User blog:Llamao/The Parade

A short collaborative story by myself and Redmight (updates are imminent)

Like on most normal days, nothing was amiss or abroad in Mossflower. A fine day indeed it was. Like any other, the streams and rivers flowing slowly and silently on, as if they themselves wanted to stop to witness the natural beauty, and perhaps to take a rest from the tedious job of constantly moving from one place to another. But it was work not in vain, for even insignificant droplets of water would not have wanted to witness the events that had took place by the banks of the River Moss that day.

Sunlight wove its way through leafy canopies to make its way to the forest floor, where it settled and rested before it would be whisked away as the sun disappeared again over the horizon. The air was filled with energy, the sun radiantly glowing overhead, a bright sign of life and renewal. Like on most normal days, nothing was amiss or abroad in Mossflower.

One creature in particular, a certain ferret, was feeling quite splendid after having killed an innocent vole and robbing the old beast of his valuables and food. "Y'won't be needin' these anymore. Why not donate 'em to a creature in need? He-he." The ferret sauntered off through the woods, chewing on freshly made bread and cheese while admiring a small dagger with a small ruby studded into the hilt.

As he continued weaving his way through the quiet expanse of Mossflower, however, the ferret began to feel anxious, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. He had the odd feeling that many eyes were trained on him, simply watching. But he constantly looked from side to side, into the trees, and saw nothing. Nothing at all.

The appearance of the small rat made him forget about his apprehension, and he approached the quaint creature, unaware of its gaunt sunken face, and its eyes, which were milky white orbs with no centers. Only as the ferret got closer did he notice the rat's abnormal features; and by that time, the rat's flaky lips had curved into a gruesome smile, and it had pulled out a dagger of its own.

"Say …" The creature's voice was raspy, and its breathing came out as a painful grinding sound heaving from its chest, which seemed to be filled with dust, as if the creature had been laying unused for many seasons "You haven't seen a parade 'round here, have you?"

The ferret raised an eyebrow and gestured to the trees. "Look around ye. Wot idjit'd be 'avin a parade 'round these parts?" The rat's chuckle caused the ferret to flinch, its long filthy nails caressing the hilt of its dagger.

"Well, you must be deaf not to hear it, EH?!" The rat paused for a moment to compose itself before continuing. "There's a parade here … and I want to be in it!" The ferret shook his head at the rat's odd behavior and drew his own dagger.

"Ah met a little vole earlier, an' I put 'im in the parade. I'll do th'same t'you!" The ferret thrusted his dagger towards the rat, who nimbly leapt out of the way, laughing maniacally the whole time while responding.

"Oh, you'll see the parade soon enough! The question is whether you'll be alive to see it! Hahahaha!" The rat counterattacked the ferret and used its small size advantage to weave around the ferret, confusing the enemy. But the ferret was able to get one swing of his dagger's hilt down upon the rat's head, and the rat flopped onto the ground, its dagger flying off in another direction.

But it was still laughing. Ignoring its pain, the rat got up, blood beginning to leak from an open wound on its head. With the audacity of a true warrior, it staggered up to the ferret and exposed its neck willingly. "Hahaha! Come on! One swipe and I'm done! That’s all it takes! One swipe! Hahahaha!" The ferret slammed the hilt of his dagger into the rat's head again in alarm, stepping back as he did.

However, the rat continued to stand there as the wound expanded and more blood began to gush out freely. "Oh, you'll have to do better than that!! Put the pain where it belongs! Free me! FREE ME FROM THE PARADE!! Hahaha!"

At that point, the ferret was in no state to argue with the rat, and he slashed the rat's neck clean and through with his dagger. But even moments before death, the rat kept on talking. Its pupils began to reform as its eyes returned to normal, and the rat chuckled weakly. "Thank you … you have no idea … he-he." And with that, the creature died with a crooked grin, its blood soaking into the soil and mingling with the ferret's footpaws.