An Act to Follow HD

by Snowsilver

During Clock Town's Midsummer Festival, Link and his friends are taking a well-deserved break from their adventures. But everything may not be as simple as it seems, for they say a wolf walks the city streets...

14. Chapter 14

An Act to Follow – Part 14 – Kasumi ex machina

Nick grunted, gritting his teeth as he slowly pummeled his way through the packed crowd. Since the kids' portion of the talent show had ended, the adult competitors had now taken over the stage. He wasn't completely sure, but it sounded like the act currently on stage was Mamamu Yan and her trained pack of dogs from Romani Ranch.

Behind him, Chiron was having equally as much trouble with the crowd. Periodically both of them would yell out Kei and Ana's names, but it really wasn't too helpful; the crowd was too noisy, so they had as much chance of being heard over the din that a Goron had in successfully learning to swim.

"Vanditas," Nick grumbled. "I'm 'bout thi' close t' usin' m'dirk t' poke m' way through…"

"Now now," Chiron said begrudgingly behind him, grunting as he shoved by a portly man. "We don't promote violence."

Behind both of the children, Captain Viscen waded after them, trying to keep up. He wasn't having quite as much difficulty in standing upright, being an adult, but he was in constant danger of losing his two smaller companions in the crowd. Finally he had to yell ahead. "Wait up, please!"

"I dunno if it was such a good idea to bring him along," Chiron remarked to Nick.

Nick had accidentally trodden on someone's foot. He dodged a retaliatory buffet. "Mebbe, but 'ees th' Captain, 'ee c'n mebbe clear th' lobo's name…" The redhead snorted, nearly slamming headlong into a woman as he traded insults. "An' call off th' Guards. Less' get t'where th' crowd isn' so…" He trailed off, trying to find the right word.

"Crowded?" Chiron offered, signaling back to Viscen.

"Tha's it. C'mon…"

-;O;-

Elsewhere, on a nearby roof, Kasumi sat down. He was perfectly still, except for his eyes, which flickered busily, scanning the crowd like a scholar would a textbook. Exhaling, the gray-haired man sighed though his teeth. Any moment now, he'd pick up on where his brother and his friends were. And with them would be Timbre and Tejina. Hopefully, although they were on the run, they would have the common sense not to get separated.

Blinking, he caught a flash of red hair as two small figures pulled away from the crowd. Chiron and Nick. Two down, seven to go.

The tall metallic figure that followed them moments later could only be Captain Viscen. Kasumi raised an eyebrow. No, he wasn't chasing them…

As Viscen's figure stooped to talk to the children, Kas realized that Viscen was now an ally. Good, he thought. Maybe he can stop Veneer before anything bad happens. But still, Viscen was the Captain of the Guard in Clock Town, and their encounter a few days ago had drawn him as a man likely to be misinformed.

No, Kasumi thought. His help would still probably be needed. Now, if only those two would show up, he'd be able to offer that help…

-;O;-

The last thing on the friends' minds at the moment was not whether or not they were missed; currently all of their diminishing energy was donated on one cause, and one cause alone.

Getting away from Veneer.

This was proving much harder than expected. For one, he had longer legs, and for another, there were a lot more of them than there was of him. Secondly, although the four-legged members of the group could easily outrun him in short sprints, they wouldn't be able to keep up such a frantic pace forever. Sooner or later they were likely to run out of both stamina and hiding places.

They had managed one minor tactical victory, however. When Kat had cried the warning of Veneer's approach, they'd wisely looped around the Milk Bar and headed back to North Clock Town, instead of taking off southwards. In this way they'd managed to avoid getting caught up in the crowd. And it seemed to have confused Veneer slightly, as they'd lost sight of him.

Sond's evaluation of their current situation was thus: Even if they could shake Veneer off temporarily, he'd eventually find them again, as there were only so many hiding places. That, coupled with creeping fatigue, meant the chase would inevitably end with a confrontation. Unless she and her friends could find Nick and Chiron, the Captain, Kei and Ana, she knew this was a losing battle.

There might be more of them than Veneer, but Veneer also had some command of the Guards, and frankly he was bigger and stronger than they were. It had been hard enough for seven of them to hold him down…

Kafei nearly tripped over the huge burlap sack he was lugging as he looked to his right. They were cutting back through North Clock Town, looping briefly around the back of the Clock Tower, past the statue of the owl with outstretched wings, and then into West Clock Town's small square, Link skidded to a halt near the Post Office, glancing over his shoulder. The rest of the humans followed suit, disheveled and panting.

Timbre, Tejina, and Tael halted in the shadows, peering out from behind a large but neatly stacked pile of sacking. The square was well lit, and wasn't deserted, as two Guards proved. Like all the gates leading out of the city, the Western Gate too was locked. If they were going to go any further, the Guards would definitely spot them.

"Nuts," Tejina panted, her head hung in fatigue.

Timbre just flopped wearily on the ground. He really wished they could simply close his eyes and rest awhile, but they couldn't. For all they knew, Veneer could come hurtling after them at any moment.

Link seemed to think otherwise, as he murmured to the others. "I think Veneer's gone. He's not behind us anymore."

Ty glanced hastily back, tail a twitch. "Yeah, he's not there. For now anyway…" he added darkly.

"Well, anyway, maybe it's best we move on…" Link said, looking over to where Timbre and Tejina were. "Come on, guys."

"Ixnay," Sond reprimanded him, gesturing over at the two Guards. "Unlike some of us, they can't just walk by like they are."

"So how do we get by?" Link asked. One of the Guards looked in their direction curiously.

Kafei looked from Link to Ty, then over to the sacking pile where the wolves hid. "I've got an idea. You two come with me. Sond…Kat…" He started ushering Ty and Link towards the sacks. "Uh, go chat with the Guards or something."

"Thanks a lot…" Kat grumbled. She wasn't able to comment further as one of the Guards spoke up with a rattle of armor that echoed dully throughout the square.

"Hey," The Guard leaned on his spear, bemused. "The way though the shop strip is closed off, you know. Been trouble down there recently, and we were told to keep an eye on you kids. Captain thinks you kids're the ones causing trouble."

"No, dummy…" The second Guard seemed a little slower than the first. "It isn't kids he said to watch out for. Its those wo-"

"Shaddap!" The first Guard shot a warning glance at his companion. Turning back towards Kat and Sond, he squinted, his former bemusement turning to suspicion. "What're you doing 'round here anyway?"

Kat blinked. "Er…we were just going…going to-"

"The stage!" Sond piped up, noting the dim roar of the crowd to the south.

"Right!" Kafei added, popping up between them. Apparently whatever plan he had thought up was ready. "See, my Dad wanted us to do an errand for him back at the house, see, so were wondering if we could detour though the closed off area because of the crow-"

"Alright, alright," the first Guard interrupted. "You're the Mayor's kid. What kind of 'errand' did he have you do, then?"

"Yeah!" The second Guard added dully.

Kafei pointed over his shoulder at Link and Ty, who were carrying a bundle of two large and lumpy sacks between them towards the southern exit. "A delivery. It's for…um…"

"The Doggy Racetrack lady!" Kat added wildly. "It's so bulky with the crowd…"

"Yeah!" Sond added.

Behind them, Link accidentally trod on Ty's tail.

"Yeouch! You stupid-" Ty's end of the bundles hit the ground with a thump as he whirled, grabbing the offended appendage. Several loose hairs floated about as he yelled at Link. "That hurt!"

Link, who was still clutching his end of the bundle, gritted through his teeth. "Not now, not now…pick it up and get going…you can beat me up later, honest, just keep…moving!"

This seemed to placate the injured Volcanian. Ty seized the sacks roughly and they hoisted them once again. "I swear…" he grumbled as they creeped slowly southwards. "You are so dead when this is all over…"

"For once, it was actually an accident, sheesh!"

The second Guard peered vacantly. "I could've sworn I heard that sack yelp when they dropped it…"

"Oh, don't be stupid," The first Guard glared again at his compatriot. Looking pointedly at Kafei, he nodded. "Right then. Off you go, and don't let me catch you up to any mischief, or I'll tell your mother."

Kafei's eyes widened a little. "R-right, sir!" Looking a bit paler than usual, Kafei followed Ty and Link. Kat and Sond sighed collectively in relief and followed the boys.

-;O;-

As soon as they were out of eye and earshot of the two Guards, Sond seized one of her arrows and sliced open the string tying one of the bundles together. A rather bedraggled and sore-looking trio of Timbre, Tejina, and Tael struggled free, looking slightly dazed.

"Sorry about that, guys," Kafei apologized. "Spot decision, I shouldn't have made those two carry you…"

Ty, meanwhile, had whirled around and punched Link in the shoulder the moment he had the chance.

"Hey!" Link protested. "I didn't do it on purpose, you know…"

"But you promised that I could hit you," Ty said innocuously.

"I didn't mean it, it was just to keep you going…" Link argued.

Timbre shook himself off, shedding a few more guard hairs in the process. "I don't think I can run anymore right now," Timbre growled, letting his ears fall back. "I just really want to find somewhere to lie down."

"That makes two of us," Tejina replied. They both started slowly moving down the street garnering six blank stares from their companions.

"Anything you guys would like to share with us?" Link called after them, rubbing his smarting shoulder. "You know we can't understand you like that."

"I've been telling them that all day," Tael said. "Can't understand a word…Kind of wish Kas were here, eh?"

"Yeah," Ty said vaguely. "He disappeared right around the time those two went on stage." "Anyhow…" Kat said. "I suppose we should go…"

"But where?" Kafei said.

"I think we should take a breather first," Sond said, looking over at Timbre and Tejina, who had abruptly stopped near the Bomb Shop. As they watched, Timbre flopped on his side next to one of the flowerbeds, and Tejina followed suit. As the group followed, they slowly passed by the cordoned area that denoted the position of the fallen crates. Ty whistled hollowly through his teeth.

"Well well well," he remarked sarcastically. "How terrible a crime, think of all the poor people in Clock Town who will have to do without a few bottles of honey…"

Still lying on his side, Timbre looked over at Ty with an expression that appeared to be the wolf version of a embarrassed smirk. Ty smirked back. "Hey, it could've been anyone."

"Well," Kafei said as he examined the scene. "I'd say they did go a little bit overboard…" He put a hand on his chin. "I mean, I suppose I'd wonder a little with the pawprints and all, but come on, why hire a hunter?"

Sond chewed her lip. "Well maybe Viscen was scared-"

"Cowardly, more like it…" Link grumbled.

"Scared," Sond re-iterated. "I mean, what if you were in his place? Remember last spring? He was the first to call for the town's evacuation, and was willing to fight for days over it. What do you think he would do if he found out that there was some predatory animal loose?"

"Isn't that the case now?" Link chuckled, looking over at Timbre and Tejina.

"Well, what if you didn't know they didn't mean any harm?" Sond added.

"Well…I'd be suspicious, I suppose…" Link said. "Okay, so maybe Viscen had the safety of the city in mind, but he didn't need to go hire a absolute nutcase to do his dirty work, did he?! I mean, what if that guy had caught Timbe before we'd stopped him, huh?"

There was an ominous growl from Timbre's direction as Link got his name wrong yet again.

"Speaking of…I think we'd better get going soon. Staying in one place like this is awfully risky." Ty mumbled. "Vanditas, this whole business is getting so frustrating…"

"-we're running out of places to run," Link pointed out.

"I know that," Ty snapped. "And we can't keep this up forever. They're both exhausted, look at them. We're not doing so hot ourselves. But if we can't find the Captain, we at least need to get them out of Clock Town."

Link scuffed a boot on the ground. "Well, like I said before, Kas could always-"

"No." Ty said pointedly. "It's too dangerous."

"Um…" Sond said quietly.

Five pairs of eyes looked over at her, and two pairs of ears stood up.

"Do you hear that?" she asked

There was a faint jingling in the air.

Tael gave an answering jingle. "That's my sister!"

And it was. The yellow-white light that was Tatl looped gravely over the roofs, homing in on her brother. "Tael," she hissed, "Everyone. I have something important to tell you!"

"Did you find Kei and Ana?" Link asked her.

"Um, well, no," the fairy admitted ruefully. "But I found Kasumi. He wants me to relay a message to his brother."

Ty looked alarmed, but expectant. "Yes?"

"He said, 'Yes I will, but I'm going to need to be able to see them.'"

Surprised, the Volcanian blinked, frowning.

"Yeah, I had no idea what he was talking about either," Tatl mumbled moodily. "But I promised him I'd relay those exact words to you."

"Thank you," Link said gratefully. "Now if you and your brother would like to help some more, please try to find Kei and Ana and Nick, Chiron, and Captain Viscen. Let them know we have a plan."

The two fairies jingled agreeably. "Alright, we'll let them know that Fuzzy and his girlfriend are in good hands!" With that Tatl and Tael flew into the air, circling each other in dizzy loop-the-loops before disappearing over the roofs.

Sond summed it up for all of them. "Well."

Link swallowed. "It's a plan, I mean that would get them out of town, but-"

Kafei blinked. "But where would he fit? He's huge when he-"

"-unless there was some large sturdy structure he could land on…you know, without crushing it by accident." Kat added hesitantly.

Sond looked up. "How about a giant building made of stone, or better yet, a-"

"Clock!" Five voices shot out at once. Timbre and Tejina, who had been half dozing in the flowerbed, looked up in alarm, their ears standing straight up.

"Timbre, Tejina…" Ty said slowly. "We've got to get you to the Clock Tower. Now."

The two wolves looked at each other, puzzled.

"Tim, Tatl's message was from Kas. He's going to help, but he needs to be able to see you. Do you understand?"

Timbre cocked his head to one side, blinked, and then very deliberately nodded.

"Right!" Link said, "Off we go then!"

"I don't think so…"

A low chuckle that gave everybody the shivers rumbled from the south.

The wind shifted. Timbre's eyes snapped wide open. Tejina froze.

Veneer rounded the corner from the south, the exact way they had just been planning to take. Both Timbre and Tejina backed away from the man who smelled of their deaths. "Well well well…" Veneer chuckled unpleasantly.

Link looked back the way they had come.

"I wouldn't," Veneer said smoothly. "There's two Guards that way on full alert. They informed me of a very interesting package you were delivering. I don't suppose live wolves are legal trade in this town…"

Timbre snarled, showing his teeth. There really wasn't a need for any translation.

"Be quiet," Veneer snarled back at Timbre. "You thought you were so clever, didn't you…thought you could prey off this town without being noticed. Thought you could get past me. I should've recognized you the moment we bumped into each other, would've saved me a lot of trouble, and you a lot of running. Well, that all ends now." He retrieved something from his fur-lined boot, which glinted ominously in the dim light.

Timbre abruptly made a choked noise in the back of his throat. Tejina growled.

"You two recognize its make, then, eh?" Veneer smiled, flipping the long throwing knife back and forth between his hands. It was a good ten inches long, with a hilt wrapped in black leather. He flipped it expertly, and caught it by the blade. "Silver-edged blade. Get stabbed or even touched by this beauty, and you'll be trapped in that form." He licked his lips.

"You leave our friends alone!" Sond said suddenly, nocking an arrow onto her bow, her second to last. Likewise, the other four children readied themselves for a fight. Link drew his sword, Kafei crouched, Kat pulled out the slingshot, and Ty held up his fists, tail lashing from side to side.

The hunter looked nearly bewildered for a moment, before a sneer reappeared. "Friends?"

"Yes," Link gritted. "If you know what's good for you you'll back off!"

"Oh I wouldn't make such threats if I were you…resisting the law can be a very serious offense," Veneer said, smiling. "I am after all under official orders, from the Captain of the Clock Town Guard."

"Why?" Sond demanded.

"Well," Veneer said airily, "I'd originally asked for six hundred rupees, but I'm thinking of doubling the fee, for all the trouble that you've put me through."

"You're doing this for money?!" Kat said angrily.

"You make it sound as if I am cheating somebody, my dear," Veneer bowed mockingly. "I was hired to do this job. We all have to get by somehow. How fortunate for me, to have found a line of work that is so profitable."

"You monster," Link hissed. "They aren't things that you can just…hunt for money…they're not Wolfos, they're people…it's murder-"

"These are not people," Veneer spat disdainfully. "Their kind are nothing more than evil vermin. Mouse-crunching parasites of civilization! Too savage to have their own society, so they leech off ours, scratching what meager semblance of life they can, mere dogs grubbing and fighting over the scraps of what we humans have built. I've seen it all before. It's pathetic."

"That's not true," Kat said.

The hunter bowed again. "Oh, isn't it now? Then tell me this, little girl: how is it that I could get a bounty on them in a city that hasn't seen wolves in living memory? Vindicated by myth! Why, I can easily name a dozen other cities and settlements that would gladly pay me triple what Clock Town's offered for their heads! In some places, I could even sell them live to menagerie collectors or exotic dealers. Don't think I haven't decided against it either," he added.

"You wouldn't dare-"

Veneer smiled, ignoring further insults. "I'd love to argue, but your opinions are irrelevant. Now put those weapons down. You see, I'm a very good throw with these knives…but I wouldn't want to hit one of you by accident." Veneer twitched, and a few more silver-edged knives appeared in his hand. "If there's a fight, well…somebody could get hurt…one of the girls, perhaps…"

Ty yelled, "That's it, you've gone too far, Veneer!" He was starting forward when Veneer flipped his arm back suddenly, a knife glinting dangerously between his fingers.

"I'm warning you…just one more step…" The hunter smiled. "Do you really want to tempt fate?"

Timbre looked from Tejina to his friends, to Veneer. Then he stared at the ground, lips curled back in hasty decisions. After a moment, he seemed to decide something. Looking resolute, he straightened, reverting to human form. "Wait!"

Veneer scowled, weapon still raised. "The beast deigns to speak. What do you want?"

Despite Tejina urgent whimperings, Timbre stepped forward, jaw set. "It's me you're after, isn't it? So why are you threatening them?"

Veneer scowled.

"They're willing to make a fight of it, and if they do, you risk losing me. That's not what you want. Let them go." Timbre glanced down at Tejina. "All of them. Take me instead, that's all you're really after, isn't it? Just let them go and I'll…surrender." Timbre's eyes went strangely flat as he stared intensely at the hunter.

"Tim, what are you doing?!" Link gritted.

"Don't do this!" Sond hissed, eyes wide.

Veneer's brow furrowed. "What trick are you trying to play?"

"No trick," Timbre said evenly.

"I don't believe you," Veneer sneered. "Why would you care about them?"

"Because they're my friends," Timbre said furiously. "And it's my fault they're involved in this at all."

"Tim-" Sond started.

The boy turned to her, looking very serious. "I'm sorry you had to get involved. But now, it's time that I helped you." Timbre sniffed busily, and quickly turned away from them. "Please go. Is it a deal or not?" Timbre said, turning his eyes once more towards the hunter.

Veneer smiled. "Alright. Surrender, and I let them go."

Timbre nodded with downcast eyes, and stepped forward without any resistance. "Agreed." He said, in a tone like a funeral knell, walking towards Veneer.

The hunter let out a triumphant shout, and before the boy could change his mind, Timbre found himself half-choked as Veneer's left arm hooked heavily around his neck. He felt his feet leave the ground, and the next thing he knew, the silver knife was against his throat. Timbre would've struggled and snapped, but he'd promised to give up. The silver blade felt cold and strange against his throat, and a buzzing filled his head.

"Now that this silver's on you, you're mostly helpless," Veneer's voice hissed. "But if you or your pals try anything, you'll only die painfully. Got that?"

Lights danced in front of Timbre eyes, so he shut them.

"Go on," he rasped. "Get out of here…"

Veneer chuckled. "Not likely. They are Viscen's to deal with now."

Timbre's eyes snapped open and he glared upwards. "You said you would let them go!" He choked.

"I said I would," Veneer smiled spitefully. "I never said anything about the Clock Town Guard, did I? Your friends are still in direct violation of Clock Town's laws, helping a renegade like you escape justice. The Guards are legally obliged to take them all into custody. You don't mess with me without paying the consequences. If they hadn't tried to interfere, they would've gone free. But not now."

"You dirty-" Ty started forwards, eyes blazing.

"One more step, boy, and I'll cut his throat!" Veneer warned, and the arm encircled about Timbre's neck spasmed, causing the boy to gag dryly. "Stand down and drop your weapons - all of you, or he dies now."

"Scum!" Ty spat, furiously. Sond and Link dropped their weapons with a metallic and wooden clatter, glaring wrathfully at the hunter.

Veneer nodded, his arm relaxing slightly. Timbre wheezed, able to breathe again. "Good. I called for backup, so they should be here shortly."

A sound of clanking metal slowly became audible over the dull white noise of the crowd. "Ah, that'll be them," Veneer smiled, turning his head towards the sound. "I suppose the Captain will be most interested to hear how these two beasts fooled you poor, impressionable children-"

Sond and Kat had to physically hang onto Ty's arms to stop him from rushing Veneer.

With a final clatter, six Guards arrived. Tejina swallowed apprehensively, unsure of what to do. She stared desperately over at the other children, but their expressions were as helpless as hers. Timbre's eyes were shut, and he was audibly gagging, in the face of the weapon at his neck.

"They're all yours," Veneer said scornfully to the Guards, gesturing towards the children with his head. "They're all charged with obstruction of justice."

"Hold it!"

Veneer scowled as the ranks parted and Captain Viscen pushed to the front. Behind him trailed Nick and Chiron, and behind them stood Kei and Ana. A pair of bright yellow and purple lights hovering near Kei's ear proved to be Tatl and Tael. Viscen nodded curtly at Veneer.

"Stand down, Veneer."

Veneer glared defiantly at the Captain. "Your orders, sir, were to apprehend this beast." The knife hovered dangerously. "Well, here he is. Do you want me to dispatch him later, or right now?"

"My orders," Viscen said smoothly, "were indeed for you to capture him, alive. You have been successful. Therefore, our contract is now finished, Veneer. Let him go. "

"What?!" Veneer hissed, his eyes wide.

"You heard me, Veneer. Kill that boy, and you'll be charged with murdering him in cold blood in front of about a dozen witnesses, including the Captain of the Clock Town Guard. Drop him. Now."

Veneer stared wildly about him as if looking for support. The children were all glaring at him as if their only wish was for the earth to swallow him up. He stared around furiously, and then abruptly dropped Timbre, who hit the ground with a yelp.

Slowly scooting away from the hunter, Timbre swallowed. Massaging his neck, the boy coughed weakly, glad that the cold unsettling aura of silver had at last left him.

Viscen looked to his six Guards. " Thank you. You are all dismissed." The Guards, although puzzled, saluted and began moving out to the north.

One paused. "Sir, what should we do about-"

"I'll take care of it, Shiro," The Captain reassured his junior. "Please go."

"Yes sir!" The Guard saluted and left.

When he and the rest had left, Viscen looked down at Timbre and Tejina, who had swiftly joined the boy after he'd been released.

"You alright?" Tejina nudged at his cheek with her nose, concerned.

"Never better…" Timbre rasped roughly, though he managed a lopsided grin. "Nothing I haven't had worse of. Bit of a close call." He coughed again.

Viscen watched this exchange and shook his head in sheer amazement. "I wouldn't ever have believed it unless I'd seen it myself. You might be paranoid, Veneer, but you were right. Some things are not what they seem."

Veneer grunted angrily. "Exactly. They're dangerous. Look how you're all convinced they aren't a threat!"

Tejina growled at Veneer, ears back.

Kei also scowled darkly at Veneer. "You aren't exactly one to talk."

Nick smirked. "Goo' thin' we foun' Kei an' Ana, eh?"

Ana nodded. "And luckier still that we intercepted that group of Guards on their way here. Apparently Veneer'd told them to meet him here, armed to the teeth. A little overboard for just a few kids, don't you think?"

"You're all insane," Veneer growled through his teeth, shaking his head. The knife turned over and over in his hands. "They'll turn on you someday…I'm telling you…"

"How dare you talk about our friends that way?" Sond burst out angrily.

"Look, girl-" Veneer hissed, brandishing his knife.

Viscen caught Veneer's knife arm and yelled in the hunter's face. "Stop this at once, Veneer!" He roared. "Have you gone mad?! Has this assignment robbed you of all your remaining rationale? Think about what you are doing!"

"I am!" Before Viscen could react, Veneer threw his knife.

Timbre dodged back, the silver blade narrowly missing his left hand. "Run!" He yelled hoarsely before changing form himself and dashing towards the South Clock Town exit. Then they were gone.

Kei leapt at Veneer, but anger had given the hunter a burst of adrenaline. Kei's arms clasped on empty air as the hunter took off, and the man collided heavily with the ground.

"Oh no…" Chiron moaned as Veneer whipped around the corner. It took everybody a second more to react. Link and Sond jumped up, retrieving their weapons.

"Come on!" Sond hissed at them all, and before anybody could say otherwise, she and the other children were off. The adults' cries were ignored as they, too, vanished.

"Wait a second! Damn!" Kei pounded the ground with his fist from his prone position. He pulled himself up, wincing.

"We're going to have to follow them," Ana said to Viscen as she hauled her husband to his feet. She continued pulling him towards the exit. "No telling what Veneer'll do, he's obsessed!"

"We're coming too!" Twin voices from the brother-sister pair of fairies wafted from above as the two took flight. Hovering busily above Viscen's head, they yelled in unison. "They're headed for the Clock Tower."

"Right!" said Viscen. "Though this is all very confusing." He admitted as an afterthought, making Ana and Kei roll their eyes.

"Just come on!" they said, hurrying off.

-;O;-

As Timbre and Tejina rounded the corner, neither of them wanted to look back over their shoulders in fear of what they would see. The sounds of the crowd became a sudden roar as they flung themselves recklessly through the gateway-

-and straight into Mamamu Yan's pack of dogs, who had just a moment ago finished their onstage act.

There was a cacophony of yelps, barks, and yips, as well as Mamamu Yan's call of admonishment as the two wolves blundered about within the confused pack. Timbre hurriedly disentangled himself from one white shaggy dog, which yipped at him in happy recognition.

Timbre turned his head to one side, surrounded on all sides by doggy smell. Tejina, who had been similarly entangled, finally pulled up alongside him.

"Whew! Good luck these guys are pretty civil, eh?"

"They're from the racetrack at Romani Ranch," Timbre explained briefly, as the white dog touched noses with both of them. "Actually…how would you guys like to do us a huge favor?"

As Timbre hurriedly woofed, yelped, and explained his plan in canine pidgin to the pack of dogs, there was a sudden commotion from the gateway as Veneer's boots came into view. "Tim!" Tejina gasped, unsure whether the wheezing sound she was currently making was due to exhaustion or fear. "Here he is!"

"Okay everyone," Timbre said. "On my signal-"

Timbre threw back his head and howled.

The pack of dogs exploded in every direction, barking, yelping, and generally making as much noise as possible. Mamamu Yan jumped in surprise. Sheltered amongst the mass of dogs, Timbre and Tejina bounded north. Tejina tripped up momentarily, hurtling past a golden-colored Deku Flower next to the gateway and narrowly missing its portly occupant.

The Deku Scrub salesman popped its snout out of the flower irritably, squeaking. "You pesky dogs! I have the right mind to go a-EEP!"

The salesman made a sound not unlike a deflating balloon as Timbre abruptly landed on his head, knocking the creature's fez askew. Bouncing off of the enraged Deku's head, Timbre sprang after Tejina, calling hastily over his shoulder, "Sorry mister!"

"Yes, and a 'Bark bark,' to you, too, Fido!" The Salesman squealed, shaking a fist at them. He retreated huffily back into his flower as Veneer burst by, knife in hand. He'd been distracted by the sudden flood of canines, but he had spotted the two of them as they disappeared back into the crowd.

"Tim, there's the tower, now what?" Tejina yelped frantically behind her. A forest of legs, thighs and feet surrounded her, and she screwed her eyes closed as she sneezed on stirred up dust. There were several shouts of alarm from up above as the remainder of the dog pack was slowly rounded up.

"We need to get somewhere where he can see us!" Timbre barked, above the roar of the crowd and the musical twanging of the Zora band currently performing on stage. Lucky for them, most of the crowd this deep was too busy with the music to notice them between their feet. But they were also in danger of being trampled. Sometimes inconspicuity could be a double-edged weapon.

"What?!" Tejina called back, her tail swishing.

"Just trust me! We need to- wait a second, we could use that ledge I was on-"

"What?!"

"There's a maintenance ledge on the Clock Tower, right above the stage. If we can get up there, he'll see us for sure!"

"But so would everybody else!" Tejina argued, tucking her tail between her legs to avoid it being stomped.

"By that point it won't matter anyway!" Timbre said, concentrating hard on avoiding several large boots. The smell of dozens of different sweats threatened to overwhelm him. "Problem is, the ramp to get up on the ledge is on the right side of the Tower. We have to fight through this crowd."

Behind them, a very unwelcome voice could be heard, barely, if they strained their ears to hear.

"Out of my way! Out!" Veneer shoved crowd members aside like tall grass. "I know you're in here, you won't get away this time!" People were beginning to give the hunter a wide berth as they noticed the weapon he was carrying.

Tejina looked down her nose at Timbre. "You'd better be right about this…" she warned as they started to thread their way eastward through the crowd.

"I am, don't worry!" Timbre dodged aside, moving his forepaw out of the way seconds before a Goron's foot would have stamped upon it.

Tejina snorted, hopping forward to avoid that foot's twin. "Hey, what exactly can Kasumi do to get us out of here, anyway? Tatl's message was rather vague…"

"You'll see…" Timbre said distractedly. "Hey, there's the ledge, see?" Sure enough, there was enough of a break in the crowd to see the ledge he had been talking about. Tejina coughed from dust kicked up by countless feet.

"Phew," she said. "It's dusty down here."

-;O;-

The children arrived on the scene just in time to hear a familiar howl as the pack of dogs scattered. Mamamu Yan's shrill voice made them wince.

"Kafei, give her that bag, would you?" Sond muttered to him. "It might calm her down."

As Kafei did so, the others busied themselves looking through the crowd for familiar faces.

"There he goes!" Link yelled, pointing as Veneer dove into the mob. "Wow, this crowd…who would've known Zora bands had such a rabid following? Even if they aren't the Indigo-gos…"

"Guys, if Veneer went that way…" Kat said, "You do realize that means that-"

"So did Tim and Tee…" Sond said. " I really hope Kasumi does show up. I mean, he'd have to be kind of high up to see them, so-"

"'Ee mus' be on one o' th' roofs," Nick offered.

"But which one? We don't know which one to signal to!" Kafei lamented, returning to the group. Mamamu Yan had been placated somewhat, though she was still whistling for her pack.

"We don't need to signal," Ty said calmly.

"Why not?" Kafei asked.

"Because, he's observant. The fact that we're standing here should be enough…" Ty trailed off quietly. "He'll know."

"You sure about that?" Link said, raising an eyebrow. "I mean-"

"Hey, I just know, okay?" Ty snapped. "He is my brother, after all, I think I can be trusted to know things like this…"

"Okay, okay, just asking, sheesh…" Link held up his hands disarmingly, running after the group as they all started towards the crowd.

"Hey guys…" Kafei started.

"What?"

"I see them, they're headed for the tower, look!" Kafei pointed out two small four-legged shapes as they sprinted up the ramp on the right side of the Clock Tower. "See 'em?"

"And if we can see them, that must mean that Kas can too, right?" Sond asked.

-;O;-

Sond was correct in her assumption. Squinting, Kasumi peered and spotted the two wolves as they broke from the crowd. Timbre was leading them both towards that ledge on the Clock Tower. Smart move, he thought. Easily reached area, now if only-

Veneer burst out of the crowd at that moment, hot on their trail. Kasumi bit his lip and stood up, cape flapping in the wind. It was now or never.

"Alright," he said to nobody in particular. "Here I go…"

-;O;-

"Oh, now what!?"

The platform that led to the ledge had one final obstacle – it was six feet from the top of the ramp to the ledge. In order to reach the ledge, one had to jump and pull oneself up, or climb. Timbre dully recalled how long it had taken him to scramble up there previously, and his heart sank.

Tejina's ears went back, and she growled. "Well, this is a kind of a letdown."

"Up you go!" With a grunt, Timbre headbutted his companion in the rump. "I'll give you a boost up."

"That's smart," Tejina grumbled, shying away from him. "Except how are you supposed to get up afterwards?"

Timbre braced himself and glared at her. "I'll be fine. Just get going!"

Tejina's ears went back again. "What if you aren't? Veneer…" She risked a hasty glance behind her, only to have her worst fears confirmed. Veneer was quickly battling through the crowd, his eyes locked upon his targets. In moments, he would catch up to them. And if Tejina wasn't imagining things, that silvery glint in his right hand was that hunting knife-

Tejina shuddered and clambered up onto Timbre's back, calling back down to him. "I could help pull you up, but-"

"Trust me, it'll be fine!"

"But it's too high, you wouldn't have enough leverage on your own," Tejina argued. She managed to hook her forepaws on the ledge and dug her claws in. Veneer was getting closer. "Don't you dare start getting all noble on me-"

Timbre grunted as he felt Tejina's weight lift from his back. Tejina scrambled up onto the ledge, then turned and looked down to her companion. "If you can grab onto my paw, I can help haul you up."

"Okay…" Timbre gulped, and put the idea of looking behind out of his mind. Knowing the hunter was close behind was bad enough. Bracing his hindquarters, he attempted a leap.

"Ack!" Too short. He'd missed her outstretched paw by a good foot.

"Try again!"

"That's…easy for you…to say!" Timbre grunted, attempting the jump again, and failing, snapping his jaws at empty air. "I'm…still pretty winded…"

Flat on her belly, with one forepaw dangling, Tejina stared derisively down at him. "Is that the best you can do?"

Timbre growled, panicky in the light of the situation.

"You need to get up here now!" Tejina said urgently, looking up. Veneer was battering aside the last few members of the crowd in his way. Eyes wide, Tejina urged her companion on. "I'm not letting you sacrifice yourself. Come on, come on…"

"YOW!" Timbre flung himself upwards, buoyed by pure panic. His jaws closed on Tejina's forepaw at the same instant that her teeth clamped down onto his left ear. Timbre hung precariously, halfway up the ledge, an anguished whine in his throat.

Tejina was nearly pulled off the ledge by the sudden added weight, and as her paws began slipping towards the edge, she felt the teeth around her right forepaw tighten. Setting her claws between the mortared cracks of stone, she slowly and agonizingly began walking backwards.

The stranded wolf braced his hind legs against the ledge as he was slowly pulled up, until his front paws were able to find purchase on the edge.

Timbre relaxed a little as the searing pain in his ear receded. Quickly, Tejina let go of Timbre's ear. She was about to congratulate him when her eyes widened, and she lunged forward, roughly grabbing Timbre by the scruff of his neck and hauling him up the rest of the way. They both fell in a heap on the ledge.

Not a moment too soon. A curse rang out as the point of Veneer's knife thudded into the wooden ledge they had just climbed. Scooting backwards, both Timbre and Tejina glowered down at the man who still chased them despite everything.

"Now," Tejina breathed as she watched Veneer pull himself up the ledge, pausing only to retrieve his knife, "Now would be a good time for Kasumi to do whatever he's going to do…"

"I agree…" Timbre gritted, pawing at his injured ear. His paw came away with a smudge of blood. "Come on Kas…where are you?" He stared helplessly upwards at the sky, which was riddled with wispy clouds and stars. "Please…"

"Tim."

"What?" He looked over at her.

"Just so you know, you do have a really nice singing voice."

He looked at her in surprise, but then replied. "Thanks. Y-you're a good dancer, you know."

"Hah," Veneer chuckled, clambering onto the ledge with little difficulty due to his size. "Nowhere to run anymore…" Nobody could've heard them, as the band was still playing, but certainly they had seen them by now. A few members of the crowd were peering upwards, trying to discern the dark shapes behind the curtains, and amid the flickering torches. "Who will die first?"

Timbre growled at Veneer, ears folded back.

"Scared, are you?" Veneer mocked venomously as he closed in. "Don't want to give me any scars to remember you by?"

In response, both boldly stepped forward.

"Not scared, then?" Veneer spun his knife, readying himself to strike. "Well…if you insist-"

And then, something happened.

BOOM.

The Clock Tower shook heavily, as if the entire city had suddenly been struck by a giant's fist. The tremor subsided quickly, but the crowd below them began to shout aloud in alarm as the Zora band stopped their song in mid measure. Timbre and Tejina dropped their bellies and chins to the ledge as they fought the sudden disorientation. Veneer stumbled, nearly losing his weapon.

"What the…"

He didn't have the time nor the care for any more words as he stared upwards at the Clock Tower, slack-jawed. Below him, the crowd was suffering a similar sudden loss of voice as they stared upwards at the cause of the sudden earthquake.

A great silver dragon perched imperiously on the Clock Tower, an enormous living gargoyle, its scales glinting like tarnished mirrors in the glow of the torchight below. Foreclaws resting on the edge of the clock's muraled face, it stared down its long muzzle at the crowd. Two spiraling horns grew from its crown, framing the gray feathery mane that ran down the dragon's long neck. The creature's wings cupped around the Clock Tower, partially folded, like a mother goose about its nest.

With a deep rumbling purr that resonated throughout South Clock Town, the dragon leaned forward, ponderously lowering its head until its nose was level with the ledge.

The silver-edged knife dropped from Veneer's nerveless grasp as he abruptly found himself staring into one massive gray slit-pupiled eye, set in a head which was easily larger than Veneer himself. The eye blinked.

On the same ledge, Tejina cowered. "Wha…what is it?" She squeaked, fur standing on end. Timbre however, seemed quite undisturbed.

"Don't ask questions, just get on!" Timbre replied, approaching the gigantic head.

"What?! Are you crazy?" Tejina barked wildly.

"Not really, I just want out of this city. Don't you?" Timbre replied, twisting his head to one side. Deep down he was enjoying this immensely. For once, Tejina was the one stuttering.

"What are you talking about?!" She exclaimed, looking both scared and exasperated at the same time.

"Well, remember when I said practically the only way we'd get out of this city alive is if we sprouted wings?" He gestured with his nose towards the dragon's head. "Well, here's the next best thing. Told you Kas would come through. Us lobos need to stick together, after all…"

Tejina ogled as realization hit her. "You mean that's-"

Timbre wagged his tail once, and behind him, the giant dragon's eye winked.

"Come on up," Timbre said, beaming wolfishly. "We're in for quite a ride…"

-;O;-

Down below, Kei, Ana, and Viscen were among the many who had gone completely slack-jawed. They slowly caught up to and drew level with the group of children they had been pursuing, though their eyes remained riveted to the Clock Tower. The two fairies hovered on either side of Kei's shock of hair, for once without anything clever to say.

"Oh…my…" Kei swallowed. "Am I crazy, or do I see what I think I see?"

Viscen just nodded dumbly.

"I wouldn't worry too much," a young voice said to Kei's right. It was Sond.

"Huh?" Kei sounded a little stunned, unable to tear himself from the spectacle.

"Yeah, she's right," Chiron said, smirking.

"We're not in any danger. Not really, anyway," Link added.

"He's here to help, you see," Kat added.

"And rather fortunate too-" Ty started.

"Cau' Veneer wa' gonn' catch 'em eventua'lly ot'erwise…" Nick finished.

"Who? What?" Ana managed some coherent thought.

Kafei explained. "Tee an' Tim are gonna be alright. He's giving them a ride out of town, you see…" The purple haired boy grinned widely along with the rest of his friends, pointing towards the Clock Tower.

"You mean, they're hitching a ride on that…dragon?" Kei could barely choke out the word.

"We have a winner," Link smirked. "Keep watching, this is about to get interesting…"

-;O;-

Veneer could only stare helplessly as he watched the wolves clamber onto the dragon's snout, head up the muzzle, and finally settle themselves firmly in at the base of one of the curving horns, amid the tufts of feathery hair. Throat bobbing slightly, Veneer's legs finally gave way as the dragon glared directly at him. For a moment, it looked like Veneer was going to say something-

"Hmph!"

Then the dragon snorted contemptuously in the hunter's direction, and Veneer was blasted off his feet. His weapon fell down harmlessly as Veneer tumbled backwards off the ledge. He rolled down the ramp, coming gently to a stop in a senseless heap at the bottom.

The dragon yawned, as if it found this uninteresting. Then just as suddenly, it lifted its head, staring upwards. The two small passengers whooped, clinging tightly as they were suddenly thrust up towards the starry night sky.

The dragon gathered itself up like a cat getting ready to pounce, and then sprang into the air, its wings snapping open just as it cleared the rooftops. The wings beat, and a massive downdraft made a wind that blew a sudden gale through the crowded square, playfully whirlwinding dust and loose leaves about. Flames flickered and guttered wildly in a fight to stay alight. The wind slowly died away as the dragon, having gained enough altitude, banked its wings into a glide. It circled the Tower thrice, and then with a thundering trill, flung itself upward, climbing into the dark sky. Its silver shape slowly melded with the sky as it drew further and further away from the torchlight. Now it was melting into the clouds…Going…going…gone.

-;O;-

The crowd below was completely stunned. Nothing could be heard except the sputtering of upset torches, and the vague rustle as everything that was upset by the downdraft slowly fluttered to the ground. Then, like a wave of rippling grass in a sudden strong wind, the crowd reacted.

It started with just a single man towards the back of the crowd, clapping slowly. A few companions, then an entire group, slowly joined him. Then with a swell, the entire crowd erupted into applause, cheering, and catcalls.

Nobody cheered louder than a certain group of children, and their adult companions.

Onstage, confusion ran absolute. The head of the Zora band was talking animatedly to both Mayor Dotour and Madame Aroma, assuring them that they certainly hadn't planned on any special effects during their performance. Madame Aroma threw her hands up in the air, and both the Mayor and the Zora flinched.

A violet-haired adult detached himself from the crowd, jogging over to the group of children. It was Kafei's older brother.

"Kaf," The man gasped, breathlessly. "Did you see-"

"Sure did," Kafei said smilingly, as his brother joined the group.

"I needed to make sure I wasn't going insane, or having some sort of wild dream," Big Kafei wheezed. "But apparently I'm not dreaming…" He put a hand to his forehead. "And I don't seem to be feverish…"

"Calm down, dear," Ana smiled benignly. Kafei snickered.

"And you," Big Kafei stared down at his little brother. "Where have you been during all this? Haven't seen you all day practically…"

"Oh, this and that…practicing for the competition and stuff…y'know…delivering stuff." Kafei scuffed a boot against cobblestones.

He didn't have any chance to come up with any further excuse, as Mayor Dotour and Madame Aroma arrived amongst the unruly audience. Having found no explanation on the stage, had preempted to the next best thing.

"Captain Viscen!" Mayor Dotour wobbled perilously. "An explanation, if you please!"

"Indeed!' Madame Aroma huffed, stooping and practically crushing her youngest son in a giant hug. "Hello, dear."

"Mom, I can't breathe…" Kafei choked desperately.

Mayor Dotour wore a vexed expression, looking to his Captain for support. "I hope that…everything has gone well…"

"The situation has been taken care of," Viscen said accurately.

"Good! Good! Excellent news," Dotour looked slightly less anxious. "Now…can you possibly offer any explanation for…tonight's events?"

"Well…uh…" Viscen stumbled over himself, unable to think of anything to say. "Er…"

"What Captain Viscen means to say, Dad," Kafei started, prying himself away from motherly torture, "is that everything is perfectly fine. The…illusion, it was kind of an idea me and my friends had…We got some help from Kei and Ana…they're wonderful at illusions-"

Kei and Ana coughed gently, and the children all laughed nervously.

"Well, it really was our fault," Kafei admitted, guardedly. "It was supposed to be a surprise…you and Mom have worked so hard to make this Festival great, and we thought maybe for once you needed a surprise of your own…"

Mayor Dotour, his wife, and his older son exchanged a trio of glances. "Well," Dotour finally said, after a moment's contemplation. "It was quite a surprise…"

"Glad to know everything was under control…" Big Kafei added.

"But next time, please inform us before you plan on doing anything so…spectacular…" Madame Aroma finished, leveling a stern gaze at her younger son. Turning to the illusionists, she congratulated them. "I must say, that illusion was most impressive. And so realistic!" The woman shook both Kei and Ana's hands. "We simply must have you back for the next festival! I'm simply astounded by how you were able to make something just appear and disappear so suddenly…and the wind effects and everything…"

Kei just smiled and nodded as his arm was pumped vigorously up and down. "Trade secret, ma'am. Trade secret…"