Mythril sat in a room with the council members. Alistair, the hooded mage, had just shown the

power that supposedly manifests inside of Mythil.

Marion shook her head. “Look, Alistair. She seems normal to me. Maybe you are wrong about this.”

“How could you know? What is she supposed to looked like?” Alistair whipped back at her.

“Like you.”

Mythril stood up. “Perhaps it would have something to do with this?” She held the chain that her

mother gave her. Its blue gems sparkled brightly.

Alistair walked up to her and examined it carefully. “Where did you get these?”

“My mother gave me it. Just before she died that is.”

“I'm so sorry for your loss. These are beautiful. However, the chain is simply jewellery.”

Mythril looked disappointed at the fact that she didn't help. Not that she knew how to anyway.

Alistair returned to his seat. “Thank you for your time here, miss Mythril.”

“Sorry that this wasn't quite as spectacular as I'm sure you hoped.” The mayor mouse said as

Mythril left.

***

Portland, Mayweather and Sydni walked around on a specific route not too far from the human

village which housed their town. The sky was clear and the air calm. No wind to pick up loose snow

and dust to blind them. Everything seemed calm.

Mayweather was struggling to keep up with the others however. “Guys. Can we take a break?”

Portland and Syndi stopped for him to catch up. “Bloody 'ell, Mayweather! If ya can't keep up with

us, how are you supposed to catch your little ones?”

“I must be getting old already.” Mayweather laughed as he caught his breath.

Portland was distracted from the conversation by the view they have of the land when the sun was

still rising. He could see the green trees in the distance. Standing out from the white snow. He stared

out unblinkingly.

“Oi, Portland!” Sydni called to him.

Portland's eyelids fluttered and he turned to Syndi. “Hmm?”

“What are ya lookin' at?”

“Nothing. It's... Nothing.”

“Right. Anyway -.”

Portland became distracted by some figures that dug through the snow. They were large and

vaguely mouse-shaped.

Portland squinted his eyes to try to get a better look at them. Without knowing it, his hand rolled to

his sword. His jaw shook but he was finally able to speak. “Guys?”

“What is it now?” Sydni said.

There was a distant shout. And suddenly there was a loud cry from Mayweather and he dropped

forwards. Two arrows made from sharpened twigs and cut feathers stuck out of his back.

Caught by surprise Syndi fumbled to pull his sword from his scabbered.

Portland stopped him by holding his arms. “Sydni! Grab Mayweather!”

Sydni quickly nodded without hesitation and they both grabbed Mayweather and pulled him back

towards the town.

Portland noticed that the rats had stopped attacking as he and Sydni ran with Mayweather hanging

over their shoulders. A scouting party? He thought. He kept his head on a swivel and looked to

make sure that they weren't being followed

***

Mythril walked back to Pyrite's house, still confused over the meeting with the council. She entered

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and her children and Pyrite were playing. Mavis was on his back while Mackerel held onto his leg.

“You're back!” Pyrite said cheerfully at Mythril's entrance. “How did you go?”

“We talked.”

“About what?”

Mythril was silent for a minute. Everyone became still, though Mavis' arms became tired and she

dropped onto the ground with a soft thud.

Mythril looked at the chain. Then she looked back at Pyrite. “What do you know about magic?”

Pyrite's eyes widened. His jaw tightened. “Funny you should mention it. Mother asked me the same

thing when you were born.” He gestured to the door for Mythril to shut it. She did.

Mackerel untied himself from Pyrite's leg. The children watched as Pyrite walked to Mythril and

looked at her face to face. Staring into her eyes which glistened with a soft hazel-green hue.

“When you were just born. Mother, father and I once took a long journey to a distant land...”

***

Many years ago, three mice: Calara, Bismuth and a young Pyrite, walked along a secluded path

through a green forest, the snowy mountains far behind them. Calara carried a small white mouse on

her back, wrapped in cloth and asleep. Bismuth held Pyrite's hand tightly. “It's your first time

around here so I want you to be on your best behaviour.” His voice was gruff, a sign of his age, but

warm and clear.

Pyrite nodded his head. He looked at the towering trees. Shining green leaves roofed over their

heads and blocked most of the sunlight. Vines clung and twisted around trees, some hung from

branches.

There was a thick feeling to the air from a recent storm and the moisture stuck in the air. The smell

of the dust from the soaked ground filled his nostrils with a sweet scent that was alien to him.

“Where are we going?” Pyrite asked.

“We are going to meet an old friend.”

“Who would live here?”

“Now, now.” Calara said. “Just because it isn't home, doesn't mean that people don't like it.”

“Our friend is... A little different from us.”

“Who is it?”

“You'll see.”

They walked up to a giant boulder, with trees resting on top of it. Fallen after they died or had been

chopped down.

One face of the boulder was flat and had a carved symbol in its centre.

Calara held her hand to the face of the boulder, the chain with blue jewels around her wrist glowed

brightly. After a few seconds had passed, the jewels faded and Calara pulled her hand back.

There was a brief second of silence before the face of the boulder cracked into small stones and

shifted out of the way to create a path for them.

The inside of the boulder was hollow and dark.

“Barrigo!” Calara called out. Her voice echoed in the large cave.

Silence once again.

Then a light sparked to life. A glowing ball of glowing mist appeared and revealed the dark shape of

a gigantic creature. Bulbous and furry.

***

Pained screaming was heard from the town entrance as Portland and Sydni carried Mayweather

through the gate and collapsed on the ground.

Captain Celle rushed out of the barracks to see what was going on. He saw the three on the ground.

Mayweather was covered in blood from his arrow wounds. He was unconscious on top of Portland

and Sydni.

Celle looked at the two guards who stood confused and anxiously awaited orders. “Shut the gate!”

Celle bellowed at them.

The guards rolled the stone in front of the hole in a furious rush.

Portland and Sydni crawled out from under Mayweather. Sydni ran off to get help while Portland

knelt next to Mayweather. “Hey! You're going to be all right!”

Sydni returned with Alistair who was quick to tend to Mayweather. “What has happened?” Alistair

asked.

“We were attacked by rats! Mayweather took two arrows and-.”

“That's enough.” Alistair took a handful of herbs from a pouch that was slung around his neck.

The skin on his hand became a bright green as he rubbed the herbs around Mayweather's wounds.

He pulled the arrows out with ease and continued rubbing.

“Water.” Alistair demanded. Portland handed him a flask filled with water which Alistair used to

clean the wounds which looked more like scars now.

Portland noticed that Mayweather was breathing easily now.

Alistair stood up straight. “Get him to a bed and let him rest.” He ordered the guards.

They immediately picked up Mayweather with utmost care and carried him to his home.

Alistair looked at Captain Celle, who wore a guilty face.

“I... thank you... Sir.” Celle said.

“You ought to be more responsible for your men, captain.” Alistair twisted his head to Portland

who was frozen on the ground next to a patch of blood on the ground. Portland's uniform and fur

was covered with blood and sweat. He shook his head and walked away thinking: The child has to

go through this already.