When the Moon Lies ✓

Ch.27.2: Wegginfaezerie City Carnival

Note: Underlined words are Kathula tail sign language.

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Thereanbold, Pinti, then Daero stepped foot or paw out onto the main road. The carnival seemed to morph into existence and music jumped into her ears. Drum thundered amidst quick strums of guitar. Feet thumped on a hard floor in a fast rhythm as clapping matched with the pace. A song floated on the breeze and part of it didn't make any sense to her.

Under the moons, between curtains of mist,

many will gather from across the Ring.

Lanterns will glow and children will wish

for a marvical night this night will bring.

Yah, tata ta! Yah, tata ta!

A carnival of the city

of Wegginfaezerie!

"Marvical?" she whispered to Daero who snorted and burst into a snicker he contained behind his paw.

"Sorcerers like to make their own words up," he said with a chuckle. "It means 'marvelous'."

Pinti bumped him with her shoulder. "Why are you laughing?" She didn't like feeling she had made some embarrassing mistake or asked a stupid question.

"Because it was just so unexpected to hear you say 'marvical'."

"Heizak." She scowled as he grinned. 

She breathed in and many different scents filled her nose and scent glands—freshly grilled meat, sweet corn, buttery pie, and the sour tang of freshly picked berries mixed with exotic incenses. Frankincense, floral bergamot, and the citrusy-sweet orange blossom flooded into her nose. She scrunched her face when slightly less favorable scents poked through. Fermented foods for alcohols mixed with a tang of putrid stench like rotten eggs.

Heizak, she thought and erased the disgust from her senses, only focusing on the good. As they neared the bustling crowds, no one paid attention to them. Pinti was wondered if Thereanbold or Daero were working some magick. Two female Halfhumans with ink-black fur and pale white Human faces strode past them without a glance. A shimmer of purple surrounded their bodies, following them around.

"Keep your wits about you, this way," Thereanbold said in a hushed voice and led them towards the fountain. It was further away than it had looked from the alley.

Following a bronze-tiled path, they passed little wooden shops with their shutters down. Across the street, Pinti spotted a crooked shop with many angles with lanterns dangling off every corner. Sorcerers elegantly floated up to the entrance—a door that hovered just over their heads.

"Just up the way," Thereanbold said. Beyond the fountain was a set of metal gates wide open just ahead. No one was going in or out and the path to the outskirts of the city were empty.

But not for long.

A puff of purple smoke suddenly appeared out of thin air, as if blocking the way. Thereanbold skidded to a halt, Pinti bumped into him and Daero came crashing into her from behind.

"Quick! Hide!" Thereanbold swiveled his head around and pointed to an abandoned food stand. "Make yourselves' scarce, pretend you're not with me, go, go over there."