~Chapter 3- Nang~

Aero and Veena traveled atop Hopper. The great beast sprinted through the plains with ease.

"Digger used to be able to run around just like this," Veena commented.

They saw a large manor in the distance, with trees placed sporadically around them, a metal fence around its perimeter, and statues of mammoths sitting outside.

Aero was told by the bandit leader that a rich Phantine was the one behind the thefts of animals. The Phantine people had characteristics of elephants, with two tusks, a trunk, circular feet, large open ears, and generally bulkier arms and bodies. All the Phantine people Aero had met had been outstanding people. He was surprised to hear one did something so awful.

They stopped at a distance from the manor with a cover of trees around them. Aero hopped directly off of Hopper, while Veena waited until the Chihuahua lowered itself to the ground to dismount.

"This has to be the place," Aero said.

"So, what's your plan kid?" Veena asked.

"I'm going to go in there and ask where Digger is, and if he doesn't tell me, I'll beat him up," Aero proclaimed.

Veena winced, "That doesn't sound like a good idea!"

"Don't worry, I can handle it!" Aero smiled. He looked and saw Hopper gnawing at the base of a nearby tree, "Can you watch Hopper while I go in?"

"I can. Just be careful in there."

Aero smirked before sprinting towards the manor, jumping meters into the area to clear the perimeter fence. He marched directly to the entrance and began to bang on the front door as obnoxiously as possible.

The front door parted slightly, and Aero could see a thin Phantine man open the door wearing the attire of a butler. His skin tone had a green tint, and his brow was furrowed.

"Nang is not taking visitors today," The agitated Phantine replied.

Nang? That must be the owner of the manor, "I have to talk to him."

"Young man, I must ask you to leave," The Phantine said as he closed the door, but Aero jutted his foot in and forced it open.

Aero slid past the attendant and found himself in a great hall, with a large staircase leading up to the second floor. Expensive looking paintings adorned the walls, and the floor was shined to a sheen.

"Where is Nang?" Aero asked.

"Young man, you must leave!" The butler pleaded. He tried to grab Aero, but the boy skillfully stayed out of his range.

"What is all that racket?" A voice came from the top of the stairs. Aero looked and saw a Phantine with a round belly wearing striped orange and black robes. There were gold rings over each of his tusks, and he held a glass of wine in his trunk.

Nang.

Aero jumped into the air and landed directly in front of Nang, "Where's Digger?"

"I beg your pardon?" Nang looked Aero up and down and gave him a disgusted look, eyeing his ruffled and dirty clothes.

"You paid some guys to steal a women's Chihuahua. They called you the Collector," Aero declared.

Nang stared at Aero with shifty eyes, "I'd never be involved with such a thing."

Aero looked at Nang's orange and black fur robes, clearly made from the pelts of tigers. They were small animals; it'd take numerous of them to make robes like that. Nang had to be the one behind Digger's abduction.

"I know you're the Collector."

"You're mistaken." Nang took a nonchalant sip of his wine.

Aero clenched his fist, "Tell me where he is."

"If you lay a hand on me, I'll make sure you're detained by the authorities. You have already broken into my home after all," Nang replied.

Aero stopped. If he ended up being thrown in jail, that wouldn't do anyone any good. He didn't like the idea of being on the run either; he'd be just like his father then.

"Leave," Nang said coldly.

Aero didn't know what else to do. He slowly began going down the stairs, "I'll be back," Aero said as an act of defiance.

"If you're smart, you won't," Nang remarked as he took another sip.

Aero returned to Veena empty handed. Veena was caressing the top of Hopper's head when she saw him.

"What happened?" Veena asked.

"He threatened to report me if I didn't leave."

Veena sighed, "I had a feeling something like that might happen."

Aero leaned against the tree Hopper had been chewing on, "I'm used to just beating up bad people. I don't know how to deal with that guy."

"Do you know for sure that he's the Collector?"

"Yes."

"Then I have an idea that might lead us to Digger."

Veena and Hopper approached the manor's front door, while Aero followed close by, but out of sight. He thought it was a risky plan, but he didn't have anything better.

Aero watched as the same butler opened the door for Veena. His eyes dilated when he saw a Chihuahua standing behind her. While the butler barely cracked the door for Aero, he opened it fully for Veena.

"Hello ma'am, may I help you?" The Butler asked politely.

"I heard the man who lives here buys rare animals, how much will he pay for this one?" Veena asked.

The butler's eyes darted from Veena to Hopper, "One moment please." The butler closed the door behind him.

The Butler closed the door, and returned with Nang. The rich Phantine looked upon Hopper with envious eyes. Despite Veena trying to keep him in check, Hopper couldn't help but growl at him.

"Hello ma'am, nice to meet you. I hear you are looking to sell this animal?" Nang queried respectfully.

"That's correct," Veena replied with a false smile.

"While this is a magnificent beast, I'm afraid I'm not interested in that sort of thing. You must've mistaken me for someone else," Nang said, extending his stubby hand to Veena for a handshake, "Though, I'll thank you for coming by."

Veena reluctantly took Nang's hand, but his grip seemed to linger for a moment. He bid his farewell to Veena before heading back into his manor.

Veena returned to the chewed up tree and Aero met her there, "I guess that didn't work."

"I think it worked perfectly," Veena flourished a folded up piece of paper from her hand, "Nang slipped this into my hand."

"What's that?"

"Let's see," Veena said. She unfolded the paper on the ground, revealing it to be a map of the nearby area. To the northwest of their position on the map was a bright red X with the words 'trade' next to it. The X was in the middle of the Rosario Canyons, with a winding line that showed a path through it.

"Nang is smart enough not to do any trades at his home so he doesn't get in trouble with the authorities. He does all of it at another location," Veena figured, "Maybe this is where he's keeping Digger?"

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They traveled northwest with haste, but Hopper began to tire after a day of travel. They decided to make camp. Night fell, and they stoked a campfire.

"Hesu Buppa, Hesu," Aero whispered as he rubbed his dog's side, trying to ease him into a restful state. Hopper laid beside him and his eyes grew heavy. With a big yawn, the Chihuahua fell asleep.

Hopper breathed slow and deep, occasionally snoring. Veena laid out a bedroll and looked at the great dog.

"Where did you find Hopper?" Veena asked.

Aero laid against his dog's side, "I found him in the Saran plains when he was a baby. He was all alone."

"I found Digger when he was a baby as well," Veena explained.

She remembered that day, a group of men found a group of Chihuahua pups and sought to kill them, knowing they could grow to be very dangerous. Veena couldn't stand to let them all die, so she took one for her own.

When it outgrew her in size she became worried, but it worked out. Digger didn't do well with others, but he was content as long as he had her company.

"Thank you for helping me get my baby boy back," Veena said, almost tearing up as she did.

Aero smiled, "No problem. If I wasn't as strong as I am, they might've stolen Hopper from me too. It's the right thing to do."