Chapter 50: The Standstill

“You don’t have to do this you know,” Mimi tried to comfort Jake as his erratic breathing quietened down for a moment of reprieve. Jake had been sitting near one of the benches nearest to the main square of the town for as long as he could, staying off the impending judgement and questions of the villagers for as long as the slowly building murmurs would allow him.

“No,” Jake waved off his friend’s incessant hovering, “Someone has to let them know about what’s been happening around here lately.”

“Well,” Mimi suggested, “That doesn’t have to be you, you know? Palis could do it. He’s your older brother after all.”

“Palis doesn’t like to be in the spotlight for longer than he has to, and besides, this is beast business which automatically makes it my business. I have to…” Jake thought about his next words more carefully before he continued to speak. He must have been silent for a longer time than he though because Mimi prompted him to speak again.