The Stray

2-20: What's The Buzz?

"So... this is Blackloch shit, then." V kept her voice low as they fell into step behind the bee-sheep. The wolf tuned out the soft bleats and buzzes of the flock to listen. "Right?"

"It's almost certain." The wolf rubbed his forehead. "But something's weird, too. Shadow jellies are jes' bits. They oughta be dumb n' running on instinct this far from the Black Lake."

"But this doesn't sound like that. Being stealthy's one thing, but they're ducking slimepathy and doing weird shit." The dragoness's footsteps grew a touch stompier as she thought.

"But they still ain't actin' smart, 'zactly. They're actin' to a plan someone cooked up, but it's all sloppy. And not eating the 'fluffs? Something's up."

V hummed a second, tapping her finger on her bicep. "The bigger the bit, the smarter it can act. Well, the sharper its instincts, at least, and the more will and instruction it can carry from its main body. Could be we're looking at really dense or really large slimeoids."

"I really don't know." Timothy sighed, shaking his head. "I have a few guesses, but most of those are pretty bad."

V stopped, and turned to fully face him, expression troubled. "Shit, what if they're after someone in particular? Like, Meri or even you?"

The thought had crossed his mind. The wolf blew out a long, low breath, stopping too. He finally looked up at her. "We'll burn that bridge when we get there, I guess." What else could he say? For now, he did his best to set his jaw and look calm. "First, we gotta find our mark. And for that, I think we'll wanna use my talents."

<<Hurry up!>> Buzzy called, looking over her shoulder. She walked with her head held high and her stinger up. The 'fluffs tended to mosey aside as she approached, as though used to her.

<<Sorry, Buzzy.>> Timothy hurried up behind her. <<Can you lead us to the fluffs who've seen the monster?>> From Buzzy's eye roll, he figured she was already on that. <<Okay, thanks...>>

Despite everything, V chuckled. "Man, it's so weird hearing you click and buzz and stuff."

"Yeah, that's how it usually comes out." Timothy smiled a tad. "I'm used to just using wildtongues, so I gotta remember to blend it if I want you to understand." Seven years of talkin' exclusively to beasts had made wildtongues practically his first language. <<"Here, this better?">> Timothy was careful to keep his mouth speaking Kinnic, even as the wildtongues effect kept going in his head. Her ears swiveled about thoughtfully as he spoke.

"I noticed you doing that earlier. Kinda sounds like there's something funky on the edge of my hearing. Like undertones rumbling on a piano, kinda." Timothy blinked in surprise— leave it to a dragon to teach him somethin' new about witchcraft.

Before he could get her to elaborate. Buzzy cut in.

<<Here's the first one. Go easy. They ain't all as tough as me.>> Then, loudly, she bleated at a big, fluffy lady bee. <<Turnip! I wanna word!>>

<<"Go easy, huh.">>. Timothy rolled his eyes. V chuckled, even missin' half the exchange. Buzzy shot him a miffed look. He jes rolled his eyes right back, before stooping low. He did his best to smile, without showing any teeth. <<"Hi, Turnip.">>

<<A speaker!>> Turnip bleated in shock, and the bees' heads began to turn. Ere long, the wolf had all eyes on him. Even knowing these were peaceful li'l livestock, it sent a shiver of nerves up his spine. His ears flicked nervously under his hood, but he forced his smile to stay on.

<<"Sure am. I'm here to help.">> In a fit of inspiration, he added, <<Amos sent me, kinda.>> 'Course, that might not have been his smartest idea, cuz that just about started a feeding frenzy! Timothy yelped as the fluffs hopped and dashed and piled up around him, all jabbering rapidly in bleats and grunts and buzzes. A worrying electric tingling, like the start of a storm, began to fill the air.