Courage in a Slave
I started thinking up a conversation between Mattimeo and Slagar and the words started flowing. This takes place just after the slaves run through the Painted Ones' forest. Hope you like it.
Mattimeo shuddered as he lay on his stomach close to his friends, who were all sleeping, exhausted by their mad dash through the forest. Tired though he was, the young mouse couldn't drop off to sleep. Head cradled on his chained paws, Mattiemo willed himself to fall asleep while he had the time to rest.
A swishing sound nearby caused him to crack open one eye. Slagar was pacing up and down the slave line, his eyes narrowed under his silk hood. The fox's long bushy tail twitched as he kept an eye on his captives. He looked nervous about something.
Mattimeo kept still hoping to convince Slagar that he was asleep, but Slagar didn't pay any heed to the young mouse; he merely continued pacing up and down the line, staring at his prisoners. Finally, Slagar stopped and sat down a few inches away from Mattimeo. Mattimeo fully opened his eyes and stared at the fox who in turn stared out of the trench at the sky. Suddenly, he turned his covered head and stared right back at Mattimeo.
"What're you starin' at, mouse?" he snarled.
"Nothing," Mattimeo replied, trying to keep his voice level. He held nothing but contempt for Slagar, the slaver who had stolen him and countless others away from their homes. But due to the fox's earlier behavior, he found himself uneasy around the hooded beast. Slagar's eyes narrowed even more and he pushed his masked muzzle close to the young mouse's face.
"Get back to sleep. You'll need it for where you're going." The fox's oddly cultured voice dropped into low dangerous tones.
'Who were they?" The words were out of the young mouse's mouth before he could stop them. "The Painted ones, I mean."
"That doesn't concern you, Mattimeo," Slagar snorted. "You won't be back this way again, so you needn't worry." The fox chuckled darkly.
"Then what's making you so edgy?" Mattimeo asked, feeling his nerve return. He gasped as Slagar seized the front of his habit and pulled him even closer.
"Bold little brat, aren't you? Oh, yes, I can see it in you, little one. Good, good, keep that fire burning; it'll make it all the better when I finally see it stamped out of you."
"You'll never do that, fox. You're nothing, but a coward." Slagar bared his fangs in a deadly grin.
"Coward you say? Well, let me tell you something, mouse. You're a slave now, forget about being a warrior. Courage in a slave only brings trouble; once we've arrived at our destination, you'll find that out soon enough. Sometimes, being a coward is the only way to live." Slagar paused, then added, "I'm telling you this for your own good, you know."
"Save your breath, fox," Mattimeo spat. He was rudely pushed back down.
"Go to sleep and give your tongue a rest before I decide to gag you for the remainder of our journey." Slagar stood up. "I'm going to make sure everything's in order for our next march and when I come back, you'd best be asleep, Mattimeo, or else." Slagar patted his belt, where his thronged metal ball weapon was hooked, then left. Mattimeo glared after him and lay back down. This time, he was able to drift of to sleep easily. He smiled; courage may bring trouble, but it was worth it to knock a cowardly bully down a few pegs.