Big Friendly
Some time has gone by. Cat and Crow enter the nearby town of Oftinville, with rustic brick and plaster buildings and cobblestone streets, on a mission from the queen. (She had Crow checked by the castle's physician to make sure that he was not ill. He was not. Crow also apologized profusely to everyone for the earlier kerfuffle.) Crow is pulling an ample-sized wagon behind him. The gate guards who allowed Crow in did not notice Cat walking right next to him. However, the town's small children seem to be able to see her. They are squealing with joy and dancing around Cat and Crow with reaching hands at the ready as though working up the courage to try petting her.
Peeking out from inside Crow's vest pocket, Knitten says, "Aww, I wanna play too. I wish I had legs."
Cat says, "Wow! If they can see me, that means they believe! They haven't stopped believing in magick or fantastical things like adults too often do. That makes me happy."
"Really?" Crow remarks. "So, that's why they couldn't see you in the throne room. Fascinating. I'll need to consider why that is. I never stopped believing, so that must be why I can see you. But don't forget that we're here to pick up some items for the queen. If we attract attention to that fact, there's a chance they'll be stolen."
Cat asks him, "Wouldn't the queen have sent guards instead of us if she was worried about her packages being stolen?"
Crow answers, "Yes, normally, but think about it..." He whispers, "The sight of royal guards would make it obvious that the packages were valuable. By sending us instead, no one will suspect that they belong to the queen."
Knitten says, "Ooh, that's clever! She's a clever queenie!"
Cat adds, "Yeah, so if we're gonna have any fun while we're here, we'd better do it before grabbing the queen's stuff because then we'll have our hands full. Or at least Crow will. Knitten and I can't pull the wagon."
Crow says, "Hmm, good point. There's a shop I like to stop at with lots of toys, comic books, and collectibles. Let's go there! We just need to get through town while drawing as little attention to ourselves as we can."
"Ooh, drawing," Cat gets excited, "I'm good at drawing."
Before too long, they reach the store without having roused any trouble. The sign above the door reads 'Fabulous Tall Tales & Toys'. As they enter in, they are met by the smell of fresh baked cookies. The walls and shelves are covered with toys and comics and posters. There is so much to see!
"Bienvenido! Welcome to my store!" They are greeted by a big man, resembling some breed of canine (more commonly referred to as dogs, or whosagoodboys when being complimented), with large muscles and a big belly. "Oh, it's you, Crow. You're just in time! Would you like a little snack?" He holds out a plate of cookies. "They're snickerdoodles, fresh from the oven."
Cat and Crow both giggle at the name as they each grab one and thank him very kindly.
He is surprised to see such a creature as Cat. "Oh! Who is your floating travel companion, Crowito?"
"I'm Cat," she declares, "and if you can see me that's wonderful! It brightens my day to be noticed. Usually, adults don't notice me right away."
"Well, I may look like an adult, but I am a kid at heart," he tells her. "I am always open to new possibilities and meeting new people, even if they seem scary or different from what I am used to. Don't ever lose a child's perspective, little espíritu zorra*." (*fox spirit)
"Very wise advice, thank you. I'm curious, what species are you, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Not at all. You are not the first to ask. I am what is known as a gnoll. We have a confusing ancestry with a sprinkling of troll heredity, but we resemble hyenas for the most part."
Crow introduces him, "Cat, this is Juan Hexpex, better known as 'Big Friendly'. He's been running this store for years! I've known him so long he's like an uncle to me."
Knitten shouts, "There's so much here to see!"
Big Friendly squats down to get a better look at the puppet nestled in Crow's vest pocket. "Oh! And who might you be, pequeño? I did not realize that you are also blessed with vitality."
"I'm Knitten the kitten and everything is wonderful!"
"Well, it is wonderful as well to make your acquaintance, Knitten the kitten," Big Friendly says and shakes her little cloth paw before standing back up.
Crow compliments him, "Wow, Big Friendly, these cookies are so soft and chewy!"
"Yes, my oven, she works well. Not like the rest of this place! Every day I am having to fix something or clean something, but I am not always having the time to do so. Even though I love it so, there are a lot of things to do to run a business."
"I repair the castle a lot," Crow reminds him. "Maybe I can help out. Show me some of the problems you're having."
Big Friendly accepts Crow's offer and takes them on a tour of his office and store room to show them what is not working.
Crow is undaunted by the tasks. "I have the tools with me to fix those repair issues that I can. And then we can help you pick up and organize some of the clutter."
"Oh, thank you so much! That is very kind. Perhaps I do have enough time that I can watch you and be able to repair it myself if it happens again."
In between fixing one thing or straightening up another for Big Friendly, Crow introduces Cat and Knitten to the fantastical world of comic book heroes and their quests to make each of their little corners of the world a better place. This seems to jog Cat's memory and she recounts the tales of a few superheroes she knows of, but none of them are ones that Crow has heard of.
It takes the entire afternoon, but they work as a team and finish the tasks successfully. After all is done, Big Friendly thanks them again. "Muchas gracias, Crow and Cat, for voluntarily fixing all that you did, and to Knitten for cheering you on as you worked! You all have kind hearts and getting to know you was a pleasure. Apologies for my messy and broken shop. I know you ask for no payment, but I must repay you somehow."
Cat whispers to Crow and he nods in agreement, then says to Big Friendly, "Perhaps some more of those delicious cookies?"
"It's a deal!"
They leave the shop with a fresh plate of cookies and having made a new friend. Big Friendly waves at them from the door as they go. All seems right with the world.
Then Crow remembers, "Aah! We still need to pick up the queen's packages and it's getting late!"
[This is not the end. There is more to come! Three segments per week with a total of fifteen. Are you enjoying the story? Please let me know. Are you enjoying the story but not the wait? Please also let me know. I grew up on comic books where the story is not over at the end of the issue. These two drops have been like issue 1 and 2 of a 5-issue mini-series.
I am releasing three segments at a time to build anticipation, but let me know if you just can’t stand the wait and I will know to provide the whole story all at once. Please write me comments or I will not know what you are thinking.
Almost all the elements have been slowly revealed which will tie into the ending. There are also a few details which will tie into future books. It’s how a story comes together. There will be more danger, more mystery hinted at, more characters introduced, a battle at the climax, and the celebration afterwards. And what is Cat? Just how powerful is she? You’ll be wondering by story’s end.]
