Original story by Leopardclaw

Scattering feet echoed in the narrow alley between Ganondorf's Swords and Shields, a popular shop in the marketplace, and Peter Porgin's Perfect Papers, a scroll shop.

The owner of these feet was not looking for swords or shields, as the humans would do. No, Ratus the Raccoon was searching for something to learn about. She turned the corner of the wall to the scroll shop and waited for a chance to sneak in.

Seconds became minutes, minutes became hours, and still, not one peasant came to the shop.

Ratus began to doubt her luck, when, just a few moments later, a noble lad walked up to the wooden doors of the shop. He glanced down at Ratus, confused as to why a raccoon would be waiting outside of a scroll shop instead of rummaging through trash. Shrugging, he opened the door to the building, but did not see Ratus as she scrambled inside behind him.

Peter Porgin's shop always amazed Ratus. It had rows and rows of rolled-up scrolls for anyone to read. Some people might question why a raccoon such as Ratus wanted to read, let alone be able to read. But the curious raccoon learned quickly when she overheard the prince reading out statements from the king to the villagers. This made her able to understand all languages of humans.

As our thoughtful raccoon looked at all the rolled-up scrolls on the shelves, the young lad who entered the shop finished paying for his scroll and almost tripped on Ratus on his way out. He reacted quickly, not knowing that it was a raccoon he stepped on, kicking out one foot.

Ratus squealed and was thrown by the door from the kick. She scrambled to her feet and stared at the boy in horror.

Not wanting to be kicked again, Ratus scratched at the door with her claws to get out of the shop, but she was too weak. She turned back to her approaching attacker, bared her teeth, and hoped she would scare him off.

But alas, it was to no avail, as the lad only shook his head in anger, saying in a loud and frustrated voice:

"Oh no, you don't! I'm getting out of here whether you want me to or not, you mangy pest!" and kicked Ratus aside again with his foot.

Ratus hit the wall next to the doors. She got to her senses (and her feet) and quickly ran out the door before it shut.

Now Ratus no longer felt safe at her favorite shop, so she stuck her nose up in hate at the lad and walked to the forest, where she would travel afar on a long journey.