Puppy's on the run [Job Solo]

The sun was beaming high in the sky over Magnolia town leaving Ricken in a surprisingly good mood, he knew he didn't have to kill or go to a *shiver* blood drive today. Just find some lost puppies! Easy right?

Ricken had met with the man near a small clinic, he seemed to be in quite a panic, running around looking for any signs of the lost puppies. The man had finally noticed Ricken, "Oh! Are you the mage sent to find my puppies?" Ricken smiled and nodded. The man had let out a small sigh and began relaying the information about each dog to Ricken, obviously all were the same breed, baby beagles a very fast and loud breed... they also all share the same wild personality according to the owner. Ricken realized this might be a harder challenge than he thought...

Now... Ricken thought, where to start this hunt for some lost dogs?

Ricken had headed to a market near the clinic in search of one of the pups, one pup always seemed to be hungry according to the owner and thus named it, "Scraps", Ricken assumed a hungry dog would go to a place with a lot of food.

After arriving at the market he asked the owners about any baby beagles roaming around, he had said something was rummaging around the scrap bins around the area. Ricken thanked the man looking through almost every scrap bin in the area.

After about 20 minutes of searching Ricken was about to look elsewhere when a scream from a woman could be heard in the distance. Ricken met up with the woman and saw a small puppy running through the market with a potato in its mouth. Ricken had smiled, and began to chase after the hungry puppy grabbing some apples from one of the vendors to use for bait if needed.

Ricken was in hot pursuit of the dug, for having such small stubby legs it was surprisingly fast. Ricken had turned a corner into an alleyway only to lose sight of the dog, "Cmon out... I know your here somewhere I don't wanna hurt you..." Ricken had pulled out one of the apples he had "Borrowed" from a vendor.

Ricken got down on his knees and began to whistle for the dog holding out the apple. Eventually some boxes began to shake and a small puppy came sniffing for the apple, it had come up to Ricken and began nibbling on the apple. Ricken snatched up the dog continuing to feed it while making his way to the owner.

Ricken met up with the owner again and returned the small dog along with its almost finished apple, 'Oh boy... only 6 more to go....' Ricken had thought to himself continuing on his way.

The next dog Ricken had to search for apparently loved to swim and be near the open water, was accurately named "Paddle". Ricken had went to search towards the docks, a dog who loves to swim must be near the pier somewhere Ricken had thought.

After asking the workers if they had noticed a dog swimming in the water none had said they've seen anything like that, Ricken continued to search around until he heard a small whining coming from near the water. One of the pups were stuck in the water getting caught by a current leading back into the town.

Ricken watched in panic as the small pup kept bobbing up and down in the water getting further and further into the Magnolia Town.

Ricken followed the water logged pup through the whole of Magnolia Town as to make sure it did not go under and never come back up....

The rough current was finally slowing down enough for Ricken to be able to hop into the water, after diving in looking for the pup he noticed it was still popping up and down but with larger frequencies of being submerged. Ricken swam as fast as he could to get a hold of the drowning pup. After only a few good strokes Ricken grabbed onto the collar of the pup and brought it close to his chest.

Ricken crawled out of the water coughing up some water and trying to warm up the small pup as best as he could. It was still breathing but seemed to be unconscious. Ricken was lucky he came here second or this pup might not have made it...

After a few minutes of trying to figure out what part of Magnolia Town he wound up in he managed to find his way back to the clinic and return the sleeping pup to the owner. The owner was extremely thankful and even gave Ricken some food and a towel to dry off.

After drying off and eating Ricken was back out again looking for the 5 other lost pups.

The next pup to be found was one called "Cuddles" Ricken wondered where a dog with that much affection to be called "Cuddles" might wonder off to.

Ricken had tried the pubs, the local fair, and even playgrounds but all results came up empty handed. That is until Ricken noticed a little girl holding a tiny beagle pup walking down the street.

Ricken ran to catch up with the child and yelled out for her, She turned around with a confused look. "Where did you find that dog...?" The little girl motioned towards the clinic where his search had began. Great... Ricken had thought.

How in any way possible could Ricken convince a little girl to give up the a puppy... its not like he had something else cute and cuddly just lying around to give her...

A light went off in Rickens head and pulled out one of his celestial keys, A bright flash of light lit up the small area...

When the light had faded what remained was a small purple and white bear, "Oh I know it may seem like a lot but... if you can hand over that dog i'll let you play with my uh... dog for a bit." Ursa Minor looked up at Ricken with a glare and then nodded at the little girl.

The girl gasped in surprise and her eyes lit up with excitement. She handed Ricken the small pup and grabbed Ursa Minor, hugging it tightly. Ricken left Ursa Minor in the girls care for now, time to return the pup.

Ricken returned back to the clinic and was beginning to feel drained for having to keep his spirit out and so far away from him. After handing the pup over Ricken made his way back to the little girl and asked for his spirit back, The girl let his spirit go and thanked Ricken for such a fun day.

Ricken called back his spirit and left to search yet again for 4 more pups.

The next pup Ricken was searching for was called "Gnaw" huh... where would a pup gnaw stuff? Ricken had pondered it for a moment before figuring it out.

Ricken had arrived at the small furniture store after only a few minutes of walking, he entered the store to find couches ripped to shreds and tables with teeth marks all over them. He looked over and under every piece of chewed furniture he came across but nothing but muddy paw prints and claw marks. The shop owner was heard yelling from a back room.

Ricken walked in and asked if they had seen the culprit of this disaster, the shop manager looked at Ricken in anger and pointed at the open door, Ricken turned to see a pup sneak out and bolt.

Ricken apologized to the owner of the store and pursued the dog, following its tracks of wood chippings and couch stuffing.

Ricken found the dog once again chewing at a piece of what looked like wood from a crate. Ricken snuck up behind the unsuspecting pup which Ricken assumed thought lost him. Ricken grabbed the pup as it tried to nip and bite at his fingers.

"Will you stop that...! OW!" Ricken had almost dropped the pup but then picked up the piece of wood it was chewing on and gave it to the pup, it was like a child with its bottle. Ricken sighed peacefully thankful that this dog was calmed down.

Ricken managed to find his way back to the clinic and greet the owner with bite marks all over Rickens fingers. "Apologize for this pup, he is definitely my most stubborn dog... I hope there isnt too much damage I have to cover..." Ricken gave the man a half hearted smile and pointed in the direct of the destroyed furniture shop. The owner sighed and let out an audible "Oh"

Ricken was back at it again with only three pups left to find... The next dog on the agenda was "Nappy" Ricken figured a dog who liked to nap might be found at a bench? Maybe sleeping in the Park? Ricken figured a sleeping dog should be easy!

Ricken had went to each location not finding any sign of the dog, Ricken was getting stumped and thought he would move onto the next dog and search for Nappy later. That is until Ricken noticed on top of someone apartment building was laying a sleeping puppy. Ricken looked shocked and went wide eyes. 'How does a dog even get up there!?!!" he thought.

Ricken needed a quick and easy way to get up there without scaring the dog and it falling off of the roof.... Ricken assumed he could summon a spirit to jump up there but that might scare the pup... Unless the spirit was tiny enough to lead it down...

Ricken brought out a key and a bright light shown from it...

Pixie was revealed from the light and fluttered around Thasus' head, Ricken told Pixie he needed her to go wake the sleeping pup and lead it down the stairs calmly. She nodded her head and floated up towards the dog, she poked it a few times on the nose causing it to groggily get up from its nap.

When the pup got a good look at Pixie it began to bark and chase her around the roof, Ricken was panicking and pointing towards the open window right next to the building, Pixie flew down into the window and the small pup followed suit jumping from the roof into the open window.

After that Ricken had to bother the poor people who were just minding there own business until a small spirit and dog came jumping through their window... Ricken apologized to an elderly man and women who lived there, Ricken retrieved the dog and made his short trip back to the clinic and handed the sleeping dog to the owner. 2 more to go Ricken thought...

Ricken could feel exhaustion overtaking him, who would have thought catching puppies would be this much of a pain? The next dog Ricken had to find was named, Einstein... Einstein? a smart puppy... Well, Ricken had figured a "smart" dog might be still be at the shelter but that would be far too easy. Perhaps a "smart" puppy might be around somewhere such as a library? But Ricken was pondering as to why a dog would be somewhere such as a library.

Ricken made his way to the Magnolia Library, a large building filled with many books on fiction, history, and even art. Ricken had browsed through the many selections and had almost forgotten about the puppy hunt he was on...

Ricken began to frantically run throughout the library looking under every table in search for the pup, a women sitting at the book checkout counter had called to Ricken wondering what he could be doing in such a rush at a library, Ricken explained his situation and the woman began to laugh. Ricken was confused until she had pointed to a room in the corner of the room.

Ricken entered the room only to find one of the pups playing in a pile of old and worn books, he picked up the playful pup and thanked the women for taking care of it, she smiled and nodded sending Ricken on his way. Ricken made his way back to the shelter and returned him to the owner, Ricken was thankful this was done with minimal "casualties" to his stamina.

Ricken departed from the shelter in a rush eager to catch the next pup, the only problem was the pup had no name... The owner was still deciding on it before they had ran off. Ricken knew this was going to be a struggle...

Ricken had searched the obvious places first such as the park, a bakery, and even some of the local guild halls, nothing. The sun was setting soon and he knew a pup would likely not survive far into the night.

Ricken was frantic searching through garbage bins, stores, even in the forest outside of town... nothing, by this time the moon was out and howls from predators could be heard. He knew it was too late...

Ricken with his hands in his pockets, hung his head low as he made his way back to the shelter empty handed for one more visit. He saw the owner and told him of his failure, looking toward the ground in shame.

The man began to laugh, and told Ricken that the pup had never actually left and was just rummaging around the shelter, Ricken looked confused until the man pointed to a kennel full of puppies... all 7 of them... Ricken sighed and fell to the ground in exhaustion, the owner laughed and said his reward would be delivered shorty. Ricken smiled and held a thumbs up from the ground.