The mouse hid a grin behind a paw and coughed as Bolt
glowered at the thought of not making the cut, these bears were so easy to wind
up.
Bolt looked around, wondering if there was anyone he really
wanted to speak to here.
The Party was large, the graduation parties always were.
There were thousands of toys in this room alone, and probably millions distributed
throughout the complex. The Workshop itself was only a small portion of the
village, most was dedicated to the ever growing population of elves, reindeer
and toys.
When the year drew to a close, the Big Night growing ever
closer, everyone spent a week before hand partying, before receiving their
assignments.
Before Bolt had always considered the parties to be a waste of
time. His opinion hadn't much approved.
Yet...
He scanned the crowd, looking for certain toys. He had
heard, mostly by eavesdropping, that more experienced toys would be here
tonight. Toys that had been on active duty. Not just their teachers, who had retired
here, but...
There was a scared bear over there, looking fierce. He was
missing part of an ear and his fur was shorn short along one side. The others
were keeping a gap around him.
Bolt glanced to the mouse, his unexpected companion for the
evening.
"What do you think?" Bolt asked, nodding towards
the battle worn bear.
The mouse snorted. "Looks like he's been through the
wash a few too many times."
"Battle scars." Bolt replied.
The mouse gave him a look, "He won't thank you for
pointing those out."
"I just want to ask a few questions..." Bolt said,
but didn't make a move forward.
"Like what?"
Bolt glanced at the mouse, considering carefully. "They
didn't tell us much about the Dark Realms, they don't say what happens if you
fall into them, they don't talk about anyone ever coming back."
The mouse nodded, his cheerful continence fleeing "What
do they say?"
"That you should never enter the Dark Realms. That if
you do, you will be lost forever. But..." Bolt looked away. The scared
bear was watching them.
"They lied." The mouse said.
Bolt looked back suddenly, not believing his ears.
"What?" He squeaked.
"I went underneath." The mouse laughed
humourlessly. "Not far, but I've been there. Remember kid, tie a rope or a
string to the outside and yourself, or you won't get out again."
"I..."
The mouse gave him a look, "Right, you'll follow the
rules, you won't enter the portals, you'll wait for them to come to you."
The mouse snorted. "I've seen that look before kid."
"The Dark took something from me." Bolt said.
The mouse nodded, "Yeah, and you intend to get it back
or die trying, right kid?"
"Beano?" A gruff voice interrupted their
conversation.
The mouse grinned, it wasn't a nice grin but Bolt smiled
nervously back. "Mars." The
Mouse greeted. "I was just getting to know the kids."
"You..." Bolt stiffened, looking between the two,
the battle scared bear that looked worn to pieces, and the small mouse that
seemed almost new. That really should have clued him in, almost new wasn't good
enough for Santa's Workshop, every toy had to look brand new before heading out
that door. The mouse's tail looked slightly chewed on, his fur didn't settle
quite right anymore, there were shadows in those eyes that Bolt hadn't noticed
before.
"Beano." The bear sighed, sounding long suffering.
"Ignore him kid, he's just trying to wind you up."
"So he hasn't been underneath?" Bolt asked, his
mouth running away with him.
The older bear gave him a sharp look. "It's forbidden
kid, and for good reason." And grabbed the mouse, Beano, by the ear and
dragged him away.
"Ow! Not the ear! Mars! Ow! Stop it!" Beano
yelled, making a fuss, and the party parted for them.
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