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Description
An Eternity for Raising Pets
Chapter 2

     Sonora the sparrow flew above the town, looking for a cozy resting spot. She was repeatedly harassed by a group of rowdy pigeons after she had settled down on a lamppost for a rest. Apparently that was their street and only they were allowed on the lampposts.  It was already nearing dusk and the bunch had still not given up. Sonora had grown quite tired of them, and she felt it was time to shake them off for good.

     “Fry, you chickens!” she shouted as the tips of her wings began to glow softly. Three tiny, crackling bolts of electric energy descended in front of the pigeons. Startled, they all flew very quickly in the opposite direction. It didn't take much longer to finish exploring the town. All the buildings were square and had flat roofs, and most of the roofs were connected by bridges. Sonora noticed that people were hanging out on the rooftops; some seemed to be selling things while others were just having little parties. The buildings and sidewalks were raised high above the road so that they required stairs to get onto, and they had railing. Eventually, the sparrow settled on the edge of the roof of the antique shop she had visited earlier when she was lost, one of the few that was unoccupied.

     As the sun set and the sky blazed orange Sonora began to doze off. It was unlikely that much trouble would arise in a small town where even a talking sparrow was odd. Still, she didn't know all of Green Mountain's secrets yet. If a job popped up it would be worth it to stay a couple of days. Maybe more, her wings were aching from flying for so long. That year's summer was so hot, too, it would definitely be good to rest. So she would stay there for a couple of days to a week, and if something happened to come up that was all the better. Her mind made up, Sonora shifted into a comfortable position, fluffed up her feathers and surrendered herself to sleep.

     “Sonora! Is that you?”

     Grudgingly, she opened one eye at the disturbance, and was pleasantly surprised that the voice belonged to an old friend.

     “Merle! I haven't seen you in forever! How've you been?” Merle was a handsome grackle who met Sonora during one of her first jobs. They had bumped into each other from time to time afterward and became good friends who swapped strange and funny traveling stories whenever they crossed paths.

     “Oh fine. It's been boring, actually. I wish I had an exciting life like you.”

     “It hasn't been exciting recently. This area doesn't seem to have many monsters living in it. Maybe the Guardian is powerful, but I've been all around and I haven't felt anything to suggest anything really impressive lives here. If it weren't so quiet I'd think this area lost its Guardian.”

     “Well you've never been good at picking up on even obvious auras. Isn't it  the least noticeable ones that are the most dangerous?”

     “I'm not that bad. And yeah, that can be true sometimes. But if there is a super powerful Guardian than the humans either ignore it or are ungrateful for its protection.”

     “But you always complain about the way people will worship their Guardian. You always say 'It's all stupid. Treating a Guardian like a god just causes feuding and war'. Maybe the people here are quietly grateful. Or maybe the Guardian isn't a tyrant and doesn't require frivolous things like tributes and offerings. You know, maybe it just likes to help people.”

     “Nobody just 'likes to help people'. I always get something in return for my trouble, and I'm sure the Guardian, if there is one, does too”

     “That's an awfully cynical thing for you to say. You haven't come in contact with many Guardians. How can you be so sure about their motives?”

     “I just am.” Sonora replied stubbornly, and for while that was the end of their conversation. They simply sat watching the sunset together, occasionally commenting on what the humans were doing. As the evening wore on and the twilight faded, the rooftop shops closed down one by one, the families retreated inside their homes, and only a cluster of the roofs remained occupied. It seemed to be some type of late night party. Most of the attendees were teenagers. They set up neon bright popstars that made it difficult for either Merle or Sonora to sleep. Popstars were a type of magical product that was best described as a small, harmless, noisy firecracker that came in a variety of different patterns and colors. They were activated by a very simple incantation that even the most magically ignorant of humans could master and were a popular decoration at parties.

     “Geez, don't they know the importance of a good night's sleep?” Sonora grumbled.

     “I'm sure they don't have any reason be tired though. It's not as if they flew here, and I think the popstars are pretty. Well, I guess I'm wide awake anyway so it doesn't much mater to me.”

     “Merle, you think anything even a little sparkly is pretty.” Sonora supposed you couldn't have firecrackers without noise, but she still wished they didn't make any loud pops. They would be much prettier then. “What are you doing here anyway?”

     Merle lifted his wings in a gesture similar to a shrug. “I don't know. I'm just wandering about.”

     “So there's no point for you to be here? Wow, no wonder you're bored.”

    “There doesn't have to be a point. I enjoy traveling. Traveling and not having to worry about exterminating fearsome beasts, that is.”

    Sonora huffed, “At least I have a purpose.”

---------------

    It was nearing midnight and the rooftops were alive with kaleidoscope colors and cheerful music. The streets below, the alleyways and storefronts, were a stark contrast. Deep shadows and total silence – silence, except for a girl and a dog urgently discussing their kidnapping plans.

    “We don't have to kidnap him! They'll storm our house if we do. It's a wonder they haven't already.” This was the dog, Curly, who was a little more than apprehensive about the whole thing. He wanted to help Harmonica, but he also wanted to keep his master safe. She wasn't just his master; she was his dear friend, and he had to think of her safety even if she wouldn't.

     “Oh please no. I'm so scared. A buncha humans aren't gonna cause us any trouble. I'll eat most of them on the spot and then freeze the others to make blood popsicles. We'll have food for months. And the guy'll definitely give us what we want one way or another. I don't see any downside to this plan.” The girl, who had changed out of her frilly pajamas and was now wearing a dress, was not going to budge so easily.

     Curly sighed. “If you cause a stir like that it'll just make the humans more angry. Stronger people will come to kill you. You won't be able to dispose of them so easily because people will think you're a major threat. In a worst case scenario you'd have to face a Guardian.” For once Curly's master seriously considered the consequences of her actions. Briefly, she touched a shining ruby bracelet on her right wrist. It sent tingle up her arm, as though it was excited at the prospect of fighting such a powerful opponent, and the girl smirked. “No.” Curly glared at the bracelet. It was a troublesome artifact, sometimes his master seemed to think she was invincible because of it. “I won't let you put yourself in danger just because you have that. It's not worth it.”

     The girl took a deep breath and said, “Oh I'm not stupid! I'm not this thing's slave, you know.” Crossing her arms, she took a left turn down a narrow back alley path. Curly followed at her heels.

     “I hope we're not still going to kidnap him.” he said.

     “Nope, we're gonna negotiate in his office.” Curly gave her a skeptical look. “I'm being honest. I'm not gonna eat him or anything. I'm not even hungry.”

     The pair soon came upon a clinic. It was one of two in Green Mountain, and it was known for being the only one to provide both magical and traditional medical care. Theo, the doctor, had stayed late due to recent complaints about a certain potion for pain causing weird side effects in children. It was most likely due to his newest employees; they were incompetent at best when it came to magic. Although he was trying his best to teach them, Theo was growing tired of their constant screw-ups. He now had to stay all night to make a new batch. No doubt tomorrow he'd have some kid come in who fell off a roof at that rowdy party. He didn't realize that a tiny bat with blond fur had flitted in through an open window. Nor did he hear when it transformed into a girl and quietly opened the window more to let in a dog with a curly tail. Only when the dog growled at him did he turn around to find himself face-to-face with the famous Devil in Blood Devil Peak.

Description
An Eternity for Raising Pets
Chapter 2

     Sonora the sparrow flew above the town, looking for a cozy resting spot. She was repeatedly harassed by a group of rowdy pigeons after she had settled down on a lamppost for a rest. Apparently that was their street and only they were allowed on the lampposts.  It was already nearing dusk and the bunch had still not given up. Sonora had grown quite tired of them, and she felt it was time to shake them off for good.

     “Fry, you chickens!” she shouted as the tips of her wings began to glow softly. Three tiny, crackling bolts of electric energy descended in front of the pigeons. Startled, they all flew very quickly in the opposite direction. It didn't take much longer to finish exploring the town. All the buildings were square and had flat roofs, and most of the roofs were connected by bridges. Sonora noticed that people were hanging out on the rooftops; some seemed to be selling things while others were just having little parties. The buildings and sidewalks were raised high above the road so that they required stairs to get onto, and they had railing. Eventually, the sparrow settled on the edge of the roof of the antique shop she had visited earlier when she was lost, one of the few that was unoccupied.

     As the sun set and the sky blazed orange Sonora began to doze off. It was unlikely that much trouble would arise in a small town where even a talking sparrow was odd. Still, she didn't know all of Green Mountain's secrets yet. If a job popped up it would be worth it to stay a couple of days. Maybe more, her wings were aching from flying for so long. That year's summer was so hot, too, it would definitely be good to rest. So she would stay there for a couple of days to a week, and if something happened to come up that was all the better. Her mind made up, Sonora shifted into a comfortable position, fluffed up her feathers and surrendered herself to sleep.

     “Sonora! Is that you?”

     Grudgingly, she opened one eye at the disturbance, and was pleasantly surprised that the voice belonged to an old friend.

     “Merle! I haven't seen you in forever! How've you been?” Merle was a handsome grackle who met Sonora during one of her first jobs. They had bumped into each other from time to time afterward and became good friends who swapped strange and funny traveling stories whenever they crossed paths.

     “Oh fine. It's been boring, actually. I wish I had an exciting life like you.”

     “It hasn't been exciting recently. This area doesn't seem to have many monsters living in it. Maybe the Guardian is powerful, but I've been all around and I haven't felt anything to suggest anything really impressive lives here. If it weren't so quiet I'd think this area lost its Guardian.”

     “Well you've never been good at picking up on even obvious auras. Isn't it  the least noticeable ones that are the most dangerous?”

     “I'm not that bad. And yeah, that can be true sometimes. But if there is a super powerful Guardian than the humans either ignore it or are ungrateful for its protection.”

     “But you always complain about the way people will worship their Guardian. You always say 'It's all stupid. Treating a Guardian like a god just causes feuding and war'. Maybe the people here are quietly grateful. Or maybe the Guardian isn't a tyrant and doesn't require frivolous things like tributes and offerings. You know, maybe it just likes to help people.”

     “Nobody just 'likes to help people'. I always get something in return for my trouble, and I'm sure the Guardian, if there is one, does too”

     “That's an awfully cynical thing for you to say. You haven't come in contact with many Guardians. How can you be so sure about their motives?”

     “I just am.” Sonora replied stubbornly, and for while that was the end of their conversation. They simply sat watching the sunset together, occasionally commenting on what the humans were doing. As the evening wore on and the twilight faded, the rooftop shops closed down one by one, the families retreated inside their homes, and only a cluster of the roofs remained occupied. It seemed to be some type of late night party. Most of the attendees were teenagers. They set up neon bright popstars that made it difficult for either Merle or Sonora to sleep. Popstars were a type of magical product that was best described as a small, harmless, noisy firecracker that came in a variety of different patterns and colors. They were activated by a very simple incantation that even the most magically ignorant of humans could master and were a popular decoration at parties.

     “Geez, don't they know the importance of a good night's sleep?” Sonora grumbled.

     “I'm sure they don't have any reason be tired though. It's not as if they flew here, and I think the popstars are pretty. Well, I guess I'm wide awake anyway so it doesn't much mater to me.”

     “Merle, you think anything even a little sparkly is pretty.” Sonora supposed you couldn't have firecrackers without noise, but she still wished they didn't make any loud pops. They would be much prettier then. “What are you doing here anyway?”

     Merle lifted his wings in a gesture similar to a shrug. “I don't know. I'm just wandering about.”

     “So there's no point for you to be here? Wow, no wonder you're bored.”

    “There doesn't have to be a point. I enjoy traveling. Traveling and not having to worry about exterminating fearsome beasts, that is.”

    Sonora huffed, “At least I have a purpose.”

---------------

    It was nearing midnight and the rooftops were alive with kaleidoscope colors and cheerful music. The streets below, the alleyways and storefronts, were a stark contrast. Deep shadows and total silence – silence, except for a girl and a dog urgently discussing their kidnapping plans.

    “We don't have to kidnap him! They'll storm our house if we do. It's a wonder they haven't already.” This was the dog, Curly, who was a little more than apprehensive about the whole thing. He wanted to help Harmonica, but he also wanted to keep his master safe. She wasn't just his master; she was his dear friend, and he had to think of her safety even if she wouldn't.

     “Oh please no. I'm so scared. A buncha humans aren't gonna cause us any trouble. I'll eat most of them on the spot and then freeze the others to make blood popsicles. We'll have food for months. And the guy'll definitely give us what we want one way or another. I don't see any downside to this plan.” The girl, who had changed out of her frilly pajamas and was now wearing a dress, was not going to budge so easily.

     Curly sighed. “If you cause a stir like that it'll just make the humans more angry. Stronger people will come to kill you. You won't be able to dispose of them so easily because people will think you're a major threat. In a worst case scenario you'd have to face a Guardian.” For once Curly's master seriously considered the consequences of her actions. Briefly, she touched a shining ruby bracelet on her right wrist. It sent tingle up her arm, as though it was excited at the prospect of fighting such a powerful opponent, and the girl smirked. “No.” Curly glared at the bracelet. It was a troublesome artifact, sometimes his master seemed to think she was invincible because of it. “I won't let you put yourself in danger just because you have that. It's not worth it.”

     The girl took a deep breath and said, “Oh I'm not stupid! I'm not this thing's slave, you know.” Crossing her arms, she took a left turn down a narrow back alley path. Curly followed at her heels.

     “I hope we're not still going to kidnap him.” he said.

     “Nope, we're gonna negotiate in his office.” Curly gave her a skeptical look. “I'm being honest. I'm not gonna eat him or anything. I'm not even hungry.”

     The pair soon came upon a clinic. It was one of two in Green Mountain, and it was known for being the only one to provide both magical and traditional medical care. Theo, the doctor, had stayed late due to recent complaints about a certain potion for pain causing weird side effects in children. It was most likely due to his newest employees; they were incompetent at best when it came to magic. Although he was trying his best to teach them, Theo was growing tired of their constant screw-ups. He now had to stay all night to make a new batch. No doubt tomorrow he'd have some kid come in who fell off a roof at that rowdy party. He didn't realize that a tiny bat with blond fur had flitted in through an open window. Nor did he hear when it transformed into a girl and quietly opened the window more to let in a dog with a curly tail. Only when the dog growled at him did he turn around to find himself face-to-face with the famous Devil in Blood Devil Peak.