Clearing out the vermin

Featuring Rook
Summer, Year 766 of the New Age
Blackwood, Widow's Hollow

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It had been a fine night, until Rook had caught scent of a trespasser. The heat of the day had died off quickly, leaving the night mild and pleasant, cool enough to not sweat out of your own skin without being cold enough to freeze you inside it. After a long day spent training, Rook had been dozing. The black stag had been ready to call it a night completely and curl up in his den when an odd smell had drifted across his nostrils, piquing his interest.

Snorting, Rook had hauled himself upright and gone investigating, half expecting to simple stumble across a wandering herd member or to find a cold path that someone had once walked. Instead, he stumbled across a suspiciously tiny figure furtively gathering herbs. Scenting the air, Rooks brows furrowed at the smells he picked up. Rather than the good, clean smells a Blackwoodian usually carried, this stranger carried the scent of heavy earth, fungi and standing water. With all the facts at hand- the tiny stature, the strange scents, the suspicious way the stranger was looking around before hurriedly grabbing precious herbs and stuffing them into a small pouch on their back- it did not take a genius to guess what herd this particular fawnling was from.

A rat! Sneaking into Blackwood territory, stealing their herbs out right from under their noses! It was not as if there were many herbs to go around as is- certainly not enough to let this little sneak thief fill his boots with as much as he liked. The little beast could have taken as many herbs as he could carry from Glenmore or from the Silverthornes and those herds would not notice a thing, but every herb here was important. Whatever plant that filthy rat grabbed now would be one less plant that a Blackwood in need could have used.

Dropping his head in anger, Rook narrowed his eyes and burst into action, his curved rack slicing through the air as he aimed to get the drop on the thieving Oakfern.
Sadly, the little rat managed to dodge Rook's first swing and was off, swearing madly and laughing in derision whenever Rook tried to catch him, by teeth or by horns.

The chase was on, and however it ended, Rook was going to make sure that this little Oakfern thought twice before sneaking into the Blackwoods again..

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hey look, I actually posted something for Rook for once
(I swear I actually think about Rook and draw him!!! it just....never translates to anything I can actually post orz)

Rook stretching his legs chasing after an oakfern that was in the wrong neighborhood. Hopefully it learned better after this close encounter!