Work Text:
Poker With A Squirrel
'Turn em' over!'
The husky voice belonged to a red fox named Maverick. He owned the flimsy, yet oddly cozy, tavern in which they played. He won it sometime ago from the previous owner, now, unfortunately, deceased. The game they played consisted of two swords, a lot of seaweed grog, and a very sore loser. The old proprietor of the fine establishment was a ferret, his name unimportant, and rather disgusting. He had lived by the grog, died by the sword. Fitting for a vermin such as himself.
Maverick, however, lived well past the life expectancy for a fox. His greying muzzle shone in the candlelight that flickered lazily on the table in front of him. His wizened appearance radiated confidence once thought impossible for a vermin, let alone one so old.
Across from Maverick sat a weasel, Thistle. The weasel had flipped his cards, a large goofy smile spread across his lips.
'Aye! I has a pair! See!'
He pointed gleefully at the 5 of hearts he had flipped, and the 5 of spades that lay out along the face up cards in the middle of the table.
'I'd like to see anybeast of yous beat that!'
A very curious weasel, one brought down to his knees by too many head wounds. The last few seasons had taken quite a toll on the middle aged vermin. He was, and still is, a feared warlord, one with such murderous intent that his stare was said to be enough to kill a mouse. Some of the weaker vermin that roamed the bar have been taking it upon themselves to never look him in the eyes. Dumb or not, he still had power.
That hidden ferocity happened to slip from time to time, which, unfortunately, allowed him to lapse back to his old sinister self. Much to the displeasure of the entire vermin community. Those moments only lasted mere moments, but it was enough to ensure the old weasel was able to retire in peace.
His twin brother, the luckily level-headed of the two, swiftly turned his cards over to reveal the pair he had hidden away.
'That you do, brother! But, I have a pair of 8's! That beats a pair of 5's!'
He laughed joyously as his younger brother slouched against the table, defeated. Birch, the largest of the two twins, standing nearly a head taller than his little brother. He wasn't as strong, fast, or quick witted as his 'little' brother had been in his prime. It was often said he was ignored as the rightful successor to his father's hordes. He could not compete with his sibling, always coming second place in anything they did.
They grew up together in a somewhat loving family environment, but he still harbored contempt for his younger brother. For many seasons he sat in his shadow, but now he had the chance to finally be better. Although, he took it upon himself to take care of him after his brain went to mush, possibly out of the love he had hidden deep within his heart.
'Don't you worry! I'll buy ya a round tonight!'
That perked Thistle up, his loss completely forgotten.
'Not if I steal all of your booty away tonight, mate!'
Across the table, a silver fox sat eyeing the two brothers. His name was Juno, a fox from the lands far to the north. He had an interesting way of speaking, forcing a bad pirate accent, broken often. It was generally accepted that he had a secret desire to go sailing, and that speaking like a pirate would some day bring him to the sea. The creatures around the bar had their own ideas and conspiracies. They whispered about him being an outcast of the Marlfoxes, while others say he was born from the ash of a lightning strike during a full moon. Closer yet, just a dirty, cheating fox. At least one of them was true, but he liked to keep every beast guessing.
'You should save the rest of your goods. I'll be winning the lot!'
He flipped his cards revealing a rather excellent paw. He held the 10 of spades and the Jack of diamonds, easily overthrowing Birch's pair.
'A pair of Jacks! Beats you any day!'
Birch slammed his head against the oak table, determined to become as dumb as his brother. Thistle patted his back lovingly.
'There there, Birch. There's always next time.'
His brother merely replied with a muffled grunt of sadness.
A maniacal high pitched laugh emanated from a pygmy rat. He had been sitting quietly directly across the table from Maverick. He wore the skull of another (much larger) rat, which regally adorned his head. Tribal markings covered his body, painted in either the blood of his enemies, or from the dye of the wild Choki plant. Went by the name of Hog. He would deny anybeast that accused him of using the dye, but words only go so far, and many would believe otherwise due to his small stature.
'Hog has the mostest powerful paw of them all! Truly Hog be the strongest of beasts!'
He flipped his cards, earning him no applause. An Ace of hearts, and a solid 4 of clubs. Neither made any pairing on the board. The surrounding creatures were less than impressed with the display, voicing their concerns with heartfelt and encouraging words.
'Ye got shit, mate!'
'Learn ta play, ya dumb rat!'
'Get him a taller log! He can't see his cards!'
Hog looked around the room with fire in his eyes, his fists clenching with his rising anger.
'Hog has the mighty Ace! You dare deny the power held within'?!'
Maverick snorted, holding nothing but disdain for the rat. His words powerful and confident.
'Give it up, rat, or I'll show you what being mighty really is.'
'You dare threaten the mighty Hog?!'
'I dare!'
Maverick flipped his cards revealing an astounding double pair. He held the Jack of Clubs and the 8 of spades. With one more 8 of Diamonds and the Jack of Hearts resting among the board.
'You're all beat! I have two pairs!'
Hog's breath quickened, violence brewing in his eyes. Maverick matched his stares, downing a quick swig of seaweed grog without breaking eye contact.
The swiping of flint against steel had all eyes turn to the final contestant that sat shrouded in shadows. The strikes illuminated her face, the small sparks dancing across the leaf wrapping that held her pipe weed. With a long drag of the tight bundle, she pushed forward out of the shadows, allowing for the small amount of candle light to illuminate her.
A devious grin spread across her lips as she exhaled slowly from her nose.With bated breath the crowd watched as she slowly flipped her cards revealing a 3 of a kind, winning the paw. The bar erupted into chaos, creatures and players alike arguing and fighting, fists flying, and bottles smashing.
She licked her index finger and her thumb, casually pressing them both down against the still burning bundle. The flight of a rogue bottle had the squirrel swiftly ducking, smiling devishly as she claimed the small pile of various junk and treasures. She made it a point to quickly take any treasures that were bet, her trust for her playmates only went as far as she could toss them.
The rat would fair better in that regard, not that she would ever try, let alone touch the unwashed heathen. She sat comfortably away from the main bustle of the bar, her back to a corner, rump upon an old stump. Juske, a cheeky young thing that had a particular talent for games and gambling. It usually got her into a lot of trouble, but this time she really hit her monthly quota.
She wore a pretty, dark green tunic, with a purple undershirt that seemed much too large for the young squirrel. The hem of which rested far below the bottom of her tunic, pushing down past her waist. Her headfur had been cropped short into a spiky mohawk, and four golden earrings sat tightly together in each of her fluffy ears. The rings were quite impractical, weighing her ears down enough to fold them over, but she loved them all the same. Her eyes were a deep shade of purple, rare to be sure, a beauty not often seen. Light brown fur covered her body and tail, her belly a creamy white. Her fingers each had a ring won from vermin and woodlanders alike. She was proud of her junk, and wore them without shame, even if her peers didn't approve.
The hullabaloo was nowhere near close to calming down. The squirrel, not being a very patient beast, took it upon herself to try to ease the crowd.
'Calm your snouts! It was just one paw of cards!'
'She's cheating! Check under her shirt!'
There was a murmur of agreement from the crowd, mostly from the males. Typical, not that it bothered her greatly.
'Whoa now,' Juske said, as she leaned her chair against the wall, her paws resting behind her head. 'We're not playing strip poker. Besides, we would all be laughing at your naked bodies long before you got to gawk at mine.'
Juno snorted, replying hotly. 'We should just make you play naked, I'm sure the whole bar would be pleased with that! Isn't that right, mates?'
The crowd cheered in unison, agreeing wholeheartedly.
'An honest squirrel never cheats! What a rude way to treat a guest, I say!'
Maverick banged his fist against the table, silencing players and crowd alike.
'She's a guest. We treat guests fairly in my bar! Anybeast disagree?'
Silence reigned supreme, nothing but the awkward shuffling of those that felt it would be in their best interests to be far away from an angry Maverick.
'Excellent. I believe it is my turn to deal.'
After a second of hesitation, the players began collecting their cards and passing them neatly to Maverick. He expertly shuffled the deck, his paws a blur, the cards seemingly flying paw to paw in even unending lines of black and white. Of course, he kept the blank sides of the cards face up throughout his spectacle. Juske couldn't help but smile, she was certainly impressed by the sleight of paw skills.
Maverick sent each player a card, carefully gliding them around the table, well hidden from any prying eyes. He went around the table twice before slapping 5 cards face down in the middle of the table.
'Ante in!'
The players moved to obey, tossing something of value into the pot. Juske added a piece of jewelry. A strange weave of odd fabric, with multicolored stones hanging freely. It bounced once into the middle, adding to the rapidly growing pile as the others all did the same. Each of the players eyed each other suspiciously as they peeled back their cards, each looking for any sort of weakness. Not that the group of them would dare show it.
Thistle sat, cards in his paw, smiling ear to ear joyfully. Some would say the inner good within had taken over when he succumbed to his injuries, but that was purely speculation.
All gazes turned towards Juske, she sat to the left of Maverick, allowing her first turn. Her paw wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either. She held the 4 of Hearts and the 8 of Hearts. Taking a moment to ponder, mostly because she liked making her opponents stew, but she quickly decided it was in bad taste, especially since they were all prone to extreme violence.
'Check.'
The turn went to Birch. He sat staring at his cards intently, looking up upon hearing her start the game. With all eyes turned to him, waiting on his next move, he swiftly passed it onto his brother. Thistle’s silly grin unfaltered upon his features, and not much more besides that.
'Get on with it!'
His smile shifted, and his demeanor took a dramatic turn. The room seemed to grow darker, and the air grew cold. The weasel twitched once, sending the heckler pushing through the crowd screaming bloody murder.
Juno slowly began to rise from his seat, fully ready to leave the bar and never come back. Maverick just shook his head, placing a heavy paw against Juno’s shoulder, pushing him back into his seat without muttering a word.
Juske swallowed nervously, unsure if she too should fear the odd weasel. She concluded that every beast else was safe, save for the poor soul that insulted him.
Thistle's smile returned, happily ending his turn, with no cases of spinal cord removal this time around. This was, of course a relief, especially for Maverick, who would have had to clean the awful mess.
Hog chuckled darkly, as he tended to do. Perhaps he thought it was menacing, but he was clearly outclassed by nearly every single beast that resided within the tavern. He thought differently. Who were they to challenge the mighty Hog, Chief of the tree rats?
'My paw is powerful! Submit! Hog might show you mercy!'
'Shove a rock in it, shrimp.'
Hog immediately jumped up onto his log, balancing neatly as he scanned the crowd for the one that dared mock him.
'Hog will show you power, scum! Fight him if you dare!'
Juno took it upon himself to take his turn while the rat was preoccupied. He wasn't overly impressed with his paw, but it would have to do. He tossed a colourful stone into the pot, casting the first bet of the game. The other players swiftly followed, save for Hog.
Maverick cast his gaze over each of the remaining players before flipping the first of five, signaling the end of his turn. The flop revealed a 6 of hearts, perking Juno right up, his first clear pair of the paw. He held the 6 of clubs and the king of diamonds, he was confident.
Maverick flipped two more cards, ending with two still face down. The jack of clubs, the 9 of hearts, and the 6 of hearts occupied the middle of the table.
Juske showed no weakness, but silently cursed her paw. It didn't make any sort of pairing on the board. It seems her luck was finally running out.
Birch sat eyeing his opponents, scanning for signs of slipping strength. He held the ace of clubs, and the 4 of diamonds. A paw that held no value, and one he definitely wasn't going to bet on.
'I fold.'
Birch tossed his cards. Thistle concentrated on his own cards, wholly unsure of what to make of them. His paw consisted of the 3 of diamonds, and the queen of clubs. You could practically see the smoke billowing from his ears as he tried to make some sort of pairing on the board. The poor weasel had never seen a paw of his own without a pair, he had never even considered the possibility.
'Uh.. uhhh, hey, Birch? I doesn't have pairs on the board, see?'
'You idiot! You're not supposed to tell anybeast what you have in your paw!'
'Oh lay off em’! He's rich! Let him have his fun.'
Birch sighed, his paws sliding down against his cheeks.
Thistle just shrugged, taking his brothers resignation as a sign to continue.
'I'll check!'
The collective gazes of the players fell to the dwarf rat that had stayed balanced upon the small log in which he had previously sat. He still taunted and hissed at the crowd, unable to back down from his imaginary foes. Maverick rolled his eyes, the old fox getting rather bored with the many headaches the tribal rat had graciously given him.
'Hog! Do yer turn or lose your winnings!'
The rat immediately spun around, the log clutched tightly in his clawed foot paws.
'Hog shall never lose his winnings!'
'Then take your bloody turn!'
The rat sat back down, his tail swishing side to side as he grabbed his face down cards. He stared at them for an uncomfortably long moment, his whiskers twitching in frustration. He held no aces, which happened to be the only card he actually understood. The rest held no value to him.
Juno couldn't hold back a snicker, as he watched the rat struggle.
'Having some problems there, mate?'
Hog slapped his cards down onto the table, his attention turned to Juno, his eyes fiery and fierce.
'Hog is always powerful! His cards are the best!'
'Oh? You better bet something valuable! I'm sure we'd all be happy to lose to you, bucko!'
The rat burst into maniacal laughter, his earlier hesitation disappearing as Juno reassured him. Hog's overconfidence, and blaring ignorance, forced his paw. Perhaps there was an unwillingness somewhere deep within his psyche, but the persistent stares from the crowd pushed any competent thoughts deep within him.
'You will all suffer at the mighty paw of Hog!'
A small pouch hung from his waist, pulling from it a very decorative stone. Turquoise, smoothly polished by the sea. It looked as if it were glass, but held no opaque features. The rock was merely aesthetic in nature and held no real worth, but it was enough to continue the game.
Maverick threw his cards down, his head resting upon his paw in defeat. Juske followed, tossing her cards in a huff, forepaws going back behind her head. She couldn't afford to pursue a win for every game, that would be too risky, especially with this lot.
Thistle reached down into his pockets, trying to find something to add to the pot, but his brother grabbed his paw.
'Don't bet! You're only going to lose more of our grog money!'
'Oh, good idea, Birch! Hey! Gimme and my brother another sip of grog!'
His cards were forgotten, and they fell from his paws.
Juno matched the bet, tossing in a random piece of his treasure.
'I'll call you on that, mate! No real beast will ever back down to a disgusting tribal rat!'
'The fox dares to mock the mighty Hog!?'
Maverick chuckled darkly as he flipped over the fourth flop, revealing the 5 of diamonds.
Juno's face lit up with a devious smirk, a rotten plan formulating in his mind.
'I do as I please, for a pirate is always free! Go on and bet your most valuable booty! I'm sure the mighty Hog will be able to beat me!’
Hog turned a dark shade of red, his breathing livid and deep. His jaw snapped shut, biting down hard as his tail whipped back and forth in rage. His paw moved down under the shoddy tabletop, pulling a gold toe ring from his foot paw.
Betting ones most valuable treasure during a game ended all betting. A house rule honored by the vermin population of the prestigious institution in which they drank and bickered. It signified that the player is raising the stakes to their fullest potential, one that could not be matched any other way, save for the equal betting of one's own most valuable possession. Juno did just that, tossing in a silver locket that hung from a breast pocket on his tunic.
Maverick raised a brow as the locket bounced into the pot.
'Are you sure you want to do that, Juno? It would be unfortunate if the rat got a hold of it.'
'Aye!'
Maverick shrugged, flipping over the last of the five cards. The 2 of clubs shone with all its glory, not that it made much of a difference to the outcome.
'Flip em'!'
Juno held the 6 of clubs and the king of diamonds, netting himself only one pair and no other combinations. A risky paw to bet all in on, but the fox was confident on pulling through with a win.
Hog, however, also had one pair, but this held very little meaning to him. It also would mean a loss. The rat was oblivious to this, as he was to most everything. His bravado hadn't failed to kick in, fuelled by his oversized ego. He jumped up onto the skinny stump, balancing skilfully as it wobbled underneath. His paws flashed his cards around the table, making sure every beast could see.
'Hog wins! Hog is powerful! Bow before him!'
The crowd burst into hysterical laughter, with the lot of them throwing as many insults as they could at the poor rat. A new tradition at the quaint vermin bar, not that the rat would ever agree with it.
'You'll be the one bowing tonight!'
'Go on, Juno! Show this disgusting rat how to beat a dinky pair of 2's!'
Juno slammed his cards onto the table top, revealing his pair of 6's. His ivory white teeth shone in the candlelight.
'That's a good one, mate! I'm sure those weak cards would get me to bow!’
'You dare defy the great and powerful Hog?!'
'Oh shut up, before I make ya!'
The silver fox wrapped his arms around the treasures, pulling them over to his side of the table. Hog wasn't having any of that. He bounded onto the table top, the candle expertly snatched up by Birch before the rat sent it flying.
The rat bashed into a surprised Juno, toppling the larger beast. Maverick acted swiftly, his footpaw pushing heavily against Juno, sending him and the rat tumbling away from his squirrel guest. The old fox swiftly pushed closer to Juske, wrapping his forearm around her shoulders.
'See that, Missy? The excitement of a vermin bar! I love every minute of it!'
Juske had wanted to bolt for the door as soon as the rat hit the dirt, but the fox was fast. His grip held tight and unfaltering, but not exactly unpleasant, nor was it uncomfortable. She bore it with dignity, having no other option, especially since struggling might insult her wonderful host.
She swallowed her fear, replying nervously.
'It's... certainly quite the spectacle!'
Her eyes were locked on the two struggling forms, their paws battering each other mercilessly. Teeth bared, their throats filled with vicious growling. Hog found his mark, biting down hard into Juno's arm. He howled in pain, his free paw punching the rat repeatedly in the head. Blood dribbled down the rats chin, his jaw held, despite the savage beating. The skull proved to be a formidable piece of armour, one that Juno would never forget.
The crowd cheered the two fighters on, urging them to do unspeakable things to each other. Most of the crowd wanted the fox to win, but the few rats that dotted the crowd couldn't help but side with Hog.
The rat finally released Juno's arm. His silver fur was now tinged crimson, much to his dismay. He was proud of his fur, and no beast would ever get away with defiling it. He took the opportunity to pounce the rat, sending them both tumbling to the footpaws of Juske and Maverick.
The squirrel tried pushing away from the melee, but Maverick held her still.
'Don't you worry yourself, cutie. You're safe as long as I'm with you!'
He laughed happily, kicking the two fighters away from his chair.
'Go on, Juno! Beat that shrimp! Our guest is getting antsy!'
Juske cursed herself for getting into this situation. She closed her eyes, sighing regretfully. If it weren't for the constant fear that came with the vermin, she would actually enjoy their company. She couldn't deny how exciting the environment was, but for a maiden, a squirrel maiden no less, it was slightly terrifying.
The two weasels sat uninterested in the conflict. They were experienced warriors, one being the chieftain of a grand horde, and the other having been second in command. They witnessed plenty of brawls during their campaigns, most of them infighting such as this.
Thistle, being retired and slightly brain dead, as it were, couldn't care less about the bickering duo. He only wanted to play a simple game of cards, and was having fun before the rat ruined it. Something malevolent whispered thoughts of violence and strife, a desire to get up and snap the rat's neck. It was ultimately ignored.
Juno soon had the upper paw. With his superior strength, he lifted the struggling rat clear off the ground. He spun him around, sending him flying against a large wooden beam. The rat smacked against it with a sickening crunch, sending an icy chill up Juske's spine. The skull the rat wore fractured in the place of his own, protecting what little brains he might have had.
'Looks like Hog decided to go to bed early, mateys!'
Members from the cheering crowd jumped upon the still form of the tribal rat, pushing and biting each other for the chance at some easy plunder. Maverick was unimpressed with the display. He hollered out to the law breakers, making them freeze in their tracks. His forepaw still wrapped snugly around Juske.
'No looting in my bar! How many times do I have to say it? We're civilized beasts! Take him outside first.'
The looting party stopped their fighting just long enough for them to work together.
'Go on, grab his legs!'
'I has his head!'
'His head doesn't matter, you idiot!'
Thistle thought it would be in good taste to wave to the rat as he was carried off, calling out to him in a friendly manner.
'G'night, little Hog!'
Thistle caught sight of his brother and the lack of waving he was doing, which wasn't going to sit well with the happy go lucky creature. He twitched once, his smile disappearing as he reverted back to his old, destructive self.
'Wave good night to that poor rat!' He said, roughly elbowing his brother, making sure to dig into the ribs.
Birch flinched, but dared not hesitate. His paw flashed upwards, waving to the now vanished rat. It was enough to satisfy Thistle, his arm lowering and his smile returning. Birch sighed in relief, there was nothing more terrifying to him than the mood swings that plagued his twin.
Juno had retaken his seat, his arm being tended to by a young vixen that had taken interest in him. She washed the wound with warm water before wrapping it carefully with some old cloth.
'Thanks, girly. How about you find me later tonight, eh?'
She giggled, disappearing back into the crowd. Juno slowly whistled, eyes watching her rump sway.
Maverick rolled his eyes, going back to gently playing with Juske's mohawk. She didn’t object, mostly out of fear. The older fox wasn't unpleasant in the slightest, and he had a wonderful aroma about him, burly, yet clean. She even found him attractive in a way, but she tried keeping those feelings far in the back of her mind. The only scary thing about him was the fact that he was a fox, a scary one at that. She couldn't defend herself against any beast within the bar, let alone one so experienced.
With the players distracted, she decided it was in her best interest to save some face. She didn't want to appear weak in front of creatures that would not hesitate to take advantage of it.
'Well, now that that's over. How about we all get back into the game? I'm sure you all still have trinkets and treasures to lose to me!'
Maverick found great interest in the squirrel. In all his days he had never once met a woodlander brave enough (or perhaps stupid enough) to try their luck n a place like his. He was impressed, and was secretly hoping she wouldn't just take off after their game. He soon caught himself staring at the female far longer than socially acceptable, causing him to jolt himself back to reality before any beast could call him out on it.
'Right then, I believe it is the squirrel’s turn to deal.'
Maverick took it upon himself to gather the scattered cards. His eyes boring malice into Juno as the silver fox sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, his grin unwavering.
'There you are, miss.'
Juske gently grabbed the cards, smiling sweetly.
'A real gentlebeast! Never took you lot for having any manners!'
'Don't expect it from any beast else, little miss. I run a business, see? Gotta keep up good appearances!'
Juno failed to suppress a squealing giggle, his paw immediately pushing against his maw in a terrible effort to keep himself quiet. Maverick's ears twitched in annoyance. Usually he would cuff the disrespectful fox a few times to set him straight, but he swallowed those bitter feelings as not to terrify his new friend.
Juske quickly stole the spotlight. The cards floated around her fingers in a stunning display of dexterity. The previous fight was forgotten, the crowd standing mesmerized. She might not have been able to wield a weapon, but her skill with a deck was unmatched. She scanned the audience, making sure all eyes were on her. The show was nothing more than a trick, a clever deception. Something she found to be a lot easier against a table full of vermin.
With her opponents focused on her twirling paws, her tail softly flicked a card she had hidden within her fluff. It spun through the air towards the ceiling, hidden by the darkness that surrounded them. The card, driven by gravity, gently fell into the shuffling deck between her fingers. Then, just as swiftly, she dropped a card between her legs, her tail nimbly catching it.
No beast caught wind of the blatant treachery, save for Maverick who stared at her with a dumbfounded expression. He barely caught on, just seeing the extra card fall into her fingers. He looked around, expecting at least half the bar to charge at her with murderous intent. Not that he could do anything about that, he wouldn't risk his life over some squirrel, pretty or not.
But nothing happened.
Maverick had new found respect for the squirrel. Her bravery knew no bounds. His maw opened wide in a toothy smile, watching with feigned awe. The first card dealt landed face down beside his paws, the rest landing in front of the remaining players, twice around.
This seemed to snap them out of their daze, finally escaping the hypnotic shuffle. Thistle was none the wiser to Juske’s cheat. Not that he would have cared or realized it was cheating in the first place. He was more impressed with the magnificent display of what he thought to be pure magic.
'So yous a magic squirrel! How'd you do it?'
Thistle, back in his prime, used to collect all sorts of mystical artifacts. Just like his mother before him. He even included seers and other 'Magical' beasts in that collection. He mostly demanded them to perform great feats of wizardry. Ones that would spur his armies to great plunder, and many victories. Most of them created all sorts of colourful and dazzling performances to try get into his good graces, but nothing was concrete. Their little facades were always doomed to fail, and when they did, he had every single one of them brutally executed.
Birch, of course, didn't understand what he had just witnessed, but he concluded it to be mere trickery at best.
'Don't go grovelling to that squirrel. That was no magic, just some clever trick. Like the rest of those pathetic seers you used to keep around. I don't think Maverick would appreciate you ripping out another spine in his bar, especially over something as silly as your magical escapades! It doesn't exist, end of story!'
'Magic is real! One day I'll proves it to you! Being fake shouldn’t make me at fault for their spine loss.'
'You're the one that tore it out!'
'It was a few vertebrae at best!'
'Part of her skull was still attached to the end of it!'
'Life is to be experienced, not remembered!'
Birch slammed his head against the table (something he had become accustomed to these last few seasons), sending his cards up into the air, flashing their hidden contents.
'Hey, you has a pair birch!'
The poor weasel could only muster a halfhearted groan.
Juske sat wide eyed, her words catching hoarsely in the back of her throat. She was thankful that Birch barged in when he did. Her magic paws routine wasn't going to score her any points within these walls.
'I assure you that my card trick was just that, a trick. No magic here, no sirs. Just a lot of practice!'
Thistle hung his head in defeat. He would not find magic that night.
Maverick sighed, the night growing far too old for the fox. But, he managed a smile nonetheless, joining the waves of voices that showered the squirrel in praise.
'It might have not been real magic, but it was magical to my eyes, lassie!'
Juno found himself shaking his head a few times, not used to seeing such sensational performances among the vermin he regularly found himself mingled.
'Aye, it was a fine little show our guest showed us this evening, ain't the right, mateys?
A roar of approval flooded the bar, tankards bashed together in the squirrels honour, which were quickly drained afterwards.
'Ante in!'
Thistle was the first to toss in his own bet, Birch on the other paw, tossed his cards to the side.
'I fold, no use playing a paw everyone else has seen.'
He pushed away from his chair, grumpily slumping off through the crowd. He soon perked up at the sight of a fresh barrel of seaweed grog that had been hoisted up from the dirt cellars.
The remaining players added to the newest pot. Juno was the first to grab his cards, casually peeking at them before laying them flat against the table. He cursed his bad luck, and his lack of liquid to drown his sorrows away. His paw shot up, his fingers snapping once, summoning a bar paw Maverick kept around. His name was Shurik, a young fox apprenticing under Maverick. Maverick was a brew master, a job that was rare, and incredibly difficult. Shurik quickly filled Juno's empty tankard, adding a tally to a small notebook attached to his side. Tabs were a rarity around the bar, and only the most trusted of beasts gained one.
Shurik soon had every other tankard and cups filled to the brim with thirst quenching water, ale, or the vermin favorite, grog. He melted back into the crowd just as fast as he had appeared, tending to his other duties.
Juske silently sipped at a fresh cup of water, taking short, sly glances at her cards. Her trick had worked, the many seasons of tireless practice had paid off. The cheated card was a king of spades, it sat snugly against the queen of diamonds. It wasn't a foolproof tactic, there was a chance that she could still get nothing, but a king was a king, and would help her win in many situations.
Thistle was starting to get the hang of the game, or perhaps, he was having a strangely calm relapse. He began and ended his turn in timely fashion, tossing in one piece of treasure with the others following.
Juno lifted the edges of his cards, carefully covering them with a paw as he stole a glimpse.
'Check.'
Maverick had a menacing paw. The king of hearts and the king of spades rested neatly in his paw. It was one that he would normally bet continuously on, but he thought better of it, knowing what the squirrel was up to.
He nodded to the squirrel, allowing her to play the first flop.
It consisted of the 10 of diamonds, the queen of hearts, and the 6 of hearts. A pair right off for Juske, who couldn't contain a slight grin. Displaying any sort of emotion or facial expression was, of course, a double edged sword. Another player could see her confidence as a ruse and continue betting, or they would just fold, making her lose out on valuable trinkets. It was a risk she was willing to take, especially on a loaded paw.
'What do you think, boys? Should I stir the pot a bit, hmm?' She asked sweetly, disguising her menacing betrayal.
Juno snorted, bluffing his way through her challenge.
'Do what ya want, miss. I have cards you can't beat!'
'Is that so? How about I bet five more pieces of loot? If you have a paw that can't be beat, I'm sure you won't hesitate to match it!'
Juske made good on her word, casting five pieces of junk into the treasure pile.
Juno threw his cards to the side with a loud sigh, his paw moving to his cheek, resting his head in defeat.
'Damn! Strong-arming a poor fox? Never thought I'd see the day! I'll be callin' it a night, this squirrel will steal all me hard earned treasure! She's more of a crook than any of us are!'
Juske smiled bashfully at him, her head turning to the side in mock embarrassment.
'Aww, shucks. That's one of the nicest things I've been told in my whole life.'
The silver fox winked at her as he drained his drink, a wave of sullen sadness washing over him, but he knew exactly how to fix that.
'Another round! This fox is a thirsty beast!'
Maverick held a paw up, stopping the hurrying fox in his tracks.
'If you're gonna have another, I suggest you take it to you room. I don't want anymore fights tonight, your fault or not.'
Juno knew better than to go against his old friend's wishes. He begrudgingly turned Shurik away, wanting to see how the night wore on.
Maverick was satisfied with Juno's choice, and his attention went back to Juske's large bet. He could afford to call it, but then he would only be feeding the squirrel. Instead, he decided to bet a wager, considering it was only really himself and the squirrel in play. Thistle was not a problem, he never won past blind luck. Maverick knew the squirrel was going to win, she cheated, after all.
'How about I call your miserable little bet with a wager?'
This excited the young squirrel, her tail easily giving her away as it brushed against the palm wood walls.
'A wager! What do you have in mind, Mr. fox?'
'I was thinking, if by some miracle, I win this paw,' He winked at her. ‘That you and I could share a dance together this fine evening.'
Juske's eyes widened, and her face flushed a deep crimson. She wasn't expecting any sort of flirting in a place such as this. Especially since she, and her people, always held contempt for the vermin community. She never once thought beasts such as these would be interested in a squirrel, let alone any other woodlander.
'What? fox got your tongue?'
'N-no, I just never thought…'
'That a fox, a ruffian like myself, would have any sort of manners? Or, that I have some sort of obligation to hate woodlanders such as yourself?'
The squirrel was at a loss for words for the first time in her life. She just stared awkwardly at Maverick, and he stared right back. Juno enjoyed every minute of it, his eyes glued to the duo, mouth agape with toothy grin. Thistle had tossed his cards aside some time ago, not wanting to match Juske's bet. He had wandered off to find his brother, taking more than half the crowd with him. The rest merely mingled and spread out among their friends, leaving the squirrel alone with the two foxes.
She managed a few shaky words, her voice squeaky and quiet.
'Alright, I'll bite.'
The fox was overjoyed, even if his chances at winning against a loaded paw were slim. He still wanted to make the point that she was indeed worth his time.
'Shake on it?'
Juske bit her lower lip, a nervous shiver running up her tail. Her paw met his gentle, yet firm grasp. His fur unexpectedly silky and smooth.
'But what if I win?'
'It's an all in scenario, my dear. Or perhaps you would prefer your own side of the wager for winning the paw?'
'Heh, all your treasure will be good enough for me. A drink on you sounds nice, maybe if you're lucky you'll buy one for yourself too.'
She winked at the old fox, giving him a sweet smile. He couldn't have been happier, she was a real treat, the most excitement he has had in many a season. A challenge, in a way, a unique opportunity.
'Your confidence is stunning, miss. It's almost like you know you're going to win the paw. Perhaps you are cheating?'
Juske choked on a mouthful of water, and Maverick’s laugh filled the bar, forepaw patting the squirrel on the back as she rid herself of the invading water.
'I'm just messing with you! An honest squirrel never cheats, isn't that right, lass?'
She tried to manage a response through her coughing fits, but soon gave up.
'I'm going to take that as a yes. What do you think Juno?'
'Aye, I don't think she would cheat you out of a fair game. She's supposed to be an honest guest.'
'That settles it, then! We'll continue our little wager. Go ahead and flip the cards, miss.'
The squirrel pounded her chest, trying to recover from her sudden water logging. She shivered in disgust, trying to compose herself, allowing a moment for the sickening feeling to pass.
'R-right you are, gents. I am always an honest squirrel, unwavering in my duty. I'm honour bound by the squirrel creed, you see.'
'That you are, miss.'
Juske proceeded with the second flop, exposing the fourth card on the table. It was the king of diamonds. This was far better than Maverick had initially hoped for, securing him a powerful three of a kind. The squirrel also found herself in a favourable position, having acquired two pairs.
'Things aren't looking too good for you, Mavey. Perhaps you should just give up while you still can!'
'Nay, I'll see this through! Flip the last card, squirrel, I'm not afraid!'
Juske rolled her eyes at the dramatic fox, trying her best to hide her smile as she flipped the last card. It fatefully revealed the king of clubs, the last of the kings in play. Her smile took a dangerously smug turn, her eyes blazing with confidence.
'Sorry, Maverick. But it looks like the drinks are on you tonight! I've got myself a full house!'
She slammed her cards face up on the table, showing off what she thought was a sure victory. Her arms extended to the pile, only to be stopped by the gentle paw of Maverick.
'Not so fast miss, you seem to forget that I'm still in play!'
He flipped his cards face up, flooding the squirrel with absolute horror. There, sitting in his paws, were the other two kings. Five kings were present on the table, with a total of four in the deck. Maverick moved his paw, scaring the unfortunate squirrel into closing her eyes, her breath catching as she braced for an attack that would never come.
'I should give you two for flinching!'
Juske slowly opened her eyes, expecting the worst, but she found Maverick dangling her bets a few inches from her face.
'I win!'
He let out another booming laugh, adding the winnings to his moderate stash.
'B-but!'
'But what? You cheated, big deal. Every beast in here is some sort of villain. Sure, I'm the only one here that wouldn't have stuck you through with a blade, but that's beside the point, lass. You owe me a dance, cheat or not.'
Juno was completely lost, he was only there to enjoy the delightful flirting between the squirrel and fox. He was a hardened pirate at heart, but he had quite the soft spot for mushy romance.
'How'd the girlie cheat?'
He took a moment to think about it, his eyes nearly going cross with the effort, but the how's were quickly forgotten when he realized she had lied.
'Hey! What happened to your squirrel honour?!'
'She added a king, you idiot. There's five on the table right now.'
Juno merely shrugged, it wasn't like he lost anything. She didn't win the paw, his initial bet now sits with Maverick. No real loss to him.
'Have fun with your squirrel, I'm off to find myself something even better.'
Maverick waved him off, turning to offer a paw to the bewildered Juske. Her eyes locked onto his as she gingerly met his grasp.
'You really aren't gonna hurt me, are you?'
'No, but I might make you die of laughter. I'm not a very good dancer.'
Maverick led her to a secluded part of the now dying bar. What little beasts were left were drooling against tables, or face first against the dirt floor.
The duo casually stepped over a fat, sleeping ferret, his half empty tankard still clutched in his paw. They found themselves in a deserted corner, set up as an impromptu dance floor. It wasn't much, and was clearly not a planned part of the bar, but Maverick kept it around for occasions such as this.
The fox stood a head taller than the squirrel, which was what he preferred. It made slow dancing all the more intimate to him, and that was what he wanted. He faced her with a grin, his arms wrapping around her body, paws holding lower than they should have. She took a deep breath before slowly following his lead, her paws resting just above his tail.
'How does a fox like you end up in a place like this?'
'Well, you see, lass. I may have some manners, but I'm far from being a righteous beast.'
As if to prove a point, he squeezed down on the base of her tail, prompting a loud chittering from the squirrel.
'You brute!'
'Don’t be a sore loser.'
He silenced any rebuttal by taking the opportunity to rest his chin against Juske's soft head, which had the added benefit of pushing the squirrel's face into his chest fluff. She resigned to her fate, taking in his scent with a sigh. She secretly enjoyed having his soft fur pressed against her face, not that she was going to tell him that.
With their dance continuing, and his paws roaming around her back, she chose to enjoy the intimacy while it lasted. It wasn't everyday she had a fantasy fulfilled, after all.
End.
A/N: Thank you for reading.