, uh, smaller Petal, did you see the thief?"

"Heck yeah, I did! He's a Morgrem. You know, lanky guys with green bottoms with pink tops, and some sleek hair? I caught the lousy pincher pilfering through our storage one night. Ran him out, myself! The gremlin's been back lurking around our fields a couple times, too. I've half the idea to chase him down next time I see him." The Lilligant looked to her daughter with tired eyes, full of worry.

"Petal, please never do that again. I don't care if some fruits are stolen if it means you're safe. I don't want you doing something so reckless again, alright? He could be dangerous." The Petilil looked away again in a huff.

"Right, well, thank you," Felix said. "And did you see where he went last?"

"Yeah, I did," The Petilil Petal said. "I chased him out quite a ways a few nights ago. The sneak ran…" the Petilil drifted off and looked to the sky, glancing towards the setting sun. "He ran off north by the looks of it. I'm betting he's holed up somewhere inside the Rip Rapids dungeon. It's close enough, and most don't want to head into a place like that," she explained.

"And it's just north?" Felix asked.

"Just north, yeah," Petal continued, "the channels in it feed into a lagoon, so just follow the shore and head inland when you see a big ol' angry thunderstorm, then continue on north. You'll know it when you hear it. Those currents are something mean."

"Thank you," replied Felix. "We'll catch this thief, there's no doubt about that. If you learn anything else, come and find-"

"Little one!"

Looking around himself, Felix saw Willow come around the corner of the house he and the Petals were beside. A bag was worn behind him. "Ah, Petal and Petal, as well! Quite wonderful to see you both well. And may I say, miss Petal," Willow said as he took the Lilligant's arm into his bark-skinned hand, "age hasn't diminished your beauty one bit." The Lilligant gave a small chuckle.

"Willow, you've always been the charmer." Withdrawing his hand, Willow then placed a firm grip on Felix's shoulder. Willow's bark dug into Felix's shoulder, a sharp coldness emanating from his hand as Felix tried to wiggle free.

"Now, I hate to intrude, but I wish to have a private word with the little one here. Would you mind?"

"Oh, I suppose we should be going along. Take care now, and I do hope you catch this miscreant. Come along now, Petal." The Lilligant nudged Petal.

"Right. Well, catch you later, Blue." The two turned around to leave. Felix looked up to Willow as he continued holding him in place, feeling some anxiety as he did so.

"What are you trying to-" Checking to see that both Petals were a sufficient distance away and not looking, Willow's singular glowing eye contracted into a red dot. Willow hastily covered Felix's mouth as a shroud of darkness quickly enveloped them both in a deathly cold haze. Felix struggled as Willow threw both of their bodies to the side with a sudden lunge. Felix felt an indescribable sensation as solid matter phased through him.

Or him through it.

When his senses returned, the shroud that once enveloped the both of them began to quickly dissipate. All around him, the interior of an old dilapidated house became known to him. The cold interior was dimly lit as spotty patchwork in the incomplete ceiling let small amounts of golden light filter through, illuminating specks of fine dust that lingered in the air. Willow released his grip on him, and shoved him into the center of the room. "What do you think you're doing?!" Felix exclaimed as he turned around to face the Trevenant. Willow stepped towards him, jutting a stiff finger into Felix's chest.

"Listen closely, and listen well, Felix." Felix stood still, careful not to make any movement. "Good. Now, let me tell you what a day it's been for me so far. Imagine this, me getting to sleep all peaceful-like in the morning." He retracted his finger. "No Star to kick me awake, like she always had, to bring us out to work, no matter how trivial or stagnant." Willow turned his back to Felix, and began pacing the small room. "So there I'm thinking, 'I wonder where she might be?' So I go to the bird, you know him, air-headed fellow, and I ask where she might be." Willow turned back to Felix, his red eye now intently focused. "And I come to learn that she has formally resigned from Team Horizons, and joined up with you." He leaned in closer to Felix, his gaze sharp.

Then, he leaned back, and gave a small chuckle.

"Apologies. I do not intend to frighten, but you must know what must transpire next. Truthfully, I am thankful for this opportunity. I have other obligations that I am most eager to address as quickly as possible that my guardianship of Star had barred me from previously. I will take my leave immediately to fulfill a particularly pressing professional obligation that was not possible for me to act on before due to my situation. I'm likely far too late, but I will pursue regardless. With Star no longer a rung on the team's ladder, I am now presented with at the very least a plausible reason to leave. But before that, I need to provide some amount of insurance to you and her, so I can leave with some peace of mind." Willow reached around and retrieved the bag from his shoulder, then rummaged in the bag for a brief moment. "I had originally intended to simply forbid you both from leaving Fango in my absence, but I hold no means of enforcing such an order, and I am well aware of both of your drives to accomplish jobs, even if your reasons are different. This…" he said as he pulled out a round orb, "is an Escape Orb. A marvelous wonder that will allow you and Star to escape from a dungeon, should a situation become dire."

He gently shoved the orb into Felix's chest, who grabbed it as he stumbled back, feeling the cool surface and seeing his warped reflection on its glistening surface. The orb was a deep, cool blue. A warm, gentle light pulsated at its center of origin. "I've seen how you used Star's Sleep Orb back on our first night together. Don't make that same mistake with this one- they're quite hard to come by. Simply ask it politely. It will obey, as all good tools will. If even that is too difficult for you, ask Star to do it for you. And use it wisely, it will only work once."

Willow once more reached into the bag, and pulled out a pear-shaped berry, its tan and porous surface was instantly recognizable to Felix. "And this is a sitrus berry. I see that look of astonishment in your eye, so I take it you know what it is capable of." Willow moved to hand the berry to Felix, who eagerly reached out to grab the miracle berry. Willow then suddenly retracted his arm and berry. "Let me be perfectly clear- this berry is for Star, and Star alone. It is not yours to benefit from. Give it to her." Willow finally reached out and placed the berry in Felix's palm. With both assets in his possession, Felix hastily stuffed them into the satchel he wore.

"Why not just give to Star yourself, then? I know you and I aren't exactly buddy-buddy. So why give this stuff to me?"

"I'll ponder that myself these coming days, I'm sure," Willow replied. "Convenience. Nothing more or less. I couldn't find Star anywhere, nor did I see her when I perceived from the trees that thrive here. I imagine she's inside a building now, if that's the case. I would preferably speak to her rather than you, but alas, here we are." Willow bent down and slid the bag back onto his person. Circling behind the Trevenant, Felix could see that the bag sagged considerably from what appeared to be numerous items it carried.

"And you're leaving now? What's the occasion?" Felix coarsely asked.

"I'm departing Fango as soon as this conversation is over, yes. The matter doesn't concern you, so drop it. And another thing: to you and Star, I am leaving, yes. But if you value your own safety, you will act like I am still somewhere in this village. You will speak as if I could be found at a moment's notice, and you will think before you do anything that might suggest otherwise. Only you and Star should know I am absent." Felix stared at Willow with an expression that was between baffled and perturbed. A single, simple question left his mouth.

"Why?"

"A gang. Small amount of them, but still dangerous. They came down very recently from the north to here from the looks of it, and I have a working theory as to why for their sudden change in locale, but once again, it's something that I prefer the fewest know of. I don't need anyone starting a panic should the situation be more tame than I initially thought. That's the hope, anyhow. They've been lingering well outside the village for the most part, keeping to themselves. I've heard talk of them raiding distortions for whatever they can find before they vanish. Biding time, perhaps. Gathering resources. But should they learn that I am not in the vicinity of Fango, I fear they will take more bold actions."

"You think you, and you alone, are what's stopping them? Where I come from, its organization, groups, bands of others that deter danger. Not one man. What makes you think they're wary of you?"

"We've crossed paths before. They know that I would see their approach well in advance, and that I could use the landscape around them to crush their push." Willow chuckled. "I'm even rather proud of the gashes I left as a parting gift to their boss. He shouldn't be an issue, should he believe I'm here." Willow and Felix stood in silence. The dust around them lazily drifted by as they stared contemplatively at one another. "If there's nothing more to discuss, I'll take my leave now. Remember, as far as the rest of the world knows, I am still here. Keep it that way. I'll be returning as soon as I am able. Until then, be well. And lie." The deep purple shroud of ghastly origin once more obscured Willow, and Felix could see as his figure began to fade back, his piercing red eye receding into the wall behind him. "Oh, and little one?" Willow said as the veil of shadow enveloped him. Felix focused on him. "Let us hope none of the jobs you take involve reading."

The shroud disappeared into the wall, the ghastly fumes fleeing from the point of vanishment in a dance of smoke.

He was gone.

Looking around the messy, incomplete room he stood in, Felix noticed a clean wooden door, baring its disuse as he tugged the door open from the frame it was wedged in. Managing to pull it open, shimmering light flooded the room from the outside world. Stepping out from the house, he couldn't see Willow. The golden light of the sun was now shining from the horizon, much to his annoyance as he raised an arm in front of his face to block the blinding light. Turning around, he saw the house they were in was the same one he had been standing beside just minutes ago when he had trailed Riley and talked with the Petals.

Adjusting the strap on his satchel, and with nowhere else to go in mind, Felix trekked back to the rocks that lined the top of a small hill just near and above the village.

—-

"And where did you take off to? Didn't think you'd be gone so long." Felix asked Star as he saw her ascend the slope to where he was resting against one of the many rocks. The light of the sun had begun fading, a growing veil of rich blue being coaxed into its place. Only a few night stars could be seen at this point, and very faintly at that.

"I could ask the same of you, you know," she replied as she settled near him. "Where've you been, Felix? When I went back to the square at about dusk, I didn't see you. I thought we agreed we'd meet back near the shops."

"Not a fan of the clientele there. I didn't see you, either, so here I am now," he said. Star played with a small pebble in front of her with her paw, knocking it back and forth as she tracked its jagged, tumbling movements.

"Well that's a bit rude, don't you think? Where'd you go off to anyway?"

"I didn't really go anywhere. Just got dragged into a small chat with Willow." He rubbed his nose as he thought back to the encounter. "Say, Star, what'd you dig up anyway? I know I got some good information, but how'd you fare?"

"I tried the fields for a while, and I couldn't find Petal anywhere. So I thought that, you know, while I'm out and about anyway, that I may as well try and see if Caelum was awake- and she was! We talked for a while, I told her how I was doing recently, and she asked about what was happening now, so I told her how I joined with you recently-"

"Star."

"Oh right, sorry. She said she was asleep when it happened, just a few nights ago. It's actually a job I wanted to take on since then when I was with Willow, but, you know how that turned out. She didn't see the thief herself, but she says that when Pechi came to check up on her, that Pechi saw someone with a green-lower half and a pink-upper one, scrambling away from the house, all suspicious like. He was carrying a sack with him, and since he matches the description of the other case, I figure he's the same guy. She says that what was stolen were some old tools, so they're really fragile. I know it'll be difficult, but we should be careful when we apprehend him. I don't want us to break those tools, even accidently. What about you?"

"A bit of the same. And I know what monster we're up against. I spoke with Petal and, er, Petal. The smaller one said it's a Morgrem. He's a persistent thief from the sound of it, so it looks like she's more concerned with us taking him out of the picture than us getting back some fruits which likely already started spoiling by now. She says he might be in a place called the 'Rip Rapids.' Heard of it?"

Star continued idly batting at the pebble, flicking her tails as she did so. "Yeah, I know of it. Me and Willow went there once to look for that might-exist-but-probably-does-not item. Though he had us leave as soon as we arrived. He probably thinks I'm not ready for that dungeon yet," she mulled. Felix had largely ignored the sight of Star at first, but then a small thought began to nibble at him as he observed her.

Tails.

Tail.

His tail.

He has a tail. Thinking on it, he realized he never once tried to move it on its own. Staring at the broad blue tail that laid lazily on the ground beside him, he saw how dirty it had become at its tip from his ceaseless dragging of it across the ground over the day. He tried to make it twitch, or shift in any which way. It remained motionless. His gaze intensifying, he focused harder on the tail. His legs and waist shifted at random intervals as he commanded every muscle and nerve in his lower body to act in some way in an attempt to animate the tail he now possessed. It remained unresponsive. His brow furrowed, he stood up and tensed every muscle below the chest he could. To his satisfaction and unease, the tail rose a small amount off the ground. A small, conflicted smile found its way onto his face.

"Uh… what're you doing?" Star asked. Snapped back to his senses, Felix turned around to her. Her head was cocked to the side in a slant, an ear drooping to the ground. He dropped his tail back to the earth, having lost his concentration.

"I'm… not sure," he replied. "Right," he continued, "if there's nothing else, we should turn in early for the night. We'll meet up here tomorrow morning, and head out," he said as he lowered himself in preparation to crawl underneath the lip of the rock into its dark shelter. He grabbed the satchel he had placed beside its entrance, and tossed it inside. "See you then, Star," Felix said as he made his way inside the small space. Star knocked the loose pebble away with a final swat, then crouched on all fours, following behind him. Inside the cramped and dark place, Felix had begun to make himself comfortable as he could on the cold and damp surface, when he noticed that Star had followed him inside. "You know, while we're on the point of, 'what're you doing,'" he uttered as he shifted a bit further away from her into the interior, "you mind telling me what you are doing?"

"We're on the same team now, remember?" she said as she paced around in a small circle along the ground, before finally settling down onto the floor. "So, I'll be staying with you now," Star said as she looked up and around the dank interior, noting the moss and low ceiling, "even if the housing conditions are… less than present."

"I don't remember that being part of our deal. You help me with getting jobs done around here so you don't have to play pretend with that haunted log, and I keep the payments. You bunking with me wasn't part of that."

"So… should I leave then?" Star asked. Felix raised an arm to answer her as he laid on the ground, but couldn't find the words he wanted to say. Grumbling, he dropped his arm in resignation and rolled his head to face her.

"No, you can stay. Just… stay over there," he said as he shifted further back into the space, pressing his body against where the cold, rugged stone sunk into the soily earth.

"Gee, special living permissions from Felix himself! Got myself a whole bed of dry mud. Ooh, and some fuzzy moss too, can't forget that!" she said playfully as she laid her head down. Shifting her head to face him, she gave a genuine smile. "Thanks."

"Yeah, well… thanks too, I guess. For helping me," Felix said as he adjusted his body into a more comfortable position. Rolling to her side and stretching with a yawn, Star murmured as she curled into a small ball.

"Goodnight, Felix."

Crossing his arms close to him to keep warm, Felix glanced at her, then away as he shut his eyes. He organized his thoughts briefly as to what to expect from a place called 'Rip Rapids.' Then there was the matter of when to tell Star about Willow's sudden departure, as well as the new valuable tools he had given him. But those were issues that could be addressed tomorrow. Star's own yawn finally broke through to him as he stifled the sound with a closed hand, letting the shiny, metallic oval that resided on the back of his calm become foggy with his exhale. Looking over to his side, he spoke to Star.

"Goodnight, Star."

Returning his head to face the wall again, he let his mind drift as he slipped into sleep.