An Act to Follow - Part 4: Dance lessons aren't a forte, especially if you're a klutz
Timbre began to shake without control. His ears went back as he stared helplessly upwards at the looming dark figure.
"So this is it, I'm going to die," he whimpered to himself humorlessly, as the figure began to stoop over.
Any second now he would be grabbed by the scruff, there would be the flash of a sword, and it would be all over. He wouldn't even have the chance to cry out. Squeezing his eyes shut, Timbre prepared for the end.
The end never came. Opening one eye, he wondered what the person was waiting for. Maybe he was lucky and they thought he was a stray dog? It had happened before…
"You are not going to die," the figure said to him in a quiet tenor voice.
"Oh no, this is definitely the end," Timbre argued. "There's most likely guards behind me, you're in front of me, and I'm currently cowering on the ground. Let's face it here, I'm a gon…er?" The wolf's frantic yelp trailed off idly as something rather odd stuck Timbre.
As a wolf, he couldn't speak any human language. But this shadow hadn't only not yet killed him, he'd also understood his cowardly babbling. In fact, the wolf thought in retrospect, that voice sounds awfully familiar…
And that smell…just like his brother. Cinnamon and fire.
"Kas?" he asked hopefully.
The man said nothing.
Timbre could have barked aloud with relief. Definitely Kasumi. Ty's pacific older brother had a gift for many languages, and could speak to and understand many living things. He also had a habit of showing up exactly when he was really needed. Some older brothers are like that. Kasumi had an overabundance of the color gray - including but not limited to - his hair, his eyes, and his cloak. It gave one the mysterious impression that he wasn't wholly there all the time.
Noises, and loud metallic clanking from behind them caused both of them to look down the street.
"The guards are coming," Kas said simply.
Peering behind him, Timbre noted they weren't quite visible yet. Good. He shut his eyes, and an instant later, a human boy with black hair picked himself up off the ground, shaking the wrinkles out of his black shirt and canvas pants. The aromas of dust and alarm swirling about him dulled as his lupine senses faded.
Two members of the Clock Town Guard arrived from the south a moment later, with a good deal of metallic clattering. One of them was in the standard guard getup, while the other's helmet was trimmed in a golden color. Timbre's heart sank. Not the Captain…
"Ho there! You two!"
Timbre tried to put on an innocent face as Kasumi quirked an eyebrow. "Aye?"
"Heard or seen anything suspicious?" The first guard grated.
"A crash, and some dog barking," Timbre offered with a shrug.
The Captain trained a suspicious gaze first on the ten-year-old, then on the gray-haired man standing beside him. "What's a young lad like you doing in a deserted street? Where's your parents?"
Timbre flinched. "Er.."
A third guard arrived and saluted to the second guard before Timbre could stammer any further excuses. "Captain Viscen!"
The Captain momentarily seemed to forget the two civilians existed. "Anything to report?"
Clock Town was a rather typical city when it came to crime. Sure, there was the random petty thievery, the occasional racial squabbles, burglaries, and drink-driven fistfights, but to Timbre's knowledge, this was nothing abnormal for any well-established community. But since an event such as the Midsummer Festival drew in as many criminals as it did tourists, many of the Guard were likely on high alert, treating any kind of questionable action worth a great deal of scrutiny.
The guard saluted again. "We've found tracks, sir."
Timbre barely managed to swallow his grunt of surprise.
"Tracks, you say…" Viscen mused, as if interested.
"In the honey, sir."
"Honey?"
"There's cracked jars of honey rolling everywhere, sir. Some of it's leaked onto the street. What a mess!"
Timbre suddenly wished he'd watched where he was running. He casually clasped his hands behind his back. Sure enough, they felt rather sticky.
"Honey?! Tracks?! If that Skull Kid and his cronies are up to their old tricks again-"
"Sir, pardon me, but those tracks weren't from shoes."
"Oh?" The Captain stroked his chin.
"Paw prints, sir."
"What!" Viscen scoffed.
"Aye sir. Big ones, looks like a dog's."
Swallowing his stomach down, Timbre chanced a hasty glance back at his gloved hands. He tried to be inconspicuous as he hastily wiped them on his pants. The Captain was too busy being interested in other things to notice.
"Surely you don't think-"
"Could be Wolfos prints, sir. But how would something like that get into town? Someone would have seen it!"
The Captain suddenly whirled on Kasumi and Timbre. "You two!"
Kas looked impassively at the man. "Yes sir?"
"You see anything run by here?"
Kasumi was a horrible liar, so he told the truth. "No sir. No Wolfos, if that is what you mean."
Viscen furrowed his brow. "How about you, boy?"
Timbre flinched again. "No, sir."
The Captain was about to ask them if they were sure when his gaze leveled with Kas's passive gray eyes. Breathing out heavily, he finally just said, "Alright. Move along."
Kasumi and Timbre needed no second bidding.
-;O;-
Twenty minutes later, South Clock Town was slowly emptying. Now that the show was over, most people were meandering off, either to their homes, or to their temporary lodgings if they weren't locals. Kas and Timbre had no sooner showed their faces before being quickly spotted by Kat and Sond, who were closely followed by the rest of their friends.
"Where have you been, Tim? We were worried!"
Ty just grinned at his brother. "Hi Kas. Thanks for finding him."
The young man blinked. "Hello Ty." He stood awkwardly for a moment, before turning and walking away. "I'll see you all again." Then he was gone.
"Just like fog on the water." Kafei handed Timbre back his overcoat, frowning slightly. "Here you go, and I hope you're happy now."
Link yawned, stretching. "Yeah, have you heard about the vandalism yet? Jim says he heard something went down over in the West District. Heard some of the guards talking about it." Link opened one blue eye in mid-stretch, casting an amused gaze upon the culprit.
"Huh…" Timbre scratched at the back of his head, then quickly wished he hadn't. His hands were still sticky. "Er…fancy that."
Seven pairs of eyes turned severely on the boy. Nothing was immediately said, but eventually the awkward silence needed to be broken. "Uh…That wasn't you by any chance?" Kat offered delicately, keeping her voice down.
Timbre grinned nervously. "Eh…heheh…" Their gazes were starting to make him awkwardly fidget. "What?"
Kafei rolled his eyes skyward. "I told you. Snooping gets you in trouble. Just consider yourself lucky they didn't find you out. Um…they didn't, right?"
"Yeah," Link added. "Too many slipups, and snap!" Timbre flinched tensely as the blond boy snapped his fingers. "The Guards could have a rather interesting little throw-rug in their future."
"It's hardly funny," Chiron warned, "But Link's got a point."
Ignoring Timbre's scowl, Link yawned again. "Well, one day of the Festival over, two more to go. And still no retribution. Must be losing your touch, eh Ty?"
"Don't hold your breath, Fairy Boy," Ty said, tail bristling.
"Boy, I sure am tired!" Kat said pointedly, as if she didn't feel like witnessing a late-night brawl. Kafei and Sond took the hint, and started wandering towards East Clock Town, knowing that their friends would automatically follow.
Kafei's parents had been kind enough to offer their son's friends lodgings for the Festival. As kind as this gesture was, Kafei wasn't too sure they had realized how many friends he had. Although the arrangement caused for somewhat overcrowded quarters, it would have been impolite to decline. Eight kids in one bedroom was possible, if slightly cramped.
The group headed briskly though Clock Town's Eastern District, towards the Mayor's residence to the north. As they did they passed the Stock Pot Inn, the largest lodging place in Clock Town. The whole area was still illuminated by the street lamps that were scattered evenly down the avenue, so that late wanderers wouldn't trip over themselves in the dark.
Timbre was idly gazing at the sky, tailing behind the others. He wasn't tired at all. He rarely was this time of night, and his narrow escape had left him wide awake and feeling a little disappointed that his friends were ready to turn in for the night. His meandering slowed to a halt as he caught a sudden bright flicker from somewhere above him. Wondering if it was Tatl or Tael, he looked upwards past the light of a nearby street lamp. His searching eyes abruptly caught a lone figure on the veranda of the Stock Pot Inn. Whoever it was also had their head turned skywards. Squinting, he was just able to make out enough features, thanks to the nearby illumination. It was that girl from the magic act. She stood, elbows resting on the ledge, chin raised slightly. Timbre blinked twice, confused.
What's she doing up there all alone this time of night? He wondered.
At this, she seemed to suddenly flinch, and her gaze quickly locked onto his own, mirroring his own confused expression.
Her eyes flickered momentarily, two blue stars in the lamp's light.
For a moment, Timbre was sure he'd gotten another chill up his spine. The girl's brow slowly unfurrowed, and the feeling went away. Boy and girl stared at each other impassively.
Then, at the exact same time, both of them looked away, as if some secret spell had been broken. Timbre chewed his lip, noticing his friends had left him far behind. He was forced to run to catch up with them, all thoughts of the small girl on the roof jogged out of his mind at the same time.
-;O;-
"Goooood morning!" yelled a voice, a Cucco crowing at the same time. Sond threw open the curtains, filling the bedroom with golden morning light.
"Ughhh…" Link groaned, sitting up groggily. His hat wasn't on and his hair was messy. He opened one bleary eye, seeing Sond sitting in front of him with a big grin on her face. "Whassup?"
Nick groaned, sitting up. The redhead stretched, then flinched as the light hit his face.. "Th' ligh'…Blindin' me. Warn us b'fore ya do that, ok?"
"What time is it?" Kat yawned, squinting down from the upper bunk bed that she and Sond were sharing. Kafei had his own bed below, and the rest of the boys were laid out where they could on the floor.
"Six in the morning!" Sond said cheerfully.
Ty rubbed his eyes. "Why so early? It isn't like we have to save the world today or anything…"
"Don't hold your breath," Kafei muttered. He was already awake, being a habitual early riser. Pulling his other boot on, he added, "There's supposed to be dancing today."
"Like performances?" Kat sat up, rubbing a hand through her hair, which resembled a poofy bush at the moment.
"Well, yeah, but there's also live music and stuff, so everyone can dance."
"Ooh!" Kat and Sond looked at each other with wide eyes.
Chiron poked his head through the doorway, interested.
"Y'hear that, Tim?" Sond prodded the prone form who had yet to move. It growled at her.
"For goodness sakes Tim!" Kafei cried in alarm, then lowered his voice. "You have to look…er, bipedal while you're here. What if my Mom came in and saw you like that?"
The lump shuffled moodily underneath its bedroll.
"Besides, it's time to get up," Sond told him.
"Goway." A black-gloved hand shot out from under the bedroll, snatched a nearby blanket, and then retreated as the lump rolled over.
Kat sniffed. "Grump. We're not letting you sleep all day. Otherwise you'll be up all night."
"That's the point." Timbre's voice came, muffled.
Sond scowled. "Look, if you don't get up now, Kat and I are going to find a big bucket of water and dump it on your head. See if that doesn't wake you up."
Timbre flung the blanket aside and sat up, glaring at them from behind tousled black hair. "Fine. Sheesh. I'm up." Chiron and Kafei were snickering. "What's so funny?" he snapped at them.
"Your hair." Chiron pointed out. "It's sticking out all over the place."
Timbre gave his head a shake, before retrieving his green headband and tying his unruly bangs back. "I can't help it, that's just the way it is."
"Oh yeah," Kafei said, as if suddenly remembering something. "There's supposed to be fireworks too. Tonight, after dark."
"That sounds neat," Timbre said. "So what'll do we do until then?"
-;O;-
"Dancing?!" Timbre's voice was incredulous. "But it's barely eight in the morning!" The group meandered into South Clock Town, where onstage some musicians were busy warming up their instruments. A few Zora dancers were stretching nearby, their blue fishlike fins gracefully extending and retracting.
"Relax. The performance goes until noon, then free dance starts afterward. You'll be plenty awake." Kat stared ahead. "Hey, our seats from last night are still open!"
"But I don't wan-" Timbre sighed as he was ignored, and followed.
Sitting around the crates, Sond pulled out her deck of cards. "Card game, anyone?"
"Sure!" Ty sat down. After a moments thought, he added. "No poker, though."
"And especially not strip poker." Link added.
"Yeah Fairy Boy. Don't want to lose your tunic again."
"Shaddup."
"We're playing Four Giants." Sond said pointedly as she shuffled the cards in a businesslike manner.
"Ah. 'Kay, I'm in." Nick sat down, cross-legged.
Everybody eventually joined in the card game. In the background, South Clock Town slowly filled up as the dance performers flaunted their talents in the square. The accompanying music was lively. There were three musicians, a Hylian flutist, a Zoran lutist, and a portly Goron with a drum.
Everyone groaned as Ty won the hand with a Gerudo Flush.
"This is like the tenth time in a row you've won! I could've sworn this deck has only four aces…You'd better not be cheating, Monkey Boy." Link narrowed his eyes. The milkshake and revenge swearing had not been forgotten.
"I don't need to cheat!" Ty said, puffing up his chest. "I'm just skilled. What's your excuse?"
Kat shook her head as the two glared daggers at each other. "Everything's a competition…"
Kafei won the next hand. Idly glancing up at the sky, he suddenly frowned. "Uh-oh…"
"What?" Chiron looked up too. "Oh, great."
The sky was quickly turning overcast.
"It had better not rain," Sond said darkly.
Kat looked uneasy. "Anyone else getting a weird feeling right now? I mean, remember…with the…the Carnival of Time?"
There was a very heavy silence from the rest of the group. They didn't discuss the previous months' events very often, mostly because it still dredged up some too-fresh and ultimately awkward memories. Sometimes it was hard to believe it had happened at all.
Timbre gnawed at a piece of jerky and broke the silence. "Well, the first day it was hot and sunny, the second day it rained, and the third-"
Three months ago a curse on the moon had set it on a crash course towards Clock Town, and the eight of them had been drawn into what could only be described as a counter-temporal loop, where they were forced to endlessly repeat the same trio of days leading up to the disaster until the curse was finally broken. In the end they'd persevered and stopped the moon, though the effort involved had utterly exhausted them. Link especially always did his best to dismiss any discussion on the Carnival of Time. It was as if he didn't really want to remember it at all if he could help it.
"Yeah, yeah, we all remember," the Hylian boy finished shortly. He snorted, then smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. The curse on the moon's gone. It isn't going anywhere."
"Hope you're right…" Kat remarked, looking back down at the game of cards.
-;O;-
Lunchtime came and went, and the group eventually abandoned their card game for food before Timbre could remind them. It luckily hadn't yet rained, but it remained threateningly overcast. This was fortunate in that it wasn't quite so warm out as it had been the previous day. But, as Nick reflected, it could have some negative outcomes as well.
"Nay 'ireboomin' if'n it be stormin', y'know," he said over his second bowl of chili.
"That's true. I really hope that isn't the case," Kafei said. "Mom books those fireworks in advance, it would make her really angry."
Everyone shuddered. Madame Aroma was not a pleasant person when her anger was riled. It was wise to keep clear of the overbearing Mayor's wife during such times.
Off in the distance, the Clock Tower tolled once. One o'clock.
"You know what that means!" Sond crowed excitedly, jumping up and hurrying towards the Clock Tower. "Whee!"
Both Link and Ty watched her go, and then they stared intently at each other. Wordlessly they followed after her.
At this, Nick whistled grimly through his teeth before following at a more sedate pace. Chiron nudged him.
"Ten rupees says Link'll have a shiner by quarter-hour."
"…yer on."
Another reason that the Hylian and Volcanian did not get along stemmed from the fact they both seemed quite taken with Sond. Ty was rough and tumble, but charming when he wanted to be, and Sond was the subject of many a shrewd compliment. On the other hand, Link and Sond had grown up together; they'd known each other since before they could remember. The Hylian seemed to show a great dislike when Ty got between him and his childhood friend. They may have been young, but the rest of the friends knew jealousy when they saw it.
Kat sighed, looking at Kafei. "This just might get interesting. You coming?"
Kafei nodded. Timbre stood impassively to the side.
Kat glanced at him. "You should come too."
"But I really don't want to-" Timbre sighed. "Fine. But just to watch, you hear?"
By the time they had reached South Clock Town, the crowds had already thickened. They weren't as bad as they had been yesterday, but it was still troublesome. It appeared many had the same idea that Timbre had, and were simply there to watch. Without another word, the surly boy hopskipped over to their crates, still there from the previous night. Clambering inelegantly up onto one of them, he slumped against the wall, arms crossed below a rebellious scowl.
Kat snorted. "What a Deku stick in the mud." Even as she spoke, the musicians started a new song, a familiar reel called 'Fair Me Zola.' "So, how about it?" she asked Kafei.
Kafei blinked. "Um, sure!"
Nearby, a pair of familiar voices argued.
"I asked her first, Fairy Boy!"
"No, I did!"
Link, and Ty were in the middle of a heated argument over was going to dance with Sond, much to the amusement of the crowd. Rolling her eyes, Kat walked over, still holding Kafei by the wrist.
"You don't know how to dance!"
"Pssh. Who taught the Rosa Sisters that dance? I did."
"That wasn't your dancing, it was that creepy ghost's!"
"Still was me doing it!"
"Either way, that dance is stupid!"
"You're stupid!"
"Y'know what, make it twenty," Chiron muttered to Nick.
"Guys!" Kat nearly screeched, then she blushed slightly as people turned their way. "I've a better idea. Instead of wasting your time arguing, why don't you just take turns?"
Sond smiled gratefully at the thought. "That could be fun!"
As the musicians segued into the second verse of the fast paced reel, Link and Ty locked eyes challengingly.
Leading Kafei back out of the square, Kat rolled her eyes. "Never mind, Kafei. Something tells me this isn't our song."
Behind them, the three-way dance was becoming quite an interesting spectacle. A large crowd was watching in interest. Ty led first. But barely two steps in, he was sent flying by a hip-check from Link.
"My turn!" Link yelled. Two seconds later he was displaced by Ty.
"No, my turn!"
Ty tripped Link with his tail a moment later.
This crazy and fast-paced turn-taking almost turned into a dance by itself, because the subsequent bumpings, trippings, shoves and displacements were in perfect sync with the upbeat music. Many in the crowd stared in wonderment. Others held their sides, trying hard not to fall down laughing, because through it all Sond never missed a beat.
As the song ended, the two competitors were left lying in a dazed heap. Sond, on the other hand, was still standing.
"That was fun!" she admitted, not even out of breath from the crazy dance.
Ty slowly opened his eyes as they all received a sudden thunderous applause from the audience. He wobbled slowly to his feet. "Told you I'm a better dancer!"
"No you're not! They're all applauding me! They can't get enough of my dance skills!" Link jumped up and took a bow, grinning.
"Come here!"
"Yeouch! Why you-"
Nick quietly passed Chiron a red rupee.
From his seat to the side, Timbre raised a disturbed brow. "That," he said to himself, "was the scariest thing I've ever seen in my life."
"Hello!" A voice suddenly piped up next to him.
"Gah!" Timbre yelped and clutched his chest as his heart raced. Fighting the sudden urge to bolt, he turned his head and found himself staring into a pair of twinkling blue eyes. Flailing, he quickly scooted off of the crate. "You scared me!" He accused the intruder, feeling foolish.
It was the girl from the magic show. Somehow she'd managed to get up onto the crate next to him without him even noticing. Smiling demurely, she slid off the crate, taking a step towards Timbre. The boy took a step backwards. She wasn't wearing her costume from yesterday. Her current green dress was much less flashy and her blue-grayish hair was pulled back in a simple tail, rather than a braid. She idly measured up the boy in the overcoat with a mock critical eye, her ungloved left hand tapping her chin.
"We're about the same height," she said suddenly. "That's neat. Usually everyone's taller."
Timbre groaned. Something about this girl was making his stomach turn uncomfortable loop-the-loops. "That's…nice. Er, I got to go," he said suddenly, backing away.
"Leaving so soon? We haven't even introduced ourselves yet! I'm Tejina, but you can call me Tee for short!" She grinned, taking another step forward. "But you probably already know that," she added.
Timbre blinked, taking another step back. "Um. I'm Timbre."
Tejina grinned. "Timbre, eh? So, Timbre, do you want to dance?"
"Uh, I dunno, I don't really daaaaaaaa-!" His excuse faded into a wail of dismay as Tejina suddenly lunged for his wrist. A moment later she was dragging him towards the open square, his left wrist held fast in her left hand. Digging his heels in, Timbre flailed with his free arm as nearby crowd members guffawed at his pleas. "Please no! I don't know how to dance! I'm too clumsy, really!"
"Nonsense. I'll teach you how." The girl said without turning her head. "Good, a new song's starting. Sounds like the 'Clock Town Hornpipe.' I've danced to this one before. You ready?"
"No!"
"Well, for one thing, you have to be facing the right way." She quickly spun Timbre around, who slumped, resigned to his fate. "Second, you stand like this for better balance." She stood with her feet a foot apart, and Timbre slowly copied her. "And third, you go with the music, starting with the right foot. I'll do the rest. You got that?"
"Wha-" The music's tempo picked up with a flourish before his thought could finish. Timbre suddenly found himself grabbed by both hands and whirled about like a top. Tejina's grip was surprisingly strong, and while he felt suddenly dizzy, the motion didn't seem to bother her at all. As they spun, Tejina winked cheerfully.
"Relax, Timbre. You're as tense as a frozen rag in midwinter!"
Timbre groaned. He was afraid if he opened his mouth he'd be sick. He wasn't sure if this girl was seriously attempting to murder him, but he hoped the dizzy pace would soon come to an end.
As if she'd read his mind, Tejina stopped spinning. Timbre suddenly found himself standing perfectly still while Tejina twirled gracefully under his outstretched hand. Several crowd members applauded their approval.
As Tejina abruptly whirled to a stop, Timbre was suddenly smacked in the face by her ponytail. Her hair smelled strongly of rosemary and-
Spinning him about-face before he could finish the thought, the girl immediately picked up the breakneck whirling pace as the music sped up. "Say, I couldn't help but noticing that funny mark across your left eye. Is it a tattoo or something?"
"No, I was born with it!" Timbre grated between his teeth. It annoyed him when people asked him about that. It wasn't like he could help that it was there.
As the song continued, the pit in his stomach slowly faded. He even felt a little more relaxed, like he was a thread being pulled along by a skilled needle instead of a puppet on a string. For all her boldness and bravado, Tejina really was a good dancer. With the wind whistling past them as they weaved inbetween the other dancers, it almost felt like they were flying rather than dancing-
But it's not like I'm enjoying this or anything, he thought stubbornly.
"Okay!" Tejina called out. "Here comes the end of the song!"
"Huh?"
"You ready for this? Hope so!" With a deft flick of the wrist, she sent Timbre into one last spin. As the music came to a closing flourish, she let go of his hand, and the boy suddenly overbalanced. Just as the music stopped, Timbre landed flat on his backside with a whoosh that completely knocked the wind out of him.
The crowd cheered loudly as Tejina took a bow. Winded, Timbre gasped for air as he staggered upright, feeling exceptionally light-headed. He half-heartedly waved off the crowd as they applauded. His forehead tickled. Looking up, he noticed his bangs were in his face. Brushing them back, his fingers touched bare skin. His headband was missing.
Not finding it on the ground, he looked over to his dance partner. "Did you see-?"
But the girl was quickly trotting triumphantly away from the square, something green dangling about her right wrist. She looked back, grinned mischievously, and bolted.
-;O;-
Nearby, Kat, Sond and Kafei were holding their sides from laughing, though Ty and Nick both looked impressed.
"You have to admit, that girl knows her moves. Tim's not so bad himself when he's motivated."
"Aw, I could do that easy." Link said moodily, poking gingerly at his swollen left cheek.
"She dumped 'im righ' on his bum at th' end though. prolly on purpose…" Nick mused, rubbing his chin. "Still, didn' know th' lobo knew 'ow t' dance."
"Yeah," Chiron agreed. "Oops, there she goes. Guess she's got business elsewhere."
Everybody blinked as Timbre suddenly jumped up and ran after Tejina, yelling incoherently.
There was an awkward pause. Link coughed delicately to break the silence.
"Heh, didn't know Timbe could run so fast either," he quipped.