Some of the edible wares are offered from booths, but there are also several large tents set up – either providing seating and shelter in case it might rain, or else the tents are behind the booths, simply providing some cover for the portable kitchenettes used to churn out fresh eats.

A five-tailed fox wanders through the bazaar, not really looking to buy anything at all, but stops occasionally at some stalls.

"Fahnseesko!" cries out a mouse-like Skeek with an ample belly. "You come, you sample goods, Fahnseesko! Eat eat eat! Vey good!"

The Skeek is the proprietor of a booth offering numerous sandwich-like constructs – baked shells stuffed with assorted nuts, vegetables, spices, and bits of meat. It certainly smells enticing.

The kitsune's ears perk up, at the sound of what seems like his name being called out, and he looks the trader in the eye and mouths silently to him, while pointing at himself, "Me?"

The Skeek nods. "Fahnseesko! Come come come!" The mouse waves the fox in. "Hungee, yes? No mo! Eat eat eat!"

Francisco steps briskly towards the stall, nodding to the fact that he is a little hungry.

A Vykarin lumbers up. "No, no YOU!" the Skeek says, glowing at the Vykarin, and swatting it on an armored flank – an obviously futile gesture from the smaller creature – "Fahnseesko!" The Vykarin whines, and trots away, its segmented tail held low.

The fox, for a moment, wonders how the mouse knew his name, but then realises that he's not seen many five-tailed foxes around. Four, maybe… but he'd rather not remember that person.

There's another Skeek behind the booth … and several smaller ones. Apparently this is a family business, and by their expressions, Francisco might as well be family. A large crate serving as a table is indicated, and a smaller crate to sit on, and the smaller Skeeks quickly set out a sandwich on a patched-but-clean tablecloth, with a mug of juice. "Fahnseesko ees welcome to sample any day!" exclaims the Skeek, smiling and patting the five-tailed Kitsune's back.

Outside, a group of Jupanis in Temple Guard uniforms march by, accompanied by a single Zelak. They give a warning glare to some Kavis who don't /look/ like they're up to anything in particular, and the youngsters immediately scatter, squealing loudly.

Francisco picks up one of the baked shells, just looking at the vendor to check that it's okay to eat it? Since he's looking into the stall, he didn't really notice the patrol passing by – just as well, since one of the party was a big bug.

The Skeek nods encouragingly. "Eat eat eat! No pay. Fahnseesko ees fend! Sample, yes?"

The mouse winks, as if conspiratorially.

The fox takes a bite, and nods at the mouse approvingly. After swallowing it, he says, "It's good, thanks… but… do I know you? You say I'm a friend?"

The Skeek nods. "Fend of Aveem fend of Yosah!" He taps himself on the chest. His wife, standing beside him, beams and nods. "You save Weesh. Heyo!"

Outside again, a juggler Kavi walks by, catching and throwing six balls, each one a different color of the rainbow. He adds another ball, a seemingly gold one, eliciting some gasps of surprise and awe from a few of the onlookers, then moves out of sight with his wandering act.

Taking a moment to decipher the names given to him, he realises who this trader is on about. "Ah, yes. Avram. Heh, well I guess a fair amount of the people here know each other."

Both of the Skeeks nod simultaneously, smiling.

Meanwhile, one of the Skeek children giggles, apparently counting Francisco's tails in another language, then doing it again … and again.

"Collars!" cries out a hawker across the way – a very large wolf with a deep voice. "Get collars here! Nice big SPIKES! Spikes of real metal! Look like royalty!"

Francisco smiles and takes another bit of the baked shell, hearing the children behind him and swishing his tails a little. "So," he says, after swallowing again. "Has Avram mentioned much about me, apart from my distinctive appearance?"

The Skeek's wife giggles, covering her mouth. 'Yosah' says, "Fahnseesko of many colas." He smiles approvingly.

Meanwhile, just out of sight, a high-pitched voice can be heard, asking someone, "Dead?"

The kitsune grins a little, knowing what is meant here. "Is that all though?" he asks.

"No," comes a voice not quite as high-pitched. "Not dead. Go away."

"KILL!" says the first high-pitched voice, followed by a growl, and snapping sounds, and then a high-pitched shriek, and many exclamations. A fox in foppish attire – perhaps as garish as Francisco's but in a different style – can be seen darting by, waving his hands wildly, with a fluffy white creature hanging on to him, jaws clamped on to his tail.

Yosah nods, then says, "Fahnseesko ees heyo and fend." He smiles again, his beady black eyes twinkling.

Francisco perks his ears up and watches the fox rush by, "What the… ?" he asks, and turns to the trader. "What's that white thing that was on that fox?"

The Skeek hmms. "Fuff'nah," he says, nodding slowly. "Vey aya. Fom fah away. I tavel, see many theengs. Fuff'nah vey bad." He shakes his head, frowning.

Looking a little concerned, Francisco continues to ask, "Why? Why's it bad?"

The Skeek blinks, as if surprised. "Bad? Eet EAT you!"

Yosah pauses a bit, then says, "But you have ekswa tails."

Francisco's eyes widen, "That small thing? Eats you?!?"

The Skeek says, "Eet usually eat you with many othah fuff'nah."

"Get your very own Guy Fox! Light the tail and let the fun begin!" cries out an Eeee vendor from a few booths down, just outside the "food court".

The kitsune gets up quickly, "I ought to help that fox then. Which way did he go?"

The Skeek shrugs as his only answer.

Francisco makes a quick thank you for the shell, and hurries off in the direction that he believed the fox went.

A black Vartan appears from around one of the twisty corners in the Bazaar, a satchel in one hand, and a spotted cub being braced up on his shoulder with the other hand.

A fluffy white creature bounds up, bits of red fluff sticking out of its mouth. It drops the bits of fluff, and looks up to the Vartan, squeaking cutely, "Dead?"

A few Khatta kids run by, giggling, wearing red facemasks and having large bushy red tails tied to their own real ones. One of them shouts, "BOOM!" and the others fall over, squealing … then they get up and dash off again.

Zoltan looks down at the Fuf'nar… he's been in Rephidim long enough to know what they are, and his 'protective' instinct is in full gear with the cub on his shoulder. He bends down a bit towards the little creature and answers its question with a loud throaty ROAR! "RAAAAAARRRHHH!"

The fuff'nar shrieks, "NOT DEAD!" and dashes away, its tail tucked between its legs, disappearing into an alleyway.

The spotted cub on Zoltan's shoulder squeals, and claps his hands together!

Grinning smugly, Zoltan straightens himself. He looks around at the various wares being sold, hoping to find a toy for the cub now that his 'sister' hasn't been around as much anymore.

A bat leans out from his booth, holding what looks like a stuffed fox doll – one stuffed with something other than fluff. "Care for a Guy Fox? Guaranteed to last for several minutes, and to make the most noise of any!"

"Hrrr… no. Need something for younger cub if you gots, something that no gots chance of burning fur." ( Or me. ) the Vartan mentally adds as he looks around.

"Hey! Ignore that pretender!" squeaks another bat, this one brown-furred. "This is MUCH better! It's the new, improved, Guy FRANCISCO Fox!" He turns the gray "fox" around. "See? Five tails! And the explosions are just as colorful as his shirt!"

The first bat squeaks back, "That one is NO better, and you're just charging more for four extra fuses! How pointless!" "Oh yeah? Well … " The two bats start arguing loudly, their voices getting progressively more high-pitched, until it's barely audible.

In another booth, a lioness-Khatta purrs, "Want a fuff'nar? A SAFE one, for the little tyke?" She pulls up a fluffy-looking critter that seems adorable … until she squeezes its tail and its mouth pops open, revealing a mouth full of foam teeth, squeaking as it does so.

Zoltan fehs. "There no such thing a fox with five tails." he mutters to himself, then perks up at the sight of the stuffed toy. He bounces Enos on his shoulder and points to the toy, "You like?"

Enos squeals, and makes his own attempt at "RAWR" noises at the fuff'nar.

The lioness-Khatta obligingly shakes the fuff'nar and turns it around, as if to make it hide behind her out of fright of the "fearsome" cub. She smiles amusedly.

Zoltan throws his satchel over his free shoulder and digs through his coinpouch. "How much?" he scrawks.

The lioness purrs, "Fifty shekels. Very high quality construction – made to take quite a beating!"

The shadows lengthen, and merchants start lighting lamps at their booths and tents.

The Vartan's ears flatten a bit, he can afford it of course… but his frugal nature is still there in full force. "Any guarentee of this? I no pay half copper for something my cub will shred in two days."

The lioness looks mildly offended. She looks at the cub, then says, "If the Savanite can shred this in two days, I'll not only give your money back, but I'll give you your pick of the selection for free." She gestures to the various other dolls in the booth, all hand-made, with real-looking fur – or bits of enameled wood for those creatures with chitinous hides, such as the toy Vykarins.

Zoltan nods and pulls out five Tenners. "You gots a deal, Genoh?"

"Genoh," the lioness nods, and holds out the toy fuff'nar.

Smiling, the hippogryph places the coins down and takes up the toy. He backs away from the booth and offers it to Enos.

Enos SQUEALS loudly and grabs the fuff'nar with his paws … then immediately starts chewing on one ear, shaking his head back and forth, making "RAWR" noises.

A few cubs of varied species rush by, holding sticks in their hands which radiate sparks and make sizzling noises. Probably NOT in line with the fire code…

They wave the sticks around like magic wands, squealing and shouting. "Parade!" one exclaims, and they scamper off.

Zoltan's ears perk at the announcement of a parade. He looks in the direction the children are running and bounces Enos a bit more. "You want to see parade?"

Enos stops chewing on the ear, and squeals, kicking his feet up and down in response. It would seem that this is an affirmative, from the way he smiles happily.

Music can be heard distantly, along with sounds of cheering that hint at the oncoming parade, though it's still a distance away, and these things move slowly. Nonetheless, some of the business is slacking off as customers watch expectantly, and the few winged Bazaar-goers can be seen here and there taking to rooftops or balconies for a better vantage point.

Zoltan grins and follows after the children. Along the way he gives Enos a chance to 'rescue' him from the new toy by causing it to bite down on his finger with its foam teeth and holding the dangling toy out to Enos.

A couple of sparkler-waving Khattas skip by, and one of them points into the Skeek booth, at Francisco. "Guy Fox!" she shouts, then runs off, making hissing noises, and then a loud "BOOM!" The other Khatta follows, yelling little kid nonsense.

Enos lets out a "RAWR!" and grabs at the fuff'nar with all the ferocity he can muster!

Zoltan yays and gives Enos a nuzzle on his head with his beak.

Big black ears perk at the sounds of music, and Brishen looks down from her tiny house at the Bazaar below. Well, not really a house. More like a room atop some rickety tenement. "The Bazaar's really alive tonight – " She smiles to herself as she hops out of her window, catching an updraft before spiralling out over the Bazaar. A lot of the color of the evening is lost on her, but the scents and sounds are enough to make her grin as she looks about for a place to grab something to eat.

A point of light at one of the balconies attracts several young bats. A white bat in sky blue robes holds what looks like a will o' wisp in one hand, muttering incantations under her breath and smiling as her small audience watches the flickering play of light. She occasionally looks away, in the direction of the approaching parade.

Zoltan looks up to the balcony and waves, seeing a familiar face. It seems more and more faces are becoming familiar these days.

Brishen glances at the bat on the balcony as she darts past, but food is too tempting at the moment. She furls her wings as she perches atop a lightpost, smiling as she gazes at her quarry: Alhazred's Fried Insect and Soba Bar. "Bugs!"

From the balcony of an inn, the Countess Ophelia looks down upon the crowd. She's come with a small party to participate in the Guy Fox Day festivities. She stands at the railing, looking up the street at the approaching parade, one hand on the rail, the other holding a small 'dancing Fox on a gallows' toy.

With a flapping of wings and a rush of air a brightly coloured form drops out of the air, to hover beside Brishen. It's Reico, and his usual courier bag is missing, to be replaced by a fuzzy object on a stick. "Hey Bree, I brought you a Guy Fox. It's aFrancisco, see? It has five tails." Indeed, it does.

Brishen blinks a few times as she takes the fox. "Who ever heard of a fox with five tails?" She grins at Reico. "Hey – did you ever find out where that old Eeee went – The one with the strange airship?"

Ophelia gives the button of her toy a poke, and sets the Fox to dancing on air. She watches as some Kavi children below her ignite the tail of a Guy Fox, which promptly emits an ear-splitting whistle (she flattens her ears slightly), falls on its face, then explodes in a ball of brilliant green. The Kavi are overcome with mirth. Sulphurous smoke drifts up past the balcony, and Ophelia snorts a bit.

"There is such a thing; I've seen him wandering the Bazaar." Reico points down at the street below, as he bobs around in the air, "Well, somewhere… and yeh, they kept him around at the Temple for a bit, fines and all, but he went back to Darkside."

The music gets louder, and some of the Bazaar-goers quiet a bit. A bit. Most of the crowd parts ways, though a few parents have to rush out to grab their cubs.

It's getting darker, though the lamps make up for it a bit, and the stars are just starting to show in the sky, while the Procession glows a pale white just as ever, save for the ring's shadow that ever so slowly rotates into view.

Reico flaps around some more, drifting behind Brishen. "Got any space on that pole, Bree? I don't want to be flying for the whole parade."

Brishen giggles at Reico. "I don't believe you! I mean, how'd they all stay on?" She looks down at the fuzzy toy. "I think I know where he went in Darkside. Not too many places you can hide an airship like that. I lost track of him at the Temple."

Zoltan holds Enos up so he can get a better look at the parade and tries to weave into a good viewing spot himself.

Brishen scoots over a bit, smirking. "Did you get me any grasshoppers? There's a big line at Alhazred's."

Enos squeals again, just like he does at every opportunity, and clutches onto the stuffed fuff'nar tightly, as if it's been his favorite toy for years.

The other courier Eeee shakes his head, "Just the Guy Fox," and holds it out.

Several cubs in the uniforms of Temple Scouts march into view, coming around the corner, waving wooden poles with banners on them. Behind them comes a big, flat wagon drawn by some bored-looking Dromodons, followed by the Temple Scout Scoop Brigade and then the Temple Scout Marching Band.

Ophelia oohs as the parade draws near. The other members of the party join her on the balcony, a few at a time, some balancing plates and cups. There's a bit of shuffling at the railing, as everyone finds a place where they can see.

Brishen hugs the fox, feigning innocence – though the light of avarice gleams in her eyes. "I might pay him a visit." She smiles. "Who knows? He may need packages delivered."

Zoltan's eyes widen at the sight of the scouts. He begins to shive his way farther up in the crowd, hoping to catch a glance at Pouncer if she happens to be around.

The wagon has some sort of "scene" depicted on it, serving as a float, though the particulars may escape anyone but those fully educated on the significance of the "holiday". The centerpiece is someone in a fox suit, surrounded by large items marked in large letters and runes, in multiple languages, "EXPLOSIVES".

The 'fox' of honour tonight is not happy, not that she has ever been happy that anyone can recall. This year's 'Guy Fox' is Zsofi, the demoncat. She has a strap on muzzle and ears, of excessive size, and a big bushy tail tied behind her. Her hands are also tied, but unfortunately not her mouth. "Zsofi did not agree to this! I will smash you all."

An Eeee whispers to another, "Most realistic Guy Fox we've had yet!"

Reico grins appreciably, "I've got to see this, I'll meet back up with you after it goes by." He swoops down to land on a roof overlooking the street.

A few "Guy Foxes" shoot into the air, accompanied by squeals and cheers. The band plays on, the most enthusiastic members being in the percussion section … including one very small spotted cat who very enthusiastically smashes two cymbals of uncertain construction together … occasionally at the intended place in the music, but most often not.

Brishen stands up, spreading her wings slightly as she balances atop the lightpost. Her eyes widen as she spots Zsofi – which, given the circumstances, isn't hard at all. "Um… "

"Explosives will not hurt Zsofi! You will all die screaming horribly for this." The black almost-khatta snarls, the muzzle bouncing at all the wrong times for her words.

The float pauses directly in front of the refurbished building where Ophelia's party is taking place, before the balcony. The band marches in place, while the percussion plays a "hold position" drum cycle. The baton-twirlers send their batons skyward … and only one of the batons is dropped as it comes back down. (The Jupani girl's ears blush visibly as she stoops to pick it up again, then tries to get back in step.)

The Vartan smiles. ( I'm glad she looks happy with the scouts. She'll be much happier here then where I'll be going soon. Bah, shouldn't think about that too much yet, it's for awhile… and you still have a lot to do in Rephidim. Just enjoy yourself, silly old bird. )

"You think this first time someone try blow Zsofi up? Think again! Zsofi live through mountains falling, Zsofi swim in lava! Your little boxes is insult, she deserve better effort. Zsofi will not forget." She glares, as best she can, while strapped to a pole, and wearing the comically ornate costume.

The small party on the balcony applauds politely for the band and float. The sound of the clapping is entirely inaudible over the blasting of the band. The Unicorn mare leans over to one of her companions and says something into his ear as she points at the 'Fox' on the float. Her friend looks at her, and shrugs, as though to express that he's as mystified as she.

Suddenly, there is a rat-a-tat-tat of snaps and pops, and numerous flashes surround the costumed "fox" on the float! Multi-colored smoke streams out of numerous half-concealed tubes built into the float's floor, lit by lantern light. The percussion joins in, making as much cacophony as they can, while cubs shout at the tops of their lungs, to the accompaniment of countless upward-rocketing "Guy Foxes" and other fireworks.

There is a sudden shriek as the faux-explosion goes off, followed by maniacal laughter from behind the flashes. "See! You petty tricks is worthless against Zsofi, you will all be destroyed!"

An Eeee shouts to another nearby, over the noise, "I think the Guy Fox is getting perhaps a bit TOO much into the character." The second Eeee nods soberly.

Brishen covers her ears, but smiles at the cubs as the float draws closer.

The cacophony drops off, and the flashes on the float cease, just leaving trails of smoke to drift off. The band starts their song over, and it looks like they're about to move on again. Several Bazaar-goers applaud.

Ophelia oohs with obvious, if inaudible, delight at the sudden illuminations and colored smoke. She joins the crowd on the balcony in enthusiastic applause.

The Vartan's feathers bristle at the explosions for a moment, but he quickly settles. He whistles loudly, since applauding would mean he'd have to relinquish his balancing grip on Enos.

Brishen flutters her wings a little, hands stuffed in her ears, and whistles approvingly, not having any extra limbs to clap with.

The little spotted cat with the cymbals looks around, then sights upon the Vartan doing the whistling. She waves the cymbals around excitedly, just narrowly missing whacking a Jupani youth in the noggin.

Zoltan waves back, grinning. He looks at the float carrying the 'guy fox' and feels grateful that he never got THAT desperate for work.

As the smoke clears, Zsofi becomes visible again. Still tied up, still annoyed, but with her costume blackened and her foxtail merrily on fire.

Several cubs giggle, pointing at the Guy Fox's tail. "Fox fire!" one squeals.

The demoncat leans forward, glaring with the the fox-muzzle hanging beneath her chin. "Zsofi remember you all! Zsofi memorizing your faces, Zsofi will make you die so slow that once around the sun will feel like short time." Her tail keeps burning, the flames starting to lick the backs of her legs.

Brishen watches, not sure whether to cover her ears or cover her nose. "Ow… "

"Someone put the fox out!" Zoltan scrawks at the top of his lungs.

Several Bazaar-goers look about in confusion, then someone points at the Guy Fox and shrieks, "He's on FIRE!" As if nobody noticed before. Immediately, there is much panic, and several Bazaar-goers respond by simply dashing off.

"Zsofi will… " start shrieking as she feels her fur and clothes catch fire.

Zoltan looks around for a bucket of water or something containing liquid that might serve as a fire snuffer.

A white bat in sky blue robes says, "Oh my!" from the balcony, and puts out her glow-globe. She immediately draws up a circle, and starts chanting. Hopefully there will be something left of the Guy Fox by the time she finishes her ritual…

Ophelia gasps in horrified dismay from her balcony.

Near the Vartan, there is a vat of something bubbling … probably not water. But this IS the food court, so there are beverages to be found … kegs of ale, barrels of juice, pickle barrels, and so forth.

A Temple officer tries to wave the cubs away from the parade, saying, "By the First Ones! This is NOT supposed to happen!"

The demoncat screams, "Zsofi on fire! This cannot be, Zsofi caAAAAAAAH!" She struggles, trying to escape; she has been trying to escape all night, and her bindings were tied very strong and tight in anticipation of that.

The Temple Scouts scamper away … all except … one!

A lone, spotted kitten stands, still holding a pair of cymbals, blinking a few times. She then sticks out her chin, sniffs disdainfully at the fleeing cubs … and marches toward the float. She drops one of the cymbals, and scrambles up the side.

Brishen squeaks, wrinkling her nose. "Even Zsofi doesn't deserve this." She starts looking around for a bucket of water – Something she could carry.

The spotted kit reaches back down, grabbing the second cymbal … then dashes toward the burning Guy Fox.

Zoltan grabs Enos tightly in one arm and grabs a barrel of juice in another. "POUNCER!!!" he screams and runs towards the float, heedless of anyone he has to push aside to get to it.

Brishen flapflapflaps, smiling at a portly Jupani as she helps herself to a bucket of water – with a couple of apples floating in it, puffing a bit as she flutters towards the float.

Various Bazaar-goers dive out of the way of the screaming black Vartan. Enos squeals, hanging on for dear life, even though he's already securely held.

Zsofi's clothes are burning, and there is the reek of her singed fur. She thrashes, trying to wrench off the pole, her eyes screwed shut against the flames.

*CLANG!* Pouncer smashes the cymbals together, trying to catch the flames between them. She alternately snuffs out a few flames … and ends up airing the rest. Fortunately, since the float was built for fireworks, the fire isn't spreading … at least, not beyond Zsofi.

Caught in the smoke, Brishen coughs, almost gagging – Then, upends her bucket over the burning demon-cat.

Zoltan screeches to a halt beside the float and hefts his barrel, mixing his own liquid with Brishen's. An instant later he hurls the barrel aside and reaches onto the float, grabbing at Pouncer.

*SPLOOSH*

Apples and water land on Zsofi, the float … and Pouncer.

Brishen flap-flap-flaps, hovering as she looks down at the float. "Apples?"

Pouncer squeals, closing her eyes against the water and staggering back, slamming the cymbals together on empty air. She opens her eyes in time to see that the fire has been put out. She has JUST enough time to smile triumphantly at having "put out the fire" before she's snatched up by Zoltan, eliciting a surprised mew.

Zoltan backs away, hugging the cub tightly and shaking with fright. "Never ever EVER do anything like that again! You scare ten years from me!" He shakily looks back up a few moments later and realizes that there's one more person on the float. The Vartan sets the two cubs down and checks on the 'guy fox'.

Brishen flutters about, coughing, then swoops down to land near Pouncer. She blinks a few times, then blinks some more at the cub. "Uhm… Hi."

Pouncer's expression drops, and she looks duly chastised. She sits down, pouting, ignoring Brishen. Enos, meanwhile, tries to show her his new 'fuff'nar'. Getting no response, he shows it to Brishen instead, and makes it squeak at her.

There is the hiss as the flames go out, and a brief moment of silence in which Zoltan and Brishen can hear Zsofi's whimpering mews. The noise stops as the demoncat opens her eyes, and snarls at the first things she sees, her rescuers. "Zsofi will kill you for this trick! Torturing and setting Zsofi on fire!"

"You humiliate me on purpose! Zsofi never agree to this!" She raves.

"Are you alrights? We need to get you a healer?" Zoltan squawks to Zsofi, ignoring her threats.

Brishen smiles weakly at Enos. "That's… very nice." She tries hard to ignore the ranting demon-cat.

Several Bazaar-goers, seeing that the danger has passed, start cheering and applauding the heroes, despite Zsofi's … lack of gratitude.

Enos gives the fuff'nar's tail a squeeze. Its mouth pops open, showing rows of big foam teeth. It squeaks … uhm … 'menacingly'.

Brishen tries to stifle a giggle, while looking properly frightened. "Oh dear!"

Enos smiles happily, then tries the same trick on Pouncer … with no result. Pouncer sulks.

The Dromodons bray and moan. They must be deaf, given that the fireworks never startled them even once.

Zoltan glances over his shoulder at the two cubs. "Is alrights. You just scare me. Just promise me you no walk into anymore raging fires, alrights?"

Zsofi is burned, but mostly in a superficial way. Her tail is gone, of course, and so is the fur on her legs. The black skin beneath isn't damaged. Most of the wounds were to the demoncat's pride.

Brishen pats Pouncer's head, then looks back at Zoltan and Zsofi. She's screaming incoherently. I guess that means she's alright.

Pouncer nods her head, but still sulks. Enos nods, too, though it's just as likely that he's simply mimicking Pouncer's action.

"Zsofi hate it here, Zsofi want to wake up from bad dream," she says under her breath, then just scowls at the crowd.

A befuddled-looking Khatta in the robes of a Temple Priest forces a smile, waving to the crowd as he tries to round up the last of the scattered Scouts. "Thank you everyone! Show's over! Heh heh. Realistic, wasn't it? A … uhm … new interpretation of the Guy Fox story, you know … uhm … yes, quite." His ears blush, and he focuses on getting the Scouts back into line.

Zoltan confuses "here" with the float, and cuts the ropes binding Zsofi with his sharp talons.

The Scout band, all accounted for (with only one member absent, but presently sulking on the float itself), starts playing again. The wagon starts to roll along, the Scooper Brigade having to pause to do a little more work before moving along with the parade.

Zsofi pulls free of the ropes as the Vartan cuts them, then tears off what remains of her 'Guy Fox' costume. She rips the ears down from where they were tied to her horns and jerks the muzzle away from her neck. Then she stomps them into the float, blue sparks flying from her hooves as she does. The 'tail' of the costume burned entirely away, and Zsofi herself doesn't have one. There is a little more colour to her now, mostly gray, in the form of singed fur. Otherwise she is entirely black.

Zoltan scoots back and checks on his cubs. He nuzzles Pouncer with his beak, breathing a sigh of relief before turning back to Zsofi. "Is you alrights now? Anything more I can do for you?"

Enos keeps sticking the "fuff'nar" into Pouncer's face, despite her repeated attempts to bat it away. At last, she picks up her cymbals, holds them out … then, at a well-timed moment, slams them together, exclaiming, "GISH!"

Enos looks at the temporarily flattened "fuff'nar" quietly, then sniffles and runs off to Zoltan, bawling.

The almost-Khatta, entirely soaked through in clothes and fur, glares at Zoltan. "Zsofi is not hurt! Fire did not burn, you will not trick Zsofi into giving up her power that easy! Zsofi does not need help from anyone." She turns, and stalks off the float.

Enos runs in front of Zoltan, and holds up the fuff'nar, which, by now, has popped back out to its usual state. He holds up his hands in a "pick me up" gesture.

Brishen crosses her arms, squeaking as soon as Zsofi's out of earshot – Which is pretty far for an Eeee. "Not burned? What did I smell – singed apples?" She sneezes.

Reico shows up beside Brishen as soon as the demoncat is out of sight. "Oh wow Bree, you were like, so brave. How you just got right in there, major swoopage! Too bad you saved such a grump."

Zoltan scoops up Enos and walks over to Pouncer. He sits down next to her and pats her on the head. "I sorry I yell, I was just very scared. How abouts I get you a stuffed bug toy for you to squish?"

Pouncer grins, looking up at Zoltan. She squeals, "GISH!"

Brishen rubs her nose. "You think so?" She smiles brightly, trying to brush a bit of soot from her blouse. "Did I ever tell you about that weird Eeee I met when I was working for the Temple Scouts?" She links arms with Reico, explaining her bravery in great detail as she leans against him.

The float stops, as the Khatta priest helps a nervous-looking fox onto the float. "You are SO helpful! And, yes, the other one ran off, so I guess she won't collect the money allocated. Here … You don't need a costume, obviously, so ignore the ashes, and just stand here… "

A nervous-looking fox in foppish attire shuffles toward the ashes, kicking at the half-burned fox mask. He looks curiously at the Vartan and the cubs.

The Vartan looks to the two Eees. "Thank you for helping put out fire. I not know what I do if something happen to my daughter." He gives Pouncer a pat on the head.

Enos looks at the fox, and points the fuff'nar at him. He squeezes its tail, prompting the mouth to pop open, revealing several foam teeth, as Enos makes a cub's 'roar'.

The fox SHRIEKS and dashes off, leaping off the float and landing with a crash into an Eeee vendor's stand! All sorts of creepy-crawly things burst free, some meeting "gishy" ends under the wheels of the float. Cubs squeal as bugs scatter around their feet … and a few Eeee scouts break formation, catching quick snacks.

Enos smiles proudly at his "daddy".

"Hey," Reico says happily, looking at Zoltan, "Woaw, huge bird. It was all Bree here." The Eee points at her with both hands.

Brishen blinks, wings ruffling a little. "I – " She looks down at the upended vendor, then back at Reico, smiling weakly. "Oh, it was nothing. Anyone could have done it." She puffs her chest out proudly.

The priest sighs, shaking his head, and shakily clambers back down from the float.

The black Vartan gives Enos a hug and beams proudly. "Still, I thank you. If anything I can do for you, just ask." He extends his free hand. "My name is Zoltan Cambio, I co-own Nicodemis' Shiny Shoppe in Scholar's quarter."

Pouncer thumps herself on the chest and scrawks, "Pouncer Cambio!"

Brishen snaps at something winged that flutters free from the ruins of the vendor's stand. "Mf." Her cheeks are puffed out slightly as she shakes Zoltan's hand. Or, well, tries to. She's small enough that the Vartan's grasp encompasses most of her forearm. "Nf nwf mif prshr." She swallows, smiling politely.

The other Eeee waves at the Vartan, "I'm Reico, I'm a courier and I work for… oh man, I forgot. I'm like up there, you know? You can find me if you look up." He points at the sky and makes a circling motion while grinning at Zoltan. After a moment, he glances after the priest.

"Oh… were you going to offer to be Guy Fox for the rest of tonight?" Reico's smile fades.

Brishen blinks at Reico, and mumbles, "There are some things I won't do for money."

"If you going to stay around until end of Parade, I can treat you to dinner in Little Babel. I think I going to stay here until parade over though." Zoltan shoots a glance towards the Priest. "I gots someone I need to have a talk with first."

The other Eee grins and nods back at Brishen, then answers to Zoltan. "Turblulent. Hey, am I invited too? I figure if they're missing a Guy Fox, that I could do it. I don't think they could blow two up in a night. I can meet you after." Reico looks again for the priest.

Brishen adds, somewhat belatedly. "I'm Brishen. Your daughter and I met during a – secret mission" Her expression brightens. "And dinner would be wonderful!"

Pouncer frowns and makes a "SHUSH" gesture with an index finger over her mouth, directed to Brishen.

Brishen ahems, trying to look chagrined, and smiles at Zoltan.

Zoltan chuckles. "No nothing like that. Just I not too pleased at hearing that my daughter was put in danger today, and I want to make sure this no happen again." He laughs at Pouncer shushing Brishen. "I won't ask… "

Brishen glances at Reico in sort of a "It's a long story – I'll tell you later over dinner – maybe tomorrow night?" sort of way. ^_^

…

Back at the scene of the fire, about four hours later, her audience long gone, a sky-blue-robed Eeee mage finishes her spell. A small cloud gathers over the street, and a rain sprinkles down, soon turning into a downpour. She hurriedly works on an "umbrella" cantrip, then mutters as she realizes that it was all far too late. "Oh … bother!"