"Only place she can go," Jake said in response to Belle, his arm pointing out to the races. "She did mention she needed it to enter the race, so that's your safest bet.

"As for the Cy-Bug nest..." Jake walked up to the dead Cy-Bug, and tore Belle's giant shuriken from it with a mighty yank. He sniffed the bug blood on the blade, then the bug itself, noting the pattern colors of its carapace while he was at it.

"Well, that's weird," he mused. "It definitely smells like grease, bug, and metal under it all, but it's like it's been marinated in candy and strawberry fudge. Like somehow it's been trying to meld in with this world."

He turns to his comrades.

"And I don't like the sound of that," he continued, hefting his axe on his shoulder. "Not one bit.

"For now, though, let's just head for the racetrack. From the looks of it, most of the locals have turned up to watch. If you listen, you can faintly hear the crowds. So yeah, some fast footwork is gonna be a good idea.

"Anyone want a lift? I'm probably the fastest endurance runner among you guys, so it might help us move together."