Chapter One
The Ol’ Tavern
Barnes
Grungle slammed his Rootley on the table. The
drink had obviously made him “delusional” at the least. With a hardy laugh he
put his hairy moose foot on an old wooden chair and started to sing some mighty
loud tunes with his deep and bellowing voice. The rams, goats, toads, and other
animals from far around gave a hardy laugh at the sight and began to join him
in his delightful song.
Even
the owner of the Ol’ Tavern Barnes loudly sang with the others while he
polished his cups. He was Groosh the warthog, and even though he was a usually
grumpy man he felt oddly happy at the moment. After a while he felt the song
needed a little more, so he yanked his pots and pans down from the ceiling cord
and started banging on them with his old wooden spoons. Some of the other
animals in the Tavern got the same idea, so they used their plates as symbols,
their cups as horns, and their woodware as drumming sticks.
The whole
tavern was in a delightful mood, and the sight of the jolly ol’ song was
heartwarming to those who would feel down at the moment. Even Starboard Sam the
groundhog who had lost his ship at sea was swayed by the moment, and he too
started to put his part in the song.
Everyone
was so happy with their tune that they could focus on nothing more then it. In
the background two figures sat in at their own table. One was a small ferret by
the name of Nitch. He sat cross-legged at the table while he held a tan sack in
his hands, pouring his money that he had earned from his deeds onto the table.
For some reason he felt the need to always count his money, as if he thought
that someone would take it at any moment.
The
second figure is the hero of this story, Dajato. Dajato was an ordinary grey
fox up until the day when a swarm of rats burned down the little town he lived
in. The memory made him sick, so he decided to take another path and become the
hero that the world needed. Around his neck he bore a dark red cape with golden
designs knitted all around the edges. Around his waist was a small holster to
hold his magic blade that was made with the gold of the gods. On top of his
head, though, was his signature fedora that covered his eyes, for only he could
see out of it.
So
let us return to the tavern where the two men sat, pondering of their own
ideas.
“It’s
funny, really.” Dajato remarked. “The men sing and dance and have such a jolly
time, yet nobody has a care in the world for what the song even means.”
“Uh-huh”
said Nitch, though he wasn’t paying attention to anything Dajato was saying.
“Twenty
seven… twenty eight… twenty nine… where’s the thirty?!”
“You
never got a thirty knucklehead. The pope took the thirty back while you were
distracted. He must not have not thought you did a very good job” said Dajato
with a snicker.
“You
accidently step on the foot of one Holy Monk and they hate you forever…”
mumbled Nitch
Dajato
gave a small laugh and looked back at the men. They had started to get a bit hysterical,
and were giving each other big punches in the arms with every loud part in the
song. Pretty soon Groosh would get a bit tired of it and quiet everyone down.
That was the Groosh Dajato knew, for he had once saved his old resort on a nice
island from a rat attack. Since then he had always counted on his old friend
Dajato to help him in any time of need.
The
fox was so distracted with his thoughts that he only just noticed his ferret
partner nudging his arm. “What is it? He asked.
“We’re
gettin’ a visitor Daj.” Responded Nitch. He flicked his tail as a gesture to
the warthog moving through the jolly tunists and heading towards them.
“Well
there’s the tavern savior!” said a very jolly Groosh. “I thought this town
would never get this jolly, but thanks to you, it has!”
“I
don’t know what you mean. This whole scenario is thanks to a drunken moose, not
me.” Noted Dajato with a smile.
“Nah,
thanks to yuh we all got our things tuh laugh about! Everyone’s been so happy
since you stopped those pesky bandits!”
“He
isn’t the only one who got those bandits…” said a slightly jealous Nitch.
“The
only thing the likes of you, boy, are good for is stopping the circulation of
our money.” Groosh said with an angered tone. “You better train him well, fox.”
“He’s
doing fine so far. I’m usually not the fox for a sidekick, but this one here
took down thirty five Unholy Monks.” Bragged Dajato.
“Did
he now?” said Groosh just as a cup flew and hit the wall next to his head. He
gave an angry look and nodded to the two gentlemen as he got up to yell at a
few gaggleheads.
“Groosh
could use a bit of help. Those men will soon be tearing the place up.” Said
Nitch, sifting through his beloved gold.
“If I
know Groosh, he ought to have the whole place down to business in a few
minutes. I think it’s about time we left. There might be some stray rats
outside that need to be taught a lesson or two.” Answered Dajato.
