Dusk Harvest

Chapter Five

Jin leads the way to the house with the silver-colored door. "We'll go to my girlfriend's house, so I can explain to her what had just happened."

"We just saw a Chicken run into that house," Harold said. "I'm assuming that's your girlfriend?"

Jin stops and sighs in disbelief. "Yeah, that's Yan, my girlfriend. Did something happen?"

Harold and Stella look at each awkwardly.

"Well," Stella began. "You could say something like that."

"Yeah, she attacked us," Harold answered. "There was also a Dog from last night. Was that your neighbor, then?"

"Dog?" Stella asked. "What Dog, Harold?"

Harold puts his hand on her shoulder. "I'll explain later."

"Oh, yeah!" Jin answered. "That's Yong and he doesn't like anyone on his property. I don't really interact with him much."

"That's fine." Harold said. "What does he look like? So my friends and I know when we see him."

"Well, he's about my height and his head is shaved."

"He has a bald head?"

Stella giggles. "It should be easy to look for a bald head!"

"No, no!" Jin said. "It's just shaved. It's not shining."

In front of the house with the silver-colored door, Jin opens it and allows Harold, Stella, Lyla, and Bruno to enter. They all go to the living room.

"Hello, dear?" Jin called out. After not receiving a response, he turns to Harold. "She must be napping or something. I'll go check! You guys can wait here." He goes to the hallway.

After waiting for about half a minute, sounds of walking footsteps can be heard. The first ones to notice are Harold and Bruno.

"Someone's coming." Harold said.

"It's probably Jin." Stella said.

"No, the footsteps are lighter than when Jin left."

Stella frowns. "You noticed that?"

"Yes, if it's Jin's girlfriend," Harold said. "We'll have to explain to her why and how we're here if Jin doesn't get back first."

The light footsteps reach the living room and everyone turns to see who it is. It's a girl in her late teens or early twenties. She wears short white pajamas and white slippers. Her hair is black and tied, her eyes light brown, and her height is about five feet.

Her eyes light up when she sees Harold. "Why are you here?! Here to steal my boyfriend?!"

Harold shakes his head and tries to explain, but the girl in white pajamas grabs a nearby metal cup and throws it at him. It bounces off his chest and shatters when it hits the floor.

"You broke my cup!" yelled the girl and then turned to Stella and Lyla. "You two here to steal my boyfriend?!"

Stella quickly shakes her head. "No! I don't want your boyfriend!"

"Yeah," Lyla said. "I'll stay single for now!"

"And you broke your own cup." Harold said.

Bruno sighs. "I should probably leave…."

The girl in white pajamas quickly turns to Bruno and glares at him. "Then leave!"

"Look, it was Jin that invited us in." Harold said calmly.

"Really?! Am I supposed to believe you?!" snapped the girl in white pajamas.

"Please, let's get Jin before we start talking."

"Or we can yell out Jin's name." Bruno said.

The girl turns to Bruno. "Weren't you leaving?"

Footsteps can be heard by everyone including the girl in white pajamas. The sound was that of someone running towards the living room. Within a few seconds, Jin ran into the living room while almost out of breath.

"Sorry, guys!" Jin said while trying to catch his breath. "Yan, these aren't enemies."

Yan walks up to Jin and stares at him. "My cup broke!"

Jin finally catches his breath and gives an awkward smile. "I'll explain."

It took some convincing for Yan to believe that she was lied to by the Jade Cat. Apparently, the Jade Cat told her that two beautiful foreign girls will come with two guys to the farm, and the two girls will try to seduce Jin away from the farm.

Yan scoffs. "Fine, whatever! I'm still sleepy. I'm going back to sleep." She looks at Harold and then glares at Stella and Lyla. "You guys can leave now." And then she returns to her room.

Jin laughs awkwardly. "It's fine. We can stay here a little longer."

"I don't want to bother you guys." Harold said. "Since the Jade Cat isn't here, we just want to know if you know where he went to. There's no reason for my friends and I to stay here."

Jin thinks to himself for a bit. "I think he probably went up north because he was wearing winter clothing."

"Okay, that's something." Harold said. "What's up north, though?"

"It's a snow mountain village."

"Ah, I see." Harold said. "Winter clothing means winter village. Do you know the name of this place?"

"Oh, yeah, it's called Putao Mountain." Jin answered. "Just go northwest of here and we'll be there."

Harold thanked Jin for the information.

Back at the campsite, everything was the same as when they had left.

"Oh, Harold!" Stella said. "You said something about a Dog from last night?"

"Yeah," Lyla said. "We didn't see any animals. Were we asleep at that time?"

Harold shakes his head. "No, it was when I was fishing. It jumped at me when my guard was down. I didn't say anything because I didn't want to worry you girls."

Stella gives a playful pout. "Keeping secrets from us, huh? Oh, well! Guess I'll just cover my thighs for the winter. No eye candy for you!"

Harold couldn't help but let out a laugh.

And with that, this arc is finished. The group will head to Putao Mountain to continue the search for the now-called Jade Cat!