Ah! The Black Pearl! Yes, it all started with the Black pearl. The milky sea grew tired of it and spat it out. The black pearl then rolled down and down until the passing-by crab, with raccoon hands, picked it up.

Ooh! How it shined under the sky with no sun! It was about to take it home.

Tch! It’s the crab-hunter! He drove a fork right through the crab. Poor creature, it dies. The pearl falls from its hands, the hunter then looked at the black object, it distinguished itself from the surrounding black rocks with a white light. His eyes gleamed with a tinge of greed.

He picked it up and concealed it under the collar of his cape. He flaunted his red cape, then picked the prey and left for his master’s wooden spot. His master lived a little further inland, where the black rock gave way and the sand beneath was exposed. His five-limbed master, upon finding what his most loyal friend had found, rushed forward and hugged him. The master took the crab from his snout and placed it on the adjacent platter. He then started cuddling through his silky fur and, in the process, his third hand caught hold of his friend’s secret. Uh-oh! He found his black pearl!

The Hound tried retaking it by poking his master’s hands with his weapon of a fork, but, well; the master was quick enough. Pity though, the master hadn’t noticed of his treachery yet.

The master examined it and it looked quite shiny alright, but what really stood out was its color. It was Black! Nowhere in the surrounding ports had there ever been a black pearl found. He put it in his pocket and returned to his pet.

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“oh Joodle, you got me a good crab today!”

The dog was obviously frustrated under his cheerful barks.

He and his dog then went inside their house to have a dinner of their crab.

Miss Subtleback made a good stew out of it and served them two ladle-full. The young master had some bread with it to ease his hunger, while the dog had some milk with it to calm his stomach. They hopped of their chairs to leave for their beds.

The hallway was a maze of its own. Its path never stayed same and its identical all-wooden structures added to the frustration; But don’t you worry! Miss Subtleback’s here to guide you through.

She carried a candle lamp, though the team knocked their knees off with the furniture.

After the three had their fun with hurting their knees, they took the first left, then walked a few steps forward, then took another left turn. They reached the main hall, where portraits and abstract paintings hung. The hound and the boy followed the candle and the maid into the dark passage that exited the main hall.

They walked through the dark passage. It contained a plethora of doors on either side. At last, they reached their room. Miss Subtleback searched the keys under her apron, while the boy’s sight wandered off to the end of the passage. There lay a huge door with its metallic parts gleaming golden.

“Oh, I believe that is not something that young master should think about opening”, the maid proposed.

The boy dashed past miss Subtleback and laid his hands upon the door handle.

Creeek!

(Not to open door - future self Wendigo beast - warning “throw the pearl away” - running into the upside-down knight)