"Roan's First Days"

Part 8

 

Roan locked his eyes on the figure standing before him. Even standing on its hindpaws, the creature was half a torso shorter than him, but no less intimidating.

 

The creature was a field mouse. His fur was strangely dark from nose to tail, and he bore a pale scar that slashed across his right eye, making a long track from his brow to his shoulder. Roan squinted. The eye beneath the scar was clouded. The mouse was blind in that eye.

 

"What are you doing here?" the mouse repeated.

 

The large chipmunk straightened up to his full height before answering. "Looking for shelter."

 

The mouse nodded. "Your name?"

 

"Roan."

 

"Roan," the dark mouse repeated, testing the name on his tongue. "I am called Rasp. Do you know where you are?"

 

The chipmunk cast a quick glance around, searching his memory for stories of the old kingdoms his mother had told him long ago.

 

"Have I passed from the Crow Kingdom?" he asked. Rasp nodded. "Then this must be Evershade."

 

"It is," the dark mouse confirmed.

 

Roan stood in silence as Rasp assessed him with his one alert eye. At last, the mouse broke the silence.

 

"I have three questions for you."

 

"Go on," Roan said.

 

"How many gatherers have you killed?"

 

"None."

 

"How many hunters have you killed?"

 

The chipmunk stared hard at the mouse.

 

"One."

 

"Why?"

 

"It was about to kill me."

 

Rasp nodded his approval of Roan's responses. "Follow me," he said, turning on his heel.

 

"Wait, who are you? Are you king?" Roan called after him.

 

The mouse turned and grinned.

 

"No. I am no king. I am the Watcher."