Dragonborn – Chapter 02.

8 years later

High pitched shout surrounded on the square, getting the citizens' attention. Next to a fountain a bunch of kids stood against one. Some boys from the group had scratches and injuries, but it just made them angrier. The lonely child, a mouse boy hissed wildly, the fur quivered on the neck as he glared at the others with yellow eyes.

"Get lost you freak!" yelled a girl, holding a stick in her hands as weapon.

"Yeah, you made nothing but trouble!" joined a boy.

"Get lost freak!"

"I'm not a freak!" roared the mouse, whereof a boy charged, trying to punch him in the face. The other leaned away and slashed his face with his claws. The kid fell off, holding a hand on his scratched cheek.

"Auch you freak! I tell you my father!" whimpered and retreated with the gang. The mouse clenched his fist, then rushed away, followed by the citizen's sour eyes.

Oswald just returned from hunting and hung up the captured birds outside the wooden house when a small figure appeared nearby, running toward him.

"Papa!" the rabbit turned that way and he was almost tackled by a black mouse.

"Drake? H-hey, what's wrong?" moaned Oswald as he was tightly embraced, but hugged back the boy. Drake nuzzled into his clothes and cried, his small shoulders shook endless "Shhh it's okay. Tell me what happened?" caressed the fluffy head the rabbit, then noticed the bruises on his face "Oh Drake, you just not brawled again?"

"They started it, Papa..." sniffed the kid, glancing upon him with tearful eyes "T-they called me freak and threw rocks at me..."

"Shhhh, it's okay now. You're not a freak." calmed him Oswald.

"B-but they..."

"Don't care about those pups!" huffed the rabbit "They're just envy because you special! Believe me, Drake, being different is not a bad thing."

"R-really not?" rubbed his eyes Drake, his father nodded.

"Of course not!" ruffled his hair the rabbit with a smile "I bet you were a demon and kicked those brats' butt..." the mouse cheered up and grinned up the adult.

"Hehe, it was nothing."

"I believe you." laughed Oswald and picked Drake into his arms "And you know what? I have something delicious for you." the mouse's eyes shined with curiosity.

"Yay what is it?" the rabbit pointed at the rope he hung the catch and Drake saw some tiny little bird in one line. The boy raised a bit disappointed, confused brow.

"These? But Papa, these chicks are enough only for my half fang..."

"Indeed the quails are small, but believe me, they're one of the tastiest chicks ever. Just wait until I roast them. Also I have some egg we can use. Did you know the quails are so rare, only the lords and kings allowed to eat this delicious meat?"

"Really?" awed Drake, his tail peeked out from his trouser and wagged it.

"Yup! So tonight we will feast like the lords, son!" grinned Oswald, whereof he was hugged again.

"Hurray! We eat chicks!" squeaked Drake happily.

In a half hour they made a small bonfire outside the house. Oswald skinned the quails, rubbed salt and some spice into their skin then put them above the fire to roast them. Will they waited Oswald told stories about his 'adventures' as hunter, but he never told Drake his original profession. He didn't want the kid realize he killed many of his kind, not yet.

Just when the chicks roasted enough and Oswald handed one to his son they heard clatter of hooves and several persons approached. The rabbit frowned and stood up, facing with the 'guests'. The incomers, two soldiers and a fat guy in fancy dresses halted near the two.

"You! Hunter! That's your son, right?" barked the noble, sputtering saliva "That demon harmed my son!"

"If I know it was the lord's boy who began the fight..." folded his arms Oswald. Vein appeared on the lord's forehead as he was pumped in rage.

"You 'son' is a liar monster! I must punish him!" he moved his hand, whereof a soldier came down and grabbed Drake by the shirt.

"Gaah let me go!" shouted the mouse scared. In the next moment the soldier felt a tight pressure on the wrist then it was twisted. The male howled and dropped the kid.

"If you even touch my son, I gut you out!" snarled Oswald furiously then turned back to the lord "If you want to avenge yourself, then punish me, instead of the boy!"

"But Papa..." stammered Drake, but his task was cut in the middle.

"You just stay out of it. Get into the house. Now!" the mouse hunched his shoulders and zipped inside. He crawled under the blanket and shut his ears, trembling. For a long time he heard nothing, then the ground trembled by the hooves as they slowly moved further, then stopped. Drake was afraid to come out, until he not heard the door opens and someone stepped inside. There was a louder groan and a thud as the figure collapsed down. Drake peeked out and noticed Oswald in his chair.

"Papa..." the mouse ran there and saw the male was covered in bruises, some of them even bled "Papa, you okay? Papa!"

"Y-yeah... I'm just fine..." Oswald rattled, trying to hide his pain, and smiled upon him "Those bastards took away the quails, but look... I saved one for you..." from under his shirt he took out the smallest chick he caught and handed it to Drake "Here, eat it."

"But Papa... what about you? You... you suffered because of me..." tears appeared in the mouse's eyes, he felt ashamed for what happened.

"Don't... worry about me. Or you forgot...?" tried to reassure him Oswald "I am... the strongest rabbit in the whole kingdom."

"But if you're the strongest... why not gave them a lesson?"

"Let me tell you something, son. Sometimes even the strongest ones bow, but it doesn't mean they surrender. You can't solve every problem with your knuckles, you have to use your brain for it."

"I... think I understand..." hummed Drake, whereof his hair was playfully ruffled.

"Of course you do. You're my kid after all. Now eat the chick before it gets cold." grinned Oswald. The mouse glanced down at the small meat and took a big, mouthful bite.

"Mhhh it's really yummy." nommed Drake with puffed up cheeks.

"Hehe I told you so."

Before the sun set they packed their stuff and left the house. They not minded to leave this town, there was nobody they should miss. This is what they did in the past eight years. Traveled from a village to another and settled for temporary time, until the citizens not turned against them and forced Oswald to get lost. He not cared about it. He still hated all the people and animations, but over the years there was something changed inside him. He had a 'son' he wanted to care about and protect with his own life.

He hold the tiny hand as they slowly vanished in the forest, not knowing their life will turn upside down soon.

End of chapter 02.