Chapter 397: Stalked by grandparents.

The resort’s cinema was buzzing with anticipation. Hundreds of kids were humming to a theme song like buzzing bees. Parents shuffled in and out with children, tugging at their sleeves, some flushed with joy at the holiday outing. Most parents were grumpy and resigned.

Many of the children were wearing Mochi Paw themed outfits. For some, it was hats. Others, dresses, shoes, bracelets, bags--anything. If it could be worn on the body, and it had Detective Mochi Paws, someone was wearing it.

Ali was decked out in Mochi Paw gear from head to toe! From the winter hat to her shoes. Including a pair of 8D glasses she had insisted on buying. They had cost Sienna thirty two thousand beast coins! Only rich parents were throwing away money on those.

Sienna guided her little group-Ali bouncing with excitement, Eli dragging his feet like a condemned scholar.

"After this," Eli muttered darkly, "we’re watching a movie of my choice. A documentary on the development of the steel industry. Everyone had to suffer equally."

Sienna raised an eyebrow. "A documentary! On the steel industry at that!"

"Yes," he said with solemn pride. "It’s educational. Unlike a magical beast man detective who burns the pancakes in every episode. Besides, mama, you own a cookware factory. You should pay more attention to the steel industry."

Sienna rolled her eyes. "Why did I bring him?" She muttered.

They joined the rest of the uninvited group, which was led by Grace Twindell. Grace-lyn was there, beaming like the shiniest lamp on the street, in the dark. She had brought a large bag of snacks, which thrilled Ali to no end.

Mija was there too, with her husband. As were Soren, their mother and her boyfriend, Chase.

"You must be in the wrong hall." Sienna said to them. She clearly recalled them buying tickets to an action movie that was trending on BeastNet. How had they ended up in the nightmare of Mochi Paws?

Grace leaned back in the chair, getting comfortable. "We are exactly where we need to be. With family."

Sienna rolled her eyes and took a seat. While people settled, the screen flickered to life--not with cartoons, but with current affairs.

Armored enforcers whose faces were hidden behind helmets stormed the Stormfeather main house. Men and women were dragged out in cuffs. Sienna’s breath caught. She recognized one figure instantly--not by face, but by the unmistakable stride. Elias. Her husband.

Whispers traveled through the hall. Some adults stepped out to make phone calls. The words treason were being used, and everyone knew what this meant. Anyone that had ties to the Stormfeather’s was now in a hurry, to officially deny ever knowing them.

Sienna sighed. She wondered when Elias had last slept. It was likely that he would not be returning tonight as well. Maybe, they would not see him for another two days.

The footage cut to a brief scene of her uncle Christo, the Prime Envoy. He was already in Eagle territory, reassuring the leaders of the tribe, keeping everyone calm. The screen went dark for a moment.

The lights dimmed, and the children’s movie began. Sienna forced herself to relax, though her mind replayed Elias’s walk among the armored enforcers.

After the movie ended, Sienna’s group made their way to the restaurant they had reserved in the mall. Laughter and chatter filled the air as plates of steaming food arrived, and the twins argued over what to pick for dessert.

But Sienna’s sharp eyes caught the old couple trailing them. They had tried twice to approach her mother today, only to be intercepted by Sienna’s people--Mija, Grace, Arnie, Gene-Haven. They used subtle diversions, not to alarm the couple. All of it was a part of the bait plan.

As long as the old couple couldn’t get to her mother, they would set their sights on her.

Her mother remained blissfully unaware. Her memory had been wiped, so she couldn’t even remember their faces. Even if she saw them, they would be just another pair of elderly shoppers.

Between Sienna and Grace was Eli. Sienna put him there as a buffer, but also because her son was very interested in the old man’s past.

"This chicken looks like a pirate’s beard." Eli leaned back, chewing thoughtfully.

Grace chuckled. "Sharp eye, cub. You’d have made a fine deckhand. Look around the restaurant and pick out anyone you think could be a pirate."

Eli looked around, and to Sienna’s shock, he picked her criminal of a grandfather!

"He walks with a limp." Eli explained his choice.

Grace laughed. "Nice pick. But don’t mistake every limp for piracy. Some are just bad knees."

Eli grinned. "I could watch old men with limps walk all day than watching Mochi stupid paws."

Ali rose like a dragon, determined to set her brother on fire. "Who did you call stupid? Mochi Paws is not stupid, you are stupid."

And so begun the argument, with two cubs calling everything the other owned or liked stupid.

Sienna groaned and decided to call the queen. Anything was better than another Ali and Eli fight. The queen picked up rather quickly, and changed the voice call to a video one.

The queen was lounging in bed, looking bored. "Look who has finally found time for me? How could you take Mija for a vacation and leave me behind?"

Sienna got Numia kind of dejavu. "Why does everybody think that I owe them a vacation? You are lounging on the biggest bed I have ever seen. What is that, if not a vacation?"

The queen moaned, as though she were in despair. "This is not a vacation, it is torture. My husband will not let me take a walk or stand up without help. He seems to think that I am carrying very precious cargo. If I take one step, the cargo will be disturbed. Now, I am imprisoned in silk sheets. I would trade places with you in a heartbeat."

Sienna teased, "You are living every noblewoman’s dream."

The queen rolled her eyes. "More like a nightmare." She sighed. "My snacks have been confiscated. I have been put on a very strict diet. Even rabbit beast men eat better than me now."

"So you would kill for a carrot?" Sienna laughed.

Ali squeezed herself onto Sienna’s lap, cheeks greasy with oil. "Aunt queen, aunt snake got married."

"What?" The queen was so startled that she sat up abruptly.