Out in the wood, down the river and around the bend there was a small clearing. The ground was moist and spongy from the nearby stream and the recent rains, from it grew great swaths of tall grass weeds and wildflowers. When she stood they grew up to her shoulder in some places, but instead she sat, her wool skirt kept her dry and and spread out about her, neglecting her duties.

Her laughter filled the clean air like a bell, disturbing locust who retreated from the human ruckus. Bits of the wild-grass and seeds tangled in her long auburn hair and clung to her cloths, neat homespun things. 

She tossed a river-cabbage as far as she could over the grass. In a few moments a large buck-toothed rodent collared by a lilac handkerchief scurried through the grass toward her, pushing the cabbage along with his nose. Squeaking with delight and effort. [i]His[/i] name was Raty. That was what Haven and her father called him while they though of a proper name, which they never did. So 'Raty' stuck, and suited him just fine. 

As soon as the Cabbage was back in her hand, she threw it away one more, it and the rat quickly vanished into the tall grass. 

She sighed, lying back to bask in the sunlight. It was a beautiful day. It was this, and other simple quaint things that made her happy. She loved her life, the village and everyone in it, the rat, the dad, and even the river cabbages brought her joy. She was a simple girl who loved simple things. She had not aspirations or desires of ever leaving home, or being anything other than a cabbage farmer.

[i]SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE[/i]

Haven jolted upright. "Raty?"

The rodent appeared, and without the cabbage, leaped straight into Haven's arms. He nearly knocked her back into the grass, he curled into a ball and trembled. Haven felt something wet on her arm, and noticed red and black... Raty's blood and... and... some other tar-like substance draining from a gash in his side. 

She stood, struggling to keep a steady hold on the large-rat. 

From her full height, she could see the grass bending, something was coming closer. 

"Hang on..." she whispered to her pet, and turned away. Running at full tilt toward the village. She did not know what was behind her, it had hurt Raty, and she was no hunter nor fighter. She was frightened, but confident that when she reached the village help would be there...