"Sorry Ladies, but by order of the Count, if you are not in the army or do not have an official order from the Adventurers Guild, you cannot advance beyond this point. Ouch...
Leaving their Sergeant alone to deal with this situation, which they know is desperate, the fourteen soldiers who are in charge of blocking the way step back after step. Although their eyes do not leave the two sublime ladies for a second, the fear is the strongest and scared of the giant tiger particularly dirty, without consulting each other, all have opted for a discreet but saving retreat.
... Ladies, please don't make my task any more complicated than it already is. Understand that I'd rather be anywhere but in this G.o.dforsaken hole, but I have my orders, so please step back before I order my men to attack. Ouch."
Quietly settled on the cat who, from what she's seen since this morning, likes to roll around in the dirt, Méria watches Hera throw pebbles at the over-talkative human. Her hand itches. She has only one desire: to separate the head from the body of this unnecessarily tiring man. However, her little cousin has a.s.sured her, (that she has her own way of making things right), so she holds back her desire to kill.
Hera does not like unnecessary violence. According to her: killing without good reason is wrong. So, with the help of her little pebbles, which work very well on her cat when it is mean, disobedient or simply when she feels like throwing them at it, she has undertaken what she thinks is a very effective method of intimidation.
Before the joyful eyes of poor Stincky tiger, who is usually the target of these vicious attacks, the devoted Sergeant, who in order to avoid the wave of pebbles that keeps. .h.i.tting his head violently, kneels down and adopts a fetal position.
To the sound of a cute little laugh, the gratuitous stoning continues for some time. The soldiers have long since fled and when he feels that the attack has finally stopped, the Sergeant takes the risk of removing his head from his knees. The throwing of pebbles has just ceased, but he is stunned to see the giant lion's b.u.t.tocks waddling vulgarly a few hundred feet away from him.
His hand caresses his b.u.mpy forehead, and the man, who is as wounded in his pride as he is in his body after being beaten by a child, thinks that after all, he has done his job. Now, so much the worse for these pretty ladies if the gang of that infamous Prosper gets their hands on them.
…
On a narrow path that winds between low hills covered with Mediterranean pines, the Hera's cat carefully tries to avoid very sharp stones that could hurt its paws.
"These stones are a bit strange! They look like wild mushrooms in the middle of the city and like them, they've strangely grown right in the middle of this road that doesn't seem to be their original environment."
To put some lead in this little rat's head, Méria closes her fist and uses it as a hammer on this abnormally empty box. Her cousin grumbles a little, but soon her mouth opens up again to say something stupid. However and although she regrets it, after 2 more plunges in this twisted universe that is the spirit of Hera, the beautiful young woman still not having been able to find the slightest clue about this human named Gina, after inquiring about the surroundings of Calvy, both of them decided to come to this place annexed by a bandit gang, was known as much for its violence as for its eccentric behaviour that prompts its members to compare themselves to a pack of dogs.
"These stones didn't grow by themselves. Someone placed them here to slow down any intruders who might enter in this area. Besides, I believe that those stone growers whose taste for decoration is to be reviewed, will soon invite us to their farm."
…
On one of the small hills, 4 men fully dressed in green approached without making any noise. Arriving at the level of a thick bush overhanging the small path of erected stones, the smallest of them raises his arm. Immediately, as if they had repeated the operation countless times, the 4 get down on their knees and disappear into the vegetation.
To better see who dares to venture into the desired land and thus, stolen by the Great Prosper, on all fours, they push the many branches that obstruct their path, until they reach the front of the bush. Following the precise gestures of their pack leader, very delicately, always without making the slightest sound, they spread the few leaves that block their vision.
For the members of this pack, these skilful scouts capable of blending into any environment and that, whatever the weather or the time of day, it's the amazement.
"Huff" The little man's running out of oxygen. Not because of these two breathtaking beauties, but because of one of his puppies who, too happy to point out that he too has seen these beauties, has just elbowed him violently in the ribs. With his face red to excess, his eyes wide open, drool running down his thick lips, to relieve his pain, the little man slaps his fist against the floor.
His pain always present, but more bearable, the little pack leader decides to organize the attack and without waiting any longer, he gives his orders.
"Puppy, you're going to warn the pack brothers that tonight we'll have a a feast worthy of Kings. The three of us, my puppies, are going on the neat chick chase."
One of the little man's puppies doesn't take too kindly to this plan because if you forget the kid who's very cute but a bit young at the bust, the young lady is indeed a meal of choice, however, there's still a weight problem.
"Pack leader! And the evil animal. It's basically a Rank B. I don't mean to be pessimistic, but considering that a modest Rank F- beast would kick the c.r.a.p out of the three of us together, I think it's a detail worthy of note."
The pack leader waves his hand horizontally. He knows full well that if he confronts the creature, he'll probably end up like a steak between its teeth, but why fight when it's useless?
"This animal might indeed be a worry if it carried men on its back, but, in this instance, it doesn't. Listen carefully to my plan and follow it to the letter."
…
"Do you want another piece of brioche, Hera?"
For an answer, Hera opens her little mouth and brings her head closer to the hands that have been feeding her so nicely for the past few minutes. To better enjoy the thin, slightly golden crust that caresses her lips, she's about to stick out her little tongue, when her sensitive ear perceives a scream. Curious, without removing her lips from her brioche, she turns her head slightly and from the corner of her eye, she sees 3 leprechaun in green pyjamas cheerfully hurtling down one of the little hills.
The smallest of the leprechaun has legs a little short for this kind of terrain and not being able to get out of the high tufts of gra.s.s, he falls, then finishes walking down that little hill on his b.u.t.tocks. The 2 other leprechauns join him quickly. They seem very worried about the small leprechaun, but this dwarf leprechaun has a very bad character. Instead of thanking them, he kicks them several times before heading towards her cat. Seeing the leprechaun approaching, Hera quickly takes her brioche between her lips, jumps out of her cat and runs towards them.
Méria isn't too worried about her cousin, but she can't help but wonder what is still going enought in that sick brain.
"Hera, where are you going?"
Hera wants to answer, but the moment she opens her lips, her brioche falls out. Fortunately, with a quick reflex, she catches her precious pastry before it hits the ground.
"One night, before I fell asleep, Helene told me a story in which leprechauns gave money to travelers. Since I thought it was strange that Helene knew something interesting, I asked Caius to know if the story was true or if Helene was just talking nonsense as usual, and you know what? Tonight we're gonna have a a feast worthy of Queens."
