The Encounter

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," Asher muttered into his cellphone.

He was trudging through the streets of Alcorith, buying time so that he could finish his conversation with Hawkins. 'Conversation' was an inexact word, actually, as Hawkins was mostly scolding Asher and Asher was mumbling short replies.

"You better!" Hawkins snapped. "What's been taking so long?"

"Had to take care of the kid," Asher responded nonchalantly. "He was givin' me a little too much sass this morning, so I showed him who's boss." The fae snorted, muffling dry laughter. "That brat probably won't be dragging himself off the floor until tomorrow."

Over the crackling speakers, Asher heard Hawkins sigh heavily, like he was frustrated. "Whatever. Just hurry up. I want to have all of us here to guard the prisoner. I refuse to have it escape from us."

"Blah, blah, I get it." Asher rolled his eyes, shoving past a woman on the street. "I'm tryin' to find a private place to teleport, that's all. I mean geez, I was there yesterday on guard anyway. What's it matter?"

"It matters when it's my life on the line! Get back here and do your job or I'll make sure you're the next magical creature I hunt down!" Hawkins snarled. "You remember the runes to the hideout, right?"

"Of course! I'm not an idiot."

Hawkins stayed silent, almost as if he believed different.

Raising his eyes, Asher spotted a familiar group of people standing by a building.
"Ey, I'll chat with you later, Hawkins. I just saw an...old friend of mine."

"Wait, Asher! Don't you dare hang up on me!" Hawkins shouted as Asher carelessly hung up the phone, shoving it back in his pocket.
~~~~

"Why'd we have to stop by you guy's house again?" Time grumbled.

Esper adjusted the strap of the light tan satchel bag on his shoulder. "I needed to pick up some stuff. If we're going on a big mission, we have to be prepared. I packed bandaids, water, little sandwiches-"

"Uh huh," Time replied, bobbing his head.

Apparently to conserve energy, Time had taken the form of a slender ferret, coiling his body around Umbra's shoulders and resting.

The group had paused in front of a local grocery store to discuss plans and ready themselves for the mission that lie before them. Time seemed anxious to begin, twitching and constantly asking if they were ready.

Taking a nip out of a sandwich, Matthew looked at Time quizzically. "So, like, where do we even need to look? Do you have any idea where Clockwork could be?"

"I lost contact with him somewhere on this continent." Time replied, like his answer was clear and concise.

Matthew blinked in surprise, his glasses sliding down his nose. "Um, that's kinda a big area of search..."

The ferret shrugged. "I can try to narrow it down to-" he paused, looking wildly around him. "Someone's coming!" He suddenly burrowed under Umbra's shirt, climbing down his back. Umbra yelped in surprise, almost swatting him off.

"Well look who it is!" A sly voice called from across the street. "My old buddy Umbra!"

The man that swaggered towards them was dressed in a messy, slightly torn tracksuit, and he had flame-red hair that was pulled in a short ponytail. Wild green eyes were narrowed into a wicked glare, a small smile on his lips as he stared at Umbra.

Aunora leaned in, tapping him on the arm. "Yo, Umbra, do you know this guy?"

"I don't recall," Umbra said, taking a sharp breath. He took several steps away from his team, wanting to reach the man before he reached his team. The closer he got to the man, the more he had a looming feeling of familiarity.
"How do you know my name?" Umbra whispered as met the stranger. His palms were tingling, his body prepping to channel the magic that would summon his weapon.

"It's me, Asher." The stranger's eyes glinted with a certain malice, confusing Umbra even more. "I thought you would remember me, because I sure remember you."

Umbra showed off his sharp teeth, hoping to intimidate Asher. "I don't know who you are, and I want you to leave. Understand?"

Asher paid no attention to Umbra's dark warning. He glanced behind Umbra, steadily watching the rest of his team. "I see you got some friends, huh? And that kid, he's your master, right? That's so pathetic, you know? Such a powerful force like you throwing your life away for a stupid kid. It's a waste."

Blue sparks danced across Umbra's fingers as he moved in closer to Asher. "Don't you dare talk about my master like that. I will not hesitate to attack you." 

Asher held up his hands innocently, snorting. "Calm down, dude." He turned, sticking his hands in his pockets. "It was a nice to see you again. Small world, huh?" He smirked. "Hopefully we we will meet again." 

As he trudged away, Umbra stood dumbfounded. What had just happened?

"Umbra!" Time said urgently, crawling back up around his shoulders. "We've gotta follow that guy! He had Clockwork's scent all over him!"

Author's Note- oooh mysterious!!!