Keith rolled his eyes and went back to his reading. Lotor hopped over the stone fence in front of the house and stood in Keith's path.
"Hello, Keith," Lotor said and stepped behind him.
"Hello, Lotor," Keith said as he continued to walk by the man, though was stopped when Lotor grabbed his book out of his hands. "Lotor, can I have my book back?" Keith asked with a soft glare to the man.
"How can you read this? There are no pictures!" Lotor said as he flipped through the pages of the book.
"Well, some people use their imagination," Keith answered as he folded his arms over his chest.
"Keith, it's about time you got your head out of those books and paid attention to more important things," Lotor said as he tossed the book away. The book landing in a mud puddle a few feet away. Keith went to grab the book but was stopped by Lotor in his path. "Like me!" Keith turned at the sound of sighing and saw Shay, Nyma, and Florona standing a few feet away. Their gazes locked on Lotor with dreamy eyes.
"The whole town's talking about it," Lotor commented as Keith plucked the book from the mud and stood up. "It's not right for men like us to read."
"Lotor, you are positively primeval," Keith said with a roll of his eyes. He pulled a white cloth out from his pant pocket and started to wipe away the mud off the book.
"Why thank you Keith," Lotor said brushing the comment away and wrapping an arm around Keith's waist. " Hey, whaddya say you and me take a walk over to the tavern and have a look at my hunting trophies?" Lotor said as he started to pull the other boy in the direction of the tavern, pulling his book out of his grip once more.
"Maybe some other time," Keith said as he went to reach for his book.
"What's wrong with him?" Florona asked as the pair walked by.
"He's crazy!" Nyma commented.
"He's gorgeous!" Shay added as she let out a sigh.
"Please, Lotor. I can't. I have to get home and help my uncle," Keith said as he pulled his book out of Lotor's grasp and backed out of his hold.
"Ha ha ha, that crazy old loon, he needs all the help he can get!" Varkon commented as he walked up to Lotor's side. The pair laughing at his comment.
"Don't you talk about my uncle that way!" Keith snapped with a heated glare to the pair.
"Yeah, don't talk about his uncle that way!" Lotor snapped and conked Varkon on the top of his head.
"My uncle's not crazy! He's a genius!" Keith said as he placed his book into his basket and glared at the two. An explosion from the cottage directed the trio's attention behind them. Keith quickly ran back over the bride. Lotor and Varkon's laughter fading behind him.
Smoke was coming out of the basement of the cottage. Keith quickly opened the wooden doors of the basement and winced at the smoke. Keith coughed at the amount of smoke and headed down the stairs.
"Uncle Coran?" Keith called out as the smoke slowly started to clear.
"How on earth did that happen? Quiznak!" Coran yelled out as he stood himself back up as the some finally cleared up.
Coran was a man in his early thirties with lightly tanned skin, ginger hair that was tied into a ponytail, purple eyes, and a mustache. He was dressed in a pair of black pants, a white shirt, a blue jacket, and brown boots. Overtop he wore his work apron.
"Are you alright, Uncle?" Keith asked as Coran glared at the contraption before them.
"I'm about ready to give up on this hunk of junk!" his uncle snapped and kicked the contraption.
"You always say that," Keith said with a smile on his face. He placed his basket down on the table a few feet away.
"I mean it, this time. I'll never get this quiznaking contraption to work," Coran snapped as he glared at the contraption.
"Yes, you will. And you'll win first prize at the fair tomorrow," Keith replied as Coran crossed his shoulder. "And become a world-famous inventor!" Keith added with a smile.
"You really believe that?" Coran asked to which Keith nodded.
"I always have."
"Well, what are we waiting for. I'll have this thing fixed in no time," Coran said as he pulled out a wrench and slid back under the machine. "Hand me that dog-legged clencher there," Keith pulled out the clencher and pulled his book out of his basket. "So, did you have a good time in town today?"
"I got a new book," Keith said with a small smile as he walked over with the clencher in hand. "Uncle, do you think I'm odd?" Keith asked as he stared a the book in his hand.
"My nephew? Odd?" Coran asked as he pulled himself out from under the machine, a pair of weird goggles over his eyes. "Where would you get an idea like that?" Coran pulled the clencher from Keith's hand and slid back under.
"Oh, I don't know," Keith said with a sigh as he sat on the wooden stool behind him and held the book close to his chest. "It's just I'm not sure I fit in here. There's no one I can really talk to besides Acxa."
"What about that Lotor? He's a handsome fellow!" Coran asked as he reached beside him for another tool.
"He's handsome all right, and rude and conceited and... he's just not for me!" Keith said with a sigh.
"Well, don't you worry, cause this invention's going to be the start of a new life for us," Coran said as he pulled himself out from under the machine, pulled his goggles off and cleaned his hands off with a cloth. "I think that's done it. Now, let's give it a try," Coran pulled a lever beside him and the machine started to come to life.
A whistle went off and the pair covered their ears as it was very loud. Before they knew it, the machine started to chop the wooden log in front of it. The log then bounced off the spring beneath it and it flew over Keith and Coran and landed on top of the other wood logs.
"It works!" Keith exclaimed with a smile.
"It does?" Coran asked in surprise. "It does!" Coran exclaimed as logs one after another began to pile up on the others.
"You did it! You really did it!" Keith said as the machine continued to chop the wood up.
"Hitch up Red, my boy. I'm off to the fair!" Coran exclaimed. Keith headed out of the basement and over to the horse stable where Red was.
It hadn't taken long to saddle Red up and attach her to the trailer. With time and patience, both Keith and Coran had managed to pull the machine onto the trailer and cover it with a tarp and tied it down.
"Goodbye, Uncle! Good luck!" Keith called as Coran and Red set out.
"Goodbye, Keith, and take care while I'm gone!"
"We should be there by now," Coran said as he studied the map in front of him. Red glanced around nervously. They were lost, she was sure of it. "Maybe we missed a turn. I guess I should have taken a...wait a minute," they approached a sign with arrows attached to it. The white ink on the signs had faded away through the years and was almost invisible now. Red went to go down one path but Coran pulled her to face a different direction.
"Let's go this way!" Coran said as he turned Red to face a different direction. Compared to the calm and nice path, this one was dark, foggy, and had plants overgrowing the path. Red shook her head and went to go down the nicer path but Coran pulled her to the other path. "Come on, Red! It's a shortcut. We'll be there in no time!"
Red went down the path Coran wanted but kept her guard up. As they continued to go down the path, the fog seemed to grow thicker and the sky seemed to turn to night faster than usual. At the sound of a bush moving, Red refused to go any further and started to back up.
"This can't be right," Coran said as he studied the map, a wolf let out a howl which seemed to go unnoticed by Coran. "Where have you taken us, Red?" Coran asked as Red continued to back up. "We'd better turn around Red," Coran said as he started to hear to wolves howling. Red continued to back up but the back of the trailer hit a tree and a swarm of bats flew out of a hole in the trunk. Red panicked and took off. She failed to notice the cliff ahead, but Coran did and he pulled on the reins to stop her.
"Look out!" Coran called out as Red slowly came to an abrupt stop. "Back up! Back up! Back up! Good girl, good girl. That's good, that's-back up!" Coran yelled as Red slowly started to back up. "Steady. Steady! Hey now. Steady. Red!"
Red, however, had seen the glowing yellow eyes of the wolves. She panicked and reared up, Coran falling off. Red then took off and the wolves followed after her. Red continued to run, back to where she knew home would be.
"Red? Oh no!" Coran said as he saw Red was nowhere to be found. Upon hearing growling, Coran glanced up to a hill and saw silver grey wolves in the fog. Yellow glowing eyes watched him. Coran gulped and took off running, placing his hat back on his head.. "Quiznak!" he called out as the wolves began to chase after him.
Coran ran through thick bushes and tree branches, the wolves chasing after him. He stumbled down a hill and landed on his face. He glanced up and saw in front of him was a tall gate. Growling made him turn and the wolves were at the top of the small hill he had fallen off of. Coran jumped to his feet and ran to the gate. He tried to force it open but found that it was locked.
"Help! Is someone there?" Coran called out desperately. Without warning, the gate opened and Coran fell to the ground. The wolves still running for him. Coran quickly slammed his foot against the gate and slammed it shut. The wolves barking and growling at him as they were locked away from their prey.
Coran stood up, hat long forgotten, and turned around. His eyes widened when he saw a castle before him. As it began to rain, Coran quickly ran across the large stone bridge and towards the front door.
Reaching the front door, Coran knocked and the door slid open. Coran walked in and closed the door behind him, shivering from the cold wind and rain.
"Hello? Hello?" Coran called out but there was no answer, only the echo of his voice.
"Old fellow must have lost his way in the woods," a voice commented from the darkness.
"Keep quiet! Maybe he'll go away," another voice called out as if answering the other.
"Is someone there?" Coran asked as he searched for who was talking. He failed to notice the purple and white clock on the table beside a blue candelabra with white candles.
"Not a word, Lance. Not one word!" the clock whispered to the other beside him who gave him a small smile.
"I don't mean to intrude, but I've lost my horse and I need a place to stay for the night," Coran called out. Lance turned to the clock with a pout.
"Oh Kolivan, have a heart," Lance said as he placed one arm on the clocks shoulder. Kolivan shook his head and covered Lance's mouth with his hand.
"Shush shush shhhhh!" Lance rolled his eyes and started to heat up Kolivan's metal arm. "Ow ow Ow OW OW OUCH!" with Kolivan distracted, Lance proceeded to speak to Clean.
"Of course, sir, you are welcome here," Coran glanced around and picked Lance up, hoping the light would show who was talking.
"Who said that?" Lance smiled and tapped the man's shoulder.
"Over here!" Coran turned but saw no one there. Lance tapped Coran's head and the inventor glanced up to the candlestick.
"Hello," Lance said with a smile. Coran jumped back and dropped Lance in the process, the flames on the candles going out.
"Incredible!" Coran commented as Lance picked himself up and lit the candles back up. Kolivan jumped down and glared at Lance.
"Well, now you've done it, Lance. Splendid, just peachy-aaarrrgghh!" Kolivan cried out as Coran picked him up and studied him.
"How is this accomplished?" Coran asked in curiosity.
"Put me down! At once!" Kolivan snapped but once Coran started to tickle his feet, he began to laugh. Lance laughed as Coran turned the dial at the back of Kolivan's head. The inventor not realizing it was causing Kolvian some pain. Coran sneezed and caused some dust to appear on the front of Kolivan's face. The clock sighed and used his arms to wipe it away.
"Oh, you are soaked to the bone, sir. Come, warm yourself by the fire," Lance said as he led Coran to a room where the fireplace was lit.
"Thank you," Coran said as he placed Kolivan down and followed after the candlestick.
"No, no, no, do you know what the master would do if he finds you here?" Kolivan asked as he pulled on Coran's purple cloak to stop him. "I demand that you stop...right...there!" Coran sat down in the large purple chair and Kolivan watched with wide eyes. "Oh no, not the master's chair!" From behind, barking was heard. A black and grey footrest ran by.
"I'm not seeing this, I'm not seeing this!" Kolivan added as he covered his face with his hands. The footrest ran up to Coran and jumped up on the arm of the chair.
"Well, hello there, boy," Coran commented as he pat the footrests head.
"Actually, Black is a girl sir," Lance said as Black slid herself under Coran's feet, perching his feet up.
"What service!" Coran commented as a coat rack pulled his wet cloak off and wrapped him in a light blue blanket.
"All right, this has gone far enough. I'm in charge here, and-" before he could finish, Kolivan was run over by a cart with a white teapot with range detail on top.
"How would you like a nice spot of tea, sir? It'll warm you up in no time," the teapot asked as it poured tea into a white cup with ginger detail on it, beside it was another cup with the same colours.
"Hunk's tea is the best, it will help you get warm for sure," Lance said with a smile.
"No! No tea, no tea!" Kolivan snapped as he stood himself back up.
"Ha ha! His mustache tickles," the teacup said with a laugh. The other teacup sighed and rolled their eyes.
"You had to give it away didn't you Matt?"
"Sorry Pidge, couldn't help it."
"Oh! Hello!" Coran said as he sent the teacups a smile.
Suddenly, the doors slammed open a strong gust of wind blew in. Lance's candle flames flickered but did not go out. The fire in the fireplace, however, did go out. Hunk began to shake and Matt and Pidge took refuge behind him.
"Uh oh!" Matt commented as he knew who had caused the doors to slam open.
Coran began to shake as he heard growling. Growling that was louder and fiercer than the wolves he had been running from. A large creature began to crawl in on all fours. He had black fur with white fur around his eyes and in his ears. He was dressed in a pair of black pants that were ripped below the knees and a black cape on. He had huge paws with just as huge claws. The creature also had grey eyes that glanced around the den.
"There's a stranger here," the creature growled out and turned to Lance with a glare. He had seen Lance lead the strange into the den earlier.
"Master, allow me to explain. The gentleman was lost in the woods and he was cold and wet-" before Lance could finish, the creature gave out a loud growl which made Lance's flames go out.
"Master, I'd like to take this moment to say...I was against this from the start. I tried to stop them, but would they listen to me? No, no, no!" Kolivan's sentence was drowned out by the creature growling once more, causing the clock to flinch back.
Coran shivered as he heard the loud growls. He turned to the left but saw nothing there. When he turned to the right, he was met with the creature's face and sharp white teeth. Coran jumped back as he studied the creature. It was a beast!
"Who are you! What are you doing here?" the beast asked as he forced the shaking inventor out of the chair.
"I was lost in the woods and-"
"You are not welcome here!" the beast roared out backing the man up.
"I'm sorry," Coran commented with his arms raised in surrender. Though his eyes never left the beast before him.
"What are you staring at?" the beast asked noticing the man's gaze never left him. He began to raise himself onto his legs, the beast now towering over the man.
"Noth-noth-nothing!" Coran exclaimed as he avoided the beasts' grey-eyed glare.
"So, you've come to stare at the beast, have you?" the beast asked in anger. Coran went to run out of the room but the beast followed and blocked his path to the doorway.
"Please, I meant no harm! I just needed a place to stay," Coran exclaimed as the beast began to advance towards him again.
"I'll give you a place to stay!" the beast growled out as he picked Coran up by his jacket collar and carried him out of the room. The door slamming shut behind them as they exited the room. This left Lance, Kolivan, Hunk, Pidge, and Matt in utter darkness.
"This is my fault," Lance said with a guilty frown. He lit his candles once more which lit the room up.
"No one blames you Lance," Hunk said giving his friend a smile.
"I just hope the master isn't too cruel with him," Lance said with a guilty sigh.