The Story of Tiberius

Chapter 80

Crawling out of an air vent was a small rodent. It was a female with brown and white fur who seemed to be entering the older stages of her life. She had green eyes and there were five white spots that formed a flower on her forehead. At that moment, Tiberius realized that it must be a hamster. He had seen some back in the pet store when he had been younger. He had also eaten a few when they entered his shed. Watching this one, he was starting to feel a little hungry but he didn't attack... yet.

Breathing a huge sigh of relief as she collapsed from exhaustion, the hamster looked around the rooftop. Seeing the red tailed hawk that was staring at her, she smiled at Tiberius and murmured, "Guess the tale of the apartment's demon is just a story that was exaggerated." His light brown eyes narrowing to slits in confusion, Tiberius murmured, "What do you mean 'demon'? Ain't no demon around here."

Getting up to her feet, the hamster padded over to the flowerpot. Guessing she wanted some water, Tiberius tipped it a little so a small waterfall ran by her. Nodding her head gratefully, the old hamster took a long drink. Backing away from it, she sat down while the hawk steadied the flowerpot. Seeing that the small rodent seemed to be examining him from where she sat, he became a little unsettled by it and let out a low growl. Unfazed, the hamster remarked, "You look like you've seen better years."

"Are you done cuz I'd like to be left alone," Tiberius muttered, scowling slightly. Turning his back to the elderly female hamster, he jumped and let out a small cry when he saw that she had somehow had gotten in front of him. Standing on her hindlegs and stretching up as far as she could, the rodent blinked her green eyes slowly as she commented, "You say you want to be left alone but something tells me you also want a little company."

"You discovered there was no demon, got a drink of water. Now leave," Tiberius murmured. For extra emphasis, he scraped his talons along the rooftop menacingly and he growled again, deeper this time. The hamster didn't react at all. She just gazed up at him with a sympathetic look glistening in her green eyes. "I see..." she mumbled quietly, mostly talking to herself. Perplexed, the hawk hissed, "What do you see?"

"I can see that you have lived a life filled with a tragedy left and right. You have closed yourself off from everyone else but deep down inside..." the hamster explained, her words working themselves into Tiberius's mind, "You just want someone to understand and be there for you." Snarling angrily, the red tailed hawk suddenly pinned the elderly rodent under the talons on his right foot. Lowering his head towards her, he snapped, "And you should learn to keep your mouth shut. I don't need anyone."

"You're lying to yourself just as much as you're lying to me," the hamster pointed out quietly. She closed her green eyes, seemingly waiting for what he would do next. His own eyes flashing red with frustration, Tiberius hated to admit it but everything that she had said had been true. His feathers bristling, his head began pounding from all the memories that were swirling around in his mind. He growled at himself, squeezing his eyes shut as he fought with the emotions he was feeling inside. Letting out a hiss, his light brown eyes snapped open and he lunged forward. A moment later, the hamster's neck had been broken with ease.

Eating the hamster so he wasn't being wasteful, Tiberius headed for his shed, whispering to himself, "I don't need anyone... no one..."