Klaus/Stories
The party celebrate good news about the cat and dogfolk's upcoming peace treaty, but are interrupted by a run-in with the dogfolk assassin Klaus. Nimbus knocks him out, and he reawakens in Starview Village.
Claw: Whew! That was way easier than I thought!
Claw: Dude, I can't believe Grampa agreed to resign! Now I'm the chief, all that's left is for me to sign the peace treaty!
Nimbus: I'm amazed you managed to convince him.
Claw: Heh. You know what they say, bro. There sure is strength in numbers!
Light: The effort spent collecting signatures for the petition paid off.
Alk: I guess all's well that ends well... Even if some were—uh—LESS thrilled to sign than others.
Nimbus: Hey, don't look at me. I just stood there while Claw did the "sweet talking."
Albert: At any rate, the petition served its purpose. Now we need only return to the cas—
Nimbus: What was that clang? Sounds like a fight!
Albert: I can smell blood. Let's press on!
Canid Soldier: You! We've got you cornered, now!
Assassin: GRRRRAR!
Nimbus: Hey, you're that guy we fought!
Assassin: Whitetail!
Nimbus: Hah! Nice try!
Albert: Nimbus!
Albert: Klaus the Dire... To think, you were still alive!
Albert: Nimbus, I shall deal with him! Stand back!
Nimbus: Looks like he's here for me, though.
Albert: The dire wolves don't act on their own!
Albert: If he is after your life, it is at the will of his contractor—the king!
Albert: What in the bloody hell was that old fool thinking? To order an assassination NOW of all times! Leave this mess to me, Nimbus.
Nimbus: Albert, wait!
Nimbus: Please. Let me handle it.
Klaus: Save your pity, Whitetail!
Klaus: Who do you think murdered your father? My pack, the dire wolves! Have you no honor?!
Nimbus: So you DO know how to talk.
Nimbus: Here I was thinkin' you just wag your tail and do whatever the king tells you!
Nimbus: You aren't even old enough to've killed King Whitetail. Don't get ahead of yourself!
Nimbus: Albert, we'll take him with us for now.
Nimbus: You guys are so close to makin' the peace treaty happen. If word of an assassination attempt got out, it'd just complicate everything.
Albert: It would indeed, but... Are you sure?
Nimbus: We'll be fine. Right, guys?
Stella: Yes. I agree with Nimbus.
Klaus: Nghh...
Klaus: ...Where am I?
Stella: Welcome to Starview Village. I am its Keeper, Stella.
Klaus: You—you were with Whitetail. Why are you here?
Stella: I have a message for you from Nimbus. I kicked your ass into next week, so be a good boy and stay in bed.
Stella: Your king called off the assassination with his tail between his legs, but if you still wanna fight, suit yourself.
Stella: End message.
Stella: There is no one here to issue you orders or contracts. As Nimbus said, please "suit yourself" and enjoy your stay.
Klaus: But... But WHY would you... I don't understand.
Stella: Good night, Klaus.
After "executing" orders from Stella and Alk to the letter, Klaus receives a new challenge from Nimbus: unlearning his obedient henchman attitude. With no orders to guide him, Klaus decides to help Alk train.
Klaus: ...Whitetail.
Klaus: Get up, Whitetail.
Nimbus: Yawn—
Nimbus: Hm? Oh, it's you, Klaus. Can't a guy get a little shut-eye around here?
Klaus: What appalling negligence. Think how easy it would've been to kill you in your sleep.
Nimbus: Hah! Yeah, yeah. I know a REAL killer when I see one, and you don't make the cut.
Nimbus: Anyways, what's up? Need something?
Klaus: I have come to wake you, as per the young mistress' orders.
Nimbus: Young mistress? Orders?
Klaus: The silver-haired girl entrusted me with the task of waking you, so woken you shall be.
Nimbus: You mean she ASKED you? Stella isn't the type to give orders. You can drop the henchman act, you know?
Nimbus: Also, what's that bag you've got there?
Klaus: Upon the chef's command, I have procured bell peppers, a pumpkin, and leeks.
Nimbus: What, he sent you off to the grocery? Ahahaha, oh man, my sides! You make a better butler than assassin!
Klaus: Those were the orders, and they have been executed. I fail to understand your amusement.
Nimbus: Executed? I can't— You're holding a big old bag of veggies. I just CAN'T take the evil henchman voice seriously!
Klaus: You are a king. Why do you forgo your birthright, your duty?
Klaus: Rulers rule. Servants serve.
Klaus: My blades, my fangs... They are tools to be commanded as my liege desires!
Nimbus: Rulers and servants, huh? Back in the desert, I was on the serving side of the equation.
Nimbus: I know what it's like being ordered around. Being told to kill or be killed.
Nimbus: What's that make me?
Nimbus: Nothing. 'Cause I'm not letting others tell me who or what I am. I'm Nimbus. Just Nimbus.
Nimbus: So? Who are YOU, Klaus?
Alk: A slash and—
Alk: Strike!
Klaus: Your footwork is sloppy.
Klaus: Watch my feet. Shadow Sting!
Alk: Wh-WHOA! That was amazing!
Alk: What brings you here, Klaus?
Klaus: I don't know what to do without orders to fulfill, so I was thinking of potential tasks.
Klaus: I'm not much of a thinker, though, so this is all that came to mind.
Alk: This? You mean training? ...Wait, are you here to help me train?
Klaus: I don't know. But I will assist you, if you so wish.
Alk: If you wouldn't mind, that'd be amazing!
Alk: I've never met a guy who could stab through wood with a leek!
Klaus: A leek? Oh! I—I forgot I was holding it…