Four Little Weasels

The sun hung high in the overcast sky as Neb and Ilim walked down the main road to the market square. A gentle breeze wafted aromas of spices and grilled meats as they passed the temple.

“Took you two long enough!” A voice called out. Neb and Ilim turned to see Bau at the communal kitchen butchering a large sheep with concerning ease, “Farmer Belsha brought a few of his older wool ewes in for their final trim, and Elder Lama requested they be served in celebration of the harvest’s end.”

“Well, then consider us blessed!” Neb called out, “Let us help with serving!”

Neb was surprised at Bau’s statement, rarely do livestock taken into town end up as anything other than offerings for the council at the temple. Before the two could get behind the stall, a mass of children crowded the two young men, having been freed from daily classes at the temple.

“Brother Neb! Brother Ilim!”

“Whoa there, one at a time children!” Ilim cried out, “What’s all this commotion about, huh?”

“Sister Mari taught us a new poem!” One of the young girls yelled, “She said it’s a story from loooooong ago, and the Elders taught it to her!”

Ilim glanced toward Neb with a mischievous smile before pickup up the young girl.

“…Don’t…” Neb whispered

“Well, let’s hear it then? Everybody together!”

The discordant shouting caught the attention of the entire square, as onlookers turned their heads in fear of an unknown danger. Ilim conjured a crackling mote of light, shooting it into the air with a pop of color as the children finished.

"That was fantastic!" He jubilantly lauded to the group, “But let's all get in line, the elders have gifted us mutton stew!”

“He is way too comfortable with starting this kind of madness…” Neb pinched his brow as he watched Ilim lead his tiny minstrels to the kitchen.

“But the children love do him,” A soft voice replied, “Plus he keeps them mostly out of trouble with his gift...”

Neb jumped and turned around to see a familiar face walking toward him, arms crossed.

“Oh, Mari.” He responded, the tips of his ears burning, “Uh, hey…”

“Hey yourself,” Mari pouted, poking a finger into Neb’s chest, “You, sir, abandoned me for that golden-haired charmer this morning!”

“Ow! Alright, I’m sorry!” Neb relented as he rubbed the tender spot left by Mari.

“You two!” Bau pointed at Neb and Mari with her knife, “Stop flirting, yeah? We need to make sure our golden child doesn’t go leading the whole lot of ‘em off before they get fed!”

Both Neb and Mari winced as they turned their faces away, flushed with embarrassment.

“B-Bau…!” Mari shouted, pushing Neb away from her as he matched with a sidestep.

Bau didn’t wait for any response from either of the two and returned to preparing the mutton. Mari crossed her arms behind her back as she looked downward toward Neb, mulling over Bau’s comments. 

“Looks like we’re being called to action?” Neb gave her a half-smile before gently ribbing her with his elbow.

“Ow!” A young boy cried out, “My hand!”

Mari rushed over, the boy had burned his hand from the hot broth. She pulled out a small bell and began whispering a prayer while rubbing the burned area. At the end of her prayer, she rang the chime and the boy’s hand started glowing. The blisters cleared and redness subsided.

The young boy sniffled as he touched his unblemished skin, “Th-thanks, Sister Mari…”

Mari smiled gently and helped the boy find a place to sit to eat the remainder of his meal while Neb joined Ilim in serving bowls.

“She is truly gifted, Neb.” Ilim spoke softly.

“Yeah,” Neb replied, “I know…”

“No, I really mean it, Neb. Bau too. They can directly use their gifts to make for a happier world. Myself? Not so much, despite my efforts…”

Neb couldn’t contain his annoyance at Ilim’s remarks, more so knowing that he was being earnest.

“And what gift was I given, Ilim?”

“I-“ Ilim paused before breathing deep, “I’m sorry. You know I didn’t mean it like that.”

The young men finished their volunteering in silence before gathering four bowls and a loaf of bread. Bau and Mari joined them soon after, trading concerned expressions over the tense atmosphere.

“So…” Bau said, trying to break the silence, “My father said he needed help uprooting an old stump, shall we walk and eat?”

“Oh, I’d be careful if you’re heading out there,” A nearby guard commented, “We’ve had some of the farmers tell us they’ve been losing livestock overnight. And it sounds like whatever it is is getting closer each day.”

Bau laughed as she handwaved the guard’s concerns, “Well it’s a good thing we’re not sheep!”

“Bau!” Mari chastised her, “Thank you for the warning, we’ll keep an eye out for any beasts.”

The four headed for the city walls, where the brick road transitioned to unpaved dirt. They were about to leave the city proper when a loud scream erupted from back in the square. They ran back to render any aid possible, and Bau was the first to notice a dark shape appearing from within the clouds above, followed by small dots rapidly falling through the sky.

A swarm of myriad harriers, hawks, and falcons descended upon the square, shrieking as they plunged their talons toward anyone within range. Mari began to gather the children together, guiding them toward the closest open building and rending basic aid to the wounded. Bau grabbed a beam from the kitchen stall, swinging at any birds that flew close by, while Ilim conjured more crackling orbs, this time aiming them to explode in the middle of the swarm. Neb took cover next to Mari and continued to watch the sky above as a massive rock breached the clouds. Dirt and rain littered the ground, the birds now circling a distance away, wary of Ilim’s ranged magics.

Lightning danced within the clouds surrounding the top of the floating rock. From within Neb saw the form of another bird circling above, the size of which must have been immense. A deafening thunderclap preceded a piercing cry as the final bird broke through the clouds, toward the city square.

Feathers dappled in colors of ivory and tarnished bronze decorated the underside of the eagle's wings as it closed the distance toward the square, the previously gentle breeze rapidly transitioned into gusts of wind. Neb left the safety of the workshop holding Mari and the children to reach Bau and Ilim, hoping to get them out of view. Grabbing onto Bau’s arm, he pushed her to the workshop. Ilim, left exposed at the very center, was unable to react as a massive claw pinned him to the ground. The raptor arched its head up, scanning the square before staring down at Ilim. A short chirp signaled the beast’s departure as it carried Ilim away, heavy wing beats kicking up a cloud of dust.

Neb could do nothing but watch as Ilim's form shrank in the distance, trapped in massive talons. Mari dropped to her knees and began an incantation of prayer while Bau chased after the beast with a guttural scream before tripping on a broken wagon wheel. The ring of Mari’s chime signaled the end of the incantation as a golden mote of light formed in front of her.

"This little one will point us to Ilim," Mari whispered to Neb, "I'll go check on Bau, but we need to go back and tell the elders..."

"We don’t have time, Mari!" Neb yelled, "We don't know how high up that massive rock is, or if Ilim will even make it to wherever it's going!"

"Neb." Mari placed herself in between Neb and the spot Ilim was taken, gently placing her hands on his face.

"Stop."

Tears peeked out from the corners of her eyes. The sight of her disarmed Neb's emotions and let his anger subside. He raised his left hand to meet hers, which she quickly clasped.

"All the more reason to tell the elders." She continued, "We don't know if we're to rescue him, or..."

Mari did not need to finish that sentence to Neb. He silently followed Mari over to Bau, helping raise her up as Mari dressed the cuts and scrapes while speaking prayers over her to close the open wounds. The three began the trek to the temple to speak with the elder council. Neb walked ahead back toward the temple to hide his frustration from the others while Bau gripped Mari's hand tightly, gulping in air between sobs. He knew the council wouldn't take any action until the next day, but the opening verse to the children's poem lingered in the back of his mind...

Four little weasels, making lots of sound
Gallivanting wildly, running all around
The anzu swooped down and carried one away
Three feisty weasels, off to save the day