13th Spring, just after Midnight, 511 AV
Berus looked up from where he lay in the snow, his head looking like an odd rock that stuck up from a vast expanse of white. The rest of his body was hidden underneath his cloak, which, under the moonlight, blended in with its surroundings. From above, the ground would seem to be a blanket of snow broken only in one place by the strange rock. He had been this way for quite some time, hiding in the large drift, as he spied on the Menagerie, wanting to be absolutely certain that he wouldn’t be caught by anyone. It might seem a bit silly to anyone else, but Berus wanted to be certain he wasn’t caught. Even if it meant he got frostbite in the process.
His crime tonight would be one punishable perhaps even by torture, but he had to take the risk. Across the snow and inside a well-constructed wooden pen, his unsuspecting victim contentedly wandered around fraternized with the other, less spectacular specimens. The menagerie was occupied only by the animals at this late hour for even tonight, which was an oddly warm night, it was too cold for comfort. Berus made another quick sweep with his vision to confirm this and saw that he was the only idiot who was in the area freezing his butt off. It was worth the trouble of coming out here, though.
Berus stretched his freezing limbs for a moment, considering the best course of action from here. He could bolt across the remaining distance or he could carefully sneak across. If he bolted he could be done with his business before anyone came by, but if he snuck quietly he had a greater chance of remaining undetected if anyone was in the area. However, as he tested his joints he found that a bolt might be impossible in this state; his extremities were actually starting to get numb. Only his excitement had kept him from realizing it up to this point.
Oh well, I guess that leaves me only the option to sneak to the pen, Berus thought, considering how he could warm up on the journey across. It wouldn’t do to be frozen solid just when he was receiving the prize for all of this hardship!
Berus brought both arms out and prepared to lift himself up… and was promptly stepped on by some passerby! “Ouch!” Berus exclaimed, rolling over on his back and staring up at whoever had stepped on him, who was still casually walking away and had evidently not noticed that they hadn’t stepped on someone! Berus thought he’d play it cool and make no more noise, thinking that the person might just continue their midnight journey to wherever they were going.
However, the person turned around and looked back and forth in surprise, apparently seeking the source of whatever had yelled out “Ouch!”. I need to be less vocal when someone steps on me next time… Berus reflected.