The Thief

[Zevka]

Name: Adeen Pinebarrow
Species: Vole
Age: 22
Gender: Female
Category: The Thief

-

"This is too much," said Fenton.
 
"Scared of old hares?" said Adeen.
 
Two voles perched on the third floor balcony of a mansion. They peered through the shutters at a pair of hares winding through their evening rituals. The husband pressed and hung his military uniform and recited oaths of service. The wife combed through her fur with a pearl plated brush as she reread the letters from her grandchildren. After the marks kissed goodnight, and blew out their candles, the voles whispered once more.
 
"It?s not the hares I worry about."
 
"I?m touched."
 
"Yes, you are. We?ve paid back Duke Granz, with interest, and the guard will notice our skimming in time."
 
"And?"
 
"We can  just  scribe again."
 
"Scribing didn't save them." Adeen clutched the folds of her sooty robe. "And these bloated scutbuckets need to feel what it's like. You agree, don't you?"
 
Adeen led into the mansion when Fenton did not respond. Silently they wove through the shutters, skirted the darkened bed chamber, and took their places. Adeen drew her dagger, Fenton readied his satchel, and together they counted from three. At zero they plunged.
 
Fenton fished letters from the bedside drawer and stuffed them into his satchel. Adeen dragged her blade across the finery of the hare?s uniform. One slice for the silver adorning the mansion?s furniture.
 
Again for all the silk and lattice, the powder and warmth, the beatings from debt collectors, the sneers of ?greater? beasts, the dreams of their beautiful, lost faces.
 
The freedom.
 
Soon the uniform hung in ribbons. Adeen trembled with delight and let a rattled sigh escape her throat, which died beneath thunderous snores.
 
The voles snuck out the window and into the night.
 
-
 
"Mud mice? Did the Duke run out of real guards, or has 'Colonel' lost its flippin' value!?"
 
Two voles stood on the front porch of a mansion, speaking with an old hare leaning on a cane. They wore the robes of messenger scribes, embroidered with the emblem of the town guard.
 
"We?re only starting the investigation, Colonel Cullporter," said Fenton. "The armed branch will patrol your grounds tonight."
 
"Firstyourdeposit," said Adeen.
 
Fenton and the Colonel stared at Adeen as though she?d appeared from nothing. Fenton woke first, patted his wife on the shoulder, and forced her into a unified bow.
 
"Yes, the deposit," said Fenton. "Your report indicates a warning break-in, so we?ll safeguard your valuables at headquarters until the criminals are found. Standard practice, Colonel."
 
"Bloody bureaucrats." The hare rapped the doorframe with his cane, but stepped aside. "Be quick, and stay clear of my bedroom!"
 
The voles tore through the mansion with Colonel Cullporter identifying what could and could not leave. Soon a pushcart outside staggered with ancient vases, bejeweled dining ware, and trunks of coin and crystal. Adeen stopped as they left the mansion grounds.
 
"The doe's pearl brush." Adeen dug through the cart. "It's not here. She doesn't deserve it."
 
"And we do? Why do we need any of this when we have each other?"
 
"'Having each other' didn't same them." Adeen trembled. "And if I must lose my treasures, then so should they!"
 
Adeen stormed back into the mansion, and vaulted up to the third floor landing. In daylight the bed chamber ran foul with pink lace and the sobs of a hare marm sprawled across her quilts, clutching what few letters Fenton left.
   
Adeen spat at the hare and swiped the hairbrush from her nightstand.
 
Colonel Cullporter blocked the bedroom doorway when Adeen turned around. The sheath of his swordcane slid off with one swipe, and the elder hare stood proud with his blade bared.
 
"Safeguard my valuables indeed," said Cullporter. "A length of steel or a jailor?s whip will teach you your place. Decide."
 
"I escaped 'my place.'" Adeen?s words hung deadly and sure. "Let me show you yours."
 
Adeen drew her dagger, counted from three, and plunged. She dragged her blade across the finery of the hare?s doublet. One slice for the colonel?s hail of insults when his limbs and weapon failed.
 
Again for the paws of mercy and reason gripping at her shoulders, the frozen nights of hunger, the alleyway beds, her pups curled cold and still in their hampers.
 
The freedom.
 
Soon three bodies ribboned with cuts sprawled along the floor. Adeen trembled with delight as a rattled sigh primed in her throat. The sigh died when she realized Fenton lie still between two elder hares.
 
Adeen stared, immobile, until the real guards arrived.


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Character Name: Faye
Category: Thief
Age: 25
Gender: Female
Species: Weasel


Faye leaned against the tree, paw outstretched and rolling a gold coin between her knuckles as she stared at the other side of the forest path. Though her eyes were hidden under the brim of her massive feathered hat, they were focused on the beast approaching. It was a ferret, ambling down the path in her direction. He was carrying a pack of what Faye assumed to be supplies, maybe a meager amount of food. It was unimportant. What was important, however, was what she assumed was in the ferret?s purse. Faye smiled.
 
?Ahoy, friendo!? She shouted, stepping forward and tipping her hat to the stranger. The ferret jumped, giving a little squeak of fear. Faye watched as his fear first turned to embarrassment, then quickly into a mix of sheepish anger.
 
?What are you trying to do, give me a heart attack?? The ferret growled.   ?What are you standing around here for anyway??
 
?Oh, I?m waiting on a chance, good beast!? Faye exclaimed.
 
?A chance?? The ferret?s anger gave way to curiosity. ?For what??
 
?To talk to my good friend ... eh ... what?s your name??
 
?Grimclaw.?
 
?My good friend Grimclaw!?
 
?I?m not your friend, and I?m not going to be, let?s get that straight here and now.?
 
?Oh!? Faye violently clutched at her chest, almost losing her hat during the theatrics. ?Oh that hurt me, Grim! Right in here, right where it hurts the most!?
 
?Tell me what you want, or else I?ll hurt you somewhere else,? Grimclaw snarled.
 
Unfazed, Faye grinned. ?Grim, I tell you, I want a good time, just like any other beast would. But there?s only one way I can do that ... and that?s with a little wager.?
 
Grimclaw?s eyes narrowed. ?What kind of wager??
 
?I bet you this coin,? Faye cried, brandishing the coin between two claws. ?That I can flip it through the air ... and into my gaping jaws!? She threw out her arms and thrust her head back, waiting to hear Grimclaw?s enthusiasm. It never came.
 
?What makes you think that coin interests me?? Grimclaw asked.
 
Faye, now frowning, straightened herself and re-adjusted her hat. ?Well, it?s my last one.?
 
Now came Grimclaw?s enthusiasm. ?That is interesting.?
 
?Fantastic!? Faye cried, and flicked the coin high towards the sky. With a swish of her paw the weasel whipped off her feathered hat and opened her mouth wide. The coin finished its arc, and on its decent, Faye snapped it out of the air. She smirked, spun towards Grimclaw, and opened her mouth, the gold lying on her tongue. She returned her hat to her head and spit the piece into her paw, brandishing it once more.
?I believe you owe me a coin.?
 
Grimclaw, even less amused than before, reached into his heavy purse and tossed Faye a gold piece. ?A lot of show for just being one coin richer.?
 
?But Grim, I?ve just doubled my wealth! In one go, no less!? Faye gasped. ?I see you aren?t nearly as impressed as I am.   How?s about we have one more wager? If I can catch both of these coins in my mouth, you give me ten more!?
 
Grimclaw snarled. ?No, I?m not losing any more of my money, or my time, fooling with you. Besides, you don?t have anything I?d want.?
 
?That?s where you?re wrong,? Faye laughed, and tapped her hat. ?I?ve got my hat. And before you ask ?why would I want that?? let me reiterate: it?s MY hat. Therefore, if I lose this bet, it will cease being MINE, and will instead,? Faye poked Grimclaw?s chest. ?Be yours. And that will bother me. Deeply. Forever.?
 
?I do like the thought of that.? Grimclaw snorted.
 
?Your scorn wounds me, Grim.? Not skipping a beat, Faye flipped the coins into the air, one after another. They arced as expected, but on their way down, the tiny pieces of metal collided. One spun off into the dirt, while the other made an unfortunate journey straight into Faye?s snout.
 
?OW!? She cried out, clutching at her stinging nose and bumping into Grimclaw before falling to the ground.
 
Grimclaw burst into laughter. ?You?re an entertainer, I?ll give you that! Now this...? the ferret sneered, snatching the hat off the reeling Faye. ?... belongs to me. I hope you don?t miss it too much.?
 
The ferret continued down the road, laughing as he did. Once he was out of sight, Faye smirked, and jangled Grimclaw?s gold purse in her paw. ?Oh, I won?t. It wasn?t mine anyhow.?



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Name: Lacey 'Silver Tail' McTally
Species: Silver Fox
Gender: Vixen
Age: 28
Role: The Thief


Lacey smiled as she put distance between herself and the village.  ?Please, stay another night.?  She remembered one village elder telling her.

?If I stay for another night of feasting I will need to have my armor refitted!?  Lacey had chuckled.  ?I do appreciate all the kindness you have shown me but there are other villages that need my help.?

?Kindness? Because of you we can work our fields again. That eagle would have picked us off one by one until we were all dead. We owe you so much more than that.?

?I certainly hope not.?  One of the other village elders had scoffed,  ?Half the village had to come together to pay this? Eagle Slayer.?

?Quiet! When was the last time you saw a vermin beast save a woodlander life? To save  your  life.?  The squirrel said harshly before turning to Lacey again, ?You vixen, are a hero and a credit to your species??

?Credit to my species.? Lacey repeated the words. Once the village was out of sight Lacey glanced over her shoulder. Her ears twitched as she waited to see if there is anything following her. Content she is alone Lacey turned back to the road, coming eye to eye with the eagle?s head hanging upside down from the branch above.

?Hello little fox.? The bird hissed.

Letting out a loud yelp Lacey stumbled backward, tripping over her own tail and landing on her rump. ?Y-you! You?re supposed to be dead. I killed you!?

The fear however quickly turned to anger, ?Bird brained idiot! Wot do ya think will happen if someone sees you  alivethis close to the village??

The eagle clicks his beak in laughter, ?Fox should see face. Most amusing. No one sees Sharp Eyes. They look for Sharp Eyes in sky, not expect him to use worm beast roads. No.?

?Ya still shouldn?t take the risk ye great big fat turkey. One beast sees us together and BOOM, me good image is out the window, along with  your  meal ticket, ya hear?? Standing now Lacey began to strip off her armor and weapons. Most looked metallic but were dropped with a wooden clatter. A quiet sigh of relief escaped Lacey?s muzzle as the chest plate is loosened enough to let her gut hang out. ?Oi, maybe I should refit this ol? prop. I was holding my breath in all day.?

Afterwards Lacey rummaged through the burlap sack filled with money, clothes, food and- ?AH! There you are, my precious.? Lacey opened a bottle of wine by biting down onto the cork and spitting it out.

The bird only rolled his eyes. ?Perhaps Sharp Eyes makes meal ticket out of fox one day, yes? For leaving him in woods to go party with woodlanders.?

Lacey snickered as she drank, ?Oh be good. I brought you back a casserole.? The bird only tilts his head onto one side, ?Casserole, you know?it?s a pie?thingy. Filled with, noodles and cheese and- Just eat it, ok?? Gathering up her gear the vixen added, ?You know, they called me a ?credit to my species?? Their words, not mine.?

Sharp Eyes continued to look unimpressed. He only turned for the road, ?Come. Sharp Eyes does not like staying too long on worm beast road and the next village is far.?

?It wouldn?t be if you would give me a ride,? catching the look from the eagle she gulped, ?Or we can walk. Walking is fine.? Quietly she mumbled to herself, ?A credit to my species.? She shook her head and laughed.

At the snap of a twig Lacey stopped in her tracks. Slowly she turned to find a squirrel behind them on the road. The village elder appeared to be clutching a green garment in both paws. ?You?f-forgot your cloak.? He said weakly.

Wide eyed Lacey could only stare, ?So I did.? Rubbing her neck, she laughed, ?I don?t suppose I can explain this, can I?? Her nervous laughter died down.

?There is no need. I heard everything.? The beast swallowed. ?I? don?t suppose there is any way you can let me go now, is there??

Lacey drew a deep breath and for a long moment said nothing, ?I really wish there was.? Turning her face to the ground she said, ?Make it quick.?

The older squirrel shook in place but did not run. Tears in his eyes he replied, ?Miss Lacey? you really  are  a credit to your species.?

And then the eagle was upon him.