Wilford hasn't really spent much time with the King of the Squirrels before this quest of theirs. In the building, King is considered one of the younger or…lesser (Wilford doesn't like that term) egos. He's 'less of a contributor' by Dark's definition and the head of the building often tells Wilford not to get too attached to them. Not that Will usually does what Dark says but it's the squirrels. Strange little creatures that tend to stare directly into Will's soul when he ventures too near. Unnerving.
Though initially he would wait until King contacted him before arriving to use his void to safely move the tree home, Will has gradually gravitated towards hanging with King more and more. Bim's more than able to hold the fort without him and Will doesn't get out all that much. It's nice to see the world outside every once in a while, remember that it's there.
And it's been somewhat fascinating to see and feel the gradual shift of power within the squirrel man. With every tree they've recovered and returned to the building, King seems to walk a little taller, hold himself a little more confident, his clumsiness is less frequent and there's a definite change, a shift in the air around him.
The two of them are sat in one of the billion coffee places that apparently litter the country these days. Wilford's drink is obviously more sugar than coffee, while King's black coffee stands untouched. It could have something to do with the stranger who came up and called him Kyle but Will guessed that maybe it would be something King wouldn't want to talk about so he didn't question it.
They're sat just talking casually, watching the world pass by around them when Wilford senses something, and within seconds, his gun is in his hands, rising to his feet and turning, pointing his weapon at the intruder. The entire coffee shop around them devolves into chaos, people running out the door, screaming, but the soul the gun points at doesn't budge an inch. Natemare.
King leaps to his feet making to rush the spirit, stopped only by Wilford who's extended his free arm to hold him back. It wouldn't do for the dryad to attack the guy who induces nightmares.
"I thought you were in a cage." The last they'd heard he was trapped, still in the makeshift prison back at the building and his being here is not a good thing. Though Natemare looks somewhat grumpier than what one might expect of a recently free man.
"I need your help."
Wilford clicks back the hammer on his gun and straightens his aim at Mare's chest. "Gladly." He goes to pull the trigger.
"You can shoot me, or you can help me save Bing."
Eyes going wide, King shouts for Wilford to stop, desperately trying to reach across and knock his gun arm, but the one holding him back is too strong. The bullet rips through the air, passing straight through Natemare who looks more than a little pissed. King's heart stops, restarting again only when he remembers that Natemare's a ghost. Already dead.
"Wilford." King says as calmly as he can manage. He tries to reach around Will's outstretched arm and guide the gun arm down but he can't reach. "Maybe we should put down the gun and listen."
It takes a few moments of angered glaring but Will lowers the barrel, the weapon disappearing back into his void, but the arm holding King back stays raised. King isn't trying to push past him any more but Will knows that even with his slowly growing strength, he won't stand much of a chance should Natemare turn on them.
Once he's sure that Wilford isn't going to attack, King looks over to Natemare. "What do you mean, 'save Bing'?"