Sifu and Grov stared uneasily at the bullets in Karol's hand.
The eagle's condition remained stable, while Roza tended carefully to his wounds.
Karol:
"The bullets lodged in the eagle's body came from shotguns. We found two in the wings, one in the stomach… and one in the leg."
Grov:
"Shotguns. Bullets shaped like fangs.
There's no doubt… it's Black Wolf."
Sifu:
"How can you be so certain it was them?"
Grov:
"I've been to the surface more times than I can count. I've learned nearly everything about them without ever being noticed. Every night I climb the trees, hide, and watch—every move they make, their weapons, their weaknesses… everything."
Sifu:
"Then you understand what this means. The Black Wolves could appear outside the city at any moment… and they'll be searching for him."
Grov:
"And if they do, we have the means to fight. The city walls are so tall and impenetrable, they won't come within half a step of breaching them."
Sifu pulled out the papyrus, studying it carefully.
Sifu:
"The papyrus… the eagle… the Black Wolves. Too many pieces, and none of them fit together."
Grov:
"We're ready to face whatever comes. This isn't the first time, is it?"
Sifu:
"This time, Grov, with the way you've handled things… it might well be the last."
Grov:
"Relax, old turtle. Everything will be fine."
He pulled out a bottle of wine and took a long drink.
Sifu:
"Stop drinking! Do you even realize the situation we're in?"
Grov:
"Today is the Festival of Stone. I can't not drink—this is a celebration! We honor the creation of the city. It's the perfect chance to keep everyone distracted. And once the eagle recovers, we'll give him the papyrus and send him away safely… without anyone ever finding out."
Sifu watched Grov drinking, choosing not to speak. His silence burned with irritation.
Grov:
"It's also a good chance to keep Las and Eli busy. If we put them to work preparing for the festival, they won't be sneaking around the clinic anymore."
Sifu's face twisted into a cartoonishly annoyed expression.
Sifu:
"When all this is over, I'm leaving. I'll abandon the lot of you… and go on vacation."
---
AFTERNOON – ROCK CITY PLAZA
Preparations for the Festival of Stone were already underway.
Las, scowling, carried heavy sacks of food, hauling them over to the market stalls.
Eli helped a group of rabbits push a cart loaded with vegetables.
Las muttered under his breath, grumbling.
"Always the same… smacks me with that staff and keeps saying—"
He mimicked Sifu's voice in mockery.
"Rule number five: no eavesdropping!
Rule number three: speak with respect!
Blah blah blah…"
He stuck out his tongue.
Eli overheard him and snapped.
"Shut up already, monkey-brain! It's bad enough I got in trouble because of you—now you won't stop whining!"
Across the plaza, Skav, Vroom, and Piu lounged on a bench, watching the scene.
Piu:
"Hey, Las—watch out. Your potatoes are falling out of the sack."
Las shot him a glare.
"Shut it!"
He dropped the sack, snatched a tomato from inside, and hurled it straight at Piu's head.
Piu ducked. The tomato smacked Vroom square on the head, splattering red.
Las (laughing):
"Ha ha ha! Now you three all look the same!"
Vroom's face darkened.
"That does it!"
He grabbed a watermelon from a nearby stall and hurled it at Las.
The melon crashed down onto Las, bursting apart.
Las growled, wiping the juice from his face.
He grabbed a handful of potatoes from another stall and started pelting them at the trio.
Skav jumped in, snatching up a cake and tossing it through the air.
The plaza erupted. Animals all around shouted and gasped.
Eli:
"Enough! Aren't you tired of this already?!"
But before she could finish—SPLAT!
The cake slammed right into her face.
Eli froze, her fists trembling, cream dripping down her cheeks.
Her eyes glowed with fury.
Eli (screaming):
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU ALL!"
Grov made his way toward the plaza. He noticed the quarrel breaking out, but paid it no mind. A crooked smile tugged at his lips as his thoughts whispered within him:
Perfect. That will keep them busy.
Suddenly, Karol appeared behind him, leaning in to whisper something into his ear. In an instant, Grov's smirk vanished—he broke into a run, dashing alongside Karol.
From a distance, Las caught sight of Grov rushing away in a hurry.
He froze mid-argument, abandoning the fight and immediately sprinting after him.
Eli:
"Oh no… not again."
Skav:
"Where's he going now?"
Piu:
"What, does he think he can start a fight and then just run off? Guys—after him! Don't let him get away!"
Skav, Piu, and Vroom charged forward at full speed, chasing after Las as the whole scene erupted into chaos.
Eli:
"How much worse can this possibly get…?"
---
Inside the clinic, down in the surgical chamber…
Grov and Sifu burst into the room, panic written on their faces, their eyes immediately drawn to the eagle.
The eagle stirred—his body trembled as his beak slowly opened.
Strange words, haunting and ancient, slipped from his mouth.
He spoke in a tongue long forgotten… in the unknown language
«Ἐν παπύρῳ κέκρυπται τὸ φῶς· διὰ τῆς ἀληθείας νικᾶται τὸ σκότος.»
Karol, Roza, Sifu, and Grov stared in shock at the unconscious eagle as he murmured words in his sleep.
Sifu:
"What language is that…?"
Grov:
"I have no idea. It's the first time I've ever heard it."
Roza stood frozen, her face pale with disbelief.
Karol's eyes widened, stunned by what he was witnessing.
Meanwhile, Las slipped quietly back into the clinic through the hidden passage.