Shar and Cy tumbled back into the room. Normally, the watch would not induce such tumbling, but as McKale was sitting precisely where Shar and Cy were to reappear, the tumbled. All three of them, right back onto the floor with loud 'oofs' all around. Shar immediately extracted himself from the pile, gripping the watch painfully tight in his fist. Before McKale had the chance to sit up and get a good look at them, he whipped around and stuck an arm out toward the dresser drawer...only, it wasn't there.
McKale let out a groan behind them and attempted to sit up. There was a bit more struggling was usually involved with sitting up, the reason for which was sitting primly on his chest with a look of absolute horror on her face.
"McKale!" Cy barked.
Shar gritted his teeth and turned back toward them, holding the watch behind his back,"Shh!" He rubbed his head.
Neither Cy nor McKale seemed to heed his request.
"You!" shouted McKale. A grin bloomed over his face and he wrapped his arms around Cy, shooting to his feet and swinging her around a little, You glorious little thingummies!" He smacked a kiss on Cy's nose and set her down on the bed.
Cy grimaced a little, rubbing the saliva off her muzzle.
McKale let out a bark of maniacle laughter and rushed out the door. Shar and Cy exchanged a look, confusion painted clearly on their faces. The apartment door swung open and shut loudly, the noise ringing through the house.
A silent pause greeted them.
The door banged open again and McKale's footsteps pattered down the hall. He reappeared in the doorway, panting, Youve got the watch with you, what?"
Shar gave a nod, extracting the object from behind his back to show him.
McKale let out a whoop and shunted off again.
Cy frowned, turning to Shar,"We've missed something, haven't we?"
Shar shrugged.
Cy's frown deepened, and she leapt down from the bed, Did McKale have bruises before we left?"
Shar's ears perked. Bruises? He hadn't- His brow furrowed and he forced his pounding head to conjure up the image of McKale. Yes, he did have bruises, didn't he? Not very large ones, but they were fairly obviously, standing out starkly against his pale skin. His face.
Shar set the watch on the nightstand and stepped over the discarded (and splintered) drawer.
"He seems awful happy, despite the bruises,"Cy followed him out the door, still frowning, We have missed something, haven't we?"
"No, said Shar. Nothing important anyway. Probably. He made his way into the living room and toward the hat rack. Plucking his goggles off of it, snapping them over his face. He moved toward the door.
"Shar?" Cy leapt up onto the couch, hanging over the arm of it with her head cocked, Where are you going?"
"For a walk. I'll be back soon. Inform Jeffrey that I am fine, and will return shortly."
Cy frowned and shook her head, scrambling back to the floor, Im coming too!"
Shar cast her a look over his shoulder, hand resting on the doorknob. He shook his head and slipped out into the hallway, Someone needs to be here when Jeffrey returns."
"Why? I want to come!" she growled, Youre not just 'going on a walk', you're off to investigate to help Jeffrey. I want to come!"
Shar sighed and turned back to her, I have ascertained the reason for McKale's bruises."
"Don't try and change the sub-"
Shar held up a hand, Jeffrey obviously became informed of our disappearance, as well as that of the watch."
"So?"
"He blamed McKale, obviously. And, as McKale was here and Jeffrey was not, I am under the impression that he was terribly distraught and felt he could longer face the prospect of enduring time with his employer after having...caused him...her bruises and come to the conclusion that it was his...her...fault that we were missing, and there was nothing he could do about that. You need to be here, not only to console him, but to give him proof of out return. I doubt he will believe McKale at this point."
Cy scowled, but nodded, Fine."
"Thank-you,"Shar nodded his head and farewell and slipped out the door, easing it shut behind him. He made his way out of the apartment complex and slid against the wall. He searched the streets, trying to catch his bearings. Where had he stood?
He slunk further along the building, then something caught his eye.
There it was. The alleyway.
A smile curled his lips and he sauntered across the streets, immersing himself in the shadows between the buildings. His formed quivered and morphed into that of his natural state, but he kept the goggles clamped firmly over his eyes. There was no movement in the alley, but that was how it had been during his first (or was it his last?) meeting. He strode deeper between the buildings, clasping his hands behind his back and shifting the boxes and rubbish out of his way with the combined effort of spare feet and his tail. He stopped against the building, leaning against the wall, and waited.
Minutes passed, blurring into nothingness, and not so much as a flea stirred in the alley. Shar let his eyes drift toward the crowds of people, wandering back and further across the street. Finally, he caught sight of McKale, dragging an obviously inebriated Jeffrey behind him. They stopped occasionally, when Jeffrey lost his footing, and McKale would give a nervous chuckle before helping him upright and tossing an arm over his waist, swerving them back toward the building. They disappeared behind the doors and out of sight.
Something stirred in the shadows of the alley. The shape was hard to make out, but Shar noted quickly that it was tall and slim. It moved toward the streets, keeping close to the buildings. It cursed under its breath and jerked around, four arms flying upward in the air. Suddenly it froze, and its head craned toward Shar's form in the shadows. Shar stepped into view, lifting his ears attentively.
"You!" the creature shouted.
The voice was identical to that of his previous (or soon-to-be?) 'kidnapper'.
"You're one of that butler fellow's bonds, aren't you?"
Shar shook his head, His only bond, he corrected, My sister is a sponsor. Who, may I inquire, are you?"
"Ah, well, the creature rubbed the back of its neck with its longer set of arms, You can call me, he paused, shifting his feet,"...Kujo! Yes, that's a good one. I'm Kujo. Name as good as any, I suppose, I've got a bloody 'nough of them as it is..."it trailed off, muttering to itself. Suddenly its head snapped up again, and it shifted a bit closer to Shar,"You!"
Shar tilted his head questioningly, Yes?"
"Do you know if they got that Yaidom fellow?"
Shar nodded, We did."
The creature cursed again,"Damn Winquist! Who does he think he is..."his voice fell into a mumbled cacophony of words, They don't have anyone else, do they?"
Shar shook his head no.
"Oh, good. Means I've got at least...ten? eleven? Ah, something like that anyway...no worries, though, no worries. We'll think of something, he stroked his chin. Paused. Locked eyes with Shar again, You!"
"Yes?" inquired Shar patiently. He shifted his feet, all eight of them, and rustled his wings.
"You think you could...oh, no, certainly not. Well, maybe. Perhaps..." it stirred, all for arms twitched and jiggling at its sides, You wouldn't be able to pop back here every once in a while, would you? Keep me posted on Winquist's,"the word was hissed,"progress?"
"Why would I want to do that, Mr.Kujo?"
"Ah...that's....ah....a very good question. Well, you see, Winquist is looking for me, and I'm not keen on the idea of being found. I'm very good at not being found, see? But-"he paused, But you're running around finding all the rest of m- Finding that lot of people for him, and I fear I'm on that list of his."
"There was no 'Kujo' on Miss slash Mister McKale's list, I assure you,"Shar's lips curled into a smirk.
"Yes, yes, yes, well...that's because I'm number twelve. Or is thirteen? Damn numbers. Anyway, I'd quite appreciate it if you kept me posted. Don't need to tell that bond of yours anything about this. Or your sister. Or m- McKale. You'll do it for me, won't you? You seem like a nice enough fellow."
Shar licked his lips, What do I get out of it?"
"Aaah,"the thing nodded its head, The wonderful feeling accompanied with helping a fellow being out?"
Shar's smirk grew.
"Or, rather..."the thing sighed, What do you want?"
Shar wanted Jeffrey to be happy. He wanted to know Winquist's plans. He wanted to know why Winquist needed all these people, and what he as doing (or going to do) with them. He wanted assurance that the watch was safe. Shar had little desire for anything...material. He said so.
The thing stirred, clunking its rather large head against the wall, All right. What about immaterial?"
Shar informed him of his questions regarding Winquist.
The thing let out a bark of laughter,"Hah! You're a smart little bugger, aren't you? Very well, I suppose I could tell you something. But not a word to anyone else, you here? I can't have people, it lowered its voice, snapping its head left and right,"Knowing."
Shar nodded and stepped forward.
"Nononono! You stay over there! You're telepathic, aren't you?"
Shar nodded.
"Good. So am I. Here..."
Knowledge trickled slowly into his mind, like dewdrops sliding down a thin, spider web. He couldn't comprehend what was being sent him at first, receiving it at such a slow state with no prior knowledge about the circumstances. Slowly the fact began to form itself in his mind, and Shar let out a breathy gasp.
"Yes, yes, yes, the thing drew back, and the stream of information suddenly ceased, Not a word, now, not one word, or I'll have to do something nasty."
Shar nodded, Of course, but-"
"No, no, no! You want more, you keep me posted! That's it for now."
Shar nodded again, stiffly.
"So, here, again...whenever you have something for me."
"How will you-"
"Oh, I'll know. No worries about that, no worries at all."
Shar gave a third, and final, nod before drifted down toward the entrance of the alleyway. The creature slammed itself back against the wall, inching away from him. Shar averted his gaze, keeping his eyes locked firmly on the ground. He couldn't help but peek though, if only at the thing's feet. They were interesting enough, two-toed and consisting of large claws. The skin was dark burgundy and mottled brown. As if realizing what he was looking at, the creature shifting out of Shar's few, sinking further back. Shar snapped his gaze back to the metallic floors and rejoined the crowds in the streets.
"And wear those goggles!" he heard the creature shout at him, just as he bounded up to the front steps of the hotel.
Shar's mouth quirked into a smile.