Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia

40: Night Patrol

A GumGum ran through the quiet streets of Arcadia. Jim and Claire chased after him. The GumGum ran to a sign with Mrs. Nunez for Councilwoman. The GumGums stopped and looked around. He was surrounded by the signs. He continued running down the street. Jim and Claire kept chasing him. "He knows where our hideout is," Claire said.

"We can't let him get back to Gunmar!" Jim said.

"He's heading toward Arbor Street. Tell me you put up signs there."

"I thought you did."

The GumGum ran into a car and the alarm went off. "Better make this quick before the neighborhood finds out," Jim said.

"I got it," Claire coughed. She opened a portal.

"Wait," Jim said. "Don't use your—"

Claire jumped through the portal and it closed behind her. Jim kept chasing the GumGum and Claire appeared in front of it. She tried creating a portal, but it wouldn't open. She jumped out of the way before the GumGum ran into her. "Are you okay?" Jim asked.

"Don't slow down for me," Claire told him. Jim chased the GumGum through a backyard. The GumGum jumped over a fence and saw Toby, Blinky, and Aaarrrgghh holding the Nunez signs. "Eat my geomancy, GumGum swine!" Blinky said, running at the GumGum with a sign in his hands. The GumGums showed no reaction. "Blinky!" Toby said. "You've got the wrong sign!"

Blinky looked at the Hammes sign as the GumGum turned to stone and crumbled to the ground. Jim and Claire stood behind him as a man got out of his house. "What's going on out here?"

He looked at his empty yard that only held the GumGum remains and the signs.

***

"If only Arcadia knew your mom's campaign was actually keeping them safe," Jim said as they walked up a hill.

"The signs are no real defense, Master Jim," Blinky said. "Merely a GumGum deterrent. Judging from tonight, I don't know how much longer your sleepy little down will be safe."

"That GumGum," Claire said, looking at Aaarrrgghh. "You think he was once one of you?"

"Gunmar turn friends," Aaarrrgghh said. "Sad."

"We can't think that way, guys," Toby said with the GumGum helmet on his head. "He saw where we here hiding the trolls. He wouldn't told Gunmar."

"And since he's taken the Heartstone," Blinky said. "He has only grown stronger, making his defeat even more difficult, if not impossible."

They reached the top of the hill that looked over Arcadia as the sun started rising, making the sky an orangish pink color. Toby threw the helmet on the ground. "For weeks, Gunmar's been sending his minions to do his dirty work. Why doesn't he come up himself? What's he waiting for?"

"Sadly," Blinky said. "That is the question Arcadia's fate hangs upon. What is Gunmar plotting next?"

Claire coughed. "Well, this stalemate is torture," she said. "I don't know how many more of these late-night study sessions I have in me."

Aaarrrgghh put the helmet on his head and Toby looked at him. "Hey! You look just like a GumGum."

"Yes," he said.

"No," Jim said. "Too risky. You can't spy on Gunmar."

"We lost you once, old friend," Blinky said. "We cannot lose you again."

"Gunmar strong," Aaarrrgghh said. "Do nothing, Gunmar grow stronger! My choice!"

"It would be a waste of a hulking brute," Claire said.