Living Ink and Pet Dilemmas

Ace was never in the mood to go the City of Ink, with it's blood red grass and ash grey sky, and it's depressingly monochromatic buildings. It honestly was just not the place for him, despite his own colours lining up way too well with the place's natural palette. But nevertheless, here he was, being led on tour by a deep blue Kitbull who was clearly not enjoying the job. Understandably so, Ace wouldn't enjoy leading overly excited tourists around the place, especially with the sudden detour of an ink monster around. However the little fella led on, with admirable tenacity to get their job done. It was surprisingly amusing, watching the kitbull trudge on and lead around the group. Though the group was primarily kitbulls, besides Ace himself of course.

And Spade, the surprise Ktlike that he was now responsible for.

Spade had been a gift from Camellia, reasoned by her feeling that Ace needed a companion for when she wasn't with him and due to the things fur. It was primarily a redish-purple, with a brighter red area along it's face and black along the tips of its tail and ears. Spade had yellow markings too, though not metallic like his owners, shaped into diamonds. One singular diamond sat below its right eye, and two round yellow eyebrows highlighted just how dark those eyes were. Deep black scleras and pupils, that made the irises into bright red rings. Oh, and not to mention the damn creature was sparkly, like it had rolled in some glitter for fun. Ace didn't know if all these features made it fall in line with his aesthetics in the best way or the worst, but he wasn't going to question a gift from his daughter.

He would still complain about the wretched thing though.

After all, Spade here was the reason he even came to the city in the first place, considering that the creature kept slapping the magazine that Camellia was showing Ace, one that was all about the City of Ink. Camellia joked that Spade wanted to go, one thing led to another, and Ace ended up in the most red city in the celestial seas. Spade here also had a habit of wandering off or not sticking to Ace, much to the latter's chagrin. It had currently latched itself onto one of Ace's tour group companions, another Kitbull. This one was a striking green with orange and brown hues glazed across their fur, and numerous types of flora sprouting from within the colourful mass. They didn't seem to mind Spade being sat on their head, hiding underneath the large cloak and hood they donned.

"So, uh.. tour-guide, can I ask exactly where we are headed now?" Ace inquired, watching the Kitbull ahead slowly stop as he spoke. They looked up, meeting Ace in the eye, with the most disappointed expression he has ever seen a Kitbull muster. It was quite impressive just how disappointed they could look without a mouth.

"Nevermind then..." He murmured to himself, turning his attention from the shifting landscape and disappointed gaze to his Kitlike and the poor soul it was annoying.

"Uh, excuse me there, I believe my Kitlike has make its home in your hood there." He grimaced as he spoke, feeling the embarrassment swell as the Kitbull stared at him, large orange eyes glittering in confusion before widening in realisation. He watched them switch effortlessly to standing on their hind legs before slowly removing Spade from their hood, despite the protests of the Kitlike, placing the small creature into Ace's hands.

"Sorry about that, Spade here isn't too polite." Ace awkwardly laughed to himself, watching as Spade attempted to bite his fingers. Why did he even come to the city when his companion was going to be such a brat. He oughta put Spade in a cone of shame or on a stupid looking leash to teach him not to be such a nuisance, or maybe have him help with farm work.

Ace's plans for Spade's punishment were interrupted however by the sound of rustling paper. In Ace's brooding thought, he had failed to realise that the Kitbull he was talking to had more to say, via a journal that they had kept on hand. With a disgruntled look on their face, they wiggled a piece of loose leaf back and forth. Maybe Spade wasn't the only one with poor social skills.

"My apologies, I was too caught up in thought!" He exclaimed, taking the paper while keeping it from Spade's ever so destructive grasp. The handwriting was phenomenal, laced in the most fluent yet readable cursive Ace had ever seen. Written along the lined surface was quite simply 'It's quite alright! I don't mind, but anyways I'm Roda! And you are?', the sentence making Ace regret bringing his horrible little companion even further.

"Oh, I'm Ace. Pleasure to meet you. Now, if I may be so bold, can I ask exactly what's going on and where we are going?" Turning his head, Ace stared at the new scenery, with the city disappearing and red grass receding into the unknown, leaving only grey stone and sky. The ominous environment was contrasted by the scratch of pencil as Roda formed her reply. As the group got closer to the cave, Roda handed over the slip of paper.

'We're going to fight that monster, as Cteno stated.'

Ace felt his body tense as it clicked, they were going after the ink monster. All while he was dealing with a rather rebellious Kitlike. A terrible combination. And, less pressing of an issue, he didn't recognise the name on the paper.

"Cteno? Who might that be?" Ace whispered, watching Roda's expression fall as she pointed directly to their guide.

"Oh."

As the group approached the mouth of the cave, Cteno spun directly to face Ace, eyes beaming as they looked at him. Ace could tell that something was off, and he was going to be unwillingly involved once more.

"[You! The red browbird over there! You will enter the Inkwell Cave and fight the monster yes.]" They spoke, somehow.

"What?! Why me?!" Ace felt the temptation to let his jaw drop at the thought of sending him and Spade into the caves. Surely Cteno was pulling his leg, since he was so blissfully ignorant of what the group was doing. Did they really think he could just go along with this plan.

"[You are browbird yes, you have aspect magic. You are more likely to defeat the monster than Kitbulls.]"

"True, but still! Going alone is ridiculous!" Ace moved his kitlike-free arm in disbelief, bringing it to the side of his body and fully outstretched. "That's extremely unsafe, even if I'm supposedly more likely to defeat this monster."

"[Fair point, fair point. The hooded Kitbull will accompany you then. They are sharp after all.]" Cteno nodded to themself, "[Now no more discussion, go and remove the monster. The the tour may continue.]"

Ace actually let his jaw drop this time, there was no actual way they'd send in Roda. The two interact once and that's enough reason to send her into a fight against a monster. This was extremely unfair, and quite frankly another sour cherry on the terrible sundae of this trip. Maybe he could go home early after this, and spend some time in the corn fields instead of this disappointing city. And the ever-piercing gaze of the ever so unamused tour-guide.

"[Ah! You are waiting for your cloak, yes. Take it.]" Cteno stepped across, carrying a red and black cloak in their hands. When did Ace even give them that? It doesn't matter now though, since he needs to get into the cave before the tour group throws him in. So, with a swift motion and a knot in his stomach, Ace dons his cloak and steps into the cave.

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The Inkwell Cave itself was just shades of grey, each laced with flecks of black and brown. The stalactites and stalagmites would make perfect hiding points if it weren't for how monochromatic the space was, and how bright Roda and him were. Not to mention Spade was still being a brat, trudging along silently with a face so sour that a lemon couldn't even compare. How could such a small thing look so upset, after all Spade here wasn't going to be targeted by a hungry monster. The monster probably even see it, considering that Spade was tiny in consideration to almost any landscape. It was somewhat amusing, watching Spade speed along with a huff.

"You alright Roda?" Ace whispered, tugging at his cloak as Roda trotted ahead of him. Her footsteps were faster than his, and she was gripping the edges of her cloak with a grip rivalling the bite of a crocodile. Roda turned to face him, nodding quickly before trotting further ahead. Ace needed to pick up the pace, but also had to make sure Spade could keep up. How troublesome, he should just scoop Spade into his cloak, but that might impede the flight capacity of it thanks to Spade's sharp teeth and destructive desire. With a sigh, Ace picked up the Kitlike and jogged ahead to Roda. Drawing closer, Ace realised Roda had stopped right in front of two gaping cave mouths.

"Oh, great. Guess we're splitting up." He groaned, "I'll take the left path." Roda nodded at Ace's statement, jogging off to the right before disappearing into the mouth of the path. Now Ace was alone with his wretched little friend, hunting down a monster. Wonderful.

Apprehensively, Ace stepped towards the left path. The deep dark pathway had a small yet sharp drop, but stretched on boundlessly afterwards. The innards of the path were decorated by rock formations and what seemed to sound like running water. It honestly would've been quite gorgeous, but the threat of a monster, an annoying Kitlike, and the fact that it was part of a trip that he didn't even want to go on really soured the mood. But no matter, he had a job to do after all. Even if it sucked.

"You ready Spade?" Ace snickered, crouching low to the cave floor. With a hop and a jump, Ace threw himself over the ledge of the drop, allowing his cloak to catch the wind. Thankfully most, if not all cloaks nowadays were enchanted with something, some sort of protection spell. His happened to fall into the Cloak of Wings category, meaning small drops wont going to be a problem. Despite the lack of wind and the thinner fabric, the cloak opened upward and glided across the vacant space. Brilliant red and gentle cream colours emerging from it's inner layer. It was amusing to Ace, being able to fake flight.

But not for Spade.

Spade, who been in Ace's hands the whole time, did not enjoy the flight. He could tell, seeing as the Kitlike had decided to bite his fingers as a means of getting Ace to put him on solid earth once more. Once on the ground, it released a series of sharp growls, pacing back and forth like a tiny general. Honestly, it was really funny, but the sound was not good in an area which was filled with echoes and a giant monster. That was a one way ticket to being put in serious danger.

"Hey, hey! Sssh!" He hissed, but to no avail. Spade was in full swing of throwing a Kitlike tantrum, with no care to outside danger. Ace rubbed his temples, listening to his little companion squeak over and over. Frustration disappeared into fear however, as an unfamiliar sound danced along the cave air. It was deep, heavy and uneven. Leaking through Ace's ears and into his stomach.

And quicker than Spade could yap again, the monster moved from the shadows and towards the pair. With deep coal black ink and an ivory white face, it blended it all too perfectly with the scenery, and pranced right in front of Spade, knocking Ace over.

"Ghk!" Ace pulled himself off the ground, cursing internally. That thing was huge, yet moved so effortlessly, as if it was sand being shifted by the wind. It was staring down Spade, who had been frozen stiff in shock. Spade looked astronomically small compared to the thing, it was yet another comedic feature of being a Kitlike. However, the comedy was shortlived by Spade bolting off with a whimper, and the monster tailing behind.

"Great.." He groaned, forcing himself upward and chasing after the pair. He just needed to catch up, cast some illusion magic to convince the monster from terrorising the City of Ink, find Roda, and leave. Then everything would be fine, after all there was no requirement for a physical confrontation. However, he was instead met by Spade running toward him, monster right at its heels. Spade was gonna have him knocked over again, and most likely caught by the creature too. Incredible.

"Stop! Can you both stop!" Ace shouted at the top of his lungs, desperately calling on his speech magic. He was not going to have his face meet rock, nor would he have his Kitlike thrown around like a chew-toy. Problem was, he didn't even know if his magic would work on the two, and it was too late to think of a suitable illusion for disarming the beast. If this failed, he was screwed.

Neither Spade nor the monster seemed keen on stopping, instead bolting at higher speeds. Great, it didn't work. Ace braced himself, ready to be thrown around by the monster. He wasn't going to go down without some of his pride, at the very least. Maybe with a less strength and with Spade whining his ear off, but not without some form of pride.

Except Spade was actually not running to him straight on. It, instead, looped around ace like the anxiety inducing menace it is. Not only did the companion make him brace for nothing, but had made it so the monster had surrounded him. The tiny menace had managed to get the monster to play with him, somehow. They were meant to be fighting the thing!

"How did you even manage to get the monster to do this?!" Ace huffed, flicking ink off of his hair. Spade simply looked at him, with a stupid grin plastered on its face.

"You're revelling in this, aren't you?"

Spade responded by stopping his mindless looping to bite at Ace's heels, causing the monster to attempt to follow suite, although moreso at Ace's arms.

"That's enough!" He darted forwards, "Now let's go find Roda, and get out of this place so we can let Cteno know you dealt with the monster."