Grov lies asleep on his bed… when suddenly—BANG BANG! The sound of the door echoes, as if someone had slammed their fist against it.
His eyes snap half-open, his body jolting as he tumbles off the bed and onto the floor. Still drowsy, he mutters with a half-asleep voice:
"What's going on at this hour…?"
His gaze drifts toward the wall clock.
Perched there was an owl, clutching a massive timepiece in its talons.
And each time the hand moved forward, instead of a tick-tock, the room trembled with the owl's haunting cry:
"Hoo… Hoo…"
"Hoo… Hoo…"
Hoo...hoo.."
The time reads: 03:10.
Grov whispers, his voice tense now:
"Whoever it is… it can't be for anything good."
Grov straightened up, fixing his pajamas and adjusting the small hat on his head.
The pounding on the door grew louder—BANG! BANG!
He hurried down the stairs, his steps echoing in the quiet night, and flung the door open.
Before him stood two guards of Rock City—
a rabbit and a badger.
Each held a wooden spear, their bodies clad in rough armor of stone and timber.
Badger Guard:
"Mayor Grov, forgive us for waking you at this hour… but we must inform you of something urgent that has just occurred!"
Grov's face tensed, his voice uneasy.
"What happened?"
.....
OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF ROCK CITY...
The night was silent—yet heavy with unease.
Mayor Grov followed the guards through the dim torchlight, each step dragging him deeper into the shadows.
The badger guard spoke with concern his tone trembling:
"Mayor… we found him collapsed beyond the walls. His body is broken, his wounds grave. He has not regained consciousness…"
The guard lowered his head.
"We didn't know what to do. That's why… we came to you. Tell us, Mayor—what should be done?"
Grov stepped closer to the dark figure.
One of the guards raised his flaming torch, casting light into the shadow.
…And Grov froze.
His eyes widened in shock at the sight before him.
He turned toward the guards—his voice trembling with fear, worry, yet burdened with duty:
Grov:
"We'll take him inside the city… we must tend to his wounds."
The badger guard shifted uneasily, his grip tightening on the spear.
Badger Guard:
"Mayor… could he be dangerous? I've never seen anything like this—only in the old books."
Grov's gaze hardened, though the weight of the moment pressed heavy on his shoulders.
Grov:
"Whatever he is, we cannot leave him here. Especially not in front of the city walls. Too many eyes would see him… and then things would become far worse."
"We'll take him into the city. Help me lift him."
Grov raised his eyes toward the three gaping holes above the city
The first light of dawn was beginning to break.
Grov:
"We must hurry—before anyone wakes."