Chapter Text
The next morning, I woke up to the sun shining in through my window. I finally was able to sleep, writing must have calmed my nerves. I get ready for the day slowly, not wanting to take my refreshed state for granted. I begin to feed my pets, noticing that Sean is now the same size as Meowki. Thorgi has also grown but he was a puppy, that’s inevitable. Sean however is a hamster and should not be this size.
As if she could hear my thoughts, I hear Kiki knock on my door and announce her arrival. I let her and Donna into my house where Kiki instantly locks onto Sean and begins to question me about his size.
“Aphmau, how in the world did he get to this size? Why didn’t you come to me?”
“I noticed he was getting bigger but it was like overnight he grew to this size, I’ve just been so distraught over everything that the magic of my overgrown hamster was not at the forefront of my mind.”
“I guess you’re right, Sean seems healthy outside of size. I’m going to take him to my home so I can try to figure out what happened.”
Donna pipes up, suddenly intrigued by the conversation.
“Want to go to the plaza? There’s a new vendor!”
“What does he sell?”
“I have no clue but I do know he is so my type.”
Kiki and I laugh at Donna’s crush. I quickly get ready for the day while Kiki finishes feeding my pets. I come back upstairs and notice that Kiki is petting Meowki and he’s quiet.
“How are you doing that?”
“Doing what?”
“Petting the cat without him screaming at you?”
“Oh is he normally loud?”
“Yes. Very.”
“I have no clue, he’s been so calm since I started petting him.”
I shake my head in disbelief because there’s no way Meowki is being polite in my home. The girls and I head out on the town, Thorgi following us. I lock my door out of fear of anything happening to my cat. I can’t be too careful these days. We gossip about the people in Phoenix Drop as if there hasn’t been any abnormal activities as of recent. We get to the plaza and a tan man with blonde hair is setting up a stall. Dale is helping him.
“Hey there! My name's Aphmau, welcome to the village!”
“Aphmau huh? Dale here was telling me you’re the Lord of this place. About time you come say hello.”
“Ha! Well I’m saying hello now. Please let me know if you need anything.”
“Will do, my name is Logan. I’m a food merchant but I have ways to get other goods. If you have a request, let me know first and I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you Logan.”
I’ve decided that I’m no longer going to fight being called the Lord. If the people here trust me enough to give me this role, I can’t let them down, especially because they have extended me with such kindness and generosity. I leave Donna to talk to Logan and Dale. Kiki tells me I should check on Brenden while she examines Sean. I oblige and head in that direction.
I make it to where Brenden is staying, Garroth and Zenix are inside the guard station as well. Both are examining their weapons while Molly and Dr. Doctor are checking on Brenden. I see Garroth sharpening his blade. He has a sword with a silver hilt that’s engraved with a pale blue stone. The blade itself looks to be made of a blue obsidian. Zenix’s sword is hung on the rack. It is a crooked red blade, unlike the traditional sword Garroth has. Zenix is sharpening arrows.
“Zenix, you don’t normally use a bow do you?”
“No I don’t. I figured since the culprit used a bow, I should bring one just in case.”
Garroth looks at Zenix when he says that. I still can’t see his face because of the helmet he chooses to wear. I would like to see what he looks like one day but with the recent attacks, I can’t request the guards to lower their armor. Zenix and Garroth go back to their weapons, Garroth tells me that he and Zenix will be going to try and find the attacker.
I go up to Brenden and he is sound asleep, his face does not show that he is feeling any pain. Molly looks a tiny bit uncomfortable.
“Molly, how is he? How are you?”
“Brenden is making a smooth recovery. He will be back to health soon according to Dr. Doctor. As for me, I’ve been better. I’ve been feeling kind of sickly lately. Dr. Doctor told me I should rest but I can’t just sit at home knowing that there’s been threats to this village.”
“I understand that. Are you feeling any better?”
Molly nods and goes back to tending to Brenden. I take this as a sign to leave everyone be. As I leave the guard station, I notice there’s a few people I don’t recognize in the plaza. One is a girl with pale hair, she is stringing lights across her stall. There’s a few other villagers speaking to Logan, Donna, Kiki and the new girl. I walk over to them, Kiki notices me and waves.
“Lady Aphmau! This is Zoey!”
“Hello Zoey, welcome to Phoenix Drop!”
“Lady Aphmau, pleasure to meet you. Kiki and Donna have spoken so highly of you. I couldn’t wait to meet you. I’m originally from the Yggdrasil Forest but have been floating around villages lately. Thank you for your hospitality!”
“We’re so happy to have you here, I hope you love Phoenix Drop. It’s getting late, do you have a place to stay?”
“Yes, Kiki offered me a space in her home while I get on my feet here.”
I nod and head back to my home. Once I get there I notice that my door is open and Thorgi is sniffing around the front. I was so busy today I forgot I brought Thorgi with me. He looks at me confused, then I realize that my cat is missing. Thorgi and I walk around the outside of the house and all over the inside. No trace of Meowki. On his bed however, was the glimmering black smoke. My heart is pounding as I get into bed, holding Thorgi close. I swore I closed my door this morning. Both Donna and Kiki watched me.
Sleep ended up taking over me and the morning came too soon. I spent the bulk of the morning looking for Meowki with Thorgi. We searched everywhere around my house, going down to the docks and the old Lord’s home. My stomach churns thinking about what horrors my cat might have faced or is currently facing. Noon rolls around and I reluctantly accept the reality that my cat is gone.
I go down to the plaza and find Kiki and Sean. Kiki looks at me with a soft expression, almost as if she knows that my siren of a cat is now missing. Sean is still incredibly large. Thorgi goes over and they start to play. Donna is chatting with Logan and Dale at Logan’s stall. Zoey is talking to Emmalyn at her stall. Dale sees me and walks over.
“Lady Aphmau, Garroth and Zenix are out on their patrol to find the guy who shot Brenden. Garroth asked me to up the patrols around Phoenix Drop. He also requested me to keep you in the village while he is gone. They left yesterday evening.”
“Thank you for the update Dale. How is Brenden and Molly?”
“Brenden is stable. He is making a good recovery and according to Dr. Doctor, he will be back to normal by tomorrow. Molly is resting at home, she’s been feeling quite sick lately. Dr. Doctor has been looking over her as well. I hope he stays in Phoenix Drop.”
“That’s good to hear. Thank you.”
Dale nods and goes to his patrol spot. Logan and Donna seem engrossed in conversation. They look cute together, even if Logan is a bit rough around the edges. I hang around and chat with those in the plaza until evening. As the sun goes down, I say goodnight to everyone and turn to walk home. Before I am able to start walking, a masked man emerges from the forest that connects to the plaza. He has Garroth in his arms, bleeding heavily from his chest. He puts Garroth down and looks at me. His eyes dark with a flicker of red. The man leaves as quickly as he came, but I realize it is the same person as the one who led me to this place.
Donna and I run to Garroth’s side and Logan comes to help us lift him. Dale hears our screaming and comes to our aide with a few other guards. We get Garroth to the guard station where Brenden has finally made enough recovery to get out of the bed. Donna quickly changes the sheets and Dale and Logan lie Garroth down. Dr. Doctor gets to work instantly.
“Lady Aphmau, this injury is severe. He needs healing magicks as soon as possible. Lord Bert of Brightport is known for using that type. He however has been missing for over a week. Unfortunately he may be our only hope for a full recovery.”
I look at Garroth, laying still on the bed. His chest armor being removed by Dale. I know the urgency of the situation but my feet feel frozen in time. I’m in a daze as I prepare to leave for Brightport. Logan offers his ship once more. Kiki and Brenden see me off at the docks. Kiki gives me a bag.
“Lady Aphmau, take this Brightport is close to a werewolf tribe. If their Lord is missing, I’m sure the wolves are in an uproar. I know the wolves well, but if they attack you can only defend yourself with a sword of gold. Please be safe Lady Aphmau.”
Kiki gives me a hug. Brenden looks angry.
“There’s something off about Zenix. He wasn’t even the one to bring back Garroth. What kind of guard abandons one of their own? I remember something now. Zenix pulled me in front of him. What a coward.”
Kiki tells Brenden to calm down and not get himself too worked up considering that he just became better. Logan walks down the stairs to the docks during the conversation.
“Lady Aphmau, bring my ship back in good condition. If something else happens here, I may need it to take myself and Donna to a new village.”
He chuckles softly, but we both are scared.
“Be safe. We’re counting on you.”
I nod and tell the group thank you. I set sail into the night and make the journey quickly. When I arrive at the docks I see Azura. She’s waiting.
“Lady Aphmau, Raven gave me a brief word that you are on your way. Is everything alright?”
“Azura, no. Garroth was attacked and brought to our village by a stranger. A doctor is caring for him now but he said in order for a full recovery we will need a healing magicks user. Has Lord Bert been found?”
“Unfortunately not and to make matters worse, the wolves are accusing us of harming their pups. I believe Merida knows something of use but she is still angry about Vischer.”
We walk up the stairs and Azura tells me to get some sleep before I go speak with Merida. I oblige and I stay the night in her guest room. I toss and turn all night trying to wrap my head around all of the absolutely insane things that have happened to me and everyone I know lately.
Morning comes after a night of not so restful sleep. I got out of bed and Azura had left me some water and biscuits. There’s a note that reads
“Lady Aphmau,
I apologize for the lack of better meals, I am not a great cook. Pardon my early leave this morning, with Lord Bert still missing, the town is going to chaos against the wolves and I can barely keep the peace. Please help us.
Best, Azura”
The biscuits were quite hard and bland but better than nothing. I eat and make my way to Merida’s home. My heels digging into the ground the entire walk. Azura lives not too far away from Merida, which only makes me feel worse. I get to the door, her son is playing outside by himself. He looks at me worried. I knock on the door and Merida answers.
“Aphmau. It has been a while. Do you know who killed Visher?”
“No mam, but the culprit has struck two of my people. I have come to you to ask about the Lord of Brightport.”
“Why would I help you? Even if I knew anything, you let my husband die and now you admit to being a target. Get away from my house.”
She slams the door in my face. Her son peaks around the side of the house and motions for me to come over to him. I hesitantly oblige, praying he didn’t hear me get scolded by his mother.
“Lady, I think I know where Lord Bert is.”
“Really? Where?”
“I’ll tell you only if you can rescue my friend. He was trapped by a hunter. An evil one. He didn’t do anything wrong. The people here hate the wolves.”
“Oh uh.”
I pause. There’s no way I will be able to take something from a hunter. A wolf at that. Two negatives, a wolf and hunter, can make for a very dead Aphmau.
“Lady please, my friend is probably so scared. His parents come every night to the docks hoping he will be returned. The wolves don’t want to bite. They are peaceful. Please Lady.”
“Fine. Where is the hunter?”
The little boy lights up. He points down the street towards the plaza. I see a shop with a sign, the sign has two swords and a skull. Almost like a pirate but not quite. I nodded at the little boy and set off to the hunters house.
This walk feels almost worse than the one to Merida’s originally. I make it to the shop and walk in. The hunter is laying on a cot on the side of the shop, there is a large glass with a tiny bit of beer left in it. There is a door that is open to a set of stairs. I walk as quietly as I can to not wake the sleeping hunter. The stairwell is dimly lit and narrow.
Once I make it to the bottom of the stairs I see two jail cells. One containing an incredibly tiny wolf pup.
“Hello?”
“Shush, please don’t wake the hunter.”
It seems the wolf pup knows the hunter is asleep.
“I’m here to save you, do you know where the key is?”
“Check on the wall, be fast and quiet.”
I check on the wall and find the keys. As fast and quietly as I can, I unlock the cell and open the door enough to let the pup out but not enough to make a sound. I open my bag and rearrange my items to allow the pup to get in, I place the sword in the belt of my skirt. The pup is small enough to just barely fit and we rush out of the cells.
The hunter stirs as we go up the stairs but remains asleep. I tip toe to the door of the shop and open it. The hunter stirs once more but this time I don’t pause and I just bolt out. The pup and I make it to Merida’s house quickly. The boy is still playing outside. I let the pup out of my bag.
“Lowell! You’re safe! Lady, please take Lowell to the wolf village this evening.”
“I’m sorry to have caused you any trouble. That hunter snatched me from my parents days ago.”
“Lady, the wolves-”
Merida must have heard the commotion outside and came to investigate.
“Aphmau, I forbid you to speak to my son after what you have failed to do for his father. Leave at once and take that dog with you! John, come inside!”
The little boy mouths ‘bye lady’ to me as he goes inside the house. I look down at Lowell who is hiding in a bush. I reach down with my bag to let him in again and we go back to Azura’s home until nightfall.