An Act to Follow – Part 13 – Hide and seek isn't as fun when the guy who is 'It' is out for your blood
"Eh?" Viscen craned his head backwards as he felt the kick to his chair. "What's wrong, Veneer?" The Captain had a contented smirk about him that was making the paid hunter's blood slowly boil. The Captain, probably aware of this, only smiled more widely as Veneer looked positively furious.
"Those kids. Up there." Veneer quickly stowed the lens and nodded towards the stage at the two children, whose glasses glared and reflected the bright lights shining upon them. They were still engrossed in their dance, which was quickly garnering cheers from the audience, who appreciated the steps set to the lively tune.
"What about them?" Viscen asked slowly.
"That boy, you fool! Remember, the kid who was one of th' witnesses? We've been looking for him all day! Look!"
Viscen shrugged. "Him?" Squinting, the Captain craned his neck forward. "Oh…yes…you're right…I do believe that is him, now that you mention it…very well, we'll just have a talk with him when the act's done, and then...well then I suppose your job here will be over, won't it Veneer?"
Veneer had to stop himself from whacking the Captain of the Guard upside the head. He was, after all, still on commission, and it was never wise to strike the hand that paid you. "Very well," Veneer gritted between his teeth, as if the idea didn't appeal to him. "You bring them to me when this is over, Captain. Then I'll show you I am right."
"But they're just children, Veneer."
"They're vicious beasts, Viscen. Age has little to do with that."
But the Captain ignored Veneer's daunting admonition. "Quite the good dancers, aren't they, Veneer?" Viscen remarked.
Veneer just rolled his eyes.
-;O;-
"I can't believe they'd actually be that crazy to actually go up there!" Chiron and Link exclaimed together. Link was looking especially uncomfortable, laden as he was with a gelatin-stained pair of shorts. Whenever he moved his eyes crossed with discomfort.
"Eh, leas' they' doin' well…" Nick said, tapping his foot to the music. "Check ou' tha' spin 'e just did."
Kat and Sond, however, were more concerned watching the judge's table and Veneer. "Guys," Kat said after a moment. "Do you see what Veneer is holding? It's the Lens of Truth."
"How could it be?" Link said. "Those things are super-rare, and we're the only ones who have one-"
"Had," Kafei interjected quietly, turning slightly pink. "Remember a few weeks ago, when that bird-"
"What?!" Link started, but Sond quickly hushed him.
"However it happened, he has it now. And that's a problem."
"Why?"
"Link," Kat said, "the Lens of Truth reveals hidden things and true natures. What do you think Veneer would see if he looked at Timbre through that lens?"
"…oh."
Sond continued, "Point is, we need to get them off that stage immediately, once their act is over. Quietly and quickly, so it doesn't attract attention.""
Ty nodded. "Right. Kas, how do you-"
But Kasumi had disappeared again. Ty looked around for his older brother with a slightly confused expression. His brother had a habit of vanishing suddenly, but during a crisis seemed an unfortunate time for him to choose to do so. Uncurling his tail from around his ankle, Ty stared at his left shoe. "Well, at least we should find Kei and Ana."
"Hey, Tatl…? I'm gonna need some help." Link looked around for the yellow fairy.
"What, need me to fetch you a diaper?" Tatl said wickedly. "Because I think I know where we might fin-"
"Quiet!" The boy in green snapped, unamused. "Tatl, go and find Kei and Ana. Now. Tell them to get here quickly! This is really, really important! Go!"
"Uh…right!" Tatl said hesitantly. She was shocked into obedience, partially due to the sharp tone of voice Link was using. She flew off rather quickly.
"Tael, you stay with us," Link ordered. "But if we get split up again, I want you to mark Timbre and stay with him, you got that?"
"Y-yes," the purple fairy stammered.
"Boy, something's hit a nerve," Chiron muttered.
"Sometimes I'm just not in the mood to argue," Link admitted.
Kafei chewed his lip. "Speaking of arguing, we'd better think of a plan quickly. They're almost at the end of the song." He hummed merrily along to the tune, trying to drown out his and his friends' growing concern.
-;O;-
The last few bars of the song drew to a rousing close. Up on the stage, Tejina slowed their whirling dance to a halt. Instead of letting go of Timbre like she had last time, she simply grasped his hand, and before he could lose his balance, led them both into a stable pose on the last chord.
"Wow," Timbre rasped as he slowly regained his breath. His face felt damp. Peering through the dark glasses, he could make out dozens of cheering and clapping faces as they applauded. He wasn't that much for performing, but even this sight was enough to make him smile a bit.
Tejina laughed openly and bowed and waved to the crowd, and then turned to face him.
"Thank you," she murmured quietly, giving his hand a quick squeeze before releasing her grip.
Timbre didn't know how to reply, but as he looked away he spotted his friends amid the chaos. They were frantically beckoning to them, despite the difficulties considering their size and the disorder of the crowd. The looks on Kat's and Sond's faces told Timbre their waving was not simple praise for their performance.
"Uh-oh…they don't look too happy…" Timbre said sidelong to Tejina nervously. She nodded.
"Let's get out of here quickly," she agreed. Both of them were hurrying down the stairs to stage left when a large, heavy hand suddenly planted itself on both of their shoulders. They both jumped, and in Timbre's case, yelped.
Captain Viscen was standing behind them, his armor clattering gently. He was chuckling warmly, and his face was crinkled in a smile. "You kids were just fantastic! Spectacular!"
Tejina was slightly paralyzed with shock, although even if she had squirmed, it wouldn't have done much good. Viscen had quite a firm grip. "Uh, t-thank you sir…" she stammered after a moment.
"You are definitely a contender in this competition!" Viscen boomed. "Er, while you wait for the results, there's a friend of mine that wants to meet you."
Uh-oh…"Uh, we're running kind of late, actually, we were supposed to, er-" Timbre stammered, trying and failing to find an excuse.
"Ah, I must insist," Viscen said uncomfortably, steering them both around so they faced the other way. "See, there he is now. Veneer!"
Tejina bit her lip, her eyes wide behind glasses that she hoped were enough to hide her panic as Veneer swiftly loomed over both of them. Viscen's hands felt like lead weights on their shoulders.
"Evening," Veneer said, smiling unpleasantly at the both of them. He was swinging a lantern in his right fist, almost jubilantly. The bright flame flickered merrily with every creaking swing.
Under the roar of the crowd, Timbre thought he could make out the voices of his friends, behind them, fighting the movement of the bustle as they tried to make it to the stage. They might not have seen where they were led off to, or even that Viscen had. Come on, guys, he urged them silently. Catch up with us, drag us away, something!
"Uh…uh…hello." Timbre managed to stammer despite his rising panic, looking up at Veneer. He was just as large and imposing as he had been the other day when he had accidentally run into the man who smelled of wolf furs. The gleam in Veneer's dark eyes was terrifyingly triumphant. What had he found out, and how?
Now Viscen was steering them further away from the stage through the crowd, down past the judge's booth, towards East Clock Town, where the crowd didn't penetrate. Helplessly the two children were marched resolutely along the deserted avenue, as if on their way to an execution. Timbre was convinced he was definitely in for something along those lines.
Skinned alive. Or maybe they'll drown me first. All that running, all that hiding for the past three days had all been for nothing. He was done for, Tejina too; it was all his fault.
Torn apart. Set on fire. Shot full of arrows…Tejina averted her gaze, something that the glasses managed to mask well. Feverishly, she wished that somebody, anybody would come and rescue them. She was beginning to sorely regret stealing the key. Why had she ever wanted to do something this crazy in the first place?
Well, maybe I know why, she thought, looking sidelong at the captive boy next to her.
As they stopped next to the Milk Bar, Veneer leaned against the wall, smugly at ease. He seemed convinced that he'd already won. Unfortunately, Timbre had to agree with his sentiment. The area was clear of any spectators, which meant anything said here couldn't be overheard.
Viscen's smile faded slightly, and he kneeled so that he was closer to the childrens' eye level, though his hands remained on their shoulders. "I have a few questions for you both. What're your names?"
"Timbre." The boy said dejectedly.
"Tejina." The girl's voice also sounded quite desperate.
Viscen looked vaguely surprised at the little girl's answer. "Miss Tejina? But, we met earlier today! Don't you remember, with your brother and his wife?" He blinked. "You've dyed your hair again, I see…"
"Uh…right…" Tejina said, exchanging a confused glance with Timbre, who shrugged marginally. Viscen didn't seem to notice, either he was very accepting or the glasses were proving effective.
Timbre was dimly aware of the sounds of the revelry far behind them. It sounded as if Mayor Dotour was making another speech in that wobbly voice of his, possibly announcing the next competition. The crowd cheered suddenly, as if they were focusing their attention on the upcoming adult acts. Despite the severity of the situation, Timbre had to wonder a little. Hope my friends won that competition, he thought. They sounded amazing.
"…anyhow, back to the point. I believe we have also met before, Timbre. Two nights ago…" Viscen's gaze turned somewhat sternly upon the boy.
Timbre swallowed a little, trying hard not to look nervous. "Yes sir," he said truthfully.
Veneer took this opportunity to interject. "Two nights ago there was a trespasser in the alleyway in West Clock Town, a crate was knocked over, and when the guards investigated, they found two people in the area. One of them was you, was it not?"
"It was." Timbre said, staring at the ground, which seemed even darker through the glasses.
"Were you aware," Veneer continued accusingly, "That this was found later at the scene of the crime?" Veneer uncrumpled the scrawled note, which had been residing in his pocket.
Timbre looked from Veneer's face to Viscen's face, unable to say anything, because no matter what he said, it would either be a lie or the truth. Lies he couldn't handle, and the truth…well, the truth would be rather incarcerating on his part.
"So whoever did it was sorry," Tejina said suddenly. "They made a mistake, and they wanted to pay for the mess."
Viscen smiled a little at this. "That is certainly what we'd like to believe, but-"
Veneer shot the Captain a venomous glare. "Aye," he said, not sounding very sincere. "But we still need to know exactly what happened, and more importantly who it was."
Again, Timbre said nothing, as he couldn't find any way of talking out of the inevitable accusation. He knew it was coming. He'd heard Veneer talking that night he'd investigated the prints. In fact, he probably would have already caught them if Sond hadn't come in at the last second and distracted the hunter.
Behind them came the muffled roar of the crowd. Apparently the next act was popular, whoever it might be. Veneer, however, continued relentlessly.
"Something about you," Veneer added pointedly, "is very suspicious. You wouldn't happen to know anything, would you?" He grinned again. He was enjoying this immensely, much to Viscen's chagrin.
"Now now Veneer-"
"Captain, it is his duty as a witness to tell us what he knows. If he is innocent than he has nothing to hide." Veneer argued. Then, with whiplike snap of the lantern, he changed the subject, glaring down at Timbre. "Show me your hands."
"Wha-?"
"Show me your hands, boy!" Veneer snapped, ignoring Viscen's frown.
Looking glumly at Tejina, Timbre slowly held out his hands, palm upwards. Veneer smiled a little more, and the lantern stopped swinging.
"You're wearing gloves," he said slowly, giving an expectant look to Viscen.
"Yes sir," Timbre said helplessly. Hanged. Sliced to ribbons. Belly cut open and stuffed full of rocks. This is my fault, he thought miserably. If I hadn't been so stupid…
Looking at Tejina, he inclined his head slowly. Go on, run.
Tejina's eyebrows furrowed behind the glasses as she glared back at him. Not on your life.
Sighing, Timbre resolved himself to Veneer' condemning voice as the hunter kneeled down, looking him straight in the eye. Blinking furiously behind his glasses, he found himself unable to break away from the steely gaze of the adult.
"Why are you wearing dark glasses at night? I thought they were used to block the glare of sunlight, and it is dark now."
"W-well…it was for the act, you see, an-"
"But the act is over, isn't it?" Veneer didn't smell any better close up than he did from a distance. The boy recoiled instinctively as Veneer's face leered a bit closer.
"Veneer!" Viscen warned. "You're intimidating the witness. That's duress, you know."
Veneer ignored the Captain. "So why are you still wearing them?" Veneer held up the lantern so that it shone directly in the boy's face.
"Well, I-" The glasses, though reflecting a glare, couldn't hide the worried look on Timbre's face. Tejina held her breath, wishing she could do something, and feeling infuriatingly unable.
"Take them off, then, if you don't need them any more," Veneer dared, the lantern still swinging in front of his face. Timbre knew if he took the glasses off it would be all over. That light would reflect off his inhuman eyes, and he would be better off dead. But Timbre wasn't about to give up passively.
"I don't want to," he said, sticking out his jaw stubbornly. Veneer snarled at this defiance.
"Don't play the fool, I can see right through you!" He growled, and he pulled a purple object out of his pocket.
"Where did you get that?" Viscen asked in sudden astonishment.
"It's a Sheikah Lens of Truth," Veneer said without looking up, noting the utter shock on Timbre's face. "Ah, I see you're familiar with it, boy. So you know that it reveals hidden things. Reveals…true natures."
Timbre swallowed, his throat dry.
"I fixed it upon you tonight, and now I know what you truly are. You and the girl. Now, I am going to allow you to tell Captain Viscen the truth, or else I will show him myself with this lens."
Timbre closed his eyes. Here it was, then. Admit to the truth boldly and without fear, or cower to the end and be shown for the farce that he was. He took a deep breath.
"Alright. But first, let Tee go. She had nothing to do with any of this."
"You are hardly in the position to make such demands," Veneer growled. "Now tell Viscen the truth or I'll-"
"Wait!" Seven voices yelled at once.
Sond materialized suddenly out of the gloom. She ran breathlessly up to Veneer and pointed at the lens clutched in his hand. "You stole that from us, you…meanie!" The brown-haired girl glared up at the man, who stared back in disbelieving fury.
"Is this true, Veneer?" Viscen demanded.
"Of course it isn't!" Veneer roared back at him.
There was a clattering of footsteps as the rest of them arrived on the scene. All of them looked out of breath from fighting the crowd.
Veneer stared, vexed, at the new arrivals. "More kids…?" he growled a little.
Wordlessly, the children stood themselves alongside Timbre and Tejina.
"Captain Viscen sir," Kafei started, "before you go any further, may we please say something?"
Veneer was about to reply when Viscen laid a hand on his shoulder. "I want to hear what they have to say, then you may continue your investigation. Until then you will be silent." He looked at Kafei. "What is it, young Mr. Dotour?"
"We think you're both making a big mistake," Kat said carefully.
"You can't just blame our friend like this," Link added.
Viscen shook his head. "Your friend was found in the vicinity of trespassing and vandalism. Had circumstances been different, I would have detained him immediately that night. As it was though-"
"Sir, if I may," Kafei interjected timidly. "Whatever evidence you may have against Timbre, or whatever your colleague may claim about him, we just wanted you to know that he's our friend."
Viscen looked perplexed.
"Yeah," said Link. "And we'll vouch for him."
"All of us," Ty said.
"However, it does not change the fact that he is a suspect," Viscen reminded them gently. "And my colleague here has found some incriminating evidence-"
"-which I would like to get back to presenting," Veneer growled. The Captain shot him a warning glance.
Timbre swallowed hard.
"Very well, Veneer. Show me."
Even my friends weren't enough, Timbre thought desperately.
As Veneer triumphantly held the Lens of Truth up to Viscen's eye, Sond subtly nudged Timbre in the side. "Run."
"Eh?"
Viscen gasped suddenly at what he saw from behind the lens. "What in the world-"
Sond shoved Timbre roughly away from her. "Kat! Now!"
Veneer suddenly looked up. "Don't you dare-"
Kat abruptly threw her open palms towards the ground. The air crackled with sudden heat.
"Din's Fire!"
The small magical explosion burst like a miniature fireworks display. Viscen and Veneer recoiled heavily from the sudden bright shockwave, and were immediately dogpiled by seven children. Wheezing, winded, and slightly scorched, the hunter dropped the lens, and Viscen's armor clattered as he too fell over.
Amid the sudden fiery chaos, Timbre and Tejina fled.
-;O;-
Sitting on the roof of the Curiosity Shop, Kasumi sighed as below him in the darkness he heard the yells and saw the faint telltale explosion of fire magic. He'd just known something like this would happen, he had felt it coming for the past few days. All feelings of uneasiness aside though, he hoped reverentially that it would be a clear enough night tonight. Glancing up at the sky, he noted few clouds, and lots of stars. Good. He hadn't wanted to have to resort to desperate measures, but if it were a last resort, then he had no choice…
Standing up, Kasumi shook his head, his eyes unusually clear. Bending his knees, he jumped the distance from one thatched roof to the next with no sound. Before his foot had barely touched the thatch, he had already launched himself to the next roof. Nobody would notice him if he kept this up. Well, not yet, anyway…
That crowd below would notice him soon enough.
-;O;-
Chaos reigned in East Clock Town.
"Are you brats insane!? They're getting away!" Veneer snarled, trying to pull children off his legs and torso so he could stand.
"That's the point!" Sond gritted her teeth, as she and Kat pinned the large man's boots to the ground.
"Get off of me!" Veneer snarled again, "You don't know what you are doing!"
Timbre and Tejina had long since vanished from the scene. The only proof of their previous presence was two pairs of dark glasses, thrown aside as they had fled. Veneer finally kicked himself free, noted the position of the glasses and sped off quickly northwards, yelling over his shoulder.
"Viscen, arrest these brats! Alert the Guard! I'll catch the others!"
Captain Viscen stood and stared bemusedly at the pile of winded children before him.
"Ow." Kat said finally. "Would whoever is standing on my ankle please get off?"
"Well someone has to get off my back first," Ty groaned.
"Guys, we have to stop Veneer!" Kafei said, awkwardly squirming out of the pile onto the ground.
"Yeah!" Link said. "Just a sec, let me get off of…what is this?"
"My hand," Chiron gritted.
"Oops, sorry."
Viscen roughly pulled the tangle of children apart, with a look of furious concern. "What in the name of the Four Giants did you think you were doing? This is obstruction of justice!"
"No, this is preventing your crazy lackey from committing murder!" Link retorted hotly.
Viscen put his hands on his hips imperiously. "Young man, I don't think you realize how much trouble you're now all in."
"With all due respect sir," Kafei said, standing and brushing at his tunic, "I don't think you understand. Your hired hunter is attempting to murder our friend. He's ten years old. Are you really going to allow a man that you hired to kill a child on your orders?"
Captain Viscen froze. "Of course I wasn't-"
He trailed off, feeling unnerved. The looks these children were giving him simply did not belong on the faces of innocent children. Their hot accusatory eyes, especially those of the green-clad Hylian boy, made him suddenly shiver.
He took a deep breath. "Hold on just one moment. First, somebody here is going to have to explain exactly what is going on here. Did Timbre knock over that crate or not?"
"He…he did, yes…" Sond began miserably, "But-"
Viscen held up a hand. "And the girl, Tejina, what does she have to do with this?"
Kat shuffled, examining a bruised elbow. "It's complicated…see she was there when the crate fell over, but she didn't have anything to do with it, but Veneer wouldn't care-"
"I understand. The boy did the deed, she did not. Unfortunately your friend is still guilty of trespassing and vandalism."
"But he didn't mean it!" Kat argued. "It could've been anyone!"
"And he even paid back the damage!" Sond added.
"Be that as it may," Viscen said, "I cannot just allow-"
"He's harmless!" Ty grated. "Just because he's-" Sond coughed and nudged Ty. "Well, everyone's entitled to a mistake, right?"
"Lobo ain' any reas'n ta kill!"
Viscen sighed. "He does seem like a decent little fellow, but still, one must answer for wrongs done. And this lens-" Here Viscen stooped and retrieved the purple eye, "I did see…Veneer was actually right, I saw-"
"Yes, but that isn't important right now." Chiron said impatiently.
"You knew? You knew that he is a-"
"It doesn't matter, sir," Kafei pleaded desperately. "Please. We need your help."
"I' Veneer catch' up to 'em, they en' gonna 'ave a chance!" Nick said urgently.
If he catches them, they're both dead," Chiron agreed.
"Murdered," Nick elaborated.
Viscen looked at all their young faces, and finally sighed. "Very well. I agree, we cannot allow Veneer to do anything rash."
Kat nodded. "Right! If we split up we'll find them faster. Sond, Ty, Link…you three search East Clock Town, Kafei and I'll take the western route around the stage and loop up to the Northern District, and Nick and Chiron can go with the Captain. You three need to find Kei and Ana, okay?"
"Right!" All the kids eagerly split up. Viscen stood, confused.
"Bu-" Viscen was a bit flabbergasted. Being the Captain, he just wasn't used to being ordered around by children. It seemed just so abnormal. But the way these children were acting…
"Come on Captain, we have to find Kei and Ana!" Chiron urged the Captain, running off towards South Clock Town, the opposite way Veneer had taken. With a last shrug, Captain Viscen jogged after them, his armor clanking loudly.
-;O;-
All bets were off, as far as Timbre and Tejina were concerned. They were both in wolf form, hurtling northwards down avenues, through alleyways, and across streets. Unfortunately Clock Town was a city completely surrounded by walls, and they were in constant danger of being suddenly caught in a dead end. Between them, Tael fluttered, flickering with distress. He'd quietly followed Timbre, as Link had asked.
It was no use trying any of the gates, as each was locked and posted with a pair of Guards. They finally stopped, panting, pausing behind a crate just beyond sight of the Eastern Gate. They both stared around, ears forward, straining to catch sight, sound, or scent of their pursuer.
Tejina looked at her companions desperately. "Now where? We can't run forever!"
"You guys need to find somewhere to hide! Where's the last place you'd normally go?" Tael said rhetorically.
Timbre tried to fight the panic clouding his mind, staring at the ground. All his body wanted to do was run, but he needed to think. Tael orbited his head, agitated and smelling of moon dust and old parchment. Anxious, Tejina did a slight whimpering dance in place.
"Hurry up, would you?!"
"I'm trying to think…"
Tael jingled anxiously. "Oh no, oh no, he's here, he's here…I can see him, but don't think-" THUD!
A long knife seemed to suddenly sprout from the crate, quivering ominously between the two wolves. A few guard hairs that had been clipped from Timbre's coat floated in the air. Tejina jumped, yelped, and bolted. At that exact moment, Timbre's ears stood straight up as his mind suddenly cleared.
"I've got it! This way!" He flung himself in a northwesterly direction, towards the smell of fresh grass and city trees. Behind them they could hear the loud echoing thuds as Veneer's boots pounded the pavement. They might be smaller and faster than he was, but he was still dangerous, and they still had no clear route of escape.
Veneer paused to retrieve his knife, staring at the loose fur. Not a bad shot, considering the distance and the low light. The wolves were already out of sight, but he'd clearly seen the path they had taken. The more they ran, the more they would exhaust themselves. All he needed to do was to keep them from having any chance to rest or hide away, run them until they were so worn out they would no longer be able to swiftly dodge or escape. Veneer calmly turned his boots towards North Clock Town. The Guards at the gate stared after Veneer, confused. As he passed, the hunter turned around and glared at them with gimlet eyes.
"Listen," Veneer snapped at them. "Don't let anyone…or anything, near those gates! We've unearthed the beasts, and if they're blocked off from leaving, then they can't escape the city."
The Guards nodded slowly. Veneer was under the Captain's orders, after all.
-;O;-
"Where…exactly…are we headed?" Tejina panted, trying to keep up the breakneck pace. The three of them were quickly becoming fatigued. Tael, who had become weary from so much high-speed flight, decided instead to cling to Timbre's left ear.
Timbre stared directly forward as he suddenly slowed back to a trot. He could see and smell the green scent of trees and sap; they were well into Clock Town's parklike Northern District. Although the northern gate was sorely tempting, it too was closed and guarded.
"Plenty of bushes to hide in by that play slide over there on the right," Tejina remarked.
The slide in question was tucked in a small alcove to the right of the northern gate. Half a dozen tall bushes grew in front of it, nearly motionless in the still night air.
"Normally I'd agree, but we don't want to bother those; they're Keaton bushes. You familiar with them?"
"Heard of them, never seen them," Tejina said, resisting the urge to try nibbling at one.
"We need to get up that rocky incline there on the other side of the park. See the entryway? And when we get inside, don't make too much noise, or you'll wake her up."
Tejina's bewilderment at this last wasn't sated, even as they slipped quietly up the ramp. At its crest there was a culvert-like entryway carved into the city wall. It couldn't have been a storm drain, Tejina marveled, as it was built on too-high ground. As she quietly followed Timbre into the darkness, her nose picked up a peculiar damp scent. Water? It was unlike any water she'd ever known. It somehow tingled; it smelled of sunlight and sharp star metal. As they moved towards the dimly lit back of the passageway, Tejina found out why.
The narrow passageway opened suddenly into a large shrinelike room, cloistered on all sides by pearl-like archways and columns. The very walls seemed to glow softly.
In the center of the shrine was a large, perfectly circular pool of water, flawlessly reflective and without a ripple. Fascinated, Tejina walked straight up to the rim of the pool, cocking her head at her reflection. She yipped quietly at it.
"Don't touch thewater!" Timbre warned.
The last thing they needed was to make any loud noise. They were still being chased. She followed Timbre as he slowly circled the pool. Tael abandoned Timbre's twitching ear and hovered quietly over the pool, a perfect duplicate violet orb reflected in the water below.
"I'd ask her for help," he said soberly, "but…well, I don't know if she would or not."
"Who?" Tejina asked, curiously.
"The Great Fairy." Tael said, correctly deciphering Tejina's questioning growl. "I mean, we did help her out of a jam once, but…"
"You did?" The wolf looked interestedly at Timbre.
"Yeah, she was split into pieces by one of the masked Skull Kid's curses, and…well…ever since then, she's been rather overly thankful-awp!" Timbre's right front paw accidentally slipped into the pool with a resounding splat. Ripples flowed outward from his paw, disturbing the perfect mirror and causing their reflections to subtly distort.
"Did somebody call me?" A dulcet female voice echoed through the cavern.
"Uh…no?" Tael said, somewhat stupidly. Below him, Timbre shook his damp forepaw in annoyance.
With a cackle that befitted an old woman rather than a Great Fairy, she emerged. Tejina blinked. She was a giant ethereal floating dryad, clothed in ivy and flowing orange tresses, which undulated about her head like three bushy tails. Peering around, the Great Fairy of Magic quickly spotted Tael.
"Why hello, Tael!" She started, sounding enthusiastic about her visitor. "What brings you here? Did you bring friends?"
"Um." Tael stammered, looking apologetically at the pair sitting below.
The Great Fairy laughed again, even more piercingly this time. Allowing herself to hover lower, she peered at her other two guests.
"Aha." Her brow furrowed. "You can't fool me with that shape, young one."
"Sorry," Timbre said shortly, returning to human form and standing upright.
"Hello, Timbre," the Great Fairy smiled, and she hovered a few feet lower than normal. "You seem rather troubled…"
"Eheh…" Timbre said, scratching the back of his head nervously. "That's kind of why we're in here, we're being chased, you see…"
"Oh?" The Great Fairy stared Timbre in the eye. "And why are you being chased?"
Tejina also became human and piped up. "It's really a long story, but the short of it is-
"I knocked over that crate in West Clock Town," Timbre mumbled.
"Ah, that was you?" The Great Fairy said. "I'm surprised at you, young one. That isn't like you at all."
"It was an accident," Timbre muttered sullenly.
Tejina changed the subject. "Anyhow, the hunter that the Guard Captain hired found out about Timbre and me and is trying to kill us, and the Clock Town Guard is likely after us, and in general, it's a bit of a mess."
During the story, the Great Fairy nodded at intervals, looking interested. "But where do you fit into this story, little she-wolf?"
"I'm-"
"She got caught up in my mess," Timbre admitted.
"Though that wasn't his fault," Tejina added firmly.
"Well," the floating dryad said finally. "That is quite a dilemma."
"Can you let us hide in here?" Timbre said hopefully. "Please?"
Bright-rimmed eyes oriented on the boy. "Unfortunately, my charge and alliance lie first with Clock Town. And your actions do technically make you a criminal in the eyes of Clock Town's law."
"For goodness sake!" Timbre half-yelled in exasperation. "It was an accident!"
"But no matter your intentions, you must answer for your actions, young one." The Great Fairy murmured musically. "Besides, it would only be a matter of time before the Guard would come to my Fountain, and ask me of your whereabouts." She folded her arms. "And if they ask, I will need to tell them the truth."
Both children looked a bit crestfallen. "So that's it. We're sunk," Timbre said despairingly.
Smiling not unkindly, the Great Fairy added, "I did not say I would not help you. Although I cannot interfere directly, offering you some advice does not violate my alignment. And I offer you this advice: true friends are those who are willing to aid you, and you them."
"But-" Timbre started.
"Good luck!" With a final laugh, the Great Fairy vanished in a burst of light.
"Well," said Timbre after a beat, "That was nice and cryptic."
"Not really, I think what she meant was to find your friends. Or maybe she meant Kei and Ana. Then it'll be all of us against Veneer, instead of just the two of us."
"Three." Tael remarked dryly.
"Three, sorry. Safety in numbers and all."
"So, I guess we can't hide in here after all," Timbre said, walking towards the exit. He ran a hand through his hair. "Pretty pointless side track."
"Hey, you got some advice at least," Tael said. "And at least she didn't ask us to stay for cookies. She always bakes oatmeal, and I hate oatmeal."
-;O;-
Veneer stood stoically, hunting knife glinting dangerously in one hand, as he breathed slowly, savoring the cool summer night air. While he rested, he allowed his eyes to study several possible hiding places in North Clock Town. He decided the entrance was unlikely, as the Guards there were alert and hadn't spotted anything, even though it was very dark. And even a bunch of dullards the likes of Viscen's guards wouldn't have missed something like two wolves trying to get through the gate.
North Clock Town was deserted, and not as well lit as the rest of the town. The Festival, taking place near the tower had leeched all activity away from the park-like district. There were fewer homes here, and Veneer was determined not to leave a single hiding place unconsidered.
Sond, Ty, and Link peered out of the dark ivy covered entryway separating the Eastern District from North Clock Town. Their route had taken them around the right side of the Milk Bar, following a similar route to that which Veneer had taken. Flattened against the wall so that the hunter couldn't see him, Link held a finger to his lips and pointed to Veneer, looking back at his companions. They nodded silently in acknowledgement.
For once, Ty and Link were cooperating without much complaint. Now that their friend was in serious danger, their rivalry had been temporarily forgotten. Reveling quietly in this sudden alliance, Sond inclined her head as Veneer walked towards the northern gate, presumably to alert the two guards to the situation. Daring a look, she flattened herself against the wall as Link had.
"Look!" Sond hissed suddenly, hoping Veneer was out of earshot. "At the Great Fairy's Fountain…" The other two followed her anxious eyes.
Peering around the rim of the Fountain's cavernous entryway were two small figures, one gray, the other black and white. Hovering between them was a glowing purple pinlight. Ty's tail bristled.
"Hsst!" Ty hissed urgently, trying to get their attention. This was difficult, seeing as he wanted to get their attention whilst leaving Veneer unalerted.
"I don't think they'll be able to see us…" Link said, biting his lip. "Waving isn't doing any good!"
"If only the wind were blowing the right way, they could probably smell us…" Ty said desperately.
"Or if we had a light-" Sond suddenly stopped in mid sentence and knocked herself in the forehead. "Oh. I am such a dummy…"
With a triumphant look she pulled out an arrow from her quiver.
"Won't that much light alert Veneer and the guards?" Link asked hesitantly. The two men in metal armor were now in low earnest conversation with the man in the furs.
"It's tricky, but if I don't fully charge it, it won't be so bright. I just need enough light to get their attention…
As if in response to her words, a tiny warm glow, tinier than a firefly, appeared at the extreme tip of the arrow. It was so small, it barely cast any light at all. That wouldn't do.
"Give it a little more power than that," Ty suggested.
"Okay…" Sond squinted in concentration, and before their eyes, the small pinprick inflated to the size of a marble.
"That'll work," Link said approvingly. "Now hold it up."
Sond did so, waving it slightly for good measure. They were rewarded with two furry heads snapping in their direction, ears forward. "Good! They've spotted us!"
The purple light that was Tael flittered quickly across the grassy area, hugging walls and shadows. Fortunately, Veneer was too involved with the guards and did not notice him.
"You guys," Tael said in alarm as he got to them, "They can't hide in North Clock Town. The Great Fairy said-"
"Hush," Sond said soothingly. "We're going to need to distract Veneer long enough for them to slip away."
"And then what?" the fairy demanded. "More running? We're worn out!"
"If we can keep away from Veneer long enough, Chiron and Nick and Captain Viscen will be able to find Kei and Ana, and hopefully get the guards to stand down. They'll put a stop to it."
"Hey guys, look…" Link pointed off to the left, towards the opposite Northern District entrance, the one that led to South Clock Town. "There's Kafei." There was no mistaking that purple shock of hair, even from a distance. And the small brown-haired figure with him could only be Kat. Sond waved her muted light arrow some more.
The small Kafei turned his head, and smiling, poked the equally miniscule Kat on the shoulder and pointed. They both turned and waved. Ty waved back, then pointed over at Veneer, who was still conversing with the two Guards. Then he pointed to the entrance and nodded. Seeming to understand, Kat gave the thumbs up. She then busied herself, removing something from her pocket.
"You didn't slip that lemon stuff in her pockets too, Ty?" Link said uncomfortably. He was glad it was so dark, nobody noticed the stains if they couldn't be seen very well.
"No." Ty said simply. "That's a slingshot she's taking out."
"A slingsho-Wait a second, that's mine!" Link protested.
"She borrowed it the other day at Honey and Darling's, don't you even remember?" Sond asked.
"Oh. What's she gonna do with it?"
"We'll see."
Kat loaded a small seed (or maybe a stone, it was hard to tell at a distance) into the slingshot. Flashing a wicked grin at them, she took aim, pulled the strap as far back as it could go, and fired.
CRACK!
The shot did not hit Veneer, instead clattering loudly into one of the northern gateway's stone arches. However, the sudden sound made all three men jump as if a bee had stung them. Veneer jerked viciously upright, eyes stretched wide in surprise. The sharp, loud exclamation that Veneer emitted as he did so made Sond blush.
Link snickered. "I didn't know that word could be used like that," he said, keeping a hand over his mouth so that his laugh wouldn't carry.
"That's great and all, but now…" Ty trailed off as Veneer now turned his head towards the entrances, suspicious. "Now he'll find us, and…well…that could be a bad thing."
Sond had another idea though. Dousing the arrow's light before Veneer noticed it, she nocked it on her bow and took aim. However, she wasn't planning on hitting Veneer. She had to get this just right…closing one eye, she sighted along the shaft until she spotted her target. That group of seemingly innocent bushes near the slide to the right of the gateway…
"What are you doing?" Link hissed. Then his blue eyes brightened as he noted the direction she was aiming. "Well, that answers my question…nevermind…"
"Good. Now be quiet so she can aim right. She doesn't have many arrows left to waste." Ty warned, as Sond cleared her throat importantly.
"Three…two…one…!"
ZWIIISH! THUD!
The arrow rocketed directly into the center of the bushes with a loud hiss. For a moment, the bushes quivered, as if in outrage at being shot at. Then, a moment later, the entire group of bushes began to rustle loudly of their own volition, the bushes uprooting themselves with much swishing, twisting, and crackling.
"What the-" they heard Veneer exclaim, and the Guards turned their heads towards the commotion. Veneer picked himself up, and hurried towards the disturbance. The bushes were now trundling about, rather quickly for immobile plants.
"You're in there, I know it!" Veneer growled, and waded into the moving bushes, which came up to his waist. Further agitated by this, the bushes all swarmed away from the man.
He didn't notice the two shadows that slipped furtively out of the Great Fairy's Fountain, hugging walls whenever they could. As they approached, the three groups swiftly merged and fled down the eastern avenue leading towards the Mayor's residence. With a wave of his tail, Timbre looked up at them all gratefully, his expression mirrored on Tejina's as she followed him.
"That was a close one," Tael breathed.
"Just what were you two thinking, anyway?" Sond hissed severely, looking down at the pair of miscreants, stopping them in their tracks. She tapped her foot impatiently.
Timbre blinked and looked away, either unwilling or just unable to answer. He was still a bit frightened of what Veneer would do if he caught them, and that fear now encompassed all his friends. Tejina looked downcast, ears flat, staring with her nose pointed to the ground as if she were really tired.
"Do you know how worried and frightened we were when we found you gone?" Sond said. "You could have been killed! And please don't look at us like that," Sond scolded down at the forlorn pair as they turned mournfully guilty eyes on her. "You should have stayed at the Laundry Pool."
"Mrr…" Tejina grumbled apologetically. Timbre too looked sorry.
"In any case, we can't let you two get into any more trouble. We need to get you out of here." Ty said after a moment's awkwardness had passed. "Somewhere…where Veneer can't go."
"Any chances of getting over the wall?" Link wondered idly.
"Not unless you can fly," Ty grumbled.
"Fly? Well what about if we had Kas-" Link started.
"No." Ty said firmly, eyes flashing.
"But Kas-"
"Just drop it, alright?" Ty looked a little annoyed, and his tail started to lash from side to side.
The door to the Mayor's Residence opened with a sudden squeal, thankfully masking Timbre and Tejina's yelp of shock. The wolves melted back, hiding behind a wall of legs as Mayor Dotour suddenly backed out of the building, dragging a heavy burlap sack with him. He peered over his shoulder at them.
"Aha!" The spindly man looked relieved. "Kafei! Your mother and I have been looking for you everywhere. For one thing, well done on the song, son."
"Thank you," Kafei said weakly.
"Second, I was wondering if you might be able to help me with something…"
"Um-"
"You see, Mamamu Yan had specifically requested I hold onto some items for her, and since she's in town tonight, I was wondering if you could deliver them to her for me."
"Um-"
"Excellent! You are very helpful. She should be at the stage with her dogs, performing in the talent show. Now if you'll excuse me-" The Mayor of Clock Town hurried southwards, barely paying attention to the other children, and certainly not to the two four-legged shadows behind them.
As soon as Dotour was out of earshot, Kafei looked sullenly from the large sack to his friends. "As if things couldn't get any worse…"
"Well, now what we do, then? I'm sure Veneer's getting bored of those Keaton bushes," Link said.
No sooner had the Hylian boy spoken, when Tejina whined quietly, her ears cupped forward. She could hear footsteps coming from the entrance to North Clock Town.
And then Kafei sneezed.
"Run!" Everybody gasped at once as the footsteps abruptly hastened. Everyone took their own advice, and with a clatter of boots, paws, and wing-whirring(in Tael's case), they ran southwards.
"That wasn't good…" Kafei panted, the burlap sack slung heavily over his shoulder.
"You just had to have allergies, didn't you?!" Ty snapped at him, running.
"Sorry for breathing!" Kafei snapped back, nearly tripping over his own boots.
Squashed in a row against the Stock Pot Inn's southern wall, they stopped to catch their breath. Nothing could be heard but heavy breathing, as the kids exchanged fearful looks. After a moment, Link spoke up.
"This guy," Link wheezed between breaths, "has got a serious problem! Y'know, if you guys run, I can hold him off-"
"Link, seven of us weren't able to before…"
Kat, who was the one closest to the corner, peered around it. "Oh no…"
"What?" Kafei asked.
"Did we lose someone?" Ty asked.
"Is my stain getting worse?" Link asked.
"Woof?" Timbre offered.
"No!"
"What's wrong, already?!" Kafei said, exasperated.
"He's coming this way," Kat squeaked.
The chase began anew.