Rooster

I have one stop to make. I'll be there soon as I can.

Becca

Auto-response: Currently in Bear form, will respond soon as I'm able.

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O'Leary

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Phoenix’s driver smiled a familiar cocky smile as he reached for the door’s handle; such a punch-face, O'Leary thought as he pushed himself to a sitting position. “Tell Green to hide, because they might not know he's still around.”

“He heard you,” Asher said. “I dropped my bat back by the bins.”

“Don’t go for it until we make our move, eh?”

Asher nodded. “Can you stand yet?”

“Maybe, help me up.” O’Leary reached into his right pocket and pulled out a flattened piece of fruit leather, pulled off the package, folded it and slid it into his mouth as Asher helped him up.

“Triskele, been a long time,” said Klipper as he closed Phoenix’s door and walked to the car’s front.

“Klipper? It’s me O’Leary.” What had he done to himself? Klipper was shirtless, letting the world see the hole in his chest. A metal ring with bones growing through pre-made holes allowed a window to his heart, where many piercings clung and dangled.

Asher did a double take, he probably didn’t recognize Klipper at first, he was covered in tattoos and older than his shade self by thirty ish years if the wrinkles around his eyes were any sign, but his torso rippled with muscle and he looked more than capable of wielding the glyph marked fire axe slung from his back, or still quick enough to draw and fire the pistol strapped to his hip. “Klipper? Oh man, I’m glad it’s you. A howler attacked us.”

He laughed as others got out of their vehicles, three from the jeep and another two from the mustang; of course, he kept Phoenix all to himself — what a jerk. “We figured you could handle little Princess there.”

“You put her here? Made me do that?” Asher pointed back at Princess still laying on the ground next to his discarded bat. O’Leary used the distraction to put a little more weight on his leg. Nope, still not ready.

Klipper nodded, “Sorry Captain, but things aren’t the same on this side. Here, I’m in charge.”

“Who was dumb enough to let that happen?” asked O’Leary with a chuckle. Keep it together, he thought as his chuckle threatened to turn into a growl.

“You really don’t remember?” His minions started laughing a few seconds behind him, just long enough O’Leary knew their laughter was far from natural. Not all of them sported organ piercings like Klipper, but they all carried weapons and even if some weren’t enchanted, they could still do damage. It told O’Leary the Rager’s prey was more human or animal than shades these days. “I guess they actually did it. Fledgling O’Leary and the Captain in my jungle. Woo! Damn!”

“So why the trap? We’re old friends. You could have just talked to us.”

Klipper shrugged, “Gets boring here after a few years, surviving isn’t thriving and Ragers thrive!”

“We rage!” The others said in unison.

O’Leary tested again, accepting the weight with a twinge of pain. “What’s with the jewelry?” O’Leary pointed at the heart.

“Oh, just tokens of my trials as First Rager. Each one an achievement I’ve earned.” Klipper pointed at a small golden arrow piercing diagonally through his left ventricle. “This one is for my ascension to First Rager. The last First Rager shanked us in the back, so I took his spot.”

Asher put a hand up to his head. O’Leary could imagine the string of words Green had for that lie, because he had similar ones. It took all his energy not to clench his fists.

“Wait. Like video game achievements? You’re not serious, right?” Asher reached into his satchel.

“Hey now!” One minion drew a pistol, pointing it Asher’s way.

“Whoa! No need for that.” O’Leary stepped forward, hand out. It was painful, but possible.

“It’s food, just food.” said Asher as his breathing quickened.

O’Leary noticed Asher’s other hand on his chest. He was close to an attack. “Let’s just calm down, no reason to take it there. We’re all friends.” O’Leary noticed the minion wore a fisher’s vest with its many pockets, and on the back of his hand was a red, blue, and yellow triad tattoo. “You’re a color hunter.”

“Was, but after Hyrum let that bitch Miranda betray us…”

“What did you say?” Asher’s hand dropped from his chest. “What did you say about my sister?”

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

O’Leary reached a hand towards his bandoleer; if this broke out into a fight, the first thing he was going to do was burn that stupid braid from Klipper’s head.

Klipper swaggered a step forward, his smile stuck in a smirk. “They don’t need to hear about that. O’Leary, drop your hand. Oz lower the piece, and Captain…”

“What?” said Asher, keeping eyes fixed on Oz.

“You’re the reason we’re here.”

That was enough to snap Asher back to the present. “Why?”

“Our patron wants to meet you, but don’t worry far as I know Ice just wants to talk.”

“The head Finder Keeper? I’d rather not.”

“Not an option,” said a woman with a near-empty twig bandolier across her chest, winged animal tattooed on the left side of her face, and a necklace of claws and talons hanging around her neck. She was a hunter, using Meyonohk’s power to hunt those Lady Wraith couldn’t see.

“Keep your mouth shut, Blight,” said O'Leary. Feck! The jig was up; there was no way he should have known that name.

“You remember,” said Klipper. “Oh, I’m going to enjoy this.”

“Not as much as me,” said O’Leary.

Blight reached for a twig, Klipper unslung his axe, and the others reached for weapons. O’Leary snapped a pine twig, and he released a fan of flames at the Ragers, but he wasn’t quick enough — Oz took aim at Asher’s back as he sprinted for his discarded bat.

"I'm here. I'm here," shouted Cheddar as they charged in. "Get 'em Bruno!" They ripped the dog collar from their wrist and threw it at Oz. A large stocky dog appeared, as if sketched from the dog collar, hurtling through the air. The phantom boxer filled in mid-leap, long tail, folded ears, tight fur, and heavy open jaws that latched on to Oz’s arm. The savage attack pulled the gun arm down as it fired, sending the bullet into the pavement, as the former color hunter shouted in panic and pain.

Klipper dropped back against Phoenix’s hood as O’Leary’s flame hit. Two others dove for the pavement, the flames scorching their backs. Blight and one other standing by the jeep didn’t react quickly enough, and now Blight rolled on the ground, color fading as the flames rolled over her. The other, already cycled, laid on the ground unmoving as his shade broke free of the still burning body.

Ragers got to their feet as the flames passed, but before O’Leary could pull another twig from his bandoleer, Klipper was swinging a glowing axe for his face. Cheddar jumped between them, reaching up to catch the falling axe blade on their glowing purple shield. They planted their feet between Klipper and O’Leary, the shield an energy infused metal garbage can lid, as their shadesack held a chocolate bar out to O’Leary behind them. “They’re my friends, Mr. Klipper. Back off!”

The boxer growled; the whimpering color hunter curled up below him.

Even from behind, O’Leary and Klipper stood a head taller than the Finder Keeper and O’Leary watched Klipper’s face shuffle from surprise and fear to anger as he snarled down at Cheddar. “Go help them.” He pointed to the injured Blight on the ground. “Call of your artifact!” The two uninjured minions sprung into action. One ran for Blight, bending down to pat out flames, while the other cautiously approached Bruno and the whimpering Oz.

The newly created shade wandered around the area as if confused about where they were, but the Rager’s body faded from the Belly until only his shade remained.

“This ain’t over. There’s only one captain here and it ain’t either of you.” Klipper pointed from Asher to O’Leary, backing away towards Phoenix. He jerked open the door, reached in and grabbed a pair of yellow lensed aviators from the dash, sliding them on their face. “Ice is gonna hear of this.”

Cheddar whistled and Bruno came over to them, but they kept their eyes on Klipper and their shield at the ready as the second minion grabbed the pistol and dragged a dog savaged Oz to the mustang’s passenger side, pushing him in. What was happening? O’Leary couldn’t stop looking at his little defender. His once enemy. Did Cheddar really mean that? Were they a friend? No… no. Something was at play, and they had an angle. It was the only thing that made sense. The sound of peeling rubber, and not so distant barks of howlers, brought O’Leary out of his head.

Cheddar let the shield drop, its energy released. They held a garbage can’s lid handle.

“Cheddar! You saved us!” Asher wrapped Cheddar in a hug; the retrieved bat hung loosely in his hands. The Finder Keeper stood stiff against it for a moment, but quickly returned the friendly embraced.

O’Leary was pretty sure he heard whimpers coming from their shaved head.

“You don’t see that every day,” said Green, hopping up to the trio.

“No… no, you don’t.” The boxer walked up to O’Leary and cocked his head. “Nor that,” he said, pointing his chin towards the dog at his feet. It looked like he'd been a hefty dog, but now was completely made from purple energy radiating from the artifact — a collar strapped around his neck with a single bone tag. “You must be Bruno.”

Bruno chuffed.

“Yeah, he was my bestest friend. You know — before.” Cheddar broke from their hug, wiped their face, then bent down to give Bruno a pet. “I haven’t seen him in a very long time. It isn't often that we get to use alpha artifacts.”

“Can I?” asked Asher.

“Sure, but take it slow,” said Cheddar. “Hold your hand out.”

Asher held his hand out to the purple boxer to sniff.

A howl sounded nearby.

Princess twitched as the Rager’s shade wandered towards it.

“Uh, we need to get moving.” O’Leary pointed.

Asher looked up. His hand stopped as Bruno pushed his chest against it for more pets. “Yeah, Cleo’s pack sounds close.”

“What happened to Princess? Asked Cheddar?”

“Tell you on the way.” O’Leary filled his pockets with food from his bag as he limped towards the sidewalk.

He stopped and looked back as Cheddar kneeled in front of Bruno, scratching behind his ears as he planted a kiss on his head. “I’ll see you soon, boy. No more hiding.” As their fingers touched the collar’s clip, Bruno sent a tongue across Cheddar’s face. They smiled as Bruno faded, then stood with Asher and followed their friend out of the alley, while securing Bruno’s collar back around their wrist.

“Let’s go,” O’Leary waved them forward. They didn’t have time for this.

“We’re already getting low,” said Asher, holding up his half-filled satchel as they started a slow jog in the gutter.

O’Leary nodded. “We’re going to need a resupply if we don’t get this done quickly.”

“To the hospital?” asked Cheddar.

“Yeah, how’d you know?” said Asher.

Cheddar hunched their shoulders around their neck. “I, I, I might have overheard while I sat with Terri.”

“Glad you did,” said Green. “That could have been a lot worse.”

“Whatever.” O’Leary was in the lead as they moved single file. Another howl sounded a few blocks behind. They needed to get out of there fast or they’d be Cleo’s next hunt. “Hey, can you do the longboard thing again? Do you have three?”

Cheddar shook their head, “No, but I have those two and a pair of rollerblades we can use.”

“That would work,” said Asher. “It’s been a while since I carved some pavement.”

“Shadesack, pass me item 38.” Four arms shot out of the shadesack, but they didn’t reach into itself like normal, no they bent into Cheddar, phasing through flesh. The Finder Keeper screamed and collapsed in the gutter as the ethereal hands moved about their insides.

O’Leary’s doubts about Cheddar vanished. Lady Wraith was done — she’d had enough.