“So, you don’t have any better ideas then following a random guy straight through the slums and into his accommodation just to ask this?” Beren ask his recent visitor, a slightly light skinned human, a pretty uncommon species in these times, while watching the man through the thick darkness of his living space. “Don’t see a reason not to. It sounds interesting.” his guest responds.
“Really? You somehow figured out what I am and you still think it’s a good idea, to ask a vampire about his past? You’re a strange person, you know? What made you think, there would be any interesting thing to tell in my past?” his guest sits down on one of the rickety chairs, that nearly collapses under the sudden weight.
“Oh, come on, don’t be like that. And besides, I don’t plan to go, until I’ve heard your story.” the man states. “Make yourself home.” Beren responds in his usual, melancholic voice, still watching the silhouette of his strange guest, that even could hardly make out in the dark. The man looks back. “Oh, please tell me.” he asks again, making Beren roll his eyes.
“Fine. But don’t blame me, when you drop off while I’m telling.” the man looks back with a kind of happy face. “Well hope you don’t mind, if I tell the story from the very start.” Beren begins. “Why?” his guest interrupts. “Well mostly because I can’t remember.” the mouse responds. “Why?” his guest asks again. “Because it is so!” Beren says “And if you want to hear the story, better don’t interrupt me all the time.”
“The first thing I remember there was a guy. In the forest. I was hunting. Was a lot hunting back in that days. More a wild creature then a person. Comes with the curse. But this guy.. I was sure he didn’t notice me. But he began to speak, when I got closer. Asked me what I had lost. Who I was before. What I wanted to be.” Beren starts his story again.
“Didn’t know why, but this day, I finally began to realize, what I had lost. What I had become. I left the place. I moved in in an old farm. People told stories it was cursed, so they avoided it. In the coming decades I thought about me, about the curse. Sometimes I even visited nearby villages, had some social ‘contacts’, but they never ended up well.” he continues. “Why?” his guest interrupts again.
“Why? Well let’s say, vampiric babies need a very special kind of treatment for survival. Feeding blood, no sunlight. Such things. There had been some.. ‘Incidents'. And people started to talk, telling rumors. It just became too dangerous. The worst story was..” he takes a deep breath “One with a woman from a close by village.”
“Her husband, a priest was beside himself with rage. He drowned the baby in holly water, and as his begging wife beseeched him to spare it, he stabbed her down on the altar. I couldn’t do anything to help them. A few months later he appeared on the old farm with a mob of angry villagers. Sadly, had to kill him in defense.” the mouse takes a deep breath. “The story I can tell you happened a few decades after that.”
~~~~
“You’re sure this is the right place Tracy?” a deep male voice echoes in the empty ruin. “How should I know It just was talk of an old farm ruin. So, likely we are right.” a female voice answers. “We have to try it, Burk. At least if we want a tiny chance to find Lis.” a third, less deep, but still male voice states. “Don’t worry. We will find your sister Luk. And when we do, we slay this vampire once and for all.” The first voice responds.
Pointed ears following that uncommon voices as they are walking through the twilight of the half rotten building. “Come out and fight, monster!” the deep voice shouts. As the three are reaching the upper floor, the dweller of this remote place can see, that it belongs to a big wolf, wielding a heavy two-hander.
“Are you really sure we are here in the right place?” the other male voice, belonging to a slender cat with a staff, likely a mage, asks. “Don’t vampires normally dwell in giant castles, surrounded by every kind of nightmarish creatures? This place looks so.. Empty.” “You’ve heard what the villages said. The vampire is living all on his own in an old, cursed farm. And this seems to be the perfect match to me. Very likely he’s just sleeping somewhere in his coffin.” The woman, a bunny, also equipped with a staff explains.
“Makes it easier to kill. Well less of a fight then. But better than nothing.” the wolf adds. “I see no coffin.” the cat responds. “It has to be here somewhere.” the bunny states “It’s full daytime so he must be asleep.” Suddenly a monotone and emotionless voice is calling from the twilight. “I’m sorry madame, I never sleep. And normally I prefer not to have guests. Especially unbidden guests.”
The wolf rises his blade, expecting an attack, but nothing is happening. “Get out and fight!” the wolf yells. But the voice just responds. “No. No interest in fighting you.” “Where is Lis?” the cat calls in the dark. “I don’t know.” the voice still answers in the same emotionless tone. “Stop playing games.” The wolf yells again. “We get you and if we have to burn that whole place down!”
“Do what you can’t stop doing.” the voice responds again. “Burk not. Lis could be inside!” the cat tries to stop his fellow in panic. “Hey you boys, don’t start fighting!” the bunny calms them down. “That leads to nothing.” she adds before eying into a dark corner of the room. Quickly she forms some magic runes in the air before shooting a blast of holy energy out of her fingertips.
The blast shoots through the room and impacts in a puff of magic as it hits the wall. The glint of two red eyes reflects the holy light for a brief moment. “Good shoot milady.” a hist of something falling to the ground and the sounds of claws on old wood are filling the room. “You know, you nearly hit me.” the voice states as it comes closer. The cat quickly casted a spell trying to get a wider circle of light around them, so they can see who’s coming towards them.
“It’s a mouse!” the wolf calls out as he’ seeing the skinny frame of white fur entering the circle. “And not even a very tall one.” he adds with a audible disappointment in his voice. “He’s kinda cute.” the bunny starts to giggle. “You’re sure that’s the horrifying vampire that terrorizes all the surrounding land?” the cat asks confused.
“Well, if the people gossip it that way, I guess it is that way.” the mouse responds, still in a tone, as if he doesn’t pay much interest to carry on a conversation. “So, mind me asking what you want from me now?” he continues. The wolf takes the first step. “We are here to kill you, foul monster!” he says as he starts swinging his blade at the small silhouette. With a small jump, the mouse dodges out of his way, as it hits the old floor.
“Stay still vampire!” the wolf yells as he hauls off for another strike. “Burk, wait!” the bunny calls him, as the second attack also hits the ground, making the old rotten wood creak. “If you still berserk like this, you only will make the whole house collapses over us.” she states. “And besides.” the cat interrupts. “Don’t you think it’s strange, that the vampire doesn't seem to fight back?”
“Hmpf. Maybe he's seeing, he has no chance anyway. Or he’s waiting for the perfect moment to overpower us.” the wolf states, holding up his blade in defense against the mouse which still seems to have no interest in everything going on. “Well. I ask you again. What do you want from me now?” the mouse repeats himself.
The bunny looks slightly confused but the cat's taking the opportunity to ask a question. “Where are you hiding Lis?” the mouse takes a deep breath. “Should I show you the house?” “What?” the wolf asks in confusion and anger. “You don’t trust me, saying that I don’t know, were your friend is, so maybe when I show you the house, you'll see, she’s not here.”
“Fine.” the wolf states, holding his blade at the mouse’s throat. “After you and no tricks. We can still kill you after that.” the mouse guides them through the empty room of this old abandoned ruin. All of them are covered in thick layers of dust and cobwebs, showing that really nobody seems to use it for centuries. As they reach the cellar, they stop before an old heavy wardrobe, blocking a door into another room.
“What’s laying behind this?” the bunny asks curiously. “The wine cellars.” the mouse responds baldly. “I’m sure, your friend isn’t in there.” he adds. “Yeah. And why should we trust you vampire?” the wolf laughs as he starts to move the heavy wardrobe. “Because there wasn’t anyone in there for eternities.” the mouse says. “And you should be careful with that old thing.” he continues as the old wood starts to creak.
Suddenly the legs of the old furniture begin to break and with a loud whang the heavy wardrobe falls over burring the wolf with its weight. “Dammed!” he curses as both his companions run over to him. “Burk. Are you ok?” they ask him, as they try to lift up the wardrobe. “I’m fine. But what is with that vampire? I can’t get out of here so beware!” "Still here." the mouse responds. The two other turn around, taking a defense pose.
The vampire still doesn’t seem to be interested in attacking them, even now, that he has an advantage. Instead he walks slowly towards the fallen furniture, grabbing it on an edge. “Don’t stultify yourself.” the wolf laughs with a huffing, noticing that the weight is starting denting his ribcage. But to his surprise, the mouse doesn’t seem to have much trouble, lifting the heavy colossus up.
“What are you two waiting for? I'm not here to play statue.” the mouse claims, as the two remaining people are watching him perplexedly instead of helping their friend. As they finally have pulled him out under the wardrobe, the mouse drops it to the ground, were it transforms into a pile of plywood. Confused the three adventures are watching him.
“What was that for?” the wolf asks him. “Don’t want to have corpses in my cellar.” the mouse responds baldly. “Yeah sure.” the wolf counters. “Your sword.” the mouse hands him over his blade, holding the heavy sword with just one hand. The wolf just pulls it out of it, leaving a small cut. “Well now it’s time to see, what you're hiding here, vampire.”
“Knock yourself out!” the mouse says. “This time less literal.” he adds in his bald voice, still making the bunny giggle. The wolf on the other hand acts like he hasn’t noticed the quip, getting ready for opening the old door, that’s now laying exposed. With a strong push he opens it and is standing in the dark behind.
“Phooey!” his voice is heard. “What is that for an unbearable stink?” he complains, making his two fellows follow him. “Yiekes! That smells like vinegar.” the bunny answers the question before leaving the room again. “Sorry Burk, but I can’t stand this.” the cat says as he also leaves the room. “Fine Lis isn’t here so no need to stay.” the wolf agrees as he exits the place too.
“What did you expect after some centuries? There was a reason I blocked this room.” the mouse states as he sees the three leaving the room in a hurry. “Now you have seen everything. So, do you like to go now?” The wolf shakes his head, pointing his blade at the rodent. “Not so fast vampire. We still are here to kill you.”
“Even after knowing your friend isn’t here?” the mouse asks baldly “Why?” the wolf laughs “Because you are a vampire. A monster!” the cat nods “Yes. We have to protect the innocent after all the villagers that fall prey to you.” “Says who?” the mouse asks “They found one of your preys. A traveler and they know that other were missed too.” the bunny explains.
The mouse tilts his head. “Well I might have an idea were your friend could be.” he went to go up the stairs. “Oh, so sudden?” the wolf says, rising his blade again. “I think you just want to bail out of the fight.”
“Yeah, why now?” the bunny asks but the mouse just turns around. “Want to follow me now or just wasting all our time. I don’t really care.” the cat was the first to run after him. “Where is she? Where is Liz?” he begs, but the mouse just answers in his normal emotionless voice. “I don’t know. But there could be a possibility.”
He goes upstairs and the three adventures follow him. After he attempts to leave the old ruin the bunny asks. “Where are you leading us?” “Into the forest.” was the bald answer. “Wait? Now?” the cat interrupts “Isn’t it still day? What is with the sun?” the mouse looks back at him “We can wait for the night, if you want. But the earlier we go, the earlier I might have back my peace again.”
He leaves the house and the three follow him visibly confused. Even after he has stepped into the pure sunlight and narrowed his eyes to a slit. “You sure he’s a vampire, Burt?” the cat asks his fellow as they are walking into the bright sun too. “He never gainsays. Honestly, I’m just as confused as you.” the bunny intervenes “He knows more stuff then he is willing to say, guess best choice is just to do as he says.”
They are walking through the forest for nearly three hours as the mouse raises a hand. “We are there.” the adventures are looking around. “Where there?” the cat asks. “The place your friend might could be.” the rodent answer pointing through some bushes. “There’s a bandit camp nearby. Maybe they have your friend.”
“Oh right. For sure.” the wolf laughs. “And why do you think that?” the mouse responds in his usual bald way. “You talked from multiple victims. But I just had one of the bandits in centuries. When they mistake him for a traveler and blame me for the other lost people, they might not be aware of them. But that’s just a theory. Investigate it or not. I don’t mind.”
He's going to leave but the wolf stops him. “Hey where do you think you're going?” “Back home.” the mouse responds “I don’t care about you and your friend. So, whatever you do here it has nothing to do with me.” “Pah. You’re surly just fleeing while we smoke out these bandits and afterwards we will not find you anymore.” the wolf protests.
“If we start fighting now, they surely will notice.” the mouse states. “But that’s up to you.” “Burk, stop!” the bunny tries to calm down the angry canine. “We can’t waste our chance.” “That’s right.” the cat says “Lis wasn’t in the ruin, so we at least have to try.” The wolf snorts angrily. “Fine. For the sake of your sister. But listen vampire. If she isn’t there, we'll come back and cut your head off. And even if you aren’t there, I will hunt your down. And if I have to hunt you over the whole world for that.” he grunts.
The three are sneaking to the hidden camp, leaving the mouse behind who still watches them from the shadows before his red eyes disappear in the darkness. The camp isn't well guarded. Just a single guy who quickly falls for one of the cat's spells. “That was too easy.” the wolf grunts. “Maybe they don’t expect their hideout to be found that easily.” the bunny says “Without Lis or the vampire we might never f have found it, too.”
Carefully they look around one of the makeshift huts that build most of the camp to see an interesting scene. Multiple bandits are sitting around a campfire seemingly to be in some kind of powwow. And in the middle a figure they recognize pretty well. “The village headman!” the cat identifies him. “What is he doing here?” the wolf asks “Did they capture him too?” the cat asks, but the bunny shakes her head. “I wouldn’t say. Look. They seem to know with each other.”
“That goddam scum.” the wolf curses. “He knows of the bandits and their hideout all the time and he just send us to that vampire.” “Do you think, Lis followed him and got caught?” the cat wonders. “Well maybe.” the bunny says, pointing on some caches on the other end of the camp.” At least they seem to be responsible for some of the missing people. But I can’t see if Lis is there too.”
“You mean the damn vampire is really innocent?” the wolf asks angry but the bunny just hikes her shoulders. “What now?” the cat asks. “We just walk up, kill everyone there and then we will free the prisoners.” the wolf decides. “Look at them. They are just two guys with notched weapons for each of us. And when we are done the shady dude will answer our questions.”
“Burk you can’t be serious!” the cat tries to stop him, but it is already too late. The angry wolf already steps out of their hiding point into plain sight and it doesn't take long for the bandits to notice them. “Wait who’s there?” one of them shouted, grabbing his sword, ready to attack.” Great he’s hell-bent on getting his own way again.” the bunny resigned before stepping out too, casting a barrier spell on her companion.
The cat follows, flinging a lightning spell at one of the surprised bandits which has jumped over to another one, causing this one to let his weapon drop. Another bandit gets ready for a charge-attack but is easily stopped by the end of the wolfs blade. The cat just manages to freeze one guy with a spell before he can break through and reach the bunny.
The wolf lifts his blade again after slashing down the next bandit as a very deep voice shouts from half over the camp. “STOP! ALL OF YOU! ESPECIALY YOU STRONG GUY!” The bandits are stopping their attack nearly immediately causing the three adventurers to look were the voice is coming from. A dirty and heavily scarred badger stands in front of one of the huts. In his arm he forcefully holds a catgirl that looks very familiar to the one from the group, pointing at her throat with a long, curved dagger.
“Lis!” the catboy shouts out, forcing a sinister smile on the badger's face. “I hate to damage good wares.” he snorts “But if you three don’t lay your weapons down, I’m afraid I have no choice.” the catgirl struggles as he strengthened up his grip. “I don’t like waiting!” he barks holding the dagger closer to her “If you surrender now, I promise that at least I’ll try to sell you all four to the same buyer so you can stay together.” he laughs.
“You worthless..” the wolf snorts, but the badger just laughed more. “Thanks for your compliments. You know, you might also join us. One like you I always could use in my gang. But I’m sure every quarry would take you too, gladly.” he slowly walks around the three, who already laid down their weapons. “But before we come to business tell me, what are you looking for here?”
“We are here for Lis!” the catboy answers. “Lis? Oh, that’s the name of this curious kitten here, right?” he forces up his grip, making the girl gasping. “Was to curious the good one. But curiosity kills the cat. Couldn’t stay out of other people's business. Well bad luck for her.” he laughs “But don’t worry. First she will entertain me for the next days and then all five of you will be sold to the one with the best price.”
“Five?” the village headman asks “But we..” he gets interrupted “Shut up. First you lead this lady here to our hideout and then the adventures you hired to kill that thing that kills my man founds us too, looking for her. You’re becoming more of a treat then you are useful.” the badger grunts, making the headman flinching backwards on the ground in fear.
“So you have made common cause with these bandits from the beginning?” the bunny asks “How could you?” the catboy adds “Selling your own people and blaming an innocent for that? And sending out unaware adventurers to kill him?” the headman turns away his head in disgust. “Innocent? You have seen that thing. Something like that can never be innocent. It’s a monster!” he argues
“It killed my family. I needed that money. To hire men to wipe out this thing and his spawn.” he tries to vindicate himself. “Oh, shut up.” the badger shouts “I heard the story so many times. You are in no way batter then we are and now you have to pay the toll. Guys! Bring him to the others. They should get their revenge on him before we sell them all of.”
The man begs in even more fear. “Please. Everything just not this.” but the bandit leader just laughs. “Too late. You should have known from the beginning that it would end that way. So, men, bring him away!” he orders. “Boss!” one of his men suddenly shouts. “What?” the leader grunts at him. “There on the sky!” his man pointed on something. “Watch out!”
The badger turns around looking what his man means just to realize a shadow that comes rushing down in front of the setting sun. “What the?” he shouts letting the catgirl get a good chance. Quickly she bites in his arm forcing him to lower his grip and letting her fall. “Ouch you worthless..” he grabbed his dagger to defend himself against the falling shadow, but in the moment he stabs at the unknown thing he's dashed to the ground by his attacker.
Sharp fangs are persisting into his veins before he even realizes what has struck him making his view go blur as his life fates from his body. “It’s the vampire! It’s the monster! It got the boss!” one of the bandits shouts as they are seeing the roughly batlike creature that’s standing above the dead body of their former leader its mouth full of blood, red on white fur.
They try to flee but the wolf quickly grabs his blade, blocking their way out of the camp. “You are going nowhere.” he states as he raises his sword. The bandits fall on their knees in panic. “Please. Safe us. We do whatever you want. Just don’t let us to this monster.” they begin to beg.
The catboy quickly realizes the situation, he summons some magic robes to bind the remaining bad guys. Then he looks to the place where his sister curls in a corner. “So, you are the one this three were looking for?” the bat asks the scared girl that took the dagger of the fallen badged and holds it in his direction, ready to attack, if she had to.
“Lis, no!” the boy shouts making her look in his direction for a brief moment “Well. Looks like they have found you. So maybe I have my peace now.” the bat says before jumping up in the air and flying away in the darkness the sunset created over the camp. Confused the girl looks between her brother and the now empty place, the creature just stood a moment before.
“Luk!” she says in relief as the boy comes closer to her, taking her in his arms. “What was that? Was that really?” she stammers, but her brother calms her down. “Don’t worry Lis. We will tell you everything when we are back in the village.” “But before we have to free the other villagers" the wolf says. “And taking care of that scums. Especially the one that hired us.” he adds. “Oh. And good to see you’re well.” he smiles.
The next day the sun was about to set, when some shapes enter the old ruin again. This time no voices are to be heard as they make their way up the old staircase into the upper floor. One of the shapes is pushed into the dusty room where a strange scenery is revealing itself. A ramshackle table is standing in the room, laid with various, empty plates and chalices.
“You expecting guests?” the deep voice of the wolf asks into the dark. “Four.” a monotone voice is calling from the deeps of the room. “Didn’t expect to hold a party here.” he continued “But it doesn’t matter. I wouldn’t have more than that to offer anyway. Except someone of you want some vinegar.” it finished his sentence.
“We just wanted to bring this guy to you.” the wolf says as he pushes the former headman deeper into the room. “I see.” the voice is calling from the dark again. The shaken man falls on his knees and bows into the direction he thinks the voice is coming from. “Forgive me.” he begs. “Fine.” the voice is coming from the dark, sending all involved into silence.
“Huh? Why?” the bunny breaks the silence. “I mean, it’s good, but it was easier, then I had expected.” “Yeah I too. I mean, he had tried to kill you.” another female voice, this time from the freed kitten adds. Again, the sound of claws landing on old wood is heard. “I know, what he had tried. But I have no quarrel with him. So, I have no reason to bear grudges.”
The man looks at him confused. “We found the diary of his great grandfather.” the bunny explained. “Hard to believe that all of this originated from just an old lie.” the female cat adds “Mind to tell me, which lie?” the mouse interrupts, by which the bowed man looks up.
“My great grandfather..” he starts to explain. “After he..” the man makes a pause “After he! Had killed great grandma he told grandpa, that it had been you who did it. Grandpa was just a young boy and he believed him. And after he dies after assaulting you..” the man makes another pause. “Damned be all that hatred. All the bad things I have done just so I could get of the pest that destroyed my family. And it had been just a lie!” the broken man smashes his fists on the dusty floor.
“So, you are wiser than him to recognize and accept the truce.” the mouse says with his bald voice, looking on the desperate man. The man let out a broken laugh “Sadly it’s too late. If I might have a final wish, would you please forgive the village and especially my son too? They should not suffer more for the mistakes I have made more than they already have.”
“Too late?” the mouse asks, showing a slight amount of confusion, which was the first time, one of the present sees something similar to an emotion from him. “Well. The village people sentenced him to death for his actions. His only last wish has been to come here and ask for forgiveness.” the wolf explains while grabbing the man on his shoulders again.
“Oh, I see.” the mouse responds as the five head to leave the room. “You’re not coming?” the bunny asks him. “Coming to what?” the mouse responds, making the bunny wave her paw. “To his execution. The villagers are waiting.” the mouse shakes his head. “No interest.” “Come on. It’s just in front of the house. The executioner is already waiting.”
The mouse sights before starting to make his way out of the room too. Outside there is a pretty strange sight. Some of the present villagers have put their heads together whispering while some of the others seem to be very happy to see them. “Look at this.” the male cat giggles. “We are like heroes to them. Even you vampire.” the rodent looks around at their faces. The cat was right. Most of them really are showing more signs of happiness then worry.
“Guess that means I will have my peace for some years now without having to worry about more unwanted visitors.” the mouse responds with his usual monotone voice. But it’s obvious that this kind of attention isn’t anything he is looking for. “But why here?” he asks the others.
“I want to be buried right beside him.” the former headman responds. “I don’t know where he ended, but I’m sure, for all the things I have done I will end up there too and I want to tell him what he has done. How it was him, who destroyed everything and not someone else.” the mouse looks at him, as the man’s head is laid on some kind of improvised executioner's block.
“I see.” the mouse nods while walking to the four adventurers, which are standing next to a young boy. “What are they doing to daddy?” the boy asks the bunny. “Your father has done a lot of bad things. But he is willing to take responsibility for his actions. You should be strong now, young man and take care not to do the same mistakes he does.” the mouse answers him.
“Ok mister.” the boy says and at the moment the sharp axe falls down on the condemned man a wing blocking the young man’s view from the action. “And again, the baren farm sees blood.” the mouse says more to himself then to the others. “What did you mean?” the bunny asks him. The mouse just shakes his head. “Nothing. Shouldn’t you take the boy back? I think I should take care of this man's last wish.” the mouse ignores the question.
The four nod and take the boy in their care as they walk back to the village. And shortly after them the other villagers are following them in the same direction, just leaving the mouse and the lifeless body behind. “Seems like this place stays to be the home of death, huh?” the mouse says to him, not expecting an answer as he carries the body to an old stone plate. “Good luck to your last wish.” he mumbles as he starts to examine the buried hole.
Three of four days passed till another time the peace of this old place is disturbed. “You again?” the mouse greets his guests, this time not even making the effort to speak from a dark place. “Yeah. We just want to say goodby.” the wolf responds “We are moving to the next place to find some adventures.” the catboy adds
“I see. Well I guess that means goodbye forever.” the mouse states in his monotone voice. “Well we thought..” the catgirl tries to start an explanation. “You might..” it was obvious that she doesn’t know how to say it. The bunny rolls her eyes. “We thought you might want to come with us.” she finishes the sentence.
The mouse hesitates. “What? Why should I?” “See I think you’re a pretty nice guy. And we really could use something like you in our group.” the bunny explains. “That doesn’t explain why.” the mouse interrupts “You forgot? I’m a vampire. A monster. What did you think? Were ever I will go to the people will see me as what I am. And I don’t think, they would make an exception just for you?”
“Oh, come on.” the catgirl suddenly says. “We have seen way worse monsters then you the last days and they don’t even claim to be one, like you. I can’t even imagine what they would have done to me without your help. I couldn’t even thank you for this till now.” she puts her paws in her side as she looks at the mouse with a strict eye.
Her brother laughs. “No chance vampire. If this both girls get something in their heads not even you can change their minds.” the wolf grunts in agree “So what do you say? Will you come with us?” the bunny asks again but just gets an empty eye from the mouse. “Jeeze. You really have to get out of here and among people, boy.” she grabs his shoulders pushing him forwards first out of the room and then out of the old building too.
“See. Wasn’t that hard right?” she says laughing as the mouse squinting his eyes in the sun. “My name is Tracy by the way.” she introduces herself. “And these two fur balls are Luk and Lis.” she continues. “Burk.” the wolf says before the bunny could get to him. “And your name? I mean we can’t call you vampire or mousy all the time, can we?” she laughs.
The mouse shakes his head. “I have no name. Or at least I can’t remember it.” the wolf looks at him. “Really?” the mouse looks back. “What did you think? Living in an old ruin for more centuries then I had count isn’t the most social way of life. So, I rarely had a use for a name.”
The bunny nods. “Alright. I’m sure we will find a solution, right guys? So, this is the Beren-Forest, right?” the mouse nods. “And you are the legendary Beren-Vampire, also right?” “Well not sure about the legendary, but I guess it is so.” the mouse confirms. The bunny laughs. “Then it’s easy. Your name is Beren now!” the mouse raises an eyebrow. “How creative.” he states with his bald voice.
The bunny nods. “So, it’s Beren. Everyone agrees to that?” she goes to her friends, earning an agreeing reaction from each. “And you Beren?” she asks the mouse. “Fine.” he sighs “If it makes you happy.” the bunny jumps happily. “Then everything is clear. Welcome to the team Beren!”
~~~~
“Wow. What a nice story.” the man, sitting on Berens bed claps his hand. “How does it continue?” he asks. The mouse just looks into the dark. “I don’t tell.” His guest claps his hands on his legs. “Why?” he still asks, forcing the vampire to a loud sigh. “Because I’m sick of telling stories about people long dead for ages. So, I have done as you wanted and told you of my past. So, will you leave now and let me in peace?”
The man lays down on the bed slightly disappointed. “Puh.” the mouse just keeps staring into the darkness. “Fine. Then stay. I don’t mind.”
