Wow, where did I get this from…
I am back after what, a year? More? Insanity.
I want to fix the mistakes in ch. 1 and 2, and I know there is continuity error but hey, I do what I want.
Dark chapter! Short chapter! Random but important for later chapter!
I need to sleep more…
Enjoy!
And no rivers and no lakes
can put the fire out.
I'm gonna raise the stakes,
I'm gonna smoke you out.
- Florence + the Machine, Seven Devils
-=BURN=-
"GET OUT!"
"LEAVE!"
"This way, men! We must capture the vermin!"
"For our safety!"
"For our city!"
"For our king!"
The livid crowd raised their fists high in agreement, sending forth calls of action and anger. Many of the rabble had kitchen knives or heavy farming tools gripped tight in their clenched paws. Ash rose into the death black air from a large bonfire nearby, and the gesticulating light cast grim palls over the fearsome, rough faces twisted into disfiguring rage. A mouse clothed in black and linen and gold stood on a box at the front of the mob, and stretched fourth a paw and spoke over the cacophony.
"Brothers! This wolf in sheep's clothing has hidden among us for too long! Surely with this many in our ranks, we shan't fail! It is our duty," he continued with vigor, "to cleanse our beautiful city Eathon, and expel this, this beast from her!"
The mob swarmed. Catcalls rang out like the buzzing of wasps, agitated and trembling.
Their leader smiled at his wrathful creation. "Follow me!"
Their feet created a noise like thunder, the torches above their heads like Will-o-the-Wisps. They paraded through the narrow streets of their 'beautiful' city, urged on by their wives and children calling out of their little windows above.
The leader motioned for the mob to stop, which they did. He raised his torch to read the sign above the door, which read Ale an' Arrow Tavern. He rapped three times on the door.
A scuffling could be heard from the inside, and soon the door was cracked open to reveal a sliver of an otter's face.
The portly creature smiled quickly at the leader. "Sorry, good sir, we've closed for the-"
The leader paid no mind. He brushed past the otter, glancing around his establishment.
"… night."
He turned back to the otter, who was nervously watching the mob. "I don't understand, sir-"
"Are you the owner of this… fine establishment?"
The otter stammered. "Well, yes, but-"
"It's come to my attention that you may be harboring an illegal vermin, is this true?" he continued with an almost sly assurance.
The otter blinked, and pushed his dingy cap further back. "My home is always open to the weary traveler. Please, sir, I haven't done anything wrong!"
The mouse looked down upon the pleading inn owner. "We shall see. Men! Search the house!"
The mob broke loose in a whirlwind. They poured into the tavern, overturning tables and barrels. Someone upstairs screamed.
"Please!" the otter grasped at the lead-mouse's tunic. "We have nothing to hide! There is but me, my wife, and two men that have paid for a night's stay! I have done nothing to deserve my home being ransacked!"
He paid the owner no mind, merely taking a moment to brush him off with a look of mild disgust.
"'Ey! Mista Mayor!"A younger mouse from the mob came towards them through the clamor. "It was definitely 'ere. Look!"
He displayed a small ash color pouch made from hawthorn fiber to the lead-mouse, and tipped its contents onto his other hand. There were dozens of small, black marbles, each papery to the touch.
The Mayor reached a hand forward in wonder, forgetting about the situation completely. "Incredible."
He spoke to the cowering otter without looking at him. "You and all current members of this household are placed under house arrest until this monster can be apprehended."
"I swear, sir, I have committed no crime! Please, understand!"
"In due time, my good man." He turned to the other mouse. "Tell me, what more was there?"
"Yeah, there was more of 'em upstairs, eh, things I mean. Likes, ah, an arrow, but no bow to it. A sack 'o apples… th' bed was mussed, an' th' window was wide open. It was 'ere, for certain. Knew we were comin', too. Crafty devil of a creature…"
Some other creature bumped into his from behind. It startled him from his daze, causing the marble to slip from his hand and fall to the floor. "Oh n-!"
PFFFFFT!
As soon as it reached the ground, a great cloud of black smoke enveloped the room, causing total loss of vision and clean air.
The mayor threw his arm around his mouth in the hopes his tunic would filter some of the smoky air. "Men!" he yelled out, swallowing a cough. "Out of the building! Back to the streets!"
They needn't be told twice.
The Mayor barred the door behind him, coughing a few times before addressing the crowd. "The inn owner and his family are herby accused of harboring a dangerous criminal, lying to the law, and betraying this city!" He grabbed a torch from the mouse who had brought him the smoke-screens. "And until the building smoulders, they are guilty!"
The mob yelled, ready for justice. The Mayor raised his torch, setting fire to the low-hanging tavern roof.
Desperate pleads from the otter and his wife could be faintly heard through the door.
As the flames licked at the windows, the Mayor looked to the younger tan mouse. "What is your name, son?"
"Eh, me?" he questioned.
"Yes."
"I'm Riff!"
"Thank you for your help, Riff." He turned and began walking in the direction they came.
"Eh, where ya headed, Mista Mayor?" Riff called.
"Back to the camp. I trust you'll all come back once the fire has settled. We have a long night ahead of us!"
"Yes, sir!"
The raging red at his back warmed him as he walked away, the silenced screams from inside the tavern almost as sick as the smirk on his face.
Just on the outskirts of Eathon, a lone creature peered through the tree branches, watching the smoke curl its long fingers up into the dark sky.
"I am sorry," the creature whispered against the bark. "I did not wish another innocent to die…"
Her long, sleek tail hung like a waif, the peaked tip revealing the creature's race.
Fox.
Her fur immersed her in the shows that clung to her like water, her black eyes with engorged pupils giving her a view as clear as day. Two canines jutted sharply over her bottom lip, one of the few contrasts on her countenance.
She flicked her ears.
She vanished.
Not expecting any reviews… but as I have said, they are my crack.
Love,
smif