The sun had begun to set, casting long shadows about the great city, setting the clouds ablaze with washes of orange and pink. The hustle and bustle had not yet begun to slow, and so the boy had retreated to a roof where he could be alone with his prize. His pale bare back caught the suns light, and he sat slouching, long awkward legs folded. Strong wiry hands clutched at the small package, shaking slightly as though he could not wait to unwrap it. But, the boy refrained. He wanted to to savor the moment.

He could feel the heat, could smell that dangerously delicious aroma. Bold green eyes stared downwards, unblinking. He had to hold on a little longer...

A stomach rumble.

Palloo patted his abdomen impatiently, a toothy grin forming on his lips. Soon.

He peered over the edge of the roof, staring for a moment at the people passing silently by, unaware of his existence. His smile widened. Almost.

Fingers twitched.

Biting his lower lip, Palloo again turned to look at this cloth-wrapped gold in his lap. Slowly, painfully, the boy began to unfold it as carefully as a priest would baptize a child.

The bread was soon revealed, a dark brown color... it was beautiful. The fragrance intensified, and Palloo trembled all over in anticipation before finally shoving the banana bread with full force into his face. He ate violently, laughing the whole while. Crumbs spilled down his body and he fell backwards, inhaling his food while hanging upside down off the roof.

The people below glanced upwards at this strange sound, their glances catching the wild boy. Most merely brushed it away and continued about their business. Others lingered for a moment longer, staring in shock at the strange sight.

A sad specimen of a boy sat above him, on the roof gobbling greedily what appeared to be the contents of a cloth wrapped bundle of food. The boy was spraying crumbs in every direction and quickly it seemed did all the passerby’s frightfully vacate the area until it was just Wolfe and the boy. Their fascination of the spectacle only lasted enough for them to take a quick glance before scurrying off. Wolfe shook his head and stepped out from under the shadow of the eves, the truth was he was no doubt just as hungry as the crazy child, he had not eaten in nearly a day and had not found work nor a place to stay in the offending town. Passing this way had not been a good idea. Unperturbed by the strageness of the young boy Wolfe ran full speed towards a tree across from the building and kicked off it, sending himself flying diagonally upwards. He skidded on his wooden sandals and landed crouching behind the boy. Tipping his hat and displaying a wry grin he winked at the boy, “Got any more of that stuff?”

“Got any more of that stuff?”

Palloo halted in his manic gorging for a moment, panting wildly as though he had been running a marathon. An interruption? Clutching his crumbling treasure to his chest, the boy pulled himself upright with a free arm, and gazed perplexed at the stranger before him. He had a funny hat on; it looked like the top of a mushroom, and his green eyes widened as he stared rather unashamedly at this interesting top.

Mouth hanging slightly open, Palloo responded, "anymoor of wut?" Eyes widening, Palloo glanced about his own figure, as though searching for what the stranger was referring to. It hadn't even crossed his mind that perhaps this gentleman was inquiring about the bread in his arms. No, not his precious gold.

When Palloo saw nothing of potential interest, he looked back at the man, though this time wearing a rather puzzled expression, "'scuse me, but you dont make sense, sir."


He then brushed away the topic as though it no longer interested him and stood, pointing a finger at the man's mushroom hat. "Soory, but do you use that as a bowl too, sir?"

Wolfe chuckled as the boy clutched his precious food to his chest as it slowly crumbled away. The poor boy appeared to be far from the societal standard, perhaps never even having been raised up in a town or a village. It was an interesting site indeed and Wolfe was more then mildly intrigued. However the warriors stomach’s rumble was louder then his contemplation. However highly the boy seemed to treasure the food he was going to be in some real pain if he didn’t get some food in the next little while

“Er, this hat is simply to shade myself from the sun. As for your enquiry into what you seem to believe is my nonsensical nature… I was asking you if I could have some of that food you have clutched so tightly, perhaps there is something I can do for you in return?

Wolfe’s hand gripped his katana and he made an effort of exposing it to view… perhaps the boy had need of a swordsman? Wolfe shook his head, what was he thinking… trying to ask for food from a clearly starving child, and then offering his mercenary services as if the boy could possible have need of a hired sword? He sighed as he stood up, taking time to scratch the back of his neck casually.

If not… perhaps at least you can point me in the direction of where you obtain that morsel you got? said Wolfe as he eyed the boy’s treasure with hungry eyes.

“Er, this hat is simply to shade myself from the sun. As for your enquiry into what you seem to believe is my nonsensical nature… I was asking you if I could have some of that food you have clutched so tightly, perhaps there is something I can do for you in return?"


Palloo's eyebrows slanted downwards as he studied the man. He took a thoughtful bite of his bread as he replied, crumbs spewing from his mouth as he spoke "It's rong sir, to wer a bowl like a hat, to hide from the sun." He took another large bite, chewing rather forcefully as though this subject was indeed beginning to trouble him. "Look! The sun is goin awey now, and yer still hiding!" He took a step towards the man, staring hard at the hat as though he could think of several more intelligent ways to make use of it, rather than simply hide from the sun with it.

But then, Palloo remembered the second, clearly less important part of the conversation. "Gimme the bowl-hat, and I'll letchu have some bread."

He grinned then, rather pleased with his obviously generous offer. "you use the bowl rong aneways"

So, the little boy wanted his hat? Wolfe grimaced, it had been with him through thick and thin and he was not about to hand it over to some wild kid for food. But it did appear as if something would be needed in return for any food, it seemed the protective little fellow had an inkling of cunning behind those crazed eyes. Wolfe sighed. What could he possibly give the boy? He was broke and had been traveling for days on nothing. All he had were the clothes on his back, his hat and his sword…. always the three stalwart companions of the lone warrior.

Walking slowly and deliberately closer to the small boy he stopped only to crouch down, inches from the young man, looking into his eyes. “I tell you what, young fellow, lets make a better deal instead.” Wolfe smiled slyly, tilting his head to one side as if considering the severity of the information he was about to share with the boy. “I know of a place… with a whole mountain of good food, the likes of which it is doubtful you’ve ever tasted. It is grand indeed my friend, a site for sore eyes. But I fear…. I fear I cannot make it there, for I am half starved. If only some kind soul were to give me a bite, I might just be able to take him there with me…” Wolfe stopped suddenly, gazing intently at the boy with twinkling eyes, his question and offer lingering clearly upon the air.

Palloo studied the man intently, realizing almost immediately that his offer was not to be accepted. Though Palloo greatly lacked most social skills, he was indeed very clever and perceptive of others' thoughts, and quickly understood other's intentions. This was a necessary survival skill to be sure. Especially in growing up in the forest, the boy possessed an innate ability to sense danger or possible misfortune. It kept him well hidden for the beginning years of his life, kept him safe from the predators that lurked in the shadows.

As Wolfe approached him, Palloo instinctively pressed his treasure more firmly into his chest, and he glared at the man from under his mane of wild hair as though daring him to try and take his bread away. A cascade of crumbs tumbled down the length of his body. As the man crouched in front of him however, Palloo relaxed slightly, the jovial light retuning to his intelligent emerald eyes.

“I tell you what, young fellow, lets make a better deal instead. I know of a place… with a whole mountain of good food, the likes of which it is doubtful you’ve ever tasted. It is grand indeed my friend, a site for sore eyes. But I fear…. I fear I cannot make it there, for I am half starved. If only some kind soul were to give me a bite, I might just be able to take him there with me…”

Palloo plopped down on the roof in contemplation of this new offer. His thoughts were clouded however by the fact that he in the end would not possess the large bowl Wolfe stupidly used as a hat. It infuriated him slightly, and his free hand rolled into a fist. "Sir!" began Palloo with a sudden exasperated sigh, "You again make no sense to me! How is it that you espect fer me to follow a..." Palloo paused for a moment in silent fury, realizing that he lacked the proper vocabulary to communicate his own thoughts. This happened often. "...a... stooped man who thinks large bowls are hats?!" He was nearly shouting now, "I think sir maybe the sun has hurt yer head!"

He fell silent then, breathing heavily for a few short moments. Gradually however, his evident rage subsided, and he threw the stranger a glance. "B'sides..." said Palloo rather seriously, "I'm very busy. I do not think I have enuf time for these stooped man games." He nodded solemnly, casting an almost apologetic glance at the man. He fell silent for a moment, staring down at the crumbling heap of banana bread in his arms. It was all a very serious matter to him, and like any person who felt passionately about something, he puzzled over the situation multiple times, as though he felt it would change the world.

Slowly, he stood to his feet, and stared at Wolfe silently. He seemed trustworthy enough... Palloo did indeed doubt the stranger's intellect, but he knew not to judge a person's character simply by their level of intelligence alone. "If you let me show you how to use yer bowl hat, and you promise to use it right most of the time, you can have my bread, and maybe I will letchu show me this place with all the food..."