GAMEPLAY
Packleader Girt: Well, well, look who we 'ave here. A tiny squirt bold enough to come sniffing around for my finest treasure.
Flutterpage: Uh, sorry, but it's just—
Packleader Girt: You will address me as "Packleader"!
Pack Hound I: Right, Packleader!
Pack Hound II: Yes, Packleader! We weren't trying to sneak a bite outta the cans, honest!
Packleader Girt: I'm not talking to you two mutts! Go gnaw a bone somewhere else!
Pack Hound II: Yes, Packleader! Right, Packleader.
Flutterpage and Lamplighter watch in silence as the two dogs scamper off with their tails between their legs.
Flutterpage: Yes, Packleader. The truth is, I just need to borrow your treasure for a minute.
Flutterpage: You see some sneaky little fairies nicked my name, and they've got a knack for hiding the things they steal in what other people treasure most. So, I'm just checkin' if it's here.
Packleader Girt: And why do you think they enjoy hiding their spoils in such objects?
Flutterpage: I s'pose it's 'cause if it's worth somethin', they'll keep it tucked away, safe and sound, won't they?
Packleader Girt: Exactly.
Packleader Girt: Whatever troubles you've got with those little mischief-makers is none of my business. You can borrow my treasure, but it'll cost you.
Packleader Girt: Prove yourself to me in a one-on-one challenge! If you succeed, my finest treasure will be yours ... to borrow.
Lamplighter: Flutterpage ...
Lamplighter casts a worried glance at Flutterpage. A one-on-one competition against such a powerful, hulking hound hardly seems like the best course of action.
After a brief moment of thought, Flutterpage nods her head with determination.
Flutterpage: I know, Lamplighter, but it's better than coughin' up more cash. I'm game.
Flutterpage: But one thing—I get to choose the competition. Sound good to you?
Packleader Girt: Ready or not, here I come!
At the sound of Girt's voice echoing through the factory, Flutterpage, curled up in a hidden nook, presses a hand to her mouth to hide her laughter.
Flutterpage: Heh. No way she's ever gonna find me here.
Flutterpage: I'm the hide-and-seek champ. One time, no one found me till it was already pitch dark and everyone just bogged off home.
Flutterpage: Cor, look at all these tins! Jellied eels, Sunday roast, toad-in-the-hole, steak and kidney pie ...
Flutterpage: Wow! Shepherd's pie! That's my favorite! I wonder if it tastes as good in a tin as the real thing?
Pack Hound I: You aren't the only one! Every one of us pups is dying to know what it tastes like!
Flutterpage: Where'd you lot come from?!
Pack Hound I: Shh! Keep it down, or you'll get us caught.
Pack Hound II: You think you're safe here? Hah! We can smell you a mile away!
Pack Hound I: Our leader's nose is the best there is. Her sniffer's tracked down more troublemakers than we can count!
Flutterpage: Oh. You're right. You lot are dogs! I can't stick around here, so where should I go?
After exchanging a glance, the little dogs wag their tails.
Pack Hound I: If you can do us a little favor ...
Pack Hound II: We might be able to help you!
Packleader Girt: The reek of an old collar, worthless. A bottle? Not there either. Eh? What do we have here?
Packleader Girt: Tattered clothes, ink and scraps of paper, the wind's breath, and a hint of bird ... Aha!
Packleader Girt: You lose, runt. I've found you!
Girt hurls the obstacle before her aside, only to reveal an empty corner.
All that remains is a lone pair of familiar shoes and socks.
Packleader Girt: Huh?
Pack Hound I & II: Now!
Flutterpage: Attack!
Packleader Girt: Huh?!
Boom! Flutterpage kicks up a cloud of dust as she crashes down from above, executing a perfect ambush.
Flutterpage rises over Girt, who is still sprawled out and dazed beneath her, triumphantly dusting off her skirt.
Flutterpage: That's the funny thing about searching—no one ever remembers to look up, not even dogs.
Lamplighter: I can't believe it. You actually beat Girt!
Pack Hound II: Nice one! We finally got one over on our leader!
Pack Hound I: Yeah, we really did! Flutterpage, you'd better keep your promise!
The pups bound and bark with joy around Flutterpage, while their leader snarls, springing to her feet in fury.
Packleader Girt: Y-You little runts! What do you think you're doing?!
Packleader Girt: Aha! I see now. You two must've teamed up with this little squirt to sneak a bite from our tins.
Pack Hound I: You've got it wrong, Packleader! You always treat us like we're still wet behind the ears!
Pack Hound II: We ain't gonna steal tins no more, Packleader! We're good for something! Look, we even caught you off guard!
Flutterpage: Yes, Packleader Girt. They weren't helping me just so they could nick a can of food. All they wanted in return was ...
Flutterpage: ... for me to be their witness, while they proved to you that they're right clever little puppies!
Pack Hound I: That's right. We're clever little puppies! We won't steal a bite from any of the cans, and we can still lend you a paw, Packleader!
Pack Hound II: So how about taking us along on the next hunt? We hate being left behind waiting for everyone to get back.
Packleader Girt: You clueless little mutts! Don't you realize that all I do is for your own good?!
Packleader Girt: Tsk ...
Packleader Girt: So be it. I've lost, fair and square.
Packleader Girt: Bring out the treasure.
The calmer of the two puppies wags its tail, carrying over a sturdy-looking fang.
Packleader Girt: This is the fang I lost in a scrap with that Black Dog of Newgate a few years back.
Packleader Girt: It was my sharpest fang, but I won the day.
Packleader Girt: My fangs and claws are what made me the boss here. I've always counted on them to help me whenever there's a problem.
Packleader Girt: This fang is a proud reminder of that.
Packleader Girt: But, maybe it's made me a bit too proud.
Packleader Girt: Maybe I can do an even better job of being the boss around here without it. So, take it.
Flutterpage: You sure? This thing seems proper special to ya.
Packleader Girt: You think I'm the type to second-guess myself? Let's not drag this out.
Flutterpage: Alright, no point arguing, I s'pose. It looks proper fierce, after all! This could be exactly what I need.
As Flutterpage expects, once she accepts the fang, those familiar glimmers surround her again.
Flutterpage: Wow! The fifth letter! It's here!
Lamplighter: Just two more to go.
Lamplighter: We're making decent progress. You even charmed your way past Packleader Girt.
Flutterpage: Let's see where them glow bugs are pointing to next. Eh?
Lamplighter: Funny, they're still heading east. But there's nothing else east on Cross Street, right?
As their eyes meet, they come to realize what this means.
Flutterpage: I'm thinking ... That means the rest of my name's not on Cross Street, don't it?
Lamplighter bright face darkens into a frown.
Lamplighter: It's out there, where the Bananach dwells.