Earthenware
~Zerrex Narrius
The larger of the two wolves puckered his lips, as his smaller partner spread his arms and gave him that big, clever grin of his. The one that always meant the two white wolves were about to get their dumb asses in over their heads. "No."
"It'll be easy! Besides, we're already here." wheedled the five foot terror in front of him. His gorgeous periwinkle eyes gleamed like diamonds as he spread his arms and leaned back, compelling, teasing, almost harmless-looking in his comfy turtleneck sweater.
Almost.
He was so pretty, boyish, charming; graceful as a shark in the water and slicker than the Devil himself. He had a voice like an angel from the bayou and a tongue more silver than the larger wolf's eyes, as he cajoled: "We'll be in and out. Quick, easy, and painless!"
"Why do I find that so hard to believe, Mahihko?" the larger wolf groused, as he rubbed a hand across his scalp. He was large, thick, handsome, his piercings much more casual compared to his smaller partner's, whose own lined his muzzle and decorated his nose as well as his ears.
"Because you need to learn to trust, Lone." his partner replied pointedly, and the larger wolf scowled at him. But whether or not he was six and a half feet tall, his tiny terror of a companion had both far more presence and power than he did. It made them seem all the more as if they were brothers, and Mahihko was the older one who always got his dumb, naive younger sibling into horrible situations for his own gain.
Lone rubbed at his face, then sighed as he leaned on the railing of the patio that overlooked the docks a block or so away. The harbor was busy today due to the fact Ire was engaged in some 'return of cultural artifacts' to Hez'Ranna, the land of big lizards.
It was true. It would be an easy hit: Ire hadn't provided any security, and there were only a few drakkai in security outfits that were hanging out around the docks, more interested in making sure none of the workers were chucking boxes around or trying to sneak off with artifacts than they were with anyone trying to steal anything.
They had to be almost done. Operations had to be winding down. It would be an easy take...
God, why was he letting Hiko talk him into another stupid idea that was going to get him pummeled by a giant lizard? He already had enough issues with big reptiles as it was!
Lone muttered to himself, and then he sighed tiredly as he asked grumpily: "How do you know I'm going to even be able to join the crew? Hey, how do you even know if there's anything valuable in there?"
"I have the manifests. And please, just look at them! People are basically coming and going as they please. It'll be easy."
None of that was actually an answer.
And yet all the same, Lone wasn't surprised as he found himself approaching the harbor alone, smiling awkwardly at one of the large lizard guard as he passed to join the rest of the crew that was loading and unloading crates.
He rose a hand lamely as one of the workers looked up at him. "Uh... hey. I was sent over-"
"Sure, bro, whatever. You can get started on that one. We pretty much come and go as we please, but they don't pay you unless you're here at the end of the day, so get to it."
"Got it." Lone smiled awkwardly as he headed to the pile of crates. He silently cursed Mahihko for the umpteenth time as he grabbed a box, then huffed as he picked it up, grunting and heading to the gangplank to carry it onboard the ship.
Lord he had not signed up for this: an hour of moving cargo, sweating under the sun in these stupid coveralls as big burly dudes groused and grumbled at each other, and large lizards patrolled absently. But they were more astute than they looked: when some guy tried to take a souvenir for himself, a guard was on him in a flash, and the huge wall of reptile made the brawny tiger look like a kitten in comparison as the statuette was quickly seized, and he was rudely ejected from the docks.
No cops were called. Good sign and bad sign, Lone thought. Good, because if they got caught, Irenic authorities weren't going to show up and shoot them. Bad, because it meant they might just be skipping the 'waiting for police' part and going straight to the 'shooting them' part.
Hez'Ranna and Ire had a very contentious relationship. The Irenic Republic, the largest superpower in the world, was loathe to lose or share power with other nations, and Hez'Ranna had notably begun to improve its diplomacy and prestige. Ire particularly hated Hez'Ranna because it had previously striven to exploit its natural resources, but they had been defeated and driven out by the so-called 'savages.'
Relations between the nations were extremely tense, and largely driven by political pressure from the rest of the world and internal squabbling. That resulted in events like this: Ire 'returning' stolen artifacts and cultural treasures, but doing so in the laziest and most passive-aggressive way possible.
Well, at least the political games would hopefully work to their advantage, and give them a chance to slip in.
Lone wheezed as he took a moment to sit on a crate, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his wrist. Another canine nearby had unzipped his coveralls and was tying the arms around his waist, shaking sweat from himself and making his ears flop before he asked: "Where you from?"
"Temp agency." Vague, but considering the riffraff here...
"Yeah? They gave me and a few others day passes. Beats a cell, at least." answered the dog.
Lone smiled awkwardly. Yeah, just like he'd thought: prisoners. Well, it wasn't like he was any kind of angel himself. Or, you know, not a felon.
The dog gave him a look, and Lone cleared his throat before he dumbly asked the first question that always came to mind: "What were you in for?"
"Murder." deadpanned the dog.
Lone coughed, then flinched when a voice snapped: "Hey, get your asses up, fags!"
"Fuck you, asshole." shouted back the dog: Lone was actually rather surprised to see it hadn't been a guard or anything, but another of the guys, who was leaning around several precariously balanced crates in his arms to glare at them.
The dog clearly noted his look, glancing over at him before he shrugged. "The lizards don't bug us none, but some of the guys get pretty antsy about being done on time."
"Sounds like we're in charge of this more than they are." Lone said, eliciting a chuckle from his new friend.
"Just about. Just watch out for the dude in charge and his crazy bitch."
Lone would have dearly liked to probe for more, but the dog was already heading to another pile and the loudmouth with the crates was still glowering at him, so he let it go for now and instead went back to work.
Another hour of work, and then Lone caught sight of a drakkai giving instructions to some security guard. He had white hair, and was dressed casually, but Lone's sharp silver eyes noted his shirt had diplomat patches sewn on it. Which almost definitely meant that he was the boss he'd heard mentioned earlier.
The drakkai tossed a cursory glance over the workers, and then he walked away as the security guard clapped his hands together before ordering: "Move these crates inside, to the warehouse! Then we break for two hours!"
There were a few grumbles of relief at this, and Lone wheezed as he rubbed at his arms before heading to the pile of crates that had been indicated, along with the dozen or so other cargo crew. They formed a line and carried the boxes past the security guard and into the building, Lone counting the steps in his head down the long hallway to an open door.
It was a loading room, cargo already set out, a large shutter at the back sealed shut, but the sound of water sprinkling against metal made it clear it opened onto the ocean. Another ship was likely coming in to get these boxes: were they the actual valuables?
One of these days he hoped that Hiko would actually share his plans with him instead of just hoping he'd play along when the time came.
Lone groaned as he put his box aside and then sat down on one of the larger shipping crates, absently thumping a paw against it and noting the muffled noise it made. "Goddamn, what the hell do they have in here?"
"Suck it up." grumbled one of the other workers, but he was rubbing at his own arm, something clearly noted by several of the others.
"Yeah, 'cause you're doin' hot yourself. At least he's pulling his weight!"
"Hey, fuck you, I've been here all day and that asshole's only been here half the afternoon!"
"Long enough to get paid, and that's all I care about, right guys?" Lone half-rose a hand, an when the others just looked at him, he cleared his throat and slowly lowered it.
Some of the workers started heading back, but one paused in the hallway, sniffing the air before he turned; Lone saw his eyes widen before the fox shouted: "Hey, fire! We got a fire out here!"
"Ah shit, what?" The previously relaxed gaggle became a surge, tripping over each other to shove for the doorway as the smell of smoke began to push the air, fogging the hallway. A moment later, the fire alarm began to blare, and that was what really sent the crew into a panic.
Workers coughed and bumped into each other in the thick smog, then followed the first to break away and bolt for the exit as the smoke spilled down the corridor, shouting and cursing; Lone, meanwhile, had hidden himself behind the door, grimacing before he shouldered it shut as he heard the voices fading into the distance, and then he swore under his breath as he quickly unzipped his overalls and stumbled his way out of them.
He hopped awkwardly on one paw as he kicked his leg out wildly until he finally escaped the clutches of the overalls; at the same time, he grabbed at his belt, pulling out a multi-tool with a mutter as his other hand rested on the butt of his handgun, nervously looking back over his shoulder at the closed door before he sighed as he heard a rhythmic beating on one of the old vents.
He approached with a scowl, flicking open his multi-tool and glowering through the grating at the familiar cheshire grin glinting back at him. A few moments later, he was able to pry the unscrewed vent free from the wall, and Mahihko neatly popped out and landed easily on his paws, stretching his arms out to either side as he said cheerfully: "See? Easy!"
"Easy. Just like you." Lone grumbled, rubbing at one of his arms as he tossed the grating down. "They're going to come and check-"
"And we'll be long gone by then. Come on, give me a hand here." Mahihko danced through the crates, snagging a prybar hanging off the side of the backpack he was wearing before he spryly hopped up onto a box, then nimbly jumped onto the tallest cargo crate in the room. He jammed the prybar down, and with a practiced flick, twisted it hard to pop the panel open before he threw the prybar down to Lone.
The arctic wolf scowled as he caught it, then quickly finished prying the panel open from the side so he could yank it off, revealing- "Oh lord, is that a sarcophagus?"
"Empty, though." Mahihko was already on his belly, hanging upside down with a smaller prybar in his hand, popping dusty jewels loose from the face of the snarling stone coffin. Lone's face wrinkled up horribly as he slowly beat the crowbar against his other hand, while his partner grinned as he held up a hand, gleaming gemstones held between his fingers like cards. "But still a nice haul! Start breaking open crates, let's see what else we can find!"
Lone sighed, but then mumbled under his breath as he turned and sulked his way over to a crate. He felt a little... bad about this, but like it or not, they kind of needed the money. And if they turned around and sold it back to Hez'Rannan collectors, well... no harm, no foul, right?
Mahihko jackknifed off the box, humming cheerfully as he made the jewels vanish into his pack without even looking back. He winked at the stony face of the sarcophagus, then tapped the front of it lightly before he hopped over towards one of the smaller crates, using his handbar to pop the lid open before he reached in, then huffed as he pulled an iron grail out, tossing it over his shoulder.
Lone visibly flinched at the loud clanging it made, glaring over his shoulder at the tiny wolf, but Mahihko was already gone and opening another crate, whistling as he pulled out a statuette made of gold. "Now here's something with some value!"
Lone grumbled as he pulled the lid off another crate, removing some kind of pictograph. His eyes narrowed as he tried to make out the words, before he winced when Mahihko suddenly hip-checked into him with a grin, holding up the statuette proudly and nearly knocking the tablet out of the larger wolf's hands. "See? See? You're looking for things like this. Not rocks."
"It's not a rock, it's-"
A massive bang interrupted the wolf, both lupines immediately staring at the door and the sight of a massive drakkai that was now towering in the doorway. Her arms were spread and hands clenched into fists, glaring at them from beneath a golden mohawk as smoke filtered in around her, blue eyes like daggers as she growled: "Well, well, what do we have here? So much for your fuckin' investments, huh?"
Mahihko held out his arms as Lone winced: the red-scaled beast of a lady was massive, built like a brick shithouse and dressed in some kind of security uniform. His eyes quickly took in every detail as he automatically shifted to hide his hand moving for his gun: tattooed arms, bulging biceps, a collar around her neck with a gleaming clasp, and a gigantic handgun in a bandolier-
"What can I say, I wanted a peek at the merchandise." Mahihko said cheekily, and then he suddenly snapped his arm up, a small knife seeming to appear out of nowhere and flying straight at the face of the giantess-
Who caught it without a twitch in her teeth, snorting steam and grinning widely around it as Mahihko stared blankly and Lone's jaw dropped comically, before she flicked her head to the side and spat it out.
She stepped forwards, punching her fist into her palm as her eyes glinted. "Okay, who wants the first beating?"
"He does!" Mahihko immediately flung the statuette to Lone, who winced as he dropped the tablet and fumbled to catch the statuette in his arms instead, glaring furiously at Mahihko even as he flushed in embarrassment when the giant lizard's eyes turned to him.
He cleared his throat, then shared a look with Mahihko before the two wolves bolted forwards, the smaller wolf going to one side and Lone trying to arc close to the wall. The lizard glared between them, readying herself before Lone flung the statuette sharply to Mahihko, and the giantess' eyes automatically followed the treasure.
Time seemed to slow for him as Lone drew his handgun, awkwardly crossing it over his body and steadying it with a hand on the slide before he pulled the trigger. The bang was deafening, and the giantess yelled in what sounded like surprise and frustration more than pain as the bullet plowed into her lower leg and knocked her to a kneel.
For a moment, he thought they were going to escape: the doorway was right there, light shining in from the hall, Lone putting on a burst of speed because if that big lizard lady was going to cream anyone now it was him.
The light was blotted out, and Lone had a moment of confusion before a boot slammed into his stomach and knocked him rolling backwards with a yelp, landing in a sprawl as a second drakkai entered the room.
It was the lizard from before, in the diplomat shirt. He was as tall as the now very angry lady reptile and had his hands in his pockets, an eyebrow cocked as his emerald eyes swept the area before he remarked: "Yep, you definitely have this all under control, Cherry."
"Oh fuck you, Boss." The lady drakkai, Cherry apparently, retorted as she stood up, then she pointed accusingly at Lone and snapped: "He fucking shot me!"
Zerrex didn't look all that impressed by this. Well, Lone had heard that drakkai were an exceptionally hardy species, and here he had proof of it as he scrambled to his feet, holding his gun at the ready: this was getting complicated fast, though, and the idea of murdering a diplomat did not exactly sit well with him.
Mahihko, on the other hand, was only pouting as if his party had been pooped, clearing his throat as he waggled the gold statuette in one hand. He had backed off a good fifteen, twenty feet, but he had that crazy look in his eyes Lone knew meant something bad was about to happen. "You know what? You caught us. No harm, no foul. Here you go."
He lobbed the statuette at the lizards, and Cherry let it bounce off her chest, only glowering as she crossed her arms. Zerrex, meanwhile, tilted his head as he asked wryly: "And you're just going to keep the rest of the gemstones in your backpack?"
"Okay, fine, you caught me." Mahihko smiled as he reached back into his pack, and then his eyes narrowed as he yanked his arm back, holding up a pair of gleaming cylinders.
Lone paled. Grenades. He had brought grenades. Of course he'd brought grenades.
Mahihko tossed a grenade into his free hand, then he pressed own on top of both, saying easily: "It's not as theatrical as pulling a pin but both of these are ready and armed. I recommend you let us out or they'll be making gator soup out of you both."
Cherry looked annoyed more than frightened, and the diplomat only remarked: "We're not gators. We're drakkai."
"And as obnoxiously dumb and brave as drakkai are said to be." Mahihko noted, as Lone attempted to slink slowly backwards and disappear into the wall, before his eyes bulged when the small wolf suddenly glared at him and shouted: "Now!"
Both reptiles spun towards him, and Lone squawked before he covered his eyes as Mahihko cackled and flung a grenade at the floor as the two lizards turned too late to face the actual threat.
The grenade went off the moment it struck the ground with a tremendous bang and a brilliant flash of magnesium light, Cherry howling and the larger lizard swearing and grabbing at his face. Lone staggered into a wild run, narrowly missing the flailing of the giantess, while Mahihko slid skillfully past into the doorway and grinned as he chucked the other grenade over his shoulder.
Lone winced as this one bounced past him, recognizing the different shape of the explosive device: not wanting either of them to end up on a bounty list, he couldn't help but kick it as he passed, knocking it skidding off course and away from the reptiles as he and Hiko hurried out into the hall.
The grenade went off with a tremendous boom and a splash of flame and force, cracking the wall as Lone stumbled down the corridor after Mahihko, ducking through the misty smoke still curdling the corridors as he shouted in a strangled voice: "What the fuck was that?"
"I tried to be reasonable!" Hiko replied cheerfully.
Before Lone could respond, the wall in front of them exploded as Cherry rammed through it with a roar, staggering to a stop in the middle of the corridor with a snarl, her eyes blazing with fury and hands clenched into fists. Her scales were bruised and her clothes were torn and dirty, but she only looked all the more intimidating because of it as the two lupines skidded to a halt.
Her hand snapped out, lightning fast, and seized Mahihko by the throat, his eyes and tongue bulging almost comically out before she hefted the lupine - who was only a little more than half her height - up to eye level. Mahihko wheezed, then snarled as he flicked his wrist, the other thin knife he kept up his sleeve popping into his hand.
He wildly stabbed into her arm, but Cherry only looked at him sourly as he uselessly gouged at her scales and left small pockmarks in her limb. His legs kicked ineffectively and his other arm grabbed at her wrist, twisting uselessly as he dug the knife against her forearm, then swung wildly, furiously in the direction of her face, only cutting air until he finally the thin blade at her head.
It bounce off her cheek, making her twitch slightly in frustration: she noticed too late his other hand had left her wrist, a second before it snapped up and he sprayed her with a bottle of mace he had procured from god-knows-where.
Cherry howled in agony, flinging the wolf hard enough into the floor to make his bones creak as his body bounced like a coin. The giantess dropped to one knee, rubbing furiously at her already-swollen eyes as Lone cursed and began to lean down to grab his stunned partner, then he winced as he heard something behind him.
The other lizard emerged through the doorway, looking much less pleasant, his hair singed, his eyes locked on them. Lone immediately scooped up Mahihko and began to run down the corridor, stumble-dodging around a wild swipe from the by-now murderously-angry lizard lady.
The white-haired drakkai watched for a moment, judging the wolf's distance before he leaned down and picked up a small piece of rubble. He bounced this in his hand, then snapped it firmly forwards, flinging the pebble-sized piece of stone in a perfect arc down the corridor to whap into the back of Lone's head, knocking him flopping forwards with a yelp.
Mahihko bounced out of his arms, gasping in pain as he half-rolled down the hallway, and Lone was left moaning, grasping the back of his skull, his vision blurry and nausea swimming through his brain. He tried to move, but he was too disoriented, and Mahihko was wheezing as he slowly rolled onto his stomach, only half-conscious as he mumbled: "Oh no, did your... wife get home..."
The drakkai diplomat strolled down the hall: as he passed the still-shouting, swearing giantess, he absently grabbed the middle crescent fin of her mohawk, half-dragging her backwards as she flailed her arms and shouted obscenities. He brought her past Lone, then flung her onto Mahihko, back-first, the wolf squeaking out in pain as his whole body went rigid.
The moment Cherry realized where she was, she yelled, leapt up to her feet, then jumped in the air, some unknowable poundage of beefy lizard lady slamming down on top of Mahihko and squishing him into the cement floor with a noise like a meat hammer. Lone looked up blearily at this, before he stared as the male lizard squatted in front of him and looked down into his face with a smile that was almost amused.
"See you in a few." he said, and Lone registered the raised fist too late before it came down on his head, and everything went black.
Lone awoke in a groggy daze, blinking slowly before he grimaced a bit as he felt a rocking and banging. It took him a moment to remember what had happened... and to realize where he was, tied... no, shackled to a chair in an empty room. Two chairs, maybe, he thought, because he could feel Mahihko rocking and swearing behind him, struggling to find some way to escape. "Dude, stop. You're making my head hurt even more."
"Fuck fuck fuck!" Mahihko fumed. "I can't believe you got us caught!"
"Oh, I got us caught, did I, Mr. Brings Grenades To An Easy Bust?"
"They were for emergencies, and you should be happy that-"
"You made the giant lizards even angrier with them? You could have killed all of us!"
"Oh shush, it was low-impact. I'm not going to going to risk damaging too much merchandise with a big blast." Mahihko groused, as if that was the problem.
"You nearly killed a diplomat."
"Better luck next time, right? Now help me figure out a way to escape."
Lone mumbled under his breath, but then he sighed as he shifted a little bit. The room was... not that big. Empty. Doors on either side, drains in the floor, lots of metal everywhere. He could hear chains: yes, the chairs were chained to the floor.
Wait.
They were also on board a ship.
"We might be in trouble." Lone said carefully.
"You think?" Mahihko asked crankily, and Lone rolled his eyes before looking over his shoulder, and then they widened as he realized the smaller wolf was naked.
"Uh. They took your clothes?" Lone double-checked himself: he was definitely not naked. They had clearly searched him and removed everything of value, but-
"Jealous, that's all."
Lone gave a slow 'mmm' in response, clearing his throat as he looked away, and then he winced as the door was banged open, and the giant lizard lady from before came barging in.
She immediately slammed a foot between Lone's legs, the wolf squeaking as it smashed into the seat of the chair and jostled both of them violently before she leaned down, glowering into his eyes. He reared back, head clonking against the top of Mahihko's skull and making him squawk.
"C-Cherry, right? Nice to meet you." Lone offered a weak grin, and the giantess puckered her lips before she huffed and straightened, then walked around the chairs and rested her hands on her hips, glowering down at the smaller wolf.
Mahihko glared back at her challengingly, before he sniffed and tilted his head away, saying snidely: "Sorry, you're not really my type."
"Eat shit, fuckhead." Cherry flicked the tiny wolf's muzzle, making him growl and then snap at her, glaring up at her. "Boss wants to know why you're here."
"See the sea, enjoy the big muscly lizard boys. My friend here actually has a thing for big lizards." Mahihko replied conversationally, and Lone scowled horribly back over his shoulder.
Cherry rolled her eyes, then she grabbed the small wolf by the head and shoved it back, slamming the back of his skull into the underside of Lone's and making them both yelp in pain. "Look, dumbass. We're about to leave for Hez'Ranna, so you got a choice. Talk, or I'm going to torture you until we land and I toss you to some other big mean lizards to do big mean lizard things to you."
"Ooh, a gangbang, I could go for that. But like I said, you're not my type, so maybe we can bring the other guy in here for the foreplay." Mahihko batted his eyebrows, before he squeaked when Cherry seized his muzzle and clamped it firmly shut, his eyes bulging as he stared dumbly up at her.
"It's fine, Cherry." came a second voice, and Lone looked forward, watching as the other lizard from earlier came in. He was dressed in plainer clothes now than before, and he closed the door behind him before resting back against the wall, looking mildly down at Lone. "Hey."
"Um. Hi." Lone smiled lamely up at the large reptile, meeting his eyes as he shrank a little under that emerald gaze.
"What's your names? I'm Zerrex." greeted the reptile, before he added: "Cherry, don't kill him."
"Just a little. Just let me kill him a little." Cherry grumbled, before she huffed and released the wolf's muzzle, only for Mahihko to immediately lunge forwards and bite her hand, making her shout in frustration.
Zerrex rolled his eyes, and Lone squawked as he felt the smaller wolf bang against him, the chairs rocking and rattling, but the chains they were attached to stopping them from tipping to either side. Lone wheezed as he tried to straighten and lean away from the flailing terror behind him before he looked dumbly up as Zerrex asked bluntly: "Are you working for the Irenic government?"
"What?" Lone asked.
Mahihko, meanwhile, stopped and huffed, retorting: "Government work? Oh please. I'm not that easy. And anyway, this baby wouldn't let me sell anything back to Ire. 'Cultural misappropriation,' he whines."
"Hey!" Lone blushed, but then he smiled awkwardly as he looked back at Zerrex, who was studying them meditatively. "We uh. We're not thieves." He paused, then corrected after a moment: "Mostly. We are mostly not thieves. We're uh... you know. Explorers. Relic hunters. Finders of lost stuff."
"Like your car keys, if your car was a thousand years old and under a mountain." Mahihko droned over his shoulder. "Or maybe in a museum somewhere and you were willing to spare a few dollars for an... urban archaeological excavation."
Lone sighed tiredly, then he gave a lame smile as Zerrex mused for a moment, and then he turned his eyes to Cherry, asking: "What do you think?"
"Let me beat him like a pinata." Cherry clapped her hands together, and when Zerrex gave her a pointed look as Mahihko growled and shook himself uselessly in the chair, she grumbled, crossed her arms, and mumbled sulkily: "Tellin' the truth, yeah."
"Seems that way. I wasn't sure what to think of you two from what my contacts said, but..." Zerrex mused for a moment, then he nodded as he looked down at Lone, asking: "How would you feel about taking on a job for me?"
Lone blinked, before Mahihko looked up and cleared his throat, starting: "Excuse me, but if you have work for us, then you need to talk to me first. And I'm going to need-"
Then he squeaked when Cherry seized him by the neck, making his eyes almost pop out of his head as he wheezed for breath uselessly, Lone wincing as he felt his partner bump back against him before he cleared his throat as he looked lamely at Zerrex, asking: "What uh. What kind of job?"
"Well... Lone, right?"
"Yeah. Lone and Hiko, uh. Delivery boys extraordinaire, you name it, we'll get it and bring it to you!" Lone rambled lamely, before he cleared his throat and added: "Uh. Can you take these restraints off? They're starting to chafe."
Zerrex smiled slightly, but then he smiled slightly as he moved to unlock the two wolves from their bonds, feeling like this might be the beginning of a welcome partnership.
Even if the first thing Mahihko did was try to bolt for the door, only to be seized by Cherry in a chokehold, the two shouting as the tiny wolf struggled with surprising strength against her. Meanwhile, Lone winced, then blinked as Zerrex held out a hand towards him, looking dumbly at this before he smiled awkwardly as he took it.
And he felt, too, like this might end up leading to something special.
