17 Drunk Chick? (1/2)

With all senses engaged, Mina could hear the shuffling movement in the grass followed by a plop. The movements were unusual and the resulting sound even more so.

Mina listened to the sound from beyond the trees. She could barely see anything from her position. The movement continued and Mina could see a silhouette.

'A chick?'

Mina couldn't see the approaching figure properly, but the animal seems to have a beak albeit an oversized one. Based on its size, this creature seems to be a plump chick.

As for how the animal acted, Mina could only place one paw on her head.

With every step, the unidentified creature plopped on the grass causing an unusual sound. A few seconds later, the animal would get up to take another step before diving back to the grass.

What made Mina even more surprised was the fact that this creature actually covered some distance by traveling in such a peculiar manner.

'A drunk chick?'

Mina tried to call out to the creature with a soft meow but all she heard was another plop on the grass. Finally, the creature came close enough to be illuminated by the light from the fire.

'Oh, it's not a beak.'

Seeing well enough from her vantage point, Mina saw something fluffy with ears and whiskers. What looked like a beak was actually something else.

Mina meowed but there was no response. The animal appeared oblivious to its surroundings.

Getting more curious, Mina came closer. Before the animal plopped on the grass for the hundredth time, Mina approached and braced the fall.

Looking down, she saw a familiar pair of eyes.

'I should have known.'

Mina meowed, expecting the animal to respond. The animal looked at up her with a blank stare. With another meow, Mina tried to get a reaction out of the dazed mouse.

”Hey! Tarou! What's are you carrying?”

After another failed attempt to get the mouse to respond, Mina shook the mouse who was rocking back and forth, apparently simulating the plopping motion. But instead of getting his head out of the fog, Tarou bared his sharp teeth and attacked Mina's leg.

Mina growled. The pain was so sudden that she instinctively slapped the mouse with a clawed paw. She heard a pained yelp and quickly went over the mouse to check on his condition.

When the mouse detected her approach, he looked at Mina with fearful eyes while hiding something behind him. Mina ignored his actions and quickly scanned the animal before her. She sighed in relief when she saw that he was unharmed.

Mina focused her gaze back on the mouse, who was now looking at her with eyes full of uncertainty.

”Boss?” the mouse called out in a hesitant squeak.

Mina meowed back in acknowledgment.

'Finally.'

”Boss!!! Boss!!!”

The mouse squeaked enthusiastically while holding on to Mina's paw.

”Horrible experience! I almost got run over by that...that horse!”Tarou squeaked while pointing at the young bandit's horse. In a vexed voice, the mouse continued his rant.

”That animal hates me! That horse planned on stomping me to death since morning. I'm so fortunate for having quick reflexes!”

Mina was about to ask what happened to Tarou, but she couldn't get a word in as the mouse gave an account of what happened to him.