Green Rich was baffled. The two guards had posed little trouble to his significant sword skills, but now he was caught in a labyrinthine series of corridors. Perhaps he should have asked one of the wolves for directions? But they were dead now and corpses reveal few answers…the tight-lipped know-it-alls.
He had just passed the same potted plant for the third time when a voice called out to him, “Are you lost?” He spun around to see a cat standing there.
She was attractive, so far as cats go. By her attire, he judged her to be a thief. On her shoulder was a small tinker with a mousey-face. She had her dagger in hand and did not look impressed. This called for charm.
“Be gone, devil woman! Green Rich needs not the help of criminals!”
The cat raised an eyebrow, “Really? Then what exactly is Green Rich doing in a den of thieves?” Her voice dripped with sarcasm, but of course, the coon was oblivious.
“He seeks justice, of course! It has come to his ears that the constable is being held captive within these wallowing walls!”
The cat sighed and sheathed her dagger. Feeling pity for the obvious half-wit, she decided it best to try to reason with him. “Are you crazy? The deadliest cutthroats in all the kingdom hang their hats here! If the constable isn’t dead already, he soon will be!” She waved her hands at him, “Be gone, lest you join him in the grave!”
The coon stood his ground, “Green Rich run in the face of danger? Never! A child is out there right now, crying for his da’. Would you have me return to him and have nothing but shallow words to console him? No, it is my sworn duty as a hero to return his da’ to him safe and sound!” He spoke with conviction, and entirely too loudly considering the situation.
The cat frowned and hissed at him, “Will you quiet down? You’ll get us both killed!”
“Oh, I think ‘e’s done ‘at already lass…”
The cat whipped around at the sound of the voice behind her. Standing there was an enormous black bear. The cat hung her head and sighed, “Darnit…” This wasn’t going to end well.