Harbour Chapter 6

Read Table of Content | +Kyla Sturchio
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We sat around a fire that night, not bothering to pitch a tent. Though it was late and I should have been tired I couldn’t sleep. Zugzwang had been talking nonstop about mice since he arrived. I had quickly relaxed around him when I decided he was just odd and not a threat.
"The first thing you need to know" He said to me as he walked back into camp after arming his trap. “Is that there are more than one type of mouse. You have your standard indigenous mice, they are easy enough but mice get harder as they advance. I prefer to tangle with the Tactical mice myself. You see, if you
know what you are up against you will know how to defeat it."

He gave me the complete run down. There were Tactical mice, Physical mice, Shadow, and Hydro mice. At least that was all he was familiar with.
"You see, Tactical is what I like to hunt, due to their battle strategy knowledge. It means I have to be on my toes constantly!" His eyes gleamed with passion.  "I have to be one step ahead of them because they are so crafty. They are smarter than the average indigenous mouse."
"I'm sorry it just seems like a lot to take in." I told him shaking my head. I liked it better when mice were mice.

"You have to remember these aren't your typical rodent. Plankrun, these are fiends, enemies. And they WILL over run you if you let them." he went back to poking the fire.
I let myself sit in silence to think. I would have to better study these mice if I was to beat them.
"Where are you from anyhow?" I asked him tossing a log on the fire, I watch the sparks fly into the air and die away.

"A place so far away it’s like it’s at the end of the world. You see not many of my kind travel here, but I got word that one had. Upon his return he joked in our village Tavern about how some fool scientists thought they could reproduce the enemy, our enemy. I knew the damage would already have been done but I thought I'd set out anyhow." He grew still for a moment. "I never thought I'd get lost, and I never thought mice would find their way onto my ship." He shook his head.
I had a feeling there were big pieces missing from his story.
"When you say scientists, did you mean the Gnawnia Digby scientists?"
"The very ones."
"Those fools." I shook my head. At least now I knew how the mice changed so drastically almost overnight. It also explained why Digby was able to send word to us before the mice population reached our town. It had started there after all. I pulled out my notebook.

"Dear King, there is a lot of explaining to do. The Stranger on the ship is named Zugzwang. You will meet him soon. He says our problem has only just begun, he says the Digby scientists are to blame. I fear the worst if they continue to tamper with these new breeds.
“Zugzwang has taught me much about these creatures. I am better prepared to eradicate them. I will talk to the trap smith as well, telling him of the different power types so traps will be able to be created. I also need to share my white cheddar recipe with the Cheese Shoppe merchant. Until then, let's hope for happy hunting and clean catches. "

The next morning we both checked our traps, I had caught a large pirate mouse while Zugzwang had managed to catch a gold mouse effortlessly in his foreign trap. He bent over and removed the rodent then he flung the dead mouse at my face.

"Catch!" He yelled
It hit the back of my head with a sickening splat. I turned around to glare at him.
"Oh come on Plankrun, lighten up. I promise the mice aren't that bad, it makes for a great hobby. Hunting is the best." He laughed as he pocketed his trap. His contraption seemed more travel friendly. I noticed it folded up on itself making it easy to pack light. He shoved it in his pocket along with his bait.
The bond between us had grown overnight, almost sealing our fate together as hunters. I knew I needed Zugzwang, his knowledge of mice was valuable to me and the King; and he needed me to guide him through Gnawnia. He wanted to see if our scientists had created anything new and "Fun" as he put it.
We headed off in the Direction of the Town together. Zugzwang took out a scarf and wrapped it around his neck with a smug look on his face. I thought he looked like a court Jester or something. It would take a while to get use to his stranger habits.

We made our way quickly up the path that led to the Town. Zugzwang's mouth dropped when the castle came into view. The walls loomed over us when we grew closer; I took comfort in their shade.
To my surprise upon reaching the western wall I found the gates wide open. The town was rushing to and from Shoppes, livelier than I had ever seen them before. Many gawked at Zugzwang's odd attire but were in too much a rush to stop and ask questions. I noted many fliers had gone up all over.
-A notice from the King
To all Town citizens,
I need your help! The kingdom is overrun by strange mice.
Protect my Kingdom and I will reward you! -

The note was followed by the King’s signature and his seal. He'd done it; he finally started to fight back. I was the front of the line but I wouldn’t be alone any longer. Gnawnia men and women would take over hunting the places I deemed safe for them. I smiled and couldn’t help thinking, "Here mousy, mousy, mousy"