by John DeJordy
Picayune growled and ran at Dragon, using his smaller size to his advantage by running through Dragon's legs. He spun and hacked at Dragon's right Achilles' tendon.
Dragon anticipated the move, leaping forward into one of the branches. After turning around, he hissed at Picayune. His yellow eyes narrowed as he viewed the battle. Most of the bobcats were losing. He sat back, causing the branch to droop even further, and caterwauled loud enough to shake the branches.
Picayune froze in place, unable to take his eyes off Dragon while everyone who had come with him fell to the ground and covered their ears. Even the bobcats winced in pain before leaping into the upper branches and disappearing from sight.
Picayune stared at Dragon, and the entire world around him seemed to wash away until the only things left were the golden eyes staring at him from above. Time seemed to slow as he watched the eyes vault from the branch and lazily descend on him. Before he was pounced, he felt a sharp impact on his side that sent him crashing to the ground empty-handed.
Dragon hissed in disappointment and a loud cracking noise filled the area. “Stupid squirrel.”
Picayune recovered from his stupor to see Phineas face down on the ground with Dragon on his back.
The bobcat pawed at the unmoving squirrel a few times before turning to Picayune. He taunted the dormouse. “Next!”
Picayune looked around in a panic for his sword. Unable to locate it, he started to fumble with his mother's locket. He was so occupied with his actions that he failed to notice Dragon's approach.
Dragon slammed his paw down on Picayune, knocking him on his back. “Aww, does the mouse need help with his locket?” Dragon plopped down, using his weight to pin Picayune to the ground, covering him chest-down with his body. With his claws, he opened the locket and removed the large walnut that was cleverly concealed inside. “You wanted a last meal before the end? Who am I to deny you that? Besides, I love stuffed mouse.” He shoved the nut into Picayune's mouth and drooled on him.
Picayune struggled, his mind filled with fear. His body ached from the sheer weight pressing on him. From nowhere, he heard a soft lullaby.
“Easy, my angel,” the soft female voice spoke to him before it began to sing.
When all things seem lost,
And there is nothing more to exhaust,
Reach inside the locket and remove its contents.
Crack the gift into two equal segments.
Toss into the air the pieces of light,
And watch the area around you grow bright,
Evil will wane and melt away,
Victory will be yours on this day.
At the end of the song, the voice faded, taking all of his fear with it. He spun the walnut in his teeth until he felt the groove catch between his teeth. He bit down, severing the nut into two halves, then spit them into the air.
Dragon pulled back, caught off guard by Picayune's actions. He backed up, tilted his head to one side, and watched the spinning pieces floating in the air.
Picayune scrambled to his feet and spotted his sword, which had been obscured by Dragon's body. He grabbed the sword and ran into the cave.
Dragon sat still, watching the spinning segments as they began to glow with a purplish light. Faster and faster they spun, increasing the intensity of the illumination.
Picayune inhaled a scent coming from the nut parts and scratched his nose. “Flowers?”
Dragon sniffed the halves. The first time he tried to paw at them, he missed, causing him to hiss in frustration. He opened his eyes wide, not taking them off his target as he reeled back and swatted at the half-orbs with all his might.
The pieces exploded in a blinding light, removing all the gloom from the area for just a moment. It also showered Dragon's face in a sickly-sweet substance.
Dragon yowled in pain and rolled around, facedown, on the dirty ground.
Picayune looked up at Ameera. “I will be right back.” He charged out, then stopped just short of Dragon. He stuck out his tongue and pinched his noise at the foul aroma coming from the bobcat. It reminded him of the time a wandering skunk bard had visited his village, only this was worse.
Dragon sat up and swatted the air. He rubbed his eyes and looked around aimlessly, seeming unable to focus on anything. “I'm blind!” He squinted, his cheeks puffed out, and he clutched his nose. “What is that horrible stench?” He hacked at the vileness of it, as if he was going to cough up a fur ball.
Picayune stepped forward and prodded Dragon's lower leg with the tip of his sword. “Take your group, leave these lands, and never return, or they will get the same treatment!”
The scattered bobcats gingerly returned. Two of their group held their breath and approached Dragon. In unison, they said, “I'm not helping him!”
One of the eldest of the bobcats sneered to Picayune. “We will leave, but he is on his own.” With that, the group bolted through the exit and disappeared from sight.
Picayune tapped his foot and looked at Dragon. “Well?”
Dragon tucked his tail between his legs and stumbled away.
Cheers went up. Maharajah and Maharani flew to the suspended cage and lowered it to the ground. Even Swift-Hopper stood up, shook off the effects of his injuries, and jumped up and down in joy.
Ameera began to run to Picayune, but stopped short and covered her mouth in surprise.
Picayune was sitting on the ground, cradling Phineas' head in his lap. “No. No, you can't be – I promised your aunt…” He covered Phineas' head as tears formed in his eyes and he began to cry.
“No offense,” a soft voice moaned, “but if you are in the Squirrel's Gathering Lands, I must have been one bad squirrel.”
Picayune squealed and hugged Phineas tightly. “Phineas!”
Phineas moaned and winced in pain, causing Picayune to release his grip on his friend's head, letting it hit the ground.
“Oof!”
One of the hawks stepped forward. “I am Quack. Perhaps I can help him with his injuries?” He knelt beside Phineas and gently pressed down on his ribs. “Looks like a few are broken.” He tore a piece of cloth off Picayune’s shirt and wrapped it tightly around the squirrel's chest. Flying back to the shore, he picked up some of the mud and came back and placed it over the bandages. “That should hold long enough to get you home.”
Ameera ran forward and nearly tackled Picayune to the ground. “And who do I have to thank for saving me?” She looked around at the group.
Maharajah stepped up to Ameera and bowed. “So this is the lovely Ameera I have heard so much about. It is an honor to meet you. I am Maharajah, the leader of Clan Hoo-Caw.” He pointed at Trailblazer. “That is Trailblazer, leader of Clan Badger. The injured squirrel is Phineas from Clan Squirrel.” He turned back to Ameera and raised his wings to the sky. “But to answer your question, one individual has brought us together, though. And that would be Picayune.”
Ameera tackled Picayune and hugged him tight again. “You did this all for me?”
Picayune blushed and nodded. He straightened. “I would have travelled to Luna herself for you.” He leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “And what of the others? Your cousin?”
Ameera rested her cheek on his chest and cried a little. “They are all gone.”
The company bowed their heads in silence for a moment.
After the quiet, someone in back yelled out, “Three cheers for Picayune! The one who brought peace to the clans!”
The entire group erupted in cheers. “Hip, hip hooray! Hip, hip hooray! Hip, hip hooray!”
Picayune hugged Ameera close. “Let's get out of here and go home.” The group followed Picayune, amazed that the light had permanently removed the gloom and restored the beauty of the area with colorful, blooming flowers.
As they emerged from the grove, Maharajah came over to Picayune and Ameera. “It would be my great honor to carry Ameera home.”
Ameera looked scared, but Picayune reassured her. “Everything will be fine. You
will love it.” Picayune ran to Rascal. “Let's go and show her.”
Rascal nodded, picked Picayune up, and circled. The sight seemed to ease her fears. The group took off into the air until they reached Picayune's village.
Alarms sounded until the villagers saw Picayune being gently dropped off in front of his house.
Jocund ran outside. “What is going on, son?”
Picayune hugged his father. “Dad! We defeated Dragon! I no longer have to dream about adventures like yours.”
Jocund looked around at all the strangers before hugging his son. “You never did, my boy, you only needed to believe in yourself. But now, it appears we have guests, and you have a tale to tell.”
Picayune could only beam for the moment.
Everyone worked the entire day doing something for the banquet as Picayune walked through the crowd, helping where he could. Some prepared elaborate dishes of nuts and berries and even a bug and worm soufflé. Some cleaned the main hall. Others hung banners and firefly lanterns.
Picayune entered his father’s shop, which was filled with critters from all over the empire. Everyone wanted to see Picayune and hear his tale, but all he could do was tell people to wait until evening. He managed to find a quiet corner for a moment and closed his eyes.
* * * * *
Picayune was seated on his mount at the crest of a large hill overlooking the valley. The wind tickled his whiskers as he moved his paw down to pat Swift-Hopper on the side. He wiggled his tail and looked down at himself, as if for the very first time. “Let’s go exploring my friend.”
Ameera moved her mount, Flower, next to Swift-Hopper, and extended her paw to him. “I agree, but let’s do it together.”
Picayune took her paw into his and they rode off into the setting sun.
* * * * *
Picayune blinked his eyes open and stretched happily.
That night, a large party was in full force with Picayune at the head of the main table. All his travelling companions were seated around the table with Ameera on his right. Even Swift-Hopper had a place.
Phineas rose from his seat and chittered a loud enough noise that the crowd hushed. “Three cheers for Picayune, the one who united us all!”
“One moment,” a strong mystical voice called. Everyone shifted in their chairs to see Sybil walking into the hall. She glided over to Picayune, gave him a hug, and kissed the top of his forehead. “Well done, my dear, well done.”
Picayune warmly hugged the squirrel. He whispered so only she could hear. “Thank you for everything you did for me.”
She ruffled his head fur. “You did all that by yourself, my dear. You only needed to believe.”
The room erupted in cheers, then settled down to eat the food that had been prepared in Picayune’s honor.
Suddenly, Timorous flung the doors open and ran over to Picayune. “Picayune! Picayune! He is coming!”
Picayune swallowed the food in his mouth. “Who? Who is coming?”
Timorous looked at the doors, then back at Picayune. “The king himself!”
About the Author
So, what can I say about myself?
I was born in Ohio, but grew up in Holyoke, MA in the 70's and 80's, when computers were still in their infancy. As such, most my youth was spent reading, or using my imagination to go exploring. My first exposure to fantasy actually came from my chemistry teacher, who ran the school's “Dungeons and Dragons” club. That exposure unlocked something inside me, creating a deeper passion for the art of writing.
I have many passions. I explore game worlds such as those created by Sony Online Entertainment. I enjoy the challenge of board and thinking games like chess or Sudoku. I've co-owned my own L.A.R.P., where my friends and I created a whole fantasy universe. Our plots were complex and diverse enough to fill a bookcase. It was that passion that finally forced me to put my ideas in print.
As I go on, seeking to publish all of my work, I hope you can journey with me as we explore all of new worlds I intend to create for you.
If anything, it will be an interesting ride.
