Interlude: Medjool

[Bellona Littlebrush]

His tongue flicked out. Idiots. They all tasted like idiots.

Medjool?s tongue teased at the warm air, watching the vermin muck about in the Oasis pool. The lizard lounged languidly in the shade of a coconut palm, considering his next move. He?d brought the vermin to the Oasis and all he?d received in return was a bit of sickly hedgehog that one could hardly classify as a snack. The spines had been an interesting treat, granted. Almost like the needles on a cactus, but less plentiful and harsh on the mouth. Yes?a bit more meat wouldn?t go amiss just now. In fact, that rat was straying off by himself in a manner that simply demanded he be taught a lesson -- a final lesson.

On the verge of slinking from his comfortable repose, the lizard managed to resist. He?d seen the paranoia in the new captain?s eyes. The mad stoat would notice if one of his creatures went missing.

His tongue flicked out. Dust. The faintest hints of water and sweat. Furred creatures were truly disgusting things.

Not that the lizard disliked them. They were useful, sometimes friendly, and enjoyable things. They certainly made good meals, whether on the plate or preparing it, if Sagaru and her companions were anything to go by. Medjool felt the corner of his lips twitch downward of their own accord.

There it was again, that little, burrowing beetle of doubt -- of remorse -- for betraying the fuzzy creatures who had shown him kindness in the desert. They deserved it, though! He?d made one mistake, one tiny mistake, and they?d called him a thief and a threat and thrown him out. Ungrateful worms! He?d done his fair share of work. More than his fair share, so he had deserved more than his fair share of food.

Well, it didn?t matter now, because now he was barely getting any food besides what he could scrounge from the vermin. He?d toyed with the notion of dragging a few off in the night to consume, but there again, the wild, searching eyes of the stoat and his fat cook cast a pall over that plan.

Hnh! Woodlanderz iz better for me, he reflected, eyes wandering to the cliffs where he had spied two dark shapes moving along the tops some days ago, before the earthshake that had most certainly killed the creatures in the caves. As annoying as the woodlanders might be -- refusing him his fill -- they had given him more than the vermin. That was especially true now that the other slaves from the ditch had been liberated. Granted, not much meat on that lot, but at least there had been something he might have eaten.

Hold a moment! That was it! If he could help the woodlanders to reclaim the Oasis, then things might go back to the way they were. No. Better than they were! He would be a hero in their stupid little eyes.

Medjool! he could hear them chanting and allowed his maw to split into a toothy grin. The little female mouse would offer him the bodies of the vermin to eat. Medjool! Our savior!

?Yezzz,? the lizard hissed, stretching luxuriously.

?Oi!? The word carried over to Medjool and he glanced over to the pool to see a rat baring his sorry-excuse-for-fangs at a weasel. ?Ye blaggard! Gimme back m?blade or I?ll ?ave ye, I will!?

?Hah! Jist try?n make me!? the weasel taunted, waving about a rusty sword. The rat lunged and in that moment, the weasel?s mocking smile became a feral snarl. With a cry, the rat pulled back, clutching at the place where his ear used to be. ?It?s me own blade now, cully! Shove off or I?ll even out th?weight on yer fat ?ead!?

The rat backpedaled and turned to flee, whimpering like a hatchling in search of his first meal. The weasel sneered in his direction and bent down to rinse his weapon in the pool. Medjool?s scaly brow furrowed as he tasted the air once more. Pain and fear were unmistakable. Perhaps a bit of caution was in order, just in case the woodlanders failed to oust the vermin.

~ = ~ = ~

?I come in peaze.? Medjool held up his claws and smiled, though this hardly seemed to reassure the squirrel and mouse who had their pitiful weapons leveled at him. ?Pleaze,? he continued, stepping forward just for the satisfaction of watching them step back accordingly. ?I need talk to you leader. Iz about vermin.?

?What about them, Medjool?? the mouse, Sagaru, appeared and approached. She tasted of fire, smoke, and fish. Oh, lovely fish. He had to swallow to keep from drooling.

?First maybe I zit and eat?? he suggested, pointing toward the wreck of the pirate?s ship. ?Iz long walk from Oaziz.?

?You?ll speak your piece here, lizard.? The one-eyed woodlander crossed her arms defiantly. ?I don?t have time to play at hospitality with traitors.?

?Traitor?? Medjool injected as much hurt into his voice as he could muster. ?I not traitor. I iz zpy on vermin for you. Want Oaziz back for woodlanderz.?

Sagaru?s eye narrowed in suspicion. ?And why would you want that after you sold us out to those vermin? Oh, and the slaves we freed told us what you did,? she added, fur bristling and hostility beginning to emanate from every pore. ?You stood by as an innocent hedgehog was murdered and then you ate her. Give me one good reason why I shouldn?t kill you where you stand, you traitorous cannibal.? She drew her sword for emphasis and the other woodland guards resumed their fighting stances.

?Hnh! I not want fight.? Medjool resisted the urge to step back. ?Iz not wanting for that now.? He thanked the stars these furred creatures had such a poor sense of smell or they?d have jumped him for the fear rolling off of him in waves. He gulped, but covered by sneering and clacking his claws together ominously. The woodlanders looked a bit less certain of themselves, even Sagaru.

?I lead vermin to Oaziz becauze they zay they need water,? Medjool invented quickly. ?I think: Who doez Medjool know who help creaturez in trouble in dezert? Iz Zagaru and all her woodlander friendz. I point out guardz to vermin zo they talk to them, but then vermin trick I and kill woodlanderz.? He threw in a sniffle for good measure. ?I iz much zad, but cannot let vermin zee or they kill I, too. Then, I get idea! I act az zpy and when I get good chanze, I come find woodlanderz and tell them all about vermin camp. I have to do zome terrible thingz to make zure vermin fear I and think I one of them. But now I here to help plan to get Oaziz back! Iz good idea, yez? I iz only think of my friendz who give me food and zelter and I want to help them, yez.?

?You?ve really been spying for us?? Sagaru raised an eyebrow, but her posture was no longer so tense. She wanted to believe.

?Yez!? Medjool nodded vigorously. How easily these fuzzy creatures were manipulated. ?I zpy good. Let I come eat and I tell Zagaru all about camp. We bring down verminz together, yez??

?Perhaps,? the mouse replied dubiously, signaling him to follow her to the campfire. All according to his plan.