Marmalade's Love Potion

Ch 5 - Princess Of Pennies - Pt 2

"No!" Penelope shouted, chasing after the bushy-tailed creature as it scurried across the road, weaving through the traffic, and then fled down a narrow lane.

"Wait, Penelope!" Steph called as he chased after her. Penelope ignored Steph as she darted between horses and carriages, sprinting towards the lane.

"C'mon! I can run faster than this!" Penelope growled as her legs grew more leaden the faster she tried to run.

She clenched her fists into tight balls as she ran, making sure not to drop the fate token still clutched in her hand.

"The cobble stones..." Steph huffed behind her. "They're enchanted to... slow beasts... and thieves!"

"Well, that thieving beast is still getting away!" Penelope shouted, huffing in frustration as the creature darted down yet another alley.

"He doesn't mean... any harm... I'm sure!" Steph called out. Penelope didn't respond, instead focusing on the tail whipping in and out of sight as they turned corners, narrowly dodging other pedestrians and street stalls.

"Tell... I have... grass... biscuit!" Steph wheezed out, though Penelope could barely hear him as the wind carried his words away.

"What? I don't know what that—oh, never mind," Penelope charged onward, tuning out Steph's strange remarks behind her.

She realised she was at least able to keep pace with the creature, hindered as they all were by the cobblestones' enchantments. The critter led them through a winding maze of roads and laneways, all tilting down hill until...

"The docks!" Penelope puffed out. "It's headed to the river!"

The cobble path ended in a grassy hillock. As soon as the creature's paws hit the grass it tumbled, head over tail, rolling halfway down the hill before finding its feet once more.

Penelope nearly tripped over her own feet as she hit the grass and strength returned to her legs. "Aha, I'll get you, you ridiculous overgrown water rat! Come back here!" Penelope sprinted as fast as she could without losing her footing down the hill. Years spent wandering the wilds of the Faewood had given her a nimble step.

The creature squeaked in alarm, spitting up several coins, as Penelope closed the distance between them. It scarpered towards the shore, dashing across a short pier and onto a small wooden boat docked at the end of it.

Penelope came to a halt at the end of the pier, gasping for breath. Steph skidded to a stop beside her, doubled over and panting.

With the chase finally over, Penelope tucked her fate token safely into her pocket before tearing off her gloves and rolling up her sleeves. Feeling hot from exertion, the chill winter mist rising from the river was welcome against her skin.

"Um... excuse me? Hello?" Penelope called as her breath returned. The Great Fall waterfall thundered further upstream, and Penelope raised her voice to be heard over the din. "Is there anyone on this boat?"

"Hummm?" A short woman with flowers braided into her copper hair appeared in the cabin doorway.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, and I don't want to cause alarm, but a large rat has just run aboard your boat. It stole my coins, you see, and I rather need them all back, so is it alright if I—"

Penelope jumped as the woman yelled out, "Marmot? What have you done, now?"

Penelope gaped as the furry creature peered around the edge of the cabin, its cheeks puffed out with a mouth full of coins.

"Marmot, have you taken this young woman's coins?" The woman demanded of the creature. Penelope watched, flabbergasted, as the creature glared warily between Penelope and the strange woman, before opening its mouth and dropping a slobbery pile of coins onto the deck.