13 The Rainy Rabbit

 

 

  

"It's nearly time.  Are you ready?"

Kindel made a face as his concentration broke once again.  Sewing wasn't something he'd done a lot of, and as his gatehouse was being kept as dark as possible right now, it was more of a barrier than he'd planned on.   Keeping it dark meant, in theory, no one would think Kindel was currently in there.    And he certainly didn't need them seeing what he was up to.  

 

It was a little strange to think he wouldn't be returning, though.  Luca had agreed to take over care of watching the belongings as he had, but it still was unsettling turning this over to someone else.  It had given him purpose all this time.  He would need to find a new one.  

Mrs. Trufflebottom tapped her footpaw against the floor, breaking him out of his thoughts,  "All of the useful salt has been moved out, and all of the other salt is where you wanted it.  Now is the time.  Have you made your decision?"

He made another face, further contorting his expression.  Chewing out words the words, "I haven't lived since that night, Mrs. Trufflebottom.  My body kept going, but when Hannah died that's where I stayed, too.  But -" he stabbed the needle through the fabric dramatically and entirely necessarily, "but the Kindel that went on was different.  That was the Kindel that ran the gatehouse and guarded everyone's lost goods.  The Kindel before would have just left." 

 

She spoke softly.  "I wish I could have met her.  She must have been incredibly special.  It comes through in every story you've told.  I only hope you've chosen to keep those stories alive a little longer.  As for you, from what you're telling me one story ended, but another took its place."

 

Kindel held his project high, allowing it's weight to sink down like a gentle stream against his desk.   The garment was elegant, practical, and mysterious all at once.  Nodding approving at his work, Kindel swung the traveling cloak over his head, allowing the cowl to completely hide his eyes from view.  A pair of long, dark ears pointed in defiance of the heavens.

 

Some stories become legends.  Today, Kindel would be both.  "Hannah's famous traveling cloak rides again - although how you managed it to alter it to fit your frame is likely a story in itself.  Is this the final part of  your plan?"

 

He nodded.  "'Kindel,' as you know him, will die here tonight.  He is going to get the rest he deserves, and be buried with his love.  But that's the old Kindel.  You've seen Outpost - a pair of Squirrelfolk getting rich while keeping the town placated and homeless children starve in the streets.  You've seen worse elsewhere.  You two have been doing something about it, and part of that was helping us.  It's my turn to set things right."

"I know a certain Meatball who will be thrilled to meet you, 'Rainy Rabbit.'   Shall we go find the others?"

*****

The success of the plan was largely made possible by the lazy greed that had fueled Selena and Kipper's for years.  There was the expectation that certain folks would always shuffle up to the bar when Magnolia began her acts.   It was clockwork, and Kipper almost always had their drinks ready before they could get near.  He could conduct business on such autopilot that there were nights he'd considered simply leaving a sign, "Get your own damn drinks."  He wondered if this would affect his tips.

 

If they had been paying any attention, everything would have fallen apart from the beginning. 

Tonight's change in musical performance by Magnolia had apparently thrown off that routine, and several folks were looking to buy her a drink as well as something extra for themselves. Kipper was in his glory, whipping out the snazziest bar flare he could recall.  Glasses twirled from his tail, sailing them down the bar toward the recipients.   Fizzy foam from the salts splashed off upon the smiling recipients. Kipper toasted a drink in each paw to Magnolia and cheered with the crowd as her song finished, feeling himself starting to come alive again after being dormant for so long.

Then the kid came in.

Kipper had always found kids noisy, but this one was something else. The kid seemed to exist to be a pain in the hindquarters.  He was waddling, taking swaggering steps as his yells contrasted Magnolia.  She ignored him and was trying to start a new song.  Everyone else seemed to be ignoring the kid, too.  Kipper started filling another drink while keeping an eye and hoping the kid would just leave before any trouble started.  The night was going too well. 

Kipper had just turned to take an order when the kid grabbed a chair and started banging it on the floor - repeatedly.  Loudly and out of rhythm with Magnolia.   The family from that table simply grabbed their belongings and moved out of his way.  Kipper took a step towards him but was immediately accosted by more orders at the bar.  

 

"Selena!"  He yelled, pointing at the kid as he tried to take the orders.

 

"I don't care!  Get the orders!  Business!"   She snapped from the other end of the bar.  

 

Kipper shifted towards them but realized the crowd at the bar had grown - apparently no one wanted to deal with the kid either.

Breathing steady he tried to find a balance of moving down the row of customers and watching him.  He must have grown tired of using their furniture because there was now the sound of piercing, dissonant whistles raking through the air.  Yet Magnolia just kept singing and pushing on.  If she could do it, he could too.

A paw grabbed him from behind.  He yelped, "What!  What do you need?!"

"What's going on with you?" Selena hissed, close to his ear.

"I'm trying to keep up with our customers.  That little menace is probably going to drive everyone out though.   You want to tend bar while I deal with him?"  He asked, knowing how much she hated tending bar.  She was going to turn him down - he was sure of this - but one step toward him flipped her tail over top.  The culprit was a mass of marbles rolling through the back of the bar area, an empty satchel looking suspiciously like their former home.  Another of the kid's tricks?

"I have a better idea.  I'll go deal with the kid -"clawing herself back up from the floor; wiping off the dirt but unable to restore the dignity,"and maybe you can figure out why the cellar door won't open? We can't keep selling drinks much longer if we can't get down there."

 

Kipper moved without thinking towards the door in question and almost slipped on a marble himself.  What a stupid, childish prank; once the kid let those things go he had no idea what was going to happen to them.  He or Selena could end up seriously hurt.  Annoyed, he realized the brooms were stored in the cellar as well, to keep them out of the way.  Gingerly, deliberately so as not to slip, he put one paw in front of the other and began to step carefully towards the cellar door.  

 

Trying to focus on Magnolia's singing as he pawed, he became peripherally aware of the odd fact that not only had she continued to sing as though nothing was wrong, none of the customers seemed bothered.  He paused, balancing on one paw scanning the room.  Everyone was happy.  Everyone was having a great night, in fact.

 

Everyone except Selena and Kipper.  Something was very wrong here.

 

And then one face gripped his attention.  One table that had not been vacated, with a small, blushing child staring directly at him.

 

The fire in her face scorched panic into his mind. He froze.  He couldn't break away from her glare.  She was accusing him.  She was condemning him.  He knew this face, too, he'd seen it a thousand times before today but he'd never known it.    She was going to make sure he never forgot it.  

"Kipper, snap out of it!"  Selena said as she slapped him so hard his head careened to the bar top.  Ear ringing he straightened, dazed, and tried to form any words his mouth would allow.  Unfortunately, his mind wasn't yet ready for it.  "Kipper!!"

He was saved from having to think of a response as in that moment the heavy oak that had once been the front door was ripped from its hinges, and smashed flat into the dining area.  The impact was louder than anything Meatball could have hoped for with his antics, and despite acting calm until this point the patrons now reacted universally with shock. Even Magnolia recoiled and stopped singing, dropping into the nearest chair.  Chive was rubbing his ears, trying to kill the ringing.

A giant stood framed in what was once the door, their bulk being hidden in the storm.  Rain lashed out against a dark cloak shielding their body, and a low cowl hid their face.  The stranger was further shadowed by a pair of twin torches held aloft, the light revealing long ears making them seem even taller.  The beast's foot still raise from kicking in the door, they took a dramatic, deliberate step into the establishment.

"Everyone, get out!  Not you two.  You stay.  Now!"  The monster in the doorway bellowed at them.  Needing no further encouragement, the patrons of each table used their table clothes to scoop the remaining items into a sack and quickly moved to the door.  

Kipper stared as they left, and as Selena came to his side she remarked coldly, "How come they didn't have to run over any marbles when they left?  Were those a present just for us? And - my, it doesn't look like it took them long to pack up every thing they own.  What is this?" 

"Welcome, Rainy Rabbit.  We've all been waiting for you."  It was the blushing child from before.  She gave Kipper one last cool glare, as if to say Don't forget, and vanished into the night.