"How do I make this pig move faster?!" I knocked on Hawk's mother's back, jumped up and down on her skin. She gave an almighty snort, shook violently and threw me off her side. 

Heart in throat, my hands grappled against thin air, a scream building. A hand caught me. 

"Thanks, Diane," I said in a shaky voice as she settled me on the steps leading into the tavern. Okay, so I wasn't going to do that again. 

"How dare you treat my mother like that?" Hawk rammed into the back of my knees and with a shriek, I collapsed forward. He continued to lecture me and stamp his feet while I covered my ears from the noise. 

"Listen!" He shut up. "We need to get Meliodas to the nearest town." I turned, sat up and plucked a splinter from my hand, before grabbing Hawk's cheeks. "Does the definition of fast exist with your mother? The only way to get to the nearest town is to make your mother move her little legs faster." 

"Ow, ow, ow," Hawk whined as I twisted and pulled his cheeks. 

Right now, Elizabeth was sitting by Meliodas' side, nursing him to the best of her ability. But without proper care, he would die. 

So would Elizabeth's chance to save her kingdom and my chance to find this Merlin chick and go back to being a fox. Man, I hadn't even given much thought on the real reason I'm with this group and plan we created. It sounded so far- fetched now, given our predicament.

My eyes spied something in the distance. "Hey, is that a town?" All heads turned to face in the direction I pointed. There, in the valley was a large clump of coloured roofs. 

"Quick, Elizabeth. Give me Meliodas," Diane said, running round to the open window at the side of the tavern. After a minute or two, Diane stepped back, hands cupped to her chest. "I'll move faster than the pig."

"Hey, I'm coming with you!" I called out and took a running leap off the side of the green pig. I landed with a thump on Diane's backpack and scrambled to sit on top. Definitely tried not to look down at the ground. Diane was quite a bit taller than the tavern's floor. But I wasn't going to stay behind doing nothing when I would be better help in the town. 

"What about us?" Elizabeth shouted, top half of her body hanging out the window. 

"I'm leaving now!" called Diane in a way of a response. She started to run towards the town and it was in that moment that I realised the grievous mistake I had made. 

If anyone ever, ever said to me that riding on a Giant's shoulder was relaxing, I would beat in their faces until they were a bloody pulp. I swayed, jerked and bounced all over the place, struggling to keep hold and keep down what little food rested in my stomach. Actually, it was in my throat now. 

Diane slowed as she neared the town and I looked back briefly to see a cloud of dust and green blob as Hawk's mother neared. Taking a moment of respite from all the bouncing and jerking, I climbed to her shoulder to watch our progress. 

"Uh, Diane," I started to warn her as she weaved down the streets, heading straight for the crowded main road. "This might not be such a good idea." 

"Hey!" Diane called out to the humans. Either she didn't hear me - which was kind of impossible considering I was right next to her ear - or she was ignoring me. "Is there a -" 

Screams and shouts filled the streets, the people below scampering away like frightful rabbits. 

"No, wait a minute!" Diane called out urgently. "Just wanted to find out if you had a doctor somewhere in this town." 

But she was talking to an empty street. She opened her hands and even I could see Meliodas was in a bad shape and only getting worse. Fresh blood had started to flow from his wound. 

"Captain," she whispered softly. 

I patted her shoulder, then slid down her arm to land in the crook of her elbow. I walked quickly across her forearm and to her hand, checking on Meliodas. Still breathing. Just.  

"See, what did I tell ya?" Hawk cried. Wow, that was fast. Guess my techniques did work. 

Elizabeth called up to us, "Please, Hawk and I are more than capable of finding a doctor! Why don't you just-" 

"Look! I'm going to be the one helping the Captain!" interjected Diane, with a growl. 

"How can you help him if they all run for the hills the minute they see you?" Hawk pointed out. 

Diane's eyes widened, hurt visibly. Elizabeth and Hawk looked on expectantly. 

Time for me to speak. "Look, let us help him as well. We are his friends and allies as well. Four people, er I mean, four individuals looking for a doctor is better than one searching. The faster we find a doctor, the faster we can get Meliodas fixed up." 

"Okay, fine," she surrendered, pouting. "Then you three go look for a doctor."

"Alright," Elizabeth said. 

"Stay put, got it?" Hawk commanded. 

The two of them ran off, leaving me behind to be placed on the ground gently by Diane. 

"Thanks. I'll be back soon with a doctor!" I shouted over my shoulder, sprinting down a side alley and into a main courtyard. 

How was I going to find a doctor? I had no clue. What I needed was a sign, literally. A fat bug landed on my arm and I slapped it off in disgust. Wasn't a fan of insects. 

"Hello? Is there a doctor around here?" I shouted through cupped hands as I ran into the slowly filling streets. 

Someone grabbed my shoulder and it took all my willpower not to grab their arm and drive their face into the ground. Leraj taught me that. When I spun round, a young man with spiky black hair stood there. 

"I know where a doctor is," he said quickly, eyes wide and fearful. I thanked him and followed as he led me silently but quickly to a tall house with a blue roof. 

Elizabeth was just exiting the house when we spotted each other. She ran over, puffing. 

"Quick, go and get Diane!" 

I doubled back, jumping crates and weaving between clumps of people in the crowds in my haste. I only prayed we weren't too late. 

~ 

I leant against the wall anxiously, fiddling with my belt. Leaving my dagger behind in the tavern had been a mistake; now I had nothing to ease my nerves. Hawk and Elizabeth sat next to Meliodas and Diane's worried face looked in through the window.  

He looked so pitiful lying on that bed, pale body almost blending in with the pale sheets drawn to his chin. 

The doctor fed him a liquid tonic. "This medicinal blend is my own special concoction. I guarantee it will ease his suffering." He handed the silver dish thingie to his assistant, who stood with wrung hands beside Elizabeth. 

"Thank you for seeing him, Doctor Dana," Elizabeth said, relieved. 

"Based on his injuries, I'd say it's a miracle he's still alive. In addition to the rather deep sword wound, he has burns as if he were struck by lightning. how did a child get these?" Dana questioned. 

I scoffed softly. Child? If only Dana knew who that child really was and what had actually happened to him. The doctor and his assistant bid farewell and told us to call him if any issues arose. 

I nodded my head at them as they passed by. An uncomfortable silence filled the room. It grated on my nerves and I pushed off the wall. 

"Come find me when he wakes," I said. 

"Wait, you're going out?" Elizabeth questioned. 

"Yeah. Might go scope out the area and see what information I can find out about Baste Prison." I shrugged my shoulders and left. 

I tried not to dwell on the sombre mood of the room, to think what would happen next if Meliodas were to die. In a way, all our destinies were tied to that one man. I shook my head to dispel such thoughts. Now wasn't the time. 

A group of children ran before me, squealing in glee. 

"I'm a member of the Weird Fangs and I will crush you bandit," cackled an older girl, bearing down on another child, a boy, around the same age. 

"Bandit? I am no bandit but the legendary sorcerer Merlin!" 

"Hush now!" a mother fussed, stepping between the two children, dispersing the game with her harsh voice. She noticed me staring. "Go play some place quieter and something more appropriate." The children ran off and the mother sighed. 

I moved past, just as another mother began speaking to the lady. "I just wish they didn't listen to their father's so much." 

"I know what you mean. The reports going round of the Seven Deadly Sins is troubling." 

"Oh well, there's no need to worry, Meredith. The Holy Knights always come to the townfolks rescue." They said no more on the subject.

Intriguing how the tale of the Seven Deadly Sins had become a game to the younger generation, and that our adventure had reached even this small town. I tucked my hands into my pockets, felt something brush against my fingertips and almost had a heartache then and there in the streets. 

Oh wait, it's just a piece of paper - I thought it was one of those fat bugs. I unfolded it and found it to be the drawing Elizabeth had designed for my tattoo. My own brand. I looked around me and low and behold, a tattoo shop sat squished up between a butcher and a bookstore.

Should I? Well, the store was there. What happens if I never found another one again? Plus, it would keep my mind off of things and you'd never know what type of information might be discovered in a place like that. 

I decided to indulge myself. The rickety sign creaked on rusty chains, swinging back and forth gentle. Quite eerie, considering that the next little sign depicted a skull. Had I found a tattoo place or an apothecary? 

Only one way to find out.  

A/N: feedback appreciated and so are votes. Is it just me or are the chapters getting longer??

O_O Estra is finally getting her tattoo!!!! yay! or is it? Next chapter will be posted soon *Mwah ha ha* 

Excerpt to come: "Sorry, girlie," he pulled out a piece of paper, a crude drawing of my face on it, "but someone is paying top dollar for your pretty head, Sin of Greed."  

Dun, dun, dah!! 

Should I warn you guys in advance that the next chapter might be gruesome and cause some of you to shake the computer screen in shock for it's ending? 

... ... .... ......

Nah, you'll be fine :) 

(As you can probably tell, I'm in a certain mood at the moment)