“...Now then,”


    Using his hand as a visor, Vin scanned the surrounding trees, looking for something that didn’t require much effort to find. Regardless, he was not one to let the simplicity of a task lower his guard; whether it be a trick of the light or a lazy eye, there was always a chance of slipping up.


    However, there was a point where he had to call it off in irritation, and that point came in ten seconds. At that moment, no word rang louder in Vin’s head than “skank.”


    Despite the Familiar’s words, the sizable bird was nowhere to be seen. Vin stomped the ground with a quashed grunt, holding the urge to make a noisier scene.


    “Come on, Pendgy, let''s get the hell out of here.”


    “Eh?”


    The Penguin stared at Vin incredulously– or was that astonishment not from disbelief?


    “What for? We''ve yet to gather our intel, yet you want to depart?”


    “We''re not going to get that intel, dude. You heard what he said: he''d be right there after the job is done. But take a good look around, and you''ll see the problem. The Owl bailed on us, man.”


    He clicked his tongue and stuck his hands in his pockets, pushing his pointy chin out.


    “Let''s just leave before we look like fools.”


    “No, I will not do that.”


    Vin shot Pendgy a mixed glare, asking “why” under a grimace. To his surprise, the penguin replied, lifting his flipper to point. When Vin turned to see where to, he released a silent yelp.


    “Ah, wowie, you two did it. You have my thanks, hoho.”


    The Owl’s claws reached his unextended chin.He looked at the corpse of the boar with narrowed eyes and a goofy grin, but Vin didn''t care to admire that. He shook his head to calm himself down.


    “Hey,” he yelled, snapping his fingers, “why didn’t you– gak, nevermind. Don’t you have something to give?”


    The owl perked up muttering “Of course,” but still looked upset.


    “So soon? My, you have such little patience.”


    “Put a lid on it, I''m just a guy with purpose. Now fess up, and stop trying to probe me.”


    “Ahh, oh well, if you insist. I''ll tell you.”


    The owl motioned Vin to lean in with his claw, which warranted a stink eye from the man but got his compliance nevertheless. Pendgy, however, who was passively listening by the boar’s body, turned to the two amid their conversation.


    “Hey!”


    But by the time he called out, the owl finished relaying information. He waddled up to Vin with an irritated face, which the man noticed.


    “It’s just directions, I’ll tell you on the way.”


    His summary was rather unsatisfying, and though Vin shared in Pendgy’s disappointment, he still had an accomplished smirk on his face. Vin walked past the penguin, clearly intending to go deeper into the woods.


    “And no goodbye either?”


    Vin turned to the owl with a twitching eye.


    “Why do you need one? Our business is done.”


    “Why, it''s simple courtesy. I thought you humans revered Familiars, hoho.”


    “...Are you upset?”


    The owl scratched his chin with that same happy face as before.


    “No no, I''m rather amused. It makes all the more sense why you and that penguin aren''t contracted.”


    Vin looked ruffled by that statement but was robbed by Pendgy to express it.


    “Any more insolent language and you''ll make an enemy out of me.”


    In reply to Pendgy’s growly threat, the owl merely sighed.


    “Emperor, you lousy birds are a handful. And now one of you are a Familiar? I merely hope you’re an outlier.”


    Pendgy didn''t move or speak, didn''t peep, or even gave an irate glare. He gazed at the owl with silence. Accompanied by a whistle of the wind, the owl’s feathers began to rise. And then, the penguin took one little step forward, the malice in his form finally breaking through the dam.


    A malice that was quickly stuffed by the penguin being picked up.


    “Alright, let''s calm down now.”


    “You! Release me! Let me at that cowardly long-neck!”


    “I’ve got my own gripes, but we gotta be civil here…”


    The penguin wriggled and rolled in Vin’s grasp, which barely held him back. Vin looked at the owl with a sorry expression, as if embarrassed on Pendgy’s behalf.


    Once the penguin’s tantrum lost its energy, Vin set him down. Pendgy had let out his anger by then, but still shot the owl a threatening look. The penguin went to move, but this time, it was Vin who lagged behind.


    “Thank you for the boat,” Vin said. The owl replied with a gracious smirk and waved him away with a nod. The owl turned and walked away, leaving the penguin and man behind.


    “Come now,” Pendgy said, “We must make haste, and truthfully, I want to get away from that beast.”


    “I don’t get it, what''d he do to you?”


    The two walked a distance, just far enough for Pendgy to call “comfortable.”


    “Snow Owls have never been friends of mine.”


    –


    –


    –


    Amidst the conversation between Vin and the owl, Pendgy took care to tend to his grievances. There was something amiss from that entire fight that the penguin couldn''t simply ignore, and that preternatural feature came from the enemy he helped slay.


    He waddled up to the boar with a scrutinizing eye, scanning the fresh corpse from top to bottom for any peculiarities. He found none, but his nose kept telling him this creature was a Familiar, and the senses in his bones held similar assertions. There was a reason he was duped, undeniably– there was no chance his intuition was incorrect.


    Since his eyes failed to find the folly, he kneeled and used his flipper. Sifting through viscera wasn’t his idea of time well-spent, and it wasn’t as if its insides smelled less organic, but regardless, he did so. However, the sight of a sublime creature such as himself, rummaging organs as if he were a scavenger, was not a look he could tolerate adorning.


    “Phoo. Then it’s to remain a mystery.”


    He stopped and stood on his feet, ready to move and return to Vin’s tiresome sitch. Yet, right as he turned his head, his eyes caught a glimmer of something unusual. He quickly jerked his neck back to the body, leaning into what he had seen: a purple liquid seeping from the head.


    Pendgy had bled before, but the blood of Familiars was invisible to retinas. Pendgy had seen blood before, but every creature, save unsavory insects, bled the same, crimson red. That liquid couldn’t be blood; it was an entirely foreign leakage. And indeed, as the penguin went to investigate, the potency of that deceptive smell was the strongest.


    “I see now,” Pendgy said, scooping a sample and then shaking it away, “that must be why you’re so overgrown.”


    He turned around to attend to Vin and the owl, making a careful note of the matter in his mind.


    –


    –


    –


    Vin was shocked to see his festering doubts proven wrong. The boat the owl spoke of was indeed on the opposite shore. Now, getting there was a hassle, and the shore was too rocky to comfortably navigate, and once Vin saw the boat up close, its small size, wooden construction, and shoddy condition upset him– no, really, that owl deserved a harder time.


    And then there was another gripe: Pendy convinced him to lend his head as a chair again. But that arrangement lasted only until they reached the boat.


    “How did that beast get his claws on this?”


    “I don''t think he did. It looks like it washed up on shore one day.”


    Vin, having said that, began to wonder how it managed to stay here the whole time. He inspected the area around the ship and noticed it was caught on a rock.


    “Well then. Do you have a pole, Pendgy?”


    “Of course not, what kind of question is that?”


    “You never know, man.”


    Vin had no intention of going back into the woods either, so he used the next best available tool: his arms. The boat had a hard time budging, and Vin’s face turned so red and puffed it looked like it would explode, but the man eventually dislodged it.


    Only, right as he did, the boat began to slide into the water. Vin reacted immediately with a vault into the deck, which he was a little proud of, though it was snuffed once he realized he was there alone.


    “Hey! Sorry man, let me just park this thing somewhere!”


    “Hmph.”


    Pendgy only huffed in response. Vin watched in dumbstruck awe, and in chastising epiphany, as Pendgy merely walked into the water. The penguin submerged and popped up right beside the boat.


    Vin said with a shrug, “I forgot.”


    And having done that, he had no room to wipe the smirk on Pendgy''s face. Vin chose to ignore it, reaching into his coat and finding his sack.


    “What are you looking for?”


    “Take a guess. Out here in the wild, no map in hand, it''d be hard to navigate, right?”


    “Hmm. Perhaps, but the great orange star in the sky is plenty for that.”


    “Huh? And who taught you that trick?”


    The penguin crossed his arms, self-amused.


    “Myself, of course. I noticed the motion during one of my various, exhilarating, challenging adventures.”


    “Uh-huh. Well, it''s not a bad one, but it''s season-dependent, and it doesn’t tell you everything, which is why–”


    Vin paused to reach into his bag, pulling out an apparatus foreign to the penguin.


    “I''ve got one of these.”


    He showed, with great enthusiasm, a metallic, circular thingamajig. Vin didn''t identify its name, but he insisted it would be a life-saving tool. Pendgy decided to trust the man''s assertions, following the boat as he rowed it into the ocean.


    –


    Rowing? Indeed, Vin had no other choice but to row, because the boat was bereft of a sail. He had to rely on nothing but the impulse of his muscles, and though he was a seasoned veteran of hard work, never skipping his daily exercise routine, the particular motion demanded by the oar was a shortcoming in his array.


    Thus, at the present moment, he wasn’t rowing his boat, but gently fondling his muscles and groaning.


    “What’s with you? This is your second reprieve; do you wish to shave more time away?”


    Pendgy’s feathered head appeared close to the troubled Vin. He looked at the sleazy thing with mild scorn, all too angry at how easily his bobbing head followed him.


    “You– were made for this, I wasn’t. I’m just a guy, I can’t even swim, I don’t even– like water.”


    “Then, praytell, how did you wind up on that island?”


    “...Boat.”


    Wiping the sweat off his brow, Vin returned to an upright position, stingily ready to grab the oar again.


    “It''s absurd, really. For every second you lay your hand off the oar, you spend three using it to fix your course. Why didn''t you ignore that feathered fiend and purchase one with a sail?”


    “Because I''m poor. Why do you think I haven''t put food in my mouth all day?”


    Pendgy slowly nodded, flipping through his memories to realize that, indeed, Vin hadn''t eaten anything. There was no telling when his last meal was, either, but regardless, the penguin was impressed by his tenacity. So much so, that he thought of an awesome arrangement.


    “It seems my talents are in demand.”


    “Huh? What are you talking about? Your prattling just makes this harder.”


    “Oh, hush! You''ll sincerely regret it this time if you don’t.”


    Vin rolled his eyes and looked forward, complying with his verbal silence. Pendgy sunk under the water again, swimming to the back of the boat and popping up.


    Placing two flippers on the back, he said, “are you ready?”


    “For what– UAAHHWUA!”


    Pendgy used his body as a motor, propelling the boat at speeds so swift and sudden Vin nearly toppled over. However, after the first shock, the man had an excited grin.


    “Woo! Right on! Go! Go!”


    His cheers, though barely heard, compelled Pendgy to exert even more. Faster the boat went, faster and faster and faster as the penguin’s flippers and webbed feet pushed to strength impossible results. Faster faster faster and faster and faster and slower and, slower?


    “Eh?”


    The descent in velocity didn''t happen so abruptly, but it was still a jarring shift. Vin looked back at the penguin seeing that he was no longer touching the boat, rather ten feet away and on his back.


    “Huaa… hueauiaaa!”


    Even from that distance, he sounded right beside his ear.


    “Are you wheezing?”


    Vin grabbed the oar and awkwardly turned the boat, rowing up to Pendgy. He looked at the penguin with a raised eyebrow, and when their eyes met, the penguin raised a flipper before Vin could say a word.


    “It would… seem that… the cargo… was too… heavy…”


    “Haha, alright man.”


    Vin couldn''t get upset at the penguin, he did a damn good job saving time. It wouldn''t be fair to just leave him while waiting for a recovery, nor did he think Pendgy would want that anyway, so Vin snagged the penguin– nearly falling into the water –and placed him inside the boat.”


    “Good job, but you''re too much of a show-off.”


    Pendgy’s neck was flung back and limp, letting his fleeting vision embrace the open sky.


    “Impossible. There''s never enough glamor, for a being who deserves it all.”


    “Sure. Quiet down now, I''ll do my part.”


    And Vin turned around, following the compass as he shoved the oar forward.


    –


    –


    –


    His eyes dithered to open. Any little peek Pendgy took brutally blinded him, as the sun was right over the boat. Pendgy could''ve turned on his side, but he was zen and lethargic– he dared not to break his peace just to watch a dull blue ocean.


    “Are you feeling alright?”


    But the continuation of that peace, sadly rested on more than just himself. With a groan, Pendgy raised his neck and glared at Vin, who was looking at the horizons while rowing.


    “How long has it been?”


    “About eight minutes.”


    “Unbelievable, I loitered for that long?”


    Pendgy sat upright, wanting to get on his feet right away, but feeling a sudden soreness in his feet, he found that difficult. The penguin clicked his tongue and glared at the man, who looked to and fro with increasingly perplexed faces.


    “Humor me, I cannot bear to stay idle for so long.”


    “I''m not sure– if I can crack a good joke right now. I don''t even know what makes you laugh.”


    “Hmm. Very well, then tell me a story.”


    “A story? You serious?”


    Pendgy crossed his flippers and nodded. Vin, still looking ahead, scrunched his eyes and rummaged through the various tales he''d heard in his life.


    “Do you know the one about the bear and the mouse?”


    “No.”


    “Sweet. There''s two different societies in–”


    “Utterly tedious. Nevermind.”


    Vin paused his rowing for a moment, ground his teeth just enough for a squeak, but did no other motions. Refuting the words of that penguin was like pushing fat underwater.


    “A tale isn''t quite what I need. No. I need another measure to appease my torment.”


    “Torment? Relax, or is your workout soreness that bad?”


    “Hmph! This is more than a mere workout soreness! I pushed myself much too hard. I believe I pulled a muscle.”


    “...I promise, you''d be a lot noisier if that were true.”


    Vin took a momentary rest from rowing, shaking his arm and soothing his shoulders. Pendgy looked at him with unusual and unwelcome intensity, which prompted a tilt of Vin’s head.


    “You''re looking at me like I''m a zoo animal.”


    “You must admit, you creatures are utterly bizarre. Your bipedalism is unusual, your arms can handle and create countless tools, and you are too sociable for your own good.”


    “...I''m no champion of humanity, but too sociable?”


    “Yes. You all are far too comfortable with us Familiars.”


    Vin, realizing he had a false idea of ‘sociable’, perked his ears at the mention. Pendgy struggled to get on his feet, and though he failed, he climbed to a more elevated position.


    “You told that owl something I couldn''t just forget, that you were already contracted before coming to me.”


    “I see. I should''ve known you would''ve asked.”


    Vin dragged his palm across his face, looking at Pendgy with a prepared expression.


    “So what, you want to know why?”


    “Precisely. It is a mystery to me, why you were so insistent when you already had the means to vanquish that Soul Emperor.”


    Vin had a conflicted look. He slowly continued his rowing, gazing into nothing while prancing in his head.


    “I''m guessing that you''ve never contracted yourself, right?”


    “Of course not. I’d never stoop to that.”


    “–Then how do you stay energized?”


    Pendgy looked at Vin as if he asked an idiotic question– no, even more, as it demanded Vin to think and answer himself. But he couldn''t answer.


    “Come on, just tell me.”


    “Why, I eat! Like all beings that breathe and move, I eat! I ate a fish in the water but a moment ago.”


    “...Of course. How simple.”


    Vin had a satisfied smile, even if it came from a place of not knowing.


    “‘Suppose your attitude isn’t the only thing unusual about you. You know what normally happens?”


    Pendgy shook his head no.


    “...Think of Snatcher Jack. That man has all that fat for a reason. It isn''t there because he eats too much– though, he probably does, but not out of gluttony. No, that guy does it for the bear.”


    “Hmm?”


    “In that way, he''s a lot smarter than me, and a lot better at finding reasonable Familiars.”


    “You''re speaking too roundabout.”


    Letting out an irritated sigh, Vin continued with his verbose storytelling anyway.


    “When a person and a familiar contract, there''s, of course, an agreement. One party, the human, can use the Familiar’s power, or call on the Familiar, to the extent and frequency determined by the agreement.”


    “Well of course, how else could that giant man call out the beast so often?”


    “Right. But, the other party, the Familiar… well, it takes.”


    Pendgy raised his eyebrow, wondering if Vin preemptively cut his sentence.


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    “Every use of power, every Calling from the Void, every second it fights alongside, the Familiar takes. It takes and takes and takes, and sometimes not so much, and other times…”


    Vin rubbed his chin. There was, a slight terror in his eyes, but the man''s countenance maintained most of its typical demeanor. Pendgy found that odd.


    “I''ve seen people before, offer their limbs for a burst of power.”


    “Absurd.”


    “That was–”


    Pendgy stood up, crossing his flippers and glaring at Vin.


    “You mean to tell me humans so desperate exist? That they''d sacrifice their limbs?”


    “I know, right?”


    Pendgy was surprised by his agreement, expecting to enter yet another squabble.


    “How could you be happy with that, losing so much of yourself? It’s insanity to me. I don’t care for what they say. all of it is insanity.”


    Vin was fiddling with the fingers of a single hand, staring at it with a slack jaw and twitching lips that struggled to conjoin to speak.


    “Me? If I had the choice, then…”


    Pendgy caught an ephemeral glimmer, one that arose as the man lifted his head to the sky. It was a momentary struggle, a sudden shadow on the iris, but it felt too familiar in his eyes.


    “Well, then I’d rather not take the plunge at all. Especially if I don’t need to.”


    He grabbed the oar again, continuing with his usual rows with a groove he hadn’t before.


    “Just me and myself. You’d know all about that, wouldn’t you, man?”


    “...No. I don’t believe I do. And your attempt to garner my sympathy was pathetic.”


    “--That doesn’t matter. Forget all about that and take a look behind you/”


    Following the line drawn by his pointing finger, Pendgy turned his head to behold the sight. He had to squint his eye to shield himself from the sun, but the shape that surfaced from the horizon was unmistakable.


    A bulge stood atop the endless waters in a blue, grainy hue.


    –


    –


    –


    “Here, why here?”


    “There’s coastguards, you idiot! If we pull up to the dock just like that, we’ll be arrested on the spot!”


    Nodding along to his logic, Pendgy turned to scout the new land. The two were at a sandy beach that didn’t extend too far, as a large cobbled wall stood but forty feet away.


    “Now can you– help me drag this boat?”


    “Me? Engage in such menial labor? Tell me you jest.”


    “...”


    “You pose a great argument. Very well.”


    And so, Pendgy waddled to the other end of the boat, helping Vin lift and tuck it away. It was hard to find a place to properly hide it, and even if he found one, it’d be an utter pain to transport it so far. But it didn’t seem like this part of the beach got much traction, and if all went right, then they’d be back to the boat by the end of the day.


    “And, here!”


    Sticking it behind an obtuse boulder, Vin wiped the sweat off his brow and turned. He and Pendgy quickly moved to leave the beach, finding a set of stairs that led them to a road. Once Vin and Pendgy traveled enough ground without getting hounded down, Vin was able to catch his breath.


    “So,” Pendgy began, “what is our purpose here?”


    “Right now, it’s to get some food.”


    Pendgy nodded in agreement. The thought of having given him a fish earlier crossed his mind, but having not acted on it, he knew how dumb it would be to voice it. The two traveled around town, discreetly strolling on the street. Pendgy immediately noticed the difference between this island and the last one; the roads were occupied by odd, loud, and swift machines. He noticed that they weren’t too common, so people still used the road frequently. Even then, they didn’t reach speeds that anyone was uncomfortable being around, but the combination of their bulk and velocity still required special designation.


    “What are those?”


    “Hmm? What are you talking about?”


    Pendgy pointed to a passing vehicle.


    “Oh, those? They’re called cars. It’s a new invention, but still pretty dandy, right?”


    “Strange… I’ve seen my fair share of ingenuity, but how could something like that be built?”


    “You think that’s impressive? I’m guessing you haven’t seen a train then, right?”


    “Of course not.”


    Pendgy was greatly irritated by his know-it-all attitude, which Vin caught onto fast, but didn’t give up the chance to exploit.


    “Well, you’ll see them when you see them. Or if. It isn’t guaranteed, after all.”


    “If they truly are as grand as you make them to be, then I will force you to show me. I don’t enjoy your needless dangling.”


    “Never mind that, we’re here.”


    Raising his head along with Vin, Pendgy eyed a peculiar sign latched onto a building. He couldn’t read the inscriptions plastered onto it, but he could tell from its excessive stylization that it was some form of attraction. And, judging from the look on Vin’s face, Pendgy knew exactly what it was.


    “A restaurant?”


    “More or less. Come on now, let’s eat!”


    Pendy followed Vin in with hesitant steps, eyeing the man as if another brain had entered his body.


    “But I thought you had no currency.”


    And all of a sudden, the grin on Vin’s face was wiped clean off. The man turned around and squatted to Pendgy’s level, having a sweaty but self-assured face.


    “Say, Pendgy, do you know what dine and dashing is?”


    “What kind of question is that?”


    “...You’re right. You aren’t savvy with human slang, are you?”


    Vin said so while stroking his chin. He looked over his shoulder then leaned in to whisper to Pendgy.


    “It''s pretty simple: we eat, and then we leave without paying the bill.”


    “You mean to enact thievery– ack!”


    As Pendgy let out a mortified yell, Vin snapped his beak shut with his hands. He looked around with nervous laughter, smiling and waving any onlookers away.


    “What the hell is wrong with you?”


    Vin yelled so in a raspy whisper, which gave Pendgy enough of a hint. Still, even when muffled, he wouldn''t let up.


    “What is wrong with me, you say? You mean to rope mineself into a fiasco of petty stealing, then grow furious when I take grievance!?”


    “...Somehow, I took you as the type to not care.”


    “Tch.”


    Crossing his flippers, Pendgy turned away from Vin, mumbling.


    “I’ve heard many say that the harsh Arctic has no place for principles. But you and I are not in the Arctic! And you, aren''t you a human? Have you no shame, stealing from your fellow man?”


    “Not really.”


    Pendgy looked at him with a sneer of surprise, which Vin cared little for. The man stood up straight and adjusted his coat, turning to venture further into the restaurant.


    “Well, if you''re too worried about looking lame, you can sit this out. It''s not like you''re on an empty stomach.”


    “You–”


    It was embarrassing that Vin had hit the nail, but he hardly made it budge.


    “This is not for optics. Odious trog.”


    But Vin didn''t care for Pendgy’s chastising. He was finally presented with a hearty meal, and he wouldn''t dare pass the chance to take it now. He was taken to a booth, given a menu, and set his mind on an order the very minute he looked at it.


    “Will that be all?”


    “Yes ma’am. Thank you very much.”


    “Of course. That will be 7.89.”


    “...”


    The waitress held her hand out. Vin looked at it with a chuckle.


    —————


    The flowing water toppled into itself, soothing the bones with its noise. Its tranquil timbre was only helped by the glorious marble statue from where the water poured. A depiction of an unusual horse, with its front legs kicked up from the ground, was titled No Rider by the plaque nearby. The fountain was a majestic sight, right in the middle of the town square, and the present seat for both Pendgy and Vin.


    The latter couldn''t hear the water over the noise of his grumbling stomach.


    “You''ve been wearing that face for far too long.”


    “Yeah, same to you.”


    Vin rested his cheek on his fist with a mean so grumpy the air around him turned purple, while Pendgy had a green grin.


    “So, please enlighten me, thief, what do we do now?”


    “Well, I''d like to try again elsewhere, but…”


    Vin didn''t really have a ‘but.’ The only things preventing another attempt was his clueless of the area, and the shame he was forced to bear– though he wouldn''t admit it. Instead, Vin looked around the town. Horses were a common theme, he noticed. A few winged ones– undeniably Familiars –had already flown over his head several times. Though cars were present, most of the cargo and personage were carried by stallions, and even taxi services worked with their steeds.


    “Attention! Don''t you dare drift away in your mind!”


    “J-Jesus, fine.”


    Vin thought back to the present. He regretted throwing away his dingy gun because he was sure he could''ve at least pawned it for a meal. Regardless, it was no time for regrets. It was time for planning.


    “...You see those food stands?”


    Immediately, Pendgy lifted his fin like a sign, riling a great deal of confusion from the man.


    “W-What?”


    “If you even attempt to steal within my presence again, then I shall beat you into the wall.”


    Vin didn''t find the energy to protest, because ultimately, Pendgy had a point. It wasn''t as if the man wanted to steal, but easy theft was simply more preferable to the alternative.


    Sadly, that alternative looked to be the only way forward.


    “I suppose, then, it''s time you and I look for a job.”


    ——————


    Here was the situation, as Vin kindly explained to Pendgy:


    Neither of the two had certification, connection, or concrete ways to prove their skill. Any job with delayed pay would be a no-go, as this island was ultimately a pit stop in their journey. Vin didn''t specialize in any form of labor outside of hunting, but this island seemed to have no demand for that line of work. Pendgy, being a talking Familiar, could win favor among potential employers, and Vin urged him to exploit it as much as possible.


    That being said, the two walked around the district, offering their labor to anyone who needed it. They were being turned down at every chance, which irritated the penguin, but Vin seemed overall unbothered. And so, Pendgy asked–


    “Why are you so calm?”


    “Hmm? Well, I don''t have the energy to get angry.”


    “I’d believe you ordinarily, but I suspect you''re withholding the truth this time.”


    The man let out a groan at Pendgy''s nosy sleuthing.


    “You caught me. I''m just glad I''m not running into any… fishy guys, let''s say.”


    “I''m not sure I follow.”


    They walked in silence for a moment.


    “You and I are strangers whose only value lies in the grease of their elbow, Pendgy.”


    “So what? Heavy lifting is a valuable asset; why else would these horses be here?”


    “I– that''s not the point! The point is that some sleazebag will probably just dupe us the moment we shake hands.”


    Vin was adamant on his point, but Pendgy glared at him with suspicion at best.


    “That''s why, whoever it is we talk to, they''re someone who has to be desperate.”


    “Very fascinating.”


    “What? It just makes sense. They''re the least likely to do wrong on a deal, that''s all.”


    Pendgy tapped his chin, agreeing with the logic of the man, though still fuzzy on how it originated. With this new perspective in mind, the penguin carefully eyed his surroundings.


    “Desperate, such as them?”


    Vin followed the trajectory of his flipper, using his hand as a visor, spotting a couple who were looking at their carriage with alarm.


    “Yeah… yeah, nice find! Just like them.”


    And so, the two plodded to the worrying couple. Vin adjusted his jacket and propped up his hair. When they arrived, the couple eyed them with asking eyes, which Vin took the liberty of replying to.


    Beginning by clearing his throat, “I see that something is troubling you two. Is there perhaps any way we can help?”


    “Oh, oh thank you,” began the man, “we were so worried, we were just about to make a police report!”


    “A… police report?”


    “Yes,” began the woman, “my husband and I were gone for a moment, and then the m-mule vanished when we returned! Goodness, could you please help us?”


    This wasn''t a turn that Vin expected, but it was also one he had no gripes with welcoming. He glanced at Pendgy, who gave an affirming glance back.


    “Very well, we will look for your missing mule.”


    “Thank you! O-Oh, and how could we repay you?”


    Vin rubbed his hands together, as the time to haggle harked itself.


    “Please, make an offer, anything that seems reasonable.”


    “Alright, does 500 sound good?”


    Vin let out a breathless wheeze, struggling to compose himself.


    “Y-Yes, more than good! Would you like to make payment now or later?”


    The man wiped the sweat off his brow, taking a moment to think before answering.


    “Later, if you wouldn''t mind.”


    “I wouldn''t,” he said listlessly, upset he couldn’t take the money right away, “It''s only fair. We''ll take care of it right away, sir!”


    Vin ushered Pendgy away from the group with a giddy smirk on his face. The penguin had difficulty justifying his following steps.


    ———————


    Of course, in his enthusiasm, Vin neglected to gather the most important thing: information. He had to backpedal to speak to the couple, but once he got what he needed, he was scouting like a hawk.


    “What should I be looking for?”


    “A mule, like the guy said. Brown in fur, a bit stupid-looking, not as big as the horses, all that. Apparently, it already had some luggage with it.”


    “Stupid-looking? That hardly narrows it down.”


    “Then focus on the other details. That should make it easier.”


    True as that may be, ultimately, they still had to find it in a town full of horses. It wasn''t as if the mule had wandered far away– the couple lost it barely ten minutes ago, after all –but the problem still remained, that he couldn''t have known which direction it went.


    Fortunately for Vin, mules weren''t so smart, so he just went the way the carriage pointed and hoped for the best.


    “Five hundred, the man said. Five hundred in your currency; just how much is that?”


    “Haha, you have no idea. I could feed myself for a month with that.”


    “Hmm. So they were humans of great wealth, were they?”


    “Probably. But, maybe not. Maybe they just really wanted the help, so they give a quote that would make anyone who looks as grubby as me drool.”


    Pendgy looked up and down at the man. He didn''t notice before, but the man’s clothes were dirty, and his hair, though still stubbornly stylized, was a tad more unkempt than expected.


    “When was the last time you bathed?”


    “...Does a swim in the ocean count?”


    Pendgy wanted to refute that but realized he was in no position to do so.


    “That’s beside the point… we’re probably not going to get such an easy profit elsewhere, so you and I oughta do a good job for this one. Keep your eyes peeled, man.”


    “I am not the one here who is struggling with hunger.”


    “Ugh. Then, do it for the money. We could probably get a train ride with that cash.”


    Immediately, Pendgy used his flipper-like as a visor and scanned the area with mechanical precision. Vin enthusiastically copied his companion, casing the surroundings for that creature.


    Unfortunately, after an hour of scouting, the two turned up empty-handed and empty-muled.


    “Phaaa… what the hell? How big is this place?”


    “You monkey! I told you we should’ve turned around long ago!”


    Pendgy’s chirping criticisms bombarded Vin as he had a hand on the wall, catching his breath. It was a difficult thing to ignore with so much attention on working his lungs, but he still brushed the penguin off with mumbling lips.


    “Whatever, man. The mule’s just cloaked, that’s why we didn’t find him.”


    “Your excuses fall with a possum’s grace; come.”


    Pendgy, contrarily unbothered by all the walking, motioned Vin to follow him. However, the penguin didn’t move with the man’s legs, and once he arrived by his side, he realized what Pendgy was insinuating.


    And so, a moment later, the penguin found himself on the man’s head yet again.


    “Excellent. Now I needn’t try to peer over all these idiot heads.”


    “I’m happy you’re enjoying yourself. Real happy.”


    Pendgy took Vin’s word in earnest, which made the man groan. He continued looking around, likely not to spot anything Pendgy couldn’t, but as an insurance policy. However, instead of finding his target, he found that many, many bystander eyes were glancing at the two. He challenged a few with gross faces, but for the most part, found himself overwhelmed.


    “We look ridiculous, man.”


    “What are you talking about? Anyone who’d critique this ingenious arrangement is a fool who can only see the world from their eyes.”


    “...Right. They’re not looking at you, are they?”


    Vin decidedly ignored the oncoming looks. They were here for a purpose, after all, and if anyone had a problem with that, they could screw themselves. Eventually, Vin didn’t even notice their gazes. It returned to business as usual, but Vin made sure to take more curves and turns than before. It was important to cover new ground, after all.


    And Vin’s methodology worked, because a few minutes later, Pendgy let out a gasp.


    “What? What is it?”


    “Well, human, I believe I have found our target!”


    Pendgy fiercely pointed to it, but as Vin couldn’t see it, he tapped on the penguin’s chest.


    “Oh, just go to where I’m pointing!”


    Muttering curses under his breath, Vin did just that, weaving and zigzagging past the crowd. He had to run for a suspiciously long amount of time, but once he reached the minute mark, Pendgy quickly tapped his forehead.


    “Gah? What?”


    “Slow down. The mule is not alone.”


    Vin blindly blinked for a moment as the words hit his ears, now understanding the situation more deeply. The problem was evident; the mule didn’t leave because it was wayward.


    Vin slowed his steps considerably, and though he wished to lower the penguin as well, he acted as his essential eyes for the operation. Pendgy slowly guided him to the group of thieves, leading the man to the sidewalk. He saw the group, a duo of heavily clothed men holding the mule by a rope. It was impossible to notice any other details through the crowd. At that point, Vin grabbed Pendgy by the side and lowered him without a fuss, the penguin reading the room. As the two inched closer, the men retreated to a nearby alleyway, which made the man smirk. He shared a glance with the penguin. The two knew a shining freebie when they saw it.


    Vin wasted no time spying. He stood in the alleyway and looked at the two men, who were conversing amongst themselves. As the man walked towards him, they noticed the sounds of his footsteps. They turned their heads, revealing their obscured faces.


    “Huh? Who are–”


    Vin tossed a sucker punch at the man on the left, hitting him with enough force to fly him away.


    **SMASH**


    The other man was too stunned by the ambush to react to Vin’s fist. He was struck hard enough to crash into the wall, dinking his head as it rebounded.


    Vin cracked his knuckles, patting himself for a job well done. Pendgy waddled over to him with a flipper to his chin, one that Vin was forced to notice.


    “What’s up?”


    “I’m having doubts. Is that mule truly our target? It looks a little… daft.”


    As he said this, the mule took a few steps to sniff him. Pendgy had a scowl on his face, but held the need to slap it silly. The mule raised its head after, letting out a toothy yawn as it explored the alleyway.


    “The mule is stupid. Duh. But the physical description fits perfectly.”


    “I suppose. Intelligence is no use to a beast of burden, is it?”


    “No, I guess–”


    Vin slit his speech the second he started, turning with jumpy movement and narrowly dodging the overhead swing of an axe. The tool collided with a thud and a chip, forcing Pendgy to sidestep the flying piece of concrete it shot.


    Vin retaliated immediately, delivering a cleated kick to the guts of the crook, who lurched and spat. Vin took an extended gander at the man, who while clutching his stomach began to rise, and thought it fitting to give him another one in the face, disarming him. However, right after the kick was swung, the other man snuck up from behind and wrapped his neck in a lock. It wasn''t a stable lock– in fact, Vin could still breathe just fine –so he punched the man and stabbed his belly with his shoulder. He gripped his stomach and descended to his knees like a leaf in the wind, though fell with nary half the grace.


    Vin hit his palms against one another, checking his neck and back for any injuries. A lack of spikes of pain told him his body was still in good health, and he was rather surprised to find no knife sticking out of him. Regardless, he turned away from the groaning, aggrieved men to Pendgy, who looked at him with approving nods.


    “Excellent work. I hadn''t even a need to interrupt.”


    “I''ve been in my fair share of tussles before. Though I gotta admit, these guys were just weak.”


    Cracking his neck, Vin moved to face the rest of the alley.


    “Now then, let''s deliver this mule… back…”


    “Hmm? What''s the matter?”


    Pendgy turned to face the same sight, and immediately, he found the reason for his depressing decrescendo.


    The mule they just had a scuffle over was nowhere to be seen.


    —————————————


    Vin quickly snatched Pendgy, planting him on his hand and holding him steady, whizzing past pedestrians and objects alike.


    “Any sign?”


    It was strange that he had to resort to this. He walked out of the alley the moment he finished his fight, but the mule already vanished into the wind. He couldn''t have gone far– it was impossible for the mule to have gone far. So why was he running with such urgency?


    “No spotting yet. I suggest we turn the other way.”


    “Right. Good idea!”


    He spun on his foot and continued his navigation, all the while humoring his humming mind.


    Was it the couple? That couldn''t be it; their tears were touching, but sophistry like that couldn''t break into Vin’s feelings. Was it his frustration? That had to be it– but it reeked of an unfinished story, a portrait in jigsaw with the corners cleanly cut. Then what was that missing piece?


    “–!”


    Of course, what else could it have been?


    “When I find that thing, I''ll make a meal out of it myself!”


    The mule wasn''t an objective, it was an obstacle. As long as this upright penguin tailed him where he traced, catching that damn mule was the only way to a filled stomach. And once he fille He ran with fury, but it swilled and stole the zeal in his legs. He could feel an incoming collapse, a kind cold greeting from the concrete floor– any result of a malfunction, imminent and worrying.


    “Nothing. The mule is nowhere to be seen.”


    And in that pursuit, he stopped his wasteful expenditure, turned to the nearest face that didn''t deter, and spoke.


    “Sorry, but have you seen a wayward mule anywhere? About this big, and without company?”


    “Hmm? Oh yeah, I did.”


    ————————————


    His clothes were doused. It was such a potent stench, Vin had to pinch his own nose. He was no stranger to exercise, nor to sweat, but these drippings were laced with something unfamiliar.


    “Are you certain that you''ve gone for a swim recently?”


    “...Well, shit. Fine, I''ll hit the beach once this is over with.”


    Vin put Pendgy’s remarks aside and faced the situation. Before him rested a tall fence on the edge of town, barring entry to a bushy forest. The man, however, said that there was a fence gate not too far from here, unless he was lying.


    “Not a slim chance he was lying either… then again, he didn''t look like he was. Gah, whatever.”


    Setting the man’s confusing kindness aside, Vin followed the fence with his steps. Pendgy, still resting on his head, stood upright with crossed arms, peering into the wooded area.


    “That mule has an adventurous spirit. It''s rather astonishing.”


    “Astonishing? You''re joking, right? The animal is just being a pain in the ass. You can tell the owners didn''t train it well.”


    “You''re not incorrect. The beast is unschooled and unfettered. To have slipped away like so; it was bound to happen.”


    “...”


    Vin walked in momentary silence. When he eventually found what looked to be open doors, he perked up and jogged to it, smiling to himself.


    “Do you think the mule forced these open?”


    “Huh? Of course not! Look, there''s a drop rod and everything.”


    “Hmm… correct.”


    Vin passed through the gate and onto the trail. At the very least, it seemed that the search wouldn''t take long. The foliage really was thick; not even a wild animal would have a fun time passing through.


    All the while, though, Pendgy kept musing.


    “Have you ever had a pet?”


    “Odd. Where''s this coming from?”


    “Must you always question one’s intentions? Think no further. Just answer.”


    “...Yes. I had a dog when I was a kid.”


    “Ah, fitting. Even the frosty wolves from my homeland found themselves coddling to man. What breed?”


    “None of your business.”


    The noise of conversation was broken by snapping leaves. Though Vin couldn’t see it, Pendgy looked ready to break his skull.


    “Very well,” he continued, “that aside, I always saw a look in their eyes. A look I find many casting unto a being so glorious as me.”


    “Oh yeah? What was it?”


    “...”


    He paused to think, tapping his beak with a flipper.


    “Scorn.”


    Vin looked up at the penguin momentarily.


    “Yes. Scorn from many, envy from others, and admiration from a few. Even my brainless brethren, the ones without speech, always looked through loathing eyes.”


    “Maybe you''re the reason why.”


    “Haha! Fool. No, don''t be so naive. I''ve traded words with riffraff less times than fingers are on your hands.”


    For whatever reason, Vin found the penguin’s words irritating.


    “What''s your big point, Pendgy?”


    “I''ve seen wolves look with those eyes before, and humans were the target.”


    “Ah. I see. So you think that mule just hates the couple?”


    “It''s a possibility. After all, I''ve yet to see them together.”


    “Hmph. It''s not my business anyway. I''m just here for the money.”


    “So even if the mule professed so, you''d drag him back to the owners?”


    Vin stopped moving. The penguin looked down, confused until his eyes matched what Vin’s were seeing.


    “Finally,” he muttered.


    The two came at a fork. To the left was the trail, but on the right, behind bristles and brands, was an open grassy area. And even behind that cover, Vin could see that stupid mule.


    He set the penguin down and stretched his fingers. “Wait here,” he muttered as if Pendgy even had an interest. He passed through the bushes and stood before it. A morphing expression was on his face.


    “There you are, you bastard. Do you have any idea what hurdles you made me go through?”


    Of course, being a mule, it did not reply. But it didn''t even move to the noise. Vin’s words had bounced right off, leaving the man more frustrated than before.


    “Oh ho ho, I won''t be so merciful to you, you know.”


    He walked forward to the mule’s side, staring at it with what should have been a scorching lour. But still, the mule didn''t react. Its head was tilted to the skies, watching them like an appointed guard.


    “What are you–”


    And when Vin’s gaze shifted to match the mule’s, he felt his words slip from his mouth.


    “...”


    The sky was clear that day. Few clouds paraded themselves, but despite that, the sun didn''t shine so harshly. That clarity made it a pleasant day for sightseeing, and up in that sky, two winged horses circled themselves, birds in a game of ball.


    Vin’s legs lost their welly, but he didn’t collapse. He took a gentle seat on the grass, joining the mule, watching the two pegasi dance and parade. They were enchanting. He wasn’t one for sightseeing, but these two beings, so distant in reach and stature, were enough to snatch his attention. It was almost impossible for him to take his eyes off. Almost impossible to not scan their features, to note and scribe their every movement.


    “...”


    But ultimately, he had to stop. He turned his head to the mule. But he didn’t stop at its face; it’s whole body was fettered with bags, ropes, saddles and all.


    “Would someone look at you?”


    The mule still ignored him, but now it was impossible for that to vex.


    “For a moment, I thought you were just a delinquent. Funny, seeing how you weren’t taken by your will. But I can tell you don’t mind. You’re a crafty thing; striking at the stroke.”


    Vin stood up, taking another gander at the pegasi.


    “What, do you want to join them?”


    The mule tilted its head then, just enough to know Vin had gotten its attention.


    “You can’t do that. You don’t have wings. You have too many clothes. You have too much luggage. You’re not smart enough to talk to a familiar, so you can’t contract with one. You’re no genius; you can’t build a rocket. You’re no dragon, you can’t fly. You’re no star, you can’t soar. You’re no God, either. My my, what can you do?”


    Vin took a step forward, making the mule turn its head all the way. Vin took a moment before speaking, furrowing his brows as he saw the reins around his head.


    “Indeed. Just what can you do.”


    He put his hand on the thing’s head. He didn’t stroke it, or pet it, or even twitch once it landed. Vin closed his eyes and tapped the ground with his foot. He hummed and bit his lip.


    “Neither you nor I, are anything so special, are we? We can’t grow wings. We can’t just fly away; that’d be ridiculous. You and I can’t be a pegasus. You and I can’t be a fairy tale. No, too many people try to be.”


    Vin paused for a moment, turning his eyes up and letting out a groan.


    “Tch. Damn that penguin, he’s already brainwashing me.”


    He took his hand off the mule and grabbed the rein, tugging once, then again when the mule didn’t stand. Once the beast was on its leg, Vin smiled.


    “I’m just kidding. But, I’m not wrong. You have a role, and I don’t mean in the grand scheme. So come on. I need my lunch money.”


    He turned around, tugging on the mule so it would follow.


    “And more importantly, you have parents who’re missing your company.”


    —------------------------------


    When Vin’s hands found their way to the stack, he couldn’t stop them from going through the cash. Twenty, forty, sixty, eighty– goodness, it was impossible. Vin’s eyes were country-wide; he looked like a drooling child.


    The couple were hugging the mule behind him, sobbing and showering it in affection. The mule, Pendgy noted, didn’t look very pleased, but didn’t look upset either. He struggled to call it contentment, but it was a fairer look than most he’d seen.


    Eventually, the two parties stopped being so absorbed, facing each other. Vin faced them first, and in a moment, his giddy look was shot down. The woman still hugged the mule, her cheeks damp from her tears, while the man walked up to Vin and held his hands.


    “Thank you so much. Thank you, truly. We don’t know what we would’ve done without you.”


    “...Yeah. Of course.”


    The man wiped his tears and turned back to the mule. Vin looked at him with a mean look, though knowing the man, it could’ve meant many things. He glanced at the stack of his money, then another again the couple, then again at his money, before turning his back and clasping his head.


    “What? Don’t tell me you’re having doubts.”


    “Oh, you, shut up. You have no part in this.”


    “Really? That woman tried to hug me earlier.”


    “Yeah, and you almost ruined my chances by smacking her away. Now shut up.”


    The one gripe Pendgy had with his existence, was that he lacked the ability to read minds. His intuition was razor sharp, and he could typically deduce one’s thoughts from movement alone, but it was instances like this, where a man who clearly didn’t want someone peering into them, closed all their windows, that made him wish for it. He found Vin infuriating, so he returned to gazing at the couple as the rowdy streets lost their charm long ago. Though eventually, he found the couple boring as well.


    Then Vin turned around. He had a fountain of sweat pouring down his face, and his mien was no better off, but there was a unique impetus driving his movement. Pendgy’s eyes perked. An amused smile found itself on his beak.


    “Sir, here.”


    Because in one of Vin’s hands, were five of the twenty-five bills he had received.


    “H-Huh? What’s this?”


    “Please, take this back.”


    The man stood up with a confused expression. Vin pushed the bills onto him, but he quickly pushed them back.


    “N-No, please, I insist! You’ve done an excellent job, really! If we called the police, it might’ve taken days, or even a week before–”


    But Vin cut his claptrap short by pushing the bills yet again.


    “And I insist to you. Just take them, man.”


    At that point, the man found it impossible to argue. He took the bills and Vin turned around, waltzing away from the scene. Though, he turned his head back one last time before leaving.


    “Oh yeah, and go wander around with that mule more often. He has an explorer’s spirit, I tell you.”


    The couple took a curious gander at their pet, then another at the fleeing Vin, with that ill-tempered penguin by his side. They waved at him, though he couldn’t see it, and he didn’t wave back. But somehow, the couple felt that he did.


    And now that Pendgy and Vin were alone, the man propped up one bill with a giggle.


    “Hungry? How about we go for some seafood?”


    “At the very least, your appetite is in good taste.”


    “Alright, now what’s bothering you?”


    “Oh, nothing. I’m quite the opposite of bothered.”


    The two walked around. Vin spied the area for a restaurant.


    “Only five,” Pendgy said.


    “Only? Ha! You have no idea what one hundred bucks can buy, do you? Frankly, I shouldn’t have given them anything back.”


    “And yet, you did.”


    He glared at the penguin, but quickly rescinded it with a shrug of his shoulders.


    “What can I say? Their goodwill won me over. 500 was just too much for such an easy job.”


    “...Pfft, hahaha!”


    Pendgy then burst into a raging fit of laughter. Vin glared at him with a raised eyebrow, more perturbed than curious or annoyed.


    “Oh, is that what you think? Then so be it! So be it! Maybe you aren’t such a swine after all!”