A booming rumbling voice shouted, "come and visit the festival!"

The jubilant pulse of taiko drums rolled over him in waves from outside, the echoing reverberated and mixed in with the excited chatter of voices. Each step followed along with the beat. Parcival snapped awake. A part of him wished he could drop everything and join in, but it wouldn't be as satisfying without the others. How long did we sleep? Fade my light, I'm late!

The fall ceremonial festival must is starting! Opial was usually prompt and tended to return quickly. Still, she's with Opial if anything happens⁠—A long sigh dropped out. What do I really know about Merryn? He shook himself mentally. Doesn't matter at least not right now. I'll ask her more later about what's going on; she needs to finish her narrative.

Han slid open the screen took a half step and stopped as, the moving crowd bobbed past without much space between them. The nippy air bit at his cheeks, the Winter Solstice will be upon us soon. Underfoot red and orange leaves rustled beneath his feet. The scents of the rich cooked foods danced on a light breeze waving the revered pampas grasses in vases near peoples doorways.

A woman wandered past eating fresh grilled saury on a stick. Breakfast will have to wait. Everything out here, I can't have right now. Not right thinking like this. Have I been so focused on the self that I've completely ignored everyone for so long? When did this happen, when did I start to neglect you Olenus? Forgive me.

Han shrugged with quite a bit of exaggeration. "Well, looks like we're stuck here. I'll go see if we can have more drink." He spun around on a paw heading back toward the table.

Parcival edged up to the door, "come on I'll get us through."

Han's arm stopped mid-reach for a cup. "There's no arguing with you, is there? I think you need to learn when to bend sometimes, besides it's too early to bother looking for her. Don't you know that it's best to wait a couple of days before looking for someone missing?"

Maybe he's right I shouldn't be so stubborn, but they've been gone too long! Opial always sends a message if she's delayed.

He shook his head. "You haven't seen me argue yet. You're wrong there is no time restriction on how much time has to pass before someone is reported missing. You forget I'm a Guardian of Olenus, and know how things run." He said in his most civil tone. "Now, Opial always checks in, we must find them."

I should have stayed with her, Merryn is being hunted by Maxwell. Even though it's safe here what with all the wards and such he still manged to get in! He gripped the rough cold frame, and hung his head using the moment to clear his mind. What was I thinking?

"Don't tell me after all that you're sick now?" Han craned his head watching him.

Sick in the heart maybe, when did she become such a close friend? "I'm going, you can stay here or come with your choice."

Han blew out his cheeks. "Knowing her, she's probably out there running into more unintentional trouble. Or, eating all the sweets." He muttered under his breath, "hope she saves me some."

He gave Han a longer look than intended. "I heard that." Any treats she brings back are mine. He shook his head then bopped himself. Find her and quit thinking about inane things. Boy, my attention span is as fractured as a dropped mirror.

#####

Later that day, after working though the roaring crowd, they quickly moved off the main path as a procession of men began the evening events.

Some only wearing a fundoshi loincloth with a thick cloth draped over their shoulders, it took two of them to carry the giant crackling torches. Just in time he pulled Han out of the way of a giant torch that had dipped a little off the men's shoulders, the quickly readjusted it continuing along the path.

A large vigorous teen— was that Akimitsu? He's doing well— stood on of a small raised platform, sucked in a huge breath, "Have a good festival!" his amazing voice bellowed even creating an echo.

All in the progression started to move towards the Yuki Shrine.

Parcival took advantage of the crowd following them and thinning out, Han followed while they hurried out the area, working toward the merchant district. He walked down the left side of an alleyway toward a off to the side short-cut, searching for what exactly he couldn't quite recall. They wouldn't still be here after several hours, this is a waste of time.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Just as he was about to go try to find her at the docks. Don't I know his father? A long limbed merchant in a cheap gray cotton kimono edged an equally narrow building. A flash of light caught on the edge of the polished wood frame of the door sliding open.

"Excuse, me have you—"

The merchant startled, then busted down the street, and toddled around a corner out of view like a guilty child who'd snuck into the sugar jar.

"That went well. Maybe he didn't like your face?"

He stared at Han, the rudeness cut deep. A rush of molten heat burned his neck, face and ears. "Anyone else wouldn't still be standing, saying such a thing."

"Are you going to go after him?"

The heat on his skin cooled some. "As long as you point your needles at anyone else beside me!"

Han nodded once, and went off to the corner, minding the bustling crowd.

What kind of luck was this that both of them would turn out to be so impatient? The cat-men described in the history scrolls acted nothing like Han did. Not one wit! His face scrunched up. Wasn't he calmer than this?

A sharp bang caught his attention, it came from around the corner, followed by a whimper off ahead.

Multicolored fireworks at the festival exploded in the sky, chasing away the night, the crowd exclaimed with excited sounds and shouts. I really wanted to show her these. Why aren't you here, Merryn? A flock of birds startled and took flight on the rightmost rooftop. Several gray feathers and a black floated one down, hindering his view. He batted them away. Beyond this, a small bent silhouetted form hurried away— perhaps it's just a rat.

As he drew near, Han leaned against a wall, pulling in rough gulps, his eyes squeezed shut so tight, that he looked like a cranky grandfather. In a trembling paw, he had a death grip on a scrap of ripped red cloth.

Parcival scanned the mostly empty area. Along the wall a basket, planks of wood, and a saw were under a broken lattice window being repaired. Footprints from the sawdust under the planks led off to the open street.

"Who did this? Do you know,?" He said, taking care to make his voice gentle. He didn't have the heart to chasten him for running off. Whoever did this will wish they'd left Han alone! Most likely the merchant, as he was the only one running away. He tapped his fingers against his chest. Didn't he have glasses on?

"I couldn't see who it was, they jumped me, stole my glasses of all things then ran off."

"What a dirty trick! I'll help you get them back." Or at least some new ones, can't have him stumbling into things.

He cupped a hand on fist then thumped his heart. "Elaema, kindly grant a boon." Would she help? Her blessings for males swayed on the sporadic side. Healers couldn't heal themselves, so this was one of the few quick options. There's some Netlace over by the edges of the city that might help if this doesn't work "At this point do you really have the option to refuse?"

Han shuffled over. "I'm fine, really you don't need to go that far."

A tiny sparrow careered though the ally flying at breakneck speed, then rebounded off of Han's chest, feathers and dust flying everywhere soon his head was covered with the stuff. It let loose a painfully loud whistle for it's size, then pecked Han's shoulder before pushing off his chest, escaping off though the other end and back into the sky.

"Hold it." He started to scoop it away; the moment he touched it, it turned into a vine framed rectangular glasses.

He blinked, then handed them to Han. "Goddess, thank you." Most glasses were basically wire wrapped around hand made lenses, these looked... odd.

Han gingerly took then, strained and squinted running a digit over the frames, shrugged and put them on. He suddenly took on a very serious aura.

Interesting.

"Let's keep going. Do... they work? And later on if we have a chance I'll make a week curative potion. Just in case. If there's anyone left to heal... now where's that timid merchant head off to?

Without pausing, he left the alleyway in only a few strides.

"We keep looking come on."