Faro was again alone at Rita’s Pickadaily penthouse. Albort the butler was there but was in his own quarters. Rita was out in one of her business meetings and was not expected to be back before midnight. Faro, dead bored, decided to take out his mountain bike for a ride in the park. He rode for a few minutes, then spotted someone familiar across the pathway—it was Ronda. She was struggling with a new beagle dog, trying to control it as it barked at her persistently and pulled on the leash.
Faro slowed his bike down, a smile creeping across his face as he approached. “Ronda?” he called out.
Ronda glanced up, surprised. “Faro? What are you doing out here?“
“I could ask you the same,” he replied, hopping off his bike. “And who’s this little beast?” he added, pointing at the beagle still yapping and tugging at her.
Ronda sighed, half laughing and half annoyed. “This is Bobo. I got him last week… thought it would be nice to have someone around, but I didn’t realize how much energy he had.”
The beagle kept barking at Faro, circling him and sniffing his legs. Faro crouched and gently offered his hand. “Hey, Bobo. I’m harmless, I promise.”
To both their surprise, Bobo suddenly stopped barking and sat down, tail wagging.
Ronda raised an eyebrow. “Wow. You’ve got a way with crazy creatures.”
Faro stood up and smirked. “I’ve dealt with worse.”
There was an awkward silence between them for a moment—the weight of their shared past still lingering—but then Ronda broke it. “Wanna walk with me? I could use a break from being dragged around by this little devil.”
Faro nodded. “Sure. Beats riding around alone.”
The two of them walked side by side along the park path, the cool evening breeze brushing against them as Bobo trotted ahead, occasionally glancing back.
“So… how’s life at Pickadaily with Aunty Rita?” Ronda asked casually, though her tone had a hint of curiosity.
Faro shrugged. “Eventful. She’s always up to something. And lately, she’s been playing a lot of piano, keeping Albort busy with snacks.”
Ronda smiled faintly. “Sounds like her.”
They walked a little longer in silence before Ronda glanced sideways at him. “You okay, Faro? You seem… restless.”
Faro sighed. “Yeah. Just needed some air. Too much madness in Thundarr City these days.”
Ronda nodded. “I get that.”
As they continued their walk, neither of them mentioned the last time they had seen each other—the night of confusion and tension. It remained unspoken, like a delicate crack in the pavement they both avoided stepping on.
Bobo barked again, breaking the tension, and Faro laughed softly. “You know… I think he likes me now.”
“That makes one of us,” Ronda teased, flashing him a quick grin.
Faro chuckled, realizing how much he missed her energy.
They continued their stroll into the quiet of the night, under the soft glow of the streetlamps, both unsure of where this unexpected reunion would lead.
As they strolled under the dim streetlights, Faro glanced at Ronda walking quietly beside him, Bobo sniffing every lamp post along the way. After a few minutes, he asked casually, “So… why’d you get the dog?”
Ronda let out a soft sigh, tugging gently at Bobo’s leash. “Honestly? I was lonely,” she admitted. “Cal’s always busy—either handling his real estate empire or out there playing Kestrel, saving the city like it’s some kind of game. He hardly has time for me anymore.”
Faro nodded quietly, listening.
Ronda continued, her voice carrying a bit of frustration. “And lately… he hired this new female butler. She’s always hanging around the mansion, giving me fake smiles. I don’t like her, Faro. I don’t trust her one bit.”
She glanced at him and smirked lightly. “So yeah… I got Bobo here to kill my free time. Someone who won’t lie or pretend.”
They walked a few more steps in silence before Ronda turned to Faro, her eyes softening. “What about you? What’s your story? Why are you biking around Pickadaily at this hour instead of being in Thundarr Forest or hanging out with Aunty Rita?”
Faro smiled faintly, looking ahead at the quiet path. “I guess… I was restless too. Things have been quiet lately. No Murder Dog, no Tiwa trouble, no Dwarf sightings. And honestly… I miss the noise, the drama. So I’ve been staying at Aunty Rita’s penthouse, trying to figure myself out.”
He glanced at her and added, “Didn’t expect to run into you though.”
Ronda gave a half-smile, tightening her grip on Bobo’s leash. “Maybe it wasn’t an accident.”
The beagle barked once and started pulling toward the direction of the café street.
Faro chuckled. “Looks like Bobo wants a midnight snack.”
Ronda laughed softly. “He always wants something.”
They exchanged a look—one of those unspoken looks where both of them knew there was more between them than casual conversation.
“Come on,” Faro said finally. “Let’s keep walking. Feels like the city’s quieter tonight.”
“Yeah,” Ronda replied. “But it’s never quiet for long.”
And they kept walking side by side, neither knowing where the conversation—or the night—might lead.
As they crossed the corner near Pickadaily Park, Bobo suddenly stopped barking and sniffed the air eagerly. Faro caught the whiff too—savory, warm broth carried by the cool night breeze.
“There’s a ramen stall up ahead,” Faro pointed, nodding toward the little cart with red lanterns glowing faintly under the streetlights.
Ronda smiled. “I haven’t had ramen in ages. Let’s go.”
They walked over, Bobo trailing behind, tail wagging. The old ramen vendor greeted them with a nod and a polite smile, already placing two bowls on the counter as they sat on the small wooden stools.
Faro took off his biking bag, then ran his fingers through his messy hair. “Funny how it’s always the simple things I miss when I’m away from the city.”
Ronda glanced at him sideways. “You mean like ramen… or people?”
Faro smirked but said nothing as the vendor served their steaming bowls. Bobo sat quietly under Ronda’s stool now, content after sniffing the place.
As they both started eating, Ronda spoke again. “You know… I used to think you left Thundarr City because of the chaos. But it wasn’t that, was it?”
Faro looked at her, noodles halfway to his mouth. “No… not really.”
“So why did you leave?”
Faro took a breath, wiping his mouth. “Because I became the Falcon and Falcon has a cave….I never wanted to return because I was tired of losing people. First my parents, then Sarah… then you Ronda and the closer I got to Aunty Rita, the more I realized how dangerous it is to care too much for her.”
Ronda was quiet for a while, blowing softly on her soup. “That’s why I got Bobo,” she said finally. “People leave… dogs stay.”
Faro gave a small smile, then looked at her earnestly. “But I came back, didn’t I?”
Their eyes met for a moment longer than necessary before Ronda broke it with a grin. “Yeah, you did.”
The vendor refilled their water glasses as they quietly enjoyed their ramen, the sounds of the city buzzing faintly around them—but for a brief moment, they both felt at peace.
Then suddenly, a bone-chilling laugh echoed from the ramen stall—
“HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!”
Faro froze, chopsticks in hand. That laugh was not just familiar—it was infamous.
The old ramen vendor’s wrinkled face twitched, and with a quick swipe, he tore off a thin latex mask, revealing the terrifying, snarling skull face of Murder Dog underneath.
Ronda gasped, stepping back while holding Bobo tight as the little beagle barked frantically.
“You!” Faro snapped, standing up from his stool, ready to strike.
Murder Dog licked his teeth and grinned wildly. “Fancy bumping into you, Falcon Boy… and with the pretty one too,” he growled, glancing at Ronda.
Ronda’s eyes narrowed. “What do you want?”
“I was getting bored in the Thundarr forest… no screams, no chases, no blood in the woods. So, I thought I’d move to the bustling city and give a raen stall and cook up some tasty noodles and wait for my old friend Faro Faros.”
Before Faro could reply, Murder Dog flipped the entire ramen cart over, sending bowls and chopsticks flying. Bobo barked like crazy.
“You can’t run from me, Falcon. You left Thundarr Forest… but the madness followed you.”
But before Faro or Ronda could move, Murder Dog reached under the now on the road pavement ramen stall and yanked out a rusted, jagged sickle, its blade curved and sharp as death itself.
Faro shoved the ramen table aside, flipping it as a shield just in time. The sickle smashed against the wooden surface, splinters flying everywhere. Ronda screamed and pulled Bobo back, trying to get out of the way.
Murder Dog swung again, wild and fast, slicing through the air. Faro ducked, rolled forward, and grabbed a broken stool leg as a makeshift weapon.
“You’re insane!” Faro growled, blocking another strike.
“Insane?!” Murder Dog laughed maniacally. “No, Falcon Boy… I’m free!”
Ronda tried to pull Bobo away from the chaos, but Murder Dog spotted her and threw his sickle like a spinning blade at her feet. It missed by an inch but stopped her in her tracks.
“You’re part of the show now, little miss,” he hissed.
Faro seized the moment, charging Murder Dog and slamming the stool leg into his ribs. Murder Dog staggered but laughed through the pain, pulling a second, smaller dagger from under his apron.
“You can’t win, Faro,” he growled. “You left the forest, but the hunt never ends.”
Faro gritted his teeth. “I didn’t come here to run.”
As Murder Dog lunged again, his sickle aimed at Faro’s neck, the distant sound of sirens suddenly echoed through the streets of the park.
Red and blue lights flashed beyond the trees — the unmistakable roar of the D.E.C. patrol vehicles rushing in.
The crowd that had gathered around the ramen stall earlier had already scattered, many of them shouting and pointing toward the chaos, and someone had clearly called for help.
Murder Dog froze for a moment, eyes flickering toward the flashing lights. Hearing the chaos he had triggered, gritted his teeth and hissed under his breath “You got lucky, Falcon boy…”
Then without hesitation darted into the nearby park woods, disappearing into the shadows like a ghost.
Faro stood there, catching his breath, holding Ronda behind him protectively.
One of the D.E.C. soldiers approached them. “What the hell happened here? Who was that man?”
Faro shook his head. “Some lunatic ramen vendor… attacked us out of nowhere.”
Another officer inspected the ramen stall — broken, smashed, and the old man’s mask left on the ground. “Any idea who he was?”
Faro replied carefully, “Nope… but he was dangerous.”
The soldiers exchanged glances and one of them muttered, “Damn psychos crawling out of the woods these days…”
Ronda added nervously, “He had a sickle… he tried to kill us.”
The D.E.C. leader barked into his comms, “Unknown suspect fled into the park. Possible armed man on the loose. Send additional units.”
They took Faro and Ronda’s statement quickly, but since neither gave away Murder Dog’s real identity, the D.E.C. classified it as another random park assault.
As the soldiers began to sweep the woods, Faro whispered to Ronda, “Let’s go. This isn’t over.”
They slipped away quietly, Ronda still holding onto Bobo, who whimpered and kept looking back.
As they walked away from the scene, Faro couldn’t stop replaying the madness in his head. How the hell did Murder Dog know where he was? And with Ronda? It wasn’t just a random attack — it felt too precise, too personal.
Ronda clung to Bobo’s leash, still shaken. “That guy… he wasn’t human, Faro.”
Faro glanced at her, nodding. “No, he wasn’t. And I don’t believe for a second that he just stumbled upon us.”
After making sure Ronda was safe, she surprised Faro by saying, “You shouldn’t ride back tonight. Come over for some tea and rest. Cal’s not home; he’s at one of his business events. And honestly… I don’t feel like being alone.”
Faro hesitated but finally agreed. “Alright. Let’s go.”
They walked together toward the nearest Pickadaily Square MetroRail Station, Ronda holding Bobo’s leash while Faro rolled his mountain bike alongside them. The neon lights of the city flashed by as they descended into the underground station, the noise and hum of Thundarr City life washing over them.
Once inside the train, they found a quiet corner where Faro parked his bike against the side racks. Ronda sat beside him, leaning back, finally relaxing after the shock from Murder Dog’s attack.
She glanced at him. “You know… Cal barely notices when I’m home or not. He’s so busy with Cal Cola and his estate empire… well, also his Kestrel business.”
Faro gave her a sideways look. “And the new butler?”
Ronda frowned. “I don’t trust her. She’s cold. Always eavesdropping. I feel like she’s spying on me.”
The train slowed as the automated voice announced, “Next stop — NorthThundarr Heights. Mansion District.”
When they arrived, they took the lift up to the private streets where the massive Cal Mansion stood like a fortress, the front gates opening automatically as Ronda approached.
Inside, the butler woman greeted them coldly. “Welcome back, Miss Riy. I see you have a guest.”
Ronda nodded stiffly. “Yes Mrs Wudsom. Prepare some tea in the sunroom.”
As Faro wheeled his bike inside the grand hallway, Ronda whispered to him, “I hate her. She watches me like a hawk.”
Faro replied softly, “Let’s talk over tea. We need to figure out how Murder Dog knew where we were.”
Ronda led him to the sunroom, where soft lights, plush couches, and a clear view of the moonlit city awaited them.
