The last thing Tytus expected to do during his vacation to Matori was chasing down some pesky Kehtras. The little mammals had grabbed one of his traveling packs while he was not looking and had started swinging through the trees. The group of mischievous creatures had been watching him while he set up camp along the edges of the forest overlooking the cliffs that had twisting trees whose roots stretched out and spilled into the ocean below. Tytus had a few knick knacks that he had purchased while traveling through the ocean towns and the shiny appearance of a certain compass had seemed the perfect prize to the chocolate and cream colored mammals whose ambidextrous hands were eager to snatch up anything from the Oban man.

Of course at the time he had no idea of the trouble that awaited him when he chose to make camp along the edges of the forest. He had been traveling through the towns and wanted a break away from everyone and everything. Setting up camp along the edges of the cliffs in the wilderness had seemed a perfect solution. Too bad it seemed that the forest had decided to give him company instead of the solitude he so desired in the moment. Company that wasted no time in giving him issues instead of the peace he so craved.

“I just wanted to make dinner, ya jerks!” Tytus shouted as he jumped over a fallen tree and continued his pursuit of the playful creatures. Less than thirty seconds of having his back turned….probably even just one second was all it took for them to snatch up his smaller traveling bag full of valuables and the shiny compass. Even now as he ran after them the Oban found himself randomly reaching to grab something from the ground. A spilled bag of coins, a torn map, some pretty seashells gathered for his family members and other various things. At this rate he wondered if they would even keep anything from his travel pouch or if it would all eventually come back into his hands as they discarded his belongings throughout the forest.

A sigh of frustration left his lips as he realized that there was one final thing missing from the smaller traveling pack - his compass. It had been a valued gift from another person in the military and he would be sorely disappointed to let go of it now. Those pesky little thieves had truly taken him by surprise. Tossing the straps of his travel bag over his shoulder once more Tytus began to try and track the creature. If he knew anything about the little imps then they would be swinging somewhere with their long tails dangling as they got preoccupied...he would just have to be silent enough to not attract attention. Something which could be hard considering those damn long ears that the kehtras had. So far he had not been successful with that plan and everytime the creature seemingly grinned at him before darting away through the trees once more.

Fingers clenching into a fist once more as Tytus found himself holding onto only air and not fur, the Oban found himself kicking at a small stone. If he couldn’t just walk up and grab his compass then perhaps he would have to actually try and be clever. Thoughtfully his crimson gaze studied the trees before he turned away and started back towards camp. If he knew the kehtras well enough then they would be tempted by any other shinies that he had. Surely he could arrange something to be left out in the open….

Less than an hour later Tytus had a small trap set up for the kehtra. He had a hidden net connected to a cord which he could easily tug from the shadows of the trees. A few shiny objects lay scattered across the spot, their gleaming colors a temptation to the trickster creatures that would eventually return to his camp. Tytus would be ready though whenever they did. The thought brought a playful grin to his own lips as he sat down and began the waiting game. If the kehtrah thought it had the last laugh then it was surely in for a good surprise. That much Tytus was certain of as he prepared to wait for his prey. Not like he would hurt it of course. He just wanted that compass back! The thought made his jaw clench before he forced himself to settle down on the ground once more to patiently wait for the ketrah to return for a new prize.


[758]