Laff flicked the lever back up, closing the hidden entrance in the floor. Blaza clearly wasn't going to tell him who'd seen him, but there wasn't much he could do about that at the moment.
He stepped outside the courthouse, starting toward his farm. Unfortunately, he was stopped by a voice behind him.
"Heya Laff. What's up?"
The villager growled, turning around and staring the furry dead in the eyes. "What do yous want?"
"Oh, I was just looking for Blaza. A little birdie told me you know where he is?"
Laff reached for his gravity gun, ready to launch the stupid furry sky high.
"Ah-ah-ah, I wouldn't do that I were you." Dino pulled a sniper from behind him, aiming it directly at Laffs face.
"Where's Blaza?"
Laff stared at him, contemplating the situation. He could pull out his gravity gun and finally get rid of Dino, but he'd run the risk of being shot. Even though he had a backup plan, he didn't exactly want to die just yet. He could comply, but Blaza was a ticking time bomb, he'd explode with information to bring his downfall any second. To put it simply: this was a crappy situation. The only way out of it? Negotiation. Ugh.
"Cmon now Dino, would you really want to shoot your friend? Imagine what they'll think of you. They wouldn't understand your motives. You'd be thrown in prison and forgotten. Do you really want that?" He tried to keep his voice as calm as possible, despite the anger that threatened to burst out of him.
Dino lowered his gun slightly and looked to the ground. What would everyone else think? Woolf was telling them what he did but would they approve of killing him? What if he did go to prison? Almost everyone except Blaza forgot he existed half the time, and since Blaza was the only one who cared and Laff was the only one who knew where he was, if he got sent to prison would anyone even remember he existed at all?
He tried to regain his confidence and keep his gun aimed up, but the doubt wouldn't go away. He was doing the right thing! ...right?
"Why don't we just go home and forget this ever happened, eh?"
Dino pushed his doubt down best he could, aiming the gun slightly higher.
"No no no, you're going to t-tell me what you did to Blaza." Dinos voice was shaky, you could definitely tell he was a lot less sure of himself then he had been.
Laff had no way out of this at this point. He couldn't tell him where Blaza was, the only option was to risk it. Maybe, hopefully, Dino wouldn't have the guts to actually shoot him.
"I'll tell yous in a moment, let me just..." He slowly reached for his gravity gun, but froze as yet another voice came from behind him.
"Stop right there Laff."
The voice was accented, less so then Laffs own, but it was still quite clear. Dino smiled, aiming his gun straight forward again as confidence found its way back and burned in his chest.
Laff turned to see Woolf staring him straight in the eyes, with Nadwe, Oof, Joocie, and Oompa behind him, all carrying various guns.
He growled in annoyance, it seemed his plans would have to come into action much sooner then he'd planned.
Another voice came from behind him, this time much squeakier. Even before he turned to look, he know SmallFor1 was the owner of this unnaturally high pitched squeal.
"W-wait up-" he panted, jogging up to Dinos foot. "You weren't seriously going to fight him without me were you?" He half-joked.
Laff bit back a chuckle. As serious as the situation was, Socks voice never failed to amuse him.
He refocused, gripping his gravity gun tighter. All he had to do was aim and pull the trigger. Although, Dino would have time to shoot in the time it took to aim. Maybe he just had to hit a different target...
He slowly turned the gravity gun upwards, facing behind him. Dino wouldn't be able to see him aim, and those behind him wouldn't expect it. It was a flawless plan.
"Alright, alright, I'll tell." Laff faked defeat, hoping to lower suspicion he'd fight.
"I warn you," he stalled. "You may not like your answer."
Dino snarled. "Just tell me."
"I am, I am..."
He had his gun turned at what should be the right position. He just needed to pull the trigger...
A startled shout sounded behind him.
"It's a trap-!"
The squeal was cut off as Laff grabbed the furry with the gun, aiming it straight at the sky in the blink of an eye. Woolfs face was painted with terror as he kicked the air, only achieving exhaustion, his attempts to escape the gravity guns grip useless.
"Put your weapons down, or I'll throw 'em to the sun and let the fall finish 'em!" Laff threatened, looking over at Dino with his best death glare. He'd practiced this look for months.
He directed the threat at Dino because he was one of Woolfs best friends, despite their constant arguing. He would be the most likely to comply.
Dino didn't even look at Laff, instead directing his gaze at Woolf, who shook his head. He knew Woolf couldn't hear the threat, but his friend was smart enough to understand it was his life or Laffs. He admired his bravery, Dino didn't think he'd be as willing to sacrifice his life, despite the fact that he knew that'd be the right thing.
Would it be the right thing to shoot Laff now? The villager have just enough time to pull the trigger and... Dino didn't want to think about it. Or he could lower his weapon, and Woolf would be fine, though Laff would get away, probably running off into the woods where they'd never find him again. He couldn't just let him off the hook like that after all he'd done!
He could feel sweat building on his palms as Laff eyed him impatiently. "Well? What'll it be Furrysaur?"
Dino let out a slight snarl, the decision giving him a headache. He could feel everyone eying him curiously, awaiting his decision. Why did he have to be the one to do this? Why couldn't the pressure be on someone else for once?
His gun slipped from his hands, which had gotten too slippery to hold it. He fumbled to regain his grip, grabbing the handle and trigger area harder then before.
A little too hard.
He'd accidentally pulled the trigger.
The gun hadn't been aimed at Laffs head, instead lower, right at his chest. Laff, In his last second of life, pulled the trigger of his own weapon, and Woolf shot straight up, going beyond the height he'd have to fall to... Dino had to act. And fast.
He lept onto Laff, prying the gravity gun out of his lifeless hand and aiming it up at where Woolf had been launched. His friend was falling now, just close enough...
He closed his eyes and pulled the trigger. unwilling to watch in case he was too late.

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HAHA, I HAVE LEFT YOU ALL ON A CLIFFHANGER YET AGAIN. HAVE FUN GUESSING UNTIL THE NEXT CHAPTER

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