TRAILING SHADOWS

The atmospheric lighting has dimmed again, a symbolism of the coming SunDown. 

The wind blows through the stone paved street, rustling up a few littered leaves of different colors. By the side of the road, Irunmole's walk, although scantily, going about their various business.

The area seems to be a residential building of some estate as white walled flats with red tiled roofs and french windows are at either side, very similar to each other.

The upper leaves of the huge tree trembles lightly, responding to the chilly wind about. Underneath it, stands a girl with white overall coat opened to reveal her creamy yellow gown and black girdle on the waist. Her right eye is however, covered with a strapless eye patch of white. She has a scowl on, her arms folded across her c.h.e.s.t as she looks to the side, focusing on something beyond.

 Beside her, up above is another Irunmole, sitting on the lower branch of the trees, his legs dangling as the blue cloak on him fluttered about.

The duo, being Ibiyemi and Tayo are wordlessly lodged by the tree. However, at the house just opposite them is Sunday and from the looks of it, he is engaged in a conversation with someone who peels at him with a half opened door.

"Please, does Wole live here?"

The person questioned, peeking from the tiny space between the white door and the doorpost, frowns, her disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e barely hidden.

"He's not here. Please leave! This is the umpteenth time you would ask me that."

"No, you can't say that! This is his house." Sunday growled at her, earning himself a raised eyebrow.

"If you don't leave, I will call the High Council Guards on you!"

"Ah!" Sunday huffed, slapping the wall in anger.

"Who is Wole to you?"

"I..." Sunday makes to talk, trying desperately to find anything he could say to make his reason for asking legit. However, as he racked his head for a lie, he realised that Irunmoles do not lie and thus becomes speechless.

The peeking eye narrowed at him. "Since you can't say your relation to him, then you are not his friend." She paused momentarily. "Look, I know Wole was a jerk in Ijinle Orun, believe you me, I know. I am his mother after all. But it's past, you need to let it go and focus on the present. Besides, Wole doesn't stay here anymore."

Ibiyemi sighed, tapping her feet rapidly in the ground. 

Just then, Niniola stepped in from down the road, her footsteps diverting Ibiyemi's attention from Sunday. She has a white cape over her back and a hoodie attached to it which she has worn, obscuring most of her face from the public.

"Hey, guys, what's up?" Ninola smiled, leaning forward slightly, her hands holding onto the grey polythene bag behind her.

"Nothing is up! It's the same thing. Stay here, watch around, Wole might be somewhere. It doesn't make sense any longer." Ibiyemi threw her hands in desperation, breathing heavily. 

"And to think of it, since earlier the day." She continued, her chin nodding at the sky. "It's almost a whole day spent. We've attracted too much attention on us already. Besides, Irunmoles don't keep grudges. At least, according to my mentor." She massages her temples with both hands before training her now narrowed eyes at Ninola.

"You? Where did you go, since?"

Ninola winked, straightening up. "Well, considering that I am an exiled, I went to get this."She shrugged her shoulders forward, suggestively. "To cover my face. Without this, the attention you'll have gotten would be by far worse." 

She stepped forward, bringing the bag to her front. Dipping a hand inside, she pulls out two hamburgers, stretching one at Tayo in the tree.

"Besides, you guys need change of clothes. The ones you have are all torn from the fight." Her eyebrows raised up as she sees that Tayo does not bother to collect the hamburger from her.

Sighing, she turned to Ibiyemi. "I don't know if you would be interested, that's why I hadn't gotten for you. I mean, I'm exiled and..."

"Just say you're inviting me in already." Ibiyemi rolled her eyes. Seeing that, she took the cue and collected the hamburger from Niniola.

"Thanks for not making this..." She smiled appreciatively at Ibiyemi before looking up to Tayo. "...already WEIRD!" She frowned briefly at him, her voice risen several times higher at the last word.

She dipped her hand into the bag, removing the hamburger that she'd dropped before. Now, she let the bag fall to the ground, biting into the snack in her hand.

"You are right, Ibiyemi! He should focus on the mission given him, not that Wole guy. Like you said, Irunmoles ought not to hold grudges. If you do, it just comes back at you, I guess. If you do hold grudges, that's the start of chasing Shadows. And from chasing Shadows, you would someday trail them."

"Oh, wow!" Ibiyemi aborted her biting task, looking at Ninola who has taken several bites in. "If you already knew that, why didn't you just say? It would have saved us the hassle of being here this long."

"Hm! Fair point!" Ninola shrugged, her two hands bringing the delightful snack to her open jaw. 

After munching down, she spoke. "I can't! I can't tell him otherwise because he is my champion. So, whatever he wants to do, I'll support him."

Ibiyemi's eyes narrowed, losing interest in the hamburger as she lowered it down.

"What? Even if it's something irrational?"

"Hm!" Ninola looked at her, her snack finished. "Fair point." Ibiyemi made to talk but she lost the chance as Niniola took over again. 

"Honestly, Sunday is a good guy if you look beyond his craziness and silly actions. He only acts this way because it's his way of trying to get acknowledged by the people around." She finished up, briefly looking at quiet Tayo, lodged on the branch of the tree

***