Arctic Stalker

Del poked her sleek black head into the backroom closet where Nix was going through his box of gear. "Something is going on outside."

"Huh?" Nix slammed the box shut and walked towards the back door just in time to see something flash by. "The hell? Was that one of Mina's Vilas?"

Nix pushed the door open and was quickly forced to dodge as he came face to face with a smiling jade figure. The quills on top of her head were standing up straight; it was obvious that she'd been playing in the turtle pond. "Playing with the Vilas?"

Soup's round face smiled as she made a chewing motion. "Nom, nom, nom."

"Going to eat Mina's Vilas?" When she nodded, Nix released the turtle. "Have at it; she has plenty of them."

Nix was still smiling when he resumed his seat in the kitchen. "What?"

Del's ice-blue eyes were watching him. "You're going to let Soup eat a Vilas?"

"Sounds bad when you say it like that." Nix placed three Emperor puppets on the counter in front of him.