Chapter 19: The Growling Thunder (Part II End)

“Thanks, I like Magic too. Not enough to talk someones ear off though. I’ve finished up in here, you said that the broken furniture is out back? I’ll give those a poke and be on my way, if I need anything-”

“You come back here anytime. You’ll always be welcomed back.”

“Name’s Untameable, and I appreciate your kindness.”

“Cloudy, don’t be a stranger now,” with that they walked out and swung around back to look at the rest of the furniture. There was no markings like the others and suspected that the spirals were stake out points.

‘An Archer and a Mage in those two spots are very advantageous. The Archer tracks the Target as soon as they walk in and the Mage casts a spell that will hinder the Target. The Perp however... nothing known about Skittish.’ They followed the next indicator and found themselves in front of a body, looking closely at it they found two scorch mark near the heart and the head had a bruise. ‘What is over here that they had to go? Unless someone talked to them beforehand and were meeting up with them. So the Target didn’t quiet know the Perp or realized too late.’

A Gem was found in the pockets and they took it, looking around other areas they found that there was dirt on Draven’s shoes. The stems looked familiar and they hit the body across the head. “How dare you trample on the flowers!”

The hit made one of the earrings fall off and they took it and went on their way to the next indicator. The arrived at an Inn with someone standing out front looking around in a relaxed manner. They perked up and walked to them, “Detective! I was beginning to think you had lost your way.”

“Earwax,” they questioned.

“Earthwax, sir. Early Earthwax at your service,” they smiled. They nodded and went into the Inn. “Oh! I’ve already gotten your room, sir! Second Floor, Third Door on the Right.”

“Excellent,” they said and started looking around the Inn. They walked up to the Inn Keeper and were met with set dialogue. “Excuse me, Miss. I’m looking for Draven Flabbergasted’s Room.”

“Third Floor last room on the Left.”

“Thank you, kindly.”

“The Guards already cleared it out.”

“I’m sure,” they started the walk upstairs and already felt exhausted after the first two steps. “Earwax! Carry me!”

“You have to perfectly working legs, sir.”

“Fine,” they heaved a sigh and started walking up the flights of stairs, it felt like an eternity as they finally reached the floor they were suppose to be on and not false hope after each disappoint steps. They rolled on the ground and attempted to rest until Earthwax nudged them and pushed them along to the final hurtle.

The walk to the last door at the end.

They opened the door and looked around inside searching for something that will speak to them. Really speak to them.

“AHEM!”

“What is it, sir? Did you find something?”

“Unsure yet.”

‘No?’

‘So it’s not useful?’

‘Am I close to figuring things out? That’s all I wanted to ask.’

‘Typical. Alright get outta here,’ they looked around the room and from their view point they found a book under the bed. Flattening themselves out a bit they crawled under and took a hold of it in their mouth and crawled out. Earthwax stared at them. They spat the book out and started reading.

“What did you find, sir?”

“A strange contraption, it opens on one side and is filled with thin leaves.”

“Very funny, sir.”

“I’d like to think so, there’s nothing else in the book it seems,” they had flipped through the book and only found empty pages. They even shook the book to see if anything would fall out. Nadda.

Leaving they decided to roll down the stairs, which caused Earthwax to worry about the ‘Fall’.

“It was a nice fall yes, thank you for asking,” they went to their rooms and they looked around to see if they could pick anything up. They tossed the book to the side which landed near the window, the pages opened up and glowed.

Walking over to it they started to read the glowing letters.

“Map?”

“Is any of this suppose to make sense?” they wondered and exited out of the Map. The seen that book showed a spot on the Map of where to go. “Oh wonderful. I’ll just hop of my magic brook and fly there!”

Just then a broom comes crashing through the window and stops in front of them, shrugging they hopped on and off the broom went to the location. They got to see a small bit of the land before they came crashing through the trees in a hurry. Shaking off the branches they looked around and the broom followed along like a little puppy. Coming across a stone structure with stones circling around it it was clear this place was used for rituals.

“What are you doing here?” A grumpy sounding voice sounded behind them.

“I was brought here by this good broom, I was also wondering what had happened to a man named Draven Flabbergasted.”

“None by that name, what else do you want?”

“Nothing, I’ll be on my way if the little broom will kindly take me back.”

“Twiggs doesn’t just pick up random strangers for nothing now. What do you want?”

“Well, I would like to travel across the land and save this land from certain destruction. I would also like to know what these are, if you don’t mind.” Taking out the two items and the book they set it on the stone seat.

“Mm, this Gem has captured a Spirit. Take it back to where you found it and say the Spirits name. This is useless, the book... you mind if I have it?”

“I have no other use for the book.”

“Thank you...”

“Thank you for telling me about these items, it really helped. I’ll be on my way then.”

“Now hold on, take a seat for a moment.” They did as asked and waited patiently, “This will help you on your first request. I hope you’ll accomplish what you seek.”

“What I want is to make sure my family and friends are safe. Thank you, friend.” Putting the necklace away they started on their way out the broom nudged them and they got on and off they went. Looking back they seen that a group waved then disappeared in the fog. They arrived back in the room and started getting ready to leave for the body. “Thank you, little friend. You were very helpful.”

The broom did a happy dance and dusted them off and flew away.

“Those were my DUST BUNNIES!” they called out and Earthwax walked in.

“You need something, sir?”

“No, I have one more stop to make before I retire,” they walked past Earthwax and started towards the body’s last known location.

“Wasn’t it this way, sir?”

“Earwax honestly,” they said and continued their walk and found the spot where the body was. It was chalked out. Placing the Gem where they had found it, “Draven Flabbergasted.”

A bright green glow as two figures stood near the darkness and Draven comes walking up and past the two shadows. One walked out and hit the Target and the second shot small fire bolts as the Target turned around. Earthwax walks through the third green shape. “Is there something wrong?”

The green glow went away and they picked up the Gem and stored it, “I’m sure there are lots wrong. But for now let’s rest. We’ve been travelling a long time now.”

The walked into the Inn and went to their respected rooms.

Waiting a bit before leaving they walked past someone rolling a cart by, “Excuse me, do you think you can point me in the direction of the Morgue?”

They pointed in a direction and an indicator popped up for them to follow.

“Thank you kindly, hope you rest well.” The woman in white teared up and floated up, “Oh, I guess that rest as well. Sleep well, Sweet Angel.”

Walking down the stairs they followed the indicator and stopped when a few rowdy people started making a ruckus in the lobby. “Silence! People are trying to sleep!”

The people stopped and laughed silently and started causing mayhem. They sighed and used their new favourite skill.

The chaos died down and went into more chaos as they opened wide and the people walked in. Screams sounded and puffs of smoke left them in different directions. They left the Inn and continued on their way. They got to the Morgue and they took out the Gem and repeated the same thing as they did on the street.

The green glow showed Draven being hit and taken down. Looking at the new figure it was Earthwax! “Should have known, they weren’t helpful in the least.”

“Kill this man,” the body started to speak.

“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll make sure that he never escapes and suffers.”

“Thank you, that Earring. You can keep it, it’ll help you on your journey. It will also keep the monsters in the night at bay.”

“Wonderful, your not mad that I slapped you then?”

“Huh?”

“You’re not mad that I slapped you. You did ruin my garden, you had to pay for trampling on my precious flowers.”

“Sorry...”

“Forgiven, now to hunt down Earwax,” they took the Gem and started on their way back to the Inn. Walking in they looked around and spotted a few people working. “Evening, can you tell me where the fellow that was with me earlier is?”

They pointed in a direction and went about their business, “Thank you kindly, hope you get a good rest.”

The three smiled and flew up to the ceiling.

“That too, rest well lovelies,” they walked out and headed in the direction of the Tavern. The door was opened a bit and they swung around back and seen Earthwax and Cloudy in a lock.

“Untameable! Leave this is bad-”

“Shut up!” Walking closer they opened wide and grabbed Earthwax and swallowed them whole. Cloudy passed through without so much as a scratch.

“Thank you, that’s twice you saved me.”

“Why?”

“He hated the man he was working under and found an opportunity. He wanted to be free.”

“Thank you,” the glow came back and Draven stood there smiling and left like the past few that had helped him.

“I think I’ve seen just about everything.”

“Same, AAAHHH!” they turned to look at Cloudy only to find that his head turned into the very same orange Slime that he first saw. “DON’T DO THAT!”

Cloudy laughed and took off the Pumpkin and set it aside.

‘Yay!’

‘Headless Horseman Skin? You trying to kill me?’

‘Yay... I’m going back to my spot and sleep.’ They walked back to their spot beside the pumpkin who they still wanted to attack.