Necromancer For Hire- Arc 3

Arc 3, Chapter 16

(Art by GweenApple)

The Pursuit

"What?!" Umbra growled, grabbing Time by the scruff of his neck and bringing him to his face. "Are you serious?!"

Time scrunched his nose. "Pretty sure, dude. I know the scent and energy signature of Clockwork. That guy's been around him. Like, really close to him."

"We better hurry, Umbry," Matthew said, picking up Victor and putting him on his back. "If this guy really is a suspect, we can't afford to lose him."

Umbra frowned, placing Time back around his neck. "We can't all follow him, though. That would raise too much suspicion. I'm rather sure this Asher person wouldn't take it too kindly if he saw us following him."

"Then who's gonna go?" Aunora asked, crossing her arms.

"I'll do it," Umbra said proudly, cracking his knuckles. "I am the leader of this team, after all. I'll shape-shift into my animal form so I can hide easier and stay in the shadows."

Time lightly hit Umbra on the shoulder with his tail. "I'll have to come too!" The Überdragon's eyes shined. "We'll have to go on this mission together! It'll be so  awesome!"

Of course, Umbra thought bitterly to himself. He gave Matthew a frustrated look, and the man understood his silent message.

Matthew smiled gently, laying a hand on Umbra's shoulder. "I guess you two better get going. We don't want him to get too far away from us."

Umbra took a deep breath, letting his body shift into the small, weasel-like creature that was his animal form.

Umbra's field of vision rapidly changed as his height regressed to a mere five inches, and Time tumbled to the ground beside him. Umbra shook his massive ears, giving one last wink to his team before he sped off in Asher's direction.

Running was difficult with his short, stubby legs, but Umbra managed. He flapped the tiny, fur-covered wings on his back to gain speed. Time sprinted behind him, trying to keep up with Umbra's speed. He wasn't used to moving so fast in a small body like Umbra was, but the man refused to pause and wait for Time. He was determined.

Umbra followed his nose, tracking the stranger's smell. He darted down the busy streets of Alcorith, shooting between people's feet like a pesky cat. His lithe and flexible form allowed him to maneuver through the crowd without getting stepped on, but Time didn't seem to have faired as well, judging by the high-pitched squeal he heard Time produce.

"For the love of crap," Umbra hissed, coming to a sudden stop by a dumpster. "Transform into something smaller and get on my back! You're so slow!"

Between pants for air, Time's form glowed, and a small, blue and yellow butterfly landed on his head.

"Get it?" Umbra heard Time giggle. "It's like on that time travel story where the butterfly screwed up everything-"

"No time to explain your jokes!" Umbra barked, body stiffening when he saw a familiar figure stopped at a magazine stand. "There he is!"

Flattening his belly to the pavement, Umbra crawled softly towards the stand, pressing himself against the side of it. Time seemed to sense his cue for secrecy, as he fluttered to the top of a nearby sign.

Holding his breath, Umbra spared a peak around the magazine stand.

Asher stood, carefree and unaware of the two animals that were fervently stalking him. He had picked up a magazine and had started to flip through it. Umbra could faintly see images of succubi in swimsuits on the pages he was reading. Disgusted, he shifted his gaze back to Asher.