The Stray

2-38: Good Cop, Bad Cop

Well, Timothy lost his grip on the spell out of shock, barely stifling a gasp as his will smacked back into his body. It felt like he'd gotten his head pulled back through his guts, leaving him dizzy and disoriented. He stifled a groan as he slid to the ground.

"Freeze! Fresa PD— I mean, Watch!"

"What? Wait, you're no cop!"

The wolf hissed and dragged himself farther away from the illusion curtain. For all he knew, the goat had True Sight of some kind. "Frass...!"

"What? What is it?" V asked.

He scurried further back, using all his grace to keep quiet. "V, she's here! Crowe's here, and she's armed!"

"What? Oh, that bitch! This is our collar! And what do you mean, armed?"

"I mean she just kicked in the door and pointed that bow of hers at our mark." He was struggling to keep his voice low. "From the sound of it, she's out for blood."

"What? She's not allowed to do that! Argh, I'm on my way!"

"With help, right?" The silence was deafening. "V...!"

"I'm trying, okay? Just give me a second!"

"Hands where I can see'em, you piece of shit!" The goat's voice was almost a growl. "You're under arrest for larceny and unauthorized possession of a controlled substance!"

"Piece of— Show me your stole then, y' faker!"

"I'm warning you..."

"I dunno if there's a second to give ya." The witch's heart was pounding. "V, she sounds murderous." And he'd know. She sounded just like...

"Look, I need time!" She said frantically. "I'm thinking!"

That's when the witch realized something. The alchemist had been heating up Bloodfeast Moss, after doing who knew what to it. He didn't get a chance to see if the arcane lock Mat'd mentioned was still intact, but he'd bet not. The stuff tracked blood via body heat. If it was alive enough to eat curses or whatever, then it was alive enough to get riled up by the flames. And with their mark not watching her flask anymore, it was only gonna get hotter and hotter, and the Moss was gonna fight harder and harder to get out... And it was gonna succeed (and incidentally, break that flask into magical shrapnel.)

They were smack dab in the middle of Fresa's water network!

"If you're really a cop, show your stole! I have rights!"

"You also have my Dad's medicine, scumbag!"

There was a moment where he considered just booking it, now. He was just a watch aide, after all, and he didn't live this long by not prioritizing his (and Mandy's) own hide. But... this could cause an infestation that'd take ages and mages to clean up. If the alchemist had done anything to the Bloodfeast Moss, for all he knew it could bust into the pipes and get entrenched. The medics were crazy for using that stuff! If the town had to evacuate to avoid bloodthirsty moss, they wouldn't have time for li'l ol' him.

Plus... the slimes were nice, and the Ashbornes lived here. Not to mention, that woman was talking about a school. She might be a frassing kid! How was he stuck saving two kids in a week!?

All that deliberation took long enough for him to get on his feet. "Smoke bomb? No, the nanny already has a bead on her." He murmured. "She'll just shoot the kid."

"The WHAT!?"

Timothy wasn't listening. "I could attack from cover, but I couldn't win a fight with her as I am. And the only way to stop her from shooting would be..." He glanced at Mandy. Was she fast enough to drive in and cut the bowstring? Or... Crowe's throat, failing that? Mandy rose threateningly, but a moment later, they both realized that the nanny's bow might actually kill her.