Unraveller twitched her whiskers in disapproval.
"So, you're saying that you don't want to pay me? I helped you undo your curse, did I not? And, if I remember correctly, it certainly wasn't a particularlysimpleone to deal with now, was it?"
The Wildclaw shifted their weight, avoiding Unraveller's gaze. The classic sign of a guilty conscience, Unraveller thought, fighting to keep the knowing smirk off her face. For every truly grateful client, there was always one who tried to fleece her.
"Look," the Wildclaw said. "It's not that I don't appreciate what you've done. It's just…I think you're asking too much."
"Too much? 200 gems is not much in the scheme of things. If anything, I should've asked formore. But, if you wish, I can always undo what I've done. I'm sure the aches and pains weren't that bad after all. It might be quite nice living life as a tree."
She spoke lightly, but Unraveller was starting to get a little bit annoyed. 200 gems really wasn't a lot - she'd certainly asked for higher amounts from other clients. Usually those she helped paid the price without question.
"No!" The Wildclaw shuddered, still not looking at her. "I-I don't have the gems."
"You don'thavethe gems? Did you ever have them, or was that a lie?"
"A lie," the Wildclaw whispered miserably. "I paid off some other debts I had with what I had left. I'm sorry."
The petals falling around Unraveller seemed to swirl faster, as if caught in an errant breeze. She took a long, slow, deep breath.
"Well now," she drawled. "That's a bit of a problem, isn't it. I don't do anything for free. Unless someone's situation tugs at my heartstrings, and it's been a very long time since that's happened."
"However," she continued, raising a hand, talons outspread. "I believe I've just come up with a…solution to this problem."
—
Wynchwood forest wasn't a particularly pretty place, Unraveller thought, glancing round at the unsightly growths on the trunk of the nearest tree, but it was a good place to ply her trade. Felhallow city too, come to that. The air was full of magic - she could feel the thrum of it. It wasn't her main concern right now, however.
"Kissen? Are you around?"
"I'm here," a soft voice replied. A pale Veilspun emerged from the foliage, hovering just within eye range. "Is the job finished?"
"Oh, it's done," Unraveller said. "The client did try to talk their way out of paying me, however."
Kissen tilted her head slightly. "Did you get paid in the end?"
Unraveller nodded. "I did, though not in the…usual manner, you could say." She held up a small pouch and shook it, listening with pleasure to the gems jingling inside.
"Idohope the client enjoys life as a fly. Even though it's unlikely to be a long one."