of Shovels and Knights (Shovel Knight stories)

Black Knight - Terrorpin

- Aaand-- slam! Haha, Black Knight saving the day once again!-
The head of the skeleton just beaten fell off, sent further with one last hit of the Shovel Blade.
He had a look around, not spotting any enemies in miles, not on the ground or in the sky. That zone of the Plains of Passage would have been safe for a while.
It was getting dark though, and the village wasn't close enough so he would have spent that night under the stars.
He chuckled proud, there was no way Shovel Knight would have beaten him this time on who got rid of most monsters.  Unless he made pairing again with Shield Knight but it wouldn't have been fair then.
"Even though that's one of his few chances to win" he thought, relaxing his muscles and starting to feel tired.  He made sure his weapon was close and easy to pick in case of a nighttime attack, before closing his eyes and falling asleep not long after.

- Uhm?-
There was something touching his elbow, something hard and slightly spiky.
He didn't mind at first and tried to get back at dreaming, but then he was hit once again but stronger on the same point.
He lifted the arm and seen what seemed to me the shell of a turtle, black with tiny red spots on it, little spikes which didn't hurt much at the touch.
He could have lift it with both his hands for how small it was but he didn't remember seeing turtles anywhere since he had been there, a rare species?
Well sure it couldn't be that dumb to go towards the fire and it wasn't a big deal, so he got back at his sleeping.
And later on he was bitten.
- Aaargh, what's up with you?!?- and while moving aside he had a full view of the creature.
Not only the shell but the entire body was black, skin seemed rough and thick and the jaw was still open, showing the sharp beak.
A little terrapin. Biting him in the middle of the night.
For... whatever reason?
He gave a pat on its side, moving it away. If it was looking for something then it would eventually find it and he would have been left alone as nothing happened, and forget about it in a while. 

The night was rougher than expected.
Whenever he would try to sleep sooner or later he would have been bitten or hit, or the thing would have actually try to climb over him as it did when it was close to the sunrise, placing itself over his legs and retiring on its shell. 
He took that moment for have a closer look at the creature, or what he could see at least. The border was red as the crown of little spikes above, but the top was flat and as imagined, rough at the touch. 
He had starred at it a while more before gently lifted it and placed on the ground. He had other stuff to do and he couldn't sure take care of that turtle. And for what? 
- Stay there, I have to come back here anyways.-
...why did he say that?
Bah.
He picked his blade and headed towards the village. 

- A turtle with the skin and horns of a rhino? -

- Well that's what I could see, know anything about it or someone who does? -

The Master Goat scratched his beard thinking while muching some papers.  

- I don't recall any creature like that, but there are always new lands we haven't explored yet with unseen creatures. Perhaps it comes from one of those and you had the luck to meet up with her! Or him. -

- Yeah, what a luck... - he felt the need of yawning as he said that.  

- If I were you I would keep it, but you're a knight and I can understand it might not be that useful. However... - and he swallowed a whole paperball - ...doesn't feel lonely all that travelling after some time?- 

- You get used to. Well thanks and good day, I will leave it where it belongs to. - 

- Him, or her. -

- Oh why is that important?? I'm not gonna get it anyways! Goodbye. -

He had a quick look throught the village making sure Shovel wasn't there. He would have loved to fight another time but he was still tired, if he had to beat his rival he wanted to be fully aware of it. And on his way back he bought some lettuce.
"In case it tries to follow me, this will distract it."