Of all the critters that are found here in Pandea, this little fuzzball is probably the one people are most familiar with. The main reason for that is obviously because of how common it is. Very rarely will a day go by in which you don’t see a marbouse rolling across your path.  

Because of its prevalence, there isn’t much of a story behind my locating and studying this little critter. Or at least there wasn’t, until I caught word of something rather extraordinary.

The Unusual Marbouse

It first came to my attention in an underground marball league. (Underground because the National Marball Association doesn’t condone gambling rather than due to illegal activity. Don’t worry, Lance Bumbleworth would never be involved in anything illicit.) A few of the less than upstanding members of the gathering were having a rather interesting conversation. They seemed to be planning some sort of hunt. One of them claimed to have found an “Unusual Marbouse” one that he said would make them a fortune.  

“I’m telling you, it was crazy. I ain’t never seen a marbouse roll for so long.  I’m tellin’ you. Even if it doesn’t win, someone’s bound to pay a fortune for a critter that weird.” The Marball underground is rife with marbouse scams, dyed fur, clipped ears, other similar “mutations”. I keep my guard up at such events, but this man had piqued my interest. Nowhere in his pleas did he ask for money, in fact he even offered to pay if someone would help catch the little rodent. 

I have to admit, the possibility of discovering a rare variant of any critter thrills me. I had to know if there was any truth to this man’s claim. Pulling forth every inch of subtlety my body could muster. (Not the easiest of feats for one as famous as I.) I shuffled as close to the conversation as I dared.  

“What’cha mean weird?” His companions certainly looked like the sort of con artists I was used to at these events. Long pinched and pointed faces. The sort of beady eyes only natural on a melodent. “Like, really big or what?” The first man’s eyes widened. 

“No. Not big. It was blue. With green stripes. Fast as well, no chance I could catch it on my own.” His friend smirked, thrust his hand into his pocket and pulled out a tiny cage. He dangled it in front of the other man’s face. Showing off a bright purple Marbouse with crudely painted black stripes. 

“Why bother going to the trouble of catchin’ sommit like that when I’ve got pockets full of these beauties already?” He laughed and shook his head, radiating contempt as he turned and left. I seized my opportunity. Stepping up behind the dishevelled discoverer I threw my arm around his shoulders. 

“Hello there friend” I said, filtering all of my charm into my greeting. “I couldn’t help but overhear that you’re having a spot of bother catching a Marbouse. It just so happens I’m a specialist.” 

*** 

I had practically skipped away from the competition. The interaction had left me Grinning like a Caligoul, though with a considerably lighter wallet. A niggling of doubt pressed against my mind. If the man was a fraud, then I had just lost enough cash to fund another expedition into the depths of the arctic finger. If not, and I managed to get my hands on this incredible specimen then it would be worth every penny, and much more besides. 

He had pointed me towards the docks. A large shipment of grain had just come in, so that made sense. Every marbouse in the city was probably descending upon the warehouse where it was being stored. All I had to do was wait.  

It didn’t take long to find the mass of Rodentia Sphaericus. My biggest challenge would be locating the odditty amoungst the hundreds of other marbouse. A search for a needle in a haystack, and I was on a timer. A pride of Pheliscus were stalking towards the Marbouse huddle. 

My eyes scanned the front of the warehouse, no glint of blue was to be seen amongst the mass of grey. The Pheliscus moved in and the marbouse scattered. Rodents flew everywhere, their squeaks echoing through the night as they fled from the claws of their feline predators. In a flash, the docks were empty. All except for a singular Pheliscus attempting to claw its way into a wooden crate. All hope of the zoological discovery of the century slowly drained from my heart and I stepped over to console myself with the nine lived feline’s soft fur.  

As I approached, it hissed and forced its paw into a small hole in the corner of the crate. A squeak, and the sound of scrabbling claws came from inside. Hope flooded back into me. I breathed deeply, trying not to let myself get too excited, what were the chances of this being the specific critter I was looking for? With data on strangely coloured marbouse all but nonexistent, I couldn’t even begin to answer. Kneeling down beside the crate, I gently maneuvered the Pheliscus aside and held a bag against hole. Looking towards the feline, I reached up and opened the crate. It spang upwards and into the box instantly. A squeal of terror sounded. A tiny object squeezed past my hand and into the bag. I had it. The marbouse was mine. But was it the right one? 

I’ll let you judge that for yourself… This is the critter I caught in that bag.