The first shopkeeper awoke the next morning to little fanfare, setting about his day with the usual thoughts and concerns. Checking his storefront and then his backrooms.

A small jeweler crafting bench and simple, the tools tended and cared for. As he sat down to continue a previous day's piece, which had fallen behind in the catalog, he noticed the oddity.

Several of his pliers and hole punches were missing, as he searched he found other tools missing. A hammer here, a few choice pins there, nothing heavy or conspicuous. Simply light and random tools of his trade vanished from their hooks and drawers.

It was all very confusing, he was sure that he left them exactly where he did, there was no doubt. The items had simply, Vanished.

He began to cautiously check around his shop and display cases, just to be sure. He found several other things were missing as well. Including a few choice jewels. A small Emerald, a 5krt diamond, and a few glass pieces were used as substitutes for less expensive pieces.

A horrible dawning accompanied the morning light as the jeweler realized what must have happened.

The Town Guard was awake early that day.

Darwin was quite pleased with himself, his tail swaying back and forth. sweeping the dusty attic he was hiding in. Before he sat his new treasures.

Now when he began that night's escapades, he'd only intended to steal the Tool's, random items. Simply because he needed them to reshape the lapis lazuli in the charm he'd stolen, make it into something that would aid in plans. but now looking at his haul for the night.

He wasn't quite sure how he'd walked away with a small Diamond. an Emerald and a Saphfire in tow.

He was sure to find a use for them, maybe. He really shouldn't have bothered in taking them in the first place. But the storage closet was just ever so loose.

At first, he figured taking some of the glass crystal would make an excellent amplifier for his spoon, and had of course taken a few small beads. The other three came as a surprise.

He thought to himself, that he might be able to excuse the diamond, accidentally picking it up instead of the glass in the darkness. The other two, he remained unsure. He must have had a reason, surely, he wouldn't have taken them otherwise.

The Emerald was large enough to be covered by his paw and had its uses in magic as a battery of sorts. A most useful prize in the grand scheme he was planning, though he might have grabbed a bigger one.

The Sapphire, on the other hand, was different, a small blue square about the size of Darwins' fist, which wasn't very big, for a human it might be half the size of a thumbnail.

Darwin was, concerned about this one. It wasn't as useful to him as the Emerald or the Diamond. The brilliant blue gem was mostly for aesthetics. It had no value to him, being a Cat and all.

Perhaps he could use it to swap for something. A doorstop maybe, or a plaything for when he got bored. There was a vague superstition that Sapphires to hold secrets was interesting, or was it to reveal secrets? It might be important later, but he didn't have time to get into it.

He laid out all the metal tools he'd taken from the shop and purred to himself. The feel of each tool in his hand, er paws, was a familiar weight. He tested his old knowledge of the trade, taking up a hammer and trying to strike it against the crude planks.

The small hammer slips from his ill-shaped paws and smacks against the rotting planks with a thump. Darwin curses and then tries again, with a different approach.

He pulls his power close, using it as a binding agent. He imagines his original fingers and hands holding the tool instead of these stubby little paws. A faint shiver of power gripped the tool as it jerkily rose and began its work. Slamming back down into the creaking planks of the old abandoned house, filling it with the sound of strange tapping.

The black creature smiled and manifested another phantom limb, using it to hold the small hole punch as he drove it like a nail into the soft fetid planks. It penetrated with a satisfying plunk as the iron tooth sank into it. He pulled the hardened punch free and laid it aside, stopping to pant.

The technique would need work, but it would serve his purposes well.

But first, he would have more tools. A vice for one, a set of fine wire, and a jewel chisel. A means of cutting the Lapis. That last one would be harder, the Vice would be heavy and intrusive. unsure if he could even steal one. If not, he'd have to find something to replace it.

He turned to his collection of glass and diamond, The spoon had had its day, he focused that same energy as before onto the pieces of crystal. Sending out his dark emanations throughout the City and awaiting their return. Slowly building a web of desires and visions, focusing them into a sweeping eye of his intent. Searching for-

His stomach gave a pained growl as he used his mystic powers in search of more hardware. He grimaced, as loathed he was to pass up easy prey, an easy meal probably wouldn't hurt either. Except he had no idea what cats eat. Mice, Fish? some kind of Fennel? He didn't want to stop and hunt for mice all night, nor did he relish the thought of eating fennel.

A nice roast chicken would do, or some bread and wine.

He licked his chops at the thought of a nice warm meal, a pancake at least. Or a spot of duck. He would have another purpose for his scryer's power after all. Leaping down he made a quick scan of the area before leaving, locating a few notable areas he could snatch a meal from. So many open windows in this city. He settled on a Butcher's shop with a handful of smoked sausages hanging up in the corner. And an open side window for letting out the foul air of the cutting room.

He also noted the last wedge of cheese sitting under the glass on the countertop and decided to take that too when he got there.

Tonight would be a busy one indeed.