"An Act to Follow"

Disclaimer: If I owned Zelda, I'd be a very rich person. Mmyep. I don't own Zelda. Natch.

*****

Author's Notes: OK, things will start to pick up from here. I promise. Exciting and cool things will eventually start happening. Just remember, even heroes need a break every now and then! Update: I just saw Episode II. Yoda kicks butt! Yoda kicks butt!! Another update: Sheesh, it's been almost a week since I started this. In fact, more like a week and a few days. I'm sorry this took so long, but there was the whole doing move back from college thing and all. The others won't be so long in the writing, hopefully.

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An Act to Follow - Part 6: Pyrotechnics tend to sometimes lead on realizations

Kafei scratched his head idly, not quite listening to his brother lecture him.

"…and Mother says you are not to stay outside after it gets dark. It's okay to stay for the fireworks, but then you are all to come straight home. There's been some…well, just tell your friends to be careful, okay? Kaf, are you listening to me?"

Kafei's older brother was married to the innkeeper Anju, and coincidentally also happened to be named 'Kafei.' Apparently it was an important name to the family. Older Kafei (we'll call him B.K. for sanity's sake) was very much like his father, although he kept his violet hair longer and more unkempt then Mayor Dotour did.

Little Kafei was flipping his Keaton Mask like a frisbee, still not quite listening.

B.K. just sighed. Catching the Keaton Mask on the next flip, he looked his younger brother in the eye. "I doubt you heard a word of what I just said…"

Kafei blinked. "You said, and I quote: ' "…and Mother says you are not to stay outside after it gets dark. It's okay to stay for the fireworks, but then you are all to come straight home. There's been some…well, just tell your friends to be careful, okay? Kaf, are you listening to me?'" The younger boy grinned impishly.

B.K. handed Kafei back his mask. "Great. And you'd better heed those words, otherwise Mother will personally see to it you're grounded for a month."

"Aww, okay. I'll tell my friends that too." Kafei started walking back to the merchant's tent, where Kat and Sond were clearly visible playing cards.

"You go do that. And don't forget the fireworks tonight!"

"How could I, Mom's only talked about them for a mon-ACK!!" Link and Ty, still in the heat of an epic chase (over a prank involving cherry ice cream), chose that particular moment to collide with Kafei, resulting in twitching pile of arms and legs. Several passerbys chuckled, while a few ventured to ask if the boys were alright.

Kat looked up from her hand of cards at Sond. "Got any threes?"

"Go fish. Got any Kings?"

"Go fish."

Shouts erupted as Link and Ty got into a fight while still entangled with Kafei. Yells from all three sides were clearly audible, but either Kat and Sond were too absorbed in the game to notice, or they were just choosing to ignore it.

"I'll teach you!"

"Ow, my foot!"

"Mercy, mercy! I'm an innocent!"

"Owowowow!"

"I ought to--!"

Off to the side, Tee watched with a raised eyebrow. Looking at Tim almost disdainfully, she asked, "Do they always act like that?"

"Mmm…" Timbre jolted out of his pensive mood slightly. "Uh…"

"What Fuzzy here means to say," Tatl interrupted, "is that they most certainly do."

"Oh." Tee had kind of hoped for more then just filler noises from Timbre. She felt kind of bad about some of the things she'd said earlier in the afternoon, and unfortunately it looked like he was still holding that grudge against her.

By the time Tee's train of thought had run its course, the two combatants, plus the one caught in the crossfire were getting up and dusting themselves off. Kafei was grumbling something about common courtesy, while Ty and Link were still giving each other the glare of death. Their little rivalry wasn't over by a long shot.

Back at the card game, Kat put down four Jacks. "Hah! There! Beat that!"

Sond started at her cards. "Um, lessee…got…any…fours?"

"Darn…" Kat handed off three fours, and Sond wordlessly pulled the fourth from her hand and put the group down.

"…got any twos?"

"Darn again!" A group of four twos went down in Sond's favor. Kat sighed. She wasn't winning as much as the thought she was.

Across Clock Town, other events were unfolding that would prove to involve many in the not too distant future. The large man that Timbre had inadvertently collided with leaned casually against the wall directly next to the Laundry Pool's entrance. He had been there most of the afternoon, his cape hood pulled over his face, keeping it in shadow.

Even though it was the Spring Festival and therefore warm out, he still wore his cape lined with Wolfos fur. In fact, chances were he wouldn't even discard it during the summer unless it became unbearably hot. The tunic and pants his cloak covered were a dusty tan color, and his large boots were black, also lined with fur. His rough hands were ungloved, the nails yellowed, tough, and short. Thrust rather conspicuously in his belt was a long hunting knife, and anyone foolish enough to engage him would soon discover he had several other such blades hidden, two in his boots, and one under his right wrist.

His dark serious eyes glanced up briefly as they caught a glint of metal. The Captain of the Clock Town Guard leaned against the wall next to him with a metallic groan. The cloaked man cackled suddenly.

"Anybody worth his salt could hear you miles before you showed up with that getup, Viscen."

The Captain stared forward, not looking into the man's face. "I'm not a poacher like you, Veneer. I am a soldier. I don't need to sneak around like the thief in my profession."

The man called Veneer chuckled lightly, his voice raspy. "Aye, and an honorable job it is, eh Captain?" This last word was said almost mockingly. He looked over the Captain's armored uniform with a vexing eye "Heh, pretty glimmering armor. Course, it does ye no good out in th' real world. If you want to survive out there you need more than just a spear an' some pretty uniform. You need brains."

"I didn't summon you to mock my work, Veneer."

"Oh aye. Got a job for me then, do ye?"

"Yes." Captain Viscen still hadn't glanced at his comrade. He leaned on his spear slightly. "There's some…extermination I'd like you to take care of."

"Heh, since when did you get the impression I was an assassin? Killing humans, heh, dangerous work, that. Besides, I thought you didn't honor things like that."

"Oh no, not a person. Never." The Captain stared ahead intently. The crowd was pretty much nonexistent near them, and nobody paid them any heed otherwise. But, Viscen would rather be careful than risk someone overhearing. When he was sure his only ear was Veneer, he continued. "There was…an incident…last night. Nothing major, just a crate of bottles overturned. But that's not what I called you here for."

Veneer raised an eyebrow.

"Look," the Captain said. "Whatever did that was not human. There were…how do I put this…pawprints found, all around the crate. I saw them myself."

"Huh." Veneer snorted. "Dogs. You've got yourself worried over dogs, Viscen."

"No." Viscen shook his head. "These were Wolfos prints, Veneer. I'd stake an oath on it."

Veneer's eyes narrowed. "One of those beasts in town? I take it you've seen it, then?"

"Well, no…not personally…but…" The Captain swallowed. "I asked around a few residents last night and this morning…A few people think they've seen it. Someone just this afternoon swore to me he'd seen something run along the roof just south of here."

Veneer stroked his chin again. "So you want me to take care of a rogue Wolfos, is that it?" Captain Viscen nodded mutely. "Because that's what I do, right? You'd rather not get your hands dirty, is that it?"

"Well, no, not like that…" Captain Viscen chewed his lip, choosing his words carefully. "I just thought I'd get someone with…experience."

Veneer nodded, smiling. "Oh aye, you keep telling yourself that, Viscen. You don't normally mind being the biting jaws of the law, do you?. But the moment you're after a quarry that can bite back, you hire an expert." The smile became slightly humorless as the hunter suddenly became contemplative. "I've killed Wolfos before, countless times, all types. For different people, farmers, settlers. Sometimes just for fun. But never have I found such work in a city."

"Yes." The Captain looked slightly nervous. "And being in a city, I pray that you might be…er, discreet about it? We are having a Festival and all, and the Mayor-"

"Yes, yes, I'll make sure your Mayor's little Festival isn't disturbed. Wouldn't want to scare the children, would I?" Veneer smiled grimly from beneath his cloak. He appeared to be calculating for a moment, then he said quite clearly, "Six hundred."

The Captain nearly spluttered. "Six hundred for one Wolfos? But that's robbery!"

"You summoned the best hunter and tracker mercenary in Termina," Veneer grumbled. "And if there is a rogue Wolfos that can disappear at will skulking about your town, you should be grateful I'm here to exterminate it before it'll hurt anybody. Or worse, kill. Six hundred, and be glad I haven't charged more."

The Captain sighed. "Fine. Fifty now, and you'll get the rest when that thing's head is in my hands."

"One hundred now."

"You know," The Captain groaned, conceding, "If I didn't know any better I'd think you were one of the bad guys." He tossed a small sack to Veneer, who caught it easily in one hand.

"That's the difference between you and me," Veneer said, fingering the five blood-red Rupees in the sack. "We're both 'good guys,' but I'm the one who does the dirty work, and doesn't concern asking for his due. We're two sides of the same die, you and I. You're a figurehead, upholdin' the law, and I'm a bounty hunter, just trying to get by. Meet me here tonight, midnight. I'll show you how the real predator catches his prey."

Without another word, Veneer pocketed his money, and slipped away.

For all the overcast day had threatened, the clouds had never really made good on their promises, and had gradually started to clear out. Night was falling rapidly, and soon some of the brightest stars started to become visible thorough the haze of clouds. In the distance, the huge clock boomed six times.

Sitting on the roof of the Stock Pot Inn, eight children reveled in their 'special' privileges.

"Heh, all the other people have to sit on the ground, we get the roof!" Kafei laughed aloud, getting a bunch of quirked eyebrows in response.

"Yeah, your brother convinced Anju to let us up here, that's all," Chiron said finally. "Besides, she's usually pretty OK about kids sitting on the roof as long as they don't mess it up."

"But we still got permission first, and therefore the best seats!" Kafei reassured them. "'Cause they're lighting the fireworks on the big clock's ledge, which means they go off right above the clock."

"…which we be starin' at righ' now." Nick finished for him. "Good thinkin' on yore part."

"One thing, though." Kat made an observation. "Since we're so close, it's gonna be LOUD."

"As long as it doesn't start raining," Sond said.

Ty and Link were sitting at opposite ends of the group, which was probably the wisest thing to both their benefits. They still managed to throw glares whenever possible, although the waning sunlight was dampening their efforts. Picking idly at the thatch, Ty sighed.

"Is it safe to light fireworks this close to the audience?" He said to nobody.

Kafei and Chiron shrugged. "Never been a problem in the past." Chiron blinked, suddenly looking thoughtful. "Then again… there was that one time-"

"Wha??" Kat blinked.

"Just kidding!" Chiron said disarmingly. Everybody listening nearly fell over. But not everybody.

Nick, looking concerned, nudged Timbre, who hadn't moved much at all. "'Ey, you haven' said anythin' all day practically. Was' up, lobo?"

Timbre seemed to be intently studying his large gray boots. "Sorry," he mumbled. "I've just been thinking, that's all."

"Good grief, I think my brother's starting to wear off on you, Tim!" Ty smirked. "What's there so much to think about?"

"Eh, nothin' much…" Timbre said vaguely. "Nothin' important, anyway."

"Yeah." Kat didn't like it when her friends moped like this, so she tried to get him to talk. Even hearing him complain would be better then nothing. "So, what'd you think of Tejina, Tim? Must be refreshing to meet someone your height." Kat braced herself for a retort.

But Timbre just shrugged. "Eh," he said finally. "I didn't really talk to her that much. Didn't really want to. So I dunno." Chin in gloved hands, he stared forwards.

"I think someone's holding a grudge over a dance. Personally she seems like a very nice person, once you get to know her." Kat looked intently at Timbre. "Just like some people I know."

"But she was kind of weird," Link remarked. "I asked her if she'd lost her other glove, since she only had the one, and she looked at me as if I'd sprouted wings." He rubbed his chin. "So I asked her why she didn't just not wear the glove at all, and she said, 'it doesn't come off.' Then she completely ignored me for an hour."

"Eh." Timbre relapsed into contemplative silence.

Kat and Sond exchanged concerned glances, and Kat finally shrugged as if to say, 'I tried!' Everyone vaguely stared upwards. It was a lot darker then it had been 5 minutes ago.

"Not too long now," Kafei said, breaking the silence.

"Mind if I join you?" A voice said, behind them.

Eight surprised people looked over their shoulders at Tejina, who smirked.

"I suppose so, I mean, aren't you staying at the Inn and stuff anyway?" Ty remarked. "You're good at popping out of nowhere, you know that? None of us even noticed you show up." He was careful to note he didn't know how long she'd been there.

"Call it a talent of mine. Illusionist's 'slight of self.' Comes in handy sometimes, being able to go unnoticed." Without another word, the blue-haired girl plopped herself down between Nick and Timbre. "I've never seen fireworks from this close before."

Timbre scooted several inches away from Tee, and Kat and Sond stifled giggles. Kat was about biting her tongue when she noticed a commotion beneath them. "Hey check it out, the Guards are chasin' something."

Tee peered. "Someone, you mean." She scowled. "And whoever it is, they're givin' those Guards a run for their money."

"Or someone else's money," Sond quipped. "I recognize that guy now. It's Sakon. He's a thief, he must've been pickpocketing the crowd, but finally got spotted."

"Good grief, he's dancing away from them," Ty said, tail twitching. "Guess that armor makes it hard for the Guards to run."

A thin man with a fat sack pranced madly out in front of the guards, making obscene hand gestures at his pursuers and generally causing havoc down below. But it wasn't to last for long. Sakon was just finishing another pirouette, spinning around the corner, when he tripped over something and sprawled out flat on his face. The sack of goods spilled, and several stolen trinkets rolled on the ground. Several onlookers gave a throaty cheer as the Guards dragged the formerly prancing man away.

Around the corner, a grumpy and unpleasant feeling Veneer withdrew his large booted foot with a sneer.

"Serves y'right, ye pansy." Then he withdrew into the shadows again, unnoticed by all except for one. But that one kept her mouth tightly shut, at least for the moment.

Tejina sighed. "Well, that ends that little escapade, anyways."

As if on cue, the first firework went off and lit the sky in a flash of maroon. Immediately following was the crack that was the exploding gunpowder. Kat flinched from the loud noise, but was immediately soothed by the chorus of "oohs" and "aahs" that drifted from the square below. A similar sentiment was echoed by the children on the roof.

"Pretty!" Sond said, with nods of agreement.

Then two went off at once with a thunderous explosion that illuminated the sky. Talking drew to a minimum as the show progressed. Fireworks aren't a time for speaking as much as a time for watching. Everybody made good on this unwritten rule, and leaned back, enjoying the show.

After about a half-hour, the last firework exploded. The crowd below hooted and hollered its appreciation as everything slowly faded back into black. The stars began to reappear through the haze of smoke. Kat wrinkled her nose. "It smells like a bomb went off."

"Well, it kind of did, fireworks are just bombs that look pretty, after all." Chiron said.

"Well, that's that, I suppose," Kafei yawned and stretched. "No more, at least until next celebration. But Mom'll probably book the fireworks for midnight at next year's Carnival of Time. Again."

"Remember watching those last ones? Hopefully certain celestial objects will stay up in the sky where they belong next time." Link grinned. "What time is it?"

"Time to go home," Kafei said grumpily. "My Mom says we have to go straight home after the fireworks because of an 'incident.'" Here he waggled his fingers.

Ty blinked, and Link smirked a little. The green hatted boy swung a sly look at Timbre, who had relapsed into his quiet mood. Timbre just rolled his eyes. "Did this 'incident' happen to involve a crate of bott-OOF!"

Sond elbowed Link in the ribs. "Ixnay," she mumbled in his ear, and Link remembered that Tejina was still sitting with them. Sond stood up. "Time to go home. Otherwise Kafei's dear Mother will be MAD, and I for one don't need that kind of aggravation!" She started prodding people towards the door.

"Aww man, it's not even late though, and we're being subject to this stupid curfew," Chiron grumbled as he slid down the thatch.

"Not like w're missin' any'ing, though…" Nick followed Chiron's example. "Everyone else's clearin' out too, see?" Sure enough, he was right. The square was now almost completely empty.

Last in line for the door was Kat and Timbre. Timbre stood resolutely. He felt completely awake at this time, as was normal, and he didn't feel like staying in. Although a little grumpy about having to turn in so early, he wasn't arguing. Turning his head, he looked at Tee. Kat waved.

"Night," she said.

Tee blinked. "Is it okay if Tim stays a minute or two?"

Timbre looked at Kat with a raised eyebrow, who just nodded.

"Go ahead."

Timbre didn't reply, and Kat rolled her eyes. "Look, if you stay out here you don't have to go inside yet, understand?

Finally Timbre agreed. "Yeah. Fine."

"Just get back to the Mayor's tout suite, kay?" Then Kat left with a bit of a smile on her face. Timbre's expression had been priceless just then.

Timbre sat back down without a word. He stared forwards as if nobody else was there. Nothing was said for almost five minutes.

"You were sitting behind us for a while, weren't you?" He finally said flatly. "How long?"

"Long enough, I suppose." The girl also stared forwards, chewing her lip. Finally she sighed. "This is kind of hard for me, but I wanted to apologize about today. We kind of got off on the wrong foot. I've probably aggravated you, maybe even insulted you today, and I'm sorry. I just wanted you to know that."

For once, Timbre actually met somebody's gaze. Unlike the stiff apology earlier, Tee's had sounded sincere. His eyebrows unfurrowed. "S'okay, I guess…"

"I dunno if you talked to Kei or not, he says I'm slow to warm up."

"He said as much." The trenchcoated boy seemed to be counting stars, as he relapsed into tacit staring once more.

"You don't like to talk much, do you?" Tee observed.

"No, it's just…if there's no reason to say anything, why talk? Besides, I'm thinking."

"'Bout what?"

"Uh, stuff." He clammed up again.

"Oh." Another awkward period of silence occurred.

"Maybe," Timbre suddenly said, almost startling Tee. "Maybe, I should apologize too. I'm kind of a stick in the mud, and I wasn't exactly nice to just give you the cold shoulder. Ask any of my friends, they'll tell you how much of a grump I am. It's not your fault."

Tee smiled a little, relieved. "Your friends are really important to you, yes?"

Timbre blinked. "Yeah, sometimes it might look otherwise, but they're like my family, more then just friends. They're just, I dunno, able to know things other people can't. Does that make any sense?"

"I can see that."

Timbre stared forwards again. "It's good to have friends. They understand you."

Tejina blinked. "I try to understand."

Timbre scoffed. "There's a lot about me that you don't know. You couldn't understand." He was starting to become distant again.

"Like what? What don't I know? What wouldn't I understand?"

"Try me."

"Okay," Tejina said, looking thoughtful, staring first upwards, then down at the thatch. "Well, for one thing, I know you're not a local, though you know this place very well. And you're reserved, you're an introvert, you'd rather watch then join in."

"At least until some people try to make me join in," Timbre grumped. But this time his tone was grudgingly less harsh, and Tee knew he wasn't quite as angry about the dancing incident anymore.

"Yes, but when something bothers you, you tend to keep it inside, until someone prods it out of you. You'd rather solve problems yourself then rely on others. And sometimes you don't listen to advice given to you."

Timbre shrugged.

Tejina continued. "And you're sometimes very insecure, that's why you're wearing that coat, to look bigger." She trailed off there.

Timbre smirked. "Is that all?" He asked, sounding critical.

Tejina shuffled. "No, actually there's something else. I know you're not all you seem."

Tim blinked, looking confused and maybe a bit surprised as Tee continued.

"You lead a double life. In fact, I knew that for sure as soon as you dropped on me in front of this Inn. There's no way a normal person could have gotten there that quickly."

Timbre stared at the ground. "I resent that."

"You're hiding something." Tejina said suddenly.

"How do you know that?"

"Because you're acting suspcious, Tim."

"And why would you care?"

"Because I might understand."

"You wouldn't." He turned his head away.

"I resent that," Tee said, mimicking him.

"You're aggrivating me again."

"Well, you're aggrivating me, seems only fair, doesn't it?"

Timbre had to bite his tongue before he started growling. "I think I'd better go," he said, sounding a bit forced.

"Tim, if you don't tell me what's up, I'm going to tell you."

"There's nothing to say, besides, we're all allowed to keep things to ourselves."

"Not when people might understand."

"I'm leaving."

"I'm talking."

"Go ahead, I'm already gone anyway." He was standing up.

"Timbre. You are a wolf."

He foundered in mid-stand. Swallowing, Timbre looked at Tejina with wide eyes. After a moment, he exhaled. Closing his eyes, he nodded. "Yes. I am a wolf." He opened his green eyes and looked directly at Tejina. "And so are you."

*****

Gasp! Intrigue! Scary assasin-type people! Things that explode! Deep philosophical stuff! Senseless arguing! Cliffhanging! And I've still got one Festival day to get through here! See you then, and please, now that you've read, go ahead and review, it won't take long at all!