The innkeeper, who introduced herself as Griselda (a name that was apparently synonymous with doom in this region), wasn't letting the group off easily.
"You think you can destroy my coop, rile up my chickens, and leave without consequences?!" Griselda thundered, brandishing a broom like a battle axe.
Kazuya, ever the diplomat, stepped forward with a nervous laugh. "Look, this was all a big misunderstanding! We didn't mean to—"
"Silence!" Griselda shouted, her voice echoing through the inn. "You'll pay for this one way or another. Either you work for me for the next month, or I summon the Chicken Queen to finish what she started!"
The group exchanged panicked glances.
"Option three?" Mika asked.
Griselda narrowed her eyes. "There is no option three."
"Oh, there is now," Fergus said, grinning. "Run!"
The Dash for Freedom
Fergus took off like a bolt of lightning, leaving the others scrambling to keep up. Griselda let out a roar and charged after them, broom in hand.
"Fergus, you idiot!" Mika yelled as she sprinted after him.
"I panicked!" Fergus shouted over his shoulder.
The group bolted through the inn, dodging furniture, startled guests, and a very angry cat that seemed to have taken Griselda's side.
"Why is this place so big?!" Kazuya wheezed, nearly tripping over a bucket.
"It's not big, you're just slow!" Mika snapped, effortlessly vaulting over a table.
Chicken Ambush
As they burst into the backyard, the chickens were waiting. Dozens of them. Possibly hundreds.
"Did she train them?!" Lyria exclaimed, skidding to a halt.
The chickens clucked menacingly, blocking the only path to freedom. The Chicken Queen stepped forward, her eyes glowing ominously.
"Oh, come on!" Kazuya groaned.
"Lyria, do something!" Mika shouted.
Lyria hesitated. "What am I supposed to do? Charm them?"
"Yes!" the group yelled in unison.
Lyria sighed and muttered a spell. A soft, melodic hum filled the air, and for a moment, the chickens seemed entranced. The Chicken Queen tilted her head, as if considering the spell.
Then it let out a mighty BAWK, and the chickens charged.
"Plan B!" Fergus yelled.
"What's Plan B?!" Kazuya screamed.
"Run faster!" Fergus replied.
The Wagon of Destiny
As they raced through the yard, Mika spotted a rickety old wagon loaded with barrels of what looked like apples.
"That's our way out!" she shouted, pointing to the wagon.
"You've got to be kidding me," Kazuya said, but there was no time to argue.
The group piled into the wagon, and Mika cut the reins on the horses that were thankfully still hitched to it.
"Yah!" she shouted, snapping the reins. The horses bolted forward, dragging the wagon with them.
Griselda burst into the yard just as they sped away. "You can run, but you can't hide!" she bellowed.
The Chicken Queen flapped its wings and took to the air, leading a squadron of chickens in hot pursuit.
"Is this really happening?!" Kazuya shouted, clinging to the side of the wagon.
"Yes, and it's amazing!" Fergus replied, tossing an apple at an incoming chicken.
High-Speed Hijinks
The wagon barreled down a dirt road, bouncing wildly over every bump and pothole. Lyria held onto the sides for dear life, her hair flying in every direction.
"Can't you drive smoother?!" she yelled at Mika.
"I'm not exactly a professional getaway driver!" Mika shot back.
Fergus, meanwhile, was gleefully pelting the pursuing chickens with apples. "Take that, you feathered fiends!"
The Chicken Queen, unfazed, swooped low and landed on the wagon. It let out a furious BAWK, its glowing eyes locking onto Kazuya.
"Why is it always me?!" Kazuya cried, scrambling to the back of the wagon.
"Somebody do something!" Mika shouted.
The Feathered Final Showdown
Lyria managed to summon a small burst of wind magic, knocking the Chicken Queen off the wagon. It tumbled into the road, squawking indignantly, but quickly recovered and resumed the chase.
"This thing is relentless!" Fergus said, hurling another apple.
Kazuya grabbed a broom that had been lying in the wagon and faced the Chicken Queen. "All right, you overgrown turkey, let's dance!"
The Chicken Queen lunged at him, wings flapping furiously. Kazuya swung the broom like a sword, managing to deflect its attacks.
"Is anyone else seeing this?!" Mika yelled.
"Focus on driving!" Lyria shouted.
Escape at Last
Just as the chickens seemed ready to overtake them, the road forked, and Mika took a sharp turn into a dense forest. The pursuing chickens hesitated, their small bird brains apparently unwilling to follow.
The group slowed the wagon to a stop, panting and covered in feathers.
"We made it," Kazuya said, collapsing onto the floor of the wagon.
"Barely," Mika muttered, glaring at Fergus.
"Totally worth it," Fergus said with a grin.
Lyria smacked him with an apple. "Next time, leave the chickens alone!"
The group burst into laughter, despite themselves.