Nimble's Story

"Long enough," Annabelle responded with amusement in her tinkling voice. She floated away from the desk and landed on her feet, but the way she walked and stood gave her a little grace as if she were walking on air and not solid ground. "From his scent and aura I would say he is a werefox, like you think, or even a skin-walker, but we will not be sure until he turns. And considering the lose of his memory he may not even be able to control the fox inside him." He knew he was a fox by the scent, it was not as strong as a wolf and not as brutal as a leopard. Each wereanimal had their own scent to them, and his was very woodsy, with a lot of pine more than a musky smell of a wolf.

"The woods are crying out..." the fae suddenly spoke, glancing out the window. "They have not stopped swaying since the man entered the town. It is as if they are asking for him to return. Perhaps he does know something of the missing child." The white woman leaned forward on the desk, her hair falling gracefully over her shoulders and her face nearly in Dexenia's. "I wonder how we give someone their memories back..." she added.

Xavier continued to walk aimlessly around town with his hands in his pocket. Then in a pawn shop window he saw a sign asking for hired help. He entered the store and started toward the counter. "Excuse me.." he waved to the man in back who looked very old almost as if he were crumbling away. He turned around to see the fox and smiled. "I'm here about the help you need?" he asked, pointing his thumb back at the window.

"Ah.. yes.." the short man stumbled over to the counter then stepped up two little steps on a stool and was still shorter than Xavier. "Can you start tomorrow, young man?"

"I would love too, I'm new in town and need some money."

"Good. Good... names Nimble." The man waved his wrinkled hand in the air and pushed his glasses, which were perfect circles that were too large for his face, back up his nose, making his eyes look larger than they had been a moment ago. "Bright and earlier tomorrow morning." He stated with a smile. Xavier nodded, took down the man's number and headed back outside toward the hotel. As he exited the store though he crashed right into something that smelled deep of mush and alerted Xavier as being threatening. He grabbed the man's arm before he could fall though and smiled at him softly. "Sorry," he said to Zephyr. "I was a little over excited about getting a job... I didn't notice you there." He dusted the other off and smiled. "My deepest apologies."

Annabelle clasped her hands together in her lap and sat with her back straight. "Unless you ask me not to be there," the woman answered. She had always respected Dex's privacy for most matters, unless it dealt with the town. Because the fae was able to move freely without being seen she was able to take care of the hardest criminal responses without being detected. "I normally drop into conversations in this office, but if you wish to talk to Xavier alone about the woods, then just let me know."

"Really?" Xavier smiled, "It will be nice to see you around then. I just got a job under Nimble. He is a really nice old man." The fox nodded his head softly then pointed in the direction of the hotel. "I should be getting back though. It will be really late soon, need to be rested up for the first day of the job." He patted the wolf's shoulder, still a little afraid of the musky smell that fell from him but let it brush off. "See you later." He waved and walked toward the hotel.

Nimble peered over his glasses. "Well, hello Sunny." The man kept up with the other's quick words and nodded his head. "I sure can watch over him, if the mayor wishes. You come to have some tea with me?" he asked, moving slowly to the door to change the open to closed. "I have some beef and broth in the pot too, if you wants some dinner." Nimble was use to Zephyr coming and requesting things from him. He was also use to feeding the man as well, at times when he forgot to feed himself.

Annabelle floated into the air. "Well then, I'll see you tomorrow. Don't work too hard now, you'll age." She teased, chuckling slightly before disappearing. It was unlike her to leave so early, but she was curious about Xavier and decided to check upon him. She watched as the man returned to the hotel and fumbled for his key. He went almost straight to bed. Didn't turn on the lights, or mess with the damn television. He just crawled into bed and closed his eyes. She thought it odd, because when she was watching him earlier she did not recall him eating. She wondered if he would eat at all.

"No, no..." Nimble made his way slowly to the stove, taking the tea kettle off the fire and bringing it to the table to join his friend. "Nothing you can do for me. The shop is doing good. I just hired that animal you want me to watch over." He smiled and sat down, pouring two cups of tea. "Just the company, that is what you can do for me. I just want company." He chuckled and started to make his tea the way he loved it. "How have you been, Zephyr."

"It has been quiet." The old man stated, sipping on his tea in between his conversation. "You're not around as much and the boys don't visit as often either. Which is fine, they were a little too noisy anyway." He chuckled. "But was in some need around the shop so I put that sign up today, and look, someone came in after all."

"How is the mayor anyway, you've been doing a lot for her lately, haven't you?" he asked, turning his attention to the window that had a good view of her home. "Thought you didn't like the mayor all that much, or is it because your fae friend works with her."

"Annabelle and the mayor are good friends?" the man seemed surprise. Annabelle's nature was rather childish and playful, but she still had a mean streak on her when she was serious. He did not see how the two would have gotten along, but he did believe that the oddest of pairs end up the closest of friends, otherwise him and his wife would not have loved each other so deeply. "In Annabelle you trust, and then the mayor due to the bond they have. You are such a good friend." He smiled, then sipped a little more on his tea. "Have you taken that poor girl out on a date yet?" he added, noticing the blush on the wolf's face when Annabelle was brought up.

"No he hasn't..." Annabelle stepped in through the door, only hearing the last part of their conversation. "Sorry, just got here, don't worry." She waved her hands as if she had just walked through the doors. "I just needed to speak to Zephyr about the new guy, Xavier."

"Ah yes... go ahead, take his time. He doesn't mind." The old man laughed against and moved away from the table toward the kitchen.

Annabelle gracefully glided over to the table, taking her seat next to Zephyr and watched Nimble move through the kitchen slowly looking for another cup for tea. When he returned he poured her a cup as well before shaking his head. Of course he did not mind the young woman taking up their time. He loved having both of them over, and the conversations were always interesting.

Annabelle thanked the man and then sighed. "Xavier hasn't eaten..." she stated solemnly. "If he is a were then that maybe dangerous for everyone for his hunger to get out of control. I noticed when he entered town that he had not stopped anywhere for food, and he went straight to bed when he got to the hotel. I have a feeling he might be a problem here soon, and we don't have anything of his type of animal to keep his beast under control if he does shift." She told him, giving him all the details. She even told him what the mayor was planning on having him and the fox do in the forest in a couple of days. "Only if you can manage to be nice to him, that is."

The room went silent, even Nimble was watching Anna as if she would come up with something great. Then she smiled. "I'll contact room service and have them take him some dinner. You'll take it to him, say you work part time at the hotel when you are not helping with other affairs, not sure what affairs, but other. If he invites you in take it, talk to him, see if he eats, if not we'll watch and see if he eats from afar. That will get him some food tonight. As for tomorrow morning, he's suppose to be..."

"With me, bright and early," Nimble raised his glass a little and smiled. "He seems like a good lad."

"Nimble, would you mind having breakfast ready for him when he arrives. If he doesn't eat tonight, he'll definitely have some food for him in the morning. And you know how Nimble is when it comes to his workers and food." Anna sat up in her seat a little more, putting her a bit closer to Zephyr. "Does that sound good?" she asked.

"You can go..." Anna stated, her eyes watching him carefully. "The manager should have the food there when you've arrived." Then she vanished with a little pop. Nimble stared at her chair for a moment. He never could get use to her random popping in an out without a warning.

Anna appeared next to the manager of the hotel. "I have a request from the mayor that goes along with whatever deal she has already asked of you. The fox you have been watching in the room has not eaten a meal all day. You will prepare him a steak, a little more than rare, with two sides of your choice. When Zephyr arrives give him the tray that your room service would be given to take to the room. Is that understood?" The moon fae stared at him, her eyes completely serious, which at this point made her beautiful and frightening.