Knock, knock.
Colin knocked on the back door of the house. He took a moment to catch his breath, after not only having made the trek to the nearby woods where he collected the herbs and mushrooms for his daughter' s pain reliever, but after also having stopped to talk to Eagna, and to confirm his suspicions about Donovan. Their male marten guest who he could see was sitting at the breakfast table, apparently just casually talking with Searciara about something or other. What, he didn't know.
Colin rolled his eyes.
He knocked louder, this time, getting someone's attention, as he watched Donovan get up from his seat and with a perplexed look on his face, headed to the back door.
Donovan opened the door, his face changing from an expression of confusion to relief, as he saw who it was.
"Oh, Colin." he said, as he let the prairie dog in. "Come in, you're later than Searciara thought you'd be. Glad you're back. I mean, not that I'm not glad to always have you around. Just, your daughter and I found some new information from the Sonnets, we thought you should hear, before heading out. That, and I'm just glad Searciara won't have to go any longer without her pain reliever."
"Her..." Colin looked in surprise at Searciara. "You told him about your HIS?" He asked, rather surprised at this, since he knew it was a sensitive subject for her. And that she didn't like to talk about it with most people, much less think about it.
Searciara's only reaction was to blush, and nod shyly. "I...feel safe around Donovan," she whispered. "I feel I can trust him. I dunno. I can't explain it. It's like...he truly gets how I feel, about certain things. He understands what it's like to be different. And he doesn't judge me, either. I...I've never had a friend like him."
Colin smiled softly. "Well that's fine then," he murmured, as he went into the kitchen and began preparing the mushrooms and herbs, so that they could be turned into the tea Searciara needed to relieve her pain. "As long as he's someone you're okay with sharin' that with, Ah' got no problem with it," he stated. "However tell me, what was this important detail you discovered I need to know, before Donovan and I head out? Is it that important, or can we leave without me knowin' it?"
Donovan cast a stern glance to Colin. "You need to know it." he stated firmly, before nodding for Searciara to proceed, as she began explaining in the same fashion she had to the marten, about how she'd realized the code had been too easy to solve, that after comparing to other texts which Tan Crozier had written, there were many lines which had been repeated, indicating false leads. 75, in fact, which would take you to deadly regions of Mintara. Regions which were far from the location of the tomb, and where you would likely die, before anyone knew what had happened to you.
"There are, only two true leads, in the Sonnets," Searciara explained. "One, which I told Donovan, is the reference to the Tears of Ana. And another, I can't fully decipher. There's a bit too much Otterian spiritual symbology in it, for me to fully comprehend it. I thought maybe Gloriana might know?"
Colin nodded.
"Ah'll certainly show it to her," he said. "If nothin' else, Ah'm sure she knows of someone who can. Thanks darlin', he said," giving his daughter a kiss on the forehead. "Don't forget your tea. Donovan and I need to be off. Make sure to wake your mum in an hour or so, so she's not late getting' her day started, alright? And give her my love, as well."
Searciara smiled and nodded. "I will, papa. She replied. "Goodbye. And good luck to you both!" She exclaimed as her father then departed the house with Donovan following after. The marten as he trailed behind the prairie dog, then made sure to shut the door behind them, before turning to witness a rather unexpected sight. For lo, what Donovan witnessed, was Colin loading a number of supply bags onto the backs of two verdant, lichen covered stags. Their heads crowned with a pair of reddish, fibrous, honeycombed plants which grew out from where you might've expected a set of antlers to be. They were beasts which were unlike any creature Donovan had ever witnessed before. Well aside from the Lily Tiger, which had killed his and Valorisa's parents. But still. That was probably the closest, he'd ever come to seeing a creature so fantastic as this.
Donovan cleared his throat gently.
"Um..." he stated quietly, attracting both the attention of Colin who turned to face him while softly grinning, and of one of the two the deer, who in response to the noise made by Donovan then twitched its ears and looked up toward the marten. An inquisitive and startled expression appearing but for a second in the stag's almond shaped eyes, then vanished just as quickly as the stag relaxed, and as it returned to a state of tranquility and to a seemingly placid nature. For it realized the noise made by Donovan provided no threat. That indeed, it could safely go back about its business and continue to graze from the moss around its neck, as Donovan asked Colin conversed with one another. An arrangement, that worked fine for the marten and prairie dog, as Colin simply chuckled, at the jumpiness of the deer.
"Sorry," he apologized. "Please forgive Holly. He gets a lil' jumpy around new people. Let him get yer' scent. Let him get to know ye'. Ah' promise he'll be a good boy, once ye' have a rapport wit' him. If ye' like, Ah' can let ye' ride Ivy instead. She's a fine mount. Though Ah' warn ye'. She's a bit more temperamental of a Frondeer, than her brother here."
"Oh." Donovan looked over at the other lichen covered ruminant. The moss on the deer's body, a slightly lighter more yellowish-green color, indicating that the deer was a female. "Okay," he muttered. "And um. Tell me...what exactly is a Frondeer?"
"Wha...!?"
Colin stammered. "What's a Fron...!?" he exclaimed, still unable to believe he was hearing this right. "Oh, Aeolus, realm of Balan," he swore, "You mean to tell me you've gone your whole life, and you've never..."
"Nope."
"...Not even seen one?"
Donovan shrugged. "The climate of our island must be wrong, or something," he said. "But no, we don't have them."
"Oh, well by the Labyrinthine Way..."
Colin chuckled, scarcely able to believe this for himself. "Well," he muttered stroking his beard. "I guess it's up to me, to educate you on the beasties, isn't it? Alright. First, what ye' need to know, is how critical the Frondeer is to transport, here in Mintara. Ah' mean, this is heavily debated, for sure. But in mah' opinion, the Frondeer is not only probably the most relied upon mode of transport. It also is the most reliable and efficient method, as well."
"Really?"
Donovan walked up and gently stroked his hand through the mossy fur, of one of the deer. "Why's that?" he asked. To which he received from Donovan, a warm and amused chuckle.
"Oh," the prairie dog replied, as he continued to pack for the trip. "There are...ugh!....A number of reasons why I think they are the most reliable forms of transportation, and why I think they out-compete Mintara's other major mode of transportation, the Yakobi, by leaps and bounds. One reason, is unlike the Yakobi, they are small. Yakobis...they are huge, six-legged yak like beasts. They are good at carrying large amounts of heavy supplies. But you have to leave them outside of town, because most city gates are too small, for them to pass through."
"And that's why you like the Frondeer?"
Colin nodded. " It's one of the reasons," he replied as he finished tying down the last of the supplies. "But also, Ah' like 'em as mounts and beasts of burden, because of their endurance and stamina. While Yakobis are strong enough to carry massive loads for long periods of time, they cannot go long, without havin' to be provided for. They constantly have to stop to eat, which causes delays in schedule. Somethin' ye' don't face with a Frondeer, since these beasties grow their own food source. Both from the moss on their bodies and through the aid of their antlers."
"Their...antlers?"
Colin laughed. "Aye!" he said, as he nodded to Ivy, who was tipping her antlers toward the sun. "They can use their antlers as means of producin' photosynthesis. They can actually use glucose sugars, created on their own account, to power their bodies."
Donovan opened his mouth in awe.
"I...I think I begin to see why you favor them," he murmured, as he mounted Holly while Donovan mounted Ivy.
"Aye," Colin called back to Donovan. "And don't forget intelligent. Again, unlike a Yakobi, they know when something is too much for them, and they will stop before it gets to that point. Also...they are easy to train," Colin stated as he smirked mischievously, and called out "Hike!" to both the deer. A command they both clearly knew well, as they then took off so fast, Donovan had to fumble about before he finally managed to get a firm grip on Holly's reins.
"Whoa!" The marten yelled to the Frondeer, as he tried yanking back hard on the reins. "Whoa, dells blast you!" He hollered again, as he yanked back harder, now panicking over the speed at which they were going. "Please for me, won't you stop!?" he begged, as the deer simply snorted, pulled back on the reins in the other direction, and kept going at its current speed. Colin meanwhile, as this was going on, simply gave a sad smile and shook his head. He remembered having been there, when he was younger. Having gotten onto one of these majestic creatures for the first time and having had the same thing happen to him. Not knowing what to do, panicking, and thinking force would solve everything.
He sighed, clicked his tongue and gently tossed Ivy's reins with just enough pressure and force, that the deer knew he wanted to go up to where Donovan was struggling. For the prairie dog knew the only way they were going to get anywhere fast, was if he taught the marten the same lessons he'd learned about riding Frondeer, so long ago. Or, a crash course on steering at least, were the prairie dog's thoughts, as he rode up to where Donovan was and waved to get his attention.
"Hey!" he called to Donovan. "I saw you were having some trouble, lad. Yeh' need some help, Steerin' ol' Holly, there?"
Donovan growled. "Yes!" he moaned, rather embarrassed that he couldn't do this himself, but also extremely grateful, Colin was here now to help him. "I just...whoa!" Can't get him to slow down. "I tried calling to him. I tried pulling the reins. He won't listen!"
Colin smirked. "Take the reins lad," he instructed.
"Okay."
"Pull back gently."
"Okay." Donovan not sure how this would help did as he was told, to the approval of Colin. "Okay, the prairie dog added. "Now while you're doing that, tell him, 'Tut-tut.'"
"Tut-tut?"
Holly perked his ears up. The moment he heard this He immediately slowed from a fast stride to a slow walk, something Donovan and Colin, both approved of.
"Very good," Colin complimented Donovan. "Now havin' done that, all ye' need to know, is there are four basic commands for ridin' these beasts. Pulling back gently on the reins, and sayin' tut-tut, which yeh' just did, slows them. Tossin' the reins and sayin' 'tik-tik,' speeds 'em up. Moving the reins in motion with the neck to the left and sayin' 'tak-tak,' will turn 'em left or turn 'em around from the left. Turnin' the reins in motion with the neck from the right, and saying, 'tok-tok,' will turn 'em right or turn 'em around from the right. Understand?"
Donovan nodded. I understand, he said. "But what about Hike?" I heard you say it, before we left your house. What is that command for?
Colin chuckled. "Oh, 'Hike,' gets 'em going," he said. "And to stop them you say 'Yeel.' So Ah' guess there are actually six basic commands if yeh' include those two. But all in all, now that yeh know those we probably best..."
"Best what?"
Colin raised a paw, for Donovan to hold on, as he saw a figure walking up the road. "Just a moment lad," he murmured. The prairie dog suddenly seeming to focus in on this character as he called, "tik-tik," to Ivy, and tossed the reins. The deer following her command, then sped up a little, so that Colin could get a better look at who it was, which was coming up the road. A person who from a distance he'd prayed it might not be. But whom as he got closer, he realized very quickly it indeed, was. The prairie dog thus giving a sigh of exasperation, as he called 'Yeel!' to the Frondeer, once again slowing her to a stop.
"Renard," Colin growled, as he met paths with the individual who also happened to be the same fox, who'd been playing cards with the otter, the peacock, and with Hilde, at the Idle Weasel hours earlier. "Aeolus' gates, Ah' thought it looked like you from a distance. By the three realms, what is a scoundrel like you, doing back in Port Columbine, or even Ravenmist Glen, for that matter? Ah' thought you liked to stay in places like Gracebrooke or Antiguotequetzal, where they roll the streets up after 12fth shadow, where everything is illuminated by lantern light, and where there's an event occurring every hour of the day?"
Renard chuckled. "Oh, I do," he replied casually. "But even us city boys, need a break once in a while. Besides, you know if I stay in a city too long, it gets suspicious, given my somewhat notorious...occupation.
Colin pursed his lips. "Ah' understand," he said gravely. "Given my relationship with Maxine, Ah'm probably one of the few who does. That's why Ah'm telling yeh' now, don't do anythin' tah' draw attention to you or ye order while you're here, please. Ah' can understand yeh' gamblin' or livin' it up. But please, Ah' don't want to pick up a paper, and read about some noble or official who was involved in the purchase of Kitsune no Kuni secrets, and suddenly, was found dead by means of some untraceable or unrecognizable poison, or by some technique which makes the death look like natural causes."
"Oh?"
Colin snarled, as Renard acted like his acts were everyday behavior. Like they were something to joke about. "Ah'm not kiddin'!" Colin exclaimed. "Maxine has worked hard to put that stuff behind her. People finally have started to talk to her, after a few years of havin' tah' deal with judgment and suspicion, when she first arrived. They thought, her bein' here would bring nothin' but trouble, from the foxes and the Kitsune no Kuni. A belief, ah' don't need your aid, in perpetuatin' once more. Understand?"
The fox smiled innocently. "Oh, I understand," he replied. "And don't worry, I had no plans of causing trouble. I'm not even here on a writ. I'm here on other matters. Vacation, and what not.
Okay?"
Colin growled. "Okay." he murmured. "Part of me still says not to trust you. However, the other part says I don't have time to deal wit' yer' nonsense. So given that, I suppose I shall listen to the latter, and let you be on your way, if you promise, not to cause me any trouble. Understood?"
Renard nodded. "Agreed," he replied. "I stay out of your way, you stay out of mine."
Colin nodded. "Fine," he growled. "I hope you enjoy your vacation then, and I hope not to see you when I get back."
"Same to you!" Renard stated with a chuckle, as he issued the prairie dog what seemed to be a friendly salute, before he went on his way. The fox while continuing to travel along, then gave a friendly wave to Donovan, as he crossed paths with the marten.
"Afternoon," Renard stated in a cordial fashion to Donovan, the young marten who awkwardly waved back. "Pleasant day, isn't it?" The fox asked, totally brushing off the fact that Donovan seemed a bit standoffish. That, he didn't seem to know what to do. He didn't know how to respond. Or even if it was safe to respond. A sight that somewhat amused Renard, actually. As he was someone who took pleasure in watching this young marten play at being confident. A mask, which hid the young weasel's insecurities and his fears, and every other flaw, he didn't want the world to see.
Renard chuckled. He smirked as Donovan finally opened his mouth, seeming resolved to respond, but then showed an ill-concealed look of relief, as he heard Colin call his name.
"I-I'm sorry," Donovan stammered, as he tossed the reins and told Holly 'Hike.' "It...It is a pleasant day, you're right. But I'm afraid I don't have time to talk. I must get a move on. My friend is calling me. Can we talk again sometime, mister...?"
"Renard."
"Just Renard?"
The fox nodded. "Just that," he replied as he waved to the marten and continued on. "And I'm sorry," he added. "I'm afraid the chances of us being able to chat again, are very slim. You see, just like you and Colin, I am here on a matter of business, as well. Call it a 'working vacation,' if you like. But all the same, it is very likely that I will simply make myself disappear as soon as the matters which I must attend to, are resolved."
Donovan nodded. "Well, I wish you best of luck!" he hollered, as he now was almost out of earshot. Renard, barely able to discern what was said, simply raised a paw and waved, as he continued to walk on. The fox never halting, until after a few miles more he reached the mossy roofed burrow, which he knew was his destination.
The fox walked up to the door.
"Knock...knock."