Venturing: Probel Rings

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Now begins the manhunt upon the midnight hour as the VPD viciously searches for their target. But with many false witnesses and reports, how can they wrap this case in time for dinner?

(Final story for Summer)


Venturing: Probel Rings

I exhaled and shook my head. Shifting my attention upon the clipboard settled upon the desk before me, I pondered in annoyance about the decisions we had made for the case we were on. As I pondered about it, I heard footsteps behind me and I turned around. Meeting the eyes of Kyro who rose his paw high towards our faces and spoke rather in silence. "I found this lying upon the streets of Vaster." "What is it?" I questioned him, lowering my eyes from his face towards the object at hand. He seems to be holding a ring with a yellow jewelry overtop the surface of the ring. It sparkled in our eyes, though there was no light that would reflect upon it however. I stared at it in silence, shook my head and turned around speaking to him. "We should not play with others' objects and personal treasures, who knows that they will ask for it back." "But Ling," I perked my ears while he spoke towards me, "This is the lizard's who was screaming and running across the roads of Vaster." "Oh yeah..." I trailed in answer and gradually turned towards him, nodding "Him. Say Why was he running? From whom? Or to whom?" "No idea yet." He stated.

A long day washed over us with the sun still hanging in the blue skies above the buildings of Vastertown. It was warm for a bit however. The sudden cold had rushed through our fair town dropping the temperature down drastically as every reptile and dragon was forced to wear any winter clothing. Currently, it was perhaps somewhere within the evening. Rays of light washed upon the surfaces of the roads, buildings and some other places that we would never talk about however. With lamps already turning their lights automatically, I figured night would approach very soon. I stared at the clipboard in silence, thoughts popped into my mind. Filling my brain to the brim in wonderance about the cold case we have. As I clenched my claws growling in silence, I heard backward footsteps. Figuring that Kyro had already stepped far enough from me in fear of my anger. But I never showed it to him.

For instead, I rose my head. Turned around towards him and spoke out upon the silence looming over us. "We should go then." "Towards the next site?" Kyro questioned me, I nodded in answer. "Indeed. We got two clues anyway right off the bat." I explained to him, Kyro nodded afterwards. A small smile appeared upon his face and snout while he turned around and heed towards the door with me following closed behind. After we returned towards the cold air outside, I shivered when it hits my scales as I had remembered that I forgotten my winter clothing to keep myself warm. Kyro already knew then and smiled, nearly laughing. But I just glared at him while we spread our wings and take towards the skies above. We started heading Westward where we had last saw the lizard running straight towards somewhere. As we had arrived upon our destination, I spotted the other officers. All gathered around upon the roads. Their heads were facing one another; expressing anger or pleased faces. I watched them for a moment from the air but Kyro tapped me upon the shoulder, shaking his head in silence as he dive below to meet the rest. I exhaled a breath before following close behind him. Hitting the roads after as the others turned towards me.

"So. What do we got? The same three?" I questioned everyone, folding my wings as I spoke with all eyes staring upon me. The response was a silence which I grumbled in answer. Though with narrowed eyes at each of them had them speaking out, spilling whatever they had upon their minds as Kyro jolted everything down for me. Zander and Natty claimed about a trail that the Lizard had left behind as he was running straight towards a destination. But it had disappeared after a long time of twisting and turning about which had me curious as to what the lizard was doing however. As I thought about it, I turned my head towards Ozkun and Takaki; both of which said about an opened box. Inside was nothing except for a mixture of gray, orange and white fur which had me startled about it. Just as I was about to pressed for information about it, Kyro shut me down and instead scribbled the note about it before shaking his head again to repeatedly silenced me as I narrowed my eyes towards him.

A short pause of silence had came despite me grumbling after the red dragon. Then, Kyro nodded his head towards me as I spoke out in turn. "Ozkun and Takaki, check out that box. Or at least bring it to the station for analysis." "Is it not the fox's fur?" "But the lizard is the only one present upon the Canidae Realm." Zander countered immediately, glancing over to Ozkun who said nothing but a nod. With the black dragon's satisfaction upon the sudden silence hitting us again, I turned to Zander and Natty ordering them to follow the trail leading straight towards a destination where the lizard was. All four dragons nodded and saluted at the same time. Before spreading themselves out and carrying their orders in turn. After all four had left us, I turned towards Kyro who mirrored me. Another pause of silence came between us before I opened my mouth and jolted an arm towards the ring that was upon Kyro's claws. "Say..." I trailed, pointing towards the ring in question, "Should we figure out who does that belong to?" "We already knew its the lizard's. What more could we do?" Kyro said and I nodded my head in agreement before speaking out.

"Go with Ozkun and Takaki. I will head with Zander and Natty." "So basically a split between us huh?" Kyro chuckled, before spreading his red wings as I grumbled at him in turn. Never saying anything in the silence after, "Just go." "Sure." He answered me, fleeing Northward where he disappeared from my sights. Seeing him go, I decided to head Southward to catch up towards Zander and Natty whom perhaps are already at the destination at most.

Arriving well into the southern parts of Vaster, I landed upon the rooftops of one particular building. I stared out into the horizon; never realizing that the sun had already sink. Disappearing from the skies and leaving behind the darkness that followed after it. There were stars shone in the skies; twinkling about with nothing for care. A silent breeze washed over my scales as I breathed it in for a moment before flying off once again. I heeded through the rooftops of many buildings, watching as their lights flickered from the rooms they were stationed in. Illuminating the rooms and perhaps the outside roads, sidewalks that touches them too, I flew passed each. Smiling warmly as I stared upon the grounds below me. For sooner than I had suspected was upon my arrival at the destination; where upon reaching it, I spotted Zander and Natty already hanged up upon a tree branch. Discussing something between themselves while one of them was holding binoculars. I had decided to join them and rapidly flapped my wings as I approached the branch that they were on.

Startling Zander as he nearly dropped what he was holding; he glared at me in silence with Natty looking rather surprise about my arrival. I turned towards them, asking about what they had gathered so far. Natty was the first to speak; chirping rather excitedly as she explained everything to me. Allowing me to catch up to speed into whatever things they were planning to do. As I found myself nodding back towards them, Zander handed the binoculars to Natty and turned his head towards me, pointing towards the building that was in front of us. "How are you suppose to get a lizard out of his hiding spot? We had suspect that there might be a trap inside." "That you might be right however." I concluded with a confirm nod. A gut feeling I had upon arriving onto here with small to little evidence we got and gathered around Vaster. I had suspected that Zander and Natty were feeling the same too. "So have you stayed here all evening just seeing if the lizard would come out?" A nod came from then. I exhaled a breath, but smiled all the while while raising a claw and pointed towards the rooftop upon the building before them, "Its better if you gather yourself at the rooftop. That way the lizard will not be able to see you at all." "Think the lizard might come out then?" Asked Natty, I shrugged.

"Worth a shot." Zander muttered but perhaps towards himself. As he and Natty lifted themselves off from the branch with their wings, heeding forth towards the rooftops before them where they had landed afterwards and turned their sight towards me. I remained where I was. But a wing spread eased their anxiety a bit as I saw them calmed down; hanged their heads and glance at the roads below them with silence following closed behind. I took this time to ponder about the clues that we had as my mind returned to the thoughts that lingered in my mind. I had remembered about the ring that Kyro had. I wondered if it had belonged to the lizard himself. 'How would he drop it involuntarily?' I pondered that thought as my head shook suddenly. I continued arguing with myself for as long as I can remembered. But stopped so suddenly when the walkie at my waist started coming to life. With static at first as the voice of Kyro spoke through; "Hey Ling. Remembered the fur that Ozkun and Takaki had said before? It is confirmed to be fox fur. Additionally, there were hand prints upon the surface of the box. Analysis had claimed this must be that lizard." "Did the Lizard murdered them? Shave their fur and made them bare? Or was it something else?" I asked, "Something else." Kyro stated, "Ozkun claimed the second option. Believing well that the foxes that lose their fur was held somewhere." "Guess it might be here then." I muttered towards myself, yet Kyro took that however.

"Should we gathered by your area?" Ozkun questioned so suddenly into our conversation that it had me startled; Zander and Natty flinched but remained in silence as I watched them peel themselves off from the edges of the rooftop and towards the center. Their ears were stretched, listening into something that they were so intrigued in that it had caught my attention, "Ling?" I heard my name from the walkie as I pressed the button; calling off a regroupment and flew towards the rooftop again. I called out towards Zander and Natty; but they seemed to be preoccupied with something. So I ran for them. Hitting their shoulders with my claw as they turned towards me; blinking. "What?" "You guys alright? You seemed entranced by something." "Faint music." Zander answered, flapping his wings again as he stood more firmed before me. "Nothing to worry about." "That is something to worry about however." I answered, looking rather concern at the black dragon. As he scowled and hardened his face, but remained silent in answer. Shaking his head before reaffirming his statement again. I exhaled a breath and refused to continued on the conversation as I watched the two officers do about their business however.

"Kyro, I guess it is better for you three to come." I answered him again, taking up upon his offer while Kyro spoke towards me in response "You should say that towards Ozkun." He chuckled, I rolled my eyes annoyed. But said nothing else while Ozkun followed up with an answer, confirming me. Another pause of silence had came as I turned my attention back towards Zander and Natty. Watching them move about; shuffling along the scales of the rooftops as their ears were pointing downward, redirecting their attention towards the below underneath them. I shook my head in answer, yet my thoughts came up again as something what Zander had said made me think or ponder over his statement. For as I rose a claw up towards my chin, I turned around and heed towards the edges of the rooftop. Stopping after I leaned forward and glance at the grounds underneath me. There I spotted; something upon the windows. A black rectangular box that was on its side. Speakers was to its right. Upon the surface of the box lies a white large space with black numbers and letters overtop of it. Below them were black thin lines that stretched towards the center of the white box. Hitting another line. It almost resembles some sort of timeline almost. Something that I never saw beforehand however.

As I found myself tilting my head in curiosity about it, I turned my head over my shoulder. Glancing back towards Zander and Natty whom were still preoccupied with whatever that they were doing. I called out towards them. They turned back in response; though silence was upon their snouts as eyes were redirected towards me. I motioned for them; they ran forth towards me. Leaning forth as they spotted that same devices hanging by the entrance door. Zander grumbled, "So that was what bothered us." "A radio?" I questioned him, he shook his head "No. Some kind of anti dragon device. Perfectly used to entrance any dragon so the client will be able to do what he or she needed to do. Whether it was to gather 'ingredients' or something else." At the word 'ingredients', he stared blushing and gazed away from me which had me confused. But I shook my head and returned my sights towards the black rectangular thing below us as I spoke "Back up is coming, do you have a plan in place Natty and Zander?" I questioned them both. For a small period of time, neither of them spoke out in response as I turned to them and raised a brow. The next few seconds in silence did not help either and I found myself groaning at them; shaking my head as I spread my wings. Preparing myself to set the plan in mind I had in place, yet I was stopped by a claw.

For I turned towards Zander who tapped his head; he started smirking as he raised his claw towards the side of his head, tapping it as I grew worry for him. But nonetheless never stopped him from launching his plan forward instead of mine. Zander and Natty heads towards the back and front doors of the building with me hanging by the side. Mainly because there was a hidden emergency escape door there. I questioned him onto his logic of it; knowing first hand that there were only two doors. One of the two is an emergency. But he shook his head following me pondering before he went on to resumed the rest of his plan. For towards the end was when he fell to silence was the time that the pink dragoness growled at Zander, outbursting to the air surrounding us despite the faint music below trying to cover our conversation. Thus an argument ensures between the two of them as they get closer to one another; faces enacted with growls vibrating from their throats. I saw the argument and decided to get between them. Setting my claws upon their chests as the two said dragons turned onwards me. Glares and scowls were upon their snouts and faces; but I narrowed my eyes. Snapping their anger attention before it remained in silence.

"This is not working at all." I facepalmed answering Zander as he frowned at me. Then shook his head and glance away with his arms crossing overtop of one another. Another silence fell upon us and upon that time came reinforcements. Kyro, Ozkun and Takaki came and arrived upon the building; landing their feet upon the grounds as their wings were folded behind themselves. With Zander muttering something again while watching Kyro, he turned towards me and saluted while I motioned everyone in response. Another plan was in place. But this one was my own, for I knew that I could not do this alone. Not without some help and covering our bases and steps in capturing our culprit at the time.

Into the fields of darkness we entered as the doors behind us closed and locked following one another. We stared at the surroundings; taking noticed of the darkness in front of us. I heard Ozkun shivered and shifted uncomfortably in position as he continued glancing upon the doors behind us. But I kept him front, shaking my head as I lead on. My heart felt heavy and beating rather fast. Though I had suppressed all thoughts inside my mind, I could not shake the feeling about the failure that this risk of an operation might bring to the surface. Still, both me and Ozkun moved ahead. Heeding down the steps of the floor underneath us as we avoided staring at the empty shelves, carts and among others however. Instead, we stared at the horizon where a rectangular square hanged from the ceiling above. No LCD apparently.

We lowered our eyes from the square; shifting our attention to the two paths. Both ways head into a destination we were not familiar with however. I turned towards Ozkun, insisting into seeing what he would pick. But was rather surprise that he had taken the straight ahead path ahead of us which takes us through the glasses and such. I followed close behind. Thoughts in wonder about his decision into take the straight as I shifted my attention towards the sides; gazing at them with ponderance over my head. We entered through the glass and stared upon the glass boxes and cubes that scattered around us. Some maybe most were stacked overtop of one another that a single tip of either me or Ozkun would tilted the entire thing over. We continued walking through the piles of glass, shifting and glancing our attention towards different cubes and boxes. Noticing with interest about the contents found inside of them as I looked worriedly at them however.

"Ozkun." I whispered, he froze and faced me. A neutral look upon his face as silence loomed over us. It was only a short while however before I gathered the words stringing them together before spitting it out towards him. "We should be careful." "Why did I decided for us?" Ozkun questioned me which had me startled suddenly as I remained frozen. Still looking at him, he answered for the both of us and perhaps the silence too which held its breath. "Because, its obvious what that lizard was going to do with the two paths." I tilted my head to one side, confused into what he was saying. But he shook his head; before turning around. For this time he took the lead ahead of me and continued walking on through the glasses and boxes about. Till he disappeared from my sights. I held onto his words, pondering what he had meant by that. But the walkie crackled with Zander's voice speaking out towards me, "You know Ozkun is correct in that statement however. Most common officers and civilians would take either path to heed straight towards the center of the store that you two are in." "What does that mean?" I exclaimed, with mixture of confusions and some other things surfacing from my scales.

A short silence came before I exhaled a breath. Shook my head before running through the fields of glasses and boxes about, till I caught up towards the dragon before me. Ozkun turned his head to meet my eyes; a small smile reappeared upon his face. Even though the silence remained between the two of us. As I nodded to him, Ozkun remained still which allowed me to take over at least for the time being. Scanning around the area that we were in; I had noticed that Ozkun had taken us into a dark fields that was full of clothing hanged upon the rack, some glass boxes still lingering around and some other things too. Staring ahead, I spotted a flicker of light washed from the lamp above it. It illuminated a part of the ground where the clothes surrounded it. As a thought lingered in my head, I leaned forth and whispered towards Ozkun. "Hey. There is a single light illuminating there." "Yet no one is there." Ozkun continued, shifting his attention to me with worry. I looked worried too as we remained still, staring down onto that light as it continued flickering.

There were some time before footsteps had brought me to attention and I turned towards Ozkun who found himself walking forward. Intrigued by the silence and the single light, he walked straight to the light source and planted his feet in silence while I raised my walkie. Pressed the button and spoke, "Second." Silence followed afterwards while I dropped my walkie to the ground, Ozkun turned his attention towards me and raised his shoulders. "Nothing." He mouthed before I heard something clattering behind me. Quickly, I rose my pistol into the air. Flipped around and glared behind me. But all we saw was the glass boxes and four golden coins scattered about. I motioned my claw towards Ozkun who entered into the shadows again. Followed me down a short distance before we split apart; snatching a pair of coins of each as we turned towards one another.

The four coins were real and made of gold. A four set clover was imprinted upon the sides; a large circle followed and after that was a crescent shape moon. We found ourselves staring at the coins; though our minds were still upon the objective at hand. As Ozkun questioned me while he turned around and heed straight towards the lamp source again, I wanted to object and have him stay close. Remembering a morality lesson from somewhere about greed. But I remained motionless and curious as to what would happened next. For thus as he stepped upon the light; he flopped to the ground. Unconscious. I was startled that I bursted into a run. Straight for him. I dragged his body out from the light and well into the darkness before his eyes opened up so suddenly and he turned towards me. A click emerged upon the shadows as the light behind us disappeared which left me and Ozkun to ourselves as I turned towards him.

"What happened? Do we need to do the second?" Zander's voice yelled from the walkie. "Where are you two? Answer! Ozkun? Ling?" That voice faded out as Ozkun rose to his feet. Same with me. We walked retreating from the shadows of the interior building. Back towards the frontal doors where the rest of my unit was awaiting for us. Yet to my surprise, I found Zander tackling me to the ground growling lowly in response for the silence that submerged. Ozkun exclaimed, yet no voice remained passed his lips as he found himself staring upon both me and Zander, he muttered to the black dragon. "Nothing happened. We got the wrong addressed. Apparently the lizard was found somewhere else instead of here." "At the mall?" Zander questioned Ozkun who answered back in turn, "No. The cursed store apparently." He stated pointing to the building name behind us, Zander followed his gaze and widened his eyes in shocked, "You mean..." "You got the wrong address, Zander." Started Ozkun as he glared at Zander.