"An Act to Follow"
Disclaimer: Still don't own it.
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Author's Note: Thank you one and all for the reviews! I should apologize to those who feel slightly lost, there is indeed some backstory, however it hasn't been constructed quite yet. So for now there are only going to be bits and pieces, hopefully I'm not confusing anybody too much. If I am, I'm very sorry, and hope you still like this story.
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An Act to Follow - Part 8 - A series of unfortunate events
They were not completely aware how fortunate they really were.
Barely a minute later, Viscen arrived, in all his armored splendor, at the entrance to the Laundry Pool. He looked slightly nervous, as if apprehensive about the events ahead. He'd hired Veneer to take care of this problem for him, but instead the hunter had demanded he actively participate. Something about 'Captain's responsibility' and other nonsense. He shifted impatiently in his heavy getup, but he didn't have long to wait.
Veneer seemed in a more amiable mood come darkness, but that didn't loose his sarcasm at all. "Still wearin' that getup, Viscen?" Veneer rumbled as he approached, a cloaked shadow. Viscen only recognized him because he had spoken.
"A Captain's armor is his badge," he replied boldly.
"Oh all right then, Captain," Veneer chuckled humorlessly. "Just don't blame me when the Wolfos bears you down with one swipe due to that collection of metal you've got on."
"Pardon?"
"One swipe, Viscen."
The Captain swallowed a little. He'd never thought himself a cowardly man, or one prone to fear, but somehow just being around the dry humorless rustle of Veneer's voice brought out the worst in him. Removing all but the chestplate and helmet of his armor, he threw the rest, mostly ornamental, into a pile with a metallic screech. When he looked up, Veneer was already moving away.
Viscen quickly caught up. "What-"
"Might I suggest that silence is a good skill to learn, Captain?"
The Captain inhaled sharply, drawing himself up. He was beginning to regret having summoned the bounty hunter in many ways. "Now just a-"
He would have continued if not for the sight in front of him. The Guard, who was supposed to be keeping at his post in front of West Clock Town, was leaning, chin on spear, eyes closed. Veneer didn't comment, but he seemed to be laughing to himself. Viscen boiled a little inside.
"Stand at attention!"
The sleeping Guard jolted out of dreamland and stood at attention, eyes wide.
"Hmm, that's better. Anything to report, soldier?" Viscen's eyes narrowed, his voice husky and commanding.
"A…a fairy attacked me, sir?" The Guard said, feeling a little foolish.
Veneer was laughing again.
Viscen stared the younger officer in the eye. "Indeed. Might I suggest, soldier, that if one intends to take the night watch, one should remember to stay awake?" The Guard swallowed.
"Yessir," the Guard mumbled.
"What did you say?"
"Yes sir!" The Guard saluted.
"Hmmf, that's more like it. Now keep to your duty."
"Yes sir!"
Viscen rolled his eyes as he moved out of sight, into West Clock Town. Veneer finally sobered.
"Good help, it's so hard to find, isn't it Captain?"
"Harumph! If I might be so bold to ask, where are you taking us?" Viscen said condescendingly. If Veneer was going to insult him, then Viscen was going to throw his superior rank.
"Thought that would be obvious to a superior warrior such as yourself. To where your men found the tracks. That is the beginning of the trail. Well, come along, Captain! Don't want to stall, do we?"
Viscen growled under his breath. He really, truly, hated that man.
"You done yet?" Tee hissed urgently, her tail lashing with impatience. West Clock Town was currently deserted, but there was no saying how long it would stay that way.
Timbre had carefully threaded his way into the taped-off area that was the scene of the 'crime.' Though it could hardly be called that. It was so obviously an accident, at least in his young mind. He'd given the thought to revealing the cause of the accident several times, but had quickly thought against it once more. If people were going to blow a little thing like a smashed crate out of proportion, there was no telling what they would do if they found an admitted live wolf in their midst.
Choosing a spot, Tim gently laid the note and the rupees next to the remains of the crate. Anybody would notice it who looked at the scene for long enough. Hopefully it would be found and everyone would forget about his mistake. At least he hoped so.
Two jumps later and the wolf stood alongside Tee. Her nose wrinkled a little.
"That only took forever. Now, let's get back home before the half-hour, otherwise we'll worry your friend."
"Right." Timbre took two steps back the way they had come when-
"Ouch!" That had hurt. Tim looked behind him, and saw Tee was purposely standing on his tail. Feeling a little sympathy for Ty, who'd had several similar experiences, he glared at Tee. "Do you mind?!"
Tejina sighed. "Somehow I wonder how you've survived here by yourself for this long. Use your head! We can't go that way, the Guard's there, remember? I doubt Tael kept him distracted any longer then he had to."
Timbre glowered, but saw the reasoning behind the statement. But she didn't have to insult him about it. He'd admitted he wasn't the most graceful thing, but still-what was wrong now?
Tejina had started backing away slowly. "H-hey Tim?"
The wolf in question blinked. "Yeah?"
"You smell anything unusual?" Her nose wrinkled again.
Timbre gave her the benefit of the doubt and sniffed. Like most canines he was in possession of a keen sense of smell, though he tended to forget sometimes. "Yeah, now that you mention it…" His words trailed off as he realized that smell was familiar. It smelled like - tanned animal skins, just like that frightening man he'd collided with not too long ago. He shivered and his fur stood up on end. For some reason that thought unsettled him to no end. Tee was in no better condition. Her eyes were a bit wider then usual, and she'd lost that casual air of superiority.
"Tim," she began, "If we value our lives, we have to hide ourselves RIGHT NOW." There was no joking in her voice this time, she sounded completely serious.
"Hide?" Remembering his hiding place from the night before, Tim slunk behind the eightstack of crates directly behind the taped-off area. Tee followed hesitantly. Tim would've rather run down the street and gotten away, but there was no knowing who might be at the end of the street this time. Last time he'd been very lucky and it had been a friend. There was no knowing if the lightning would strike twice, however. How's that for using my head! Behind the crates, they weren't as completely secure, but at least they knew for a fact it was safe.
Tejina was shivering on his right, her eyes wide and her ears back. Something about this had her completely spooked. Timbre bit his lip and held his breath. Quiet footsteps told the approach of at least two people, heavy-set ones by the echo.
Please just pass by, please, he pled silently. Then one of his ears perked. Whoever it was were talking in low tones.
"Is this the place?" the first voice was rough, male, and husky.
"Yes, we taped off the area, so the prints wouldn't be swept away. See?" a second voice, just as deep, but without that undergrowl.
"Aye." There was a groan and a grunt as the owner of the first voice bent down. "Hmm…" The man's voice became critical. "Not dogs, th' prints are much to big around. But they're a might small for an adult Wolfos. And th' claws aren't large enough."
"Hmm?" A cough.
"Viscen, you ever seen a Wolfos' paw?" The first voice became condescending, as if exasperated. Tim blinked. Captain Viscen? What's he doing here? Tim glanced sidelong at Tee, but she was in a state, eyes squeezed shut. She looked like she were paralyzed. The mystery voice continued, and Tim cocked an ear.
"Their paws are huge, with claws sometimes up to 2 inches long. It makes a more impressionable print then these. Made of silver, their claws, that's why th' pelts are so valuab-"
"What's this?" Viscen interrupted, and Timbre heard the sound of something being picked up. "Rupees?" Great, he found it, Tim thought. "And a note…it says…hmm, what do you make of this, Veneer?"
There was a snort, apparently from Veneer, whoever that was. "Looks like someone's playin' a trick on ye, Captain. Wait, let me see that paper a second." There was a momentary rustling, then another snort. "There's the track on the paper. Hmm…no...no." The voice lowered to a confidential whisper. "It couldn't."
"What?"
"Well, this ink print is an exact duplicate of your dust tracks. How odd, how very odd…"
"What?" This time Viscen sounded very unnerved.
There was a pause, and then: "Viscen, have you ever heard of a creature called a 'wolf?'" Tim almost made a noise, but luckily kept silent. He was beginning to cramp up from sitting motionless as it was. He tried to keep his mind off it by concentrating on the men's argument.
"Well, I've heard of Wolfos, bu-"
"Don't be foolish, you know what I said, Captain."
"W-well, I-I've heard the word before-"
"Well, for your information, O fearless Viscen, a wolf is a demon that can change shape at will. It can appear human at one moment, and the next become a huge beast, not unlike a Wolfos. And they're smart, at least human level intelligence. Very rare, quite dangerous. You've heard of them, I know you have."
"W-well, there were the old stories from Hyrule, b-but I always thought they were…you know, mythological."
"Oh you fool, how little you know," the Veneer's voice became very bitter.
"Just what are you saying, then? There isn't a…it couldn't possibly be-"
There was no speaking, which probably meant Veneer was simply glaring at the Captain. Viscen's voice sighed in resignation.
"Are you sure this is what we're dealing with?"
"This is the word of an expert. I've been doing this nigh twenty years. I know a wolf print when I see one, and I see one right here."
"And what about this paper? The note says-"
"Well, I could say I was a Prince, but that doesn't necessarily mean I'm telling the truth! Besides, I thought you wanted an expert for a reason. And the expert says it might be trying to throw us off, make us put up a false sense of security."
"Fine. Then what can we do, if there's something loose that looks human, and acts human, but isn't?" Viscen stammered. "I mean, we can't just go around interrogating random people out in the open, we'll have a panic on our hands!" Indeed, Timbre thought drolly.
"You mean your hands, Captain, I'll have nothing to do with your political affairs. You hired me to alleviate your little problem here, and if that means int-"
"Veneer, our agreement was for a discreet disposal." Timbre swallowed hard. They'd actually hired somebody to take him out? This is more serious then I thought. Tee didn't make a sound, but her eyes shut even tighter, if that were possible. Viscen's voice grew hard. "You either keep this business between us and my Guard or you are not paid a rupee more. And you know that I'm serious."
Veneer growled a little under his breath, but had to submit to this declaration. "For your sake," he muttered, "I hope nobody is killed before we find it. Because I say now it's going to be very difficult, nigh impossible to pull it out of a crowd like your Festival without making a scene. We don't even know if it's still in the city."
"For now," Viscen said, "Let me offer a compromise. Nobody will enter or leave Clock Town without a thorough investigation first. It might raise a few eyebrows, but I could easily spread a rumor of a robbery or some other nonsense." There was a jangling as Viscen pocketed the money.
"Fair enough, Viscen. You might be a fool, but at least you've got a little sense."
"Now," Viscen started, blowing off that last comment. "Is there any way we'll know this…this wolf when we see it? There has to be some distinguishing features."
"Nngh, it's going t' be very difficult to spot one, why else would they be so dangerous? But yes, there are a few things to watch out for. Now, judging by the size of this thing's tracks, it's not very large. Yes, th' print's impressive, but nowhere near a full-sized wolf print. So therefore, we're looking for smaller stature, probably an adolescent, though it's hard to age 'em sometimes." He's good, very good at this, Tim thought.
"That still leaves a large amount of people to investigate, you know."
"Yes yes, I know, don't want to exert your men any more then they're used to, lazy curs. I mean if that layabout we met a few minutes ago is any representative-"
"Distinguishing features, Veneer?"
Veneer chuckled. "Now who's changing the subject? Hah. Yes, well, one thing to look for is gloves."
"Gloves?"
"Yep, strange as it may seem, wolf's always got gloves in human form. Maybe just one, maybe a matching pair, maybe an unmatched pair. But always gloves, never takin' em off, either." Timbre swallowed. He knows what he's talking about, too. We're in trouble now.
"Gloves, right. That's easy enough. Anything else?"
"Hmm, yeah. The eyes. They're strange. Look normal enough at a glance, but if y'shine a light on 'em, they reflect jus' like a dog or cat's do. Don't think that's too useful though."
"Unless we can arrange for something incidental, like lighting at the entrances."
"Hmm, there may be hope for you yet, Viscen. One other thing, they've got a weakness in silver. Any amount of silver's good for form-changers, actually. Somethin' about th' metal blocks certain types of magical energy, s'why it's so valuable. Stops things from working transformations. Get them in contact with enough of the stuff, an' they can't change form. They'll be stuck as whatever they are, beast or human, least until they're free of it again."
Geez, this guy's got us all figured out, at least as far as weaknesses. The wolf chanced a glance at Tejina, whose left eye was cracked open a smidgen. The eye stared intensely at him a moment, then shut again. How she was able to keep so still was beyond him.
"Good, then I'll relay this to my Guard. They're already posted at the four entrances. We usually guard at night, and since we've heightened security we've been checking those who enter as well."
"You going to tell any of this to your Mayor?" Veneer called to the retreating northern sound of footsteps.
After a moment's pondering, Viscen gave his answer. "I believe I will keep this to myself, at least for the time being. The Mayor's a very panicky person, prodded as he is by that wife of his. No, news like this is bound to cause him alarm and untold stress. Best try to first work this out quietly."
Now that Viscen had taken his leave, Veneer was allowed a more thorough investigation of the area. Turning his head, he judged the angle of momentum of the crate, based on the position of the destroyed crate and bottles. Now Viscen said he came up from the southern end, which seems correct, as the prints head north, towards the opposite end of the street…
Here the tracker paused a moment, thinking. If his quarry had run away in response to the arrival of the Guard, then it had probably slipped out of the western gate to the city. He'd have to investigate the area later to prove his idea, but he had business here first.
Judging from the height needed to cause the crate to come to pieces, Veneer judged that it had probably originated on top of the eight remaining crates. In order for the crate to fall forwards as it had, then something must have pushed it from the other side, perhaps while on top of the pyramid.
Furrowing a brow, Veneer cleared his throat. Why on top, though? Height was usually a benefit in that it gave on a better view of its surroundings. And situated behind the ninth crate before it had fallen would've proved both a good vantage point as well as a good hiding place.
But what exactly was it looking for? Veneer turned his head. There didn't seem to be any tactical advantage, unless it had been specifically waiting for somebody to pass by. Too bad there hadn't been any close witnesses, the man thought. If there had been, his job would be so much easier. But the only people the Guard had seen that night had claimed to see nothing, at least that's what Viscen had told him.
What if there were something behind the crate, he suddenly thought. Maybe it was behind there, and something spooked it. Veneer raised an eyebrow. Giving himself the benefit of the doubt, he knelt down, on the left side of the stack.
Behind the crate, two pairs of eyes were slowly widening as Veneer's knees came into view. Veneer was just bending down when-
"Excuse me, sir!"
"What!" Veneer started. Behind the crate, Tee suddenly sniffed. Veneer's stench was rather overpowering, but there was a second smell that hadn't been there a moment ago. It smelled of…coffee. Tim wrinkled his nose as well, but his eyes were wide in recognition.
Veneer growled. It had been a long time since he'd been startled. Apparently he was a little more focused on this investigation then he'd thought. Turning his head to the left, he found himself staring into a pair of blue eyes.
A small girl with brown hair was standing on his immediate left. Clasped in her hands as if it were the Holy Grail was a coffee cup. She was slowly turning it, as if it were still slightly hot to the touch. Veneer's brow furrowed.
"What are you doing out so late, little girl?" He growled.
"Um," she stuttered, as if asking herself the same question. "I-I was lookin' f' someone," she started, blinking.
Behind Veneer, a tiny violet glow quickly slipped into the space behind the crates. Both Tim and Tee stared upwards, their hearts still racing as Tael made the 'quiet' handsignal. He pointed at both of them, then pointed towards the southern entrance. Get going, now! Both of you! Both heads nodded vigorously, and took the fairy's advice.
Veneer scowled as he rolled into a squat, both hands on his knees. Trying to hold in some measure of patience, he started. "Who are you looking for?" He asked the girl.
The girl chewed her lip. "Um…A-a friend. He got lost, he didn't come home tonight after dark, sir." It was a lot easier to lie if one's tall tales had some basis in the truth.
"It's dangerous out at night, weren't you told that?" Veneer rolled his eyes. Every second he was distracted was irreplaceable. "Go home, little girl, I'm a little busy at the moment, you see…"
Taking the cue, Sond (who else would it be? ^_^) piped up. "Whaddaya lookin' for?" Behind Veneer's head, Tael was hovering silently. He gave the thumbs up to Sond. Cut the act, they got away.
Veneer was still unaware of the fairy behind him as he glowered at the girl with the coffee. Behind him, Tael gave the thumbs up to Sond. Cut the act, they got away. But Sond was having too much fun aggravating the man, and besides, they needed all the escaping time they could get.
"I'm investigating a serious matter." Veneer growled. "Now please go away-"
"Why?"
"Because otherwise you'll be in danger."
"Why?"
"Because if I don't, something bad might happen to you!" Veneer put an emphasis on the word 'bad.'
Sond giggled suddenly, then quickly clapped a hand over her mouth. "Oops." Tael was currently giving Veneer bunny ears and making faces behind his head, which was what had made Sond start laughing.
"What the-" Veneer finally turned his head around only to be flashed in the eyes by a blinding purple aura. "Arg!" The man swatted at the fairy, but missed due to his clouded vision. Tael whooped.
"Uh, thanks for the help mister, gottagobye!" Sond stammered. Then she was gone as well, snagging Tael out of the air as she ran by, down towards the southern entrance. The footsteps echoed hollowly, then faded altogether. As she ran, the clock struck the half-hour.
The hunter rubbed his eyes in aggravation. Before anything else occurred, he stuck his head behind the crates and glared around. Lights were still dancing in front of his vision, but it was clear to see there was nothing there. With a growl, Veneer pounded his fist into the hard stone ground, ignoring the pain this caused. Then sighing, Veneer pulled himself upright, rubbing his temples.
"I really hate kids," he grumbled.
They made their escape easily enough, as the Guard from earlier had once more fallen asleep. Keeping to the walls, both Tim and Tee skirted almost the entire circumference of Clock Town, only this time from the ground. Timbre finally stopped running next to a small alleyway in East Clock Town. Tejina prodded him in confusion.
"Hey, why're you stopping? See, the Mayor's House is right there, and the Inn's just ahead."
"Yeah, yeah, I know that, who's been here longer, anyways?" He glanced nervously from side to side. "It's just…you heard Viscen and that other guy talking, right?"
"Veneer. That other guy was Veneer Chatrail. He's a professional hunter."
"Oh great, just what we need, a professional. But you heard Viscen talking about blocking all the exits?"
"Right, bu-"
"Look, you've been so high and mighty about me not using my head. Well, you listen for a change. If we don't both leave Clock Town tonight, it's going to be very difficult to leave later. There's going to be Guards everywhere come tomorrow."
"Well, can't we just lie low? How'll I tell Kei and Ana where I am?"
"Tee, that's not our problem right now. We have to leave now. Unless you want to take your chances with that hunter."
Tejina stared at the ground for a moment, ears twitching. Then finally she looked up again. "You're right." She finally admitted, grudgingly. "So how do we get out?"
There was no question in Timbre's voice. "I just happen to remember a certain secret passageway to a certain Observatory. And there's a door leading outside. There's a fence, but I think we could jump it easily enough. This way." He led the way down into the dark alley. "I just hope the Bombers decided to stay home tonight…"
Tejina followed, her confidence slowly returning. "It smells in here…" she complained, wrinkling her nose. "And it's wet too, my paws're soaked."
"Well, I said it was a secret passage, not a garden path. And it's just stagnant water, see?" He jumped across several channels as if making a point. Tejina followed daintily.
"How much further?"
"Not too far. Mind the Skulltulla, it's grumpy. Just down this passage, up the ladder here-" Here several minutes were taken in conquering the vertical climb. In both cases it required thumbs and therefore a switch to human. Tim made it to the top first, and was waiting for Tejina to make it up when her foot slipped. She yelled as she lost her balance and fell. But she abruptly stopped her yell as she realized she was no longer falling. Opening one eye, she realized Timbre had grabbed her by the wrist.
A moment's scramble later and she'd made it to high ground. "Uh…thanks." She stammered, looking a little pink.
Timbre just looked the other way. "Uh, yeah…Uh, be careful next time, okay? Come on, the observatory's right ahead…"
Timbre rattled the doorknob leading to the outside of the observatory. But it was no use, the door was locked. Tejina chewed her lip, agitated.
"It's locked?!" She hissed urgently.
Tim's eyes narrowed, and he couldn't look at her. "It's locked," he sighed. He stopped himself from kicking the door, as that wouldn't help things any and only create noise.
The colorful observatory was closed, the old man who ran it out of town for the Festival. Apparently he was worried about visitors' curious hands possibly damaging the intricate instruments. Normally the Bombers' hideout would block any curious onlookers from entering. But the astronomer's careful planning has spelled unfortunately, trouble for two small children.
Tee was starting to nervously pace back and forth, from the door, to the small exhibit that held the astronomer's Moon Tear. It glowed a little, providing some illumination to the scene. "What do we do now?" She said, looking back at Timbre.
Tim blinked. He hadn't realized it until now, but the look on her face was quite frightened. He'd managed to alert her to the fact that they were literally stuck in Clock Town, and now that their only means of leaving the town had been locked, her eyes were wide with fear. He suddenly felt terrible about everything.
"I'm sorry, I made a mess of everything, if I hadn't gone to see how the magic act worked, none of this would've happened!"
Tee blinked. "What?"
"I said, if I hadn't been so eager to see how you did that disappearing act, none of this would've happened! That crate would still be intact, Viscen wouldn't have a clue we were here, and that Veneer wouldn't have come. It's all my fault!"
And despite everything, Tejina actually giggled.
"Guess I should be flattered," she said with half a smile.
"Hey, this is serious! What're we gonna do?"
"Just that, a disappearing act. Viscen doesn't actually know we're still in the town, for all he knows we might've left before he put up the extra Guard. So if nothing happens for a day or two-"
"-he might lay off, and dismiss Veneer since he thinks we took off!" Timbre looked impressed. "That might just work! But…what if the Guard's still around day after tomorrow? Don't you and Kei and Ana have to leave then?"
"Not necessarily. Besides, we have a better chance of that not being the case if we make ourselves scarce for a day or so."
"Okay then," Timbre let the door alone. "We'd better get back to the Inn, I don't think showing up at the Mayor's would be such a good idea for me anymore."
"Right. What about your friend?"
"Oh, right, maybe she should come with us too…if we can find her. Now let's get out of here before we break something."
"Race ya!" Tee grinned, going wolf and dashing off down the stairs. Timbre rolled his eyes. One moment she's ready to scream from panic, then she brushes it off as if it were nothing. He was never ever going to understand this girl. He then followed suit, nearly falling nose over tail down the stairs in his impatience to catch up.
Making it back into the secret passage was a lot less difficult than going up it. For one thing, they simply jumped down the ladder as opposed to climbing down. The Skulltulla wouldn't have been fast enough to hurt them, even if they hadn't openly avoided it. The water was easy enough to jump across, and this time Tee didn't complain about the smell. Timbre was still trying to catch up to her, and failing. He caught her tail flicking around the corner that led steeply upwards towards the entrance. Narrowing his eyes, he charged up the ramp.
And abruptly collided with her as she suddenly stopped running. His momentum had the unfortunate side effect of slamming both of them into the reason that Tee had screeched to a halt in the first place.
That reason being a small six year old boy named Jim, leader of the Bomber's gang.
Sond was clear across Clock Town, at the Laundry Pool, just about to climb the wall that led to the rooftops when she heard Jim's screams.
"WOLFOS!! AIYEEEEEEEEE!"
Crimeny, she thought, recognizing the voice. That kid screams like a castrato. Abandoning the wall climb, she dusted herself off. Tael jumped off her shoulder as Sond took off in the direction of the disturbance.
"That can't be good," he groaned, stating the completely obvious. He then followed after the girl as fast as his wings could carry him.
The screams had met several other pairs of ears, most of those quite uninviting, as far as the wolves were concerned. Of course, they'd both taken off like a Zora with a hotfoot the moment Jim had screamed. But that didn't stop Jim from making noise, nor from attracting every free Guard, Captain Viscen, and Veneer Chatrail to his side.
Viscen stooped as the boy continued to make a cacophonous fuss. Veneer, who was still annoyed with his earlier encounter, suggested that they gag the child until he was ready to calm down. He then promptly ignored the myriad of glares this comment received.
"No, in cases like this it's best to let him calm down by himself."
"But it might be getting away!"
"No, there are still sentries at all four gates. They're all trusted men that wouldn't leave their post unless ordered to." This statement by Viscen was true, as well. "Now my boy," he began kindly to Jim, who'd gone from all out hysterics to whimpering, "do you think you could tell us where the Wolfos went."
Jim blubbered a little, rubbing his tear-streaked face with the back of his hand. "T-t-two!"
"What? Take your time."
"Oh for the Goddess's mercy, just tell us where they went, boy!" Veneer snapped.
Jim sniffled. "S-sorry s-sirs…b-but there were t-two!"
"What is he babbling about?" Veneer scowled.
"Two what?" Viscen asked calmly.
"Two Wolfos! I was j-just walkin' an' they jumped on m-me!"
Veneer's eyes widened and he half-gasped. "Where did they go, boy?! Tell me!"
A small hand, still shaking, pointed in the general direction of the Stock Pot Inn. "Wen' tha way. A blackish-white 'un an' a blue-grayish one. Mean ol' monsters!" Jim was shaken, but not really hurt. After a moment, Jim looked up at Viscen. "Don' I get a reward f' being so brave?"
Viscen chuckled a little, glad the boy wasn't really injured. "I think something like that would be in order…"
Meanwhile, Veneer had vanished, nearly the instant the boy had pointed him, quiet as a great cat on the hunt.
*****
My gosh, this must be the night that never ends. We've been on the same evening for about 3 chapters now! I didn't plan it that way, honestly! And next chapter, we'll be seeing more of Kat, Kafei, and everyone else, hopefully…Like I said, I'm kind of just going with the flow here, hopefully I'm doing alright. See you next time, and don't forget to review!