Rashem and the Mongoose

Rashem and the Mongoose

By. Danielle Assouline

“nnnnnnnnnnnnnnn…”

That was the only sound Rashem heard as he picked his way through the forest. At first he thought it was odd that there were no birds or insects making their incessant noises, he was enthralled by the silence of it all. And then…

“nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn…”

Sighing, Rashem continued making his way towards the noise. Usually Rashem flew over the forest, since it was never pleasurable to step your bare paws into the squishy mud, but in order to remain unseen from overly watchful eyes, he chose to walk. It was unclear to him yet whether or not he was going to regret it.

“What an irritating racket. I swear when I find this dying sheep, I am going to eat it in one gulp, shut it up, and be on my way in peace.” Rashem thought to himself, trying to dodge particularly wet spots on the ground, the rain the night before was making this trip a nightmare. He peeked up to see what was ahead, and looked back down to mind his step.

Suddenly it dawned on him that there was a creature in front of him, but he was so preoccupied, he barley registered it. Quickly he looked back up, and the thing was suddenly closer.

“Ahhh!” Rashem panicked and fell backwards, landing his tail in a big mud pile. “STUPID MONGOOSE! What are you doing approaching a full grown dragon like that!” he screamed, knowing full well that mongoose and dragons do not speak the same language.

“nnnnnnn” The small mongoose said, looking up at him, his tiny paws in the air.

“Well, you are certainly the ugliest mongoose I have ever seen, and deformed. Barely any fur on you at all, is that why you are here alone little one? Were you culled for your deformities?” Rashem looked around, expecting to see more mongoose about. However, it was just him and the screecher.

Rashem continued to speak allowed to comfort both himself and the little one. “You seem like a young mongoose, perhaps I will take you in as a pet. I have actually been reading about mongoose, since they can be lethal against snakes, that could be fortuitous. I could send you ahead to scout, and you can kill all the poisonous ones.”

Rashem delicately tried to grab the mongoose by its deformed arm, but it slipped right through his fingers. Looking a bit closer, he realized the thing was covered in mud, “Well this won’t do. Hold still tiny mongoose.” Rashem took a few of the branches and shook them over the creature, the water collected in the trees, rained down on it.

“NNNNNNNNNNN…” The mongoose screamed. Loudly. Much to Rashem’s chagrin, this time, it didn’t stop. Grabbing the squealing mongoose, Rashem shushed it, while bring it to eye level.

“Weirdest mongoose I have ever seen.” Rashem said and he threw the squabbling thing into his front pouch. “I know it is not the most comfortable, but you will have to make due. At least it will be warmer than out here.”

Once cocooned in the warmth of the pouch, the mongoose quieted down and went to sleep. “Silly mongoose, all the fuss for nothing.” Rashem chuckled. Now that he had a pet, he was feeling quite content with his forest walk even though getting mud out of his tail was going to be a nightmare.

--------------------------------------------------------------

The mongoose was still sleeping when Rashem arrived at Bon’s house. Bon was his best friend in the world, and also his only friend. He knocked on the rock door, and shouted out to Bon.

Bon got to the door quickly and ushered him inside. “You were supposed to be here hours ago Rash,” Bon said, using the nickname only she was allowed to use. “I have been worried sick about you. Were you followed by the guards, is that why you were late?”

Rashem smiled, “No Bon, I took the forest in order to avoid the guards all together. I am sure they are in a panic by now, but I wanted more than 20 minutes with you. Without them on watch, memorizing every word and action between us to report to my father. That is not fun, and it is not fair.”

“I understand that you do not think it is fair, but your father is just looking out for you, you have to see that. Besides, how long until they figure out you are here anyways? An hour?” She said skeptically.

“An hour worth having, if it is freedom.” Rashem said quietly, sadly.

“nnnnnnnn….” The noise came quietly, muffled from his pouch.

“What is that noise?” Bon said, straining her ears.

“Don’t worry, it is the mongoose I rescued.”

“You resuced a mongoose?” Bon said suspiciously.

“You are very skeptical of me today Bon, and I do not appreciate it.” He huffed. “Yes, a mongoose. It was culled from its family for its deformities, the beast barely has any fur and the arms are quite deformed. It still looks like a youth to me, so I thought I would keep it, as a pet of sorts.” Rashem carefully opened his pouch and reached in. He grabbed it by the hind leg, and pulled it out.

“nnnnnnnnnn….” Was mixed with “ahhhhhhhh!”. And chaos ensued.

So surprised by both noises simultaneously, Rashem dropped the creature, who yelped and then scurried under the table, hiding. Bon was up on a chair screaming and yelling.

“Get it out, get it out!” Bon was yelling.

Rashem grabbed the creature and put it back in his pouch, muffling the “nnnnn….” For now.

“What in the world Bon? It is just a mongoose, calm down!”

“That isn’t a mongoose you idiot, it is a human!” Bon yelled at him.

“A human? No way. They have been extinct for over a hundred years, what would one be doing alone in the forest?” Rashem asked.

“I don’t know, but I am sure nothing good. You have to get rid of it, you have to protect yourself from it.” Bon said.

“I know better than anyone about the wars between the Humans and Dragons, dad drills me on them every time we meet. But this one is clearly a youngling, and also how is it alive if the humans are supposed to be extinct? I think getting rid of it is too hasty, I need to think on it.”

“If the king sees it, it does not matter that you are his son, he will try you for treason.” Bon said.

“Then he must not see it…” Rashem said smiling.

BOOM BOOM BOOM! There was a loud knocking on the door. Rashem sighed, he must have taken longer than he thought with his non-mongoose. “ That will be them Bon, I am sorry I scared you, and even more sorry that we had no time.”

The guards came in unceremoniously, with an eyeroll Rashem said “Great job guys, you found me… shall we?”

Bon waved to the guards and leaned in so their necks were almost touching, “Get rid of it.”

With that last warning, away they flew, towards the kingdom, towards home.

--------------------------------------------------------------