Hunting Wolfe

The Creature

I let out a shriek and tense up for a bite that never comes. What was that? Was that the mysterious creature I saw outside of the dome? "Get it off! Get it off!" I shout, my voice tinged with panic. Tiny, sharp claws scramble up my legs, across my side, and onto my shoulders. The creature emits a strange, desperate mewing sound, as if it too is crying out in distress. Take a deep breath, it hasn't bitten you yet. Where did it go? Suddenly, the pricking sensation ceases, and I can no longer feel its presence. Did it hop down? Did it run away?

"What's wrong?" Cayden asks, as he and Aceon appear suddenly by my side. "We heard you shrieking. Has someone stabbed you? Hit you? Bit you? What's going on?"

"I... saw something... down there." I point down the alley. Caydon doesn't wait for me to finish talking before he takes off in the direction I was pointing. "Caydon wait! It's not down there anymore; at least I don't think it is. It charged straight for me, climbed up me and then disappeared."

"Which way did it go?"

"I don't know. One second, I could feel its claws climbing up me, and the next second, nothing."

"It may have..." Caydon begins, his words cut off as a figure steps forward. The man, not much taller than me, carries a lot of weight around his middle, and is adorned in clothes that scream prosperity. His sparse hair, a tapestry of grey with whispers of brown, clings stubbornly to his scalp. Each of his fingers glints with rings, oozing wealth and status.

"Have you seen a small white creature, about yay high?" The man spreads his hands apart to illustrate the size, his voice carrying the unmistakable blend of urban grit and cosmopolitan flair, an odd convergence of New York and London.

I don't like the looks of him. It's not so much his appearance that bothers me, but more like the attitude he gives off. I have a feeling that whatever that creature is, that shot at me like a bullet, would be miserable with that guy. "No, sorry." I say before Caydon or Aceon can respond.

"Are 'ya sure?" the man asks. "This creature is very important to me. It's a gift for my wife and I would love to have it back."

"Sorry, haven't see it." Aceon says stepping towards the man. He towers over the stranger and gives a classic Copaie glare.

"Okay." The man says backing up a few steps. "But if you should see it, let me know."

"What are we looking for? And who should we ask for when we find it?" Caydon asks.

"The name's Milo Rodonsion. And the creature is a Vanduo Tuk. Very rare creatures, and I would pay the finder a small fortune for his safe return."

"If we should see it, we will make sure to let you know." Caydon says. "Where are you staying?"

"The CrossBenny place, about three blocks from here."

"Okay, we will find you if we see it." Caydon says.

"Goodbye." Aceon says, still glaring.

"Bye." The man named Milo says. He quickly turns and disappears into the darkness of a nearby alleyway.

"I hope he doesn't find that creature." I say.

"Why?" Caydon asks.

"I don't know, there's just something about him."

"There's just something about him?"

"Yeah. He has shifty eyes."

"Shifty eyes?"

"Just go with it." Aceon says. "You won't win an argument with that one."

"Hey!"

"Now, come on." Aceon says walking out of the alley, "I have never seen a Krimla celebration before, and I don't want to miss a moment of it."

I stand there a moment, staring after Aceon. I never figured him for the celebration type. He's always been this scowling mountain of a Copaie, sometimes I forget he has emotions too. But him wanting to see a celebration? Something just doesn't seem right about that.

He stops a few hundred feet away. "Are you two coming?"

Caydon and I scramble to catch up to Aceon. Once we catch up, Caydon, takes the lead, followed by me, and Aceon trailing behind. We weave through several narrow alleyways, the dim passageways cluttered with trash and the occasional alien or human shuffling by, heads bowed. My expectation of festivities seems misplaced until we emerge onto a sprawling avenue. The towering hotels and bustling industries are left behind, replaced by broad streets flanked by grand houses. As I take in the scene, Caydon's comparison to Christmas becomes clear. Strands of colorful lights adorn every house, drape from trees, and wrap around light posts. Thick garlands heavy with bows and lights festoon the street. Trees abound—miniature ones beside every shop stall, larger ones in every building's foyer, and a colossal, fully decorated tree commanding the center of the town square.

Caydon stops walking. "What do you think, Rayanna?"

"Wow!" I say, stopping beside him.

"It's great, isn't it?"

"What's this holiday all about?"

"The trees. Life. I honestly don't know. But I do know that the food this time of year is amazing."

A growl emerges from my stomach, resonating with the tantalizing scents wafting through the air. "Good, because I'm starving." I trail behind Caydon to a stall brimming with aromatic meats and sugar-laden treats. The strap of my bag digs deeper into my shoulder, a leaden weight pulling me down, compelling me toward a nearby picnic table. There, I unload the burden, the thud of the bag against the wooden surface hinting at its hidden heft. With a sigh, I flip open the top flap, intending to shed unnecessary items, but freeze as a pair of beady eyes and soft fur come into view. Nestled within, no bigger than a loaf of bread, lies a curious white creature. I gasp and draw back. "What the..." But curiosity draws me back to the bag, and I look inside.