"Actually, that would be quite funny." --Trenton Karas
"I've never won anything in my life, I've only ever lost or maintained."--Alex McConnehey
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Claws clicked lightly on the cool, stone floor. A reddish-furred creature with huge feet and a long tail moved cautiously among the worn pillars with sword in paw, carefully observing every motion, every sound, every smell.
"I know yah in heah." Muttered the creature. "Yah lit'le cowahd..."
He stopped. Before him was a large room that opened into the courtyard on the other side. He stood silently by a column and took in each detail carefully...
There! That brass chandelier that hung from the ceiling was swaying ever so slightly. That's where his opponent was hiding.
"All roiht! I ken see y' hidin' up theah, myte! C'mon down b'fore Ah have tah come up theah an' git yah!"
Silence...
The wallaby had an idea. He crossed to where the crank that raised and lowered the chandelier was located and released the latch that held it in place.
The fixture zoomed toward the floor, stopping a few feet above it. A grayish bolt of lightning shot out from it and hit the wallaby square in the chest, sending him staggering backwards.
"Gotcha!" yelled a shrill voice, as the smaller creature twisted itself around onto the red-furred one's back.
The startled marsupial, unable to see his attacker, (or do anything about it with his short arms) gave a yell and started running towards the courtyard.
Halfway down the steps that led outside, another creature joined the fray, uncoiling itself from the rail like a yellow and black spotted spring.
The three rolled the rest of the way down, and landed conveniently in part of an harb garden.
Paws, claws, tails, bodies and swords flailed madly, becoming a confusing tangle among the now battered leaves of smashed spearmint plants.
At last, the other two creatures both had the wallaby pinned to the ground and screaming bloody murder.
"Uncle, uncle, mytes! AHHH! NO!NO! Stop thaht ticklin'! Bahd foahm! AHHH!"
Finally, the battle was over and three young knights-in-training lay about exhaustedly in the shade of the old castle, chuckling and grinning and poking fun at one another.
"Evvey, you're a big wuss. I ever tell ya that?" Asked the squirrel.
"A wuss? Me?" The wallaby sat up, prtending to be offended.
"Yes, Ev'." Said the third creature. "My great-grandmother is a better fighter than you." He swiveled his large ears toward the wallaby and grinned.
"Well, weah'll just have tah seeah abaout thaht!" Said the wallaby, looking at the squirrel. "Naow, tah moy pehspective, yeh just a bushey taihl with a big maouth attached."
The squirrel stuck out his tongue.
The genet laughed.
"An' You.." The wallaby looked at the spotted creature, "Look loike a spot'ey caht thaht's been threw a wringah!"
The genet stopped chuckling and bared his short, sharp teeth. "I am not a cat!" He growled.
"Yeah, Evvey, he's not a cat! You dope, doncha even know a spotted weasel when ya see one- WAHHH!"
The squirrel thrashed his tail around comically while trying to extricate his head from the genet's mouth.
"Heh heh, looks loike yah 'weasel' is smaht'ah than yah look, Tikkah!"
The squirrel, who was trying to wipe drool of his face with his tunic in the most dignified way possible, ignored his friend's jab.
Their chatter continued for several more minutes, until, suddenly, they heard someone walk up behind them.
The wallaby sprang to his feet. "Hey, 'Polloh! Haow's it goin', myte?" He said, grinning broadly and extending his paw.
The newcomer looked up for a moment, but continued to scowl. "Fine." He muttered.
The squirrel exchanged an uneasy glance with the genet, and began walking slowly back towards the castle. "Hey there, Apollo. Um.." He paused awkwardly.
The hare twitched his ears and looked at the squirrel reproachfully. "It's sir Apollo to you, Tikkcik." He said darkly.
"Eh, yeah. Well, see ya 'round, uh, SIR Apollo." Tikkcik darted up the steps and into the building.
The wallaby seemed to think that his friend had the right idea. "Oh Yeah, I jus' r'membahd, I have tah cleahn moy doahmitoahry room out tedaiyh.. Kitch yah lytah!" And he bounded off after the squirrel.
The genet glanced after his friends, then back to Apollo. "Are you all right?" He asked softly.
"I'm fine." Said Apollo. "Don't you have somewhere else to go right now, Reshat?"
The genet shrugged. "I suppose. Just wondered if you needed someone to talk to." He turned toward the steps, giving the hare a concerned sideways glance.
"I said I'm fine." Repeated Apollo.
"All right." Reshat shook his head a little sadly and walked off.
Apollo sat down under a tree and leaned his chin on his paws. "Jerks." He muttered. But inside... how he wished he could be like them! Always happy, always having fun... Apollo sighed. He was a born loser. No more, no less. He had no friends, and he suspected that he wasn't meant to have any. That was his lot.
His life was just innately boring and unfair.
But still... Apollo closed his eyes and sighed. And wished...