Primal Outcasts

Chapter 15: Secrets in Stone and Smoke

Kuma adjusted the strap of his bag as he and Freedo made their way through the lively streets of Las Mesozoic. The sun hung high in the sky, casting warm golden light over the sandstone streets. Freedo chirped softly on his shoulder, clearly enjoying the bustling city energy.

"That Koi... always into something shady," Kuma muttered, shaking his head as he approached the towering castle gate. "A 'gentleman's club,' huh? Sure, sounds super legit."

Freedo let out a small grunt in agreement, which made Kuma chuckle. "At least we're almost there. I hope Amy and Max won't be too annoyed that we took a little detour."

As he rounded the final corner, Kuma spotted Amy standing by the gate, holding her shopping bag and looking as cheerful as ever. Max stood next to her, arms crossed and his spear resting on his shoulder, his usual grumpy demeanor fully intact.

"There you are!" Amy called out, waving at him. "Took you long enough. Did you get lost or something?"

"Hey, I ran into someone familiar," Kuma replied as he jogged over. "Koi's here, if you can believe it. And, surprise surprise, he's still up to no good."

"Koi?" Amy raised an eyebrow. "You mean the ape guy from the coliseum? What's he doing here?"

"Starting another questionable 'business venture,'" Kuma said with air quotes. "Honestly, I'm not even sure why I'm surprised anymore."

Max let out a huff. "We don't have time for distractions. We're here on an important mission, not to reconnect with your shady acquaintances, chimera."

"Relax, Max. I didn't join his club or anything," Kuma replied, rolling his eyes. "Besides, I'm here now, aren't I?"

Max didn't seem impressed, but Amy quickly changed the subject. "Well, now that we're all here, any word on when we're meeting the king?"

Kuma shook his head. "Not yet. Jagger said the king's still busy. We might have to wait a bit longer."

Amy sighed but shrugged. "Guess we've got more time to kill. Though Luna and I already did enough shopping." She glanced at Freedo, who was still perched happily on Kuma's shoulder. "Did you find anything interesting while you were out?"

Kuma scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish. "Uh, let's just say I had... an enlightening chat. Nothing I bought, though."

Freedo chirped in agreement, and Amy smirked. "Well, you missed lunch. Luna wouldn't let me leave until I grabbed something to eat."

"Good call," Kuma said with a grin. "You're always thinking ahead, Amy."

"Somebody has to," Amy teased.

Before Max could interject with another comment about wasting time, the castle gates began to creak open. The group turned to see Jagger approaching from the other side, a wide grin on his face.

"The king is ready to see us now," Jagger announced, gesturing for them to follow. "I hope you're all ready to make a good impression."

Kuma adjusted his bag and exchanged a glance with Amy and Max. "Guess it's showtime," he muttered, stepping forward with Freedo perched confidently on his shoulder.

Kuma's gaze darted around the grand meeting room, his eyes wide with amazement. The table at the center, a massive slab of glittering diamond, radiated a soft brilliance that illuminated the room. The chairs, ornately carved from crystal and rare gemstones, added to the sense of regal grandeur. Even the walls seemed to glimmer faintly, adorned with tapestries depicting legendary battles and moments from Las Mesozoic's storied history.

"This is... wow," Kuma whispered, his voice barely audible as his eyes roamed the room. "This place is a masterpiece."

Amy nodded beside him, her eyes lingering on the intricate carvings in the walls. "Royalty sure knows how to flaunt their wealth. Even their chairs look like they're worth a fortune."