"An Act to Follow"
Disclaimer: We've been through this 6 times already. Nothing's changed. ^_^
*****
Author's Note: Well, I've been a right mess lately - apparently I don't get to have the stomach flu when everybody else does, in the winter. Noooo, I have to have them during the really NICE days, like Memorial Day. Boo. And being sick does tend to destroy any want for writing. Consider the flu the writer's block that makes you throw up while it's at it. Bleah. But I'm all better now.
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An Act to Follow - Part 7: Let's hear it for bright viridian eye reflections
"But Moooom, it's gonna get stuffy in here!"
Madame Aroma would hear nothing of it. "You leave that window closed, d'you hear me? Goodness knows what might come in if you do. Keep it closed tonight, dear."
Kafei sighed and cracked his neck, frustrated. His room had one eastward facing window, but due to his mother's wishes, the window would have to remain closed for the time being. With more than half a dozen occupants, it was bound to get rather warm, and quickly.
"Sorry 'bout this, you guys," he said to everyone later, over their latest card game. They had been forced to re-name the card game* 'Liar' after Madame Aroma declared that cursing, even during a card game, was not permitted.
"S'okay, Kaf. Not your fault. Three fours." Ty put down three cards facedown.
"Liar." Link muttered.
"Take 'em then, Mr. Trigger Happy." Ty looked rather pleased with himself as the Hylian looked flustered.
"You knowtwo fivesDoesn't anyone else think the Mayor's getting rather uppity about a small incident, the whole 'crate and bottle' business?" Chiron blinked, looking around.
Nick appeared cross-eyed as he stared at his hand. "Was won'rin that mesel', I means'not like anyone was hurt. Y'don't think?one sixY'don't think-"
"He knows what really happened?" Sond finished. "I hope not. But if he did, he wouldn't act like he doesn't, would he? Four sevens."
"Feh," Link said, picking cards out of his hand. "If anyone but us knew what was up, Captain Viscen would already have a new fuzzy wall hanging." He was subject to several glares. "What?!"
"Just play," Kat said, feeling unpleasant.
"Oh. Four eights."
"Liar!"
"Take 'em, Monkey Boy. Take 'em all."
"Rrrgh" Ty said, pulling the entire pile towards him, his tail bristled. Flipping through them, he scowled. "Hey, everyone else 'except me was lying!"
His indignation was met by many guffaws and innocent looks.
Suddenly, there was a tapping at the closed window, and everybody instantly sobered. "Did you hear that?" Kat asked, her eyes widening.
"I think we all did" Kafei crept up to the window. Peering out, he relaxed. "Just Tatl and Tael."
"Like we expected a monster or something," Link snorted.
"'Course not, we know this whole fiasco's nothing." Kafei cracked the window open ever so slightly, enough to allow the two fairies in. "There." Then he shut the window again. The two glowing balls of light hovered around the group a moment, then Tatl landed on Link's head.
"Do you mind?" Link looked annoyed.
"Not at all," Tatl smirked. "Ooh, nice hand, by the way. You should play that ace next."
"Hey, for one thing, you're giving my cards away, and for another, we're not even playing that game!" Link scowled, putting his cards facedown.
Tael decided to perch on the upper bunk and watch. After a moment of silent counting, he noticed something unusual. "You're one person short."
"Ooh, observant, isn't he?" Tatl muttered.
"Yeah, we're short one short person," Link punned. Then he blinked. "So where is Timbe?"
"Uh, he stayed at the Inn. Tee had something to say to him." Kat shuffled the deck. "Who's up for Battoie?" She said quickly.
"He's with that girl?" Link choked with laughter. "That should be interesting." Several other masculine snickers meant the boys agreed with him.
"Good grief, the poor girl probably wanted to apologize to him, that's all." Kat rolled her eyes, shifting her weight off of her elbows. If she leaned on them for too long they started to get sore.
"Well, she's been apologizing to him for currently 2 hours now, then." Kafei looked at his watch.
Kat looked up. "It's been 2 hours? Time flies" She tapped a foot in amazement.
"I suppose someone'd better go find him and hurry him back" Ty remarked. "Problem is, we're not allowed out"
"And he wouldn't be allowed in, or he'd get in big trouble." Chiron finished.
Kafei shuffled. "Or at least I would be. Mom's a bit cranky because of the Festival, she's not gonna be easy on anybody, especially me."
Nick muttered to himself incoherently, garnering several second takes. After a moment, he spoke up. "S'poses'pose we had just one of us go? Or sen' one o' th'm t' go get 'im?" He thumbed over his shoulder at Tatl and Tael. "Out th' window, y'see, same way they got in. Tell 'im to get back 'ere through th' window or jus' t' lie low f' th' night. Or sumthin'"
Everyone let Nick's highly accented speech sink in a moment. "I guess" Ty said finally. But Sond had other ideas.
"I'll go get him back," she said, walking over to the window and opening it with a quick upward movement. "And before any of you argue," she glared at the multitude of open mouths as she armed herself with bow and arrows, "Might I remind you I am the one with hot coffee here." She pointed at her cup for emphasis. It steamed menacingly, just daring anybody to speak up.
All the mouths shut. "No arguments? Thought so," Sond said, backing out of the window one foot at a time. She kept talking quietly as she disappeared from view. "I think I can get onto the roof from hereYES!" Sond's head reappeared in the window, upside down this time. "I'm gonna go take a peek around, be right back." Her head quickly zipped out of view.
Ty craned his neck as he leaned out of the window. "I can't see anything, it's too dark." he said finally. Seconds later, a purple flash just about blinded him.
"Is that better?" Tael asked, totally oblivious to the fact he was inches from Ty's nose.
"Ack! Shoo!" Ty waved his hand and accidentally backhanded the hapless fairy. Tael gave a whoop as he tumbled out of the window and hit the ground. He groaned slightly, and lie on the cobblestone street, quite dazed.
"KAFEI!!"
Madame Aroma's yell from downstairs caused everyone to start. In Ty's case he clouted his skull on the window while hastily pulling himself back inside. "Oww" Link snickered, but was quickly quieted when Kat threw a pillow in his face.
"Shh, listen!"
Heavy footfalls meant somebody was coming up the stairs. And by the nature of them, it sounded like somebody large.
"Ack, it's my Mom!" Kafei hissed urgently, his red eyes wide. "Quick, pretend you're asleep!!
A massive panicky melee ensued for the next few seconds. Everyone flung themselves into their sleeping bags, and Kafei fumbled to extinguish the candle. Chiron had the good thought to close the window. It shut with a rattling BANG. Seconds later he threw himself under the covers as Madame Aroma's bulky silhouette (complete with nightcap) appeared in the doorway, lit by the small candle she held.
"Something's making noise up here," she began in a no-nonsense voice.
Several exaggerated snores answered her, and she huffed slightly. Waggling a finger, she nodded fiercely. "Good idea, all of you. You keep those eyes closed, I don't want to hear any more noise tonight. And keep that window shut, I can tell when it's open. If you don't believe me, just try your luck at being grounded for a week!" She turned to leave, stifling a mammoth yawn. "Kids these days," she slurred, heading back downstairs.
Everything was quiet for several minutes. Then the sound of someone sitting up wafted from the left-hand corner of the room.
"Well, that went smoothly," a sarcastic male voice muttered.
"You didn't exactly help, fairy boy," Ty muttered, rubbing his head. It still felt bruised and tender. "Now what? We can't exactly let Sond back in, now she's stuck out there too."
"And Tael too," Chiron added.
Tatl jingled moodily from underneath Link's hat. "My brother's out there? How'd that happen?"
Ty swallowed. "Uh, I kind of swatted him out the window." Ty yelped as a blinding yellow orb suddenly hovered in front of his nose. "It was an accident!" He said angrily.
Tatl harrumphed and retreated back under Link's hat.
"''Ow we gonna 'xplain this un in th' morning?" Nick drolled.
"Yeah," Chiron added. "I think anybody's notice we'd suddenly lost two people walking downstairs."
"Easy. We'll just 'sleep in.'" Kafei's voice whispered. "Both my Dad and Mom have to be up early for the Festival tomorrow. We'll just wait until they've gone to 'wake up,' that way they'll never know we've got two missing."
"Sounds like a plan," Kat said. She yawned. "I was feeling kind of tired anyways. Goodnight."
"Yeah," Chiron agreed.
"Sleep tight."
"Nighty-night."
"G'nigh'"
"Don't let the bedbugs bite!"
"Hey Link?" Kat said sleepily.
"Yeah?"
"SHH!" Six voices hissed.
"Oh, right-o. Goodnight!"
Link was knocked flat by six pillows.
Tee giggled slightly.
Timbre glanced sidelong at the wolf next to him on the roof of the Stock Pot Inn. "What's so funny?!" He asked.
"Your hair," Tejina said (or rather, growled) in lupine with the hint of a grin, "Even as a wolf there's a spiky bit right between your ears."
Timbre made an exasperated noise as he mussed up his hair with a forepaw. He then tried to smooth it down, but it sprung up again. "I can't help it," he muttered. "It's always been like that."
This time Tee really did grin, with that trademark toothy smile that only a canine could really pull off. Her fur color was the same grayish-blue as it had been as a girl, with a white undertone, and slight gray patches under both blue eyes. Her left forepaw was black, looking all the world like she's accidentally stepped in tar. Timbre on the other hand, was black and white all over, with the black travelling all the way down his back. His forepaws were white at the end, so he appeared to be wearing fingerless gloves. That black mark still showed itself over his left eye as well.
Tim gave up on his hairdo, and lay down with a lofty sigh. Tee was confused. Timbre still persisted with his moody and pensive act, and she was beginning to wonder. "Something on your mind?"
Tim quickly changed the subject. "How'd you figure me out?" His tail thumped the roof.
"Well, for one thing, I knew there was another wolf about due to an accident. A rather clumsy one, I might add. He almost got the drop on me, until a fairy spooked me and then he knocked over a crate of bottles."
"So that was you that Kas saw."
"Kas?"
"Remember this afternoon? He's Ty's older brother."
"Oh yeah, the mute guy in the cloak."
"He's not mute!" The black with white tip tail thumped again as he looked at her. "He just actually thinks before he starts talking. Unlike some people."
Tejina looked at Tim. If she had eyebrows, one of them would have been raised.
Tim stared forwards again. "Well, don't worry, he'll keep his mouth shut. He knows about me, and now he knows about you too."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing."
"Oh, I get it. You're afraid I'll tell someone about you." Tee looked at Timbre, annoyed.
"Well"
"Yeah, what am I gonna say? 'This boy's actually a wolf, and I know because I'm one too?!' Think, dummy!"
Tim just growled slightly. "Whatever."
Tejina went pensive for a moment before continuing. "It wasn't just that accident that tipped me off, you know. It's hard to check, but your eyes gave you away. I'm surprised you haven't noticed that, actually."
"Say what?"
"Well, have you ever shone a bright light in someone's face?"
"Not really, why?"
Tee fidgeted and her ears twitched. "Well, normally if you do that to someone, you just see a kind of light glassy glare in their eyes, if they're open."
"Okay, what's this have to do with me?"
"Well, mine do this too, you see. I watched your eyes during the flashes in the fireworks, and they didn't react normally to light, at least for a human's. Instead of just a glare, they reflected the light- this kind of bright viridian reflection. That's how I finally knew."
"Oh. I guess I'd - we'd better watch that. People might think we were freaks." Timbre gave a furry shrug, still staring forwards.
"Anyways, you're still acting all moody. How 'come?"
"I feel guilty, alright?" He said curtly. "About knocking that crate over. I don't like to vandalize, that was an accident, and now I've got the whole town scared over nothing. That's what's been bothering me, okay?"
"So, go apologize."
"Yeah right! And get burned for my trouble? I was trying to think of doing something more indirect. In fact, that reminds me" Timbre stood up and shook himself off. He ambled over to his trenchcoat, which had been cast aside neatly. Blinking, he stuck his head in one of the pockets.
Tejina laughed silently, as Tim cut a comical figure at the moment, though he was largely unaware of it. She sobered as he withdrew from the coat, with several bright objects clenched in his teeth. Letting them drop, he nodded. "See?"
"That's two purple rupees. But that's-"
"One hundred all together, I know. I found them in one of those holes in Termina Field a while back, pocketed 'em. Haven't gone back since 'cause there's Dodongos all over that place now. Well, I forgot I had them until a little while ago. I figured I'd leave 'em where the crate was, you know, compensation for the stuff I broke."
"Sounds reasonable. But you should leave a note too."
"What? Why?"
"So they know it's for compensation, otherwise someone might think they were just dropped there by mistake. You got any paper and something to write with?"
"Umm" Timbre retreated into another pocket. "Yeah, I doit's one of Tingle's pens. He dropped it with some paper once when Link shot his balloon down."
"Tingle?" Tee looked confused.
"Uh, I'll explain later. How good are you at writing?"
"Nah-uh, you gotta write this yourself. You did the deed, after all."
"but I'm not very good at writing Hylian."
Tee yawned widely. "Could you handle one word? How about 'Sorry?' It doesn't need to be a peace treaty, you know."
"I s'pose..." Timbre went back to human form and picked up the pen. One things wolves lacked was an opposable thumb, which meant they often had a hard time with things like writing and doorknobs. He sat cross-legged in front of the paper. Chewing on the end of the pen, he looked skyward. "Let's see if I remember how to spellHey, this pen's dry!" He shook the pen a few times and was rewarded with a few drops of ink. "There." His tongue stuck out of the corner of his mouth as he concentrated on the word. 20 seconds and a lot of pen shaking later, he sat back. "Howzat?"
Scrawled in Hylian was the word 'SORRY' in all capitals. Since the pen had been acting up, there were several inky blotches as well. Tee squinted, then looked up at Timbre, smirking. Her nose wrinkled when she did that. Timbre glowered.
"Hey, I told you my writing's bad. And it isn't so bad considering. Where I come from we don't write in Hylian, anyway. Oh great, I've got ink all over my hands nowLousy pen." He was about to wipe his hands off when Tejina stopped him.
"You forgot to sign it," she pointed out.
"Wouldn't that defeat the entire purpose? Then they'll know it was me."
"Well don't sign your name, silly. Use a pawprint or something, just so they know it's from the one who knocked the crate over."
"Oh." That was true. Changing form again, Tim stamped his right forepaw, still with plenty of ink on it, on the bottom of the page. It left a faded gray but legible print. "Bleah, there, ok? Now," He carefully picked up the page and the rupees in a little bundle in his teeth. "Seerfrrr." Loosely translated, that meant, 'See you later.'
Tee blinked. "I'm coming too, you know."
Timbre dropped the load a moment so his windpipe was unobstructed. "Hey, who said you could?! This is my job. Solo. By myself. My business."
Tejina harrumphed, her tail lashing. "Your business? Might I remind you that I'm the reason you knocked over that crate in the first place?"
"Exactly. Haven't you caused enough trouble? It's gonna be dangerous enough with just me out there trying to send this apology. What if I'm caught, hmm?"
"Then you'll need a second to rescue you," she said matter of factly.
"Worse yet, what if you're caught?"
"Gosh Tim, I didn't know you cared." She smirked, and her nose wrinkled again.
"I didn't mean it that way!" He growled in a way that suggested he might otherwise be flustered. After a moment's contemplation and a bout of staring at his forepaws, he looked at her. Or rather, glared "You are so annoying, you know that?" he said finally, carefully picking up his load again and trotting back a ways for the jump to the Milk Bar's roof. With an easy bound, he made it to the soft thatched roof.
A second later, Tee crashed into him when she jumped, almost sending him and his bundle toppling off of the roof. He glared again and growled around the bundle.
"Well, the feeling's mutual," she said. Tim just rolled his eyes and harrumphed. If she wanted to tag along just to spite him, fine. But if she got into any trouble because of that, it would be her own fault, and her own business to get out.
Sond peered around from her perch on top of the Mayor's roof. After hearing the commotion downstairs, she'd wisely chosen against tapping on the window to be let in. If need be, should could stand watch for a while outside. It wasn't too unpleasant outside, slightly colder then she'd like, but whatever. Problem was, it was very dark out. Very clear and starry now that the clouds were gone, but very dark. There were only a few torches lit. The town appeared deserted. Mayor Dotour's warning had been taken to heart. Not many wanted to tangle with a Wolfos, it would seem.
Boy, would they be surprised when they found out their 'monster' was harmless? Sond stifled a smirk at the thought. Taking a deep swig of coffee, she turned her head towards the Stock Pot Inn's roof. Because of the dark, she couldn't tell if there was actually anybody on the roof, not unless they stood up. She would have yelled over , save for the fact too much noise would have woken up just about the entire town, and the Guard.
Then she would be in trouble with not only the Guard, but also the Mayor and his wife. Sond shuddered at the thought.
Suddenly, a small dark shape leapt from the roof of the Stock Pot Inn, landing on top of the Milk Bar's roof. Sond blinked twice, as seconds later, a second shape mirrored that move and collided with the first. There was a brief scuffling and a couple of growls. Furrowing a brow, Sond fumbled for a Light Arrow.
Closing her eyes, she concentrated on the words to activate it. Silver arrow, fill up with light, turn back the night. There was a brief flare as the Light Arrow shone into the black, chasing away shadows, turning a contrast and making a glare. Sond squinted, aiming the Arrow's light much like the beam of a flashlight, directly at whatever was on the Milk Bar. They - there seemed to be two things - shrank back in surprise, a couple of shadows halting just out of the range of the light.
At first she was greeted by what appeared to be four glowing sparks hovering slightly above the roof. Then she realized something odd about the sparks. For one thing, they moved in groups of two, as if they were attached to each other. One pair of sparks was a subdued blue-white color, the other pair a bright viridian. Several times, a pair would wink out of existence for an instant, then reappear. Then it hit her.
Eyes! Those are the reflections off of eyes! That meant there were two things on that roof. Sond frowned a little bit. She slowly reached behind her and unslung her bow from her back. Nocking the arrow, she drew it back and aimed at the Milk Bar's roof. She didn't want to have to shout, but if it was necessary
"Show yourselves!"
Hesitantly, one of the things stepped forward into the beam of light. Sond squinted in recognition, then slowly lowered her bow. There was no way that thing was a Wolfos, for one thing it was too small. For another thing, it had winked at her.
"Tim??"
He answered with a muffled affirmative woof. She was about to yell at him when a quiet scraping, much like metal upon metal reached everyone's ears. Peering downwards, she watched as a Guard on his patrol goose-stepped between the Milk Bar and the building where she currently sat.
Not wanting to make any more noise to alert the Guard, she beckoned with her unarmed hand. Come on over already, where in Hyrule have you been?
But the wolf shook his head. No. Sond then noticed idly there was something in his mouth. She beckoned again, confused, and he shook his head again. No.
What is he up to? She wondered, a bit annoyed.
Timbre threw himself into a wildly exaggerated pantomime, which might of baffled any casual observer. He went through the act several times, pointing first towards West Clock Town with a forepaw, then at himself. Me, over that way, ok?
He needed to go somewhere? Why? Sond furrowed a brow. After a moment, she replied with her own pantomime. She pointed at the huge distant shadow that was the big clock. She tapped her arm with one finger, then pointed at Tim. She then pointed to the roof where she sat. One hour, then you're to come straight here, you got that?
Timbre nodded agreement. Two leaps later, and he was gone from sight. With a sigh, Sond let the Light Arrow extinguish, and the square blackened again. Just lucky for them that Guard hadn't had the thought to look up tonight!
The clock, chiming the half-hour, boomed in the distance. That makes the time eleven-thirty, then. Leaning back, Sond allowed her mind to wander. She'd have to last another hour without falling asleep, lucky for her the coffee cup was still almost full. With a sigh, she suddenly wondered what that other shadow had been. She hadn't remembered to ask. Maybe it had just been her imagination. Then again, how could she have imagined two pairs of eyes?
"Well, that was masterfully done." Tee remarked, over the boom of the clock.
"Grrrf." Tim just rolled his eyes.
"No, I'm serious! You could be a world champion at Charades, you know that?!" Tee laughed, and Timbre feverently wished she would just leave him alone.
He was retracing the route he had taken earlier that day, which meant, unfortunately, she was as well. Still, he tried his best to keep his nose forward. Maybe if he ignored her, she would go away.
No such luck, as he would find. Rounding the corner, the dimly-lit South Clock Town square resembled a ghost town, completely deserted. Wow, Timbre thought in amazement. People really must be scared. Still, just because there was no one around in sight didn't mean that there wasn't anybody around. He glanced sidelong at Tejina. She shrugged.
"Guess paranoia runs deep for these people, huh?"
Timbre put the bundle down for a moment. If he held it all the time he was bound to get the parchment wet and then the ink would run. "Well, the Wolfos usually give them a reason to be afraid. I'd be afraid."
"How are we going to get to West Clock Town from here?"
"You mean, how am I. I'm going to have to get down off these roofs to do that. West Clock Town's a little tiny avenue, but the buildings are tall, you see. Maybe if I get down by the Laundry Pool, and just hug the wallthat would probably work" Timbre scooted off, the rupees and parchment back in his mouth.
Jumping down the wall at the Laundry Pool was a cinch, and Timbre shook himself off as his paws hit cold ground. He should have thought to move to the side however, as moments later, a blue-gray furry object squashed him flat.
"Oops, sorry." Tejina smirked.
"Oof! You did that on purpose!" Timbre grunted, shoving her off. He retrieved the bundle and sped up the inclined alley. Tejina followed in his wake, and ignored repeated glares.
Unfortunately for the pair, there was a Guard. Standing right at the entrance to West Clock Town. Tim peered around the corner. Dropping the rupees again, he sighed. "All this way for nothing."
"Well, he's bound to move sometime" Tee sat down.
"Well I'm impatient."
The minutes ticked by, and the Guard stood at attention. He even yawned once, but never once moved from his post.
"Great, it's like they expected us or something," Timbre growled.
"Hmm, guess so" Tee agreed vaguely.
Timbre tried once again to rid himself of Tee. "Hey, aren't Kei and Ana gonna be worried about you?"
"No, they're used to this, actually. They'd be worried if I actually came home on time, they'd think there was something wrong with me."
"Wait, Kei's your brother, right?"
"Yep."
"Then that meansis he a-"
"Nope. He's my brother, but we're not actually related."
Timbre nodded. "Oh. You adopted him."
Tejina just grinned. Suddenly, her ears flickered to the side. "Hey, you hear that?"
Timbre stopped too. "Yeah, I doit's-"
"Jingling?" Tim and Tee looked at each other, confused. The jingling was very faint, so much so that the Guard wasn't alarmed. It was coming from their right. From behind a crate, a small dim purple light weaved dazedly along the street. His light was flickering, like a dying Christmas light, and he occasionally bumped into walls.
"Tael!" Timbre hissed, alarmed.
Tael seemed to realize where they were, and he changed course, zigzagging his way over to the Laundry Pool entrance. He looked tousled as he literally fell in front of Tim, his light fizzling out.
Tee poked him with her forepaw like she might a dead bug, but he didn't respond. Tim pushed her aside. "Hey, don't do that!"
"Is he" Tee swallowed. She'd never seen a dead fairy before. Not that she wanted to.
"No no, he's fine, he just took a fall or something. Maybe hit a wall. He's stunned."
To their left, the Guard shifted from one foot to the other, his armor complaining with a metallic whine. Both wolves winced at the high-pitched noise.
"UgghI'm glad he takes good care of his armor" Tejina grumbled. She looked over at Tim, who had retreated back around the corner. He was back in human form, with the fairy cupped in his hands. Tee followed suit, remembering at the last second the rupees. She batted it into the entrance, then also retreated, changing to human as well.
Tee leaned against the wall with a sigh. "Your hour's going to be over and you wouldn't have finished the job," she warned, keeping her voice to a low whisper.
Tim glanced up. "Unless that Guard goes away soon, I'm gonna give up. I can always come back tomorrow, you know." As he spoke, Tael groaned loudly and his purple glow re-lit.
"Ouuuuch" The fairy sat up, rubbing his forehead. "Where am I?"
"South Clock Town. You got knocked out again."
"Again?" Tee snorted.
"Oh. Yeah, I fell out of Kafei's window. Must've hit the ground." The miniscule boy stood gingerly in Tim's hand, flexing gossamer wings. "Ug, I'm okay now" He concentrated a little, and his wings moved in a blur. Then he was hovering again.
Tee shook her head in amazement. She'd heard fairies recovered from injuries quickly, but she'd never seen one come out of total unconsciousness that quickly.
"That's good, your sister would murder us otherwise," Tim said, not joking in the slightest.
Tael nodded, then something occurred to him. "Hey, what're you two doing down here at night? You're supposed to be at Kafei's, Tim!"
"Uh, I'm on a secret mission." Tael raised an eyebrow at Tim's lame excuse. "Okay, okay, I'm delivering some money as compensation for knocking that crate over, okay? Trouble is, that Guard's in the way, I can't sneak in."
All three peered around the corner again. The Guard hadn't moved an inch.
"If only we could get him to go elsewhere" Tee mused. Then she blinked, and she and Tim exchanged knowing glances. Tael made a neutral sound.
"Alright, I'll go distract the guy so you can do whateverJust as long as I don't get swatted again" Tael had a grumpy streak, but it wasn't half as long as his sister's.
The Guard blinked heavily as something purple flashed directly in his eyes, jingling. "What the-" He grunted loudly, armor clanking. Tael dodged as a hand swiped at him, slowed down as it was by the metallic gauntlet it wore.
"Woop, missed me!" He crowed, orbiting the Guard's head.
"Ack! Stay still, you little-" The Guard yelled as the fairy bopped him in the nose. Angrily, he did a little dance of frustration as the fairy made a rude noise at him. "I hate fairies!!"
So distracted was the Guard by the fairy, he didn't even notice the two four-legged shadows that slipped behind him into the entrance to West Clock Town. As they did so, the clock boomed twelve times.
Across town, on the Mayor's roof, Sond yawned a little. "Twelve o'clock," she murmured to herself, taking another sip of coffee. "Midnight."
*****
* The card game our gang is playing is known on Earth commonly as 'B.S.,' or for the cruder among us, "Bull----." Obviously Madame Aroma wouldn't approve of ten-year-olds yelling that in her household
Do Tim and Tee realize how close they came to being discovered? After all, Viscen and Veneer agreed to meet at the Laundry Pool entrance at midnightWell, only one person is really aware of where those two are at the moment, Sond. She might easily have to abandon her post and help out! Until next time, read and review, alright?