Mousehunt: Tale of a Master
Disclaimer: I do not own the world of Mousehunt, nor its mouse designs. However, the names, personalities, and plot are mine.
The sun was well above the horizon now, and Laera looked up at the Pagoda and imagined she could hear the gongs that dictated the day for so many of her former peers. She imagined Jar and Blent resuming their former lives, moving on from her as she must move on from them. Forcing herself to accept that truth, Laera slung her pack of cheese over her shoulder and started southward.
The Hapless threw her angry looks as she passed down the sidewalks along the outside of the Pagoda. Whether it was because they knew she was a former Master, or they knew she had refused to accept the fate they had, she didn't know. None spoke to her, only moved irritably out of the way when she passed. Beady eyes regarded her behind their tiny spectacles and despite her knowledge that they would not dare step to her, Laera regarded their stares with suspicion.
Finally out of the shadow of the Pagoda, she soaked in the sunshine as she made a wide arc around a trio of Archers lining up a distant target. The massive rock garden, always a source of peace for those above, seemed to be a source of great upkeep for those on the ground. Two Workers dashed around the perimeter, snatching up weeds and stray stones, while a single Worker meticulously drew the lined rake across the sand in the center. By the time Laera had made it to the garden, they were done and sprinting off towards the training grounds, tools in hand. Perhaps a life as a Worker would not have been so bad, they were said to be paid for their services. Laera reflected on it as she watched the trio join two others and begin to quickly assemble a training dummy. However, it seemed only those with a permanent caffeine high would be suitable.
A Monk passed out of the woods, heading for the rock garden, and gave her a sage nod as he passed her. Laera returned it and passed under the tree canopy. The soft click of claws on rock came to her ears and she turned in time to see the Monk hop nimbly from rock to rock, finally coming to rest on the highest. His nose lifted to the cloudless sky and Laera smiled softly as she turned back to the trees. Such peace; she wondered if even the Masters had such discipline to attain it.
A White mouse darted across her path, directly into a trap. A translucent force field shot up around him, and he squealed furiously. A blue-tinged gas began to filter into the air trapped inside and Laera forced herself to move on, allowing the small creature to succumb to the darkness without an audience. The wind moved the trees above her and she watched the dappled sunlight play across the undergrowth. The forest was well populated as a pair of Browns dashed alongside of her, chittering in delight as they criss-crossed paths back and forth ahead of her. Climbing through a line of bushes, she revealed an irritated Dwarf hiding underneath, who paused in sharpening his axe to fix her with an annoyed look. Laera was reminded so sharply of Jar she nearly fell out of the growth trying to move away quickly.
Pausing to lean against a tree, Laera looked up at the sun and judged it was past midday. Letting the breeze filtering through the trees lift her fur and dry the sweat between her shoulder blades, she listened past the rustling leaves and scurrying feet to hear the sound of running water. Rejuvenated by hope, she dashed ahead, skidding to a halt on a pebbled bank. Small rocks flew, plunking into the murky water. Laera gasped shortly as she watched them sink. Tendrils of green slipped through the current, an unnatural glow lighting the disturbed silt. The Humans, this was their doing. Stepping back from the bank, Laera realized with a start of irritation she had never found out exactly how she was supposed to get across. The island in the center of the river was oblong, and dense with trees. Only shadows were visible under the canopy.
Growling at her inattention, she looked up and down the bank. The sun was starting to sink behind the trees and the faintest dusting of mist was starting to rise over the water. An odd shadow was visible further down the bank and Laera started as it straightened. Circular shapes on top twitched to become ears, and a long shadow shifted to become a small boat. There was a mouse further down, with a boat, and looking back at her. Laera steeled herself and shifted the cheese off her shoulder as she moved down the bank.
The sun was fully behind the trees by the time she was within speaking distance of the strange mouse. It was a female, in hooded pink robes, with a single blade tucked into her belt. A dark spot on her arm sharpened into an image of a dragon.
Stopping just outside of striking distance, Laera spread her feet and lowered her head. "Would you be an Assassin?"
A wry smile spread over the other mouse's face and she dipped forward, hiding her eyes in the shadow of her hood. "A bit rare to see a White so tall." She grinned sharply. "And talking too."
Laera clenched a fist and couldn't swallow the impulse to attack. "I'm…I was a Master of the Cheese Claw, you imbecilic pink thing."
"Really?" The smile did not disappear as she lifted her head. "Show me."
The first moment was a fury of claws and fists and Laera immediately knew she was fighting a former Master. She could name every move her opponent made and counter with one her opponent no doubt could name as well. Rising Sun Burning the Mist, Bitter Wind from the North, Great Mountains Pushing Away the Sky, the series of movements was no longer a fight but a training exercise, a much-needed sparring match to remind her that knowledge and the ability to fight had not been taken with her Master's Shard.
"Katsu!" The yell came sharp and halting, her pink opponent danced out of her reach. A variation of 'Cut', the cry was a call for the end of a sparring match among any of the three Master disciplines. Laera was indeed facing a fellow Master and she lowered her claws and her head in respect. Well, a fellow fallen Master at least. But the blood of the fight still pumped through her veins and proof, right in front of her, that she would not diminish into a worthless Hapless warmed her blood still.
"So, a fellow Master." Her opponent tilted her head and chuckled, still breathing heavily. "How recently have you fallen?"
"Yesterday." An elaborate tale was not required, and Laera had no desire to relive the experience. "You are of the Assassin clan then?"
A row of white teeth widened as she smiled. "Why yes I am." The grin disappeared and she lifted her head, small black eyes finally visible. "My name is not important, whether you join us or not, you will not see me again. I should warn you," Her eyes took on a glint and Laera steeled herself. "If you are looking for a home, you will not find it here. An Assassin has no home but the road in front of them, no family save those they are sent to kill. Would you willingly accept this life?"
Laera's eyes widened slightly and she thought on such a life. The Pagoda has always been her home, since before she could remember. Jar and Blent, the other Masters, even the Dojo Masters in a twisted way were part of her former family. Family and home had been taken away from her, could she willingly discard them now?
"Yes. I accept it." She could and she would. In time, they would forget her, she must learn to forget them.
The Assassin nodded as though understanding. Perhaps all Cheese Claw Masters who ended up here went though the same mental dilemma? The Assassin turned to the boat, cutting off Laera's thoughts. No turning back now.
She followed the pink-robed mouse into the small boat and sat down awkwardly. Without looking at her again, the Assassin picked up a long polished stick with a metal tip and pushed them off the bank. Laera had the sudden sensation of passing into the underworld.
They passed over the wide, but low-riding river, in silence save for the rushing of the water around the wooden boat and the dulled twang of the pole tip hitting the rocks below. Laera tilted her head to peer over the side of the boat. The tendrils of green splashed against their boat with the water, leaving traces of their unearthly green in the wood grain. Slowly drifting downstream as they moved closer to the island, a small single-boat pier come into view, almost completely hidden by the undergrowth. Expertly, as though she'd done it a hundred times, the Assassin navigated the currents and docked swiftly at the side, tossing a rope over the corner support.
Laera stood and turned stepped unsteadily onto the dock as the boat wavered with her movement. Turning to wait for the Assassin, confusion rose as she did not step out of the boat as well. "You will find the grand council at the center of the island. There is a path." Instead of gesturing, she turned to adjust the pole, hood hiding her face.
Suspicious, but grateful, Laera nodded. "Thank you."
The Assassin said no more, turning only to undo the rope and allow her boat to drift again into the open waters. Turning to the thickly shadowed forest, even darker now that the sun was starting to fade, Laera sucked in a breath. No turning back now. With the forced hopefulness of the thought, she plunged into the undergrowth.
