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@kimlikesart [Ohel approaches the desk. Bookshelves line three off the walls and starting with the one to his right and stopping on the fourth wall only because there is a door. The rest of the fourth wall holds pictures, a nick-nack shelf, and one tall plant – a small tree – illuminated by a glowing mushroom-lamp.

The knick-knack shelf holds various items clearly made by a child – a wide variety. An ash-tray, a bead necklace, a bracelet… simple, clumsy items.

Ohel touches the books – one title catches his eye.

The Song of the Fell Wolf and the Canary

[Do you open it?] {yes} {no}

 

“…Are you going to jump out the window too…?”

Grimme turns to the … creepy, magic child who is entirely serious as he talks to the girl.

She tilts her head, closing her eyes.

Nathair.

Leana.

Interesting names.

First: What did he do to earn the name Snake?

Second: To twine around what? What did she twine around? Of course, it also means Sunray. Which is pretty.

Grimme shakes her head. Ignore the distractions.

“Please don’t.” Sage mutters in a small voice, “There’s always stairs.” He decided to add. “Right there.” He points.

Wise one. Prophet. Also an herb but unless Sage is a big deal in his culture, that was probably not why he earned that name.

[@kimlikesart, @this-is-not-an-alien, @ragnarok, @sarafini] [Do you take the stairs with Grimme?] {yes} + {no}

[If you take the stairs do you separate from Grimme and explore the Consul’s mansions?] {yes} + {no}

 

SEARCH

“OWWW!! HOW ARE YOU THIS HEAVY

“OHSHOOTIT’STHESPIDERRUNFORYOURLIVES!!!!!”

I shake my head, vaulting of another window-railing with the lightness of a pigmy tiger.

Though I’m probably nowhere near as fierce, murderous, or stubborn as one.

Burn though?

“I smell you!” Burn mutters. “I know you’re here. I smell you. I feel you. I will bite you.”

Yep. Burn is an oversized pigmy tiger.

Or a fell wolf.

The smoke-construct lands beside him on the pavement.

The handful of smoking politicians quietly disperse away from him. With some truly nasty statements of about his sanity.

“Hey you ableist …” I won’t bore you with what I actually called them while hurling dirt from a planter at them. But Mom was likely to find out and have some very nice things to say to me.

 

Then the SPIDER whirls to face the poor men and one woman.

“You wanna get involved?” I ask with the sweet voice Mom taught me: the one where I’m supposed to sit pretty and only speak when spoken too.

 

“Time to go!” Crazy man runs off with Smol Child Alessio.

“Whoaa!” The boy flails. “Do we have a plan!?” He keeps babbling as the man runs fast as a murderous fell wolf after a pack of Colds.

 

BURN

Uuuuuuuuuuuh. Is that Alessio? And the playful conman?

Um.

sPiDeR wHeRe?

I sniff. I can still smell it – evil, putrid, not good, very bad, evil, poison

Focus. Find it.

I came down before me? Right?

RIGHT?

 

Stop.

Panicking.

 

I take a deep breath and release.

Okay. Think.

There’s the spider.

That’s … uh. That’s big. That’s really big.

 

I bare my teeth and have to remind myself that I am not thirteen and crazy and alone. I can hear Search here. Grimme is … somewhere.

Good.

Mission – if you choose to take it – lead spider to narrow trails seldom walked.

Uhg. It’s gonna take a while to lead it here. Is there a cage near here? Or something narrow that can trap it for, like, forever? Or until a solution can be found…

…

It might be a few months early.

Because apparently tumbling into realms is time-travel

But … I know where the opening to the Maze of Neophytes is. Well. Where one will be.

 

And hey, since the guy isn’t murdered, I might be able to lead him there! Without getting like arrested or accused or even really in trouble!

“Search! I have a plan!” I holler. “Get to Goldbeard’s apartments!”

“WHAT?! ARE YOU CRAZY?!?!”

“Nope!”

Okay. That’s step, like, four.

Step one is corralling the spider there.

Ugh. That’s gonna be fun.

“Hey you two! Wanna help corral a monstrous spider?”

[@this-is-not-an-alien, @ragnarok] [Do you help Burn and Search corral the creepy spider into Consul Goldbeard’s chambers, hoping that Burn is right about the opening to the Maze of Neophytes and that the spider is still small enough to fit inside?] {yes} + {no}

{yes – Bravely face the spider and lead it back into the Consul’s mansion.}

{no – Run. Run fast. And look for a cage big enough to fit the spider. REMEMBER: You will have to divert Burn and Search into helping you with your alternative plan.}