The key was only a small golden little trinket, the kind that you would find at a cheap locksmith shop. 'Number one is it?' Sleekfur thought to herself, as she tried the key in the rusty lock for the eighth time. She had come into town early in the mornning when it was still wet from the night's storm. The Fox Duck was the only substantial inn that she could find in this little wet town. 'Not going to find much in my line of work here.' The key finally turned in the lock and the door opened into darkness. Sleekfur reached to the right, and tried to find the candle that the innkeeper said would be there. Her paw found a low table and the candle holder within moments. She lit it with the flame from the lamp in the hall and went into her room, closing the door but not locking it. Over the table was a small picture of a plant of some kind.
The little plate under it said Elegant Watle. Sleekfur threw her pack down onto the floor as she took off her clothes before settling down onto the bed. She stretched out her feet, the webs tensing and relaxing on her otter's feet, and curled her toes in, falling fast asleep in just a moment. 'All in all, it has not been too bad of a day,' was the last thought to drift through her head.
Sleekfur napped for more than three hours and the noise from the main inn floor grew as the evening wore on. Something woke her though from the middle of her sleep. She listened for a moment with her warriors ears. It was not the noise of the inn that had woke her, but the lack of it. She opened her eyes and got out her father's watch. It was 9pm. "That's funny. There should still be things happening out there." She hopped out of bed, and peeked out the door.
In the downstairs of the Fox-Duck Inn (the place, or so the sign said, where 'folks duck in' for a night), it was eerily silent - Sleekfur padded down to the lobby and looked around, but it was dark. Dark, and empty.
"Can I help ya, miss?" Sleekfur turned around - walking out of the shadows was a young-looking raccoon in a busboy uniform. "Ya look kinda lost."
"Well, yes - I'm a bit new around these parts. Haven't even found a place to live yet."
"Oh, I see. Well, I gotta run - the Festival's tonight. That's where everyone is, ya know."
Sleekfur looked at the young raccoon, "Wait! Don't run just yet... where is the festival? Can anyone go?"
"Surely, miss, it is up on the hill down at the end of the main street, just outside of town. Ye can't miss it... there is a bonfire and streamers... and everyone is there." With that, the raccoon turned and ran out the door, leaving Sleekfur alone. She looked around at the empty inn and shrugged.
"Hmmpph... well, I guess I might as well go there. It might be fun, and it surely beats being here all alone."
Sleekfur pushed through the inn door and out into the street. It was dark now, but she could see the glow of the fire and hear faint music in that direction.
She started off towards the end of the street and soon found herself at the edge of a large groups of villagers, some who were tapping their toes with the music others who were dancing, and some who were at trestles eating.
She looked around and smiled.
Sleekfur strolled amongst the revelers, making observations in an attempt to ascertain what the festival was about.
"You are not from around here, are you?" Sleekfur turned to face a black faced ferret with white ears.
"No, I am newly arrived in town. I have not even had a chance to find lodging other than at the inn." Sleekfur nodded to the ferret. "Everyone is here. The town is nearly abandoned . . . "
"Of course! It's festival. EVERY one comes to festival." The ferret grinned, showing rows of bright sharp teeth. "Join in. Enjoy!"
Sleekfur nodded. Inside nagging doubt made her stomach sink. She watched the ferret wander off. His last words had sounded almost like a command.
'What was this festival?' Now that she thought about it, the raccoon in the inn had acted almost terrified. Caution overtook her and she strolled on, acting engrossed all the while watching, waiting . . . for what she didn't know.
Sleekfur looked in the eyes of the people around her. Some of them seemed to be enjoying themselves. Others though, showed a hint of fear. That fear grew as midnight got closer and closer and closer. Finally some fat stoat got up onto a table and rang a bell. "Well it is time, men and women. Time for the choice."
There was a hush over the crowd as all eyes turned to the stoat as he got out a huge jar full of coins. Sleekfur looked at the jar closely and her eyes widened a little. She remembered getting one like that when she came into town. An 'identity chit' they called it. There had been two. You keep one and they keep one. 'What in the hell is going on here,' she thought.
The stoat looked around and pointed at one old man. "Come up here Farmer Fitz. You know what to do. Reach in and grab two coins at Random!" The Farmer nodded and climbed up onto the table. He was one of the few people in town that everyone trusted. He reached in and pulled out two coins and held them up. They started to glow and so did their pairs.
Sleekfur looked down at her pocket at the soft gold glow. "Ah crud... what have I gotten myself into." Over on the other side of the table a young raccoon stepped forward with another coin.
Fitz looked around. They were both here.
The raccoon stood up - the same one from the inn, Sleekfur noted, and ambled over. He was visibly nervous. "Eh-heh-heh-heh. Funny, eh? How you got - and I was - er."
"What's going on?"
"Well - you see - every year around this time, all the townsfolk come to this festival. Everyone gets a pair of coins, and one goes into the jar."
"So it's a raffle, then?"
"No time to explain - just follow me backstage." The raccoon disappeared around the far side of the podium, followed by Sleekfur. "Here," he said, "put these on." He held up a red jester's cap and a red cloak, handing them to Sleekfur, then putting on a matching set in blue.
"Every year," he explained, "we have a storytelling contest... Two people get chosen at random to tell pieces of a story back and forth to one another. The winner is the person who ends the story - but it has to be a good, fitting ending. Nothing abrupt. Looks like you and I are gonna be facing off this year."
"I think I get it - by the way, what's your name?"
"Who, me? Name's Jeremy... Jeremy Ringtail. Part-time busboy, full time author. And I wish you best of luck - you'll need it."
The curtains parted, and Jeremy and Sleekfur stepped onto the stage...
As they stepped upon the stage the bells on their caps jingled, and Sleekfur looked nervously out at the crowd. It was surprising but the little raccoon seemed to lose all of his nervousness once he donned the costume.
Sleekfur tried hard to think of a story and worried. As she did Farmer Fitz smiled at the two competitors and took each one's arm. "Hoho... it seems that this year we have chosen someone new to our festival," he chuckled loudly.
Sleekfur blushed and nodded. "Well, I will go over the rules of the competition for you then, lady otter." Farmer Fitz grinned and took a deep breath, "Well... This here is a competition. You and Jeremy will each tell stories to the crowd. They in turn will show their pleasure by cheering or... if they are not pleased, may show it with a few overripe vegetables. If they are pleased with both of yer stories, then you and Jeremy will have to tell another set of stories until one of you wins. It could be quick or it could take all night." The Farmer turned to the crowd of villagers and shouted, "Are you ready to hear the stories?!!" The villagers yelled back a resounding "YES!" and stomped their feet impatiently for the telling to begin. The Farmer lead Jeremy out to the center of the stage and smiled. "Then we will hear from young Jeremy first, and let our guest gather her thoughts.
Jeremy grinned broadly and the crowd began to quiet down in anticipation.
Jeremy stepped forward, caught his thumbs on his suspenders and rocked back and forth confidently. He grinned and began. . . . "A defendant was on trial for murder. There was strong evidence that indicated his guilt, but there was no corpse. In the defens'es closing argument, the lawyer, knowing that his client would probably be convicted, resorted to an old trick.
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury! I have a surprise for you all!" the lawyer said as he glanced at his watch. "Within one minute, the person we all presumed to be murdered in this case will walk into this courtroom." He looked toward the courtroom door. The jurors, somewhat stunned, all looked on eagerly. A minute passed and no one came in.
Finally the defense lawyer said, "Actually, I made that previous statement up, but you all looked on with anticipation. I, therefore, put it to you that you all STILL have reasonable doubt in this case as to whether anyone actually was killed. I insist that you return a verdict of not guilty."
The jury, clearly confused, retired to deliberate. A few minutes later, the jury returned and pronounced a verdict of guilty.
"But . . . How?" inquired the defense lawyer. you must have had doubt; I saw all of you stare at the door!"
The jury forman smiled. "Oh, we DID look, but your client didn't!"
Jeremy sat down amidst the laughter of the audience, favoring Sleekfur with a glance and a smirk as she stood up. "Let's see what's up *your* sleeve," he seemed to say.
Sleekfur smiled back. "That's an old one there," she said softly, then turned to the crowd. "As you know I'm new here, so I hope you'll forgive any awkwardness." She began: "It was a dark and stormy night...." Jeremy smirked again. She paused, then continued.
"It was a dark and stormy night. Raindrops spattered along the pavement, throwing off cold neon reflections like electricity. I tilted down my hat brim in a useless attempt to escape them, as I walked down the slick and shining streets. "This would be a perfect night for a murder mystery." Little did I realize how far short that prediction would fall. Permit me to introduce myself." Sleekfur gave her audience a piercing look, feral and utterly at odds with her previous demeanor, a look suggesting dark alleyways and glowing feline eyes. "My name is Morgan Smith, I'm a short story writer for the Chronicle. I must have been lost in thought, or perhaps distracted by the rain, for I have no other way of explaining how I found myself far from my usual route in a completely unknown section of the city. Of, I assume, the city - though the very shapes of the buildings seem alien. There were no signposts and the glare of the streetlights made building signs impossible to read. Eventually I found my way out of the labyrinth of narrow streets into an open square."
From out in the crowd a battleaxe came flying right at Sleekfur... it was only from years of training she could dodge it, and that it just missed her head... she did feel the wind from its passing... "Hey! What gives with that!"
Jeremy giggled over to one side. "It is their... errr... subtle way of telling you that they want a faster story."
That was not the end of the flying things... though the rest of it was fruit and veggies. "Ok ok... let me try again then..."
Farmer Fitz was up on the stage in a moment and held up Jeremy's paw.. "And the winner of this years event is Mr. Ringtail!" Sleekfur frowned. This game was rather fast. She huffed and turned around to get off of the stage. There were four very large Badgers in her way. Everyone in the crowd was now very quiet again. Farmer Fitz looked over at Sleekfur sadly. "Well my lady. I am sorry that you came into town this time of year. A nice lass like yourself might do alright. The Dragon is sometimes a bit odd in some ways and might let you go after a few months. If not..." *shrug* "He will just eat you."
Sleekfur took this in for only a moment and bolted off the stage! She didn't make it though, as they caught her! 'Oh God!' she thought. "Help!!!"
Sleekfur was dragged backstage accompanied by the cheers of the crowd. A look of pure panic played across her face - "What do you think you're doing?!"
She was shushed by the badgers, who had a surprisingly gentle touch for such rough-looking fellows. They removed the cap and cape, and set her on her feet. "No need to panic, miss - all in good fun..."
"All in good fun?!", she quietly fumed. "For who?"
"Look, miss, calm down - we're not actually gonna feed you to a dragon."
There was a pause.
One of the badgers stepped forward, introducing himself as Skip Grayborough. "...I'm in charge of this event, me an' my brothers. Jeremy told me you were new here, so I rigged the jar. Thought it'd be a good way to get you acquainted to our town."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Look, this whole thing was set up - your story woulda won hands down if we hadn't told the audience to act like that. Jeremy tells that same story every year."
Sleekfur smiled a bit. "You had me going there for a second."
Just then, Jeremy and Fitz stepped backstage, joining the others. Jeremy presented Sleekfur with a bouquet of flowers - "Here. You were a good sport out there... The festival lasts all week long, so enjoy the festivities... Let's see - I'm forgetting something..."
Fitz nudged Jeremy with his elbow. "A-hem..."
"Oh! Right! I'll be back in a jiffy."
Jeremy returned moments later. At his side was another.
Sleekfur froze. Her long sensory hairs stood out at attention on either side of her muzzle and her eyes darkened.
"Ma'am, I'd like you to meet Samuel T. Otter. It was his idea for all this little joke." Jeremy gestured to the young otter whose dark brown fur turned tan on his chest and stomach and went silver under his chin.
The young male otter pulled his hat off and held it over his chest
"I'm glad you're a good sport," said Sam. He tried to smile. "I-I thought it'd be a good way to get you into the swing of 'Fun Week.'"
"It has," said Sleekfur, who could not take her eyes off Sam.
Jeremy turned and walked off. The badgers followed him.
"Looks like just us two left," said Sleekfur. "What would you suggest I do first."
Sam grinned bashfully. "I suggest dinner with me. . . ."
Sleekfur shrugged. "Sure, why not? But at a restaurant, please. The food at the inn disagrees with me."
Sam grinned happily. "I know just the place."
Sleekfur gave him a look. "This better not be another one of your 'jokes'. I've had enough humor for one night."
He looked slightly chagrined. "Believe me, it was all in good fun."
Sleekfur's eyes narrowed, but she didn't say anything. After all, there was no knowing how long before she'd be able to leave the town. Best not to anger the locals. "Lead the way."
Sleekfur looked at her empty dessert bowl. Whatever else you might say about Sam and his sense of humor, he certainly knew good food. And the restaurant wasn't half bad, either. It was a small homey place, fitting in with the rest of the town. The proprietor was also the cook, and she guessed that the serving staff consisted of his teenage children and their friends.
"So," she began, looking at the other otter across the table.
"What's the deal? Is this some joke you play on all newcomers or have I been singled out for some unfathomable reason?"
"Well...." Sam answered.
Sam grinned from ear to ear. "You were singled out Sleekfur. You see I wanted an excuse to meet you."
Sleekfur nodded idly and she eyed the other otter. Every otter is known for playing jokes on others, in fact. If she remembered right, in this part of the world, the guys had to start out meeting the girls with a joke... it was used in seeing what they were all about. "On a scale of one to ten, you get a ten, Sam." She grinned at the other otter and very carfully tipped his still half full soup bowl over into his lap, as he sat there looking so self satisfied.
Sam leaped out of his chair and danced around the room batting at his lap... "Ow-och Owch-Owch!"
Sleekfur laughed and sat back in her chair. Sam eyed her after a moment and sat down again. "I am glad that you finally liked my joke, Sleekfur. Would you like to meet the rest of my family? They live up in the haunted house to the north of the town."
Sleekfur looked at Sam... "Haunted?"
Sam nodded. "Yep yep. It is a long story of how we came to live there. You see. My dad took on this dare to live there and we have ever since. I will tell you about it on the way there!"
Sam paid for the dinner and took Sleekfur by the paw and headed for the otter's home on the hill. He started the story of his family.
"See, my father - he was an astronaut - married my mother, the movie star..."
Sleekfur glared at Sam.
"Whaaaat? Oh, all right. Sheesh. So we don't live in a haunted house. C'mon, at least meet the family."
"Why? I just met you a few hours ago. Dinner was nice and all, but I really didn't come here expecting --"
"Expecting what? You obviously came here for a reason - what was it? You didn't make any plans to find a place to stay, so it was obviously urgent, that much I know." Sam nodded to emphasize his statement.
Sleekfur sighed. "Look, you're nice and all, but --"
"But you don't want to rush things?"
"Not before I've even had a chance to get my first night's sleep in my new home, no. Moving away from my old place was bad enough."
"Ohhhh. Well, can I at least walk you back to the Fox and Duck?"
Sleekfur considered this. "Sure. But try anything funny, and --"
Sam smiled. "Do I look like the kind of otter to try something funny? Er - don't answer that." The two walked off, hand in hand, out the door of the restaurant.
Sleekfur walked with Sam as they made their way down the street. Thinking about what he said about his family. "You know Sam... on second thought, I will meet your family."
Sam beamed happily and almost took off in a run with her. "The home is over this way by the river!"
Sleekfur giggled happily at the simple excitement of Sam as he rushed down the streets. "You're going to fast!"
Sam didn't slow down one little bit. "We have to get back before they go to bed for the night. Can't have that you know!"
Sleekfur followed in Sam's wake till he got to a nice little home by the river. It was not an otter's home though. He had to climb up into the home through a small circular hole. "You live here Sam?"
Sam nodded as Sleekfur followed him into the home of the bluejays. "Sure is my home. Hey mom! I wanted you to meet Sleekfur!
From the back room comes a soft feathered female bluejay dressed with a little bib. "*chirp* Well, I am glad to meet you! Sam does not bring home many friends... *chirp*"
Sleekfur stared at the bird for a little and grinned to herself. This was starting to make sense. "Well, hello lady Jay. Are you really Sam's mom? Seems to me he should be a chick!"
The jay lady laughed and waved a wing over Sam. "No no no... he is adopted. You see we found him on the seashore as a baby. It looked like he had come out of a shipwreck! So we took him in and he has been living here for 19 years now."
Sleekfur nodded and looked at Sam. Then she pulled out the clip from the big city paper that she had found... about a lost otter pup. "The ship's name was Flood." She stepped over to Sam and kissed him on the forehead. She then handed him the clipped out paper and stepped back. "We thought you dead long ago after the ship sank."
Sam looked at Sleekfur more closely for the first time. She smiled back. "Nice to see you again baby brother."