Part 1 ~ The Runaway Daughter
It was late at The Broke Stoat tavern, and the moon was full, shining it's eerie light down upon the alley ways and cobble stone paths of the small village that the tavern was nestled in. The light cast odd shadows, shadows that would play tricks on a beast's eyes, tricks that could make one believe that they were moving.
That is what a lone ferret had come to believe in his time living there. And as he stumbled along the cobble stones in a daze, he shivered and pulled the long trench coat he adorned closer around his body. The air had gotten considerably colder since he had entered, and now the sun was down. He was starting to believe he had a drinking problem.
He stumbled forward as the toe of his cheap boot got caught on a deep crack between the stones, but thankfully managed to catch himself on the corner of a building. He groaned as he saw his reflection in a puddle, the moon light casting menacing shadows across his face.
"Waz happen' tah ya Crak?" The ferret belched. "You used to be such a looker!"
He began to sob as he dragged a paw along a long, jagged scar that ran down from an ear to one fang, the red color of the wound contrasting against his grey fur.
He then sniffled, wiped his eyes, and upon standing back up was suddenly shoved to the side by a cloaked figure.
"EY!" He hollored before falling back into the alley way behind him, and lying on his back he growled, muttering, "Damned freak. Only freaks wear cloaks... friggin.. jackass..."
Sitting up he spat, before raising one eyebrow as he spotted the strong looking tail that swung behind her. An... otter? What were their species doing here?
He watched the otter as it stopped at the enterance of the tavern, and as it turned to look up at the sign, he raised his other eyebrow as the warm glow illuminated the large black nose that stuck out past its hood. He never understood why otter needed such huge noses!
It pulled out a piece of folded parchment, and upon unfolding it, took another look at the sign. The ferret rolled his eyes and groaned.
"It's a tavern, river dog!" The otter seemed to flinch as he yelled, and the ferret smirked in satisfaction as the woodlanders gaze snapped to him, as if his words had just slapped the beast. He started to get cocky, and followed up by asking, "Ya stupid er-"
He stopped mid-insult as the light from the tavern shined underneath hood, allowing his eyes to lock with... hers. She had long eye lashes, and eyes darker than the night, so dark that the ferret thought he could stare into them forever.
His spiteful glare dropped as the otters look of desperation and fear penetrated his drunken stoopur, and coughing he couldn't help but feel his conscious prick at him.
"Y-you okay miss?" He couldn't believe what he was saying. He must have a serious drinking problem. As he stumbled back onto his feet, he tried to think of a good way to apologize. He was starting to feel guilty, yelling at such a beautiful otter. "I...uh... I'm sorry bout' yellin' at ya."
He sighed as he tried to think of what to say next, and looking back up found himself staring at an empty pathway that sat bathed in the taverns warm glow. His eyes darted around a bit, as if hoping to catch a glimpse of the otters tail or cloak just as it disappeared down an alley way or around a corner. But he saw none.
"Hmph." He stood there for a moment, before looking down at the cheaply made leather boots, and sighed. He looked back up, and bringing up the collar of his coat higher around the back of his neck, sniffled again. "M'kay."
...
It was past midnight, and the bartenders eyes scanned around the remaining patrons. There wasn't too many left, and since the ferret Crak left stumbling out of the door, he was now out of regulars. No one to talk to, no one to pass the time with- he was stuck here for at least another hour and a half. At least until the last few beasts finished their drinks, or passed out.
The rat sighed and grabbed a tankard off the front counter, and giving it a shake groaned as he heard almost half a cup left. Dumping it out he grabbed a rag.
"Crak you idiot." As he scrubbed a ring of dried booze off of the main bar, he heard the jingle of a bell as the door was opened.
"Get out. We close in about..." He twirled his free hand in the air as he continued to scrub with the other. "Aaaah, bout' an hour!"
Despite his demand, he heard rapid footsteps as the beast entered. Groaning loudly he looked up to the doorway to see the thick oaken door as it swung itself shut, and mumbling a curse to himself he threw the rag into the sink.
"Fuckin' no respect." He watched as the beast, an otter by the look of the tail, strode in quick long strides to the farthest corner of his tavern. The only thing that was visible was the thick, strong looking tail- so he assumed it was an otter.
It was an odd sight. Seeing an otter this far west in what is commonly known as The Western Plains was unheard of, especially to the small vermin village. Most otters don't see a point in going this deep into the plains, his father had told him that most otters (or river dogs) usually stay near rivers or lakes. Hell, he had heard from a few sailors of even larger otters living on the coasts- some kind of sea otters.
He shrugged in disbelief, scoffing to himself. That is why he stays in land, in his tavern. No otters so far in land.
Then he frowned as he watched the hooded otter remove it's hood, staring at the tiny round ears and the seemingly endless whiskers. Too many whiskers, the rat thought. Why do all otters have too many whiskers?
Looking past the otter and at the patron she was here to see, he raised both his eyebrows as his eyes looked at the tall fox that was staring down upon her intently. His gaze was a stone cold calm, a kind of emotionless stare of neutrality as he listened to the otters story.
The rat turned away and back to cleaning off the tankards from the main bar. Not his business. Even if it was his business, he'd want nothing to do with it.
...
"You Darvin?" The tall fox before her nodded, and she threw the parchment down in front of him. "Good."
Look who's back. It's me. I'm back. :D
College sucks. Work sucks. It's been years since I've written a story. And this ones been bouncin' around in my head during work for a while now. So why not ge back into the swing of writing with some good ole' fanfiction?
Read and Review!