?ᏂᏗᏒᏬ? & ?ᎩᏬᏦᎥ? – Cabin Fever Part 3
?ᏂᏗᏒᏬ? & ?ᎩᏬᏦᎥ?
“Cabin Fever Part 3”
************
{Yuki}
“Wow, Creepykeeper-san! You’re so fast!”
{Haru}
“H-How?!”
{Shopkeeper}
(smiles)
“Though I applaud your good sense of things and welcome your praises, little Yuki, I must mention that your observation is false.”
{Yuki}
“Huh?”
{Shopkeeper}
(points to his right)
“Your windows are open.”
{Haru}
“Wha- and why are you here?!”
{Shopkeeper}
(opens the door)
“Like I previously stated, please leave all your questions aside till we’ve reached our destination. Someone, or should I say, something is waiting for you all.”
(perplexed, the group walks down the streets lead by the shopkeeper)
{Haru}
(whispering)
“…I really don’t understand why we need to go to where this… this charlatan is taking us?!”
{Nika}
(looks around the path enjoying the daylight)
“Haru-kun, that’s not nice. He did say that it’s important. We need to, at least, give him a chance.”
{Haru}
“B-But… Nika, it is too dangerous for you to go outside!”
(Nika silently stares at the desolated road and keeps walking)
{Calabolt}
(carrying Yuki on his head)
“Leave it, Haru. The shopkeeper assured us that he placed a barrier that wards off the virus.”
{Haru}
“Even so… We don’t even know where he’s taking us.”
{Calabolt}
“Well, why don’t you just ask…”
{Haru}
“I…”
{Yuki}
“Uhmmm… Creepykeeper-chan? Where are we going?”
{Haru}
“Yes. I do believe we need an explanation now that you’ve made Nika go out from the safety of our home!”
{Shopkeeper}
(grins)
“Tut-tut! More walking, or in your case, more flying little one. I’ll answer your cute little questions later. We’ve already kept this package waiting for some time now.”
{Haru}
“Package?”
{Shopkeeper}
“A parcel, a mail, a box sent from someone dear…”
{Haru}
(slightly annoyed)
“I know what a package is!”
{Shopkeeper}
(giggles)
“I’m just teasing you Haru-kun. Anyway, we’re here!”
(the shopkeeper stops in front of an old wooden door)
{Haru}
“Wait. I remember your shop being much farther away. We can’t have walked all the way to Quebec City on foot!?”
{Yuki}
(flies excitedly towards Nika)
“Ooooh! I remember Creepykeeper-san owns a sweets shop! Can we buy some Nika?”
{Shopkeeper}
(winks as he enters his key through the shop door)
“Well, sorry to disappoint you youngling. I have the habit of relocating and repurposing from time to time based on my clientele’s needs .”
{Nika}
“Repurposing?”
{Yuki}
(peeks through the window)
“This doesn’t look anything like your sweets shop.”
{Haru}
(follows closely behind the shopkeeper)
“Yes. Nothing like a sweet shop at all.”
{Shopkeeper}
(opens the door and enters)
“Is it a crime to diversify my wares? I think not, no? Besides, toys are in vogue these days. And I, for one, wouldn’t want to miss the opportunity to cash on this very profitable… venture.”
(Haru begrudgingly nods and follows in)
{Yuki}
(rummages through the aisles)
“Toys! I like this one! And this one! Oooooh! Can we get this one, Nika! How about this one?”
{Nika}
(nervously sweats)
“Uhmmm… I need to save money for the move so…”
{Yuki}
(looks longingly to Nika)
“Just one? Pretty please?”
{Haru}
(looks angrily towards the Shopkeeper)
“Yuki! That’s not what we came here for!”
{Yuki}
“Oh boo! You’re no fun, Grumpy Uncle!”
{Shopkeeper}
(laughs)
“Well, if you would please excuse me. I’ll fetch that parcel for you.”
(the shopkeeper bows and disappears behind the counter)
{Haru}
“I still don’t understand why he brought us here. Why didn’t he just deliver it to our home? A toy shop and someone like Yuki doesn’t mix well.”
{Calabolt}
(looking towards Nika)
“Probably it is too big for him to carry alone.”
{Haru}
“But even still, don’t you find it too suspicious?”
{Calabolt}
“I don’t know. But that shouldn’t be our priority at the moment…”
{Haru}
“What could be more important than… Hey, wait! Where are you going?”
(Calabolt walks towards Nika)
{Calabolt}
“Hey, how are you?”
{Nika}
(sighs)
“I’m doing fine… I suppose.”
{Calabolt}
“Hmmm… You don’t sound fine to me…”
{Nika}
“I-I guess… Well, I have a lot on my mind lately. Especially with all the work that was postponed and the move to prepare for. I really don’t want to disappoint my fans.”
{Calabolt}
“Must be tough being a star…”
(Nika stands silently)
{Calabolt}
“Oh! I didn’t mean any disrespect…”
(Nika looks longingly towards Calabolt)
{Nika}
“Cala-chan, I…”
{Shopkeeper}
“I’m back! Here it is as promised!”
(Yuki flies towards the shopkeeper followed by the group)
{Yuki}
“Oh! What’s that? What’s that? Is that a present? Lemme see!”
{Haru}
(looks grudgingly towards Calabolt)
“Too big, eh?”
(Calabolt shrugs)
{Shopkeeper}
(moves the small box away from Yuki)
“Easy there little one! Your friend tells me that the content of this package is very fragile. Very fragile indeed.”
{Haru}
“Friend? What friend? How can you possibly know who we are acquainted with?”
{Shopkeeper}
(grins)
“How indeed? Isn’t it such a small world?”
{Haru}
(glowing)
“Do not test me, charlatan! Choose your next words wisely or else I’ll smother you with thorns!”
(the shopkeeper chuckles making Haru even more annoyed)
{Haru}
“How is it that you know so much about us? Are you a spy? What are your true intentions?!”
{Shopkeeper}
(smiles)
“I can assure you that my intentions are, without a doubt, pure. Only at the behest of our common friend, did I made the effort of fetching you all and give this to you.”
{Haru}
“And who is this common friend you speak of?”
{Shopkeeper}
“Hmmm… You’ll find out soon enough.”
{Haru}
(prepares to unleash his stored Majïk)
“Why you-?!”
{Nika}
(rushes in between the two)
“Haru, that’s enough!”
{Haru}
(snaps out of his rage)
“Nika, I…”
{Nika}
“I don’t know what your problem is with this man but he does not deserve this kind of attitude. For one, he is merely trying to help. We should be thanking him, not attacking him!”
{Haru}
(bows in disgrace)
“I-I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to…”
{Shopkeeper}
“Hush now, no need to be in a fit. We were only bonding. Right, Haru-kun?”
(Haru tries to look away pretending not to hear the shopkeeper’s words)
{Shopkeeper}
“But I must admit all this teasing was uncalled for… Believe me when I say that I have my reasons not to give too many details …now how about we go back to why you needed to be here.”
{Yuki}
“The box?”
{Shopkeeper}
“Yes, indeed. As I said, our common friend left it here for you all as a gift of sorts. Shame, he did not mention any specifics on what the content is.”
{Yuki}
“So… You don’t even know what’s in this thingy, Creepykeeper-san?”
(Calabolt moves closer to inspect the box)
{Calabolt}
(whispers to himself)
“Odd… Why do I feel heavier just by looking at this box?”
{Shopkeeper}
“Sadly, I have no clue. The fae who gave me this box is quite erratic, to say the least.”
{Calabolt & Haru}
(whispers)
“Fae?”
{Nika}
(muffling her voice with her hand)
“Could it be…?”
{Yuki}
“Hmmmm…”
{Shopkeeper}
“However, as one of you might have noticed, The box emits a high concentration of Majïk. It wouldn’t be wise to walk alone down the streets with such a powerful beacon, no?”
(Haru nods)
{Nika}
“Is it dangerous?”
{Shopkeeper}
“No. I’d say it’s quite safe. And HE did mention that the content will be extremely useful otherwise, what would be the point of bringing you here?”
{Calabolt}
“That doesn’t sound reassuring.”
(the shopkeeper nods)
{Yuki}
“Well, why not open it and check?”
{Shopkeeper}
“I would very much like to, my dearies. However, he did not leave me with the key.”
{Haru}
(looks towards the shopkeeper)
“Key? What key?”
{Shopkeeper}
“Oh, did I fail to mention? He thought that it would be safer if the box and the key were separated. Of course, one would presume that my shop is one of the safest places in this realm in which leaving the box with me would seem highly logical. So, I assume he would have sent the key to you.”
{Nika}
“I think he’s talking about Kazan’s gift.”
{Calabolt}
“Oh yeah, the old looking key that came with the letter.”
{Haru}
“So, it’s Kazan’s fault we are in this predicament… It’s starting to make a bit of sense but… Why didn’t you just tell us this beforehand?”
{Shopkeeper}
“Remember when I said that time is of the essence?”
{Haru}
“Yes?”
{Shopkeeper}
“He left me with specific instructions on how to open it. Call it another precautionary measure from his part. Also, he added that the effect would be more… dramatic?”
{Haru, Nika, and Yuki}
(nervously sweats)
“That sounds like Kazan, alright…”
{Calabolt}
“Wait, But I thought we only needed the key?”
{Shopkeeper}
“Indeed, but this box will only open during a specific timeframe… A full flower moon.”
{Haru}
“But that’s tonight! You should have told us about that before we left! I don’t even know where I hid that key!”
{Shopkeeper}
“That’s a shame. Well, there’s always the next time… I’d say around May of next year?”
{Haru}
“Ugh… And leave the only trace about Kazan with you for a year? No! I’ll go get it now!”
{Calabolt}
“I think we still have time if you want I can go back to Nika’s place and I’ll-“
{Haru}
“No, no! Yuki is the fastest in our group. He can fetch it fast and come back here with time to spare. If only I could remember where I left it…”
(the group nods)
{Yuki}
“Uhmmm… But it’s not in Nika’s house.”
{Calabolt}
“Hmmm? What do you mean?”
{Yuki}
“Well, since no one wanted to bother with it…I kinda took it to my place?”
{Haru}
“You what?”
{Yuki}
“But… It’s shiny…”
************
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