by Justin Sloan
Timmy skidded to a stop at the edge of the woods. The dull yellow of a street lamp illuminated the fountain where they had met. “How did you feel about mouses?”
“It's mice. And I love ‘em.”
“Well, after this, you’ll love rats too.” Timmy prepared himself to run and then, before Brooke was anywhere near being ready, he was off. “Keep up!”
They darted into the statue clearing and the open night. Pigeons took flight around them, appearing from the trees—a whole army of pigeons blocking out the moon and stars. Timmy sprinted faster. The pigeons closed in. Brooke flapped hard, approaching a crack in the stone.
“I’m not sure I’ll fit!” she yelled in almost a scream.
“We only have to worry about that if we make it,” Timmy replied.
Pigeons circled like a growing storm. A shadow appeared before Brooke and she dodged as giant pigeon droppings fell, first in the spot she had been, but soon all around. PLOP! PLOP-PLOP, PLOP!
“Yuck!” Brooke dove, twisted, and turned to avoid being hit. Timmy was doing the same.
Almost there, Brooke looked up to see a pigeon diving for them like a dart. Timmy closed his eyes, sprinting all-out. Brooke grabbed him by her claws and lifted him out of the pigeon’s path and toward the crack in the fountain, the pigeons hot on their tails.
Chapter 11: The Rats
Brooke slipped through the narrow opening in the statue, tumbling into darkness. Ahead, Timmy turned and clawed at anything he could get his paws on. He caught himself at the last moment, as Brooke realized when she too almost fell off the edge of a large drop-off. Luckily, Timmy grabbed ahold of her and pulled her to safety. She looked over the drop off and thought that, yeah, she could fly, but it was pretty narrow.
“That was close,” she said.
He nodded, his face whiter than normal. “Follow me.”
They continued down the dark tunnels of the fountain’s depths, Brooke struggling through the tight tunnel while Timmy led the way, his white form all she could see ahead. They reached an opening, where they could hear the trickle of water, and soon found they were following a small stream. Beady lights shone, and hundreds more had appeared before Brooke realized they weren’t lights at all—they were rat eyes. Timmy motioned for her to keep up and stay close.
Brooke shivered, doing her best to focus on each step. Stare straight ahead and don’t look at the walls of rats, she told herself.
“Just keep moving,” Timmy said. “Don’t stare.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
They followed the stream of water and turned, only to find rats blocking their path. The whole place smelled of damp clothes and cheese. An extremely large rat with only one eye stepped forward from the group and bared his chipped teeth.
“Grollock,” Timmy said in a whisper to Brooke.
Grollock acknowledged Timmy with a smirk and turned to Brooke. He sniffed her once before pulling back.
“What this?” Grollock asked Timmy. “What this thing you bring, this no bird.”
“We seek an audience,” Timmy said.
Grollock scoffed and turned to the rats. “You hear this?” He laughed and the others joined in. “Mouse and a so-called bird walk into our home, and mouse wants an audience. Well, Timmy, first you tell me who you bring into OUR HOME!”
Timmy backed up, but his eyes showed determination, as did his voice. “She is in need of your help, of all our help, if she is to ever return to her family.”
“And why you think this our business? Why you think we care?” Grollock sniffed Brooke again. “Smells of human. We don’t like human.”
Timmy whipped his tail around to crack the air inches from Grollock’s nose, causing the rat to yelp in surprise. “I said we seek audience, Grollock! Your laws don’t allow for this treatment!”
Grollock held his nose, his one eye watering. In a high-pitched voice he said, “Careful.”
“I’m sorry, you left me no choice.”
Grollock looked at Timmy with watery eyes. “Whatever, Timmy, whatever.”
At first Brooke thought that was it, but then Grollock waved the rats aside and they all scampered out of the way, eyeing Timmy. Timmy and Brooke walked past, with Grollock following behind.
Timmy leaned in close so he could whisper to Brooke. “They talk big, but they’re softies inside. Grollock gave me the best piece of cheese for my birthday last year, but don’t tell him I told you.”
Brooke giggled and glanced at the rat. Grollock snarled, but then held his nose again, almost bashful.
After walking for a few more moments, they stepped into what looked like a throne room. Water poured down the walls, catching the faint light to sparkle like thousands of crystals. In the middle of it all sat an immensely fat leader of the rats. He wore an acorn cap, just like Timmy, and sat on a throne of cheese.
Grollock entered behind them and cleared his throat. “Captain Prat, please allow me to announce the presence of—”
“I love your hat,” Brooke said, only then realizing that she had interrupted Grollock.
“Excuse me?” Captain Pratt said.
She looked around nervously, then hopped forward. “I didn’t mean to be rude, but your hat. It’s just like Timmy’s.”
Captain Prat turned to assess Timmy. “It would appear so.”
Timmy lowered his cap to his chest. He bowed and cleared his throat. At Brooke’s look, Timmy twitched his nose at her.
“Oh! I’m sorry.” She joined him in the bow, spreading her wings and tipping her head.
Grollock guffawed before moving over to Captain Prat to whisper in his ear. Soon Captain Prat looked up with curiosity.
“Indeed? So, I understand you come for my assistance? Naturally I cannot help you, but let’s hear you out anyway.”
“What?” Brooke said.
Timmy held out a paw to silence her and took a step forward. “Great Captain, oh luxurious ruler of the lands below, my friend has a grief to settle and—”
“And why should the great Captain care?”
“Because we face a common enemy, the Pigeons, and Bad Bird Trollay.”
Captain Prat stood up from his cheese throne and threw a piece of cheese as he snarled. “Don’t say that name in here, never say that name!”
“You ask too much,” Grollock said to Timmy before turning away to grind his teeth.
Timmy held up both paws and bowed low. “I only ask for a guide, a nudge in the right direction.”
Captain Pratt assessed him, considering. “Go on.”
“We have reason to believe the Pigeons and….” He looked around, not wanting to say the name. “He, the one not to be mentioned, has stolen something from my friend, something she holds very dear. And if we get it back, great treasure can be yours.”
Captain Prat’s eyes widened and he took a step toward Timmy. “What exactly is this, this treasure you speak of?”
Timmy smiled and turned to Brooke with a wink. “The greatest treasure. Food.”
After a quick agreement on the specifics of their deal, Brooke and Timmy followed Grollock through the tunnels. Timmy wore his cap again. Brooke couldn’t fly down here, so she did her best to keep up on her little bird legs. They turned a corner and, to Brooke’s delight, saw light ahead. At the exit, Grollock paused to look Brooke up and down.
“I don’t know what’s going on here,” he said. “You is not normal, I smells it. But if you can really bring us that much food, then best of luck to yous.”
Chapter 12: The River Offering
The exit from the underground rat kingdom led to a small hole at the side of a riverbank. Fresh air wafted in and almost, for a moment, made Brooke forget her problems. Brooke stuck her head from the hole to find her face inches away from the backside of a pigeon.
She pulled back, scared, but Grollock darted forward and karate chopped the side of the pigeon’s neck. He caught the pigeon as it collapsed, and pulled it into the hole. Brooke eyed the unconscious pigeon and gulpe
d. Slowly, she peeked back out of the hole.
Along the edge of the river, pigeons circled each other, some lying with their necks tucked into their feathers. Others formed a line with food and shiny objects in their beaks. As the line moved forward, the pigeons bobbed up and down, some with wings spread, others dancing, all chanting, “Coo-coo, coo-coo-ca-coo. Coo-Coo.”
The line led to a raised mound of dirt where Trollay accepted the food from the pigeons. Their offerings to him, it appeared.
Brooke turned to Grollock. “What’re they doing?”
“He runs these lands, he runs the skies, but he doesn’t run beneath the dirt. That be our territory.”
“Why’re they giving him their food?”
“They fear what’ll happen if they don’t.” Grollock pointed at the line. “That’s not all they give ‘em.”
Brooke looked back to see the pigeon Bigon move in the line, with Brooke’s necklace in his beak. She jumped forward into the grass and yelped in excitement, but that was a mistake.
Luckily, she wasn’t standing there when the pigeons’ eyes turned to look. Instead she found herself flat on her back, Roy holding her there with a wing over her mouth.
“You’re here!” she whispered, happy to see her friend again.
Roy nodded with a smirk. “Momma said I could see you, if I don’t stay too long, once more before we migrate.”
“I thought you were gone!”
“You’re in trouble, so I told Momma you needed my help. But then I'm back to my tree.”
Timmy and Grollock came scrambling over the edge of the bank, ducking low in the grass. Roy noticed them and helped Brooke to stand. He motioned back to the hole.
“We need a plan,” Roy said.
Grollock sniffed Roy’s direction but seemed content with whatever it was the smell told him. “Smells legit.”
Roy looked at him like he was crazy and they all made their way back to the hole, where they gathered in a huddle. Roy stared at Brooke in disbelief as she told them her story, the full version this time.
“Wait,” Roy said, confused. “Human?”
Brooke nodded, knowing this was a lot to take in. “And the necklace was right there, I saw it.”
“You’d run over and take it?” Grollock scoffed.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to get home. My family needs me.” She turned as if to go, but Timmy grabbed her wing.
“We’re here to help. Let us.”
She looked at each of them. This wasn’t their battle. But the assurance in Timmy’s eyes and the determination in Roy’s told her she knew her answer.
“It won’t work, whatever your plan.” Grollock smiled to reveal his chipped tooth. “But those are my favorite types of adventures. I’m in.”
The group gathered at the edge of the grass, hiding among the long blades that went above their heads. From this vantage point, they could watch as the line of pigeons inched forward. A sliver of pink pre-sunrise lit the sky in the distance as a cool breeze blew the grass and brought with it the scent of dandelions.
Brooke’s attention was on Bigon as he reached the front of the line. With a bow, he held out her necklace to the giant raven.
“CAW!” Trollay’s eyes took in the necklace with great pleasure. “What homage! Now we see if it does as you say.”
“I saw her change, I know it do. Coo-cooo.” Bigon handed it over.
“Imagine the food for me if I too can transform! CA-CAW!”
“For all of us!” Nog said, hopping forward to join them.
The Pigeons all cooed in agreement and Trollay backed up uncomfortably.
“Yes, well....” Trollay stopped to sniff the air. “CAW. I smell cheese.”
Grollock came dashing through the line and snatched food from one of the pigeons. The pigeons turned in surprise, food and other goods dropping from their beaks. They clucked and cooed in confusion.
Trollay stood, outraged. “Stop that rat!”
The pigeons turned on Grollock as one and moved in for the attack. Luckily for him, he was already running.
Trollay whacked Bigon in frustration. “CAW! CAW!”
Bigon’s beak dropped as he pointed behind Trollay with a coo, unable to say whatever it as he was trying to get out. “Coo-coo!”
“Excuses are for mice and rats!” Trollay said. “How could you let him—”
“Coo-who?” Bigon said, pointing.
“Enough. Spit it out!”
Bigon pointed again, mouth open, and finally said, “Behind you!”
Trollay turned to see Roy standing on a tree branch and holding Timmy by his tail, dangling the mouse upside down above the necklace. Before Trollay could say so much as a caw, Timmy reached for the necklace on the ground beside Trollay, gulping when he saw he had been spotted. Trollay dove and grabbed the necklace in his beak before Timmy could reach it, turning to place the necklace around his neck. The red in his eyes glistened evilly.
“I think not.” Trollay moved to peck Timmy with his beak, but Roy pulled Timmy back to safety into the tree.
The two friends weren’t out of danger yet, though. Bigon and Nog leapt into the tree as Trollay yelled at them to get revenge from below. Timmy and Roy took a step back, and Timmy smiled. Bigon looked in time to see Brooke release the branch she had pulled back, holding it ready in case something like this happened. It whacked the two pigeons and sent them flying through the sky.
Timmy and Brooke cheered, but stopped when Trollay landed on the branch beside them.
“So funny, you little ones,” Trollay said. “But when sunrise arrives, your games will come to an end.”
Brooke felt herself boiling up and she couldn’t take it any longer. She ran for Trollay, ready to do whatever it took. But he hopped back with a “Ca-caw,” out of her reach.
“Stop bullying us and give me my necklace!” she demanded.
“Not today, little one. With this magic, my dreams are within reach!” He held her out with his wing as she tried to grab it. “CA-CAW! With the rising sun, I will take your human form and you will be my snack!”
Brooke stepped back, appalled. “You wouldn’t….”
Trollay laughed as he pointed over to where the pigeons were closing in on Grollock. They had him surrounded!
Trollay grunted as he plucked a feather from Brooke. He smiled as he tucked it into the necklace. “One never knows how this magic truly works, am I right? But just in case, that should do. Now, I really must get going. And....” His eyes found Timmy and narrowed. “I think I’ll take the mouse!”
With that, Trollay flapped his wings and snatched Timmy in his talons as he leapt into the air. Brooke and Roy shouted and Timmy screamed. This couldn’t be happening!
Roy turned to Brooke and pointed a wing in the direction Trollay went. “I’ll save the rat, you take care of Trollay!”
Chapter 13: Stop Trollay
Brooke saw Trollay up ahead in the dimly-lit dawn sky, Timmy struggling in his grip. She could barely hear Timmy as he screamed to be let go.
“Is that what you really want?” Trollay answered with a glance at the rocks below. Timmy went limp, having likely passed out.
“I’m coming, Timmy!” Brooke said as she flew after them, her wings reflecting a rosy light and giving her the look of a shooting flame.
Then she saw her house and knew where Trollay was going. He couldn’t! But indeed, Trollay dipped, flying for Brooke’s window now visible below, Timmy still clasped tight in his grip.
“Let’s see how fast you can fly!” Trollay called back to Brooke as he dropped Timmy and flapped for the window.
Brooke yelped and dived, going all-out now. She was torn between beating Trollay to her room and getting Timmy, but she knew the right choice. Before Timmy could hit the sidewalk, she grasped his tiny arms with her claws and pulled up. She struggled, barely strong enough to hold on, and they landed with a tumble across the grass.
Timmy slowly opened his eyes, registering the situation, and then said,
“Brooke, go!”
She looked up and saw her bedroom window open, Trollay perched on the windowsill. He looked back and smiled. But she wasn’t having it. She took off after him, faster than she had ever flown before. His eyes widened as he turned into the room. She closed in, but he flapped and moved past the window. She was too slow, but she pushed faster and then she was almost falling horizontally, straight for him. The two collided just inside her window. They struggled over the necklace in the air, but Trollay pushed her off and they landed on the bed. Brooke rolled, tangled in her own wings. She recovered and pushed her way out of the sheets to see Trollay standing, the necklace before him.
She stared in horror as he placed the necklace over his head. At that moment, the rays of the rising sun shone over the trees and through the window. Brooke reached, but it was hopeless.
The necklace shimmered in the morning light. A black swirling mist overtook Trollay, twirling around him in a dark purple. A light flashed through the room and Brooke had to cover her eyes with her wing. In that moment of blindness, Trollay’s laughter echoed from the walls. When Brooke lowered her wing to look, and the light spots faded from her vision, she saw him growing, the magic light still surrounding him.
Before her eyes, Trollay transformed into Brooke’s human body and his laughter became a laughter similar to her own. Trollay stood over her, in her body, leering. For the first time ever, Brooke saw an evil smile on her human face.
“For too long I’ve been forced to seek shelter in the storms,” Trollay said. “For too long I’ve lived an endless search for food. Now that I have your essence, you will know my suffering!”
“Brooke?” her mom’s voice said from the other room. The door burst open and her mom ran in. “Brooke! Where have you been? Don’t you ever, ever do that to me again!” She took Trollay in her arms, sobbing.
Trollay, in Brooke’s body, looked surprised at first, but then the smile returned and his eyes sparkled red, either from a reflection of the sunrise outside the window or an intense evil, Brooke couldn’t be sure.
“I missed you,” Brooke’s mom said as she pulled back, assessing her daughter to make sure she was in one piece. “I can’t do this alone, okay? Don’t ever run away like that again. Do you know how worried I was?”
