The Market Overworked Late-Nights

[HuckleTheCartoonist]

" It's way too early for this . . ." — The one part of the back of his head Screamed and Scratched over and over again, the Screams getting louder then Aztec Death and the scratches Grinding deeper into his head. The feeling was Strong, Weighing on the Otter's shoulders and pinning him down. But he's too stubborn.

Huckle Keeps going

" I need to stop . . . I have to go to bed" — The weight on his body as well as him mind told him, repeating like a broken record. But it's only the voice that's Broken, not his body.. Not yet at least.

Huckle Keeps going

It was late at night, Morning soon to break in the next few hours. Huckle was deep in his field, picking at his fruit and throwing it inside of his basket while his Small, Glass-like lantern lit on his back; Sometimes he had to use it as a cane. The Worker's legs were getting weak and his tail was dragging along the floor as if it were heavier then his entire body. He might pass out at the rate.. But, he persisted.

A few minutes pass, the Young Male walking throughout the slightly empty market with a hood covering his head, a sluggish walk following him around while others starred at him

 

[Callix Noxi]

One of those beasts staring at the tired-looking otter was Fogey Captain Callix Noxi. The monitor lizard was a bit of a frightening sight with her milky eye, her uniform, and hardened demeanour, but she was committed to her post, unlike many of her comrades. Traces of prejudice slithered through her brain, having been accustomed so many years to a non-woodlander community, and yet she prided herself on following the rules. The Imperium had welcomed her when she was a lost primitive. Now it allowed a greater variety of beasts. Why should she not uphold this? It was a good and fair law, she resolved.

As she watched, she noted that the otter looked on the verge of collapse. It being her duty to protect the Imperium's citizens, this would not do at all.

"You zere, Citizen Otter, do you need azziztanze?"

 

[HuckleTheCartoonist]

His eyes softly widened with the sigh of her, his head still heavy as he looked up at her. He looked like a corpse being dragged on by it's neck, and his eye showed no difference. That dead look starred back at the officer, his body stiffening up slightly as he raised his uniform


" U-Uhm.. No, No I'm — Fine "

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail padded along the darkened edge of the market with quiet steps, the cobblestones glinting faintly in the lamplight. The air was heavy with the scent of old bread, old fish, and brine. He wasn’t usually out this late. But sleep hadn’t come easy tonight. Not after everything they’d seen and done on Urk. His paws felt restless. His thoughts, too loud.

He moved with purpose, scanning the quiet stalls, ears flicking at every little sound. A strange calm had settled over him...confidence, maybe? Or foolishness. Either way, he figured he could handle a thief if one showed up. A fox doesn’t survive shipwrecks and cannibal shrews just to get bested by some pickpocket in an alleyway.

That’s when a sharp voice carried across the market: firm, clipped, and unmistakably Fogey. His ears perked. His eyes followed.

And there, half slumped under the weight of an overstuffed fruit basket, lantern swinging from his back, was an otter who looked ready to collapse into the nearest melon crate. Without hesitation, Swifttail jogged forward and slipped in beside him, paw catching one of the basket’s handles with ease.

“Hey, mate,” he said brightly, offering a crooked, disarming grin. “Take a break! You look run ragged.”

His tail gave a cheerful little wag as he steadied the load. His tone was light, playful, and easygoing.

“M'name’s Swifttail.” :3

 

[HuckleTheCartoonist]

Huckle froze where he stood, slowly turning over to look at Swift as he body shook with the tired limpness of the night's hard wotk. Although at a time like this, he'd rather die the conversate with someone; Especially when he's at such a low as this. But he kept up his Kind Personality, forcing a small and Weak smile on his face, being just as calm as a Hurricane

" Mines Huckle... I-I don't need a break, I need to.. Go.."

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail nodded sagely.

"Aye, ye' can keep going as ye' we're, but it sure doesn't look like you'd make it much further."

He removed his paw from the fruit crate and put them on his hips.

"What fruit-related emergency requires such haste? Take a rest for a couple minutes," he gestured to the monitor lizard fogey officer with a small wag. "I'm not gonna rob you."

A pause. Perhaps leaving it on the reassurance of no robbery wasn't the best idea in the market during the witching hour. Swifttail decided to change the subject.

"I like your fur! It's very curly. Ye' don't see that very often!"

 

[Callix Noxi]

When the beast gave her that eerie stare, Callix had to fight herself not to step back. She had survived the plagues that had ravaged Bully in years past when some of her colleagues had not been so lucky, and this otter looked like he might well be suffering a new one. She was silently horrified when a fox swooped in close.

She listened to the young otter try to explain. He needed to go? Go where? An infirmary?

Claws gripping the hilt of her truncheon for comfort, Callix remained quiet, observing the pair for any evidence that they would need confining. Perhaps the otter really was simply overworked. What fool of a farmer needed a complaint filing for risking his workers becoming litter on the street? This was unacceptable.​

 

[HuckleTheCartoonist]

He looked over at at Swifttail, a soft smile appearing on his face as he rubbed the side of his face, rubbing his Large and Delecate paws throughout his fur. He never got a Compliment like that before, sure a few backhanded complements and dancing around calling his Fur "Nappy" or "Matted", but never a ginuine Compliment

" Thank you . . . I-I spend a lot of time on keeping it this curly, would've made Mama proud if she saw it . . . "

Huckle's smile slighly faultered, continuing to walk limply. He slightly pulled his hood over his face, hiding a seemingly Large blemish on the side of his face

" I-I must go though, the Person who wanted these were quite . . . Rude."

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail wagged at the otter's brief shift in demeanor. But as the otter faltered and turned away, briefly exposing what appeared to be a fresh wound, he audibly gasped.

"Beggin' my pardon, but who might've been giving you a hard time?" Swifttail bristled.

Not contended with seeing bullies and brutes win, he didn't care if he was being a little bothersome. This otter needed to be helped!

 

[HuckleTheCartoonist]

Huckle slightly Groaned, his paws rubbing against each other nervously as he stretched out his Long and Chubby body to stand at a less arched position. The hood slips off of his face, revealing his heavily Darkened eyes and the actual size of the bruse, the mark seeping down the front of his Neck and Chest. The Sea-Otter let out a soft gasp, slipping his hood back over his head and shuffling back with a few steps

"... It's, just a couple.. They're serious about they're fruits.. That's all, that's it"

 

[Callix Noxi]

The captain's nostrils flared at the prospect of seeking out injustice. Callix clung tightly to her own bounds of jurisdiction, but crimes in the marketplace were hers to chase. To physically assault a youngling on her watch was not something she would take lightly.

"Vell, I am zerious about ze law. Come, let us deliver these fruitz together zo ze otter can get zome rezt."

She looked expectantly between the otter and the fox.

 

[HuckleTheCartoonist]

" I-I don't need rest . . . I'll be fine, Momma says I'm alright because I see her every night . . . S-So, yeah"

His tone was slightly defensive but calmed down as he looked down at his Deselved form, his paws Red and Sore from the work he's been doing

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail gave Callix an uneasy look. Something fishy was going on here. This creature looked beaten like a slave!

"W...well, I think the officer and I agree that y...you're not alright right now," Swifttail shakily replied. "Please allow us to help you."

 

[HuckleTheCartoonist]

Huckle Sighed, shakily picking himself up and rubbing his pained thighs

" Fine . . . But can we please make this quick?"

 

[Callix Noxi]

Not particularly helpfully, Callix continued to watch the otter, completely missing that Swifttail sought her gaze. The end result was the same at least, with her keen to assist and potentially bop somebeast on the head down the line. She straightened up further and cast a glance around to check her visible squad were still idling in the positions she had given them. Others would be wandering elsewhere in the district.

"Yez, vill be quick," she assured. If all is in order.

 

[HuckleTheCartoonist]

He tried to crack a small smile not no avail, trying to lift up his body once more only for his back to crack - Loudly, letting out a slight wince and dangling back down and rubbing his shoulders

" Come, Come . . . "

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Callix's missed return gaze wasn't noticed by Swifttail. He was too busy looking at the poor curly-furred otter, still. That back crack did not sound good at all.

"Mate, can I please help you carry that 'eavy crate of yours? On me oath I won't make off wit' it. But ye' need a rest!"

 

[HuckleTheCartoonist]

He shakes his head agressively, swiping the crate away from his hands and clutching onto it tighter, almost tripping over his feet as he steps back a bit. Huckle regains his ballence, his body continuing to rise up from the ground

" N-No . . . Don't touch"

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail flinched as Huckle yanked the crate away again.
“Alright, alright... I won’t touch,” he said softly, stepping back and letting his paws hang at his sides. The tension clung to the air. He didn’t know what to say anymore. He just wanted to help.

That’s when a creaky old handcart rattled past them, its two squeaky wheels echoing off the cobblestones. An older hedgehog, round-shouldered, and wrapped in a shawl the color of overripe plums, trundled by with the confident clatter of someone who’d done this route a hundred times.

Without even slowing down, she called out brightly,
“Huckle! Up early, eh? Tell your mum thanks again for the jam! Those kolaczkis sold me out fast yesterday!”

She passed behind a lantern post, her voice already drifting into the market fog.

“Bless her paws. Hope she’s keepin’ warm this week. Tell her I said I’ll have those poppy rolls on Thursday like always.”

Swifttail blinked.

The warmth in her voice was friendly. Familiar. Maybe she hadn’t noticed the way Huckle wavered on his feet, or the way his paws trembled under the weight of the crate. Maybe she had, but didn’t want to interfere. Or maybe, Swift thought with a small twist in his gut, maybe she just thought this was normal.

He glanced toward the officer beside him.

“...Ma’am?” he asked quietly, so only Callix could hear.
“Is there any precedent...any allowance...to take a beast into holdings just to get them rest? No charges, just... a bed and a lock on the door ‘til they can stand straight again?”

 

[HuckleTheCartoonist]

Huckle lifted up his body slightly, turning around and giving her the best smile that he could muster up. Little did she know that it was him the picked the fruits, not his mother. He picked and picked until his handbasket was nearly pouring out fruit; It was the harvest he was the most proud of, and he was oh so happy to give it away

" I'll let her know!"

He chuckled into a horse cough, spitting up flem and spittle all over the groud