Venturing: Carron Coned

Upon entering into the room, we were surprise to see that the birthday party was empty. Nobody was here. Not even the birthday boy too. We were all confused that we had turned to one another in response; Kyro pondered about the wrong room. But the evidence was right there in front of him. We were inside the living room. Big for ourselves however. The gray or pale strips of lines ran across the flooring beneath our feet. Towards the other side where the wall meets the floor. Two windows stand overtop of it. I nodded towards the others. Kyro, Natty and Zander walked off to the right. Heeding through another door and disappeared right from my sight. Meanwhile, Albina and Takaki walked around the living room. Searching for anything that might be useful in this investigation. For a while, the temporarily peace was held. But so was the tension in the air. Everyone was nervous. Even I too however, as we pondered about the missing guest and the birthday party that was suppose to start.

It did not take long for me to hear Kyro's voice spoke from the other room. As his voice was carried into the living room; both me and Takaki turned around. Facing that room together. Out came Kyro. He had a worried expression upon his face as he motioned both of us to follow him. He reentered into the room again with us trailing behind him. Following him, we entered the room one by one till we are already inside. The bedroom was a bit different than the living room. Not because it was smaller than the other room. But rather, it was messier than it. Lots of presents were gathered in one spot; shoved into the corner where it was forgotten altogether. Adjacent to the pile of presents was the bed itself. Neatly tidy with no wrinkles or dents whatsoever. A loose present was overtop of it. However, its wrappings were already ripped off and exposing a brown box inside. The top was never opened which I pointed to it. Kyro nodded and walked over to the exposed box. Opening it to reveal the contents that were inside.

Much to our surprise it was a white piece of paper. Nothing written inside of it. Kyro flipped the paper over and saw nothing on the opposing side. As he looked at us with concern upon his face, neither of us said anything else in response towards him. But a shake of my head allowed Kyro to nod slightly and return the paper back into the box. Takaki popped the question on the silence, “Why was there a piece of paper?" Neither of us answered that however while we turned our attention back towards the pile of presents stuff at the corner. Kyro walked up towards the pile; counting them for the first time. When he finished, he asked “Why were there fifty two questions instead of fifty three?" “How you know there are that many number?" Takaki questioned the red dragon who answered nothing back to him. For the two stayed silent while my eyes stared at the pile for a moment. Shift back towards the exposed brown box momentarily and suddenly walked to it. Grabbing the paper that was inside. Much to the shock of the pair of dragons behind me, I brought the paper to my face and walked towards the opened door of the bedroom. Turning the light on suddenly.

A bright purple light flood the room. It was not a normal bright white light however. For as I gaze high to the ceiling above me, slightly smiling, I held the paper up high into the air. Directly exposing it towards the purple light above us. Sure enough, the light penetrated the paper. Exposing a new number upon it. “What it say?" “Here is our answer, apparently." I said, ignoring Takaki while walking to both of them. Handing the paper back without hesitation as Kyro grabbed it and turned the paper over. Seeing the number exposed upon the paper for the first time. “Fifty three." He breathed, “How you know that would be it?" Takaki questioned me and I smiled following him explaining it simply. “It is the only other paper that was there. Inside that exposed brown box no doubt. Look around the room. There are not any other boxes or presents besides the pile and the one on top of the bed." “he is right however." Started Kyro as I nodded to him. My smile fading afterwards as a new mystery pops into my head, “But what about the fifty third present. Just as you had said Kyro." I muttered, loud enough for the red dragon to hear who shrugged following me, and said nothing else more. Other than we turned to stare at the pile of presents in silence, exchange nothing.

For after a long pause in silence; Kyro and Takaki stepped forth towards the pile. Snatching present after present from the pile and threw it behind themselves. Some, maybe a few of them hit my leg. But I paid no other attention to it while my eyes stared at their work in silence. Lots of questions and no answers were in my mind. Even this birthday party that we were invited too never made any sense too however. For as I pondered, I turned my back to them. Lingering onto that same question that was inside my mind for a while. Till something crackled onto the walkie had my mind slipped to reality again and lowered my eyes back to my waste where my walkie was. Snatching it and raised towards my face, I pressed the button three times before going silent as someone familiar spoke through the speaker. “Ling?" “Here." I said responding immediately, “We searched through the living and kitchen rooms of the place. Finding some small boots, gloves and a hat." “We are expecting a baby?" I questioned immediately, though shook my head at how inappropriate that statement was however. “No Ling. I think our culprit is a baby." “More like a man baby or something." I argued, but silence fell following my statement. Upon the newfound information, I frowned before turning myself back towards the pair that was working at the present pile at the corner. Upon now, nothing was neatly ordered anymore. The floor was now replaced by a sea of presents. Nothing was left exposed.

“So a baby or a manbaby huh?" I heard Takaki commented as I felt a blush coming along. Shook my head of any sort of embarrassment and growled with my eyes narrowed at them. “Not a baby or a manbaby however." “Then what is it? A dragon? A reptile? What?" Takaki questioned me. “I am not sure…" “We better be sure with that newfounding clue however." He argued back before returning to his normal voice. “Anyway, we found nothing hiding in this corner. Seems like the present pile here is after all normal." “Guess we should head out huh?" “First neat the place." I started as the two dragons groaned, returning every present back onto their original spot. For before long the pile was reconstructed. Nothing upon the wall was left as the wall of presents was in front of us. Kyro and Takaki smiled faintly briefly before returning towards me to which I nodded, leading them back towards the living room once again. Upon reentering the room, Takaki walked over to the pale couches that were off towards the side of the room. Something that I never saw initially when we had arrived upon here. He crashed upon the surface, bouncing up first before landing at its surface. Arms stretched wide with a smile and a relaxed face expression onto his face. Before he leaned forth and questioned me,

“So what is this about small clothing?" “That is the thing." I stated, glancing back onto him. “I do not understand at all. According to Natty and the others, “This culprit of us is not a baby or hatchling at all." “This does prove the point that hatchlings cannot carry weapons in their claws." Stated Kyro as he held his paw into the air upon our nodding at him. “See." I confirmed, following Kyro as Takaki frowned and tilted his head to one side. Asking again, “But if it is not a hatchling or baby. Who else would fit into that clothing?" A pause of silence fell upon us as my mouth was hanged opened. Loss of words. Nothing to argue about however. For as Takaki stared at me then towards Kyro for a moment, raised himself from the couch and walked across the room. Disappearing through a pair of brown doors where perhaps he met up with the second group. At this, Kyro walked towards me and nodded his head silently. I frowned responding to him as he muttered back commenting in my ear, “He is right you know. A hatchling cannot hold a weapon. But a grown adult can. Vise versas when it comes to clothing as well." “However…" I argued back, regaining my voice again.

“A mother dragoness or a father dragon can buy the clothing for the hatchling." I pointed out which Kyro tilted his head. Nodded for a few seconds and responded, “Yes. So can a brother or sister." “But there is no indication of either of them, is there?" I stated, Kyro shook his head. Confirming that. As the following silence loomed over me again, I frowned again as I spoke again to him. “And there is no crib or anything. No other hatchling stuff like toys, cribs and among other things…" “What are you getting at, Ling?" Kyro questioned me just as the other dragons submerged from the brown doors behind them. Re entering back onto the living room as they all turned towards us. Takaki was the first to speak amongst the group despite some of them groaned at making him lead, “Ling. There are scales scattered throughout the whole kitchen room. It was a mess. Upon further speculation, none of them had blood. It seems no conflict was involve here." “Does that mean that the culprit just willingly gained hostages and dragged them out somewhere?" Kyro asked Takaki, “No." Natty answered for him, stepping forth to Takaki's line. “While we do believe there was some conflict involve. Additionally, I do think that our culprit did 'clean' up the place to make it seems so." “Your point?" I questioned at her, joining in the conversion as she turned towards me.

She held up a white cloth. It looked smelly and old. Worn out and lightly dirty however. The cloth was square shaped and silvery white was its color. As she rolled it up into a string and squeeze upon it tightly, water came from it. Dropped upon the grounds between me and Natty as she faintly smiled, “And its newly used however." “There is some dirty at it too." Kyro commented, pointing at the batches of dirty that was upon the cloth. Natty nodded her head, answered him “Its the conflict lines drawn from the flooring of the kitchen room. Guess this is it." “Our culprit only used one? Nothing more?" “Just one." Natty stated as Zander pipped up from behind her “Actually. We are unsure about that. Cause the trash bag of the trash can was gone and there was no replacement for it however." “Interesting…" I muttered gazing at the black dragon then pulled my eyes back to the pink dragoness following afterwards as my mind wondered. But before I could string some things together, Natty's voice called me out from my own subconsciousness. I blinked at her suddenly as she pointed to the bed room. Questioning about the pile of presents found there.

Before I could speak, Kyro's voice filled the room. For in summary. He explained what happened inside the room and the procedure we'd done with the such said presents instead. Upon this explanation however, Natty nodded her head while her arms were crossed. The two conversed for a while as I motioned to Takaki and the other remaining dragons at hand. After they came towards me, leaving the pair alone to themselves, I spoke issuing an order for them “Spread out from this building and start searching for anyone that lives here. We want a full explanation about this culprit or victim." They nodded in response. Having immediately raced behind me and towards the door whereas the faded footsteps trailed behind them as I turned back towards Kyro and Natty having finished their conversation. “I see." Natty answered after a brief silence “…and we are unsure where is the last present is?" Kyro nodded. Turned his head just as I stopped between the two dragons. Crossing my arms as well while I spoke to their silence, “The other officers had gone from this building. Moving towards the citizens that used or now lived here in their lifetime. Detailing them about the birthday boy whether or not he or she was a culprit or victim in this case." The pair nodded back towards me and silence fell following our short conversation.

Kyro and Natty immediately split, peeling away from me as if they had something to do while they wait for the results. I watched both of them head into their respective rooms: Kyro inside the bedroom and Natty back upon the kitchen. They both disappeared afterwards which left me alone inside the living room while I scanned the area about. Once again; the room was clean. Nothing was misplaced or hiding. But what I failed to notice from the first glance upon arriving here, was that a brown covered table was along the pair of windows at the other side of the room. Three chairs sat surrounding that table. Three different color hats were overtop of the table. From left to right were the colors of the hats: red, blue and green. 'The primary colors.' I thought to myself. Then frowned wondering, 'Did the family think of themselves as priority than everyone else inside the building? Was that the same with the hatchling also?' My head ached after a piece of thought as my head was shook; I grumbled before turning around and gaze at the door behind me. My eyes were closed, reopening them again before heeding into the bedroom where I presumed Kyro was however.

“You are right Ling." I heard Kyro's voice called out just as I entered into the room itself. “There are only fifty two in here. Where is that last one? And where is that piece of pap-" “The paper is inside the brown box." I interrupted as he turned around, facing me and smiled faintly, “I see." Nothing else came from his voice as he turned around and walked towards the neatly tidy bed in front of me. Peaking into the brown box just by leaning forward a bit; he dug his claws inside. Pulling out a piece of paper which revealed to be fifty three presents just as I had said previously. He glanced at me; then place the paper overtop of the fifty two presents presented in front of him. Take some back and gaze from the distance, then spoke to the silence “Interesting. I never saw a misnumber match ever before. I take it that our culprit might had misplace it somewhere within the building just for the birthday boy to find." “Or worst." I commented as he gaze at me then shake his head, laughing “I doubt he gave it away to some other realm. The canines there never like reptilian birthdays anyway." I just rolled my eyes suddenly and said nothing more to his laughter. Though his comment previous did strike me odd as I stare at him for a moment. Kyro, however, caught on and questioned me. “What is on your mind?"

“Something that you had said previously Did you think that the culprit just left that birthday box somewhere within the building and asked him to find it for him?" “Its possible. Considering that the box is indeed missing after all." He says immediately. A pause of silence came before he turned back towards me again and said, “Otherwise, he would had forgotten it at home. Or gave it indeed to someone else." “Not canine." “Non Canine indeed." Kyro agreed and nothing else came following that. As Kyro stretched his arms and raised them onto the air above his head, he yawned smacking his lips a couple of times before retiring from the room he was in. Disappeared behind me, I found myself staring at the fifty two birthday presents in front of me and with thousands of thoughts that were upon my mind. As I looked concerned with narrowed eyes, I had wondered if Kyro's statement of possibilities were true. Or rather just far fetched as most would love to call it however. But so far. Throughout our possibles outcomes and previous experience with our cases. Nothing is such far fetched however. As I growled and clenched my claws till they grew white, I turned around and heed out the door following Kyro's steps as I met with them just outside the living room's door.

“Where are you guys going?" I questioned them as Natty held the door for Kyro who already headed out, disappearing from my sights while she smiled faintly back towards me. But said nothing else after closing the door. With the door locked, I found myself alone in the room. Nothing to do besides rechecking the clues that we had found around the place. I pondered while reviewing over them. Carefully covering the tracks of any possible alterative that might stray the case further from its original course. I thought about the fifty three presents, when there was only fifty two. 'Where was that last present?' I wondered, thinking of two other possible paths. One was the present could be outside of Vaster and Reptilian realm. Delivered straight into canine or Oceanic realm; or any other minor realm that is however. The other possible outcome was that the present is safe within this building. But hiding from the birthday boy. 'Was that where he got murdered?' I wondered, additionally taking note that no blood was spilled. For the flooring of the living room was clean.

I frowned at the thought; even shaking my head at how possible and certain that could be. But also how the first option could be also as well. Following the two options came another thought; although perhaps not likely. 'Could the culprit napped the birthday boy or girl and taken them back onto their place?' It was not possible, considering that there was no conflicts marks or lines upon the kitchen floor. But the cloth that Natty had, said otherwise. As my head ached and me continuing to frown at the reviewing clues present to us, my ears perked upon hearing the door knocking behind me and I turned around heading forth towards the door. Grabbing the knob and opened it whereas the rest of the squad was right in front of me. All of them shared the same smile apparently as if they were pleased or enjoyed their investigation or game or whatever it was. For they piled right onto in one by one till the last closed the door; they all turned around. Facing me and spoke; one at the time. Here was what they had to say.

Takaki: “I had spoken to some dragons that were close by to this building. They had stated that the culprit was not what they had thought of before. Including that canine from the other realm. Its fur trailed behind its wake, though the winds from yesterday had blown it away. Covering its tracks. Oh. The culprit is furry. Not a scalie like us however. Small that it could mistake for a Corsac or Fennecs. Although now that I think about it. It could be a bit bigger."

Zander: “I too had questioned and asked some. But they seem to be diverting the conversation into something else however. Something about that missing present. While true, dragons are hoarders and we needed thousands of shiny things to collect. In birthdays, we are to only collect fifty three. Roughly half of the total, just so that other species. Including the canines can gain their fair share. However, that is besides the point. This culprit was carrying a present. The smallest one that money could buy. It was wrapped differently and in different coloring too unlike the common wrappings found at a nearby store. A gold tag was attached to it: but here was the thing. There was no 'To' or 'From' nor 'Happy Birthday'. Written on it was a warning call for something else. I guess that it was directly to the birthday boy or to the canines in general."

Albana said roughly the same as Zander and Takaki however. As I nodded at the rest of them when the silence had loomed overhead, I heard the door opened again and I turned around facing it. Kyro and Natty came back with a frown upon their faces; Natty admitted “There was nothing. No present hiding within the building itself. Just this however instead." She stated before handing me another piece of paper. I turned it over and widened my eyes. For the paper was a map; showcasing the two realms side by side and their layout of one another. A large red arrow points from Reptilian to Canine realms. “Where did you get this?" I questioned her as she answered me, “From the boiler. Downstairs into the basement, just below ground level." I was silent after that.