first draft

It was a dark and damp night, like the cliché filled nights the dark corners of the imagination often brings but reality never seems to get quite right.

This night however, reality was spot on.

On the wet cobblestones of a quiet back street a tiny furry brown mass with legs was on the move.

It settled down in the comforting edge of a drainpipe and began excitedly to examine the skrap of undeterminable origin in its paws, it smelled edible enough it thought in it's tiny unimportant mind.

just as it was about to sink it's teeth in it heard the sound of voices, which was not in itself unusual but they came from the wrong end of the pipe which sparkled some curiosity as to what was going on.

Better safe than sorry, so it held on to it's meal as it slowly ventured further down towards the sewer.

The voices got louder as it neared the end of the pipe.

As it got close it managed to peek very unimportantly around the edge and saw three figures in long dirty robes.

they seemed busy, so it figured it was safe to eat while observing, at least for now.

Oi, you said you had a map of this place? the voice that originated some place within the mountainous robe at the back, was harsh and made the very unimportant bundle of fur and legs cover for a few seconds until it's stomach got over the shock and prioritized eating as it would most of it's life.

I got one, it's here somewhere in this bloody robe, hold the lamp will you, said the small guy at the front of the group.

He held the lamp out to the third, silent robe, who took it without any fuzz and watched as the small guys hands started rummaging through the little robe.

at first there was a lot of shuffling about acompagnied by sighs and sounds of annoyance but then some progress seemed to be achieved as the little robe relieved pulled out a folded piece of paper.

they looked at it for a while and the big robe rumbled.

So 3 more pipes forward and there should be the cellar of the jeweler?

yes, the little robe replied and the third, holding the lamp motioned them onward.