Soul Searching

[Greeneye]

Greeneye was rushing through the streets, panting heavily. He was looking for a certain shop. Once he spotted it, he looked around.

"Swifttail! Swifttail!" He called out. "Look I-" He pulled out a dingy white rag from his pocket. "Truce, okay? I know we ain't on the best 'o terms right now, but- it's Silvertongue! He's sick or somefink. This ain't no trick, I swear on me affydavit on it." Greeneye was panting. "Go find 'is friends or what not. Bring every beast what 'e made an acquaintance wif, an' come to der shop what's called Botanica Magica. It's on the back streets."

Then, as quickly as Greeneye arrived, he left, running back down the street.

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

The heat of the forge roared in the small Blacksmith's shop, each hammerstrike ringing sharp off the iron block. Swifttail worked in tandem with the blacksmith, matching the rhythm, his paw blistered from days of repetition. He was focused, nose singed with soot, muscles taut from the effort, when the door banged open.

He turned just as Greeneye burst into view, panting, wild-eyed, clutching some dirty scrap in truce. Swifttail’s ears instinctfully perked and tensed his shoulders and he listened. When Greeneye turned to go, the fox gave a single nod. No hesitation. He wasn't going to let his distaste of the rat get in the way of an emergency.

He didn’t ask permission. He just caught the eye of the weasel blacksmith he’d been shadowing all week, and jerked his snout once toward the doorway.

Then he dropped the hammer. His apron came off in with a rug. He kicked aside the catch on the workshop’s narrow door and shot out into the street.

He didn’t know where most of his friends were these days. But he knew he'd have a shot at the docks, which he rapidly hurtled towards as he shot down the main thorough fare of the Trenches, dodging beats as he ran.

Finally rounding a small corner and seeing Bouillabaise Harbor sprawl out before him, he saw finally a familiar face. Totally winded, and looking an absolute ragged, sooty mess, he stopped at the beasts paws, Gaping for breath.

"S... Silvie's in *huff* t...trouble! Gotta *huff* find 'is friends *hurgh*"

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

Kaii was on his way towards the Ministry of Commerce. He needed to register his company apparently and it took him about three days to complete all of the paperwork needed. Now, coming back from the Stock Exchange, he was just genuinely tired. Not even fighting on the Urk was as exhausting mentally as dealing with mundane paperwork. Were he not in a situation where he still had to account for each penny, Kaii would long ago pay for someone to deal with legal and bureaucratic matters.

But as he padded purposefully through the city, focused on the stack of the documents in his paws, suddenly, a familiar todd stood in his way. Kaii needed exactly one half a second to put the paper on the cobblestones and get to support the poor beast. Seeing the state Swifttail was in, the marble fox got instinctively ready to fight, already taking out and expanding the pole of his weapon.

And it was further reinforced by the words he had finally managed. Kaii's oath to protect the two was still a thing. As such, he just took the papers into his bag as quickly as possible, before standing up and helping Swifttail to sit on the nearest bench.

"Rest before you go again. If Silvertongue needs his friends, seeing as he is a type to have plenty of those, I am sure we can find them easily."

Kaii voice was determined, his muzzle as stoic as ever. Letting Swifttail to cool down, he looked around. Fortunately, he was on one of the more important tracts going through the city. As such, per sheer coincidence, he'd managed to spot another familiar face.

"So easily in fact, we already found someone again!" He said to Swift before waving at the beast and raising his voice above the noises of the city around them. "Hello! Good to see you! We need some assistance! Silvie needs his friends!"

 

[FinnianBrightfur]

Finn was about on fox business -- which is to say, the foxkit was trotting straight down main street with a small paper wrapped morsel of food in his paws. One toasted bagel, generously coated in butter, and sandwiching a beautiful medly of maple crusted bacon, fluffy eggs, and a thick layer of gooey cheese. The little kit was so fully absorbed in his own meal that he almost trotted straight past Swift and Kaii in the streets! When Kaii called out to him, he skidded to a stop, and wheeled around.

"Oh~! Hi Kaii!" he called cheerfully. With a flag of his tail, he wheeled around, and came over. "Have you guys had one of these things? Oh my goodness, they're the best." He took another bite, and cocked his head. He knew Swift to be a fairly athletic fox... seeing him winded was certainly out of the ordinary. "What's up with Silv?" he asked, the slightest hint of concern arising in his voice.

 

[Darragh Harper]

“Ah yes, you have drawn the Death card, my young friend,” the old vixen cackled, her bone earrings clicking against each other as her head shook. “Not to fret my lad, it does not mean you will die! Rather it signifies a great change coming in your life. Now take my paw and close your eyes with me, Darragh. Tell me what you see!”

Darragh liked this fortune-teller. She did things the old-school way, full of menacing laughs, theatrical gasps and spidery paw-movements over her hunk of crystal. He appreciated a good performance, and it was nice to talk to somebeast neutral about his problems. For a pawful of change, Darragh could experience the momentary, comforting illusion that his future could be read in the stars, in crystals, or in prettily drawn cards, and that it all meant something. Besides, he was starting to become friends with Madam Crowley, he sometimes bought the two of them tea and a pastry to share, and she would tell him more mundane - though no less entertaining - stories about her past affairs, her craziest clients, or even adventures from her youth.

As Darragh was about to close his eyes, he heard a shout, and the patter of quick paws coming down the lane. Madam Crowley’s table was set up among the market stalls, and it was a good place for a bit of beast-watching when one had an afternoon free. What Darragh did not expect to see was Swifttail of all foxes, running full-speed as though the MinoMis herself was coming after him. He was covered in soot, and as he quickly brushed past a rat merchant, he left a trail of ash all down the poor unknowing creature’s back.

Darragh stood up with a start. “A sooty fox!”

“A sooty fox? Indeed, this is an omen of, erm…” Madam Crowley’s brow furrowed as she clenched her eyes tighter shut. “Well, let me see now…”

“I’ve got to go! Thanks awfully, Ma’am C.! I’ll see you next week!” Darragh said hastily, tossing his coins onto the table and dashing after Swifttail.

The vixen blinked her eyes open, to find her client had disappeared. She quickly scooped up the coins, and began calling out to passers-by once more, “Fortunes told! The veil of the future lifted! Come see Madam Crowley, she knows all, sees all! Only a few bits of tin for a paw-reading!”

Meanwhile, Darragh skidded around a corner to find Swifttail in the company of familiar faces. The stoat puffed and panted up to the gathered group of foxes, readjusting his hat. There was Kaii, looking ready for a fight with his polearm ready, and Finn with an enormous delicious-smelling something that made Darragh’s mouth water. He waved at the group of his friends, though it took him a moment to get his breath back.

“Whew… fine day for a run alright, Swift! Hff… hff… somebeast chasin’ you? And can we take ‘em together?” Darragh asked, pumping a fist for emphasis and grinning.

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

The wind had finally started to catch in his lungs. Swifttail braced one paw on the bench and leaned, ribs rising and falling beneath his soot-marked tunic. A little warmth still lingered in his chest, not from the run, but from the faces now gathered around him. Kaii, cool and stalwart, had hoisted him out of a panic and helped him sit. Finnian, cheerful and oblivious, arrived mid-meal, concern blooming just under his usual light. And then came Darragh, a caring wordsmith, yet still willing to throw fisticuffs when required.

He looked at all of them and managed a breath.

"’Tain’t somethin’ chasin’ me..." he panted toward Darragh.

Another breath. Then he leaned forward, voice more steady now.

"Greeneye found me at the forge. Said..." He paused, the weight of it hitting again. "He said that Silvie’s real sick. Didn’t say how, just that it weren’t a trick. Swore on his affidavit, if y’can believe that rat swearin’ on anythin’."

He glanced at Kaii, then to the others.

"He told me to find Silvie’s friends. Said we’re to meet at a place called Botanica Magica. It’s somewhere off the back streets...I dunno where exactly. Any of you heard of it?"

His paw still gripped the edge of the bench. He wasn’t sure if it was to help him stand... or brace for what might they might soon discover.

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

After giving the kit small ruffle between his ears as well as greeting Darr with a quick but rich and elaborate gesture of his paw, Kaii fully had focused himself on the words of Swifttail. There was a moment of surprise that made his left brow rise up, Swifttail and Greeneye were not on the best terms for obvious reasons but if both were in this, the matter must've been serious.

The pole of his glaive gently clinked against the stones beneath his paws as Kaii stood up into the position. The name of the shop, beside obvious allusions to magic and plants, meant nothing to Kaii. As the rational fox he was, magic was a term for any sort of misunderstanding of the unknown phenomena. Silvie could be in a lot of danger stemming from ignorance now, thus, Kaii had to act fast to fulfil his oath of protection.

"I see." Kaii started offering his paw to help Swifttail up. "Most reasonable thing to do, unless any of you know the place, would be to find Greeneye again and get him to guide us. The name doesn't sound too unique, but I am pretty sure we could just ask around if that is the case."

Inside Kaii knew there was no time for such search, but getting lost would cost them even more time. Being rational saved more lives than it took. "Darr, Finn, you two are a bit more native to this part of the town, there are plenty of back streets everywhere so... do you have any idea to narrow it down and could you lead us if so?"

 

[FinnianBrightfur]

Finn's nose tipped up at the ear scuffle, tail wagging happily as he munched on his sandwich. Moments later, a familiar stoat appeared -- which only made the day even better! Admittedly, the foxkit wasn't paying attention to the conversation at hand very closely, and had missed the urgency about Silvie's predicament. His mind had gotten distracted by trying to remember what Botanica Magica was.

"Awwhh, Mr. Barrett told me about that... what was it again..." he said, furrowing his brow with effort as he tried his hardest to remember.

"’Tain’t somethin’ chasin’ me..." said Swift.

"Yeah," interjected Finn. "Swift ain't in trouble, it's Silvie. He's got a buncha problems, or somethin'..."

Finn's mind wandered again, and he scuffed his foot in frustration. Why couldn't he remember what it was?

"Darr, Finn, you two are a bit more native to this part of the town..." began Kaii. Meanwhile, the braincells in Finn's mind were still wandering closer -- and suddenly they collided.

"AWHH YEAH! I remembered! Botanica Mathmatica!" he cried triumphantly. "But why does Silvie need a math book? Doesn't that give him more problems?" he asked Kaii with all earnesty.

 

[Darragh Harper]

“I’ve not heard of such a place,” Darragh admitted. “I’m not so native here, m’self, actually, Kaii. I grew up in Marquistry Cape.”

The stoat shifted his weight, bouncing gently from one footpaw to the other, his whiskers twitching. He hadn’t known Silvie had been feeling poorly, and now it sounded like he was bedridden, if Greeneye was running about town trying to fetch help. Darragh wanted to do something, but if he was barely able to assist Dr. Barrett with injuries, there was even less he could do against some insidious, invisible infection. Then again, perhaps he could help? Why else was the call for aid so urgent?

“Er, Swift, did Greeneye say what kind o' business this Botanica Mathema-… Mathematica?” Darragh blinked, then grinned at his favourite (and most troublesome) fox kit. “Now you’re goin’ to get us all mixed up before we’ve even found it, Finny! I ‘eard it was Botanica Magica!”

An etymological analysis is in order, Detective Harper. Magica is clearly related to Magic - the laybeast’s word for anything from sleight-of-paw to divination to full-blown ceremonial magick with a ‘K’. Possible lead - Madame Crowley is a practitioner of cartomancy and chiromancy, the reading of cards and palms respectively.

Darragh clicked his fingers. “Maybe I know somebeast that’ll have an answer. There’s a vixen seer I visit sometimes, she’s just ‘round the corner. Madam Crowley does all kinds o’ magic business, perhaps she knows it, if I guess right from the name… heh. Or I can ask for her to open her third eye an’ give us the address, if it comes to it, though she’ll probably charge extra!”

Excited to have thought of a plan to follow, Darragh was near enough hopping on the spot. His eagerness and impatience with the idea of letting Silvie languish a moment longer than necessary had him as primed with energy as a coiled spring. “Better finish eatin’ quick, Finny! Runnin’s good for the digestion!”

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail watched them all with a quiet smile, the ache in his lungs forgotten. Finn’s cheerful voice, Kaii’s solemn logic, and Darragh’s poetic mind mingled like old spices in a kettle, familiar and comforting. Even when they bickered, it was with care. A warmth settled in his chest. A knowing. These were the beasts Greeneye had meant. The deep friendship that felt as strong as family.

He gave a small nod to himself, then straightened up from the bench and shook the soot from his sleeves.

“Right,” he said, voice steadier now. “That’s a good place to begin. Let’s keep an eye out for Greeneye on the way, just in case.”

He glanced down at Finn and gave him a quick but affectionate scritch between the ears. Then, gently, he reached for the kit’s paw.

“C’mon, Finny. Time to find some magic.”

With Darragh leading the way toward Madame Crowley’s shop, Swifttail followed close behind, his friends at his side, the city ahead, and the unknown opening its doors just a crack wider.

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

Kaii just chuckled at the kit's words. It wasn't a place for lecture however, so he just pat him on the shoulder before Swifttail took their paw.

"Marquistry Cape? Peculiar that I've never met you before then. I've lived there for about sixteen years or so." The marble fox noted to the Stoat, starting to follow them, folding his weapon back to stow it.

After that Kaii chose to keep his muzzle shut. He didn't want to exactly now waste time on explaining what those books were, albeit he noted to educate Finnian on the matter later. He also didn't want to question their destination, even while himself being rather not too fond of charlatans. Supernatural phenomena were always interesting to this fox because they provided a mystery. So called magicians and oracles? They tended to just abuse the fact most beasts were superstitious and not educated well enough to see the subtle tricks of social engineering they've applied. Still, he could not deny that they possibly were also knowledgeable about what must've been a "magic" shop.

"I am admittedly, not well suited to find such places. I think however, due to urgency, it might be for the best to focus on just asking for the place." Kaii stated flatly to the group. Now that they were de facto reaching the place, Kaii for sure didn't want to waste time. If Silvertongue was in any sort of trouble, finding them was imperative.

 

[FinnianBrightfur]

Finn peered up at Darr for a brief moment, a confused expression on his face. "...I coulda sworn it was Mathmatica..." he puzzled to himself, before returning to eating his breakfast bagel. At Kaii's pat on the shoulder, he looked up at the older fox with a grin, and his swaying tail began to wag. "I know you've read that book, right?" he asked in a knowing undertone, not wanting to disrupt the conversation.

It seemed like it'd been forever since he felt this free and full of energy -- like the last day of classes in the spring, the moment school let out for the summer. Darr seemed to feel it too, he was hopping around like a jogger at a crosswalk!

“Better finish eatin’ quick, Finny! Runnin’s good for the digestion!”

"What? Aww no, I'd barf!" he said, looking up at the athletic and energetic stoat. Oh! It looked like the group was heading out! Finn swatted at Swift's paw as he tried to hold it -- gates, he wasn't a little dibbun! Stuffing his bagel in his mouth, he got a running start, and vaulted himself up on the platinum fox's shoulders for a ride.

"Fank-oo Swiff!" he said, pre-emptively. "An whemm ooo geh tiah'g... Kaii kahn karreh meh!"

 

[Darragh Harper]

“Aye-aye, Swift! Fall in behind, and watch your valuables,” Darragh said with a tip of his hat and a wink. “Finny, keep a sharp eye out up there! Pickpockets, nutters, Fogeys… anythin’ that looks like trouble.”

Where they were going in the Trenches was not dangerous as far as Bully Harbour went during daylight hours, but still, the stoat slunk and sniffed and glared at suspicious passers-by with an almost overprotective intent. Taking the lead of the pack made Darragh responsible for keeping his posse of foxes out of trouble, as capable as each of them were in handling themselves. He made a low noise and fluffed his black-tipped tail so very menacingly at one ferret that stared for too long, and sent the curious mustelid scuttling away with a nervous dook.

“We might have passed each other by without noticin’,” Darragh mused, turning for a moment to grin at Kaii. “I ain’t been back in a few years. All the more reason to have you visit the ol’ homestead when we get a chance!”

Winding their way back through the market stalls, it wasn’t long before the group arrived at Madam Crowley’s table. There was a foppish weasel sat across from her, dabbing at his brow with a monogrammed pawkerchief and sniffling. He was dressed in a glaring-starched white coat and breeches, a rose in his top pocket and a lacy neckcloth that rode so high on his neck that it kept bobbling with his chattering lower jaw.

“I haven’t been feeling well at all and I just know it’s my humours misaligning, it’s always my humours misaligning every new moon since she left," the weasel was babbling, “Oh, what should I do, Madam Crowley, I’ve only got my manor left in all the world, oh, apart from the summer residence in Tully Shore I suppose, and my bank accounts are languishing, and she took all the silver and my favourite pastry chef, what am I to do, please!”

Madam Crowley looked as though she was trying very hard not to laugh. While her face remained serious, Darragh could see the heavy tablecloth fluttering as she bounced her knee uncontrollably, her tail flicking from side to side. Even her paws were quaking as she took the weasel’s paw and traced a claw on his palm, biting her lip.

“Erm, y-yes, I see in your immediate future, today in fact, you must… beware…” Madam Crowley glanced up, here eyes widening from their usual sly squint as she spotted Darragh and his entourage, her gaze lingering on Kaii in particular. Curious as to what had distracted his fortune-teller, the weasel turned around to face them.

“I think you must beware beasts in a hurry,” Darragh suggested.

“Goodness gracious! A gang!” The weasel exclaimed, popping up from his seat, pawkerchief still clutched in his paws. “It’s a shakedown! You’re here to fleece me dry of what precious little I have left! Just as Madam Crowley predicted!”

Darragh turned to look at his fox friends, then back at the weasel.

Oh, well. If it gets him out of here faster.

“Yes?” Darragh agreed hesitantly. The weasel tzchked at him, fur and tail fluffing up.

“Not today, villain! I don’t believe in charity! Get a real job and leave me alone!” The weasel squealed, and scarpered, zipping through the crowd with an impressive agility for one so apparently highborn. That is, until he tripped, tried to save it with a heavy skip-hop-jump, and planted himself in a wagon full of cabbages.

“…and don’t forget to come back next week, darling!” Madam Crowley called out, as the wagon began to roll away. She scrunched up her muzzle at Darragh. “You’re lucky he paid in advance. What do you want, Darragh? Or were you just here to refer new clients to me?”

At this, the vixen flashed Kaii her most crooked-tooth smile, and beckoned the foxes closer with a ring-laden, long-clawed finger.

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail gave a surprised grunt as Finn vaulted onto his shoulders without warning, toppling him forward into Kaii’s side.

"Easy, mate, easy!" he huffed, arms windmilling for balance as he righted himself beneath the weight of the growing kit. "Alright, you up? Here we come, Silvie."

Together they moved, four souls cutting through the Trenches with purpose, weaving past stalls and shopfronts under Darragh’s sharp-eyed lead.

When they reached Madam Crowley’s table, Swifttail barely registered the flailing weasel or his wailing woes. His heart was pounding. Not from the walk, but from the sense of urgency that Greeneye had instilled within him.

He stepped forward as the vixen beckoned, brushing soot from his tunic and tipping his head respectfully.

"Madam, I’ll gladly pay for yer time," he said, already digging into his satchel for his coin purse. "We’re in a hurry though. Do you know of a shop called Botanica Mathema... Gates... Botanica Magica?"

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

Seeing as Swifttail and Finn were toppling towards him, the marble fox readied himself for the fall that never came. Once he noticed that, he just helped Swift to balance himself out with his paws. The walk wasn't too long, and Finnian made sure it was entertaining with his antics. While Kaii just enjoyed being with his friends he couldn't deny that he still was very worried about Silvertongue.

Kaii wasn't fond of specifically that weasel's gaze. It wasn't unnerving, nor he took it too much to him. Kaii just didn't like being stared at for no reason. It reminded him of unpleasant jabs from many folks in his past.

But well, Darragh did the connection part. Swifttail did the speaking so far. Kaii only decided to add one more thing with his flat tone. "And if you do, please, tell us where to find it." After which, he pulled out a small metal casket with intricate mechanical lock and produced a few coins as well. No price was too high to pay for safety of his friends.

While doing so, Kaii observed the wagon and various items within. They were mundane, all of them, if rare and esoteric looking. But to Kaii awareness, a glass ball could be made cloudy and glow slightly from various chemicals and elements that react within it. Wierd looking talismans were just an artistic choice, so were the tarot cards. It was all about the aesthetic after all. Kaii always disliked that charlatains used such underhanded methods to impress and sell falsehoods but... he wasn't showing it for sure.

 

[FinnianBrightfur]

Finn, with a mouth full of bagel, gave a sharp salute to Darr. Mercifully, he decided it would be best to not talk with his mouth full, and finished his breakfast in short order. Crumpling up the bagel wrapper (and likely dropping some crumbs on dear old Swift), Finn stuffed it away in his pocket. Never know when you need some tinder!

The fox kit was unaccustomed to being in shops quite like this. His parents had always cautioned him not to venture into houses of disrepute -- and it was readily apparent to Finn that the poor bloke who left in a fright was getting fleeced! In any case, he slipped off Swift's shoulders, and drew over to Kaii. He opened his muzzle to say something, but on second thought, kept his muzzle shut.

Pushing forward, he nosed his way under the gentle beast's arm. Kaii was surely skeptical of places like this, wouldn't he? Finn tipped his nose up to watch the older fox closely, and resolved to say something. Kaii wasn't the type to get fleeced by a fortune... But Finn feared he was the type to give away far too much money for simple directions! Anything more than five guilders, and he'd say something, for sure!

 

[Darragh Harper]

“In a hurry, you say?” Mme Crowley repeated, her smile reminiscent of the proverbial wildcat in possession of a large tub of cream, as she eyed up the two adult dogfoxes, then the kit with bits of gooey cheese on his whiskers. Darragh narrowed his eyes at her. Mme Crowley might be friendly towards him on her good days, but business was business, and the Trenches could be cutthroat if you weren’t squeezing gilders out of each passing minute. The vixen was going to milk the opportunity for all it was worth. “Well, my memory is not what it once was, my dear tods, and an ol’ grandma like me’s got a den o’ kits to keep fed, what with this comin' winter-…”

“Your eldest ‘kit’ is twenty-eight and lives in Magh,” Darragh stated bluntly, folding his arms. “And winter is over three months away.”

“Never hurts to be prepared,” Crowley replied, sniffing at the stoat in disdain. “You’re scaring away customers, and my time is money, lad. Better hope I remember that correct address and not send you scurryin’ off someplace else. I might get mixed up, never know if you meant Botanica Magica, or Boat Anchors’n’Jiggers or Bert an’ Icky’s Massage Parlour or-…”

“Three gilders” Darragh interrupted.

Crowley snarled and swiped her claws as if imagining tearing the stoat’s face apart. “Insulting, impudent, pernicious youth!… Eight, to make up for all the customers you’ve frightened off!”

“Foul and ugly crone, four gilders is the best business you’ll have done this afternoon for such a piddlin’ performance as this!” Darragh theatrically bellowed, thumping his fists on the table and making the wiser passers-by hunch their shoulders and quicken their pace, while others gawked shamelessly.

“You overgrown filthy flea, I’ll take not less than six and an apology, and you better grovel to my satisfaction lest I curse you, whelp!” Crowley shrieked, he nose almost butting against Darragh’s, spittle flying onto the stoat’s shirt as she leaned forward to match his posture.

“You’ll take not more than five, and the promise I won’t set Finnian the Firebug on you!” Darragh jabbed a claw in the direction of Finny. “Loves to see things burn, he does. Can’t think who keeps givin’ him matches.”

Mme Crowley wilted, ever so slightly. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Then there’s Lord Nashirou here, well, he’s got quite a head for numbers,” Darragh continued, turning to tip his hat at Kaii, and passing him a subtle wink. “In fact, taxation on small businesses is one of his specialties.”

“A MinoCom spook…?” The older vixen recoiled, her eyes darting left and right as though for an escape route, her paws subtly snagging a few of the more expensive items off the table and away somewhere hidden.

“As for this fellow-…” Darragh waved a paw nonchalantly at Switfttail, his cool demeanour concealing his mind working furiously to think of a plausibly scary reason the platinum-furred fox was covered in soot.

“Alright! Five gilders then, you fiend!” Mme Crowley relented, saving him the trouble. “I know the place - run by an acquaintance of mine. I’ll draw you a map…”

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

As Darragh stepped forward to begin the dance of haggling, Swifttail gently crouched and let Finn slip from his shoulders, giving a soft grunt as the growing kit’s weight was suddenly off him. A twitch of his ears followed, completely involuntary, but it sent a few stray bagel crumbs fluttering to the cobblestones.

He turned his attention to Darragh just as the stoat launched into his finest dramatics. Swift watched, a smirk slowly widening as Crowley wilted under the force of sheer audacity. Finnian the Firebug. Kaii the tax-hungry MinoCom agent. Himself, likely cast as a deadly, badger-trained weapons smith.

“Stars above...” he murmured, amused. “He’s bloody good at this.”

When the final price was named at five gilders, Swifttail stepped up beside Kaii without a word. From his coin purse, he set down two coins neatly on the edge of the table, not making a show of it. Not quite expecting, but certainly hoping, Kaii would place the rest. It was their friend in danger. And Kaii had sworn to protect them both.

No more needed saying.

Once the trade was made, and the curled parchment passed into his paw, Swift stepped back and motioned for the others to gather close.

“Alright, have a look,” he said, unfurling the map against a nearby post. “I’m far from anywhere I’d call familiar... but maybe one o’ you can make sense of it.”

His eyes scanned the sketchy loops of ink. The alleys. The sidestreets. Somewhere beyond it all… Silvertongue was waiting.

 

[FinnianBrightfur]

"Foul and ugly crone!"

Finn's ears burned at such disprespectful language directed towards the elderly! The kit wasn't used to negotiations quite like this... but then again, looking about her shop, Finn decided she wasn't a very good beast in the first place. Besides, they were trying to help a friend, and just needed directions! Now Finn knew what hard life was like on the street when money was tight, but even he wouldn't be trying to fetch such a steep price!

"...and the promise I won't set Finnian the Firebug on you!"

The little foxkit snapped out of his thoughts, and tipped his head down guiltily. Really, that was a terrible accident, and he didn't mean...

...oh.

Oh wait, no. He was trying to intimidate her! The fox quickly snapped into character, folded his arms across his chest, and turned sideways to shoot her a menacing leer!

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Burnt down m' own home, I did!" he blurted out in attempt to validate the story -- though as soon as the words were in the air, his ears began to flush. Oh, that was a really awful thing he did, wasn't it?

- - -

Once outside, the group gathered around Swifttail to examine the map. Being the shortest of them all, Finn crawled under the map, and pushed his nose carefully up between the parchment edge and Swift's belly. His whiskers and ears, slicked back to avoid damaging the precious map, sprung forwards as he surfaced. Turning to study the map, he let out a soft huff.

This really was getting to be a proper adventure now, wasn't it? There was a map and everything! The foxkit frowned as he laid the map out in his mind, trying to find landmarks to orient himself.

"Oh! Oh, that's Oliver's Lantern! I know where we're going, c'mon, it's this way!"

Ducking out from the circle of friends, Finn slipped between Kaii and Darr as if he were a greased pig, and took off a few paces. He looked over his shoulder, and flagged his tail with exuberance. "Last one there's gotta feed Barrett's leeches!" he cried, before taking off like a shot.

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

Kaii was impressed by the negotiation skills of his stoat friend. He himself wasn't great at haggling, mainly because he appraised things way to harshly. He wasn't however surprised by what Darragh was doing. After all, he was a wordsmith, reality to him was malleable as gold, as long as he could maintain his presence.

That is why, hearing his own name and the words about being both a Lord and taxation expert, Kaii did add to the effect by giving his coldest stare to Crowley. He wasn't going to speak, that was Darr work, he just had to play his role. After that he continued to just go though the items, occupying his mind by debunking why each of them was the way it was.

Once they were done, Swift offered his two coins. Kaii did pull out three more from his metal wallet with the sound of spring that pushed them out one by one and putting them onto the desk with a very audible thud each. He knew how to play a role of a noble for sure. And while he noted

And some time later as the foskateers (as they've named themselves at some point), gathered around the map. Kaii observed that the mark was by the docks. Weird place for a shop like that. Then again, Kaii wasn't yet as familiar with how the city looked now after he came back to it. Finn did though and his enthusiasm was infectious.

"You've heard him. We should make haste!" Kaii grinned before taking last look at the map to define the shortest way. He was good at Travelling Salesbeast Problem and at remembering things. Thus he bolted away too, albeit in slightly different direction than Finnian did.