A squire about the age of Makzin passed by, a pair of rat maow scurrying after him, the trio lighting the Hall�s walkway lanterns as they went. One of the maow was a fire-element cavio, his black fur marked by a star-like white patch on both his forehead and breast; the rat-maow climbed up the wrought-iron lantern holders and cast a small flicker of a spell on the fat candles while the squire and other maow lit the next one down with more mundane means. The trio were making it a race, grinning as they hurried down the path, racing each other to the next set of lanterns.
Zane smiled after them. Zane looked little older than either Makzin or the squire, but Makzin knew Zane was a good few years older than he looked; technically, as of the past month, Zane had turned twenty. While they both had been young when they became Rangers, Zane had become a Guide�the highest rank within the town, leading both the rangers and the city�s knights�before Makzin had even become a Jr. Ranger.
But now, as his own little sister became a Jr., he and Zane looked but a couple of years apart. Makzin half-smiled into the dusk, wondering how many years it would take before he looked older than the sylvan-blooded Guide.
Makzin spoke up again after the squire had passed out of ear-shot down the long walk. �Have you talked to Dr. Lake yet?�
�No, I haven�t,� Zane replied, shaking his head. �I wanted to see through the feast first; I had to make an appearance, and also needed to corner all of the knights and rangers there to get my orders to them. Just because the bayyo�s been caught doesn�t mean I want them to lessen up on Laral�s security��
Makzin grimaced, the lantern light beginning to play on his long bangs. �Yeah� others like him could exist. He just popped out of nowhere last month.�
�And so could any number of others like him,� Zane agreed, nodding. �I�m sending Giacomo, Raye, and Iven out to keep an eye on the trails tomorrow. I don�t want the kids to get hurt��
�Yeah�� Makzin nodded. �While it would be nice to be rid of Calley for the summer, we do have the other Jr.�s to think about.� He smirked over to Zane in the deepening shadows.
Zane sighed, smiling, shaking his head.
Silence fell between them again. They listened and watched into the night, admiring the stars, the moon, and the trickle of the brook, enjoying the peacefulness of the evening. Judging by the caliber of the music and laughter echoing across the courtyard from the feast hall, it seemed that the party was still going strong. The rangers spent some time in silence, letting the night deepen around them.
�Well,� Zane finally said, breaking the silence. �After tomorrow�s ceremony, once we make sure the kids get off okay, we�ll hit the road ourselves. Does Calley know where to meet us?�
�Not yet, I haven�t really talked with her about it. I figured I�d run over plans with her tonight.�
��well, we can always send a hawk after her if plans change,� Zane replied, watching the shadowy gardens. �Or have a message waiting at the Talston Hall��
He trailed off, watching a small form scamper towards them through the shadows along the cobblestone. It was another cavio; seeing them under the lamp-light, it hurried towards the rangers.
"Hey, Tirrell, what�s up?� Makzin asked, recognizing the cavio to be his own.
Tirrell, an older cavio marked with a dark brown hood-style pattern and a single solid stripe down his back, hopped up beside Timber, touching noses with the silent fox in greeting. Timber sniffed back, smirking as he did. �I smell apple cobbler� did they serve dessert?�
�Uh-huh!� Tirrell half-squeaked, clearly in bliss from the feast. He looked to have gained another pound or two on his stomach. �A li�l after ya ducked out��
�Aw�� Timber replied, looking back to Makzin.
The boy shook his head, smiling back, �Don�t worry, I�m sure there�re leftovers��
�I think so, bu� you�d have ta hurry�� Tirrell said, sitting back and washing his face, his heavy rat-tail curled about his feet. �Most�a the kids are leavin� now, an� I think they�re lookin� ta take the leftovers with them� y�know, ta pack fer their test tomorrow.�
Makzin rolled his eyes. �Cobbler doesn�t last long on the trail� isn�t this supposed to be a test of their travel skills? I don�t know if they should be allowed to take stuff like that��
Zane chuckled, looking out towards the hall; it had grown louder in the courtyard as people began to filter out. It was unusual for anyone to leave the hall so early in the evening, but the Jr. Rangers had only this final night before their test, and that meant much last-minute packing overseen by fretting parents. �Nah, it�s okay� part of travel is knowing what food to eat the fastest, isn�t it? We take perishables all the time, neh? Can�t expect them not to��
�Eh�� was Makzin�s noncommittal response. �I guess so� I guess I�m more worried about there not being anything left for us to take, tomorrow��
Zane grinned at his friend, �Uh-huh, I see how it is��
�Well�� Makzin smirked back, looking a bit defensive. �I�d kinda like to have something��
Tirrell looked up, grinning. �I don� think that�ll be a problem�� he replied, scratching behind an ear with his hind paw. �Yer parents told me to tell ya they�re headin� home right now� an� I think yer Mom�s lookin� ta do some cookin� tonight��
�Really?� Makzin asked in mild surprise. �Hm. Guess she wants to make something special for Calley��
�Aw yeah�� Zane replied, grinning. �Your Mom�s chocolate chip biscuits��
Makzin nodded thoughtfully, pleased. �Hm� probably. Wonder if I should go, ah, help��
�Heh, I think I might go help too, just so I can have one straight out of the oven�� Zane said. �Fresh baked and still steaming?
�I know I�ll be right there waiting,� Timber replied, standing slowly and stretching. �How long ago did they leave? Think we could catch up?�
�Just a bit ago� right before I came to get you,� the cavio replied. �Most �f the new Jr.�s�re on their way home now, bu� I think the hall�s gonna be noisy all night� they�re singing songs about you, ya know?�
�Huh? Songs?� Makzin asked, confused. �Why?�
�About the bayyo,� Tirrell replied. He turned his black eyes towards the feast hall, whose main entrance was built into the courtyard wall with long, high windows, where bards were playing their songs in lively groups.
Zane smiled, listening to the drumbeat. �I�m not surprised. It�s been a long month� I think the parties in Audrey must be bigger.�
Makzin nodded solemnly, straightening up. �So� I�ll meet you tomorrow? I need to go home and make sure I have anything together��
�Oh, yeah,� Zane replied, looking up. �Make sure your Mom remembers me��
�Heh, and have to split cookies with you?� Makzin asked with a lighthearted glare. �Not a chance!�
�Yeah, whatever, get out of here ya bum,� Zane growled back, slapping his friend on the shoulder. Laughing, the two stuck fists in farewell. �See ya.�
�Later,� Makzin nodded, grinning in the lantern light as he left with Timber and Tirrell across the courtyard. They slipped under the entrance archway and out onto the cobblestone path leading back towards town, leaving the Laurel Guide Hall to its partying and songs that would undoubtedly last well into the night.
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