Cybee Cogsworth's Arc

Chapter 2 of 5

Cybee's arms ached from days of training. The brass joints needed oil and adjustment. He couldn't fight his enemy with broken equipment. His burrow had tools, but his mechanical knowledge had limits. He needed help from someone who understood gears and steam. He climbed out of his burrow and walked toward the merchant district. The cobblestone paths twisted between buildings made of salvaged metal and wood. His large ears swiveled, catching fragments of conversation from passersby. After three blocks, he spotted a workshop with steam pouring from its chimney. A sign hung above the door showing crossed wrenches. Cybee pushed inside and explained his problem to the shopkeeper. The fox behind the counter examined his brass arms and quoted a price that made Cybee's stomach drop. He didn't have enough coins. The fox offered a trade instead: repair work in exchange for maintenance on his mechanical limbs. Cybee agreed and spent the afternoon hauling scrap metal and sorting bolts. His arms moved smoother by evening, the joints freshly oiled and tightened. On his way back to the burrow, Cybee stopped at a junk dealer's stall. Among the piles of broken gears and rusted springs, he found a glass lantern with a softly glowing mushroom trapped inside. The light was steady and didn't flicker like candles. He bought it and carried it home. Outside his burrow entrance, he also discovered a peculiar pile of cogs and wheels that someone had abandoned. The pieces fit together like a puzzle, creating a hollow space inside. Perfect for hiding his clues where rain and thieves couldn't reach them. He placed the fabric scrap inside the cogwheel container and sealed it shut. Back in his burrow, Cybee set up the mushroom lantern near his entrance. The soft glow lit the space around the clock face above. He pulled out three salvaged chairs and a wobbly desk he'd found days earlier. The furniture didn't match, but it would work for questioning witnesses. When someone finally responded to his flyer, he would have a proper place to meet them. His mechanical arms hummed quietly as he arranged the chairs. Everything was falling into place. He had training, working equipment, and a setup for gathering information. The hunt for his enemy was moving forward, one careful step at a time.