Tunnel Rat

It took a few minutes for an excited Larry to calm down. Milo finally diverted his attention by asking him about his house, and Larry sat him down on a pillow and gave his head one last pat. Larry sat on his bed, happy to show off his house.

"This is Larry's special house. No one else lives alone except for Larry. That makes this house special! Larry has three pillows, his comfy bed, and his picture of Justin. Larry has some pet bugs and his lucky rock here too! It's a long crawl to get out of Larry's house, but Larry likes it that way.

Milo agreed with him. "I like Larry's House. I had a house like this when I was growing up. I had to go down a long tunnel that no one else could fit through, with a cozy spot at the end. Now I have a bigger house, but I still crawl through tunnels to get there. No one else goes there, just me. It's safe and cozy and I like it that way."

Larry looked at him oddly, slowly thinking. "Did people make you live alone like they did Larry? Larry used to have more friends, but now it's only Larry. Sometimes Justin. Sometimes Tallsqueak."

Larry suddenly got very excited and jumped up and down until he fell over. "Larry has two friends! Larry has two friends."

Seeing Larry fall over reminded Milo of the slippers he had found. As soon as he pulled out the pink weasel slippers, Larry got even more excited. "For Larry? Present for Larry?" He could barely sit still as Milo tried to stretch them over his feet. Somehow, they fit with room to spare and Larry jumped and began dancing around the little cave. "Special Hamster Hop slippers!" Larry managed to do the Happy Hamster Hop without falling over until the very end.

That gave Milo another idea. He really didn't want to have to spend an hour a day dancing around. But Larry might. "I have another special thing, Larry. But to make the magic work, you have to Hamster Hop each day for a full bell."

"Larry can do that. Larry did the Happy Hamster Hop yesterday for three bells!"

Milo took out the Fae Ring of Dancing and put it on Larry's finger, watching it expand to fit.

Larry's eyes got huge. "Blue Box? Larry got a Blue Box! See! See!"

You have accepted the Fae Ring of Dancing

You have gained the skill: Dancing

Well, what are you waiting for, twinkletoes? Show everyone what you can do!

Larry jumped up and began Hamster Hopping. "Larry can Dance!" Milo could see the difference in Larry already. He hoped that the bonus agility would help his friend even more.

Two bells rang out, one after another. Milo stood up quickly. It was almost time for fighting class! "Larry, you need to dance until three bells, can you do that!"

Larry hopped twice, and took a step to the left. He nodded. "Larry will do that, then Larry will go eat and find Tall-Squeak. Tall-Squeak needs to scurry fast. Go to end of Larry's tunnel and go to your right side and follow wall until you see the Barracks." Milo hurried off as Larry continued his dancing. It took several minutes to get to the end of the twisting tunnel Larry lived in, but eventually he was back in the Hollow and found his way to the Barracks and the Fighting arena.

Players and whelps from the Hollow were already gathering. Some of the players were excited, but several of them, including Black Whisker, seemed sullen and angry. Milo set down his pack and began to do the stretching that the Tailmaster had shown them. Blackwhisker and his group walked over

"So, teacher's pet. We were thinking we don't want to do all these warm up exercises."

Milo shrugged. "Then don't do them. I don't care if you stay clumsy and die when you try to fight monsters."

That wasn't the expected response. "You don't care? What sort of teacher are you if you don't care?"

Milo stood up. Why were these people wasting time? "No, I don't care. Why should I care about you, if you don't care about you? Either get better or don't. Now please leave the arena so I can begin warm ups."

Blackwhisker grinned. "And if we don't move? What then?"

Milo walked around him and clapped several times the way the Tailmaster did. "Then you stand there looking silly." The rest of the class began to do the exercises with Milo. Eventually after standing around for a minute, Blackwhisker and the others moved to the back and began to do them as well, but putting in minimal effort. Milo didn't feel as tired as he had yesterday. As the third bell rang, he simply felt refreshed, even though all the others were covered in sweat.

Gilad came into the ring, walking slowly. He looked at Milo. "You saunter into my arena with stylish new pantaloons and shiny fur that you groomed for hours? Did you think that would impress me?"

Milo was sure he was missing something, but he answered the question. "My other pants were stinky, and these aren't. And I was stinky so I took a bath. I can't help it if my fur is shiny." From the crowd of whelps came snickers and chuckles. A voice from the back yelled, "Teacher's pet has stinky pants. I wonder how that happened."

Gilad felt he was missing some important piece of information. Still, it was obvious that Tall-Squeak had not been working as hard as he worked the others. He wasn't even sweating yet. He would rectify that. "Today we will start with light sparring. Pick a partner and surround the ring, practicing your tail patterns and dodges. No claws. Tallsqueak, I have a special assignment for you. I want you to spar and not strike with claws. Fight how you like, but do not strike with your claws."

Milo nodded his head and moved to the center of the room, wondering who he was going to fight. Gilad pointed to where Blackwhisker and MickyD were sparring next to ThiefofCheese and MightyMarmot. "You four, come here. You will fight Tall-Squeak. You may use claws and tails to attack. I have healing potions for after the fight, so don't worry about hurting your opponent. Leave the ring if you are hurt, or yell out for the bout to end. Begin."

The four players looked at each other, and Marmot asked the others, "All at once?"

ThiefofCheese was on Milo's far left. As soon as Milo heard 'Begin' he sprinted at him, leaped and spun, his tail slashing hard against the surprised opponents face. Blood was drawn, and as his ThiefofCheese moved backwards a step, Milo followed up with a brutal kick to his stomach, then spun again and struck with his tail against the player’s head. The stunned player just rolled for the edge of the ring and curled into a ball. Milo quickly backpedaled, putting distance between himself and the remaining three opponents. They were cautious now, and working together, he wouldn't get another easy victory like that one.

Larry danced. He fell over some, but not as much as he did before. He danced the Happy Hamster Hop over and over and over and over. A little while after he heard third bell ring, Larry got another Blue Box. Two Blue Boxes in one day!

You have fulfilled your pact with the Fae Lady, Rhapsody for a day. She grants you these boons:

You have learned to dance. This is a permanent boon that will never leave you.

You have been gifted with Fae Grace, increasing your agility by +4, and raising your agility to (4). Celebrate by dancing each day to remain graceful and agile.

Unseen and unheard by Larry, a very small door appeared in his house. The smallest of fairies stepped through, and flew up to sit on a ledge next to a picture. She clapped and laughed as the newest dancer capered back and forth across the floor. She watched until the dance was over, and then flew back to her home in Underhill to show the others the new dance she had learned.

Larry has learned to dance better! Dancing is now at rank 2!

Larry is more agile! Larry has raised his agility to rank 1! Total agility is now at (5).

Good job, Larry!

Larry sat down to rest when he saw the new Blue Box. He was tired for the first time in a long, long time. Dancing without falling over was nice!

As he slowly read the message, he got happier and happier. Larry had got better! He needed to go tell Justin. And Tallsqueak. And Bleusnout!

Thinking of the chef reminded him that it was 'Little Fishies for Breakfast Day'. He scampered down his long tunnel get breakfast.