The rain had been relentless. At first the children had played happily in the puddles and adults collected rain water for cooking or cleaning. It was easier than traveling to the lake to dip your buckets and lug it all the way back home, after all. It had been three days now, though, and everyone was growing tired of the constant downpour.
Nyiim personally was not so bothered by the rain. Sure, the way it hollowly thudded on certain portions of his roof made the place seem all the more empty, but at least nothing was leaking. It made hunting a bit frustrating what with the altered physics of things but i was good practice, wasn't it? It wasn't like people only got hungry when it was dry or that battles waited until the sun came out to start. The smaller wildlife at least seemed to have taken more to hiding. The birds didn't sing any more and the rodents scurried into tree trunks and strong boughs to try and escape what undoubtedly seemed like a flood to them, so the world was quiet and barren except for the rain and the occasional irritated aldabuk.
Even Bosede seemed unwilling to take on the rain! He would follow his master out begrudgingly if asked but gave the same questioning glance before stepped beyond the threshold; do I really have to? Although his feathers kept him relatively dry, his fur got damp and smelly and the house proper was not the place to shake off. For this reason, the codependent raptrix was often left behind when Nyiim went out to do what needed to be done; patching roofs, gathering food, hunting for the village. It was one such time that the young Leaf man returned home only to find the front door flung open and rain leaking into the entryway. With an annoyed sigh he approached his home and stepped inside.
"Bosede, what are you up to?" At least he hoped it had been his companion and not some third party breaking and entering. At first glance nothing seemed to be missing... at least, nothing but Bosede. The raptrix was not in the living room, nor in the sleeping quarters nor at the back. Nyiim's brow furrowed in concern. What in the world had drawn the beast out? Bosede was not the type to run off unless chasing some perceived threat or promise of a snack. Once again he hoped that it was the latter as he set aside his bow, quiver and bag and stepped back out into the rain.
Water hurtling past your head unfortunately did some odd things to your sense of hearing. Was that rustle real, or just your imagination? Had it come from the left or from the right? Nyiim couldn't make much out from the constant patter of water. He heard someone talking far off and the braying of some domesticated animal. There was nothing to suggest Bosede was anywhere nearby... at least, not until he barked.
Relief flooded the young Leaf man at the familiar sound. So Bosede was nearby... very nearby from the sound of it. Nyiim waited and surely there came another sharp report. It sounded like it was coming from a nearby tree, but how could that be? Bosede wasn't able to fly and the only cover a short distance from home was... the old shack? Nyiim had, up until recently, lived most of his time up in the limbs of a strong tree, accessible only by a broad set of covered spiral stairs from the ground. He had left the structure there as of late whether it be for laziness or nostalgia and every so often he'd find Bosede rooting around inside. Well, it was worth a check, wasn't it? Unfortunately, peering up into the rain only meant eyes full of water.
The stairs creaked under Nyiim's feet and he ascended them toward the top. Once again a bark sounded, now closer and echoing through the din. Yes, it seemed as if the raptrix had run here, but why? His pace picked up as the sounds grew closer and closer, now accompanied by odd high-pitched squeals.
Bosede stood at the top of the stairs, obscuring Nyiim's view of the old platform, growling and barking. Had he cornered someone up top here with intent to hold them there until his master arrived? Nyiim pushed by and wished he had brought his bow, only to find the scuttling masses waiting for him. It was no person, but a veritable hoard of poscuta. There were at least thirty scattered around the floor of his old home, some snuggled in corners stuffed with straw or now stood off, staring down the feathery canine that now threatened their home. One gave a loud shriek, and Bosede's tail wagged. He barked, lunged forward, and then cautiously jumped back. Nyiim had never seen such behavior out of him! Generally a lone poscuta would become a pleasant snack for the raptrix, but maybe the sheer number of them was intimidating. With a laid-upon sigh, Nyiim stepped into the center of the platform. Many poscuta scampered to the sides, watching cautiously. With a loud stomp of his foot and a few running steps toward the groups, the little creatures skittered away and lunged back into the trees.
He knew they would be back, though. As long as it rained they would be back. He could see their nests built of various bits of fluff, and some had left infants huddled within. He could not in all good conscience smash a bunch of helpless creatures, though, so he motioned for Bosede to follow him. The raptrix's ears perked and he happily trotted after his master, he "threat" now gone.
As long as it rained, it would be poscuta heaven. The moment it stopped, though, Nyiim was going to harass Enu into helping him break the platform down and destroy the stairs. Lumber could be sold or burned or... something. Anything. As kind as he was, Nyiim did not have the room in his heard to house a few dozen tiny mammals.
word count: 1024
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