[ORP] Street rats
Posted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 5:23 pm
It was late, so late the adults in camp had gone to sleep. Or inside, at least. Mages may know what adults were up to once they closed their doors to the prying eyes of others.
But that wasn't the concern of the four rats leaving through a crack in the wall of a yellow vardo. Their only concern was to not be seen by any who might stand in the way of their nightly adventures.
Because everyone - safe maybe those too frightened of rodents to look a second time - would take a closer look at these particular four rats. The group was led by a fast one that was almost completely devoid of hair. Right behind followed a smaller rat with hair as white as snow and, running along behind those two, were two rats with the usual greyish brown colour. One quite regular sized, the other one the kind ten inch long rat most cats and dogs would run away from. One missing leg only added to its fearsome appearance.
It had been long since the four friends had roamed town together. So much had happened. Before last summer, the big mean dark elf Rieron had killed the bald rat who was formerly known as Two-scars-on-the-nose. Then, a few weeks ago, a miracle happened! The friendly human-child-sized-elf-like-creature Téide had made Two-scars-on-the-nose return from the death. Even though his hair still had to grow back and the two characteristic scars on his nose had disappeared, the scent was unmistakably his. There was no doubt this was the same rat. But his name was since then changed to Returned-from-the-death, or Baldy for short.
In addition to Baldy's absence, there had been the big rat's injury. Too-big-to-fit-through-small-holes had been, well, too big to fit through a small hole again. When exploring the abandoned mine of Widu, part of the structure came crashing down, and the big rat's impressive size had come in the way of his speed and agility. His leg was ripped off by falling debris and because the alchemist Faltaral was nowhere to be found, it had to be healed the slow, traditional way.
Now, in this dark early spring night, the four rats ran together for the nearest shrubs that grew alongside the path that led to town. There they rested, but only briefly. They chatted softly, mostly in sounds too high pitched for humans to hear, and in a language only rats can understand.
The tavern is an easy place for food, Big said. They all paused and looked at Food-bringer. He was the one rat that looked rather normal, though those who knew him, knew better. Most other creatures knew him by the name Yersin.
Not tonight,, Food-bringer decided after a moment of consideration. The barmaid sets traps regularly. And it's been too long since we went to town together.
To Cork, then, Big said. The others squeaked in excited agreement and off they went.
But that wasn't the concern of the four rats leaving through a crack in the wall of a yellow vardo. Their only concern was to not be seen by any who might stand in the way of their nightly adventures.
Because everyone - safe maybe those too frightened of rodents to look a second time - would take a closer look at these particular four rats. The group was led by a fast one that was almost completely devoid of hair. Right behind followed a smaller rat with hair as white as snow and, running along behind those two, were two rats with the usual greyish brown colour. One quite regular sized, the other one the kind ten inch long rat most cats and dogs would run away from. One missing leg only added to its fearsome appearance.
It had been long since the four friends had roamed town together. So much had happened. Before last summer, the big mean dark elf Rieron had killed the bald rat who was formerly known as Two-scars-on-the-nose. Then, a few weeks ago, a miracle happened! The friendly human-child-sized-elf-like-creature Téide had made Two-scars-on-the-nose return from the death. Even though his hair still had to grow back and the two characteristic scars on his nose had disappeared, the scent was unmistakably his. There was no doubt this was the same rat. But his name was since then changed to Returned-from-the-death, or Baldy for short.
In addition to Baldy's absence, there had been the big rat's injury. Too-big-to-fit-through-small-holes had been, well, too big to fit through a small hole again. When exploring the abandoned mine of Widu, part of the structure came crashing down, and the big rat's impressive size had come in the way of his speed and agility. His leg was ripped off by falling debris and because the alchemist Faltaral was nowhere to be found, it had to be healed the slow, traditional way.
Now, in this dark early spring night, the four rats ran together for the nearest shrubs that grew alongside the path that led to town. There they rested, but only briefly. They chatted softly, mostly in sounds too high pitched for humans to hear, and in a language only rats can understand.
The tavern is an easy place for food, Big said. They all paused and looked at Food-bringer. He was the one rat that looked rather normal, though those who knew him, knew better. Most other creatures knew him by the name Yersin.
Not tonight,, Food-bringer decided after a moment of consideration. The barmaid sets traps regularly. And it's been too long since we went to town together.
To Cork, then, Big said. The others squeaked in excited agreement and off they went.