Zoe wasn't quite sure what to expect when Gavin said he was bringing a friend to help out. Gavin had been vague—really vague—about what kind of help this new person could offer, which made Zoe even more suspicious. But she trusted Gavin enough to at least hear him out.
But when Rogerick arrived at the training spot on the edge of Packard Park, she had to admit, he wasn't what she had pictured.
Lean and sharp-eyed, Rogerick had a quiet and intense presence, like someone who knew how to make himself invisible but was always watching.
"Zoe, meet Rogerick," Gavin said, giving Rogerick a pat on the shoulder as if introducing an old pal at a casual barbecue. Rogerick's cloak billowed slightly as he turned to Zoe, his gaze assessing her like he was weighing her worth.
Zoe leaned lazily against a nearby tree, her posture relaxed, as if she'd rather be doing anything else. Despite her nonchalant demeanor, her eyes were sharp and focused, taking in every detail.
"He's got a knack for finding things and sneaking into places where people don't necessarily want to be found," Gavin added, glancing at Rogerick with an approving nod.
"Charmed," Rogerick said, his lips curling up into a faint grin. His gaze flickered over Zoe, and then down to Snacks, who was perched comfortably on Zoe's shoulder. "This is the famous dragon, I presume?"
"Uh, yeah. This is Snacks," Zoe said, adjusting the little guy as he squirmed slightly, seeming to sense Rogerick's attention.
Snacks peered at Rogerick with bright eyes, chirping in what Zoe could only describe as suspicion.
His little claws tightened slightly on her shoulder, and she shared his sentiment.
Rogerick looked like the kind of person who might pocket a loose trinket if he thought no one was watching.
"So, you're an... artifact guy?" she added, feeling the tension and wanting to fill the air with something other than awkward silence.
Rogerick nodded, pulling back his cloak slightly to reveal several small tools and strange trinkets tied to his belt. "You could say that. I've been tracking down some unusual items—stuff that seems connected to the kind of magic we're dealing with. Word is, strange artifacts are popping up more around Packard Park, relics that seem… reactive."
"Reactive?" Zoe raised an eyebrow, the word sending a buzz of curiosity through her.
Gavin smiled, sensing the interest in her voice. "Yeah, reactive. Stuff that shouldn't be moving, glowing, or doing much of anything on its own suddenly decides it wants to start acting up."
Rogerick reached into his pocket and pulled out an old, worn compass.
It was one of those items that looked like it had seen better centuries, with edges worn smooth from countless hands passing it down.
The artifact seemed more like something from a museum than a tool for a mission.
Yet, the needle inside seemed almost alive, spinning erratically before finally settling in one direction.
"I found this near the lake, and it's been acting strange ever since. Especially when it's around magic."
Rogerick held it closer to Snacks, and the needle immediately began spinning faster, a faint glow emanating from under the glass.
Zoe's eyes widened. "Whoa, it's reacting to him?"
"Seems like it," Rogerick said, his gaze fixed on Snacks with a mix of fascination and scrutiny. He leaned in closer, almost invading Zoe's space, his eyes narrowing as if he were trying to solve a puzzle.
"Snack!" Snacks suddenly chirped, his eyes fixed on the protein bar poking out of Zoe's t-shirt pocket. His voice was comically demanding, almost like a child asking for candy at the worst possible time.
Zoe could hardly believe it; her mind scrambled to process the fact that Snacks had just spoken—sort of.
The word caught everyone off guard. Zoe blinked, her mouth dropping open slightly as she looked at Snacks, then at Gavin and Rogerick. "Did... did he just talk?"
"Sounded like it," Gavin said, smiling with an expression somewhere between pride and astonishment. "Kinda cute, honestly."
Rogerick, however, looked even more intrigued.
His sharp eyes were now locked onto Snacks, and Zoe felt an instinctive urge to pull the dragon closer, away from Rogerick's scrutiny.
She knew Rogerick was here to help, but there was something in the way he looked at Snacks that made her feel he saw the little dragon as more of a magical object than a friend.
"Interesting," Rogerick finally said, tucking the compass away. "There's definitely something going on with him. The compass has been unpredictable, but that—" He paused, pointing at Snacks. "That's not something I've seen before."
"Yeah, well, he's full of surprises," Zoe said, giving Snacks an affectionate scratch on the head.
Snacks chirped again, though this time he didn't attempt any new words, instead just looking up at Zoe with wide eyes, clearly still interested in the protein bar.
Rogerick smiled slightly. "I suggest we follow where the compass points. If it reacts this much to Snacks, there might be more artifacts or clues around that we could use. Maybe even something connected directly to the shard itself."
Zoe eyed him, crossing her arms, her lazy air vanishing as she considered him. "And you're just here to help us out, no strings attached? Funny, you don't strike me as the Good Samaritan type."
Rogerick chuckled, unfazed. "Let's just say I have my own interest in understanding the shard. We all benefit if we can figure out its secrets, don't we?"
The compass's needle glowed a faint blue, pointing them toward the center of the park, near the pond.
Zoe looked in that direction—it seemed like they were being led to where the shard was.
As they walked, she felt a strange pull in her chest, almost like a magnet drawing her closer.
The air around them grew thicker, carrying a low hum that vibrated in her bones.
She glanced at Snacks, who was shifting restlessly, his eyes flickering with unease as they moved deeper into the shard's influence.
"We've been getting more sightings of weird stuff," Gavin said as they walked through the dense forest that had formed since the shard appeared.
"And we're not the only ones. The Packard Park Watchers are getting more active lately. Turns out, they aren't just nosy—they're threadweavers too. But unlike us, they're more interested in studying the shard, getting as close as they can for their research rather than actually trying to solve anything.
Rogerick thinks this could help us stay ahead of whatever is happening."
"Packard Park Watchers, huh?" Zoe sighed. "They've been a pain for a while now. They're not exactly defenseless, but they're way too interested in poking the shard instead of doing anything useful. Sooner or later, they're going to get themselves into serious trouble."
"Which is why we need to move quickly and quietly," Rogerick said with a shrug, his cloak shifting around him like a shadow. "I can make sure we're not noticed. Discretion is my specialty."
Zoe eyed him, still feeling a slight sense of distrust.
But she also knew that if they were going to get to the bottom of what was going on with the shard, they couldn't afford to be picky about who helped them.
They needed every edge they could get.
"Alright, then," she said, finally nodding. "But if we're doing this, we're doing it my way. No one gets left behind, no one gets put in danger unnecessarily."
Rogerick bowed his head slightly, a smirk playing at his lips. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Gavin grinned, clapping his hands together. "Alright, team effort! Let's get moving before the Watchers decide to make their rounds again."
They equipped their gear just in case.
Gavin and Rogerick had parked near Dusty's old spot, which was now nothing more than a vacant area.
Zoe looked down at the banana-colored disaster robe in disdain. "God, I hate this thing."
"It looks good on you—" Gavin began, but quickly cut himself off, catching the murderous glare she sent his way.
With Rogerick leading the way, the group crossed Mahoning Ave and entered Packard Park, ducking under the yellow police tape.
They passed the large hill that rose gently near the Packard Shelter House, its slopes dotted with patches of wild grass and a few tall oaks.
Zoe glanced up at the hill, remembering how she'd first spotted the shard from this very area—it had stood out, a flash of something unnatural against the otherwise serene landscape.
The dense canopy above let in only patches of sunlight, casting strange shadows across the forest floor.
Each step seemed to draw them further from the familiar world of Warren, Ohio, and deeper into the shard's mysterious influence.
The path took them past the Packard Shelter House, and Zoe could see the edge of Packard Pond in the distance, the water dark and still.
It was near that pond where Rogerick had found the compass, and now, with every step closer, the air seemed to grow thicker, the energy almost palpable.
The compass's needle glowed a faint blue, pointing them toward the center of the park, near the pond.
Zoe looked in that direction—it seemed like they were being led to where the shard was.
The path wound through a thicket, and she could see the faint shimmer of Packard Pond's waters through the gaps in the branches.
Rogerick moved with a practiced ease that made Zoe uneasy—he slipped through the trees like a shadow, his footsteps barely audible.
She caught herself wondering how someone could move so silently; it was almost unnatural.
Zoe kept her eyes on Rogerick, watching him closely, still uncertain if he could be trusted.
He might be here under Gavin's recommendation, but something about him gave her the creeps.
As they made their way, Snacks perched on Zoe's shoulder, his eyes darting around curiously.
He chirped occasionally as if mimicking the group's chatter in his own way, which made Zoe smile.
She couldn't help but wonder if "Snack!" was just a fluke, or if her little dragon was really learning to speak.
If he was, what would that mean for the future? A talking, fire-breathing, snack-powered dragon could either be a blessing or a disaster.
The further they went, the stranger the forest became.
The air felt charged, and the trees seemed denser, their branches twisted in odd patterns, almost like they were guiding the group deeper into the unknown.
The leaves rustled with an unnatural whisper, and Zoe felt the hair on her arms stand on end.
There was something alive about this place, something watching.
The compass's glow grew brighter, and Rogerick's expression turned from amusement to focused determination.
It was as if they were on the verge of something big—something that could answer the questions Zoe had been piling up since the shard first forced its way into her life.
"This is it," he whispered, his voice barely carrying over the rustling leaves. "Whatever's ahead, it's important."
Zoe tightened her grip on Snacks, her eyes scanning the surroundings.
The shard's influence was growing, and so was her resolve. Whatever secrets Packard Park held, they were about to find out together.
And maybe, just maybe, Snacks would have a few more surprises in store before this journey was over.