A loud explosion erupted from underneath Gregoreal’s Poam. The sound was accompanied with enough confetti to cover the dawning sky above us. There was so much confetti, I could of mistaken it for rain, especially when the strange confetti would break up into the pulsating orange and blue orbs of light. The orbs themselves reflected onto the clearing like the reflection of a numerous tiny blue and orange swimming pools. Infact, it was so beautiful, I had almost completely forgotten Commander Black stood simply feet away from me, staring me down like a hungry dog. My mothers infatuation with wave projectors kept creeping into my thoughts like a comforting old blinder. It’s hazy, but I can still remember how she used to read to me before grade school in the morning…. What's that smell?

“We gotta move Lian!” Yelled Taylum bumping his shoulder to mine.

“Pick up the dog at your leg!” He yelled, bolting towards the alley behind me with the baby tightly in his hands.

Before I even realized it, Cannoli had trampled over Commander Black in the midst of the chaos from inside the storm of floating orbs and confetti. Cannoli had bolted to the other end of the clearing far ahead of Taylum, thrashing the debris that had been probably positioned by Commander Black’s street thugs to block me in.

I looked back at Commander Black, making sure to pick up the fox in the hurry. I could hardly tell where she was with the sheer amount of glowing orbs and confetti strips between I and her. This is what Taylum was waiting for, a chance to run.

I felt my energy come back from thin air, as if gust of wind had suddenly propelled me forward. My legs began moving faster and faster and before I knew it I was running alongside of Taylum, tightly holding the fox to my chest.

“Go! Go! Go!” Shouted Taylum turning towards me, his eyes pried open in fear.

“She’s not too far behind us.” He continued in a panic.

I nodded my head in agreement. I was still in shock that someone had attempted to save not only me, but the baby and fox too. After being betrayed by Granas’, I thought I’d fallen into more traps than I could count. New Dwarden is clearly something, I could not handle alone.

“Ok let’s turn left soon! Got it! We can’t keep following Cannoli.” Taylum shouted in a rush.

“Where is he?” I shouted.

“I don’t know! He was never part of the plan! He got me caught!” Taylum responded with a nervous glare.

“What’s the plan!?” I shouted back.

“This is the plan! The Scamper Rats caught wind of me after Cannoli ate there breakfast!” He shouted.

Taylum and I continued to rush down alley after alley at random. Twisting and turning, constantly swivelling our head behind us. The confetti and orbs that provided us with precious cover began to subside, giving light to Commander Black who was far behind us at the entrance of an alley, charging at us with the speed and the ferocity of an enraged rhino.

“Taylum! I hear people!” I yelled hopefully.

“I know it’s our only chance!” Said Taylum.

Taylum and I could hear Commander Black come closer and closer behind us because of the junk, crates, and glass shattering loudly behind us like our very own long destructive tail.

“You are not getting away.” She roared with animalistic intent.

“Holy crap! She is getting close!” Taylum gasped aloud.

“We’re coming up on a T! I can’t tell if the festival is at our left or right and she is catching up.” I said huffing and puffing.

“Uh, uh, uh! Idk! Just pick one!” Responded Taylum in a flurry of breathes.

“We’re going right!” I yelled in an instance of thought.

“Why right?!” Shouted Taylum, both of us turning the corner.

“Because of all the alcohol bottles lined up on the ground!” I responded with confidence.

“O-oh! Ok.” Said Taylum, pleasantly surprised.

We breached what felt like a barrier of light and arrived at the bustling festival with our elbows pointed outwards from our bodies rushing through hordes of people stretching from one side of the road to the other. Luckily we dashed into a very densely populated area of the city, although it appeared I was in a stranger part of the city. Most people were normal but there were a few with weird dog-like noses, strange lizard scales, and sometimes fur in strange parts of there bodies. Sometimes I would make eye contact with tall black eyed yellow humanoids and sometimes I’d have to be careful not to trample the short red furred beings with ragged hoodies littered amongst the floor like carpet. Taylum and I continued to shovel our way through the crowds of drunken people and monstrosities alike taking shelter under those who were particularly taller. We constantly peered over each others shoulders hoping Commander Black would drown in the noise of the crowds. Even if we didn’t see her at the moment, we moved as if she still tailing right behind us, just as terrified; I could still see Taylums legs shaking as we made it to an opening in the crowd.

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“Hey Lian! Lian! This way!” Shouted Taylum from in front of me.

“Shhhh! I’m right behind you.” I said in an effort to calm him down.

“Holy! You scared me!” Yelled Taylum.

“Shh! Stop yelling!” I whispered.

We stopped in a small circular clearing in the crowd, although finally, we got a chance to catch our breath as everyone around was either too drunk to care about us or tall enough to ignore our existence.

“Is she gone!?” Asked Taylum frantically.

“I don’t see her.” I said, peering over the numerous silhouettes around me.

Everyone know seemed out of focus. Commander blacks leathery armor and long black hair was the only thing I was looking for in the crowd. Nothing else mattered.

“OK-OK! There was this uh... restaurant Drock’s brother owns! It’s-it’s not far from here at all. I-I actually know where we-we are! This is the Coppercoin district! If we go that way...if we go North we should hit is restaurant in no time flat!” He said in a nervous haste.

“He’ll take care of us?” I asked catching my breath.

“He will.” Said Taylum confidently, catching his breath.

“Cmon! Let’s keep moving!” He urged.

“Wait! H-how's the baby Taylum?...S-she broke his hand…the baby…h-he’s sleeping because of capsule she put in his mouth.” I said with a strange guilt.

I know the enigma gave me this child to help me become a Valiant, but I can't help but hate him just a bit because of what he reminds me of. Desperation.

“I don’t know Lian." He said with a drooping frown.

"Those capsules could be anything. ...his hands getting swollen, Drock’s brother will know what to do.” He said, his face unsure.

“This festival will be coming to an end soon and people will return to there Cherubim so we gotta hurry! If we don’t...I’m not sure we can make it back home without being hunted down by that Commander crazy.” He continued.

"Yeah...let's get movin." I agreed.

Taylum and I moved upwards on the bricked streets as quickly as possible, trying not to stand out too much. Taylum had covered the baby in a blanket making it appear he was sleeping normally and I had put the dog in a brown fruit basket I found abandoned on the sidewalk. We did our best to pretend as if we were having fun watching the numerous stand around us, albeit the wonder in both are eyes were both almost genuine with the exception of Commander Black likely hunting us like a shadow.

The street were filled with stands of all kinds, most were packing up, but some food stands continued to sell there aromatic meats as if the festival were never ending. Different cuts and colors of meats dangled from there stands; red, yellow, orange, and even blue meats sizzled on grills from every direction. Even the fox was getting hungry. I felt bad but this was not the time to feed him, although I admittedly felt the brunt of his hunger as well. Luckily we were heading to a restaurant, allegedly famously weaved between the base of several Cherubim.

"So what is this famous restaurant called? And what are they famous for anyway?" I asked.

"It's called the The Croak N Crunch! I've never been inside but Drock tells us it's his brothers restaurant. I think he said they sell giant seafood." Said Taylum, trying to size up the dishes with his hands.

"Like Giants giant!?" I said surprised.

"No. At least I don't think so." He laughed.

"Drock tells me they serve Red Claws the size of children." He explained with excitement.

"Red Claws?" I asked.

"Yeah! Extremely delicious! There hard shelled animals that live in the bottom of the ocean with huge claws." He said in a frenzy of emotions.

"Lobsters?" I said, visibly confused.

"Lobsterps?" He said, also visibly confused.

"Don't worry about it. Just something I read along the way, thought it looked like one of those meats hanging in the meat stands." I said with a dismissing laughter.

"Yeah well, once you see one. You'll never forget how it looks. C'mon, not much further now." He said, pressing forward.

After what felt like ten minutes, Taylum had encountered a restaurant in the shape of a large tree. It’s branches were tiny rooms with people eating comfortably in it and it’s nearly transparent trunk was warmly lit with flame as it’s base openly embraced customers with a sign stating.

The Croak N Crunch

Home Of The Giant Rau Fish

“Lian! We’re here! The Croak N Crunch!” Shouted Taylum.

The building itself was enormous and beautiful. While it wasn’t nearly the size of a Cherubim, it had to be at least the size of a couple full sized homes stacked on top of each other. It had long panels of glass stretched across the trunk exposing a very beautifully decorated staircase made better by the warm fire that gleamed across it. The numerous winding branches were hallways congested with happy customers just enjoying there meals. The base of appeared to be a wide open bar bustling with patrons going in and out like a steady flow of water. Amazing. I don't know if the tree shaped restaurant was covered in real leaves, but it certainly looked real, and as green as any tree would be on a bright Summer day.

Before we entered the building, Taylum and I made sure to check our surroundings as effectively as could, we even weaved through the local crowd a tad longer to make sure we weren’t followed. Eventually Taylum waved me down to come inside.

"Finally." I said aloud.

“It looks busy! Let’s hurry inside. Someone in there has gotta know Drock's brother.” Whispered Taylum.

"I'm starving and desperately need to use the bathroom." He continued, relaxed.

"Taylum! Did you bring any money!?" I said in a panic.

"I have enough Talons for a cheap dinner but that's it. Luckily we don't need it. I'm sure Drock's brother will take care of us like family." He laughed off my concern.

"Hopefully your right." I shrugged.

"You know, it's smells really good out here, like a cooked steak wedged between simmering spices. But there is a weird smell that kind of ruins it. I hate to say it, but sometimes I smell a diaper or something. Did the baby do it's business?" I said, trying to ease my worries.

"I really need to use the bathroom, Lian. Let's please go inside." He yelped, holding his stomach as if it was wounded.

"It's not the baby is it." I whispered to myself while Taylum waddled his way into the restaurant.

"I'll meet you inside!" Yelled Taylum.

"Guess we better go in to. Might be time to eat." I said with a wide smile, looking down to the fox poking his head out of the basket.