A young white furred hare by the name of Crumpet happily trudged through Mossflower Wood. His big floppy ears bound up and down, his large feet stepping onto his pants that outsized him, bright red boxing gloves covered his stiff paws. It was noon; his stomach started to rumble, an old song popped into his mind. He softly sang to himself, his voice sounding like a young hare maiden.
"Me mother always used to sing that song when we went on a picynic," Crumpet said as he looked to the young mouse maiden that sat upon his shoulder.
"Speaking of picnics, I'm starving," replied the brown furred mouse.
"Ristin! I just got a jolly good idea! We could have a picynic!"
"Great idea, Crumpet, my friend," replied Ristin with wide smile on her face.
They continued to walk towards Blue Shadow's River Keep located on the edge of the River Moss. They stopped for a quick rest in front of a tree just outside the gates. "Be careful, Crumpet. There's rumor that there are sparrows about."
"Sparrows? Where?!?" The hare became frightened. The clumsy hare ran in large circles, screaming for help, while the poor mouse held on for dear life. Crumpet finally stopped and fell down after hitting the large wall that surrounded the Keep. Crumpet gently rubbed his head. "Crumpet's head hurt. Ristin know how to make head feel better?" asked the odd hare.
The mouse climbed onto Crumpet's head and gently kissed his wound. "There you go, Crumpet. Feel better?"
"Aye, chap... ess. Thank 'e, Ristin," said Crumpet as she slowly stood up. Ristin jumped into Crumpet's large pocket and pushed up a key to the gate. "Here ye go, Crumpet." Crumpet picked up the key; the young mouse still hung from the large key ring. Ristin scurried back up to Crumpet's shoulder. Crumpet inserted the key and turned it. "What's wrong? It won't open."
"Try turning it the other way, Crumpet." He turned the key the opposite way, then pulled it out of the hole. "Oh, right." While taking another step, his large pants tripped him, and Crumpet fell through the gates and onto the grass that lay behind them. Ristin jumped on to the ground.
"Are you alright, Crumpet?"
"Aye, I just got a hurty on 'e knee."
"Come on, Crumpet. I'm starving." Crumpet quickly stood and brushed himself off with ears and paws alike.
As they entered the large Keep, they were greeted by Blue Shadow the river otter herself, but this was not a warm greeting, but a cold one. "Crumpet, Where have you been all this time? I have things for you to do and I don't need you wandering about with your pet mouse." Ristin glared at the otter, but just shrugged and held her head up high.
"Well, Miz Blue, I thought we could all go on a picynic," Crumpet replied to the demanding otter.
"I don't keep you around t' think, Crumpet." Blue Shadow then switched her tone of voice to a sarcastic sweetness. "We can have a 'picynic' here inside. How does that sound?"
"Well, Miz Blue, to be honest, I think it would be more fun if we sat next to the river and soaked our feet in it for a while. Not to mention play games, tell stories, and most importantly stuff our bellies until we can't eat no more."
"Fine. You can go on your 'picynic', but report within the hour. If I have to go find you, I'll make sure you don't eat anythin' for a week."
"Aye, Miz Blue. Then ye dun plan on joinin' us?"
"No, I don't, Crumpet. I have more important things to do than go on a picnic."
"Well alright then, Miz Blue."
The hare and the mouse skipped along to the kitchen. After a few minute of packing a large lunch, they headed out the main door of the River Keep. Crumpet stopped and stood in terror as his large blue eyes caught sight of a sparrow. "Sparra. Sparra. Killee HARE!" Crumpet shrilled. Crumpet fled through the open gate and ran towards the River Moss.
The young hare sat at the edge of the river and put his feet into the clear blue water. " 'Tis nice and cold. 'e weather is good picynic weather."
"Aye. 'Tis great weather for a picnic."
The afternoon slowly passed, Ristin and Crumpet exchanged crazy stories about badger lords, great hares of the past, and even a few about sparrows, which never ended without Crumpet running around screaming for help. The afternoon was just spent being together.
The End
