Wisp - A Scarecrow's Tale

Chapter 5 - Caged

"Oh, Merry? They found me. Pretty sure they're how I ended up with Niki." Wander grinned at the little wisp as he said, "Little firefly stole my hat and led me over the edge of my field."

"You had your own field, eh?" said the mayor.

Wander said. "Yeah. Nowhere near as nice as what you got here, though."

Mayor Blumfeld chuckled and reached for a jar of preserves. "We're all proud of our little paradise here. We provide crops and dairy products for a good chunk of the known Realm and enjoy a peace that has lasted generations."

"Hmpf." This came from Niki, berry juice staining her chin.

Mayor Blumfeld signed and set his spoon down. "I admit you haven't caught us at our best. We've had some unfortunate developments of late that have left the good people of Jardinfae a bit on edge. Add to that Mavis riling up everyone and ... well, when it comes down to it, you were just a victim of circumstance."

"I don't understand," said Wander.

"It's ... complicated."

A loud snort came the dining room's main entrance. "What he means to say is this ain't a good time to be a crow, especially with a wisp following you."

Niki tensed as Sheriff Theodore approached, his thumbs hitched under his belt. Several of the children moved to stand only for their mother to catch them by the backs of their shirts and pull them back.

Ignoring them, Theo nodded at Niki and said, "Sorry about the incident at the gate. We needed to get you off the street before you found yourself in trouble."

"You tried to arrest me," Niki said, glaring at the Sheriff.

"I would've only stunned you. Besides, would you rather I just stand by and let Mavis's goons tie you up and throw you off the nearest edge like they nearly did with the flock we got in our lockup?"

Niki's eyes went wide. She jumped to her feet, dropping a half-eaten pastry. "Where are they now?

"In my lockup like I just said thanks to me and my deputy." Seeing Niki's face darken, the teddy said, "I did mention the thing about them wanting to throw your kin over the edge, right? Given those options, I think-"

"Take me to them!"

"Relax, my child," Mayor Blumfeld said. "I'll you there myself. I just thought you might like a meal and some rest before-"

"I want to see them now!" Niki demanded.

The room went silent, many of the mouse children staring at Niki with expressions of shock and awe. Wander looked at her flushed face for a moment before turning to the mayor. "Yeah, I think that might be a good idea."

Mayor Blumfeld let out a deep sigh. "All right. If you're all done, then we'll be on our way immediately."

After pausing to kiss his wife on the cheek and whisper something in her ear, Mayor Blumfeld joined Theo and led Wander, Niki, and Merry from his lovely home and back out into the town. He took the lead, Theo walking behind the group and scowling at any townsfolk who drew too close.

A village like Jardinfae had no need of a prison; usually the worst criminal infraction among the farmers was drunk and disorderly conduct due to over-consumption of the local spirits. When something serious did happen, however, the local magistrate had a couple of sturdy farm hands construct holding cells in the small shed that housed the Jardinfae Sheriff's Office. Old gates and fences, scraps of wood, bits of livestock holding pens, and a healthy dose of creativity produced a prison that, although unconventional in appearance, was capable of containing others against their will.