Walking around the dark grounds between the houses, the big man's face was drawn in a shape of anger and disbelief, but he couldn't possibly do anything, he can't fight off the chief for that in itself is a death sentence, having an empty mouth is better than not having it in the first place, step after step he heard a voice calling for him
"Why the sad face big man" he turned back to find Yerman on guard in front of the storage
The big man sighed as he wanted to walk away, but Yerman said
"Come one, don't be so grumpy" taking a piece of bread from his little basket and offering it to the big man
As the big man sat down and started eating, they started chatting, one topic pulling the other as they laughed it off
"So, your fat billy did not get enough and decided to start a fight, you better be thankful the chief did not cut off one of your limbs, you know how hard he can be sometimes," said Yerman
"It is not like I was going to be a bully to a and hit him over some bread, it is just that this generation just needs more discipline "said the big man "the chief just happened to see half the story, at that time it wasn't about the food, but respect"
"Well, the chief got harder after the incident 12 years ago, even his soft heart towards children hardened, so you know what he could do to you," said Yerman
The big man sat there silently after hearing those words, his ears went to point zero as his mind started swimming in its own direction, in the background the voice of Yerman cracked those thick walls saying "Big man? Big man!"
"Oh yes, what?" said the big man as he just came back to reality
"Did you hear what I was saying?" the big man stood their silent "Sigh, anyway can you cover me up, I haven't gone to the toilet in ages- "said Yerman as a sound of trap going off startled them both
"Before that I will need to do some quick work" as Yerman took the keys for the metal door from his pocket and opened it with them, inside the cage, a snow rat with a very big size was stuck there
"What a catch, looks like you, want to eat it big man?" said Yerman as he looked back carrying the cage, the big man was staring at the food in the storage, eyes wide open
"Big man?"
"W-What?" getting back to reality once more he said
"You are getting sleepy, you will need to get some after I get back from the toilet" Yerman said as they both left the storage, putting the lock on and hiding the key in his hand
"You sure you don't want a taste?" said Yerman
"You want me dead?" said the big man
"Fair point, anyway keep your eyes open, until I comeback at least" said Yerman as he went his way towards the toilet
After finishing what he went to do, he walked by the streets, from one of them he peeked through to see the centre dark and empty "I guess they finished the meal and went to sleep" said to himself as he walked by
From a far he saw the big man, setting by the storage, eyes staring at the sky, it wasn't the look of someone who is fascinated by it, but of someone who is trying to read it, but what could he read there?
"Big man!" Yerman said getting his attention
"You are here, finally" a he got up
"Yes, and you can go rest now, the night is still long and dark, you have your own work to do anyways," said Yerman
"You might be right, see you next time, I guess" said the big man with a faint smile on his face, he walked away leaving Yerman smiling and waving at him, quickly Yerman's smile faded as he got serious, he opened the door of the storage, as of expecting something, he checked the food supply, no change
"I guess I did think harsh of him like the rest" he said as he closed the door behind
The sky colour shifted from dark to light, as the flaming ball smiled on the white grounds, Yerman deep in his sleep was just opening his eyes to be startled by the face of Roman smiling upon him
"What? Its day already, and you are all…. Ready, your really are a hardworking little creature, I wish I have half of your energy"
"Even the stormy nights can't get me to sleep past my duty ser" said Roman taking a salute and getting his face all serious
Scratching the boys hear Yerman said "Sure buddy, just be sure to have this much energy by nightfall" as he went away
Roman sat there as people walking by greeted him, his name got famous because of how he got signed as an adult the other day
"Aren't you the boy of the party that day?" said a women walking by, in here hands some sheep wool
"Sure I am" he said getting his face all serious
"Your just adorable, aren't you, next time I will be sure to make you a hat when I come by" said the women pinching his cheek as she walked away
Some people waved, others stopped, some just walked by while smiling at him, his day was just getting better, after the streets were clean off people, he looked left and right, and opened his coat, from it the rat that he did not want to kill jumped to the ground grasping for air, it was a snow rat with white fur
"I am sorry, I couldn't let you out with all these people walking around" said Roman as the rat used its hands to clean his head and ears while squeaking
"Aren't you the most adorable creature there is" Roman said with one hand at each cheek
"I will name you squishy" said Roman staring at his little friend, from a far he heard footsteps and quickly he put the rat back in his coat hiding it, it was the big man eating a piece of bread as his breakfast, as he walked by Romas sat their stiff
"Why are you. so nervous," said the big man
"Cold outside. Ser" replied Roman
"Indeed, it is, anyway take care of yourself" said the big man as he walked away, he heard a squeaking sound, he turned back to see nothing but the stiff boy, it repeated once more before he said
"Well enough of that already, if your making fun of me says it to my face- "as he looked at the rat head peeking through Roman's clothes
Roman looked at the rat and back at the big man and said, "You are not going to eat it are you?" with an awkward smile
The big man stood his mouth wide open and his eyes tired, he stood straight as he sighed and cut a piece of bread from his own
Handing it over to Roman he spoke "Share it amongst each other",
"Can I ask you something, what is your name? your real name" said Roman with an innocent look
The big man stood there, stunned, he did not expect such a question, "Well, it's been so long since I last heard or said it" as he scratched the back of his head looking to the side with closed eyes and with one hand on his waist
He opened one eye looking at Roman and said "My name is Frayn, be sure to remember it so you don't call me big man by accident"
"Thank you Frayn, I'm Roman"
"Then Roman, be sure to take care of your job, for I have mine to take care of, and hide that thing, if the chief sees it, he will turn it into a fried meal" said Frayn before aunt Marry came running towards Roman who hided his rat," Is anything wrong here" she said with a threating smile
"Nothing wrong, Mam" said Frayn as he walked away
She looked at Roman and said "Don't get too involved with strangers" as she checked his face
"He is not strangers" Roman said
"Right. and what is he" she said wiping food of his face
"His name is Frayn, he shared food with me" Roman replied
"He has a name? well that is new for me, just. be careful sweetheart" she said kissing his forehead
"Now I brought you hot soup, finish it before the streets get crowded once more" as she patted his head and walked away
Roman shared his food with his little friend as they watched the sky, at night he ate dinner and hided some for squishy, when Roman stood to walk after some steps the rat jumped off his coat while, he looked around seeing that nobody saw his rat he followed it into a dark alleyway
"Stop it squishy, you are going to get caught" as he hit his head with a dark figure
As he looked up, he saw it to be Yerman, he gasped and said "What are you doing Yerman you are supposed to guard the Mmff Mmff" As Yerman closed his mouth
"Shhhh, I just went to the toilet, I have the Big man taking care until I finish so no big deal"
As Roman removed his hand he said "No! it is" Yerman sighed as he wanted to talk Roman continued
"He is not 'Big man', his name is Frayn, be sure to say it correct"
Yerman looked at him and smiled "I will be sure to do so, now go before they start a search for you, little star of the village" as he pushed him with care
Yerman walked towards the storage waving from a far at Frayn who was setting on the log
As he got close, he said "Thank you Frayn, you can go to sleep"
"Yes, no problem- what? what did you say" said Frayn
"What? Is it not your name," said Yerman
"Yes, it is but how did you know it" said Frayn
"Well, you can say" Frayn pointed at Roman running and trying to catch his rat "A little bird and a rat helped me"
"Any way you can take a rest" continued Yerman
"You know what. I will be staying longer, after all you need a bit of a company at night don't you" said Frayn
Yerman sat down, stared for a bit and said "Yeh, sure. Frayn"
"Stop it, you making it awkward already" said Frayn
"Ok. Frayn" said Yerman
"I'm already regretting it" said Frayn
Days and nights went by, Roman taking the shift of the day from Yerman, sometimes by scaring him with cold water from sleep while shackling, Frayn walking by and greeting both him and his rat, Aunt Marry coming to check on him, sometimes she brought food even for Frayn, Roman at once got his hat from the woman who promised him, and bragged about it to all 3 adults he knew
Sometimes kids were playing by and wanted to invite him, but he refused, at night he switched with Yerman who was chatting with Frayn, those two spend most of the night together joking and chatting around
And the days went by, always the same, sometimes new action, sometimes just a cold empty day, but Roman always met those 3
Days went by and one night While Yerman was joking around with Frayn, he got pushed by him as he laughed it off while sitting on the ground both palms flat on it, the log he was setting on also fell
As he raised his view, he saw the position where the log is supposed to be at, in it he saw a hole, with its digging still in process, his eyes widened and the shock filled his face as he looked at Frayn who two was as scared, they just. Stared at each other, in the dark and cold night, with the moon being the only source of light