After a quick stop at his campsite, Bob headed to the bathole to begin his mission. Shelldor rode on his shoulder, the turtle having to hold on, never having seen Bob move this fast. Around them were the familiars Bob had gathered for the mission. A smiling rat scurried beside them, and a stabbat flew above.
Bob began to climb down the ladder to the bat hole, trying to climb and hold his nose at the same time. Shelldor wished he had hands to hold his nose. Bob moved with stealth through the various chambers of the bat hole. Around one corner, they heard noises that didn't sound like bats.
Bob looked around the corner, with Shelldor on his shoulder. “There they are,” he whispered. Bob saw a large group of familiars, surrounded by different kinds of bats. Some of them even looked like rats with wings. They seemed to be talking to the captured familiars. Shelldor, as a familiar now, could actually make out the words.
“You are free now, why aren't you happy? You don't have to fight for Suzie anymore!”
“We want to go home!” a cocoabo said.
“But you were being oppressed by the humans!”
“Its a living.”
Bob had heard enough. He charged in, mace held high, surprising Shelldor. Bats came forward, but were quickly swatted away by Bob's mace. The stabbat took care of the ones flying high overhead, and the rat scurried over to free the familiars. Shelldor bit at any bats that got close to Bob.
After a bit, the bats in the chamber were clear, but more were coming through the entryway. “Come on, there's another way!” A balloon monkey shrieked. He lead the way farther into the cave to a passageway, which lead to a cellar. Bob began to notice more pure rats among the beasts he was defeating.
They moved up the stairs to the cellar, familiars in tow. As they closed it behind them, they gave a sigh of relief. “Get you all a drink?” Bart Ender asked.
Short but sweet huh? Ichiro (voter) called it a nice (if rushed) wrap-up piece and that the humor hits. I'd love to see more Shelldor & Bob, but the handler tends to be quite busy, which is an issue with games like AIL quite often, I'm sure.
Not that there really are games likeAiL, mind you. :)
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