Piper swallowed hard. No one wanted this man's attention upon them, and Piper was smart enough not to be the exception. "Said he'd be by in time to send me home for dinner. Last time that meant sometime around three, but before that it had meant about ten. That's the best I can give you."

John laughed, a surprisingly playful sound compared to the earlier look on his face. "That sounds like him alright." The sinister smile flickered back to life as he killed his chuckle. "You won't mind if one of my friends hangs around with you to deliver a message, now would you? I'd do it myself, but I don't quite have the time." He had no doubts Dustin would be back with the news soon, and he would be able to move forward with his plan from there. The clerk looked horrified, but was smart enough not to refuse. "Thank you, you've been a big help."

Edward sniffed tentatively at the closest display of spears. He liked the smell of their handles, it reminded him of the bits of driftwood he sometimes would play with back home. The swords and daggers had a sharper scent to them. He preferred the gentle wood over the tangy metal. "I think you two should try these!" He suggested brightly.

Jake shook his head. "They're cumbersome and impractical. Caleb and I are too little to use them right." He turned back to the display of small weapons he had been admiring. Thoughtfully he chewed on his cheek. Gently he ran his finger down the sheath of a dagger. "I like this one. Uncle John, it looks like it goes into a boot, am I right?"

JJ smiled brightly at his nephew. "You are indeed correct!" He answered as he sailed across the shop again. "Pick it up, get a feel for it, my boy. I'll help you learn how to secure it if you like it." Jake hesitantly unsheathed the blade. His breath hitched. John Junior smiled, his heart softening as he watched the boy fall in love with a weapon for the first time. Sara had been firm on teaching the child nothing but hand to hand combat, but John was more realistic. Fists did little against a proper weapon. If you wanted to survive, you needed a blade. He'd treasured helping Kayden pick out her first knife, and now Jake had made his selection.

Caleb was significantly more antsy. He couldn't focus on any of the craftsmanship laid out before him. As tempting as the weapons were, nothing called his name louder than the anxiety over what had happened to his captain. "Mister John," he knew he'd been asked not to use the titles, but he wanted to show just the right combination of respect and familiarity to get what he needed, "I'm okay with my old sword for now. If Jake's pick something, can we please go find Rainbow now? I appreciate that you want to outfit us with weapons, but I already have one. Besides, Rainbow will need something too, and he should be able to pick something out before I do. He's my captain."

John sighed softly. "Alright, we can get moving." He would just need to make a few useless inquiries in the local area until he heard back from Dustin. He could bluff a stressed out twelve year old, and he'd have heard back about the rablin before Caleb figured out his interrogations were insincere. Out of habit, his eyes flicked to the shop windows and scanned the streets. Hasty movement caught his attention as someone turned onto the street. A true smile landed on his lips this time as he recognized one of his men. "Stay here, boys. That's one of my contacts now. I will be no more than three minutes. Caleb, take a second look at those swords in case you change your mind. We'll be on our way once I've spoken to him." With that the man strode from the shop and out into the dusty street.

Three lizard swarmed out of the alley he'd shot from, two on the walls and one on the street. They turned as a unit, one moving like liquid across the side of the building. The second leaped to join his companion on the road as they hunted their pray. Neil was panting for breath, the whites of his eyes showing from fear and pain. John pulled a vial the size of a child's thumb from his left pocket and flicked off the cork. His right hand slid into a bag in his right, returning with a pinch of powder. "One." He released the powder into the vial. "Two." Wasting no time, he whipped it down the street, arching the glass past Niel's head. "Three."

The whole thing exploded in a flash as the chemicals reacted, a rapidly expanding fireball swelled and died harmlessly. A delay tacit, nothing more. The lizards stopped short in the street, hissing at the harsh smell and the uncertainty of where the fire had come from. John unsheathed his sword and strode forward to defend his man.

From within the shop Caleb bolted outside to help however he possibly could. "John!"

~~~~

"One more, please Aunt Mary?" Though a little old for picture books on her own, Kayden thrived on the love and affection from the woman. Her own mother had left long ago, before her father had turned to crime. Before she could remember anything more of her than an intense fear of abandonment. 

"No more time for that, my dear." Sara's voice was surprisingly cheerful considering the events of the day. "Why don't you two go pick some flowers? When everyone comes home tonight, we will hold a small memorial for Grandpa and Herrown." She would have preferred a full burial, but without their bodies, and with her family dispersing rapidly on their missions, a small goodbye would have to be enough for now. There was no time nor money to plan a full service. Perhaps after she had saved Lydia she would be able to venture out to retrieve the bones of the two brave men.

Kayden stood up and bravely reached for Skyla's hand. "Come on, Lala. I'll tell you about the new potion I learned from Witch-Hazel!" The children disappeared together with Ribbon on their heels.

Sara turned to her daughter. "Roger will fill you in on the details tonight. I will be leaving soon. Is there anything pressing you require before I am gone? This may be your only chance to make a request. Unless something comes up, I intend to get going tonight."