Tiger sniffed the tea suspiciously, then licked it. It was similar to earl-grey.

They were in the park at early dusk. A dragon was coming about to light the lamps so the way was lit for the late-night party goers.

The strange dragon started speaking. “Is the tea to your liking?”

The dragon’s name was Gale. In every way she moved, it seemed a little foreign. But she had information. They needed it. But at what cost would it be?

“The tea is to my liking,” Maple said. “So, what do you know about Truth?”

“Well,” Gale replied, “I know he has a problem with disloyalty and breaking the law if he needs to.”

“And why would he need to?” asked Tiger.

“All i know is that he has left the city and gone into the Fog.”

A silence followed. It lasted for a few seconds before Gale took a scone and started to chew noisily.

She has very bad table manners for such a dignified voice and customs.

In any case, is she being truthful about Truth?

“Well,” Tiger said. “If he left the city, which exit did he take, if i may ask, ma’am.

“First off,” Gale responded, “I am not that old–only seventeen–and he took the southern exit C. It was unguarded at the time.”

“It is often guarded through all hours of day and night. Correct?” asked Maple.

“Correct. It is strange. Very strange that that would happen.” Gale seemed to have quite a bit of knowledge that no common folk would know. She seemed to not be conniving, but one can never be sure. “Shall I take you there? Or do you want to finish his job?”

A hard decision. Find Truth, who betrayed us, or do his job for him.

Tiger had very mixed feelings about Truth. Truth was a lier, thief, and a disloyal dog. But he did try to save Tiger’s life. He was not all bad. “Let us bide our time in the city. Something is bound to happen.”

Gale knows Truth had a mission. And she pretends to not know anything about it. But I bet she is lying. But…

The others started walking and making small talk and had decided to find a nearby inn. How could Maple be so trusting of Gale? Did she not trust Truth earlier? Well, that is unknown to Tiger. This is not one of Maple’s chapters. If only there was a way into her mind.

Unbeknownst to Tiger, it would become clear in a few days. He then ran to keep apace with Maple and Gale.

***

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Dusk turned to night. A darkness waiting to be chased by the morrow. It did not help that Maple had several candles lit to try to read a book. They had all rented a room for the night, thanks to Gale. Tiger’s and Maple’s fund were limited. So that was nice. But Tiger could not get over the feeling of suspicion of Gale.

“Maple,” Tiger said, “could you please snuff the candles so we can sleep?”

“We?” said Gale.

“Yes, ‘we.’”

“Tiger, you know that I have had no time to get any of my reading done.”

“I did not know you read that much, friend.”

Maple blew out several candles to lessen the brightness of their room. It was still somewhat bright for Tiger to sleep though. Gale was sleeping like a log and snoring very loudly. The snores were also somewhat displeased that Gale had made them sound so loud.

Tik. Tok.

Time crawled by. It seemed like an eternity until he was able to fell his waking and drift off to sleep.

It was not a peaceful sleep. He dreamt that he was only a pawn. Only a piece on the board. For what purpose unknown? A face paler than pale was present. So unnatural that only the most horrifying thing would be able to compare.

The face loomed. It seemed to be a puppeteer controlling Tiger’s fear and actions. He seemed to be in the library in the castle… his castle. Books strewn across the floor, open at random spots. Tiger flipped through a book, then tossed it. Then another.

Flip-flip-flip. Toss.

Flip-flip-flip. Toss.

Tiger yelled at his arms to stop. They did not. They kept flipping through books and pages and words. It was looking for something… Wait! Not it… him… he was Tiger. He was not just an essence. Well, he was an essence, but in a form of flesh and bone.

But he could not control his flesh and bone, it seemed to not be his. His arms stopped and held a book in front of him. He smiled.

NO! He cried and was yanked out of the dream, being thrust into reality.

Tiger told himself that it was all a dream. Was it, though? Would such a nightmare, such a monstrosity, even be a dream? Was it too terrible to exist?

***

The sun did not come out at dawn. It was grey out and rain barely fell from the sky. No one was out enjoying the not-so-lovely weather. Everyone was inside drinking coffee or tea or other warm beverages. But Gale seemed to fancy the weather. She was very much enjoying the slight wetness on her scales. But sadly, she was not outside, Tiger could see that.

They were in a cafe close to where the inn was. Cocktail jazz lightly bounced off the walls and idle chatter took up some sound real estate as well.

“We need to find a better place for lodging,” Tiger said, stating the obvious.

“Quite so,” said Gale. “As is obvious, we cannot go to the castle, or near it, for the guards will be more alert than ever.”

“So where shall we lodge?” asked Maple.

“Wait a minute,” said Tiger. “Other than my disappearance, why would there be hightened security?”

“Well, there has been some… illegal activity from civilians in the castle.”

Tiger only raised an eye ridge at her. He relized he did this quite a lot. It was likely another problem of his that made his friends dislike him.

“Hrrrrmmmm.”

Gale looked at Maple, who had made the strange sound. Maple made it again.

Hrrrrrmmmm.

That is Maple thinking with extremely strange noises. Or is she possessed?

The noises coming from Maple went on for a minute. At that time Tiger lashed out and said “Shut you mouth, Maple!”

It seemed to shock Maple and Gale. They did not think him a dragon who yells. Neither did Tiger. But the whole cafe seemed to be still after he yelled, save for the fiddle screeching a disonant harmony.

“Back to the question at hand,” Maple said. “Where shall we lodge?”