As Griffin finished his sketch, he looked up to see Nathan staring at him. "Nate, why don't you go look at the hats?"
Nathan narrowed his eyes, "I know what you're doing," he said.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Griffin replied, trying to not look guilty as he lied.
Nathan stared at him for another moment before turning away and perusing the winter hats that were on display just out of hearing range.
[You do know he was trying to get rid of you, right?] Axel couldn't help but ask.
"Of course," Nathan said as he tried on a hat, checking it out in the mirror nearby. "And he has his reasons for why he doesn't want me to hear what he says to Maggie. I'm sure we'll find out eventually."
Axel withdrew then, determined to talk to Kael later about what secret Griffin was hiding.
Meanwhile, Griffin was talking to Maggie. "This will be our first winter together. I'm not sure how he'll handle the cold so I want a durable coat made for him. The style is based on old designs."
Maggie hummed as she studied the drawing. "A coat like this would take probably about 2 days to do. The tailoring should only take a few hours so you'll have to come back for the coat. What did you want it made out of?"
"I was hoping to have it made from drolick hide."
Drolicks were large, furry creatures that lived in the far north. Their hides are usually used for tents, sleeping bags and other things people need to survive camping in cold climates, while their fur was used to make scarves as is, or spun into a warm, breathable yarn. Due to their massive size, drolick meat could also feed a group of 20 for at least a week and their ground up bones are mixed with herbs to create a potent fever medicine.
Maggie stared at Griffin like he'd lost his mind. "Drolick hide? We're nowhere near where you can buy that," she breathed. "I'd have to order it and just waiting for it to come could take at least 2 months. We'll be well into winter by then."
Griffin looked back at his drawing, thinking. "What about," he began haltingly, "if I sourced the material myself?"
"That'd be fine," Maggie said. "Once I have it, the coat wouldn't take long to make." She studied the drawing a little closer. "You said this was based off old designs right?"
Griffin nodded.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say it was werewolf in nature," Maggie's voice dropped to a whisper as she said it, glaring at him.
Griffin refused to drop his gaze, locking eyes with the suspicious woman. "So what if it is? I like their designs. If I source the material, can you make it?"
Maggie sighed as she gave up. "Yes, I'll make it for you. About the clothes you just need tailored. Do you want to get them today or wait until you can pick up the coat too?"
"Today, please. We have some other shopping to do. Would four hours be enough time?"
"Yes, dear, it would."
After paying the woman, Griffin walked over to Nathan, "Come on. Let's go get our other shopping done."
Nathan looked up from the scarves he'd been feeling. "The clothes?"
"They need to be tailored to fit you. We'll pick them up before going home," Griffin said, rubbing Nathan's hair.