[Mac the Janitor]

Hello. This is a background story for Rico the mudarcher who is currently participating in the Oddlympics. Enjoy.


Rico woke up with a start. He felt the sweat beads drizzling down his pale green forehead. That noise, he thought. They're back.

He fastened on his loincloth and creeped slowly out of the hut in to the black night, with the dimmest of light dancing on the large trees from the small campfires.

There were shadows moving across the huts. Rico grabbed his father's spoocebow and sneaked towards the intruders. He couldn't quite make out the shadows, but it was like nothing he had ever seen before.

He loaded the spoocebow as quietly as he could, trying not to alarm the strange unknown creatures. His knees were shaking. Calm down, Rico thought. Be strong, like papa.

He gathered up all of his strength and jumped gallantly around the corner, aiming right for the creature. But what he saw shocked him so much, he was unable to shoot.

As the horrifying image slowly faded away from his eyes, Rico felt his body go limp.

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"Is he alright?"

"Rico, honey, baby, can you hear me?"

"Everyone, please back away! The boy is injured!"

"Oh no, Rico's going to die!"

Rico slowly opened his eyes. He saw a blurred image of the tribal chief and shaman, Cibo.

"Please, everyone...the child is awakening!"

"He's alive!" Odd bless this wonderful miracle!"

Rico looked around. He was on a thin piece of cloth, lying on the ground. A number of his fellow natives were huddled around him, each face with a different emotion.

"I-It was green..." he muttered. "Black stick...made big noise..."

Cibo made a motion to everyone, and they became silent.

"What else can you tell us, child?" asked Cibo.

"It was...a paramite...kinda thing..." Rico felt lightheaded and dizzy. What had the creature done to him?

"Did anyone...else see it?" Rico mumbled.

"I do not believe so," answered Cibo. "After you screamed, the creature ran away and a young tribal boy found you lying here."

"Can I meet him?"

"Ah, yes, let me retrieve him..." Cibo walked off to a small hut. Moments later, he came out with a boy about Rico's age and height, but slightly thinner.

"Um, hi, Rikki," said the boy.

"Actually, it's Rico..."

"Oops, heh...sorry."

"What's your name?"

"I'm Joey."

"Thanks for saving me, Joey."

"You're welcome."

"Do you like playing mudarcher?"

"Sorta, but I've always wanted to be a Tomahawker when I'm a big kid."

"Wanna go play with me?"

"Yeah!"

Rico and Joey walked away, chatting incessantly.

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So, did you like it? Was it the worst thing you've ever read? Please reply with questions or comments.

Oh yeah, and here's a picture I altered to make it look like Rico as a kid: