Chapter 31: The Map Was Upside Down?! (Part Two)

  It took them about half an hour of canoeing before they finally reached the city. Nico looked around in absolute awe, while Kael looked like he’d rather be literally anywhere else.

  “Chief… do I really need to be here?” Kael muttered under his breath — but of course, the chief heard him.

  “Kael! Would you like your head on a silver platter?”

  Kael’s eyes widened. “NO! On second thought, this is so much fun!”

  They wandered the streets aimlessly, searching for anything that might lead them to Micah. Midnight had long passed, and hunger was starting to gnaw at all three of them.

  “Dad… I’m hungry…” Nico whined, refusing to take another step.

  “Your brother is missing and you can only think about food?! Kael, carry him!”

  Kael groaned but obeyed, hoisting Nico up as they entered the center of town. Children and adults in silly, colorful costumes filled the streets.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  A young girl approached Nico while Kael struggled to keep him still. Nico blinked once. Twice. Then he launched himself out of Kael’s arms, landing on the ground with his tail flicking wildly.

  “Where’d you get your costume? It’s so cute!”

  Nico heard nothing except the word cute.

  SHE CALLED ME CUTE. OKAY. I’M READY TO DIE NOW.

  On the outside, he stood frozen with the dumbest expression on his face.

  Kael looked confused. The chief looked horrified. His son — his precious son — was talking to a human.

  A human.

  A HUMAN.

  “Can I touch your ears?” the little girl asked sweetly.

  That was it. The chief grabbed Nico by the collar and dragged him away from the crowd.

  “Dad, no!! She said I was cute!!! Please let me go back to the pretty human!!!”

  Kael looked smug, grinning like he’d just watched the best drama of his life.

  They walked past a restaurant.

  “Can we please get food…?” Nico whined again.

  “I am not hungry! And neither is Kael.” The chief glared at Kael.

  “Umm… I mean… uh… Chief! I need food!!” Kael immediately switched sides.

  The chief’s gaze darkened. He sighed, staring at the restaurant.

  He told himself he wouldn’t eat human food.

  His stomach betrayed him.

  That’s how the three of them ended up devouring the entire menu.

  Nico leaned back in his chair, belly round and full.

  “You know what? We can find Micah tomorrow…” the chief murmured, sighing contentedly.

  A waiter approached with the bill. “Sir, your total is 300 dollars.”

  Kael blinked.

  The chief grinned slyly and handed the man a small sack of coins. The waiter stared at it.

  “…Guards. Arrest these thieves.”

  And that is how Nico, Kael, and the chief accidentally burned down a restaurant and escaped without a single scratch.