Caw, the large mastiff, chuffed at Gunnar, "I know you, nagging pup. We are heading to see that crazy gnome."

With a cry, Beltram, the hook-beaked raven, flew past, hoping to grab a fish from the basket on Gunnar's back. Gunnar's last companion, Ripple, the northern forest cat, eagerly waited, hoping Beltram would drop a fish for her, too.

Being on the path of the Green, Gunnar could feel and interpret what his three partners were thinking and plotting. With a quick side step, which was interesting to see from the squat, robust dwarf whose race wasn't known for their grace, only mercurial argument, it was surprising to see if anyone else was around.

Scowling up at his bird, he said, "I know what you were trying to do, Beltram!" Gunnar yelled up at the bird, "And you too, Ripple. Do you think that raven would have dropped you a fish? He would likely fly up to a roof and feast on his ill-gotten gains."

With a protesting yowl, Ripple moved forward only to flick her tail up to show her impression of her dwarven companion. Gunnar again scoffed at the animal, knowing his partners were much more intelligent than their usual breeds. That was again his influence via his magic; if they wanted to find partners to continue their line, he didn't know what to do.

"That enough, you lot, dang blasted idiot animals. You must wait until we get home before I feed you a lot." His mastiff came up to shoulder-check the small man, nearly toppling him over as the dog's shoulder was the same height as his. "Sod off ya dog. We'll be getting to the crazy gnome's lab soon."

After fishing outside the city all day, Gunnar and his three animals travelled through the southern gatehouse. He received a few nods from some of the veterans of the Watch, but he remarked to himself So many new fresh faces. They have more look at the army than being watch people. Shame.

Due to WayWocket's lab spewing some gases from his experiments, the shop and laboratory were in the warehouse district on Wall Boulevard instead of the crafter's area. He didn't mind it as he was so engrossed in making his new alloy, in which Klaus Handwerk had hired him to create the patient. WayWocket worked on making copper poisoning less toxic, creating affordable silver testing solutions, and training Pela in her Incanta abilities. Way loves being busy with all these new issues to discover ways to solve them.

Rounding the corner to turn into Wall Boulevard, Caw leapt into a loping run towards WayWocket's lab. Letting him run forward, Gunnar could only shuffle along as he didn't have the level of speed his three companions had.

As Gunnar approached the door of Way's workspace, he could see the mastiff yipping and scratching at the door. "Lay off, dog, I'm coming!" Gunnar yelled at Caw.

It took Gunnar only a short time to reach the door; even through the entryway, he could smell chemicals. He mutters, "He forgot to put the extraction on again." He looked down at Caw and then panned over the others, "You lot stay out here, have to

Gunnar knew that Way couldn't just be poisoned as his flasks to keep him centred allowed him to adapt to chemical processes and everything that came around mixing turbulent substances.

Holding his breath, Gunnar ducked in and quickly approached the extraction clockwork fan. With a slight twist, he heard the click, and the fan started to suck up all the vapour in the air. He was glad it wasn't just blasting out into the city but going through a charcoal filter.

"Ah, you daft idiot, you forgot to turn the extractor on!" Gunnar yelled out, turning to find WayWocket.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"Little bit, more, ah yes, that is it. Dip, stir, heat, stir and," Gunnar saw WayWocket look into the crucible, "No, no. The line is not clean, too much, just too much."

Then WayWocket decided to do a crab walk around the container and mutter to himself too low for Gunnar to hear. With a clearing of his throat, "Way, you forgot.." Caw bounded in and licked WayWocket over his face as he was about to lecture him. "Argg, Caw, he isn't clean. Stupid mutt."

Both Caw and WayWocket looked over at Gunnar with dumbfounded looks on their faces. With that, WayWocket pulled a potion out of his bandolier and casually tossed it into the crucible, which let out a cloud of vapour, and the sides started to freeze.

"Done and done, now for our next adventure, my dear Caw." WayWocket jumped onto the back of the mastiff, and with a happy chuff, Caw bounded towards the door. "Woo Hoo! Beware, evildoers, the Magnificent Canine and the Juggler of Mystery shall bring you to the light of the Pure Soul!" they ran down the street with that.

Gunnar put down his fish backpack and looked around to find the keys. It was in the usual spot near the door, so he grabbed the keys off the hook to lock up. He didn't look to see if everything was secured as not many people would want to enter this shop as they know that crazy gnome works out of there.

With that done, he sent a mental thought out to Beltram to summon him to fly down the hooked-beak raven that landed in front of Gunnar. "Could you fly ahead and keep an eye on those two loonies, Beltram?" Beltram passed after the two with a cry and a flap, "Just you and me, Ripple."

Gunnar saw that Ripple had knocked over the open-topped basket and ate one of the fish. "Get away from that. That is dinner, fool cat." Ripple hissed at Gunnar, "None of that now, ya mangy cur. I planned to make some baked fish, but you punched me." With a cute purr and meow, Ripple rubbed against Gunnar. "Bloody cat."

With a strut that only a cat can do with style, Ripple went over and picked up the half-eaten fish and returned it to the basket. Gunnar rolled his eyes with that, gathered up his basket and locked up.

"Now, where have those fools gone?" Gunnar grumbled to himself. He then looked up to see Beltram with a fish in his mouth. "To the bloody Abyssus, you too, Beltram? Once you finish, I need you to come down here."

Beltram finished the fish with a few more pecks and landed at Gunnar's feet.

Gunnar pulled a little knife out, cut his thumb, and dabbed the bleeding digit onto the raven's head. Then he muttered words of power to connect him to Beltram's eyes.

Seeing two visions, one of him looking at his heavily bearded face and down to the pure black raven. "Now Beltram, could you find those two, and we'll follow." Beltram, with a couple of flaps, took off. "Now, I hope they haven't gotten into too much trouble."

✦ ✦ ✦

Beltram flew, knowing that his partner could see everything he saw. If he did a good job, his dwarf would reward him with many snacks or even a shine. One thing he loved was to fly and look around. It was a marvellous thing to see food and shiny and other exciting things.

A thought came from his Gunnar. I can see them. With a mental prod, Beltram flew toward two happy fools playing in the Warehouse Place.

✦ ✦ ✦

Running down Warehouse Place was the laughing Way and his stead for the day, Caw. The mastiff's tongue lolled out of his mouth, accompanied by exciting barking. Way was holding onto his collar and a bit of loose skin. Wooping and laughing as they dodged around workers, barrels and carts. Some of them hollered at the two, shaking their fists in perceived outrage, but this was the usual game that Way and Caw played, and most knew that.

"Faster, faster. Let's run and fly into the sky. With no plan but time to fly." WayWocket rymed on Caw's back.

Caw, hearing that, ran up a pile of boxes and jumped; they soared through the air, but like most flights of fancy, they headed to the ground with a thump and continued to run.

Way loved that; his aqua hair was whipping back and forth with each turn and charge of the massive mastiff. Turning the corner onto Route Street, Caw had to weave around the traffic known for the area. With a cry from above, WayWocket could see Beltram following them. Knowing that Gunnar would be angry either Way, Way and Caw ran onwards.