All the Little Children

[Clutus]

Clutus had met his old nemesis once again.  The kitchen doorknob gleamed mockingly at him.  Its polished brass surface reflected the light, almost seeming to whisper an insolent taunt at the owl.  Clutus glared at the mechanical mechanism through narrowed eyes.  Massaging his burnt breast feathers with a wing, he transferred the derived soot onto knob with a quick rub, and stepped back to admire his work.  The formerly bright, shining knob was blackened.  Never again would it mock him.

The satisfied owl scratched cordially at the kitchen door.  ?If anybeast is in there, they have until the count of ten to open this door; and then I will attack my obstacle with a fever never before observed on this earth.?

The door opened, revealing the empty kitchen.

He took a step into the doorway, his eyes searching for the invisible door-opener.  ?Who goes there??

?Hey, watch where you set your big feet, demon bird!?  Exclaimed a small voice from between Clutus's talons.

Looking down, Clutus saw the tiny water rat 'captive', if such a pampered creature could really be called a captive.  It disgusted Clutus.  After his intolerable time in the custody of the kit's tribe, the very least they could do was knock the whiny brat around a little bit.  It was only fair, really.  He watched thoughtfully as the kit scurried beneath and between his legs.

?Where are you going, you little m-  What in the name of Vulpez?!?  Clutus screeched as the miniature rodent climbed up his leg, and began nesting in his tail feathers.

Clutus hopped across the kitchen floor, before collapsing in a heap.  The water rat appeared, straddling the owl's heaving chest as if it had defeated him in some hard-fought battle.  Putting a tiny paw by his lips, the kit shushed him. Silently, it pointed a paw towards the far corner of the kitchen, where Rallentando was sitting, her eyes shut tight, and lips counting noiselessly. 

?We're playing hide-an'-seek.?  Clarified the water rat with a whisper.

?Is that so??  Clutus replied, an idea forming in his agile mind.  ?Well, it just so happens I have the perfect hiding place for you!?

The kit regarded Clutus's suddenly friendly demeanor with suspicion. 

?No one will ever find you.?  The owl assured.

?Is it your belly??  Came the kit's shrewd response, rendering Clutus speechless for a long moment.

?Set...  Go!?  Called Rallentando's voice from the corner.  ?Apples, peaches, pumpkin pie, if you aren't ready, holler aye!?

With a squeak, the little rat leaped beneath Clutus's prone form, and burrowed itself a feathery fortress.  The barn owl sat up cautiously, feeling the rodent push deeper into his tail feathers.  At that moment, his ordeal as a prisoner of the gloomers seemed very attractive.

?Mister Clutus, what are you doing here??  Rallentando asked, as she caught sight of the owl sitting awkwardly on the tile floor.

?Setting on top a very bony rat-kit, if you must kno- Yowch!?  Clutus's startled screech sounded as the fugitive rat bit into his defenseless rump.  ?Confounded little wretch!?

The water rat removed himself from his hiding place, and confronted his betrayer with a stern glare.  ?You told on me! Don't you even know how to play hide-an'-seek??

Clutus replied indignantly.  ?Of course I do, and I am absolutely certain it is not supposed to involve biting other creatures' rear-ends.?

?Dat's what I do to cheaters, I bite 'em!?  The kit explained, as it advanced on Clutus with its bright, white teeth gleaming threateningly.

Clutus warded off his attacker with an outstretched wing, as he cast a distressed glance to Rallentando.

?Come here you little rascal.? 

Rallentando came to the rescue, lifting the frenzied kit off the floor.  Its tiny jaw snapped vainly at nothing, as its paws made as if it were running in midair.  Clutus picked himself up off the floor, and sent a scathing glare at the half-pint snack.  Owl chicks were never so badly behaved.  They respected their elders, and if they didn't, they were given flying lessons just a bit to early.  It was no wonder that the world was as messed as it was.  Clutus had little doubt, the situation leading up to Vulpez's quest was caused entirely by poor discipline.

?I'm terribly sorry about that, Mister Clutus.  Can I fetch something for you??  Asked the courteous young rabbit after she had distracted the kit with a large blueberry muffin.

Clutus was already on his way to the pantry as he answered.  ?Do you have any fish, trout perhaps??

Rallentando was at his side by the time he reached the pantry.  She steered him well away from the jarred preserves this time.  ?The new cook brought some salted cod with him.  It should be here somewhere-  Aah! Here it is.?

Rallentando grabbed a cloth-covered parcel, and carried it to the table where the kit was finishing its muffin.  ?This new cook can do all sorts of things with cod.?  She explained.  ?If he were here now, I'm sure he would whip up a nice cod dish for you, but this will have to do.?

Clutus followed her reluctantly, and gestured towards the kit as he asked.  ?Is it necessary for that thing to eat at the table?  I would rather like to enjoy my food in peace.?

Rallentando patted the little water rat on the head before unwrapping the salted cod.  ?Mirdros, you leave Mister Clutus alone, okay??

It cast a hate-filled glance at Clutus, but told Rallentando.  ?I'll leave 'em be, so long as he don't cheat again.?

Clutus took a place beside the table, and with a harrumph, conceded.  ?I suppose that will have to do.?

Rallentando grabbed a small wooden handled knife from the counter, and began cutting the cod into bite sized portions.  Clutus gobbled up the pieces as soon as Rallentando's paw was clear, throwing his head back as he swallowed each morsel whole.

?You know, Mirdros isn't all that bad once you get to know him.?  Rallentando commented.

?Just in case you have already forgotten, that scrap of fur bit me.?  Clutus reminded her.

Rallentando pushed a slice of cod towards the before mentioned scrap of fur, and reasserted herself.  ?Well, you did cheat.?

?Indeed, but since when has cheating at a stupid game been punishable by physical assault??

Rallentando laughed.  ?Since Mirdros began making the rules, apparently.?

Clutus watched in disgust as the kit received another piece of cod from Rallentando.  ?I hope you are not becoming overly attached to our hostage.  I would hate to listen to your sobbing again.?

Rallentando gasped, and reached across the table to cover Mirdros's ears.  ?How dare you talk like that in front of him! He's only a kit.?

It was Clutus's turn to laugh.  ?Indeed, only a kit.  We cannot keep him forever though, and I would be surprised if the wolves decided to simply give him back to his tribe.?

?That, Mister Clutus, is just plain mean to say.?

?You wan' me to bite him again, Rallatandy?? Asked the kit.

Before Rallentando could reply, a polite knock sounded on the door.  It creaked open slightly, and a mouse's face appeared around the corner.  The mouse looked familiar.  Clutus remembered it was named after some sort of vegetable. 

?Hello Radish!? Greeted Rallentando.  ?Are you here to fetch some food for Captain Blacktip??

?Hello, Miss Rallentando.  Actually, I was just in the cellar fetching a drink for the captain.  Girdy was down there, and she asked for you.?  Replied the vegetable mouse.

?Well drat!  Radish, would you take Mirdros back to Captain Blacktip's?

The mouse looked doubtfully at the kit, who was slowly inching towards Clutus's cod.  ?I'm not sure that would be smart.  I doubt the captain is in the mood to deal with a kit right now.?

?Do you think it's smarter to leave him with Clutus??  Rallentando asked with a raised brow.

Both woodlanders watched Clutus, as he enjoyed his cod with frightening ferocity.  The kit moved to take a bite of the fish, and was met with the back of Clutus's wing.  The tiny rodent flew across the table, landing in a conveniently placed pan of rising dough.

?Point taken.? said the mouse.

* * *

The little group dispersed quickly.  Rallentando went to the cellars, the two rodents left for the captain's quarters, and Clutus left the kitchen soon after the supply salted cod was exhausted.  As he wandered the passages of Kotir, the owl reflected on the last few days.  He had led a fairly eventful life so far, and he had acquired a considerable amount of experience in his lifetime.  During the last few days though, he had watched as his world turn upside down.  Death was no longer permanent, unless of course one were to die twice.  Ground-dwellers were suddenly the dominate force in his life.  They were no longer simply tasty treats, but they were thoughtful, methodical beasts, who even Clutus was forced to respect.  He owed his life to the ground-dwellers, as much as it sickened him to consider that fact.  The owl felt as if he was being hurtled through a storm, spinning out of control.  He had never realized the complexities of ground-dweller politics, and now those complexities that held his life in the balance.  It was not Clutus's idea of a pleasant situation.  The world was so much simpler when it was looked at from above.

Amidst his pondering, Clutus somehow found his way to the wall-top.  From his perch, the owl took in the majesty of Mossflower; and for a moment, the world was back in order.  Ground-dwellers were food, owl-kind stood at the pinnacle of nature, and everything on the ground looked very small.  For that precious moment, Clutus was flying again.  He soared over Mossflower, his eyes scouring the earth for prey.  Movement on the forest's edge caught his attention.  The dead undergrowth moved unnaturally, like a songbird's chorus sung a note off tune.  Clutus strained his eyes against the distance.  Just as Clutus was beginning to think his query had retreated, a figure rose out of the underbrush, and began crossing the clearing towards Kotir.  A crowd of creatures rose up behind this figure, and followed in its wake.

Water rats!

Before Clutus could sound the alert, a drum roll was echoing across the parade grounds.  The call to arms was greeted by the pitter-patter of paws and the clatter of steel against steel, as soldiers rushed from the barracks.  Beasts were beginning to crowd the ramparts as Clutus studied the approaching force.  Caractacus led the party, and beside him walked the scarred rat Clutus had met the night before.  He counted a score and a half of followers, each armed to the teeth, and their faces streaked with crimson paint.  It was a formidable troop, but nothing overly threatening to the thick, sandstone walls of Kotir.  For the first time since arriving at the castle, Clutus felt genuine affection for the great, hulking eyesore.

The rampart was a scene of ordered chaos by the time the water rats neared Kotir.  Bushel baskets of refuse had been situated below the battlements, waiting to be dumped out onto the attackers.  A score of archers notched their arrows, their ears pricked for the voice of their captain.  Clutus stood at the edge of the defending force, and waited for the show to begin.  He felt a furry warmth slide up beside him, and looked down to find Rallentando peeking curiously through a crenation of the battlements.

The main mass of water rats halted just beyond the reach of the archers, and a single rat, Caractacus, approached the main gate.  He was the only member of the party whose face was clean, and without the protection of paint, Clutus could clearly see his features were creased with anxiety.  Despite this, his voice sounded clear and confident, as he hailed the castle.

?I am here to speak to your chieftain.  Will your masters grace us with their presence?? 

Clutus recognized Captain Blacktip's voice as it called from the wall-top.  ?Mossflower's Lords and Masters do not present themselves to rabble.  You will disband your force, and return to your village peacefully.  If you refuse to do so, we will not hesitate to open fire.?

?We meet again, Captain Blacktip.  I regret the circumstances that have befallen on our two peoples, but you and your followers have given me no choice.?  Caractacus called out, his voice feeling like the north wind; cold, dry, and resolute.  ?I, as First Son of the Children, have come to demand the return of the young one known as Mirdros.?

?Mirdros?  I'm afraid that doesn't ring a bell, are you sure you've come to the right castle??  The captain replied causally.

?I have not come all this way to be mocked, Captain.  You will return Mirdros to us.  You and your masters will then be allowed to leave Mossflower peacefully, and return the Lake to those who honor It.?

Blacktip matched the cold intensity of Caractacus.  Their voices were like winter gales colliding, and spinning into a whirlwind of ice and sleet.  ?No such actions will be taken, I can assure you.  Now leave, and take your empty threats and toy soldiers with you.?

Clutus felt Rallentando trying to squirm on top the battlement.  The owl subconsciously heard her muffled request for assistance, but her voice was buried by the chieftain?s bellowing yell.

?Captain!?  Caractacus took a step closer, his voice finally betraying his anxiety.  ?Please, do not force my paw.  If you refuse our terms, then not even I will able shield you from the Water's approaching wrath.  The blood of everybeast within those walls will be on your paws.?

Steel rang aloud, as Captain Blacktip unsheathed his blade.  ?May I accept that threat as your official declaration of rebellion?  If so, then you, sir, are the one who has just condemned your entire tribe to death.?

?I make no such declaration, and I make no threat.  I am only offering one last-?

Caractacus's voice was drowned out by the crash of stone and masonry.  The battlement that Rallentando had been crawling on had given way, sending a loose merlon, a mouse-sized stone, tumbling downwards.  By instinctive reflex, Clutus batted the teetering rabbit back onto the rampart, and looked down in time to see where the stone had landed.

It was horrible stroke of fate, random chance, or perhaps the will of Vulpez.  No matter the cause, Caractacus's face, which had been clean a moment ago, was now streaked in red.  The chieftain laid broken on the ground, his once cool, calculating eyes clouded over.  The stone laid beside him, acting as both his bane and his grave marker.

A collective cry rose up from the water rats.  At first it was mournful, but as their shock melted away it became angry.  Clutus watched on helplessly, as Hellgates burst open.