Micah tilted his head, watching her with his steadfast smile. He was quite used to village folk being unnerved around him when he'd shown his colors. When she'd finished, he straightened up. "I'm here because of a concern raised to Mr. Calico. About a couple who came here and maybe made you uncomfortable?"
The baker gasped, surprised that the Grudges took interest in worries. She'd spoken about the incident to a few of the village-folk, but she hadn't heard anything about the Oni gang being notified.
"It's what she- the young blind miss said to me. Um, it sounded like she was being kept against her will, honestly."
Clutching a bit tighter onto the fabric, she wracked her brain for the words exchanged, what exactly cued Camellia that something was awfully wrong.
"She was the cutest thing. Eyes of hazy lavender, platinum blonde hair that sculpted her face beautifully, but you could tell she was malnourished. She was so frail, her cheeks were sunken in."
Whatever fright she had from the man was replaced with worry for this young girl-- someone she had to speak up for. Her strong gaze met his, and the nervousness in her voice was gone.
"She said her father wouldn't let her have friends when we were talking. Something about maybe hurting her if he found out? I don't believe she was speaking about the partner with her, he was much too young, but I don't know. He had black hair, was tall, yet frail, and somehow held up two large barrels of... something? I haven't seen them again since, but I'm worried for her well-being."
The man's smile faded in concern as she told her story, but his eyes glowed with warmth. "Hey, miss Camellia, I really appreciate you noticing all that and bringing it to people's attention. You're a real good person-"
He stumbled as a tall, grey-haired man pushed past him quickly. Micah didn't mind, looking back to the girl.
"Do you remember what direction these two left in...?"
She was concerned for a moment as the lanky man rushed by, but chose to ignore it, just as the man had done. She nodded her head in answer to his question, remembering as she watched the two disappear.
"Yes, they walked towards the west exit of the market."
Micah looked over his shoulder, eyeing the figure who'd just passed them as it swiftly made its way towards the west exit. "Oh yeah? Hmm..." He said softly to himself before looking back at Camellia. "Mr. Calico says we shouldn't bow to anyone but, it's the only way to say goodbye to a proper lady." He bowed dramatically. "Thank you, ma'am. We'll take it from here. Don't you worry, we're gonna save those kids." The man straightened, gave her a smiling salute, and turned away into the crowd.
Though this strange man could be anyone at all, Micah believed in fate. How wonderful would it be if this man was the one they needed to find? What would it hurt, following him a bit? Light on his feet, Micah kept a long distance between he and Nicodemus. It was tough sometimes, as he was pushed and shoved to the point that he would lose him in the crowds, but that long gray hair and lanky shape was an icon that always helped him spot the man again. Eventually, the village fell away into forestry. Thick, confusing forestry.
She said those two were malnourished, right? He recollected in his thoughts, trying hard to find the man again without raising awareness. A flash of grey, far between the trees, and he was back on track. Hurrying, Micah crouched and stalked after him.
Well into the journey through the woods, the target suddenly froze. Ah, shit, Micah, ya moron. The hunter thought to himself, ducking behind the nearest thicket. Nicodemus' figure stood still, way out there. For a minute, it even looked like he'd turned his head and glanced right at the young man through his hiding place. But despite this, Nicodemus turned his eyes forward once more and continued home with hastened step.
Micah narrowed his eyes, hoping he wasn't disturbing some villager that just happened to live way out here. But...hang on? He didn't remember anyone registering a house this far from Broder. All homes, shops, and otherwise owned buildings were always required to register their whereabouts and gain permission from the boss to live there. I call highly suspect. Micah thought to himself.
Before the two of them, a quaint little cottage slowly appeared. It's chimney was puffing cheerfully, and it's gardens were flourishing. The windows and door were elaborate, though Micah noticed a pattern very much like a lacey spider's web covering the glass windows from the inside between the curtains. Certainly not from neglect, but put there intentionally.
Nicodemus stopped as he reached the front step. Slowly he ascended the stairs, but when he reached the top, he turned fully around. Once again, Micah could feel this man's eyes burning into his. There's no way. No way he sees me. Micah thought in denial, staying firmly hidden. Nico just smiled, gave a little nod with his head to the forest around him, and entered the house.
After a few anxious moments of holding his breath, Micah sighed with relief and folded himself further into the thicket. Don't ya worry Jack, I think I found him.
Blinking a few times, hesitantly returned the bow, though not nearly as dramatically as his own. As the man departed to track the case, she spoke up with a singular request.
"Please be gentle with her, sir!"
She made a mental note to pay respects to the gang later for their assistance. Although not much, some of her baked goods would hopefully fair well with the man responsible-- Mr. Calico.
After tidying up her stall, she picked up the leftovers and departed, heading home to prepare supplies for the next day.
Although lunch itself hadn't taken hours on end, Nate made sure the date would last that or longer. He proudly hoisted Samma up on one arm to sit comfortably and marched through Marrow, yet always kept an eye on Jack's whereabouts and those around him. The aggressive Oni wasn't the most ideal partner to keep around the boss, but he was a decent bodyguard when he needed to be. The thing is, the dummy couldn't tell who'd be aiming for him until it was too late, most times. Another good reason for Samma to tag along-- Regardless if Jack needed it or not. Anyone would be stupid to try pulling something off on their home turf, anyways.
But eventually the overhead ray's began to dim, disappearing as the sun crossed the horizon. He escorted the duo back to the manor, though he preferred to live elsewhere. With a room prepared for him- like the rest of the Grudges- he decided to stick around for a little while longer, having not bothered Samma in some time.
"Think the gang'd be down for some drinking games?"
He pondered aloud, mid-push up. The man had odd tendencies, like working out anywhere, anytime. To him, it was as addictive as Jack's cigarette's; specifically, the bigger the build, the better.
Their day in town had been pleasant enough, not a bad idea from Nate after all.
The people of Marrow had welcomed the gang (as they'd ought to), bowing to them eagerly as they'd visited the marketplace. Occasionally, when Samma was busy trying to convince Nate to try on hats, the boss would wander over to a rickety building and talk to the owner, promising that he'd have someone come out and replace the roof. Despite Jack's tyrannical control over his villages, some folk quite liked having a family of badasses looking out for them. If you weren't directly involved in the drugtrade, life was pretty comfortable for the citizens (excluding that when someone could see a Grudge coming down the lane, everyone would hide their daughters inside).
Jack had followed along beside the loud duo silently as Samma had navigated them to a little bakery. She was eagerly trying out some bread that the cook had presented to her, and Jack almost swallowed his cigarette when she'd shoved a muffin into both his and Nate's mouth. "Try this with me!" She'd exclaimed, "It's a dragonfruit muffin, I've never heard of those before!" After choking for a brief moment, he'd taken another muffin off the counter and smashed it into the girl's hair in reprimand. Screaming in disgust, she'd done the same to him.
So, while Nate was doing pushups in the living room that night, Samma was sitting on the couch with Dollie standing behind her tediously picking muffin out of the girl's thick white hair. Jack was watching them with the tiniest of smiles, though while the other two began to discuss drinking games, his smile faded and his eyes glazed over in thought as he remembered Micah's mission.
"Dollie, have you seen Micah since this afternoon?"
"No, sir," The maid said, leaning closer to Samma's scalp and squinting.
"I sent him to Broder around eleven. He should've been back by now."
"Well, sir, you know he never takes a horse."
Jack rolled his eyes slightly and nodded. Micah did always insist on travelling by foot. Even so, concern was biting at his brain. A swirling cloud of smoke blew from his nose as he exhaled, though he had no cigarette in his mouth. Samma looked over at the boss, noticing the smog. She frowned a little, knowing this meant that he was dealing with strong emotions- and knowing Jack, they wouldn't be good ones.
Nathan repeated, hopping to his feet and circling his arms around in a stretch. He listened to Jack's concerns, yet watched Samma's flinches from the pulling of crusted muffin stuck in her hair.
He could attest to the length of travel, as he also so rarely took a horse. There was hardly any reason for the man to go out, but from time to time he'd travel around, the free spirit of the Grudges. As long as he didn't disappear, he wasn't a threat to anyone.
But Micah wouldn't disappear. Not Jack's right-hand man. As someone who didn't usually take to orders too well, surprisingly, he spoke up with an offer.
"Isn't it that-- that far-out village with the popular market? Shit, ya want me to grab a few guys and go looking, boss? I ain't about to sleep 'til dawn."
"Actually, I'll go with you." Jack said, standing. "Micah was checking out something potentially very serious. Nate, go grab a few men- sober and clear headed, please. We'll take the horses and see what's going on. Samma, you can come as well." He added, knowing the girl was about to ask. Samma smiled and jumped to her feet.
"Thanks, Dollie. You go on to bed now." She said to the maid before pulling her hair back up into a ponytail. "What's going on in this town, boss?"
"I can't say." The man replied, "Just expect it to be bad."
The giant beamed, as if he solved some sort of secret puzzle.
"YOU GOT IT, BOSS!"
He saluted, bolting into the hallway and causing the equivalent of an earthquake with each step he made. He ran past several rooms and plucked the heads of two who peaked out to question the ruckus. There wasn't many others, of course, as most already knew the sound of Nathan's steps as he ran through the corridors.
The gargantuan man led the way with Cherry, a young redheaded woman, and Kazuto, a rather androgynous teen. Whilst Cherry looked alert and ready to go, Kazuto yawned as if they were woken from mid-slumber.
"This counts as a field trip, doesn't it?" Cherry cheerfully piped up, practically skipping as she tried to keep up with the giant. Her dress bounced up with her, allowing Kazuto to stare from behind at the underclothes she exposed.
"Considering Micah might be in danger and we're probably going to kick ASS, HELL YEAH!"
He swung around and scooped the girl up on an arm, noting her giggles as she made herself comfortable. As soon as he heard an annoyed sigh come from Kazuto, he was immediately lifting him up and over a shoulder as well, despite his protests.
As Jack instructed, they were over by the horses in minutes, saddling them up and readying them for departure. Nathan's horse had the color between a light silver and cream, yet was also one of the largest of the bunch, as it had to be-- any smaller and it wouldn't able to handle his weight.
Jack was waiting for them by the stable yard, holding tight to the reins of his tall black stallion named Captain. With him was Samma, on her sleek palomino, and Conri on his dappled akhal-teke. Unlike most of the others who had dragon or serpent features, Conri's oni was canine oriented. He was a slender, but well-built man, with dark and serious eyes. An excellent tracker, one of the best in the gang. Both he and Jack exchanged silent glances as the other three arrived boisterously. Samma waved a hand to them happily.
"Stay on me." Jack told them, turning his horse. Captain snorted eagerly, his breath visible in the night air as Jack gave him a kick in the sides and he took off through the yard.
As the others followed suit, Conri glanced over at Kazuto and Cherry and navigated his horse close to theirs. "We're going to Broder, to look for Micah." He told them, assuming Nate hadn't given them too much information. "Look alive, Kazuto." He added to the sleepy one.
Nathan gave Conri a nod, while Cherry gave Samma an enthusiastic wave before they all took off, hooves beating in the dirt as they trailed behind their leader.
"I'm up, I swear. But thanks for filling us in-- unlike someone."
Kazuto huffed, expecting the large oaf not to hear him, nor notice the glare he shot over. Cherry, on the other hand, held a thumbs up and nodded.
"As long as he doesn't ride with me on the way back; sounds good!"
She joked, not too worried. Neither of the two understood the gravity of the assignment, other than they'd been forcefully volunteered for the task.
Although the forestry around them was dark, eventually small lights of torches and candles coming from the village came into view-- a beacon for their path.
In what felt like no time at all, the squad arrived in Broder. Their horses clopped up the cobblestones and under the village gate. It was eerie, the clinking of their saddles and stamping of their steeds echoing round the empty marketplace. Some folk bustled outside to see what was going on. An old man in a long dark coat quickly hurried over to Jack who stood at the front.
He lifted his lantern and said bravely, "All well, masters?"
Jack gave him a respectful nod, "Aye, all is well. On your way." The man bowed his head before stepping back and away from the horses. Jack gave a small wave of his finger, and Conri brought his horse up to the front.
"Is he here?"
The young man tilted his head up and took in a long breath of air through his nose. The long jaws of his fused mask parted open for a deeper breath.
"No sir, but he's not far."
"Take us to him." Jack said shortly, nodding for the man to get in front. Conri gave his horse a light pat on the side and it reared excitedly before bolting past Captain and leading the others onwards.
***************
The chimney was still puffing, the house still glowing with warmth from where the man in the thicket was watching. Micah hadn't moved his eyes from the little cottage's door since he'd gotten there hours ago. Not much had happened, though he'd heard a rather loud crash soon after the tall man had disappeared inside. He was almost nodding off when he felt the ground start to rumble.
Micah smiled over his shoulder. As loud and unveiling as the team of approaching horses was, he was happy that his family came for him. Standing, he quickly ran through the trees towards them with his hands up. "Stop!" He called quietly, "Stop!"
Conri pulled back on the reins, bringing his horse to a gentle halt. Jack and the others circled round. The boss gave his hellhound a nod of approval before dismounting his horse immediately. "What are you-" He started at Micah, only to have his mouth covered by the young man.
"I've found him, I think. He lives in this cottage." As the others got off their horses, Micah gestured for them all to come close.
"A girl in town said she met two youths she thought were being abused. Starved, neglected at least. A blind, fragile girl and a skinny jittery boy. She said they came from this direction. This house isn't on the registry, I think they must be in there. I followed a man here, he looks easily overtaken."
The giant couldn't help but be loud, only quieting down as he noticed Micah trying to hush them upon arrival. Nate was swift to jump off his horse with Cherry following him, and Kazuto lazily sliding down off the side of his flea-bitten grey steed. Although Nate wanted to immediately scoop the missing member up into a hug, he resisted the urge as all of them drew close for a debrief.
"Well let's get in there, then!"
Nathan declared, pulling up and away from the group as he cracked his knuckles. He wasn't one to wait for orders, nor was he one to follow them, anyways, so it was better if he just made his own.
Bolting to the front door, Nathan slammed a fist into the wood, pounding it as a warning to whoever was inside.
"DING DONG! COME ON OUT BUDDY, WE JUST WANNA TALK."
He wasn't trying to be intimidating, but he sure was anyways, using enough force in his fist to break through the door without honestly meaning to. His hand wouldn't go through it, however the wooden splints would shatter into hundreds of smaller pieces, glittering the floor.
Kazuto disapprovingly shook his head and stayed with the group, however Cherry shrugged and ran up behind Nate, peering from behind into the hole he had caused.
