Notorious

Chapter 8 - These Animals May Bite

Chapter 8 - These Animals May Bite

Notorious walked out onto the cakey mud and growled quietly at the state of her shoes. Laylan didn't follow Jason and Notorious outside, instead choosing to stay at the door, leaning up against its frame.

"Well," he said, "see you when you get back!"

"You're not coming with us?"  Jason said, wide eyed.

"Oh goodness no. No no no, certainly not. If you didn't hear Notorious earlier, allow me to refresh your noggin' young boy - I am retired." Laylan said grinning. "Now there's no point me running off into the moonlight to face a pack of wolfs when I could be sat in my lovely little bungalow, drinking tea and whiskey and sharing a nice steak with Lady Butterscotch."

Jason raised his eyebrows and looked at Notorious questioningly. Notorious shrugged, she didn’t know what he was talking about ether. In fact, there were very few moment where Laylan made sense.

"Who, may I ask," Notorious finally said, "is Lady Butterscotch?"

"Good lord above, you two never pay attention do you?" Laylan said throwing his hands into the air. "I'm sure you remember the fish I masterfully conjured up out of a piece of wood.  I'm certain you remember Jason; the look on your face!"

Laylan began laughing to himself, leaving Notorious and Jason waiting to see if he was going to get to the point or not.

"Well, yes, as I was saying. I took the fish home in a bubble of water and BAM!" Notorious raised an eyebrow and Jason jumped. "The fish turned into a dog. Cute little poodle she was, so I named her. But she didn't - and still doesn't - seem to like me very much, perhaps she preferred life as a chunk of wood..."

"No no!" Jason said. "I'll take her!" 

Notorious and Laylan were both taken aback at Jason's sudden interest in the dog-fish.

Jason blushed slightly. "She'll probably like me better that is... And I've always wanted a pet so..." He looked at his feet, the colour still in his cheeks.

"Its settled then, you may pick Lady Butterscotch up once you are done with the scary pack of were-wolfs." Laylan said cheerfully, obviously happy to be rid of the yappy dog. He turned his back to Notorious and Jason and half-skipped back into the Fable, humming 'the grand ol' duke of York' as he went.

"Odd fellow, he is..." Notorious said thoughtfully. "Any way, lets go get the beast then shall we?"

"The beast...?" Jason repeated as Notorious set off, walking quickly through the mud towards a large garage about 20 metres away.

"There is no way in hell that I'm getting on that thing." Jason said, eyeing the shiny black ATK 700 Cruiser.

"Get on the motorbike, Jason." Notorious said, her hands on her hips. "Don't be a little girl about it."

"How do I know its safe?" His eyes squinted sceptically.

"I'm an excellent driver and it was hand built by the best mechanic I've ever met."

"Hand built?" He said, his eyes now wide.

"Granted he was only 12 at the time, but still the best." Notorious said, smiling at the memory fondly. Jason on the other hand looked as if he may throw up.

"Id rather die than get on that... that thing!" He exhaled in an exasperated shriek.

"Trust me, that can be arranged..." Notorious muttered. She grabbed Jason by the wrist and pulled him close, her mouth next to his ear. "If you don't get on that god damn bike I will personally see to it that the partner you get assigned when I'm done training you will be a middle aged woman with a love for cats, young men and very spicy curries. Got it?" Notorious pulled back and stared him in the eyes.