Zekeal and Jero'e

Characters: Aikuen, Will, Kentar, Fira

Location: Moledeep, Cathudbodva

Moledeep: Dibbuns Garden

Afternoon shines brightly over the pond of Moledeep. Aikuen is standing over it, looking at his reflection, and his new disguise he's been practicing. He is wearing the black cloak again, with the hood down. But now the rudder doesn't jut out behind him. And his face and paws have been covered in a black something. He looks like a deformed abnormally tall black weasel. But this works for Aik, as he wont be up and personal with beasts anymore. Just to keep them away from him, should they stop him from a distance. He chuckles at his looks, and he rubs the black soot through his headfur.

Kentar comes into the area of the pond. He's wearing a pair of swimming shorts, and carries a few towels in his arms. He seems very tired, and didn't bother to put ANYTHING back the way it should be from the hall. He didn't even put away the knives or target, which means they're still sitting there on the wall. The stoat pauses when he sees Aik. "Morin'" he mutters, dropping the towels far from him and then diving into the water.

Aikuen waves a blacked paw at Kentar as he comes into view, "Hiya Kentar... Great day isn't it!" he chuckles. and holds his paws in front of him as the stoat dives in. He wipes the extra soot from himself and goes to sit down next to the pond watching Kentar for a few moments. He can obviously tell that Kentar is still mad at him. But Aik doesn't care. He still doesn't care, even after seeing the target in the hall. He waits before asking, "How yah doing matey!" he says brightly.

Kentar swims around on his back for a few moments then floats. "Fine." he replies. The stoat closes his eye and drifts for a few moments before he looks to the otter. "You look different." he mutters.

Aikuen smiles and goes into his growly voice, "Yes... I should look different... FOR I AM ZEKEAL! Master of all around me!" he laughs evilly before breaking down laughing slapping his knee a few times, "Its good that i look different, will allow me more access to places around me. Fi had an interesting thought about it, and suggested soot for my exposed stuff. I think it works, Dont you think?" he grins

Kentar nods a little. "Yeah. It. Works actually." he nods slightly, eyeing Aikuen's tail for a moment. "Yeah. It worked." he nods slowly but then closes his eye and floats around the pond again. "She's rather smart. Good to know."

Aikuen chuckles, "I hope it works, or I'm just an otter who pasted soot to his face for no reason!... And Aye. She is smart as the seasons are long..." he grins to himself, "But you knew that. She is practically the smartest one here... She reads books in other languages... FOR FUN!" he laughs, "Big reason why i married her. She is my other half, as I'm stupid as hell! She fills in the gap!

Kentar mutters something that he can't hear. "At least you know it." he says simply. "I used to do that. Till I realized I couldn't understand them." he chuckles slightly but then goes back to his angry mood. "Where's Will? I think I scared him last night."

Aikuen eyes the stoat for a moment at the mumbling, and the obvious insult. But you cant get this otter down today! And he chuckles with him, "That'd be a big reason to stop!" he sighs as Kentar goes back to his old demeanor, "I haven't seen him since yesterday when i went inside, after you stormed off. What did you do to scare him?" he asks, but assumes it has something to do with the knives and target in the hall.

Kentar hms a little then can't help but to grin. "I put an apple on his head and was going to get it off with a throwing knife. But he tossed the apple back at me, then quickly went into the study." he chuckles a bit. It was funny to watch.

Aikuen snorts, "I would throw it back too, if it was me." good for Will for tossing it back, "Yah he would probably be scared having blades of death being tossed at him... Even if he knew you were a perfect shot every time, which i saw on the cloth. It would scare the daylights outta me all the same!" he chuckles.

Kentar laughs and smiles a little, mood lightened up slightly. Maybe I should try it on you sometime. Mister I'm not killable," he chuckles.

Will'd slept in more than usual today, in a warm fuzzy rat pile with Amy. They had enjoyed themselves just laying there, cuddling and talking about this and that til Will had to go water the gardens. Having finished his chores and eaten he wanders into the dibbuns garden looking for Aikuen.

Aikuen frowns, and looks scared, "Umm. Nah... I kinda like having my face the way it is. But thanks..." he chuckles, "I never said i wasn't killable, its just really hard too... I'm gonna laugh when i die, and then you will eat your words!" he laughs all the same.

Kentar laughs. "Come on, I never miss with a throwing knife." he smiles. "I'm sure it would be an interesting thing to do though." he laughs and smiles. "Anyways. Look." he sits up in the water, sinking. "Eelp!" he yelps after going under unexpectedly, but he surfaces and blinks. "Sorry..." he mutters. "Anyways. The reason why I was so angry yesterday, is because." he pauses. "If that sword had have been a throwing knife. You'd have been dead." he says simply. "I. I didn't want to think about it. And the thought that I could have killed you...well..." he shrugs. Will gets a wave and a smile when he shows up. "Hey Will!

Will waves at the stoat, "Hi." The rat eyes the large black beast closely but since Kentar isn't concerned he figures it's just the otter in disguise again. "Pa?" he asks, "That you? ..."

Aikuen nods vigorously, "I know you don't miss. And I'm glad you didn't have those knives, be a hard time to dodge those suckers then a full length blade!" he chuckles and tilts his head at the sinking, looking like he was about to go in after. But he sighs and smiles as the stoat returns, "Careful matey, And yes i can see why you were angry. But don't be. I'm not, and I'm the one that could have died. It was my fault, and it was an accident." but then he smirks, "If you could have hit a moving target!" he laughs, "I probably would not have died, but my wife would be ticked at me for getting hurt again." he sighs and looks back as Kentar looks to Will. He blinks as he didn't hear him at all. He looks to his son and smiles evilly, and says in his growly voice, "NO! I am not your Pa! I AM ZEKEAL! MASTER OF ALL THINGS AROUND ME!" he laughs evilly

Kentar looks to Will then to Aik, deciding to play along with it. "Yeah. And Zekeal here, was just telling me about all the things he wants to do to Aikuen. But he's scared of water, so hurry, jump in before he gets you!"

Will takes a step back from the strange beast and closer to the pond, "How'd he get past th traps?" he asks Kentar not yet sure if this is Aikuen playing another joke or not.

Another cloaked beast appears only it's obviously that of Fira eating a scone as she's got fed up with the hood already and tossed it back down again. Nor has she hidden her tail so well, just holding it within the cloak. She easily spots the others and wanders on over that way, coming up behind Aik as she finishes off the scone.

Aikuen grins, "Oh Success! My endeavors are successfully successful!" he chuckles and says in his normal voice, "I am not scared of water! Love the stuff! Its me Will, this is my disguise that i came up with! And the traps... they were simple... only got hit in the head three times!" he chuckles. Then sniffing the air getting a whiff of something, and goes back to his growly voice, "What ho? I smell my partner in crime...mmm..." he waits till she is right behind him and he grabs for her, "I gotcha! Sneaky Sneak!" and he plants a big fat one on her.

Will relaxes again and chuckles as Aik grabs at Fira, "Silly otters."

Kentar huhs and then laughs as he sees Fira. "Drat, and I was having so much fun with that one." he grins, the stoat chuckling. "Yes, Will. Silly otters! Silly, silly otters! What? You love water Aik?! Here, have some!" he splashes at them once before diving under from having rocks thrown at him.

Fira squeaks. First at being grabbed, then the kiss, /then/ for getting wet...she goes a little thin lipped but it's all in jest as she points at the pond while talking to Aik "Get the stoat" revenge! Particularly since she dropped her last bit of scone in all the surprises.

Aikuen grins up to the point where he gets wet, and the soot that was supposed to set on him for a few days begins to wash off, "Why you..." he frowns at Kentar. And then Fira says that and he pops off a quick but silly salute, "Yes Ma'am!" and he dives in after Kentar.

Will sits down to watch. He'll talk to Aikuen a little later. "Morning, Mum," he smiles over at Fira before looking back at the pond to try and see what's going on with the stoat and Aikuen.

The stoat in the water blinks as he sees Aik come toward him. He's no otter, so the only thing he can do is swim as fast as he can, to the surface, but that makes him go right by Aik who will have a great chance at stopping him.

Fira tries to resist picking the bit of scone back up again, forcing her eyes off of it and shaking off a little water before she looks back to the others. Luckily Will makes a good distraction to keep her from glancing back again "Morning Will" and then she turns her attention to the pond.

Aikuen is very much hindered in his current form. Having lack of a paw, and rudder. Also the cloak weighs him down as it gets wet. But he is still an otter all the same! He stops Kentar mid swim by grabbing him around the middle, and then shooting to the surface. They both breach and he lets go of the stoat, so he can splash him, "Take that!" and he laughs. All the soot has washed off, revealing Aikuen in all his glory. Scone has been avenged!

Kentar eeeps in the water, making him lose some air but not all of it. He takes a deep breath when they breach the surface, the stoat trying to block the water. "Hey! Nooo!" he laughs, splashing back. "You got me! I'm melting!"

Fira smirks softly at the pond, clearly approving of the fun and games though with all the movement she's not lip reading "Knew you'd catch him dear!"

Aikuen laughs and then his face get a direct of water again, "Hey! What the!" and he splashes him back, "Melting eh? You don't seem to be melting! Take this!" he splashes a tidal wave at Kentar. He laughs and swims away quickly from him, to the side where Fira is He looks at her and grins, "Course id catch him darling!... I'm Zekeal! And i always get my beast!" he laughs.

Kentar huhs and then frowns. Soon as Aik is next to Fira with his back to him, he slowly and quietly swims over before trying to wrap his arms around the otter's waist. "Take a deep breath Zekeal..."

Fira raises a brow and smirks a little at the new name but though she sees Kentar coming she doesn't warn Aikuen "I'll have to remember that the next time I want some beast fetched"

Aikuen winks, "He is always prepared for what may lies ahead, Fi. It just might cost yah..." he grins and taps his mouth. Then he is suddenly grabbed around the middle. Totally distracted by Fira, "Huuh?" and doesn't have time to take a deep breath as he is forced under.

Kentar grins and then takes a deep breath, hauling Aikuen under the water, bringing him as far down as he can before letting go, and slowly going to breach the surface, laughing

Fira just snorts, amused as she gives Aik a little wave just as he's pulled under and she moves to find a nice rock to sit on while they play

Will also watches keeping away from the edge so he won't get splashed. "Mum, could Pa an me go t Cathudbodva later? It's just across th river Moss and underground. There's a market there an Pa said he'd get me a wheel t go with my kiln. Can we go after he gets out of th pond, please?" He was going to ask Aikuen once he was able to but he switched to Fira since Aik's busy and she may not want Aik to leave.

Aikuen is forced to the bottom. And when he is released, the cloak weighs him down just enough, so he can sit on the floor. He crosses his arm with the other one and pouts. Even without a full tank of air, he can hold his breath for a long time. He blinks a few times, and waits for Kentar to fully breach the surface, before standing up and kneeling. the otter shoots off the bottom like an arrow, in the direction near the side. He breaches the surface like a fish before landing on his feet on the side. He acts like he is out of breath, "Wheh matey... Wheh..." and he laughs along with him.

Kentar laughs at the otter before pulling himself out of the pond and standing up, grabbing his towels and tossing one to Aik, then starts to dry himself off. "Ah...haha! Must fun I've had in that pond yet." he grins.

Fira just catches sight of Will talking out the corner of her eye and glances over to him, her head tilting faintly "Well, if Aik doesn't mind...you might have to take Kentar too, just in case of trouble."

Will grins and hugs Fira, "Thanks. I'll ask him and Kentar in a minute. Pa's never been down t see th market but Kentar went with me last two times. It's nice down there but really noisy. I've sold lot of th figures I've made down there. It was fun."

Aikuen continues to laugh taking the sopping cloth off him so he can dry proper. His fur was built to keep water off, so he is already pretty dry by the time Kentar tosses the towel. But he takes it to dry his face and headfur. He pulls it off, and his headfur just fuzzed out everywhere. He frowns a bit and mats it back down before tossing the towel on top of the cloak. He then smirks at Kentar, "You need to be in a pond more often mate!" he chuckles, and Fira gets a glance with a smirk. He then laughs and goes to sit down next to her on the rock. He glances between the two, "What you guys talking about... wait..." he kisses Fira, "Okay... proceed..." he grins.

Kentar chuckles a little at the fuzzed out headfur. "Hehe, I do. Just for that look!" he laughs and hms, then grins. "Yeah. I should take swimming lessons from you. How to hold your breath for so long..." he smirks then hms at Fira and Will's conversation.

Fira rolls her eyes with a small smirk and kisses Aik back before she looks back to Will again "Well I'm sure he'll agree" she aims a little poke at Aik "Won't you? Say yes" not so much asking as telling him to just say yes, he'll get the details eventually. Back to Will again "Thinking of selling more figures again?"

Will shakes his head, "Not this trip might on th next one though." He looks over to Aikuen, "I was asking Mum if we could go t Cathudbodva, to their market. You said you'd buy me a wheel t go with th kiln Kentar made me and you've never been down t th market before. It's not too far, Kentar might want t go too. He's been down there twice already with me."

Aikuen grins and is lost to his own world till Fira pokes him. He comes back with an ow and says, "YES! ILL DO IT!... What am i agreeing too?" he listens to Will, with a tilted head as the rat explains. When he finishes he gives a quick nod, "To Cat-" and he sticks his tongue out for the rest of the name. He chuckles, "Sure. Get you the wheel, and see what else they got. As long as the wifey lets me? Eh Darling?" he grins.

Kentar laughs a little bit then tilts his head. "I'll go if you two want or need. But." he peers at Fira. "She won't have company here, and will be all alone." he then gets an idea. "Why don't you three go!? Make it a family trip!?" he grins at them.

Fira shrugs lightly "I'm in a house full of traps, would have thought it was safe?...Wouldn't say no to seeing the place though I suppose. Sounds interesting, could be fun" Aik gets a little smirk "Either way yes, you can go."

Will says, "Your disguise got washed off, Pa. How long will it take you to be ready t go?" The second part is directed at both otters.

Aikuen looks to Kentar, "Hey what a great idea!" he grins and looks back to his wife, "It'll be fun, come on pewese come wit us!" he grins and plants a small one on her, "YAY! I can go!" yes the otter is being stupid again. He laughs and looks back to Will. He blinks and rubs a paw across his face, "About five minutes ill be ready to go. Just need to apply more soot again." he gives another small kiss before jogging off back inside Moledeep.

Fira laughs quietly at Aik's behaviour but then she has to think disguises and gives the cloak a glance "Ehh, yeah. I'll try and be quick, find a hat or something" getting up to head on after Aikuen.

Kentar laughs at the otters. "You'll have to bring me back something nice." he grins with a wink, but again, it only looks like he's blinking.

Will nods at the otters as they leave, "That's fine. I need t get my pack anyway." He grins at the stoat, "We'll see." The rat heads in after the otters to get ready himself.

Aikuen slowly walks back with Fira, making some sort of joke about them playing follow the leader. The new disguised otter laughs. He put on a new dry cloak, and has reapplied the soot to his face and paws. The rudder once again is tied to his leg, to conceal it. They both get back to the rock and he gives her a small little kiss again, being wary of soot transfer. There is also a pouch dangling on his belt, "I'm all Set. And my name is Zekeal. Just in case." he hmms.

Kentar laughs as the otters show up. "Before you go. Aik, do you mind getting what's on this short list for me?" he hands out a piece of parchment with a list of things needed for the trip. "That's all we need now for the trip. Its only five things." he smiles. "Thanks." he then waves. "See you! Enjoy yourselves!" he smiles then vanishes. Back inside.

Fira almost does away with the cloak entirely. It was a good idea but the hood limited her view to a hole in front of her and she'd just be paranoid what was everywhere else. She's removed all jewelry anyway, all but the wedding ring anyway, cloaks still covering most of her but she's just found a hat to toss on, hide her eyes. Doesn't even obviously make her female at first glance so she's extra confusing if still obviously an otter "Good as we're getting I think and...ah, well call me what you like."

Will had located his well worn traveling pack and restocked it just to be on the safe side. He smiles at the otters, "I told Amy where we'd be an Kentar can tell th others if they ask. Just follow me. There's guards at th entrance but they usually will let you in some of them want t be paid for it but there isn't really a fee t get in. It's not a big deal. Probably why Kentar doesn't want t come. He didn't get along too well with th guard last time." the rat chuckles as he heads off into the woods.

Aikuen takes the parchment and reads off the list, before stuffing it in his pocket. He waves as the stoat leaves, "Sure ill get it. No problem. See you in a few hours..." he hmms still waiting on Will. He looks to his wife and grins. Yes it does pretty much fully conceal her. Aik can still tell, for obvious reason. He takes her paw and rubs it a little, "How 'bout i call you 'Gorgeous'?!" he grins, "Nah... Lets see... how about..." and then Will returns and the otter switches, "Okay... let head'em on out!" he chuckles, and follows Will, keeping a firm, but gentle grip on her paw.

Cathudbodva

Will leads the otters down river til they find a place to cross. From there he leads to an outcropping of rocks and down a stairway that leads under the ground. The trio soon find themselves in a huge cavern underground, this is Cathudbodva. A guard stands watch by the entrance to oversee any beasts that may find their way down here. The town is inhabited mostly by bats and other cave dwellers so any outsider would be an oddity down here. Will walks passed a guard without any problems, he's been down here often enough that the guards have gotten used to him even if he is a non-resident merchant.

Aikuen is no bat. Nor does he look like a bat. Even if he tried. Before he goes and follows Will he looks to Fira and smiles, "I love you...Ill see you, when I'm no longer Zekeal" and he puts on his hood, giving him a very evil demeanor. As all you can see under the hood, is his white fangs. He gives a tooth grin before letting go of Fira and toward past the guard. And of course being a newcomer here, he is stopped. The otter slowly turns his hood toward the bat and growls quietly, "I am following my friend... which you seem to know, and let pass... Let me pass..." The bat blinks at the cloaked figure, but does not remove his wing from blocking him. Zekeal growls softly, "Fine..." and he drops 5 or so coins in the wing span. The wing drops hesitantly allowing him to pass. Zekeal grins, "Perfect... Come on Jaro'e ..." he waves at Fira to follow him. Zekeal stands in the way of the bat keeping him from closing his wings again.

Fira follows the rat along, a tiny bit paranoid on the way but all's peaceful and nothing bad happens so she's not too bad when she gets to the cave. Never a big fan of the dark but the little bit of a glow in the place helps. She blinks as she's left alone for a second but after a quick adjust of the hat she follows a short distance behind Aik. She happens to get in just behind a lizard who gets held up, she ends up just looking round him "Good day, looking to pass" lizard gets the worst of it and most of the attention so Fira loses just the one coin without complaint and wanders on in after the others.

Will gives the guard an apologetic look, "Th stoat didn't want t come." Will walks on farther into the caves expecting 'Zekeal' and 'Jaro'e' to follow.

Aikuen follows Will carefully and slowly, keeping a look out to Fira who is right behind him still. He glances down into the dark pit of the bottom, and lightly shutters. Now that's a drop. Will leads them now to the lower residential. They are more common beasts here. And as Zekeal passes, some of the little ones run away from him, or the mothers keep them away. Zekeal frowns under his hood, "Do i look that terrifying?" he says keeping up the growly voice

Will shrugs, "Some of em still give me a wide berth too. More if ya catch em staring an stare back at em. Market's not much farther, just across this bridge." Will waves a paw at one of the many rope bridges that hangs over a dark drop off. The bridge in question connects to a short tunnel and more caverns beyond that.

Fira can't really comment, mostly because she can't see what Aik says this time as she sees the back of his head. Still, she's also busy looking round, mostly at the ceiling as it's a good distraction against the lack of floor.

Aikuen blinks and shrugs, "Probably because we are so scary looking. Outsiders..." he hmms at the bridge, "We have to cross that?" he blinks a few times and looks down. He is not normally afraid of heights. But dang. He gulps to himself and turns to Fira, "Alright Jaro'e... heh... you go before me..." Mainly just in case she slips. But also... he doesn't want to go just yet...

Will nods, "It's fine. Kentar was scared th first time but it's as safe as anything. I've been across it lots of times."

Fira looks back down again after a moment and glances between them, finally settling her eyes on the bridge "Mm. Right" just picturing water at the bottom. Habit of diving off of things into water helps though she has no intention of jumping off this bridge "Ok, Will, if you go first, I'll follow and...you" pointing at Aik, she'll remember the name again soon "Come last" she nods to the rat "Lead on" moving to follow.

Aikuen grins faintly, "That's comforting to know..." he sighs and waits for Fira to go ahead of him, "Yes, i will go last... thank you" he says the last part quietly. The otter blinks a few times and waits for her to start, before he follows. He gulps to himself keeping his eyes on the back of her head, as he keeps his paws on the rope so he doesn't fall. But as soon as the fear wears away, he seems quite fond of the rope bridge.

Will crosses the bridge without another thought and waits for the otters to get across before heading off into the market. He walks straight over to a certain pottery stall and asks the stall keeper's recommendation on where the best place to get a potter's wheel would be. The lizard and rat talk shop for a while and Will pays him for his help. The rat looks around the nearby stalls as he waits for his parents to catch up.

Fira has to look down, keep an eye on her feet and where they're going. She's not quiet as fast as Will across but she gets over with no problem anyway and glances back to Aik as she heads back over to join Will.

Aikuen is also safely across the bridge, and the fear has washed away completely has he laughs a bit when he steps off, "That was fun..." then there is the noise. He rubs his ear, removing his hood and making slowly for the others. He does a quick scan over the market. Being tall can help that. Not seeing any redcoats, or wanted posters about. He feels a bit more comfortable walking around without his hood on. He walks toward them and slips an arm around Fira, "So Will..." he yells, "Know where we can get the wheel?"

Will looks up from the stall he'd been looking over and sets the gold locket in his paw back down. "Yeah. I there's a beast around that's said t make real quality goods like what we want, might cost ya though," the rat calls back though he isn't but a few feet from the otters.

Fira isn't so sure it's safe so the hat stays on even of she does just nudge it back a little, look more like herself. She looks around, watching several beasts coming and going and nearly misses the conversation entirely, just looking back to Will for the last bit

Aikuen grins at her, and rubs her side a little bit, "That's more like the Jero'e i know!" he laughs and looks back to Will, "I brought..." he glances around, before giving a quick nod. Better not say how much he has got on him. Bad place to do so, "Anyway, lead the way to him. And we can go see. Then after ill get the things on the list..." that's his shopping for the day.

Will raises a brow at 'Zekeal', "You brought enough, I hope. Word is this beast tries hard t get as much out of a beast as he can before parting with anything. ... More then most that is. But it's also said he does good work and it's worth all the trouble if you can put up with him. We'll go see if what they say about him is true or not." The rat goes off toward the back of the cavern and into one of the darker corners of the market as the lizard had instructed earlier.

Fira smirks at Aikuen as she mutters back, "Think I'm going to have to learn these names when we get home. Glad we're not being quizzed." She looks back to Will again and nods, "Lead on. See if we can't get him to part with it. Hopefully it won't take too long anyway."

Aikuen chuckles and then nods at Will, "Righto..." he lets go of her temporarily to put back on his hood, before slipping back his arm around her, "There will be a test later on though. Gives you time to study, me thinks!" he chuckles. And follows Will. He is at first uncertain to why Will, would be leading them to such a place, but he just shrugs as it gets darker. The enter in the back where... more sinister stalls are set up. If you can tell, poisons disguised as other things align the stall. Zekeal blinks around, before the rat takes them to a small makeshift shop set up right in the market. The otter eyes it before continuing on following the rat inside.

What looks like an old female lizard, is siting behind a counter, a wood shaver in her claws. Her scales are deep white, and she looks like she is asleep. Zekeal lets go of Fira and walks slowly forward, "Hello... My name is Zekeal... I am told you are the beast to look for..." The lizard awakes instantly and her scales turn an almost red color quickly. She hisses out, "Whatssss do you wantssss....." her tongue flickers in and out.

Will waits a moment before answering, "I'd like a potter's wheel. A good one." he nods toward 'Zekeal', "He's paying."

Fira hangs back a little and taps her hat back down, just a random silent mystery otter in the back ground for now.

Aikuen glances to Will before nodding, "Yes... a potter's wheel..."

The lizard eyes don't blinks a she pierces into what may be under the hood. Her tongue flicks in and out and she nods once, "Yessss.... We hasses manies wheels... for potters..." she gets up slowly and reaches for a cane. She grumbles to herself and goes over to the corner, where some scrap wood lays against the wall. She pulls off a few planks before revealing two or three very dusty potters wheel, each one looking similar, but different in their own special way, "Thesessss are the finestsss wheelsss for milesss...." she grins.

Zekeal looks down at Will, "Find the one that best suits you..." and then he looks back to Fira. She can't see him so while Will is looking at Wheels he can go over to her. He places a claw on her chin to lift it up, and he mouths "She is nearly blind. It's okay..." and he puts an arm around her.

Will wipes the dust of the wheels as he looks them over closely for any little thing that might be off. He'd also noticed the lizard's odd stare but makes very little difference to him. He tests each wheel to make sure they work and checks them again for chips or defects. At last he chooses the one that is most similar to the abbey's wheels which he is most used to working with and points it out to Aikuen.

Fira is for some reason all the more uneasy at Aikuen's explanation. She shrugs one shoulder after a moment and just quickly mouths back "Don't know that. I'm fine, I have no money to help Will" she offers a small smile "Get him a nice wheel."

The lizard keep her attention in the direction she believes to be where the rat is. In her old age, things are beginning to blend together. She can see the rat move a bit, and she looks off in that direction seeing a bigger blob then before, "Theses are alll finesss.... wheelssss.... all workings.... Each ones...umm..." she thinks for a minutes, "thirty... no fifty gold... yesss..." she hmms to herself. That is greatly over priced, but she may not know if the others are smart enough to know.

Aikuen had kept his gaze mostly on his wife, as he has no clue what a potter's wheel should be like. So he trusts the rat to pick it out. He mouths back, "Relax, Trust me... And I will, finest there is... I got it covered..." When the lizard starts to talk again, he blinks, "Fifty?" he looks to where the lizard is and shakes his head, "No way..." he lets go and walks over. He knows that's wrong. He looks to Will and the one he picked out and looks back at the lizard, "Not even worth twenty... hunk of wood..." he grumbles.

The lizard turns a deeper shade of red, "Theses be the only wheels aroundsss... forty-five...."

Will keeps quiet letting Aikuen and the craftsbeast haggle over the price. He looks over at Fira and smiles at her since she looks a little worried about something.

It's probably the atmosphere that worries Fira more than the actual situation as most of her glances now focus on the rest of the market

Aikuen and the lizard talk very fast and very heated for a very short time. Including many paw gestures toward the wheel, and several other ones that little dibbuns in the room should not repeat to other beasts. After a bit, it gets really quiet and Zekeal eyes the lizard for a bit, before taking her claw, "Fine... Done... thirty-five...." He is not happy with the price, but he doesn't really care, he just didn't feel like getting scammed to that agree. The lizard almost bounces for joy, "Yeses... thirty-fives... thatsss finess..." she hold out her claw, expected to be paid now. Zekeal frowns and takes out his pouch, counting off coins into the lizards outstretched claw, "Thirty-four...thirty-five..." he he grunts to the lizard. She hisses and goes over to a small box under her stool. Zekeal then turns to Will, ignoring the lizard "Gonna need help carrying it, or do you got it?" It doesn't look that heavy.

Will sighs at the otter's silliness. "I think you'd better carry it. Just be careful with it." It's very obvious that the rat wouldn't be able to lift the wheel and he hopes the otter won't damage it carrying it around.

Aikuen nods a little bit and eyes the wheel for a minute wondering how in the world is he going to do this. He gets an idea. He takes hold of what looks like one of the legs. He lifts up up above his head then sits the cross beams on his shoulders. He balances it with his paw before saying, "Okay... i got it..." he begins to tilt, "Whoh!" and he sits it straight again, "Okay...i think i got it now..." he sighs and walks over to the others, "Oi Will... you know this place better than us... reach into my pocket. There is a list, can you get the stuff and meet us at the bridge? If you don't mind..." kinda busy holding this thing, "Also take my pouch to pay for it, the stuff..." he nods.

Fira grimaces slightly and steps forwards to help Aikuen or at least make sure he doesn't drop the thing. Soon as she's sure he's not going to over balance she relaxes again a little and eyes the list "What sort of stuff?...And if lunch isn't already on there Will, do bring something back too."

Will nods doing as Aikuen had said though he flinched when it looked like the otter was going to drop the wheel. He'd been worried the wheel would be ruined and his father would be hurt more. He relaxes a little once Fira goes to help Aik and nods at her,"I don't know if you'd want food from down here but I'll see what I can do." And he's off back toward the other end of the market to get what all is on the list plus something he'd been looking at earlier and maybe lunch as well.

Aikuen nods at Will, "See yah Will..." he looks to Fira and leans a little bit of the weight into her, so its spread out more evenly across them, "Come on my darling...Ummm..." crud, he forgot the name he gave her. Time to use the old standby, "Come gorgeous...let go to the bridge and take a little break from all the hustle and bustle of the market..." also the sooner he can put this down the better. He chuckles and walks slowly toward the direction of the bridge. When he gets there he carefully puts the wheel down again, and goes to sit down next to it, patting the spot next to him. A little breaks for otters who are incognito.

Fira nods slowly "Thank you Will" just watching him go as she shuffles on after Aik "I'd help but I can't remember the name either" she's quite happen when they finally reach the bridge and the wheel is safely on the ground. Shaking out her paws a little as she flops down to sit next to him "...It's all rather dark here"

Aikuen nods slightly going to remove his hood with a flick of his head. He chuckles and puts his arm around her, leaning into her again, "Aye... Dark... I bet I'm no help... being a black otter in the black cloak... Can you see me now!" he makes a very stupid face, "Caves have that effect certainly. Nice place all the same... at least. From what i have seen so far." he smiles and kisses her cheek softly, "I'm a bat..." he grins.

Fira snorts faintly in amusement "You are a bit harder to see than usual. That you generally stick out in all but the darkest spots I see as rather a handy trait" she sighs quietly and tries to relax again, still glancing about and only just stopping to yawn quietly and shake her head "Seem to be holding bat like hours lately already. If I doze off before Will gets back just wake me up."

Aikuen grins, "I cant help it..." he then nods slowly, "Aye i well... sleep well..." allowing her to rest against his side, after another small kiss. Fira drifts off rather quickly, and Aik/Zekeal places his head on top of hers, giving her small kisses, as he softly hums. Aik still doesn't know why she is so tired all the time now. But soon, he will ask her...

Will finally finishes buying the things on the list, it had taken him a while to find them at good prices and even longer to find something for the otters to eat. He plops down by the otters at last, his pack bulging with stuff, and passes Aikuen back what's left of his money along with the otters' lunches. "Well that took forever. Next time we should bring lunch with us." The rat points to each food item he's given the otter, "That one is cheese and th other is some kind of fruit. You can split em and each have half or whatever you want. I already ate mine." The lunch he's bought for Aik and Fira consists of two small loaves of bread hollowed out and filled with various fillings, as the rat said one is filled with some kind of cheese, probably made from fungi if not imported from above ground, and the other is filled with all different kinds of mashed up fruits.

On the whole they're a bit more pastry like then lunch like but since much of the food is insect based it could have been much worse for the otters.

Aikuen had been slightly dozing against Fira. But he was awake! don't you worry. Just got a bit startled when Will comes back, "OH! Hey Will!" he grins and takes back his pouch and sets it on his belt. He then eyes the lunch for a minute before taking both of them. He sniffs each in turn and then looks to Fira, who is still asleep against him, "So... Jero'e... Which one? The cheese? Or the apple?" no response, "Ah yes, the cheese then... Cheese, for Jero'e..." and he places it in her lap. She moans softly and resettles against him. Aik/Zekeal chuckles and nibbles on the fruit one, "We will remember next time, to pack a lunch. Thanks Will... Got all the stuff?" as he munches

Will nods, "Yep. I got everything on th list, took a while t get it without loosing all your money." He grins at the sleeping Fira, "I think Mum's ready t go home."

Aikuen shrugs, "Eh, it don't matter much, if you came back and the pouch was empty..." he chuckles at the next part though, "Aye... Ill wake her... Turn around for a second..." he then leans in, and kisses her softly, in between words "Darling... wakey up... Come on... we go home... and you can sleep... when we get back" he says despite her eyes being closed. It was the kisses that bring her around and she blinks and smiles sleepily at Aik, kissing his nose. Then she looks down at the bread in her lap and blinks at it. She shrugs and begins to nibble of it. Aik grins, "Come on lets head on back... Come on Jero'e..." Fira seems less then enthused about having to stop eating, as soon as she began.

Will had complied and turned away for a few minutes til he heard Aikuen tell Fira to 'come on'. The rat starts across the bridge. He'd have wait for Fira to eat but he wants them all out before it gets much later. Kentar wouldn't like it if they had to spend the night in Cathudbodva. "Be careful carrying th wheel across th bridge," he calls over to Aik from the other side.

Aikuen nods as the rat crosses the bridge, "Aye... we will..." he looks to Fira and mouths, "At least... we will try!" Fira rolls her eyes and stands up after Aik. Aikuen has gone back to full Zekeal until they leave again. Putting the wheel back on his shoulders, and with the help of Fira. The two otters make it across without disaster. Almost lost balance a few times, but they make it. Aik grins at Will, "Wheh... alright lead us on out of here... I think we got the hang of this!" Fira, being in the back, eyes them both. Still holding up the wheel. Seems stable then before.

Will nods and leads them back out to the lower residential area and the main platform which leads out to the entrance.

Both otters follow Will. Aik in the lead, and Fira just behind him, keeping the wheel balanced. They get to the entrance and pass by the same bat from before. No wait it's a different bat. Hard to tell. But all the same he does not stop them from leaving. Even with the bulky item. They reach the stairs, and Aik ohs, "I forgot... about that..." he didn't know that the wheel would be so big, and the stairs totally slipped his mind. The both set the wheel down and discuss how are they going to do this, "We could try and carry it like normal..." Fira shakes her head and explains that its too steep, "How about if we remove the wheel. Split the weight in half?" Aik flips open his hood an nods, "That might work..." but then shakes his head, "Nah i only have one paw..." they hmm and then shrugs, "Lets just carry it like normal, just keep your paws on my back side..." Fira shakes her head at the idea. Eventually the bat pipes up, "There is... Another exitexit... I can show youyou...

Bigbig opening... for things... things" he hops off into large dark crevasse, to the side. As soon as that bat left, another took its place. Aik blinks and shrugs, "Why not..." And after a bit of mouthing and pointing by both otters, he and Fira rearm themselves with the Wheel, and slowly pad off toward the bat.

Will follows after the otters and their new guide out the larger exit. He assumes this is the same one Kentat had used to get the otter's vase out before. The three thank the bat and head off toward the river and cross it without any mishaps. They follow the Moss River back up stream and through the woods to Moledeep.

Moledeep: Tunnel Entrance

There's a stoat near the door. It's Kentar. And he's napping. He's napping at the door. He was waiting for the beasts to return but got bored and fell asleep while waiting. He has a map across his face, hiding his upper half completely so all that's visible is his legs sticking out from under it. And there's loud snores. With every snore, the map flutters.

Aikuen sighs as they get to the clearing once more, "Ah... Home sweet home..." he chuckles and resettles the wheel on his shoulder, "Okay... Help us place the wheel in the Kiln... then i need to get this otter to bed." Fira cant read him, but if she could, she would roll her eyes at that. Aik chuckles as he knows that she cant. The otters walk off toward the kiln, "Come on Will!" and they nearly bump into the sleeping stoat, and lost the wheel. But they manage to catch it, "Whoh!" Aik frowns, but then chuckles, "Silly stoat!" he nudges him with is foot, "Wakey!"

Will smiles at the otter's cluelessness about kilns and such, "We don't have that kind of kiln. We have th other kind that's where th pottery is fired an baked in. We don't have a stall type kiln for it all t sit in. You can sit th wheel by th kiln though just not too close to it. I don't mind walking a little from one t th other. A few feet away from each other should be fine."

Aikuen nods at Will, "Righto... Not too close, or it might burn away... Few feet... got it..." he then looks back to Kentar and rolls his eyes, "This, my stoaty friend, is a pottery wheel that i bought for Will. And..." he grins, "I did get you something... Will has it... I think, that you will think, its delicious..." he chuckles and they both otters head down the path toward the stalls.

Will starts to take things out of his pack, mostly the things the stoat had on his list, "Let's see. We got you lots of stuff. All th stuff on your list anyway. And ... oh," he pulls out a package of candied something or other, some sort of treat, "There's these. You want em? They're really good. I had some with my lunch."

Kentar folds his arms then pffts at the wheel. "I could have MADE one of those free of charge." he mutters before hmming at Aik, grinning and licking his lips. "Mm! I hope it was fried dibbuns! You know, I just love dibbuns! But I could never eat a whole one." he hms, then looks to Will, taking the package and smiling some. "Oh. Candied dubbuns is good too." he grins then smiles wide. "Really!? Great! That means we can set off tomorrow! Yahoo!" he jumps in the air and actually makes himself as tall as Aik for a moment before falling to the ground again.

Will rolls his eye, "You could have said that sooner an sides Pa said he'd buy one and he an Mum had never been down t Cathudbodva before. They got t use their disguises an they worked pretty well, course no one down there would have know who they were anyway except me. You gonna eat what we brought you or not?"

Kentar laughs. "I told you I could! When I made you the kiln!" He chuckles then nods. "Of course I'm going to!" He smiles, opening up the little bag and grabbing a pawful of whatever is inside, tossing into his mouth and chomping. "Mm. Not bad!"

Will shrugs, "Pa wanted t buy it for me since you already made th kiln. You like em?"

Kentar nods then smiles. "Well. At least you have one now." he then nods, popping a few more into his mout. "These are really good!" he smiles. "You want some?"

The otters return a little bit soon after, and go to stand a bit to the side of the others. Fira is smirking and has a hold of his good arm. Aik wipes his mouth before looking at Kentar then at the bag. He grins stupidly, "So Kentar?" he has a hard time keeping it in. BUT HE MUST!, "Will, I put it in the stall, like you told me too... now I'm going to go put Fira off to sleep, after another lunch apparently..." he chuckles and walks off toward the entrance. "So Kentar... How are those?... Crunchy little suckers aren't they.... candied crickets," he laughs maniacally before disappearing.

Will shakes his head, "No thanks I had a whole package with lunch, I'm full." When Aikuen reveals to the stoat what he's been eating Will can't help laughing and the look on Kentar's face doesn't help.

Kentar was rather enjoying himself so when his happy face turned to one of complete surprise, then disgust, then sick, all in a few seconds, he stopped dead in his motions. The stoat peers into the bag and then spits out the crickets, coughing and sputtering, closing the bag tight, looking a lot like he's going to be sick. "Oh nice." the pale stoat frowns. "You think that's funny..." he frowns then turns, then goes into the hall. Where he bursts into laughter himself.