It took a step towards her, but before it could charge, there was a loud bang.

There was a rather small dent in the monster's back. The antlered creature turned its many eyes behind it where Bowden was standing holding up what looked like an old musket.

“I’m not sure that was a good idea,” he said looking up at the monster. "I don't think you thought that was a good idea too huh?" It roared and charged at him. Bowden turned tail and ran.

Clover stared, internally screamed and paced a little, thoughts streaming through her head. Then she stopped and sprinted after the duo.

Bowden ran, leaping over bits of broken buildings, while the monster just ploughed through breaking everything in its path. He noticed a mostly intact old shopping mall ahead of him. Praying the doors were open, he crashed into the glass doors, which luckily were not locked and gave way. He ran further inwards and slid underneath an almost closed iron grid of an empty shop, clutching on to his musket closely.

The monster could not follow. It did not even fit into the front door of the building. It grunted and sniffed trying to claw its way in. Then it yowled in frustration. 

Clover watched as Bowden entered the shopping mall. She was happy that he managed to escape. Until she realised that she had not escaped herself. The monster sniffed the air. Once, twice, and turned its eyes to face her. 

Internally screaming again, she leaped off the pile of rubble she was standing on and ran.

Arhhhh, why? Chased by stupid things twice in one day! Twice! Can't I have just one normal day for once?  

She skidded into tiny alleyway, displacing some ivy in the process.

Seconds later a giant claw made its way into the alleyway too, looking for Clover. She found herself slowly backing away it. She quickly glanced behind her. The alley was not a dead end, but she was not sure where the other side would lead. She was safe here, away from it for now. 

I could hop to somewhere? Maybe find Bowden, then hop out of here. I only have two more wishstones though. It’s risky. Argh. This monster growling though. Not helping.

She scratched her head. A hand falls on her shoulder. Stifling a scream, she turned to punch her assailant but stopping when she saw who it was.

“Bowden? Where in the how why?”

The musket he was carrying was gone, but on his left wrist was an intricate black crocheted wristband.

“Shh, just me, calm down. Do you know where you we are going? Hop away, I’ll follow behind.”

“Wait, what? How did you? Where? Did you hop here? You had some pathstones?”

The monster roared, its claw seemingly closer.

“What? I couldn’t hear you! You have enough stones to jump right? I’ll find you again, don’t worry, I always know where to find you. Just go before it gets in.”

His cocky grin made her want to follow through with the rest of her punch.

“Go!” He said. “Hurry. It’s getting pretty impatient. Might smash the walls soon. Go!”

“I can take you with me, we don't have to waste any stones,” she said, ignoring his yelling.

“Your foot has to be the one on the stones if you are making the jump, you know that,” he said. “And you are not going to carry me. I’m way bigger than you.”

A few moments later, Clover found herself in a calm meadow. Tiny yellow flowers were growing in clumps all around her. To her side was an old dried up riverbed. Atop the riverbed was an timeworn grey stone bridge that was broken to its centre. One half of it was scattered about the bottom of the riverbed, but the other half was intact and lead straight into a mud pile. Around the mud pile, forming a circle, was a bunch of rocks of various shapes and colours.

A few seconds later, in a puff of smoke, Bowden appeared a few feet away from her, his hands deep in his pockets. He removed them from his pockets and dusted himself off.

“Here? The shop is here?”

“Shut up… Are you alright?” Clover asked. 

“Yeah, thanks! I knew you cared,” he said smiling.

She turned away from him refusing to let herself punch him. Even though she really wanted to.

“Where did you get the wristband?” She said, pointing to it. “And the musket? I did not see you carry one when you were at the library.”

“The wristband was in my pocket,” he said. “I didn’t want you to see it ‘cause it looks girly,” he mumbled. “Mort made it. The weaver, the last one that saw the kid?”

He performs a swiping gesture with his left hand then lifts it high and quickly brings it down while grabbing air. But when his hand reaches just above his chest, a musket appeared in his hand.

“See? Cool huh?”

He quickly lifted his hand upward, slightly tossing the musket. It vanishes.

“Yeah… that is pretty cool… I guess,” Clover said, impressed but didn’t want to show it. “Come on now, let’s go.”

She turned and walked to the broken bridge, climbed up on it, and jumped and dives straight into the mud pile. 

Bowden chuckled. So cute, he thought to himself, and followed after her.