Snippets and Stories: (BP) Distrust

When they first met, he had been such a desperate little thing. Searching for someone, anyone, who would accompany him on his merry chase, journeying into an unchartered, restricted, and if that wasn't enough, quarantine zone. And even after, journey with him still.

A companion.

A friend.

A brethren.

He was none of those things and he made a point of showing his pursuer the same.

But still the little thing insisted on tailing him so adamantly, undeterred by the cold shoulder that they were met with at every turn.

Why him?

Was it his reputation as the best Seeker? His impossible record of success in every Hunt? Or perhaps the absurdity of some of the tasks he had been put up to by some client or another?

After all, so long as the contracts were full and of worthwhile exchange, he was indiscriminate of the assignment or the issuer.

Certainly, he seemed the perfect candidate for the task. Yet despite the fool's errands he put up with, Zeal was no such individual himself.

And there was too much about this dubious case that had him turning away.

A desperate client.

Alone.

Willingly to offer a king's ransom with no apparent source.

Unwilling to divulge any background, be it of themselves or the circumstances.

The sparse and reluctant details divulged regarding both the quest and their own background.

The quest itself being of only vague directions with no solid objective.

Even after an hour of interrogation, the conversation yielded not more than seemingly aimless wandering of thereabout directions of travel with no real destination noted. A long journey of undetermined length with no understanding of where, what, or why, nor a solid objective.

Everything about the case gave him pause.

And so he declined. With a firm finality.

That was currently being made not so final.

He flew on his feet, losing his small pursuer in the hustle and bustle of the bazaar. This was becoming a real nuisance.

A day or two he could understand. Not an entire month of pursuit, so strong, or perhaps desperation born, was their resolve.

But it made no difference to him, he would evade the little one as he always did.

But just as he'd lost his tail, what started as a territorial dispute between stalls had blown into a full fledged scuffle, vendors and market-goers alike were gtting caught up in its wake.

And he would be too if he lingered.

The mercenary tsked, glaring at the commotion. There had been rumors of the precious substance being circulated in these parts. But such delicate inquiries over topics mandating appropriate discretion could not be made with all the fuss.

Another wasted attempt.

He leaped onto the roofing, taking note with passing interest that the mob seemed to be fighting for something.

Zeal lighted down in an alley and had been ready to hightail it out of there when he heard it.

From where he was, the voices came loud and clear even in the rush.

It couldn't be.

Staring at the fray, he gave a sigh and readied himself to take back to the rooftops to scour.

He couldn't miss this opportunity.

But there was a harsh tug on his shirt and he stopped in his tracks.

Not again.

"Contract." Angry tears gathered in the corners of his eyes, his face tense with frustration yet pleading with him just the same, "Help!"

He scowled, "No."

"I--" they struggled to speak, small hands clenched at his shirt, as if to keep him there by force, "I can give you--"

What a laugh.

"Nothing I don't already have." With that the seeker none too gently, shook off the small hands clinging to him, "Shoo."

"I--I have it! What you're after!" they cried out, voice growing hysterical.

How.

Zeal turned, glaring down at the small creature. If the little one would play him for a fool, he would regret it, "Certain are you? Then name it. What is it I so desire."

Shaking hands reached into the folds of the cloak and pulled out a thin, corked vial.

The reaction was nigh instantaneous.

"That's..." Pupils blown wide, so much so that his iris appeared almost entirely black.

Zeal took in a slow shuddering breath as a light floral scent permeated the area even through the porous stopper.

He needn't see the scintillating fluid within to know what it was.

"How...?"

Had he managed to procure the very item that had eluded him?

But there wasn't any Time.

The commotion in the bazaar was moving, footsteps were hurtling towards them.

It seemed today was one full of disruption.

Zeal grit his teeth and snatched the offered vial, turning he grabbed the small one in his other arm, tucking him under as he ran.

Never stopping as they turned alley after alley in the maze of the city, and with a quick backwards glance to check for tails, he transported them to his current dwelling.

Certain they were alone, he dropped the poor thing unceremoniously on the floor, much to its discontent, which was made clear with a sharp cry.

Zeal stared at the vial.

He couldn't believe it.

Pure, undiluted, liguid gold. Free of impurities.

This was impossible. Shols went extinct over a century ago, for there to still exist such a priceless substance untainted...

Zeal turned towards the little one and his breath caught.

As all his questions were answered.

Pushing himself up on the floor, the small creature shook his head, the movement following down its child-like body as it ruffled its downy plumes. The hood that had come loose in the struggle had fallen, revealing the unmistakable tender green foliage that had been hidden beneath.

"You're... A shol."

The small Shol stared up at him, frightened, but determined.

"Make a contract with me." They uttered in their broken imitation of speech.

Zeal stared at the vial of golden nectar.

What a surprising bit of moxie.

"Fine."