25 I Am Not a Creature!

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Mina remained hidden inside the satchel oblivious to the scents and sounds in her surroundings. She felt the horse stop for a while as the general conversed with the guards at the gate. The horse continued to move a few moments later. Even after pondering for a long time, she couldn't shake off the gruesome image she witnessed. She remained motionless while running things over in her head.

"We're here."

Mina felt the general dismount and she quickly tried to climb her way out of the satchel. She wanted to do nothing but curl up in one corner to sort out her thoughts. Without knowing how she found the strength, Mina jumped out of the satchel on her own.

Meanwhile, Tarou who has been hanging out with the human who loved handing him food was sound asleep when they arrived. He didn't even notice when the horse stopped. He was all too comfortable in the small space. When he woke up, everything was still. No more jostling, no more grunting horses, and no more dusty scent. He slowly crept out of the darkness but one of his paws was stuck on something. While struggling he couldn't help but squeak in frustration.

"Boss?"

"Human?"

"Anybody?"

Vigorously gnawing on a free paw, Tarou felt annoyed and disappointed.

'How could Boss forget him again?'

Tarou squeaked again, louder this time.

'They should hear him now. They will, right?'

Fully expecting to see Boss or the Barca human, Tarou was surprised when he heard tiny steps from outside. He tried to get out of the bag but his paw was caught on something. A few moments later, he heard small squeaks coming from outside.

"Did you hear that?" a high pitch squeak asked.

"Hear what?" another squeak questioned. The second squeak emphasized every word.

'I seem to have two squeaky friends outside,' Tarou thought. But he remained quiet. He was in a new place and he disliked socializing with other animals.

"I heard something squeak. I think it came from there?" the high-pitched voice revealed with concern. The other mouse quickly replied with doubt.

"There? Inside the satchel?" The mouse asked again, "Why would a mouse volunteer to stay inside that thing? That's stupid."

"Well...Maybe I heard wrong," the first mouse admitted through another piercing squeak.

Tarou heard small footsteps retreat. He sighed in relief but before he could be comfortable with being left alone, he realized that he was still stuck. What if he gets stuck inside the satchel for his entire life?

No, it can't be. He had no food in there. There's no water either! Realizing the gravity of the situation, Tarou squeaked loudly for help. He heard quick steps and soon enough, he saw two pairs of eyes peeking into the bag. He held his breath while waiting for a reaction. But the eyes continued to stare at him with wide eyes.

"Do you see that?" the high-pitched mouse ask.

"It's not just your imagination," the other mouse squeaked back.

The eyes suddenly disappeared and Tarou was engulfed in darkness again. Tarou continued to tug his paw to free himself. This time, he finally succeeded but the force caused him to tumble forward and he almost bumped into the curious mice.

When he finally saw the two creatures clearly, he realized that he really had two squeaky creatures in front of him.

"What is that creature?" a mouse with brownish-grey fur asked the other mouse with emphasis on every word like its companion had hearing problems.

Tarou also took the time to observe the two creatures in front of him. The other mouse was a lighter shade of grey, like the color of the sky at dusk.

'This mouse must be the one with the high pitched voice.'

"Are you...like us?" the grey mouse inquired through a high pitched squeak. The brownish grey mouse continued to examine him from head to paw.

'Of course, I'm a mouse. Are they blind?' he echoed in his thoughts but outside, he looked like one confused rodent as he stared at them.

It took Tarou a few moments before he could reply. He nodded slowly while looking at the two creatures.

The brownish-grey mouse looked him again before exclaiming, "I've never seen a dumb mouse in my life!" Tarou's paws clenched his fur while staring at the mice in front of him.

Mustering enough courage, Tarou squeaked. "I-I'm n-not d-d-umb!!!"

"Ooooh it CAN squeak!" the brownish-grey mouse remarked while clapping its paws.

'Of course, I can squeak! I'm a mouse!!!' The two creatures looked at him, their eyes wider than before, expecting him to say something more. Seeing his reaction, the high-handed mouse asked, "Do you think we offended that creature?"

Tarou finally found the courage to reply after the brown mouse continued to look down at him.

"Mouse! I am a mouse, NOT a creature!"

"He says he's a mouse," the mouse continued while looking at its high pitch companion. The light grey mouse finally shushed the brown mouse and asked.

"Are you really a mouse?"

Tarou nodded eagerly which made the mouse squeak 'Oh!' in the same high pitched voice.

"If you are a mouse," the squeak continued, "why do you have small ears?"

"He looks like a baby mouse too," the brown mouse remarked after giving him another disgusted look.

"I am not small! You.. you are just large!" he retaliated.

"It squeaks with a weird intonation too, it's appalling!" the brown mouse commented. The high-pitched mouse elbowed its companion.

"Who are you?" the grey mouse asked while looking intently at Tarou.

"I am Tarou."

"Even the name is weird!"

'Hey! Boss gave me that name!' Tarou thought, feeling an immense urge to attack the brown mouse.

"Kaia!" the grey mouse snapped before speaking in a friendly manner, "I am Aure, and this obnoxious house mouse is my sister Kaia."