Dead Beat

Weapons :
“I’m fresh out of vorpal swords,” my father said. He reached into the pack and tossed me a miniature candy bar. “ The closest I can get is a Snickers snack”(p113)

Survival:  (Animal related)
The Erlking flung himself up onto the black steed’s back and let loose an eerie cry. When he did, all the howling music of the dogs, primitive and fierce, seemed to congeal into flashes of lightning that leapt up from the ground and into the clouds. For a second there was silence, and then the screaming winds warbled and whistled into deeper, more terrifying howls than any dog had ever uttered.(321)

Deceit:
“Why, yes,” Cowl said, and what sounded like a genuine laugh bubbled in his voice. “We smile at one another and play nicely all in the name of Kemmler’s greater glory, of course. But we are all planning on killing one another as soon as it’s convenient.(323)

Blood Rites

Investigation:
“I’ve narrowed it down.” Bob said.
“How narrow?”
“Uh.” the skull said. “It isn’t in any of the strip clubs.”
“Bob!” I demanded. “You were running around strip joints all day?”(176-177)

Survival:
“He’s the dog with no name. Like Clint Eastwood, but fuzzier.”