The Castle Of Squirrels

Source: @deathcross
_{Slow Down, Tourist – The Castle of the Squirrels}

Thirteen years old Varth tried to steady his heart. It was his coming of age; it was time to prove himself a man. He tightened his grip, trying to draw as much assurance as he could from the cold steel. He wondered if Evelyn was watching.

The butler took his eyes of the chain watch and turned to Sir Conrad Ernethis and nodded. Varth knew what the nod meant. He braced himself.

"Son, go get us a squirrel." His father's words, heavy with expectation, struggled to float into his ears. Varth nodded once and began to run down the stairs.

He had always followed his father on hunts. He knew how to track down a prey, to sneak on it from behind, to put it down with a single shot. This squirrel was specifically chosen for him. It was supposed to be easy to hunt. His mother must have whispered something to the butler.

He saw the blood on the leaf, barely a speck but enough to give him direction. He lifted the rifle to his shoulder and crouched on his toes.

He must have walked for ten minutes, his ears alert to the gentlest shuffling of leaves. He had just bended a tree when he heard it. It was the squirrel. His heart commanded the blood in his veins and arteries to race.

He turned just in time to see the stick headed for him. He was able to move in time, but his quickness cost him his balance. Squirrels don't throw sticks. They run. Something was definitely wrong.

He landed on a carpet of leaves, his right hand reaching the floor first. He looked up to see the squirrel starting at him. It's body was black, there was a brand on its neck. Darth tried to reach his riffle but it was too late.

The squirrel delivered a deft blow to his neck. The next one was against his temple. Hand forced to work in the field battered the pampered heir of Sir Conrad Ernethis' plantation and slave trade empire.

The squirrel walked away, free at last. But it was a long way from home, from Africa. He would never be able to hide in this strange land. It walked to the rifle, picked it up and tested it's firepower, first on Varth and then on itself. It dare not wait for the search party that would certainly come looking for Varth