Rime smiled as she stepped out of the shop. She had been waiting for a chance like this! She did feel a bit sorry for the butterfly being used as bait, but it was all for a good cause.
Rifiin trotted along with her, looking ahead curiously to where they were going. He had to squint because of the bright sun that was shining from almost directly overhead.
"Is there really a well where you can catch pretty things?" he asked.
"Well, I've seen people come back with things, and I very much doubt Hime would lie to us. Now, see! There it is! Let's go, Rifiin."
Rifiin pouted at being made to speed up, but obediently trotted along behind the longer legged dragon. He was at least grateful that there was a bit of shade about.
Rime attached the butterfly to the hook, and took a deep breath before lowering the bait into the water. She twitched the line every now and again, wondering how bait was supposed to attract the attention of an item. Or maybe the Cross Meo's that lived down there put the items on the line. Wouldn't that be interesting!
Rifiin quickly grew bored, and sighed, pulling out a brush for his hair. Why he'd been drug along, he didn't know. But he was now rather bored.
Rime was so busy intently peering into the water that she didn't notice, but Rifiin sure did. He at first reached out to the bird, but as it hopped forward, he got a bit nervous.
And then the bird reached out and pecked at his hand... the one holding the brush. Well! Not even a brush was worth an injury to Rifiin, so he let go to pull his hand back, with an indignant cry of,
"Hey!"
As the brush fell, the head darted out again, and with a chortling song, it grabbed the brush in mid air, hopping backwards as it did so, to escape Rifiin's sudden retaliation.
"You flea-ridden feather duster! I didn't do anything to you! Gimme that back!" he said as he dove forward. But he only caught air, the bird having labored mightily to get airborne before geting squished by the tackling Meo.
Rime finally heard the commotion when Rifiin yelled, and looked over in time to see the brush fly away, and Rifiin getting up, staring after it. He had dirt smudges in his fur all over his front, and he huffed a gusty sigh of disgust.
"That stupid bird took my brush, Rime!" he complained.
"I saw that. But... if the bird wanted it that badly, maybe you should let him have it. You can get a new one." Then she turned back to the well, a small smile on her face. She shifted the pole again, moving the bait about in the murky water.
Rifiin meanwhile, had brightened considerably at the mention of the word 'new'. A new brush? Maybe he should thank that bird...
Rime made a startled noise, and moved to concentrate on the rod more closely. Where had it been that she hit something? She jiggled the bait around, hoping to catch the hook onto whatever it was...
Rifiin, meanwhile, had come closer, a little more interested with the shift in his mood. He peered over the edge of the well, into the water, and his tail swished behind him. "Catch it Rime! I want to go back to town and get a new brush!" he ordered.
"I can't catch it just like that, dear. It takes time. Be patient, okay?" she shook her head and sighed. He really was demanding.
