Big Folk's Mysteries Solved! (not really)

Exploring with Pyin was one of 'Mare's great past times. It was really the only way he could have 'fun' without the other Minikins that roam around. He always feels like he just can't get along with the others. Not that he hated other Minikins. . . it was just that he never felt like he could properly stand out in conversation. Speaking to others was not his strong suit.

Despite all those chats he had to himself to "practice". 

'Mare was lost in thought before he heard Pyin sqeaking at him. Ah. He looked up, tilting his head.

He was met with seemingly a long wooden object that went quite high up. There seemed to be a part of it at the top that stuck out. It leaned against a corner, abandoned. 

"Bigfolk. . ." he mumbled to himself before tapping his chin. He never seen one of these before. Bigfolk were interesting creatures, crafting and building items never thought to be possible. Nor did they make any sense. Why would someone need such a long stick? This one just seemed impossibly tall for no reason. 'Mare motioned his paw to Pyin as a way of saying for them to inspect the stick.

As Pyin flew off, 'Mare heard something shuffling behind him. Assuming it was one of the cats, he turned around slowly and was ready to say an annoyed remark. However he froze dead in his tracks when he realized what it was.

Another Minikin.

They were shorter than him with a black and teal fur coat and wide eyes. Their tail was swaying behind them, curious. 'Mare braced as if the fellow Minikin was going to run into him, but they moved passed him and went towards the stick. Their paws touched it in interest.

"Oh wow!" They squeaked, attempting to grip their claws on the wood but failing. "It's so weird! I never seen a Bigfolk item this tall and smooth before during my scavenging! I don't think those books even mentioned Bigfolk carrying such an object!" 

The Minikin's head turned, looking right at 'Mare. "Hey! Do you know what this is?"

'Mare was still frozen in place. He looked around to make sure no one else was around before taking a big breath in. 'C'mon. . . this is what all that training in the mirror was for.'

"Uhm. . . Of course I do."

"Really? Wow! How? Who told you about it?"

'Mare was silent for a moment, trying to make up a lie. It took him a second before he attempted to puff his chest out with pride. He gestured to the wooden stick.

"It was one of the cats... Bartholomew." He sneered the name out, trying to sound dramatic. "He spoke of those Bigfolk holding these. . . Only those who were worthy of the highest regard were to hold such a treasure."

The Minikin's eyes sparkled in interest, looking back up at the stick. "Woah. . . a Bigfolk treasure in front of me! No wonder I never heard about it! Bartholomew is so snarky sometimes.. I can't tell if he is serious or not."

The Minikin moved toward 'Mare before holding their paw out.

"Meeting someone who spoke to that cat is rare! It's nice to see someone who gotten through with Bartholomew! Call me Yosui!" Yosui greeted, waiting for 'Mare to shake his paw.

'Mare hesitated. Did he really want to shake someone's paw? Not really. . . but it would make a bad impression. He took their paw, giving it a small shake before quickly letting go. "They call me the Baron of the Ravens, but you may address me as 'Mare if that is too much for you."

"Heh, nice to meetcha 'Mare! I never heard of someone like you before! Are you in a different colony?" 

'Mare scratched his head. He wasn't even in a colony. . . 

"Yeah. You know how it is. . . there's quite a lot of us."

"Totally! But the more the merrier, no?" Yosui mused, before they squeaked again. "Ah, I should tell them about this discovery! Such a rare Bigfolk treasure needs to be seen by the others! Maybe you can tell them about it too!"

Before 'Mare could respond, the Minikin already began to scamper off to his colony. The moment he was out of sight, 'Mare sighed loudly. If more Minikin were going to arrive... he better get going. He whistled for Pyin to come back down from wherever it was.

Pyin got distracted halfway up the stick and was looking at a shiny stone before hearing the whistle. It flew back down to 'Mare, making a chittering noise. Mare cracked a small smile, patting it's head.

"Let's leave, alright? You'll tell me about what you found up there once we get back home."

With that, the two went to the opposite direction of where Yosui went and began to venture that way. 'Mare was quietly hoping he didn't bump into any other Minikin again. . .