September 13, Fall, year 20
When I get my hands on that thief! OH am I going to give him a black eye! And maybe a bit more than that to think about!
Alright, so he sent another notice today, to Vesta of all people…
Claire had been heading for the Dig when Celia had hurried towards her, a look of uncertainly on her normally cheery features. The blonde farmer stopped immediately and caught Celia's arm at the brunette stumbled.
"Something wrong Lia?" Claire asked, faintly amused at her friend's clumsiness. "you're acting like something's chasing you."
"Flora and Carter said you were really helpful to them when that phantom thief was gonna steal their stuff," and Celia gave Claire a pleading look.
Claire's heart sank. She had a feeling she knew where this was going.
"We got.. we got a note from him, and Aunt Vesta really wanted to talk to you about it… Could you come?"
"Sure Celia," Claire ran a hand through her hair. "Sure, I'll come."
"Oh thank you!"
Claire followed brunette back down the path leading towards the dig, and met Vesta and Marlin in front of the storefront.
"Claire!" Vesta seemed happy to see the blonde. "I'm glad Celia found you."
"We have a note," Marlin said shortly. "From this Phantom Skye person."
"Celia told me," Claire tried not to groan. "What's it say?"
Wordlessly, the sickly farm hand passed it over.
At midnight exactly, I shall help myself to the fruits of your labor.
Yours truly,
Phantom Skye.
"I can't believe he wants to steal all our crops!" Vesta fumed. "Give me a break!"
Knowing how hard Vesta, Celia and Marlin worked to grow their vegetables, Claire had to admit that she couldn't exactly blame the older woman for her disbelief and anger.
"Claire, can you maybe help?" Celia pleaded. "I don't know what just the three of us can do…"
And the brunette flicked a glance at Marlin, who had shoved his hands into his pockets and was scowling blackly. Claire caught her meaning immediately.
Marlin had always been a little more weak than the rest of his family. Being out at night, even in early fall, often left him with a cold that wouldn't go away for weeks.
The blonde nodded reluctantly. She was starting to hate the fact that they were relying on her for help in catching Skye, but at the same time she understood it. After all, she was the only one who truly knew the thief…
"You're a good girl Claire," Vesta boomed, grinning. "We'll make it up to you somehow!"
"It's nice of you to do this," Marlin added gruffly. "You've got your own farm to tend to and all.."
Celia just gave her friend a hug, which Claire returned gratefully.
"I guess be here before midnight," Vesta crumpled the note, stuffing it into a pocket. "Meet us inside, we'll plan."
"Alright. See you then Vesta, Marlin, Celia."
Claire had to quick-march away from the trio—who had put their heads together for a quick conference—to hide her agitation.
"Oh Skye," she whispered. "You idiot…"
Claire flung herself into her work throughout the day. Whether it was digging in the mines, weeding her crops or even just playing with her animals, she focused on it completely to block out the fact that Skye was still playing the thief.
Shortly after ten she locked up and headed over to Vesta's with a heavy heart. While he might be able to escape one person alone, the four of them would catch him indubitably.
It made her heart ache, to think that she was going to actually help catch him, but there was no other choice for it. She owed it to her community… Right?
The mental conflict carried her all the way to the door of Vesta's house, and she was pulled in hurriedly after a quick knock.
"We might have a plan to catch that lily-livered thief," Vesta proclaimed as Claire sat at the dining table with them. "Marlin thought of it while we were working!"
"You're pretty angry," Claire commented softly.
"Course I am," Vesta snorted. "He wants to ruin all of my hard work! Anyways, Marlin, the plan!"
"Because the farm is so big, I thought it would be easier if we split up and each took a piece of the farm," the young man explained. "Then when we see the thief, we can ambush him!"
"Right," Celia piped up. "Aunt Vesta decided that we should be in teams of two, but we wanted to wait for you before pairing up, and deciding where to go."
Claire nodded, thinking.
"I'll go with Vesta, and we can take the south fields," she said after a minute. "You and Marlin can take the north fields. And don't forget to shout if you need help!"
Almost, she told them about Skye's paralyzing spell. But at the last minute she closed her mouth.
"Alright," Vesta nodded. "We'll get that no-good thief! Let's go!"
It was chilly outside, and Claire snuggled deeper into her jacket as she crouched across from Vesta, hidden in a patch of yams. She had to admit that nothing much would hide the bright blonde of her hair, so she was trying to stay as much out of sight as possible.
Vesta hissed slightly, alerting Claire as footsteps started down the vegetable aisles. In one move both farmers burst from their cover and stood in the way of the Phantom Thief. Claire had to do an active double-take when she saw him, and for a minute wondered if maybe there was a copycat thief, because this young man did not look like Skye.
His hair was long and wavy, black as pitch and tied back in a ponytail, revealing eyes that were a startling shade of amethyst. The voice however, was a dead giveaway.
"It's an ambush," he blinked. "My, my, my, how… unexpected."
"You grimy thief, keep your paws off my vegetables!" Vesta snapped.
"You shouldn't let such raw anger steal your beauty."
Claire could have smacked her forehead, and would have if Vesta hadn't been standing next to her. The almost-masculine woman didn't take kindly to flattering comments unless they were about her produce, and as such, only became more furious.
"You, you, you," she spluttered.
Skye looked around her, to Claire's anxious blue eyes. The farm girl had brought her arms up to her chest, and before she could stop herself, she cried out what she'd been trying to say for so long.
"Please stop stealing!"
He gave her a faintly superior smile and lifted his chin slightly. One hand already held a sack that had some of Vesta's rare seeds in it, and some of her spare money.
"Are you worried about me?" he cooed. "Don't be, it's not my time to get caught."
The smugness made her less anxious and more annoyed. But before she could step forward, or Vesta could rush the thief, she felt a familiar tingle before her muscles locked up tight.
"What did you do?" Vesta shouted. "Why can't I move you prissy girly-boy?"
"Well, my work here is done," and he didn't meet Claire's eyes as he moved towards the fence. "Time to jet."
Claire was equal parts hurt and furious. He'd used that spell on her again, not trusting her to stay back and stall Vesta like she'd been about to. Vesta raged and fumed beside her, trying to move. Raised voices caught their attention, and Claire found herself wishing she could turn and watch the ensuing fights.
"H-hey!" Celia's voice trembled, but she stood firm. "You thief! Give us back our stuff!"
"I'm extra popular tonight," Skye mused, "being cornered by lovely women is becoming a habit…"
If Claire had been able too, she would have thrown something at him.
"Back off pretty boy," Marlin snapped. "Unless you feel like eating dirt!"
"Hmph," Skye snorted. "Where's the mystery and allure of being caught by a man I ask you?"
There was a startled exclamation from both Celia and Marlin. Skye chuckled and ghosted past the both of them into the storehouse, and then back, moving up the path in the direction of Mineral Town.
It took thirty minutes after Skye's leave-taking for everyone to unfreeze fully. Claire and Vesta joined Marlin and Celia in front of the storehouse to assess the damages.
"I guess I wasn't very much help at all," Claire said, hanging her head slightly.
"None of us were," Celia admitted. "He's got such powerful magic, he probably could have put us to sleep if he wanted to…"
Claire just shook her head slightly and sighed.
"You're all a bunch of weepers," Vesta said, thumping each of them on the shoulder. "No one got hurt, and I can always make more seeds! He didn't manage to lay a finger on what's growing now, so don't mope!"
Claire winced, and rubbed her shoulder, but smiled in spite of herself.
"Vesta…" Marlin blinked.
"Tomorrow's another day," the woman proclaimed. "Just have to keep working!"
"Yeah…" and Celia smiled. "You're right. We've got to do our best!"
Claire nodded slightly, making a promise that there would be words the next time she saw that head of silver hair. Or maybe just a black eye…
"Thanks Claire," Marlin said abruptly. "We owe ya one."
"I'll have you some strong seeds here tomorrow," Vesta promised, "so come back soon!"
"Right, right," Claire nodded again. "See you. Get some rest, yeah?"
"You too Claire," Celia smiled.
The blonde waved and turned towards home. Every step she took made the intertwining anger and hurt grow stronger, until she was ready to spit nails.
I'll wait til after the Harvest Festival to give myself some time to cool down, but I swear to the Goddess, I'm at least going to give him a black eye for not trusting me! The jackass!