[center][h1][b][color=C9A486]4[/color][/b][/h1][/center]



	Torn had raised one finger to his mouth to ensure the kids remained quiet and didn’t move. The obeyed. 

Everyone was still again. 

The guard, at the bridge entrance to town, caught wind of current events and decided, after all, that there was finally a reason to draw his sword; now holding the weapon in both hands, but coming no closer than a very cautious 30 feet or so from the miniature dragon. Torn’s wife had appeared, on the Blacksmith shop porch, also now watching on from a distance, her hands clasped nervously in front of her. Theolan had also stepped out from the Inn about the same time Torn’s wife made her appearance. He just stood there too, blocking the doorway to the Inn, his jaw angled strenuously to one side, eyes wide with careful discernment - He went to say something, but then thought better of it. Meanwhile, two more townsfolk who had been making their way down from the end of town - be them two young men - had also caught wind of the situation. They stopped still to watch on eagerly about 20 feet from Amber, Jack and the Chilli. There was also the horse-drawn carriage, parked along the road several feet from the end of Amber's property, the black-and-white horse of which was acting rather nervous with its head down, eyes turned away from the Chilli’s direction, its front left hoof toeing the dirt in a timid manner.  

Now that the kids had been stilled, and the growing number of silent spectators had accumulated, the Chilli - very slowly - shifted its attention back to Jack and Amber, but mostly Jack.   

In order to relieve a little stress, Jack cussed a few words under his breath as Amber proceeded up the next step to her porch. At this point, their casual manner had been completely dispelled. Both of them were moving rigidly.  Nothing cool or smooth about their behaviour at all.  

They managed to reach the landing of the porch, though, where Amber finally remembered to breathe. She took two more steps towards the door, opened it, and slipped inside the shop. Jack turned his head, giving the Chilly a small speculative glance before following in after Amber. 

The Chilli’s feathers ruffled, her scales stood on end, as she watched the pair disappear into the house.