Conflict in Oftinville
Cat and Crow have succeeded in retrieving the packages for the queen and are hauling them back toward the town entrance in the wagon. They are in bags and boxes wrapped beautifully with bows. Now they just need to get them back to Castle Reignith safely.
As Crow pulls the wagon of packages behind him, he worries about the bumpy road that they will need to travel outside of town. Hopefully, the packages will not rattle loose!
Cat, being ever curious, wonders what is in the packages. She hovers around them looking for any part not covered by wrapping paper. "Do you think the queen would mind if we took a peek inside maybe just one or two? I could just stick my face in to see."
"Absolutely not!" Crow tells her. "They aren't ours and surely they are filled with something secret that she wouldn't want us to know. We must not break the queen's trust."
Cat is still intrigued. "Can I at least play with the bows and ribbons?"
Knitten says, "They are tempting, but we don't want to ruin them, Cat."
Cat senses something. Crow does not and continues walking, whistling a tune. Someone is following them in the shadows. Cat floats up higher to get a better look around. There it is! She sees movement between the buildings, but whatever it is appears to be very small and more plentiful than one. She swoops back down to warn the others.
From the shadows, Crow hears what sounds like three squeaky voices all say at the same time, "Drop the handle and back away from the wagon, feathered one! We overheard you talking about your task and are now here to steal the queen's packages. We have weapons, so surrender yourself."
Crow is taken by surprise but remains at the wagon's side. He does not see where Cat went, so he puts his goggles on, adjusts his cap, and pulls the biggest wrench he has out from his pouch. It is longer than his leg and certainly longer than the size of the pouch. Crow sways a tad from the weight of it, but he holds it like a sword with both wings, ready to defend Knitten and himself if needed. He is scared but tries to feel as brave as he can.
Cat spots their assailants in the darkness as she lands. They are very small and resemble mice, so she pounces at them to foil their plans, but soon discovers that they go right through her like she is a ghost. If they do not believe she is there then she cannot stop them. She turns to look at Crow, desperate to solve how she can help.
He sees her and makes a clicking noise with his tongue, smiling to indicate he has a plan.
Cat, who is pretty sharp in a pinch, gleans what he means and prepares.
The shadowy creatures mistake his smile as a challenge. In tiny, squeaky voices, they say in unison, "Are you defiant of us? Larger creatures than you have fallen before our mighty wrath and there is only one of you!"
As they leap out of the shadows at him with their tiny weapons, Crow says with renewed confidence, "Whaat? Have you not met my friend, Cat?" and motions to her with his wing. They glance to where he is pointing with an anticipation of seeing someone unexpected. That moment of belief is enough for Cat so she becomes visible to them, rising up with a big, toothy grin on her face and, to her utter delight, they all gasp at the same time.
"Ooh, just what I was hoping to hear!" With that element of surprise and a few swipes of her paws, Cat succeeds in batting them each into the sunny street like little squeaky toys. One! Two! Three! Quite pleased with herself, she tells them, "As much as I'd enjoy pouncing and toying with you three some more, we'll let you leave peacefully if you let us continue on our way back to the castle."
In the sun, it is clear to see they look like a trio of mice dressed in dark pajamas. One of them squeaks, "We are the Shrews of One Mind Thrice, proficient in martial arts and fast weapons. Our purpose is to obey our exalted leader, Old King Bazlan, and bring him fascinating offerings, like those presents, to satisfy his unquenchable curiosity. We cannot go back empty-handed."
Crow tells them, "Well, you can't have these presents. They are the queen's. Can we interest you in some snickerdoodles instead?"
The shrews all look at one another and shrug their shoulders. Together, they ask, "Snickerdoodles? What are those?"
"They're really yummy cookies. We can share some with you if you'd like."
"And you would give them to us willingly and free of charge?"
"Oh, yes! Sharing is a great way to make friends and it would make me very happy to give you some. Perhaps they would be a good offering for your king?"
The shrews huddle together to discuss the offer. One of them pops his head up to ask, "Were they intended for your king and queen?"
Crow says, "Well, yes, if they had wanted some I would have given them each one."
They nod their heads and go back to conversing. After some discussion, they turn back to Crow and all say, "If you wrap them up, they will make for a nice surprise. We accept your proposal."
"Sure thing!" Crow leans his wrench against the wagon, pulls an extra bit of filler paper out from one of the bags, and begins wrapping the plate of cookies centered and neat within its folds.
"Ooh! Save me one, please!" Knitten requests.
He tells her, "But you don't eat cookies. You're a puppet."
She answers in a hushed voice, "I know that. I'm going to give it to Cat later. Don't tell her though. It's a surprise!"
Crow takes one out and places it in the pocket with her, then finishes wrapping the package with a bit of ribbon to hold it closed. With cheerfulness in his step and demeanor, he presents the package to the Shrews of One Mind Thrice. "Here you go. I hope Old King Bazlan enjoys them. It was nice making friends with you."
"Ha! We are not now your friends from this," they tell him. "This is just an acceptable surrender of goods. When next we cross paths, nothing will have changed. But, thank you."
They scurry away holding the wrapped plate high up between the three of them, and as they do, one of them waves back at Crow.
"Who is Old King Bazlan?" Cat asks as she floats over next to him.
"I have no idea."
Cat pats Crow on the shoulder. "Nevertheless, Crow, you're always willing to help out anyone in need, and that's a wonderful trait to have."
"Thanks." Crow smiles, knowing he did what he felt was best and the packages are safe for the queen.
