Part 1:
(You will have to forgive me for any bad grammer. I am not the best writer by any means. Usually I have my wife edit my writing before I post anything of substance on a forum. I just wrote the very beginning of this story up at 1 am this morning. It is rough, just thought I would share. Please leave helpful and positive feedback.)
A new day beat upon Lockhaven’s stain glass windows. The flickering rays danced along the stone ground in the streets of the fortress, mice bustled throughout the city doing their early morning tasks. The weather watcher could be heard calling out warnings of rain to the unknowing mice below. So much trust was placed on each and every duty of the guard mice and so much trust was placed on the guard mice as a whole by the entire species of mice. The doors to the mighty city flung open now and again to let enter and exit various working mice. Gathers sized their basket straps and scuttled out the doors. Patrols sheathed their weapons and did their individual preparation rituals before heading out to serve their fellow mouse brothers and sisters.
All was up and going throughout the well-oiled machine of Lockaven. One would hardly notice a small mouse by the name of Cale making his way around the different stores and market places. He was on a mission of great importance to deliver supplies of wood and nails to Avery the carpenter. Cale was a very young mouse to be doing such things but has excelled in his schooling so much that he was given much more important tasks in the early part of the day. Not to say he avoided his schoolwork, just temporarily relieved of his schooling to help the greater effort.
You see the more promising mice are given a chance to become known among the specialty mice at a very early age. Cale was only thirteen and close to beginning his Tenderpaw training with the guard. He was still very small but much more capable than most of his fellow mice students. His fur was a light brown and he had very respectable ears for a mouse of his stature.
He could be found very often watching the warrior Guard mice in the barracks training with all sorts of weapons. Cale would dance in the shadows with fake enemies swinging a wooden sword in every direction. He could see himself fighting a great war along side the Guard. His own shadow against a stonewall was a secret resemblance of his future self… it stretched and widened behind him displaying a very tall and stoic figure. So unaware of his glorious future Cale was, so unaware in-fact that he would spend his life time finding out.
This story takes us to Cale’s younger years, to one particular day where Cale began his first real adventure.
“Watch where you are going with that! You nearly took my head off!” Shouted an old smithy mouse as Cale swung his pile of lumber swiftly around a tight corner.
“Apologies Sir! Please, I am in a great hurry.” Blubbered Cale.
Many mice were about their business and it made it very hard for Cale to get around at his short height.
“Move move! Out of the way!” Proclaimed the now flustered mouse that seemed very intent on arriving where he needed to be in a more than timely manner.
“Don’t you see? I have an important mission to deliver much needed goods to my master Avery!”
“Oh old Avery can wait plenty!” Said a slightly annoyed elder female mouse.
“Heavens No!” Said Cale, “Avery is a very impatient mouse and I have been late twice this week already. If I were late again he said that it would be the end of my morning training.”
Finally the young mouse found himself outside Avery’s door.
*knock *Knock *KNOCK!
“Blasted youngling! If you could use a hammer as well as you knock on my door you would have no need for an old carpenter like myself.” Avery got up from his old rocking chair and stumbled for his gnarled cane. “I will be right there! Just stop it with the confounded knocking and blubbering.”
“But Avery, the baker’s pet beetle is staring at me funny!” Cale had dropped his supplies and was now flat against the door with his back against it.
“Rubbish! That beetle knows better than to be hanging out my front door! If I were to catch him wandering arou…” Before he could finish his sentence the door swung open and in came crashing poor little Cale… toppling over on his back squirreling around like a dieing spider.
“Shoo! Shoo!” Said Avery while waving and jabbing his cane at the nasty beetle. “Why must he keep that thing? Always a pain… Now where is that mouse that I saw come crashing through my door?”
“Sorry sir!” Up jumped Cale to his most upright stature and giving his most proper salute.
‘Enough of that nonsense! I may live in Lockhaven, but by no means am I a member of the guard… blasted child… so much to learn…” Mumbled the old mouse as he hobbled his way over to his bench.
“Avery, why do you dislike the guard so much while living in the very city they dwell?” Cale asked while picking up his supplies and tools that were piled in a heap.
“I won’t speak of it!” He promptly replied.
“Very well…” sighed Cale. “What is our task today?”
“Ah, yes… today we have a very special task, one I think you will enjoy.” Avery said with kind smile. One Cale had not seen before. “Today we get to venture out and check the city peremiter. There has been some repairs to the exterior of Lockhaven and the matriarch desires I look over the job they have done.”
“You mean we get to go outside the city?” Cale asked… seemingly nervous about this venture. “I am not sure if my father would permit such a venture.”
“For goodness sake child you are almost old enough to begin your tenderpaw training. Soon you will be asked to complete tasks outside the city daily. Do you really want to enter your two seasons of training having never been outside the city walls?”
“I suppose not, you are right! When do we leave? What should I bring? Is there anything I should know?”
“Enough with the questions! If I had to answer all of your questions we would never make it back in the city before the rain.” Clamored Avery as he packed a small pack full of assorted foods and drinks.
It would be a glorious adventure for young Cale… one he has not experienced before.