Phantom Hollow Beyond the wild wood comes the wild world

Daylight burned warm as the last fading days of summer shifted into view. It would not be long before the temperature would shift drastically and leave the wilderness blanketed in crisp snow.

For Rat, the days of sunlight were cherished ones. He was lounging upon his comfortable wooden seat at the edge of the river. The hum of bugs in the background played a tune in his ear. Rat gazed out across the water and smiled fondly.

Won’t be long now before the leaves fall, Ratty said to no one in particular before he grabbed a nut from his stores and bit into it. Not long at all, he thought to himself.

look there, came the whisper of their youngest. the corvus pair had their eyes on the rodent long before they spoke.
a meal. chistery flexed their wings as subtly as they could.
just a moment. yackle blocked the two of them with their wings before leaning over the branch they had all perched upon. silence fell over the three. it spoke… I swear it. they tilted their head curiously.

The water lapped favorably at the rodent’s feet. Ratty did enjoy the cool feel of the river, never more than he did during the last peak hours of summer.

The caw of a bird sounded from overhead. Rat’s whiskers twitched with a smile before he directed his dark beady gaze to the trees above and found that he was not alone. There was a handsome crow, or raven- Ratty had never been much for telling the dark birds apart.

Fine afternoon, isn’t it? Rat called cheerfully, waving a paw to the feathered admirer.

both ravens shot questioning glances towards their pied leader, chistery’s showing hints of impatience. it is clear they couldn’t believe what they were told (it was not the first time yackle’s words were met with skepticism) but they stayed silent all the same.
The trio watched the little thing stir and turn to them. Their eyes widened, all with varying levels of surprise, when he addressed them.
my goodness! killyjoy gasped before directing his astonished gaze towards their darker parent. it really does speak! chistery only frowned in response
yackle leaned over the branch with an smile. they were too interested in this creature to think of making it a meal. for now at least. 
as fine as any, little mouse, they responded. from where do you hail?

The murder seemed delighted, or at least perplexed at being offered a conversation with the river rat. His sharp eyes glinted, dark beads against the sun. A paw was held up to shield his gaze if only just so that he could see how many of the birds were up there.

One responded, asking where Ratty hailed from. The small figure chuckled warmly and gestured with open arms toward the riverbank and the waters that flowed freely there.

I am a man of the river, my good feathered friend. There’s really no place I would rather be, I must say. Rat peered about his little home beside the water with a cheery smile.

When he peered back to the birds, the sun had shifted behind a stray cloud, and he could take them in with a soft breath.

And you? Your flock there, where is it you are from?

the treachery followed the gesture of his hands in unison. such a large claim, thought yackle. a twinge of envy they felt for a moment before remembering there’s no reason to feel such a way by a rodent.
the land we hail from exists no more. a hint of sorrow was laced in their voice, but hope soon replaced it. we will have a new home once we find the one the prophecy speaks of. they will guide us to it.

No more?

Oh, Ratty had never heard anything so dismal in his life. The river rat gazed up at the birds and bowed his head in understanding. Even though Rat had been born upon the riverbank and lived there his entire life, it did not mean that he lacked empathy or knowledge of a world beyond.

Well, I am truly sorry to hear such a thing. If you’d like, I will share my river with you for a short time, Rat called up to the birds, the offer sounding more genial after being spoken. Oh! And nuts too. Stay there will you? the small figure slipped into the reeds and disappeared into his home in search of nuts.