《The Tinies》


 Troublesome Triplets

    **Author''s Note**


    This is the first time I have ever tried to write fiction online. I ask that you please bear with me on my new adventure. I will try to post one chapter a day. I ask that you, the readers share your opinions, as I am wishing to improve my skills as a story teller. I hope you enjoy!**


    Melinda sighed as she paced around the room with her arms crossed. Her face was full of anxiety as she thought on her sons. Sure, she tried to occupy herself with chores but the other children had already returned from their tutor''s home. Where could her triplets be? Too many situations crept around in her mind, all of them with horrible outcomes. She would stop pacing to glance through the window for signs of the boys'' return, merely to be disappointed and resume pacing, only to repeat the cycle again. After what seemed like an eternity to the worried mother had passed, the door opened. Her worry turned to anger in the space of a moment and she turned to the door hand raised with an accusatory finger and words prepared to burn their way out of her mouth. Then she saw that it was her husband and the flush of embarrassment to her cheeks as she looked away helped her to swallow the planned lecture.


    Drexel had quite a tiring day of labor. His entire body was sore, and his stomach was a hollow ache. He needed some time to relax and recover, a task his wife was adept at assisting him with. He could almost taste the supper she spoke of before leaving early that morning. He did not expect the reaction he received upon entering the house. He watched as his other children timidly peeked out from the other room. Three were missing which meant trouble was brewing. "What did they do? Where are they?" When Melinda shook her head, glancing to the floor, he knew that either his boys were in danger or worse. He went out to the veranda to keep watch for them. Darkness was coming and he had no idea where those children could be.


    Baurius frowned with eyebrows furrowed, "I am not doing this! Muh and Dah are already planning ways of torturing us in a hundred ways right now." He was the most sensible of his brothers. As the first born, he tried to keep them out of trouble but it often was a task well beyond his capabilities. "What we should be doing is heading home while we still have a chance of surviving our punishment." He looked at the others while they smirked. He knew there was no backing down now. He let out a painful groan. "Fine, but let''s be quick." He was the firstborn, even though they were born the same day, he felt responsible for them. Smirks turned into victorious grins as they began creeping silently amongst the wall. With one last glance at the surroundings, Baurius followed. There were large rocks to walk around, tall grass to push through but it was the large crevices that were most concerning. He hated those the most, not because of a fall but the creatures that lived below the surface. With nightfall came all sorts of danger. "We are going to have to turn back. There''s no way we are going to make it before nightfall at this rate."


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    Two voices rang out at the same time, "Oh come on!" It was Caurius that spoke, "We are so close now but if you want to leave we won''t stop you." He knew that Baurius wouldn''t go home alone.He felt too responsible for that. There wasn''t anything to worry about. Well, at least not yet but that was the fun of it all! "With what I found, our family will be able to eat for weeks at least." He took a few more steps before stopping while pointing, "Just through here. It''s totally safe, just a small tunnel." He was being truthful, it was just a small tunnel.


    Daurius shoved his hands into pockets while walking through the tunnel first. He waved to the others when he reached the other side. He took watch to make sure that everything stayed safe. He was the quiet one, unless he was aggravated or alarmed. While glancing around, he noticed what Caurius was talking about. His stomach grumbled hungrily at the sight. He began to walk forward a few steps to take in the aroma. He began to turn to see where his siblings were. He stopped dead before kneeling as low as possible. He motioned for his brothers to do the same. A very large shadow began moving around the area. Daurius tried to make himself as small as possible as he moved cautiously toward the shadows of a wall.


    Baurius knelt beside Caurius staying low, trying to be as quiet as his brother but they could hear their own heartbeats pounding. Both were ready to take off at a sprint. What was going on?

 Rolling With the Punches

    Daurius watched. listened but after a few moments, nothing seemed to move. He let out a heavy sigh as he left the wall. He began walking back toward the tunnel. He was about to give the all clear, when a pair of fur covered eyes glanced over the tunnel. He stopped dead in his tracks, hardly able to catch his breath. The tongue crossing hungrily over the animal''s mouth almost caused the young boy to faint. One step after another, he slowly backed away. What happened next was so quick that it all seemed to be a blur. A swipe of a paw sent the tunnel rolling away. Daurius watched as the furry beast batted at the tunnel his brothers were in with pure horror. As fast as his feet could move, he ran home to get help.


    Baurius along with Caurius bumped around the tunnel, being tossed in all manner of directions. There were screams, grunts, and groans until the tunnel hit something before crashing to a stop. Caurius rolled off from top of Baurius with a moan. "Maybe you were right, we should have turned back." He struggled to a sitting position rubbing at his elbows while taking a look around. The tunnel grew so dark that it was hard to see. After a few moments, the tunnel began to vibrate as something hard pounded the roof. Caurius reached for Baurius, "What are we going to do? Baurius? Hey, are you alright? Come on, say something."


    A small grunt came from Baurius as he moved very slowly. He could hear Caurius but the voice echoed, seeming so far away. His sides along with his legs hurt so much. All he wanted at that moment was to be at home. Facing his parent''s wrath seemed far better than this. Oh why did he listen to his brothers? His body trembled from the ramming against the tunnel. Each time a vibration hit, the pain intensified. He began to cry, he felt foolish for doing so but the tears would not stop streaming down his face. He winced when he felt Caurius'' arm on his shoulder which made him feel even worse. "Caurius." He barely managed to speak, in fact, a whisper was all he could manage.


    Drexel opened the door, walking to the closet to grab a jacket. "Stay here with the children, I am going to see if I can get a few people together to search." Melinda had tears in her eyes as she hugged herself tightly. He went over to his wife to console her for a few moments. "I am sure the boys are fine. Please, try not to fret. Right now, the children need us to be strong. I will do what needs to be done." He allowed Melinda to wrap her arms around him for a few moments before kissing the top of her head. "We will be back soon." She released him, nodding her head before wiping her face. He smiled reassuringly, "That''s my girl." With that, he headed out of the house. It was then he saw Daurius running in his direction. The other two were not with him which caused all sorts of alarms to go off. "Daurius, where are your brothers?" He listened to what Daurius had to say while the anxiety built up inside. "Go inside with your mother, you stay here." Drexel knew the area his son spoke of, and it was a very dangerous spot.


    Hammond had just finished a wonderful supper. His wife was one of the finest cooks he knew. His favorite arm chair waited for him by the fire where he proceeded to light his pipe. Smoke rings filled the air as he lifted his feet on the newly acquired footstool. It was in these moment he truly felt like a king. "Have I thanked you for that glorious meal yet?" There was no answer, probably from his lady tidying up the kitchen. He was almost inclined to go assist her but thought better of it. The kitchen was a woman''s domain he reminded himself. He would prefer not to break anything or be in the way. He stared happily at the portrait of him and his bride above the mantle place. She always mention the desire to have children but for some reason, that didn''t happen. At times, he wondered how life would change if he had a son or daughter running about. He turned to see his wife coming toward him when there was a loud knocking on the door. "Who could that be at this hour?"


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    Janine looked at the door shaking her head as she went to find out. Hammond listened to find out who it may be. "Mr. Drexel what''s wrong you are as pale as a ghost. Please, please do come in. May I get you a cup of tea?" She went straight to the cupboard to fetch a mug. "Hammond is in the sitting room." A hot cup of tea was ready in moments, since it was the after meal tradition in the house. "Here take this, I''ll bring you in to see my husband." As she led Drexel to the room she saw the puzzled look Hammond gave her shaking her head. She was just as confused at the moment but wanted to be the proper hostess.


    Drexel collapsed in a small chair in the corner of the room. If the situation was not as urgent, he would have appreciated the warm glow of the fire. "Mr. Hammond, I need your help. Two of my sons are trapped by some furry creature in a tunnel." The words he spoke made little sense to him. "It''s Baurius and Caurius, sir. Please, you have to help me." He placed his hands over his head, trying desperately to think. His face was wearied as he placed his hands hard enough to make a clapping sound on his knees. Hammond placed his pipe off to the side on the table near him. He asked where the boys were trapped. Drexel let out a sigh, the sweat beading across his forehead, "Death Alley."


    Hammond saw the reaction on his wife''s face, the pleading look she was giving. He sighed heavily as he placed his feet onto the floor. "Well, as mayor, you have come to the right place." He stood up, walking toward the very concerned father, "I will gather the physician, and a few men. We will begin the search and rescue in the morning." He smiled at his wife, who did not seem very enthusiastic of what he just said. Why would that be so displeasing? He watched as she left the room heading once again to the kitchen. He shook his head before turning his attention once again to Drexel. The poor man was as white as a sheet.


    Drexel could hardly believe his ears. Morning? His sons could be in serious trouble! "Mr. Hammond, the boys may be hurt. I know how afraid they are, too. Is there no way we can start the search now?" He noticed the mayor''s face, getting the answer from that glance. There were no need for words, even though he knew what was coming.


    "Mr. Drexel try to understand. It is past dark, the danger alone from this area is sure enough to scare people away from the search. What makes it worse is that the boys are in Death Ally. I assure you, we will leave at first light. It is much safer for everyone that way. I am sure your boys will be fine. They are fine young lads with strong wills." The look of desperation made the older man''s heart ache but he could not risk any more lives at this point? How could he? "I will make all the arrangements, we will by your house to search together." He felt there was nothing else he could say as he watched his troubled guest stand. "Try not to worry."


    Drexel left the house feeling quite defeated. How could he bare to face Melinda with this news? His thoughts ran in so many directions. He just stood still debating within himself. It did not take long for him to decide. He began his journey toward Death Alley.

 Awaiting the Dawn

    Daurius opened the door immediately embraced by his mother. Tears ran down both faces. Once both had settled, Melinda brought her son a warmed blanket along with a hot cup of broth. They both took seats at the dining table, neither of them wishing to speak first. Finally it was Daurious that broke the silence with an apology. He lowered his head heavily, feeling the tear well up once more. Had he made the right decision by coming home while his two brothers were trapped in the tunnel? What if help arrived too late? What if there was something he could have done to save them? All of these feelings of guilt caused his stomach to tie into knots. He should not have been distracted by food. He should have kept watch over his brothers. He was the look out, he failed.


    After the door closed, Hammond found himself looking for his wife. The shuffling, clanging, and banging from the kitchen caused him to remain standing for a few minutes. This noise was filled with anger. He still could not figure out what had upset her so much. He finally walked over to the table where he placed his pipe. He began smoking while trying to decide if he should go speak to his beautiful Janine or if he should allow her to cool off. Sometimes, it was quite difficult to tell. He held his pipe tightly in one hand while wiping sweat from his brow with the other. Sharp objects were within her reach but if he did not at least speak with his darling, there would be no end of the bickering. He took in a deep breath, walking slowly as he let his lungs empty, Hammond approached the kitchen. He watched her filling a large basket with different items. He was about to speak up but she beat him to it.


    "Mayor Hammond, indeed!" Janine blew air through pursed lips to make a ''pfft'' noise. "Two children are trapped within Death Ally facing who knows what sorts of danger." She faced her husband know holding two finger up in front of her face. "Two Hammond. You know how I feel about children. As mayor, have you forgotten the pledge to keep the people of our community safe? That includes those boys!" She stopped herself from slamming a teacup into the basket as to not squish some of the sweet treats she had already packed. "Poor Melinda must be beside herself with fright. Just to think that they have to wait until morning for any sort of help to arrive must be devastating." She wiped a tear from her face with her hand. "Well, I plan on helping them through this wait of yours as best as I am able." After satisfied with the contents, Janine closed the lid, then grabbed her jacket before exiting the house. There was an errand that had to be dealt with before going to Drexel''s home. The place was not quite far but darkness made the walk much more dangerous. She sucked in some air as a pair of giant shoes began to draw near. Shoes that stood on some sort of spikes. Rumors spread of how the giants had called these high heels. The logic of this confused the woman. Well, no matter for now, heals high or low, it would be a way of transportation. The timing would have to be perfect. The giant''s heel landed to the ground with a loud clack as Janine wrapped her arms as far as she could around the hard surface. The motion of up then back down caused butterflies in her stomach. The hardest part, though was not getting knocked off with each landing. The further they went, the harder it became to keep hold. After counting twenty crevices, the ride was over. It took several minutes to regain balance. The dizziness took half the time to clear, luckily. Once her steps felt normal, she made way to Maxwell''s.


    Drexel peered around before descending a steep slope toward the black path. This was quite a dangerous undertaking due to blinding lights from huge vehicles driven by giants. Being blinded was the least of concerns. It was the risk of being crushed to death that frightened him the most. It was all about knowing when to run, and when to stop. He stood there cursing himself for not returning the house for any sort of supplied he may need. Then again, being weighted down would slow his pace. He would have also risked Melinda catching him as well. A sudden blare of a horn brought Drexel back to the present as he went to his knees. Hands went to his ears tightly. Thoughts caused him to be caught off guard. Once again, he stood determined to focus only on his sons. It took a few moments to gather enough courage to begin a sprint toward the other side.


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    Caurius busied himself by searching for some way out. He scratched, pushed, kicked against whatever was blocking the entrances of the tunnel. He did this until there was no more strength in his body. He slumped himself down besides his brother. Baurius fell asleep or fainted from pain. Every now and then there would be a soft groan. The feeling of hopelessness began building up. Daurius was sure to be hurt, missing or something not be thought of. By now, their parents would be home not even knowing where to start searching. He wanted to hear his father''s voice so badly. Even if it was to yell at the foolishness of this whole adventure. Caurious brought his knees up to his chest, laying his head over crossed arms. Every moment that passed made it harder to keep awake. Eyes grew very heavy, then he began to dream.


    Melinda watched Daurius with his head low. He had not taken a single sip of the broth. She had no idea of how long they had been sitting there in silence. This was a difficult time for being a mother. Part of her wanted to hug Daurious, part of her wanted to yell at the stupidity of the situation, part of her wanted to cry, and part of her wanted to go searching for the other two. Words from her husband rang through her mind at that moment, reminding her to be strong for the children. No matter how scared or angry she was, Daurius needed his mother. Melinda cleared her throat, "While I am very angry that my three eldest children decided to do something stu...dangerous, I am glad that you made it home safely. You told us where the boys could be found. Your father is gathering people to search for them." She noticed eyes looking upward. "You will still be punished, make no mistake about that." She sighed, "However, with the hardship you have endured, it will not be too harsh." There was a soft sigh but the guilt hung around Daurious. "No matter what happens, you have done your best to get help to your siblings. Now, we wait to see what happens."


    Janine meekly stepped toward the entrance of the large cave. There was a single moment of doubt, of hesitation before she began to speak. "Mr. Maxwell? I am sorry to disturb you but we need your help. Two children are trapped in Death Alley." She stood there quietly listening to a bit of rustling that started off quietly before getting louder. She backed away from the entrance as the large paws of the mouse came into view. She shook a bit as her husband usually paid Maxwell visits. He was larger than she expected as his full size came into view. She licked her lips before opening the basket to grab a few bits of cheese, laying it on the ground. "This is all I could find. I am very sorry that it could not be more." She noticed the twitching of the creatures whiskers. Uncertainty started to set in. "I also brought this white cloth. I heard that you use it to gather everyone in an emergency." Dangling the white cloth out with a shaky hand, the mouse gently took it from her before running off. He did not even take the cheese she offered. After he was out of sight, she glanced at the crumbs, "Well, that was rude!" A blush formed on her cheeks as she hoped no one or no creature heard her. A three crevice journey lay ahead of her. She began thinking of how asking for a ride would have been a bit useful. When she returned to the drop off point it seemed no giants were in sight. So, she began walking. It seemed to take a few hours to reach the home of Drexel but she made it safely, that was all that mattered. All she could do now is try to help comfort the family. Hopefully, she would be welcomed. Lights were on within, so she did not hesitate and knocked gently on the door. Melinda opened the door just a crack before opening it wider. "Hello Miss Melinda. I came to see if there was anything I could do to help. I brought some tea and sweet treats." Melinda only nodded as she allowed the mayor''s wife to enter. Janine looked around puzzled that Drexel was no where to be seen. Was he missing now, also?

 Homecoming

    **Note From the Author** Hello readers! It has been a few days since I posted a chapter. I hope you can forgive me. I am also working on the previous chapters to fix grammar, and other mistakes. As always, feel free to leave comments, suggestions, and or ratings.**


    Hammond stood in front of the fireplace sulking. How could his wife do this to him? She questioned his decision! He drew hard on his pipe in huffs. He gawked at the portrait, looking at her, "You wanted children! Bah!" He shook his pipe held fist in the air, "Look at what children do! They get themselves in danger, and trouble." He suddenly felt foolish for speaking to himself. With a low groan, he sat heavily into his chair. He cared about the children in his community. Some he would treat as his own. He cared so deeply about the families that he went to each household to warn everyone to stay away from that accursed Death Ally. Within the past ten years, four children died, and another three that went missing. He warned them all! The only reason children go there is for the prospect of food. The food there is quite nice if it isn''t poisoned, or guarded by rodents of all sizes. That was probably what Drexel''s boys were after. He shook his head while closing his eyes. Yes, he was the mayor, and some of these decisions were difficult to make. He hoped that his wife would soon understand.


    Melinda returned to her seat by Daurius. The young boy kept his head low, and all his mother could do is be close by. She looked up Janine, "Thank you for coming. I am sorry that we are not much company right now. Please, have a seat." She waited for the mayor''s wife to be seated before speaking again, "I am guessing that my husband came to the mayor for help? I do hope they find our boys, soon. This has been so difficult for Daurius." She placed a gentle hand over her child''s shoulder. Nothing she seemed to say could take that guilt away.


    Janine bit at her lower lip, not sure what to say at that moment. It would certainly cause more of a panic if she explained her husband''s decision. Especially since Drexel was no where to be seen. Perhaps, he went in search of others to help him? This was not the sort of situation she had hoped to come into. Why did Hammond have to be so stubborn? "I am in good spirits that your boys will be returned safely." She lied through her teeth but there had to be some sort of hope for this poor family. "My husband will do all in his power to find your brothers, Daurius." She noticed that the young boy didn''t even flinch.


    Drexel waited at the border of the black path, gulping as the way seemed clear. He would have to make a sprint to the other side. One giant''s vehicle could crush him or send him flying to his death. Neither of those scenarios seemed pleasant. How were his children able to do this? They were able to cross during the day while it was busy with vehicles. Did they run the black path? No, there had to be a different way. Drexel  hiked back up the steep slope. He looked around until he found the answer. The giants had large poles with wires that connected from one side of the black path to the other. That had to be the way. He stared up the pole, gulping hard. Drexel hated heights more than anything. There was some sort of bent metal that went straight up to the top. It seemed sturdy enough to climb. With a deep breath, he grabbed the first bar, and began the climb upwards. One bar after another. He kept his mind on the boys to keep himself going. It was about halfway when his heart began to beat wildly. His palms started to sweat. He began to get lightheaded. He stopped moving to try and calm himself. He wiped one hand off, and then the other while trying to keep a good grip on the bar. It was then that he heard the scattering sound of a creature ascending toward him. His eyes shot wide open. His whole body began to shake.


    Maxwell scampered through the streets with that cloth in the clutches of his mouth. In his travels about the city, he learned where traps lay in wait, and cats enjoyed stalking about. Even though there were many detours from one home of a Tiny to another, he was still quite faster than them. A small group of them found him stuck in a drain. He nearly drowned. After that, he would help them as he was doing now. He was hoping that the crumbs of cheese would be waiting once he returned. He would need a snack before going to sleep. He came upon the doctor''s home at last. After a few scratches at the door, he appeared in his striped pajamas. One look is all it took for the older gentleman to dash about for his medical bag, a blanket, and a few other odds and ends. A few Tinies had created a harness like device to help Maxwell transport them. The doctor stored it at his home since that would usually be the first stop along the way. Getting the device on the mouse was a team effort. Even when Maxwell lay on his belly, the good old physician was still very short in comparison. The whole process took close to an hour but it was well worth the time and effort. Supplies were loaded, the doctor changed into suitable clothes, and they were ready to leave. A special saddle seat rested on top of Maxwell''s head with belts to secure the driver. Once he was secured, he whistled to let the mouse know it was time to go. It was close to daybreak when the pair set off toward Death Ally. This meant Giants would start emerging. Maxwell stayed away from the sidewalks when possible. The fastest route would be at the very tall pole that Drexel began to climb. It was while they began to ascend that the doctor noticed the father clinging for dear life. Maxwell came to stop beside Drexel. The physician tilted his head, "Mr. Drexel? Are you alright?" The sigh of relief that came from the tired looking man told it all. Drexel took a side saddle, securing himself as tightly as allowed. The ride was most uncomfortable as being on the side meant being tossed about. Drexel bounced off of Maxwell''s body and he was sure to get bruised. In the end, it was better than being unable to move on that poll and see his sons.


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    Caurius awakened shivering, reaching for bed covers that were not there. After a few moments, he realized that he was not safe at home. He quickly became aware of his surroundings. Baurius lay beside him, shivering as well against pain and cold. "Barius?" There was only a mumble in response. He snuggled against his brother to try to keep Baurius warm or perhaps to warm himself. Was it day time yet? Were his parents looking for them? Of course they were looking, or at least Dah was. "Don''t worry, Baurius they will find us. I know they will." Caurius wiped tears from his eyes as their situation seemed quite desperate. There was no water, no food and it was pretty cold in the dark tunnel. Their only hope lay with Daurius making it home safely to tell their parents what happened. It had been so long that even that hope seemed to be fading. It was beginning to become noisy outside. It would be hard to hear if anyone called for them. He had to get outside of the tunnel somehow but he tried everything. After laying there thinking for a while, he heard scampering on top of the tunnel. Was it that big furry beast coming back? There was more noise, thuds as if someone were walking on top of them. Caurius stood up immediately, "Help! Can anyone hear me? Help!"


    Drexel was the first to be out of the restraints, landing on what he thought Daurius described as the tunnel. He walked the length taking notice of how stuck it was against a corner. Both sides were jammed tight. The good thing about that was no animal got to the boys. The bad news was that it would take a while to get to his sons. The doctor soon joined him, both were thinking of how they would get the tunnel free when they heard a noise from inside. It was hard to understand because of the surrounding noises but Drexel knew it was one of his boys. "We need to get them out of there." Without thinking, Drexel took Maxwell''s tail, jumping down the side. The mouse let out a squeak of irritation. Drexel knocked on the side of the tunnel, "Baurius? Caurius?" A few moments later, there was a knock in response. The three began to work at getting the tunnel unstuck. Pushing against it did not seem to help. They tried pulling but that didn''t work. Finally, it was a metal instrument left on the ground by Giants that was used to pry the tunnel free. Drexel was the first to enter, followed by the doctor. Caurius grabbed a hold of his father, "Dah, Baurius is hurt."


    The doctor examined Baurius quickly trying to assess the damage. He looked at Drexel, "We need to get him to my office." He then began giving out directions to gather items that he needed. By the time they were finished, Baurius had splints against his body laying on a straight board. He was covered with the blanket and then surrounded by the cloth Janine gave to Maxwell. The mouse carefully picked the cloth up while the others strapped themselves in for the journey back. Caurius was dropped off at the house so that he could inform his mother of what was happening. Drexel went with the doctor. At the office, he waited to hear about his son''s condition.