As Kim raised the hinged tabletop to join Lin behind the service counter, she chided her friend,

“You really should have asked for help sooner.”

“I had it under control,” Lin insisted. “No one was complaining about the wait.”

Amy wound between the line of customers and the display racks on her way to the front door. “Bri, if you’ll take care of anyone with special orders, I can check on the commotion out front.”

“Can do,” Bri called back. “Better hurry before DaZhu threatens to eat anyone.”

A couple that had been waiting just outside pushed the door open for Amy as she approached. The little silver bell chimed merrily as the scripted spell attached to the door called out a cheery, ‘Welcome!’

The rather wild-looking woman widened her eyes in recognition.

“Oh, hey! It’s Turtle! Got a moment?”

“Hey Whistle, Cycle,” Amy quickly acknowledged the two Hunters as she passed between them. “Let me take care of something, and then I’ll be with you.”

“Sure thing,” the equally wild-looking man replied.

If the line inside the shop was long, the one gathering outside next to a bicycle cart advertising street food was equally long or longer. A gangly Otherworld teen with spiky, flaming-red hair was gesturing vigorously with his arms as he spoke with the hulking stone foo dog that towered menacingly over him.

“All is good, promise! Food, permits good! You watch me here much. Why no sell today?”

Whatever was going on must be serious. The store guardians rarely moved their physical forms from their vigil on either side of the store’s front entrance. The thought of doing an intervention made Amy’s insides twist uncomfortably. Maybe she should have let Bri or Kim handle this.

No, she was a Wise Gal. She had to at least look the part.

“DaZhu, is there a problem?”

The store guardian turned slightly toward Amy’s approach while keeping an eye on the young vendor.

‘Greetings Dr. Tucker. This one is attempting to do business on the premises without permission.’

Amy took a second look at the boy. She couldn’t remember his name, but she was sure he’d been here regularly since around New Year’s. He’d sell his Otherworld themed street food even when it snowed.

“But I’m sure I recognize him. Didn’t Tonya give him permission to sell here?”

“Yes! Big Doctor give persimmon!”

So far, none of the people in line had spoken up. Evidently they still wanted the boy’s food, but none of them wanted to risk the stone guardian’s wrath. Amy wondered why they didn’t just move to another spot if it was going to be this big a problem. Although she had to admit, the delicious smells coming from the cart would have kept her attention as well.

‘On the last day of last year, Dr. Kelley commanded me to let him sell for one hundred and one days.’

Amy did some quick mental calculations. “But wouldn’t today be the last day?”

‘Yesterday was day one hundred and one. His term of agreement has expired.’

Amy ran through the numbers twice more before realizing,

“Geh! Leap year! One of us must have counted wrong and told him the wrong day.”

Several of the potential customers made disappointed sounds and looked ready to drift away. Amy realized that their loss could mean less business for Five Wise Gals as well.

“DaZhu, would I be able to renew the agreement for him?”

‘Why certainly, Dr. Tucker. You may command us as well, as per the terms of our summoning.’

Amy joined everyone in a collective sigh of relief. After a brief agreement ceremony, DaZhu returned to his pedestal, and the boy was back in business.

If only some other problems could be solved this easily.

“Ya katuda! Thank you, Tall Doctor!”

“You’re welcome, um …”

“Pickle! Here, you take these!”

As an additional show of thanks, Pickle offered a waxed paper sheet with a pair of piping hot skewers and a rice roll wrapped in a large leaf nearly blackened from the steam. The tantalizing smell made Amy’s stomach growl so hard it was almost painful.

“Sa soo?”

Pickle held out one pinky finger in a sign that Amy recognized as an offer of friendship.

“Sa soo,” she replied, matching the hand sign with one of her own.

“Bao bao!” he replied with a white, toothy smile before returning to servicing his customers.

Amy couldn’t resist taking a bite before returning to have a word with Hunters Whistle and Cycle. The skewer meat practically melted in her mouth, filling her senses with its unique, sour and spicy flavor.

“Did that boy just bark at you?”

Bri had joined the pair of werewolves who’d remained just outside the shop door. Either there hadn’t been many special orders, or Bri had finished them with remarkable alacrity.

“He said ‘until later’ in Krishu. You must be thinking Kapran. I’m pretty sure that boy’s Karchit, not Kupari.” Amy offered the second skewer to her friend. “Here, have a bite. This chicken’s to die for.”

While Bri eagerly bit off a huge mouthful, Cycle sniffed at the meal in distaste.

“Making skigi with chicken instead of droo should be a crime. What would his ancestors think?”

Despite currently looking as human as any other of his kind, apparently Cycle was one of those werewolves who was still fiercely proud of his Otherworld heritage.

Amy shrugged as she eagerly finished off the first skewer. “Tastes fine to me.”

Whistle didn’t seem nearly as upset as her mate.

“They’d probably be thrilled to not risk getting poisoned. Besides, the seasoning smells perfect. You said so yourself not ten minutes ago when we first smelled him riding up. Mind if I have a bite? Mmmm! Oh, this is amazing! I might have to get in line before he runs out.”

Cycle crossed his arms in a huff. “What kind of werewolf prefers chicken over droo?”

Amy knew better than to say, ‘a smart one’. The only time she’d ever had droo meat, she’d found it tough and chewy, with a strange bitterness that was clearly an acquired taste. And that had been a professionally prepared dish, specially made for a traditional Kupari wedding.

Whistle clearly wasn’t having any of it either. She grabbed a key dangling from one of Cycle’s earrings and gave it a firm, downward tug.

“Snarl Redpelt, if you’re going to bark out crap like that, you can cook your own meals!”

Cycle winced as he tilted his head to avoid a torn ear. Not that it couldn’t heal in minutes.

“Hibi, honey, I didn’t mean it! You know I love you!”

Hoping to prevent a lover’s spat from turning ugly, Amy reminded them,

“So, wasn’t there something you wanted to ask me?”

“Oh, right!”

Whistle released her hold, much to Cycle’s relief.

“Would you and Lox be available to help us on a contract? I know Master Strongbone said we should wait until Lox replaces her lost companion, but we could really use some magical backup on this one.”

A doorbell chime and magical ‘welcome’ heralded Kim’s arrival.

“Sorry Whistle, but Turtle and I already have the rest of the day planned out.”

“Amy needs some time off to rest and relax,” Bri explained helpfully, much to Amy’s chagrin.

“Really? She doesn’t smell at all unhealthy to me,” Cycle seemed unconvinced.

After stepping a little too close to take a discerning sniff,

“In fact, it smells like she’s healthy and particularly fertile … OW!”

Whistle once again grabbed at her mate’s ear, this time to prevent any more tactlessness.

“Enjoy your rest, fellow Hunters. And let us know when you’re back at the ready.”