"Well, I have a theory." Grim stood, waving his tail. "I think I might know another way into Machina's realm."
"A theory?" Ash crossed his arms. "We can't break plan on a hunch, Cait Sith."
"Even if the way you're going leads straight into a trap?"
Ash shook his head. "We have to risk it. We're so close. We can't turn back now. You should come with us, Sith. We need you. You've always pointed us in the right direction." Ash hated having to say that, but he did.
"I am not a fighter, prince," Grimalkin shook his head and blinked. "That's your job. I accompanied you to show the way to Ethan and for my own amusement. But I know my limitations."

The kitsune watches Grim silently.

She frowns. "If it means we have a better chance at getting Ethan with fewer problems then I'm all for it." She nods, glaring at Ash.

"Well, that's not guaranteed. So, it is time we settled our debts and parted ways."

(Was it Claire or Lin that bargained with Grim? Did either of them?)

(I don't think Lin did)


He watches the cat speak.

not Claire))

She nods, frowning.

(Okay, just wondering.)

Ash sighed. "A deal's a deal. What do you want, cat?" Grimalkin's gaze bore into him. He sat up straight, flicking his tail. "My price is this," he stated. "I want to be able to call on you, once, at a time of my choosing, no questions asked. That is my debt."
"A summoning?" The prince sounded puzzled. "Odd for you, Cait Sith, but I can live with that." The cat stood, nodding once at Ash and then to the ladies. "Until we meet again." Then he slipped into the grass, his bottlebrush tail held straight up, and disappeared.

This interests him a little, and his ears prick.

She frowns, "I'm going to miss that cat." She mutters.

A piskie spiraled down from the branches, hovering a few inches from Lin's face.

Ash moved closer to Claire and touched her arm, a brief, featherlight caress. He offered that tiny, endearing smile, one of apology and encouragement, and a silent promise that he wouldn't leave her.

The piskie had blue skin and dandelion hair and gossamer wings. She stuck her tongue out at Lin and zipped to Ash, alighting on his shoulder. Ash cocked his head as the piskie whispered something in his ear. One corner of his mouth turned up. The piskie giggled and spun into the air again. "This is Seedlit," Ash said as the piskie spiraled through the air like a drunken hummingbird. "She'll lead us to the wharfs, and then to the factory. Beyond that, we're on our own."