Wings of Fire Eclipse Falling

Chapter 21

Cloud passed out small cups of tea and asked "Anyone want a fried rat?" 

"I thought you were a vegetarian?" asked Kinkajou, disappointed.

"I still eat small portions of meat, such as mice, fish, and rats" said Cloud, "But most of my meals are vegetables. Let me guess, no fried rat then, how about a signature dish... cooked mashed apple with honey"

Kinkajou turned a bright pink and spewed out, "Yeeeeessss! Thank you! Thank you!"

Cloud laughed and said, "I'll whip you one right up. I'm gonna step into the kitchen and I'll be right back"

"So who's going to tell him" asked Deathbringer

"It should be me" said Quicksand, "It was my plan"

"Good choice" said Deathbringer

Cloud poked his head in and said, "Apologies, but I couldn't help but overhear you through the cracks in my wall, this shop hasn't had great business and I don't have the gold to buy supplies for me and my pets and fix up the shop"

Cloud shook his head and then added, "Sorry, went off topic a little there, what are you going to ask me Quicksand"

Quicksand breathed in and said, "Don't freak out and get mad, but we need albino-flame cacti"

The trio heard Cloud drop something and Kinkajou freaked and yelled out, "Are you okay!? Is the mashed apple with honey okay!?

"Sorry, I dropped my wooden spoon" answered Cloud as he walked in and placed the bowl in front of Kinkajou who turned a bright pink and picked up the bowl and through a mouthful of food said, "Sphanks wery wuch" 

Cloud looked over at Quicksand and said "I don't think I heard you right, could you ask the question again" 

"We need albino-flame cacti" answered Quicksand, seeing Cloud's cheerful expression turn into a frown

"I know I owe you, a favor but you want me to give you the one thing in my shop that I can't sell" said Cloud, then he shivered and added, "If I lose one living one, my shop could be closed, I mean guards come every two days and check on them, and I have an appointment with them in an hour"

Quicksand got out of his chair and heard Venom hiss louder and started rattling her tail harder, but he ignored her and continued, "We need them to help our friends..."

Kinkajou interrupted and added, "Don't forget Glory, the most wonderful queen was also dragon-napped"

Cloud's eyes widened and said, "Queen Glory is with your friends, but who's holding them captive? Didn't you kill Eclipse? You told me it was okay to re-open! Am I going to die?!"

Quicksand grabbed his friends arms and said, "No, Eclipse is dead, I told you I'd let you know when you could re-open and I did, the Followers know nothing about you anymore"

"Then who has your friends?" asked Cloud

"A nightwing animus who freed Eclipse" said Quicksand, "Please Cloud, we need those albino-flame cacti"

Cloud whispered, "Okay, I'll give them, but I can't give more than ten"

"That should be enough" answered Quicksand, "Bring us to your albino-cacti farm"