Isaac questioned the creature to ensure he'd heard it correctly.

  Nodding its head with a proud look, Spunk confidently stared at him, only for the confidence to fade a second later.

  Spunk puffed out its chest, ready to proceed, but before it could say another word, a loud growl echoed from its stomach.

  The hedgehog’s bravado faltered, and it looked down, embarrassed.

  "Uh, could you share some food first?" Spunk asked, its voice small and sheepish. "I can arrest you after I eat."

  Isaac raised an eyebrow, his suspicion momentarily giving way to amusement. "You want to eat before you arrest me?"

  Spunk nodded fervently, its stomach growling again for emphasis. Isaac couldn't help but chuckle. "Alright, let's get you something to eat. Then we can talk about this 'arresting me’ business."

  Spunk's eyes lit up with excitement, and without a second thought, it crawled onto Isaac's lap.

  The hedgehog then reached eagerly towards the charred leg resting in Isaac's hand, its tiny paws outstretched.

  "Hey, hold on a second," Isaac said with a laugh, before gently handing the piece of meat to Spunk. "Here you go."

  Spunk grabbed the leg with surprising strength for its size and began gnawing on it with gusto. Isaac watched in bemusement as the creature devoured the charred flesh, clearly starving.

  "Guess you were pretty hungry, huh?" Isaac remarked, still amused by the whole situation.

  Spunk looked up, its mouth full. "Mm-hmm," it mumbled through a mouthful of food, nodding vigorously.

  Isaac shook his head, a smile spreading across his face. This odd little creature was full of surprises. "Alright, eat up. We'll talk after."

  Spunk nodded eagerly, focusing back on its food as it continued eating.

  Isaac, still bemused by the strange turn of events, resumed his own meal. The two of them ate in silence for a while, the only sounds being the crunching of flesh and the occasional contented grunt from Spunk.

  As Isaac ate, he again thought about how he might improve the flavor.

  Meanwhile, Spunk seemed thoroughly engrossed in its meal, occasionally glancing up at Isaac with a look of gratitude.

  The hedgehog's earlier temperament was now replaced with a kind of simple contentment, enjoying the unexpected feast.

  As they finished their impromptu meal, Isaac leaned back, feeling his energy and vitality returning. "Feeling better now?" he asked, looking down at Spunk.

  The hedgehog nodded, wiping its mouth with the back of its paw. "Much better, thank you," Spunk replied.

  Isaac leaned back, as he looked down at Spunk with a smirk. "Now, about that arrest..."

  Spunk, finishing the last bits of its meal, nodded and hopped off Isaac's lap. Landing gracefully, the hedgehog spread its hands out to brace itself before turning back to Isaac and striking a dramatic pose.

  "Prepare yourself, Isaac!" Spunk declared with theatrical flair. "For I, Spunk the Brave, am here to take you into custody!"

  Isaac couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. "Alright, Spunk the Brave, I'm prepared. What are the charges?"

  Spunk paused, seeming to think hard for a moment, then responded with equal dramatic enthusiasm. "Uh... charges? Oh yes! I do not know, but you are wanted by the House of the Kraken and I’m here to take you in!”

  Isaac raised an eyebrow, intrigued and amused. “So you’re a bounty hunter?"

  Spunk, still in its dramatic pose, replied with a hint of uncertainty, "Well, not exactly. I mean, I do get rewards for bringing people in, but I prefer to think of myself as an independent contractor for justice!"

  Isaac chuckled. "An independent contractor for justice, huh? And how did you get involved with the House of the Kraken?"

  Spunk puffed out its chest, trying to regain some of its earlier confidence. "They needed someone with my unique skills and tenacity. Plus, they pay well in berries and other goodies."

  Isaac smiled, his amusement growing. "Berries and goodies, huh? Sounds like a sweet deal."

  Spunk nodded vigorously. "Oh, it is! And it's important work too. Bringing in people like you keeps the balance of justice in check."

  Isaac shook his head, still smiling. "Well, Spunk the Brave, I appreciate your dedication. But I’m not sure I’m ready to be taken in just yet."

  Spunk's eyes narrowed, and it puffed up even more, trying to look intimidating. "Then I'll get angry, and you don't want me to get angry!"

  Isaac chuckled, crossing his arms. "Oh really? And what happens when you get angry, Spunk?"

  Spunk's quills bristled slightly as it tried to maintain its fierce demeanor. "You wouldn't like me when I'm angry! I... I can get very loud, and... and... I'll call for reinforcements!"

  Isaac raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained. "Reinforcements, huh? Well, I wouldn't want to cause a scene."

  Spunk seemed to regain some confidence at Isaac's response. "That's right! So, why don't we just make this easy and you come with me?"

  “No.” Issac replied simply

  Spunk blinked, momentarily thrown off by the blunt refusal. "Uh, no?"

  Isaac nodded. "No. I’m not going anywhere with you."

  Spunk's quills bristled again, and it tried to muster up its fiercest look. "Then... then I'll get really angry, and call for reinforcements!"

  Isaac shrugged, unperturbed. "Go ahead."

  Spunk's eyes darted around, clearly not expecting this level of defiance. It took a deep breath and puffed itself up even more, trying to look as intimidating as possible. "You don't understand! I'm serious!"

  Isaac crouched down to Spunk's level, his expression calm but firm. "Spunk, listen. I’m not going to hurt you, but I’m also not going to let you take me in.”

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  "Then you leave me no choice," Spunk's expression turned serious, and suddenly the tiny creature seemed much more threatening.

  "Dead or alive, I get my reward!" It roared.

  With a swift motion, Spunk shot a single sharp quill that sliced through Isaac's cheek like butter.

  Isaac recoiled in surprise and pain, a thin trickle of blood running down his face. He stared at Spunk, now realizing the seriousness behind the hedgehog's earlier bravado. "Spunk, what the...?"

  Spunk's eyes flashed with determination. "I warned you, Isaac. This is your last chance. Come with me peacefully, or things will get much messier."

  Isaac wiped the blood from his cheek, his mind racing with options. He knew Spunk was serious about fulfilling its mission.

  Reluctantly, Isaac rose to his feet, a mixture of caution and annoyance in his eyes. He prepared himself mentally, ready to defend against Spunk if it came down to it.

  Every muscle tensed, as he awaited Spunk's next move, hoping for a peaceful resolution but prepared for anything.

  "You sure you wanna do this?" Isaac hissed, his hands glowing with phoenix fire as the cut on his check lit up in flames before revealing itself to have been healed.

  Isaac stared down at Spunk with a piercing gaze, his voice low and intense. "Because if you try that again, I won't hesitate to defend myself."

  Spunk shrank back, its quills trembling slightly. The hedgehog's confidence faltered in the face of Isaac's intimidating demeanor. It took a step back, eyes darting nervously between Isaac's fiery hands and his unwavering stare.

  Isaac held his ground, his expression stern but controlled. He didn't want to harm Spunk, but the creature had crossed a line. The tension hung thick in the air, waiting for Spunk's next move.

  Then, to Isaac's surprise, Spunk's eyes welled up with tears. "You're... you're really scary," the hedgehog sniffled, its voice breaking. "I was just trying to do my job... I didn't mean to make you angry."

  Isaac's expression softened slightly. He extinguished the phoenix fire from his hands and knelt down to Spunk's level.

  "Hey, it's okay," he said gently. "I didn't mean to scare you that much. Let's just talk, alright?"

  Spunk wiped its eyes with a tiny paw, still sniffling. "Really? You're not going to hurt me?"

  Isaac shook his head. "No, I won't hurt you. Let's figure out what's going on and maybe we can help each other."

  The hedgehog nodded, looking up at Isaac with a mix of fear and hope. "Okay. We can talk."

  Spunk hesitated, then nodded. "Okay. Let's talk."

  The hedgehog reached into its leaf backpack and pulled out a crumpled piece of parchment. Unfolding it, Spunk pointed at a picture. "You know, you don't look exactly like the guy on the wanted poster."

  “This thing isn’t much of a fighter for a bounty hunter…” Isaac thought as he leaned in, studying the image.

  "Let me see that," he said, taking the parchment. The drawing was rough and the features were exaggerated, but he could see some similarities. As he examined the poster more closely, Isaac's eyes widened in realization.

  "This... this is me," he muttered to himself, the recognition dawning. The poster depicted him as he was before merging with the phoenix soul. The hairstyle, the clothes, even the expression—it all matched his former self.

  But now, with the phoenix soul's power coursing through him, his appearance had changed drastically. His eyes were sharper, his hair had a faint fiery hue, and his aura was undeniably different.

  Spunk noticed Isaac's reaction. "So, it is you?" the hedgehog asked, a mix of curiosity and concern in its voice.

  Isaac nodded slowly. "Yeah, it is. But a lot has changed since this picture was taken. I've changed." He handed the parchment back to Spunk.

  Spunk studied the poster and then looked back at Isaac, seeming to weigh his words.

  "You do seem different," it said thoughtfully. "Not just in looks, but... something about you feels different from the photo…you’re more menacing!"

  Isaac smiled faintly. "That's because I am different. I've been through a lot, and I'm not the same person I used to be."

  Spunk put the poster away and sighed. "Well, this complicates things. I was supposed to bring you in, but if you're not the same person... and not a threat to the Kraken House anymore than–"

  Isaac laughed, cutting Spunk off. He sat back down, a dark grin spreading across his face. "Not a threat to the Kraken House? Oh, Spunk, you have no idea. I'm not just a threat to them... I'm their end."

  Spunk's eyes widened in surprise, and it took a cautious step back. "Their... end? What do you mean?"

  Isaac's gaze hardened, the flames within him flickering to life in his eyes. "The Kraken House has done things, terrible things. I’m no saint either, but I can say, in my short time with them…especially their royalty I know they've hurt people, destroyed lives. My rebirth, this power I have now, it's not just for me. It's for the house, no, the empire I’ll build. I’m going to burn them and their allies down and rebuild atop their ashes."

  The hedgehog gulped, its earlier bravado completely dissipated. "But... how? They're so powerful."

  Isaac leaned forward, the intensity of his resolve palpable. "One step at a time, Spunk. They don't know what they're up against. They think they can control everything, do as they please, but they can't control me. I’ll expose them, dismantle their operations, and take down anyone who stands in my way."

  Spunk looked at Isaac, a mixture of awe and fear in its eyes. "You really mean it, don’t you?"

  Isaac nodded. "I do. And if you want to stick around, I could use someone with your... unique skills. But if you’re going to try to stop me or turn me in, you might as well leave now."

  Spunk considered this for a moment, then shook its head. "No, I think I’d like to stick around. Maybe I can learn something from you, and besides, the Kraken House doesn’t pay that well and you fed me."

  Isaac laughed, a deep, genuine laugh that eased some of the tension. Spunk, emboldened by the change in atmosphere, asked, "So, why exactly do you want to burn down the House of the Kraken? You don’t seem like the hero type."

  Isaac's laughter faded, replaced by a grim expression. "That's a long story, Spunk. But to make it short, they told me something they really shouldn't have."

  Spunk tilted its head, curiosity piqued. "What did they tell you?"

  Isaac's eyes darkened, as recent memories flashed through his mind.

  “They murdered my father.”

  Spunk's eyes widened, shock evident on its small face. "They... they what?"

  Isaac nodded, his jaw clenched. "They…she, Lysandra, told me about it, she gloated as if she were proud. She didn’t expect me to survive long enough to do anything about it. But now, I have a chance to make them pay."

  "I'm sorry," Spunk said quietly. "I didn't know."

  "Don't be. Their sins are their own to bear, like everyone else's," Isaac said, his tone softening a bit.

  Spunk hesitated, then asked, "But why do you want to build an empire? Why not just take them down and be done with it?"

  Isaac paused, his eyes reflecting a mix of determination and sorrow. "It's more than just revenge, Spunk. Something inside of me—something from my father, and perhaps the phoenix soul—wants to change the world… I want to build my kingdom, shape it in my image."

  Spunk's eyes lit up with excitement. "That sounds awesome! I like burning stuff too! Maybe we can burn down their forts and make them think twice about messing with us!"

  Isaac grinned at Spunk's enthusiasm. "That's the spirit, Spunk. But tell me, you mentioned they pay well. Have you actually managed to collect a bounty before?"

  Spunk nodded vigorously. "Oh yeah, I did! Just one so far, but it was a big one!"

  Isaac raised an eyebrow. "A big one, huh? Tell me about it!"

  Spunk's chest puffed out proudly. "I captured a nefarious evildoer named Artist who cut down a high-ranking member of the Kraken House in cold blood. Brought him in all by myself! The villain even gave me a plushie as a reward for turning him in!"

  Isaac listened intently, his curiosity piqued. "Artist, huh? And he gave you a plushie… for turning him in?"

  Spunk's eyes sparkled as it recalled the moment.

  "It was a small cat plushie! So cute and squishy. I've never seen anything like it! Hold on, I'll show you." Spunk dug into its leaf backpack, pulling out an oversized plushie that seemed almost comically large compared to its small size. The plushie, a pink and white calico cat, was adorned with mismatched eyed and black stitching that wasn’t very well done.

  Isaac took the plushie from Spunk, examining it closely. One of the eyes was nearly detached, hanging by a thread. Before he could comment on it, Spunk suddenly screamed, startling Isaac.

  "Aaaah! I almost forgot something!"

  Isaac jumped back, clutching the plushie. "What is it, Spunk? What's wrong?"

  Spunk's eyes darted around nervously before blurting out, "Artist! He told me to return to town before his execution!"

  "What?" Isaac's brows furrowed in confusion.

  Spunk nodded frantically. "Yes! He said I have to hurry back to town, or I'll be late!"

  Isaac, now beyond confused, scratched his chin in thought. “Hmm, honestly, I don’t really know where I am. Going into town would probably be a good move. I can use the materials I’ve gathered to earn some money, buy supplies, and who knows, maybe uncover something interesting.”

  Spunk nodded eagerly. "Let's go! Artist is waiting! He might even give me another plushie!"

  Isaac chuckled softly. "Alright, lead the way, Spunk. Let's see what this town has in store for us."

  “Right!” Spunk exclaimed, scampering ahead with newfound enthusiasm, the oversized plushie bouncing in its backpack.

  Isaac followed, his mind buzzing with curiosity about the town and what awaited them there.