Rick gawked at the figure outside his window, staring with such disbelief that if the sky had changed colour in an instant, Rick wouldn’t notice. If the world turned upside down, Rick would just float away without a care. Rick was in such disbelief, staring at the figure of the little beast, hanging onto the edge of the window and staring back at him, that nothing else registered in his mind.

What felt like an eternity, was probably over in the blink of an eye as Rick took action, darting forward and, being in a rush, struggled to open the window, casting glances over his shoulder towards the closed door. Fumbling wildly, fighting against the window’s strong clutches, staring at the little beast beyond it who stared back. The little beast’s awkward smile never faltering, tongue flickering in and out as its tail swooshed eagerly behind it.

Clicking, clacking, Rick struggled. Struggling until his elbow bumped into the latch, forcing the window to come loose easily, too easily, slamming up and into the frame, bumping loudly. As it swung open, the little beast pounced hastily inside, jumping on top of Rick and snuggling its face into Rick’s in a wild and uncontrollable manner, purring loudly, colour of warm red floating out from within.

Dazed by the sudden attack, Rick felt a flash of happiness surge up, pushed aside by the urgency of the situation, grabbing a hold of the little beast and jumping up on two feet.

Two hard knocks bumped against the wooden door, followed by silence. Rick turning towards it, back to the beast, then darting his head back and forth in a panic, searching the small room for anything. Stopping as he spotted the bed, Bob bouncing on it with a cheerful smile on his face, arms stretched forward towards the little beast. Quickly, Rick jumped towards the bed, little beast held in his arms, pushing it, gently, under the bed.

Then Rick quickly grabbed the large blanket on top, pulling it down and draping it over the bed’s underbelly, hiding the little beast underneath and catching a glance of its face, seeing its head tilted to the side, staring at him, incredulously. And while Rick draped the blanket, Bob fell down with it, jumping up and running towards the little beast underneath.

Before Rick could grab Bob, the door opened with a loud creak, and Rick quickly let the rest of the blanket hide the bed, turning towards the door. Spotting the armoured guard standing there, one sword drawn with the other gripping the door firmly. The guard glanced around, stopping as he spotted Rick. The two staring at each other, sweat pouring down each person’s back, for different reasons.

The armoured guard walked in, stilted as he looked around, stopping as he spotted the opened window and darted quickly towards it. At it, the armoured guard bent over, turned his head side to side, searching for something, finding nothing. Slowly easing his body back inside, putting the sword away and facing Rick. Rick, who still sat on the floor with his back against the bed, desperetly tried to look normal, smiling toothily.

It was hard for Rick to read the guard’s face, helmeted as it was, standing at salute as he looked down on Rick.

A bump under the bed pulled their attention, disbelief on both faces. The guard warily gazing over at Rick, Rick staring wide eyed up at the guard. An awkward silence, held even as the guard took an unsteady step forward towards Rick.

Panic. Immediate and alarming panic broke free in Rick’s head. Mind scrambling for what to do, on what to do, what he could do. Searching for an impossible answer in a time that was unreasonably short.

The guard was within grabbing distance from the bed, Rick was too late, bending down with a hand on the pummel of the sword, glancing at Rick as his hand plowed forward towards the blanket.

Stopped when Bob peeked his head out, looking straight up at the guard, and slowly, smiling wide. Then quickly hiding his head back behind the big blanket, wooden claps that Rick knew to be Bob’s laughter echoing out, followed by several small steps, then Bob flying out from the opposite side of the bed, looking behind himself as he laughed soundlessly up at the armoured guard. Running until he came to the drawer, hiding behind it, peeking out while holding a hand over his mouth to stifle soundless laughter.

The armoured guard stared at Bob, then down on Rick, easily pushing himself up on steady feet and cleared, her, throat. Standing in a relaxed salute as a very feminine voice spoke. “Ahem, excuse my disturbance.” Then hurrying out and closing the door with a light slam.

Rick stared at the closed door for a minute of intense waiting. Then, when he felt confident that it wouldn't open again, he slid down on his back, melting away on the heated flooring, breathing out heavily, a breath he didn't know he had held, feeling as if he just escaped certain death.

The little beast peaked its head out at that moment, looking around, tongue flickering in and out, eyes narrowed. Spotting no one else, the little beast crawled out and looked towards Rick, coming closer and snuggling up on Rick’s flank, purring softly, quietly. Rick unconsciously letting a hand fall on its head, gently caressing it as he stayed still on the warm ground.

Rudely awoken by Bob who came crashing into his exposed ribs, a needle prick of pain that quickly flooded his mind to wakefulness, coughing soundlessly as he glared down on Bob. Bob himself just soundlessly laughing at his presumed prank.

The little beast crawling up further on Rick’s body, pushing Bob down on his rump as the beast flickered a tongue out, tail swooshing back and forth behind it. Bob staring at the little beast with disbelief, forming into a glare as he struggled up on two wobbly feet, wobbling up towards the beast and tried a swing of his own with his dis-proportioned arm.

Swing and a miss, the beast easily dodged back, backing away from Rick and standing at the ready beside the bed. Bob wobbling around Rick, getting a clear line of sight towards the little beast, then running at his wobbly top speed. The beast darting away.

Rick staring at the two playing, a small smile on his face, a small smile that disappeared slowly. Replaced by fatigue and worry, brows furrowed deeply into eyes that stared at nothing. Mind giving him millions of possible “what now’s”, giving him millions of “What do I do’s” and endless amount of worry.

Slowly, he made his way up to the bed, siting on its edge with the blanket still placed in such a way that the bottom was still hidden, just in case. Sitting and staring at the flickering fire in the fireplace, hand placed on chin, leg bouncing on the floor uneasily. Brown eyes illuminated by bright red, staring into the flickering shadows that played its dance on the dark stone floor. A room lit by fire, darkness outside, moonlight only as strong as embers from a bonfire.

The little beast stopped running, Bob playfully bumping into its hind leg, the little beast not giving Bob attention as its own was focused on Rick. Spotting Rick's darkened face and leg shaking slightly.

Like the eagle in flight, the little beast snuck up on Rick, jumping up on the bed and sat itself beside him. Rick not giving the little beast any attention, too focused in his own mind.

The little beast quirked up, purring softly, vying for his attention. Failing.

The little beast let out a soft sound, sounding like a mix of the quail from a bird and the meow of a cat. Still not gaining Rick’s attention.

The little beast felt a little irritated at that, pressing its head against Ricks, pushing aside Rick’s hand that was on his face and forcing it onto the little beast’s own, finally gaining his attention. Attention that made Rick smile softly, scratching at the little beast’s slimy and scaled neck, between its ears, eliciting a hearty purr.

The little beast then rested its head onto Ricks knee’s, feeling them slowly ease and stop, calm down. Rick still scratching at its ears, stared down on the top of the beast’s head.

Light flowed out from the beast’s stomach, warm and red.

Rick worrying ever more. Wondering how he was to save this little beast.