WHAT IF: Umber moved to possibility and fell in love? An Umber WoF AU!

Chapter 4

Umber whistled, feeling better after a proper night's sleep. I wonder if I'll find Burgundy. She did mention her mother owns a food stall... Burgundy's Mum will know where Burgundy is. Umber thought as he strolled through the marketplace entrance. He nodded to a guard, but the guard didn't notice him.

Umber strode up to the nearest stall and pretended to look interested. Umber widened his eyes in fake interest as he saw the assortment of different carved wooden pendants, earrings, and tiny statues. I could get one for Burgundy! The thought dashed through his mind before he could stop it. "Um...hello!" He said to the stall keeper. The dragon at the desk, a tall and slim SandWing, peered down his snout with an unimpressed expression, and he tilted his glasses down as he growled in a creaky voice, "Wha' is it?." Umber took a small step back. "Um- I was just wondering if you were new to the market, and if you knew where-" Umber stopped, trying to remember what Burgundy had said her mother's name was. L...Lizard? No...Llama...Was it Llama? "Know where wha' is? I 'aven't got all day, ya know!" the SandWing snapped. "Llama!" Umber burst out. The SandWing stared at him. "...llama?" He said. "No, I mean, do you know where Llama's stall is? And are you a new seller?" Umber said, sounding desperate. "Well..." the SandWing began. "I 'ave been in the market for many years. Probably before you were hatched, young 'un. And- I don' know no llamas, bu' I do know a Lahar. Tha' who yer lookin' for?" The SandWing asked, looking back to his scroll. "Yes! Yes, that's it! Could you tell me how to get there?" Umber asked eagerly, feeling a flame of excitement flare inside him. "Well..." A sly smile appeared on the SandWing's name. "It could cost ya." He grinned. "Here, the name's Brittlebush. I'm feelin' generous, here, young 'un, so I'll give a bargain that ya can't turn down: You buy a custom-made carving, an' I'll give ya directions to Lahar's place. Deal?" Brittlebush asked, leaning forward to offer his talon. His breath smelt like week-old camel meat. "Okay." Umber agreed, grinning.

"So, how would ya like yer carvin'?" Brittlebush asked, leaning back to grab a piece of wood. Umber thought for a second, and then knew what to say. "I would like a MudWing. She needs to have a scroll by her front talons but looking up at you."

"Ya-hah. Tha' it?"

How could I forget? "She also needs a kind grin, but with cheeky eyes."

Umber smiled, looking at his talons in embarrassment. "And she also needs some words engraved on the base." He glanced up at the SandWing, who was listening. "It needs to have the word 'Burgundy' on it, with a tiny heart underneath that. Okay?" Umber confirmed, to make sure Brittlebush had been listening.

Clearly, he had, because soon, a perfect carving od Burgundy lay in his talons, with every detail Umber had asked for. "Thank you-" Umber began, but then Brittlebush snatched the carving off him. "Hey-"

"I forgo' summing!"

"I don't care! Give it back."

"Do ya wan' yer heart or not, young 'un?"

"Fine! Just hurry up."

"Shut yer gob if ya want yer carvin' at all!" Brittlebush roared.

Umber stopped talking, just as Brittlebush handed the carving into Umber's waiting talons. "Count yerself lucky." Brittlebush growled. "Lahar's stall is called Lahar's delights. Turn righ' at the next turn. I believe she has her young 'un with 'er today." Umber nodded, as he remembered that he needed to pay. "How much... would this cost?" He asked, nervously looking to his JMA leg pouch. "That'd be... got an earrin'? or... let's see... precious gemstones? Just a small one...?" Brittlebush grinned, and Umber could see he was overpricing a tiny wooden carving. Umber pulled off his leg pouch and peered inside. He had his library card, and a special Tiger's Eye gemstone clay had given him. "But...I can't..." Umber whispered. "Ya 'ave to!" Brittlebush whispered. "If ya want yer carvin'!"

Clay would never know.

Umber passed the gemstone into Brittlebush's talons, and ran off, pretending not to hear Brittlebush yelling, "'ang on, Tha's not enough! I spent time on tha' carvin'"