Asper Page 2

The ride was peaceful and mercifully uneventful. Asper took in the blue sky and bright foliage. For some time they rode by a forest, occasionally hearing bird calls and other sounds of nature from within. It was unfamiliar to him and engaged his desire to know everything. The only slightly rocky soil gave way to fertile fields. They passed by what seemed to be an old, abandoned farmhouse. Quinn had everyone stop while he investigated.

He emerged, shrugging. "Seems to have been abandoned for a long time. No signs of people being around here." He paused, looking back at the building.

Asper heard what Quinn had said, but took two things into consideration. One, the fact that humans aren't the only race around these parts, and two, his paused glance back at the building. Asper dismounted from his chocobo. "Why would someone abandon it? What did it use to be? Was there anything inside?"

Quinn grinned at Asper's apparent enthusiasm. "There's really nothing of any interest here." He glanced at the rest of the men. "It's just some strange animal tracks. This used to be farmland, years ago. As you can all see, it hasn't been used in a long time. I just wondered what kind of animals would be nosing around here. I don't remember ever seeing tracks like those. Pretty big."

Asper went inside the farmhouse, intent on seeing the tracks. Inside, the building had been exposed to the elements for some time. The wood was old and splintering. The interior was largely empty, with some shelves along the walls here and there. Wandering through the house, Asper managed to find a few indentations in dirt tracked around the house that looked like partial animal prints. He could determine nothing decisive from them. However, in a dark, internal room, he found an alcove where a dim light from a small window in the next room landed on a full print. Dirt and dust had accumulated over time but only slightly obscured the deep print. It was round with three clawed toes. Unfortunately, Asper had no clue as to what kind of creature it might have belonged.

Asper looked around himself. He wondered what creature would enter an abandoned farmhouse, aged with time, and enter or spend any time in a small interior room. The tracks seemed new, and certainly didn't appear to have anything to do with the destruction of the house. He wondered, had it rained recently? perhaps something had come for shelter...

"Asper!" called Quinn. "What're you doing?" The heavily armored man re-entered the house. "I don't think this is getting us to our destination any faster..."

"Yes yes, I suppose you are right. Let us continue." Asper followed Quinn back to the chocobos to continue the ride.

Asper remounted and the troop set off again. The weather was temperate and the ride actually pleasant. Soon, Quinn stopped. He scanned the area. "Ok, I guess we go south." They changed course slightly, following the now distant forest line to their left.

Night fell, watches were set, and bedrolls laid as everyone prepared to rest. After eating, Asper went to sleep, fully expecting to be awakened for the third watch. He was awakened not by a call to his watch, but by hot breath on his face. He partially opened one eye, not sure what creature would be waiting only to find his timid chocobo leaning over him, shivering. He was sure that the chocobos had been tied together... sitting up, in the darkness he could not see any of the chocobos where they had formerly been waiting. He did see the knight on watch sitting nearby. He almost thought he could hear soft snoring.

"!!!" Asper woke up with a jump. He ran over towards the sleeping sentry and shook him violently. Not waiting for him to wake up, he ran back to camp and shook everyone else. "It might be wise to get up now, as our chocobos are missing." Asper, worried, tried to comfort himself. At least his chocobo stayed behind.

The sentry sluggishly came to attention. "Wha..wha happen...?" Asper's cries quickly roused the camp. Quinn and the remaining knights gathered around the watchman. He was having difficulty waking fully. "Bah," exclaimed Quinn, "he's been drugged. Chocobo Rustlers!" He turned to Asper. "They can't have gotten far. Asper, I need your chocobo. I think I can catch them if I can pick up their trail before they've gone too far." Without waiting, he grabbed for the white's reins. The bird ducked away and hid behind Asper. Quinn swore, "There's no time for this!" He tried again and the chocobo pecked his hand, drawing another oath.

"It doesn't seem to like you. More importantly, it seems to like me. Unless this thing can hold two people, it seems that only I will be hunting the rustlers. Of course, you can try your luck at it again. I don't mind, but it seems to..."

"Once a stablehand, always a stablehand," muttered Quinn as the chocobo glowered at him. "All right, Asper. We'll gear up and follow you. Just slow them down." He paused. "Appeal to their vanity. Don't do anything heroic, just try to get them to stop. Bandits around here aren't very..." He looked at the stunned watchman. "I guess they're better organized than they used to be. Just do what you can. When we catch up, I think we can handle things."

Asper mounted up and circled around the camp. The chocobo seemed to want to continue following the treeline.

The white chocobo warked and charged, forcing Asper to hold on tight or risk losing his mount. The distant trees sailed past in the dark. He tried to keep in mind how far they traveled, but there was little for him to use as reference. Soon enough, he found himself on top of a small wagon and a number of bedrolls.

"Greetings, traveler," said a voice at his side as a slender man in fine clothing materialized from the dark. "A little dark for such a pace, don't you think?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were camped here. We have a ways to go, and I was trying to keep up." Asper looked at the individual.

The man was also sizing Asper up. He was dressed in dark clothing, making it difficult to perceive anything other than his thin, severe features. He was wearing a dark headband or bandana, as well.

"No harm done, stranger. You should be warned, however, that these are the thieves' lands. A fellow charging into the night like yourself is likely to be taken for a thief running from the law. Not that any of us would turn such a man in for the reward. Best move along." Asper's chocobo suddenly lurched towards the wagon, letting out a small "wark".

Asper found the chocobo's actions a bit suspicious, but made no notice or mention of it. "Since I'm new to this area, maybe you could help inform me of the layout of the land. You seem to be a caravan of some sort, yes? Carting goods between far-off cities? In which direction are you headed, and where from? No doubt you know the best way to get anywhere from here."

A small wark sounded from inside the wagon. It was essentially an enclosed cart, the kind that was typically associated with traveling elixir salesmen. Otherwise known as thieves or charlatans.

"Ok, buddy, you had your chance. You aren't fooling anyone. We know you came for the birds. Now what're you going to do?" Asper sensed more than saw several shadowy forms sidling up all around him as the man spoke. He guessed that they had him surrounded.

"Birds? You think I came for birds? You mean these things? Are you mad? Why would anyone want these things? THey bite, spit, don't follow directions, eat all day, and are all lazy things. Where I come from, we don't even eat the things. They aren't worth the trouble. Take 'em if you have them, but I wouldn't suggest it. Besides, sylphs are much better transports. That's actually what I plan on obtaining. They are faster, smarter, and much more apt to listen to directions. No, I have no use or want of these things. Take 'em wherever you go. But please allow me on my way. Once I get to where I'm going, you can have this one too for all I care. Just give me directions to the nearest town or settled establishment, if you please."

"Ok, you give us your bird, and we'll direct you to the nearest town." The man looked to his fellows, arrayed around Asper in the darkness. Asper's chocobo sniffed nervously and shied away from one of the men who was getting too close.

"Do you mind if we ride together? I am not in the best condition as of late, and if the town is too far I fear I cannot walk it. Let me at leat ride this abmonible creature there, then it and I can part ways. 'Sides, you guys look as though you could use a rest in a near by establishment."

The man smirked. He muttered to his fellows, who snickered at Asper. "Let's put it this way..." He pointed back the way Asper had come, although in the dark it was very difficult to perceive the gesture. "You either walk in that direction, or you can stay here, permanently. You don't want to be where we're going, and we certainly don't want to be where you're going."

"Hey, someone's coming," whispered one of the nearby thieves. In an instant, Asper felt like he was alone again. His accosters had disappeared into the night once more. He thought that maybe he could hear the sound of... another chocobo approaching.

Asper, looking around for the men who had at a moment ago surrounded him, found their cart left unattended. "I wonder what's in here." He said whimsically. Disembarking from his chocobo, Asper looked over to the wagon's door. He undid the latch to the back of the wagon and pulled the door open, revealing a frightened chocobo. The bird butted past him, stretching its legs. Another followed the first.

The sound of footsteps reached his ears. He turned, surprised, as two men dashed up, leveling long rifles on him. "Gotcha," said one. "Keep your hands where we can see them."

"Sir, I can imagine this looks odd, even criminal, but I can assure you I am not the thief of these chocobos. If I were, I would not be releasing them."

"So, you admit these are stolen!?" exclaimed the lead rifleman. The sounds of more feet rushing into the area reached Asper. There was an exclamation of surprise, then a rifle retort. The two men aiming their weapons at Asper turned to see what had happened.

"Yes, they are stolen, but they were stolen from my..." Asper's voice trailed off as the men behind became distracted. He slowly turned himself around to see what had happened.

There appeared to be some commotion off to the side. Another rifle sounded and by the flash Asper thought he saw one of the thieves. There were some shouts as more men emerged from the darkness, armored and carrying rifles like the first two. "We got one!" exclaimed one of the ones covering Asper. They quickly raised their rifles to aim at Asper once more. "Come with us!" he exclaimed, motioning away from the wagon.

With no chocie, Asper follwed the armed escorts.

They led him to a place where another similarly armed and armored man was waiting.

"Commandant, we have captured one of the thieves," said one of Asper's captors exuberantly.

"Zen tie heem up, yu fuels! Reck-wee-zi-shone ze wagg-own. End catch heez cohortz!"

The men began casting about, intent on finding ropes.

"I came alone, and the real thieves have no doubt high-tailed it out of here by now seeing you guys. There is a camp of fellows from which these chocobos here were stolen from, if I understand correctly. They know me there. I was trying to recover lost goods, not steal."

"Eef you-er ztory eez true, yu will no doubt turn ov-err you-er way-pon end come withe us to lee-gall-ee re-claim you-er ann-ee-mals," said the Commandant. "Yu haf ze proof, hm?"

Several soldiers emerged from the hunt. "We think they went into the woods." The speaker shrugged, a barely perceptible gesture by the light of the moon.

Asper stared at the leader of this strange group. The leader murmurred something about "ze sleck-jawed cret-ens". The others were hastily hooking the wagon up to some of their chocobos for travel.

"Ef yu wesh to wreck-clam ze ann-nee- melz, yu mey wesh to ree-ide en ze waygon."

"The chocobos don't belong to me, they belong to some of my traveling companions. His name is Quinn, and he collected them from a group of moogles through trade. While we were camping, the thieves stole all but one of them, the one I used to catch up to them. I came from that way (Asper pointed in the direction he had traveled from), and the camp should still be there. If it wouldn't be too much trouble for you, would you mind taking me and the animals back that way? You are all armed, and my friends wouldn't try anything. If you don't want to, I would be happy to go to a town with you, but I don't particulary want the chocobos, and have no desire to keep them for my self."

"We wheel pass zis wee. Ef yu-err friendz er ze theeves, eet wheel nut go well wif yu." Asper was directed to the wagon. He reluctantly got inside. He was jostled slightly as the chocobos were commanded to pull. Soon they were travelling at a fair clip.

Asper grew bored, waiting inside the dark wagon as he and his new 'party' traveled. He hoped they would encounter Quinn's camp soon. Idly, he noted the cabinets and drawers around him. It was like being in someone's cupboard. On a whim, he opened a cabinet and looked in. There were some small bottles of liquid inside.

He opened one of the drawers. Something was rolling around inside, some kind of cylindrical object. He reached in to stop its motion and get a better look, pulling his hand back suddenly at the feeling of several small, sharp points stabbing his hand. Fingers numbed, he staggered in the rocking wagon. Barely comprehending, Asper fell to the floor.

...

"Hey, mister, wake up." Something slapped Asper, startling him from dreamless slumber. One of those soldiers was leaning over him, and sunlight shone into his eyes from over the man's shoulder. "Boy, you really must have been tired."

Asper lay stunned until a pair of soldiers finally removed him bodily from the wagon. "Look," said one, "you're going to have to present your case to the stablemaster. We've been summoned to the castle." Asper blinked and tried to shake the fog from his brain. He turned to where the first soldier was pointing. He was given a shove in that direction. All around him were stable pens, and ahead of him was a small, squat building.

Inside was a large, squat man. Asper leaned in the door and watched him. He was an extremely fat man in ill-fitting clothes that must have been fine before they were repeatedly rolled in animal dung. He seemed to be angrily cursing to himself.

This had not been a good morning. For that matter, this had not been a good day. THe stablemaster seemd at first glance ill-equipped to believe Asper's stroy, which would only complicate matters. But he had to give it a shot.

"Sir", said Asper as he walked up to the rather large individual, "My name is Asper. I do not know the origns of all of these chocobos, but I believe that they were stolen from my friends and traveling companions, and I had wished to return the beasts to them. I am not sure if the remaining ones are yours, and I have no desire to keep any of them. I just wish to get this sorted out as quickly as possible. My friends are no doubt waiting for me, and I do not know how they are faring in the forest. The leader of the group, his name is Quinn, had gotten the chocobos from some moogles. I'm not even sure where I am now, nor where they were or could possibly be, but it would be nice to settle all of this."

Asper reeled as the man turned, the stench coming off of him almost beyond human endurance. The man grinned broadly, revealing his rotting teeth. In spite of himself, Asper had to turn away. He felt ill. In turning, his eyes fell on the timid white chocobo in the pen next door. "Ahyuh?" said the man dimly. "What 'bout yer friends, mmhyuh?"

"My friends", started Asper, trying to look at the man, "bought some chocobos from some moogles. I think some of these chocbos that were collected belong to them."

The man's brow furrowed. "Yer friends bought'n some chocobos... Nnhyuh?" He looked around. "I don't see no frends... I don't think you got no... mmhyuh... friends." Ignoring Asper, he went back to what he was doing, which seemed to be staring at the floor.

"Um, sir," asked Asper as he stared at the strangely acting fellow, "what exactly are you looking at?"

The man jumped, as much as his girth would allow, which ended up looking like a shrug. He rounded on Asper. "Mmmhyuh? Ain't none of your business. Dint I tell you get back to work?"

"Sir, I do not work for you. Tell me if you know who these chocobos belong to."

The obese man grumbled to himself. With effort he waddled to Asper. "I don't think you understand me. Wait, who're you?" He leaned forward, squinting to look Asper over. Asper glanced back, noting that some stablehands were hooking some animals to the wagon that Asper had arrived in.

"I'm Asper. I came because I was told you believed you were the owner of these chocobos."

The stablemaster sized Asper up, his expression more shrewd than the mimic had expected. "Mmhyuh, what's yer family name and what's it wirth to ya'?" An unusual movement out of the corner of his eye drew Asper's attention the nearby pen. He saw a set of small feet running amongst the chocobos. He wondered absently if it was a young stablehand.

"Kanago. My name is Asper Kanago. And it isn't worth much to me right now." Asper turned and walked over to the pen where little footsteps were audible. He was going to investigate. Something, something about this did not seem right.

The stablemaster grunted dismissively, but Asper was already walking away.

The pen contained six chocobos, the white one was surely Asper's mount. She even recognized him and came near. Two were gray, the other three were standard yellows. They might very well have been the set Quinn had taken from the moogles. However, he did not see the owner of the feet that he had seen just a split-second before. The chocobo pen appeared to be occupied entirely by chocobos.

Asper, not seeing anyone around, didn't dismiss what he thought he knew. He crouched to look at the ground beneath the chocobos. Surely some tracks of the feet, or perhaps the entity itself, could be seen from the bottom side...

Asper hopped the fence to the pen, examining the ground. Although the milling chocobos had thoroughly churned up the dirt, he was sure he could see some diminutive tracks. They were quickly destroyed as the birds pressed in close around him. He idly wondered where the figure had gone when he caught a small hand out of the corner of his eye. It was across the back of the neck of one of the yellow chocobos. Someone was... hanging from the side of the bird...?

Asper smirked to himself. He carefully approached, but the chocobo skirted away from him skittishly.

Asper, unable to determine the hanger-on, got a flash of inspiration. He left the pen and went over to one of the stable hands. "I don't suppose you have any Chocobo feed? I think one of them is hungry."

The stable hand whirled, gibbering in agitation, revealing itself to be some sort of small humanoid monster. At the same time, more popped up in the pen, throwing the gate wide and causing the chocobos to stampede.

The fat stable master stumbled out, a mix of anger and extreme confusion etched on his face as shouts went up from the pens. Goblins were appearing everywhere, stealing the birds... again.

Asper drew his sword upon seeing the critters. Not knowing how to round up chocobos, he decided to put his efforts towards ending the goblin menance.

The goblin blinked at Asper's aggressive display, then backed away from him, wide-eyed. As he advanced, it grinned and spoke sinisterly, two more popping up from the shadows and taking him by surprise. They nicked him on either leg with small, crude daggers.

As Asper raised his blade in counter, the first goblin jabbed him, scoring another minor cut.

His own attack felled the goblin easily, throwing green-black blood all over the other two.

The third Goblin swiped Asper again, weaving around the mimic in an unnerving manner. The stab was strong, but even at full strength Asper's armor was more than capable of absorbing most of the impact. The creature shrieked incomprehensibly.

The second missed entirely. It too began shrieking caustically.

Asper slashed the weaving goblin, sending it down to the stable floor. The remaining goblin attacked again, this time successfully scoring on Asper's exposed calf. A drop of blood ran down his leg. It made a rude gesture and dove out the stable door. Asper glanced around the room, noting that the "slain" goblins were already gone, leaving only two small green puddles to mark their passing. Keeping his weapon at the ready, Asper ran out into the open.

A hard blow caught him and sent him sprawling, followed by the heavy weight of a chocobo kicking him aside. Asper rolled and pulled himself to his feet in time to watch the mass of chocobos circling the stable and running off into the distance, each with a goblin rider. A goblin with a pointed hat and a heavy coat took the lead on a black chocobo.

The stablemaster stood nearby, holding his pants by the sides as if he was trying to rip them off and tear them in two in the process.

Looking strangly at the stable master, Asper made the first comment. "Do you have any medical supplies or tonic? I have been pretty hurt. I can go after them if you help restore me."

The man stared back, dimly, as the chocobos disappeared in the direction of the city. He squinted at Asper, as if not completely sure what he was saying. "Mmmhyunh? Go'm after 'em? Why dint you save MY BIRDS!?" He growled menacingly, momentarily letting go of his pants with one hand and taking a small step forward. His reddening face lightened to a pinkish as he grabbed his pants once more. He stood very still, the tendons on his arms standing out as he held his pants firmly.

"I did help. I got rid of some of the goblins, right? Now the rest of the chocobos are just wandering, and chances are a gregarious creature like a chocobo will return to its stable. You just need to help guide them on their way. And I will help, if you get me some tonic for these wounds I sustained for your animals.

The stablemaster just stood, noncomprehending. He finally looked around the empty stables. "Guards! Guards!" He yelled. He continued to cast about, his face reddening, but he remained rooted to the spot.

Asper didn't see any guards. He didn't see much of anything. It was quiet, with all the birds gone.

"Where did everyone go? You, are you even listening to me? There are no guards here. And all of your chocobos are gone. Your pants are still dropping, your beefy face is still red, and you haven't moved. Did you not just see the whole gang of goblins steal, STEAL, your chocobos? I'm in the middle of nowhere with you?!" Asper stared at the confusing stablmaster.

Closer inspection of the man revealed that he looked relatively human, despite his weight and distinct disregard for even basic hygiene. From his expression and manner, Asper could glean little. Taken at face value, the man was angry and extremely stupid.

In response to Asper's inspection, the man squinted back in obvious mimicry. "Mmmhyunh? Guards?" he whined, still stuck in place and still expecting someone to answer his call.

Asper didn't even respond to the man. He just turned around and slowly walked towards the chocobo tracks, following them in hopes of learning of their whereabouts. He did walk slowly enough, however, to be attentive. Something was up with this guy, and he didn't want his back turned for too long.

Following the tracks out of the stable area, Asper made his way toward the distant buildings of the city. He didn't notice the skulking werewolf drawing near.

Asper continued his way towards the buildings, looking for anyone around who might be willing to help him in his injuries. Surely someone has tonic here, he thought.

There was slight sound behind him, and Asper turned. He saw nothing at first, but then he noticed a small group in the distance. They were pretty far away, but well within his visual range. He suspected they had already seen him, as well. Two of them seemed to be much smaller, like children... or the chocobo thieves.

Regarding the three figures in the distance, Asper was surprised as one of them charged him, accosting him with a series of rapid statements as soon as it was in hearing range. Up close, he could see that it was another one of those moogles, a pink one, only armored as if coming from battle.

Meeting Kupita

Asper found himself dragged into another dark chamber, lined with cells. He and Rei were searched and then taken to the fifth cell on his right. They were thrown in, the guards immediately withdrawing. There was little light to see by, only what was thrown by a two emplacements on either end of the room, both now out of his sight.

Rei sat down on the bench that must serve as the cell's bed. She closed her eyes and waited patiently. The thick stone walls to either side of them prevented a view of anything. In the cell across from them, a dark figure stood. It made its way back to its bed and sat down.

From the right, a quiet voice spoke. It carried easily to Asper's ears. "You two don't look like the average prisoners here. Excuse me miss, but don't I know you?" Rei opened her eyes, curious. She approached the front of the cell, looking to the right.

"I am Rei Sarel, Knight of Heron. I am well known there. Who might you be, that you know of me here?"

The voice was quiet for a time. "The name is unknown to me, but I know your aspect..."