Always Be Appreciative of Opposable Thumbs

Chapter Sixteen: A Very Special Somebirdy

 Hugo and Willow returned to the inn's stables with Jyoji to retrieve Okami's riding tack. Sera slipped away and soon reappeared with the equipment needed to hitch the mule to the cart. Hugo didn't even bother asking how she had gotten it. No doubt it had been by some dishonest means. Perhaps she had snatched it from a charred shop while the owner was busy trying to put out the village.

As they rode off into the night with Jyoji at the reins and the rest of them in the back, Hugo turned his furious gaze to Sera.

"What?" she asked.

"Seriously?"

"What? Agh, are you still mad about all that? It's in the past, man. Besides, I solved our transportation problem, didn't I?"

"You torched an entire village!"

"I did not torch the entire village, just parts of it."

"And now we have another mouth to feed."

"A mouth with a talent that can earn us money. Really, you're acting like I've committed the most atrocious crime in the history of everything. So melodramatic."

But you're lying to him, Willow chimed in.

Sera crinkled her brow. "What's she upset about?"

Throwing a glance at Jyoji and leaning in closer, Hugo lowered his voice. "She's right, you're lying to Jyoji. He seems like a genuinely nice guy. You shouldn't use him like this."

"I am not lying to him."

Both Hugo and Willow glared at her.

Sera rolled her eyes. "Well, not completely. I really can sense where his muse is."

"Because you are his muse!"

"Shhh!" She waved her hands about frantically and anxiously peered back at Jyoji who was thankfully oblivious to their conversation. "Listen, I will tell him eventually. But not now. I need to find the right moment."

"What if you transform in front of him?"

"Then that will be the right moment. Gah, you know, you're really ungrateful. Do you know all I had to go through to get this guy and his mule? I almost got captured!"

"Yes, about that—"

Giving a rueful laugh, Sera ran a hand through her hair and gazed up at the night sky. "Trust me, if I had any sort of explanation for that one, I'd give it. I have no idea who he is, but he's been chasing after me for quite a few months. He just showed up one day. Thought he was trying to arrest me or something, but he disappears when the authorities get involved, so I'm guessing he's a lone wolf. Maybe a discharged knight out to make a name for himself. Or someone with a weird fetish."

"Is he going to continue to cause us trouble?"

"Probably. But I've got a good track record of getting out of trouble, so it should be fine."

Hugo wasn't reassured, but he was tired and hungry and didn't feel like arguing anymore. Leaning back, he let out a long breath and closed his eyes. Things were getting more and more complicated. Why had they even set out on this stupid journey in the first place?

Something rested against his chest, and he opened one eye to find Willow staring up at him. Having her close eased his frustration, and he remembered why finding this Fairy was so important.

Her.

"I'm gonna leave you two lovebirds alone," Sera said as she clambered up front to join Jyoji.

Hugo rolled his eyes, but he couldn't deny that he was thankful to have a few moments away from her. And he was always happy to spend time alone with Willow.