Tiger

The Adventures of Caleb Crowsnest

Kayden skipped into the house, seemingly unconcerned with the events that had the adults all in an uproar. She flashed her uncle a bright smile as she reached for the first aid kit beside him. "I need to borrow, this please. Edward has a scratch I need to tend to."

Marrathew grunted his consent, his concentration on tying the bandages securely about Witch Hazel's arm while breathing as little as possible. Even Kayden, far more use to the young woman's potions and brews, had to wrinkle her nose at the strong scent. "Bring it back when you're done," Marrathew instructed through his teeth.

Kayden considered Hazel's arm with a curious expression. "Have you found a way to mend flesh yet, Witch Hazel?"

Hazel shook her head and let out a silent frustrated sigh. She had been working on a mixture of some sort that would heal wounds completely-or even at all. She was not above experimenting on herself, nor John's men who had displeased him. She would patch them up as needed, but she'd also feed them odd mixtures or slather upon her latest formulas. It was the cost of John's displeasure after a careless fight. So far she'd only lost one that may have been a direct result of her ideas, though many had sworn to lick their own wounds clean before allowing her to dribble anything new into their cuts again. She, though alone in her belief, was mostly positive that Askar hadn't lost use of his hand because of what she'd coated his wrist in, but from the sword that nearly took it off.

Already her mind was buzzing with her thoughts on this latest experiment. It stung like a firewasp, but alcohol usually had that effect. She had hoped the icemint would help to sooth the burn, though it did not seem to be having much luck. The turmeric and honey lent the scent of the mixture a pleasant undertone, though it was a false perfume that failed to mask the more pungent ingredients. 'I should add limestone next time,' her thoughts were distracted as she stood up to follow her young charge. John would not forgive her for abandoning her position, no matter what her excuse might be. 'And I think I will change up what I stir the pot with. Something with a more soothing nature. I'll do some research into that when I get home.'

"Kay." Marrathew's strong voice called after the two of them, his tone falsely happy. "After you take care of Edward, will you come speak with me? I'd like to know if your daddy told you anything about his plans today." Hazel narrowed her eyes at him, already frustrated with her silence. She would need to find a way to warn Kayden that this was a trap. Marrathew just smiled back at her. She could only delay his questions for so long.

Astute Kayden gave her uncle a polite smile and dipped her head in agreement. "I will come sit with you after I tend to Edward, Uncle. Papa says it's most important to see that our family and friends are taken care of. I don't want to let him down!"

~~~~

Ribbon's tail flew as she smelled her mistress. She loved Sara, but right now her good boy needed her more. She wuffed softly again and nuzzled at his back. The gentle prod was all that Jake needed to fly to his feet and fling his arms around his grandmother. "Gramammie!"

Sara folded the sobbing Jake gently into her chest. She planted a kiss on the top of his head, stroking and soothing him gently. She desperately wanted to get into that tree to ensure Caleb was alive and to take out everyone that had caused him this harm, but right now her little boy was much more important. "Hush, Jakey. It's alright. I'm here."

Jake smeared snot across her shirt as he buried in deeper. His words rushed out in a jumble as he struggled to tell her all his thoughts at once. "I knew Edward would get you, they'd grabbed me and had a knife at my throat, it hurts so bad, but Caleb was so brave and he fought them, and I wasn't strong enough to do that, I know you're probably so disappointed I wasn't good enough, I didn't mean to be captured, and Uncle John said they had to let us go, but Caleb fought him too, and he made them release me, but I didn't help anyone, I just ran away, and I'm a coward but I was so afraid and it hurt and I didn't want to die like papa!"

Ribbon shoved herself into Jake's ribs again. She whined loudly. Why was he still distressed? Mistress was here to take care of him now. He should be happy again. What could she do to make him happy? Slowly Jake's fingers began to work her ear again as he noticed her insistent prodding. Ribbon's tail flew. Jake drew in a long, trembling breath and slowly relaxed. His grandmother was here to make everything alright, he trusted her to handle the situation. She'd keep them all safe.

The Adventures of Caleb Crowsnest

Byures stood in the center of the room, his long claws and teeth dripping red with blood. His chest heaved with each labored breath. His victims were dead, or spending their final agonizing moments wishing darkness would come sooner. One gnome torn clean in half whispered a prayer as his life expired. Byures was pleased with his work.

But it had come at a heavy cost. The poison in his system burned, and the pounding of his heart only expedited the spread through his body. His muscles spasmed. His sharp eyesight was failing him rapidly, and he believed that he was beginning to hallucinate. His mind had convinced him a skeleton had just walked into the room. He drew a deep, cold breath as his lungs screamed in protest. Another convulsion shot through his body.

Roger studied the large reptilian man before him. "Well, you don't look to be in particularly good shape." The statement was perhaps a bit obvious, though Roger couldn't be certain that the dying man was aware of how poorly he seemed. Sometimes those destined for death denied their fate so hard that it surprised them in the end.

Hunter smiled at the being his mind had conjured. It made sense that in his final moments he would speak with a skeleton. "I am not, but I still have a good hour in me, I would say. They can't take me down that fast. I need to get up to the chambers to help Caleb before my sight fades completely, so you will need to excuse me, Mister Death. My hearing is still fine for the time being, and I can go hunting in the dark. Please wait while I finish this off."

Roger couldn't say he was surprised that he had been mistaken as a reaper of sorts. "Then we had best make this quick. I will do what I can for you after we have taken care of Caleb." He hated to admit it, but if they were able to get Byures back home, there was a possibility that Hazel would be more successful in saving his life than Roger could be. But for now, his focus needed to be on Caleb. "I'll lead the way." With that he charged forward, his grip tightening around his sword. He could hear explosions in the council chambers and occasionally the wall would shake with the force of a spell blasting against it. If Caleb and Rainbow were both successfully dodging everything being thrown at them, it would be a mirical.

~~~~

As if by unspoken agreement, the two women separated in an attempt to shelter the child from the truth of what was happening. Hazel tucked her bleeding arm behind her back, a serene smile on her face. Sara slid her bloodied dagger back into the sleeve of her shirt so the little one would not see it. "Thank you, Kayden." Sara answered politely, "I will be out in a moment. Would you please tell Edward I will come speak with him?"

Kayden nodded and smiled brightly at the woman. "Alright, grandma. Do you want me to get down Uncle Roger's bandage kit first?"

Sara's eyes flicked towards Hazel, a wave of disgust and disappointment flooding over her. She was better than this. She should never have let her emotions flood her logical mind. "Yes, please. Thank you dear." She strode across the floor with confidence. Hazel would patch herself up, take one of her barely-legal concoctions, and move on. And so would Sara. "Once you have fetched it, place it on the kitchen table, then please tell your Aunt Mary to take you and Skyla to your uncle's house." Clearly having the children at home was turning into a dangerous idea.

Outside, an exhausted Edward caught Sara up on the events he was aware of. Namely, "Jake's been captured and they might kill him!"

Sara needed to hear no more. "Stay with Mary and Marrathew." she ordered sharply. "I'll get him back." With that she took off, silently cursing her oldest son under her breath. Somehow all of this was his fault, and she was not going to forgive him for it.

~~~~

Ribbon licked Jake's face again, her tail thumping happily. She was curled around the child, tucked out of the way near the roots of the great tree. She wanted to be inside helping, but her boy needed her more. He still shook and trembled in fear, and his hands often flew to his throat as if to make sure there were no blades biting into his flesh. She licked away the fresh tears on his cheek and wagged her tail again. Nuzzling at his hands, she laid her head on his lap and looked up at him with pure love and affection. Jake was her boy and she loved him. He was a good boy.

The Adventures of Caleb Crowsnest

"Must you be in the chambers?" John asked.

Rainbow nodded earnestly. "It is the only way to stop this."

"Then I will go with you." John declared firmly. "Darmae will be up there, and you will not stand a chance against her. I will kill her-"

A gnome landed at their feet, sprawling lifelessly across the floor. "I'll hit you with the next one," Hunter threatened from the rafters. "Darmae is mine. You stay here to fight these pathetic targets."

Caleb shook his head frantically. "I don't care who comes, but we need to go now!"

The door banged open as soldiers marched into the tree, neatly lined up. At the front marched poor little Jake, his face pale and his body held stiff and rigidly. Behind him was a soldier with his fingers entwined through the boy's hair and a blade at the boy's throat. "No one moves." He demanded in a sharp tone of voice.

John felt his heart go cold as he stared at his nephew. Jake was trying to look so strong and brave, but even from across the room John could see the tears that threatened to spill, and the razor thin line of blood from when the blade had accidentally bit his flesh. He had no doubts he could kill the man from where he stood, but could he kill all of them before one got a blade in Jake? His fingers twitched against his blade as a million possibilities flashed into his mind. He needed to act, and he needed to act now.

~~~~

Edward's sides heaved as he galloped through the streets. He hadn't wanted to leave Jake, but the two of them had not been strong enough to fight the entire army. The only thing he could think to do was to follow Jake's high, terrified order. 'Get Grandma'. Sara would know what to do. Sara would save Jake.

Edward skidded on a loose cobblestone, but managed to keep his balance as he careened around a corner. A woman shouted at him for his carelessness, and a dog was barking from somewhere nearby. All he could think to do was go for help. He started down the street as the barking got louder. Tears blinded him as he surged forward.

Ribbon barked again.

Edward drew up short, his sides heaving as the friendly pup leaped around his legs and barked again. "Mister Roger!" Speaking strained his lungs, but he knew he needed to get his message out to someone. And Roger was much closer than Sara. "Jake has been captured! They're heading inside the tree with him to go kill Caleb!"

~~~~

Hazel squirmed in Sara's grip, desperately trying to wrench her wrist free. The older woman laughed, enjoying the control she had. She adjusted her grip and pressed hard until she heard Hazel squeal in pain. The younger woman's jerked her shoulders as she unsuccessfully tried to free her hand. Sara twirled her knife lazily between her fingers.

"This will only get worse for you if you fight back," Sara warned her in a tone that was almost mistakable for friendly. Gently she set the blade against Hazel's arm. "Now, why don't you start by answering my question, yes?"

"I'll answer nothing," Hazel's voice was tight from hiding her pain. Sara's blade bit into her flesh. Hazel drew in a sharp breath and held it. Slowly Sara ran the knife down the back of Hazel's arm, peeling a thin strip of flesh off with it. A high pitched whine escaped Hazel's throat as she held back a scream. Her knees buckled in relief as the knife finally reached the end of it's path.

Sara flicked the blade away, speckling her expensive rugs with blood. "That was the wrong answer. Let us try again, shall we?" She set the knife against Hazel's arm, beside the first track. "What do you know about this gnome John has sold himself to?"

Hazel turned her head away from Sara. Long ago she had sewn a small pill into both shoulders of this shirt. Having feared an attack while guarding Kayden, she had come prepared. She just had not thought that she would need to take such precautions from John's own family. She bit down on the hidden pocket and ripped the weak stitches out easily as she extracted the pill and the swatch of fabric that had hidden it. Sara spotted her chewing and grabbed her chin, yanking her face back around so they met each other's eyes.

"Poison?" The older woman demanded, disgust evident in her voice. Though, she was honestly a little impressed with just how loyal Hazel was to her son. "You would rather kill yourself than talk?"

Hazel laughed, but no sound came out. And none would. The pill was not a deadly mixture, but one of her own device. No, she would be rendered speechless until she drank the antidote, a special formula she would need to brew herself. She would not utter a word to anyone about anything until she was able to make herself the counter. She never kept any premade, so that no one could force her to drink it and ruin the silence. All of John's men had been given a pill to take in the event of capture. Torture would do no good when one could not even scream, so much as speak their secrets. Sara could skin her alive and Hazel would never make a sound.

The Adventures of Caleb Crowsnest

John Junior checked the pouch at his hip for what felt like the thousandth time. Hazel had outfitted him with several of her more interesting inventions. Two she'd made him drink right then and there, the effects of which coursed through his system. Occasionally it crossed his mind that she could poison him, and he'd not be able to tell the difference from her supposedly beneficial potions. His blood felt as if it were on fire, though it had faded to the soft dance of coals instead of the raging inferno it had been an hour prior.

However, his senses were heightened, as she had promised. A sour scent caressed his thoughts, as reassuring as the small glass bottles wrapped in felt. She had sworn to him that the smoke produced upon breaking the vials would assault the more sensitive noses of his reptilian opponents. They might outmatch him in blades, but he had brains beyond theirs. This time he would not be caught unaware. For now, however, the entirety of his focus rested not upon revenge against the hedonistic murderers, but upon the task he had just been assigned. He supposed any concoction brewed specifically to combat the lizardfolk would work just as well upon a larger scaled being. An alligator was not something he wished to fight, but orders were orders.

He inclined his head towards the warrior-turned-messenger-dog. Darmae was a foul woman, and John was glad she had not come to see him herself. He didn't particularly like following her orders, but sometimes you had to obey those you did not care for. His family would be safest with him in her pocket, and with the information he received in return, most of his gang would survive the slaughter. He had already lost a few good men, and more yet would die. His heart ached with the loss of his friends. But casualties were inevitable, and everyone in Oceanside knew the risks they were taking when they joined the ranks.

"My life before hers," he murmured with an easy smile. "This Hunter shall be handled."

Joran waved him off dismissively. "She shall be very disappointed if you are not as good as we have been told. If you fail in this, you had best hope that it is because this Hunter killed you." John merely smiled in response.

~~~~

Caleb's friendly face was a pleasant but not welcome sight. This was no place for a bunch of children. Despite his mission, Hunter paused to greet the ragtag group of youth. "Caleb. Edward. It's good to see you again. And who is with you?" As the young hippocampus pulled up beside him, Byures could see that his first impression was incorrect. The young horse did not seat three children, but instead two and a short green man.

Flower flapped her good wing as she eyed the predator warily. Caleb reached up absently to stroke her feathers. "Jake and Rainbow," he answered in a distracted tone of voice. "I'm very glad to see you. I need help! Something awful is happening, and I need to get into the big tree there."

Hunter couldn't help but feel a smile tug at the corners of his lips. "Funny, so do I." He replied casually. Caleb had the most serious expression upon his face in that adorable way children tried to be grown up before their time.

"Now is not a good time." Caleb dismounted, his hand hovering near his sword. "We are here to fight."

"I was just about to say the same to you." Byures did not like the idea of a bunch of youth running amuck under his feet while he slaughtered those responsible for the deaths of his men. Too much liability, and he wouldn't be able to kill indiscriminately. He would need to watch out for and to protect these young ones. "You should go home, Caleb. Though I appreciate that you want to do the right thing, this is no place for children."

Caleb puffed up in self inflated pride. "I have defeated a town of dwarfs, I can handle this. Rainbow is here with me, we shall succeed. But we would be honored to have you fight by our side. We will not be stopped, there is no point in trying to prevent us from carrying out our mission. The city will not be safe if we do not get inside!" He turned to Jake as he added, "You and Edward will stay here to guard the entrance. If reinforcements arrive, we need you to be able to warn us." Jake nodded seriously at his orders.

Byures shrugged. "Then I suppose I shall not stop you." He would merely need to find a way to lock the child out of the room before he started his revenge. He gestured towards the suspiciously empty entrance hall. "But I will insist that I go first. If there is an attack waiting inside, I shall be better equipped to take a surprise blow than you." Caleb conceded the point reluctantly. Byures entered the large tree, swiftly accessing the situation. Thus far it had been alarmingly easy. The human and Rablin stepped in behind him.

"We need to find the right spot for Rainbow to take out this evil gnome that's here. I am going to defend him while he casts his spell." Caleb explained nobly. "Why are you here, Byures?"

Byures shrugged. "To kill the council."

The unexpected ring of steel echoed in the empty hall. Faster than Hunter had expected, the child darted in front of him, his old sword leveled at his stomach. Byures supposed, with mild amusement, that was as high on him as Caleb could comfortably threaten. The child's jaw was clenched in determination. "I can not let you do that," he declared. The child's voice cracked with betrayal. "You will have to fight me first!"

The Adventures of Caleb Crowsnest

Kayden smiled brightly over her shoulder at Caleb. "Thank you!" She headed for the house in slow measured steps, the way a lady of fine breeding was taught to walk. However she quickly forgot that she was practicing and her pace turned to the usual swift footsteps of a child. Caleb darted ahead of her so he could open the door. The two children entered the house together just in time to catch the last of a conversation they were not meant to hear.

"-could think of no where better to go." Marrathew's hurried explanation was given in a rapid, hushed tone.

"Let me see it," Sara replied, "I'll keep it in my room if I can not cast it myself. This is something we must not let Junior know about. We don't know who he's involved with, or what he might decide best benefits his own agenda."

For a moment the older boy thought that Kaden was going to cry, but the look flickered away before he could confirm it had been real. She turned and kicked the door so it bounced open and banged shut behind them. "Aunt Mary!" Her overly bright and loud voice shouted down the hall, as if they had just entered. The adults in the adjacent room were instantly silent. "We brought the dishes in! Do you need help washing them?"

Mary appeared from around the corner, still suspiciously teary eyed. "Thank you, loves. That would be quite helpful. I'll get you a cookie afterwards for your help."

Kayden gave Caleb a triumphant smile. Seemingly having forgotten about the prior overheard conversation, the young girl followed her aunt into the kitchen. Caleb tagged along wearily. The emotional and physical strain of the day was starting to take it's toll on his body. He plunked himself down at the table with a long sigh. He was half asleep by the time the dishes were done, but somehow Mary saw it fit to reward him with a cookie as well. Kayden sat down beside him.

Out front, someone knocked on the door. At the sound, Caleb hurried out to the livingroom. Sara exchanged a glance with Marrathew, who ducked out of sight. Caleb moved over to stand with him. Cautiously the older woman crossed the house and pulled the door open. "Can I help you?"

A woman approaching her thirties gave Sara a smile from the front stoop. Her pretty black hair was cut short, on side shaved nearly completely off. There was evidence of a nearly healed burn along her ear and cheek on the same side. Her eyes were overly bright, as if she'd recently spent some time crying. "Good morning." When Sara didn't answer, she continued. "I'm Emerenciana Witkhazelt. Hazel is fine. John sent me. He asked that I stay near his daughter for a little while, and he said I would be safe here, in case Dustin's murderers were after something specific." She glanced into the house, as if expecting to see Kayden there. "The codeword is sunse-no, wait. He changed it this morning. Daffodil. Code word Daffodil."

Sara seemed to swell with her irritation. "So now Junior thinks I can not protect my granddaughter?"

Hazel shrugged her shoulders. "If he thought you could not protect her, she would not be here. My understanding is that there may be opponents against who blades are not the most effective method of dealing with."

Roger didn't take his eyes off the woman at the door, though he directed his question to Marrathew. "Who's that?"

The young man pinched his lips as he frowned at the woman. Unaware of the youth standing near to him, he replied more candidly than he might otherwise have. "That's Dustin's girl and one of John's 'friends'." he answered with a scoff. "John introduced me to the two of them last Drestal Day. Kayden calls her Witch Hazel. Hazel the witch is about right. She supplies John with all sorts of little concoctions that are only legal because no one's seen them before to make a law against them." He and his brother had quarreled over that point before.

"I suspect there may have been an agreement of sorts between her and Dustin. Never did understand why he was with her. I always thought his affection for her was more of a brotherly sort. After all, it's my understanding his tastes were of a..." he frowned slightly. "Different sort." He shrugged and turned away. "But such rumors can get a man killed if it crosses the wrong ear in the wrong parts of town. From my understanding, Dustin grew up in the parts where it could. Though lord knows John isn't that way."

"What did happen to Kay's mom?" Caleb couldn't help but ask. Having always wondered about his own parents, he couldn't help but seek the same answers for those of his friends.

Roger shrugged, though the two men were clearly trying to figure out when Caleb had joined them, and how much he'd heard. "She up and left when Kayden was about a year and a half. Never gave John a reason why. Just disappeared one day, left the baby in the cradle, took all the money she could find. Oh, she'd told him she was leaving, he just didn't believe it. Thought they were just empty words looking for a fight. And this was before he started finding himself trouble. He has made it clear he has no intentions to become involved with anyone again. Won't risk having Kayden's heart broken twice."

Kayden popped into the room, curious about why her grandmother had been at the door for so long. Her face lit up as she recognized the woman in the threshold. "Witch Hazel!" She started forward, then stopped short. Clutching the skirts of her dress, she gave her a wary look. "What's the code word?"

"Daffodil. Your father would be proud of your diligence."

Satisfied that it was safe, Kayden surged forward to throw her arms around Hazel in a tight embrace.

~~~~

Hunter licked blood off his claws as he surveyed his stolen paper with satisfaction. He was pleased they had rightly assigned the destruction to him. Of course, he had made certain they would know who had done it, but sometimes the credit was given to a more beneficial political rival.

He finished the last of this morning's breakfast and folded up the pages he no longer cared to read. He could easily take care of himself, but without his family, what really did he have to keep fighting for? For every one of his men's deaths, he had avenged them twofold. Though it may be fun to continue his slaughter, he understood the waste of life was pointless without reason behind it. Perhaps it would be better not to destroy the ones taking orders, and to simply focus on the ones who had given those orders. Though there was always the possibility that he had extracted enough flesh to equal that which had been taken from him.

The large alligator man stretched out his arms as he mulled over his options. So what mattered most to him? Seeing the entirety of those who had wronged him and his men brought to bloody justice, or finding a new cause worthy of fighting for?

The Adventures of Caleb Crowsnest

"Chick-a-dee-dee-dee!"
"Tawee! Tawee!"
"Zeeeeww Tee-tee!"
"Chi-Chi! Chii-chi-chi!"
"Na-whip! Na-whip! Na-whip!"
"Nee-nee-nee-nee-nee-ca-nee!"

A chorus of birds both familiar and unrecognizable clamored outside Caleb's window. He scrunched his eyes closed and rolled over, dragging his pillow atop his head. The screams of birds in search of food and mates would not be drowned out. A long loud groan escaped him as he sat up. Someone had left an old robe hanging from the foot board. Caleb pulled it on as he wrapped it around himself. It smelled faintly of woodsmoke and cloves and the scent enveloped him comfortably as he tied the belt around his waste. The robe was too large for him, but not unmanageably so. He shoved his hands into the pockets as he crept down the stairs. Something was crumpled in the bottom of one. Curiosity got the best of him. Cautiously he pulled out an old handkerchief. A clumsy JJN had been hand stitched with green into one corner, with a much neater, blue version on the opposite corner.

Caleb slipped the thin material back into the pocket of his borrowed robe. Barefoot and silent he made his way through the living room. John was stretched out on the couch, one arm thrown up behind his head, the other dangling off the edge. Kayden was curled up, wedged half on top of her father, and half between his ribs and the back of the couch. Caleb suspected she'd snuck down from Skyla's room where she'd started the night in order to join him.

For a moment, Caleb felt a pang of jealousy clench his chest. Right then he would have given anything to have what she had. A father he loved enough to make it worth leaving a warm and comfortable bed in order to sleep without a blanket in the cold morning air, just because it was closer to him. But that was not something that was meant for him. And he had someone worth venturing out into the cold for himself.

The back door was shut slowly so as not to wake the sleeping occupants of the house. Out here, the birds were much louder. They were significantly more annoying in the dawn air than they were in the middle of the day. Over the sound of their screaming Caleb could just make out the voice he had been looking for.

"Swim, swim my darling," the familiar tune drifted mournfully across the empty back yard. Caleb headed that direction, the wet grass sticking to his feet and between his toes. "When you get too tired," Edward's voice was soft, but strong. It seemed the early morning agreed with him. Though, being a creature of the cold, wet ocean, it should not have been a surprise that the chilly dew would be a welcome sensation to him. "-to me. Swim, swim my darling, and go learn to be fr-free." Punctured by the occasional sniffle and sob, it was clear the young hippocampus was doing his best to keep his own spirits up during the long, lonely hours. "When you g-get too tired, that is when you'll see. All the waves in...in the ocean-"

Caleb smiled. "Will bring you back to me?"

Edward was on his feet in a heartbeat. "Caleb!" He spun around and surged forward, almost bowling the weakened youth over in his enthusiasm. Caleb flung his arms around his friend's neck. Edward tucked his head down as if to pull him in closer. "I missed you!"

~~~~

"There you are, Caleb." Sara sighed softly as she surveyed the young boy and his friend. "You frightened Rainbow something awful when you weren't in your bed this morning. Come inside. We've agreed to hold our service before breakfast. Marrathew has just arrived." Caleb nodded and climbed to his feet. He patted Edward's neck reassuringly. Sara frowned as her eyes flicked across the robe he wore, but she said nothing about it. Instead, she turned for the house and headed briskly across the lawn. "Come."

Inside the family gathered in silence. John had his arm around his daughter's shoulders. Jake was standing apart from the group, his jaw set in stubborn determination not to cry. Mary held Skyla and wept openly. Roger and Marrathew stood together, seeming to draw comfort in that they were not alone in their pain. Rainbow and Ribbon were pressed near the front so they could see.

On a low table -so that Rainbow and Skyla could reach- stood two thick unlit candles. Roger handed Caleb and Sara two thin candles of their own as they joined the group. Sara drew a deep breath. "John first, then Herrown. I will light my candle and make a wish for our departed John. I'll pass my flame to the next person, and they shall do the same, then pass the flame along. Once we have all made a wish for our loved one, we will light the mourning candle together. Our wish candles shall be placed in the holders around the base, then we shall repeat with wishes for Herrown."

Caleb shifted uncomfortably. "I'm not part of the family, nor crew." He spoke up hesitantly. "Perhaps I shouldn't be part of this."

Roger set a gentle hand on his shoulder as he guided the young boy to stand beside Jake. "You are one of us now. We want you here."

The Adventures of Caleb Crowsnest

Great post Dusty! @Zapdos You're next! <3

The Adventures of Caleb Crowsnest

Neil shivered as he stepped into the guard station. His wounded arm remained clutched tight to his chest. He turned back towards the door and caught sight of John Nieve leaning casually against the building across the street. Fear clutched at his heart. The cowardly man swallowed hard and faced the soldiers watching him. "H-hi." He winced at the stupid introduction. "I'm part of the Oceanside gang. I came to turn myself in."

~~~~

Caleb opened his eye. He would have opened both, but he didn't seem to be able to. Tentatively he reached up to feel the bruised and swollen skin. His fingers skimmed over bandages. The pungent smell of healing herbs erupted from the disturbance and clouded his thoughts for a moment. Slowly both sight and mind focused as he adapted to the changes around him.

Someone was holding his hand. His fingers curled slightly and he gave the small fingers a little squeeze. "It's okay, Jake." He murmured softly. He turned his head to stare at bright green skin and a large rabbit ear.

Rainbow let out a long sigh of relief. "I'm glad you're awake, Caleb. You scared me."

Caleb sat up gingerly, his body aching from the fight. His arms were especially tired having absorbed so many blows of his opponent's sword. "We were trying to find you. These lizards attacked John's confidant. They were going to kill them both. I had to get involved. I killed one of them, but I don't..." he frowned and shook his head slowly. "Things are fuzzy from there." Fear washed through him and he stiffened up. "Is John alive? What about Jake and Edward!?"

Rainbow pulled Caleb against him, hugging the youth tightly. "I saw Edward playing with three kids in the back. I'm sure everyone is fine. I'm so glad you're alright. I don't know what would happen if we had lost you."

Caleb drew back slowly and swung his legs over the side of the bed. "I need to speak with Jake. I have to make sure he and John are alright." He trusted Rainbow's word about Edward, but he didn't think he would be satisfied until he knew for certain all of his companions got out unscathed.

~~~~

Princess Kayden rode her magical unicorn through the enchanted forest. All around her horrific creatures screeched and threw boulders at her. But she wasn't afraid. Her great knight, Sir Jake was there to defend her. Every time an evil witch or a terrifying monster dared to cross her path, he would heroically leap to her rescue. And her steady and brave steed was surefooted and true, guiding her faithfully through the dangerous terrine.

Sara and Mary kept half an eye on the children as they played. Jake chased Skyla about the garden as she screamed and threw clumps of sod at their cousin. Edward trotted about with Kayden on his back, a twig clumsily tied to his forehead and slowly sinking down towards his nose.

Mary laughed softly at one of Skyla's particularly well aimed clods of dirt. "It is good to hear the children laughing. Jake has been wonderful about keeping the girls' spirits up."

Sara nodded stiffly, her focus on repacking the supplies she had just bought. "Wind this length of rope for me, please Mary. Marrathew," she turned, calling into the next room, "make sure that food is well wrapped. I'm not starving because bugs and water got into my rations."

Marrathew carried the bundles he had been working on over to his mother. "You won't. I have much I need to be working on tomorrow. How soon are we going to hold our service? I'm sorry, I don't mean to rush this, but I refuse to miss it. I just hate to be up too late."

Mary stood up and dusted off her dress. "I'll go and get the kids ready. We can say our goodbyes as soon as Caleb wakes up." She kissed Sara gently on the temple. "I will help you work on these packs after the children are in bed tonight." She carefully set aside the rope she had been working with and headed out into the garden. The smell of the evening air felt so joyful compared to the day's events. Between the soft breeze and the sound of the children playing, one could almost be fooled into thinking that everything was alright. "Kids, come in and wash your hands and faces. We're going to say goodbye to your grandpa and father soon." Skyla dropped the projectiles she was holding and bolted towards her mother.

Kayden looked over hopefully. "Is papa here?" She inquired. The girl slid down off of Edward's back and hugged him around the neck swiftly to thank him.

"No, not yet." Mary waved the concern off, her voice light as she added, "he might skip this one. Come on now, your uncle needs to get going soon, so we want to send their souls on before it gets too late!"

Kayden crossed her arms stubbornly. Nearby Jake's jaw was set in an identical expression. The two had clearly made up their minds about something. Jake was the one to speak. "We're not starting until he's here." Kayden nodded beside her cousin.

The Adventures of Caleb Crowsnest

Piper swallowed hard. No one wanted this man's attention upon them, and Piper was smart enough not to be the exception. "Said he'd be by in time to send me home for dinner. Last time that meant sometime around three, but before that it had meant about ten. That's the best I can give you."

John laughed, a surprisingly playful sound compared to the earlier look on his face. "That sounds like him alright." The sinister smile flickered back to life as he killed his chuckle. "You won't mind if one of my friends hangs around with you to deliver a message, now would you? I'd do it myself, but I don't quite have the time." He had no doubts Dustin would be back with the news soon, and he would be able to move forward with his plan from there. The clerk looked horrified, but was smart enough not to refuse. "Thank you, you've been a big help."

Edward sniffed tentatively at the closest display of spears. He liked the smell of their handles, it reminded him of the bits of driftwood he sometimes would play with back home. The swords and daggers had a sharper scent to them. He preferred the gentle wood over the tangy metal. "I think you two should try these!" He suggested brightly.

Jake shook his head. "They're cumbersome and impractical. Caleb and I are too little to use them right." He turned back to the display of small weapons he had been admiring. Thoughtfully he chewed on his cheek. Gently he ran his finger down the sheath of a dagger. "I like this one. Uncle John, it looks like it goes into a boot, am I right?"

JJ smiled brightly at his nephew. "You are indeed correct!" He answered as he sailed across the shop again. "Pick it up, get a feel for it, my boy. I'll help you learn how to secure it if you like it." Jake hesitantly unsheathed the blade. His breath hitched. John Junior smiled, his heart softening as he watched the boy fall in love with a weapon for the first time. Sara had been firm on teaching the child nothing but hand to hand combat, but John was more realistic. Fists did little against a proper weapon. If you wanted to survive, you needed a blade. He'd treasured helping Kayden pick out her first knife, and now Jake had made his selection.

Caleb was significantly more antsy. He couldn't focus on any of the craftsmanship laid out before him. As tempting as the weapons were, nothing called his name louder than the anxiety over what had happened to his captain. "Mister John," he knew he'd been asked not to use the titles, but he wanted to show just the right combination of respect and familiarity to get what he needed, "I'm okay with my old sword for now. If Jake's pick something, can we please go find Rainbow now? I appreciate that you want to outfit us with weapons, but I already have one. Besides, Rainbow will need something too, and he should be able to pick something out before I do. He's my captain."

John sighed softly. "Alright, we can get moving." He would just need to make a few useless inquiries in the local area until he heard back from Dustin. He could bluff a stressed out twelve year old, and he'd have heard back about the rablin before Caleb figured out his interrogations were insincere. Out of habit, his eyes flicked to the shop windows and scanned the streets. Hasty movement caught his attention as someone turned onto the street. A true smile landed on his lips this time as he recognized one of his men. "Stay here, boys. That's one of my contacts now. I will be no more than three minutes. Caleb, take a second look at those swords in case you change your mind. We'll be on our way once I've spoken to him." With that the man strode from the shop and out into the dusty street.

Three lizard swarmed out of the alley he'd shot from, two on the walls and one on the street. They turned as a unit, one moving like liquid across the side of the building. The second leaped to join his companion on the road as they hunted their pray. Neil was panting for breath, the whites of his eyes showing from fear and pain. John pulled a vial the size of a child's thumb from his left pocket and flicked off the cork. His right hand slid into a bag in his right, returning with a pinch of powder. "One." He released the powder into the vial. "Two." Wasting no time, he whipped it down the street, arching the glass past Niel's head. "Three."

The whole thing exploded in a flash as the chemicals reacted, a rapidly expanding fireball swelled and died harmlessly. A delay tacit, nothing more. The lizards stopped short in the street, hissing at the harsh smell and the uncertainty of where the fire had come from. John unsheathed his sword and strode forward to defend his man.

From within the shop Caleb bolted outside to help however he possibly could. "John!"

~~~~

"One more, please Aunt Mary?" Though a little old for picture books on her own, Kayden thrived on the love and affection from the woman. Her own mother had left long ago, before her father had turned to crime. Before she could remember anything more of her than an intense fear of abandonment.

"No more time for that, my dear." Sara's voice was surprisingly cheerful considering the events of the day. "Why don't you two go pick some flowers? When everyone comes home tonight, we will hold a small memorial for Grandpa and Herrown." She would have preferred a full burial, but without their bodies, and with her family dispersing rapidly on their missions, a small goodbye would have to be enough for now. There was no time nor money to plan a full service. Perhaps after she had saved Lydia she would be able to venture out to retrieve the bones of the two brave men.

Kayden stood up and bravely reached for Skyla's hand. "Come on, Lala. I'll tell you about the new potion I learned from Witch-Hazel!" The children disappeared together with Ribbon on their heels.

Sara turned to her daughter. "Roger will fill you in on the details tonight. I will be leaving soon. Is there anything pressing you require before I am gone? This may be your only chance to make a request. Unless something comes up, I intend to get going tonight."

The Adventures of Caleb Crowsnest

Jake and Edward continued swapping jokes and stories as the three of them huddled by the entrance of the tavern. Caleb, being the oldest and therefore responsible for the younger boys, was keeping a watchful eye on everyone that passed them by. He knew that it would not be very long before Edward would need water again, and he certainly wasn't about to let anything happen while his charge was weak.

There were several potential threats he gave a warning look towards, though thankfully none seemed particularly interested in the trio. The only person who did take any interest was a woman in colorful skirts and a crisp bodice. She wondered over to the children and gave them a friendly smile. "Hello boys."

Jake instantly fell silent, watching her with a small frown. Caleb stepped defensively in front of the younger kids. "Who are you?"

"Marge, but my niece calls me Auntie Marmie." She gave them a bright smile, "You're welcome to as well." She peeked past them and smiled brightly at Edward. "Don't you two fine young men have such a pretty horse!"

Jake lit up, eager to talk about his new best friend. "Thanks Auntie Marmie! He's not just a horse though!" Caleb cut him off with an elbow to the ribs.

Marge's smile widened as Jake flinched into silence. "He's not?"

Caleb shook his head. "No. He's our horse."

"You two look like you've been hungry. I can't imagine you're able to tend to him very well. He looks sick." Indeed, Edward was looking rather concerned about her. "My niece would just love him." Marge reached into her purse and pulled out a glittering coin. "Why don't you two let me keep him? My niece would love him and spoil him, and you could visit any time you like. Here, I'll give you this gold coin for him. I bet your patents would be thrilled to see you've brought home enough money for a month of food, and found a place for him to stay for free!"

Caleb shook his head. "Edward isn't for sale, ma'am." Marge extended the coin towards him temptingly, but Calen swatted it away. And ugly sneer crossed her face as the coin clattered to the gutter.

"Well then," from behind them a woman purred. "We'll just have to take him." the second woman flicked het thin sword experimentally. "Be good and you won't get hurt."

Caleb snatched at his sword, fear rising in his chest. "You're not taking Edward! Jake, mount up, go!" The younger boy rushed to obey his instructions. Edward knelt to let him in more easily as Caleb faced of with the sword wielding woman.

A man faded out of the shadows behind the boys. "That won't be necessary." He laid a gentle hand on Jake's shoulder, though his eyes were locked on the two women. "Go. I'll hunt you two down myself if you bother these boys again." The woman hesitated only a moment before they hustled down the street together. The man gave the kids a smile. "Not a bad scowl you've got there, kiddo." He winked at Caleb. "Almost scared me." At their wary faces, the man laughed. "What, you didn't think JJ would leave you alone out here, did you? Name's Dustin. Code word "sunset"."

Caleb and Jake exchanged a glance. Jake shrugged and whispered, "Kay said her dad and her have codewords, so she knows if he sent someone to see her or not. If they aren't family and don't have a code, she knows they aren't safe. But I don't know what the word is."

Dustin unhooked his sword and offered it to Jake. "Here. You can hold this if it'll make you feel better. I'll get it back if I need it."

"You won't need it." John shut the door behind him. Dustin hugged him with a grin. John slapped him on the back before turning to the boys. "Ran into trouble then?"

Dustin nodded. "Pair of cowards picking on children." He nodded towards the boys. "Sisters, lovers, or just buisness partners, no one's quite sure about those two. They have more faces than the king has knights. A different name for every person they meet." He walked over and picked up the coin, then scoffed. "Not even thr decency to offer a real coin. Nothing but pretty wood."

"What did they want with Edward?" Jake asked hesitantly.

"Depends on if they could get more for him alive or in pieces." All the kids paled at the answer.

"We should get out of here." John shook his head. "Maybe I shouldn't have brought you kids out here, but I got my information, and there's one more place I want to take you two."

"Where's that?" Caleb couldn't help but ask.

John smiled. "Any two boys getting into their own adventures need proper knives. Come. I know a man that will give us a good price on some small blades for you both."