TBK:CC - Drabble IX

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Drabble IX – Mouse Trap
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“Come on, Crazy Cat, you’re lagging behind!”

“Carry me, Hameo...”

Mariel rolled her eyes and swerved behind the yawning brunette. Before she could push Clarice, the older girl just slumped against her and almost made her stumble from the sudden weight she had to support. “Oi, stop fooling around!”

“I’m sleepy.”

Groaning, the Hamster glanced at the only sensible member of their party, hoping for a few reprimands to get the Lynxlioness going. However, Elaine was looking straight ahead, her body tense as she tried to walk faster without appearing to be in a hurry. Mariel’s excited mood sobered down as she continued to push the sleepy Feline, whose ears were flicking every now and then to show that she was alert in spite of her demeanor.

After all, Kazan was much different than the three remembered, almost as if it was a new city.

Mariel had woken up all excited about their departure and yanked the blanket off the very much nocturnal Feline. But unlike usual, Elaine had already gotten up before the early-bird Hamster and had everything prepared and ready to go. The Husky was as amiable as always, but she was clearly anxious about leaving the desert metropolis. The Hamster just didn’t want to give in to the fear so she acted like nothing was wrong, yet the moment they stepped out of Sandstorm Inn, the tension in the air was unbearably palpable.

It could be her imagination, but the Rodent noticed shadier characters around the roads, and the vendors all appeared more subdued and wary even though the bustling noise was still as lively as ever. Her senses screamed danger and she would’ve bolted then and there if it weren’t for Clarice’s loud complaint about being pried away from her beloved bed. Her annoying gestures and teasing irritated the Hamster enough that she was able to ignore the strange sensation floating around the air. Smoothly, the Feline led her two companions away from the sidewalks and kept to the center like they were merely taking leisurely morning walks.

“Hammy, you’re the one lagging now~”

Mariel shook her head and resumed pushing the Lynxlioness, not noticing that the older girl was no longer playing around. She was pointing at a few stalls and speaking to Elaine in a relaxed manner, which must have helped ease the tension from the blonde a little. Mariel kept close to her friends as they quickly gathered their food supplies for the long journey ahead to Guien. She was very glad that the Husky had changed back to her blouse even though her outfit did stand out. At least it was less revealing, and it seemed that the strangers loitering around the shades of the buildings were more interested in her greaves and their odd closeness in spite of their species.

Already, these sketchy people have approached the trio a few times, acting friendly as they inquired what a Feline was doing with a Canine and a Rodent. Their casual questions were the only acceptable part of their behavior, for these strangers’ leers and forward assertion into the girls’ personal spaces were turning Mariel into a nervous wreck.

Clarice led them down a different street and things seemed to have gotten better, enough for the Feline to goof around with the Hamster again. The younger girl readily returned their bantering, relieved for such distraction because she didn’t know how much more of this she could take. She’s been lax in her alertness, too much so, that she had almost forgotten how it was like to live in a constant state of fear.

Maurice and Banscar had told the trio that they would leave Kazan when the sun came up. And now, the desert metropolis had already devolved into this perilous environment, similar to when the girls first arrived. Without the Top Tiers around, shady characters became bolder and had no reservations in harassing some of the meeker vendors, and Mariel even overheard some lesser bounty hunters from the guild getting into brawls with the street thugs.

“This is worse than I had anticipated,” Elaine murmured when the Hamster shrank against her at the sound of a clay pot shattering. “The power vacuum has already sent this place into disarray.”

“Yeah, what did Mr. Bear say? Something about The Wall and Horny Brat are on their way back to Kazan,” Clarice idly scratched her uneven whiskers, “even then, he didn’t know exactly when they’re due back... the Newspaper guy was right. I can see why the locals would prefer having ‘monsters’ around instead of these hooligans. From as far as I can see, Mr. Bear and Mr. Tree are awesome at peacekeeping!”

“They must be quite frightening as bounty hunters,” the blonde’s grip on her backpack strap tightened, “But, indeed, I do not believe they harm innocent bystanders, unlike some of the people we have seen so far.”

Mariel frowned, half missing the sense of security the two men provided and half hating herself for being dependent on them. She’s gone through worse before, so it was shameful that she was being so jittery when Elaine must be feeling a lot worse since the blonde came from a much nicer background. The Rodent clutched her whistle, hoping to regain her courage through this first gift she’s ever received from a friend. She glanced at Clarice’s compass, which was fastened on the latter’s belt, and found herself smiling. Fleetingly, Mariel felt invincible in spite of the ominous atmosphere.

“Heh, I think the south isn’t as hot so you’d feel better then, Princess,” Clarice twirled her tail tuff nonchalantly as she led her companions towards the southern gate of Kazan. “We’ll travel smartly and stop at the first rest stop this so you won’t have to over-exert yourself, yeah?”

“A-Alright, thank you.” The blonde’s cheeks were already reddened due to the heat and her outfit, but the Hamster suspected that it was due to the anxiety as well. Before she could offer to carry the Husky’s backpack for her, Clarice’s tail suddenly swung towards her face the moment they turned corner.

Having all that fur stuck in her mouth wasn’t pleasant, but Mariel could not voice out her complaints due to how disturbingly empty the street was. Some of the stalls were open with its merchandise on display yet the vendors were nowhere to be seen. The only people there were an Insect and a man with a straw hat, both standing offhandedly as if they were waiting for them

The Husky’s amethyst eyes glazed as her tail stiffened. “Clarie... that man is-”

“Yeah, that Pondskater who wouldn’t lend his boat to us,” the Lynxlioness’s voice was rather grave as an unfamiliar glint flashed in her narrowed eyes. When the black-tipped tuff slowly retracted, the Hamster moved her arm towards her tool kit while her other hand pulled her skateboard closer to her body.  Likewise, the blonde’s arm discreetly moved to where her sabre was.

“We’ve been watching you, Little Girls, prancing around town like tourists,” the Insect, most likely a Silverfish due to his unusually long antennae, leered at them without even trying to put up an act. “We’d like to show you around more... I bet we’re better tour guides than those two freaks.”

“No, thanks,” Clarice answered confidently as she shifted on her feet so that Elaine was slightly blocked from the strangers’ view. “Mr. Bear had been plenty helpful already and we’re gonna be leaving town now anyway.”

“Step aside, Puss, we’re talking to that pretty little lady behind you,” the Silverfish sneered and took a step towards them.

“Well, I’m talking to you,” the Feline spoke boldly and whispered to Elaine. “Ready your sword, Princess.”

Her eyes met Mariel’s and the two exchanged a silent agreement. The Hamster swallowed her nervousness and moved forward a little so they were both standing in front of the Husky. The Lynxlioness’s unspoken message was clear, that she still wanted to resolve this matter peacefully but the chances of that happening was quite low so they’d better get ready. The Pondskater’s shaded stare was still focused on the blonde, which made Mariel scowl defiantly.

“Lady, our boss would like to have a pleasant chat with you,” the stranger seemed unfazed by their tense postures. “He heard that you’re the Rampaging Bear’s new client... well, our boss is a new bounty hunter here and he’s heard about that insane necrophiliac. It’ll do you no good being mixed with the likes of him. A noble like you should be with us.”

“She’s the Princess from some Island,” the Pondskater murmured loud enough for all of them to hear.  

“That’s not true,” Clarice shifted again so that her cloak fluttered behind her shoulder to reveal the szabla and gun clasped to her belt. “We just said that because we wanted to borrow your boat.”

“If you are offended by our deceit, then we apologize for our actions,” Elaine said calmly, her amethyst eyes cool and steady as she bowed politely but curtly. “I assure you, I am no princess but a simple traveler.”

“Of course, of course,” the Silverfish waved off her words, “quite the humble royalty, aren’t you? Our boss will be pleased. Come with us quietly and we’ll treat you real nice, eh?”

Mariel almost squeaked when a dozen men slowly moved into view from behind the unoccupied stalls, all wearing the same arrogant expressions as the speaker. However, the superior and skin-crawling way they stared at Elaine made the Hamster’s blood boil in fury. It’s been a long time since her hands were covered in that disgusting slick liquid, but unfortunately, it looked like she could not avoid dirtying them even on this continent.

Her knees were still shaking, but her arms were steady when suddenly, one of the more audacious thugs lunged towards them without the Silverfish’s order. Her skateboard slammed into his face so hard that even her arms trembled from the force.

“Stay away from Lain,” Mariel uttered lowly as she retrieved a crowbar from her toolkit, brandishing it like a club.

Clarice smirked proudly and unclasped her sheathed sword from her belt. “You heard her, Mister. Stay away from us, yeah?”

The Hamster’s knees stopped shivering as she returned the grin fiercely. “Hell yeah.”

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