This time, I took a long, hard look at the hallway behind The Door. It was fairly dark, so I couldn't see the end, but I did see that the cells were only on the right side. On the left there was nothing but solid wall, with the occasional slit to let in light from the other side. I barely knew anything about the castle's layout, so I had no idea what the other side was, but it wasn't the outside. The light was not daylight, I could tell that much. So I asked Austin about it, and he told me that they were the nurses' quarters and a break room for the guards. He also told me that the castle hadn't been built with a mental ward in mind, and this whole place was basically converted servant quarters and storerooms. A part of me felt a little offended (storerooms, seriously?!), but I found it to be an interesting bit of history.

We passed a guard standing outside a certain cell, which must have been the one Head Nurse Maurina was currently in. His name was Felix, if I remembered correctly, and he and Austin struck up a conversation. I used the time to wander down the corridor a little further than Raccoon Boy's cell. Not really because I expected to see anything of note, and aside from a left-hand door which I assumed to lead to the aforementioned break room and nurse quarters, there really wasn't anything. I just counted the cell doors on the way back. Seventeen in total, which seemed like an odd number, and a fairly small one, too.

Made me wonder if the ward ever ran out of space, and what happened if it did.

When I met back up with Austin, it took me a minute to realize he was trying to talk to me. "Huh?"

"What are you thinking about?"

"Ah, nothing much." I shrugged. "Just about the many questions I never thought to ask."

The breath Austin heaved was so deep, I could hear it. "For example?"

I shrugged again and rubbed my eyes, suddenly way too tired for someone who just woke up. "I'm not so sure if I'm ready for the answers yet. Besides, we have bigger fish to fry." I sighed and reached out a hand. "Key, please?"

Austin seemed a little hesitant at first, but I got the key. I also found that I started to get the hang of moving that stupid, heavy cell door, but I didn't get to be too happy about it.

My breath caught as I poked my head into the cell and was greeted by an empty room.

Or, well, at least I thought so until I felt something fluffy dash past my ankle. A curse slipped off my tongue as I dragged the door shut again, not as quickly as I had hoped but without much of a choice. "Gah, Rudiger! Get back here!"

At least Austin was already on the case. When I finally got down to chasing them, a "Not again!" and a variety of words that should not be repeated on my lips, my friend had already cornered the raccoon together with Felix.

Relieved, I slowed my steps a little, only to return to top speed when I saw Felix stabbing at Rudiger with a spear. "No! Don't!" I screamed, and thank goodness for Austin again. I couldn't quite see what was going on yet, but I did see that he stepped in on my behalf and before I knew it, there was a weight on my shoulder, a tail wrapped around my neck and a panicked snout right next my ear.

I never thought a raccoon could be this loud!

Under the watchful eyes of Austin and the confused gaze of Felix, I petted Rudiger, trying to calm not only him, but my heartbeat, too. "Oh, you stupid, stupid little thing. Don't scare me like that!"

"Kailyn, is that...?" Felix began, and I shook my head.

"Mine? No. I wouldn't dream of keeping a raccoon as a pet. I'm more of a regular type, you know? Like, a bunny or something... Give me a bunny any day of the week."

"Then what...?"

I really hoped we could've kept talking about bunnies, but I suppose that would've been too easy. Austin wasn't much help, either. I couldn't really blame him since he thought this was a stupid idea anyway, and at this point, I was very much inclined to agree.

Once again, I wished I wasn't such a terrible liar. It wasn't just that my conscience refused and thus people tended to see through me quite easily, I wasn't very good with coming up with stuff on the spot, either. But I couldn't very well tell the truth, right?

I sighed in defeat, and I felt Rudiger hanging onto my hair for dear life as he nearly slipped off my drooping shoulders. I couldn't look anyone in the eye, so I just stared at my slippers. "I don't know, Felix. I don't know. Just... please, keep this to yourself. I promise to keep him out of trouble."

"Like right now?"

I gritted my teeth, mentally cursing Rudiger again for getting me into this mess. At this rate, I would have no choice but to toss him out again.

It'll keep coming baa-ack... I heard Austin's voice echoing in my mind, and I had no doubt he would. Oh yes he would, and then we'd have it all over again with the disappearing keys and breaking tubes and who-knows-what.

Wait a minute...

I suddenly found the courage to look up again. "Felix? Do you remember that series of incidents we had a few days ago? When Robert's keys disappeared and stuff, and we all thought it was the smartest rat on the planet?" I plucked Rudiger off my shoulder and held him out. "That was actually this little guy, and he'll just have another go at making our lives miserable if we toss him out now." I placed Rudiger back on my shoulder, keeping a hand on him just in case. He was growing restless, now that the danger was over. "Wouldn't it be better if we just keep him here, where we can keep an eye on him?"

Felix did not seem convinced. "So you're saying we should keep a raccoon, that's been stealing our stuff, in the ward? Near our stuff?"

"Ah..." My face heated up and my heart leapt into my mouth. Screw this situation and everyone in it! "Well, if you put it like that... But you can't deny the incidents stopped happening, right?"

Felix brows furrowed, and I tightened my grip on Rudiger. The raccoon squeaked quietly in protest, but I took a deep breath and straightened, gathering up all my courage. "You're not going to kill him, Felix. He's not some kind of pest."

"Kailyn, we need to have a talk about the definition of 'pest'." He waved dismissively. "Fine, keep your raccoon. I won't tell anyone."

I nearly had to sit down when the tension left my body all at once, but I quickly found myself beaming instead. I could've hugged this guy! "Thank you, Felix!"

"But only this once, Kailyn. If I see that bushy tail one more time..."

He left the sentence hanging, but I didn't care. I just nodded enthusiastically. "I'll take care of him, promise!"

Felix gave me a stern glance. "Well then, I need to get back to my post. And you better get your pet away before Maurina sees it."

"Yes, yes!"

I only vaguely remember Felix nodding at Austin, because I was too busy bouncing towards Raccoon Boy's cell. Only when Austin called out did I notice my mistake. "Kai! Your room is the other way!"

Thank goodness for Austin, indeed.

I froze in mid-bounce, trying to decipher what I had just heard. I knew my room was the other way, but... Oh. Oh, right. I couldn't visit Raccoon Boy now, not while Felix had his eyes on me. It would look suspicious at best, at worst he might figure out whose pet Rudiger really was. Besides, the cell had been empty anyway, right?

"Oh, for the love of Shampanier's shiny shingles..." I grabbed Rudiger by the scruff of his neck and turned him around so I could look into his face. "He was behind the door, right? Well, screw that idiot! And screw you, too, while we're at it! That just took a few years off my life!"

Rudiger chirped, but did not seem particularly impressed. I heaved a deep sigh and changed my grip so I could hold him in my arms. "Well, we can't go back now, so I'm afraid you'll be spending the night with me. And you know, maybe it's for the best. At least it'll teach Raccoon Boy to let you out of his sight!"

I turned on my heel with new determination and trotted back the way I came. Austin didn't seem to be in the best of moods, but I knew he saved me there. "Thanks, Austin. Whatever would I do without you?"

A small smile appeared on Austin's face, chasing the frown away. "Probably blunder around like a blind rhino."

I didn't have it in me to take offense. Instead, I just laughed. "Probably, yeah." I shook my head. "You know, I don't really feel good asking anything of you right now, but can I borrow your helmet? I need to hide Rudiger somewhere and he's too big for my tunic."

Austin curled his lips, but he reluctantly pulled off his helmet. "Well, on the plus side... it never gets boring with you, huh?"

That... really didn't help my conscience at all. "I guess..." I plopped Rudiger into the offered helmet and took it into my arms, staring down at the raccoon. "Okay Rudiger, listen up! If you have any sense in that adorable little head of yours, you stay in there until we reach my room, and you'll stay in there, too! Understood?"

Rudiger nodded, much to my astonishment.

I tried not to let it show. "Fine!" I declared for good measure and put the helmet under my arm to discourage any curious looks. Then I proceeded to stalk off, a chuckling Austin on my heels.

"You know, Kai, I don't believe I've ever seen you so... severe."

"Well, now you know! I can be very severe if I want to!"

Austin chuckled even louder before appearing next to me and matching my rapidly decreasing pace. I'd had enough for one evening. "Actually, now that I think about it, being severe is very exhausting."

"I know, right?" Austin laughed and ruffled my hair. I didn't say anything about it. When he did it, it was okay. "Hey, Kai?"

"Hmm?"

"I just thought... well, maybe this arrangement isn't so bad after all."

I looked up at his sincere expression, then at my slippers. A part of me was happy, but with a raccoon under my arm, in a helmet that was unmistakeably Austin's and recalling the strain our relationship had been under the last couple days, I found I couldn't really share the sentiment.

"Yeah, here's a funny thing... I just thought maybe it is."

There's a lot of things I could say about taking care of a raccoon, but for now I'll just go with 'it made my respect for Raccoon Boy grow exponentially' and the fact that I gave up after about ten minutes. Herding cats would've been easier.

Since I wasn't going to sleep any time soon, I simply sat on my cot and watched Rudiger explore my room to his heart's content. I doubted it was particularly interesting, but probably still more interesting than Raccoon Boy's cell was, if only by virtue of being less bare. The more I watched, however, the more I started to have... concerns.

Rudiger got everywhere. I should've noticed already back when he climbed from the floor up to my shoulders in a matter of seconds, with only a tunic and a pair of three quarter pants to go on. It seemed like only stone was able to stop him – he certainly had no trouble with wooden beams. Add the strength to carry small things, and it made him every jailbreaker's dream.

In a bout of frustration, I stretched out on my cot for a mini tantrum, complete with groaning and tearing hair. "Gosh, I hate everything right now!"

A few seconds after that, a warm and soft weight settled on my chest, and I lifted my head to glare at Rudiger. "Yes, you too! You are awful!"

Rudiger chirped questioningly. I sighed and crossed my arms behind my head to stare at the ceiling. "I don't know what's going on, Rudiger. I guess I'm growing paranoid. Why won't anyone just tell me who he is?! Then at least I can find the right degree of paranoia!"

Rudiger chirped again and curled up on my chest. If anyone were to come in right now, he'd be in plain sight, but I couldn't find the strength to care as much as I should. Instead, I scratched his head. "You know, I feel a little bad for Raccoon Boy, considering how I'm the one talking to you right now, and he does seem like the chatty type. He probably misses you a lot. I mean, he could just talk to anyone besides you and me, but since he refuses to do so, well..." I sighed again. I was doing a lot of that lately. "I wonder what it is. Why won't he accept any help? Could be related to who he is, but that's just going in circles. I don't suppose you would tell me? Or maybe you agree with everyone else and think I shouldn't know because it would just get in the way?" And there it was again – the frustration. Everything that kept me from getting up and pacing the room was the reluctance to disturb Rudiger. "It doesn't matter anyway. Even if you want to tell me, it's not like I can understand you."

There was no response from Rudiger, and I figured he fell asleep. I chuckled bitterly and gently lifted him off my chest so I could sit up. "Guess I'm just that boring after all, huh?" Still no reaction, so I placed Rudiger on the mattress next to me and covered him with the blanket. The sun had set by now and I had some hopes that anyone who happened to come in would mistake the little bump for a pillow.

I'd long since outgrown the window ledge, but I've learned to balance on it fine by resting my shoulder against the grate. I was a very pretty grate, a light blue one with flower ornaments and stuff. The kind of grate you'd use on your cottage to keep thieves out. But it was a grate nonetheless, and the flowers and the peeling paint couldn't hide the fact.

I wanna be a raccoon, too...

The next morning found me rather worn out, and not just because raccoons apparently grow in size once they're in a bed and leave human occupants with no space whatsoever. But I didn't want to worry Austin again, so I lugged my protesting limbs off the warm, soft, cozy, inviting and just overall high-gravity mattress and out into the cold, harsh world of the awakened. Rudiger was still asleep (that cheater!), and remained blissfully so while I dunked my face into the wash basin. Since today was my floor's turn for laundry, I soaked the hem of my nightgown and abused it as a wash rag, and while I freshened up, an idea hit me that made me forget my tiredness completely. Smirking, I walked back to my cot, rolled up my non-existent sleeves, and picked up the sleeping raccoon.

There'd probably be bloody murder. But everyone needs a bath every now and then, right?

It probably would've been easier to just drop Rudiger into the basin, but that seemed like something only a monster would do, so I woke him up. He wasn't very happy about it (and who can blame him?), but surprisingly enough, there was no struggling and no bloody murder when he saw the wash basin. He actually seemed to enjoy the bath.

So raccoons liked water. Who knew? (Probably everyone but me, but whatever.)

I didn't even have soap, but the water still turned an unsavory brownish gray color. I wrinkled my nose at the thought of having spent the night with that walking pile of dirt, then shrugged philosophically. What was done was done. But I better avoided being around when a nurse came to change the water. Else, there would be questions.

"You're really getting around, huh, Rudiger?" I remarked while raking my fingers through the raccoon's coat. "Bet you'd have a lot of fantastic tales to tell about your quest for Raccoon Boy. Gotta be honest, I'm a little jealous."

Rudiger chirped.

"Yeah, maybe not of that whole nearly-getting-stabbed-to-death thing. That probably wasn't a lot of fun."

Rudiger didn't grace that with an answer, but he did turn around for belly washing. I suddenly felt exploited. "So now I'm just a brush to you, ain't I?" Still no response. I snorted, but I couldn't stay mad. "Yeah, yeah, you're right, it was my idea. But can't you at least pretend to be grateful?"

I pulled Rudiger from the water, which was when the bloody murder started after all. Rudiger squeaked in protest and thrashed around, trying to get back into the basin. But I got my new-found severity on and dropped him onto the table, where I could rub him down with my nightgown.

"Come on, Rudiger! Don't be like that! I'll ask Raccoon Boy to give you a bath whenever his water is due to get changed, okay?"

That placated Rudiger somewhat, and I could finish drying him without further interruptions. He looked very funny all toweled off, with his fur sticking up every which way and a vaguely offended expression on his striped face.

I couldn't keep from snickering, but eventually took pity on him and smoothed out his coat. "There, all good! But now I really need to get down to breakfast, or Austin's gonna have my head. But I'll sneak you an apple, so you stay here and lay low, okay?"

Rudiger chittered his confirmation and scampered off while I took a deep breath. I could only hope that the raccoon knew what was at stake here and acted accordingly, and that worried me. A lot. But when I put a hand on the door handle and turned around one last time, Rudiger was nowhere to be seen. So at least I could be certain he understood the need to hide.

"Alright then. Here goes nothing..."

That... just got a lot more Rudiger-centric than intended. Oh well, no regrets! Rudiger deserves all the love! ^-^