A Thief In The Night [OPEN]

[Ryan Cardwell]

Outside the palace were the usual night sounds; insects chirping and wild beasts screaming, the wind whipping through the forests on its way to lands beyond. However it was there that the beasts remained. Silence pervaded the entirety of the palace, from the highest spire to the deepest dungeon. Hallways that were normally filled to the brim with boogies and humans were empty of life. Rooms that had humans working them at almost every hour of the day lay vacant. The only places that showed any life were the sleeping quarters; where most of the palace's inhabitants were well along in their nightly rest. Beyond them there was no movement whatsoever, almost.

The kitchen, just like all the other rooms, was empty. It was still several hours until people would begin arriving to prepare the morning meal, and the evening meal had been quite sometime ago. The stores were left untended; no one needed them at the moment and there was no human foolish enough to disobey their masters and steal from the larders, it would be sure death. Apparently no one had informed the shadow that had just opened the door of a lower cabinet however, because, after carefully checking to make sure that there was no one else about it carefully closed the door and slipped over to storage closet.

With a wide grin on his face, Ryan gleefully scooped up handfuls of dried grains and stuffed them into his mouth. The taste was kind of yucky but he didn't mind, it had been days since he'd had the chance to venture forth and gather up something to eat. Grabbing some of it up he bypassed his mouth, instead shoving it into his pockets for further use. Instead he stood on his tiptoes and reached up for the more yummyful stuff that was higher up. His fingers just barely managed to touch something big and round, but they couldn't wrap around it. Setting his face in a grimace of concentration he tried again, stretching as far as his little body was able. This time he managed to tip it off balance, and the juicy pear rolled off the shelf and into his hands.

Giggling with glee he bit into the succulent fruit, the juices pouring out into his mouth and down his chin onto the dirty and ragged shirt on his chest, some of it making its way past his collar and onto his chest causing him to giggle more. In minutes the pear was gone, and yet his shrunken stomach still ached for more. But the fruit was kept above his head, he'd never be able to reach it without something to help. Looking about for something he could use, he spotted a small stool off in the corner, one that he'd lean some of the little creatures use to put things in the water before putting them on the shelves. If he had that, then he'd be able to reach the fruit for sure.

With a smile on his face at what he saw as a brilliant idea, he happily moved over to the stool and grabbed ahold of it. To his frustration he found that it was much heavier than he'd expected, he couldn't lift it at all. Luckily he was able to tug it across the floor though, and so it was only a few minutes until he had it in place. Beaming with expectation the little human clambered atop it, once again standing on his bare toes as he reached for his prize. For that moment he forgot about everything else, forgot to be on watch for the monsters; all he was concerned about was getting the yummy food.

[Garland Von Clossen]

Most creatures would be sensible enough to wait until morning to eat. What with being asleep and all! Others may decide to have a small meal before bed, knowing full well that they would run into this dilemma and seek to prevent such an annoying situation. Wonderland lay nearly immobile as sneaky boogies, creepers, and Rebels moved along nightly routes, seeking one another to satisfy their various needs. Oh, how funny that game of cat and mouse was! In fact, Garland assisted them in this game.

Though, not in a way that would help the hunters.

Garland was strolling down the hall, wearing a yellow nightcap that fell to his waist with a blue ball of fluff at the end and a large, fuzzy, and pink bath robe. The robe fell well past his feet and gave him a small train as he noticed in the dark, a keen eye the old man had, what looked like humans using the old pathways within the palace. As soon as they vanished a larger form appeared. A female boogie it would seem. She walked up to him, tongue licking her lips. "Have you seen any fresh meat recently?" Garland's mouth opened wide as he yawned, the woman becoming aggravated as he wasted her time. "Mmm?" He asked, rubbing one eye, the other only half open. "Oh, right. I believe I just saw them sneaky-sneaky right past you, idiot," He said sleepily, another yawn threatening to overtake him.

"Wh-what?!" She roared, both offended and surprised at his statement. The meal was far more important than dealing with a sleepy boogie. With a threatening growl, she stormed off, going down another hall and away from the escaped Rebels. Once she left, Garland smiled brightly, the wariness and fatigue leaving instantly. "Good luck," He muttered to himself, continuing on to the kitchen.

Once at the door he leaned his ear against it. Was he suspicious? Did he hear anything before hand? No. It was always his experience that he found the best food if he listened to the door first. Of the many crazy, odd things he had seen over the thousands of years, this was one he never stopped to think about and just accepted it. This time he did hear something beyond the door. Another boogie going for a snack? Well, then he would make sure that there was a Food Buddy for them!

Opening the door, Garland moved in quickly, the robe following after him and barely escaping the closing door. "Good evening, good fellow and/or miss! I have come to join you in a late night escapade to vanquish the ever persistent hunger that gnaws constantly away at our stomachs!" His eyes were closed as he spoke, having well enough memorized this room, like many others. "Shall we perhaps dine together?" He went on, moving to the sink full of sudsy water and dunked his hands in. He splashed them around and dried them on his buttocks before turning again, eyes opening.

Whether Garland was surprised or not did not show as he took the human child in. "Oh my, and what little thief do we have here?" The eccentric elder asked, crouching down and smiling at the boy, his lower half now in a tent of comfy pink. "I do no recall ever seeing you around here. May I inquire your name before we start preparing the best midnight snack that either of us has ever had?" Garland had a weak spot for humans, especially the young ones. Besides, didn't he promise himself that he was going to be Food Buddies with whoever was within these walls that strangely never smelt of the horrid food his brethren and sisteren cooked.

"Ah!" He exclaimed before Ryan could answer, "I am so rude indeed! I am Garland Von Clossen, richer than the finist chocolate and more fun than watching a boogie chase it's own tail!" He beamed again, waving at the boy in the storage closet.