Misstep

Chizzou peered cautiously through the leaves of spinach, wary of the Riley that often patrolled the area.








The Riley largely disregarded mice but had increased patrols as rabbits pushed into the disputed territories and occasionally would gain entertainment by inflicting torment on a mouse.







Chizzou darted across the open ground finding cover beneath the sprawling vines of watermelon.

Almost there...

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He was an unexceptional, conventional field mouse, his days spent foraging, feeding and flirting. The region had been peaceable enough despite the presence of squirrels, their omnipresent need to oppress mice mitigated by mouse' strange nugget harness and manipulation.

But that had changed, recently, with the onslaught of rabbit -- historically, viral enemy to the squirrel. The cooperative coordination was curious as the species were known not only to despise one another but further had no facility for communication.

The immediate reaction of the mice to this happening, of course, was to launch a massive strangelet attack which, as everyone knows rabbits happily consume quark stars, failed impressively and began the descent into the current undefended state of affairs.

Chizzou had joined the defenses shortly after the rabbit attack on the ash stacks. The tightly packed branches had kept the squirrels at bay but rabbits were stronger and longer in tooth and easily eviscerated the colony -- quite literally.

He joined not seeking revenge or for cause or reason, other than boredom. He was, after all, an unexceptional, conventional field mouse who foraged for the community. There was no more community and he could feed himself quite amply. Simply seeking interaction with similar beings he had approached a defensive encampment and by night's end signed to service for a term of 5 years.

Quickly he advanced to the Undercover Special Utilitarian Rodent Protectors unit, due to the stealth and shrewd cunning developed over many months gathering in the fields as a primary forager for his colony.

Despite the belabored and expansive work of intelligence it was merely serendipitous mishap that led to the key of the enemy partnership. Communication (the motive for the allegiance was never clear), communication was carried about via packets of information encapsulated by the roots on a specific peanut plant -- the plant itself never growing beyond a mere sprout.

The mice had immediately launched a massive attack once the importance of the peanut root was recognized. They were both actually and, what was left, emotionally disemboweled.

Since that time, the squirrels and rabbits had plundered wontonly and with unashamed privilege about the region, largely destroying the natural beauty and once fountainous resources.

Chizzou was chosen, as, he was one of the few members left of the defense. He was considered, likely, their last hope. He met the assignment with typical indifference and lack of emotion.

That changed upon application.

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Everything was quiet: None of the Riley, no squirrels. Chizzou relaxed a bit and paused for a brief nibble on the adjacent bean stalks. He laughed to himself for his nerves. Of course the squirrels wouldn't expect him. Their system had been flawless.

It was only recently the mice learned how the information was passed. And now he was paws away from the encoded peanut.

Time to go.

He bolted into the open towards the small plant inconspicuously sprouting in the garden. He dove, mouth agape...

..and nothing -- but a high pitched, panic stoked ringing as his ears filled with liquid.

Terror stung him, unable to breathe or claw his way free from the trap, his mind swirled with desperation as the putrid fluid stung his eyes and choked his throat..

He thought: The stacks, the food, defense..

Chizzou did not return.