Quoted By:
The church greeted you with quite the surprise.
Opening the door to say hello was, instead of the pastor himself, <span class="mu-i">Twig,</span> a paper sticking out of a "shoe" of hers and soon finding its way into your hand. She looked like the child you'd first met in the forest, yet her hair was now "tied" into a long braid and her attire was nearly identical to Rosetta's. You gave the little note a once-over.
<span class="mu-i">Hi, wELcomE two cHuRcH</span>
It was hard to make out. The letters were very crude, and the note was covered with large splotches of ink, but... the pastor had been teaching them to write? <span class="mu-i">And succeeding?</span> That alone put a smile on your face.
Twig made a gesture-- the same one you knew to mean "give"-- and you returned the note to her. She gave you a stiff wave back and walked away from the entrance to let you head down the sparse pew.
The creaky floor made sure that the pastor, standing at the end of the room and going over something in one of his many books, heard of your arrival far before you could inform him. "Sheriff! Or," he corrected himself, "<span class="mu-i">former</span> sheriff. What brings you here so earl-ay?"
He was in good spirits, his thin lips stretching into a grin as he waited for you to catch up. How did he know about your <span class="mu-i">former</span> status if he didn't already understand why you were here? "Past'r."
You looked around for the rest of the pack. Stone was absent, but a kit whom you presumed to be Tree could be seen trying to dust the entrance to the church. "I came t' let you know of my departure."
You felt both kits turning their attention to you. The pastor raised a brow. "What, you came here just'ta say you're leavin'?"
Was he playing dumb? You clarified. "Yes, leaving town. The <span class="mu-i">real</span> sheriff wants me out."
A few yips resounded around the church. The pastor just chuckled. "Ah, what a shame. Ah was just about'ta tell ya about the daemons 'n their progress."
He leaned over his stand and extended a hand to you. "Let it be known that I an' th' Lord will see to yer continued acceptance at this here church. Ah can't speak for the rest'a the town," he chuckled again, "but ah can't deny what you've done fer us after bringin' me a handy pair'a servants."
You shook his hand back. Your tone was a bit quieter in reply. "I do hope they ain't just servants t' you, past'r."
The clergyman grew louder. "Ahaha, oh no! Well-- no, no!" His eyes refocused on you. "Ah can't say, in good faith, that a pair'a daemons is a worthy servant of this Holy place, of course! But they've been very, very helpful once ah wrangled them inta place."
