“Don’t you think you should be in bed? It’s what the doctor–”

 “Oh don’t worry about me Yippers! I got much to do now that I’m back!” Amber chirped happily, threading through alleyways with Yippers on her tail.

 “Like what? We have two nebulruffs missing and practically all our friends are out in the wild looking for them!” Yippers scrambled over a pile of boxes Amber had leapt over with ease. “I know you’re wanting to go after them I’m sure but we need someone here to watch over the town! Veronica is in no state to take Cherry’s place of babysitting, you can’t even mention Cherry to her!” He shoved himself under a hole in the fence, grit and mud covering his chest while Amber was simply able to carry herself over with the use of her paw companions. “Why aren’t we using the roads?” 

 “It's a short-cut, I just have some errands I need to run, you can…do whatever!” She glanced back, a sweet smile planted on her face.

 “Wait– this isn’t about Cherry and all our friends? Percy? Kip?” Yippers stopped in his tracks.

 Amber mirrored this action, turned away from Yippers. Even from this angle he watched as her cheery expression faltered, eyes flickering in search of a response. “They’re…” She chewed her lip, tail falling to the ground. “Kip…”

 Yippers stifled, worry edging his voice. “Hey, I didn’t mean–”

 “They’ll be fine! I’m sure of it, Trench has adventured before, and Cherry is brave enough for anything!” A plea of hope bolstered her voice. “They’ll find the boys, and I’ve taught Kip all that I know, he has a good head on his shoulders!” 

  Guilt trickled into Yipper, why had he said such a thing? Of course Amber was worried about their friends! “You’re right Amber, it’s good to hear you’ll be staying in town, everyones been missing you.” He joined Amber’s side. “I don’t have any plans, I’ll help you out with whatever I can.”

 Her mood perked immediately, relief washing throughout her expression as Amber continued her trek through the dark alley, Yipper’s mind more at ease. Her trot slowed as they reached their destination, an extravagant theater-inspired casino glittering in lights and gold. Amber slipped through the curtains, the bouncer paying her no mind but gave Yippers a squinted glare as he followed behind her.

 “Ambah! What’re you doin’ here?” A slurried phoeline called out, soon followed by a wave of greetings and surprised yowls.

 “Feeling lucky.” She dipped her head, another wave of caterwauls and laughter following.

 Once again Amber slithered through the crowd with ease, some making way while others remained blind to her appearance. Buzzards ringing and the clattering of billiards filled the air where the clinks of glass and mindless chatter ran thin, a perplexed look permanently stuck to Yippers as once again he was lost in Amber’s plans. Though… he’d given her enough trouble and she looked extremely confident in whatever ‘errand’ she was currently working her way through, no point in asking questions that’d be answered in time. It wasn’t too out of her comfort zone and she did confess to wanting to try her paws at some of the games here, Yippers was just worried for when she—

 “Vegas!” Amber ran up beside his podium, the line at his front grumbling as the nebulruff turned to face her.

 “Amber? What are you doing here, shouldn't you be at the doctors or something?” Readjusting the cards in his hat Vegas continued. “I’m a bit busy here, payday for a lot of nebs—”

 “Oh I’m actually here for the same thing!” One of her companions floated up, dropping a hefty bag of startokens on the table.

 Eyebrows flying up Vegas bit back, both he and Yipper’s struck with shock. “Oh…well why didn’t you say so, come to the front of the line!” He waved her over, snarls cascading from the waiting patrons.

 “Hey what about my chips-!” A horned nebulruff stomped up, Vegas had been working on his reward before Amber interrupted.

 “Eugh, whatever. You get-” Vegas looked underneath his table before picking a grimy startoken off the floor and flicking it to the unsatisfied customer. “-one startoken, maybe don’t be a sourpuss next time.” It bounced against their head with a tiny click.

 Amber took the head of the line, Yippers waiting beside her with an anxious itch running up his spine. Vegas opened the pouch and began counting through the tokens, tail flicking behind him. “So… been busy since you got out of the infirmary…?”

 “Oh yes! It was quite easy moving in with Laylah when there's nothing to transfer.” She chuckled, no one daring to laugh along. “But it was quite nice of her to bring me some books, hopefully I’ll be able to build my library back up. Though my copy of Tarragon’s Chronicles might take a few more letters to the museum, hopefully they’ll be able to mail it to me this time.”

 Vegas snorted, shaking his head while pocketing more tokens. “Maybe you should take a break from those fairytales, good to read something written by a nebulruff for once.” He gave her a pitying glance. “I shouldn’t have to remind someone of your standin’ that there's hundreds of lies in those ‘books’. I’m surprised it isn’t labeled as fiction.” He pushed the pile of startokens to the side, starting a new one. “I know it’s better to get both sides but half of that nonsense can’t even be backed with proof! It all got lost to time!”

 Yippers recoiled at those words, preparing himself for an explosive reaction of Amber defending the validity of such things she’d been studying for years. Though, she remained silent while simply listening to the nebulruff.

 “Plus we know what those dragons did to us no matter how you see it, why do you think they’d be honest about anything that pertained to that?” Vegas sighed. “I just wish you would get your head out of the clouds, you’re gonna get yourself even more hurt acting the way you do. Even someone you care about could get caught in your nonsense and you’ll have no one to blame but yourself.”

 Amber nodded along and once again, to Yipper’s horror, responded thoughtfully. “You could be right, but there’s nothing saying it’s wrong either.”

 Vegas paused, brows knitted tightly together. He’d finished counting her startokens and slowly slid a dozen chips to her. “I… I suppose…?” 

 Amber took the chips and bowed her head in farewell. “Thanks, I’ll be back sooner than later!”
Vegas and Yippers shared a befuddled glance before he scrambled to his paws to follow her bounding form. She settled herself in front of an open Token Booth, sliding each red chip in one by one as a variety of items quickly ejected out soon after.

 “Mind grabbing some of them?” Amber continued entering chips, glancing over at her hoard as the exceptional statue or pink potion clattered into the bowl.

 Jumping to work Yippers took a Shell and began stuffing the smaller items inside. Most of it was small purple bags with the occasional collection of beans or small plastic capsule, what would Amber even want with this junk? Having most of it fit he balanced the weighty Shell on his back, grabbing another glittery bag between his teeth.

 “Oh, delightful! Thank you Yippers.” Her companions grabbed the remaining items, Amber trotting out the door with her newfound loot.

 Once more they slipped through alleys, Yippers now struggling with the obstacle of carrying something that was as heavy if not heavier than himself. He grunted with effort shoving the Shell over a fence, struggling to keep up with the larger nebulruff. She was already swerving around dumpsters while he had even yet to claw his way over the last trash heap, too wrapped up in her own world to notice most of her prizes were getting lost behind her. Determined, the nebulruff bucked the Shell over, using his rest from the weight to wade through the foul pile before sliding it back onto himself. He pushed down the rising irritation, this was just another day and Amber was probably too excited to pay actual attention to anything else. Lucky for him she came to a stop, eyes gleaming as they traveled up a much cleaner, more cubical building.

 “Here we are, the bank!” She yipped, tail wagging as Amber once more left a shocked Yippers.

 How in the world had they traveled across town so quickly!? It felt like an eternity just traversing the alleys but even he knew it should’ve taken longer, was he just that focused? Yippers ran across the street, bumbling into milling nebulruffs as they took no heed to him. A merruffs tail slapped into his side, the Shell ejecting from his back along with the contents. 

 “Come on, Yippers!” Amber called behind her, slipping into the building as he scrambled to shove the items back inside and catch up with his friend.

 She was already waiting for him at a sweatered phoelines desk, ‘Eleanor’ etched into the golden plate sitting beside a bowl of candies. Seeing his return, Amber grabbed the Shell from him and slid it to the phoeline along with the few potions she had carried. “I would like to return these, I purchased them last week. Merchants are Cherry, Maddox, Sylvie, and Trench.” The phoeline nodded, taking out a stack of papers as she referred to the transfer amounts.

 She tapped at the glass bowl, voice soft and sweet. “Would either of you sweethearts like some candy? I bought another bag but can’t refill until these are gone.” She flipped through more pages, clicking away at a small calculator. “I have all sorts of flavors, apple, mango, blueberry-” Eleanor continued on, adjusting her glasses as they slipped from her nose. “-or if you want something else I’m sure there's some chocolate in there.”

 Amber nodded thanks, sticking a red lollipop in her mouth, her pile dwindling as Eleanor unlocked a small drawer and began dropping startokens into Amber’s coin pouch. Her ears perked at each small click, eyes fixated on the fattening bag.

 “That should be all.” Eleanor purred, pushing the bag forward, it was nearly twice the size it had been before.

 “Oh, delightful!” Amber latched onto the pouch, allowing one of her clawed companions to pick it from the desk. “Have a nice day…Ellie!” She hesitated on the name before glancing at the plate, turning tail as once more, Yippers was following her.

 “Lucky rolls I suppose.” He tried to engage Amber in some sort of conversation, it felt like she’d forgotten he was even here. “Is…there a reason you’re doing this? I know you wanted to try a few gambles at Vegas’s casino but that was a pretty large amount, nearly looked like your entire wallet!” He laughed, falling flat at her next words.

 “It was.”

 Yippers opened his mouth before closing it again, at a loss for words.

 Noticing his hesitation she added, “High risk high reward, right?” Amber chuckled. “It’s no big deal, I got nearly double so I’ll have more than enough to pay him.”

 “Pay…who? Who’s him? Are we going back to Vegas?” Yippers pressed, growing a foul distaste for having been in the dark all day. It was the norm for her to always be on her feet, running from one place or another when she’s not in her studies but this?

 She laughed again, waving at the notion while shaking her head. “Oh no, you’ll see! He lives quite far from here but it’s worth it if you want some real mystery!” With a pep in her step she began speeding up to race toward the towns entrance. “C’mon Yippers!” She called behind her, who in turn began to chase her glowing tail.

 Fatigue weighed on his legs as he dragged himself through the tall grass, they’d ran across the entire prairie and Amber barely looked like she broke a sweat.

 “Sometimes I wonder if its just long legs…” He inhaled a sharp breath, tugging against the buckeye that stuck him to the bushes. “...or some black magic. Are we almost there or do we have to cross the forest too?” He couldn’t help the sourness on the tip of his tongue, staring a hole through the back of Amber’s head.

 Seemingly, amazingly, she was oblivious to this or at least was kind enough to not say anything about it. Instead her tone remained its cheery self, eyeing the oaks around them as she veered to the left. “Oh we’re almost there actually! Just around this corner and—” An excited squeak left her, the maw of an enormous mineshaft billowing cool air over them.

 Perhaps he hadn’t left town in a while, perhaps it was always here and he never noticed, but why on earth had Amber brought them to an abandoned mineshaft? Yippers opened his mouth to ask as such before two glowing eyes slowly opened from within, glinting against the weak light that filtered through the trees. A large furred head adorning a set of curved horns and webbed ears slowly raised, his pale snout peeking out. Yippers could barely make out the colossal body that resided further, only a black silhouette against dark walls.

 “Hello! I’m back!” Amber skipped forward, dropping the pouch of startokens at her feet. “I have the money, may I have one now?”

 The…outsider responded with a snarl, a sharply clawed talon digging into the dirt as he dragged himself further from his home. “Money or buzz off, otherwise I’ll snap you into two and your mutt’ll become a new rug.” He glared down, warm air billowing around them with each word. The smell of decay stung Yippers’s nose.

 Yippers was surprised his jaw wasn’t flat on the ground, fur brushing back as the dragon let out a rumbling growl. Questions flickered across his mind before he puffed out his chest, standing by Amber’s side. He tilted his head up, “Who on earth is this? Do I need too—?” Yippers whispered harshly.

 “Oh this is the guy!” As if reading the glowering dragon's mind, she opened the pouch to reveal glittering startokens. “I’ve been dying for one of his statues, they’re special.” She flapped her paws about, as if ending a broadway musical. Her companions lowered into the bag, taking out two pawfuls and placing them somewhere deep within the cave before quickly joining her sides, shaking. She turned her attention back up, the shopkeeper much more interested in counting than listening. “Any of them would do, thank you so much.”

 After a few grumbles he arched his long slithery neck behind him, bringing out a small dark box, chintzy wings of cardboard flared out at its sides. He opened his jaw, a fang protruding from his face as the dragon pierced into the box. Blue smog immediately erupted, Amber crouching down as the dragon released the belching object. The folds rippled as it tore in two, a set of nasty teeth gnashing together as it fluttered into the air, its movements janky. Yippers tried to get in front of Amber but she leapt before he could, catching the enchanted beast before sticking a paw inside the box to reveal a now tarnished statue, moss coating its surface. Startled, he watched as the once polish head crumbled, falling to the ground in a plume of dust as the once brightly shining orb died into a weak pulse.

 “Now, get out of my face before I flay you alive.” The dragon snarled, fang still dripping with the toxic sludge he’d injected.

 As quickly as they came Amber ushered Yippers away, still chuckling praise at such an accomplishment. Yippers twisted his head around to give a final growl of defiance but the dragons expression stopped him, immediately untwisting his hardened features a sly grin grew on his face as he focused on something in front of him. He tried to push back, not only to give that brusque…nebulruff… a piece of his mind but also to get any clue on what in the world he was looking at. Yippers instead earned another set of paws against him as Amber practically shoved him all the way until they reached the open prairie once more. 

 Patience finally snapped he whirled to face her, a hurt twinge echoing in his voice. “What was that about? Who was that guy?” Yippers stepped forward. “How long have you known he was here why didn’t you tell me before?”

 Flinching at his harsh-tone, Amber answered evenly. “He’s just another shopkeeper, well— sort of. If you bring him a form box he’ll—!”

 Yippers cut her short, not allowing for anymore distractions from the seriousness of the situation. Seriousness he wasn’t sure she was ignoring on purpose or not. “Amber, you clearly saw that— that person was dangerous! He threatened to snap you into two just for showing up!” As she tried to walk around him, Yippers jumped in her path. “You didn’t even warn me, what if he actually did try do it and now I’m having to defend you from a complete stranger!”

 Her gaze hardened, knitting her brows together. “I don’t need you to do that, Yippers.”

 “Yes, you do. Last time I wasn’t with you when you got attacked you went missing for months and came back hurt! For all we knew you could’ve died at any point, I can’t even trust you would have been safe in your own home because it exploded! You can’t even say he was a friend, you never even told me about him!” He growled, trying to get through to that thick skull she had a history of coming into harm. “I don’t want to see my best friend alone, scared, hurt or whatever you may be because I wasn’t there. It was already enough trying to comfort Kip,” Biting his tongue he paused, thinking his words through yelling at her wouldn’t be of any use, she was much too stubborn for that. Allowing the words to settle he pressed further, softening his voice. “We all missed you so much, Layla was so distraught over you, just like Veronica is now. Your friends didn’t know what happened, I’m sure if the boys weren’t gone they would be at your side at all times just as I am.” He held his tongue again, watching Amber’s changeless expression stare right back as he took another reluctant step. “I just don’t want to see you put yourself in harms way, not after everything. I promise I’m not asking much I just need you to be more honest with me, I can’t keep up with these games when everyone is gone.”

 Amber blinked, eyes flickering as a sequence of micro-expressions flashed across her face before a scowl took control. She lashed away from Yippers, statue still clenched by one of the companions. “If you don’t trust me then I don’t need you to defend me, I don’t need you to be distraught or follow me around like some useless child.” Her words were stern, as if she were just disciplining a disobedient pup. “I can take care of myself, I have been for the past while. I survived without you.” She turned her back to him, voice low. “I’m going to Laylah’s.” With that she broke into a run, heading back for the village without even a glance behind her.

 Yippers felt…he didn’t know. It wasn’t numbness, he was definitely feeling something but it was so foreign. He could imagine his stomach doing flips as he sat down heavily, watching her form become a small speck as she broke a line through the tall grass. Was that…really how she felt? Yipper’s knew he trusted her, he followed her all around town with no questions! He helped her any way he could and kept his mouth shut just as he always had, why was this any different? His lip twitched at such a concept, all he had asked for was a little honesty, for her to realize she was doing just as Vegas had warned her not to and she was mad at him for pointing it out. He couldn’t ignore the hurt however, no matter how much he tried to work up his anger it always wilted before its peak, pushing him all the way back to square one. She was right in some sense, she had survived even if just barely, she had made it all the way back home and he didn’t need to do anything. Something about that thought didn’t sit right with him, still quarreling with himself he rose back to his feet to start the trek back before something wormed its way into the back of his mind. Confused he began the chore of listing down everything that had happened, trying to pinpoint where this hesitation was coming from. They walked to Vegas’s casino, she won items and returned them to Eleanor, they left town with the money and ran all the way over here. He thought back on that dragon in the mineshaft, he hadn’t said much, but something about his behavior, apart from the threats, seemed off. His demeanor had completely changed as soon as Amber began to leave. For someone so snappish, so cruel, a toothy grin would see out of place—

 The wallet. 

 They forgot the wallet.

 All of Amber’s tokens, everything she had in her name. It was in that wallet.

 Filled with adrenaline, Yippers broke through the forest, taking the same twist and turns as Amber had to save that wallet before Amber suddenly ran out of funds. He broke into the clearing, eyes darting around as he was met with…nothing. There was no hidden beast hiding within the mineshafts shadows, there was no snarls of challenge or towering figures but more importantly; there was no wallet. He trotted up to where she had placed it down, hovering his nose over the area to attempt to find a scent trail but once again, nothing. Looking up into the inky abyss, he took deliberate steps forward, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness before continuing further. An enormous pile of boxes decorated either wall, a large bed of tree trunks and foliage making an admittedly uncomfortable-looking nest just a few feet further down the tunnel. Not daring a “hello” he traveled further, large claw marks were embedded into the dirt around the opening but none were placed past his nest as the tunnel shrunk in size. He stood at the foot of one of the piles, digging through to see if anything lied underneath to no avail. Scampering to the bed he buried himself in the dead leaves, feeling around for anything other than scratch, splinter-filled wood but once more, there was nothing. Not one to be caught he slowly exited, still eyeing around any nooks if the culprit had set it aside for later, of course nothing being note-worthy. He kicked at the dirt, another thing to add to both his and Amber’s reasons to be sour with one another. He checked the perimeter, a question of where had this nebulruff had even gone in such a short amount of time, and if he was even a nebulruff at all.

 With a few more rounds of walking himself in circles, checking every nook and cranny he could, with a sigh of defeat Yippers started the long, long walk all the way back home.