Quiverwing Duck: Part 2

Part Two

Quiverwing Duck tore down the street, but ducked into an alley as he saw two suspicious figures standing in front of a jewellery store. He slowly sidled along in the shadow of the awnings. They hadn't seen him. He still had the element of surprise.

"What'd'ya mean you've changed yah mind?" The lanky one eyed the other.
"D-Darkwing Duck's out here somewhere. He'll ..."
"There's no such thing, Grams. They're just hokey stories. Even the press don't buy him anymore." Lanky poked at Grams with his crowbar then waved a gun with his other hand. "Now, we set this up, and if the legendary Darkwing Duck does show up, I got this."

"That ain't gonna stop him, Earl. Yeh heard the stories too." Grams gulped. "He dares people to shoot at him. And haven't you heard, if he really doesn't like you, he can make yeh disappear."
"Get a grip, Grams. This guy ... he don't exist."
"Like I said, Earl. I'm outta here." From his shadowy position Quiver watched Grams run past him, white faced.

Quiver turned back to the lanky Earl. 'They want "Darkwing"? I'll give them "Darkwing".' He pulled out his bow and let fly a gas arrow. "Looking for a crime-fighter in a cape and mask?" He queried. "I'm only too happy to oblige."

Earl jumped, screaming and collapsed onto the ground. So much for the tough guy routine, Quiver noted.

"I-I'm sorry." Earl shook as he pulled desperately at his burglar clothes. He dumped his burglary equipment on the ground, including the gun and the crowbar. "I won't ever do this again!" He sobbed.

"See that you don't. Or you know I'll be there to stop you."

"Thank you!" Earl staggered to a stand, tore his eyes off Quiverwing Duck and ran as fast as he could, leaving his tools and his life of crime hopefully far behind him.

"Now, that was a bit disappointing." Quiver muttered to himself as he looked down at the pile of criminal tools. "I thought I was going to collar someone at least." He watched the headlamps of a car come bearing down on him. He stepped aside as someone got out.

"Oh, Darkwing Duck? I figured it'd be you. Nice outfit. Really picks out the colour of your eyes." The police officer smiled at him, and then pulled out a large plastic bag, picking up the equipment. "Don't want these even lying around in a trash can; I'll get them back to headquarters."
Well, at least he didn't terrify the cop, although the opposite wasn't quite true. "Sure."
"Goodnight, Darkwing Duck."

"Uh, goodnight to you too, officer." Quiver stepped away, and began running again for Acorn Avenue. He hoped Gosalyn was all right.

A couple streets later Quiver turned onto Acorn Avenue and crashed headlong into Reginald Bushroot running in the opposite direction.

Bushroot looked up from the ground. He recognised Quiver and then his eyes refocused into the distance.

"Tarnia, Daddy's ..." He got himself back to a stand, and raised a leafy hand to his mouth to increase the volume of his pitch ... "Daddy's leaving now, Tarnia! Daddy's going home." With some difficulty, the plant-duck managed to get himself facing the opposite direction.

Quiver stood up and turned to look. He saw a minute figure at the other end of the block, immobilised by Bushroot's words. Bushroot put a firm step down. One more step did the trick.

Bushroot's small child came racing back. "Daddy, daddy, please don'd leaf me, I'm here, I'm here. Daddy!"

Bushroot turned to the child who was so tiny she could barely be anything more than a year old. Quiver wasn't too sure on what made up this child. She was somewhat green but yet duck-like too. And how the heck did she move so fast for being so small?

"Oh, Tarnia. Why don't you want to be good like your older siblings?"
"I don'd wanna ead thad sduff. Id's yucky, daddy."
"You don't like Aunty Fog's new mixture, is that all that this is about? Why didn't you tell me, baby?" He scooped her up. "It's probably just a bit spicy for you. After all, you're a lot younger than the others."

Bushroot turned to Quiver who had been standing watching the exchange in fascination. "Hi, Darkwing. This is Tarnia. You haven't met Darkwing Duck before, Tarnia?" Bushroot stepped closer to Quiver and the light from the lamppost overhead lit up the plantling's green tinged face. She had purple petals for hair and was so tiny that she seemed engulfed in Bushroot's arms.

"Hi, kiddo." Quiver's insides were feeling very warm as he gazed at the most precious expression on the child's face.

"You know, Darkwing Duck always takes care of us, Tarnia. He's always there to help."
"Hi, Darkwing Duck." The child said with a little more courage. "Please teh meed you."
Bushroot beamed, hugging his daughter with proud affection. "We'd better go now; I've got to find Tarnia a new formula. See you later, Darkwing."

"Bye, Tarnia." Quiver waved warmly at Tarnia.
"Bye, Darkwing Duck!"

To be continued ...