Cedric is walking towards the meadow, carrying a bag of food. After a long morning of work, he has decided to have his lunch outside. He finds a place to sit down and begins taking some nuts and berries from the bag and setting them out.

Jennefer, nearly starving, is looking for something to eat. As she searches near the meadow, she smells the scent of some very delicious berries, and almost drools on herself. Moving closer to the smell of the berries, she see a rat resting on the ground. "Um, I... excuse me, may I please sit with you?"

Cedric is startled by a voice and jumps to his feet, knives ready. When he sees the mouse, he breaths a sigh of relief and puts the knives away. "Sorry, you scared me," he says in a friendly way. "Oh um, yes. You can sit here. Are you hungry?" he asks, wondering if the mouse is hungry.

Jennefer, nearly startled herself, replied, "Oh, yes I am very much hungry, and I didn't mean to startle you. Ive been walking for quiet some time now and..." Realizing she had not even mentioned her name, Jennefer aproaches the rat. "Im, sorry. My name is Jennefer."

Cedric grins, "It's okay. I'm Cedric." He moves aside to make room for his guest, "Make yourself comfortable. Help yourself to the food, I can get more if I need it."

Jennefer smiles at Cedric, "It's nice to meet you Cedric." Jennefer then moved and sat in the spot Cedric had made for her and reached for a berry. "Are you sure its ok if I eat a Berry?"

Cedric nods, "Of course. You look like you need it more than I. Feel free to have your fill. I don't mind at all." He takes a seat next to Jennefer.

Jennefer picks up a berry. "Thanks again, it means alot to me." As she started to eat, a light breeze blows by them. "Its a nice day, isn't it?"

Cedric smiles, "Yes. Yes it is. That is why I thought I would come out here to eat." He looks around at all the life, just forgetting his worries for the time being.

Jennefer finishes the berry she was eating and asks, "Are you all alone?"

Cedric looks at Jennefer, "What do you mean? Are you asking if I am alone out here? Or if I live alone?"

Jennefer shyly responds, "I was wondering, if you lived all alone. Do you have a family?"

Cedric shakes his head, "No, I live in a large colony near here. I do not have any children, but I have a wife." He looks at the mouse again, "What about you? Are you alone?"

Jennefer tilts her head down slightly and saddly responds, "I guess im all alone right now, but I am also married and have children. My children are missing because my house had sank, forcing them to leave when I was not there. My husband died because of experiments done on him at some place called NIMH. I don't know how he died but, I wish he could have seen his new born son before he had to go."

Cedric nods sadly, "I am sorry to hear that." Then a thought strikes him, "Did you say he went through experiments at NIMH?" He is suddenly curious about her husband's identity.

Jennefer looked at Cedric with wide eyes, "Yes, he died at NIMH. When the humans took him, I watched from afar and I heard that they were taking the mice and rats to NIMH. Do you know where NIMH is?"

Cedric is just as surprised, "I...I do know where NIMH is. But I wish I didn't. It is a terrible place," he says, tears appearing in his eyes from the bad memories.

Jennefer relizing that Cedric was affected by NIMH, asked one question. "Im, sorry I brought it up, I didn't mean to hurt you, but I need to know. What happend to the other mice and rats? You don't have to answer if it hurts you, I just... I..." Tears formed in Jennefers eyes. "Im, sorry."

Cedric wipes away his tears and shakes his head, "No, it's alright. I'm afraid I do not know what happened to the mice, but the rats were able to escape. They are all safe now."

Jennefer sighs, "Im greatfull the rats were able to escape, I just wish they all could have." Wiping away tears in her own eye, she pokes herself in her right eye, "OUCH!"

Cedric nods, "Maybe they all did. The rats tried looking for the mice that were lost, but found no bodies. Perhaps they did survive and make it out safely. We can't gi...oh, are you alright?" he asks. He is afraid she might have injured her eye.

Jennefer smiles, "Yes, Im fine. I should have been more carefull. Actualy, I don't think I could damage my eye anymore than it already is. When I was very young, me and my parents were attacked by a bat. My parents dided and my eye was permanently scared, so im blind in my right eye. Because of the attack, my what should be green eye, has turned grey. I feel people are often distracted by it because grey is not a regular eye color."

Cedric frowns, "Oh. Sounds like you have had a lot of hard times in your life. To be honest, I did not notice your eye at first. Even when I did, I did not want to say anything about it. I didn't want to hurt your feelings."

Jennefer smiles, "Thanks, you've been realy kind to me." She reaches for another berry and asks, "Where are you going to go after were done eating here?"

Cedric smiles again, "You are welcome." He looks around, "I guess I'll go back to work at the colony. I'm always kept so busy I hardly have time for my wife."

Jennefer looks at Cedric, "I see, it sounds like you have a hard job. Do... do you mind if.... I come with you?" Jennefer starts to blush. "I mean, I .... I don't have anywhere to go and...I..."

Cedric is somewhat surprised at Jennefer's request, "Oh, well uh. No, I don't think the others will mind too much." He notices her blushing, "It's alright, you can come with me."

Jennefer smiles weakly, "Realy, once again thank you, you've done so much for.... for ...me" Jennefer falls over uncontious, clearly dehidrated and exoughsted.

Cedric nods, "It's alright." He is alarmed when she falls over, "Jennefer? Are you alright?" he asks, not knowing how bad it is but aware that something is not right.

Jennefer starts to breath a little heavey, "I... I... need, I ....water"

Cedric listens and nods, "Water, yes. Right away." He picks up his bag and runs toward the river, hoping he can soak up enough water to keep Jennefer alive until he can get her to the colony's infirmary.

Jennefer watches as he comes back with his bag, soaked in water.

Cedric returns with as much water as he could soaked into the bag. He holds it over her mouth and slowly wrings the water out, "Here, I hope this can last you for now. I need to get you to a doctor."

Jennefer drinks as much as she can, an slowly passes out.

Cedric notices Jennefer pass out and tries to wrap her in the bag and attempt to carry her back to the colony.

Cedric carries Jennefer toward the mountain's base, toward a place where a stairway has been cut into the sloping mountainside.

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Jennefer slowly wakes up in a bed. As she looks around the room, she spots Cedric. "Cedric, I.. where are we?"

Cedric is relieved that Jennefer is still alive, "We are in the infirmary in the colony I live in. I had to get you to the doctor, you were severely dehydrated."

Jennefer sits up, "Oh, Im sory. I didn't mean to scare you, and I..." relizing she is still weak, she lays back down.

Cedric shakes his head, "It's alright. I'm just glad you're alive. Just rest for now, you are in good hands here."

Jennefer looks at Cedric, "I... I can't thank you enough, I realy..." Jennefer starts to cry, "Im realy great full for what you've done for me."

Cedric nods, "It was nothing. I would have done it for anyone."

"Thank you once again."

Cedric smiles, "The doctor says you will be alright now. You should be out of here in a few days."

Jennefer smiles at Cedric, "If there is anything I can do to help you, just let me know. I want to return the favor. If theres anything you want to know, please just ask."

Cedric nods, "Okay, I will let you know if I need anything."

Jennefer smiles and lays her head on the pilow. "No one has ever treated me this kindly seince Algernon had died."

Cedric looks curiously at Jennefer, "Algernon?" He wonders if he was her husband.

Jennefer looks at Cedric, "I never told you his name, did I. My husbands name is Algernon. He was very kind, almost more than you." Jennefer chuckles.

Cedric laughs a bit, himself. "Ah, so that is who he was. I can't say I recognize that name, sadly. I'm sure he was a good mouse."

"I think you two would have gotten along great."

Cedric nods, "I'm sure we would."

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Jennefer, now at the arch way, is preparing to leave, but first wanted to say goodbye to Cedric. "Im sorry I have to leave, but I must find my children. I wish I could stay, realy I do."

Cedric nods, "It's alright, I understand. I was glad to help you before. I wish you luck in finding your kids."

Jennefer turns to leave the colony, but starts to cry. She wirls around and hugs Cedric, "I.... Im realy going to miss you, I don't want to say goodbye for ever. I.. can I come back, to see you sometime soon?" Jennefer said in tears.

Cedric smiles, "Of course you can. Maybe you can come back to stay after you find your kids. You will always be welcome here, Jennefer." Tears begin to form in his eyes, "I will miss you, too."

Jennefer slowly releases Cedric, and walks off into the distance, in search of her lost children.

Cedric waves goodbye to her shrinking form.