The Adventures of Mouse
The following is a sample of my writing, quickly written with very little revision. It stars Mouse, my favorite character from my very first gaming experience. She weaseled her way into my heart and I missed her. So I had to bribe her to return from retirement. With copious amounts of sparklies. Hope you enjoy it.
“I’m back! That’s right. Mouse has returned.” I clambered up the chair and plunked myself down on the scarred, ale-stained table. The groans uttered by Karnage and Sygmund were quiet, so I ignored them. Probably had tummy aches anyway. That certainly wouldn’t be their reaction to seeing little ol’ me. Their bestest friend on the face of Corethe. “So, what pies have you two got your fingers in?”
Karnage, a minotaur of immense proportions and unusual education (that is, he had some), snarled. I don’t think he can help it. He has the face of an animal and animals snarl, right? “Oh no. You aren’t joining us. Every time you ‘help’ the job always gets more complicated and extremely dangerous.”
“But Karnage, you know you love me!” I threw myself at him. He had very fast reflexes so I wasn’t worried about him catching me. And in case you didn’t notice, I’m like an infant in his arms, he is so big. Of course most people are bigger than me but that’s just cause everyone else has an abundance of inconvenient inches. When you’re in my line of work a compact body is very useful.
Karnage gently held me in his arms and that goofy grin appeared. The one only I could put on his ugly mug. I laid a big fat smooch on his cheek and wiggled about until I was comfortable.
“Hm hmm.” That was Sygmund. You never knew how he was going to react to a situation. Sometimes he was very fun, almost as fun as a gnome. Other times he grumped and groused and in general brought everyone else down. Strange fellow that elf. This clearly was a grumpy day.
“Somethin’ wrong, Syggy?” I batted innocent grey eyes up at him.
He glared. “Karnage, check your pockets.”
Sighing, Karnage set me down on the table and patted himself down. “Hand it over.”
“Hand over what?” I held out empty hands.
“You know what.” His fierce brown eyes were level and unblinking.
I watched my reflection in them as I slid a hand up under my tunic and pulled out a wrinkled piece of parchment. I held it out, lower lip stuck out in a pout.
“I thought you didn’t try your tricks on your friends.” He slid the paper back into his battered belt pouch.
“I don’t. Usually. But you know I can’t resist not knowing. If you and Syggy would just tell me what you are up to, you would make me so happy. Not knowing is like an itch I can’t scratch. Very uncomfortable. Tell me, pleeeeaase, Karnage.” I squeezed a tear out, freeing it to run down my cheek. Most big un’s couldn’t resist it when I cry. I so very closely resemble their younglings. I admit it, I take advantage when I can.
“No. Karnage let’s go before she wraps you around her finger again.” Sygmund stood and straightened his elaborate robes. “Mouse, it was a pleasure seeing you. We must now take our leave of you.” He gave a half bow in my direction.
“Aww, Syggy. You did miss me.” Standing up on the table, I hugged him. He may be stick thin and currently in his pompous, too-good-to-associate-with-a-thief stage but he was a friend and I had missed him. He patted my back with less than stellar enthusiasm.
“Stop calling me ‘Syggy.’ It’s undignified.”
Karnage gave me another hug and then they both walked out the door.
“Huh.” I jumped down from the table, opened my hand and looked at the ring nestled there. The large ruby setting was so very pretty. Practically had my name written all over it. Sygmund was so very considerate to gift me with it.
A practiced shake of my sleeve freed a large iron key, the handle all swirly in design. I thumped it against my open palm. “They’ll be back.”
Whistling, I left the tavern and sauntered up the street.
